Dante spent the next few hours wandering through the academy grounds.
"Wandering" was perhaps too generous a word. Every few hundred meters, space folded around him as he casually teleported from one location to another. The mana cost wasn't insignificant, but compared to spending an entire day walking across a territory that stretched wider than some kingdoms, he'd gladly pay it.
He wasn't trying to map every corner of the academy. That was Elric's future headache. Dante only wanted a general understanding of where the places worth remembering were.
After roughly an hour of exploration, he found five buildings that genuinely interested him.
The Duel Arena The arena itself was enormous. Multiple battlefields were layered beside one another, each protected by thick formations that constantly shimmered with mana. Seats surrounded every arena, enough to accommodate what Dante guessed were tens of thousands of spectators.
Unfortunately, it was almost empty. No students were sparring. No one challenged another. No public displays of strength. Dante clicked his tongue.
"What a disappointment."
He had honestly expected first-years to already be beating each other half to death over pride. Instead, everyone appeared unusually cautious. After a moment of thought, he nodded to himself. Makes sense. No one wanted to expose their abilities before the final entrance examination. Showing your trump cards this early was simply asking to become someone else's research material.
The Mission Pavilion Unlike the Duel Arena, students could actually enter. Dante walked inside. Rows upon rows of counters stretched throughout the massive building. Large crystal boards covered the walls.
Yet… nothing. No missions. No commissions. No requests. Nothing available whatsoever.
He frowned.
"...Locked."
Technically it wasn't. Physically he had entered without issue. Practically? It might as well have been sealed shut. The academy clearly wasn't allowing temporary students access. That irritated him.
"Then where exactly am I supposed to earn Academy Points?"
Classes alone? That seemed inefficient. Unless… the academy intentionally wanted first-years to struggle financially before gradually opening more opportunities. Artificial scarcity. Force competition. Encourage conflict.
Dante sighed.
"I hate educational institutions."
The Ranking Hall Rows of massive crystal pillars extended throughout an enormous circular chamber. Each pillar represented a different ranking: Combat, Crafting, Alchemy, Enchanting, Tactical, Support, Buff and Debuff, Faction, even reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
Dante raised an eyebrow.
"...Interesting."
Unfortunately, every single ranking remained hidden. Only the names were visible. The actual rankings were sealed behind some restriction.
"So even this is locked."
He chuckled.
"Don't get ahead of yourselves."
That was probably the academy's message. Temporary students weren't considered true academy students. Pass the final examination first. Then earn the privilege to compare yourselves to everyone else.
"...Pretentious."
He approved. A little.
The Auction Hall Ironically, he couldn't even enter. Apparently, it only opened whenever enough valuable treasures had accumulated—artifacts, rare ores, ancient manuals, unique materials, powerful pills. The academy would gather them together before holding a large auction instead of opening every day.
"So they're waiting for students to obtain enough valuables."
He nodded. That actually wasn't a bad business model.
The Markets Compared to everything else, this area was practically a city. Hundreds upon hundreds of shops stretched as far as the eye could see—Weapons, armor, healing pills, alchemy ingredients, tailors, blacksmiths, enchanters, restaurants, libraries. Everything.
Dante slowly walked through the streets. His eyes swept over every storefront without lingering too long. Then one sign made him stop.
Student Information Market.
He stared at the modest building. It wasn't particularly large. Nor was it extravagant. But Dante smiled.
"Now that's profitable."
Information. Unlike pills, unlike weapons, unlike armor… information only became more valuable the more exclusive it was. Someone somewhere was undoubtedly making an absurd amount of Academy Points selling reports on talented students—skills, combat habits, schedules, relationships, weaknesses, faction members, future allies, future enemies.
Someone who controlled information controlled the battlefield long before combat even began.
"...Elric would probably fall in love with this place."
There was technically one more noteworthy building—the Revival Sanctuary. Dante merely looked at it from afar before walking away. He had absolutely no intention of stepping inside. Students revived there after death. A ridiculous luxury. One that he refused to abuse.
He didn't want himself, nor his subordinates, growing accustomed to dying. Because outside this academy, there would be no revival. No second attempt. No third chance. Death would simply be death.
That alone made this place dangerous. Comfort made people careless. Careless people died.
Even using teleportation, the academy proved enormous. It took Dante considerably longer than expected simply to gain a rough understanding of the layout.
"I'll check again in a week."
Perhaps some of these restrictions would disappear once temporary students officially became academy students. If not, then for the next week his schedule was painfully simple: attend classes, go home, sleep.
"...What an exciting life."
His tone couldn't have sounded more dead.
With both hands tucked lazily inside his pockets, Dante eventually found himself outside the restaurant he had visited previously. Walking inside, a waiter politely approached him.
"My Lord, a table?"
Dante nodded before his gaze wandered through the restaurant. Then he spotted someone.
"...There."
He pointed toward a table occupied by a single woman. The waiter blinked before looking toward Eliosphere. She followed his gaze. The moment she realized who wished to join her, she smiled.
"That's perfectly fine."