The Next Day...
The academy courtyard was packed with students. Everyone was crowded around, buzzing with excitement as they waited for the results to be posted. To avoid chaos, the Leaderboards were divided into six massive floating screens, each organized by year and category. Students clustered beneath the board showing their respective rankings.
Then—ding!
The boards shimmered to life.
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"It's up! The leaderboard's here!"
The Top 100 list unfolded across the air in glowing golden letters. And at the very top...
Rank 1: Miguel
Cheers erupted.
"Of course it's Miguel!"
"He's insane…"
There he was—Miguel, standing with awkward posture as everyone looked at him like a hero descending from heaven. His cheeks were slightly red, but his chest puffed with pride. He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed yet undeniably happy.
Rank 2: Amy
Rank 3: Selena
Rank 4: Luna
Rank 5: Andrea
Andrea's eyes widened the second she saw her name.
Then she squealed.
Grabbing me tightly by the arm, she spun around like a kid who just got their favorite ice cream.
"LOOK! I made it to the top five!" she beamed, her smirk so smug she might as well have declared herself Empress. She folded her arms across her chest proudly, nose tilted up.
I chuckled at her dramatic pose, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face.
"I barely made it to the top 20," I muttered as I scrolled down to check the list. I finally spotted my name at Rank 19.
Good enough.
But then I did a double take.
Rank 35: Fatty.
My eyes narrowed.
"...Fatty?" I blinked. "Since when did that guy get this strong?"
He was always more of a comic relief character in the story—his strength never really mentioned in detail. Yet here he was, proudly nestled in the top 40.
"Maybe I underestimated him..."
Curious, I pulled up my System panel.
---
[[System]
(Seiko) Rank G+
Strength: 20
Speed: 20
Vitality: 22
Mana: 17
Charm: 19
Ability: Ashen Wings <1st Wing> {Bloodline}
Seducing Aura Level 1 {Bonus: Can level up by seducing someone}
Talent: [Seducing]
[Talent Lottery Unlocked] [Bronze Ticket 1 Silver Ticket 0 Golden Ticket 0 Diamond Ticket 0 Ruby Ticket 0 Legendary ticket 0]
Skill:None Spell:None
Quest: [Seduce and Make out with Andrea]
[Time:1 Weeks and 6 Days]
---
"Almost F-Rank..." I smiled to myself. My progress wasn't bad at all. At this pace, I might catch up faster than I expected.
Before I could say anything to Andrea, I selected the lottery ticket spin.
[Spinning Bronze Talent Lottery...]
Ding!
[Congratulations! You've acquired: Swordmaster (Passive)]
"Comprehending sword styles or skills is 3x easier. Low-tier skills are learned instinctively."
I blinked.
A solid pull.
Now, in this world, combat techniques were divided into two paths—Skills for Knights and Spells for Mages. Each of those had tiers:
Low Tier
Mid Tier
High Tier
Legendary Tier
Mythical Tier
Ancient Tier
With this new Swordmaster talent, I could master low-tier sword techniques like breathing. I might be able to request a mid- or high-tier skill from my parents now and get results fast.
Before I could turn to Andrea to share the good news—
Whack!
She punched my shoulder with a pout on her face.
"You were ignoring me!"
I laughed. "Sorry, sorry. Just Shocked I'm at 19th
---
Meanwhile...
Miguel stood among the crowd, surrounded by admirers. His face was calm, but inside, he was overwhelmed.
People were cheering for him. Applauding him. Calling him the "Next Hero."
A warm feeling blossomed in his chest.
"I really am… the destined one," he whispered to himself, eyes burning with newfound determination.
He clenched his fist.
He could feel it—the Holy Sword was still embedded in his heart. It responded to his emotions, ready to be summoned at will.
---
Meanwhile in a lavish room...
CRASH!
A vase shattered against the wall.
Selena was fuming.
"Third place? Third?!"
She paced like a lioness, biting her thumbnail.
"Amy again... Always Amy..."
Since childhood, Amy had outshone her. Their families were close, and Selena's parents constantly compared them.
"Why can't you be like Amy?"
Perfect grades. Polite demeanor. Always composed.
She gritted her teeth.
She hated Amy.
Not just because she was perfect—but because she was expected to lose to her.
Selena's pride wouldn't allow that.
---
Amy, meanwhile, smiled gracefully in the academy gardens as students congratulated her.
"Thank you," she replied sweetly. "You're too kind."
But behind her smile… was something hollow.
She hated the praise.
She hated the pressure.
She hated the mask.
Everyone saw her as the flawless noble girl, a role she had to play perfectly or face the wrath of her family.
To her perspective she was a puppet. To her friends, she was a role model. To herself... she was trapped in invisible chains.
And yet—she kept smiling.
---
Luna stood alone in her dorm room, her long hair flowing behind her as she stared out the window. Sunlight touched her pale face.
She reached a hand out toward the sun, as if trying to feel warmth she hadn't known in years.
"I just want this to end... This life—it's too boring."
She wasn't surprised she ranked 4th. She didn't even care.
Her parents did.
To them, status mattered. Appearances mattered. But feelings? They were meaningless.
No one praised her.
No one saw her.
She was cold and since she have unapproachable Personality no one congrats her not her Parents
---
Fatty, on the other hand, was on cloud nine.
He was dancing in the hallways, cheeks red with excitement.
"35!! I got 35!!" he shouted.
He rushed straight home to tell his parents, who were shocked, then ecstatic.
That very night, they hosted a celebratory banquet. Roasted duck, sweet buns, dumplings, and barrels of juice. He stuffed his face, laughing and crying at the same time.
For once, he wasn't the joke.
He was someone.
---
Back at the academy...
I looked at Andrea, who was still pouting beside me, then gave her a smirk.
"Top five, huh? Should I start calling you 'Princess Andrea' now?"
She flushed. "I-I wouldn't mind... if it's you."
I raised an eyebrow.
She turned her head away, hiding her embarrassment.
This girl...