Confrontation

Desmond's Pov

Okay, seems like the ceremony is dying down. About time I leave this place and get back to my dorm.

I left the auditorium quickly, paying mind not to look or socialize with anyone.

'I know some snarky noble is going to have a problem with me being within the top 50.'

It wasn't paranoia. It was an expectation. Nobles had their pride, their ranks, their preordained superiority. Someone like me, a nobody, getting ranked this high was bound to ruffle some feathers. And I had no interest in dealing with any of them.

I just wanted to survive in this world.

A world that wasn't even mine to begin with.

I exhaled sharply as I stepped out into the academy's vast courtyard, the artificial sky above glimmering with suspended lights mimicking a perfect starry night. The towering buildings stretched high into the distance, an elegant fusion of futuristic technology and magical craftsmanship. It was all a reminder that I was stuck in a novel, and unlike the protagonist, I had no grand destiny here.

My goal was simple: stay alive, stay unnoticed, and don't get involved with the main plot.

But, of course, things never go that smoothly.

"Oi! You there—Desmond Slick, right?"

The voice carried a sneering arrogance, the kind only a noble who'd never been told 'no' in his life could manage. I turned, already knowing what I was about to deal with.

Hector Blackwood.

One of the higher-ranked first-years. He had the posture of someone who thought the ground itself should be honored to be stepped on by him. His academy-issued uniform was pristine, his golden cufflinks probably worth more than an entire commoner's house. And that smirk? Yeah, he was every bit the spoiled brat I remembered from the novel.

"Let me guess," I sighed, crossing my arms. "You're here to complain about the rankings?"

Hector's smirk widened as he sauntered closer. "Oh, don't flatter yourself. You're not worth my time—normally." His violet eyes flickered with condescension. "But I find it rather amusing that a nobody like you managed to squeeze into the top 50."

Ah. There it was. The 'how dare a commoner stand anywhere near me' attitude.

I tilted my head. "And? Why do you care? Your ranking is higher than mine."

Hector let out a laugh, as if I'd said something hilariously naive. "That's exactly why I care. I worked for my spot. My lineage, my training, my chip—it all ensured my place among the elite."

His chip.

Unlike the generic strength boosts I was expecting, Hector's chip was far more insidious.

Chip Name: Dominion's Grasp Grade: E+ Ability: Thread Control – Allows the user to create and manipulate thin, nearly invisible threads made of mana, capable of binding, cutting, or controlling objects and even people with enough skill.

A noble's power, through and through. It allowed him to exert control in a way that was both subtle and overwhelming.

"If you're so great, why are you bothering with someone beneath you?" I asked, watching his expression carefully.

Hector's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he quickly covered it up. Ah. There it was. Insecurity. He wasn't just here to mock me—he was here because I unsettled him.

I wasn't supposed to be here. Not in his world, not in his ranking bracket.

He wanted reassurance that I was beneath him.

"Well," he mused, stretching his fingers, "I suppose I just wanted to see for myself. Maybe you got lucky during the evaluations. Maybe your little trick won't hold up in real combat."

I tensed as I saw a flicker of movement—thin, near-invisible threads unfurling from his fingertips like a spider weaving its web.

A provocation.

I barely managed to step back as one of the threads snapped forward, slicing the air where I had just been standing.

'Tch. That was close.'

I kept my stance casual, but my mind raced. These threads were dangerous. They weren't just for show—they could cut through flesh, bind limbs, and restrict movement in an instant. And worse, the guy using them was completely smug about it.

"You know, attacking a fellow student unprovoked isn't a great look," I pointed out.

Hector chuckled. "Oh, come now. Just testing your reflexes. I mean, if you really belong in the top 50, you should be able to handle this, right?"

I rolled my shoulders, weighing my options. Fighting here was a terrible idea. Not because I was scared of Hector—I could handle him if I had to. No, the real problem was attracting attention. The last thing I needed was for the academy's instructors or, worse, the other nobles to take interest in me.

So I did what I did best.

I bluffed.

A slow grin spread across my face as I took a step forward. "Oh, Hector," I said smoothly, lowering my voice just enough to make it unsettling. "You should be careful about who you test. My chip isn't exactly… predictable."

That was a complete lie.

I didn't have full control over The Phantom Charm yet, and my second chip, Eclipse, was locked away. But Hector didn't know that. And nobles like him? They feared the unknown more than anything.

I saw the flicker of hesitation in his eyes, the brief second where his overconfidence wavered. He didn't know what I was truly capable of, and that uncertainty was enough to plant doubt.

I took another step closer. "You sure you want to test me? What if you don't like what you find?"

Hector clicked his tongue, the threads twitching before retracting. "Hmph. You're not worth the effort," he scoffed. "But don't get comfortable, commoner. The rankings will correct themselves soon enough."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode away, his posture still exuding that noble arrogance. But I didn't miss the way his hands twitched, the way he walked just a little too quickly, as if eager to put distance between us.

I exhaled, shaking my head.

'God, what a pain.'

I didn't need to be making enemies this early, but Hector wasn't the type to let things go. He'd be watching me now, waiting for me to slip up.

Which meant I needed to be careful.

As I finally made my way back to my dorm, I allowed myself a moment to breathe. Today had been exhausting, and tomorrow would be worse. Classes started, and with them came more interactions, more dangers, and more chances for things to go horribly wrong.

But as long as I played my cards right, as long as I stayed one step ahead…

I could survive.

And that was all that mattered.