T/N - Last chapter had wrong numbering. 692—»693.

The class assignment lists were posted right next to the test results bulletin board.

Basically, they’d put up the rosters for the Combat Department, ranging from Class 1 all the way down to Class 119.

Someone might wonder now, "Wait, doesn't that seem a bit low?", and that wouldn't be wrong. After all, during the entrance ceremony, there were as many as 127 classes for our department in the freshmen category.

It appeared a part of them had either transferred to «Combat Department New Grade», or simply in another department. And due to such circumstances, the total number of classes had dropped to a total of 119 classes. Well, I could see the same number jumping up next year.

Ahem, but I digressed.

The entire bulletin board was covered by a massive sheet of paper stretching from one end of the board all the way to the back due to the staggering number of students. Frankly, it felt more like a giant banner.

The class I was in, Class-1, was at the far edge, also the furthest possible spot from where I was standing. In contrast, the closest list to me was Class-119. I could already see a few students crumbling into orz pose—aka kneeling—before it. ...Yeah, let's not disturb them.

Alongside Tomoyo and Celestin, as they approached manoeuvring from the sea of crowd, I headed straight for the Class-1 list.

Just to myself, but it was quite funny to see the students, who were glued to banner-like paper until then, sliding away to open a way for us.

"We're heading straight for the Class-1 list, huh..."

"Well, I can't imagine myself, or Celestin, anywhere other than Class-1. We're the top rankers after all. Where do you think you'll end up, Tomoyo?"

"Um, well, I think I did pretty well in the Inter-Class competition, and I'm quite confident in my Job. As for the exams... I did decent, I guess? I'm pretty sure I made it into a single-digit class."

Maybe it's because I've been making small talk with her, but she's finally starting to speak more naturally.

Tomoyo was originally in Class 12. Now she was confident about better ranking, huh.

"Alright, let's just check them in order, starting from Class 1."

"Wait, really? Is that okay?"

"Hm? What?"

"Well, I just assumed we'd part ways here."

"What? We're in the same guild, aren't we? That makes us comrades! Come on, we'll look for your name together."

"C-Comrades! T-that's so cool, Zephyr-san! Eek, I said it out loud!"

"Whoa?"

Where did that come from? Tomoyo's energy just shot through the roof. Or wait, maybe this is her true personality? Now that I think about it, I vaguely remember her talking exactly like this when she was chatting with her girl group during class breaks.

"Ahhh, I'm so happy!—Maria-chan, I'm absolutely savoring this moment right now!"

"Hm? You know Maria?"

"Gah! Did my inner voice leak out?! Please pretend you didn't hear that!"

"You know, you can just talk like that. It feels a lot more relaxed and approachable."

"R-Really?! Oh my gosh, as expected of Zephyr-kun! You're so open-minded!"

Yep, yep. It looks like Tomoyo is getting suitably hyped up.

She's completely dropped her nerves. Honestly, her stiff way of speaking earlier made it seem like she was holding back, which was bugging me a bit. Class reshuffles are all about bringing the hype, after all!

"Ah, here it is. Zephyr-sama, right this way."

"Gotcha!"

I was so caught up talking with Tomoyo that I almost walked right past it. Celestin’s voice brings me back to reality. Phew, close one!

We slip through the crowd of students—who part for us like the Red Sea—and checked the Class 1 roster.

・ Zephyr

・ Sierra

・ Lana

・ Ester

・ Karua

・ Rika

・ Celestin

・ Lulu

・ Keisheria

・ Shizu

・ Pamela

・ Ekatrina

・ Mert

・ Misato

・ Noel

・ Lacritta

・ Reglam

・ Sachi

・ Emi

・ Yuuka

・ Tomoyo

・ Miyu

・ Alan

・ Aisha

・ Lamda

・ Kiel

・ Haku

・ Lyana

・ Nagi

・ Sedan

"Wow! I mean, hot damn. 21 of the guild members from the combat department have made it to the list?! Oh wait, and you're with us too, Tomoyo!"

"Wait, really?! Yippe! I totally have to brag about this on the forums later!"

The first thing that blew my mind about the list was its makeup.

Astonishingly, every single combat-oriented member from both Eden and Arc-Arcadia had been grouped into Class 1.

Seriously? That's insane. But was this even allowed?

I did hear the ranking was the cumulative score after taking into account the performance in Inter-class competition, test results, job ranking, student's attitude, whether they've received any merit or penalty from academy, achievements, or exploration record and so on. If that was so, we, Eden and Arc-Arcadia, certainly excelled in that aspect in contrast to typical freshmen.

If anything, a good number of our guild members were already sitting at level cap. And many of them even had the best among the best jobs. Yeah, even in exploration, no one could come close to us in freshmen grade/

Everyone also made it to finale in inter-class competition, and gained significant ranking.

The only thing I was unsure about was exams, but at least no one ended up with failing marks.

I was quite apprehensive we might get split into different classes. It really was one big burden off my chest. Tomoyo also managed to make it into the same class. As a fact, she's been shaking me violently by the shoulders in her excitement for a while now. I couldn't really blame her, so I'm just letting her shake away. Hahaha!

"However, it appears almost half the roster of Class 1 has changed."

"From our guild alone, Mert, Reglam, Rina, Noel, Lacritta, and Tomoyo are new additions. Out of the other initial Class 1 students, only Miyu, Alan, and Aisha managed to stay."

"Six new students have come to replace them."

"Oh nice, Lambda is in our class too. And Sedan from Class-2 made it!"

It looks like all the players who stepped into the spotlight during the Inter-Class competition's awards ceremony were fast-tracked into Class-1.

Then again, the award ceremony was literally the moment for the academy to show off their strength. Perhaps, their entrance into the jewel of the academy, the Class-1, had already decided at that very moment.

Oh wait, one person is missing. Where's the dwarf?!

"Ah, it appears Akemi-chan and others are placed in Class-2."

"I see. Right, you're in the same class with them."

Following Tomoyo's gaze, I spot the name of Akemi—the former leader of Class-12—along with her followers on the Class 2 roster. Looks like those three made their way into Class 2 together.

Since Tomoyo was also their former classmate, she appeared a little bummed about being separated from them.

Scanning the rest of Class 2, I spot a few names I recognize from the competition. Though, there were also some names conspicuously absent.

Come to think of it, I didn't see certain names from previous Class-1 nearby either. Where did they end up?

I was just wondering about that when I heard the signature haughty laugh of the very guy I was looking for.

"Behold! Just as I expected, I am in Class 1! Mwahahahahaha!"

"Ah, there he is."

Speak of the devil and they shall appear, eh? The quartet, guild members of «Best of the Best, the Great Star»—they'd lately received a new title from students «The Pride Fry Nuggets»—soon showcased themselves.

Their guildmaster, Saturn, was pointing at a sheet of paper, absolutely howling with triumphant laughter. But the Class-1 list wasn't there though.

However, he is not pointing at the Class 1 roster.

"Fu, fufu. Um, Saturn... y-you might want to look a little closer."

"Hm?"

Prompted by Jilong, Saturn finally realizes it. Right between the "1" and the "Class", there was a very distinct "0".

・ Saturn - Class 10

That's exactly what was written. Saturn vigorously rubs his eyes.

"How strange. I think I might have myopic eyes. I'm seeing unnecessary digits."

He completely refused to believe what's right in front of him.

"No, it's the reality, Saturn."

"Just accept it. You're in Class 10 with the rest of us. When has this Venerable ever been wrong?"

Urged by the other two standing beside him, Saturn was finally forced to face reality.

"Y-You must be kidding meeee?! I... this me, in Class 10?!"

Saturn shrieks, his mind utterly rejecting the shocking outcome.

"W-Wait a minute, zero! The teachers must have slipped this zero in by mistake! Yes, that must be it. There is no other explanation. I must go to the staff room at once!"

Driven mad by his inability to accept reality, Saturn started rambling. But suddenly, a shadow looms over him.

H-He... I remember that mob-ish boy, I think. He was the one who'd completely ignored Sedan, and started bickering with Saturn during the very first match of inter-class competition.

Wait, isn't that the generic mob-looking guy from the former Class 2?! The one who completely ignored Sedan and started bickering with Saturn during the first match of the Inter-Class Tournament!

He glides up behind Saturn like a vengeful ghost, his eyes bulging wide. He places a heavy hand on Saturn's shoulder. As Saturn turns around, the mob whispers from point-blank range in a low, gravelly voice:

"Welcooomeee..."

"Gyaaaahhh?! A ghoooossssttt?!"

I heard from Sedan later that the mob guy had also been placed in Class 10.

Saturn ended up being dragged off by him into the great unknown.

Hope you guys become good friends, Saturn.

T/N - Vol.2 illustration page has been fixed! (Really had to dig in my too many folders). But it appears Vol.1 page is also bugged, and Vo.10 page need to be confirmed. Welp, this weekened.