Chapter 4: Class S and the Four Continents
The Welcome Ceremony concluded with a display of pure, oppressive power. As the top-ranked students were called to the stage, the "Golden Duo"—the Rank 1 tie-breakers—stepped forward to lead the oath.
The High Demon Korgar moved like a shifting tectonic plate, his skin pulsing with the orange glow of cooling lava. Beside him, Serafina, the Fallen Angel, unfurled her tattered black wings, her gaze promising a slow damnation to anyone who dared meet her eyes. They stood like gods above a sea of monsters, looking down on the rest of us with a disdain that was practically a physical weight.
I sat in the front row, my Rank 10 badge pinned to my new formal Academy uniform. It consisted of a crisp white shirt, a high-collared obsidian-black coat with crimson trim, and matching tailored trousers. Being Rank 10 meant I was the elite of the elite, the very last name before the "gods" on stage, but I was also the only scholarship student—and the only goblin—to ever break the Top 10. Behind me, the noble Orcs and Vampires didn't just look at me with disdain; they looked at me with a murderous, jealous hatred.
After the ceremony, Rolf and I navigated the crowded halls toward Dorm 4B.
"Man, that Fallen Angel... her mana felt like a lead weight," Rolf said, flopping onto his bunk and frantically unbuttoning his formal black coat. "Rank 1... I'm just glad I made it into Class S at Rank 45. But you... Rank 10? A goblin in the Top 10 is all anyone is talking about. Half the Orcs want to skin you just for taking that spot."
"Rank is just raw capacity, Rolf," I said, checking my reflection. The formal suit made even this goblin body look sharp and predatory. "The System rewards efficiency, not just brute force. A waterfall has more power than a spear, but a spear is what kills. I didn't get Rank 10 by being 'stronger' than an Ogre; I got it by being more lethal."
"Spoken like a true scholar," Rolf chuckled. "But check the curriculum. We're both in the Combat Department, but they're forcing us to pick five electives just to stay in the elite tier. What's your play?"
I marked my choices with a quill: Advanced Combat Maneuvers, Mana Manipulation, Monster Anatomy, Ancient Strategy, and Alchemical Theory.
"Anatomy?" Rolf raised an eyebrow. "Planning on being a doctor?"
"I need to know exactly where the pressure points are on every species in this building," I muttered. "If I'm going to conquer this place, I need to know their bodies better than they do."
The next morning, the Great Dining Hall was a chaotic hierarchy of hunger.
"Don't even look at the center tables," Rolf whispered as we entered in our formal attire. "The Orc nobles claim those. But then again... you're Rank 10. You actually have a right to be there."
"I don't care about their 'rights,' Rolf," I said, walking with a steady, predator's stride.
We walked right past a massive Ogre who was trying to intimidate students near the buffet line. He growled, but when his eyes landed on my Rank 10 badge, he hesitated. He hated me, but the number on my chest forced a primitive caution into his brain. We claimed a prime spot near the center.
"The food is brutal," Rolf complained, poking a slab of purple-tinted meat. "Tastes like iron and wet fur. But hey, it's high-protein. We need it for the sparring pits."
"Eat it," I commanded. "We have History and Strategy with Hilde next. After that, we have to change into our Combat Uniforms—loose tunics and reinforced leggings. If you're sluggish, you're dead."
The Class S lecture hall was a tiered obsidian amphitheater. As I took my seat in the front row, my vision flickered with a crimson notification.
[Target Identified: Kaelith the Silent]
Academy Rank: 5
System Difficulty: Rank A
Species: Dark Elf (Shadow-Knight Caste)
Favorability: 0 (Indifference)
Submission: 0%
[System Note]: Target values 'Martial Discipline.' Her emotional suppression makes her the perfect entry-level high-tier target.
Beside me sat Kaelith. Her formal uniform consisted of a white shirt and the black Academy coat, but instead of trousers, she wore the pleated black skirt. Her long silver hair cascaded down her back, and her twilight-colored skin shimmered against the dark fabric.
The heavy stone doors slammed open. Professor Hilde marched in, her white armor gleaming. She walked to the podium and began calling attendance.
"Alistair Von Blood."
"Present."
"Korgar the Ash-Born."
"Here."
"Grik."
The room went silent. A few Orcs snickered. "Rank 10 goblin? The Council must be senile."
Hilde looked up, her piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. "Present," I said, my voice steady.
"A goblin sitting in my front row with a Rank 10 badge," Hilde mused, her voice like a whip-crack. "Either you are the greatest genius this Academy has seen in a century, or you are a very clever liar. We shall see."
She tapped a cane against a magical map on the wall. "Today, we discuss the Four Great Continents."
"First: The Monster Continent," Hilde began. "A land of eternal twilight. Here, we live by a meritocracy. Power is the only law."
"To the West: The Beastman Continent. Wild tribes. They are our rivals in physical combat. They value 'Tribal Honor'—a weakness we can exploit."
She moved her cane to the East. "The Human Continent (Holy Alliance). Shared by Humans, Elves, and Dwarves. They hide behind 'Holy Magic.' They view us as a plague."
"To the North: The Dragon Continent. Home to the Dragon-kin. A single one is worth a thousand of you. And to the South lies the Endless Maelstrom—a graveyard of storms that prevents any escape."
Hilde paused. "Questions?"
A noble Orc stood up. "Professor, why haven't we crushed the Humans?"
"The 'Hero' system," Hilde replied. "Every century, their God summons a soul from another world. These 'Heroes' possess cheat-like abilities. To crush them, we must learn to dismantle their tactics."
I felt a jolt. Another world. I'm the 'villain' in someone else's Isekai story. I need to get stronger—fast.
Hilde's eyes scanned the room. "You, Grik. If you had to invade the Beastman Continent, what would be your first move?"
"I'd cut their supply lines and exploit tribal rivalries," I said, leaning back. "Make them fight each other over honor, then pick up the pieces."
Hilde stared at me. "Logic. A rare trait here."
She turned back to the map. "Class dismissed. Head to the locker rooms and change into your Combat Uniforms. I expect you at the sparring pits in ten minutes."
I watched as Kaelith rose. The pleated skirt of her formal uniform shifted as she moved toward the steep stairs. The System chimed with a cold, blood-red border.
[Domination Trial: The Knight's Underside]
Objective: Catch a clear glimpse of Kaelith's undergarments during the transition to the locker rooms without being detected.
Reward: +20 LP, [Passive Skill: Sharp Eye].
Failure Penalty: > 1. [System Backlash]: -5 Agility (Permanent) and a 24-hour lock on all System functions.
2. [Immediate Consequence]: If detected, the Target's Favorability will drop to -50 (Hostility), likely resulting in immediate physical retaliation.
The hunt wasn't just starting. It was a gamble for my life.