Murmurs filled the classroom as Alex stood facing them.
Alex held his forehead while cold sweat ran down his back.
'Alright, alright… turn it off, Krystal. Damn it, my little bit of mana is getting drained again. I've already memorized their names.'
Krystal's skill was deactivated.
Alex took a deep breath and opened his eyes, looking at his classmates again.
Now the names above their heads had disappeared.
A long breath escaped Alex's lips. Only now did he realize it—every pair of eyes was fixed on him, and with those gazes came responsibility.
Alex cleared his throat. This time, his voice sounded calmer and more serious.
"Ahem. So… we're going to do something simple."
The classroom fell silent.
"I know… maybe I'm the weakest among the class representatives."
Everyone nodded except Katarina.
"You all keep saying we're doomed, that this will end badly, and so on."
The classroom remained quiet.
Alex had led people before.
He had faced enemies stronger than himself.
He had felt real fear.
"We're going to keep things simple."
Alex raised four fingers.
"Since our class is quite large to move as a single unit, we'll divide into four teams."
Alex's gaze swept across the classroom and finally stopped on Katarina.
He pointed at her. Katarina looked back at him more seriously.
"Katarina will be the leader of Team One. You can choose your own members based on what you need. I recommend choosing people with strong offensive abilities."
Katarina remained expressionless.
Alex took that as agreement and pointed toward Reva.
Reva pointed at himself.
"Me? I refuse. I'll just join the Princess."
Alex shook his head.
"No. Your strength would be wasted if you only protect the Princess. You're an Osteria student now, so show some of your talent too."
Katarina looked at Reva and patted his shoulder.
"He's right, Reva. You need more varied experience. That way, you can help me better."
Reva looked at Katarina and swallowed.
"Alright… Princess."
Alex continued.
"Good. Reva will lead Team Two. Gather the agile people in this class…"
Alex made a throat-slitting gesture.
"…because your team's job is to slit the enemy's throat."
Everyone swallowed nervously after hearing Alex's words.
Alex looked around the classroom again.
His finger pointed toward the largest student in the class.
"Aril, you'll lead Team Three."
Aril raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of members should I gather?"
Alex stroked his chin.
"What's your talent?"
Aril crossed his arms.
"I can absorb enemy attacks and reflect them as kinetic energy. Of course, there are some limitations right now."
Alex exclaimed,
"Ooooh! I didn't expect that to match your body. I thought it would be something cute, considering you're big but still have a brain."
Alex raised his hands jokingly.
Then he glanced at Reva.
"And that's a compliment! Unlike someone over there who's fast but stupid."
Veins appeared on Aril and Reva's foreheads.
"How about we fight again? This time with mana. I'll smash your fragile bones."
"Sure, the fast idiot here will dismember you."
Alex chuckled, followed by the entire class.
The atmosphere became more relaxed.
"Tsk. You two got provoked so easily."
Alex looked at Aril.
"Just gather people who can match your style. With your talent, you'll definitely crush those idiots from the other class."
Alex scanned the classroom again.
This time his finger pointed at someone else.
Everyone followed his finger, hoping it wasn't the person they thought.
"Hey, gambler over there—you'll be the captain of Team Four."
The class immediately exploded with protests. Even the person he pointed at protested.
"Why her?! We're doomed!"
"She can't even fight properly!"
"Mira is only good at theory!"
Alex clapped his hands, trying to calm the class.
"Let the gambler speak."
Veins popped on Mira's forehead.
"Why me?! I'm not good at fighting!"
Alex clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. Let me ask you something. What exactly is your talent? And what are you researching? I heard you like research."
Mira's voice became quieter.
"I can release a virus from my fingernails…? The virus causes the skin of whoever I scratch to blister."
Everyone remained silent.
Then the sound of chairs scraping echoed as students moved away from Mira and down the stairs, leaving her alone in the back row.
Mira's face turned red.
"Damn it! Why are you all moving away?! I've never scratched anyone!"
She tried moving closer again.
Everyone moved away again.
Alex pointed at her.
"Damn… I need to change my seat."
The whole class burst into laughter.
"So she's a gambler, a liar, and a terrifying girl all in one."
"We need to be careful not to get scratched."
Mira's face turned even redder—not from embarrassment, but anger.
Alex asked again.
"So what exactly are you researching?"
Mira's expression returned to normal.
"Medicine."
Everyone looked confused.
Katarina spoke to help.
"Mira is researching a medicine that can cure someone from demonic energy."
Everyone looked confused, including Alex.
Alex asked Krystal.
'Why would someone exposed to demon energy need medicine?'
'This is basic knowledge in this world. If a normal person without mana is directly exposed to demon energy, they fall into a coma. When they wake up, they have a chance of becoming a new demon.'
Alex swallowed.
'That's terrifying… So she's actually doing something noble? I didn't expect that from a gambler. Or maybe someone she knows was affected.'
Mira looked at Katarina and then smiled slyly.
"Thanks, Rina. And I'll thank you even more if you donate some of your wealth to support my research."
Katarina sighed.
Everyone ignored Mira again.
"Hey! I'm doing something noble here!" she shouted, but nobody paid attention.
Alex interrupted and clapped.
"Alright, alright. That's a noble task. But since we'll be fighting, you still have to fight."
Mira shouted,
"I already told you I can't fight!"
Alex stared at her.
"Then you'll train with me starting today. I'll turn you into the killing machine of Class 1C."
Mira shook her head.
"No! I'll just be a healer."
Voices of protest erupted.
"Who wants to be healed by you?!"
"You'd make dying people worse!"
"This class keeps getting scarier!"
Katarina spoke again.
"Just do it, Mira. It will be good for you. Especially learning from someone as cunning as him. Besides, the simulation will be done using VR."
Everyone looked at Katarina, including Alex.
"I know that's a compliment, Katarina, but how do you know we'll be using VR?"
Katarina shrugged.
A sigh escaped her lips.
'Because that's what happened in my previous life.'
But Alex suddenly burst into laughter while hitting the podium.
Everyone looked at him strangely.
"Finally! Finally! The princess reveals her connections!"
Alex rubbed his hands together with a grin.
"So what other information do you have, Princess? You should share it with your class!"
Katarina slowly became annoyed.
"Nothing. Nothing, Alex. I just heard a rumor."
Alex kept provoking her.
"Oh really? What's the bird's name that told you, and where can I find it?"
Katarina clenched her fists. Her eyebrows twitched as mana flowed into her hands.
Blue flames erupted toward the classroom ceiling.
Everyone panicked.
Students slowly backed away, pushing Alex forward to make him apologize.
But Alex only stared at the flames with sparkling eyes.
'Wow wow wow… wouldn't that work perfectly with my talent? What do you think, Krystal?'
'Hehehe… we'll burn everything!'
Katarina spoke coldly.
"That bird has already been roasted."
Everyone swallowed nervously.
Alex finally returned to reality.
But he was still grinning.
"Alright, alright, Katarina. I like your show!"
Terrified voices filled the room.
"Someone shut his mouth!"
"We'll all get roasted like this!"
Katarina sighed and finally extinguished the blue flames.
The classroom returned to normal.
Alex cleared his throat.
"Let's continue. Mira will remain captain of Team Four. Especially with the information the Princess got from that bird, you can scratch them as much as you want."
Mira's shoulders drooped.
"Fine…"
The discussion continued.
Someone raised their hand.
"Then what will you do as the class representative?"
Alex looked at the student and smiled confidently.
"Of course. I'll fight the other class representatives."
Everyone looked confused.
"Wouldn't it be better if the Princess, Reva, or Aril fought them since mana will be used?"
Alex shook his head and chuckled.
"Do you know why I fainted this morning?"
Everyone looked confused.
Alex continued.
"That's because I used too much mana experimenting with my talent."
He pulled out one of the small papers from his pocket.
A strange symbol was drawn on it.
"This is my talent."
Everyone looked confused again.
Alex explained what his talent was and what it could do.
Occasional sounds of amazement filled the room.
Aril raised his hand.
"Your talent is good and would make a great secret weapon. Wouldn't it be better to save it for the real final exam?"
Everyone nodded except Katarina and Alex.
"No. I'll reveal my talent during the simulation to win."
"This isn't showing off. As Professor Tanya said, we'll gain advantages if we win the simulation."
Someone asked,
"But what if they adapt and counter your talent during the final exam?"
Everyone looked at Alex, waiting for his answer.
Alex shrugged.
"I'll just adapt again and crush them another way. Don't worry—I'll find another method."
Everyone swallowed.
It didn't sound like arrogance considering how cunning he was when he fought Aril and Reva.
Katarina smiled faintly as she watched Alex.
Her fingers tapped the table.
'He's clearly different from the one I knew.
Her gaze deepened.'
'If he can fully maximize his talent, he'll be useful when the incident after the simulation happens.'
Alex clapped once on the podium.
"Does anyone have a mobility-type talent? Like flying or something?"
Students looked at each other.
Two people raised their hands.
Alex pointed at one of them—a girl with short black hair like his, but with calm green eyes.
"What's your talent, Kayla?"
Kayla looked surprised.
"You know my name? I didn't expect that.
Alex chuckled.
'I've memorized all your names.'
He smiled widely.
"Of course. I'm the class representative. I should know everyone's name."
Voices of admiration appeared.
Kayla looked at Alex.
"My talent lets me fly, though there's a height limit."
Alex's eyes sparkled.
"That's impressive. You'll help me."
Kayla nodded.
Then Alex turned his gaze to another student—a boy with jet-black hair and blue eyes.
"What's your talent, Azka?" Alex asked.
Azka spoke.
His voice was beautiful.
Everyone in the class looked at him—even Katarina.
"My talent is Instant Step. Out of every ten steps I take, five become fast steps that can surprise enemies or help me escape. But I still have limitations and lack combat experience."
Alex covered his mouth.
"That's a beautiful voice and a unique talent. Can you help me? Try answering again with that beautiful voice."
Azka looked confused as the entire class stared at him.
"Y-yes… I can help you."
Admiration filled the room, especially from Alex.
Alex brushed his hair back.
"Alright, alright. That's everyone's role. We'll handle the technical details once we know the simulation format. And for the next week, I'll need your help maximizing my talent."
Everyone nodded.
Suddenly Alex's stomach growled loudly.
"Damn… what time is it?"
Someone answered.
"Only 40 minutes left before break ends."
The class became noisy
Alex looked at them.
"How about we all eat together?"
Everyone nodded.
But someone at the back raised their hand.
Alex looked at her.
"Yes, gambler over there."
Mira tried to suppress her irritation.
"Wouldn't it be better if the class representative treated everyone to lunch to strengthen teamwork?"
The class cheered and nodded at Alex.
Alex clicked his tongue.
'Damn that gambler.'
He counted the money he had won from betting with Katarina and Mira.
A grin appeared on his face, making the cheers louder.
Alex slammed the podium.
"Alright! Let's go! The class representative will treat everyone!"
The cheers grew louder.
Krystal spoke.
'Are you sure you want to treat all of them?'
'Of course. Won't that strengthen our relationship? It shouldn't cost that much, right?'
Krystal didn't answer.
Finally they all headed toward the cafeteria together.
The sight of an entire class of one hundred students walking together attracted attention everywhere they passed.
"What's going on?"
"What are those first-years doing?"
"They look cute. Even Princess Katarina is there."
Their journey to the cafeteria quickly became a topic of conversation.
On top of the building where the professors' offices were located, three figures looked down at the interesting scene.
"Isn't that your class, Tanya?" said a woman with waist-length purple hair.
Professor Tanya held her forehead.
"It seems your class is already preparing for the simulation," said a man with orange hair.
Tanya kept watching her class.
Her cat-like eyes focused on the boy leading them—a short black-haired boy.
Her expression was unreadable.
"How about we make a bet, Tanya?" the orange-haired man said.
The purple-haired woman chuckled.
"Your class would be favored because it has Julian Overmas and Eve, Theo."
Theo replied.
"You also have Arthur there, don't you? Wouldn't it be interesting, Yuna?"
Yuna looked at Theo, and then both of them turned toward Tanya.
"Well, Tanya? Are you in? Or are you scared?" Theo teased.
Tanya exhaled slowly.
Her gaze became confident as she watched her students.
"Let's bet. Invite the others too."
Theo and Yuna grinned.
Yuna spoke.
"Alright. Let's call the others as well."