Earth, Inner World
Corresponding to a corner of Tokyo Bay in the Surface World, this place housed a city even more magnificent than those found above.
Its grandeur wasn't merely in scale—it wasn't that large—but in its architecture.
The buildings were majestic and awe-inspiring, as if the place was ten or twenty years ahead of the Surface World, with a hint of magical style.
Preserving the natural mountain landscape, the city was constructed with cutting-edge technology, presenting a vision of future coexistence between nature and technology.
It could be called the ideal future city.
More importantly, this city was built on an artificial island. One could only imagine how immense and powerful the force was that created it.
Upon closer inspection, the island appeared to have suffered some kind of disaster. Construction crews were repairing damage everywhere. However, given the astonishing pace of restoration, it would likely take less than a week before the island regained its former splendor.
On this artificial island stood a special school—BABEL: The Hero Academy Tower, Far Eastern Island Nation Branch.
The purpose of this school was to guide young boys and girls who returned from other worlds with special abilities, helping them stay on the right path and contribute to the prosperity and advancement of humanity.
The vast campus housed a large number of returnees from other worlds, with institutions set up for all levels of education—elementary school, middle school, university, and even research institutes.
While the returned heroes received normal education, the school also provided tailored courses to train them in the unique abilities they had acquired from other worlds, all to help them safeguard humanity's future.
"Leave the rest to us, Vice President. You should get some rest."
This was a conversation taking place in the middle school division's student council office.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
The girl initially wanted to refuse, but seeing their concerned expressions, silently hoping she would take care of herself, she finally nodded.
She then left the student council room and returned to her dorm. Taking off her uniform, she stepped into the shower, letting the cold water soak her slender and voluptuous body.
After who knows how long, the girl sluggishly finished her shower and wrapped her still damp body in a bathrobe.
With water droplets still clinging to her pale feet, she walked aimlessly toward her desk. The girl—Haruka Nanase—was still unable to recover from the emotional blow of the incident two days prior.
It was understandable; many others were in the same state.
She lightly slapped her cheeks, knowing she had to pull herself together.
She opened her personal computer and clicked on a file titled "Noelle of the Wind." Inside were countless texts and illustrations.
Then she opened the glasses case beside her and put on a pair of rimless glasses. Gathering her still-wet hair, she tied it into a high ponytail.
Her slender, fair fingers began tapping the optical keyboard. However, after half an hour, she had barely written a hundred words.
If anyone were to see what she had opened, they'd be utterly shocked. This strict enforcer of school discipline, the vice president, was working on something so unexpected.
Of course, Haruka would never let anyone find out. If they did, she'd probably die of embarrassment. Her dignity in front of the students would be shattered—total social death.
Then her peripheral vision caught sight of a box nearby.
It was a confiscated item from a recent disciplinary inspection—contraband to be disposed of later.
"Sigh…"
She let out a tired sigh and decided to lie down in bed for a while. But just as she stood up and took a few steps, she froze.
Was she hallucinating? Were particles of light floating in the air?
No, it wasn't an illusion. In the next moment, a magic circle spread out above her head, and space twisted into a dimensional portal.
This development shocked Haruka.
This was clearly an advanced dimensional transfer spell—someone had directly targeted her room. She could also sense a thick, terrifying aura from the other side, as if it were connected to the demon realm.
It was so sudden that as someone fell through the portal, the startled Haruka backed away and fell to the ground.
But she wasn't an ordinary girl—she didn't panic from the pain. Instead, she immediately prepared to counterattack and defend herself.
Green particles of light gathered in her right hand, about to form a weapon.
But before the weapon could fully form, she was stunned when she saw who had arrived.
Who was this person who had suddenly appeared?
—It was Yazuki, the one who had kicked and defeated the god of destruction Valkyrie, now trying to leave as quickly as possible.
He hadn't returned directly to the normal surface world because such long-range, cross-world transfers caused major disturbances—especially when entering the Surface Earth.
So instead, he transferred to a neighboring dimension adjacent to the surface.
As for where he landed in the Hero Academy's realm, it wasn't precisely controllable. As long as he entered the general area, that was enough.
So upon arrival, he found himself in a girl's dormitory room—specifically, Haruka's room. She was still dazed, sitting on the floor with one knee raised, staring at him.
From a normal perspective, she was an extraordinarily beautiful girl with waist-length, emerald green hair and large, clear jade eyes behind a pair of glasses, giving her a scholarly appearance.
She had a voluptuous figure, her fair skin glowing with a rosy hue and still carrying the fragrance of her recent bath.
She was indeed freshly showered, wearing only a bathrobe.
Due to the shock of falling, her bathrobe had slipped from her shoulders, exposing her collarbone. The front was wide open, and her ample chest was barely covered—any further, and the most important part would've been in full view.
From the right angle, perhaps it already was.
Her posture, with one knee raised, also caused the robe to slide open at the bottom, revealing her long, white legs.
In short, this was the kind of seductive sight that would leave a pure-hearted boy completely at a loss as to where to look. A man with impure thoughts might instantly be overwhelmed with dopamine and turn into a beast.
However, Yazuki, due to the lingering effects of having become an undead spiritual being, found no interest at all. He was totally unaffected.
"Ah? Uuugh~…"
The stunned girl finally regained her senses, realizing the embarrassing state she was in. She hurriedly pulled the robe back up from her shoulders and quickly stood up.
Just as she steadied herself and met his eyes, a strange sensation spread through her body. A wave of numbness struck, her legs trembled and weakened, and then—
A warm flow spread across the floor beneath her.
In that instant, her face went pale as a sheet, her whole body seemingly petrified.