Chapter 3, Lesson 1
"You... you..." The little fox's eyes were moist, gazing at Duke with tear-filled eyes. In a small, aggrieved voice, she said: "It's... it's time for class, Teacher Miles... asked me to come... find you. The location is... after passing through... Hero Square... the red... brick building... the innermost room on the third floor."
Myles spoke only of the history of Good Academy, the history of those fearless ancestors and warriors, which has already left a profound imprint in the hearts of these children: fearlessness and the courage to move forward.
You ... ... you ... ...
Duke held his head high, patting his belly, happily burping with a grin, while swaying his head from side to side, watching the beautiful girls coming in and out of the cafeteria
If one disregards the occasional flash of brilliance it exhibits, it is truly very ordinary, but only Duke knows that this is the true secret of the Daniel family
After following a fellow student who also seemed to be heading for breakfast to a cafeteria at the college, Duke finally found a sumptuous breakfast laid out before him. At that moment, he noticed the peculiar gazes of those around him, but he thought, what could be more important than sleeping and eating?
The little fox suddenly let out a sharp cry, its entire face turning as red as a ripe red apple
These half-orcs, who still retain two obvious characteristics of the beast race, hold a very low status on the continent. People, whether naturally or unnaturally, always look down upon them, believing that their bloodline is inferior and that they are only fit to be servants
Duke suddenly realized that it was the fox clan
However, Duke had no such awareness; he waved to the girl, "Come here!"
Duke rushed out fiercely, creating a fleeting shadow, and supported the little fox's shoulder, pressing her down to sit beside him
The little fox was suddenly at a loss, a blush quickly creeping up her cheeks. Although she had come specifically to find Duke, his demeanor left her, already shy, standing there unsure of what to do.
Gradually, the students began to chatter, but Miles merely shot them a glare, and all noise instantly vanished, leaving an absolute silence. It was imperative to maintain silence; before the class began, this individual had demonstrated formidable power, and who knows if he might actually direct it at someone.
Duke pointed at a boy sitting next to the little fox, directly grabbed his collar and lifted him up, then casually threw him out.
He shook his head and quickly crossed the Hero Square, heading straight for the red building he had found. If possible, he did not wish to return to this square again
As Duke stepped into the circular square, he suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. He gazed from a distance at the towering monument, particularly at the row of names at its pinnacle
Bob? Daniel
"Haha, little bunnies, your big brother is here. Aren't you going to stand up and welcome me?" Duke, who had no habit of knocking on doors, did not care whether he disturbed Miles, and laughed heartily even before entering.
Gino? Daniel
There are fewer than twenty students in this classroom, each sitting upright with their heads held high, attentively listening to every word spoken by Miles
Uh... it's nothing, everyone don't worry about it, this person is also a classmate of ours, his name is Duke. Miles smiled awkwardly, then continued the previous topic with a serious demeanor.
Recollecting his thoughts, Duke placed the pendant close to his body inside his clothing, for the class had already ended.
What am I? Duke found it very amusing, having never seen such a little fox before. However, playing with the fox's tail seemed insufficient; he then directed his gaze towards the pair of pointy, adorable cat ears.
The scene of wind sweeping away the remnants of clouds and the voracious eating of a wolf or tiger cannot fully describe Duke's manner of eating. In the blink of an eye, the four or five dishes that had been laid out on his plate were completely cleared, as if they had never been filled with food at all
Being able to enter Good Academy for study is extremely precious to them, as they fear missing out on anything and learning even a little less
In this case, how could she possibly express it
Dios squinted his eyes and glanced sideways at Duke; within his peculiar gaze was only a sense of battle intent. He deeply felt that the reason this guy called him "little brother" was because he had defeated him yesterday. If he were to win, he could similarly claim the title of "big brother".
"Hahaha, what a soft and comfortable feeling!" Duke gently brushed the little fox's tail across his face, wearing a look of utter contentment.
As he glanced around the classroom, he noticed that the two angel inheritors from yesterday were also present. "You two little brothers, come here quickly. I've walked a long way and my back is sore; give me a massage..."
Outside the window lies a lush forest, populated by tall trees of unknown species. Vines entwine the branches, extending their leaves higher to absorb sunlight. Beyond the forest is a nameless lake, its surface shimmering with countless brilliant golden reflections.
Stan Daniel
However, matters are often not as one wishes, just as he cannot understand why today others are looking at him strangely
His mood gradually sank, and he became increasingly silent. Duke greatly disliked this feeling; even a slight reflection on it made his head ache. Why do people direct all their expectant gazes towards his family? There is no reason! After all these years, has he not also accepted this reality?
He shook his head with a bitter smile and said softly: "Perhaps years from now, another 'Duke? Daniel' will appear here, right? Have you ancestors, who abandoned your families, ever considered the pressure and loneliness that your descendants bear? From the moment I can remember, it has been nothing but training, and it is precisely for this reason that the term 'genius' exists, isn't it? But that was my childhood, not yours... Well, even if all of you were to come back to life, you would still choose that path, because... from the moment I can remember, it has been nothing but training, and it is precisely for this reason that the term 'genius' exists, isn't it? But that was my childhood, not yours... Well, even if all of you were to come back to life, you would still choose that path, because... my future self will be like that too..."
As he watched, Duke's thoughts inevitably drifted far away
Ah!
Miles waited for a long time but did not see Duke coming, so he had no choice but to start speaking first
I asked you to come over...
Oh my, is this still the teacher who proclaimed how strict they are from the very beginning
Seeing the students gaze in that direction, Miles couldn't help but look over as well
Andy? Daniel
This fellow is too arrogant; he must be made to understand why the flowers are red
Similarly, they all understand that the students of Good Academy are not only synonymous with genius but also with high risk. Perhaps before they even engage in a true battle with the demon race, they may already fall heroically on the path of learning. Yet, they remain resolute; if they yield even a little, what awaits behind them is their own family facing the demon race, a reality they can never accept. Since they must endure such hardships, they will bear them themselves.
Duke still appeared as if he could never wake up. He adjusted his collar, trying to prevent the morning chill from seeping in, which would allow him to wake up a little more slowly. If it weren't for his stomach growling so joyfully, he would insist on sleeping a bit longer
Just when he felt that his stomach had rested enough, a girl with pointed ears stood across from him, her features beautiful, her skin fair, and there was a faint blush of shyness on her cheeks
Suddenly, a jolt surged through the little fox, accompanied by a tingling sensation that made her tremble all over. Duke had gently pinched her ears between his fingers. She violently broke free from the grip he had on her tail and fled to the side
As he sat there, Duke felt increasingly bored. The little fox ignored him, and the others were attentively listening to the lecture. Not wanting to disturb anyone, he could only rest his head on the table, lost in a daze.
He then sat down with a clear conscience, moving his own desk to cross the aisle that was originally about one person wide, placing it side by side with the little fox's desk.
After Duke settled down, he took a serious look at the situation in the classroom. In addition to the two who had fought yesterday, there were also a Stone Golem, a Frostbear, a Thorn Tree Spirit, a Minotaur, and even two young dragons, among others. Essentially, every race with special abilities could be seen here.
Then, Duke saw the little fox who had come to find him earlier, sitting in a window-side seat, and he walked straight over to her
The little fox, blushing, did not know how to stop the other person's actions. Should she directly tell him that the snow fox's tail is the most precious, and only those who are closest can touch it?
At the moment when Miles was speaking passionately, Duke's figure appeared at the classroom door
If those onlookers at Exam Room 10 yesterday were to know that Duke is like this, their entire worldview and outlook on life would likely be overturned: Oh God, could this really be that super genius? Please grant me endless darkness, so that I may never see the light again
He stared blankly for a moment, when suddenly a fluffy white tail emerged from the girl's straight little leg
This is quite discriminatory, isn't it? Does the gap really need to be this large? Protest! Protest!
The snow-white tail behind her, Duke had unknowingly grasped it in his hand and was gently stroking it.
The guy on the stage must have figured out my identity related to the diagram and the book. The others probably still don't know, but they will definitely find out! It's troublesome; I dislike being surrounded by a noisy crowd and seeing the awe in others' eyes... In short, everything is a hassle! I can't understand why that old fellow Angus had to kick me here; can't I learn just as well at home? Aren't the members of the Daniel family becoming increasingly powerful, mastering more magical skills, and growing stronger in the end? I just don't get it... Duke thought aimlessly, his hand tightly gripping a piece engraved with intricate patterns, looking gray and cheap, like a trinket picked up randomly, far inferior to the ones Richie and Dios have.
Is this the demon who said that if one does not behave, they will be kicked out of school
Where did this guy come from? He walks in and starts calling everyone little brother
The next day, in the early morning
Thus, he closed his eyes and pretended to doze off, wanting to rest for a while, after all, he had gotten up quite early in the morning
Groups of students appeared in various places around Good Academy, either going for breakfast or engaging in morning exercises
Slowly, he noticed that the people around him were looking at him with somewhat strange expressions. He shook his head and chose to ignore it.
What a joke, the most important thing now is to fill the stomach; is there anything more important than this? He continued walking, and as he walked, he realized another thing: he did not know where the cafeteria was, or where something happened that could be eaten
Hero Square is a plaza established alongside the founding of Good Academy, dedicated to commemorating those who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the demon race to protect their homeland. They may be nameless or renowned, but their names are inscribed here with magical seals, for they have all fallen on the battlefield against the demon race
After speaking, the little fox turned away gently, sobbing, leaving Duke in a state of confusion