Chapter Text
A young man with dark blue-black hair stepped out of the grand Itoshi Estate, making his way toward the garden. He wore the uniform of the academy he would soon attend—a black military-inspired jacket. Hidden behind a pair of round glasses, his sharp blue eyes quietly observed everything around him.
Isagi Yoichi stopped in front of a circular stone table where two empty chairs waited beside one already occupied.
A black-haired with golden tips boy paced back and forth restlessly, unable to stand still for more than a few seconds.
"Are we really doing this?"
Isagi asked, taking a seat as he placed three white envelopes neatly on the table.
Bachira Meguru immediately spun toward him, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Of course we are!" he grinned. "Come on, Isagi! This is huge! My heart's pounding so hard I think it's about to escape!"
He dramatically clutched his chest before dropping into the chair for barely a second, only to jump up and start pacing again.
"I can't wait anymore!"
Before Isagi could respond, the crimson pendant hanging from his necklace began to glow. The red light deepened into black. A ripple distorted the air beside them.
From within the darkness emerged another young man. Snow-white hair framed his emotionless face, while crimson eyes swept across the garden without the slightest hint of interest.
Itoshi Rin.
Without acknowledging either of them, Rin reached for one of the envelopes and tore it open.
"..."
Bachira immediately leaned over his shoulder.
"So? What does it say?"
Isagi stepped beside them, adjusting his glasses as the three silently read the contents of the invitation together.
WARNING
This document can only be seen by individuals recognized as Ego Candidates.
If you wish to enter the Academy, complete the registration form below.
Note: Once your application has been submitted, your eligibility cannot be revoked. You will be transported immediately to the Academy to participate in the Entrance Selection.
Failure during the Entrance Selection may result in DEATH.
EGO ACADEMY – Candidate Registration
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Type of Specie:
Ability:
Rin silently looked at the other two before tossing each of them an envelope.
Bachira caught his with a grin.
"...We're seriously doing this?" he laughed. "What if the entrance exam is super hard? What if I die before I even get to have fun?"
He dramatically hugged the envelope against his chest.
"I don't wanna die just yet."
Rin stared at him.
"Then don't."
"...Right."
Bachira awkwardly scratched the back of his head before laughing.
"Guess I'll just survive then."
As soon as the three envelopes were opened, a crimson box materialized at the center of the stone table. The Academy's crest was engraved on its surface. Beside it rested a single fountain pen. Without saying a word, Rin picked up the pen and tossed it toward Bachira.
"Me first?" Bachira blinked. "You two are unbelievable." He shrugged. "Well, here it goes."
EGO ACADEMY – Candidate Registration
Name: Bachira Meguru
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Type of Specie: Elf
Ability: Casting Spells
The moment Bachira finished writing, new words slowly appeared beneath the page.
Registration Accepted.
Candidate Confirmed.
Prepare for the Entrance Selection.
Remember...
FAILURE RESULTS TO DEATH.
Good luck.
"Whoa." For the first time, Bachira's smile faded. "...They're serious."
He folded the paper and slipped it into the crimson box. The box briefly emitted a scarlet glow.
Isagi quietly watched before reaching for the pen.
EGO ACADEMY – Candidate Registration
Name: Isagi Yoichi
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Type of Specie: Fairy
Ability: Healing
The same message appeared beneath hs application.
Isagi took a slow breath. There was no turning back now. He folded the paper before handing the pen to Rin.
Rin didn't even bother sitting down. He took the pen, glanced at the form once and finished writing in less than ten seconds.
EGO ACADEMY – Candidate Registration
Name: Itoshi Rin
Gender: Male
Age: 16
Type of Monster: Demon
Ability: See for yourself.
Without another word, Rin dropped the application into the crimson box. The box disappeared instantly. Moments later, the emblem stitched onto the left side of their uniforms began to glow. The intertwined letters E and A, crossed by two silver swords, shone brilliantly against the fabric.
A blinding light engulfed the three boys. When it faded, they were no longer standing inside the Itoshi Estate. They had arrived at Ego Academy.
The Portal Hole opened high above the clouds, dropping the three boys into the endless sky. It was the only passage connecting the Human World and the Arcane Realm. Once someone entered, there was no turning back.
Bachira's scream echoed across the heavens. Despite the situation, Isagi couldn't help but let out a helpless sigh.
A loud caw suddenly echoed through the sky. Both of them turned toward the sound.
A gigantic black raven soared straight toward them, slicing through the clouds with powerful wings. Standing calmly on its back was Itoshi Rin, his expression as indifferent as ever, as if plummeting from the sky had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
The raven swept beneath the falling boys, catching them effortlessly before they could hit the ground.
Rin extended a hand and passed Isagi a leather rein connected to the raven.
"Follow the rainbow." That was all he said.
The crimson pendant hanging around Isagi's neck glowed faintly before turning black. In the blink of an eye, Rin dissolved into crimson particles and disappeared into the pendant once again.
Only then did Isagi notice the enormous rainbow stretching across the sky. Without hesitation, he guided the raven toward it.
Bachira dramatically wiped imaginary tears from his eyes. "Rin... you're my hero."
He threw himself onto the raven's back with a satisfied grin. "My survival instincts are telling me we've still got a long way to go. Wake me up when we get there."
He paused. "...Or if you see someone interesting."
Isagi chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind."
Only a few seconds later, Bachira was already asleep. The sight made Isagi smile to himself. The three of them had been together for as long as he could remember.
At the age of six, Isagi had been adopted by the Itoshi family after they discovered his extraordinary talent as a Fairy Healer. From that day onward, he became Rin's official protector.
Not because Rin lacked the strength to protect himself. Quite the opposite. Rin possessed overwhelming power, enough to annihilate monsters that threatened them without breaking a sweat. His greatest enemy had never been others. It was his own power.
Whenever Rin's magic spiraled beyond his control, everything around him paid the price. Entire landscapes could vanish in an instant, and the backlash was severe enough to endanger even his own life.
That was where Isagi came in. As a specialized Fairy Healer, he served as Rin's mana source.
Certain regions of the Arcane Realm naturally suppressed demonic mana. Whenever Rin entered those places, his strength steadily deteriorated. Through the enchanted pendant Isagi carried around his neck, Rin could rest within a pocket dimension while Isagi continuously converted his own magical energy into mana for him. Once fully restored, Rin could remain outside for hours before needing to recharge again.
Strangely enough, Rin genuinely preferred staying inside the pendant. He once described it as the quietest place in existence. No noise. No people. No pointless conversations. Just peace. It suited him perfectly.
Rin had always been a man of few words. He hated unnecessary attention and rarely explained himself. If there was something he wanted, he earned it with his own strength. Anyone foolish enough to stand in his way usually learned that lesson only once.
Despite his cold demeanor, Isagi knew better than anyone that Rin wasn't heartless. He simply expressed himself differently.
Bachira, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. The son of one of the Itoshi family's closest allies, Bachira had practically grown up alongside them. While Rin spent most of his childhood buried in books or sleeping through the afternoon, Bachira constantly dragged Isagi into one adventure after another.
Life was never quiet when Bachira was around. He talked endlessly, laughed at the strangest things, and somehow managed to turn every ordinary day into complete chaos.
Even Rin, despite claiming otherwise, never truly disliked having him around.
Watching those two bicker over the smallest things had become such a normal part of Isagi's life that he couldn't imagine one without the other.
As the raven continued following the rainbow across the endless sky, the silhouette of an enormous castle slowly emerged beyond the clouds.
In the distance, several floating islands slowly came into view. So that was why they had been dropped from the sky. Ego Academy wasn't built on the ground—it floated above the clouds.
Dozens of figures approached from every direction. Some flew in their true monster forms, while others rode summoned creatures like they did.
Isagi tightened his grip on the raven's reins and guided it along the rainbow stretching across the sky. The colorful path curved around the islands before ending at an enormous academy nestled at the very center.
Three towering buildings stood proudly behind its massive gates.
As soon as the rainbow disappeared beneath the academy grounds, Isagi carefully landed the raven.
"We're here," he said, gently nudging Bachira's shoulder.
No response.
"Bachira."
Still nothing.
"Wake up."
Bachira shifted slightly before a dreamy smile spread across his face.
"...Mm... not there..."
"...That tickles..."
Isagi sighed.
"...Seriously?"
Without another word, he flicked Bachira squarely on the forehead.
"Ow!"
Bachira shot upright, rubbing the sore spot while glaring at Isagi.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"You were dreaming."
"So? It was a good dream!"
He stretched lazily before glancing around.
"...Wait."
His expression froze.
"...We're here?"
Isagi nodded toward the enormous academy.
"Ego Academy."
Bachira's face immediately lost all color.
"...Today's the entrance exam?"
He grabbed Isagi by both shoulders.
"Wait, wait, wait! I'm not mentally prepared for this! What if I fail? What if I die before I even get inside? I still have so many things I want to do!"
He dramatically pointed toward the sky.
"I haven't even met the love of my life yet!"
Isagi couldn't help smiling.
"I don't think we have a choice."
As if responding to him, the crimson pendant around his neck emitted a faint glow.
Rin's calm voice echoed from within.
"There's no turning back."
Isagi repeated his words aloud.
"Rin said the same thing."
Bachira stared at the pendant.
"...Rin."
A pause.
"Can you tell the academy I suddenly remembered something important?"
Silence. Then Rin answered.
"If you keep talking, I'm not helping you."
Bachira blinked.
"...You're cold."
Another brief silence followed.
"You'll survive. Probably."
"...'Probably?!'" Bachira looked personally offended.
Isagi chuckled quietly before continuing toward the academy gates.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Bachira hurried after him.
The entrance was guarded by two enormous winged lion statues. Around each lion's neck hung the same crest stitched onto their uniforms—the emblem of their academy.
As the three approached, one of the statues opened its glowing eyes.
"Welcome to Ego Academy."
Its deep voice echoed throughout the courtyard.
"Do you still wish to take the Entrance Examination?"
Bachira immediately raised a hand.
"...Can I withdraw?"
The lion answered without hesitation.
"You may."
Bachira's eyes sparkled.
"I knew it!"
"There are three methods of withdrawal."
"Please choose one."
Bachira straightened.
"I'm listening."
The lion smiled.
A disturbingly human smile.
"Option One. Burn alive."
"Option Two. Be tortured until death."
"Option Three. Be slowly devoured by piranhas."
"Please make your selection."
"..."
Bachira slowly lowered his hand.
"...Is there an Option Four?"
The lion tilted its head.
"What would that be?"
"...Go home?"
Both statues suddenly came alive. Stone cracked apart as their massive bodies stepped down from their pedestals. One enormous lion lowered its head until its glowing eyes were level with Bachira's. Its voice dropped into a terrifying growl.
"DO. YOU. STILL. WISH. TO. QUIT?"
Bachira forced an awkward laugh.
"Haha. No. I was kidding. Please don't eat me."
The lion stared at him for several seconds before returning to its pedestal. The gates slowly opened. Without another word, the three stepped inside. The moment they crossed the entrance, everything changed.
A dense fog covered the entire campus. Not a single student was in sight. The academy looked abandoned. Vines crawled across broken walls, shattered windows reflected no light, and the once-grand buildings seemed ready to collapse with the slightest push.
Bachira instinctively moved closer to Isagi.
"...Okay. This place is creepy. Very creepy. Where's the bathroom?"
Isagi scanned the surroundings.
"There isn't one."
"Then where am I supposed to—"
Rin's voice interrupted from inside the pendant.
"Stop talking. Look around."
A brief pause followed. Then another instruction.
"Find the fountain."
Isagi repeated it.
"Rin says we need to find a fountain."
They searched through the abandoned courtyard until an old stone fountain covered in moss emerged from the fog.
Its basin was empty. Or so they thought. When Isagi leaned over the edge, there was only darkness. It wasn't empty. It was impossibly deep.
Bachira picked up a fallen branch.
"I've got this."
He whispered an incantation before blowing gently across the wood.
"Light shall prevail. Darkness will vanish."
The branch burst into white light. He tossed it into the fountain. The deeper it fell, the more the darkness retreated. Until both of them finally saw what lay at the bottom.
Giant serpents. Dozens of them. Their scales coiled endlessly around one another.
Even from above, Isagi could feel them moving. Before either of them could react, another fountain suddenly materialized beside the first.
Unlike the old one, this fountain was pristine. Crystal clear water flowed peacefully into its basin. Looking down, they saw an endless ocean beneath its surface.
Rin spoke again.
"Jump. The one with the snakes."
Bachira whipped his head toward Isagi.
"Are you sure he said the snake fountain?"
Isagi nodded.
"That's what he said."
"But..."
Bachira pointed desperately at the second fountain.
"This one literally has water! It looks normal!"
The pendant glowed again.
"Jump. Now."
Isagi took a slow breath. He trusted Rin more than his own instincts. Without another word, he climbed onto the edge of the snake-filled fountain.
"Bachira, I'll see you on the other side."
Before Bachira could stop him, Isagi stepped forward. He fell into the darkness. The giant serpents stirred. One enormous maw opened beneath him. And in the next instant, he was swallowed whole.