Volume 1 Chapter 21 Elite Class SSS, Blaze's Strategy
"Blaze insists on that," Margrethe said, suddenly falling silent, her brow furrowed. "...He won't resort to tricks. Everyone should compete based on their own strength. That's the honorable path of the Dragon Class."
"That's so Blaze," Ran replied with a sigh and a smile.
It was exactly the kind of thing Blaze would say. Noble, honest, and straightforward.
"So, is that settled now?"
"Yeah..."
Margrethe lifted her cup of hot milk and took a sip.
"It's a solid argument. And Blaze entered the Royal Adventurer Academy Hector with record-breaking grades. He even crushed the individual pseudo-combat tournament. Even if some disagree with him, no one speaks up. That kind of presence makes him impossible to go against."
"True..."
Blaze was righteous. Fair, even. But being around him... could be exhausting.
"He said, 'I will take the individual top rank. And this is the Dragon Class — everyone's skilled. So in the class competition, first place is the only option.'"
"I see."
Honestly, it wasn't a strange goal. From his position, it made sense.
"I just want to prove something this time," Margrethe murmured. "That I can be better than Mobu."
...So it came back to that, huh?
"You can feel it, right? The mood in the class is all the same."
She looked at me with a troubled expression. I remembered her saying something similar before the tournament.
"I was told the same. That I shouldn't use magic. Even though I'm the top-ranked magic user. They said my swimming alone would be enough to do well."
"They were just trying to praise you. Don't think too hard about it."
"Still, Blaze always tries to lead everyone. He doesn't mean any harm, but it gets complicated."
Thinking back, it's kinda wild. For someone like me — a countryside noble's son, basically background character A — to get Blaze's attention is unreal. Margrethe, despite softening up around me, still carried pride. That kind of pride was only manageable here, in this so-called "everyone is equal" academy.
Blaze really did feel like the protagonist of some game. And after Ran — the heroine — was taken away by an Instant Death Mob right at the beginning, he must've been desperate to win her back.
Rumors about the Dragon Class's strategy were spreading, lighting a fire under both the SS and S Classes. Maybe this year would be different.
"Yeah... They always sweep the SSS rank every time."
"If Blaze gets first place, no matter what strategy the others use, Dragon Class is probably going to win. That's why the others will focus on stopping Blaze himself, rather than trying to take the overall crown."
Blaze, you really are something. Soaking up all the pressure and still aiming for the top. That's what being the lead character looks like.
But me? I'm walking a different road. One made just for me — someone who's been reborn as a background mob.
"So... what kind of plan does Mobu have?" Ran asked. "You're making the strategy for the Z Class, right?"
"I can tell you. But don't spread it to the SSS Class. Blaze's whole 'no strategy' thing is open knowledge, but Z Class? We've got nothing but tactics. If the school hears it's unfair and bans our method early, we're done for."
"I'm not going to spy."
Margrethe's gaze sharpened as she spoke.
"Don't judge me by appearances. I'm still a proud daughter of the Erik family."
"That's right, Mobu," Ran added with a gentle nod.
Ran took my hand.
"Say sorry to MarMar."
"You're right."
I placed my hand on Margrethe's, which was resting quietly on her thigh.
"Ah..."
Even as she tried to pull away, I didn't let go.
"Sorry, Margrethe. To make up for it... I'll be your personal pillow tonight."
"P-Pillow?!"
Margrethe sprang up in shock.
"How did it even come to that?!"
"I mean, I'm warm. And both you and Ran like hugging me when you sleep, right?"
"Ooh, that's true," Ran said, clearly pleased.
"Mobu lets me nap on his chest sometimes. I can hear his heartbeat. It's calm and soft... it helps me sleep."
"R-Right..."
Margrethe's face turned red, but she kept holding my hand.
"W-Well... if it's just that, then I guess it's fine."
She added it softly, like convincing herself.
"If it's just sleeping near each other... I won't be breaking Father's rules. I'm not the one doing anything strange, after all."
Honestly? I was happy. It wasn't anything shady. Just the warmth. Sleeping side by side felt peaceful. Someday, maybe... I want Ran to fall asleep beside me like that too. But before then, I need to train my self-control.
"So," Margrethe asked, pulling herself together, "what's your strategy?"
"Alright. Here's the Z Class plan."
I started explaining the idea. I skipped over the more technical parts, but the core was all there.
"I see," she said, exhaling slowly. "As expected of Mobu. Win or lose, it sounds like it'll be fun."
She raised her cup again, now lukewarm, and took another sip. No steam remained.
"I..."
She looked at me and Ran with a wistful smile.
"I envy RanRan. I wish I was in the same class as you, Mobu."
"Then just transfer to Z, MarMar," Ran beamed. "Me and Mobu will welcome you. And the class too!"
"That won't work, RanRan..."
Margrethe smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"I'm carrying the Erik family name. If people knew I dropped to Z Class, Father and my brother would explode. I'd bring shame to the family. At worst... they might cut me off or marry me off to some rich merchant. Someone desperate to buy a noble name."
Yeah. That's nobility for you. If I were a parent, I'd just want my kid to be happy.
"Don't look so down, Margrethe."
I reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"I'll be your pillow again tonight. ...Alright, Ran. Let's go sleep."
"Yeah, Mobu. And remember—you promised."
"I know."
As I turned to grab my blanket, I noticed Margrethe, still flushed and motionless beside us. I smiled and quietly changed, keeping my base layers on — just in case. That was my personal line. Cross it, and I knew I'd lose control.
Notes:
• Dragon Class - The top-ranked class at the Royal Adventurer Academy, denoted by an SSS rank. Blaze has been assigned to this class, indicating his high performance in the entrance exam.
• Margrethe - Female. A new student and sub-heroine character in the game. She is a Mage class with low physical strength. Her appearance is not described in detail, but she is noted to have a pleasant scent. She initially comes off as hostile but warms up to the protagonist, Blaze, over time. She is proud and insists on being addressed with honorifics, reflecting her noble upbringing. She has a strong dislike for men, considering them weak and arrogant. Her relationship with Mobu starts on a tense note, but she eventually shows a more vulnerable side, acknowledging her need to improve her physical strength.
• Blaze - Male. The protagonist of the game, born into the wealthy Rosinore family. He has blond hair and a heroic appearance. Blaze is kind and lacks arrogance despite his status. He is destined to become a hero and defeat the Demon King. His relationship with Mobu and Ran is complex, as they are not part of the main story.
• Ran - Female. An orphan and a close friend of Mobu. She has a gentle appearance. Ran is kind and trusting, often relying on Mobu for guidance. She survives the demon attack by hiding in the secret base with Mobu.
• Hector - A prestigious academy located in the kingdom, known for training adventurers. It is primarily for the children of nobles and wealthy merchants, with a few spots reserved for those with true ability. The entrance exam is practical rather than theoretical.
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