Last time was in the Forest of Steel, and now here I am, fainting for the second time.

At this point, I might as well have a fainting passive skill.

‘I’ve overdone it.’

Fainting was a natural consequence.

“Wang Non, it’s time for dinner.”

Just then, I heard a voice in my ear.

It was none other than my roommate, Card Velik.

Since being sent to the hospital room, I had been treated quickly.

The wounds from the sword were healing slowly.

Thanks to that, I stayed in treatment longer than expected before being transferred back to my room.

Along with the previous battle and the final quarter’s battle.

It was an incredibly grueling mock battle that drained my stamina.

So today, I was focusing on recovering my body.

I could feel Card approaching, looking down at me intently.

How bothersome.

I just wished he would go away.

“Darling, if you don’t get up right now, I’ll give you a kiss.”

“Ugh, bite me.”

I couldn’t help but let out a curse in a whisper at his sultry voice.

Card placed both hands on his waist, chuckling away.

What a crazy thug.

“Hey, nice to see you. 14th place.”

14th.

That was my rank after the mock battle.

Though I didn’t reach my original goal of being in the top 10, I achieved a great accomplishment by breaking the lazy genius, Ban’s spirit.

I must have left more of an impact on the others’ minds than the top ten.

‘And the same goes for Isabel.’

Especially since Isabel didn’t get to participate in the long-awaited fight.

She must have been quite frustrated.

“Card, what rank did you get?”

“Me? Heehee, higher than you, 11th place.”

Card chuckled pompously.

But knowing his secret, I snorted.

He could have climbed higher just like Ban if he really wanted to.

It wasn’t the time to reveal that hidden power.

“What about 1st place?”

“It’s still Sharine this time.”

Just as expected.

But it still felt disappointing.

I had prepared a hidden weapon to climb higher than Ban, but I didn’t even get to use it.

‘The battles were more intense than I anticipated.’

As if to teach me that this world isn’t a game.

It was much harsher than the knowledge I had of games.

‘Especially.’

The battles involving extras turned out to be unexpectedly tough.

Now that they have become reality, extras are just people.

They were desperate to raise their ranks.

‘I need to broaden my perspective.’

Even if plans need to be revised, there shouldn’t be any setbacks.

I learned a lot from this mock battle.

“So, Wang Non, are you going to eat dinner or what? Today is mock battle day, so Marie made the meal herself.”

“Why did you wake me up so late? You should have woken me up earlier. You’re so slow.”

“Wow, what a ridiculous turnaround.”

As expected, the maid, Marie’s cooking skills were top-tier, almost enough for the royal court to recruit her.

If I go too late, all the other kids will take the food, and there won’t be anything left.

I bickered with Card as we left the room and headed down the stairs.

Maybe it was because I fought so vigorously.

My body was still stiff.

“Ah.”

As I was going down the stairs, I suddenly bumped into someone walking down the hallway.

The light reflected off their bald head, dazzling me.

First, I rubbed my eyes.

Seeing this, the other person realized why I was acting that way, and their pupils grew wide.

“You, you!”

The person with the spiky hair flared with rage.

It was Seron Parmia, one of the four who slandered me.

Among the four, he was the first unfortunate one I fought.

“Hello, 30th place.”

“Don’t call me 30th place! I’m not even 30th!”

Wasn’t he 30th because he lost to me?

“Seron is 19th.”

Card explained from the side.

How does he know that?

After losing to me, it seems Seron took every chance to climb up somehow.

Well, he wasn’t meant to be sitting at 29th place anyway.

“You had a stomach ache during the last mock battle, right?”

Card grinned as he looked back at Seron.

Seron shot him a glare with a serious expression.

“How would you, a Magic Arts major, know that?”

“I remember all the pretty girls.”

“If you talk again without permission, I’ll rip your mouth off. You potato-shaped idiot.”

Why do people always compare others to crops?

When our eyes met, Seron’s face distorted fiercely.

“What are you staring at? Burnt sweet potato.”

He’s strong-willed.

I stared silently at Seron.

She glared back at me without backing down.

After all I did to her, she didn’t seem to give up.

Staring like that was making my neck ache.

As I raised my hand, Seron flinched heavily at my movement.

Her feet instinctively stepped back, and she crouched down.

That was an instinct ingrained in her body.

No matter how strong-willed Seron was, she couldn’t forget what happened today.

As I watched her blankly, I massaged the back of my neck for a moment.

“Ugh!”

Soon after, she realized what she had done and her face turned beet red.

Steam seemed to rise from her forehead.

“You’re a tomato. A busted tomato.”

I casually gave her a nickname.

“E-eee.”

Seron trembled and then suddenly turned her head away.

Then she scampered off in embarrassment.

Watching her, Card looked at me curiously.

“What did you do to make Seron act like that?”

“I slammed her on the floor and punched her in the face.”

“Hehe, she really took a hit. You know, it’s funny when strong-willed girls become submissive.”

I shot Card a disgusted look.

“Your hobby is gross.”

“It’s a wonderful hobby. Seron might act tough with others, but she’s hopelessly weak against her man. Do well. It’ll be fun.”

I just let it go in one ear and out the other.

When we arrived at the dining hall, just as I expected, it was bustling with kids.

They had all gone through a lot with the mock battle.

Today felt like a day to fill up our bellies.

I joined in and quickly grabbed some food.

“Lady Hanon, you did a great job today.”

As I received my meal, Marie greeted me.

It seemed she was politely greeting each student.

With so many students, that was quite the effort.

That’s what being the head maid entails.

“Ah, Wang Non, it seems there are no seats left since you came late?”

As Card said while we ate together, the dining hall was packed.

“Do we need to eat outside?”

Tables were set up outside too.

But it would be quite a hassle to go around.

Just then, I spotted an empty seat.

“Look, there it is.”

“Oh, good eyesight.”

As I headed toward it first, Card quickly followed me.

The moment I placed my tray down and sat down…

“Uh.”

I then noticed someone sitting across from me.

Amidst the honey blonde bobbed hair.

Scarlet eyes shone brightly.

“…you.”

It was Isabel Luna.

Next to her, Sharine was munching on dessert, cream churros.

When she caught my eye, she greeted me with the spoon she was holding.

Her table manners were as absent as ever, just like her.

“Yo, Isabel.”

Card greeted Isabel first.

Isabel waved her hand dismissively at him and stared intently at me.

Her eyes seemed like they could pierce through me.

I sat down, unfazed by her gaze.

Then I picked up my fork to grab a piece of steak.

I could still feel Isabel’s sharp stare.

“During meals, even a dog wouldn’t interrupt.”

“Don’t treat people like dogs.”

“I thought you were a Labrador Retriever.”

“Pfft.”

Sharine stifled her laughter, covering her mouth.

When Isabel glared at her, Sharine quickly looked down and resumed eating her churros.

“You know the results of the mock battle, don’t you?”

As expected, Isabel mentioned the mock battle.

“If you’re asking me to apologize because of that…”

“I can’t accept that result.”

Her scarlet eyes locked onto me directly.

I could sense Isabel’s determination from them.

A firm desire to end things with her own hands.

“I will take you down and demand an apology. So come at me next time.”

I see.

I realized.

‘Isabel is changing, even if it’s a little bit.’

Her dark circles that used to cloud her eyes looked lighter than before.

Her previously unkempt hair was now managed well and had gained a bit of weight, which looked nice.

Her lips, once dry, now had a slight sheen.

Isabel must have been training alone to win against me in the mock battle.

And to achieve the results from such training, she needs balanced meals, sleep, and rest.

Training results don’t come out overnight.

So, since the day we met, she must have been forcing herself to eat and sleep.

The effect of that was showing now.

“…why are you smiling?”

I hadn’t realized it.

Had I unknowingly started to smile?

“I’m mocking you. That won’t happen.”

Until the day you learn to live without me.

Isabel, I have no intention of conceding.

Hearing my taunt, Isabel pouted and then stood up.

Her tray was already empty.

Did she remember one more thing to say? She glared at me.

“…And I’m not doing this because of you. It’s for Lucas.”

Her tone carried a warning.

‘She heard me.’

On the day the girls picked a fight with me.

Isabel must have heard the words I threw at them as I stood against them.

It seems that now Isabel feels even more rebellious because of that.

“Sharine, let’s go.”

“Uhhuh.”

Sharine stood up, inserting a straw into her juice bottle.

When she met my gaze, she flashed a slight smile.

I had promised Sharine to be her enemy for Isabel’s sake.

I suppose I was doing well.

“Here, I’ll give you this.”

As she said that, Sharine handed me her churro.

I frowned at the sight.

“You were eating that.”

“It’s delicious.”

“I have my own, you know?”

Sharine tilted her head, muttering to herself, ‘It’s delicious,’ and then left.

What a quirky girl.

“Junior, it seems there’s an empty seat in front of you. May I sit?”

As I reached for my soup, another presence appeared in front of me.

Looking up, there was silver hair swaying in the air.

It was Nikita Cynthia.

The vice president of our academy.

“Of course. I saved a spot for you, expecting you would come.”

I gladly gave up my seat.

“Phew, I’m lucky to have you as a junior. It’s hard to find a place to sit with so many people.”

Saying that, she took the seat across from me.

“Junior, you did a great job in the mock battle. That was impressive.”

“Don’t make me blush; did you see it?”

“As a senior, of course I had to watch my junior’s struggles.”

Nikita seems to particularly like me.

“14th place, moving up from 48th is no easy task. You really did well.”

Usually, I’d be the one giving her compliments.

Today, it felt strange to receive her praise.

“So about the prize…”

And the most important topic came up.

“Unfortunately, you didn’t make the top ranks.”

The top ranks in the mock battle indicate the top 10.

Nikita had promised to give a reward only for those in the upper ranks.

What a pity.

“I had even thought about a honeymoon. How sad.”

“Sorry, but I can’t marry just anyone. I can only marry the one my family has decided on.”

What a rejection.

Two confessions, two rejections.

At this rate, it seems my jokes aren’t working on Nikita anymore.

She must be quite used to my humor by now.

It can’t be helped.

Maybe I should throw in a genuine compliment instead.

“Well, if you achieve a significant accomplishment that our family desires, then maybe it’s possible.”

“I’ll become a hero starting today.”

“Phew, I was joking.”

“Nikita’s family will be my goal from today onward.”

“Junior!?”

Let’s adjust the plans moving forward.

Seeing my serious face, Nikita seemed flustered.

“…Sometimes I just can’t tell where your jokes end and your sincerity begins.”

“I’m always sincere.”

“Junior, I told you before, but I ideally like tall people.

If you grow taller, I might consider it.”

Nikita politely declined once more.

Three confessions, three rejections.

“Hmm, Wang Non is big in other areas.”

Then Card chimed in with a useless remark.

As I shot him a glare to shut his mouth, he shrugged.

“Wang Non, don’t you think everyone in the dining hall is only talking to famous people from our school?

Is it just me? Wang Non truly has an allure.”

“I wish I had the power to make your mouth shut right now.”

“That would require a lot of power, wouldn’t it? My mouth won’t stop.”

“I’m thinking of sewing it shut while you sleep tonight.”

“Alright, maybe I’ll sleep in another room tonight.”

What an unreliable guy.

“By the way, Junior.”

Nikita called me while pushing aside a carrot.

She couldn’t eat them due to her picky taste.

“What are your plans for the upcoming magic academy assessment?”

The magic academy assessment.

It referred to the group we would form to enter the underground magic academy.

I had achieved a decent result in the mock battle.

This should lead to requests for forming groups coming from various places.

“Hmm, I haven’t thought about it yet.”

In truth, I had already thought it through.

However, that doesn’t mean things would go my way.

“Could you possibly include Poara in your group?”

“Poara?”

The first-year Poara Silin under contract with the Spirit Sovereign.

Thanks to that contract, he had been promoted to the special class.

“Everyone will likely be asking for Poara.”

“Other students have high expectations of Poara. When expectations are too high, it often leads to failure.”

There’s a saying that if you expect too much, you’ll be disappointed.

If they have expectations of Poara and he doesn’t deliver, they would obviously feel let down.

It wouldn’t be a good situation for either him or them.

Nikita might wish to keep Poara to take care of him herself, but…

Third-year students venture much deeper than first and second years.

It wouldn’t be possible to take Poara along.

“But I don’t think that would happen with you, Junior.”

It holds true, as I harbored no expectations for Poara at all.

“What does Poara think about it?”

“When I casually asked him today, he said to please make it happen.”

Poara, who is contracted to the Spirit Sovereign.

After a moment’s thought, I nodded.

“Yes, that sounds good.”

There’s no reason not to take him along.

I should also build a better relationship with Poara.

‘I wonder which team will reach out.’

I hope it’s a team that I’m considering.