The moment Ren stepped out of the building, he was hit with a sight that momentarily made him stop in his tracks.
The entire area was immaculate. It was like something straight out of a high-budget fantasy film.
Wide, well-maintained pavements stretched in perfect grids, weaving around lush gardens filled with vibrant flowers that seemed to glow faintly under the morning sun.
The air was crisp, fresh, and carried the soft scent of blooming flora, mixing with a subtle, almost mystical energy that he could faintly sense in the atmosphere.
Everywhere he looked, there was beauty—both in the environment and in the ridiculous number of gorgeous girls walking around!
Ren took a slow, measured breath and instantly nodded in satisfaction. Whoever designed this place knew what they were doing.
The gardens weren't just there for decoration, they were strategically placed in ways that optimized both aesthetics and airflow, ensuring a constantly fresh atmosphere.
The pavements were wide and efficiently arranged, preventing overcrowding despite the seemingly massive student population.
The buildings, sleek and elegant, had large glass windows that reflected the light in mesmerizing ways, and their positioning suggested a deep understanding of natural lighting and spatial organization.
This was urban planning at its finest.
"Impressive," Ren murmured to himself.
But more importantly; what even was this 'side block'?
Curious, Ren decided to spend some time mapping it out. If he was going to be stuck here, he needed to understand the layout for easier movement during busier times.
Also, this was a perfect excuse to observe this world more closely. And, of course, he wasn't exactly opposed to casually analyzing the ridiculously high ratio of beautiful girls roaming around.
Hehe…
Five minutes in, he was impressed.
The side block wasn't just a small dormitory section like he initially assumed—it was practically a mini-city.
There were multiple residential buildings, dining areas, leisure zones, and even a couple of small marketplaces where students could buy things.
Ten minutes in, he was shocked.
How was this still just a 'side block'? It was huge. He had passed by so many different buildings that he was starting to question whether this was actually some secret experimental society rather than an academy.
Twenty minutes in, he was speechless.
At this point, Ren had walked past libraries, training halls, meditation gardens, open-air classrooms, alchemy labs, weapon workshops, tea houses, courtyards with floating lanterns, and even a freaking observatory!
Side block? Side BLOCK?!
This place was larger than some entire university campuses back on Earth!
He was only able to keep track of where he had been thanks to his ridiculously high IQ and near-photographic memory. Otherwise, he would have completely lost his sense of direction.
Also, there was another detail he couldn't ignore; the sheer number of students.
There were thousands. Everywhere he went, groups of young girls, all around his age, moved through the campus, chatting, laughing, and heading towards their destinations.
And every single time he passed by a group…
Silence.
Followed by gasps, stares, whispers, or full-on shrieks of disbelief!
At this point, he was used to it, but it was still mildly frustrating. He wasn't some endangered species, dammit. He was just a guy.
Well… an 'impossible' guy, apparently.
That reminded him; the body he reincarnated into was 18 years old. Not that it made a difference when the girls still treated him like some supernatural phenomenon that had no right to exist.
Finally, when he had mentally mapped out the entire area and was planning to head to the library to gain some basic knowledge about this world's society, his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud bell.
DING!
A deep, resonating chime spread through the air, echoing through the entire block. The reaction was instant.
Every student suddenly stopped what they were doing, turned their heads, and began moving in the same direction.
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
A signal? It had to be some kind of alarm telling students to gather somewhere. And judging by the way no one looked surprised or confused, this was a scheduled event.
His sharp mind immediately connected the dots.
Orientation.
Of course.
It was the first day and they were probably being summoned for an introductory event.
If that was the case, then he might as well follow along.
With calm, unhurried steps, Ren blended into the moving crowd, walking alongside hundreds of students who, despite their initial shock at seeing him, didn't dare speak to him directly.
Instead, he could feel their eyes burning into him, their whispers increasing with every step.
Eventually, they reached a massive structure. Ren stopped and stared up at it, mildly impressed.
It was a stadium.
A massive, shockingly large building with curved, towering walls, massive entrance gates, and a sheer presence that suggested it could hold tens of thousands of people.
Students filed inside in an orderly manner, filling up the rows of seats that surrounded a vast, open stage in the center.
Ren followed, stepping inside with an aloof, unreadable expression. He wasn't particularly interested in whatever speech or event was about to take place, but he needed information.
He found a seat alone, his posture relaxed, his silver eyes cool and composed. And yet, everywhere around him, students were staring at him like he was an unsolvable mystery.
Even Lia was here.
Ren casually spotted her sitting in one of the rows across from him. The moment their eyes met, her face turned an immediate shade of pink, and she hurriedly looked away, as if pretending she hadn't seen him.
Ren's lips curled into a faintly amused smirk. Guess she was still embarrassed about yesterday.
And then it happened. Suddenly, a blinding flash of light exploded on stage.
The moment the blinding light faded from the stage, a deep silence spread across the massive hall.
All the whispers, stares, and murmurs that had filled the air just moments ago vanished as the thousands of young girls present turned their attention to the group of figures now standing at the center of the vast platform.
Fifteen women.
They were clearly authority figures, standing tall and composed, dressed in an unusual blend of formal suits and flowing robes, all colored in the same deep shade of dark blue with touches of orange.
The fabric shimmered faintly under the magical lights illuminating the hall, a sign that it wasn't made of ordinary material.
More importantly, however, was the pressure they emanated.
Ren's mind immediately went into analysis mode.
The sheer weight of their presence was undeniable. It pressed lightly on the air, creating an invisible aura of control.
To the average person, these women would seem incredibly strong, perhaps even terrifying.
And yet… Ren's sharp instincts quickly compared this pressure to the one he had experienced during that fateful meeting, where the woman with the Azure Decree had decided his fate.
And the results?
Not even 5%!
Ren's silver eyes gleamed with quiet realization.
If the woman from before was a storm that could swallow cities, these instructors were merely strong gusts of wind.
Powerful, yes. But compared to true monsters? Barely a fraction.
Still, they were strong enough to silence a room of thousands with just their presence. That was something.
The tallest of them, a large woman with an imposing frame, stepped forward. Despite her chubby build, there was something undeniably elegant and commanding about her.
Her long, dark brown hair was tied neatly behind her back, and she had a face that carried both the sharpness of a battle-hardened warrior and the calm authority of a seasoned teacher.
There was no nonsense in her stance, no unnecessary theatrics; just pure, efficient confidence.
And then, she spoke.
"Prospectives."
Ren's brow lifted slightly. Prospectives?
It was a smart choice of words.
By addressing them as "Prospectives," she was subtly reinforcing the fact that none of them were official students yet.
It was a psychological move. An intentional reminder that admission into the academy was not guaranteed. They were all still being tested.
"Welcome to the Side Block of the Imperial Weavers Academy."
A hush spread through the crowd, an unspoken mix of excitement and nervousness.
"You will be staying in this Side Block for a full month. During this time, you will be gradually introduced to the Weaving World, and your performance here will determine your final placement within the Academy."
Ren's mind processed that quickly.
So, this wasn't just some orientation period. This was a probationary phase.
She continued.
"At the end of this month, you will be assigned to one of four classes—Basic Class, Elite Class, Supreme Class, or Imperial Class."
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
It was a classic hierarchical system.
Basic Class was for the bottom performers. Elite Class was for those with above-average potential. Supreme Class was for the exceptional few.
So what of Imperial Class?
The woman's voice grew firmer.
"The chances of entering the Supreme Class are already slim. And the Imperial Class?"
She paused for a brief moment, letting the tension settle.
"The Imperial Class is composed entirely of individuals handpicked from Great Weaver families—those who have been trained and introduced to the Loom years before you."
A ripple of unease passed through the gathered students. The implication was clear. Most of them had no chance.
Ren, however, was more interested in the social structure this hinted at.
Great Weaver families? That meant power was hereditary.
Those born into the right families had access to Weaving knowledge long before commoners. That was a crucial detail about this world's society.
His lips curled in amusement.
An unfair system, huh? Well, that suited him just fine.
The woman continued, briefly going over their schedule which included but was not limited to;
Testing of affinities, introduction to Immersion, learning the Ethics and Rules of a Weaver, study of the Loom and its properties, history of the Weaving World and basic Combat Weaving techniques.
Each of these things made sense in a structured training process. It was not random; it was efficient.
Before Ren could analyze any further, however, a confident voice suddenly cut through the air.
"Excuse me, Ma!"
Ren turned his head lazily.
A girl had stood up.
She was tall and striking, with long silver hair that shimmered like moonlight and deep violet eyes filled with sharp confidence.
Her uniform fit her perfectly, emphasizing her graceful yet athletic build.
There was a sense of nobility about her. It was a kind of self-assured presence that only came from someone who had been raised in privilege.
The instructor regarded her with a patient look. "Speak."
The girl pointed a single slender finger.
At him.
Ren didn't react.
"Instructor," she said, her voice crisp and clear, "What is that boy doing here?"
Ah. Here we go.
A murmur spread through the hall.
Ren let out a silent sigh. He had been expecting this. The moment he saw the extreme reactions from the students, he knew it was only a matter of time before someone outright questioned his presence.
All eyes turned to the instructor.
For a moment, she simply looked at the silver-haired girl, then shifted her gaze toward Ren.
A pause.
Then, a smirk.
And the woman simply said one thing.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?"
The entire room fell into absolute silence.