After coming to Star Torch Academy, defeating the Voidworm, and making two good friends in Lynae and the Rover, Mo Bai's life had nearly settled into the peace he had always wanted.
That was before Star Torch Academy officially assigned him to a department.
"What?! The Label Development Department?!"
Mo Bai, the Rover, and Lynae huddled together to read the notification on his Terminal. Mo Bai felt as though the sky had fallen.
"Wow! That department, of all places..."
Even Lynae, usually so carefree, recoiled at the timetable displayed on Mo Bai's Tacet Disc.
Apart from the last evening study period on Wednesday, every slot across the six days was full!
For a moment, Mo Bai thought he had read it wrong.
Good grief! This was nothing like the university life I knew!
"Lynae! Teach me how to skip class!"
Mo Bai promptly turned to Lynae for advice.
Seeing that expression on Mo Bai's formerly lifeless face, Lynae couldn't help grinning.
This was fun.
"It's not all bad," the Rover said.
"The Label Development Department trains Candidates for Tunnelers, so it has more educational resources than the other departments."
The Rover explained this to Mo Bai.
Her words sounded reasonable, but Mo Bai's eyes were full of resentment as he looked at her.
"But from what I've seen these past two days, the Rover drives out of the Academy whenever she has free time. She doesn't have to worry about classes at all," Mo Bai said bitterly.
The Rover scratched her head, a little embarrassed.
The sight made Lynae and Mo Bai want to pound the floor.
Damn it! Was this the power of privilege?! Skipping class whenever you wanted without even asking permission sounded amazing!
Over the past two days, Mo Bai had visited the library and asked I.R.IS. for details about the Black Shores.
As the foremost organization fighting Threnodians in Solaris, the Black Shores held enormous sway in this world. Even the construction of Star Torch Academy had required its approval.
The Threnodians were members of the Black Shores capable of handling things on their own—elite talents, one in ten thousand.
And judging by how Doctor Lu had said goodbye to the Rover in the Medical Room, she was one of them.
She had gotten him into the Academy despite his having no official identity. She had to be exceptional, even among Threnodians.
Well, that left him with good news and bad news.
The good news: his friend was a big deal. If he worked hard, maybe he could graduate and ride her coattails.
The bad news: the Rover was strict about some things. At least for now, he couldn't count on her to help him skip class.
"Hehe, you could always talk through your troubles with your other friend."
Lynae draped one arm over Mo Bai's shoulder and pointed her other thumb at herself.
But judging by her smug expression, she was more interested in laughing at him than helping.
After all, unlike Mo Bai, she didn't have to deal with a timetable packed full nearly six days a week.
"Tch! I'm going for a ride. My dear friend, you can enjoy your lonely life in the preparatory program!"
With that, Mo Bai melted into the shadows and vanished from the bench, leaving Lynae to topple sideways.
Oof.
Fortunately, the Rover was beside her, so Lynae didn't fall onto the cold, empty seat.
"That guy! He nearly made me fall, and then he had the nerve to say he was going for a ride right to my face!" Lynae grumbled through gritted teeth as she leaned against the Rover.
The Rover could only offer a wry smile and try to make peace.
"I'm sure Mo Bai didn't mean it. He knew I was here to catch you, and... he was probably in a hurry because he had something to do. Yeah."
The Rover didn't believe that last part herself.
Mo Bai had practically spat out the words "dear friend," then deliberately mentioned going for a ride to rile Lynae up.
He knew Lynae was grounded and couldn't go racing, her favorite pastime.
As for whether this would damage Mo Bai and Lynae's friendship, the Rover wasn't worried.
The fact that they could tease each other so freely proved how close they were.
Vroom!
Mo Bai emerged from the shadows by the Academy gate with his Motorcycle.
In theory, the Shadow Space of the Ten Shadows Technique had no spatial limit. What limited its storage capacity was the technique's user.
The weight of everything inside the Shadow Space ultimately bore down on the user.
In other words, if the user was strong enough, storing an entire building wasn't impossible.
Mo Bai certainly couldn't do that yet.
With his old physique, he wouldn't have been able to carry a building—he couldn't even have managed a high-tech Motorcycle made by Star Torch Academy.
Fortunately, Cursed Energy strengthened him and subtly reshaped his body. Mo Bai was much fitter now than he used to be.
Screech!
With a piercing squeal of brakes, Mo Bai stopped on a patch of grass outside the Academy and hopped off his Motorcycle.
"Time to begin..."
Muttering to himself, Mo Bai formed the hand sign to summon a Shikigami.
Before you continue