The entire island of Maria Academy lay under the constellations’ protection, with aether in abundance wherever one went.

With some of the finest talents from across the continent of Callisto gathered here, the island naturally drew the constellations’ attention. As a result, its students enjoyed many privileges.

The dungeons were one example. Since dungeons were originally created by the constellations and scattered across the continent, the island had several rare ones found nowhere on the mainland.

They were all the more dangerous, but the rewards they offered were immense.

Name: Yuto

Class: Void Born

Level: 13

Stamina: 75

Aether: 95

Strength: 60

Agility: 40

Charm: 40

Remaining Points: 0

Void Skills:

Void Step LV5.

┕???

Void Touch LV6.

┕Void Scythe

Void Dominion LV1.

Void Blade LV2.

???

???

...

Between the banquet at House Marigold and his enrollment at the academy, Yuto had trained every single day and frequented the dungeons near Merchant City, raising his level from 11 to 13.

In preparation for the academy, he had cleared those dungeons using only swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and aether manipulation, without using any Void Skills at all. Their levels had therefore remained unchanged, leaving him unavoidably frustrated.

‘I can’t use Void Skills in the academy’s dungeons, either. I’ll draw too much attention from the constellations here.’

For now, he needed to keep his head down beneath their gaze and build his strength. He was certain he could gain levels at the academy, but being unable to level up the Void Skills that were his mainstay left him helplessly frustrated.

‘This island is rich in aether. Even if my level on the Status Window doesn’t rise, my aether will keep increasing.’

Clearing the academy’s dungeons would also let him gain levels faster than he had in Merchant City.

But that was not the only reason Yuto had sought admission. There was another reason he had saved Rufus Marigold and come to the academy, even at the cost of exposing himself to Shiro’s and the constellations’ scrutiny.

‘The Maria Labyrinth.’

Yuto’s eyes narrowed.

This academy had been founded by Maria herself, the legendary saint revered throughout Callisto.

Once a year, in accordance with the will of Saint Maria, who had founded the academy and now lay asleep within it, a special dungeon called Maria’s Labyrinth opened.

Only the five highest-ranking students in each year could enter, and the first student to reach its end could ask for a single wish.

‘In my previous life, the labyrinth chose Shiro.’

Yuto did not know what Shiro had wished for then. He had asked time and again, but Shiro had always answered with his usual smile.

["I made a wish to further our goal."]

Yes, their goal. Even back then, Yuto and Shiro had harbored doubts about a world ruled by the constellations. At least, Yuto had, and he had believed Shiro felt the same.

‘I don’t know how much Maria’s Labyrinth can grant.’

Ultimately, the wish was fulfilled by Saint Maria’s will, which lingered in the academy, and the constellations that protected it.

‘Even if I wished for the constellations’ deaths, or for them to stop interfering with the continent of Callisto... they wouldn’t grant it. But Shiro’s death... couldn’t they grant that?’

If Maria’s Labyrinth could not grant even that wish, he could ask for something simple.

‘Power.’

Simply receiving an enormous amount of aether would make Yuto vastly stronger. Void Skills consumed aether, after all, and their power depended on his total reserves.

‘Or...’

Yuto recalled the wraith’s diary he had read in Belkain, and the conversation they had shared.

Babylon.

The land where the constellations’ true bodies existed.

He had been told that the intense aether released by the people who died on the day Belkain fell had flowed into Babylon. Restless spirits still lingered in Belkain. The veil of the Void afforded them temporary rest, but as long as Babylon remained, they could never pass on.

‘Freedom for Belkain’s restless spirits. Or... passage to Babylon.’

He was unsure about the former, but the latter seemed achievable through a wish. Merely clearing the labyrinth would earn Yuto considerable interest from the constellations.

‘As long as I’m in Callisto, I can’t kill the constellations with my own hands.’

To kill them, he had to go to Babylon. Even if he did not go there specifically to kill them, visiting the place where their true bodies resided might give him a clue to restoring genuine freedom to Callisto.

‘In fact, even without my own wish, keeping Shiro from making his would make coming here worthwhile.’

A person could enter Maria’s Labyrinth only once in a lifetime. Entering as a first-year and then returning as a second-year was impossible.

Even if all he did was enter the labyrinth with Shiro and prevent him from making a wish, it would create an enormous difference from his previous life.

"This is the dormitory area."

Most people pictured a large building with rooms for individual students when they heard the word “dormitory,” but that only applied to ordinary dormitories. Whatever their talents, Maria Academy’s students were all nobles who thought very highly of themselves. A mere private room would never satisfy them.

That was why each student at Maria Academy had an entire house. They were not as large as noble estates, but they offered every comfort one needed.

"You have four options for meals. You can buy ingredients and cook for yourself, eat at the communal dining hall, visit a restaurant in the commercial district... or sign up for the academy’s delivery service and have meals brought to your house."

The rows of quaint little houses looked more like a village than a dormitory. Levian pointed to another area and continued.

"Those are the second-year dormitories. Students from different years rarely run into each other, and you need the dorm supervisor’s permission to visit."

"Then I suppose we won’t see much of each other anymore."

"Yuto, are you serious?"

"I’m joking. If you need anything, get permission and come see me."

"And you don’t intend to visit me?"

"We’ll see. I’ll come by if I feel like it."

His words might have sounded cold, but Levian smiled softly. She knew perfectly well that he did not mean them.

"Everything a new student needs will be waiting inside your house, from uniforms to daily necessities. You can clean it yourself, but most students sign up for housekeeping."

Of course, housekeeping cost money, but most academy students were nobles with money to burn.

Yuto had money to burn himself. Rufus Marigold had promised him his full support.

"You can order anything else you need through the same service. Feel free to spend as much as you like, so order whatever you need."

Levian hesitated for a moment after saying that. She was reluctant to end their conversation and return to their separate dormitories. Yuto gave her a small smile.

"We’ll be seeing each other often. Why look so disappointed?"

"Ahem. You were the one who said we wouldn’t see much of each other..."

"I told you I was joking. Let’s have dinner together later. Lady Levian, I trust you’ve tried the academy’s dining hall food?"

"Ahaha... I usually had meals delivered, but I have eaten at the communal dining hall before. It’s not quite on the level of the Marigold estate’s chefs, but it’s very good."

Chuckling at his teasing, Levian checked the time.

"Then let’s meet here around seven this evening. Um... Yuto, am I getting in the way when you’d rather be resting?"

"Not at all."

Reassured by his answer, Levian turned on her heel. Yuto watched her walk briskly away, then turned as well.

A guardhouse stood at the entrance to the first-year dormitory area. Its guards checked students coming and going and patrolled the grounds every hour for possible intruders. As Yuto approached, a uniformed man opened the door and stepped outside.

The first-year dorm supervisor also commanded the guards in this area, and he was a knight sworn to Maria Academy. Yuto smiled despite himself.

‘Sir Gregory.’

The man had supervised the first-year dormitories in his previous life as well. Strict and devoted to the rules, he had initially clashed often with noble students intoxicated by their own importance.

That was precisely why Yuto liked Sir Gregory. He followed his principles without bending his convictions in the slightest, even when dealing with nobles.

‘Sir Gregory certainly lectured me enough in my previous life.’

Yuto had been an excellent student, but he had not always been mature and well-behaved. Like any fifteen-year-old boy, he had been mischievous and full of youthful energy. The pranks he and Shiro had pulled together, in particular, had earned them Sir Gregory’s...

"..."

Every memory of this place was tangled up with Shiro. The more he recalled, the more Shiro’s hypocrisy and betrayal came to mind, leaving only the taste of blood in his mouth. Yuto stopped dwelling on his memories and approached Gregory.

"My name is Yuto. I’ve just been admitted as a first-year."

"I’ve heard from the headmaster."

Tall and broad-shouldered, Gregory studied him slowly.

"He tells me you’re an exceptionally gifted student. May I call you young Yuto?"

"Please call me whatever you’re comfortable with."

He had missed being addressed that way, too. Gregory spoke the same way even to royalty. Young Yuto, young Shiro, Miss Shirin. He made no distinction between royalty and nobility, seeing them only as students. Even now, he spoke courteously to Yuto despite knowing he came from the slums.

"I understand the girl beside you is your younger sister. May I call you Miss Elun?"

"Mm. You have my permission."

Elun nodded. It was an absurd reply, but Gregory’s expression did not change.

"The headmaster told me you are the personal attendant of Miss Shirin, who is joining us this year. Ordinarily, an attendant whose mistress has yet to pass the exam would never be permitted into the dormitories..."

Gregory paused and huffed through his nose.

"But young Yuto is an exceptionally gifted student, and Miss Shirin could pass at any moment without surprising anyone. He instructed me to make an exception this once and admit you."

"Thank you."

"However, Miss Elun must not forget her duties as a personal attendant. If she actually makes her home in young Yuto’s house, I will consider her remiss in those duties and report it."

"Yes, I’ll keep that in mind."

A man so devoted to the rules could hardly approve of Elun gaining entry to the academy through special treatment.

"Take this."

Gregory took something from inside his uniform and held it out to Yuto. It was a small student ID card. As Yuto examined it, his face appeared in the blank space.

"You must carry your student ID at all times. You are so famous, and such an unprecedented case, that everyone will likely recognize you, young Yuto... but you will need it to use the academy’s facilities."

"Understood."

"All the first-year houses are vacant. You are the first to arrive, after all. Choose whichever house you like and hold your student ID to the door to enter."

Yuto smiled and nodded, then entered the dormitory area with Elun and Flokiro. Every house looked identical, so location was what mattered. Without hesitation, he chose the house closest to the entrance.

BEEP BEEP.

When he held up his student ID, the gate in the surrounding wall opened. Inside was a small garden suitable for enjoying tea, with a single-story house beyond it.

‘I’m finally here.’

Only now, as he entered his dormitory residence, did it truly sink in that he had enrolled at Maria Academy.

[Hidden Quest completed.]

The moment that realization struck, a Status Window appeared before Yuto.