If they weren't the male leads, I wouldn't give a single damn about them.
And it should go both ways, just reversed. Since I'm not thirsting over the villainess, they should be treating me like background furniture.
So why… why the hell do they keep staring at me all the damn time?!
"Focus, Lord Atlas. Professor Sylsima is speaking, this is important."
Esso tapped my head, already sounding too done with me.
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for treating me like a stray, Lord Esso."
For the past week, I've done nothing but try to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to do with this useless ability of mine.
And, shockingly, it's going terribly.
Right, I have to listen to the professor.
"I've assigned groups based on your capabilities."
I nudged Esso's elbow and leaned in.
"Groups for what?"
He glanced at me, eyebrows lifting like I'd just confirmed every bad opinion he's ever had about me.
"We're going into the Ponderwa Forest."
"…Where is that?"
"It's literally right behind the academy."
Ah. Of course. Another cliché. I expected this kind of thing after the female lead showed up. not this soon, though.
"But why?"
"Practical test," he muttered. "Professor Sylsima wants to see how many wild beasts we can defeat or tame. Whoever gets the most wins."
So I won't be participating, right? I mean, look at me. In what universe am I contributing anything in this miserable state?
Naturally, I was completely, utterly wrong.
Lucian Aurelian.
Rowan Hale.
Cassian Nocturne.
Elinor Seraphim.
And…
Atlas Vale.
…Wait.
No, that last one, that's technically me.
'Are you kidding me?! Why am I grouped with them?! Just excuse me entirely, I'd rather volunteer for human experimentation!'
I nearly yanked my own hair out on the spot, but that would probably lower my already fragile survival rate. And honestly, I don't know what kind of aesthetic murderers prefer these days.
Putting those lunatics aside, how is this supposed to work for me?
"Uh, Lord Esso, when does this start? Tomorrow?"
"Right now, of course."
"Right now?!"
That came out way louder than intended, I really need to work on my temper.
"Yeah. They'll be monitoring us for five days, so—"
"You don't mean five days straight."
"I do."
There's no way he's serious. This has to be a running joke in nobility or something.
I swear, those are not tears forming in my eyes.
"How are we supposed to survive that long without food or—"
Blop.
"Ack!"
Water? Did this idiot just throw water at me?
"Pay attention instead of pestering your seatmate."
Ah, that was not Esso, but the professor.
Professor Sylsima continued like nothing happened, calmly explaining that we'd be expected to find food on our own, survive on our own, and prove just how far we'd come with our abilities.
A crucial evaluation, she called it.
Of course, I raised a hand.
"Why am I included in that?"
Her gaze landed on me for half a second and, honestly, it feels like she has already decided I'm not worth the air I'm using.
"Because you are a student."
Yeah, and?!
Before I could even argue, another student raised her hand, a girl sitting a few rows ahead.
"Professor, the groups aren't exactly balanced."
Ah, maybe I should ask her out.
Though it wasn't all that subtle. She might as well have pointed directly at me and said, that one is dead weight no matter what team he joins, so you could as well just give the other teams those powerful hotties.
But professor Sylsima didn't even blink.
"If you cannot win because of something like that," she said flatly, "then you were never going to win in the first place."
Nah, even I think that's complete bullshit.
Then again, I'm apparently the liability in question, so maybe I'm biased.
"Return to your rooms," she continued. "You'll find appropriate attire prepared on your beds. Change, then proceed to the rear of the academy immediately."
And just like that, we were all dismissed.
Chairs scraped as everyone stood. I got up with Esso, making absolutely sure to avoid eye contact with every single one of my so-called teammates.
'If they even dare to lay a finger on me on those five days, I swear on every god out there that I'll do anything to ruin their lives.'
I walked straight out, fast enough to look normal, slow enough to not look like I was fleeing for my life.
The moment I reached my door, I slipped inside and shut it behind me.
On the bed, there was a black uniform. It was there classic fantasy military-style, a bit intimidating for no reason.
I reached out and touched it.
"Jeez. It's hella tiff..."
I can't fly and this body is barely average, too, so how am I going to move?
Still, I changed into it, there was no point resisting at this stage.
Standing in front of the mirror, I gave myself a once-over.
"…Yep. He's as average as ever."
Nothing changed since I came here, actually, I think I've gotten thinner, so I basically regressed.
Eh, sorry Atlas.
I stepped out of the room and started toward the back of the academy, and immediately slammed into someone.
"Ah."
I froze.
Slowly, carefully, I looked up, and nearly blinded myself.
Cassian Nocturne.
God.
I almost covered my eyes on instinct.
Why does he look like that? That's not a face, that's a literal national treasure.
Okay, okay, Han Joon-ho, calm down, he's still supposed to murder you over a crush.
And he kind of already attacked me, so yeah.
"What are you staring at?"
I didn't wait for an answer, just walked past him like I hadn't just had a near-death experience via eye contact.
Of course, he followed right behind me, because why wouldn't he?
By the time we reached the back of the academy, the rest of the group was already there.
'Couldn't they all simultaneously fall down the stairs and become paralyzed?"
Anyway, they all look like they belong in a completely different story.
'My head hurts already.'