‘That humanoid looks different from the rest. Is that why they are avoiding him?’

  Rusty had already noticed the absence of other races in the academy. It seemed that this place also divided people by class, with nobles as always holding the highest rank. The young man in question appeared different from the others. The difference was subtle, yet it was clear that he was not entirely human.

  The young man stood apart from the others with his arms crossed, his posture radiating disinterest. Even from a distance, Rusty could tell there was something unusual about him. His orange hair had faint black streaks near the roots, and his eyes were slitted like a cat’s. When he shifted slightly, Rusty noticed elongated fangs that were longer than what any normal human would have. It became clear to him that this youth had beastman blood running through his veins.

  Once the groups were formed, the young man stood out like a sore thumb. He was about two meters tall and did not appear to be someone who belonged among the other summoners. To Rusty, he seemed more like a warrior who happened to possess some mana.

  ‘He seems stronger than the others, but his mana is only average.’

  The other students whispered as they glanced at him, their voices low but filled with unease.

  “Don’t look at him. He might bite you.”

  “Are they really stuck with him? I wouldn’t want to be in their place.”

  “Be quiet. What if he hears you?”

  As the whispers spread, the young man turned his gaze toward them. The instant he did, they all looked away as if a wild animal had fixed its eyes on them. Though Aranea appeared to be the leader of this B-class, this man was clearly feared and possibly close to her in strength.

  “Is everyone ready?”

  After a short while, all the groups were chosen except for Rusty’s, which still lacked a third member. The teacher noticed this quickly. His eyes lingered on the young man leaning against the column, and with a disappointed tone, he called out to him.

  “Syber Tygrys, you will join Gwendolin Rainstar and Astrella Fjord.”

  The teacher announced, his tone leaving no room for objection. Rusty could feel Gwen’s shoulder stiffen immediately and saw Astrella’s smile fade at the announcement. It was clear that the two had hoped for a more ordinary third member instead of the person the entire class avoided. Part of it might have been prejudice against his bloodline, yet he also carried a dangerous air, like a beast waiting for the right moment to strike.

  Syber did not seem to care. He uncrossed his arms and pushed himself away from the column. When he walked forward, it was like a predator stepping into enemy territory. His movements were strangely fluid, and the sunlight caught his hair, making it shimmer like burning embers. Up close, Rusty could see more clearly that those eyes truly belonged to a feline.

  “G-good day.”

  Surprisingly, Gwen was the first to break the ice as she greeted the young man who stood a head taller than her. When she did, his yellow feline eyes locked on hers, making her flinch. Astrella reacted quickly and stepped between them, but Rusty did not. To him, the young man did not seem that fierce. More than hostility, he sensed curiosity. He was not sure if he was mistaken, but his instincts told him this was the case.

  “Hey, back off…”

  “Just don’t get in my way.”

  Syber replied and then turned his head to avoid their gazes.

  “…We’ll see who gets in whose way!”

  Astrella crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed, though her forced smile betrayed her unease. Gwen glanced nervously between the two of them, unsure how to ease the tension already forming within their small group. Rusty tilted his head, studying the beastman’s expression.

  “He doesn’t seem hostile, just impatient. Maybe he dislikes talking?”

  This time Rusty spoke so Gwen could hear him through their link. She seemed surprised by his assessment and quickly asked him to explain.

  “Hm? He isn’t hostile?”

  “He doesn’t seem like the others. I don’t think he means any harm to you.”

  Rusty had experience dealing with monsters, bandits, and other humans. At first, he could not tell their expressions apart, but he had been studying carefully. He could now more or less read what people were feeling, though describing how he knew was still difficult.

  “I don’t know, but if you say so…”

  Gwendolin was clearly surprised by this revelation and began staring at the young man. His uniform was different as well. Most were designed like mage robes with hoods, but Syber’s outfit looked more practical and suited for combat. He wore regular pants, a white shirt, and a black jacket left open at the collar, revealing part of his neck. For some reason, he was allowed to wear this modified school uniform.

  “…Are you two done staring?”

  Syber’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. Gwen instantly turned her head away, flustered, while Astrella huffed and placed her hands on her hips.

  “We’re just trying to figure out what kind of person you are.”

  Astrella said with a frown on her face.

  “Does that matter?”

  His tone was calm yet cold. It was clear he had little interest in working with them. Without another word, he started walking forward, ignoring the two girls calling out to him.

  “Hey, where are you going? We are supposed to work as a group!”

  Astrella shouted, but the young man did not respond.

  “...”

  “So annoying! Who does he think he is?”

  She was clearly furious, and Gwen tried to calm her down.

  “It’s fine, Astrella. I think he’s just going ahead to the gate entrance. Look, the other students have already started moving.”

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  As she spoke, the teacher pointed forward, and the group began to move. Rusty remained silent, observing with interest the strange tears in space that awaited them ahead.

  “I’m sure you’ve all been inside of a rift but do not confuse that one with this.”

  Once they assembled, they stood in a large chamber with a glowing rift in space before them. This was the first time Rusty had seen anything like it. The gate was blue in color, similar to regular mana but in a darker shade. It was oval in shape, about three meters tall and one and a half meters wide. It hovered above the ground, which was covered with several layers of magic circles that probably kept it stable.

  “The gate you entered in the past was an F-rank gate that contained only weak creatures. This one is an E-rank randomized gate. Once your groups enter, you will be sent into a random sector within the void dimension. The environment, mana density, and creature levels will vary depending on where you appear. Your task is to collect magic crystals from the creatures you defeat. Gather enough within the time limit and return to the entrance to receive a passing grade.”

  Rusty listened to the explanation, but it seemed that all the students already knew this information. From what he understood, they needed to reach a specific threshold to pass. If they failed to do so, they would still receive a low grade, which could eventually lead to demotion to C-class if they continued to perform poorly.

  “Randomised sector? That sounds dangerous. What if we end up somewhere dangerous?”

  Gwen gulped softly while looking at the gate entrance and the first group moving through it.

  “But that’s the fun part! Don’t worry about it, this guy will protect us, won’t he?”

  Astrella responded while grabbing Rusty off Gwen’s shoulder. She spun him through the air and then placed him on the ground.

  “Of course, I will defeat any monster that comes my way!”

  Rusty proclaimed while pointing his small halberd into the air, which made Astrella chuckle.

  “See, he looks motivated.”

  Gwen smiled at Rusty, who was still in his small form, but this would not last for long as he could feel the wards around them weakening. He turned his large head toward the gate through which some students were passing. Some of their monsters were already at full size, and it seemed the restrictions were lifted just before the entrance. This was perhaps to allow the monsters to be ready once they stepped through the gate, as it would make it much easier to protect their summoners.

  “If it’s like this, then…”

  Though Gwen didn’t give him an order, he didn’t care to wait. Once he saw the opportunity, he activated the creature reduction skill in reverse to regain his true form. His body began glowing and started to expand. The halberd and shield he was holding grew along with him, and in just a few seconds, he was back to his original size.

  “I’m normal again!”

  He raised both hands as he cheered, which made Astrella laugh in delight. Airy floated forward and landed on Rusty’s shoulder in a similar way to how Gleam liked to perch. She struck a powerful pose as if she were ready for battle as well, mimicking Rusty.

  “See, both Rusty and Airy are ready. There is nothing to fear!”

  Gwen nodded at these reassuring words, but Syber, their third party member, only rolled his eyes in annoyance. He stood a few steps away from the girls and waited for their turn to enter the gate. When their turn finally came, Rusty noticed Gwen holding her stomach. It looked like a sign of nervousness, so he moved closer to give her a reassuring tap on the shoulder.

  “Don’t worry, nothing will happen, and I bet we’ll get the best grade in all of B-class! So don’t be scared.”

  “I’m not scared…”

  Gwen muttered to herself, but her voice betrayed her.

  “Maybe just a little…”

  Rusty could sense her trying to collect herself and stand tall. He still thought of her as a bit of a crybaby, yet she did seem different from the last time he had spoken with her. Rusty straightened to his full height, and the light from the gate reflected off his metal frame.

  “Stay behind me. I’ll secure the entry point.”

  “Right. Let’s go then.”

  Gwen nodded and looked to Astrella, who returned the gesture. Syber remained in the back without summoning anything and simply waited. When the three summoners gathered around the gate, the teacher gave a nod, and they moved forward. Rusty led the way while Airy stayed perched on Astrella’s shoulder. Soon, the gate rippled around Rusty’s frame as he stepped through it.

  “Whoa!”

  It was a strange sensation, as if he were submerged in a basin of water. He could not move his body, and the world shimmered around him. The feeling reminded him of something from his past, but before he could recall what it was, the sensation faded. When his vision cleared, it revealed a vast cavern dimly lit by veins of blue light that traced the walls and illuminated a single wide path ahead.

  Now it was finally time to stretch his legs. He had spent almost an entire day and night in his minimized form. With his halberd raised and his shield held forward, he stepped into the tunnel to assess the situation. His life detection skill revealed several creatures waiting around the next corner, but they showed no sign of reacting to his presence. Behind him lay the rift opening and a solid wall, leaving only one route to confront them. He waited there, watching and listening for Gwen, Astrella, and Syber to arrive.

  “Ah… I can never get used to that feeling.”

  Astrella was the next to emerge, clutching her mouth as Airy gently patted her back and cast a recovery spell to ease her nausea. Gwen appeared soon after and seemed entirely fine. She looked around with curiosity rather than fear. Syber was the last to step through the rift, which, to Rusty’s surprise, remained active.

  ‘Does that mean we can leave at any time?’

  The teacher had given them some instructions, but Rusty still did not fully understand how this new trial worked. Their task was to hunt monsters, gather materials, and return to the rift to go back. It sounded simple enough, yet he doubted this would be the end of his mission. Once this excursion was complete, he would likely need to ensure Gwen’s victory over the second B-class opponents. Only then would he be allowed to return.

  ‘I wonder what would happen if I failed.’

  As he looked around, a troubling thought crept into his mind. His missions had been tied to specific summoners and locations within the Soul Forge, but he did not know if those bonds were permanent. If he failed to protect Gwen in one of these dangerous spaces, would she ever be able to summon him again? He still could not tell whether this place was an elaborate illusion or a real world, yet for now, he leaned toward believing it was real.

  “Hm, this structure looks like a Type G1 Labyrinth Void.”

  Gwen commented. Once they arrived, she placed her hand on one of the walls and began speaking. Rusty, of course, had no idea what she was talking about, so he asked.

  “What’s that?”

  “Oh, it’s a void with a closed labyrinth. It would be better to mark the walls with something so we can find our way back to the entrance.”

  Gwen replied through their connection.

  Astrella, however, had a different opinion.

  “Hmm, this looks like a Type G1, but it could still be a Type G2.”

  Rusty was now even more confused, but Gwen quickly explained.

  “The other type is similar, but it contains a stronger monster sealed inside a special chamber.”

  Syber remained silent and started walking forward as if he intended to explore the place alone. Astrella clearly disliked that idea and called out to him immediately.

  “Hey, where are you going? We’re supposed to be a trio. This isn’t a solo mission!”

  “Just stay out of my way,”

  The young man replied with a frown. However, just as he turned to leave, something unexpected happened. A pulse of energy burst from the active rift entrance. It felt like a sudden breeze brushed past everyone, and almost instantly, a strange shift began to occur.

  “W-what’s happening?”

  Gwen raised her voice as she felt a chill run down her spine.

  “Oh no, is the gate getting corrupted? We need to go back!”

  Astrella shouted as she turned around, but it was already too late. The rift they had entered through began to glow red, then vanished completely. The blue veins on the walls started pulsing and changing color until they resembled living veins. Rusty could not understand what was happening, but he sensed that the monsters he had felt earlier were growing restless and moving their way.

  “Get ready, Gwen. Monsters are coming.”

  He stepped forward and positioned his metallic body to block the only entrance. He did not understand what had happened, but his mission was clear: protect his summoner. That was the purpose he would fulfill. No matter who appeared before him, he would not allow her to be harmed.