“Iris, I belong to the Order of the Pure Dawn, a faction under a Constellation.
I specialize in healing and buffing abilities.
Please form a partnership with me—I’m sure I’ll be a great help to you!”
“Iris, do you remember me?
I’m Anton, the one who withstood ten exchanges against you in the swordsmanship training duel.
I can be your sturdy shield, so please choose me!”
“In an unknown location, reconnaissance is the most important factor. I can summon an eagle spirit beast, so I’m the perfect partner for you!”
“Ah, um, w-wait a moment! If you all speak at once like this…”
Iris was overwhelmed by the crowd but still made an effort to listen to each student’s introduction.
Far from dispersing, the crowd only grew larger as even the lower-ranked students clung to the sliver of hope that they might be chosen.
They weren’t standing before a professor but rather a fellow student, yet they were treating it like a formal interview.
And what about my side?
Of course, I expected not even a single ant to show up.
But… as I sat there, a few literal ants crawled up from the decaying tree stump I was resting on.
Well, anyway, the only way to end this commotion was for me to switch to Constellation Mode and issue a command to Iris.
Just as I was about to shift my consciousness, countless shadowy hands suddenly emerged from the auditorium floor, forcefully pulling most of the students away from Iris.
“Scram, weaklings!
Healers?
Tanks?
Scouts?
Those kinds of petty skills are meaningless before overwhelming power.
I’m officially declaring this now—if anyone wants to form a partnership with Iris, they’ll have to defeat me, Stella Darkbane, first.”
“Stella, stop it! How can you use shadow magic against our own classmates?”
“Iris, your problem is that you’re too softhearted.
That’s why all these nobodies swarm around you like flies.
You and I are ranked first and third overall.
If we join forces, no one will be able to stop us.
This was our stage from the beginning.
Aren’t you curious about what treasures are hidden inside Headmaster Dragos’s vault?”
“Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted… But let me get some advice from my Constellation first.”
When Iris called upon me, activating my Constellation consciousness, Stella Darkbane’s face suddenly zoomed in way too close, making me flinch.
Stella was a sharp-eyed beauty with jet-black short hair and the fierce gaze of a wildcat.
She looked ready to kill anyone who dared to approach Iris other than herself.
Unlike Iris, who usually wore nothing but a plain tunic despite her beauty, Stella dressed in tight-fitting leather clothing and had everything a delinquent needed—except for a cigarette.
She reminded me of the school bullies from my own past.
But it wasn’t just her appearance—Stella actually had a sadistic personality.
If the player pursued Iris as the main heroine, Stella would inevitably become a romantic rival (yes, she was into girls) and relentlessly torment the player.
If the player was female, there was at least a chance of drifting into a yuri harem ending.
But if they were male?
There was no escape.
Letting Iris and Stella form a partnership would guarantee her first place, but I had already seen that outcome—it ended with my expulsion.
So, I firmly declared:- Partnering with Stella is not a wise decision.
“I figured as much.
I also don’t think it’s ideal for only top-ranked students to group together.
In that case, who should I partner with?
If you permit it, I’d like to try working with a lower-ranked student.”
You’re too soft, Iris Lunai.
Your priority on this trip should be monopolizing all the opportunities, not maintaining some balance between top and bottom students.
“Monopolizing opportunities? Do you know something about the Hermit’s Flooded Forest?”
Of course. I told you, didn’t I? I am an all-knowing yet utterly useless Constellation who understands all the world’s secrets.
When you return to the dormitory, I will provide you with a map and the locations of hidden opportunities in the Hermit’s Flooded Forest, just as I wrote down that incantation for you before.
Memorize it and burn it afterward.
“But wouldn’t that make the competition completely unfair?”
So, you don’t want to save your sister?
From the start, you were never meant to compete with those amateurs, stirring up dust in pointless battles.
You will stay as far away from the main battlefield as possible and focus only on securing opportunities.
The artifacts stored in Headmaster Dragos’s vault may be valuable, but they are nothing compared to everything hidden within the Hermit’s Flooded Forest.
Forget about rankings—focus solely on growing stronger.
Iris furrowed her delicate brows, seemingly troubled by the idea of receiving information about the Hermit’s Flooded Forest in advance, considering it unfair.
However, after a moment, she nodded in agreement.
“Yes, I will follow your will, Nameless King. Then, who should I partner with?”
First, exclude any students who have formed a Constellation contract.
Constellations naturally recognize the value of opportunities and will undoubtedly command their contractors to steal them.
Similarly, avoid high-ranking students who, despite not having contracts, would still fight over any opportunities they find.
What you need is a pushover—someone who will allow you to monopolize every opportunity without demanding even a 1% share.
“A… pushover? Treating a fellow student that way seems a bit…”
Human worth is never equal.
Just wait patiently—I will find the right candidate for you.
Now, let’s see… Heh.
That one will do.
Do you see that guy sitting alone at the very back, dozing off on a rotten tree stump?
“Yes, I see him.
That’s Kim Sunghoon.
He’s been ostracized because he’s been at the bottom of the rankings for years. Honestly, I’ve always felt a little sorry for him.
I was lucky to meet a great teacher like Professor Kate and a great Constellation like you, Nameless King.
But he never even had a chance to form such connections.”
Good.
Use that pity to extend a helping hand to him.
That guy has no intention of forming a Constellation contract and has completely lost his drive to improve.
He’s like an insect—utterly powerless.
But that very lack of ambition will be useful to you.
Even if he comes across an opportunity, he won’t have the desire—or the ability—to claim it for himself.
Besides, if he doesn’t find a partner, he’ll be expelled for sure.
Think of this as mutual survival.
You’re just cooperating this once.
Hearing myself referred to as a “worthless insect” was painful.
But such harsh wording was necessary—if I wanted to ensure that Iris never suspected that the Nameless King and Kim Sunghoon were the same person.
And I wasn’t the only one feeling uncomfortable.
Iris hesitated for a long time before finally making her way toward the lower-ranked students.
“Iris, where are you going?”
Stella’s voice rang out behind her, sharp with irritation.
“The Constellation I serve, the Twilight Shadow, said that if we worked together, we would have a 100% chance of taking first place. I wonder… what did your Constellation say?”
“The Constellation I serve… told me to follow my heart and act truthfully. So, I’ve decided to form a partnership with one of the lower-ranked students.”
“You do realize that’s an incredibly stupid decision, right?”
“Yeah, I know. I appreciate you offering to partner with me, and I’m sorry for turning you down, Stella.”
Stella Darkbane silently stared at Iris for a moment before pulling her into a tight embrace and speaking in a low voice.
“Be careful. If any of those lower-ranked students, rotting in their inferiority complexes, try anything weird, tell me. I’ll make sure to assassinate them, no matter what it takes.”
“Stella, you’re making it sound way too serious.”
“Because I am serious. Well then, I guess I’ll go find our eternal second-place student. If we meet on the battlefield, I won’t hold back—I’ll make sure it’s a two-on-one match, so be prepared.”
With that, Stella—whom I had expected to cling to Iris relentlessly—backed off surprisingly easily.
Meanwhile, Iris was steadily approaching where Kim Sunghoon—where I—was sitting.
Realizing this, I deactivated my Constellation consciousness and returned to my human body.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we, Kim Sunghoon? I was rather intrusive back then, and I apologize if I overstepped. But if you don’t mind… would you consider partnering with me for this school trip?”
“Huh? W-Wait, me? Uh… is this some kind of hidden camera prank?”
“No. The school trip is an important annual event for the academy. Even if the broadcasting club likes to play pranks, they wouldn’t go as far as setting up a hidden camera for something like this.”
“Then… is this some kind of personal challenge because you got bored of always being first? Like, ‘Winning first place while carrying dead weight’ or something?”
“Don’t belittle yourself by calling yourself dead weight. If you truly don’t want to partner with me, you’re free to decline.”
“N-No! I’ll do it! I accept! I know I’m lacking in many ways, but please take care of me, Lady Iris!”
I exaggeratedly bent my waist at a perfect 90-degree angle to express my acceptance.
Damn, that was some top-tier acting.
I was practically worthy of the Academy’s Best Supporting Actor award.
But as I straightened up, I realized the reactions around me were far from normal.
I had expected some level of shock—after all, the top-ranked student had suddenly chosen to partner with the very last-ranked student.
But this… this was way more extreme than I had anticipated.
Especially Stella Darkbane.
I had thought she let Iris go without any resentment, but now she was glaring at me as if I were her lifelong sworn enemy.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
Oh, shit. This is bad.
“…Well, whatever.”
Becoming public enemy number one was still better than getting expelled.
I mean, there’s no way she’d actually assassinate me… right?