[Zane: Anyone get him yet? I genuinely think I'm fucked for this test if there's not some miracle.]

[Alyssa: ??? What are we supposed to do? He just ignores us.]

[Dice: Surely, he's made a study guide, right?]

Scanning the constantly updating group chat, I scoffed and sat down.

What did I care about their grades? I didn't owe them anything.

Surprisingly, as the bell rang and Professor Lily strolled as usual, nothing appeared on the whiteboard.

Instead, the green-haired teacher simply paused before her lectern and announced.

"Today is a free-study day. Please use your time carefully to prepare for your upcoming midterms. As you all should know, after midterms, ranks will be reassigned, based on what you have accomplished before and during the midterm."

"And if you don't recall, the bottom 20% of all students are removed from the first year at the very end."

"I will be available here till the end of the day to answer any questions."

"Also, please be sure to check your email; instructions about this year's battle royale will be released, and starting tomorrow, groups may be formed."

Before ending her announcements, Lily suddenly reached under her lectern, revealing a massive poster, and plastered the paper over the whiteboard.

[Labyrinth Practical Results]

[1. Team Serena]

[2. Team Leo]

[3. Team Carissa]

[4. Team Haerin]

[5. Team Jo-yung]

[6. Team Hajin]

...

...

...

[37. Team Magnus]

As Professor Lily stopped speaking and simply sat down at her desk, I sighed and scanned Magnus's name.

His inferiority complex...must be thriving right now.

With this rank, Magnus's turn to the evil side due to his ego should have been sped up...at the very least, three months.

In the original book, he had placed second, but due to my actions to protect Ruby against her own team, things had ended up this way.

Was there...even a way to prevent Magnus from becoming a villain?

Unlike with Ruby, whose descent was caused by other students, Magnus's was indirectly caused by plot events.

Leo had to take the spotlight from every incident and talk with the main cast; he was, of course, the protagonist.

Seeing Leo do all this and even grow closer to the main cast, who he had known since his childhood years, would of course spark something in Magnus.

How would you feel if some new kid showed up, took your number one spot, and all your friends within just a few months?

I couldn't just stop Leo from growing close to the main cast or saving countless lives...though.

Usually, Magnus's full villain arc would emerge at the end of the first year, but at this rate, it would occur before the end of midterms.

Cupping my hand around my mouth, I gazed forward at Ruby, who was hiding her head on her desk, obviously blaming their low rank on her own effort, when in reality it was her own teammates that caused it.

At least...she's fine, right? No more Mrs. Villain.

Snapping me back to reality, the sound of countless chair legs scraping against the stone floor sounded throughout the room as students prepared to leave the classroom.

I also sprang upward..

...

...

...

Hearing the professor's words, Carissa lazily rested her hand on her palm, glancing to her side at Haerin and forward at Leo's back.

What are they going to do?

At that moment, a sudden moment of clarity passed through her mind.

Why did...I even think that!?

The old Carissa would have leaped out of her seat and rushed to her solitary room, where she could be safe from everyone's eyes.

Yet...now, here she was, basing her decisions on others.

A smile unknownly crept onto her face; she glanced around, the faint image of a person forming in her head.

Perhaps, it wasn't so bad.

After all, she had missed out on many birthdays, family events, and social gatherings due to her emotional struggles.

Suddenly, though, a sudden white haired student exited the row to her right and beganwalking down the stairs, catching her attention.

Titling her head, Carissa was about to say something, but Haerin beat her to it, getting up and saying.

"Magnus, I haven't seen you in a wh-"

However, her voice fell on deaf ears as Magnus simply continued walking, leaving Haerin standing alone awkwardly with her mouth open.

Leo simply observed the entire scene, rolling his eyes and shifting his attention back to the textbook before him.

However, at that moment, like two cars meeting at an intersection, Athen approached the door while Magnus also stepped forward.

A moment of awkward silence emerged as the two boys both stood in front of the door, neither able to go through.

As expected, Athen stepped backward, clearing the doorway for Magnus to step through.

Yet, just as Magnus's right foot lunged forward, Athen suddenly said, just loud enough for Leo in the first row to hear.

"She was talking to you. Haerin."

Magnus's right foot instantly paused mid-air, as his head slowly turned around, turning to face Athen.

His golden-yellow pupils met Athen's, and after a brief moment of silence, Magnus...smiled.

"Ah, I must have missed her."

Turning back around normally, Magnus exited to the classroom, and Athen simply shrugged his shoulders and followed.

Narrowing his eyes, Leo watched Athen turn right, just like Magnus, and paused.

Was it...a coincidence?

Is he going to follow him!?

Interrupting Leo's train of thought, a strict and stern voice sounded from before him.

"Are you curious? I told you he needs to be watched. Remember when you said that tracking symbol was an 'invasion of his privacy '? Now what? Aren't you glad I put a collar on that dog?"

Jumping out of his seat, Leo simply smiled, raising his eyebrows slightly at the "dog" comment, and said.

"Thank you very much, Genius. Let's go."

A confident smirk appearing on her face. Serena glanced down at her wrist and exited the classroom alongside Leo.

Thus, Haerin and Carissa were awkwardly left behind, glancing at each other.

Eventually, Haerin suggested.

"Want to grab a bite before the library?"

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