Don't confiscate my identity as a human race

This gave rise to a feeling that Hyperion was being isolated.

Lanci didn't think this was a good situation.

So he walked up the steps to the back of the classroom, where Hyperion was, and sat near her.

"Good morning, Hyperion."

Lanci greeted her with a smile.

"Mm."

Hyperion glanced at him in surprise before turning her head away, not bothering to continue the conversation.

Her troubled look was not a deliberate attempt to snub Lanci, but rather an effort to maintain a certain distance from him—for his own good.

Seeing this, Lanci didn't chat much with Hyperion.

Where he sat in class didn't really matter to him, and he only knew Hyperion.

So he opened the "Hutton Kingdom Judicial Exam—Real Case Collection" in his hands and began to study earnestly.

Having this book as morning reading while waiting for class to start was absolutely perfect.

...

As expected, the tedious compulsory classes ended after the third period.

Four in the afternoon.

The sky had turned orange-red. The sun would soon begin to slowly set. Long shadows of the trees outside the classroom windows were cast on the grass, and the wind rustled the leaves.

Hyperion was still sitting at the back, and Lanci still sat near her.

However, their conditions were completely different from the morning.

Hyperion found the courses very easy, even effortless.

As for Lanci.

He was now slumped on the table, asleep.

It was as if the first three periods had put him under too much pressure, and the half an hour before the start of the last class was his precious time for a breather.

The classroom was in the renovated building of Sage Academy, with an enduring historical charm. The wooden frames of the classroom doors and windows stood out against the exterior red brick walls.

Under the distinctive high ceiling of this room, made of beautifully designed plaster, the fine details preserved the classic style of the Hutton Kingdom. Several magic lamps on the dome cast a soft light, making the students in the classroom feel quite comfortable.

Even during the empty hours without scheduled lessons, the classroom was much livelier than it had been in the morning.

In addition to students who were already sitting in class waiting for the next lesson to begin, occasionally, senior students or students from other academies would stop by Sage Academy's corridor or classroom to engage in animated conversations about various issues.

In contrast, the seats at the back of the classroom seemed especially empty, as if there was a barrier separating them from the rest of the classroom.

Hyperion, with her amber eyes, quietly sat there, her indifferent gaze passing through the window to the distant sky. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes held many thoughts.

Among those who came for 'visits', some were friends or acquaintances made before the new students started school. There were also "star freshmen" like Princess Vivian of other classes who had already been pre-selected by teams even before starting school.

However, all this hustle and bustle had nothing to do with Hyperion.

Even though she ranked second among this year's new students in Sage Academy, no team would come to recruit her.

Before, her father's presence had protected her; no one dared to bully her because she had Demon Race blood. Surrounded by seemingly kind people, Hyperion, now isolated and powerless, finally felt the depth of hostility and suspicion towards the Demon Race in this nation.

Being able to get through to the afternoon without any incidents was already fortunate.

Unlike most people, she wasn't hoping for anyone to come to her.

Because if other senior students came to approach her, they would inevitably be troublesome characters from the Royal Capital, bringing disaster rather than fortune.

Another fortunate thing, perhaps, was having a kind person by her side who, unlike others, didn't despise her as a harbinger of calamity and has never harbored malice towards her since they met.

Hyperion couldn't help but look at this gifted and somewhat erratic boy sleeping soundly next to her.

Several students from other classes had come to the class to inquire about Lanci. However, upon noticing Lanci sitting next to her, they swiftly changed in demeanor and made up excuses to leave.

Meanwhile, Hyperion finally discovered something.

Lanci, who appeared exceptionally smart, was actually a magic dunce.

Other than utilizing Magic Cards, he hadn't learned how to use any other spells on his own, making him quite different from the norm for magical combat professionals.

Yet, he was incredibly straightforward. Despite his evident struggles, he refused to skip classes or neglect his studies.

Hyperion sighed helplessly, realizing that even the seemingly invincible Lanci had his weaknesses.

Despite the casual chatter in the classroom and the clamor from the corridor outside,

Hyperion quietly flipped through her book, turning the pages gently so as not to disturb Lanci who was sleeping next to her.

A kindness paid is a favor owed. She remembered grudges, but she also acknowledged kindness.

Moreover, for reasons unknown, Lanci's presence seemed innately calming, capable of establishing tranquillity in those nearby, even while he was merely snoozing there.

Before she knew it, her thoughts were also fully immersed in her book.

...

Time slowly ticked away, causing subtle changes in the sky outside the floor-to-ceiling window. A thick cloud casually drifted across, briefly covering the brilliant afternoon sun. The natural light in the classroom consequently dimmed, making the shadows on the floor appear as if they were blanketed by a gauzy veil.

However, this didn't bother Hyperion as she continued to read her book, feeling an inexplicable sense of peace that she hadn't felt in a long time.

"Hyperion, I didn't expect you to successfully enroll."

The soft, sudden voice sent a cold shiver down Hyperion's spine and she hurriedly turned her head.

Standing there on the aisle next to her seat was a pale-faced youth with hands clasped behind his back. His demeanor was calm and proud.

"…"

While Hyperion's expression remained unchanged, her aura noticeably deteriorated.

"Modan... why are you here?"

Obviously, this was a person she was extremely displeased to see.

Modan Gasigus, the second son of Marquis Gasigus' family, was a third-year student at the Sage Academy, possessing exceptional talent and power as a Shadow World Challenger.

Compared to her father Duke Alansar's adversaries from the nobility, Modan, a close ally of the duke's, was more detestable to her.

Ever since Duke Alansar disappeared, Marquis Gasigus hasn't been of any help to her. On the contrary, he eyed her as prey, trying to coerce her into marrying into his family in order to control her.

"Hyperion, if you are planning to challenge the Shadow World in your first year, you might want to consider joining my team. In fact, you don't have any other choice because I am the only one who's willing to guide you through the Shadow World."

Modan's words seemed polite, much like an older brother talking to his younger sister, but his eyes revealed an unabashed desire to dominate and possess Hyperion.

"No need."

Hyperion replied frigidly.

She knew that, much like Lanci, her high scores in the entrance exam had earned her the title of Iron-level Adventurer, exempting her from certain exams.

However, due to the regulation forbidding first-year students from entering the Shadow World alone, she was destined to miss out on many opportunities to become stronger during her first year.

Because.

As Modan had said,

There wasn't a single team or its members in this academy willing to accept a member of the Demon Race like her.