Limitless Summoner: Rise of the Soul God

Thankfully, for the rest of the day, there were no uninvited guests and Ethan was able to get some peace of mind to figure out the future plan. Now that he was in the academy, there was no need to hold back. He flipped through the rules and regulations book and found many interesting facts.

The first was that one needed to pay in coins to attend lectures. Also, one needed to pay in coins to stay in the dorms. Only for the first month was the stay in the dorms free, at least for him. Those who entered through the back door would have to pay for this privilege too.

Not just that, the cafeteria, the library, the training center, the grand dungeon hall, even the clothes that were kept in the closet all needed coins for use. This entire place was a complete rip-off.

This famous headmaster of this supposedly high-tier academy didn't just like money, he was a greedy bastard to the core.

Ethan closed the thick regulation book with a thud, leaning back in his chair and massaging his temples. He'd assumed Blackstone Academy would be ruthless—but he hadn't realized they'd literally nickel-and-dime their students for everything. No wonder nobles dominated here; only deep pockets could truly thrive in this environment.

"Great," Ethan muttered bitterly, glancing around the luxurious room with fresh disdain. "Enjoy the jacuzzi now because they'll probably charge you per drop of water tomorrow."

Still, Ethan wasn't completely discouraged. If Blackstone ran on coins, then coins became leverage. This was actually a double-edged sword, one he could exploit to his advantage.

He had the means to accumulate wealth fast. The dungeon hall was the answer to all of his problems. The last time, he made a brutal blunder without having all the information about this rotten system. This time, he wouldn't make the same mistake again.

Something told him that the next tier upgrade for his summoner class was not going to be a cakewalk. He needed to be prepared for that right from the get-go.

Also, he was not comfortable practising his new skills in his room. Common sense told him that practising an SSS rank skill in his dorm room might simply give away everything he had been trying very hard to hide. He had no idea how much of the protection the ring gave. It was best to play it safe.

Ethan looked at the parchment again. He had five introductory classes tomorrow. The only free classes for the whole year. He did not want to miss them. So, making a mental note to return to the dorms by evening, he set out to find a way to get to the Grand Dungeon Hall. Shadow curiously looked around and walked alongside him.

The hallways were quieter now, with the majority of the students having settled into their dorms or gathering in groups for social rituals Ethan didn't have the patience to join. He quickly navigated through the corridors, very determined to reach his destination, only to once again find himself lost.

Instead of getting to the teleportation portals, he was standing in the academy cafeteria. The damned campus was extremely confusing and humongous, parts and parts of it spatially enlarged without any rhyme or reason. Was there a need to complicate everything so much?

He was about to turn back and leave, but as soon as the smell of freshly cooked food hit him, his stomach growled loudly. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was, having skipped meals during the entry trials. Might as well eat first—he'd need the energy if he was planning to tackle a dungeon tonight.

Shadow seemed to agree with him as she meowed loudly and was already well on her way to the cafeteria sitting area.

The cafeteria was surprisingly spacious, with polished wooden tables arranged neatly in rows, comfortable seating, and mana lamps casting a pleasant, inviting glow. Against the far wall was a long, gleaming counter loaded with various dishes, each more appetizing than the last—roast meats, fresh vegetables, steaming soups, and pastries that glistened temptingly.

Unfortunately, Ethan's heart sank as he noticed a sign prominently displayed above the food counters: Prices listed in coins. No credit.

"Well played, headmaster," Ethan muttered sarcastically, scanning for anything free, but no such luck. He let out a sigh and turned to leave when a familiar face popped up in front of him.

"Hi, Johnny! Did you also come to have dinner? What a coincidence!"

Ethan nearly jumped, inwardly cursing his bad luck as he turned toward the overly cheerful voice. Of course, it was Sienna, her violet-streaked hair glowing softly under the cafeteria's mana lamps. Her amber eyes twinkled mischievously, giving him that same playful smile from earlier. Something told him that this wasn't a coincidence at all.

"Hey, Sienna," Ethan said, trying his best to appear casual. Shadow let out a soft meow and rubbed herself affectionately against Sienna's leg, earning an amused laugh from the girl.

"Your cat's adorable," she cooed, bending down to pet Shadow, who purred shamelessly. "So, are you grabbing something to eat, Johnny?"

"No, I am not in the mood after all." He had to protect his noble status and couldn't let a simple cafeteria defeat him on day one.

But once again his answer was ignored as Sienna grabbed his arm and started walking toward the food counters. "My treat. You have to eat something and keep me company. Pretty please. You won't say no to our first dinner date, right?"

Ethan wanted to protest, but his stomach growled again, louder this time, betraying him completely. With an inward sigh of defeat, Ethan allowed himself to be led to the food counters, Shadow trotting happily alongside them.

Sienna placed a few gleaming coins on the counter, ordering enough food for both of them and a small bowl of cooked meat scraps for Shadow. They sat down at an empty table near the large windows.

Of course, the woman sat right next to him, almost shoulder-to-shoulder, leaving barely any space between them even though the entire table was empty.

Ethan felt distinctly awkward, his muscles tensing slightly, but he forced himself to relax as Sienna chatted away cheerfully, seemingly oblivious—or perhaps intentionally ignoring—his discomfort.

"Isn't this exciting?" she asked brightly, leaning in slightly as she picked at her food. "Everyone's saying this year's batch has some of the best talents seen in decades. Three students managed to pass the focus test, and one of them I heard was sitting there for hours even after the time limit was up."

Ethan almost choked on his food. Was she talking about me?

Thankfully, it looked like the rumor mill wasn't all that efficient as the specific names were not known. Sienna continued talking, singing praises about the mysterious genius.

"Can you believe that? They said he sat there for over ten hours. Some are saying he's a hidden genius, others think he's just crazy."

Ethan managed to keep a neutral expression, chewing slowly to buy himself time. "Ten hours, huh? Maybe he just fell asleep."

Sienna laughed softly, nudging him playfully with her elbow. "You are so funny!" She batted her eyelashes at him, staring into his eyes intensely.

Ethan quickly shifted his eyes away, focusing intently on his plate as if the roast meat had suddenly become extremely fascinating. "Anyway," he said, clearing his throat and hastily changing the subject. "What's your class? If you don't mind me asking."

Sienna leaned back slightly, giving Ethan some breathing room, though her seductive smile never faltered. "I'm a Mage specializing in elemental magic, mostly fire and lightning."

Ethan nodded slowly. Of course, she had to be a mage. "Very Impressive." He said, inwardly cursing his bad luck as now they would be attending a lot of classes together and he had to tolerate a lot more of her.

"And you, Johnny?" Sienna expectantly asked.

Ethan smiled dryly. "I'm a mage as well."

Sienna's amber eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Really? What a coincidence! Now we both can attend all the classes together!"

Exactly what I was afraid of. Ethan cursed inwardly. He gobbled up the remaining food on his plate and quickly got up. "Sorry, I am in a little bit of a hurry. I will catch up with you later."

Sienna raised an eyebrow but didn't push. Instead, she smiled sweetly, leaning her chin on one hand as she watched Ethan hurriedly gather his things. "Alright, Johnny. But don't think you can escape me forever. I'll see you bright and early in class tomorrow."

Ethan offered a stiff wave and quickly retreated, Shadow following closely. His heart finally slowed down to a normal rhythm once he stepped outside the cafeteria. Ethan exhaled deeply, relieved that he was finally alone, and then he realized something.

"Ah shit! I forgot to ask her where the portals were!"

Luckily for him, the girl walked out of the cafeteria in the next second. He had a feeling that it was probably to stalk him back to the dorm room, but he did not care. "Hey Sienna, do you know where the portals are?"

Sienna's expression brightened immediately upon seeing Ethan again, clearly amused by his forgetfulness. "Lost already, Johnny?" she teased, walking over to him with a playful smirk. "Don't worry, it happens to everyone at first. This place is intentionally confusing."

She linked her arm with his effortlessly, ignoring Ethan's startled look, and guided him down the corridor. "Come on, the portals aren't far. I'll show you."

Shadow followed silently, giving Ethan a pointed look as if amused by his misfortune.