In the early hours of the morning, I made my way to the cafeteria, beating the majority of students to the breakfast rush.
Despite the somewhat inflated prices of the food, there was an undeniable satisfaction in the taste that somehow justified the cost.
Yet, shelling out nearly a thousand gems for a single meal still felt like a blatant display of corruption and a thinly veiled scam. It was hard to shake off the feeling that something was inherently wrong with the system.
But dwelling on the intricacies of academy logistics wasnât something I could afford at the moment. Perhaps the administration allowed this pricing system to persist to incentivize students to strive for A-class status. After all, rankings were in constant flux, recalibrated every semester.
Alternatively, they might be subtly pushing students towards part-time work, encouraging them to earn money alongside their studies.
Both scenarios, however, posed a grim reality for those in the lower to mid ranks.
For students like the OG Riley, who situated somewhere in the middle of the hierarchy, the road to the upper echelons of A-class seemed dauntingly narrow.
The coveted top 10 spots were fiercely contested, with little room for newcomers to break through. The possibility of being surpassed by unknown contenders was slim to none.
The only semblance of change came in the form of personal advancement within our respective classes, a mere shuffling of positions among familiar faces.
Looking around the cafeteria, the only noticeable activity came from a group of seniors engrossed in what appeared to be their thesis work for the imminent mid-graduation.
The sparse population of students at this early hour made perfect sense, I should come here early from now on as the afternoon and morning rush can be quite annoying.
With my tray in hand, I sought out an unoccupied table, paying little heed to the subtle glances directed my way.
Settling into my seat, I began to dig into my egg and sausage breakfast, my thoughts drifting toward the impending scenario.
[Act 1, Chapter 2: The Forest of Monsters]
A small duo-type exam in which the profs would send us into a densely packed forest near the academy filled with verified monsters that they considered as âEducationalâ.
This was just a small arc to establish and allow players to have a look at the general overview of what the main heroines can do if they ever want to optimize their party, which gives players the option to choose between 5 different main heroines they could follow along with, which then changes which boss you face in the exam.
[Snow White route: Inferno Bear]
[Janica Mortelina route: Scythe Mantis]
[Rose Brilliance route: Tempest Wolf]
[Seo Gyeoul route: Bandit Tortoise]
[Clara Luminaria route: Acid Viper]
Initially, I didnât think much about this act, considering it didnât directly impact me. However, upon deeper reflection, it became apparent that it held significant implications. When Lucas chooses a particular route, it confines him to facing only one specific boss along that path, leaving the other four bosses lurking elsewhere in the forest unchallenged.
While I could opt to avoid these bosses altogether, being aware of their precise locations, I canât overlook the valuable experience points they offer, especially since I donât have the early level experience boost now.
Additionally, itâs imperative to secure a reliable partner before the exam commences, which I would probably have trouble finding,.
Iâm really hoping Lucas opts for the most challenging boss, which would undoubtedly be Claraâs route.
Although Iâm in the dark about what transpired between him and Princess Snow after yesterdayâs cafeteria encounter, Iâm fairly certain that Lucasâs overly talkative nature has already piqued the interest of the other two heroines he hasnât met yet-Clara and Rose. They must already harbor some level of curiosity or attraction towards him now.
Adding to the complexity is the fact that most of the heroines Lucas doesnât choose will have to confront the bosses on their own. If memory serves me right, depending on how much damage Clara sustains from her boss, her route could be completely severed. Therefore, itâs crucial for Lucas to possess a high Luck stat if he entertains any aspirations of achieving a harem ending.
Ah, but regardless, dwelling too much on this wonât do any good. I need to stay focused on my upcoming placement exams today. Since itâs essentially a battle royale, I have to strategize carefully. Should I deliberately lose and operate from the shadows thereafter? Or would it be wiser to openly display my strength and aim for a high rating to secure a spot in class A?
Both approaches have their advantages, but I find myself leaning towards the latter. Iâm not keen on embarking on mundane missions just for the sake of earning money. That monthly allowance of 50,000 gems for class A students is undeniably enticing.
Screw it, why should I worry about garnering attention if I show off a bit? It might actually save me trouble in the long run. Better to establish a reputation now and deter any potential troublemakers or bullies from targeting me for no reason. Itâs proactive to build my reputation early on to prevent such incidents from occurring.
Opening my status screen, I began allocating points to my Power stat this time. Winning the upcoming battle royale hinges on utilizing my mana effectively to make proper use of my unique item.
[Available stat points: 59]
[Power: D] [05/50]
[Power: D] [50/50]
[Power: C] [0/60]
[Available stat
14]
With each point allocated, I sensed a lightness in my body, akin to the feeling when I increased my strength stat. Warmth radiated from within me.
[Mana has increased!]
[50-250]
Despite feeling a brief surge of happiness, I couldnât help but feel a twinge of
disappointment.
âA C-rank stat with only 250 mana? It seemed a bit unfair. â
But dwelling on the systemâs fairness was futile. I wasnât the main character of this romance fantasy game, so I should be content with the opportunity to grow stronger.
For now, I had roughly 25 seconds to utilize Tears of Chronos before it entered cooldown.
Equipped with this newfound power, I mused over the possibility of facing Janica without so much as a scratch.
Of course, that assumption only held true in a one-on-one scenario, which was practically impossible in a battle royale setting.
Taking on Lucas, on the other hand, remained out of reach for me at this point.
I simply lacked the strength.
Perhaps I could level the playing field with him despite my trash like stats and level, by taking
advantage of some broken items and abilities he found and learned in the game, but that
would require cheating-a route I wasnât willing to take at the moment.
Besides, most of the cheat-like items and skills belonged to Lucas in every sense and form, as
they were all woven into his main scenarios.
Interfering with Lucasâs growth wasnât an option; I needed him to progress, If I wanted to survive in this world and reach my happy ending.
However just because I canât take advantage of most things from the future, that didnât mean
I was devoid of other options for growth.
If I monopolized all the upcoming bonus dungeons that would emerge in the future, my strength would be assured.
âOwâŠâ A twinge of pain shot through me as I inadvertently tightened my grip on my arms. Despite having healed my hands with the low-level potion courtesy of the school nurse yesterday, they still throbbed slightly whenever I moved them or exerted too much pressure.
Seo had literally crushed my bones yesterday.
Though I was relieved she seemed happy about us becoming friends-or in her case, best friends-that didnât mean I enjoyed the sensation of pain.
Apart from the casually weird conversation about friends she initiated yesterday, Seo was surprisingly more talkative than she was in the game.
However, her expression remained emotionless, which was a bit disappointing.
Glancing at the time, I realized I should probably finish up my meal now. The battle royale would be starting soon, and the training grounds were quite far away from the cafeteria. Just as I was about to indulge in the last piece of sausage, a familiar voice broke through my
thoughts.
âWow- Junior, what a coincidence! What are you doing here this early~?â
Turning around, I spotted Alice, adorned with her witch hat and sporting an impeccably
beautiful, uniquely designed uniform.
Her smile was warm and reassuring as always as she approached, curiosity evident in her gaze
before she settled into the empty seat across from me.
âSenior AliceâŠâ âAh- thatâs right are you alright now? Iâm sorry about what happened last time. I never
really got the chance to personally apologize; student council duties got the old of me, you
see.â
âNo, itâs okay, senior. It was basically my fault for being weak anyway.â If anything Iâm ashamed to show my face in front of you right after what happened last time.
âTsk, tsk, donât say that, Junior. It was my fault for not adjusting my strength, and you ended
up in that state. So just accept my apology, okay? Iâm really sorry Junior-â she said, bowing
her head in front of me with her hands clasped together.
ââŠApology accepted.â
âYay~! You really are nice, Junior. Most students would hold a grudge after being humiliated
like that.â
âIs that so?â
âMm-hmm,â she nodded her head excitedly. âWhen I was a first year, I can still remember that time when most of the opponents Iâve faced would say something like âYou better watch yourselfâ or âJust you wait!â but they all ended up in the same place as you though, hehehe~â she said proudly, mimicking their voices-presumably ending up in the infirmary, just like me.
âAh, by the way, why are you here, Junior? Itâs still quite early, you know? You should get some proper sleep. Trust me, as a senior myself, you probably will miss the notion of sleep
once you enter your third year,â she said with a frustrated face, earning nods of agreement from the other seniors nearby.
âI just wanted to avoid the breakfast rush.â
âOh my, you know about that concept already? Do you perhaps have a sibling here?â
âNo, itâs just something I realized would happen after the rush from yesterdayâŠâ âAh~ I see. Even still, thatâs quite attentive of you, Junior. You get 10 extra points from me!â
10 extra points? For what though?
Seeing her all smile with a smirk like that, while staring directly at me made me want to grab onto her cheek but I refrained as she would probably think of me as a creep. âHehehe~ you really are fun to talk to, Junior-â Alice remarked with a mischievous grin.
âThanks?â I replied, feeling a tad bewildered.
What was all this about now?
âYouâre also quite handsome as well~â she added casually.
|| ||
Okay, was she blatantly teasing me, or was she serious?
I couldnât quite decipher her intentions.
âHave you explored the school yet, Junior?â Alice inquired.
âNo⊠not really,â I admitted.
Truth be told, I hadnât really bothered exploring much. I already knew the layout of the school
like the back of my hand, so there wasnât much need for exploration.
âThen, would you like this Senior to guide you around-?â she offered, her smile oddly intense
as she gazed at me.
I couldnât help but feel a bit perplexed. Why was she looking at me like that? What was with all
the compliments and sudden kindness? Aliceâs behavior today was a bit out of character, and
it was starting to mess with my head. This sudden attention was definitely doing a number on
my heart.
It seemed like she was having fun teasing me, but I couldnât quite grasp the reason behind it. âNo, I donât want to bothe-â
âAre you sure~? It will be just the two of us, you know~? Walking âtogether~ââ Alice
interjected, her voice trailing off into a slight whisper at the end.
Okay, something was definitely up. This was doing a number on me right now. In the game,
Alice was always playful, but not this playful. Seriously, what was going on?
I tried to adjust my breathing, attempting to come up with a proper reply, but before I could,
a sudden voice broke through my thoughts.
âRiley!â
With her usual emotionless look and a katana placed on the left side of her hip, Seo appeared,
as cute and beautiful as always. Especially with the uniquely Eastern-styled black uniform she wore, reminiscent of a sexy kimono.
She approached us slowly, her eyes shifting between Alice and me, before she promptly took a seat in the chair next to me.
âGood morning, Riley,â Seo greeted me.
âGood morning, SeoâŠâ I responded, feeling an awkward tension settle over the situation. Seo then turned her gaze towards Alice, and Alice reciprocated the look. I couldnât quite understand why, but a sudden tension seemed to fill the air as they locked eyes. It felt like a storm was brewing right across my face, a tingling sensation of electricity crackling through
the otherwise empty air. Simultaneously, they both posed the same question:
âWho is she, Riley?â
âWho is she, Junior-?â
Feeling a bit nervous about the whole situation, I answered cautiously.
âSeo, this is Alice Holloway. Sheâs our senior. And, Senior, this is Seo Gyeoul, my fri- I mean,
best friend.â
âSeniorâŠ?â âBest friend?â They both mumbled in unison, their voices carrying a hint of
confusion and curiosity.
âYesâŠ.â
âI seeâŠâ they both said simultaneously once again before having a nod of satisfaction.
What was that about?
Seo then redirected her focus back to me, her gaze fixed on my half-eaten sausage.
âYou should eat that faster, Riley. The exam is about to start,â she urged, inching closer to my fork before swiftly devouring the last piece of meat.
âUh- Seo?â I stammered, caught off guard by her sudden boldness.
âAh⊠Iâm sorry. I couldnât help myself. But itâs okay, right? Since weâre BEST FRIENDS and
all?â she said with a sheepish look while shooting a glance at Alice. âHehe~ You shouldnât do that, you know, Junior Seo. Thatâs very rude, you know?â Alice
chimed in, her tone playful yet chiding.
âWeâre BEST FRIENDS, so itâs fine, right, Riley?â Seo pressed, looking at me expectantly. ââŠYeah?â I responded tentatively. Honestly, I didnât think that was the case exactly, but I didnât know what else to say. It felt like swords and magic would fly if I didnât agree for some
reason.
âHehe~ You two must be very close then if youâre already in that stage of openness,â Alice remarked, her tone light but her eyes giving off a fierce, red glare. She only ever showed that look when she was annoyed or in fight mode, and she seemed really pissed off right now. âYes, we are very close, right, Riley?â Seo turned to me again, her expression expectant.
âWoman, why are you asking for my opinion every time? Canât you see the situation?â âDonât add more fuel to the fire, please!â
I silently pleaded with Seo, but she seemed oblivious to my unease.
Seeing me not confirming anything this time, Seo looked at me with the same intensity that
Alice had directed towards her.
I cursed inwardly, realizing I had no choice but to nod in agreement.
BREAK!!!
Suddenly, the metallic table started cracking and breaking apart as Alice pressed her hands on
it, causing my water to spill onto Seoâs skirt.
âAh~ Iâm sorry, Junior. I didnât mean to do that~â Alice apologized to Seo, but her tone didnât
sound genuine for some reason.
âItâs fineâŠ.â Seo replied calmly, standing up and taking my arm as she helped me to my feet. I
was surprised by her monstrous strength; I couldnât have stood up voluntarily just now, yet
she managed to pick me up effortlessly.
âLetâs go, Riley. The professors and the other potential classmates are already there,â she
said, holding my hand tightly and pulling me along.
âAh, wait, Seo⊠Iâm sorry about this, Seniorâ I managed to say, casting a final glance at Alice
as Seo hurriedly walked me out of the cafeteria.
With a mixture of relief and anxiety, I bid farewell to the tense atmosphere and followed Seo
towards whatever awaited us at the exam.
â-
Meanwhile, back in the cafeteria, a mysterious-looking cat head suddenly popped up,
laughing hysterically near Alice.
âHahahaha~ Best friends, best friends, she said! Hahaha~â The catâs head rolled around
Alice, its iconic ear-to-ear smile plastered across its face.
âThat kid got you good, Alice. Didnât I advise you yesterday to make a move first? Heâs quite
handsome, you know, so he was bound to get some unwanted attention,â Cheshire continued laughing while offering a reprimand.
But Alice remained silent, her gaze fixed menacingly on the two figures getting further away
from her.
âCheshireâŠâ
âHmm? What is it? Are you ready to listen to the love masterâs advice now?â Cheshire
inquired.
âJunior is a cheater.â
âEh? Come on now, Alice. I know heâs your fated one, but calling him a cheater when you
arenât exactly in a relationship yet is a bit much, you know?â Cheshire chuckled lightly. âHis heart, it fluctuated in intense pink whenever he looked at herâ
But at Aliceâs last words, Cheshire stopped his intense laughter and adopted a more serious
expression, as he looked at the fleeing Riley⊠before circling around and glancing at Aliceâs
face.
âOh myâŠ.â
He didnât notice it before⊠but blood might just spill soon. For the first time in his life Cheshire felt genuine worry for Someone other than his master.
