Chapter 106: Wrong Class
Morning sunlight filtered gently through the curtains of Kael’s dormitory room, casting long rays across the wooden floor.
For the first time in what felt like forever, he woke up without feeling as though every bone in his body had been shattered.
His eyelids slowly opened.
He stared blankly at the ceiling for a few moments before instinctively flexing his fingers.
"...I’m alive."
The soreness from the tournament was still there, but it was nowhere near as unbearable as it had been the previous day.
Kael slowly sat upright on his bed before rotating his shoulders.
Several joints cracked pleasantly.
He stretched both arms above his head, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"I already feel better."
The healing potion Isabella had given him the previous day had been incredibly effective.
Combined with his innate ability—
Infinite Adaptation—
his recovery speed bordered on the absurd.
Even injuries that should have required weeks of treatment had almost completely disappeared overnight.
"It really is a ridiculous ability."
He couldn’t help smiling to himself.
Every difficult battle strengthened him in one way or another.
It was both a blessing...
...and a terrifying curse.
After sitting quietly for another minute, Kael climbed out of bed.
He stretched once more before making his way toward the bathroom.
Warm water washed away the lingering fatigue from the previous day.
As he stood beneath the shower, memories of the tournament replayed inside his mind.
His battle against Zion.
The clash with Auriella.
The strange darkness that had consumed him.
The black-eyed figure he met while unconscious.
Even now...
Thinking about it sent chills down his spine.
"...Just what was that?"
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t find an answer.
Eventually, he shook his head.
"There’ll be time to think about that later."
After finishing up, Kael changed into his Academy uniform.
He adjusted the collar before looking at himself in the mirror.
No one would ever guess that he had nearly died multiple times over the past few days.
"Not bad."
With that, he left his room.
The Academy corridors had returned to their usual lively atmosphere.
Students hurried from one building to another.
Some chatted excitedly about the tournament.
Others were already complaining about classes starting again.
Everything felt...
Normal.
Kael smiled faintly.
It was strangely refreshing.
He casually walked through the familiar hallways before entering the academic building.
Without thinking much about it...
His feet naturally carried him toward the classroom he had spent most of the semester in.
He slid open the classroom door.
Class 1-D.
The room was bustling with noise.
Students laughed loudly.
Others argued over breakfast.
Several were already asleep on their desks despite lessons not having started.
It was exactly the kind of chaotic atmosphere Kael had grown accustomed to.
Oddly enough...
He found it soothing.
Almost comforting.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Home sweet home."
He casually walked toward his usual seat at the very back of the classroom.
Several students instinctively turned to look at him.
Some widened their eyes.
Others whispered quietly.
Kael paid none of them any attention.
He simply sat down.
Rested his chin on the desk.
Then closed his eyes.
He had come to a very important conclusion during his previous life.
Morning naps...
...were a very healthy exercise.
He folded his arms beneath his head.
"This is the perfect way to start the day."
Within moments...
He drifted off.
...
...
...
Something felt wrong.
Kael slowly opened one eye.
The classroom...
Was completely silent.
Not just quieter than usual.
Completely silent.
That alone was enough to wake him up.
He slowly lifted his head.
"Hm?"
The students around him were no longer talking.
Instead...
Every single one of them stared toward the classroom entrance with expressions ranging from shock to disbelief.
Kael followed their gazes.
Standing there was Stella.
Her arms were folded.
Her usual calm expression remained unchanged.
The moment she noticed Kael sitting comfortably in the back row...
She sighed.
There was even a hint of pity in her eyes.
As though she genuinely believed the injuries he suffered during the tournament had finally damaged his brain.
"Kael Draven."
"I think you are a bit mistaken on your class..."
"...which is unexpected considering how much you wanted to leave the class," Stella stated, folding her arms.
The words struck Kael like lightning.
His sleepy brain finally began working again.
"...Oh."
Right.
The tournament.
His victory.
Promotion.
He was no longer a student of Class 1-D.
Realization dawned on his face.
He immediately stood up.
"A honest mistake, I’ll be taking my leave now."
Kael gave an awkward smile before making his way toward the exit.
The entire classroom remained completely speechless.
Only after Kael walked past Stella did whispers finally begin erupting throughout the room.
Stella watched him quietly for a moment before lightly shaking her head.
As though wondering how someone capable of winning the entire tournament could make such an unbelievable mistake.
While leaving the classroom, Kael instinctively glanced toward Lilith.
For just a brief moment...
Their eyes almost met.
But Lilith immediately turned her head away, avoiding his gaze entirely.
Kael understood immediately.
The Disciplinary Committee already had him under close observation.
Any unnecessary interaction between them could easily compromise Lilith’s mission.
"...I guess that’s for the best."
He sighed inwardly before stepping out into the hallway.
Now...
There was only one problem.
"...Where exactly is Class 1-A?"
Kael wandered through the first-year corridor, occasionally glancing at the plaques fixed above each classroom door.
"So... Class B."
He kept walking.
"Class C..."
A few more steps later, he finally stopped in front of a polished wooden door.
Class 1-A.
"There you are."
He let out a small breath before sliding the door open.
The instant the door opened, dozens of eyes turned toward him.
Standing at the front of the classroom was Lyra.
She had a piece of chalk in one hand and an amused smile that immediately told Kael this wasn’t going to end well.
She folded her arms.
"Congratulations."
"You are the first student to arrive to class late."
"I’m sure they are going to record it."
Her mocking tone drew a few chuckles from the classroom.
Kael blinked.
"You are kidding right."
"They can’t possibly record that."
Lyra stared at him for a second before pressing her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh.
When she finally spoke again, there was barely any seriousness left in her voice.
"Every top student of their individual years in the Academy has their achievements recorded in the school’s Hall of Fame, although I doubt you’ll know where that is."
She paused deliberately.
"And also the fact that the achievements you have now are just being the first top-ranked student to miss his Badging Ceremony..."
"...and also being the first top-ranked student to turn up tardy to class."
She shook her head dramatically.
"I really feel for your legacy."
A wave of laughter spread through the classroom.
Even a few students who had maintained serious expressions until then couldn’t help smiling.
Kael sighed.
"What a wonderful legacy."
Lyra finally turned back toward the class.
"Alright class."
"It’s time to start lectures."
"Kael, take your seat."
Kael looked around the room.
Only then did he notice something that immediately made his stomach sink.
There were no empty seats.
Well...
Almost none.
His eyes swept across the classroom before landing on the only vacant desk.
It was...
Right at the very front.
"...No."
His expression stiffened.
His trauma from sitting in the front row had followed him from his previous life.
Back then, front-row seats practically guaranteed teachers would notice every little thing you did.
Looking away?
Question.
Yawning?
Question.
Thinking about something else?
Another question.
He had spent years perfecting the art of disappearing into the back of classrooms.
Now fate had betrayed him.
His thoughts drifted back to Class D.
After the first practical assignment, several students had died.
Their empty seats remained unused after rankings shifted.
That was why there had always been room at the back.
Class 1-A was different.
Every single seat was occupied.
Except one.
The one waiting for him.
"What..."
Kael panicked internally.
Slowly...
Almost reluctantly...
He walked toward it.
As though delaying the inevitable.
When he finally reached the desk, he realized things could somehow become even worse.
To his left sat Auriella Voss.
Her posture was perfectly straight.
Her notebook was already open.
Even with the bandages still wrapped around her eyes, she radiated the same calm composure she always carried.
On his right sat Zion Crawford.
His attention never once wandered from the front of the classroom.
Both of them looked completely focused.
Neither acknowledged Kael’s arrival.
Kael quietly pulled out his chair and sat down.
"...I’m surrounded by monsters."
He rested his elbows on the desk.
A deep sense of exhaustion suddenly washed over him.
His peaceful Academy life...
Had officially ended.
Lyra began writing on the board as the classroom settled into silence.
Kael glanced toward the back of the room.
His eyes immediately found Hulk.
The Dwarf had somehow been chained to his chair.
Even worse...
His mouth had been gagged.
He struggled against the restraints with all his strength.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
The chains rattled loudly.
Kael stared for a few seconds.
"...What exactly happened while I was gone?"
No one seemed particularly bothered.
Several classmates simply ignored Hulk as though this were a completely normal occurrence.
A few minutes later...
Hulk’s struggling gradually weakened.
The moment Lyra properly began explaining the lesson...
His eyelids started drooping.
Within moments...
He had fallen asleep.
Kael couldn’t help smiling.
"As long as I’m not the worst student in this class..."
He thought to himself.
With no other choice, he turned back toward the front.
If he was going to survive sitting in the front row...
The least he could do was pretend to pay attention.
So, for perhaps the first time since enrolling in the Academy...
Kael genuinely tried listening to Lyra’s lecture.
By the time Lyra dismissed the class for break, Kael had managed to survive his first lesson in the front row.
Barely.
He stretched his arms while the rest of the students began leaving their seats.
Some headed toward the cafeteria.
Others gathered in small groups to discuss the morning lecture.
Before Kael could stand up, the classroom door slid open once again.
A member of the Student Council stepped inside their class, her presence naturally attracted attention of his classmates and she wasn’t even their president.
She walked straight to Lyra.
The two exchanged a few quiet words that no one else could hear.
After receiving Lyra’s response, She gave a slight nod before turning around and leaving the classroom without another word.
Lyra watched the door close before looking toward the front row.
"Alright."
"Kael, Auriella, and Zion."
"The Principal has asked for you."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"The Principal?" He asked, but no one bothered to answer.
Auriella had already begun walking out of the classroom, with Zion following a few steps behind.
Not wanting to get lost again, Kael quickly stood up and followed them.
Unlike the previous day, he didn’t even pretend to know where he was going.
He simply let the other two lead the way.
The Academy corridors were much quieter in this section of the building.
Teachers occasionally passed by carrying stacks of books.
The atmosphere was completely different from the lively first-year classrooms.
Eventually, they stopped in front of two large wooden doors decorated with the Academy’s crest.
Without hesitation, Auriella knocked.
"Come in."
The familiar voice came from inside.
The three entered together.
The Principal looked up from his desk and smiled the moment he saw them.
It was the same warm, fatherly smile he always wore.
"Well..."
"The top-ranked students, all of you, this time around."
He sounded genuinely pleased.
Kael scratched his cheek.
"You do know that we are just top students among the first years."
"If we include the second years, we might not even be in the top twenty."
"And if our third years are included..."
"...well top one hundred might be a problem."
The room fell silent for a heartbeat.
Then the Principal burst into laughter.
"Kael... Kael... Kael..."
"Optimistic as always."
Kael frowned.
"I was being pessimistic."
That only made the Principal laugh harder.
Even Zion couldn’t help glancing at Kael for a brief moment.
Auriella remained as expressionless as ever, though there was the faintest flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
Kael simply stood there observing the Principal with an odd expression.
"Is he finally going senile." Kael thought internally. While the Principal kept on laughing, even his assistant seemed quite tired of his shenanigans.