The World Is Mine For The Taking

It had been quite a while, and finally, the last semester of the academic year had arrived.

One more push, and we'd be stepping into the third year.

The air around the academy was buzzing with mixed emotions—anticipation, dread, hope, and a heavy dose of anxiety.

Some students looked forward to the promotion, faces bright with excitement at the thought of progressing further.

Others, however, still wore tense expressions, haunted by the harsh truth that despite advancing in years, many of us were still stuck—firmly—in the Bronze Class.

Raymond and Duncan, in particular, were visibly bothered by that fact.

"You know," Raymond muttered through clenched teeth, his jaw shifting as he gnawed on his food, "it's hard to believe that even though we're about to enter our third year, we're still going to be stuck in the damn Bronze Class forever."

His tone carried bitterness, frustration dripping from every syllable.

Duncan let out a long groan as he stretched his arms behind his head, joints cracking softly. "Well, that was pretty much impossible to change from the start. Be thankful, Raymond. You're in the top 10 now. I'm still down at 20th."

Raymond scoffed and jabbed at his plate with his fork. "That ranking is total ass, though. I mean, we've been busting our asses trying to rise up—trying to break into Silver Class—but we're still here, stuck like bugs on the wall. And my rank? It's been the same since the second semester started. I got to 11th, then climbed to 10th, then up to 9th... and right back down to 11th. It's like I'm on a damn loop. Just circling that same spot forever."

I kept eating quietly while the two of them talked, letting their voices pass by me like a gentle breeze. But that didn't last long.

Raymond noticed my silence, looked at me, and raised a brow.

"How about you, Leon?" he asked, tone challenging. "Aren't you even trying to move up? You've been at the bottom of the rankings since our first year. Do you even care anymore?"

I paused mid-bite, the food hovering near my lips. I slowly turned to face him.

"Well..." I said after a short moment, setting my spoon down, "I do want to move up. I have the intention. But at this point... I honestly don't know why I haven't made any progress."

There was a brief silence between the three of us. Then Duncan leaned forward, brows furrowed as he stared at me.

"Out of all of us, I think you have the intelligence and strength to move up," he said bluntly, without hesitation.

Raymond blinked at him, shocked. "Wow. Didn't think you'd actually use your brain, Duncan."

Duncan just chuckled, brushing his hair back with a proud grin. "Huhuhu~ Of course. I've been learning a lot from Estelle lately. I'm practically a genius now."

Raymond stared at him with a flat, deadpan expression. "...I see," he replied, clearly unimpressed. Jealousy tinged his voice ever so slightly—well, that made sense. He liked Estelle too.

"But anyway," Raymond turned his gaze back to me, serious now, "I agree with Duncan. You've got the brains and the strength to climb out of this class. So it is surprising that you're still stuck at the bottom. I don't get it... I wonder why?"

If I had to take a guess... it was the administration. They were likely pushing the narrative hard—that I was 'skillless' and therefore didn't deserve to advance. They weren't shy about it either.

It was the same thing they did to Shredica. She'd been stuck at the top of the Bronze Class during our first year too. But unlike me, she found her own way and she made it work and became a magic knight through alternative means. Honestly, good for her.

She had drive. She wanted it. She clawed her way up with sheer determination.

Me... I didn't really have the same burning desire to climb.

But it wasn't like I was complacent, either. I had been trying as well as showing what I could do, and making an effort. For some reason, though, no matter what I did, they kept putting me at the bottom of the rankings. No recognition. No movement. Just... static.

And then, out of nowhere—like a sudden slap to the back of my head—it happened.

"PARTNER!!!"

A loud, piercing shout exploded right next to my ear, nearly knocking the spoon from my hand.

I winced in pain and immediately clutched both sides of my head, ears ringing from the unexpected assault.

What the hell was that?! And why the fuck did she shout right in my ear?

Raymond and Duncan glanced over, and the moment they saw who it was—the silver-haired beauty and an oddball with her own right Isiliraiellyn—they both quickly picked up their plates and stood.

Without a word, they relocated to another table.

Seriously?

Did they think Isiliraiellyn was another girlfriend of mine?

They really thought that just being in her presence meant they had to back off? I appreciated the sentiment, I guess—it was polite of them not to intrude—but it wasn't like they were interrupting anything.

Now, with her loud entrance, every head in the cafeteria was turned our way. Conversations stopped. Whispers began.

"Wait... isn't that him?"

"Y-Yeah. That upperclassman... the one rumored to be dating a bunch of women at the same time—including the Princess of Bethlan and the Princess of Milham."

"I heard about that... It's crazy. He's surrounded by women of insane status. Even Sir Johanne—well, Madam Johanne now—she's with him too."

"I don't get it. They throw themselves at him. It's like he's some kind of chick magnet."

"Do you think that girl's his girlfriend too?"

"Wouldn't be surprised at this point."

"I mean... I kind of get it. He is pretty hot..."

"Please. You've got no chance. Have you seen the women he's with? They're all literal goddesses. Compared to them, you're just... average."

"Jeez, I wasn't going to confess or anything... but you're not wrong."

I sighed heavily and turned to look at Isiliraiellyn, rubbing the sore spot on my ear.

"Wait a bit," I told her calmly. "Let me finish eating, then we'll go somewhere else."

"Alright!" she replied cheerfully.

With a bright, innocent smile, she sat beside me, folding her hands and resting her elbows on the table, watching me eat.

I didn't say anything.

But the way she stared at me—completely focused and not even blinking—was... unnerving. Her gaze followed every movement as well as every bite I took. It wasn't judgmental or creepy exactly... just intense.

Odd.

Weird.

But somehow... kind of cute in its own strange way.