The Return Of The Exiled Villain

Back in the classroom...

Now, the whole first year was together in a single room as the representatives of the professors, Otto stood looking at the papers in front of him.

The room buzzed with energy as most of the students leaned across desks, whispering loudly about the exam.

”Did you see that boss monster?!” one boy whispered, eyes wide.

”Yeah! And some groups didn’t even get close to it…” another replied, snickering.

”I heard Cassandra barely even lifted a finger and still cleared everythi—”

SLAM!

Otto’s palm hit the desk at the front of the room. His stern eyes swept over the class, silencing every whisper instantly.

”Quiet. All of you,” he ordered, his deep voice sharp enough to cut the air.

”Now, results.”

He held up a stack of papers and glanced down at them.

”I’ll say this… the results were surprisingly good this year.” His eyes narrowed as if he almost couldn’t believe it himself.

He cleared his throat.

”We’ll start from the lowest. The group that scored the worst received a C minus, and that was Ethan Rover’s Group.”

Gasps and whispers returned for a moment.

”A C minus? That’s the worst?!” someone muttered, clearly shocked.

”That’s already… pretty good…” another added, rubbing the back of his neck.

Otto ignored them, looking at Ethan.

”Your group only managed to scan five monsters, and their combat performance was sloppy. Still, far better than what I expected.”

He flipped to the next page.

”Next... C+. Maelis’s group. Your group scanned a total of eight monsters and showed pretty decent teamwork…”

As soon as those words came out, all of the students turned to Maelis, who had a look of anger on her face.

”...Maelis was really unlucky, huh?”

”Yeah, she probably got the worst teammates to get such a lower grade.”

”Maybe if I cheer her up, she’ll fall in love with me?!”

”Hah! Dream on, fattie!”

Ignoring the student’s whispers, the announcements continued, with each group cheering faintly or groaning when their names came up.

Otto didn’t slow down, his voice steady and firm as he explained the reasoning behind each grade.

”And now… the fourth best group, which was actually a tie with another group,” Otto said at last.

His gaze moved toward Selene and her teammates.

”Selene’s group and Leon’s Group. You both receive a B+. Congratulations.”

Selene raised her brow, smirking faintly, while her teammates let out quiet sighs of relief.

As for Leon, he looked calmly... but his eyes told otherwise. His body had been healed, but now, there was a scar on his chest and back!

He couldn’t wait to kill Gray.

Otto first turned to Selene.

”You scanned thirteen monsters. Impressive teamwork, but lacked consistency in handling higher-level enemies. Still, B+ is no small feat.” Otto gave a curt nod before moving on to Leon.

”Just like Selene’s group, you scanned thirteen monsters. Amazing teamwork, but during the boss battle, all of you were threatened by a single student..., which was why your grade was higher.”

The next sheet came up.

”Third place… Lyra’s group. You receive an A-.”

Lyra’s eyes lit up, and she pressed her hands together in excitement.

”We did it!” she whispered, her voice trembling with joy.

The other guys also cheered happily, especially the one who had a date just after class.

”You scanned sixteen monsters. Excellent combat ability, though your coordination wavered in the latter half of the dungeon. Hence, A-,” Otto explained.

He turned to the next name.

”Second place…” His tone grew heavier.

”Cassandra’s group. A+.”

Cassandra leaned back in her chair, looking bored as always, but her teammates brightened in triumph.

”You scanned all the monsters in the dungeon. A perfect record,” Otto declared. His lips pressed together before he added:

”Effortless. Truly deserving, with no mistakes seen.”

At his words, a ripple of surprise spread across the room. Cassandra’s group looked at one another, eyes widening.

”Wait… if we’re second, then…” one of them muttered.

”Yes,” Otto interrupted, as if reading their thoughts.

”There is still one group better than you.” His voice deepened.

The silence was thick now.

Then, Otto looked straight at Gray, who was lazily leaning down against his chair with a calm expression.

”And finally… first place.” Otto’s voice grew heavier, making the room fall quiet again. ”The only group to receive a perfect score. The only group with an S grade.”

A hush spread through the classroom.

Otto’s sharp eyes scanned the list before he announced, clearly and firmly:

”Gray Vireux’s group.”

The room erupted instantly.

”What?!”

”Him? No fucking way!”

”Gray?! That guy is not even at the advanced realm!”

”How the hell did he get an S?!”

Chairs scraped against the floor as students leaned forward, their voices overlapping in disbelief. Some looked at Gray like they’d never seen him before.

Others shook their heads, muttering about how unfair it felt.

SLAM!

Otto’s hand smacked the desk, silencing everyone in an instant. His stern gaze swept over the classroom.

”Quiet!”

The whispers died off, though the shock remained heavy in the air.

”Gray’s group scanned all the monsters… and even discovered hidden ones inside the dungeon, awakened by a light rune,” Otto explained, his brows furrowed as though he himself was still surprised.

”No other group managed this feat. For that, you receive the highest mark. An S.”

At those words, Cassandra’s lips curved faintly, the first real smile she had shown all day. Her gray eyes slid to Gray, filled with interest, as if silently acknowledging him.

’...Just like the old days, Emr—Gray... always the center of the party~’

Meanwhile, Mira, Claire, and Selina couldn’t hold back their joy.

”Yes!” Mira jumped lightly in her seat, her fists pumping in the air.

Claire let out a shaky laugh, relief washing over her face.

”I can’t believe we actually did it…”

Selina smirked proudly, brushing her long hair over her shoulder.

”Of course we did. With Gray, it was bound to happen.”

”It still feels unreal though…” Claire giggled, leaning closer.

Gray simply rolled his eyes to the side at their comments.

And then, before the group could say more, Otto’s voice rang out again.

”And now that the practical exam is finished… my evaluation of every single first-year student has been completed.”

The classroom immediately grew quiet.

Otto lifted his hand, and with a flick of his fingers, three large glowing lists appeared in the air, each containing exactly one hundred and twelve names.

Instincts.

Adaptability.

Power.

”As I mentioned during the first class, your rank was originally based only on the entrance exam. But from now on… You can finally change it based on these three lists.”

Otto snapped his fingers again.

The glowing panels shimmered, merging into a single ranking board that floated for all to see.

The tension in the room grew.

”Now…” Otto’s voice deepened.

”The first place of this new ranking, and also the old one, is Cassandra. First in Power, second in Instincts, and fourth in Adaptability.”

A round of murmurs spread through the classroom, Cassandra sitting with an elegant smile on her lips, as though she had expected nothing less.

”Second place,” Otto continued, ”Gray Vireux. Seventh in Power… undefined in Instincts… and first in Adaptability.”

Heads turned toward Gray in shock. His calm expression didn’t waver.

”Third place, Maelis D’Aurélion...”

Some students stiffened at the name, whispering faintly about her house and terrifying strength.

”Fourth, Leon Mirevant Étoile-Noire...”

A few cheers erupted from his group, Leon himself crossing his arms proudly.

”And fifth place…” Otto’s gaze swept over the room before settling.

”Dexter F. Orwald.”

Dexter smirked, leaning back in his seat as if the announcement had been obvious all along.

Then, Otto raised his hand, silencing the whispers before they could swell further.

”These five students will receive the best resources the academy can provide. In addition, they will gain access to our Oblivious Mana Tower, a place where mana grows denser the higher you climb. It is a sacred ground for cultivation, where progress can be accelerated far beyond normal limits.”

The classroom stirred, eyes widening at the mention of the tower.

Otto continued without pause.

”Furthermore, the top ten students will also be granted a one-time privilege to withdraw any technique from the academy’s library. As for the rest of you… Basic cultivation resources will be provided.”

At that, voices exploded from the back of the room.

”That’s unfair! Some of us don’t come from great houses! What about us commoners?!”

”Why should everything go to them just because of two exams?”

”This isn’t equal treatment!”

The complaints rose louder and louder, until Otto’s lips curled coldly.

”Fair?” His eyes gleamed dangerously, silencing everyone in one go.

”You think this academy was built on fairness? It was built on strength. If you want what they have, then take it.”

”But well, from tomorrow forward, duels are finally available. The top ten cannot refuse any duel. If you defeat one of them, their rank becomes yours. Simple as that.”

The students instantly gasped with delight at his words, most of them turning towards Gray like he was some kind of prey.

’...These little fuckers...’

[What a happy academy life~]

’Indeed.’

Then, Otto continued.

”And this is only the beginning. Throughout the year, the academy will hold countless events. Your performance in them will raise your standing… or drag you down. You will have no one to blame but yourself.”

His gaze swept across the students, daring them to speak again.

”Am I clear?”

No one answered at first, until a few nervous voices muttered:

”Yes, Professor.”

”Great,” Otto nodded, satisfied.

”Everyone is dismissed for today.”

At his words, the students didn’t hesitate before leaving the classroom instantly. They all talked happily like they weren’t planning on killing each other tomorrow.

However, Gray’s eyes remained on Selina’s figure.

’...The water fountain, huh?’

His lips curled up slighly.