Free Web NovelChapter 3: Limited Supply
The ginormous circular platform reached the bottom at last, revealing a long corridor of white quartz and luminescent blue light.
"Woah... it looks like an aquarium!" a girl exclaimed.
The girl beside her was also gobsmacked.
"Right!? The seniors told me it was the most beautiful place they’ve ever seen. I thought they were exaggerating..."
The murmurs continued nonstop as they walked the corridor; even Cookie had something to say.
"Hey, hey, Nuri! How much do you think a small chunk of quartz here sells for?"
"Get your mind out of the gutter," Nuri replied with a judgmental gaze.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"You’re just as weird as Yunara. I know you only think of money so you can pay me to draw furrie—"
"Shhh!" Cookie held his index finger over his mouth. "Aren’t you my friend! You’re supposed to keep it a secret!"
Nuri lightly swatted Cookie’s hand off.
"Oh please, everybody knows you’re innocent on the surface but devious in nature. You know what they call you recently?"
"...W-What?"
Nuri tapped on the guy’s chest.
"The Fluffy Fiend."
"That’s not true!" Cookie yelled, prompting the students around them to turn their heads.
"Ahaha, nothing to see here, guys. Move, move!"
The students gave awkward nods before pacing forwards again.
"Ahem!" Cookie pretended to clear his throat. "Anyway, have you decided which weapon and Essence you’re going to pick?"
"Hm." Nuri cupped his chin. "Not sure. We don’t know even know what Essences will be available."
"I mean, it’s a headstart, at least. Better than nothing!"
He nodded.
"Can’t deny that."
One of the perks of entering the Academy was that every student was essentially given a starter pack: a solid weapon, and the most important of all, an Essence.
The only way to grow stronger in the Labyrinth was to consume Essences dropped by monsters, thereby gaining Imprints.
Most people couldn’t even procure their first Essence in their third run, let alone the first. The drop rate of an Essence was so abysmal that one would be better off buying Essences from the LCs they saved up. This was the common strategy newbie Explorers were advised to do, since the monthly tithe in the first six months was heavily discounted.
By enrolling in the Academy, however, the students were given a starter Imprint right before their first exploration, which exponentially increased the students’ chance of survival and also helped them financially to avoid execution.
Unfortunately, there was a catch.
"We’re here!" Yunara exclaimed, snapping him out of his thoughts.
At the end of the corridor, the space opened into a wide, square room. Against the far wall, a ginormous stone structure rose all the way to the ceiling. Carved into its face was a single archway, twenty meters tall and lined with gold filigree.
The students gradually filled the room before the Labyrinth Gate, while the professors stood with their backs against it.
Professor Kendros, as representative of the academy’s faculty, stepped forward once again.
The room fell silent.
"As we discussed at the start of the year, your rankings in both practical and theoretical evaluations determine whether you receive an Essence or not. Now, we will reveal how many Essences your seniors were able to collect."
’There’s your catch.’
Not every student could get their hands on an Essence. It was reserved for those who excelled academically and proved themselves in the field. The number of Essences also depended on the seniors’ ability to collect them.
It was an annual event held one month before the first-years’ debut trip into the Labyrinth. Naturally, the seniors were incentivized to collect as many Essences as possible, or their juniors would suffer.
Kendros paused for a moment, scanning the room, then said:
"Celendia."
Just as the name was uttered, a side door opened, and a girl stepped through it.
She was tall, with long, wavy blonde hair that fell past her shoulders, and pale blue eyes that looked half-asleep. Her appearance had no blemish. To call her beautiful felt like an understatement, a failing of language itself.
[Wow, really. She’s not up to my standards at all.] freewēbnoveℓ.com
’Your standards are atrocious to begin with! You picked me, out of anyone, to make a pact with.’
[No. My standards are alright.]
Nuri waved her off.
The room recognized her before she said anything. The whispers spread fast as wildfire.
"C-Celendia?"
"No way she came in person!?"
"I heard she is nearing the Fifth Constellation!"
"No way, right? Fifth Constellation in her fourth year of exploration? That’s impossible..."
"You’re exaggerating! I bet she’s at 4.2 Star Rating at best. Or maybe she hasn’t filled all her Imprint slots."
"You’re just jealous, dude."
Another group discussed something entirely different.
"She’s even hotter up close."
"Bro, I wanna marry her."
"She’d kill you first!"
"And then her father will grab you from the underworld and kill you again!"
Cookie nudged Nuri.
"Yo. Bro."
"I see her."
Celendia was the definition of a golden spoon — silver spoon wasn’t enough to describe her. As the eldest daughter of Patrick Galanoir, the patriarch of House Galanoir, she had all the resources and talent to become a great Explorer.
’Ah, who am I kidding! I’m from a prominent house too.’
Every student here was able to attend the Explorer Academy through connections, backed by predecessors who had already proven themselves. It was as prestigious as the Royal Academy back in his original world, where a family name and track record mattered more.
Daphne Valentine from House Valentine; Penelope Binoch from House Binoch; Yunara Levische, daughter of Christian Levische; Cookie Lacreme, son of Desmond and Julia Lacreme; Decion Derrschier, son of Mariana Derrschier... the gist was clear.
And Nuri, just like in his past life, was born with a silver spoon. That was how he got into the Explorer Academy in the first place, because of his upbringing as the third generation of House Natlan. And just like in his past life, he was the black sheep of the family.
’I mean... look at what I draw.’
His father and mother were a legendary duo of Explorers who both tragically died fighting the Overlord of the 13th Floor. His grandfather was also a great Explorer who reached the 12th Floor. His older sister, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, was managing House Natlan as its matriarch.
And here, Nuri Natlan... Lewd Artist of the Academy.
In any case, he redirected his focus on the more pressing issue.
Celendia stood beside Professor Kendros.
"I’m Celendia Galanoir, Fourth Constellation. I extend my deepest congratulations to the Academy’s newest class of Explorers."
The students instantly applauded. It went on for a while before finally cooling down.
"As president of the Student Council, I am here to announce the amount of available Essences and the first-year rankings."
The room went completely silent. Time always seemed to pause when students were about to hear their grades.
"This year, we have..." Celendia paused, unnecessarily building tension.
’Just say it! This ain’t a gameshow, the hell!’
After about three long seconds, she finally said:
"Twenty-five Essences, out of the 108 students in this room."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"Twenty-five? That’s more than last year’s harvest, right?"
"Yeah, last year was eighteen."
"As expected from the golden generation!"
Celendia clapped once, immediately silencing everyone.
"I will now announce the rankings, from 1st to 25th. When I call your name, please step forward and choose your Essence from the vials presented."
A student approached with a tablet on his hand and handed it to Celendia.
She scrolled through it, unhurried.
"First place. Lycoris Lydigeon."
A ripple moved through the cohort. A girl near the front walked up quietly, selected a vial from the assistant’s tray, and stepped back.
Cookie leaned over to Nuri.
"What do you think your rank is?"
"Top five."
"Sounds about right."
Then, another name was announced.
"Second place, Daphne Valentine."
She was already looking at him when her name was called, that wide grin sitting annoyingly well on her face.
Nuri just wanted to wipe it off. He gave her a flat look as she walked to the tray, looking insufferably pleased with herself.
Then another.
"Third place, Aurélien Berringer."
Nuri glanced at the blond man, who met his gaze. They nodded to each other before Aurélien stepped forward.
"Fourth place, Adrienne Craymer."
Then came the dreadful last of the top five. Cookie had stopped breathing.
"Fifth place."
Celendia looked up from the tablet.
"Nuri Natlan."
