The academy was restless.
Ever since Riku Aoyama began his rise in the rankings, whispers had turned into conversations, and conversations into rumors. Teachers kept a closer eye on him. Students, both those who admired and resented him, had begun forming their own theories.
The day after his skirmish against the two top-ranking seniors during the special assessment, the entire campus buzzed. People claimed he cheated, used drugs, or had some unknown inheritance. But none of them knew the truth: the Infinite Wallet System pulsed silently within him, a power source no one could trace.
"Riku! Riku!" someone called as he walked toward the classroom wing. It was Hana, her twin pigtails bouncing as she caught up to him. "I heard you beat Eizo from Class 3 and left him unconscious! Is it true?"
Riku sighed, adjusting his collar. "He tried to humiliate me. I defended myself. Nothing more."
Behind Hana, a few girls from different classes peeked around the corridor, whispering and giggling. Ayumi, walking a few paces behind Riku, noticed. She narrowed her eyes.
"You need to stop pulling these stunts," Ayumi said with a huff. "Now all the girls are talking about you. Even some teachers. You think you're clever, but you're making waves."
Riku grinned. "And here I thought you liked clever men."
Ayumi's cheeks flushed. "T-That's not the point!"
As they reached their classroom, the mood shifted. A few senior students stood blocking the doorway. Their uniforms marked them as top-tier—Class 1 elites.
"Riku Aoyama," one of them, a third-year named Genda, spoke. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a smug expression. "You've been getting a little too popular. Time someone reminded you of your place."
"Oh?" Riku smiled, not backing down. "You volunteering as the reminder?"
Genda's fist clenched, and Ayumi stepped between them.
"He's not looking for trouble," she snapped. "Move."
Genda sneered. "We'll see you in the next public assessment. I'll make sure you're humbled in front of everyone."
As the seniors moved away, Ayumi turned to Riku. "You can't keep fighting everyone."
Riku looked thoughtful. "No. But I'll fight the right people at the right time."
---
Later that evening, Riku sat alone in his dorm room.
He opened the system menu.
[Infinite Wallet System - Balance: 5,130 Coins]
He had accumulated enough from recent quests, hidden challenges, and his academy performance bonuses.
[Available Purchases]
Skill: Flashstep Lv.1 (1,200 Coins)
Skill: Phantom Guard Lv.1 (1,800 Coins)
Temporary Boost: Peak Focus (30 mins) (500 Coins)
Rare Item: Mistveil Cloak (3,500 Coins)
He eyed the Mistveil Cloak. It would help him dodge detection, even from skilled mages.
Purchased: Mistveil Cloak. Remaining Balance: 1,630 Coins.
He equipped it, feeling a light shimmer surround him before vanishing. "Let's see them try to corner me next time."
---
The next morning, Ayumi watched Riku from afar. Her heart raced without permission. She remembered how calm he had been, how he stood up to Genda without flinching.
"He's different," she whispered to herself. "And that scares me... but I can't stop thinking about him."
---
In the faculty lounge, a few instructors sipped tea while reviewing assessment reports.
"This Riku Aoyama," one said, "He's accelerating too fast. Doesn't it seem… unnatural?"
Another, Professor Shiba, frowned. "Unnatural or not, talent like this only comes once every few years. We should be guiding him."
"Or monitoring him," a third muttered. "Closely."
Outside, the academy wind carried whispers from one building to the next.
And in the shadows, something older stirred.
The Hive was watching.