Rank One

Eden couldn't help but bite his lips, trying his best not to cry, yet the pearls of tears were conspicuous in his eyes.

The fragment of the person he cherished a lot was just some distance away from him.

He wanted to embrace her and get together with the essence of her very soul.

Yet Eden just lowered his gaze, trying to restrain himself from doing anything that would suspend him.

"Emilie, huh?"

He murmured with a gentle smile. The feeling of elation had run across his body.

He felt as if the adrenaline level in his body had reached its pinnacle at the moment.

'Fate sure has some strange tricks within its sleeve.'

He smiled widely and gazed his attention at Emilie again.

On the other hand, the gossiping started again.

"Hey, look! It's her! The second daughter of the Sakurasou family!"

"What's there for her to learn? She's omniscient without any doubt!"

"Her family is the richest in Astrak and third in the world's rankings!"

"A girl born with a golden spoon like her should just spend her whole life enjoying it, no? What's the point of joining this university when you have limitless money?"

"Idiot, that's her passion! Don't you dare comment on it!"

"...."

Hearing their gossiping, Eden just stayed tight-lipped. Nonetheless, one thing became clear.

The first fragment, A.K.A., Emilie Sakurasou, was the epitome of prosperity!

'Would our status difference be a problem?'

Eden contemplated. He knew that in this mortal world, money was the incarnation of God.

If there were a God's statue or Money, the people would obviously choose money over the statue.

After all, there's a saying that goes: "Money is power; money is god; money is everything."

Of course, Eden's thoughts were different since he believed that, despite having differences in the status of wealth, there was one thing that would solve anything.

That would be when Eden reached the level of Heavenly Humans before Emilie!

Despite saying that money is power, it can be reversed, too.

*Cling!*

As Emilie rested her hand on the device beside the mana crystal, it made a clangor, reporting.

{Name:- Emilie Sakurasou}

{Rank:- BBB (Silver Ranked Human)}

{LVL:- 63}

{Ability:- Wind Manipulation, Water Manipulation, Fire Manipulation, Earth Manipulation.}

{Mana Capability:- Excellent}

{Mana LVL:- 69}

{Allotted to Classroom C}

"Oh, god! She's a triple B-ranked human!"

"Nothing less from the second daughter of the Sakurasou family!"

"She's the queen here!"

"Look! She had even mastered four basic elements!"

"She's a real genius!"

'Not again.'

With a sigh, Eden shut his eyes, since he started to feel tired of the turmoil there. This time, even the headmaster didn't speak since he was fully immersed in his work.

"Very good."

A teacher smiled at Emilie and asked,

"Anyhow, please report your ranking in the written test, Miss Emilie."

"Rank one!"

"Yes, rank one. Indeed."

The boys started exclaiming.

"Quiet!"

The teacher glared at the boys, and they became like a stone monument.

Sigh.

Emilie let out a sigh of disappointment, reporting in her sweet, angelic voice.

"I'm in Rank Two."

"?!"

The whole room went dead silent, with no turmoil anymore. Yet, there was only one question left in everyone's mind: "Then, who is Rank One?"

People, who had seen the golden ranking, gazed around to find out who Eden White was.

"Oh, I see."

The teacher replied with a hint of disappointment in her voice, adding,

"You may go now."

"Yes," Emilie nodded, turned around, and started walking away.

"Next, number 50:- Eden White."

"?!"

Those who knew Eden's rank started gazing around vigorously, even including Charles and Emilie.

Eden smiled, got up from his seat, and walked towards the mana crystal.

"Best of luck, bro."

Robert showed a thumbs-up while Eden just smiled at him.

"?!"

Emilie's gaze fixated on Eden as he walked past her.

"So, you're rank one, huh? I'm looking forward to seeing your abilities."

She whispered.

"Oh, I see."

Eden smiled, gazing at Emilie, saying,

"I'm honoured…my lady."

"Hmm?"

Emilie was left perplexed after hearing "My Lady," from Eden.

"Please place your hand here."

As Eden arrived, the teacher, besides the mana crystal, instructed him.

"Oh, okay," Eden nodded and placed his hand on the device beside the Mana crystal.

*Cling* *Cling* *Cling*

Compared to others, the device clanged three times, reporting,

{Name:- Eden White}

{Rank:- C (Bronze Ranked Human)}

{LVL:- 82}

{Ability:- Master of All Elements}

{Mana Capability:- Unrivaled}

{Mana LVL:- 999}

{Allotted to Classroom S}

"H-Huh?"

Eden was left dumbfounded after noticing that the classroom given to him was Classroom S, the classroom for the true geniuses.

"WHAT?!?!"

This time, everyone, including the teachers, screamed with flabbergasted expressions on their faces after noticing Eden's status.

"How did a C-ranked trash master every element?!"

"He even has "Unrivaled" mana capacity!"

It was said that only Z-ranked humans possessed unrivaled mana capacity, and since Eden was still a C-ranked human, it means that the status just ridiculed the ranking system.

"Look at his Mana LVL! Isn't it insane?! I think something is wrong with the mana sensor!"

"There must be something wrong. Let me check first."

One of the teachers said as he placed his right hand over the sensor, yet it showed the correct ranking.

"How…?"

The teacher mumbled in stupefaction.

"Damn…why?"

Charles mumbled and bite his thumb while being green with envy.

"You…"

Emilie called out with an astounded look, adding,

"What exactly are you…?"

"...."

Eden just left silent as if he were mulling over something.

'Strange…I don't get it. My mana…is it because I'm a former angel? Perhaps.'

"Oh? I think our school has finally found a prodigy, right, Sir Vincent?"

A man sitting beside the headmaster, Vincent, glanced at Eden with his purple-shining eyes and smiled.

The man was none other than the founder of the university, Oscar Vanderson.

In a striking ensemble, he donned an exquisite noble coat adorned in regal shades of purple and cream yellow, complemented by a vibrant crimson necktie.

Cascading down to his neck, his verdant locks added an intriguing touch to his appearance.

His fair complexion and the physique of a man in his forties completed his distinguished presence.

"I'm looking forward to seeing this child's growth."

Oscar smiled mysteriously at Eden while resting his head on his palm.

"Mhm."

Headmaster Vincent simply nodded while gazing intently at Eden and thinking, 'This kid...he's not normal.'

"Well, that was quite something."

Soon, a teacher smiled at Eden. Walking forward, he asked,

"If I may ask, what is your ranking in the written test, Sir Eden?"

Eden knew if he said it aloud, it would only open the door to more problems.

Yet he knew lying wouldn't solve anything. So, he stayed true to himself, replying with a straight look.

"I'm in Rank One."

"Well, rank one...huh?"

He nodded quietly while writing it down, but then he stopped as if he had misheard something.

"Wait, did I just mishear it? You..YOU'RE RANK ONE?!"

He shouted with his jaws dropped.

"Rank…one…"

"That insect…is rank one…? How?"

Hearing their comments on him, Eden glared at the examinees around him.

Seeing his deadly glare, they just shut their mouths.

After that, Eden glanced at the headmaster, requesting,

"Kind sir, I assume there's still many things left for me to learn. So, I wish to join Classroom C instead of Classroom S."

"?!"

His bold statement startled everyone in the room, even the founder of the university himself.

"W-What did you just…requested?"

The headmaster Vincent uttered, still not believing what he just heard.

Eden knew that it wasn't an easy feat since no sane person could change their class from the superior one to the inferior one.

Eden sighed, still unphased and bent forward, appealing to the Headmaster and the founder.

"I know that I might sound unruly right now. However, I really mean it. I want to stay where I can improve myself without putting too much stress on my brain. I hope…"

His crimson eyes glint, he added,

"...you'll assign me to Classroom C."

As Eden completed his words, a dead silence transpired in the room.

His aim to join Classroom C was obvious. It was because of Emilie.

"He is…insane."

One of the teachers called out with a bewildered look.

"Hmph, well."

The founder, Oscar got up, glaring at Eden, remarking,

"If that's what you desired, then your wish shall be granted."

Then, he walked towards Eden and glared into his eyes, saying,

"I hope to see you in my office after your classes end, dear Eden White."

To which Eden just glared back and nodded.

Noticing his glare, Oscar chuckled and turned around, adding,

"You're interesting."

Then, he finally walked towards the exit.

"Marvelous."

While applauding, Emilie walked towards Eden, commenting,

"Despite being a C-rank, you're really something."

Then, her gaze sharpened as she added,

"Since we're going to be classmates now, I hope we get along well, Eden White."

Her voice showed a hint of mockery.

Listening to her words, Eden just smiled, remarking,

"Sure, likewise…Lady Emilie."