Chapter 68: The Combat Assessment

For once, the monotony of daily classroom lessons was broken. Today, instead of sitting through lectures, the students of the Heart Class were led to the academy's massive combat stadium, a vast open-air structure that looked more suited for large-scale battles than student assessments. As they stepped inside, they quickly realized that they were not alone.

The other Card Classes—Spade, Diamond, and Club—were already present, their students lined up in orderly formations. Their homeroom teachers stood at the front, each one exuding an air of authority. It was the first time for all four classes to gather in the same place, which immediately piqued the curiosity of the Heart Class.

Yuna observed everything with calm detachment, her expression as indifferent as ever.

At the front of each class stood their respective homeroom teachers, and Yuna's gaze swept over them one by one.

She was wondering who other card class homeroom teacher will be so she look at them curiously.

The Spade Class homeroom teacher was an icy-eyed woman, her cold, calculating gaze cutting through the room like a blade. Everything about her posture spoke of strictness and discipline, as if she expected her students to operate like well-trained soldiers.

'Thank goodness she is not our homeroom teacher' Yuna secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

The Diamond Class teacher, in contrast, was a man dressed as if he had stepped straight out of a noble ballroom. His garments were overly grand for the occasion, his posture radiating unmistakable arrogance. Even in a combat setting, he carried himself like a man who thought himself above everyone else.

'The peacock like teacher! won't be able to stand him if he was our homeroom teacher' Yuna make a comment on the other card class homeroom teacher once again.

Then there was the Club Class homeroom teacher—a stark contrast to the others. He slouched lazily, his casual clothes making him look like an outsider among the more properly attired faculty. His half-lidded eyes and relaxed demeanor suggested that he cared little for formality, exuding an air of perpetual nonchalance.

Yuna's lips twitched slightly when she saw him.

'Ah. The one I wished had been our homeroom teacher,' she mused. If he had been, life would have been so much easier. Unfortunately, fate had placed her under Professor Veyne's watch instead.

Though…so far…..he is not as insufferable as she initially thought he would be when he first introduced himself.

At the front of each class stood their class representatives, positioned beside their respective homeroom teachers.

The Crown Prince, as expected, carried himself with his usual air of control and nobility, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd as if already assessing strengths and weaknesses.

Beside him stood Enyo, the Spade Class representative.

With fiery red curls cascading down her back and bright red eyes full of spirit, Enyo had an undeniable presence. Though adorably cute, there was nothing delicate about her—especially not with the massive claymore strapped to her back. It was nearly as tall as she was, yet she carried it with ease, exuding a warrior's confidence.

Then, Yuna's gaze shifted to someone she had never seen before—the Club Class representative.

Unlike the others, who stood out through presence or status, he looked surprisingly ordinary.

Brown hair, brown eyes, a warm and approachable aura. He lacked the overwhelming presence of the Crown Prince or Enyo, but there was something undeniably steady about him. He seemed like someone who could blend seamlessly into any group, making others feel comfortable in his presence.

Satisfied with her curiosity, Yuna quickly withdrew her attention.

Among the gathered students, the Heart Class stood out—but not in the way others expected.

Unlike the other class representatives, who stood proudly beside their teachers, Yuna did not take such a position. She walked among her classmates, blending in so naturally that outsiders had trouble identifying the Heart Class representative at all.

Celeste, as always, was talking animatedly beside her, her cheerful presence in stark contrast to Yuna's detached quiet.

To Yuna, everything felt blurry, as if she was viewing the world through a fogged glass.

She had a knack for ignoring things—an ability to filter out the unnecessary, whether it was the chatter of her friends right beside her or the subtle shifts in her surroundings. If something did not require her immediate concern, her mind would simply refuse to register it.

Even now, as Celeste chattered enthusiastically beside her, her words drifted into Yuna's ears like a distant hum. She wasn't ignoring her on purpose—she simply… wasn't listening.

It wasn't just conversations.

When walking through crowded roads, Yuna often found herself lost in thought, muddled in her own world. She wouldn't notice familiar faces passing by unless they called out to her. She wouldn't register minor details of her surroundings. Her world was small, consisting only of whatever had her attention at that moment.

But then, she had grown up.

As an adult, forced into the harsh reality of job hunting, responsibilities, and survival, she had tried to break that habit. She had learned to be more aware, more present, because in a world where she had to struggle to earn a living, there was no room for whimsical detachment.

Yet, here, in this new world, where there was no pressure to grow up, no suffocating expectations, no need to force herself into a mold that did not fit—

Her old habits crept back in.

Her mind, once trained to be sharp and alert, began to drift again.

Maybe it was comfort.

Maybe it was freedom.

Or maybe it was simply who she was all along.

The students from the other Card Classes observed them closely, trying to determine which student held the title of class representative.

Yet, as their eyes moved from face to face, they found no answer.

The Heart Class was different.

Unlike the interdependent Spade, Diamond, and Club Classes, who frequently relied on each other's strengths, the Heart Class remained detached. They were self-contained, self-sufficient, almost like a separate entity within the academy.

And today, as they stood under the curious gazes of both students and teachers, that difference became even more apparent.

The Heart Class moved together as they entered the massive combat hall, their conversations flowing with the usual ease. Though their numbers were smaller than the other card classes, they didn't feel lacking. Their interactions were natural, familiar, with neither rigid social groups nor obvious cliques. Unlike the Spade Class, which had a disciplined hierarchy, or the Diamond Class, where nobles naturally clustered together, the Heart Class lacked a structured divide.

Their discussions ranged from their new surroundings to the other homeroom teachers standing at the front.

"The Spade Class teacher looks terrifyingly strict."

"I heard she's a military veteran. Wouldn't be surprised if she makes her students train at sunrise."

"And then there's the Diamond Class teacher…" Someone sighed. "Does he think he's attending a royal ball? That outfit is too much."

"Forget them! Look at the Club Class teacher," Celeste grinned. "Why couldn't he be our homeroom teacher? Look how relaxed he is! He gives off the perfect 'just let me nap' energy."

The group chuckled at her remark, their expressions amused yet unconcerned. They weren't completely detached from the other card classes, but they also weren't in a rush to make introductions. The Heart Class had spent enough time together to form a comfortable dynamic, and compared to the other classes, they simply didn't feel the need to seek out new interactions.

However, not everyone shared that sentiment.

A young man with warm brown hair and soft brown eyes approached them with an easy smile. His presence was unassuming, yet he carried himself with an air of natural friendliness.

The Club Class representative.

"Hello," he greeted, his tone pleasant and welcoming. His eyes moved over the group curiously. "I was hoping to properly greet your class representative. I've heard quite a bit about the Heart Class."

The students exchanged glances.

Not out of discomfort, but simply because they hadn't expected anyone to approach them so directly.

There was a brief pause—then, betrayal struck.

"Here! Our class rep!"

One student, grinning mischievously, shoved another forward.

The victim stumbled slightly, his expression shifting from confusion to mild irritation as he turned to glare at his classmate.

"I'm not the class rep," he said flatly, brushing off his uniform.

The Club Class rep blinked, slightly surprised. "You're not?"

"Absolutely not!" he reiterated, voice a little sharper than necessary.

A few classmates suppressed laughter, enjoying his predicament. But now that he had been pushed forward, he had to handle the conversation somehow.

"We… uh, we're not really looking to reveal our class rep as of now," he said after a brief pause. "It's to, um… avoid unnecessary attention. Or… awkward situations. You know how it is."

Celeste nudged Yuna with a smirk. "That was a terrible excuse."

Yuna, watching with faint amusement, merely hummed in agreement.

The Club Class rep raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't push further. Instead, he simply smiled, seemingly entertained by the situation.

And just when it seemed the conversation might continue—

"Professor, why are we in the combat hall today?"

The shoved student abruptly turned away, shifting his attention to their cold and strict homeroom teacher with deliberate urgency.

It was an obvious escape attempt—one that even the usually unreadable Professor Veyne seemed to momentarily pause at.

The Club Class rep chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I see. Well, I won't pry. It was nice meeting you all."

With that, he stepped away, his demeanor just as relaxed as when he had first approached.

Once he was out of earshot, the betrayed student turned to his classmates with narrowed eyes.

"Which one of you pushed me?" he demanded.

Celeste whistled innocently.

Yuna, uninvolved yet observant, merely patted his shoulder in silent sympathy.

And just like that, the Heart Class returned to their usual flow, their interruption brief yet mildly entertaining. They weren't unfriendly—just comfortable in their own space. And for now, that was more than enough.