Counterplan

The light of the setting sun descended upon the white walls of the academy, painting them with a crimson hue, making the academy appear as if it had been drenched in blood.

Since my arrival at the academy, I discovered a newfound love for watching the sunset—something I had never been able to see in the underground city where I had lived.

"Hello, my friend."

Hearing that familiar voice sent a shiver down my spine, as if snakes were writhing in my stomach. This was not a good sign.

"What do you want, Alexander?"

Alexander did not answer immediately. Instead, he stood beside me, gazing at the sunset.

"Don't you find it strange how all the students here treat things like fresh air, sunlight, and three meals a day as if they're normal and unremarkable?"

Hearing this, I felt puzzled. What was Alexander planning? Still, I answered calmly.

"Of course, they treat them as normal. After all, they were born under the sunlight, breathing fresh air and eating three meals a day. To them, the absence of these things would be what's strange."

Alexander let out a sad chuckle and spoke with emotion.

"But for those of us born in the underground city, where fresh air is a luxury for the rich, food is more expensive than human life, and sunlight is nothing but a myth told by the elderly..."

After saying this, Alexander fell silent for a moment, standing beside me as we both watched the sunset.

I couldn't bear the silence any longer, so I repeated my initial question.

"So, why are you here?"

Alexander answered without turning to me.

"Would you believe me if I said I was here just to have a conversation with a fellow student from the underground city?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you're from the underground city."

Hearing that, Alexander let out a small laugh before asking,

"Have you heard what happened in the battle between Ivar and Anna?"

"No. What happened?"

At my answer, Alexander laughed loudly, a thunderous sound.

"You really live under a rock! How have you not heard? It's the talk of the entire academy!"

"If you came just to annoy me, then please leave."

"Tsk, you're so boring."

"Fine, let me tell you what happened."

As he spoke, Alexander's expression turned serious.

"Ivar, the eleventh-ranked student, challenged Anna, the tenth-ranked student, to eleven consecutive duels."

Hearing this, I felt the snakes in my stomach twist again. This was not a good sign.

"How did he challenge her eleven times?"

"By drinking potions to restore his stamina and mana reserves."

Upon hearing this, my heart sank. At first glance, it might seem like nothing more than a noble exploiting his access to mana potions to secure a spot in the top ten.

However, knowing the circumstances of the first-year students, I could already predict that this would become a trend.

And that was not in my favor at all.

"This is bad."

"Yes, it's terrible."

Looking at Alexander, who leaned against the wall with a calm expression, I couldn't help but ask,

"So, what's your plan? I mean, since you came to meet me, you must have a plan."

Hearing this, Alexander smiled faintly and began speaking.

"The idea of challenging someone multiple times is certainly devious. It exploits the nobles' advantages and the commoners' weaknesses without breaking any academy rules."

"Especially since academy points haven't been distributed yet, meaning we don't have the ability to buy mana potions. By the time points are given out, the nobles will have already secured most of the top ranks."

"Then, they'll use their points to grow stronger and widen the gap between us and them."

"Whoever thought of this plan is truly cunning."

Yes, cunning indeed. And I had a good idea of who it was. Without a doubt, after pushing me to become stronger, Edward would try to do the same with the rest of the students—though I still didn't know why.

Just as Edward's ambitions had once given me motivation, they were now becoming a threat. So, I asked Alexander again,

"I already know it's a devious plan, but what I want to know is: what's your plan to counter it?"

Hearing my question, Alexander's smile widened.

"My plan is similar to the nobles' plan. Just as they exploited their status as nobles, I'll exploit our status as commoners."

"Now, tell me, Jess, what is the greatest advantage we commoners have?"

Hearing Alexander's words, I frowned in confusion. An advantage that commoners had over nobles? That seemed absurd.

"I don't know."

"Hah, you really don't know anything."

"It's our numbers. There are far more of us than there are of them. And just as there's no rule preventing someone from repeatedly challenging the same opponent, there's no rule preventing a group of people from challenging one opponent in succession."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but clap for Alexander.

"Smart. And here I thought you were just a pile of muscles with no brains."

At my sarcastic remark, Alexander merely gave me a look of mock annoyance before continuing.

"Anyway, this way, we can waste the time of nobles who pose a threat to our ranks—like Edward for me and Rob for you—making sure they don't have enough time to challenge us."

"We can also use the mob to uncover the trump cards of the strongest students, like Victor Stormflame and Ludwig Moonlight."

"That's a clever plan. But how do you plan to get the commoners to follow you?"

"That's why I came to you."

Hearing this, I felt a bit confused. I wasn't exactly someone who could rally a large group of people.

"Me? Why?"

At that, Alexander smirked and said,

"Yes, you. Simply because you're strong."

"The weak tend to rely on the strong."

"And you and I are the strongest students without noble lineage."