The Duke's Worthless Daughter Awakens an SSS+ Guide Core

The flow of cadets poured steadily out of the Central Auditorium, spreading across the broad stone avenues of Nexus Military Academy.

Freshmen quickly clustered into groups, discussing their newly assigned instructors, comparing examination scores, and speculating about their future specializations. Laughter and animated debates gradually replaced the oppressive silence that had dominated the orientation.

Merianah walked alone, keeping a measured distance from the surrounding crowd. She neither hurried nor slowed her pace, allowing the tide of eager students to naturally pass around her. Her attention quickly drifted away from the trivial conversations of her peers and focused entirely on the layout of the academy itself.

Now that the formal proceedings had concluded, she could observe the campus without immediate distraction. Training fields stretched across the eastern district where upper-year cadets sparred relentlessly under the watchful eyes of their instructors. Every heavy clash of training blades echoed through the morning air with crisp, military precision.

Farther away, towering humanoid combat frames stood motionless inside reinforced hangars. Engineers moved efficiently between the massive machines, carrying diagnostic equipment and conducting rapid maintenance checks. The sight reminded Merianah of the mechanized divisions she had operated alongside in her past life on Earth.

Even the roads themselves revealed something highly unusual about the academy’s infrastructure. Small autonomous maintenance drones continuously repaired damaged stone pathways almost as quickly as heavy military vehicles created new cracks. This constant cycle of destruction and restoration highlighted the intense activity of the campus.

Nothing inside the perimeter of Nexus remained idle for long. Everything functioned with a deliberate, cold efficiency that felt both impressive and deeply unsettling.

She turned the observation over in her mind as she walked.

"A city built entirely for war," she thought.

The realization did not surprise her, as it perfectly matched the reputation of the Empire’s premier training ground.

A soft, distinct vibration suddenly came from the communication terminal secured to her wrist. The transparent screen projected itself into the air, casting a blue light against her dark sleeve. The notification was brief and left no room for delay.

[Freshman Notice]

[Morning Classes Begin Immediately.]

[Please proceed to your assigned instructional halls.]

[Individual schedules have been uploaded.]

Merianah tapped the floating display with a practiced movement of her finger. A detailed timetable unfolded before her eyes, listing her daily obligations in chronological order. The schedule was dense, showing that her education would cover several distinct fields.

[Military Strategy — 0900]

[Combat Fundamentals — 1100]

[Military Engineering — 1400]

[Guide Theory — 1600]

She studied the compact arrangement quietly, noting the rapid transitions between subjects.

She murmured her thoughts under her breath.

"They are alternating physical and mental subjects."

The schedule was intentionally designed to be physically and mentally exhausting. It forced cadets to transition rapidly between intellectual analysis and grueling physical performance without allowing them to settle into a comfortable rhythm.

This was undoubtedly a deliberate training design by the academy leadership. Battlefields rarely allowed soldiers to prepare under ideal conditions, and adaptability was key to survival. The constant pressure would quickly weed out those who could not handle rapid shifts in focus.

As she continued walking toward the academic district, another notification flashed across the holographic display. This one contained her specific classroom assignment for her first period of the day.

[Classroom Assignment]

[Command Division Hall]

[Room C-7]

She memorized the route before dismissing the screen with a swift swipe. The command building stood near the center of the campus, its architecture noticeably different from the surrounding facilities.

Unlike the combat arenas or the engineering laboratories, its exterior was remarkably plain. There were no towering statues of historical figures or decorative banners fluttering in the wind. Instead, the structure featured only clean stone walls engraved with a single silver inscription.

[Victory Begins With Judgment.]

Merianah paused briefly before the entrance to read the words, appreciating their simple truth. She then pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside, leaving the bright morning sunlight behind.

Inside the lecture hall, rows of tiered seats overlooked a circular tactical platform occupying the center of the room. Every desk contained an integrated holographic projector instead of traditional writing materials or digital pads. Nearly half of the classroom had already filled with eager freshmen by the time she arrived.

Some of the students recognized her the moment she stepped through the doorway. Quiet whispers immediately spread through the tiered rows as they watched her walk.

"That is the first-place applicant from the exam," one cadet murmured to his neighbor.

The second student nodded, staring at her silver hair. "The one who managed to secure a perfect score with zero casualties."

A third cadet chimed in, her voice hushed. "I heard even Colonel Serena praised her performance during the review."

Merianah ignored every curious glance and whispered comment directed her way. She walked up the stairs and selected a seat near the center of the room.

From this vantage point, she could clearly observe both the instructor’s platform and every single entrance to the room. Old military habits never truly disappeared, and she felt far more comfortable with her back secured against a solid wall.

One by one, the remaining students entered the hall until only a handful of empty seats remained. The nervous energy in the room was palpable as everyone awaited their first proper lecture.

Exactly as the digital wall clock struck nine, the classroom doors slid open. Professor Selene Voss entered the room with swift, purposeful strides, carrying absolutely no tablets or physical notes.

She walked directly to the center of the tactical platform and surveyed the room with calm, unreadable eyes. There were no polite introductions or welcoming remarks to ease the transition into the academic year.

Without speaking, she touched the holographic console beside her desk. The overhead lights dimmed instantly, plunging the tiered seating into shadow.

A complex, highly detailed battlefield appeared above the circular platform, rendered in glowing red and blue lines. It depicted burning cities, advancing armored divisions, and retreating civilian caravans.

Professor Selene finally broke the silence, her icy voice cutting through the dark room.

"Your orientation is officially over," she announced, her gaze locking onto several students in the front row.

Her cold blue eyes swept across every freshman in the room, pausing briefly when they reached Merianah.

"Now we begin learning why most commanders fail long before the battle ever starts," she said.

Professor Voss touched the glowing console once more, her movement swift and precise. The holographic battlefield suddenly froze, the moving tactical icons locking into static positions.

Every single blue unit representing the defending army vanished from the display in an instant. Only the burning city and the advancing red forces remained, casting a crimson wash over the lecture hall.

She looked across the silent classroom, her sharp gaze challenging each student to meet her eyes.

"Tell me," she said calmly, her voice echoing in the stillness. "At what exact moment did this army lose the war?"