02. Rank
02. Rank
+++
The next day.
With the face-to-face for our A-Class, which only has eight people including me, now over, it looks like proper classes are finally starting.
Not that I know what we'll even be doing yet.
They said the first month would be special classes, right?
"Today... yeah. We're gonna do some sparring."
Homeroom Instructor Yu Ina suddenly dropped that bombshell.
"...Sparring?"
"Wherever you go, it's the same, but especially for those of us staking our lives like Tower Warriors, a strict chain of command and ranking is crucial. Today, we'll measure your strength and set the rankings."
...
What a pointless waste of time.
Obviously, Bari would crush everyone...
Ah. But she said we have no resources...
Hmm...
Well, whatever... I've got the gear Bari made for me.
An armor-cum-equipment set made by squeezing out every last drop of my 16 liters of meta-atom reserves.
It's a full-body alloy hunk that can block pretty much any attack unless it's something crazy.
That said, since it was made with limited resources, she told me to be careful with it...
"Kukuku."
That annoying Tweed bastard suddenly turns to me and laughs.
What's with that creepy vibe.
"Human scum... you scared? Makes sense. Surrounded by all these Higher Races, the fact you've kept your head up this long is impressive enough. I'll give you props for that. But now it's o—,"
"Shut it."
"...Yes, ma'am."
Yu Ina gave him a light warning.
No way that loser actually listens to her.
"Sparring will be tournament-style. Matchups decided by drawing lots."
Tournaments with draws? Classic rules.
"Draw."
Folded papers on the teacher's desk.
Everyone stepped up and grabbed one.
And just like that, the bracket was set.
<Matchup Bracket>
Round 1
Sasha Velvet
Gundogan
Round 2.
Louis
Pantre
Round 3.
Ryu Si-hwan
Eleonore
Round 4.
Matthew Tweed
Rihana
Hmm. First opponent's Eleonore, huh...
Who's Eleonore?
As I'm looking around wondering that, one woman glances my way.
My name's pretty well-known, so if she's turning at this exact timing, she must be Eleonore, right?
From her looks, yeah, total Elf vibe.
"Blonde beauty, huh."
"Huh?"
Bari suddenly comments on her.
"You think so?"
"...?"
What? Just an observation?
Sure, she's an Elf, so she's stunningly pretty... but with Chief Instructor Ha Yeon-seo and homeroom Instructor Yu Ina around, she doesn't quite stand out like a sore thumb.
Just... pretty, y'know?
That level.
"Of course, if you'd offer, I'd gratefully tak— ahem..."
"Classic solo-since-birth otaku delusion."
"What the hell, you little shit?"
"Kidding."
This one's getting cheekier by the minute, huh?
And solo-since-birth otaku? What the hell's that supposed to mean.
How many women have I embraced in my time.
In games.
"You can win, right? Nah, not just win—you gotta take first."
"I won't lose."
"Won't lose isn't good enough..."
Hmm.
Guess I just gotta trust her and fight.
But I've only handled the Power Suit in games.
"I'll help too, so don't worry. Even without resources, I can do punches or basic gunfire."
"Thanks."
Yeah.
With Bari here, what's there to worry about?
Worrying with her around would be straight-up stupid.
Emotional waste!
"Then let's head out now. Assemble at the training field."
The instructor left those words and bailed from the classroom.
Cool as ice, for real.
"Kukuku... hahahahahaha!!!"
The second she was gone, loudmouth Tweed burst out laughing.
"Human!! What a pickle! That pretty face of yours might get wrecked. Huh? Nah, your head might even roll. Beating an Elf as a mere human? Tough luck. And even if you beat the Elf, your next opponent's this body—outcome's obvious! Kuhahaha!"
Laughing like a total clown.
Should I say something?
"Hmph. Heard there was a dumb Demon Race out there, but didn't think it'd be this bad. Few days in, and it's a spectacle."
Before I could open my mouth, a red-haired catgirl Beastkin sneered at him.
Hmm... guess she's Rihana the Beastkin. Feels like... tiger?
"Meow? What'd you say?"
Tweed whipped around at her, growling.
"A mere Beastkin daring to mouth off to this Demon Race body?"
"You're the weakest of the Demon Race. Me, with the highest talent in Beastkin history? I could take you out without breaking a sweat."
She grinned, flashing sharp fangs, hopped up, and sauntered over to him.
Bronze skin, refreshing smile. Felt like the whole classroom lit up.
Noblesse or Elf are great, but Beastkin ain't bad either.
That wild allure.
"Oh? Humans acting big, now even trash Beastkin look down on Demon Race!"
"Watch your words. Not Demon Race—I'm looking down on you, Tweed."
Whoa.
She's his natural counter, huh.
Go get 'em, Rihana-ssi.
"Y-you bitch...!"
"Why the stutter? Big sis scaring you?"
She giggled, poking Tweed's cheek.
"Real men gotta be strong. Not all-talk like you."
"Fine. You're begging me to kill you!"
She shook her head side to side and headed for the door.
"Classic villain line. Boring, pass."
One last glance back with a tongue-out raspberry.
Tweed's face went beet red, flailing in rage.
"Let's go, Bari."
"Yes."
Wonder how this'll play out.
"Grrr... human!!"
"Ah, what now?"
"Wait...! You, I'm definitely gonna—!"
"Why take it out on me after she owned you? Pathetic as hell."
"Y-you...!"
Old saying: 'The law of idiot preservation.' Tweed's the perfect example.
'Anytime five humans gather, one is guaranteed trash.'
Ahh... Jirobo-sensei... you legend...
"Ahaha. Chill, Tweed! Warriors prove it with skill. No need to rage."
"Shut up, Velvet."
"Aww~"
.
.
"Slowpokes."
We get outside, and Instructor Yu Ina is standing there with a grumpy face.
In the center of the training field, arms crossed below her chest in her Academy instructor uniform.
"You ditched first, so it feels slow. Ever try leading for once?"
"Asking for hassle. You a kid?"
"If you're a teacher, do it."
"I'm an instructor, not a teacher."
Difference?
"Big difference."
Gotcha.
"Why haven't the others come out?"
"Tweed."
I casually sold him out.
"What's he doing now?"
Her face twisted in obvious annoyance as she sighed.
"There they come."
"Way too slow."
Instructor shakes her head, sighing. Clearly pissed.
"Hey, human, got a question."
Rihana, who'd come out early, approached me first.
Total warrior vibe radiating off her. Turn a tiger into a beauty, and it'd look just like this.
Sharp fangs gleamed between her widely stretched lips.
"What?"
"What gives you the confidence to live like that?"
Out-of-left-field question.
"What do you mean?"
"Nah... honestly, you don't look like much. Human and all."
No prejudice in her eyes. Genuine curiosity.
"Heard your own potential's below F-grade? Got in A-Class thanks to that doll next to you."
Where'd she hear that?
"Not a doll—Bari."
"Fine, Bari or whatever. Anyway."
She poked Bari's body like it was some curiosity, face all wonder.
Touching other people's stuff without permission. Rude from the jump.
Smack!
Bari swatted her hand away.
"Oh my?"
Bari stayed stone-faced at her surprise.
Shoulda been more careful. Bari basically looks down on anything non-human by default.
Super prickly.
"Look at this feisty one. Needs some training, huh?"
"She's like that 'cause you're being rude. Show some manners."
"..."
Rihana's eyes went wide, staring at me.
Reading that face? Probably 'You saying that?'
Even Yu Ina, who'd been visibly irritated, shot me a baffled look.
"Whoa! She called me rude!"
She kept whoa-ing, hand over her mouth.
Warrior vibe gone, back to normal girl mode.
"Instructor-nim! You hear that?"
"...Don't make a fuss."
"What's the big shock? You were rude."
"But still..."
You saying that feels kinda...
Rihana trailed off.
What the hell image does she have of me?
"Looks like everyone's here."
Yu Ina cut in, hating the chit-chat.
Tweed had joined by now.
"As I explained earlier, we're sparring. As long as you don't kill, anything goes."
"Ah! Question!"
Sasha raised her hand.
"Explanation's not over. Listen first, then ask."
"Ah... yes."
Unnecessarily icy.
"Knockout or I deem you combat-ineffective, spar ends. Same if you surrender. Keep attacking after it's called or start fresh? I'll beat you half to death, so go ahead if getting hit's your hobby."
Who has that as a hobby?
"Sasha Velvet."
"Yes!"
"Had a question? Shoot."
"Uh... you said anything goes if no killing?"
"Yep."
"But Tweed's opponent is a girl?"
"What's that got to do with anything."
"No, Tweed's the worst womanizer and ugly duckling of the Demon Race, infamous for it? And his opponent's a girl?"
"Velvet!!!!"
Tweed glares daggers, but Sasha sticks her tongue out and grins cutely.
Yu Ina frowns.
"...Try any vulgar crap like that, and I'll lop your head off."
"Hehe. See?"
"You... I'll kill you!"
"Kyaa! Why so mad, perv?!"
Tweed charges at Sasha in a fury, her dodging around.
They're having fun.
Dung~sil.
"Whoooaa!"
Soon, both float into the air.
"You two catching human stupidity? So scatterbrained."
Why drag me into it.
"Hehe."
After like 20 seconds of flailing, back to ground.
Giggling Sasha, fuming Tweed.
"Starting now. Sasha Velvet, Gundogan. Center. Rest, follow me."
No glance back, straight to the training field edge. Group minus those two follows.
Me and Bari too, of course.
"Bari, watch close. See how this Sasha fights."
Demon Race Sasha Velvet vs. Dwarf Gundogan.
Honestly, zero interest in Gundogan. He's a guy, plus Dwarves as a race? Meh. Great at crafting gear and Artifacts with their natural talent... but whatever.
With Bari, why bother with Dwarves?
So, focus more on Sasha.
Plus, Tweed's Demon Race too. Good to get a rough idea how they fight.
"Begin."
Instructor Yu Ina calls start, and 140cm-ish Gundogan shoots his hand up.
"Instructor-nim, I forfeit."
"Got it. Louis, Pantre, step up."
...Huh?
What the hell.
Forfeits right at the start?
And she just accepts it smooth like that? Thought she'd chew him out given her personality???
"Hmph. Human scum. That's 'courtesy' of lower races. Watch and learn."
Tweed sidles up, mouthing off again.
"Smarts to know they can't beat Higher Races! Courage to bow out quick! Nothing like you pathetic humans. Hahaha!"
Too annoying to deal with now.
"Rihana, right?"
"Yeah? Why?"
"That guy's bugging me. Castrate him later."
"What?!"
"Y-you bastard!"
Tweed reflexively cups his crotch and shrinks back, Rihana's eyes bugging out in shock.
"Asking a girl to do that?!"
Then she balls her fists, pissed.
"Figured you'd do it no sweat, image-wise. Nah?"
"What the hell are you saying?!"
Wham!
Slaps my back hard.
No real malice, so it didn't hurt that ba—
Wait, it hurts?
Hurts pretty bad?
"...Why didn't you block that? Hurts like hell."
"...Self-inflicted, Sihwan-nim."
"Rebellious phase?"
Not blocking a hit this painful.
"Yo! Back yo!"
"..."
Sasha bounces up, throwing a V-sign at me.
"Why come to me? Your boyfriend's over there."
Nod at Tweed, she fake-gags.
"What?! He's not even same race, nothing more, nothing less... well, less, yeah."
"Harsh treatment. You two seem tight. Good match."
She suddenly gets serious.
"Not tight?"
"Huh? Uh... yeah..."
Scary all of a sudden.
Thought you were buddies. Looked like fun.
"Sihwan-nim, starting."
"Yeah..."
Kinda thrown off...
"Whoa. Elf vs. Elf. Who wins?"
Sasha, who'd been dead serious seconds ago, back to cheery.
...
Starting to think she's got split personality for real.
"Both guys, huh. Not your thing, but watch anyway."
"You think I'm some perv?"
"From your game play logs—"
"Wack! What were you gonna say?!"
"Hehe. They won't get it anyway, so what's it matter."
"You... snooping my records."
"Keeps the side dishes fresh."
"Side dishes? What?"
What the hell did your true self get up to...
"Begin."
Louis vs. Pantre fight.
Like I said, both Elves, both dudes.
Slender lines even as guys.
They chant something, and little dwarf-like critters pop up around them.
From my endless VR games experience, those are Spirits.
Yeah. Elves fighting with Spirits? Total cliché. Basically canon.
Guess this world's that kinda deal too.