When the spatial array finally deposited us back in the Academy courtyard, the faculty immediately began doing a headcount.

  One of the instructors let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Well... look at that. They're all alive."

  The Dark Magic instructor offered a grim, approving smile. "Unexpected. Highly unexpected."

  A third instructor, who was entirely too honest for his own good, crossed his arms and added, "If you manage to survive a few more dungeon dives like that, you'll be celebrated as national heroes. If you don't survive... well, the Academy has pre-paid coffins ready in the storage shed."

  The entire Elite Class stared at him in horror. "WHAT?!"

  The instructor shrugged casually. "A joke. Probably. Well... mostly a joke." He clapped his hands loudly to break the tension. "You are officially granted one week of absolute rest. No combat training. No spellcasting. No dying. Now go to your dormitories and sleep. For at least the next twenty-four hours."

  The First Day of Rest

  The next morning, the entire Elite Class gathered in the Academy courtyard. It wasn't mandatory. No one had ordered us to be there. We just... gravitated toward each other.

  Siren was sitting quietly on a stone bench, his torso heavily wrapped in bandages, his sword resting comfortably across his knees.

  Finn was proudly showing off a nasty burn scar on his forearm. "I got this beauty when I practically incinerated that Orc King," he boasted. "I really hope the scar doesn't fade. The ladies love a tragic war wound."

  Edgar was staring at his massive hands, still trying to process the battle. "I literally crushed a bear's armor directly into its rider's face... Or... wait, did I? That feels like a fever dream."

  Lucille was sitting quietly on the grass, aggressively chewing on herbal stress-relief lozenges.

  Elinia, however, looked better than all of us combined. It was as if the horrors of the subterranean hellscape had merely been a refreshing morning breeze for her.

  She stood before the scattered class, straightened her posture, and spoke clearly.

  "Thank you," she said, her voice carrying across the courtyard. "Thank you all for your help down there. Without you... my squad would have perished."

  The class fell completely silent. Even Finn stopped bragging. Even Noah materialized slightly out of the shadows to listen.

  I was standing off to the side, leaning against a pillar, maintaining my usual distance.

  Elinia swept her gaze across the exhausted students... and then, to my profound surprise, she walked directly over to me.

  "And thank you, Helvard," she said, looking me dead in the eye. "You handled yourself honorably in that battle."

  I couldn't resist. I smiled. "Oh? Did the Crown Princess just acknowledge my strength? I am truly, deeply honored."

  Her eyebrow twitched violently. "That is... not what I meant."

  I poured a little more oil on the fire. "So, I guess I'm not just a pathetic weakling after all, huh?"

  "Do not flatter yourself," she hissed, her icy composure cracking instantly. She took a deep breath to compose herself, keeping her piercing gaze locked on me, but raised her voice to ensure the rest of the eavesdropping class could hear: "Regardless! One day, I will prove that you are merely walking IN MY SHADOW! I am higher! I am further ahead! I am stronger! And I—"

  "Of course, of course," I nodded sagely. "I will try my absolute best not to die from lagging too far behind Your Highness."

  She clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white.

  But... despite her glaring, the very corner of her lip twitched upward into a tiny, undeniable smile.

  The Midnight Escape Plan

  After a brief, comfortable silence settled over the courtyard, Elinia suddenly spoke up again.

  "Since we have a week of official rest..." she began, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I propose we go into the Capital tonight. Together."

  The class gasped.

  "THE CAPITAL?!" Finn yelled. "BUT IT'S A NIGHT CURFEW!"

  Lucille pushed her glasses up her nose. "That is a direct violation of Section Four of the Academy's internal regulations."

  Tara frowned. "It's highly dangerous."

  Siren tilted his head. "It is highly intriguing."

  Astra's eyes practically turned into stars. "It... it sounds like a real adventure!"

  The swordsmen, Kairen and Miella, nodded in synchronized, eager agreement.

  "It's simple," Elinia explained confidently. "We slip through the eastern forest. We bypass the outer guard patrols. We cross the lake—I can easily freeze a path or part the water. And we'll end up right at the South Gates of the Capital."

  Everyone stared at her in disbelief.

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  "Is that... actually possible?" Edgar asked.

  She lifted her chin proudly. "Of course it is. I am the Princess. I know all the hidden routes."

  I stared at her, thinking: Freeze a massive lake? In the dead of night? The Academy instructors will sense that massive spike in mana instantly! This is incredibly stupid. It's dangerous. It's reckless. It reeks of an impending catastrophe.

  "I'm in," I said aloud.

  The rest of the class immediately chimed in. "Me too!" "Count me in!" "We're going!"

  Only Noah sighed heavily from the shadows. "...I can already feel the immense regret."

  He was probably right.

  The Capital by Night

  According to the general consensus of the class... our infiltration into the Capital was absolutely flawless. Not just "good." Not just "fast." Flawless.

  "Ten minutes," Siren noted calmly as we slipped through the South Gates. "That has to be a new Academy record."

  Finn scoffed proudly. "Of course it's a record. I was leading the way."

  Lucille merely sighed, looking at Finn with an expression that clearly communicated the record was achieved despite his presence, not because of it.

  Kairen and Miella were looking around like wide-eyed children at a summer festival. Astra was practically glowing with excitement.

  And I... I was genuinely surprised. I hadn't expected human teenagers to organize and execute a stealth mission so rapidly and efficiently.

  The Capital at night was a completely different world.

  It was massive. Towering spires reached into the starry sky. Magical lanterns illuminated every intersection with a warm, golden glow. Taverns, artisan shops, and late-night bakeries spilled light and noise into the bustling streets.

  During the day, the Capital was a strict, majestic center of political power. But at night... it was a living, breathing organism. The shouting of merchants. The raucous laughter of off-duty guards. The intoxicating smell of roasted meats and sweet pastries. The distant sound of stringed instruments.

  It was the human world at its absolute best.

  Even I—a former Demon King who had once commanded armies to burn cities to the ground—felt a strange, undeniable sense of... coziness.

  Elinia happily took on the role of tour guide.

  "This is the Artisan's District," she pointed out gracefully. "That shop over there is renowned for the finest defensive amulets. Down that alley is the best pastry shop in the entire continent. And that towering spire is the residence of the Guildmaster of Mages."

  She was confident, relaxed, and almost childishly happy.

  Finn strutted importantly. Edgar looked around with deep fascination. Reynar stayed close to the group, looking terrified of getting lost in the crowd. Miella and Kairen were actively trying to memorize the layout of the streets.

  Lucille frowned. "You do realize we are currently violating at least five major Academy laws simultaneously, right?"

  "But it's fun," Elinia replied simply.

  The Dinner Crisis

  Naturally, after surviving a week in a dungeon, everyone was starving. We walked into a large, brilliantly lit restaurant situated right on the central plaza.

  I opened the menu.

  And then... I realized a very sobering fact. It was incredibly expensive. And I had absolutely zero money. None.

  I sat there staring blankly at the parchment. Well, here it comes, I thought bleakly. Any second now, they're going to ask why I'm not ordering anything, and my entire carefully constructed persona of the 'humble, quiet student' is going to crumble into a highly awkward conversation about poverty.

  Elinia looked across the table. She stared directly at me. She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she analyzed the situation.

  And then, without missing a beat, she announced loudly to the entire table: "Tonight, everything is on my tab! Order whatever you desire! You are my team!"

  The table erupted. "YEEESSS!!" "Thank you, Your Highness!" "Long live the Princess!"

  The swordsmen immediately ordered the heaviest cuts of meat. Finn ordered three separate dishes, all heavily spiced with fire-peppers. Astra ordered an absurd amount of pastries. Reynar ordered a comforting bowl of soup.

  I sat there, utterly stunned.

  It wasn't condescending. It wasn't arrogant. She didn't make a big show of pitying me. She had just seamlessly, gracefully bailed me out.

  "Thank you," I said quietly.

  She offered a small, knowing smile. It was the smile of a smug, triumphant child. Her eyes clearly said: Well, Zenkhald? Surprised? You actually needed my help, didn't you?

  I decided not to argue. I ordered everything I had been craving since my reincarnation. Crabs. Garlic shrimp. Sweets.

  Although, human sweets were incredibly mild. Demon sweets were heavy, intensely flavored, and packed a massive punch. It's a shame they don't have those here... I sighed internally.

  The Night Market

  After dinner, we wandered into the Night Market. The swordsmen immediately lost their minds.

  "LOOK! A BLADE WITH A FLUID FULLER!" "THAT ONE HAS A DOUBLE-BEVELED EDGE!" "GUYS, LOOK AT THIS ONE... IT LITERALLY SPARKLES!!!"

  Miella and Kairen bought as many whetstones and polishing kits as they could carry. Finn bought a garish, bright red silk shirt "for fashion." Edgar found a heavy, durable leather mantle. Astra bought a string of glass beads allegedly meant to "ward off the evil eye."

  Everyone was ecstatic.

  I, of course, bought nothing. I couldn't. I just walked with my hands in my pockets, enjoying the lively atmosphere.

  But out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Elinia glancing at me again. She did it three times. Very quietly. Very attentively.

  Her gaze was a silent question: Why aren't you buying anything? Do you want me to buy something for you? Just say the word.

  I merely smiled at her and shook my head.

  The Bridge

  Just before dawn, we found ourselves standing on a massive stone bridge overlooking the river. The sun hadn't risen yet, but the sky was beginning to turn a deep, bruised purple.

  The city was still alive. Distant laughter echoed over the water. Lanterns reflected on the surface of the river. Small boats drifted lazily beneath the arches.

  The class leaned against the stone railing, chatting animatedly.

  "I'm from the village of Fralin!" Astra shared. "I was born right here in the Capital," Siren noted. "I'm going to become a Royal Knight!" Kairen declared. "I'll be a Court Mage!" Finn boasted. "I'm going to be the greatest Blacksmith in the Kingdom!" Edgar grinned.

  I stood a few paces away from the group, resting my elbows on the cold stone. I looked out over the sprawling, beautiful city.

  It's a very good thing, I thought quietly, that I didn't burn this city to the ground in my past life.

  Because it was beautiful. It was alive. It was far too vibrant and full of hope to be destroyed.

  I felt a gaze on me. I turned my head.

  Elinia was staring at me. Her expression was slightly melancholic.

  It was as if she had suddenly realized something profound: I was always alone. I always kept my distance. I never talked about my past, my dreams, or my family. I was just... there, existing quietly beside them.

  Her eyes seemed to ask: Why haven't I noticed this before?

  The "Ambush"

  We took a shortcut through a narrow, dimly lit alleyway to head back toward the forest.

  Suddenly, five massive, heavily scarred men stepped out of the shadows, blocking our path. They held rusted blades and heavy clubs. Thugs.

  The leader sneered, stepping forward. "It's way past curfew, rich kids. Children shouldn't be wandering the streets all alone."

  The Elite Class stopped.

  We looked at the thugs. Then, we looked at each other.

  And then... we all burst out laughing.

  The thugs' smug expressions faltered, slowly morphing into utter confusion.

  A few seconds later, based on the sheer, overwhelming volume of high-tier mana that suddenly illuminated the dark alleyway... it became glaringly obvious that those five men deeply, profoundly regretted their life choices.

  We snuck back into the Academy dormitories just as the sun broke over the horizon.

  We collapsed into our beds—exhausted, happy, and vibrantly alive.

  It had been the most ordinary, and simultaneously the most extraordinary, night of my entire life.