"This is my gift to you all. Please accept it." Leopin stated, holding out a handmade pendant for each of his classmates.
"Oh, wow! It's a pendant!" A girl cheered.
"Nice! Leopin's really talented with his hands!" Monsoon, exclaimed.
Leopin's craftsmanship is remarkable, and since the pendants match, they're perfect for us as we head to school together. "With Leopin around, our class will definitely be the best in our year!" "Leopin! We'll still be friends in high school, right?"
I entered the Royal Pioneer Academy with my friends. The entrance ceremony is held at the castle's observation deck, shrouded in morning mist on the horizon. Dressed in crisp new uniforms, we listen intently to the principal's grating voice booming from the stage.
"I am Nekodran, the first principal of this school! As you know, our mission is to discover young talents who will lead the next generation! Soon, the 'Ritual of Ability Awakening' will reveal your powers! You'll use this castle for your classes and unleash your abilities in the untouched lands around it, with your supporters aiding you every step of the way!"
The principal strikes his signature pose, stroking his greasy bald head. A lanky man beside him, likely the vice principal, rubs his hands obsequiously throughout the speech.
"Yes! As expected of the principal! Even this yes-man is impressed by your words! And that cool pose—let's hope you haven't stolen too many hearts among the female students! Now, let's give a round of applause!"
The new students, lined up in rows, erupt in thunderous applause. The vice principal takes charge of the ceremony after the principal's speech.
"Let's begin the 'Ritual of Ability Awakening'! When your name is called, step forward, approach the stage, and place your hand on the crystal ball of the goddess statue. Your status will appear on the crystal tablet above!"
At the center of the stage stands a goddess statue, with a massive crystal tablet behind it, resembling a hanging banner.
"We'll start with Year 1, Class 1!"
The school is divided into 20 classes, from Class 1 to Class 20. The number of students per class varies, as students from the same junior high are grouped together. My class is Year 1, Class 20, and I'm the last one to be called.
On the stage's screen, the statuses and skills of other classes are revealed one by one, sparking cheers and applause.
The Royal Pioneer Academy, newly established this year, admits only those who excelled in middle school. My grades and athletic abilities are average, but my dexterity earned me a place by supporting my classmates.
"Alright, last one—Year 1, Class 20! Mr. Weiss, please come forward!"
Our class leader, Weiss, a student council member, steps up confidently and responds, "Yes!" He ascends the stage, touches the crystal ball, and his status appears on the tablet above.
Name: Weiss
Occupation: Sage
Level: 1
HP: 1000
MP: 1000
Status:
Life: 100
Endurance: 100
Toughness: 100
Dharma: 100
Spirit: 100
Resistance: 100
Agility: 100
Basic Skills: Divine Wisdom
The new students erupt in cheers. "Oooooooohhhh!" A roar of joy fills the hall. "A Sage? That's a top-tier job!" "Most of his stats are 100! If 10 is average, he's a monster!" "And that skill, his Divine Wisdom? It's incredible!"
The principal and vice principal beam with delight. "Marvelous! Weiss is our school's first prodigy!" the principal exclaims. "Yes! His classmates must be thrilled to support him!" the vice principal adds.
Weiss adjusts his square glasses with a fingertip and smiles. "Don't be too surprised yet, everyone. I'm not the only star in Class 1-20. Let me introduce my talented friend, Leopin!" Caught off guard as Weiss calls my name, I freeze, but my friends nudge me toward the stage. Weiss shakes my hand and proudly addresses the crowd below.
"Leopin's incredibly skilled with his hands! See the pendant around my neck? It's a gift from him to our class—a symbol of our friendship! As long as I wear this, our bond will last forever! Come on, Leopin, show them what you can do!"
Half-embarrassed, half-elated, I approach the goddess statue. Truthfully, I've been nervous about my status since yesterday, wondering what would happen if it's lackluster. But now, I feel foolish for worrying. I have my friends. No matter my status, our bond is unshakable. We're friends forever.
I place my hand on the crystal ball, carrying the hopes of my classmates.
Name: Leopin
Occupation: None
Level: 1
HP: 10
MP: 10
Status:
Life: 1 (fixed)
Endurance: 1 (fixed)
Toughness: 1 (fixed)
Spirit: 1 (fixed)
Resistance: 1 (fixed)
Agility: 1 (fixed)
Concentration: 1 (fixed)
Strength: 1 (fixed)
Magic: 1 (fixed)
Dharma: 1 (fixed)
Intelligence: 1 (fixed)
Liberal Arts: 1 (fixed)
Five Senses: 1 (fixed)
Sixth Sense: 1 (fixed)
Charm: 1 (fixed)
Luck: 1 (fixed)
Dexterity: 2000
Basic Skills: Poor Dexterity (Jack of all trades, master of none)
The hall falls silent. Then, a voice breaks the stillness. "No occupation? He's… jobless?" "His stats are mostly 1… and 'fixed'? They won't increase even if he levels up!" "Only dexterity is high, but that's practically useless!"
"And that skill? 'Poor Dexterity'? It's completely worthless!" A sharp snap echoes through the hall. I turn to see Weiss rip the pendant from his neck and crush it underfoot. "Well then, let me introduce my wonderful companion! The mighty Monsoon!" Weiss announces.
"Oh, I've been waiting for this!" Monsoon, our class's strongest student, says as he bounds onto the stage. The pendant is gone from his neck as well.
And he's not the only one. None of my classmates waiting for their turn is wearing the pendants I made.
My mind goes blank.
As I stand frozen before the goddess statue, I hear footsteps approaching. "Get out of the way, you piece of trash!" Monsoon snarls. He effortlessly lifts me and hurls me off the stage. I fly through the air like discarded rubble, crashing into the wall at the edge of the hall.
I tumble across the ground like a kicked stone. But no one spares me a glance anymore.