Once everybody in the hall settled down after my little testament of strength and valour that even restrained the esteemed professors of the Empire Academy, the headmaster continued to call out the names of the students part of Class A whilst I departed to the back of the stage standing and waiting in an orderly line.
Since I came first in the rankings, that means that the hero, the heroines and the Empire's prince will now make up the top eight rather than the the top 7.
I carefully poised my ears as I spectated each figure waltzing up onto the stage to stand beside me as their names were called. And just like I thought, the order came just like I predicted.
"Angelica Rosenheart!" The Empire's princess and arguably the most beautiful woman in the whole of the empire came second, standing beside me as she shot me a genuine smile. Her azure eyes continued to linger on me even as the headmaster continued.
"Leon Rawlder!" The shitty Hero was called next. Originally at the start of the Academy, he was the 2nd strongest student in the 1st year.
"Lisa Naver!"
"Iris Bowen!"
"Kora Willmer!"
"Chris Rosenheart!"
The names kept coming as the Empire's prince finally stepped up as the seventh member.
Okay, all that's left is the finally heroine.
"Kayden Nate!"
Huh? Kayden? Who the fuck is that? Why isn't Sara being called up?
My eyes snapped to the man strolling over to the stage. A man with darker skin than the royal families, navy blue hair and amber eyes drew the attention of everybody. That included me.
He wasn't part of the original game.
I immediately realised this fact. And I soon realised that my appearance in this world was probably the cause of his existence at the Academy.
"Sara Leonhart!" Finally the last heroine was called up.
"Somethings not right..." I muttered to myself.
"Hmmph? Did you say anything, Kaiser?" The girl next to me called out, her neck turning upwards to meet my eyes as she gradually gathered her hair out of her eyes. It was Angelica.
"I can call you Kaiser, right?"
"Ah, yes. That's fine. I was just talking to myself, so you can ignore that." I gently smiled to her and she turned away equally cheerful and I returned to my thinking.
The rankings themselves don't matter since all the heroines still made it into class A, but his existence could be a threat to the storyline of the game. There is also a possibility he's someone like me. Someone reincarnated inside of the game. Thinking about that, I still don't know how I did end up in this world.
***
Soon after, our assigned professor escorted us to the east side of the school, home to the 1st year classrooms as well as the 1st year dorm rooms. The classroom, though only to keep 20 people in were quite vast and accommodating in space, but unfortunately in desk seat. There was no separate desks and people had to sit in pairs.
People seemed hesitant to take a seat and some seemed to interact with their already chosen partners were to sit.
I, however, did not give a fuck about who my partner was as long as I could have my seat.
"I'm here baby..." I muttered to the desk in the back corner of the room next to the window, rubbing its firm and wooden texture. "The seat of the protagonist. How very fitting for me!"
As I slid back the chair and lazily slouched on my chair, the teacher urged the students to take a seat as she had some announcements to get done before we'd continue on with the rest of the activities for the 1st years.
I thought someone would sit next to me as a last resort, in case they were left alone, but a pleasant surprise emerged as a foot stomped on the chair next to mine, a cocky smile ignited on the damsels face.
"Daughter of Marquess Bowen. Iris, I can call you that, right? What do I owe the pleasure to have you so aggressively approaching me?" I asked, my face rested on my hands as she removed her foot and sat next to me.
"I like you. I think you'll make a fine addition to my play things. You'll be my best bitch yet."
Foul-mouthed, just like I had remembered. And quite the dominatrix queen. She loves to be in control. But that's not going to run.
"!"
As the other students settled and the professor started handing out booklets and discussing her agenda, a startling feeling brushed against my leg.
The silky touch of a tracing figure crawling up my thigh and circling around my zipper.
My gaze span to her and she stared passionately back into my eyes. "If you behave, you'll get more. Now bark for me." Her legs crossed and the corners of her mouth lifted deviously.
She's pushing it. But like I said, this power imbalance favouring you won't last. I won't be your dog, madam!
Whilst the teacher turned away to the massive blackboard behind her and struck it with chalk, I snapped away from her touch and grabbed her wrist forcefully.
"Aughh..." She let out a little groan, her cheeks turning slightly red as her smile grew. "Have a little fight in you?" She asked.
I returned an equally taunting smile and placed my finger on her lips as I leaned into her ear to whisper. "This isn't going to go down how you want it to. I know a secret of yours that you desperately keep from everyone and I could easily collapse your entire group within a night. So step in line, my cute little dog. Or I might have to chop your head eventually...and I don't want to waste your looks."
Her eyes shot wide open and sweat beamed from her forehead. "What are you talking about?" She tried covering it up.
"Let's talk later, my cute little dog. Now if you don't want me to immediately want me to shout out your identity right here and now, bark for me."
With her own demand span on her, her face turned to one of embarrassment and anger.
"You're just bluffing. Plus, you'd never be able to prove it even if something like that did exist!" She snapped back at me and slapped away my hand holding up her chin.
"Sinclaire of the Empire's syndicate. Operation base, below the Sword and Shield tavern. Convincing? Now...BARK." I insisted and instead of lashing out in anger, she instead smiled at me with unnerving spark in the diamond eyes of hers.
"We'll talk later about this, mister No.1."
She then patiently waited for the teacher to turn, and once she did.
"Bark!"
Everyone including the teacher immediately turned around and Iris's head fell to her lap, unable to look at anyone.
I could only smile to everyone as the teacher rolled her eyes and turned back around.
"Good dog." I whispered to her.