Array

After Kamuro Sumire left the Convenience Store, Itozawa stood where he was, unable to help feeling a little anticipation about what she was about to do.

He knew that whether Kamuro Sumire's theft succeeded or failed, it could bring him some favorable results.

If Kamuro Sumire succeeded, she would likely feel some sense of closeness toward him. After all, he had given her a target that was both thrilling and relatively safe.

That sense of closeness might improve their relationship, and perhaps at some point in the future, she might even become his ally.

Moreover, as the Chairman's daughter, Sakayanagi Arisu could not afford to lose face or status. If her personal belongings were stolen, it would undoubtedly cause her some trouble and deal a blow to her lofty standing.

Even if the good-natured Katsuragi was willing to search for the thief alongside Sakayanagi, his subordinates, Yahiko and the others, would not pass up this opportunity.

Even if she failed, Itozawa was sure it would give Sakayanagi Arisu a headache for a while.

The Kouiku in this world didn't seem to care all that much about students stealing from one another. At least, judging from Kamuro Sumire's previous experience, the school hadn't taken any severe measures against her.

So, without leverage, how would Sakayanagi manage to guard against Kamuro at all times?

He was looking forward to it.

Itozawa headed toward the dormitory, a tall building with a modern, minimalist exterior. He knew it would be his home for the coming year.

The dormitory rules were simple: floors one through eight were for boys, and floors nine through sixteen were for girls. This arrangement made management easier while ensuring privacy.

He held the key card for Room 503, his new home. He walked toward the elevator, and its doors slid open silently. Everything seemed normal. But as soon as he stepped inside and pressed the button for the fifth floor, he sensed something was wrong—the elevator was moving far too fast.

Itozawa carefully examined the elevator car and soon spotted what was off.

Complex patterns were carved into the floor and walls. As the elevator started moving, the patterns began to glow faintly.

Itozawa studied them closely and quickly saw through the Energy Array's energy pathways. He could see how energy flowed through the array, how it was converted into power, and how it drove the elevator upward at high speed.

The array's lines shimmered in the light like living veins, energy coursing through them to form a complex and ingenious network.

He saw energy begin at a core Energy Stone beneath the elevator, then flow along the array's patterns. At each node, the energy was amplified and converted until the entire elevator was filled with its power.

The process was swift and efficient, completed almost in an instant, allowing the elevator to travel at an extraordinary speed.

Itozawa was amazed by the technology. He knew this was more than simple mechanical engineering—it was a masterpiece of energy application and array design.

He realized that the school's level of technology far exceeded his expectations. Energy Arrays like this could play an important role in many areas.

He was becoming more and more interested in the Ability Class.

The elevator soon reached the fifth floor, and the doors slid open silently once more. Itozawa paused to think, then stepped out, wondering what surprises awaited him in the dormitory.

Itozawa used his key card to unlock Room 503 and pushed the door open. He was immediately drawn to the furnishings inside.

The floor, walls, and even ceiling were covered with smooth tiles made from Energy Stones. They gave off a faint glow and emanated subtle Energy Fluctuations that left him feeling refreshed.

He knew the value of these Energy Stone tiles lay not only in their beauty but also in the energy they contained.

However, since the school had not yet taught them how to absorb or increase their energy, he could only use it to strengthen his body.

But Itozawa's ability seemed to be mental in nature, so physical training was basically useless to him.

This made him question the strenuous training he had put himself through over the previous three years. In a world of supernatural abilities, what was the point of strengthening one's body?

But soon, a detail in the room caught his attention.

He noticed that aside from the array that kept energy from leaking out of the room, there were no other decorative arrays.

This surprised him. Recalling the oddity he had noticed earlier, he began to suspect something.

He walked over to the wall and reached out to touch the array patterns he could see.

His fingers glided lightly over the delicate lines, and he soon confirmed his guess: just like the array inside the elevator, these arrays were all made of Ling Steel.

He thought back to the shapeless pieces of Ling Steel in the store.

No wonder they were all irregularly shaped, yet each one had been carved with such exquisite detail.

He considered the matter. Perhaps the school had designed it this way on purpose.

They were afraid that new students, who didn't know how to channel energy, would insist on buying arrays, so they provided only basic Ling Steel materials.

That way, any student who could recognize which arrays could be assembled from the scattered pieces of Ling Steel would already have some knowledge and understanding. And that was one of the requirements for buying an array.

It seemed the school would definitely offer classes related to arrays later on.

But for now, had anyone bought one?

Itozawa sat on the edge of his bed, frowning slightly as he tapped his fingers against his knee and sank into thought.

He recalled the scene in the store, trying to remember whether any other students had noticed those strange pieces of Ling Steel—or even bought them.

He closed his eyes, picturing every moment inside the Convenience Store: the throng of students, the rows of goods lining the shelves, the busy clerk...

He searched his memories, trying to pinpoint the student who might have bought the Ling Steel.

But he couldn't recall anything unusual. No one had paid particular attention to the Ling Steel, and no one had bought any.

Just as he was concentrating on his memories, an ill-timed sound interrupted his thoughts—his stomach growled twice.

The sound rang especially clearly in the quiet room, making him feel a little embarrassed. Hunger surged over him like a tide, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in quite some time.

Itozawa opened his eyes, sighed, and gave a self-mocking smile. He stood up, deciding to deal with his immediate hunger first. He knew that only by keeping himself in good physical and mental condition could he better handle the challenges ahead.

He left his room. A faint glow from the Energy Stones filled the hallway, creating a quiet, cozy atmosphere.

He went down the stairs, planning to see what the school cafeteria had to offer. His stomach protested again, louder this time, and he quickened his pace, eagerly anticipating the food that awaited him.