Ethan stood outside the principal’s office for a brief moment, silently staring at the polished wooden door before him.
He honestly couldn’t think of a single reason the principal would suddenly want to see someone like him.
Had he broken another academy rule without realizing it?
Or was this somehow related to today’s practical examination?
"...Whatever."
He raised his hand and knocked twice.
"Come in."
The calm voice from inside made him push the door open.
The office was surprisingly spacious. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined both sides of the room, every shelf packed with thick ancient books and neatly arranged documents. Behind an enormous mahogany desk sat a middle-aged man with streaks of silver running through his dark hair. Though age had softened his features, there was an unmistakable authority about him that made the entire room feel heavier.
This...
Was the principal of the Imperial Sentinel Academy.
"Sit."
Ethan obediently took the seat opposite him.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The principal simply continued reading the file in front of him before finally closing it with a quiet sigh.
"Ethan Ashford."
"Yes, sir."
"I watched today’s practical examination."
Ethan blinked.
The principal himself watched?
"I must admit..." the older man continued. "You survived far better than I expected."
Ethan wasn’t sure whether that was supposed to be praise or another polite way of saying everyone had expected him to die.
"...Thank you?"
The principal almost smiled before shaking his head.
"I didn’t call you here because of today’s examination."
He opened the file again before sliding it across the table.
"Do you recognize this?"
Ethan lowered his gaze.
It was the original Ethan’s student record.
More specifically...
His financial record.
"I believe you already know this from your own memories, but after your Guiding compatibility awakened at only five percent, the Ashford family officially severed all financial support toward you."
Ethan remained silent.
The principal continued.
"Everything you’ve used since entering this academy—your tuition, accommodation, uniforms, training equipment, meals and educational expenses—has been covered under the Empire’s Guide Scholarship."
Ethan’s expression gradually became serious.
He... hadn’t actually thought about that.
He had been so focused on surviving and adapting that he’d completely forgotten money was still a thing.
The principal folded his hands together.
"Normally, scholarships exist to nurture promising talents who may one day become valuable assets to the Empire."
His voice remained calm.
"But there has never been an F-Rank Guide who successfully graduated from this academy."
Ethan’s fingers unconsciously tightened around his knees.
"The board has already begun questioning why the academy continues investing resources into someone whose future potential appears... nonexistent."
"..."
"I’ve managed to delay their decision until the end of this semester."
Ethan slowly looked up.
"...Delay?"
The principal nodded.
"If your Guiding Rank remains at F by the next official assessment..."
His expression became noticeably more solemn.
"...your scholarship will be revoked."
The room suddenly felt unbearably quiet.
"You’ll lose your tuition."
"Your dorm."
"Your academy privileges."
"And you’ll be expelled from the Imperial Sentinel Academy."
Ethan stared blankly at him.
"...Expelled?"
"I’m afraid so."
The principal sighed softly.
"The Empire doesn’t invest endlessly into those who show no possibility of growth."
For a long moment, Ethan couldn’t say anything.
He had originally planned to quietly survive graduation.
Now...
He might not even be allowed to stay long enough to graduate.
The principal watched him quietly before speaking once more.
"I know what I’m asking isn’t easy."
"However..."
He leaned back slightly.
"If you truly wish to remain here..."
"You’ll have to prove that you’re capable of becoming more than an F-Rank Guide."
Silence filled the office once again.
After a while...
Ethan slowly stood.
"I understand."
The principal nodded.
"You may leave."
Ethan gave a small bow before quietly walking out of the office.
...
The cool evening breeze brushed against his face as he made his way back toward the dormitory.
His mind, however, was anything but calm.
"So much for living peacefully..."
He let out a bitter laugh.
The universe really had something against him.
In his previous life, he’d spent every single day fighting for survival against endless waves of zombies.
After dying, he’d honestly thought this second life would finally be peaceful.
Instead...
He’d somehow ended up fighting for survival all over again.
Only this time, the enemies weren’t zombies.
They were rankings.
Status.
Politics.
And a school that treated people according to the number beside their names.
His footsteps gradually slowed.
"If I get expelled..."
He quietly muttered the words to himself.
"...I literally have nowhere to go."
The Ashford family wanted nothing to do with him.
He had no savings.
No home.
No one waiting for him outside these academy walls.
For the first time since transmigrating, Ethan realized something.
He couldn’t afford to stay weak.
Not because he wanted respect.
Not because he cared what anyone thought.
But because weakness meant allowing others to decide his future.
Today they had taken away his dorm.
Tomorrow...
The academy itself could throw him out.
The next time someone powerful decided to bully him...
What exactly would he be able to do?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
That...
Was what angered him the most.
He slowly clenched his fists, he really needed to get stronger.
Not to prove anyone wrong but simply because he refused to let another person dictate how he lived.
This body might belong to the weakest Guide in history... But he wasn’t the same Ethan anymore.
If there was even the slightest possibility of becoming stronger...
He would find it.
No matter how difficult it was.
By the time he reached his dormitory, the last traces of sunlight had disappeared beyond the academy walls.
He pushed open the door, intending to wash up before thinking about how exactly he was supposed to increase a Guide’s rank. He had barely managed to sit down before—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Ethan frowned.
Someone was knocking on his door?
That alone was strange.
From the memories he had inherited, Ethan Ashford didn’t have any real friends. Most students either ignored him, mocked him, or pitied him.
So who could possibly be looking for him?
His expression immediately became cautious.
Please don’t let this be more trouble.
Then another thought suddenly crossed his mind.
...Wait.
Curious, Ethan walked over and pulled the door open.
Standing outside was a handsome young man with messy ash-gray hair and bright amber eyes that curved into crescents from how widely he was smiling. The moment their eyes met, the stranger’s grin became even brighter, as though he had finally found someone he’d been searching everywhere for.
Ethan didn’t even get the chance to ask who he was.
The young man dramatically pointed an accusing finger at him before puffing out his cheeks.
"Ethan! Ethan! You actually had the guts to abandon me, huh?!"