Chapter 101

‘Why did that girl go up to the 60th floor? She didn’t listen to me at all. What the heck is She doing?’

Lapit’s expression trembled with frustration.

Meanwhile, Riviera kept yawning with sleepy eyes, oblivious to everything.

Recognizing that her appearance screamed, ‘I’m so tired from working hard despite my laziness,’ Lapit shook his head in disbelief.

Being tired wasn’t the issue.

The problem was that she worked hard despite her laziness.

She was never the type to do such things.

So how did this happen?

‘How on earth did he manage to persuade her?’

Lapit seriously wanted to ask Max how he had managed to win over someone like Riviera.

On the other hand, the other students, who had no idea about this, were shocked in a different way.

“Did she just yawn at the 60th floor?”

“Who the heck is she…?”

Riviera was starting to receive serious attention.

If it had been the old her, this situation would have been unwelcome, but now, she was too tired to care, just staring blankly with sleepy eyes.

Maybe her thoughts had changed a bit.

“Haha, our group is the best. Truly the best.”

Meanwhile, Allen Benesse was laughing uncontrollably, clearly intoxicated by their success.

His behavior was so different from usual that it caused a stir among the students.

“That outcast is laughing like that…?”

“That’s not the timid Allen I knew.”

“Just came back from the 60th floor and he’s this relaxed?”

The recognition of the miraculous trio of the Common class was skyrocketing.

Max, who was acknowledged as the leader of the trio, was no exception.

At that moment, Max suddenly extended his arm and pointed towards the Royal class.

It was an unmistakably provocative gesture.

“What the heck is that guy doing?”

“Wow…he’s picking a fight? As expected, Max is a lunatic.”

The most entertaining spectacle is always a fight.

And the rebellion of the so-called trash, Max, against the Royal class was an intriguing conflict.

The students’ eyes sparkled with interest, keenly observing the situation.

Even the professors, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, just watched.

“What’s his problem? Why is he pointing fingers?”

“Hey! What’s your deal? If you’ve got something to say, say it! Say it!”

The Royal students, heated up, shouted back, not backing down.

The atmosphere was heating up.

And Max was someone who never missed such an atmosphere.

“Wait for us.”

“What?”

“We’re coming up. Make room and wait.”

A clear declaration of intent to ascend to the Royal class.

Had there ever been such an arrogant declaration in the academy’s history?

Not just one class, but two classes at once?

This statement was an insult not only to the Royal class but also to the Noble class.

The Noble students, realizing this, naturally erupted in anger.

“That guy?”

“Damn, he’s ignoring us? Just because he’s doing well recently, he thinks he’s invincible?”

“Damn it, I won’t die under that guy. I’ll stay up all night from now on.”

Harsh words poured out.

But Max’s face remained calm.

He spoke again in a loud and clear voice.

“What are you misunderstanding? I said ‘we.’ Not just me, but all three of us will come up. Make room for three.”

“What? Three? Th-three?”

“Is he insane?”

The reactions grew even more intense.

It was inevitable.

Not just one, but three?

Ascending from the so-called trash Common class to the top Royal class was unprecedented.

It was an impossible feat.

The Royal and Noble students felt utterly disrespected.

“W-wait…me? Why am I included…mmph!”

Allen, who had suddenly turned into a deer in the headlights, tried to say something in a voice filled with injustice, but someone covered his mouth.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Max but Riviera.

“Idiot. Read the room.”

Allen, shocked, looked dazed.

Getting told to read the room by Riviera was more shocking than being called an outcast.

Allen, pale and trembling, looked at Max, who couldn’t help but laugh.

He had inflicted inner wounds on Riviera with his innocent rival talk, and now he was getting a taste of his own medicine.

It seems there is such a thing as karma.

“Everyone, quiet!”

Professor Lawrence intervened, finally calming the uproar.

“Max, that’s enough.”

Professor Karen also approached and restrained Max.

“Yes, understood.”

Max responded obediently, like a model student, which made the students glare at him with resentment, but they couldn’t say anything with Professor Lawrence present.

“Go get some treatment.”

Although they looked relatively fine, Professor Karen said this to separate them from the other students until things calmed down.

“Yes.”

Understanding her intent, Max nodded obediently.

As he turned to leave, he heard a whisper in his ear.

“Well done. You did as expected. Keep it up, both of you.”

Patting his shoulder in encouragement, Professor Karen walked away.

‘Wow, look at her.’

Max stood still with a peculiar expression.

He realized the whisper wasn’t just a simple compliment.

You did as expected.

That meant she had anticipated them reaching the 60th floor.

And both of you?

That referred not only to him but also to someone else.

Allen was obviously not the other person, so it could only be Riviera.

‘Did she notice something during the evaluation?’

Max quickly speculated.

There was no other significant interaction.

He thought he had covered it up well, but it seemed it was hard to fool a mage of her caliber completely.

‘Well, it doesn’t really matter.’

He wasn’t directly involved anyway.

It was Riviera and whoever was behind her.

He just needed to stay by Riviera’s side, reaping the benefits while observing the situation.

“Let’s go, everyone.”

Max smiled.

* * *

Ranked 4th in the year.

Even in a so-called bad generation, our objectively excellent performance made us one of the most noticed groups in the second year.

My provocation played a significant role in that.

(The perpetual troublemaker’s bold declaration of promotion! We’re coming up, so make way!)

The headline was somewhat distorted and sensational, but it was indeed from the academy’s newspaper club.

I was leisurely reading the newspaper featuring my story in the academy’s garden.

Meanwhile, someone was fidgeting nervously in front of me.

It was Allen.

“Ugh…No matter how I think about it, this isn’t right, Leader. Including someone like me was a mistake. I’m not confident.”

Allen was speaking weakly.

The confident Allen who had vowed to work hard to compete with Riviera was nowhere to be seen.

It felt like he had reverted to his old self.

The forced declaration of promotion to the Royal class seemed to be a huge burden.

But it was ridiculous.

Reaching a level where he could compete with Riviera was infinitely harder.

“Timid. Lacking confidence. The worst.”

Poke.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Alan yelped in surprise as a finger poked sharply into the back of his neck.

It was Riviera.

She casually threw herself down next to me.

“Left behind alone. If that’s what you want.”

With just a few words, Riviera delivered a massive mental blow.

Alan’s eyes wavered, and his body trembled.

The emotions he was feeling were obvious.

For the first time, he was experiencing a pleasant school life, dreaming of good times with friends at the academy.

He probably thought, unconsciously, that this life would continue for a long time.

Or maybe he just wanted to believe that.

In any case, Riviera shattered that sweet illusion with a single sentence.

Left behind alone.

There’s nothing like those words to bring reality crashing down.

He realized that if Riviera and I got promoted and left, he would have to return to his old miserable life in the third year.

Given his personality, making new friends would be even harder.

“Huff…”

Alan let out a trembling sigh as he realized this.

Then he quickly spoke.

“N-no, no, no. Of course, I have to go with you. Of course, of course. Hehe…”

He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, forcing a laugh.

Now there would be no problem.

From now on, he would truly work his hardest.

“That’s the spirit, ‘Crazy Laughing Alan.'”

I chuckled.

Crazy Laughing Alan.

It was the first positive nickname for him, who had always been called negative names like the Benesse family’s idiot eldest son, timid Alan, and stuttering Alan.

Even after fighting through to the 60th floor, instead of being exhausted, Alan kept laughing like a madman, earning him the nickname.

In reality, he was probably exhausted but too overwhelmed with joy to feel it.

“Ugh… please don’t call me that!”

He was clearly embarrassed by the nickname.

“What’s there to be embarrassed about? Right, ‘Yawning Girl’?”

Yawning Girl.

It was the nickname Riviera had earned this time.

Her youthful face and the way she yawned as if the Infinite Tower was boring combined to earn her that nickname.

“Yeah. It’s less embarrassing than my nickname.”

From her response, it was clear Riviera didn’t like her nickname either.

Not that she showed it much.

“No, mine is more…”

“Yawning Boy.”

“…”

“…”

“I’ll stick with Crazy Laughing Alan.”

“Yeah, that’s better.”

They reached a smooth compromise.

Like them, I also gained a new nickname.

‘The Rogue of Promotion Declarations.’

The image was so ingrained that the word “rogue” was stuck to me.

Still, it was better than being the Celtrine family’s rogue.

At least it sounded somewhat impressive, right?

Declaring a promotion to the Royal class in front of professors and students wasn’t something just anyone could do.

It’s no wonder my presence score increased by over 20 points as a result.

[Max Celtrine]

Presence: 382 (C)

Just 18 points away from the starting point of B rank at 400.

At this rate, it was almost certain I would break 400 even before the promotion.

Clearing the conditions for quests that required at least a B rank in presence was a significant achievement.

It was worth drawing all that attention.

Anyway.

One thing had to be achieved no matter what.

Promotion to the Royal class.

Failing after making such a bold declaration would undoubtedly make me the laughingstock of the entire school.

And to achieve that.

“Midterms.”

At my words, Alan and Riviera flinched.

Wait, Riviera, why are you flinching?

Don’t tell me you’re bad at studying?

No way…

“Confident?”

“…”

“…”

Both of them were silent like mute people with a mouthful of honey.

Why both of them?

Why both?

This won’t do.

“Special training starts today.”

I clenched my fist.