Jihu smirked as he stepped off the stage, his fingers lightly gripping the basic supplement kit he had just received. But his mind wasn't on the contents of the kit—it was on the next four heirs being called up. His gaze locked onto each of them, one by one.
First was Aeris Valtis, the 4th heir, a petite girl with striking blue hair adorned with violet streaks. She had an air of quiet intelligence but the sharp gaze of someone who had dissected her opponents in both academics and combat. A schemer, for sure.
Next, the 3rd heir, Garron Tusk, stepped forward. A towering wall of muscle with abs that could crush boulders. The guy looked like he wrestled space lions for breakfast. He carried himself with an intimidating presence, clearly the kind to solve problems with brute force.
Then came Selene Arventis, the 2nd heir. She looked… well, dangerous. Her mix of pink and red hair was as fiery as her reputation, and her mature, confident aura radiated dominance. A woman who was likely used to winning—whether through charisma, power, or sheer manipulation.
And finally, Lucian Alderris, the 1st heir. The golden boy. Literally. His blonde hair shined under the banquet hall's chandelier, and his face was disgustingly perfect—handsomeness that made angels weep. He carried himself with the elegance of someone who had never known failure.
Jihu sighed internally. Great. Four monsters.
The head teachers moved on, announcing the room assignments for the students. It was a random draw, supposedly meant to foster camaraderie. But Jihu had a gut feeling that "random" was a lie.
His suspicion was confirmed when his name was called… and he was paired with none other than Lucian Alderris.
Oh, come on! Jihu groaned internally, but it only got worse.
The remaining two in their dorm? Kael and Rael Vinteris, identical twin brothers with mischievous grins, who both had the exact same squirrel-brown hair color. Their faces were sharp and handsome, but their constant whispering to each other like plotting gremlins gave Jihu a headache just looking at them.
As he processed his new nightmare of a dorm assignment, he distracted himself the only way he knew how—eating. Jihu grabbed plate after plate, devouring nearly half the banquet's offerings before his stomach finally waved the white flag. With a satisfied sigh, he wiped his mouth and decided to leave early before any annoying socializing could trap him.
Bad idea.
As he turned a corner in the dimly lit hallway, one of the teachers—an elderly man with a supposedly "kind" smile—suddenly pressed a hand to Jihu's shoulder.
"Excuse me, young heir, may I have a word?"
Jihu blinked. "Huh? Uh, sure, but can it wait? I—"
Before he could finish, a sharp prick stung his neck. The last thing he saw was the teacher's smile turning eerily calm before everything blurred into darkness.
When Jihu awoke, he was chained to a chair.
Not just any chains—these were high-tech, futuristic, escape-proof restraints that glowed ominously, likely programmed to neutralize any resistance.
"Great," Jihu muttered groggily. "Kidnapped. On my first day. New record."
His vision focused, and he realized he wasn't alone.
Before him sat twenty elders, each draped in long ceremonial robes, their presence so overwhelming that it felt like the weight of a hundred planets was pressing down on him.
An elder with a flowing silver beard and piercing green eyes leaned forward. "Jihu Kang, heir of the 5th ruling family… you were not informed of this meeting. Do you know why you are here?"
Jihu blinked. "Uh… Surprise welcome party?"
Silence. A vein twitched on one elder's forehead.
Another elder, a woman with a sharp gaze, spoke next. "You are an enigma. Unlike the other heirs, there is… little public information about your upbringing. You have no records of training in any prestigious institutions, and yet, you waltz into the Academy as if you own the place."
Jihu yawned. "I mean, I do own at least one-fifth of this place, technically."
A few elders exchanged glances, unimpressed. The silver-bearded elder continued, "We do not appreciate wild cards, young heir. You will answer our questions truthfully."
Jihu smirked lazily. "And if I don't?"
A deep mechanical hum filled the room. The chains tightened.
Jihu winced. "Okay, okay! Sheesh, no need for the full villain treatment. Ask away."
The questioning began. They grilled him about his childhood, his education, his goals. Jihu, of course, lied through his teeth in the most convincing manner possible, weaving a tale of a low-profile upbringing, a humble desire for self-improvement, and a general disinterest in noble politics.
The elders weren't buying it.
Selene Arventis's grandfather, an intimidating man with a scar running down his face, finally broke the silence. "Do you truly intend to stay uninvolved in the power struggle of the great families?"
Jihu raised an eyebrow. "I dunno, old man. You all kidnapped me, chained me up, and interrogated me on my first day. Doesn't exactly make me wanna be buddy-buddy with any of you."
A murmur spread through the room. The silver-bearded elder sighed. "Very well. We will be watching you, Jihu Kang."
The chains unlocked with a soft click. Jihu immediately rubbed his wrists, standing up with a groan. "That's it? No gifts? No apology fruit basket?"
The elder woman waved dismissively. "You may leave."
Jihu didn't need to be told twice. As he stepped out of the council chamber, he muttered under his breath, "This school sucks."
His stomach rumbled.
"…I should've stolen some food before leaving."
To be continued…