CHAPTER 242: RANKING MATCHES [1]

Walk to the classroom was chaotic... all I could see around me were cadets.

It’s not like cadets weren’t always around the academy, but today felt different.

Because today was the start of the ranking matches.

Cadets from every year were gathered in clusters—some stretching, some reviewing notes, others sharpening weapons or checking their gear. There was an odd buzz in the air, like a storm was about to hit, and everyone was just waiting to see who would get struck.

Some were visibly nervous, pacing the halls with their heads down. Others walked with cocky grins, already acting like they had the top rank in the bag.

I even saw two seniors casually sparring right in the middle of the hallway—until a professor shouted at them and they scattered like startled pigeons.

Leona was, of course, nowhere to be seen.

We parted away just while ago. She said she will come to my classroom after seeing the notice of who her opponent are.

As I finally made it to the classroom, I let out a sigh.

Ranking matches, huh?

Let’s see who I’m up against.

Before long, the list of my opponents appeared on the crystal screen in front of me.

I read through the names slowly.

One opponent was clearly stronger than me, three were probably on the same level, and one... seemed weaker. But that wasn’t the weird part.

As I’ve mentioned before, the ranking matches are based on five battles.

Normally, after the first round in our first year, we’re allowed to choose who we fight—but this time, the matchups were pre-decided by the professors, based on our performance in class and our entrance exam scores.

Totally fair, right?

Wrong.

Because the list in front of me looked... off.

---

Match 1: Trent Volt – Sacred Flame Class.

Match 2: Professor Alice Draken – Basic Magic Instructor.

Match 3: Professor Ray Black – Physical Enhancement Instructor.

Match 4: Professor Lena Carter – Hand-to-Hand Combat Instructor.

Match 5: Aria Collins – Sacred Flame Class.

---

I stared at the names for a while.

Then I blinked.

Then I checked again, just to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating.

Nope. Still the same.

"...Am I supposed to be fighting a raid boss party?"

Seriously, what is this lineup? Out of five matches, only the first and fifth are against fellow students. The rest?

Professors. Actual full-grown adults with years of combat experience, terrifying mana reserves, and probably zero mercy.

Did someone mix up my file with an instructor’s? Or maybe the Chairman’s idea of a joke?

Whatever it was, this was beyond unreasonable.

Had the staff gone crazy? Or did someone forget I’m a first-year cadet and not a walking death machine?

Either way, I was going to need painkillers and a will.

But hey... at least Aria’s on the list. She’s not the worst way to end this madness. Unless she’s been secretly training to become a demon king too.

Knowing my luck? Probably.

The classroom felt oddly quiet compared to the chaos outside. Maybe it was the calm before the storm—or maybe everyone else had seen their matchup lists and were just too stunned to talk.

I took my seat slowly, still staring blankly ahead, the names from the list burned into the back of my eyes.

Trent Volt?

Okay, not bad. A solid start. He’s tough—but beatable.

A loudmouth from Leo’s group. Nothing much trouble.

But then I saw the other names again.

Alice Draken. Lena. Ray Black.

...Huh?

No, seriously—what the hell is going on?

Can someone explain this?

Right then, one of the instructors who were handling out list of opponents, stepped in and gave a quick explanation, as if reading the confusion on everyone’s faces.

"Some of you might have professors or teaching staff listed as your opponents. That’s not a mistake. It’s just that for certain cadets, we couldn’t find a suitable match among your peers. So, in those cases, the professors will be stepping in to personally evaluate your performance. It’s just to make sure everything’s assessed fairly—and safely. So don’t panic."

...Ah.

Now that made sense.

If you went strictly by the academy’s public rankings and metrics, there probably weren’t many who could go toe-to-toe with me. At least not on paper.

Only the Chairman knew about that time I took down a villain solo... and the fact that I had a relic tucked away in my inventory.

I even specifically asked her to keep it out of my record.

So officially, my stats still looked... painfully average.

A borderline dropout.

Still, it stung a little.

Was I really so low on the list that not even a single cadet—not even from the bottom ranks—was close enough in skill to pair up with me?

Harsh.

As the announcement ended, a low murmur spread through the classroom like wildfire. Cadets turned to each other, sharing their matchups in whispers, some faces paling, others smirking like they’d won the lottery.

I stayed quiet, arms folded on the desk, eyes fixed on the list on my hands.

It was hard to tell whether I should laugh, cry, or just fake an injury and skip the whole thing.

Alice Draken. The same professor who teased me in class like I was her favorite toy.

Ray Black. A literal brick wall in human form who once cracked the floor during a warm-up stretch.

And Lena Carter... my only secret freind but when it’s comes to study she became proper instructor.

So, no helping from their.

I wasn’t entirely sure if this was a test of strength or a secret execution order.

Suddenly, the door clicked open and a familiar voice floated in, casual and teasing.

"Oh my, cadet Rin, you’ve already seen the list? I was hoping to see your reaction live!"

It was Alice. She strolled in, twirling a chalk between her fingers like she wasn’t scheduled to fight a first-year cadet in two days.

I forced a smile, not trusting my voice yet.

She spotted me immediately and made her way over, planting herself on the edge of my desk like she always did when she was in a playful mood.

"So, ready to lose in front of the whole academy?" she said with a grin.

"...Professor, are you actually going to hit me?"

"Of course not!" she said sweetly, then leaned closer. "Unless you try something funny. Then I’ll fold you like a napkin."

"...Good to know."

Alice chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction.