As I was about to enter the classroom, four students approached me. They're my classmates.
They all look like villains in every corner of their body.
They're a group of three boys and a girl. Like how common bullies form their groups.
But I know they were just extras in the novel, as I don't recognize any of them.
"Oh! Isn't this our little gunner?"
The young man in front of me said with a scoff on his face.
The other three were sneering behind him like idiots.
"Hey, why aren't you talking? Cat got your tongue?"
The young man in front asked me, seeing that I didn't reply.
'Am I getting bullied?'
"Hey, are you deaf or mute?"
"Maybe he's both."
"HAHAHAHA!!!"
They all started talking among themselves and laughing. I'm their topic though.
Looking at their stats, all of them are
'But why would they try and bully me?'
I tried searching for a reason, but there's none for why would they target me.
"You're
Then the one in front said that. Looks like he's the leader of the group.
"You're also rank 2619, the lowest in our class. You're an embarrassment for us... Why don't you just drop out?"
He added... That's so unreasonable and uncalled for.
'Ah... So they were that kind of people.'
As soon as their leader said that, the question in my head to why they targeted me got answered.
They're the type of people that looks down on others who are weaker just to feel superior.
They decided that I'm an easy target because of my rank and weapon of choice, including that I don't look like someone who have a strong backing.
"Or maybe... You could just die, nobody needs you anyway."
As the one in front of me said that—their leader, the other three laughed like hyenas.
'Should I fight back?'
I asked myself, looking at them. They're annoying me, and I hate annoying things.
If I don't fight back... I'll be considered a pushover, and my academy life will be hell because of people like them.
'But if I fight back, they might use their authority and money to push me to the edge.'
In this academy, you're either talented or wealthy.
These guys doesn't look talented at all, so they're here because of their families, obviously.
Worst case, my family will be targeted as well by them.
'I don't want others to suffer because of me.'
As I was thinking of that, the one in front of me spit on my shoe.
Ptu-
"Trash, can't you even? Don't you have any pride at all?"
He said, smiling mischievously.
I looked at the spit on my shoe.
[Calm Thinker] and [Insight] activated at the same time.
I processed every information I had in this moment and predicted the outcome of any possible actions I would take.
I finished calculating it all in three seconds.
And after that, I looked at the four students with an annoyed expression.
Then in my mind...
'[Monarch's Presence].'
I mumbled that.
FWOOSH—
I activated the skill and also emitted my
With [Monarch's Presence] combined with my mana, it created a heavy pressure. It's not as strong as Kendy's... But it's more than enough for these guys.
The heavy pressure darted toward them and pressed on the four students.
"W-what?"
"You..."
They all stiffened after feeling the pressure, sweats started to form on their foreheads.
I don't know any of their names, and I don't need to know them... I'm not interested.
Tap-
I approached their leader that was in front of me.
He trembled slightly. They're weak to the strong and strong to the weak.
And feeling that I was stronger than they had expected made... It made them nervous. Because of that, the skill's effect was getting stronger.
I took his handkerchief from his chest pocket and wiped the spit off my shoe.
After that, I started wiping his forehead with the same handkerchief.
"You're sweating."
I said. All of them remained silent and still.
"You must be feeling angry after being humiliated like this, huh."
I mumbled, still wiping his sweat with the handkerchief. I specially wiped his mouth with the part of the handkerchief that has his spit.
"You must be planning to get your revenge after this, right?"
I asked. And after hearing my question... He flinched.
'Bingo.'
I slouched near his ear and whispered.
"I'm recording right now. Once you or your group mess with me one more time... I'm going to upload this to all social media platforms I can."
After hearing that, he glared at me.
I then straightened my posture again, ignoring the glare full of hate they were throwing toward me.
"I'll destroy your image and social life. Your family will be very disappointed in you."
I looked at the other three, who also just remained silent.
"The same goes for you three."
I tapped my watch, and a hologram appeared. A video played in it.
Just in case, I started recording ever since they stopped me from entering the classroom.
I'm still recording even now.
"You all look pathetic."
I said as the video was being played.
In the video, it was clearly seen that they picked a fight with me, but in the end... They all got intimidated like idiots. The four of them would be a laughingstock if this gets out, considering my rank was supposed to be
They're all hanging their heads down and biting their lips in frustration.
Click- click- click—
Clicking sounds were heard in the area. It was me tapping my watch and doing something.
Ping—
"Done."
The four looked at me as they were curious about what I just did. They seemed pretty anxious.
Seeing that, I smiled slyly...
"I uploaded the video."
And then I declared that.
Their faces crumbled, but I didn't mind them and just continued talking.
"Well, not really yet... It's a scheduled upload. It will be uploaded in a month from now on every social media platform, even on the academy's page."
I said with a cheerful tone.
"I'm the only one who can change the schedule. Every time it's about to be uploaded, I'll add another month to it."
I added. I'm not stupid. They might hire an assassin to kill or kidnap me.
You might think that's too unreasonable for something like this, but in this world, it's pretty common occurrence.
"But if something happens to me, the video will be uploaded on its own after a month and it'll be out for the public to see."
They're still young, so they care a lot about their image and reputation. Knowing that, I took advantage of it.
"So don't even try messing with me. Oh! It will be uploaded even if it's not you guys who did something to me, so you should protect me with your best too."
In case this gets uploaded after something happens to me, they'll be the main suspects.
In short, I even gained some guards. Don't know if they'll really do that though.
Anyway, looking at the four again...
They were on the verge of crying. It seems like as time passes, the pressure affects them more and more. Also, because of what I did, they're mentally weak at the moment.
I calmed down and looked at them with indifferent eyes.
They all flinched seeing that.
"Move."
I commanded. And then they made way for me.
I deactivated [Monarch's Presence] and pulled back my mana aura.
They all gasped and caught their breath as soon as I did.
"Don't hate me, I just fought back."
I said to them.
As I was about to walk away, I turned back to them. They all flinched again.
'Do I look scary?'
"Just don't mess with me and the people around me, and everything will be fine, so cheer up."
I told them and went to my seat.
Then they all just went back silently to their seats too with solemn expressions.
They were not mentioned in my novel, so their families are not that strong. Well, my family is just weak. But once I started earning a lot of money, that will change.
So before they decide to attack and my blackmailing stop working on them... I need to solidify a safe position to avoid things like this in the future.
Moving on...
Not long after that, the main characters came back into the classroom all together. Them being with each other this early is weird... They shouldn't be close with each other until next week.
"Hm?"
They all looked in my direction. Their gazes were filled with curiosity, surprise, questions, amusement, and respect.
Except Eve... She just glanced at me for a second then went to her seat.
'What's with these guys?'
I thought, slightly frowning.
"Weirdos."
Then I just said that and ignored them.
*****
Alec was about to go back to the classroom when he saw Eve, Aoi, Adelle, and Curtis. They were all in the top ten of all freshmen, so they know each other even a little.
As Alec got near them, he noticed that they're looking at something.
Or to be specific... At someone on the classroom's door. A guy being blocked by four other students.
It was Raven, but they don't know that.
In Alec's and the everyone's eyes, Raven was just a normal student getting bullied.
"What are you guys doing?"
Alec asked the others after approaching them. The group all just glanced at him, then shifted their attention back to the classroom's door.
"That guy, he's weird."
Only Adelle answered Alec. She said that while pointing at Raven.
"Weird? Him? Why?"
Alec asked consecutively, confused.
"Look."
Adelle signaled him to look at Raven.
"He looks like he's thinking at the moment, he's not even nervous that he's outnumbered and stuff."
She mumbled. Alec looked at Raven and noticed that what she said was true.
Rather... Raven looked bored and annoyed.
"Ever since he showed up in the class earlier this morning, all of his actions had been weird."
Aoi muttered.
"He withstood Sir Kendy's pressure. Even though professor was holding back, it was still impressive."
Curtis said.
"He even called the professor 'petty'. I heard him."
He added. Everyone there heard Raven say that earlier too.
"Even his choice of weapon was weird."
Aoi followed.
'True, only ordinary citizens use guns nowadays.'
Alec thought.
"But I saw him train with it for an hour without stopping, so I guess he was serious when he picked a gun as his weapon."
Aoi added.
"You've been watching him closely, huh?"
Adelle said with a teasing tone.
"Not just me, but everyone watched him unconsciously because of his actions. Everyone did, right?"
Aoi retorted.
"I did looked at him for a while, but can't I just go into the classroom now?"
Eve joined the conversation for the first time.
"No, let's watch him a little longer. Aren't you curious about what he's gonna do?"
Adelle replied.
"Not really."
Eve responded immediately. Looks like she wasn't really interested.
"If you want, let's just go to the cafeteria and have a date."
It was then, Curtis spoke to Eve and winked.
The others cringed seeing him like that, even Eve—who always wears a serious expression most of the time.
"I'll just stay and watch."
Eve declined his offer.
"Too bad, maybe next time then."
It was now pretty well-known that Curtis has a crush on Eve ever since the opening ceremony. He said it was love at first sight and confessed to her on the spot.
At first the group found it funny... But now it's just cringe to them.
"By the way, what's his name?"
It was then, Alec asked that while looking at Raven. But no one answered, because no one knew.
Anyway, the group all decided to watch the situation a little longer.
They witnessed the four students spat out harsh insults to Raven. They even mocked his rank, his placement in the academy, and the weapon he chose.
They were pretty far, but Alec and the others enhanced their eyesight and hearing.
"Or maybe... You could just die, nobody needs you anyway."
The leader of the bullies said. It was then that Alec got really angry.
"Don't interfere. You're gonna make things worse for him."
Alec was about to rush at the bullies when Curtis grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.
He calmed down and decided to observe the situation a little longer.
But as time passed... Raven did nothing and was still getting bullied, he just stood there.
"Maybe he's just really a weirdo."
Adelle mumbled, a bit disappointed.
"He's an
Aoi added, mumbling.
"Boring."
Curtis followed.
"Haaaaa..."
Eve just sighed and started to walk to the classroom. Then the others started to follow, including Alec.
They were expecting Raven to be secretly strong, but turns out he wasn't.
It was then that they saw the leader of the bullies spit on Raven's shoe.
"Those bastards...!"
Alec was really about to charge at them and make them stop.
But they saw Raven's expression change after that, he looked at the spit on his shoe with disgust.
And in a few seconds, he looked at the four students... Then his demeanor changed.
SWOOOSH~!
"?!!"
"...!!!"
"..."
Alec and the others halting their steps. They could feel the aura and pressure coming from Raven even though they were a little far away from him.
They then saw him approach the leader of the bullies. Raven took his handkerchief and wiped his shoe with it.
And after that—he used the same handkerchief to wipe the sweat off from the leader's forehead.
"You're sweating."
Raven's voice sent chills down Alec's spine. In his eyes, Raven looked like a king staring at bugs.
Adelle and Curtis had a complicated expression on their faces at that moment.
"You must be planning to get your revenge after this, right?"
But when Raven said that, the two of them frowned completely.
"So he knows after all."
Curtis mumbled.
"What is he planning?"
Aoi asked, but no one answered. No one knew the answer anyway.
"I'm recording right now. Once you or your group mess with me one more time... I'm going to upload this to all social media platforms I can."
Curtis and the others were surprised by what Raven said.
"I'll destroy your image and social life. Your family will be very disappointed in you."
Raven tapped his watch and a hologram appeared. A video played. You could see the students harassing him and then being intimidated afterward.
'When did he start recording?'
Alec and the others had the same question in their heads.
"Does this mean he predicted all of this?"
Adelle asked. Which caused the others to frown, because if that's the case, then that means Raven has a stupidly great insight.
Ping—
"Done."
Snapping them out of their thoughts was Raven's cheerful voice.
The group of bullies looked at Raven... Alec, and the others did too.
"I uploaded the video."
After hearing that, everyone's faces crumbled—except Raven and Eve.
"They will get their revenge after this since the video is already uploaded anyway."
Adelle said, and the others agreed with her. They were confused about why he did that.
But they got their answer from Raven too.
"Well, not really yet... It's a scheduled upload. It will be uploaded in a month from now on every social media platform, even on the academy's page."
Raven's cheerful explanation was so clear.
"I'm the only one who can change the schedule. Every time it's about to be uploaded, I'll add another month to it."
He started to explain more.
"But if something happens to me, the video will be uploaded on its own after a month."
Alec and the others' eyes widened as they realized what Raven was saying.
"So don't even try messing with me. Oh! It will be uploaded even if it's not you guys who did something to me, so you should protect me with your best too."
Then, after destroying the bullies' mentality...
Raven regained his calm and collected look, then he opened his mouth.
"Move."
'It wasn't a request. It was a command.'
Alec and the others thought.
And seeing the bullies obey and make way for him like it was all natural...
They felt a sense of awe for Raven.
The overwhelming pressure and aura of him disappeared after that, and he made his way in the classroom.
While Alec, Eve, Adelle, Curtis, and Aoi were still frozen in place as they recalled what just happened.
"Wow."
Adelle mumbled in admiration. But no one in the group thought it was weird, as for them... Raven looked badass earlier.
He controlled the situation swiftly without using violence. He doesn't even have a backing but still managed to win against those elitist. Raven even hit harder!
The four were jerks anyway, so everyone thought they deserved it.
"He's hot."
Then Adelle declared that. This time, it got the group surprised. They all looked at her like she was weird.
"Why? His clean appearance, the way he speaks, and also the way he thinks—that makes him hot. The way he uses his brain makes my heart beat faster... And just look at his sharp eyes."
Adelle explained, but they were still looking at her the same way. Even Eve was.
"I'm not in love, okay? I just think he's hot!"
After hearing that from her, they all just sighed.
The group ignored Adelle's further reasoning and went into the classroom.
And when they entered the room... All of them looked in the same direction. To be exact, at a certain young man. Even Eve glanced at him for a second.
Their gazes fell on Raven.
Raven saw them looking at him, and his brows knitted together.
"Weirdos."
He said in a low voice, but all of them heard it.
Causing Alec and the others to frown in disbelief.
'You're the weirdest one here!'
They exclaimed internally while glaring at Raven.