Please Don’t Enroll Me in the Academy!

Deren stared at the screen in his hand, his expression completely blank.On it, a headline from the official news network screamed:

"Unknown Illegal Weapon Saves Lynth City. Technology Surpasses Military Standards. Who's Behind It?"

"…I just wanted to sleep. Why am I in the headlines?"

In his messy but functional workspace, Deren rubbed his face with one hand.In the corner, Clarice was on a holo-call with one of their underworld contacts.

"No, we are not accepting new orders for the Lynth weapon version. That was an unstable prototype. Yes, even if it did cut a Tier-5 Metavore in half. No, we don't sell to the royal faction. Thank you."

Clarice ended the call, then glanced at Deren, who was half-sunken into a beanbag.

"Things are heating up. The Aether Corps is sending investigators to the western zone."

Deren mumbled sleepily,"So… do we move base or do I fake my death?"

"Both are difficult. But there's a third, much worse option."

"…Don't tell me you signed me—"

Clarice pulled out a digital file.

Nova Academy Enrollment Form – Special Strategic Technology Track.

"WE DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS!"

"Relax. It's an anonymous track. They're looking for a 'mysterious tech source' they can develop. I didn't use your real name. I just wrote that you're a freelance inventor with immeasurable potential."

"Clarice. I love you as my right hand. But sometimes, I want to throw you at a Metavore as bait."

Clarice chuckled."Go ahead. But I manage all your bank accounts."

A few days later...

Deren stood at the gates of Nova Academy, the most prestigious military and technology training center in the world.

Towering buildings with futuristic designs.Open training arenas, patrol drones zipping through the air, and cadets in Core-powered armor moving with focused determination.Everyone looked like they were ready to die for humanity.

And right in the middle of it all…

Stood Deren.Wearing a gray hoodie, hands in pockets, eyes full of regret.

"Welcome, new cadets!" shouted an overly enthusiastic admin officer."You are the future hope against the Metavore threat!"

Future hope? Wrong guy. I'm not even sure I can wake up in time for morning drills.

Deren was led toward the dorms, where he met two of his future roommates:Kael—an overly excited and aggressively friendly guy who greeted him with an unwanted hug,and Ryn—a calm, sharp-eyed cadet who seemed to suspect everything, including Deren.

"You in the tech track too?" Ryn asked, eyeing him warily.

"Uh… kind of. I'm in… repairs."

"Whoa, cool!" Kael beamed. "What kind of weapons do you build? I wanna see!"

"I, uh… built a… self-heating foot warmer."

They both stared at him, puzzled.

Nice one, Deren. Peak conversation killer.

Later that night, at Aether Corps central HQ…

Sarka stared at the newest applicant data from Nova Academy.

"…There's one suspicious new name. Special enrollment. Not listed in the official database."

Reiner stood behind her, reading the same report.

"Send a watcher to the academy. Don't approach him yet.But keep a close eye on everything he does."

Back in the dorm room…

Deren lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Seven days ago I was sipping coffee on top of a dead Metavore.Now I have to do morning aerobics.This world is cruel."

Welcome to your new life, Deren.

And clearly…this is just the beginning of the chaos.