Two years had passed since the family gathering at Nihil’s manor.
Nihil was now ten years old.
For most children, ten was still an age of games, lessons, and being protected by their families.
For Nihil, it was the beginning of something different.
The Imperial Academy.
It was where the children of nobles, warriors, scholars, mages, and influential families gathered to gain the experience necessary to eventually enter the greater world.
And now, the most famous young prodigy of Augustus was finally old enough to attend.
THE FORBIDDEN LIBRARY
The curious student sat beneath the same old lamp.
The enormous collection of THE LAST SERIES remained open before him.
His tired companion was sitting opposite him, barely keeping his eyes open.
The curious student turned a page.
“So this is when Nihil enters the academy.”
The tired student yawned.
“Finally.”
“You don’t sound excited.”
“I’ve been reading about him being perfect for several chapters.”
He leaned back.
“Maybe the academy will finally make him act like a normal child.”
The curious student stared at him.
“You really believe that?”
“…No.”
The curious student smiled.
“Good.”
He turned the page.
“Let’s see what happened.”
I — THE IMPERIAL ACADEMY
The Imperial Academy stood at the center of the Augustus Empire.
Its enormous towers could be seen from several districts of the capital.
Training grounds surrounded the main building.
Libraries occupied entire wings.
Dormitories were built for students from noble families and distant territories.
There were magical laboratories, examination halls, sword-training arenas, lecture rooms, gardens, dining halls, and even diplomatic chambers where students could practice negotiations.
It was more than a school.
It was a miniature version of the world.
And on the morning of Nihil’s entrance examination, the academy was filled with students.
A carriage stopped before the main gate.
Nihil stepped out.
Seraphina von Vaelis followed.
Mimi jumped down after them.
She looked up at the academy.
“So this is it.”
Nihil looked at the enormous building.
“Yes.”
“We’re really going to study here?”
“You are my attendant.”
Mimi smiled.
“Exactly.”
Seraphina laughed quietly.
“You two haven’t changed.”
Nihil began walking toward the entrance.
Hundreds of students immediately noticed him.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
“That’s Prince Nihil.”
“The Augustus prodigy.”
“The greatest prodigy of Augusta.”
“I heard he mastered political theory years ago.”
“I heard he can speak multiple languages.”
“I heard he never makes mistakes.”
Mimi looked around.
“Master, everyone is staring.”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t that bother you?”
“No.”
Seraphina sighed.
“Of course it doesn’t.”
II — THE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
The examination contained several sections.
Academic knowledge.
History.
Languages.
Magic theory.
Combat knowledge.
Military strategy.
Physical ability.
Shinkai control.
And finally—
The Balance Measurement.
The academy possessed a special measuring device.
It wasn’t designed simply to determine how powerful someone was.
It measured several aspects simultaneously.
Power.
Control.
Physical ability.
Mental stability.
Energy management.
Knowledge.
Reaction.
Adaptability.
The result represented the balance between all those qualities.
There were countless possible results.
But one result had never appeared.
Perfect.
The examiners had never witnessed it.
One student finished his examination.
The measuring device displayed his result.
The examiner recorded it.
Another student stepped forward.
Another result.
Then another.
Eventually—
“Nihil Augusta.”
The room became quiet.
Nihil walked toward the device.
He placed his hand against the crystal.
The machine activated.
Light spread across its surface.
The measuring mechanism began calculating.
The examiners waited.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Then the machine stopped.
Everyone stared.
There was no explosion.
No malfunction.
No broken crystal.
No error.
Instead, one word appeared.
PERFECT
Nobody spoke.
One examiner slowly approached the device.
“…Perfect?”
Another examiner stared.
“That’s impossible.”
“The device is functioning.”
“Check it again.”
They checked.
Everything was normal.
The result remained.
PERFECT.
A senior examiner whispered:
“The balance is complete.”
Another asked:
“What does that mean?”
The senior examiner stared at Nihil.
“It means we’ve never measured anything like this before.”
Nihil removed his hand.
The room remained silent.
“Prince Nihil…
how did you achieve this?”
Nihil looked at him.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“No.”
He looked at the device.
“I simply answered the questions and completed the examination.”
The examiner had no response.
III — THE PERFECT HUMAN
The news spread throughout the academy almost immediately.
Nihil had not broken the measuring device.
He had not exceeded its limits.
He had not produced an incomprehensibly high number.
He had achieved something completely different.
Perfect balance.
The word spread from student to student.
Then from student to noble.
Then from noble to noble house.
By evening, the capital knew.
Prince Nihil already possessed several titles.
The Dead Prince.
The Prodigy of Augusta.
The Greatest Prodigy of Augusta.
Now another title had been added.
The Perfect Human.
Mimi heard several students discussing it.
She looked toward Nihil.
“Master.”
“Yes?”
“They’re calling you the Perfect Human.”
“I heard them.”
“Are you happy?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“It’s merely another title.”
Seraphina smiled.
“Of course.”
IV — THE ACADEMY TOUR
After the examination, new students were given a tour.
Seraphina walked beside Nihil.
Mimi followed behind.
The guide pointed toward the massive building.
“This is the central lecture hall.”
They entered.
Rows of seats stretched across the room.
“This is where most general classes are held.”
Next came the training grounds.
The students stopped.
Hundreds of practice weapons were arranged in racks.
Targets covered the distant walls.
Magic barriers surrounded the arena.
Mimi stared.
“Can attendants train here?”
The guide looked at her.
“Attendants have separate facilities.”
Mimi nodded.
“Good.”
Seraphina looked toward Nihil.
“Which part interests you?”
“The library.”
The guide smiled.
“Then you’re going to like the eastern wing.”
They continued.
The eastern wing contained an enormous library.
Thousands of books filled its shelves.
Nihil stopped.
His eyes moved across the shelves.
History.
Magic.
Military theory.
Alchemy.
Politics.
Ancient civilizations.
Languages.
Geography.
Law.
He walked toward one shelf.
Mimi watched him.
“Master…”
“Yes?”
“You’re already planning to read everything, aren’t you?”
Nihil picked up a book.
“Not everything.”
“Really?”
“Only what is useful.”
Seraphina smiled.
“That’s basically everything.”
Nihil didn’t answer.
V — THE DORMITORIES
The students were then taken toward the academy dormitories.
Seraphina received a student room.
Mimi was assigned an attendant’s room close to Nihil’s.
Nihil’s room was simple.
A bed.
A desk.
Bookshelves.
A wardrobe.
A window overlooking the academy grounds.
Mimi looked around.
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“Your room at the manor is larger.”
“I don’t need more.”
Seraphina entered.
“I think it’s comfortable.”
Nihil placed his books on the desk.
“Then it’s sufficient.”
Mimi smiled.
“You’re impossible.”
VI — THE FIRST CLASS
The next morning, the first-year students gathered in their classroom.
The room was filled with unfamiliar faces.
Nobles.
Commoners.
Young warriors.
Mages.
Children from distant territories.
The teachers stood at the front.
The first instructor stepped forward.
“Welcome to the Imperial Academy.”
The room became quiet.
“You have all passed the entrance examination and are now officially students.”
One by one, the teachers introduced themselves.
The history instructor.
The magic instructor.
The combat instructor.
The military strategy instructor.
The political science instructor.
The language instructor.
The etiquette instructor.
And several others.
After the teachers finished, the classroom doors opened.
A senior student entered.
She wore the insignia of the student council.
She walked to the front.
“I am the student council president.”
She looked over the class.
“Welcome.”
Her speech was calm but confident. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“You have entered an institution where talent is only the beginning.”
“You will make friends.”
“You will make rivals.”
“You will succeed.”
“You will fail.”
“You may eventually become rulers, heroes, scholars, commanders, or something entirely different.”
She paused.
“But remember…”
Her gaze moved across the students.
“The academy will not decide who you become.”
“Your choices will.”
She smiled.
“Welcome to your first year.”
The class applauded.
VII — THE TOP-SCORING STUDENT
The teacher returned to the front.
“Before we begin today’s lesson, there is one final matter.”
He looked toward Nihil.
“Our highest-scoring student has been asked to give a short speech.”
Every eye turned toward him.
Nihil stood.
He walked toward the front.
The teacher handed him the microphone.
Nihil looked across the room.
His expression was completely emotionless.
“My name is Nihil.”
Silence.
“I am here to study.”
He paused.
“I will follow the academy rules.”
“I will learn what is taught.”
“And I will learn what I do not yet understand.”
He looked across the students.
“I have no reason to expect anything from anyone.”
A few students exchanged glances.
Nihil continued.
“I hope everyone here achieves what they desire.”
He lowered the microphone.
“That is all.”
He returned to his seat.
The room remained silent for a moment.
Then applause began.
Mimi clapped enthusiastically.
Seraphina smiled.
Nihil simply opened his textbook.
VIII — LUNCH
The first lunch period quickly became chaotic.
Nihil sat at a table with Seraphina.
Mimi sat nearby.
The moment the students realized Nihil was there, several approached.
“Prince Nihil!”
“Can we talk to you?”
“Is it true that you got Perfect on the measurement?”
“Can we become friends?”
“Do you really know seven languages?”
“Can I ask you about the entrance examination?”
Nihil calmly looked at them.
“One at a time.”
They immediately became silent.
Seraphina smiled.
“You’ve already become popular.”
“I was already popular.”
“Fair.”
Mimi suddenly noticed Nihil’s untouched meal.
“Master.”
“Yes?”
“You’re not eating.”
“I’m not hungry.”
Seraphina immediately looked at him.
“You need to eat.”
“I’ll be fine.”
Mimi picked up a spoon.
“Open your mouth.”
“No.”
“Master.”
“No.”
Seraphina reached for another piece of food.
“If you won’t listen to her, listen to me.”
Nihil looked at both of them.
“You two are cooperating now?”
“Yes,” they answered simultaneously.
Nihil stared.
Then sighed.
“Fine.”
Mimi smiled victoriously.
“Good.”
She fed him.
Several students nearby stared.
One whispered:
“Is the Perfect Human being fed like a child?”
Another whispered:
“Don’t say that too loudly.”
Nihil calmly continued eating.
IX — THE QUESTIONS
The library became quieter as evening approached.
Back in the forbidden library, the two students had reached the end of the chapter.
The curious student closed the book.
The tired student stared at him.
“Okay.”
“What?”
“I have questions.”
The curious student smiled.
“Good.”
“First: how can someone be called perfect when he’s only ten?”
The curious student thought.
“Maybe the measurement isn’t saying he’s perfect at everything.”
“Then what is it saying?”
“Perfect balance.”
The tired student nodded slowly.
“Second question.”
He pointed toward the ancient book.
“Why does Nihil not care about being famous?”
The curious student looked at the pages.
“I don’t think fame means much to him.”
“Third.”
The tired student leaned closer.
“Why does Mimi care so much about making him eat?”
The curious student laughed.
“Because apparently being the Perfect Human doesn’t stop someone from being stubborn.”
The tired student smiled.
“Fourth question.”
He pointed toward the final page.
“What happens when a person who is supposedly perfect enters an academy full of other talented people?”
The curious student stared at the next chapter title.
“I think…”
He slowly opened the next page.
“…that’s what we’re about to find out.”
The tired student sighed.
“So much for a peaceful school story.”
The curious student smiled.
“Who said it was going to stay peaceful?”
The ancient book remained open beneath the library lamp.
And somewhere in the Augustus Empire, a ten-year-old boy had just begun his academy life.
The world knew him as a prodigy.
The academy knew him as its highest-scoring student.
The measuring device had given him a name no one had ever received before.
PERFECT.
And history had given him another.
THE PERFECT HUMAN.