The Academy of Rohan loomed over the city, only a short distance away from the House of Helnes. A wide canal separated the academy from the house, which had fields of poppies on each side. Nikolai walked beside the water stream from the city’s center.

He enjoyed the cold breeze of the canal as he walked on top of the dyke. Admiring the scenery, he couldn’t help but think how this place would turn into a bloodbath after the first worldwide dungeon break.

He saw someone sitting on the edge of the dyke in the distance. Valkyrie looked like a prince charming more than anything with her white shirt, red bowtie, and black silk trousers. With a sigh, Nikolai slowed down his steps.

“It’s rude to sigh when you see someone.” Valkyrie turned to him with a smile. “But I guess geniuses get away with anything.” She flashed her white teeth.

“Since when did I become one?”

“Let’s see.” Valkyrie opened up her holographic watch. “Nikolai Yaran. Excellent sharpshooting skills. Low-key personality. The first ranker in the latest midterm exams. Background: unknown.”

“What do you mean unknown? I’m from the Chaos Orphanage.” Nikolai frowned, but Valkyrie simply smiled. “Do you know something?”

“Even if I did, I don’t see why I would tell you.”

“That’s not very like you, Righteous Knight.” Nikolai shook his head. “Are you trying to coax me?”

“Do I need to?” Valkyrie threw a pin that Nikolai caught. On it was the heraldry of House Helnes. It consisted of a three-pairs-winged bird that raised its peak toward the sky. “Next Friday, the Alm Forest.”

“Is this the official invitation to your party?” Nikolai looked at the pin, unimpressed. “Holding this pin feels like a lot of trouble.”

“No one will dare cross you in the light, but the dark is always more dangerous.” Valkyrie smiled as she turned toward the running water, her blue eyes reflecting the shimmering light. “This is another test for you.”

‘Heavens give me strength. I thought her self-conceitedness came after she became god’s champion.’ Nikolai couldn’t believe the amount of audacity someone would have to go around testing people.

However, he still remembers that the party Valkyrie created would obtain many treasures and earn the title of the Blessed Party of Rohan.

After the first year of the academy, the students can create parties and hunt together. They could report their achievements to the academy, and it would reward them accordingly.

However, there was no rule stating that first-year students couldn’t join parties, only that they couldn’t create them. That’s why many first-year students tried to build connections to get into parties and learn from their seniors.

‘Of course, no one would trust a weakling.’ Nikolai turned toward Valkyrie. As much as their ideals differ, she was still someone with high potential. She also offered him an olive branch, even if the wolves would be after him if he took it.

“I’ll see you there.” Nikolai nodded and left Valkyrie, who held a thin smile as she watched him go.

He arrived at the academy’s training field, which connected to the canal, and showed the guard his ID before entering. As soon as a student saw him, Nikolai felt the difference.

“It’s him!” The first student whispered to his friend, who looked confused. “Stupid, the student who ranked first! Didn’t you see the post on the community?”

Hearing his words, Nikolai opened his phone and checked the app Community. It was a social media network on the WMA, Wide Mana Array. A mechanic created this array to transfer information at high speed, allowing data to be shared instantly.

“The Cheater First Ranker, Nikolai Yaran.” Nikolai read the post with amusement. He didn’t expect this method for the students to get back at him. The post was written professionally and listed all the inconsistencies in Nikolai’s achievement and its illogic.

From there, theories emerged on how he managed to steal the first rank. Students from his year told of how Nikolai used outside help to snatch the victory in the Class Battles.

As he was heading toward the grand hall where the betting stand was, Nikolai kept reading the comments they made about him.

In his past life, the students ignored Nikolai more than hating him. It was one thing to get admitted because of a glitch, but another to snatch victory from the powerful.

‘All of these students are just sour because they lost their money.’ Nikolai shook his head. ‘That’s why you don’t bet what you can’t lose.’

He arrived at the betting stands where the casino’s wealthy heir was sitting, taking the receipt and delivering the money. When Nikolai’s turn came, the wealthy heir’s face turned from a smile to disgust.

“I’m sorry, I can’t process your money.” The wealthy heir shook his head. “There were many complaints about the methods you used to win, forcing me to cancel all bets in your favor.”

“All bets? There is only my bet. No one else betted on me.” Nikolai laughed. “Hand over the money. I don’t care what everyone thinks.”

“Unless you have proof that there was no foul play, there’s nothing I can do.” He shook his head again and shooed Nikolai away. “Please step aside. The others are waiting.”

He dismissed Nikolai entirely as if he was a fly. Cold rage boiled in Nikolai’s heart as a smile broke on his face. Even though this was his rightful money, this bastard refused to give him.

“Are you an idiot?” Nikolai raised his voice. “It works the other way around. If you don’t have proof that there was a foul play, then hand over the money!”

The students gathered around them as the youth’s face turned ugly. He stood up and leaned closer to appear more intimidating.

“As I said, there were many reports that you’ve cheated in the exam!” He shouted even louder than Nikolai. “Unless you have proof otherwise, then scram!”

“That’s right!” One of the bystanders chimed in against Nikolai. “You cheated! There’s no way a weakling can be the first ranker!”

“Get out of here, shameless scoundrel!”

Students began shouting at Nikolai to scram, and the wealthy youth grinned in triumph. Nikolai turned to the crowd and memorized their faces, amused that one of them was Ro Za.

“Have some shame and leave!” Ro Za shook his head, clearly not wanting Nikolai to succeed any further.

“Oh, so all you want is proof!” Nikolai raised his brows as he crossed his arms. “Well, why didn’t you say so?” He tilted his head before taking out the pin Valkyrie’s and slapping it on the table.

“This is…” The Wealthy Youth’s face paled as he saw the pin. He looked at Nikolai with wide eyes before laughing. “This is fake!”

“Impudent! We should report him to the academy!”

“How is this kind of behavior even allowed? I’ll have my father come here immediately!”

No one believed the pin was authentic because it was simply unbelievable that the most promising party in the academy would invite a cheater who got admitted because of a glitch.

Nikolai shook his head. He was about to take the pin and leave before someone snatched it. Turning around, it was Julian who had arrived after hearing the commotion the students made. Erza and a new lackey accompanied Julian. He looked at the pin in his hand and turned to Nikolai with a disdainful expression.

“Not only do you cheat, but you also impersonate identities now? How low can you get?” Julian added to the fire, and the students all agreed. By the minute, the crowd grew larger. They all opposed him.

“Give it back, Julian,” Nikolai demanded with a calm expression. However, Julian slapped his hand away before seizing him by the collar.

“How about you take it, Dear First Ranker? I’m sure you’re strong enough for that.” Julian glared at him with an overwhelming amount of rage. Nikolai looked at him with a smile, ready to use the new energy he obtained.

Suddenly, most of the student’s phones rang. As most students gathered here, the noise of their notifications rang loud enough to disturb even Julian.

“What is it?” Julian frowned, knowing it must be an announcement of some sort. However, there very few notifications that most students wouldn’t mute.

“This is!” Julian’s lackey shouted as he opened his phone. “It’s an announcement from the Drunken Stars party!” A grin broke on Nikolai’s face when he heard the name of the party. “They have a new member!” The lackey shouted in more zeal. “Wait, he is…”

The lackey turned toward Nikolai with a shocked expression. Linking Nikolai’s pin, the announcement from Valkyrie’s party, and his lackey’s reaction, Julian came to the same realization as the others.

“It is… a genuine pin?” The Wealthy Youth from earlier had a pale face. “That is…”

“How about you give my money now?” Nikolai slapped Julian’s hand away, who was dazed just like the rest of the students. “And if you have any doubts about me, talk to my party.”