How could this happen?
As I walked toward my first-ever class at Aurum Academy, passing through various fancy rooms and halls, I could hear different students talking among themselves.
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"Have you heard? There's a student who took the entrance exam later than us."
"I heard he bribed a teacher—maybe even the director."
"Every class got reshuffled because of him."
"I heard everyone who was demoted wants to see his head on a stake."
"I don't blame them. If I barely got rank 20 in a class and some guy came in and demoted me to an inferior one, I'd want him dead too."
"I'm mad, and this whole thing didn't even affect me that much. From Class B, rank sixteen to seventeen. Still, it's infuriating. I took the entrance exams on time and did everything legally, just for someone to waltz in whenever he wants and mess everything up."
"I heard Ximuss, the previous rank twenty of the S class, already contacted his parents to complain to Miss Goldenlaw."
"I heard most of the students in Class S don't even know him—and only the richest and most well-known royals get in there."
"No, no, no. Only the strongest get into the S class. You're just mad because you lack skill."
"I heard he's a plebeian who scored perfectly on every part of the exam."
"Every part!? But part one had impossible questions!"
"I heard Teacher Lycree couldn't believe she had someone with that much potential in front of her."
"Someone told me he even defeated Teacher Tramer effortlessly."
---
I wanna cry... I wanna throw up.
Why have rumors about me already spread on the very first day!?
While my writing test scores were above average, I got most of the geography and history questions wrong. Professor Doolvo called me average, and... you know what? Yeah, I wiped the floor with Tramer—but only because I used my fake incantation-less trick.
Aurum Academy puts its students under a ranking system where only twenty people are allowed in a class.
From S Class—the best one—to F Class, where those who barely made it in are dumped.
Not everything is set in stone, though, as students have a fair chance to rank up.
I'd like to say that because I ended up ranked eighteen in the S Class, I wouldn't have that many students coming after me. But thanks to my late entrance, now all I hear is that people want me dead.
And I ended up in the S Class, where all the nobles are.
I would've liked to end up in the E Class with the main character...
sigh
Even though I'm standing in front of the classroom door, I simply don't want to go in.
As soon as I enter, all their eyes will be on me.
What if I use [Sandstorm]? ...Nah, that'd only make it worse.
Well... there's nothing I can do.
---
As soon as I open the door, I notice a few important characters.
But if I had to mention the three most important, they would be:
Theo Der Botcam — the second prince of the Raychmen Kingdom, a human kingdom situated in the central plains of the Nhuam continent. He's ranked first in this class.
Franchesca Von Themys — the firstborn of the King of the Montanev Kingdom, a realm located on the northwestern peninsula. She's a well-known late-stage villainess and is currently ranked second.
Cecil Treyaro — raised to be Theo's perfect bodyguard from birth. He's ranked third.
Theo shines as a relatively average unit. But who cares? Just bench him as soon as you recruit him and use the best part: if you recruit him, Cecil also gets added to your team.
I wasn't the only one analyzing my peers—I could feel them doing the same to me.
I decided to act as calm and natural as I could while walking to my desk.
Just as I dropped my things, a voice called out from behind.
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"Judging by where you're sitting... am I right to assume you're that famous Alen guy?"
Lyon Alva, prince of the United Kingdom of Tiasbes—a kingdom where all kinds of demi-humans live. He's ranked fourth.
I'd rather not make enemies on my very first day of class.
"You'd be right in making that assumption, lion prince." God, I hope that didn't come off as rude.
"Then, Alen, why don't you introduce yourself? We're all well-acquainted—thanks to our lineages and our shared time during the entrance exams... both things you clearly lack."
I don't like where this is going.
"If you already know my name and appearance, then I don't need to introduce myself." Not wanting confrontation doesn't mean I'll let someone walk all over me.
"So you're a confrontational type, huh?" He headbutted me—and I responded by locking our foreheads in a clash.
"I don't know where you got that idea. I'd just rather not waste time on meaningless fights." I hate knowing that I'm picking the worst options possible in this encounter.
"So I'm just meaningless to you?" He pushed harder. "I'll make sure to change that..."
"Are you sure about that?"
---
This presence... this pressure... it feels like...
Lyon immediately tensed and stood straight. Every other student did the same.
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"Hoo? I like that answer, Student Alen."
Kafka Crowbell, the S Class homeroom teacher.
"I've heard of your rather... peculiar trick that got you into my S Class, courtesy of Miss Goldenlaw," he said with a sadistic smile.
"I also heard you like to keep it a secret. So I'd advise you to lower that hand. No matter what spell you cast, it'll be useless."
I had instinctively raised my hand, ready to cast a spell.
"But I also see you're not the only one with good reactions," he said, scanning the classroom. "It seems this year will be rather interesting."
I slowly lowered my hand.
---
"I had originally planned to give the usual talk about what students ought to do on their first day, what to expect, and more," he said as he walked toward the door. "But why don't we let you and Student Alva 'talk' your problems out instead?"
I already knew coming to Class S was a mistake...
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"It'll help the class too—it seems to be in high spirits today. You know what they say: strike while the iron's hot."
Kafka Crowbell, a psycho with a superiority complex. He tortures Class S with extreme lectures and training because he refuses to lose to any other class.