"I should clean this room first… it looks like a crime scene."
Leon muttered as he looked down at his blood-stained clothes and the dark splashes scattered across the floor. He took out a fresh set of clothes and placed them neatly on the bed before heading into the bathroom.
Using a bucket of water, he cleaned the room and washed the blood from his clothes. After that, he took a quick bath. Surprisingly, the bathroom and toilet here were not much different from those on Earth.
Once done, Leon changed into clean clothes—a pair of black pants made of rough fabric and a brown shirt fastened with simple laces at the collar.
With nothing else to do, he lay down on the bed, waiting for sunrise. His eyes drifted to the letter resting beside him. On the top-left corner, silver-engraved words caught his attention:
Azura Ancient Academy
"Hah… there's even an academy plot."
Leon smirked lightly as he opened the letter.
It was an acceptance notice, granting him permission to participate in the entrance examination of Azura Ancient Academy.
Azura Ancient Academy was the number one academy in the world of Atara. Founded jointly by the Human Domain and the Elven Alliance, it existed to nurture the next generation of elites. Located in Azura City, a city built directly between the Human and Elf territories, the academy itself was the city. Everything within Azura City was maintained and governed by the academy.
Throughout history, it had produced countless legendary mages, swordsmen, alchemists, and other renowned figures.
Anyone under the age of eighteen could take the entrance exam.
Every year, nearly one million applicants participated.
Only one thousand were accepted.
The other Leon had applied on a whim—yet passed.
The entire family had been overjoyed. Even qualifying for the entrance exam was considered an honor.
Leon clenched the letter gently.
"Don't worry, buddy. I'll fulfill your last wish."
As dawn broke, Leon heard voices outside his door. The time was already 7:50 a.m. He hesitated for a moment before steadying himself and opening the door.
The moment he stepped into the hall and saw the dining table, his chest tightened.
Tears welled up uncontrollably.
His mother and sister were chatting happily, smiling at each other. His father sat quietly, reading a book while sipping tea. Breakfast was already prepared.
Leon's handsome face—one that could rival a prince—now looked like that of a lost child reunited with his parents after years of separation.
He quickly wiped his tears and forced his emotions down.
Inside his heart, he made a vow.
In this life, I will protect their smiles—no matter what it takes.I will become strong. I will become rich.So strong that no one would even dare dream of hurting the people I cherish.If this world believes in survival of the fittest—then I will stand at the very top.
Once a man who lost everything, Leon was now determined to live this new life to its fullest.
He walked toward the dining table.
His sister noticed him first.
"Impossible. Mother, I think I've gone insane," Kaya said dramatically. "I'm seeing Leon wake up early."
"Huh? Don't be ridiculous," their mother replied without turning around. "That's impossible."
"But I really did wake up."
Leon slipped behind his mother and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Oho? Kaya, it's true. It's true—he's actually awake early," she said sarcastically, glancing at him.
"Enough with this joke. It's getting old."
Teasing Leon had always been a family tradition. It hadn't changed in this world either.
Leon sat beside his sister and ruffled her hair.
"Hauu! Do you know how long it takes to set my hair?" Kaya protested. "You just destroyed forty minutes of hard work!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Their mother served breakfast. It wasn't luxurious, but every bite made Leon's heart ache. He struggled to hold back tears as he tasted his mother's cooking—something he hadn't experienced in so long.
After finishing, his father spoke without looking up from his book.
"You should start waking up early from now on. There are only six days left before your soul core awakens."
"Yes, Father."
His father was strict, but kind—a man who loved his family deeply. Leon always respected his advice.
"Hey, Leon," Kaya asked curiously. "Do you think you'll pass the academy entrance exam?"
Before Leon could answer, their mother spoke.
"That depends on whether your brother awakens a combat-type class and soul skill. We'll know after the awakening."
Leon smiled calmly.
"We'll see, Kaya."
At the age of fifteen, everyone in this world awakened their soul core, allowing them to use mana or aura. Along with it came a soul system, enabling individuals to track their growth.
Each person awakened a class, determining their path—merchant, alchemist, blacksmith, mage, warrior, and more.
Classes were ranked:
Common → Rare → Unique → Epic → Legendary
Common classes were widespread. Rare classes were valuable. Unique classes were treasures. Epic classes were calamity-level existences. Legendary classes existed only in myths.
Classes could be inherited, but their strength depended on the individual's soul.
Some people also awakened soul skills, ranked from F to SSS, and beyond that—EX and Divine. These skills were bound directly to the soul, and not everyone possessed one.
Life passed peacefully.
Leon trained his body daily, aware of its current weakness. During free time, he went shopping with his mother or spent time with Kaya, who often teased him about secretly having a crush.
Six days passed.
The day of awakening arrived.
Leon learned that his soul core would awaken automatically at 12:00 p.m.
He waited.
Patiently.
Silently.
Then—
12:00 p.m.