“T-that’s unbelievable…” Damien’s voice trailed the moment us finished his report.


    To think that a brat whom he had deemed worthless due to his Core would beat someone as talented as Ivan so easily. us wouldn’t dare lie to him about something like that, so Damien knew it had to be urate.


    “I refuse to ept that!” Damien banged his hand on his desk.


    The sudden sound of his clenched fist hitting the t surface of the table startled us, causing him to jump slightly.


    Damien’s anger could be clearly seen, so the supervisor did nothing except swallow his saliva in difort. The reason for Damien’s annoyance was something anyone who knew him was well aware of.


    Damien Lawcroft hated White Mana Core Grade, no, untalented Magic-Users. He despised them deeply. The reason for his deep-seated hatred was shrouded in mystery, though a few rumors were flying around concerning this.


    ‘Sigh, let’s just get this over with so I can leave already!’ us screamed internally.


    “I can’t ept this. Maybe Ivan was having a bad day. It happens to Magic-Users sometimes… besides, we still don’t know why his fire spell malfunctioned…” Damien muttered, trying to bring up all manner of excuses.


    us just sighed silently. His superior didn’t want to ept the fact that Ivan lost due to his inferiority in abilitypared to Jared. Even if he managed to dismiss the results of the duel— if it could be called that, it didn’t change the fact that Jared’s perfect score in the first two parts of his exam was beyond amazing. If not for the newly adopted third part of the exam, he would have easily scored the top spot.


    Still, us knew better than to say this to Damien who was seething in annoyance, too drowned in his prejudice to think rationally.


    “Well, it doesn’t matter in the end. Even if he managed to best Ivan, there’s no hope for him now… after all…”


    us knew quite well what his superior meant by the words he spoke in a low undertone. The cements of everyone had already been decided, and Jared belonged to the Lower ss.


    Not only would their education be of poorer qualitypared to the rest, but they would also be shown the least preference when it came to issues of pertinence in the Academy. Even though the students there would be better than average by the time they graduated, they would be nothingpared to those in other sses.


    The prejudice against lower ced students was also something that would terribly affect their mentality and perception in society. As a staff of the great Ainrk Academy, us felt a little upset by the current system.


    The reason they had adopted this new method was because of the Supremest faction who valued talent and bloodline above all else. They were made up of nobles and high-ranking officials in the Kingdom and their goals were simply to shackle those who they considered ‘unworthy’ to rise to a position of prominence.


    Of course, Damien Lawcroft was a member of this faction— and a high-ranking one at that. Exerting his influence, among others, they were finally able to make the educational reform and segregate the talented from the less adept.


    It wasn’t like their idea didn’t have any advantages attached. If there were no merits, Ainrk would never implement such a policy. However, the rationale behind such a n was the discrimination against the less talented— that alone made the cause contaminated.


    ‘Whatever… I should just mind my business…’ us heaved another heavy sigh.


    He did have a fleeting thought as Damien began addressing him once more, making sure the preparations were made for the students who would be making it to the Upper-ss.


    ‘Jared Leonard seems like such a promising individual… if only things were different…’


    ******************************


    As expected, we were all called out of the apartment after having breakfast. Since it was ourst day in the ce, everyone was already prepared for what came next.


    “We’ll be moving you to the main auditorium now. The rest of the students would have gathered there already.” us Tallman spoke to us.


    As the supervisor in charge of our male group, he had personallye to gather us for the assembly.


    ‘I haven’t seen him since the first day…’ My thoughts trailed, recollecting that several other staff took charge on their respective days.


    ording to what us was saying, the true academic session began today and we were all to gather at the central auditorium. Even though we had been given a tour of the school grounds and knew our way there, it only made sense that he would escort us personally.


    ‘I suppose this will be thest time I will be receiving such treatment.’


    The Lower-ss awaited me, after all.


    Flowing us like obedientbs, our group of boys trailed behind. Before long, we met up with the female students. They were, of course, being led by their female supervisor. I wasn’t aware of her name, but it was only a matter of time.


    Though most of the girls had eyes on a few boys— like Ivan Smith or Stefan Netherlore, I felt a particr gaze on me. My eyes rolled as I could already guess who it was.


    ‘I’m not going to look!’


    No matter how hard Maria Helmsworth stared, I decided not to pay her any attention. Focusing on the path before us, my mind trailed to my session the previous night.


    The food I received from Ivan and his group was barely enough to sustain me throughout the night. I was so hungry once breakfast arrived that I devoured my meal on the spot.


    I saw the students look at me with curious nces as I ate, especially Ivan’s crew— who were surprised that I could eat with such gumption after having a feast to myself the previous night.


    They weren’t aware of the pains I went through, though. And it was all worth it!


    Even though I was merely a White Mana Core Grade, the amount of energy stored in my individual cores was equivalent, if not superior to any of the students around. Well, exceptions like Maria and Stefan, maybe Ivan existed. Still, to think I had three Mana Cores with equal proportion to a Yellow Core Grade… individually!


    ‘I’ve be quite strong…’


    Still, it wasn’t enough. We were now heading into the lion’s den. The grand assembly where all Ainrk students were gathered. I would be meeting my seniors there, plus we would all be divided into categories.


    While my fate was drawing the short end of the stick, I had no intention of remaining at the bottom.


    ‘Bring it on! I’ll show you what happens when you underestimate me!’