Chapter 103 The First Place

Finally, it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting for. The professor in charge of the class stepped up to the podium and cleared her throat. "And now, for the first place winner of our class's practice exam," she announced, "with an outstanding score of 98 out of 100 points, the winner is Gabmucs Si Sterling!"

The room exploded into thunderous applause as Sterling stood up, acting both shocked and elated. Suzuka watched in disbelief as the other students cheered for Sterling, congratulating him on his achievement. She couldn't believe her ears what she just heard and her eyes what she had just witnessed.

Sterling stood on the stage in front of students, a wide grin on his face as he surveyed his fellow peers. His eyes flicked to the trophy on the desk beside him, gleaming in the sunlight that streamed through the window. He cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Dear fellow students, today, I stand before you with a great sense of pride and accomplishment. As you all know, I have just placed first in the monster slaying practice exam, and I must say, it feels amazing. This is indeed an achievement that I owe to my hard work and dedication. But I couldn't have done it without your support and encouragement, so I want to thank each and every one of you for always pushing me to be my best."

Some of the students murmured in agreement, while others looked on skeptically. Only a few knew Sterling as a scum and a bully, and they were not easily swayed by his sweet talk.

Sterling continued, "I must admit that I have not always shown the best example of a model student. But today, I want to take a moment to apologize for my past behavior, and to assure you that I am committed to being a better person and a better student from here on out."

He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the crowd. "I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the bravery and excellence of all the students who participated in the attack against the monsters called Swamper. You all showed immense courage and skill in the face of danger, and I am proud to be a part of such a talented and capable group of people."

There were a lot of nods of approval, but Sterling could sense that some of the students were still unconvinced. He decided to change the subject and focus on the professor and Royal Knights.

"I want to give a special shoutout to Professor Silva and the Royal Knights for their heroic efforts in the fight against Swampers. They showed us what it truly means to be brave and selfless, and I hope to one day be half as courageous as they are, unlike curtain someone who just stood idly and watched."

He paused for effect, then added, "In closing, I want to say that I am truly humbled and honored to be recognized for my rightful accomplishments in the monster slaying practice exam. But more than that, I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing community of students. Let's continue to support each other, learn from our mistakes, and strive for greatness in all that we do."

"Thank you all and congratulations to each and every one of us for our hard work and dedication."

Sterling finished his speech with a flourish, grinning widely as he raised his trophy in triumph. The students clapped politely, as Sterling stepped off the stage.

Professor Silva walked up, her long, flowing robes trailing behind her. She had a stern look on her face, and the students immediately fell silent.

"I want to thank Sterling for his speech," she began, her voice clear and authoritative. "But I also want to remind everyone that true courage and bravery come not from words, but from actions."

Silva continued speaking after a short pause, "I also want to take this opportunity to apologize for Sterling's bad behavior during the previous practice exam. He knows that he was out of line and has taken steps to make amends for his actions. We should all learn from his remarkable example and strive to be better people."

With a serious voice, Professor Silva continued her speech. "Now, let's talk about the Swamper attack," she said, her eyes scanning the crowd. "It was a terrifying experience, and I want to commend each and every one of you for your bravery in the face of danger. You showed true grit and determination, and I couldn't be prouder of you."

The students looked at each other, a sense of pride and accomplishment filling the room.

"But," Professor Silva continued, her tone becoming more somber, "there were some who did not rise to the occasion. Who did not show the same level of courage and selflessness that we expect from our students."

The room fell silent, their eyes started to look for the students who did not rise to the occasion.

"I'm looking at you, Helen," Professor Silva said sternly. "While our fellow students were getting hurt, you just stood there and did nothing. That's not the kind of behavior we expect from our peers. We must all be ready to step up and face any challenge that comes our way. Considering your superior combat experience and knowledge of magic box power, you chose to stand idly and enjoy the agony and pain of your fellow peers."

Suzuka could not believe the amount of garbage thrown around and the public shaming she just received.

"But," Professor Silva added, her tone softening, "this is not a time for recriminations or blame. It is a time for us to come together and support one another. We all have weaknesses and fears, but it is up to us to overcome them and become stronger for it."

The students nodded, feeling a sense of relief that the tension in the room had dissipated. They knew that Professor Silva was right: they were a community, and they needed to support one another through the good times and the bad.

But Professor Silva did not finish her speech there, "In conclusion, I want to congratulate Sterling once again for his impressive achievement. Let's all learn from his example and strive to be the best versions of ourselves. Together, we can overcome any obstacle and become the true champions we are meant to be."

The students shifted uncomfortably in their seats, sensing that Professor Silva was about to address another topic.

"Now! I would like to address another matter," she continued after a short pause, "I have heard rumors of bullying and intimidation among our students," Professor Silva continued. "This is not acceptable behavior. We are here to learn and to support one another, not to tear each other down."

There was a murmur of agreement from the students, and some of them glanced at Sterling, who looked distinctly uncomfortable.

"Let me be clear: anyone caught engaging in such behavior will face disciplinary action," Professor Silva said firmly. "We are all part of a community here, and it is up to us to ensure that this community is a safe and welcoming place for everyone. That will be all from me, thank you all for the time."

With that, she nodded to the students and stepped off the stage. The room was silent for a few moments, and then the students began to file out, deep in thought about what had just transpired.

Suzuka sat there in the empty hall, still in shock over what she had just witnessed. She couldn't shake off the feeling that Sterling had cheated somehow. She tried to rationalize it, but the thought kept nagging at her.

As the other students filed out of the hall, Suzuka remained seated, lost in thought. Eventually, she stood up and made her way to her next class, it was a class on magic rune letters, something she usually enjoyed, but today she just couldn't find the energy, feeling defeated and unmotivated.

After entering the classroom, she immediately spotted Silvia sitting in a nearby seat. Suzuka noticed a barely visible bruising on Silvia's face and the dust and dirt on her uniform. She felt a pang of guilt for not doing anything to help her earlier.

Suzuka hesitated for a moment before walking over to Silvia. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

Silvia looked up at her, surprise evident in her expression. "I'm fine," she replied, but her voice wavered a bit.

Suzuka didn't believe her, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she sat down next to Silvia and tried to focus on the upcoming lesson, but her mind kept drifting back to what she had witnessed earlier.

Silvia is a small, petite girl with a delicate frame. She has a timid demeanor and often appears passive in her interactions with others. Her naivety is evident in the way she approaches situations, often trusting others too easily and failing to stand up for herself when necessary. 

Her soft-spoken voice is almost a whisper, and she tends to avoid eye contact when speaking with others. She often seems fragile and vulnerable, as if she could be easily pushed around by stronger personalities. Silvia was a petite young woman, standing just below Suzuka's shoulder height. Suzuka's tall stature made her look down upon Silvia, almost as if she was towering over her.

"So, what's your deal, Silvia?" Suzuka asked boldly, crossing her arms. "Do you like being bullied by Sterling?"

Silvia flinched at the mention of Sterling's name and looked up at Suzuka with a timid expression. "I-I don't like being bullied," she said softly. "I just don't know how to stand up for myself."

Suzuka rolled her eyes. "Well, you need to learn how to stand up for yourself. You can't just let people walk all over you like that. in fact, you were blessed with the opportunity to get rid of your tormentor. But what did you do? You saved him instead, do you really love him or something?"

Silvia looked down again, twiddling her thumbs. "I-I know, but it's hard," she said. "And I didn't protect Sterling because I love him or anything. I just thought it was the right thing to do."

Suzuka snorted. "The right thing to do? Protecting that scum? You're just as bad as he is."

Silvia flinched again and looked up at Suzuka with tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to upset you. Please, don't bully me as well."

Silvia continued, "I...I don't know what to do. He's so strong and I'm just...so weak. And he's popular, everyone likes him. I don't have any friends, I'm all alone. And when I covered him during the attack, I just wanted him to like me."

"You're such a sad little girl, always playing the victim. Nobody's going to like you if you don't stand up for yourself. You need to grow a backbone and stop letting people walk all over you."

"Easy for you to say, I'm not strong like you, Helen. I'm not brave."

Suzuka sighed and looked away. "Whatever," she said. "Just don't cry when Sterling and his lackeys come after you again."

"I envy you, Helen, you have it so easy. You're so strong, no one messes with you."

The comment that Silvia made about having it easy made Suzuka furious. She could feel her blood boil and the urge to lash out at Silvia was growing stronger. Suzuka didn't think twice and grabbed Silvia by the hand, ready to give her a piece of her mind. However, as she held Silvia's hand, she felt how soft and fragile it was. It was as if she could smush her flesh and break her tiny bones if she just squeezed a little stronger.

Suzuka paused for a moment, looking at Silvia's small body size and passive demeanor. She realized that Silvia was not like the battle-hardened veterans or mighty beasts she was used to dealing with. She was just a mare student, naive and innocent. Suzuka felt a pang of guilt for her earlier behavior towards Silvia. She failed to think that Silvia was not used to the harshness of the world yet.

Suzuka's eyes softened as she gazed at Silvia's slight frame. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt in her chest for her earlier brusque attitude towards the younger girl. Suzuka had grown accustomed to dealing with battle-hardened veterans and mighty beasts, and sometimes she forgot that not everyone was as experienced or as tough as she was.

Silvia, on the other hand, was just a mere student. Naive and innocent, she had likely never encountered the harshness of the world that Suzuka had grown accustomed to. As she sat there, towering over Silvia. She looked down at Silvia and realized that she had been too harsh on her. She had failed to take into account that Silvia was not a fighter and didn't have the same level of training as she did. Suzuka couldn't help but feel a twinge of remorse for her behavior.

Suzuka's grip on Silvia's hand softened as she leaned in, her eyes piercing. "You don't get to talk to me like that," she said. "I didn't have it easy. I had my share of hard times. Nearly died more than once."

Silvia flinched at Suzuka's words, her eyes filling with tears. "I-I didn't know," she stammered. "I'm sorry."

Suzuka's expression softened a bit, but she still held onto Silvia's hand. "Look, I'm not going to be your friend or anything like that. But I can teach you how to defend yourself and how to stand up to Sterling and his goons. It's up to you if you want to take my help or not."

Silvia hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding. "O-okay, I'll try."

Suzuka let go of her hand. "Good. Meet me in the training hall tomorrow after class. And don't be late."