I stood there, completely in shock. It felt like a waking dream. The world around me had changed entirely. Where the forest had once been, giant towers now stretched beyond the clouds. The tall trees had been replaced by small and medium-sized hills, supporting these towering structures. The calm of the forest had given way to endless buzzing, and the most astonishing part? Most of the chatter and laughter came from humans flying through the sky.
Some had large white-feathered wings, like angels straight out of a holy book. Others rode massive flying carpets, big enough to carry an entire classroom. A few perched on brooms decorated by a ball queen, and then there were those who flew unaided, defying gravity with ease.
It was breathtaking.
I was completely disoriented, shocked, and utterly lost. What was happening? Where was I? Was I dead… or just dreaming?
Six hundred sixty-six point six questions raced through my mind, but eventually, my attention settled on the old men nearby. Their conversation didn't exactly put me at ease.
"Alright, we've got some new things to study. So, what do we do with the Homo sapiens?" asked a voice heavy with decades of authority.
"He's useless to us. I suggest we kill him and throw him to Hell-head," said another, sharp and cutting.
"Kukuku," chuckled a third old man. "True, we've studied Homo sapiens before, but your suggestion, Shahid Nemour, is far too cruel, as usual," said the old man, pausing for a moment before concluding, "We could just throw him overboard, right? That's how all the trash ends up here."
"Oh, wise decision, Shahid Coleman, but still…"
He hadn't finished speaking when he noticed I'd already bolted at the first mention of assassination. I sprinted like a rabbit straight across a vast, open field stretching to the horizon. Sure, running across an open space probably wasn't the smartest move to escape pursuers, but it seemed better than charging headfirst into a lowered gate or a crowd of bizarre flying people.
Hmmph hmmph hmmph hmmph
Panting like a porn star after five scenes in a row, I ran at full speed, focused only on putting distance between myself and them. I didn't look back or care how ridiculous I looked.
"Oh lord, and he's not even a natural athlete. He runs like a badly fucked whore," the woman in her forties shook her head, slapping her hand in disbelief.
Immediately, one of the old men gave chase. He shouted at the top of his lungs, but I didn't have time to catch his words.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! I'm going to get killed. I need to get out of this shit fast! And what kind of nightmare is this? Why is it always the poor who dream this kind of crap?"
Tears in my eyes, nose running, running like a badly fucked whore in Shahid Nemour's eyes, I fled without looking back, ignoring the man behind me.
"No, stop, you little fool! If you go that way, you could die."
Even though I wasn't listening, the last sentence hit me like a brake. I skidded to a halt, finally catching a glimpse of the truth reaching out to me—and trying to escape it at the same time.
I was stunned, shocked for the second time in two minutes since arriving in this world. My face froze in astonishment until a blow to the back of my neck snapped me back to reality.
"You fool. I'll teach you what it means to make me run this much," the old man said, catching his breath.
Despite the pain in my neck, my eyes were glued to something even more astonishing than anything I'd ever seen. Something so beautiful it could petrify you, yet terrifying at the same time.
A few minutes ago, I would have called this pure fiction. Now, it was even more unimaginable.
"No, it's impossible. I'm dreaming," I murmured under my breath, loud enough for the old man to hear.
"No, you're not dreaming, little Homo sapiens. We are indeed on a flying island."
I stood at the edge of a cliff, staring at a view that was nothing short of extraordinary. Sunlight illuminated the clouds in every direction, stretching endlessly.
It looked like a divine corridor formed by the clouds themselves, leading to a celestial path that ended in a sparkling star. A brilliance and purity that could move any photographer to tears. Even I, someone indifferent to natural beauty, was overwhelmed.
"If you had fallen from here, you'd be dead."
As if I hadn't already realized, watching the clouds pass beneath me like I was on a flying machine… A flying… machine?
"Huh? You… you said we were on a flying island?" I asked.
"That's exactly what I said. We are on a flying island, specifically in a school of magic," said the old man. "Here, look."
At his gesture, I turned and saw the most beautiful sight of my life. The first time I had seen it, I'd been on the ground with a limited view. Now, seeing it in full from another angle, it was a completely different spectacle, one that you only get to witness once in a lifetime.
Students and teachers flew around the towers and castles. Some passed by, others delivered items. Some made milk rain from the sky, others grew gardens. It was a traffic pattern so extraordinary, it seemed embedded in the daily life of the city. I couldn't believe my eyes.
"Say, old man… am I dead? Is this heaven?"
"What you Homo sapiens call heaven, we call the Domain of Angels. It's just another dimension among many. So no, you're not in your paradise."
The old man cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"We are currently at the School of Studies of Life, Existence, and Non-Existence. The Magical Research Institute. We don't have predefined names, but others call us wizards, and this place is also called by the same name."
"But then…"
"Welcome to the School of Wizards."
He turned to enjoy the same spectacular view as I was.
Sunlight bathed everything in a golden glow, blessing this extraordinary day. Just minutes ago, I had feared for my life in a dark, gloomy well. Now, a lost hope was rekindled inside me. It wasn't over yet. I still had a chance, and more—I could become a better wizard.
If I learned magic, everything would be easier. I wouldn't even need tricks to get free sex. The thought of all the possibilities made me forget my current situation. I knew I was about to be thrown off this floating island, yet I couldn't hide the demonic grin spreading across my face. Madness was creeping in.
In my mind, it was clear: Time stop, hypnosis that could be resisted, or even hypnosis that erased memory but kept compliance, mind control, libido control, causality manipulation creating perverse and improbable situations, Byukugan… just thinking about it made my mouth water at all the infinite possibilities.
A warning to all girls in the universe: run.
"Oh, here. Take this," said the old man, handing me my first broom.
He added a jump and a medieval tunic.
"Huh?" I said, astonished.
"Homo sapiens are incompetent in magic. If you don't want to die, make yourself useful. Clean the courtyard, then work in the kitchen, and finally take care of the toilets and the enclosure. Don't dawdle."
The man turned and walked off as if nothing had happened, while I tried to process everything.
"Oh, one last thing. You know where the school's trash ends up, right? You'd better move… and fast."
And… he left without another word.
I racked my brain but couldn't understand. Didn't I come from another world? Wasn't I supposed to be the hero who kills the demon king? Awaken a cheat skill? Have a system straight out of Satan's ass? Build a harem of lolis? Wasn't I supposed to be rare and special? Then… CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME, BY WHAT FUCKING USELESS GODDESS, WHY I HAVE A BROOM AND AN APRON?