Rankings, huh.
To be honest, it wasn't entirely unexpected. Even though this world is a whirlwind mix of fantasy and magical girl elements, the concept of webnovels remained unchanged. So, I thought rankings would show up eventually. But...
I didn't expect it to be part of the official setup.
Wiping away the water he spilled with his hand, Sihyun, who was coughing, looked around with blurry eyes. Unfortunately, he seemed to be the only one reacting strangely to these rankings.
Sparkling, the student's eyes lit up as they looked at Kang Donghyuk stepping forward. Admiration, envy, and a hint of jealousy poured out through their inadequate performances. I was the only one looking at that confident Donghyuk with disdain.
Well, maybe Jeong Daun felt similarly.
Thinking of Daun, who unlike others had surprisingly normal reactions to cringy elements like the "Four Heavenly Kings", Sihyun looked at Donghyuk advancing. When their eyes met, Donghyuk's head rose high. His shoulders seemed ready to pierce the sky.
Following that, a female student addressed as the 9th rank walked forward. While applause erupted throughout the field, Sihyun had to suppress the cringe. Goosebumps covered his body. But what was more distressing was the fact that I was among those rankings.
I was in Class A, to be exact. Among the mere eight students in Class A, I was one of them. If I, being Class A, wasn't in those rankings, it'd be suspicious. An anxious Sihyun clenched his fists. If my name was called out from those ranks in front of everyone, I might have become the first person in the world to die of embarrassment.
It's embarrassing and pathetic.
Among the embarrassment he had felt since the possession, this particular one seemed top-tier. As he was busy lamenting Haeun walked past him, he had apparently been assigned 8th rank. So with Haeun, the buffer, in 8th place, the next one would naturally be…
"Kang Sihyun, Rank 7!"
Fuck.
In the end, my name showed up. As I started walking over to where Haeun stood I could feel everybody's eyes on me. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from declaring that I'm not actually the Kang Sihyun that they are looking for. If I start discussing my possession they'd probably just think I was crazy, and in the end whether it was 'Kang' Sihyun or 'Yu' Sihyun, the one putting up shields was still me.
So, as if walking to the gallows, Sihyun slowly moved ahead. Obviously reluctant to go, he dragged his feet behind him. As he got closer, Haeun greeted him with a wave from ahead. Grinning, Haeun's smile widened. As his smile got brighter, Sihyun's face darkened.
If I knew this would happen I would've pretended to be sick from the start, instead of agreeing to become a healer. This is just a school, it wouldn't kill me. I should've just stopped caring about other people's opinions and committed fully to the frail sickly boy concept.
I don't think I'll have any issues dealing with jealous bullies, but would it be different when they're all awakened people?
Useless thoughts of regret from the past swirled in his head.
I want to drop out.
A fervent wish after just two days of enrollment.
"Lucky number seven."
Looks like luck is on Sihyun's side!
As he came to a stop next to Haeun he immediately started whispering to him. Ignoring the forced familiarity from someone he barely knew, Sihyun looked at the 90 or so students in front of him. There were so many. It was the first time he faced so many students head-on. Maybe that's why Sihyun entertained thoughts of a grand withdrawal.
"Rank 6, Baek Geonu!"
As the name was called, the unchanging poker-faced Geonu walked toward Sihyun. The way he moved his long legs seemed like watching a model walking on a runway.
Geonu's gaze flickered toward Haeun. Lightly, as if fluttering, Haeun waved at him. As he laid his other hand on Sihyun's shoulder, Geonu shifted his gaze back to him.
Thud, Sihyun pushed Haeun away. Geonu, who was silently observing them, slowly opened his mouth.
"Hi."
"...."
A sudden greeting made Sihyun freeze. Wondering if he misheard, he turned his head and was met with Geonu's steady gaze. He definitely wasn't imagining things. He had a sudden impulse to run away.
He hasn't spoken to me at all until now, but today he's greeting me and giving me water? It made Sihyun a bit happy but also not happy at all. Trying not to be swayed by the intense gaze directed at him, Sihyun narrowed his eyes. The boy with blue hair wore an indifferent expression so it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
What was his deal?
As questions surged, he curled his lips out of habit. Seeing this expression, the innocently misguided boy next to him thought he'd clear up the confusion.
"It seems that Sihyun thinks of you as a friend!"
"What?"
An incredulous voice escaped him involuntarily. Despite seeing his dumbfounded expression, Daun, who had been called up as 5th rank, still made a strange face as she heard Haeun's words.
Sihyun wanted to say something as their eyes met. But Daun simply clicked her tongue and turned to greet Jihye, who had been called up as 5th rank. Sihyun felt as if he needed to explain himself somehow, because he seemed to have been caught up in some sort of misunderstanding.
"What are you saying?"
Trying hard to avert his gaze from Daun he asked, and Haeun shrugged. He kept trying to put his hand on Sihyun's shoulder again, despite getting pushed away. He was obviously bad at understanding social cues.
"Exactly that. You hang out with Seowoo, you're close with me, and you even seem to have caught Hamin's attention, so it seems that Geonu thinks of you as a friend as well."
"That's nonsense."
I've never heard of any of this.
To begin with, since when is that how you decide your friends?
It was true that I was often with Seowoo, but strictly speaking, it was more like Seowoo was one sidedly sticking to me. What am I supposed to do with one of the Four Heavenly Kings acting like a lunatic and clinging to me?
It was unfair for him to say that they were stuck together when Sihyun was actively trying to get rid of him. The same goes for Hamin.
But even more unfair than that was the fact that there was no basis to think that he and Haeun were close. What a hurtful thing to claim.
"We're not close."
"With me?"
"Yeah."
"I like you though."
"I don't like you much."
"That makes me like you even more!"
Is this guy insane?
The instant cheerful reply had Sihyun at a loss for words. The more he tried to speak, the more he got swept away in the conversation. He knew there was no point to keep talking to a guy like this for too long.
So, Sihyun changed his target.
"We're not close."
"..."
At his retort, Geonu fell silent. Looking at Geonu's indecipherable face, Sihyun briefly considered whether it was better to talk with a bothersome blabbermouth, or a baffling guy who doesn't talk. In the end, he chose to end the conversation. Both options were equally unappealing.
Haeun, a cheerful lunatic.
Geonu, a handsome man of few words.
While Sihyun was getting exhausted by Haeun's endless yapping, Seowoo was labeled third in the rankings, followed by Hamin in second. It was obvious who would be first, so Sihyun's gaze shifted towards Haru, the last one standing from Class A.
Haru stood alone, hesitantly catching Sihyun's eye. It felt embarrassing and cringeworthy, but knowing that Haru was in 1st place made Sihyun's expression soften.
My puppy. No, my kid. No, my little hyung is doing so well.
Though he hadn't expected this when he first formed a partnership, Haru hadn't expected him to be a quadruple either. So, Sihyun guessed they were even now.
"First place, Ban Haru!"
"Wow!"
Cheers And applause erupted. Haru, who had never received this sort of attention, awkwardly looked around the crowd before stepping forward with his head lowered. As he came closer to Sihyun he lifted his head, and Sihyun couldn't help giving him a content smile.
It felt like the sensation a pet owner or parent experiences when their pet succeeds in training for the first time or when their child receives an award.
"Good job."
As Haru passed by, Sihyun whispered to him softly, making him jump and turn around. If one were to peek under his hair now, they might see his reddened ears.
"To the students ranked from first to tenth, we offer a Royal Badge for free use of the school store. Rankings can change anytime through monthly evaluations, so please keep up the effort."
Envious murmurs spread at the principal's words. Whether rich or poor, awakened or non-awakened, high schoolers were universally always hungry.
"The top-ranked student will be offered the chance to have a wish fulfilled. Shall we call it a Wish Ticket? Of course, only wishes approved by the teachers can be fulfilled. Now, Ban Haru?"
"Y- yes?"
Haru stuttered in front of the entire student body. Seeing this, Sihyun rubbed his forehead, determined to help Haru improve.
"Do you have a wish you want to fulfill?"
"Um... uh, I don't, I don't have any."
What a missed opportunity.
Sihyun's brow furrowed as he listened to the conversation. As Haru genuinely refused to make a wish, the principal, without further insistence, casually dismissed the wish ticket. Sihyun, disappointed, glanced at the dagger in Haru's hand. He might have at least asked for a better weapon.
It felt like watching a lottery winner flush their winning ticket down the toilet.
If it were him in first place, he'd have immediately asked to abolish the ranking system. Frustrated, as Sihyun licked his lips in regret, the principal called for the ranking students to go back. "Now, all ranking students, please return to your positions." Sihyun quickly found his place in Class A, scattering the onlookers. It felt as relieving as loosening a tie.
"Everyone must have had a tough time with the sudden placement exams. For our freshmen who suffered through it, Choegang High has a small gift. The weapons you hold in your hands are a small present from the teachers here at Choegang."
Huh?
"For the next six months, you will undergo training to adapt to your abilities. Until then, the weapons allocated to you are yours to use as you please. Improve your skills! It might be a modest gift, but do you like it?"
"Yes!"
No.
Amid the excited voices, one disheartened voice seeped in. Sihyun looked at the pink staff in his hand with a feeling akin to having chewed on a bug. Even if it was a gift, it seemed impossible to refuse.
Amidst the joyous students, he alone displayed a sour mood, prompting the principal to speak again. The atmosphere, which had been lively, subtly calmed.
"You've all been through a lot with the sudden exam. Starting from tomorrow, regular school life will commence. You must be tired from fighting irregulars and using unfamiliar abilities. Please forgive us for the necessary level allocations."
The principal briefly showed regret but quickly recovered, continuing to speak.
"Observing, some of you utilized your abilities well, while some trembled in fear. It must have been terrifying. I understand. However, remember that you are all candidates for the next Mirgun. We'll have to fight numerous irregulars and protect our nation. Please, don't forget today's feelings and engrave them in your memory."
The weighty words were followed by silence. Sihyun swallowed, feeling even more awkward in the atmosphere. As if to dispel the tense ambiance, the principal smiled kindly.
"Today's school schedule ends here for all of you. Please follow the guidance of your dormitory teachers to move to the dorms, unpack, and take a well-deserved rest after the strenuous march. Feel free to use the dining hall across the dormitories for meals. Once again, a sincere welcome to those who have entered Choegang High School!"
"Wow!"
Like carrots and a whip, after thoroughly drilling them, the principal offered sweet rest, and cheers erupted. Tired physically and mentally, Sihyun was relieved by the fortunate news. Finally exhaling a slow breath, the dormitory teacher appeared, ushering the kids towards the dorms.
Groups of three or five moved towards the dorms. The principal glanced around at the remaining teachers and then met eyes with Sihyun. Their exchange seemed like a signal, as all the teachers swiftly moved away from the field.
Dozens of feet headed towards the meeting room. With a creak, the door opened and closed, signaling the start of a meeting focusing on the unprecedented quadruple.