Yoo Sihyun, who had escaped the device, looked around for Hamin nearby and frowned when he couldn't see Hamin's score in the end. All the effort he'd put in, swearing he'd die if Hamin's score surpassed his and took the top spot, seemed to have been for nothing.
Feeling guilty, he glanced at Hamin and when their eyes met, Hamin gave him a displeased look. Sihyun sighed, feeling like his mere existence was bothering Hamin.
The wish ticket for the top spot.
He had done things he wouldn't usually do because he needed that wish ticket.
There was something he wanted to change.
Recalling the month when he was unknowingly ranked at the bottom, Sihyun clenched his fists. As they announced the results, he checked the pairing device. The holographic window displaying the end-of-month evaluation records reminded him of the placement test.
"Do you want to check your grades?" When he clicked 'confirm' on the window, his end-of-month evaluation record appeared.
[March Evaluation: Survival Report]
Grade 1, Class A, Kang Sihyun
Survival Time: 70 hours
Agility: S ∥ Dexterity: A ∥ Attack Power: C
Support: S ∥ Endurance: S ∥ Cooperation: S
Overall Assessment: S
The evaluation sheet had slightly different criteria than the placement test. Looking around, he saw Daun and Jihye far away, exchanging high-fives. He hadn't seen them during the evaluation, but they seemed to have survived well.
"Before announcing the final rankings, I'll share the number of students who survived up to 70 hours and their average grades per class."
Making it public like that. He'd felt it before, but this school had a knack for humiliating people.
"Firstly, Class D, there were a total of five students who successfully survived, with an average grade of D. We hope you'll strive harder for better results."
There was a murmur from Class D upon the teacher's announcement. They'd expected an E, but it turned out to be a D. It seemed quite a few had either not shown their abilities during the placement test or had worked hard in the last month and made progress.
While Class D was in awe, Class C was called next. It was the most anticipated. Summoning Seowoo and suddenly disappearing, Class C, even after establishing a clinic, seemed to have only a few students visible. Considering at least seven from other classes had come, their numbers were quite low.
He hadn't found the right moment to ask before.
Sihyun turned his gaze towards Seowoo, who maintained a relaxed smile despite the intense scrutiny. He quietly asked her if anything had happened to Class C as they had survived fewer hours than Class D. As murmurs arose in the hall due to the fewer survivors in Class C compared to Class D, a few students from Class C glanced sharply in the direction where Seowoo was standing.
Did something happen?
Even amidst the sharp stares, Seowoo maintained a relaxed smile. Then, casually making a crying gesture with her fingers, she shrugged. Sihyun was taken aback. He didn't know what that meant, but it seemed like something had happened.
I'll ask later, I guess. Sihyun shrugged off his curiosity, and the teacher, after finishing Class B's announcement, cheerfully announced the next class. It was Class A's turn.
"A Class hasn't disappointed. All survived with a grade of A or higher. We hope to continue seeing the best from you."
The principal's benevolent voice echoed, and the kids applauded. As much as Sihyun disliked this moment, which was approaching the most, he swallowed hard. Today was the time he had been eagerly awaiting.
"Next, we'll announce the top 10 students who excelled in the evaluation."
Finally, it was the moment when my gathered scores would shine.
"Ranked 10th, Shin Ijae!"
"Shin Ijae?"
It was an unfamiliar name. He'd expected Donghyuk to be called again like last time, but the 10th-ranked male student with 16,000 points had brown hair and walked hesitantly. He gave off a squirrel-like vibe.
Thinking that Donghyuk might be 9th, he waited, and a female student who had been ranked 9th before came out. With the announcement of the 10th and 9th ranks, only the top 8 remained.
There were 8 students from Class A.
"......"
He was surprised to see Donghyuk pushed out of the top ranks, and then Jihye was called for the 8th spot. Although her rank was lower than before, Jihye seemed nonchalant about it.
Daun was called for 7th place, and Geonu for 6th. Considering Geonu had zero points until the first night and had been working in the rescue team, he seemed to have gotten some preferential treatment from the upper ranks.
Seowoo was called for 5th place. If she hadn't been injured, it seemed like she wouldn't have stopped at 5th place, but she seemed to have no particular regrets.
Haewoon was called for 4th place, leaving only three from Class A, including me. As I held my breath in this situation with just the three of us left, Haru was called for 3rd place. He smiled sheepishly but confidently moved forward. His popularity had skyrocketed since he cut his hair.
Now, even amidst the cheers, Sihyun, who was somewhat detached, looked at Hamin. Well, Hamin always just goes 'what' whenever our eyes meet. It was Hamin's way of speaking that hadn't changed since we first met and became close.
When Sihyun brought up the scores, Hamin looked disgusted. Sighing as Hamin turned away from him, Sihyun waited for the announcement, feeling nervous. It was a tense moment.
"Ranked 2nd, Lee Hamin!"
"......!"
Hamin got the 2nd place with 16,000 points, causing Sihyun to clench his fist. If those three hadn't transferred their points to him at the last minute, he would've narrowly missed the 2nd place. Hamin, who seemed somewhat embarrassed to be 2nd again, walked ahead. He'd been 2nd last time and now, his rank remained unchanged.
Sihyun, who had managed to outcompete his rivals unscathed, looked down as the moment he detested the most approached. He took a deep breath. This was the moment he had been longing for.
"The student ranked 1st, Kang Sihyun, will be granted one wish ticket. Do you have anything you wish for?"
Sihyun nodded slowly at the teacher, who asked the question he had been eagerly waiting for. He had gone through so much for this single ticket, healing and even manipulating the upper ranks. To finally get this wish ticket, Sihyun spoke up to rid himself of the burden that had plagued him for a month. He felt that if he didn't do it himself, no one else would.
"I request the abolishment of the rank system."
"......"
There was a moment of silence. But the teacher corrected him. It was almost granted.
"Impossible?"
Sihyun's eyebrow twitched slightly. He hoped it was a lie, but the principal, with another 'Yes, it's impossible,' dashed the hope of Sihyun's wish. Even after all the effort he had put in to ask for this, to be told it couldn't be done. He looked at the teacher with a sense of futility as the old adage of 'it's impossible because it's tradition' echoed in his ears.
Breaking these conventions wouldn't hurt, right?
Sihyun bit his lip in disappointment over the denied wish. He had to find a compromise.
"Then, could we change the title of the ranking system from 'Hierarchy' to 'Ranking'? Instead of 'Hierarchy 1st place,' it would be 'Ranking 1st.'"
Ranking was as belittling as hierarchy, but it felt slightly less so. It was less embarrassing and seemed somewhat better. The teacher, pondering their final hope, nodded. A small relief came with the granted permission. It felt like he was distancing himself 0.1% from testing his anti-demonic power.
No, maybe he occupied 1% of the hierarchy.
"You're using a wish for something so trivial."
"You wouldn't understand the emotions involved in this for a lifetime, so stay quiet."
What did someone who had grown up within the hierarchy know anyway?
As Sihyun replied blandly to Hamin's provocation, he swallowed his frustration and even voiced words he didn't mean. After using his wish, the principal took the mic again.
"Now, I'll announce the eight students who will be expelled."
The atmosphere shifted from laughter to solemnity with the weight of the principal's voice. Though regrettable, for a military academy, this seemed like the right action.
As he silently watched the named students, Sihyun's eyes widened at the last student named.
"The final student is Donghyuk Kang from Class B."
"What?"
"Class B?"
"Wasn't he ranked 10th last time? Why would he be expelled..."
'Knife.'
That was one of the nicknames Donghyuk had acquired after the cafeteria incident. Sihyun hadn't expected him to be among those expelled, despite not appearing in the rankings. As Donghyuk walked closer, locking eyes with Sihyun, there was animosity in his gaze. Sihyun's lips twitched in response.
Regardless of Donghyuk's foolishness, he wasn't lacking enough in skill to be expelled. Before Sihyun could voice his question about why, Donghyuk, looking drained, avoided eye contact. His face seemed oddly pale.
Before he could ask Donghyuk anything, the soon-to-be expelled students left the hall under the supervision of teachers, seemingly directed to complete their transfer procedures immediately.
"..."
Amidst the silence, the principal concluded the end-of-month evaluations. Sihyun's gaze followed Donghyuk's exit.
Come to think of it, half of the expelled members seemed to be from Class C.
Lost in thought, someone tapped Sihyun's shoulder gently.
"What are you thinking?"
He turned to a kindly voice. Looking at Seowoo, who seemed indifferent despite eight students being expelled, Sihyun spoke, his mind racing. Though he didn't know what happened or why, many things seemed connected to Seowoo.
"What happened in Class C?"
"Me?"
"Then who else?"
"Didn't Haewoon tell you about Class C?"
"I want to hear it from you."
With a direct gaze, Sihyun stared at Seowoo. She shrugged nonchalantly.
"They got a little rowdy, and I went to stop it, but the Irregulars got involved."
"What was Class C doing when you got involved?"
"I guess they ran away. It was chaotic back then."
"..."
'Is that true?'
Without considering it twice, a doubt lingered in Sihyun's mind. These fragmented clues, all pointing to Seowoo, wouldn't disappear with a casual remark.
However, Sihyun couldn't voice the doubts he held.
"...If that's the case, then maybe it is."
"When did you start believing me?"
"Because you would know the most about that incident. Anyway, forget it."
"I was kidding. But it must be disappointing not getting your wish. You worked hard. By the way, Sihyun, you particularly dislike the term 'Hierarchy,' don't you?"
Sihyun narrowed his eyes at the casual comment.
"That's cringy."
"Hmm."
Seowoo hummed softly, avoiding eye contact with Sihyun. Her platinum eyes folded beautifully. They folded so perfectly that it was subtly chilling.
"Shall we go? They're waiting."
With a casual remark, she reached out towards him. Instead of taking her hand, Sihyun walked ahead. He glanced back at the exit Donghyuk had left.
Since encountering Seowoo, the mysterious fate of Class C and Donghyuk's expulsion left more than one or two questions unanswered.
The unresolved doubts lingered in his mind. Not probing further was perhaps due to the intuition that the truth wouldn't come easily from Seowoo's lips.
Or maybe, he was already...
Sihyun shook his head vigorously. It was just a wild guess.
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