Chapter 63: The Academy Tour.
What exactly was it?
What was it that provoked that uncomfortable sensation, that slight distrust that didn’t quite disappear when observing that man?
Aku didn’t look away.
His purple eyes, dark as two silent abysses, remained fixed on him as he analyzed him calmly, without hurry.
It wasn’t the first time he had evaluated someone, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. His expression remained neutral, almost indifferent, but his mind didn’t stop moving.
He observed his posture, relaxed but firm. The way he spoke, measuring each word without seeming rigid.
Even the way he breathed, constant, controlled. Everything about him transmitted security, a kind of confidence that didn’t need to impose itself to be noticed.
And yet, there was something more.
Something that didn’t quite fit.
Aku barely narrowed his eyes, trying to find a crack, an inconsistency, any detail that would betray what his instinct was pointing out without being able to explain. But he found nothing.
Not a gesture out of place, not a strange fluctuation in his voice, not a hidden tension in his body.
Nothing.
That, precisely, was what bothered him most.
Too perfect.
Too... clean.
Before he could delve deeper into that thought, a figure stepped forward, breaking the group’s attention much more abruptly than the first man.
It was a woman.
She didn’t seem particularly young or old, as if her age had remained suspended at an intermediate point difficult to specify.
Her pink hair fell naturally over her shoulders, contrasting with the hardness of her expression.
Her eyes had no trace of softness, and her posture didn’t seek to please anyone.
"What this idiot means with his velvety words," she began, without any filter, "is that if you don’t have the guts, you still have the opportunity to return to the Argos and go back to your worlds of origin."
Some of those present tensed upon hearing her.
"You won’t remember anything," she continued, shrugging slightly, "nor will you keep your powers. But at least you’ll be safe... I suppose."
The contrast with the previous speech was immediate. Where before there had been some inspiration, now there was an almost uncomfortable crudeness.
"I thought they had understood, Natasha," the third man intervened with a tone loaded with sarcasm.
Aku turned his gaze slightly toward him.
Blue hair, well-groomed, glasses that reflected the artificial star’s light, partially hiding his eyes.
His expression was cold, clearly annoyed, as if that situation was more an obligation than anything else.
"Uh-huh," the woman responded without even looking at him. "Then, if you already understood... come and follow me. I don’t have all fucking day."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and began walking toward the academy.
For a few seconds, no one moved.
The other two veterans exchanged a brief glance, loaded with silent disapproval, before the first one barely sighed.
"Go ahead," he finally said with a calm gesture. "It’ll be better if we don’t make her wait."
The group began to advance.
Aku walked among them, maintaining his constant pace, showing neither hurry nor doubt.
As they approached the enormous building, the sensation of scale became even more evident.
From afar it already imposed, but up close it was overwhelming. The structures rose above them with a crushing presence, and every detail seemed carefully designed to fulfill a specific function.
They crossed through the main entrance, a wide access with no visible doors, as if the academy didn’t need to close itself to anyone.
The interior was equally impressive.
Wide hallways extended in multiple directions, with high ceilings and uniform lighting that eliminated any unnecessary shadow.
The sound of their footsteps dispersed softly, without generating annoying echo.
"First," Natasha said without stopping, "the cafeteria."
The group turned with her, entering an enormous room.
Rows of well-organized tables occupied the space, and at the back, long surfaces where food was served. There was no visible staff at that moment, but everything was impeccable.
Aku remembered the delicious snacks he had eaten in the Argos cafeteria. The boy was already imagining returning there to try more food.
"You can eat here whenever you want," she added. "The food adapts to what your body needs. Don’t ask how it works."
Aku observed in silence. Everything seemed too efficient.
While observing the cafeteria, he also took another look at his companions.
It was then that he managed to perceive a familiar face.
It was... the goblin summoner?
The demon king felt strange seeing Gerald there. From what Aku had deduced, Gerald had failed the trial.
But apparently the trial worked differently than he had been told, since Gerald was there.
After observing the cafeteria, the small group continued the tour.
"Training room."
This time, the space was different.
Wide, open, with multiple differentiated areas. There were zones for hand-to-hand combat, others with structures that changed shape slowly, as if responding to some type of automated system.
In the distance, you could also see a gym, fully equipped, next to an armored room that served to test destructive attacks.
"This is where you’ll stop being useless," Natasha commented bluntly.
Some frowned, but no one responded. After all, they didn’t feel strong enough to reply.
"Dueling courtyard."
They went outside again, to a delimited space with a floor marked by lines that seemed to react slightly under the light.
The atmosphere was more tense there, as if that place had witnessed countless confrontations.
"You can challenge other students," she explained. "Or be challenged. Try not to die. It’s annoying to have to clean up."
The group advanced again.
"Infirmary."
A total contrast.
The atmosphere was clean, silent, almost calming. Aligned stretchers, instruments organized with precision.
A strange sensation of safety, as if that were the only place where danger really stopped.
"They’ll rebuild you if necessary," Natasha added. "As long as you’re not completely dead, of course."
They kept walking.
"Library."
The space was enormous. Shelves that seemed endless, filled with books, scrolls, and strange devices. The amount of information contained there was overwhelming.
It was a mix between an arcane library that hid secrets seemingly forgotten by history and a futuristic library completely stocked.
Aku stopped an instant longer than the rest, observing.
That atmosphere was familiar to him. After all, he had spent much of his life as demon king in a library. That atmosphere was nostalgic.
But on the other hand, there didn’t seem to be any grimoire with hidden power or any curse.
In that sense, that library was quite more boring.
"You’d better learn to use this," Natasha said without turning. "Though I hate to admit it, not everything is resolved by hitting things."
Finally, they arrived at a different section.
"Forge."
Heat was the first thing they noticed. It wasn’t suffocating, but constant. Tools, half-finished weapons, materials that didn’t seem to belong to any known world.
"If you get good results," she explained, "you can request customized weapons, completely adapted to you. Though of course, you have to earn it."
That caught several people’s attention.
Aku simply observed.
The tour continued for some more time, crossing different hallways and secondary zones, until they finally came out to the central courtyard.
It was wide, open, with the artificial star shining directly above them. From there, the academy extended in all directions, imposing, silent.
Aku noticed that none of the instructors had talked about the attack on the Argos.
Perhaps because they preferred to ignore it, or perhaps because it was something so common it wasn’t even worth mentioning.
Then Natasha stopped.
"That’s it," she said, turning toward the group. "That’s the tour."
She didn’t seem interested in adding anything more.
The man with the glasses stepped forward, slightly raising his hand.
He snapped his fingers.
For an instant, nothing happened.
Then, in front of each of them, keys appeared floating in the air. Each one had a number engraved on it, glowing faintly.
"Your rooms," he explained with a neutral tone. "They’re assigned. Don’t lose them. You’ve been assigned your respective roommates, but that doesn’t give you the right to lose your keys. By the way, in your room you’ll also find a tablet with the school program. Classes will start in three days, so you have plenty of time to rest. But don’t procrastinate too much."
Some hesitated before taking the keys.
Aku raised his hand and grabbed it without hesitation. The object was light, but solid. Real.
Without hesitation, he stored it in his storage space.
"From now on," the man who had spoken at the beginning commented with a more familiar tone, "this will be your place."
No one applauded. No one spoke. The attack on the Argos had already been exhausting enough.
No one had energy to celebrate.
And with that silence, the group began to slowly disperse, each with their own direction, their own pace.
Aku remained a few more seconds in his place.
His gaze rose slightly toward the artificial star.
Then, without saying anything, he began to walk.
Still with that persistent sensation at the back of his mind.
That distrust.
Without answer.
For now.