CHAPTER 243: RANKING MATCHES [2]

Alice chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction.

The classroom was still filling in, but with her arrival, most eyes subtly turned our way. I could practically hear the whispers forming in real-time.

She tilted her head. "So? Any strategy against me yet, little hero?"

I blinked.

"Huh? Sorry—I spaced out. What did you say?"

Her eyes narrowed with a smirk. "Tsk-tsk. Ignoring your professor already? Should I take a few points off your match evaluation for that?"

"Please don’t," I sighed. "Can you repeat the question?"

She leaned forward with mock seriousness. "I asked if you have a plan to beat me. But now I want to know what you were thinking about instead. Don’t tell me you were daydreaming about Professor Lena again?"

I gave her a deadpan look.

Alice burst into a laugh. "Relax, I’m just teasing." She waved a hand and added, "Anyway, what’s your answer?"

"...I’ll probably run."

"Smart move. At least you’ll last longer that way."

She hopped off my desk, brushing chalk dust from her skirt and turned away to leave.

...And as soon as she leaves the classroom I was in peace.

But not for too long.

Soon enough, Kiera took Professor Alice place.

"Loser~!"

"Huh?"

"Who are you fighting, Loser?" Kiera asked, dropping into the seat beside me like she owned the place.

She was grinning from ear to ear, clearly enjoying herself far too much.

I held up the list wordlessly.

She leaned over to read, and as her eyes scanned the names, her grin slowly faded. Then she blinked. Then again. She even tilted her head like she misread something.

"...Wait. These are your matches?"

"Yep."

"You’re fighting Alice Draken and Ray Black?"

"And professor Lena," I added dryly.

"...What did you do?" she whispered, staring at me like I’d committed some heinous war crime. "Did you accidentally set the Chairman’s office on fire or something?"

"I wish. Then at least I’d know what I was being punished for."

Kiera dropped the list and leaned back, giving me a pitying look. "So, do I start planning your funeral, or...?"

"Just make it a small ceremony. I don’t want to burden anyone."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Poor guy."

"Comforting."

I leaned forward, resting my chin on my hand. The calm before the storm was definitely over. The atmosphere inside the classroom had shifted again—everyone was talking now, the tension bubbling just under the surface.

I glanced around.

Some students were actually comparing lists and giving advice. Others were already trying to make alliances.

I was still processing the fact that I had to spar three professors.

... While I was checking over the seating chart near my classroom, both Ryen and Leona casually joined in.

Kiera, ever the enthusiastic one, waved them over and showed them the list of my upcoming opponents. Their faces turned a little complicated after scanning through the names, but I didn’t really dwell on it.

Relics are allowed in Ranking Matches, after all.

I should be fine.

Probably...

"Hm. The professors must be blind," Leo muttered with a frown. "They seriously ranked Trent above you?"

"Oh, come on, Leo..."

"I mean it! Trent’s not bad or anything, but he’s definitely not better than you. Just don’t go easy on him, alright? He doesn’t deserve that."

I appreciated the vote of confidence, but I think Leo was overestimating me a little.

"Well," he said, suddenly straightening his back, "I didn’t come here just to chat today. I’ve got a declaration to make."

"A declaration?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

Ryen perked up too. "What kind of declaration?"

"This time, Ryen, I’ll make you admit that you’re beneath me."

"Oh?" Ryen grinned. "So you came all this way just to challenge me? That’s cute. But don’t expect me to roll over—I’m not planning to lose."

The two of them faced each other, grinning like old rivals. No heat in their voices, just that familiar, friendly competition.

"Yeah, yeah. We’ll see," Leo said with a smirk. "I’ve made a promise on this spear. So I’m going all in."

Ryen looked down at the weapon. "Wow. Pulling out a relic already?"

Leo shrugged. "Why not?"

"You think that’s fair?"

"Of course it is. Choosing the right weapon—and knowing how to use it—that’s a skill too."

They both laughed after that, Their exchange kept the mood light, the banter washing over me like background music. For a moment, I could almost pretend the professors on my list didn’t exist.

Almost.

"Hey."

At that moment, while both boys were grinning, Our crossdressing girl, Leona steps forward.

"Both of you seems to forgetting me."

Leo glanced at her.

"Leon, I admit you are strong but since the start of first day of the academy, I am way ahead of you."

Ryen on the other hand just awkwardly chuckle.

"I am not ignoring you Leon. But I will not loose, so...."

Leona, dressed sharply as Leon, glanced at both of them.

The tension between the trio crackled—not with hostility, but with the kind of rivalry that made your blood pump just a bit faster.

I leaned back in my seat, watching the three of them puff up like overachieving ducks in a pond.

Leona squared her shoulders, arms folded. "You two act like this is some kind of two-man show. I’ve been dominating the rankings since day one. Don’t lump me in with Trent or those benchwarmers."

Leo raised a brow. "Hey, I never said you weren’t a monster, Leon."

Leona gave him a flat look.

"Sorry," Leo corrected, hands raised in surrender. "Leon. But let’s be honest—if we’re talking raw power—"

"I’m not here to play the muscle-measuring game," Leona interrupted coolly. "I’m here to win. Clean. Fast. And with as little wasted energy as possible. So don’t pull me into some chest-thumping contest about whose relic is flashier."

Ryen smirked. "So you’re saying you’re better than both of us?"

"I’m saying I’m the benchmark you’re both trying to meet," Leon said, brushing back a strand of hair with deliberate ease. "And when the matchups start, I’ll show you what real precision looks like."

Leo opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, then just chuckled. "Damn, I forgot how sharp your mouth is. Fine. Let’s all make it to the top, then sort it out like proper monsters."

"Agreed," Ryen said, holding out a fist for a bump. "No hard feelings if we end up in the same bracket."

Leona stared at the offered bump, then tapped his knuckles to theirs in a wordless acknowledgment.

As the bell rang, the trio split like a storm breaking apart. Kiera, who had been watching the entire exchange like it was a stage drama, gave a low whistle. "You’ve got yourself a fiery group, huh?"

I didn’t respond. My mind was already drifting to something else entirely.