Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Class Assignment Test
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“Dean, are you really set on making that kid the top freshman?”
“Yeah.”
“…The faculty’s going to push back hard.”
“I know.”
“And the students too.”
“So what.”
Kaus wasn’t wrong about a single thing.
Adel hadn’t even taken a proper exam, hadn’t shown anything at all.
Even if he had taken the test properly, he wouldn’t have had results worthy of being called top in any category.
“You’re that taken by the kid’s talent?”
“…”
Talent.
Did it really hold enough value to shake the entire Yoram on its own?
“It’s different from my situation, Dean.”
Kaus Ostris.
A commoner with nothing to his name who rose to the top with just his bare body.
“The era’s changed.”
Back then, noble titles and status meant nothing.
“And the kid doesn’t even have any power…”
A man who crushed everything with raw force and emerged victorious.
Even he couldn’t understand Adel.
Veronica leaned back in her chair.
“At first, I just thought I’d keep him close and raise him quietly.”
Adel definitely wasn’t cut out to be top freshman.
Compared to last year’s top freshman, Cornelia von Delbar, he was overwhelmingly lacking in every way.
“But you know? When I thought back on it, those eyes… I’d seen them somewhere before.”
“…Pardon?”
“Yeah, this weak-bodied kid who could barely speak, but turned into the most rotten bastard in the world.”
“…”
“Kaus, who are you?”
“…Vice Dean of Yoram.”
“Right. Vice Dean of Yoram. And the strongest human mage at the same time.”
Divine Archer, the Supreme, Living Catastrophe.
Countless names called him.
“And what were you before? Just a strong brute, trash.”
“…Trash?”
“And where do you stand now?”
“…At the pinnacle of strength.”
“Who’s that thanks to?”
“You, Dean…”
“Yeah. Exactly.”
Veronica clapped her hands with a sharp smack.
“So what can you all even do about it?”
“…”
“I’m the Dean anyway, right?”
Kaus pressed his forehead as if he’d expected this.
“All of Yoram’s authority is in my hands. Faculty or students, what’re they gonna do if they complain?”
“…Nothing’s been proven about him yet, Dean…”
“Shut up and get to work.”
“Yes…”
***
“Come on, our top freshman. Got any words for us~?”
‘Whoa…’
Is this for real?
Me, top freshman?
Seriously?
“Hm? Not in the mood to talk?”
Me?
“Then~ I’ll speak for you.”
Veronica looked down from the podium and flashed a grin.
“Our top freshman~ doesn’t wanna mix words with inferiors~?”
Me?
Words I hadn’t even thought?
I hadn’t even opened my mouth?
“…”
“…”
Below the podium, the freshmen’s faces soured.
“Um…”
Only then did Veronica seem to sense something, rolling her eyes awkwardly.
“…Well, good work then? Do your best on the class assignment test? Alright, entrance ceremony’s over!”
The culprit who’d silenced him just dumped that mess and vanished.
‘Ah.’
Shit.
***
I trudged back to my seat with suddenly heavy steps.
“…”
Lev was still staring at me in shock.
Well, anyone would be stunned to see some nobody become top freshman.
“……”
But could you close that gaping mouth?
How long you planning to keep it open?
- Tap.
I lifted her chin with my finger.
Then plopped down into my chair.
‘Ha…’
What the hell.
Why me?
What did I even do to deserve top freshman?
Did I really impress Veronica that much?
‘I’m properly screwed now.’
Yeah.
Becoming top freshman was way out of left field… extremely way out.
But hey, it happens.
Still.
‘Where’s… Klaus?’
Is he really not here…?
Should’ve looked around more from the podium.
Starting to get anxious.
“Alright, everyone! No time to space out! Class assignment test right now!”
Just as I was trembling in unknown dread.
A burly professor’s voice boomed through the auditorium.
“The class assignment test will be handled by the student council, so line up and follow.”
The faculty divided the students into temporary groups and led them to another testing hall.
“…See you later.”
Lev met my eyes briefly, murmured softly, and left.
‘See you later.’
Even in this mess, only the saintess is looking out for me.
…But.
‘Your stares are too damn obvious, no?’
The freshmen lined up with me.
Pretending not to, but sneaking glances my way.
‘Pissed that a guy like me stole top spot?’
If you’re that mad, should’ve tried harder.
Then I wouldn’t be suffering like this.
‘If you’d just worked a little harder.’
Seriously, a little more effort.
And I wouldn’t have had to take top spot.
Such a shame.
‘Incompetents.’
Incompetent yet brimming with inferiority complex, glaring all the while.
“As you all know, Yoram has Class A through F.”
The burly professor spoke as he led the freshmen.
“Classes will be assigned based on scores from the test we’re about to take. Higher scores go to Class A.”
It was obvious.
Class A means your life’s on the fast track the moment you graduate Yoram.
“But starting this year, by the Dean’s order, ‘S Class’ has been newly established.”
Just like in the original ‘Akareang’.
S Class that popped up out of nowhere this year.
‘Problem is Klaus might not be in it.’
It was a Huge problem.
“S Class isn’t based on scores. It is Purely the Dean’s discretion.”
“Professor! Question!”
Someone shot their hand up.
The guy who’d been glaring at me blatantly.
“Speak.”
“If we score way higher than Class A, can we get into S Class?!”
The professor smirked.
“Big dreamer.”
“…Pardon?”
“We’re here.”
The testing hall door opened.
And inside.
“Who’s that…?”
“The Student Council President…?”
“That’s her…!”
Cornelia von Delbar.
Yoram’s pride and joy.
Ultra-ultra talent.
Ultra-ultra-ultra beauty.
“You’re about to realize just how much of a frog in a well you all are.”
“……”
“Struggle hard.”
The professor left those final words and shut the door as he exited.
Gulp.
All the freshmen swallowed hard.
Because the presence before them was overwhelmingly dominant.
Because they couldn’t voice any petty complaints.
‘Ah.’
But cut me some slack.
Screeech…
‘Please.’
Carnel was still glaring at me with eyes full of resentment.
***
‘Hehe…!’
Her lips curved up involuntarily.
‘That’s it exactly.’
She kept her expression dignified, but inside she was bubbling like a child.
‘That’s how it should be before me.’
Awe.
Reverence.
And even a touch of envy.
The more she shone, the more others paled, unable to look away.
‘Yes. Look at me like that.’
All swallowing hard, mouths shut, not a peep, eyes locked.
That awkward unease.
The unspoken admiration.
The overwhelming pressure piercing everything!
‘As expected, I’m perfection itself!’
Elegant bloodline, extraordinary talent, overwhelming beauty!
In the moment all harmonized perfectly, she became the sun, looking down on all.
‘But…’
In that instant, one eyesore caught her gaze.
The one staring straight at her, the sun.
‘Why… do you have that look?’
Adel.
The weird guy picked as this year’s top freshman.
Not inferiority, not reverence.
Not superiority either—just pure indifference.
‘Why won’t you look up to me…!!’
He was not ignoring her existence, but truly gazing with zero emotion—it began to scrape at Carnel’s pride.
“…This class assignment test will be conducted by the student council.”
Carnel hid her dark inner thoughts, steadied her voice, and declared.
“Assigning scores to you freshmen. Whether it’s Class A or F. It is all up to me.”
The test setup, the standards—all in her palm.
“The test is simple. Right here, just grab and hold onto me.”
Simple.
The Score rises with hold time, class assigned accordingly.
‘I didn’t say it was easy!’
Then she lifted her chin.
“Before we… start.”
“…??”
Carnel confidently raised her index finger.
“There’s one special event.”
And without hesitation, pointed her finger.
“You!”
Her fingertip nailed one person.
“Mask?”
“That’s… the top freshman.”
Murmurs grew louder.
But the target looked baffled.
Adel whipped his head back, glanced left and right.
“Argh…! I mean you, the one with the weird mask!”
Only then did Adel point at himself.
“Yes! You!”
“…”
“That weird guy—whoever catches this year’s top freshman! I’ll put them in at least B Class no matter what!”
What an outrageous declaration.
This overreach possible only because she was student council president, just a member.
“…”
A moment of silence.
Hope, ambition, greed slowly bloomed.
Soon, those gazes turned en masse to Adel.
Predatory stares like spotting prey.
Carnel smiled contentedly.
“Alright then.”
Now for real.
“Time to start.”
***
‘Heehee.’
Carnel hid a satisfied smile inside.
《Time / Low-tier Magic》
「Slow」
The hands reaching for her slowed one by one.
‘Serves you right…!!’
Filthy thief!
Shameless, rude weirdo!
Time to pay.
Of course, Adel wouldn’t score well.
‘No problem. F Class is fine anyway!’
She planned to drag him into the student council and use him freely.
Top freshman in F Class? He’d get mocked, but that’d be fun too.
“…Tch.”
The freshmen, realizing the gap, gave up on fiercely resistant Carnel.
Instead, eyes shifted to the easier target: Adel.
‘That’s it!’
Carnel’s lips twitched up.
Exactly the flow she wanted.
Time to show them what-for right here.
‘Pickpocketing in Yoram? That shameless scum must be punished!’
Surprisingly, she harbored deep resentment toward pickpockets.
Whatever left that scar, today she’d force repentance here.
“Grab him!!”
Dozens of freshmen lunged at Adel at once.
“Catch him and it’s B Class or better!!”
But.
‘…Huh?’
Adel hadn’t moved a single step.
Just standing there, head bowed.
“…?”
Carnel’s brow furrowed at the sight.
Couldn’t read his thoughts at all.
“…!!”
Then.
Adel raised his hand to touch the mask’s mouth.
And…
“Kneel.”
The voice from beyond the mask was unexpectedly seductive.
Yet that one word swept through the entire space.
- Thud!!
Unbelievably.
The knees of the freshmen charging at Adel buckled simultaneously.
“Urk…!!”
“Why… my body…?”
Dozens knelt at once, unable to recover.
“Eh…?!”
Carnel staggered hard too.
Her body wouldn’t move as she willed.
“Wha, whaaat…?”
What just happened.
Why.
In this incomprehensible situation, she flailed in a daze.