Flutter—
Amidst the ranks of the Azure Dragon Class, a single flag soared high, fluttering in the wind.
A flag with the Four Guardian Beasts embroidered on a yellow background.
That was the very symbol of the Flying Dragon Academy, the Flying Dragon Flag.
Woah—.
Seeing that, the murmuring among the crowd grew louder.
"The Azure Dragon Class certainly has a different kind of momentum."
"Especially Namgung Cheon... I don't think of that person as a student like us."
"...Damn it, he's so cool."
The blue robe held a special meaning at the Flying Dragon Academy.
A place everyone yearned for, and thus, a place not just anyone could enter.
The mere sight of dozens of Azure Dragon Class students moving in formation naturally drew the eye.
"..."
In particular, the most attention was focused on Namgung Cheon, who stood at the center of the group.
Imperial Sword Dragon. The president of the Azure Dragon Class. The top student of his year.
It would be incredibly difficult to hold even one of those titles, yet Namgung Cheon possessed them all.
Aspiration and awe. Such emotions were deeply embedded in the gazes of the people looking at Namgung Cheon.
"..."
However, one person, Namgung Il, did not have such emotions in his eyes.
It was more like he was observing an opponent he had to defeat.
The emotion felt in his gaze was clear hostility.
Thud—.
Just then, Namgung Cheon stopped walking.
Accordingly, the students of the Azure Dragon Class all stopped in their tracks.
The movement, which felt flawless, was like watching well-trained soldiers.
"...I heard you were missing all day."
Just then, Namgung Cheon looked at Namgung Il in front of him and quietly opened his mouth.
At first glance, it sounded as if he was worried about Namgung Il, but Namgung Il already knew well that Namgung Cheon would never worry about him.
"I was certain you had gotten scared and run away."
"..."
"I'll praise you just for showing up here without running."
As expected, Namgung Cheon wasn't worried about him at all.
Namgung Il immediately put on a bitter smile and retorted.
"Why would I run away?"
"..."
"In just a little while, I'll get to see a spectacle you can't even pay to watch."
"...And what is that?"
"Your distorted face, brother."
At those words, Namgung Cheon's brow twitched slightly.
Recalling his usual appearance, it could be said that his expression had definitely changed, but it was still far from being called distorted.
"I will teach you what defeat is."
"..."
Namgung Cheon's expression immediately returned to normal.
However.
A man with a neat impression from the group of Azure Dragon Class students standing behind him showed his displeasure towards Namgung Il.
"Insolent."
"...?"
"Are you saying our Azure Dragon Class will lose to you?"
What's with this guy?
Namgung Il looked quizzically at the uninvited guest who had suddenly cut in.
"Who are you to butt into our conversation as you please?"
"I am a third-year from the Azure Dragon Class. Yu Ji-han."
"..."
"From the looks of it, you seem to be a first-year. Why is your tone so rude when addressing our class president?"
You reap what you sow.
The man named Yu Ji-han's tone clearly held hostility, so even though it was their first meeting, Namgung Il felt he couldn't speak politely.
"Who told you to interfere?"
Just then, a cold voice cut off Namgung Il's words.
The owner of that voice was Namgung Cheon.
The target of his frosty tone and gaze was none other than Yu Ji-han.
"I-I'm sorry."
"..."
"But I could not stand by and watch that first-year run his mouth insolently at you, President."
Yu Ji-han immediately apologized.
However, a cold chill was still flowing from Namgung Cheon's eyes, and Yu Ji-han, realizing this, couldn't say anything and just kept watching his expression.
"So, are you saying you are great enough to step forward on my behalf?"
"I-I had no such intention..."
"Return to your place."
"...Yes."
In the end, Yu Ji-han had no choice but to retreat without another word.
It was the same for the other students.
They were all just watching Namgung Cheon's expression and maintaining their silence.
'He's no different from a subordinate.'
Even to an outsider like Namgung Il, it looked close to a master-servant relationship.
No matter how much the class president represented the class, it didn't mean they had the right to rule over the students like subordinates.
But Namgung Cheon seemed to have completely dominated the Azure Dragon Class itself.
'Not just any class, but the Azure Dragon Class... He's certainly an amazing guy.'
The Azure Dragon Class was mainly composed of children from renowned and prestigious families.
As such, their pride was bound to be higher than that of students from other classes, and controlling them in such a way was by no means something anyone could do.
But that Namgung Cheon had achieved it in just two years.
Putting aside the fact that he didn't like his personality, he had to acknowledge that Namgung Cheon's leadership ability was outstanding.
"It's been a while."
"..."
"Did our cute first-year perhaps commit another rudeness?"
Just then, Ak Simin stepped forward and asked Namgung Cheon.
Of course, Namgung Cheon knew that he wasn't asking because he was genuinely curious.
"...No. I just came to offer a simple greeting to the Vermilion Bird Class."
"Is that so? Well, it's a pleasure."
Namgung Cheon and Ak Simin shook hands and exchanged a light greeting.
A handshake between class presidents.
On the surface, it looked like a light greeting, but that alone created tension in the surroundings.
"..."
After some time, Namgung Cheon tried to pull his hand away.
But just then, Ak Simin gripped Namgung Cheon's hand like a viper.
As Namgung Cheon looked at him with an expressionless gaze, Ak Simin spoke with a slightly serious face.
"You'd better be nervous this time."
"..."
"Our Vermilion Bird Class also did our best for this Clear Bright Festival. So, we will be taking the Spring Flying Dragon Flag this year."
Ak Simin said and glanced at the Flying Dragon Flag fluttering behind him.
At that provocation, the expressions of the Azure Dragon Class students contorted slightly, but Namgung Cheon still maintained his composure.
"One does not look up at a mountain one cannot climb."
"..."
"I was wondering who Namgung Il was influenced by... Now I see."
The two let go of their hands after those words.
And Namgung Cheon, who turned and walked away.
The Azure Dragon Class students were still glaring at them with sharp eyes, but as Namgung Cheon moved, they had no choice but to follow him.
Grit—.
In particular, Yu Ji-han was glaring at the Vermilion Bird Class until the very end.
No, to be precise, his gaze was directed at only one person.
Namgung Il received the piercing gaze directed at him without much thought.
'Yu Ji-han? Is that guy also from some prestigious family?'
He couldn't tell where he was from just by his name or appearance.
Well, that wasn't important right now.
Namgung Il soon turned his head as if uninterested.
***
After some time, people from other classes also gathered in the plaza.
"Then, from now on, we will announce the Clear Bright Festival tally."
"..."
"I am Wi Ji-yang, the head of the Student Council's Operations Department."
Wi Ji-yang said and gave a light bow to the people.
At that moment, cheers erupted from here and there.
Female students were screaming, regardless of class or year.
"Senior, you're so handsome!"
"Please wave your hand this way just once!"
"Kyaa! He just smiled at me!"
Wi Ji-yang smiled and waved his hand at the female students who were cheering for him.
A rather skilled appearance, as if it wasn't his first or second time.
Come to think of it, Namgung Il remembered what had happened when he first met Wi Ji-yang.
'At that time, he was rolling around half-naked with some woman.'
Looking at him now, he certainly seemed quite popular with the female students.
Is that the effect of the student council?
To be honest, if it were just based on looks, he himself was much more handsome.
'The student council...'
Seeing that, he felt a little regretful for refusing Cheon Hong-ryeong's offer.
If he had joined the student council, he would surely be surrounded by far more female students than that right now.
Well, that by no means meant he would join the student council even now.
"The heat of this year's Clear Bright Festival was truly intense compared to other years."
"..."
"As such, the income earned by each class was no joke. We will now announce the results right away!"
At that moment, a loud sound was heard from somewhere.
A cheerful melody created by the mixing of various musical instruments.
He had been wondering what the student council was preparing to cause such a delay, and Namgung Il realized that the orchestra over there was the reason.
"The performance was provided by the Cheoneumhoe (Heavenly Sound Society), a traditional society of the Flying Dragon Academy."
"..."
"Then, we will announce it right away."
Dudududu—.
A rhythm that heightened the tension.
As soon as it ended, Wi Ji-yang grabbed the paper attached to the bulletin board.
"Fourth place!"
"..."
"You've worked hard. The White Tiger Class!"
Shouting so, Wi Ji-yang tore off the paper.
Where the paper had been covering, the name of the White Tiger Class was written, and next to it, the rank and a number of unknown meaning were written.
"The White Tiger Class held a splendid performance. The total profit earned is 12,560 Flying Dragon Coins!"
Only after hearing those words did Namgung Il understand the meaning of the number next to the rank.
To think they would reveal not only the rank but also how much was earned in detail.
Namgung Il laughed silently, as if amused.
'With this, I can clearly see how much of a difference there is.'
It was a much more interesting method than simply revealing the ranks.
With this, they would be able to see by how much their performance was lacking to have their rank pushed down.
In a way, it could also be called a very cruel method.
"What... we only got that much?"
"Last place... I thought we wouldn't get last place, at least."
Sighs of disappointment were heard from the White Tiger Class.
12,560 coins. It was a good enough score, but from the perspective of the students who had actually performed, it was a figure that seemed very lacking.
"Then, next, third place!"
"..."
"The Black Tortoise Class!"
Next, the third place was announced.
The number of Flying Dragon Coins for the Black Tortoise Class was 18,050.
It was a figure that differed from the White Tiger Class by more than 5,000.
"What, the Black Tortoise Class is third?"
"Wait... then which classes are left?"
"The Azure Dragon Class and the Vermilion Bird Class."
Everyone was surprised by the unexpected result.
To think the Vermilion Bird Class had come this far.
Since the Vermilion Bird Class had taken last place in the Clear Bright Festival every year, just coming this far was a truly exceptional event.
"No way... the Vermilion Bird Class isn't going to take first place, are they?"
"Nah... no way."
"It's not 'no way.' I heard the Vermilion Bird Class had a huge number of customers."
"It was the same for the Azure Dragon Class. I went there, and the waiting line was endless."
As the announcement went this far, people started to have heated discussions here and there.
The Azure Dragon Class and the Vermilion Bird Class.
The opinion that the Azure Dragon Class would win was overwhelmingly dominant, but the number of people who claimed the Vermilion Bird Class would win was by no means small.
"The excitement is gradually building."
"..."
"It seems everyone is really curious about who will take first place."
Wi Ji-yang said and grabbed the paper.
Accordingly, everyone stopped talking and focused their attention there.
"Don't be surprised. For reference, from second place onwards, the number of Flying Dragon Coins becomes enormous."
"...?"
"On top of that, the difference between first and second place is a mere 40 coins! It was a truly close match."
A mere 40 coins?
People couldn't help but be surprised by that small difference.
This was a difference that could almost be called a tie.
However, that small difference had determined the ranks of the two classes, and even if the number of coins didn't differ much, the difference between first and second place would be stark.
"Then, I will announce it!"
"..."
A moment of tension for everyone.
Namgung Il, and everyone else, were all looking at the paper Wi Ji-yang was holding.
Chwaak—.
The paper was torn away.
And the one name written at the very top.
The name written there was the class that had won this year's Clear Bright Festival.
"Congratulations!"
"...!"
"The winner is... the Azure Dragon Class!"
Who had won?
That fact could be seen from the expressions of both classes even before Wi Ji-yang's voice came out.
(End of Chapter)