The Next Day.
"Hoooaah~" Akira yawned lazily, his deep voice echoing softly in the quiet room as he stretched his arms above his head and slowly arched his back like a sleepy cat just waking from a long winter slumber. Golden rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains of his window, dancing with the dust particles in the air as if to welcome him into a new day—but he didn't feel particularly welcomed.
It had been a long time since he last slept in his comfortable bed, the one that had molded to the shape of his body like it was embracing him. The pillow was soft, almost too soft, sinking his head into its plush depths as if trying to stop him from getting up. His body felt heavy, tired for no reason, and his soul hovered somewhere between the longing to sleep for another century and the cruel obligation called "school."
"Damn it…" he muttered under his breath, a clear boredom flickering in his furrowed brow before he finally rose from the bed.
His footsteps on the wooden floor were slow and lazy. He didn't care that he was completely naked; no one else was in the apartment, and modesty wasn't exactly on his list of priorities this morning. His taut muscles loosened with each step, and his pale skin seemed to glow faintly beneath the gentle morning light.
He staggered into the bathroom, placing his hand on the wall with nonchalance, then stood before the mirror for a few seconds, staring at the disheveled reflection of his own face. His blood-red eyes were half-lidded, and his messy golden hair looked like it had survived a nightly storm.
He turned on the shower, and cold water hit first, making his body shudder slightly, before it warmed up and enveloped him in slow comfort. Droplets splashed across his shoulders and chest, sliding down his skin like they were washing away the fatigue of sleep.
"…The best part of the morning," he murmured, closing his eyes and surrendering to the fleeting warmth of the water.
_
After a long, relaxing shower, Akira stepped out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a small towel. The lingering steam filled the space like a gentle fog that wrapped around the apartment. His skin looked fresher, his wet strands clinging to his forehead, and his ash-gray eyes had regained some life after those peaceful minutes under the warm water.
He wore his usual school uniform: a clean white shirt with dark buttons, neatly ironed black pants, and a light gray blazer on top, giving off a simple formal vibe. The outfit was neat enough for school, but the way he wore it—half-dried hair and an unbuttoned collar—gave him the look of a lazy student who didn't really care about appearances.
In the kitchen, breakfast was as simple as ever.
He sat at the small table in front of a bowl of instant miso soup, freshly heated in the microwave. Steam rose gently from it, spreading the scent of soybeans and seaweed through the air. Beside it, a few onigiri of various flavors were neatly wrapped in black nori seaweed.
"It's not a feast… but it'll do," Akira muttered as he took a bite of one of the rice balls.
While chewing slowly, he glanced at the clock on the wall… the hands moved indifferently toward 7:45 AM.
With a heavy sigh, he sipped from the soup, its warmth creeping into his stomach, stirring it awake.
After finishing breakfast and tossing the dishes into the sink, Akira headed toward the entrance of the apartment—one of the residences provided by Ousei Academy for exchange students and faculty members.
But…
When he reached the entrance, he found an elegant letter with a distinguished seal—two serpents coiling around a chalice—placed carefully on the small table where he usually kept his shoes.
"This letter arrived yesterday from the servant of the Duke of Ardeal," said Scáthach, who appeared behind Akira out of nowhere. Other than Akira, the strongest being in the world, this home also housed three exceptionally powerful Servants: Scáthach, Nobunaga, and Mordred.
"Duke of Ardeal? Ah~ the Snake Charmer," Akira muttered, puzzled for a moment before realizing she meant Vatler—the battle-crazed noble of the Warlord's Empire.
"…" Akira stared at the letter for a moment before opening it nonchalantly and began reading it while walking toward the school.
The letter was written with proper manners and deep respect. It seemed that Vatler was hosting a party tonight aboard Oceanus Grave, his favorite ship, and hoped for Akira to attend as the Fourth Primogenitor.
"Sounds interesting…" Akira mumbled as he stepped out of the apartment, already wondering who he should take along. The invitation allowed him to bring a partner, which wasn't much of a problem—Yuri and Natsuki were both around.
And he was sure they wouldn't mind accompanying him.
_
Hello everyone, the author here, I want to ask, is there anyone still reading the novel?, as I intend to drop it if no one is reading it.
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