On that night, I visited a bar linked to a gambling den. The air was chilly from the air conditioner, mingling with the sweet scent of alcohol, the haze of smoke, and the murmurs of people filling the atmosphere.I walked to the blackjack table and sat there; among all the games in this den, I had playing virtually.“See there, what’s a poor guy doing here?” one of the players sneered, eyeing my modest attire.“I came to win,” I overheard him talking to his friend and couldn't resist replying, “Not like you're here to give away your money, loser.”He looked at me and laughed, “Care to play a game with us?”“That’s what I’m here for,” I smirked, brimming with confidence.In this gambling game, robots ensure fairness, but there’s always a pattern to their programming.I’ve spent enough time here to learn it. Plus, I have a unique ability to see far and beyond, allowing me to spot even the concealed cards.As the game began, about eight players, including myself, exchanged serious glance
"Alex, is that you?" The voice is feminine, laced with surprise.I whip around, my heart thudding in my chest, and there stands Mira, her eyes wide, locking onto mine."What are you doing here?" I blurt out."I am working here, as a waitress," she responds."Did nobles work as waiters?" Confusion clouds my thoughts. Her cheeks flush with a touch of embarrassment."We one-star nobles have no money; we have to work. But now, my workplace is gone. Did you destroy it?" Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears, vulnerable and seeking.“No,” I sidestep the accusation swiftly, vehemently."Your owner hit the destruction button; he's the one at fault." I emphasize, trying to shift the blame away from myself.Mira's face crumples, her eyes brimming with tears, "What should I do now?" Her voice is a whisper, fraught with despair."Why do you need money?" I probe, genuinely curious."The academy fee isn't cheap," she murmurs."How about trying to get a scholarship?" I suggest, hoping to offer a sliver
The princess gazes at me, her eyes brimming with curiosity, “What can you teach me?”“I can teach you almost everything,” I reply with pride, placing the wooden sword back on the rack.“Can you teach me how to raise my strength?” she probes, her brow furrowed in inquiry.“Well, that is the easiest one,” I declare, leaning against the wooden rack, “What will you give me in return if I teach you that?”“How much do you want?” Her voice is steady, betraying no sign of hesitation.“I don’t need money,” I quickly add, my eyes meeting hers.“So what do you need then?” she asks, her eyes searching mine for clues but now she look in cautious.“I need you to find a way to make me into rank 2 within a year,” I state, my gaze unwavering.The princess scrutinizes me, “What do you want to achieve by becoming Rank 2?”I shrug, an easy smile playing on my lips, “Nothing, I just think it would be cool to have that rank.”“And what will you give me in return?” she inquires, her tone laced with curiosi
The fat man and the bodyguard stare at me, their eyes wide with shock before twisting into anger."What are you doing?" the bodyguard seethes, stepping forward, his bulky frame tense with fury."What?" I retort, feigning innocence."You gave them all the pills.""I bought the pill. I paid with my money. Can't I share it with each of my friends?""You can, but not here!" The fat man bellows, his face flushing a deep red. "You are breaking my business.""Really?"The tension escalates as those who overdosed on the pills begin to roar. "Arggghhh!!!!!!!" Their cries fill the air, a harrowing sound of transformation.The pill, infused with demon blood, was meant to give a surge of euphoria felling with just one.However, consuming ten triggers a terrifying change.While the pill is expensive, someone had been consuming it moderately. But when it is free, people try to consume more and the overdose led to drastic physical changes: muscles swell, and faces contort with destructive power, ref
The next day at school, I find myself walking to the Princess’s training hall.The training room is empty, except for the princess, waiting alone.She stands there in a striking sport bra and long leggings, her attire accentuating her sexy athletic build.She is looking at me with hesitation."Have you made up your mind?" I ask.With a flushed face, the princess responds, “Not, yet. But I will just try it once, to see if you're just scamming me or if this is real.”“Suit yourself,” I reply, walking toward her.Gazing into her big blue eyes, framed by long brown hair tied in a ponytail, I sense her nervousness.I lean in slowly, pressing my lips against hers. Sharing my life energy to her.Suddenly, she kneels, her body radiating heat.“What happened?” she asks, her voice trembling with fear.“The life energy is entering your body. It might be painful for a while before your body adjusts the new strength. Just wait,” I explain, then walk out of the training hall, leaving her to process
Walking to the grand training hall reserved for three-star nobles, I am met by the sight of around 80 students. With the twelve accompanying me, our total comes to 92.“Hey, I'll wait here. Call the other eight, so it rounds up to exactly 100 people. Having an odd number just itches my OCD,” I announce. “I'll give you more time.”Most of them are visibly shocked upon seeing me.“Do you know why you are here?” a particularly arrogant man inquires, his presence commanding as others give him space and hang on his words.“Sure,” I respond confidently. “Even the simplest man could tell from the looks on your faces that you're not thrilled about a starless noble becoming the top rank, stepping over each of your head.”“So you're challenging me to a one-on-one hundred fight in this free-for-all fight, where the loser must surrender everything to the winner, even if death occurs?”“But we'll draft an agreement to avoid any legal troubles should one of us die, right?”The crowd is taken aback,
When I return to the academy, it's already the last study hour. The air is thick with tension, anticipation hanging like a heavy curtain.In the arena, a fierce battle unfolds, a struggle for supremacy among the elite.Mira, embodying the ferocity of a ravenous wolf, clashes with another 3-star noble.Swords clash, ringing through the air, a dance of steel and skill. Mira's every strike is relentless, her opponent's sword bending under the sheer force, his arm trembling, overwhelmed by her might.The noble, outmatched and outclassed, is sent flying from the arena like a ragged doll, discarded and defeated.Mira stands triumphant, her breaths heavy, eyes blazing with an untamed fire.“I wish to continue to fight my upper rank, as I don’t acknowledge they are stronger than me!” Mira's voice booms across the field, her declaration echoing.Now at rank 4 in her class and 35th overall, she is a force to be reckoned with.A rank 3 noble steps forward, contempt in his gaze. “You arrogant foo
"Why do you need access to the Royal bar?" the Princess asked, her brow furrowing in confusion."Don't all nobles have entry to the royal bar?"I respond with a smile, heavy with hidden meanings. "Not me, I'm blacklisted."Her eyes, wide with curiosity and as clear as crystal, fix on me. I could smell her lovely body scent. "Why are you blacklisted?""Because I destroy every bar I visit," I confess, my voice steady."Why?" She probes further, her gaze intense yet innocent.I hesitate, pondering if it's the right moment to confide in her. Rising, I lean closer and whisper, "Wherever your Uncle Bernard extends his influence, I vow to dismantle it."Her eyes widen in shock, and by the time she processes my words, I'm already striding away.Bernard, the King's twin brother, is the mastermind behind the Babel Tragedy, having forged a pact with dark forces to seize the throne.As I walk away, the fading sunset of Babel paints the sky in hues of orange and purple.Mira and Livia are waiting