The atmosphere within the group began to relax once Knight accepted. Although his gaze remained guarded, his six classmates seemed more excited than he had anticipated. They walked out of the Athena Research Building, heading toward the institute's recreation zone, which featured premium restaurants exclusively for high-tier students.
On the way, the cheerful blonde young man opened the conversation again.
"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Arthur from the Wentworth family. Good to know you, Knight. You were so cool for standing up to those noble kids at the opening ceremony," he laughed, lightly patting Knight's shoulder.
Knight merely gave a slight nod, but the name 'Wentworth' made him pause. That was a family famous for its long-standing support of the frontline Tower Research Units.
"My name is Rin," said the girl with sea-blue hair who had asked Instructor Cassian a question earlier, introducing herself shyly. "And these four are Kai, who's the quiet one; Sophia, who's on her smartphone; and the twins, Ren and Ran."
The group of seven arrived at a restaurant called 'The Extra-Dimensional Kitchen,' decorated with transparent glass that offered a view of the gargantuan Tower looming in the distance. Once the food was served, the conversation turned more serious.
"You were curious about the buying and selling of Boxes, weren't you, Knight?" Kai, the solemn young man with jet-black hair, spoke up while cutting his steak. "Actually, what Instructor Cassian told us was just the surface. The scarier truth is the 'usurpation' of Boxes already bound to souls."
Knight frowned. "What do you mean? The instructor said it has to be a voluntary transfer, didn't he?"
"Theoretically, yes," Sophia said, putting down her phone and looking at Knight with cold, sparkling eyes. "But if the original owner dies, the Box enters a temporary 'ownerless' state before the soul dissipates. If someone with high compatibility is nearby and knows how to intervene... they can 'harvest' it. That's why the Great Families have so many high-level Boxes because they hunt for them inside the Tower."
Sophia's words silenced the table for a moment. Knight began to see the rot within this system. The Tower wasn't just a place of exploration for humanity; it was a killing field where the strong tore power away from the weak.
"What about you, Knight?" Ran, the female twin, asked curiously. "What is your Box? You didn't use it at all during the exam, did you?"
Knight went still. He didn't want to reveal too much about Uriel.
"It's just a low-level Box. It has too many drawbacks, so it's not worth using. I thought I'd use my own strength instead until I get a second Box," he said calmly, putting food into his mouth.
"I see... so there are boxes not worth using," Arthur said with a smile, but he didn't pry further. "Anyway, in tomorrow's practical class, we'll probably see the real thing from everyone. Because Instructor Cassian... even though he looks kind, he's the former head of the 15th Floor Exploration Unit. He's incredibly skilled."
"Really? I thought he was just a regular old man," Ren, the male twin, said while scooping rice for Ran.
"That's the trap, my friend," Arthur winked, taking a drink of juice. "In the Tower, the most harmless-looking person is the one who can kill you the most quietly. Instructor Cassian once survived a swarm of 'Berserk Golems' on the 15th floor all by himself. The title 'The Liquid Steel Fortress' wasn't earned by luck."
"Stop talking about stressful things like the professor's history," Ran puffed out her cheeks while chewing on stew. "The food here is delicious! Knight, you should try this cream of mushroom soup; it's really good."
Ran used a serving spoon to share some soup with Knight, causing the tension from the 'Box hunting' topic to fade into a typical teenage gathering.
"By the way... Knight, where are you staying?" Rin asked curiously. "I saw you walking to the academic building from the direction of the regular dorm zone. Didn't you submit a request for the Class S special dorms?"
"Special dorms?" Knight repeated, confused. "The proctor didn't mention them."
"I knew it!" Sophia let out a small laugh and shook her head. "The Class S benefits are hidden in the 'Advanced Menu.' You have to confirm your rights first before the system unlocks the suite keys. Our dorm is on the top floor of the Athena Building. It has a private pool and a simulation training room."
"Oh... I missed out then," Knight replied flatly, though he mentally noted how to handle this immediately after eating. Who would want to stay in a noisy dorm if a private suite was waiting? Even though Dorm 13 was quiet, a floor with only seven people was obviously better.
"Don't worry, we'll take you to see it ourselves," Arthur added with a laugh. "But I'm warning you, Class S dorm walls are very thick. Even if you practice your power until the room explodes, people outside won't hear a thing. It's perfect for a recluse like you."
"You say that as if you've exploded someone's room before, Arthur," Kai poked fun at him, making Ren and Ran burst into laughter.
"Hey! That was an accident when I was trying to tune a Fire Elemental Box!"
Throughout the meal, Knight simply sat and listened to the fluid back-and-forth of his new acquaintances. Though he hadn't opened his heart 100%, the 'annoyance' he initially felt toward these people was slowly changing into a strange feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time... a feeling called having 'friends.'
Rin talked about dessert shops in the institute, Ren and Ran argued about gaming plans for next week, and Sophia shared funny videos of Welders on social networks. The laughter around the table made Knight inadvertently crack a small smile.
"Look! Knight smiled!" Ran shouted excitedly, pointing at his face.
"Hey... I did not," Knight quickly suppressed the smile and returned to his expressionless face, which only made the others laugh harder.
"Alright, alright. Everyone gets plenty of rest," Arthur said as the meal ended. "Cassian's practical class tomorrow might make us unable to laugh like this. Prepare yourselves, especially you, Knight... and don't forget to go change your room!"
After parting ways, Knight walked back toward the residential area while looking at the smartphone in his hand. He searched through the menus Sophia mentioned until he found it, then pressed to confirm his Class S dorm rights. Suddenly, a new coordinate appeared on the screen along with a premium welcome message.
'I specifically chose Dorm 13 because the proctor said it was quiet. I didn't think to ask about other dorms,' Knight muttered to himself as he entered the glass elevator heading to the top floor. 'But then again, I didn't know I'd be in Class S back then.'
Knight stepped out of the glass elevator at the ground floor of the luxury dorm building before heading straight toward 'Dorm 13' located deep within the dorm zone. The atmosphere changed completely from modern luxury to faded concrete with signs of long use and tree roots climbing the walls. But for Knight, this simplicity and age truly seemed quieter, just as the proctor had described.
He walked up to his temporary room, opened the slightly creaking door, and the first thing he did was go to his bedside to pick up the 'chipped sword' he received from the old man.
Knight ran his fingers along the serrations and imperfections of the thick iron blade that looked worthless to outsiders. But to him, it meant more than any high-tier weapon bought with a fortune. He meticulously wrapped the sword in cloth and slung it across his back, preparing to move to his new residence.
"Wherever I go, you're coming with me," Knight murmured to the large sword before locking Room 13 for the last time.
He headed to the 'Dormitory Registration Building,' a modern structure located between the academic and dormitory zones. Inside, the building was bright with LED lights, and a robot receptionist was stationed in front of the counter. Knight walked straight to a female staff member who looked slightly startled by the sight of the sword on his back, but she regained her composure and smiled politely.
"How can I help you?"
"I'm here to confirm my Class S dormitory rights," Knight replied, showing his smartphone screen.
The staff member's eyes widened immediately after scanning the data. "Oh... a new student from Class S. We just received the confirmation through the system. Please wait a moment."
She took out a clear, credit-card-sized card and placed it on the data reader for a moment before returning it to Knight with a smile that was many times more respectful than before.
"This is the Primrose-level digital keycard for the top-floor suite of the Athena Building. This card can be used to access all Class S common areas and serves as a prepaid card for high-end restaurants."
Knight took the keycard. The coldness of the special material made him feel the 'level' of difference this institute tried to impose on people.
'How troublesome. It's just a place to sleep.'
He tucked the keycard into his shirt pocket, tightened the strap of the chipped sword on his back, and turned to walk out of the registration building toward the Athena Building.