Minato looked down at him and for a long moment, neither of them spoke a single word.
Finally, Minato answered, “Because I wanted to.”
Shinazu’s brow furrowed deeply.
“That’s not a real reason.”
“It is *a reason*.”
“No, it isn’t,” Shinazu countered.
Shinazu had spent all his childhood around dealing with cruel and manipulative people who hid their dark intentions behind an innocent practiced smiles.
He simply couldn’t bring himself to believe that someone would provide this much benevolence and luxury just for free.
He was already carrying an immense gratitude and burden of legendary celestial gifts from a mysterious, godly woman, and now this man was piling on even more unconditional kindness.
Minato chuckled softly.
“Then you can take it as that I do not enjoy watching immensely talented children throw away their bright futures on the streets.”
_Talented?_ The word felt incredibly foreign to Shinazu’s ears.
Most people had called him countless bad names throughout his fourteen years of life, but ‘talented’ had never been one of them.
“But…
I have no way to repay you,” Shinazu murmured, clenching his fists.
Minato immediately waved his hand dismissively, brushing the concern away without a second thought.
“Then don’t repay me.”
Shinazu blinked in utter disbelief.
“What?”
“Children shouldn’t waste their valuable youth worrying about debts and obligations.
You should only look forward to your future school life.” Minato stated firmly.
“But…”
“No more arguments,” Minato cut in with a sharp tone, effectively ending the conversation then and there which made Shinazu lower his head.
“However…”
Shinazu quickly looked up.
Minato had a genuine smile.
“If you absolutely insist on repaying me someday…” His expression softened completely and sincerity filled his eyes.
“Then become a good person, someone I can be really be proud of.”
The words surprised Shinazu thoroughly.
“That’s it..
that’s really all you want?”
“That’s all.” Minato’s gaze suddenly became distant, his eyes taking on a deeply nostalgic, quiet look.
“There are already more than enough powerful people ruling this world than one can count,” his voice dropped to a quiet whisper.
“But what we desperately need are more good ones.”
For several long moments, Shinazu couldn’t find a single word to respond.
His throat became heavy and he eventually lowered his head to hide the emotion swelling in his eyes.
“I will try my absolute best, Minato Sensei!” He said with deep sincerity from the bottom of his heart not just because he felt obligated or in debt.
Minato smiled warmly, but then, with a sharp grin, he instantly ruined the solemn atmosphere.
“You better,” he snorted, pointing a finger out the window toward the dense forest in the back of the academy grounds.
“Otherwise, I’ll throw you to my Magical Beasts as live bait.”
Shinazu’s face turned pale.
“You…
you have magic beasts?”
“Several, in fact,” Minato replied smoothly.
“…You’re just lying to scare me, right?”
Minato simply offered a mysterious smile and that lack of an explicit answer felt even more worse.
Then Minato cleared his throat, getting back to business. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
“Listen carefully, Shinazu: this academy does not charge any tuition fees so you don’t have to feel obligated towards but the academy is filled with all kinds of children especially nobles and royals.”
The boy listened intently, hanging on every word.
“My job was to get you here, and it ends now, so from now on you will manage everything yourself like everyone else, so make sure always make wise decisions and do not get in unnecessary trouble.”
Shinazu gave a firm understanding nod.
“…and for the administrative side, I have already spoken with the Headmaster and successfully signed you up for the new academic session.”
He gave another nod.
“The official entrance ceremony is in exactly two days.” Minato finished his piece and stepped out into the corridor.
“Good luck to your new academic life!”
“Wait!
Minato-sensei!” Shinazu called out quickly.
“Yes?”
“What exactly am I supposed to do until the entrance ceremony?”
“Until then?
You’re completely free.”
“Free?”
“You can explore the campus, visit the grand library, meet the other incoming students, or, you know…
just relax.”
Shinazu listened carefully but those were not his concern “What about food?”
Minato stopped, staring at him blankly for two full seconds before bursting into an amused chuckle.
“Oh, right!
I completely forgot to mention the most important part to a growing boy.”
He turned and pointed at a direction.
“You remember that massive circular building we passed on our way here?”
Shinazu nodded.
“Yes.”
“That is the Dining Assembly.
You can go there eat whatever and as much as you want, for absolutely free.” Minato intentionally mentioned free.
“Really?” his stomach practically jumped with joy at the thought of eating delicious food at a luxurious place like this.
Minato nodded firmly, “Take good care of yourself, then,” Minato said and finally walked away.
Shinazu stood alone in the quiet room, looking down at the official identification card and the bronze room key in his hands.
After a few minutes of quiet contemplation, he focused his mind and safely stored both items away inside his silver storage ring.
After everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours…
After the brutal hunt through the town, the desperate sprint through the dark forest, the plunge down the massive waterfall, and all those agonizing years of surviving alone on the streets…
he had somehow, miraculously, become a registered student at the greatest magical academy in the world.
He then collapsed backward onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
After a few seconds, he shifted around, a bright smile breaking across his face.
“It’s…
it’s really soft!” he smiled to himself, rolling around on the mattress like an ecstatic child.
_Grumbleeee~!_
A loud roar echoed from his stomach, cutting his celebration short.
He was absolutely starving.
He left his room after locking and navigated his way back to the circular dome of the Dining Assembly.
The interior was massive, bustling with hundreds of children and overflowing with an absolute luxury that was nothing short of a royal banquet.
Shinazu was completely mesmerized by the sheer opulence of the dining hall, but keeping his plan in mind, he consciously forced his expression to look entirely normal, blending seamlessly into the background to avoid drawing any unwanted attention.
_Burp~_
He let out a satisfied sound as he walked back to his dormitory room, smiling widely.
The night had already fallen over the sky, and he made sure to hurry back straight to his room before he could get himself lost.
Once inside his room, he closed the door and jumped eagerly back onto his bed.
But the moment his body hit the mattress, a strange, unsettling sensation washed over him.
“Everything was normal just before I left…” he muttered to himself as he got out of the bed.
Then he shook his head.
“I *just* found this is new place, It would take some time for me to adjust to it.”
“Hmm,” He nodded looking around, “Let me take a good look at my new room and settle down the stuff.” He didn’t had any stuff to settle more than some set of clothes in his ring, so he just meticulously checked every single corner of the room like an unyielding inspection officer.
He checked the desk, its drawers, under it, behind it.
Inside the closet, under the rug, the bathroom, water taps: if they worked or not.
Window frame, curtains but he couldn’t find anything physically out of place.
He let out a sigh, “I was hoping to find some treasure or like an ancient magical tome, but this place is *just* normal.”
“Just a normal room.
Nothing else!” He convinced himself and collapsed back on his bed.
As the night grew darker, the eerie sensation grew stronger, making him incredibly restless.
He sat upright and clutched his pillow, his face grave and tense, “This place isn’t haunted..?
Is it?”
He shook his head.
“Just my weird thoughts.” He tried lying back down on the bed to force himself to sleep, but the skin on the back of his neck crawled, and after few more minutes he couldn’t endure and instantly jumped back off the mattress.
“This bed…
it doesn’t feel right,” he whispered to himself, his face turning stiff, “There is no way there is an old evil spirit possessed in this bed.”
Then after a few seconds his eyes narrowed.
“Is there something under it?”
Slowly, with heavy caution, he dropped to his knees and peered into the dark space beneath the bed frame, looking exactly like a terrified child checking for a hidden monster.
“Nope.
Nothing,” he muttered taking a relieved sigh.
Yet, the unsettling feeling refused to go away.
He was thoroughly dumbfounded, so driven by frustration and anxiety, he started looking around the bed, under again and even going so far as to lift and completely remove the heavy mattress from the frame but still he found absolutely nothing.
He stood in the center of the room, completely perplexed.
But as he turned his head, his gaze accidentally caught his own reflection in the polished mirror on the wall, and a sharp glint flashed across his eyes.
His eyes glinted with confidence.
_Celestial Moon Eyes.
Stage 1: Star Sight._
Instantly, his dark eyes started shining brilliantly as a sea of countless glowing stars filled them.
Turning his gaze back toward the stripped bed frame, he focused his vision entirely on the structure.
His breath caught.
Through the solid wood of the bed’s headboard frame, a distinct, rectangular box-like silhouette radiated a dangerous, glowing red outline.
Shinazu tensed.
Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the edges of the heavy wooden frame and threw all of his strength into pulling the bed outward, the wood groaned against the floor as he forced the headboard away from the wall.
He quickly slipped into the gap behind the headboard to inspect the hidden compartment.
The moment his eyes locked onto the concealed compartment, a glowing text window manifested sharply over the red silhouette.
Shinazu gasped, his blood running cold as he read the description.
**[ Hidden Array ]**
– **Object:** A 6th Grade Summoning Circle