'So she's basically urging me to control the class for her?' But how could it be this easy?
Had it been Carmillia herself, the students would have remained silent at her proclamation. But perhaps it was simply too inconceivable for a commoner butler to preside over them.
Placing first was not even the reason for their hushed voices. In the history of the academy, there had already been cases of outrageous individuals who placed first despite being born without status. Of course, it was a rare occurrence.
Unlike Xian, who took the first seat and was placed among the Royal Class of Rozenfall. That meant a mere butler, a servant lower than even the lowest-ranking student in the room, would represent the highest seat in the entirety of the Royal Class.
Even with Carmillia behind him, there would be dissent. Besides, the Villainess remained silent, merely observing her butler.
Xian remained calm. The current situation was a part of the story's natural progression. When the protagonist took first place from Fahna and entered the Royal Class, a similar event had occurred. Seeing the protagonist as a potential rival or ally, Fahna tried to earn his favor by mediating between the students.
He waited as the voices grew from hushed murmurs into discussions within mere moments, expecting Fahna to intervene just as she had in the game.
But she remained seated with her back toward him, her face slightly tilted in his direction. Xian felt nervous for once. If Fahna did not make use of her reputation to deal with the students, he would have to resort to other means.
'She's really not going to interfere?' Once again, something had changed from the game. Now, he was left with the choice of how to deal with this situation.
'Fine. Let's treat this as a learning experience.' Since Xian did not know what changes might occur, he understood that handling the situation poorly could create problems for months to come. He had no intention of relying on regression to clean up every mistake. The question was, how should he go about this situation?
Through words? As a butler, his voice meant nothing to these students of noble upbringing. Violence? That was the easiest way out, but he did not have enough power to overwhelm them all at once.
Since silence was obviously out of the question, there was only one option left. A combination of both violence and words.
'Duels. One-on-one duels.' It was the only way for him to survive and come out on top. All he needed to do now was provoke them.
As his lips parted, a raspy and rough voice echoed through the room.
"Everyone, please."
In a tone that was anything but friendly, he gathered the attention of the room, and a moment of silence followed.
"If anyone has a problem with the academy's arrangement..." Xian briefly activated his Glimpse Lens. There, he saw the parameters above every single person within his view. Some were still at levels one to five, some beyond that, and Gumin, who was somehow above his own level.
He glanced at Carmillia before continuing. "…at my lady's permission, I am willing to accept invitations to duel in order to prove myself."
The silence lingered, but soon voices erupted at the provocation, especially among the male students of the class.
"Hah? Look at this lowlife." One particular student could not take it and stood up from his seat, shouting with two lackeys beside him.
"If that's really all it takes, do you think we would have a problem? Besides, are you saying you can defeat everyone here in the Royal Class?"
"That is indeed my exact intention. To prove that I stand above all of you in strength."
To be honest, Xian would have preferred if Fahna and Rhykard did not participate, especially Gumin. Fahna and Rhykard belonged to physical classes and would give him a hard time, but Gumin was an entirely different individual.
Her issue was not a measly level difference, but the number of spells she could employ.
"You—"
Just then, the student who had stepped up was cut off by the creaking door.
Everyone turned their heads toward the sudden noise. What greeted them was an individual dressed in regal attire, with neatly tied dark brown hair and an angularly handsome face often described in female fantasy novels.
Some female students were already distracted and nearly gasped. But knowing the man's reputation and background, no one dared to make a sound.
His eyes drifted over the students in the room before settling on Carmillia and Xian.
"The rest of you, take your seats."
Finding an opportunity to escape the mess, Xian turned to follow Carmillia. But before taking her seat, she spent a few moments glaring hatefully at the professor.
"You will refer to me as Professor Aleandro. This year, I will be the presiding advisor of the Royal Class."
'Right, Aleandro's the assigned professor for the Royal Class.' Sitting in his seat, Xian straightened up, but cold sweat trickled down his back. He had a startling realization upon recognizing Aleandro.
Unlike in the game, classes and activities used to raise stats could not simply be clicked through and skipped.
What was worse, the lessons were named but hardly ever discussed in the game. Which lunatic would put classroom discussions in a fictional world as actual scenes anyway?
This meant that he, an undergraduate who had long moved past his studies, was going to attend classes once again.
'I have to fucking study?' Xian's pupils dilated.
In the game, classes served three purposes. They consumed time in exchange for increased stats and, most importantly, unlocked events with heroines.
The actual lessons themselves were rarely shown. A click here, a transition there, and the protagonist would receive an accumulated modifier that raised stats. Nobody actually expected players to sit through lectures. So why did he have to?
'No, calm down. It's just studying. How hard can it be? What's the first subject anyway?'
"Since this is your first day, there are only a few things you need to understand."
The class remained silent.
"First. Rozenfall values results."
"Your family name may open doors outside these walls, but inside the academy, only your accomplishments determine your standing." Aleandro spoke flatly, probably knowing that this was not entirely true.
His gaze swept across the room before briefly stopping on Carmillia.
"Of course, if your ability matches your reputation, then you are free to keep both."
"Second, Rozenfall does not raise dependents. Disputes, enemies, and problems with fellow students will be resolved according to the rules of the academy and by yourselves."
"Rozenfall is not above the kingdom's laws. Remember that before doing something irreparable."
"Third, everything you accomplish within the academy has value. Studies, research, competitions, missions, and service. All contributions are converted into merit that can be exchanged for resources within the academy."
Aleandro fiddled inside his coat and produced four pins, holding them between the fingers of his gloved hand.
"Heath, Orchid, Iris, and Rose. The academy recognizes these four ranks within each year level." With his other hand, he pointed at the first badge. "While numerous students remain unranked, the majority of ranked students belong to Heath."
Then he pointed at the second badge.
"Only twenty may hold Orchid, while Iris is conferred upon only seven individuals."
Lastly, he put the others away and held up the singular, eye-catching red pin.
"And only three people may possess Rose."
"In other words, you are all considered unranked."
A faint murmur spread through the room. These were the legendary standings famous throughout Rozenfall. A Rose graduate represented the pinnacle of their generation, while even Heath graduates remained highly sought after compared to unranked ones.
"However... there are exceptions."
He deliberately let his gazes linger on three specific individuals in the room.
"Traditionally, the three highest scorers of the entrance examination are granted provisional Rose Rank. The academy has chosen to uphold that tradition this year as well."
Aleandro's expression remained unchanged, though his tone could have been mistaken for one tinged with displeasure.
"That privilege lasts until the conclusion of the first term. But if anyone disagrees with a placement..." The students visibly stirred at the first thing they actually wanted to hear.
"They are free to contest it through the Placement Competition. The results will be determined then."
It was obvious what he meant. As long as Xian sat upon his throne, he would remain the first seat. But they could dethrone him through a challenge during that period.
"As I've said before, Rozenfall rewards merit. If someone is unworthy of their position, the academy will eventually reveal it."
Xian organized his thoughts. If anyone wanted to take his rank, they would have to prove themselves superior, but that will have to wait until the placement competition. It seemed that, for now, he was spared the trouble of challenges.
"Then let us proceed to the lectures. Most of you are sitting here because of a combination of talent and background..."
The lecture went in one ear and out the other for Xian. This was merely Aleandro lecturing them not to become too full of themselves. At least, that was what Xian thought until the professor began discussing academic requirements.
Minimum passing grades, required units, and the bare minimum standards needed to retain the First Seat.
Then the clock started ticking. Aleandro seemed to notice and took out a stack of what seemed to be letters from his case.
"Since you all seem eager to prove yourselves, let us begin with something simple." No one showed such enthusiasm, but he said it regardless.
"These papers contain your term-long assignment."
That earned a few exclamations from the students, who had not expected such an assignment on the very first day.
'A-an assignment?' Xian felt sweat forming on his back.
"You will each be assigned a target. For the duration of the term, you will observe that individual." This time, the students became even more animated, their sleepiness from the lecture completely gone.
"Strengths. Weaknesses. Habits. Character." As more words left Aleandro's mouth, the students' expressions visibly darkened.
"If your target discovers they are being observed, you fail."
"If your evaluation is inaccurate, you fail."
"If your conclusions cannot be supported, you fail."
"If your target successfully deceives you, you fail."
"Since you are also being observed, you are permitted two submissions during the term to identify your observer. Of course, with supporting evidence." The professor spoke with a meaningful gaze directed at the stunned students.
"Choose carefully." Hearing that, the students lost their minds and several students exchanged uneasy glances.
Meanwhile, Xian was losing his mind for an entirely different reason.
'Assignments… Group projects, group study, club activities... I have to do all of it...'
These were no longer tasks that could be completed with a simple click. He would have to personally participate in all of them for the sake of scenarios and events.
"Also, students who fail will spend their vacation under remedial instruction." That was the final nail in the coffin as the students began exclaiming in disbelief.
"Oh, the remedials will also be under my supervision." That silenced everyone like a death sentence.
'Shiiit!'
Xian roughly ruffled his own hair in frustration. He would rather deal with Carmillia's assassins and regress.
"Your targets are hidden inside these envelopes. That ends the homeroom class. Class dismissed."
…
As he made his way back toward the faculty, Aleandro found his thoughts drifting to his students. More specifically, the pair who occupied the first and second seats.
Most Rose-ranked students eventually formed temporary alliances. Maintaining one's position was far easier than constantly fighting for it, and it was only logical for the top three to preserve their standing through cooperation. Yet the true nature of Rozenfall was competition. Sooner or later, every student would be forced to choose between cooperation and ambition.
The three seats may not differ in benefits, but the top still carried greater significance. Which naturally brought his thoughts to the third seat.
Fahnaela del Alinde.
The granddaughter of the previous Sword Saintess.
Her techniques were immediately recognizable, especially her speed. Though her sunset-colored hair differed from the Saintess's pale blue, her footwork and swordsmanship carried the same unmistakable foundation.
Originally, he had expected her lineage and her clan's isolationist nature to place her among the Elite Class at best. Instead, she had proven herself worthy of the Royal Class. And yet, even she had been overshadowed by a butler.
Aleandro's gaze narrowed.
'Xian.'
That was all there was to his name. An absolute commoner whose origins could not even be traced, yet possessed enough strength to stand above his peers.
'Just where did that man find him?'
The academy's meeting hall was likely in an uproar by now. The noble factions would never accept a servant sitting among the Royal Class, much less occupying the First Seat. At the same time, those who advocated for greater opportunities for the Elite and Standard Classes would undoubtedly use his success as evidence for their own arguments.
Aleandro cared little for either side. The dead had no use for politics, and his family had already paid enough for them.
The true complication was elsewhere.
Xian belonged to Carmillia.
That single fact transformed a promising student into a political nightmare. Those who advocated for the Elite and Standard Classes despised the duke and would hesitate to support the boy. Those who supported the duke would resent his birth.
He was too capable to ignore, yet too lowborn to accept.
A faint sneer formed on Aleandro's lips as he imagined the dilemma facing those fools.
Just then, his sister's face surfaced in his memories. Then, as always, it changed. The gentle woman he remembered slowly overlapped with the image of her daughter. The resemblance was undeniable, yet the difference between them could not have been greater.
One had died and the other remained.
His sister's body rested upon a casket surrounded by white flowers. The man who had slain her stood nearby with an aggrieved expression on his face, while the daughter she left behind had not shed a single tear.
As the memory passed, Aleandro's fingers tightened around the handle of his case.
After a moment, his thoughts drifted toward the assignment he had distributed earlier.
Most students would spend the term searching for their observer, while others would become so obsessed with hiding their own identities that their investigations would suffer as a result. But among the rules he had stated, cooperation was never forbidden.
The assignment only punished discovery.
Whether they noticed that distinction was part of the evaluation.
A person's true nature was rarely found in what they appeared to be. More often, it revealed itself when nobody thought they were being watched.
The sound of his footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Soon enough, the students would learn that lesson themselves.