How the Shadow of the Marquis Lives

Episode 4

The number ＜1＞ is shining on the ring.

I didn’t even have to think deeply about what it meant.

It was said that Xi’an’s ring was the number one ring in the first year.

“Instructor. The number is already written on the ring.”

A student raised his hand and asked a question.

“This is a provisional ranking given to freshmen.”

“Provisional? Maybe this… … .”

Instructor Tail nodded and replied.

“okay. These are your admission grades.”

It was the reason Xian’s ring was number 1.

“However, as you well know, the entrance exam was all about writing and a simple physical fitness test.”

It was as it was said.

Although the handwriting was deep enough that he had to study the thesis of the Imperial Society, and the physical fitness test was an ignorant guy with dozens of items.

Anyway, it was just a written test and a simple physical test.

“That’s why I said it was temporary. Because the entrance ranking is different from the actual combat ability. In the early days of admission, this spring season is the time when the ranking changes the most.”

A good entrance grade is not necessarily strong. The entrance exam is all about written and physical fitness tests.

So if you’re interested, give it a try.

At Instructor Tail’s words, the students started to mumble.

Most of the students who enter Everwhale are elites who have been educated since childhood.

But even so, young children who have just turned 17.

They had never experienced this kind of curriculum or system.

That must be a bit confusing.

‘That would only be for a moment.’

Humans are adaptable animals.

Within a few months, the ring will be deeply rooted in everyone’s school life.

Instructor Tail decided to advance the time just a little bit.

He looked around at some students and grinned.

“I will give you a reference. Cyan Agrid ranked 1st in admissions, Ran Asla ranked 2nd, and Gail Tucker ranked 9th. It’s tentative, but 3 people in the top 10 are in our class. To be in charge of a class like this, I am a truly blessed instructor.”

At those words, the murmur suddenly grew.

The students looked around and looked for the names that were being called now.

They were quickly discovered.

It was because the number on the ring was engraved so clearly that it could be seen at first glance.

Of course, there were few eyes on Xian.

‘It’s a blessing.’

The students started to gather around Ran and Gail.

The children from Jakarta or Glacier Baengnyeong are mainly to Ran, and the humans from Somer are mainly to Gale.

It is safe to say that half of the human relationships in this class have already been formed.

In the meantime, Xian, who was left alone, was lost in his own thoughts.

What the instructor just said, ‘I am a blessed instructor’.

‘It can’t be.’

No matter how much I thought about it, it couldn’t be.

Its educational philosophy is infinite competition, and it is even handed out such striking rings to students.

There is no way that an academy that provides this type of education can assign classes and homerooms in a rutted fashion.

There are 10 classes in the freshman class. Among them, three of the top 10 are concentrated in one class?

It was strange to think it was a coincidence.

‘Does that mean that Instructor Tail is a great person?’

All I could think of was that Instructor Tail’s excellence was highly regarded within Everwhale.

That kind of semantics should rather say that the students in class 1 are lucky.

It was like having a person who received that kind of evaluation as a homeroom teacher.

Whether or not he knew Xian’s thoughts, Instructor Tail was just smiling at the noisy children.

“By the way, the 300th place, the lowest grade, is also in my class. ha ha ha!”

“Heeep!”

A shuddering sound came from one corner at the sound of the throw.

Well, that’s a small penalty for sweeping the top 3 people.

When Xian was making a brief evaluation of his homeroom teacher and class.

‘… … .’

Ran, who was in the center of the children, glanced sideways at Xian.

Her eyes darkened.

* * *

There were no classes that morning.

A tour of Everwhale led by instructors.

It was very spacious, and there were many things to explain, especially in the training building, so a whole morning was spent just looking around.

And the lunch break that followed.

At the back of the building, a female student was backing away frightened.

“Why, why?”

“hey.”

What makes her tremble.

Giving off a rough atmosphere, as if a fist would rise at any moment, Ran pushed the female student to the wall of the building.

“How old are you?”

“How many… … ?”

“A ring, a ring.”

“That’s it… … .”

“Tsk.”

“oh!”

Seeing the hesitant woman, Ran clicked her tongue and grabbed her wrist.

Engraved on her ring is the number ＜292＞.

He was a very underrated student.

Seeing that, Ran smiled.

“It is appropriate.”

“What, what? Why are you doing this to me? i don’t have money… … .”

Ran put a hand on the girl’s shoulder with a friendly smile.

“It’s not like that, so don’t worry. Let me do one favor.”

However, that expression was only seen as an evil smile to the female student.

* * *

“hmm?”

Xian flinched.

“This… … .”

He looked at the guy in front of him.

Among today’s menus sold in the student cafeteria, it was the pork cutlet from Set B.

‘it’s good.’

Xian smiled lightly.

In the meantime, Xian has been eating high-end food thanks to Yeomno’s consideration.

Even he felt that the quality of these cutlets was quite high.

‘I think the restaurant is fine. There seem to be many other menu items.’

This was not bad news for him, who believes that the most basic quality of life is quality food.

“Whoa.”

Ate well.

Xian got up and put the tableware away.

For some reason, on every street I passed by, students who were eating nearby were hesitant or chattering, but I didn’t pay much attention.

Xian left the restaurant and walked lightly around the academy grounds.

There are more than 30 minutes left until the afternoon class.

During that time, I was thinking of going for a walk or something to digest.

‘This is where I will be staying for three years.’

He looked around with slightly impressed eyes.

There was the widest and most conspicuous training building as well as a plaza with mountains, streams and vegetation.

There were also several playgrounds, and I saw several students wearing sportswear and running aimlessly.

And the warm sunlight beating down on them all.

It was a peaceful sight.

It feels completely different from when you and Yeomno live together in a small mansion.

He was human too, so his heart throbbed a little.

Did you walk around like that for 10 minutes?

“Were you here?”

Someone blocked Xian’s way.

it was lan

“Ran Asla.”

“Do you remember now?”

“Because we are in the same class.”

I only found out because we were in the same class.

Ran frowned in displeasure at the answer.

“I don’t know if he really lost his memory or if he was just pretending. Don’t you know the name Shan?”

Shan Asla.

It is the name of the eldest of her three younger siblings.

Her mother died when she was young, and her father only knew training.

It was unavoidable for the Beast Tribe who pursued physical strength, but it was a pity for Shan.

Because Shan was weak from birth, he couldn’t train properly.

While the rest of the family immersed themselves in the practice, it was her sister, Ran, who took care of Shan.

“Shan… … .”

“Do you remember?”

It was the same as something I had heard from the young master.

what did he say… … Did you say that a cheeky bastard climbed up and beat him?

It must have been after returning from a trip to Jakarta.

That’s all he knows.

What ran out of Ran’s mouth was the story behind it.

“It’s also easygoing to be beaten and forgotten like that.”

One day Shan went out for a walk and came in injured.

It is said that he was beaten in reverse while trying to stop a traveler who was doing mischief in the village.

When the already weak younger brother limped in, Ran’s fever rose to the top of his head at once.

They immediately stormed the travelers and demanded an apology.

The expression of the traveler at that time, Xian Agrid, is still unforgettable.

-apologize? ah you can do it If you come to my bedroom tonight, I will apologize profusely. how is it?

The eyes of the guy who scanned her face and body with eyes like snakes.

she shot with cold eyes.

―You can’t say it, can you?

On that path, she stepped on Xi’an and returned.

There were no worries about the next day.

It was only natural that somer’s people would pay them back since they were the first to hit the ground in Jakarta.

“… … .”

Hearing all this, Xian narrowed his eyes.

Did something like that happen… … .

Perhaps the original young master would not have even said that he was right.

If the head of household found out, instead of covering it up, they would have only fallen an order of disobedience.

So he himself was completely unaware of this anecdote.

‘Tsk.’

Sian clicked his tongue inwardly.

I don’t want to insult the dead, but seeing accidents here and there makes me run out of arrogance.

Well, in the first place, I never attached anything like it.

“sorry. I will formally apologize for what happened then.”

“Hey, what about an apple? Do you know that you don’t know how to just fire in moderation?”

“… … .”

It’s not.

Even if you say that, you won’t listen now.

After all, there was a limit to what people could convey through words.

It was very difficult for him now, who was wearing the mask of a foolish master, to go beyond that limit.

What should I do?

Ran shot at the troubled Xian.

“It’s okay, I didn’t come here to ask for an apology from you. I don’t like measuring things, so I’ll be clear. I don’t like that trash like you is number one.”

She took a hair tie out of her front pocket.

She also tied her golden hair, which stretched down to her back.

“You duel with me.”

A gray ring was shining on her hand as she said that.

Seeing that, Xian was a little surprised.

＜292＞

“you… … Wasn’t it number two?”

Clearly, Ran was number two.

I heard it through the instructor’s mouth in the morning and confirmed it with my own eyes.

what? Did you mistake me for someone else?

No, it can’t be.

To begin with, it makes no sense that a student from the Howe tribe, with superior physical abilities, was ranked 292nd among them.

When Xian seemed surprised, Ran snorted and said.

“I just changed. Even if I beat you with the second place ring, you will only fall to second place.”

the instructor talked. If the challenger wins, the ranks of each other are exchanged.

Ran did not miss that explanation.

So, I deliberately lost to a lower-ranking student and took over the 292nd place.

“Leave it to me and throw yourself down there.”

Everyone for this duel.

It was because I wanted to drive the irritating Sian Agrid into the lower ranks.

His golden eyes, like those of a beast, turned to Xian.

Xian drew his sword.

“… … Ran Asla. I was sincere when I said I was sorry. I have no recollection of it, but you are probably telling the truth.”

“So what. You’re going to be politely executed as a means of atonement?”

“no.”

He had no intention of rejecting the challenge.

“That and a duel are different.”

And the idea of quality too.