I Became the Number 3 (3)
The empire, as the largest nation of humans, was a place where every kind of human character gathered. Thanks to the fifth emperor who had championed its founding, the academy took in countless students seeking knowledge without caring whether they were commoners, nobles, or even members of the imperial family. Among them were a handful of other races—elves, dwarves, and beastkin—who also attended in small numbers.
And among this year’s freshmen, one other-race student stood out more than anyone else.
‘Grand Meister.’
He was a legendary dwarf bearing the title of “Grand Meister,” an honor given only to those who had reached the absolute pinnacle among the Meister ranks reserved exclusively for magic engineering experts.
For the record, a 752-year-old dwarf wasn’t considered a “student” even by human standards. Dwarves lived eight hundred to a thousand years on average, so by human reckoning he was firmly in grandfather territory. Still, the reason the Grand Meister had enrolled here—something I’d only heard through rumors—was that he had appeared before the professors and declared himself a student who still hungered to learn.
They had never accepted an elder as a student before, but there was no explicit rule against it, so the faculty held a meeting. Since the mere presence of a Grand Meister would bring enormous benefits to the academy, they ultimately decided to accept him.
‘Still, this is crossing the damn line.’
Because of that insanely skilled dwarf, I had been pushed down in rank again.
Third place.
It was third place yet again.
First place had obviously gone to the man at the very peak of magic engineering, and second place had gone to none other than his own granddaughter. The dwarf had stolen the top spot that should have belonged to his own blood.
I wasn’t the only one thinking it, but no one dared speak up for one simple reason: the Grand Meister was an idol to every single person who dreamed of becoming a magic engineer.
Just listing a few of his achievements made it obvious why. He had built magic-engineering trains and railways that streamlined the flow of goods across the empire, created mana lamps that lit up the streets at night, and even invented something close to an air conditioner. With a resume like that, every student in the Magic Engineering Department worshipped him. So this time, at least, I was able to sit in my seat without drawing any stares.
I watched the Grand Meister quietly from a distance, just like everyone else, until a middle-aged man with a stern, no-nonsense face opened the front door and stepped in. One glance told me he was a Magic Engineering professor. He looked like the stubborn craftsman type—
“Aigoo, Grand Meister, sir! It is the greatest honor of my life to meet you! You are already so utterly perfect that I doubt a humble hammer-wielder like myself has anything of value to teach you, but I swear I will do everything in my power to offer you meaningful knowledge!”
The face that looked ready to argue with the world itself had melted into pure reverence the moment it saw the Grand Meister. Right now he looked less like a professor and more like a kid meeting his hero.
And so the Magic Engineering class began, everyone tiptoeing around the Grand Meister’s mood.
A packed, suffocating lecture in the Magic Department, brutal sparring in the Knight Department, a Magic Engineering class that spent half its time watching the Grand Meister’s reactions, and a blissfully normal Economics lecture. The first day had been full of chaos, but honestly, wasn’t that just how academies worked? Even if this wasn’t literally a novel world, an otherworld academy was practically required to have at least one major incident.
Anyway, the moment classes ended, Louis and I headed straight for the dormitory. The empire really was the strongest on the continent—every room in the academy dorms was a single. Louis, my personal attendant, had been assigned the room right next to mine.
“Let’s rest a bit and grab dinner together later.”
“Sure. Call me anytime if you need anything.”
After our short exchange I opened the door and stepped inside. The servants had already unpacked everything.
“All right,” I muttered. “Time to get to work.”
I picked up the pouch leaning against the wall. This was the fantasy classic—a subspace pocket. The good ones were stupidly expensive, so I’d gone through a lot of trouble to get it. I opened the pouch, reached inside, and my fingers brushed something cold and hard. I grabbed it and pulled it out.
Custom Left-Hand Weapon
Combines Earth subculture knowledge with magic engineering. Functions as both shield and multi-tool. Several features still incomplete.
The gauntlet I had been building ever since I learned the basics of magic engineering and gained some skill. Unlike ordinary gauntlets, this one was a special piece I had poured both my memories of Earth subculture tropes and my magic-engineering talent into. Of course, it was still unfinished.
“Just a little more…” I whispered. “Just a little more and it’ll be done.”
The department was only teaching basic magic tools right now, so I couldn’t work on it during class. But if I chipped away at it in my free time, I’d finish it soon.
“My specialty is versatility, after all.”
All my talents might be third-place level, but I was still called a genius. To overtake the monsters above me, the only way was to raise every field I touched as high as possible.
“♪~♪~♪~♪”
Humming cheerfully, I kept working on the gauntlet. My right hand needed to hold a sword, so this was a left-hand gauntlet. Most people used a shield in their left, but from my experience, ordinary shields were basically useless in a world where aura and mana existed. You could only coat a blade with aura, not a shield. That was why I had created this.
This gauntlet, packed with every function I could think of, was far more than just a shield. To surpass the monsters at the top, I had to use the things only I could do.
I was completely absorbed in the work when—
-BOOOOM!!
“…?”
From far outside the dormitory, in the direction of the main academy building, a deafening explosion rang out. I even felt a faint tremor through the floor.
…No way.
For a split second the classic otherworld-academy trope—incident on the first day—flashed through my mind, but I quickly shook it off. This wasn’t a novel. It had to be some kind of research accident. There was no way it was a terrorist group of academy dropouts or Black Mages, right?
Dismissing it, I tried to focus on the gauntlet again when—
“Goddamn it.”
The screams from outside made me kick my chair back and shoot to my feet. When the academy was attacked, the students usually ended up doing more than the professors.
“…Louis.”
“I figured you’d noticed too.”
The moment I stepped out, I ran into Louis coming out of the next room.
“You’re not seriously thinking of heading over there, are you?”
“I am, actually.”
“…Why?”
“Because I’m in third place, obviously?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“The first- and second-place monsters are definitely going. If I sit it out, that’d be pathetic.”
“Ugh… Haah, fine. You’ve always been like this. I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but you always end up trying to help people.”
Man, how can he say something that cringy with a straight face? He probably thinks I’m some kind of hero, but I just refuse to let the top two hog all the spotlight.
Whether he understood my thoughts or not, Louis shook his head, then smiled helplessly as if to say he’d given up trying to stop me.
“All right, let’s go. But your safety comes first. The second you’re in danger, I’m dragging you out.”
“Sure, whatever you say.”
I gave him a playful grin, then slipped the gauntlet onto my left hand. A few of the functions I’d planned weren’t finished yet, but it was still better than nothing. Sword in my right hand, gauntlet on my left, Louis and I dashed out of the dormitory and sprinted full-speed toward the main building.
“Enemy elimination or rescue? Pick one.”
“You’re faster than me, so you handle rescue. I’ll take the Scavengers and Black Mages.”
“Got it.”
Since I was stronger than Louis, it made sense for me to face enemies whose strength we didn’t fully know. Louis might be weaker in raw power, but he was quicker and more agile—perfect for saving people in danger.
“Today’s your debut performance, huh?”
I clenched and unclenched the gauntleted hand, ready to put it to use at a moment’s notice.
By the time we reached the main building, the place had become pure pandemonium.
“Uwaaaaah! Black Mages! There are Black Mages!”
“Everyone calm down and form orderly lines to evacuate—”
“Ugh…! The Scavengers are way stronger than I expected…!”
Students panicking at the sight of Black Mages, students desperately trying to maintain order but failing, students fighting with everything they had but clearly struggling. The faculty had stepped in too, but the invaders’ power was overwhelming.
“Khuk…!”
One of the magic professors staggered back, clutching a bleeding arm. These were the empire’s finest instructors, yet even they were being pushed back.
“You hypocrites…! After all the effort we put in!!”
“Fuck you! So what if we don’t have much talent…!”
“Bastards. I’ll cripple every last one of you.”
That was the power of the Scavengers—failures who had turned their resentment toward the academy into strength.
“O Shrouder! Cover the false light and reveal a new light!”
“O Shrouder! Grant us a new history!!”
It was the power of the Black Mages.
This was my first time seeing either group in person, so my blood was pumping. The second I raised my sword and gauntlet—
-FWOOSH!!
“Huh?”
“Ashen, that’s…”
A massive burst of light erupted from among the students. At its center stood…
“What the hell.”
A white-haired female student of almost unnaturally breathtaking beauty was staring around in shock.
…Who the hell are you?