The Author's POV

"Sorry for my tardiness"

-Swoooosh!

Opening the door and scratching the back of my head, on the other side of the door, I saw three people standing with their backs straight. As soon as I opened the door, a surge of powerful aura came crashing in, creating a powerful gush of air that reminded me of a typhoon.

Feeling the gush of air brush past me as my clothes fluttered lightly, I tried my best the keep my smile on my face as I looked at the people before me.

Taking a closer look, there were three people.

The three people looked to be in their twenties, however, considering that they were all wearing Lock uniforms, they were still not there in terms of age.

Their ranks looked to be at around the rank region, with the weakest of them being . They each wore green-colored uniforms indicating that they were in their second years and the one leading them, the strongest one of the lot, I could feel his rank being at around .

The reason I knew this was because they didn't shy away from releasing their oppressive aura.. Their intentions were obvious. Intimidate me.

...well, it was supposed to suppress me, but it really had no effect on me at the moment. Still, I pretended to grimace under their pressure.

"kkhh...who is this?"

'Observe before acting'

Seeing my reaction, keeping the pressure for a couple of seconds before removing it, the leading youth looked at me as he said in a solemn voice.

"You're the one that just moved in?"

Pretending to catch my breath, I slowly nodded my head and responded.

"huff..huff...Indeed."

As I responded to them, I tried my bests to hold back. Although the way they talked and behaved irked me, I had to hold it in until I found out who their backer was.

Chances were that they were someone I should probably not offend for the time being.

After making sure he had exerted his 'dominance' over me, the leading youth briefly glanced at his two lackeys behind him before looking back at me and saying

"My name is Noah Riley, a fellow student who resides in this building. Currently, I am gathering all of the people in this building for our usual end-of-the-week meeting. Seeing that you are here, you should also come and introduce yourself."

"Don't worry, he just wants to get to know you better and help you adapt to this place faster..." said Noah in a casual manner.

Although he claimed that he was requesting for a word, his tone didn't contain any trace of request.

It seems like something annoying was about to happen.

Overbearingly stepping into my room without asking for my permission, Noah and his lackeys glanced around the room before a smirk emerged on their faces as they saw the two people inside of the room.

Turning his attention towards them, crossing his arms, Noah snorted as he spoke

"hmph, it seems like Leo and Ram are also here, perfect, you guys must come with us too"

Silently clenching their fists beneath their clothes, Leo and Ram both smiled towards Noah and stood up.

"...Yes"

"Understood"

Nodding his head in satisfaction, Noah calmly watched as Leo and Ram left the room with their heads hung low. Thereafter, turning his attention towards me, he said

"Hurry up as we don't have much time to waste"

"...alright"

Watching from the side, I calmly observed everyone present in the room. From the way that the trio was looking down at Leo and Ram, and by how they both refused to retaliate.

Although I wanted to help them, as they were the first people I actually got along with in this academy...now was not the time.

...from the way I saw things, it seems like whoever was backing the trio was rather powerful. To give his lackeys that much confidence. From the way they spoke and talked, it looked as though they owned the place...this situation may indeed become troublesome.

After making sure Leo and Ram went out, looking at me, nudging me with his head, Noah coldly said

"Follow along"

Smiling amiably, I nodded my head.

"Sure"

"...good choice"

Seeing me nod, Noah turned around and left. Nodding his head towards his two lackeys, Noah directly turned right and walked through the long corridor that seemed to stretch to no end.

As I looked at Noah and the rest from behind, for a split second my eyes narrowed. Thereafter, an amiable smile appeared on my face as I closed the door behind me.

-Clank!

to who the

...

way up to the fifteenth floor, we soon arrived

clothes, Noah and his two lackeys carefully fixed

I soon notice Leo and Ram shivering slightly as they had their heads held down. Observing everyone around me, I carefully imprinted everyone's behavior

could get an idea of who I was about

"Alright"

looked presentable, fixing his hair, Noah carefully knocked

-Knock! -Knock!

knocked on the door, opening the door

brushed to the side and wearing a nice butler outfit, a young man that looked to be in his mid-twenties came to greet us at the door. Extending his hand

"Please come in"

"Thank you, Chris"

the butler who seemed to be named Chris, Noah entered the room followed by his two Lackeys. Shortly after, following Noah's lead, Leo, Ram and I,

I stepped into the living room of the apartment, I was immediately left speechless by the grandeur of the place. With a mixture of endearingly vibrant colors matched with the nicely decorated room, the arrangements of the furniture and plants, made this modern and multi-functional

that further emphasized the color introduced by the furniture and

freely illuminate the room, creating this brilliant veil of light that warmed the colors of the room. There also seemed to be a second floor as by the

room, I couldn't help think back to my new room. This penthouse apartment was by far a

this place made

these

youth with a grey suit and white T-shirt came to greet

"Yes"

youth raised his brow as he spotted me standing

we have someone new

his head, Noah calmly introduced me to the

he is a new student that has just arrived today. His

Noah was introducing me, I observed the youth next to him from

apartment, another reason I could tell that he was from a prominent family was his clothes

his skin seemed to be devoid of any pimples or imperfections. The most notable feature of the youth were his pair of eyebrows that were akin to a sword's edge as

I was observing him, the youth was similarly observing me

for a couple of seconds, smiling, the youth looked at

seeing Noah nod, the youth smiled

is the

with a friendly smile on his face,

to the Manticore building, my name is Gerrard Lim, and I

extending my hand towards him, I shook

to meet you. My name

"Haha, great, great"

of seconds, I soon noticed that something wasn't right as a

"kh...."

and put on the greatest

-Thud

I 'fearfully' looked at Gerrard from

"Kh..what's going on?"

of seconds, seeing the shock and fear in my eyes, letting go of my hand, Gerrard laughed out

was just joking there is no need to

on the back, he along with the others laughed out

a nice

"hahah, that was funny"

my head towards Gerrard, I thanked

"T-thank you..."

... rank

noticed that his strength was rank. Just

couple of seconds and his head would be

prank of mine. Here, why don't

standing on the second floor of the apartment. It also

"Y-es"

the incident and slowly walked upstairs. Slowly walking upstairs, from the corner of my eyes, I managed to see Gerrard nod to Noah

them from the distance, the corner of my

an even better prank on you later. One that you wouldn't forget for

the room. I soon spotted Ram and Leo standing quietly in the corner. Without

I found them both quietly

happened are you

"Are you hurt"

I shook my head

worried about. I

I wasn't lying.

mine, his pressure wasn't actually affecting me that much. As I thought back at Gerrard who was still downstairs talking to his lackeys, staring at Leo

fearful around him? Isn't he just rank? Although that is indeed an impressive rank...for a third year that's rather, mhh, how should I

and Ram putting their hands on my mouth as they tried to stop me from speaking

you want to

I couldn't help but look at them in

"...what's wrong?"

side to make sure no one was paying attention to them, lowering his voice,