The automated sliding doors opened, greeting Dante with a vast semicircular classroom that descended in stepped rows toward a central platform, designed so every student had a clear view of the space below.

  Displayed in holographic letters floating in the air were:

  Neural Enhancement

  Vs

  Biological

  Debate

  The words hung in the air, projected above the central stage where two podiums faced each other. Between them floated a three-dimensional timer display, its holographic numbers suspended in space, waiting to begin the countdown.

  Dante walked in with a yawn.

  Ah, I still need a nap.

  It’s too bad that I have to be awake for this or else…

  Before Dante had a chance to finish his thought a voice called out. “Dante there you are.”

  There stood a boy roughly the same height as Dante, with golden hair and golden eyes. His face was extremely handsome and he smiled with warmth.

  Or else this guy will fail.

  Dante looked at his classmate up and down a few times.

  “Dante, have your interests shifted to men?” the golden-haired man covered himself with his arms.

  “Yes, 100%. We should lock arms and skip through the hallway, Lucian. Let’s ignore the debate and do it now.” Dante smiled widely.

  “Just because you’re lazy and barely pass all your classes doesn’t mean you should drag others down with you, Dante.” A girl with blue highlights scolded.

  “Yeah, we won’t let you corrupt Lucian,” another girl standing at the side, with green highlights in her hair said.

  Yup, this guy…

  Honestly, if we were summoned to another world and told to kill a demon king, I would blame Lucian for being the hero of the world and dragging me along.

  “Alright girls, he was just playing around,” Lucian said.

  I wouldn't mind leaving this debate behind though.

  But I guess that's a no go.

  Dante looked around. All the students had a look of confidence; though some still reviewed notes, none of them seemed worried.

  Most of them are from well-off families and have been somewhat groomed for this. It's not surprising that they are confident.

  “I heard there is a prize for the top grade.”

  “A prize?”

  “Yeah, a week off from this class. You can do whatever you want with the class time, you don’t even have to show up.”

  Ah, that almost makes me want to actually try!

  Dante thought to himself as he heard a conversation nearby.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  “Dante, come on, let’s get ready with the rest of the team,” Lucian called out.

  “We don’t really need him,” the blue-highlighted girl said.

  “I agree with Honami,” the green-highlighted girl jumped in.

  “Oh, don’t be like that Honami, Jina. Dante did research, I’m sure,” Lucian reassured.

  I didn’t.

  Dante thought to himself.

  “Did you, Dante?” Jina asked, staring straight at Dante.

  Of course I did.

  “Of course I didn't,” Dante said, saying aloud what he was thinking and thinking internally what he meant to say aloud.

  …

  Oops.

  Lucian coughed lightly. “It will turn out great. Come on, we have to go first, so no time for doubt.”

  “I can’t believe you didn’t prepare anything,” Honami muttered, adjusting her blue-highlighted hair.

  “One minute to commencement,” the teacher’s voice echoed through the chamber.

  The teams took their positions on stage, the lights dimming slightly as spotlights illuminated the podiums. Lucian stood front to one side, Jina and Honami arranged their notes to his other side. Dante stood relaxed.

  “Victoria’s team will open,” the teacher said.

  “As you may know, Neural interface chips can provide instantaneous feedback and adjustment based on brain activity patterns.”

  …

  The debate had begun.

  Five minutes had passed as Victoria began giving statements on the advantages of Neural interface over biological enhancement drugs.

  Dante covered his mouth to yawn and whispered a few words to Lucian.

  “While neural interfaces certainly offer impressive technological capabilities, our team firmly believes that biological enhancement approaches represent the superior path forward for humanity. Unlike artificial neural chips that remain foreign objects within our bodies, biological enhancements work in harmony with our natural systems.”

  Lucian had begun.

  When it had returned to Victoria's turn, Dante began to take notes on her words and counters to them, passing them to Lucian who in turn countered Victoria's points.

  Honestly, this whole debate is pointless.

  What's the advantage of one versus the other?

  Price!

  Plain and simple.

  They both have disadvantages, that's why people with real money get both. Heck, sometimes you need one to use the other or else it will kill you.

  Dante's eyes wandered around the room. Some students' heads were nodding in agreement, while other students sat down taking notes. Some students shook their heads and others chatted with their friends in secret. He even caught one of his classmates resting with their heads down.

  She looks comfy.

  Honestly, how long has this debate been going on for now?

  Dante took a look at the holographic clock displaying time.

  30 minutes? Geez, ok it should almost be over. They are having their closing arguments.

  …

  After class, Dante got up and headed straight for the door.

  As Dante made his way out of the classroom, he noticed Honami and Jina rushing toward Lucian, their debate notes still clutched in their hands.

  “Lucian, that was incredible!” Honami gushed. “The way you countered Victoria’s points—”

  “You totally owned that debate,” Jina added, stepping closer to him. “We should celebrate later. What do you say? Would you like to join us?”

  Lucian smiled politely, his eyes glancing at Dante leaving the room. “Thank you for the invitation, but I need to go do something. Sorry girls, I really am, but I’ve got to run. Perhaps another time?”

  The disappointment on their faces was evident, but Lucian was already moving past them, catching up to Dante who was halfway down the hall.

  “Hey Dante, hold up,” Lucian said as he ran after him.

  “What the hell, Lucian?” Dante said as soon as Lucian caught up and stood next to him.

  “I thought you said you would prepare for this.”

  Lucian laughed. “I did prepare! But someone in Victoria’s team has a father who works in that field. So I was outgunned, so to speak. Thankfully I had a Mercier.” He shrugged, giving Dante a grateful smile as he wrapped his arm around Dante’s shoulder.

  “Yeah yeah, lucky for you I was there then, I guess,” Dante replied with a lazy shrug.

  “Lucky indeed,” Lucian agreed. “Though if you did the debating, we could have ended it faster. You know that just because you do well on a debate, it doesn’t mean you’re automatically your father’s puppet, right?”

  “It’s not that, it just takes too much effort,” Dante said. “I’m satisfied with what I currently have.”

  “Like passing notes with information about neural tech?” Lucian raised an eyebrow. “I’ve known you long enough to tell when you’re only telling me half the story.”

  Dante looked at him and with a chuckle said, “You’ve been with me long enough to know the other half of the story too, my friend.”

  Lucian tilted his head down and sighed, “Yeah, those siblings of yours are really pieces of work. I find Durrant especially annoying.”

  “Wait...” Dante raised an eyebrow.

  “Shouldn’t you dislike Katarina or Corso? I mean, your family is heavy on the law enforcement side of things. Those two should be the biggest thorn in your side, one literally breaks the law and the other walks a thin line on it.”

  “What? Are you crazy, Dante?” Lucian opened his mouth wide exaggeratedly.

  “Katarina is way too gorgeous to worry about those things!” Lucian laughed while rubbing his friend’s head.

  “Lucian, you bastard,” Dante responded with his own hair assault.

  “Lucian, get your finger out of my mouth!”

  “Oww, oww, Dante, my tie, my tie.”

  “Lucian, stop!”

  “No, you stop first, Dante.”

  “You started this, Lucian.”

  “And I will end this too.”

  “Good, then end it already.”

  “I meant I’ll end this by making you surrender.”

  “Never, you big eared bastard!!”

  “Dante you told me you would forget about that!”

  “I lied! Now let go of my ears before they get as big as yours used to be.”

  “No, now you will have to suffer being known for big ears.”

  “Ow, ow, ow! Lucian, I'm gonna kick your ass.”

  The two began attacking each other in the strangest of ways down the hall.