In a fairly spacious area, roughly thirty members of Class Y stood facing the X-Class, which appeared to number a mere five.

A few onlookers lingered around the perimeter—professors with no classes to teach, it seemed, killing time.

Are they here to watch? No, what could possibly be worth watching in a sparring match between freshmen…

I wore an expression that made it clear I couldn’t be bothered to tell them to scram.

“Keu-ssaem, good afternoon! Looks like you slept in! Shall I fetch you a glass of water to wake you up?”

I brushed off Narrow Eyes’ greeting with casual indifference and walked toward the X-Class.

I couldn’t care less who whispered what. I simply let out a low sigh and said what I had to say.

“The format?”

“The most common sparring format. One-on-one matches, first to win three rounds takes the victory.”

“How tedious. A group brawl would end much faster.”

“We haven’t taught the students group combat yet. Besides, seeing each student’s capabilities individually will help guide future lessons.”

Oh, really? You still haven’t covered group combat? My kids handled it like pros all on their own during the last field exercise.

X-Class, damn, the protagonist party buff is no joke. Kids, go easy today.

I turned my head to glance at the X-Class students.

They all looked wound tight, every one of them. Their first time fighting actual people since enrollment—understandable to be nervous.

Of course, this training ground was slathered in every defensive and protective spell imaginable, so no one was going to get seriously hurt.

‘I should just figure out the order to send them in.’

Predicting the opponent’s order was pointless anyway. I had zero intel on the extras-filled Class Y, and I had no talent for strategy.

But there was one lesson I’d learned from playing countless games…

‘When you crush them with a level gap, matchups don’t mean a thing.’

In other words, the outcome between a Class Y full of extras and an X-Class that was super ultra rare rainbow-sparkling from birth was a foregone conclusion.

After pretending to deliberate for a moment, I called out the name of the first PokéXon I’d chosen based on ‘Coca-Cola is delicious.’

“Nika Tot.”

“Yes, Nika Tot! Present at the professor’s call!”

A booming voice pierced my ears.

Uh, great. I can see you’re excited, so tone down those sparkling eyes. And stop snorting through your nostrils.

“Go.”

“Yep! I will definitely bring back victory for you, Professor! Uwooooh, victory or death!”

It’s a normal sparring match. Don’t stake your life on it.

Whether I watched with cold, dead eyes or not, the Model Student behaved like an overexcited retriever facing off against Extra 1.

“I look forward to this match! I am Nika, fourth son of the Tot family! I shall give my all in this bout, so you had better come at me with everything you’ve got! I won’t hold back!”

“…What’s with this guy? I don’t care if you’re from the Tot family, isn’t that a bit arrogant? You don’t need to tell me that!”

Extra 1 had taken the bait hook, line, and sinker, and the atmosphere ignited in an instant.

That kid really had no ill intent, but sometimes he’d knock the wind out of people without meaning to.

‘Instinctive aggro? A tank is a tank, I suppose… Well, he’s the “Model Student,” so he’ll be fine. Let’s just enjoy the front-row view of the battle.’

* * *

“If both sides are ready, please raise your hands. Yes, very good. The side whose number above their head reaches zero first loses, and the match ends immediately. Then, three, two, one. Begin!”

Nika Tot. Scion of a prestigious family that had held the position of the King’s knight for generations.

His main position was tank, but his swordsmanship was also above average.

With a guy like that giving it his all, the flow of the match was roughly predictable, but…

‘Isn’t this just cheating?’

I stared blankly at the number glowing above Extra 1’s head.

‘0’

It was one strike. The Model Student swung his sword exactly once.

“Cough, cough! Urk…!”

But that single strike was enough to send Extra 1 flying like a scrap of paper and crash into the corner.

‘Sure, he looked in better shape than usual, but “overwhelming” doesn’t even begin to cover it. I didn’t even have time to pop popcorn.’

Wait, if a non-DPS has this kind of firepower…

‘After Awakening, is the Protagonist going to craft grenades out of pinecones and cross the ocean riding a fallen leaf?’

When the original story described him as an overpowered monster, I’d just thought, ‘Sure, that’s how it is.’ Fantasy protagonists are all like that, after all.

But seeing it firsthand, feeling it in my bones, I had to wonder what kind of messed-up standards this world had for strength.

Just listening to the spectator professors murmuring among themselves told the story.

“As expected, a fine talent. Might be worth training him purely as an attacker.”

“Well, that’s about average for the Tot family. Not bad.”

Not bad? A kid the size of a mountain just got launched in one hit!

“Match over! Nika Tot of X-Class, victory!”

If Narrow Eyes hadn’t cut in with that declaration, I might have blurted out a question without thinking.

“Thank you! Now, take my hand and stand!”

“Damn it… N-next time, I’ll definitely win!”

The kid who got launched was only frustrated, not bewildered by the situation itself.

Was I seriously the only one shocked here? Right, you’re all overpowered monsters. I’m lonely. The weakest link is lonely.

“Wow, that’s incredible…! Nika is really strong. I need to hurry up and get stronger too…”

Thankfully, there was a second weakest link behind me who could empathize. Though the thought that even this Protagonist would soon become overpowered and reach a day where he couldn’t understand me brought tears to my eyes.

Before my eyes could actually well up, I focused on the Model Student’s face as he returned like a conquering hero.

“Yoool, the victor! Come on over~ You worked hard out there!”

“Hahat, of course! Something very important is riding on this match. Namely… Uwaah, Professor?! Why are you glaring at me like that…!”

“Obviously! You’re making a fuss just because you won one lousy match.”

Oh, the Princess said so. I just piggybacked on that opinion and furrowed my brow.

Still, the kid did win and come back, so praising him felt like the decent thing for a professor to do, but…

“Oh! You’re right! One who aspires to be a knight must not easily grow complacent over trivial matters! I had momentarily forgotten such a precious truth! Thank you for the lesson, Professor Chris!”

It’s the Model Student, after all. Let it slide. I turned my head with a look of annoyance and gave a jerk of my chin.

I decided on you for the next match.

“Angelina.”

“…! Understood. I shall show you how a true victor ought to conduct herself.”

The Princess answered, tucking her long hair behind her ear.

She seemed to be trying to stay calm, but the Princess was a freshman too. Now that the moment had arrived, her nerves showed.

She’d win, though. It was obvious without watching. The Princess was on par with the Model Student.

‘I’ll send Twin-braid out for the final round.’

They only needed three wins anyway. No need to risk sending out the weak Protagonist or the Healer, who was at a disadvantage in a duel.

Though the Protagonist kept glancing over like a dog whining to go outside, which was a bit bothersome-

‘Let’s take it easy this quest, Protagonist. You’ll get your moment to shine later anyway.’

“Then we’ll begin the second match. If both sides are ready, please raise your hands.”

Still, the Princess was definitely more mannerly than the Model Student.

Instead of recklessly unleashing a finishing move from the start, she read her opponent’s tendencies and responded appropriately.

Though the side effect was that it made her look like she was toying with her opponent.

“Well, this is so one-sided it’s not even worth watching.”

“Truly worthy of the Serif family heir. The rumors of being a prodigy since childhood were well-founded.”

“Hmm, far more methodical than I expected. Like watching the textbook form of ice magic, you could say.”

Real professors really were on another level. I couldn’t muster any impression beyond ‘Wow, the swish-swish and the thwack-thwack and the boom-bam is pretty cool.’

Of course, I maintained my poker face on the outside and watched the Princess wrap up the match without incident.

“Match over! Angelina Serif of X-Class, victory!”

“…Well, naturally.”

What was with that prim delivery followed by a glance my way? I could see her lips twitching, unable to hide her pride.

‘It’s the face my dog made the first time it successfully did “sit.”‘

Back then, I could at least toss it a treat. All ‘Chris’ could manage was this one line. Sorry.

“Just come back.”

“I-I was going to come back anyway!”

The Princess returned to the group with a flushed face.

Right, up to this point, things had been smooth sailing, but…

“I forfeit~”

The problem was Twin-braid, who was up next.