Chapter 190: Main Advisor
The door at the far end of the room creaked open. A man with red-brown hair stepped in, his face sour and stormy.
The room was filled with books and scattered parchments, dimly lit by a few faint lamps. But the gloom didn’t seem to bother him.
He walked toward a desk near another door, muttering under his breath.
"An elf from Swargaloka Province? There are plenty of nomadic elf tribes around Nomazon. Why wasn’t one of them ranked first?" He scoffed. "Swargaloka again. Always Swargaloka! Damn humans."
He slumped into the chair behind the desk, the nameplate at the edge reading: Assistant Professor Rucian Ophio.
"Once I become the main advisory for Class S, I’ll show them their proper place. My class won’t be filled with those weaklings from Swargaloka."
A sly smile crept across his lips.
His gaze shifted toward the side door bearing a brass plaque: Professor Tito Strigi.
"After this, I’ll be a full professor too. No more bowing down to that blasted owl."
While basking in his daydreams, something caught his eye—an unfamiliar parchment lying on his desk. He reached for it and read the first line aloud:
’List of Main Advisors for First-Year Classes and Adjustments for Second and Third Years.’
A wide grin spread across Rucian’s face.
"So it’s out already, huh? I’m obviously getting Class S. Now, who got A and B? I should show them how superior Class S will be."
As he scanned through the document, his eyes landed on the Class S section— Main Advisor: Langga Alterian
"WHAT?!"
Rucian shot up so fast his chair toppled over. His neck flared out like a snake’s hood, and a sharp hiss escaped his mouth.
Rage surged through him.
He stormed out of the room, moving so quickly it looked more like gliding than walking. Down the stairs, across the corridor, then he shoved open a door with a loud bang.
"Why am I not the main advisor for Class S?!" he barked.
Several figures in pale brown robes turned toward him in unison. A few staff members exchanged glances that clearly said, ’We saw this coming.’
Anna, calm as ever, answered evenly, "Professor Langga personally requested to take charge of Class S."
Her tone made it sound as though that reason alone was more than enough.
"He—Professor Langga is supposed to be advising the third-years right now!" Rucian snapped, voice still sharp.
"He swapped positions with Professor Tito Strigi," Anna replied smoothly. "Did Professor Tito not inform you, Assistant Professor Rucian?"
The way she emphasized Assistant Professor made his blood boil. He could tell she did it on purpose.
"Professor Tito made it clear he wouldn’t take the role of main advisor again after his third-year class graduated last year. He wanted to rest. That’s why he gave me the authority to guide the first-year Class S this term."
Rucian’s voice dropped, struggling to contain his anger.
He’d gone through all the trouble—offering gifts, pulling strings, doing everything he could to convince Professor Tito to step back this year.
That was the only way he’d have a shot at becoming a main advisor.
And Professor Tito had agreed.
Rucian had already failed once to impress the elder beastkin, especially after losing—again—to those damned humans. With the number of human students entering without entrance test, their pride had taken another blow.
He had gambled everything on this position. Becoming the main advisor of Class S was supposed to be his ticket. His big achievement that would earn him the elders’ backing and a promotion to full professor.
But now...
"What we heard from Professor Tito is quite different from what you’re saying, Sir Rucian," Anna replied calmly.
Rucian’s face twisted in humiliation. Betrayed. Deceived by the very professor he’d been serving all this time.
His neck flared wide, and his pupils slit into sharp vertical lines—a terrifying sight.
Yet the staff around him remained unfazed.
Partly because they’d seen Rucian’s temper many times before, and partly because most of them weren’t human either.
...
Outside the grand academy building, streams of candidates poured out into the courtyard.
Out of thousands, only two hundred had officially become the newest students of Gyakarta Academy—the one and only Liner Academy.
Most of them walked out wearing heavy, disappointed faces. Families and friends waiting outside rushed to greet them, their expressions mirroring the mood.
Everyone had been watching the ranking broadcast live, so they already knew who had passed—and who hadn’t.
Some offered comforting words and encouragement.
Others began scolding or nagging their children for failing.
Amid the crowd, Gara stood with his arms crossed, a wide grin spread across his beautiful face.
Beside him, Madha couldn’t help but smile too seeing that bright, confident grin was contagious.
It didn’t take long before familiar figures appeared among the candidates.
Yuvika and Orman were chatting excitedly, their spirits high. Fian walked beside them, expressionless as always, unreadable.
But right behind them, Kevio looked far less composed—his face scrunched up, eyes red and watery, as if he were holding back tears.
When the group spotted Gara and Madha, they waved energetically. Even Fian allowed a faint smile to tug at his lips as he looked at Gara.
"We made it, Gara! We’ll be at the academy together!" Yuvika called out happily as they approached.
"Madha, Gara—you have to see Fian’s strength. He ranked first!" Orman said with excitement brimming in his voice.
"We made it into the top fifty too. I’m ranked thirty-one, and Orman’s thirty-nine," Yuvika chimed in.
The two of them took turns sharing their experiences, voices filled with excitement.
Gara already knew their rankings, but he didn’t interrupt. He simply listened, letting them speak their hearts out while responding with nods and murmurs of admiration.
"We should celebrate with a night out together," Yuvika suggested.
"I’m in," Orman agreed instantly.
Madha and Fian turned toward Gara—his word was theirs.
Gara had actually planned to celebrate Fian’s success back in the dimensional home, but it seemed they’d be celebrating twice now.
"Sure, let’s do it," Gara agreed.
"Yes! Let’s go right now! Fancy restaurants start filling up around this hour," Orman said eagerly.
They began walking toward the gate.
Gara glanced around one last time, hoping to find his new acquaintance—to say goodbye—but ever since that mermaid woman went off looking for her sister, he hadn’t seen her again.
Yuvika also turned back for a moment, hoping to spot Andine, but the girl was nowhere in sight. Still, they would all meet again at the academy soon enough.
...