Chapter 16

“So the mock battle is based on first-year grades, huh?”

The first match will be against someone with equal stats.

If I lose here,

I get to fight a student with grades lower than the one I just lost to.

If I win, on the other hand,

I’ll be up against someone with better grades.

And if I lose a total of three matches,

my grades get recorded, and the mock battle ends immediately.

Plus, if I get judged as unable to fight during a match, that’s also how my ranking stops.

On the flip side, winning has no limitations.

Theoretically, if I keep winning, I could take on everyone from the bottom up to the top student.

Of course, if the winner loses even once, it’s game over for them.

“Either way, it all comes down to one thing.”

The goal of the mock battle is simple.

Get the strong ones pushed to the top.

My eyes caught sight of Jerion Academy’s auditorium.

Spacious thanks to space magic, it was packed with students.

Students from all subjects were gathered here.

Of course, it was bound to be full of students.

“I’m so nervous.”

This time, I’m definitely going to raise my mock battle score!

I could hear the kids murmuring among themselves.

Naturally, none of them were talking to me.

Instead, I felt Isabel’s piercing gaze from behind.

When I turned my head slightly, I saw her glaring at me.

She declared she would stomp me in the mock battle.

So, I guess she’s fired up.

“If you’re going to be fired up, go full throttle.”

So that it won’t die down later.

“Ah.”

At that moment, the second-year Martial Arts professor, Veganon Mercia, stepped onto the platform.

She looked pretty normal today.

I heard a first-year behind me gasp in awe at her uniformed appearance.

With her beautiful face filled with elegance, Veganon was perfect for charming the kids.

Our professor looks fine when she’s at her best.

But the second and third-year students know all too well that her brilliance is pretty much non-existent.

She’s just moping around because she couldn’t drink yesterday.

Looks like she has a bit of an alcohol problem.

“I’m Veganon, in charge of this mock battle. The results here are crucial for future groupings, so I hope you all give it your all.”

Maybe because she didn’t drink, but today was fairly normal.

But I know.

What ridiculous thing might come out of her mouth next.

“Just so you know, don’t fumble around with opponents you can actually beat.”

After hearing that, the students showed confusion on their faces, not quite understanding.

The third-year Martial Arts kids sighed, while the second-years quietly hid their faces.

“Dragging it out to three losses just prolongs the mock battle unnecessarily, and I’ll get home late.”

Seems like her only concern was getting off work.

Getting home on time is certainly important.

“Well then, that’s all. Teaching assistants, guide the students.”

With that, she stepped down from the platform.

Already accustomed to Professor Veganon, the assistants quickly led the students.

Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors were all grouped up in no time.

There are 48 members in the second-year Martial Arts department at Jerion Academy.

Originally, it was supposed to be 50, but.

During the first year, the protagonist and three others went down the drain, reducing the count.

Thanks to my joining, we’ve managed to keep it at 48.

So, the second-year mock battle rankings are from 1st to 48th place.

My goal is to reach the top ranks.

I at least need to break into the top 10.

“The problem is.”

I transferred to Jerion Academy only in my second year.

That means my grades aren’t reflected anywhere.

“Right now, my mock battle ranking is.”

48th.

The bottom of the barrel.

“Ha, a match for the bottom placeholder.”

“If I’m going to lose, I guess it’s fine for a transfer student to take the hit?”

“Staying at the bottom suits you, after all.”

I heard the cutting remarks from the girls.

Ever since I fought Isabel head-on, their snickering about me has only gotten worse.

At first, Isabel was too busy being mad at me to care about them.

But lately, she seems to have noticed their growing whispers and flinches a bit.

No matter how hard Isabel is, I can see her trying to keep her friends from bashing me.

Being a kind-hearted person, she probably doesn’t like seeing her friends bad-mouthing others.

“Don’t worry.”

I decided to make it so Isabel wouldn’t have to step in.

As I opened my mouth, the sharp gazes of the girls turned to me.

With a smirk, I said,

“I’ll just make sure to put you all under me.”

“What? How rude!”

“Give it a shot!”

“Hah, how absurd! You must be out of your mind.”

With my clear provocation, they started cursing me.

If they want to hate me, I’ll gladly give them a reason to do so.

“With your small size, you’ve got quite the ugly temper.”

Sorry, but comments like that don’t hit me at all.

“Hmph! You probably haven’t even dated a girl in your life.”

That’s below the belt.

But whoever they are, I won’t go easy on them in a fight.

My resolve hardened, and I locked eyes with Isabel.

She looked startled at first but quickly furrowed her brow in determination.

Seems she was taken aback to see me leading the charge in welcoming hatred.

“Isabel, you’re in the same boat.”

So I pushed a cheap provocation towards her too.

She stared at me blankly and then relaxed her brow.

Seriousness glinted in Isabel’s eyes.

“If you lose to me today, you’d better cancel those harsh words you said to Lucas and apologize.”

Hearing that, I snorted.

“Not happening.”

The girls’ insults only got louder, but

Isabel silently watched me, saying nothing.

Her gaze was quietly all over the scar on my hand.

She knows it, at least.

Unlike others, she must have caught on that I’m not as easy a target as they think.

“48th place, Hanon Irey, 47th place, Miri Zen Aventi.”

Just then, I heard the teaching assistant call my name.

As I responded and made my way over, a student from the opposite side approached too.

Another second-year in Martial Arts—Miri Zen.

His uniform looked a bit baggy, and he appeared deflated; his nickname was “perpetual bottom, Miri Zen.”

Wherever there’s a top, there’s also a bottom.

Had it not been for Jerion Academy, he might have had his moment to shine.

But at a place where only geniuses gather, mediocre talent simply leads to disheartening results.

“I’m going to escape the bottom this time!”

Miri Zen declared, fire in his eyes as he looked at me.

Finally, he aimed to break out of the bottom at the 47th spot.

I could see his desperation not to lose it.

“Battle start!”

When the assistant announced the start, Miri Zen drew his sword.

He came charging at me, determination written all over him.

He’s coming.

I ducked my head to avoid the straight thrust of his sword.

The blade whooshed past me, and it was quite a nail-biter.

No matter how low his standing, he was still a student accepted at Jerion Academy.

The way he wielded his sword was surprisingly stable.

His sword kept following me like a persistent tail.

Every strike was powerfully hefty.

I focused solely on dodging.

Long ago, the steps I had practiced came naturally from my toes.

My eyes caught the movement of his body and grip, figuring out exactly how I should evade each time.

“You’re just dodging like a rat!”

“Ugh, pathetic. Was that all it took to win?”

I heard the girls’ jeers, clearly displeased.

Even when the assistant gave them a look to shush up, they quickly fell quiet, but

their derisive sounds lingered on.

Of course, I couldn’t afford to let that phase me.

“I did practice some sparring with Aisha,”

but this was my first real must-win battle.

That’s why I had to get used to the fight.

In order to climb up, I’ll have to face tougher opponents.

Thus, I needed to leverage my past experiences even more.

“Climbing from the bottom is an opportunity for me.”

Evade.

Again, evade.

Once more, evade, and evade again.

My footwork grew simpler, and the intervals of my movements shrank.

Bickamon’s sturdy body suited movement incredibly well.

I wasn’t even breaking a sweat.

Training every morning with Aisha, who had a body of steel, had resulted in an incredible synergy paired with Bickamon’s natural strength.

“Hah, huff!”

On the flip side, Miri Zen wore an increasingly pained expression as he swung his sword.

He was dripping with sweat, and his sword was wavering.

No matter how skillful he was, if he can’t land a hit, it means nothing.

“I—”

His eyes were filled with desperation.

“I will—”

His sword moved again.

“Make it up!”

His intense longing to escape from the depths came bursting forth.

The kids watching the battle between Miri Zen and me began to frown one by one.

“What a scrub.”

“At least put up a decent fight!”

“Can’t you see the clear skill gap?”

Even though the assistant gave them a hint, the kids couldn’t hold back anymore as they shouted.

“When did our class start filling up with such idiots?”

At that moment, among the kids’ jeers, a boy spoke up.

When the kids turned their eyes that way, there stood a boy with a build that didn’t fit his age.

Despite his stocky physique, he had a pretty face, arms crossed, as he watched my battle with Miri Zen.

He was Gaidon, ranked third in Martial Arts.

“That guy just declared he’s aiming to climb higher.”

Seems like he noticed.

“What this battle signifies is that he’s dead serious about aiming for the upper ranks.”

He scolded the kids as they looked on.

“But saying to do it properly or mentioning skill gaps is just nonsense.”

This Academy, whether for better or worse, is all about getting stronger.

Demanding that the weak be treated gently is nothing but pointless drivel.

What Jerion Academy needs are strength and the ability to wield that strength.

In Magung, whining about being weak and pleading for easy treatment falls on deaf ears.

“Those who said that are bound to regret it later when they’re taken down by that guy.”

Thus, nobody blamed me for that view.

Even Isabel was quietly watching the battle, wary of me climbing higher.

“Hah!”

Miri Zen swung his sword yet again.

His strikes no longer held the strength they did at first.

Striking relentlessly to win had now just led to his defeat.

I understood the fervor he felt.

The label of being “the eternal bottom” completely crushes one’s self-esteem.

But sorry,

I’m more desperate than anyone.

“If I don’t rise,”

this world heading straight for a bad ending leads to an even worse ending.

“So I will—”

I will win.

My foot stepped forward.

Thud!

My feet hit the ground as I finally stopped dodging.

Miri Zen’s faltering sword just missed the side of my head.

In that same moment, my body dove right into Miri Zen’s space.

His energy was already depleted.

Plus, the repeated dodging I did meant Miri Zen had become accustomed to that, unable to immediately react to my attacks.

In that brief gap.

I didn’t let the opportunity slip by.

My arms, trained through strength and muscle conditioning.

All the power I gathered surged through.

That alone was enough to be a weapon.

Whack!

My fist, like a spear, drove straight into Miri Zen’s abdomen.

“Cough?!”

With Miri Zen’s guttural sound, his body doubled over.

Simultaneously, my right arm folded in, and my elbow swung out.

Smack!

Miri Zen’s face collided with my swinging elbow.

As Miri Zen staggered and bled,

my right foot swept his leg out from under him.

Executing smooth moves like water, Miri Zen hit the ground hard.

As Miri Zen hastily attempted to stand again,

I mercilessly drove my knee into him.

Whack!

My knee slammed firmly into his chin,

the striking impact sent Miri Zen toppling backward.

This was my first unregulated match, but

my body moved more fluidly than I expected.

Thud—

Miri Zen lay defeated, motionless.

Slowly, the kids fell silent.

In that silence, I glanced back at the assistant, and he nodded.

“48th place, Hanon, victory.”

I became 47th place.