Chapter 21 - 1S Class

Why did she decide to teach Class 1S?

Ash walked down the corridor, his mind tangled in thought.

His steps were measured, controlled, but his expression remained neutral.

Around him, a few students stole quick glances to his striking looks, and his unusual silvery white hair naturally drew attention.

But they soon returned to their own conversations, uninterested.

"The only thing that could have changed the story is me…" he muttered under his breath before shaking his head.

No, let's not think about it.

Overthinking wouldn't get him anywhere.

Let things flow as they are, he told himself, setting his resolve as he neared his destination.

Standing before the classroom door, he inhaled deeply.

Here goes nothing.

Keeping his face unreadable, he pushed the door open.

The moment he did, all movement within the room came to an abrupt halt.

It was as if someone had pressed a pause button. Conversations died mid-sentence, laughter was cut off, and the rustling of papers and books ceased.

Dozens of eyes turned toward him in unison, their gazes varying in intensity.

Some students regarded him with mild curiosity, as if trying to recall where they had seen him before.

Others looked at him with a sense of superiority, already dismissing him as unimportant.

A few, mostly from the high-ranking families, had expressions bordering on disdain, as if his very presence was an inconvenience.

Despite the attention, Ash's expression didn't waver.

Instead, he quietly stepped forward, the sound of his shoes against the polished floor echoing in the otherwise silent room.

He didn't falter, didn't slow down.

He moved with purpose, heading toward the back of the class without giving anyone the satisfaction of a reaction.

As he walked past the rows of desks, he caught bits of hushed whispers among the students.

"Who is he?" one voice murmured.

"Never seen him before…" another added, a note of confusion in their tone.

"Wait, isn't he the guy who fought Ethan?"

At that, a few more students turned their attention toward him, recognizing his face.

Some exchanged glances, while others simply scoffed and turned away, as if he wasn't worth acknowledging.

Ash ignored them.

He had expected this reaction. In a class filled with children of the most influential figures in the world, his presence was an anomaly.

He wasn't part of their world, he wasn't from an esteemed bloodline, nor did he have an awe-inspiring reputation.

He was a nobody in their eyes, and he preferred to keep it that way.

Still, that didn't change the fact that their teacher was Elva, and that alone was enough reason for him to move to the back.

Sitting in the front would make him an easy target, and that was the last thing he wanted.

Reaching the last row, he pulled out a chair and sat down, leaning slightly back as he exhaled slowly.

His posture was relaxed, but his mind remained alert.

The moment he settled in, the spell of silence that had gripped the classroom finally broke.

Students resumed their conversations, and the low hum of voices filled the space once more.

It was as if his presence no longer mattered, as if he had simply faded into the background.

And that was exactly what he wanted.

Let them ignore him.

Let them think he was insignificant.

Because the truth was, they wouldn't be able to ignore him forever.

He ran a hand through his hair, sighing internally. For now, at least, I managed to stay out of the public eye… but how long will that last?

His instincts told him it wouldn't be long before he was dragged into something.

And with Elva as their teacher, there was no telling what that something would be.

Just as he was about to lose himself in thought, the door creaked open again.

And, just like before, the room fell into silence.

Two figures stepped inside.

Ash shifted his gaze, his neutral expression not betraying the sudden interest that sparked in his mind.

The first to enter was a girl with striking violet hair cascading down her shoulders, her green eyes sharp and observant.

She carried herself with effortless grace, her every movement controlled and deliberate, as if she had long grown accustomed to being in the spotlight.

She was the type of person who naturally commanded attention without having to ask for it.

Lyra Evergrove, Ash thought, his mind immediately supplying the information from the novel.

Rank 3. Daughter of Saint Lydia Evergrove. Future head of the Alchemist Guild.

Her talent in alchemy was unparalleled, surpassing even that of her legendary mother.

And if that wasn't enough, she also had the rare Summoner class, making her even more of a force to be reckoned with.

Behind her, a second figure entered—a boy with a tall, muscular build, his black hair slightly unkempt.

His sharp brown eyes carried an intensity that made him look naturally intimidating, and the faint scowl on his handsome face only added to his rough image.

Unlike Lyra, who exuded refined elegance, this boy had an air of roughness.

Irvin Earthrend. Rank 5. Son of Saint Maelis Earthrend.

A Berserker. A talented blacksmith. And a known troublemaker.

The moment they stepped in, the reactions from the students were immediate.

Unlike when Ash had entered and was merely met with mild curiosity, Lyra and Irvin were instantly swarmed.

Students from high-ranking families approached them with eager smiles, their voices filled with forced politeness as they greeted them.

It was obvious they were trying to curry favor, eager to align themselves with the future leaders of their respective fields.

Ash watched the scene unfold with an unimpressed look, barely hiding the scoff threatening to escape his lips.

Politics. How exhausting.

It was the same everywhere.

Status and power dictated everything in this world, and those without it were either ignored or trampled upon.

It was a game he had no interest in playing.

Lyra responded to the greetings with practiced politeness, her expression never faltering, while Irvin barely acknowledged the attention, his patience clearly running thin.

After exchanging pleasantries, they finally moved to their seats, both choosing separate spots at the front of the class.

Just as they sat down, the door opened yet again.

This time, two girls entered.

And, for a brief moment, even Ash was momentarily speechless.

Elysia Moonglow and Grace Starhaven.

Their beauty is really enchanting.

Elysia with her silver hair and her Blood red eyes had a delicate, almost ethereal beauty—one that made people instinctively want to protect her.

Grace, on the other hand, was the exact opposite.

Golden hair, golden eyes, and an aura that made people hesitant to meet her gaze for too long—as if staring too much would suck your soul.

Ash moved his gaze downward, as not to embarrass himself,

Grace is also the Daughter of Saint Myra Starhaven, another big shot girl, But Elysia is simply a commoner just like me Ash thought,

When they both sat at the front together, they received immediate attention from the boys in the class.

Several of them stood up, eager to introduce themselves, their expressions filled with interest and admiration.

But before any of them could even speak—

Grace turned her golden gaze toward them.

Silence.

The boys froze, their words dying in their throats. Some took a hesitant step back, as if suddenly rethinking their decisions.

Ash chuckled under his breath.

Oh? Did they become friends?

Another deviation from the novel. Maybe this has something to do with Elysia's change in personality…

I don't know why, but she reminds me of—

His thought process was cut short as the door of the class opened again,

Oh. The protagonist has arrived.

The moment Ray Dawson stepped into the room, it was as if a switch had been flipped.

Excitement surged through the students like a wave, washing away any sense of order that had barely been maintained before.

Within seconds, he was surrounded.

"Hey, Ray! You were amazing back then!"

"That fight with Ethan was insane! How did you move so fast?"

"Are you single?"

"You're so cool! Teach me that sword technique!"

The voices overlapped, creating a chaotic mess of admiration, curiosity, and—especially from the girls—thinly veiled infatuation.

Some of them looked at him with bright, eager eyes, while others blushed, clearly smitten by his looks and skills.

Ash watched the scene unfold with an unreadable expression, his fingers lightly tapping against the wooden desk.

Blame your protagonist aura, It's not my fault you are in spotlight.., Ash thought as he looked away from the chaotic scene.

The surrounding crowd continued to grow, and yet, amidst all the noise and admiration, Ray's gaze wasn't on any of them.

It was locked onto one person.

Elysia Moonglow.

Ash narrowed his eyes slightly.

He didn't need to hear Ray's thoughts to know what was going on inside his head.

The protagonist had finally laid eyes on the novel's main heroine.

There was something almost comical about it.

Ray stood there, frozen in place, his expression caught somewhere between awe and disbelief.

His usual confidence wavered for the first time, and it was clear to anyone paying attention—he was completely and utterly love-struck.

Ash resisted the urge to sigh.

And here comes the inevitable 'love at first sight' moment…..

The rest of the class seemed to notice too, and a few of them exchanged knowing looks, smirking at the development.

Ray Introduced himself to Elysia, "Hello, My name is Ray Dawson, Nice to meet you"

The students were dumbfounded, and looked at the scene with an interesting gaze.

Meanwhile, Elysia herself looked utterly confused.

"H-Hello!" she stammered, blinking rapidly as she shifted nervously under Ray's intense gaze.

What is this feeling...

Ash felt a weird sense of irritation seeing their interaction, but he won't understand why.

Ray took a step closer, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something—but before he could, the door to the classroom opened.

Again.

(A/N: At this point, that damn door is causing more drama than the actual plot! ????????)

And this time, the atmosphere shifted entirely.

This time, Melissia Ravencroft with her fiancée Ethan Nightshade entered the class,

Their arrival commanded attention instantly. The air grew heavy, students instinctively straightened in their seats.

Even those who had been excitedly watching Ray's interaction mere moments ago fell silent as their gazes locked onto the two new arrivals.

As Melissia walked further into the classroom, the students instinctively parted to give her space.

She made no effort to acknowledge them.

She didn't need to.

Everyone already knew who she was.

She made her way toward the front of the class, her eyes finally settling on one person.

Ray.

For a brief second, her expression wavered.

Ash noticed it, After creating the skill Omni Thought My observation is now top-notch.

He didn't know if it was a side effect or not, but he was happy with the change.

Instead, she made her way toward Ray Dawson, who was still standing in front of Elysia's desk.

Ash, watching from the back, narrowed his eyes.

That's not in the novel.

Melissa was a proud woman.

Even in the original story, she had interacted with Ray, but never in such an open manner. It was always indirect, restrained—her feelings for him buried beneath layers of duty and pride.

But now? Standing in front of him looking at him with those eye's.

It's like she found her puppy love…

Ray, for his part, was still too stunned to react properly. He opened his mouth, hesitated, then closed it again.

The weight of her gaze had left him momentarily speechless.

And Ethan?

His expression remained unreadable, but the sharp glint in his eyes spoke volumes.

The tension in the room was almost suffocating.

And then—

The door opened.

Again.

(A/N: I swear on my keyboard, this is the LAST time that damn door opens… unless it decides to betray me again! ????????)

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(A/N: If you're feeling lost in the character web, don't worry—I got you! Here's a handy list to keep things straight. ????✨ And if you still have questions, drop them in the comments!)

- Melissa Ravencroft – Daughter of the Tower Master of the Mage Tower. (Lucan Ravencroft – SSS Rank)

- Grace Starhaven – Daughter of the Head of the Healers Guild. (Myra Starhaven – SSS Rank)

- Lyra Evergrove – Daughter of the Head of the Alchemist Guild. (Lydia Evergrove – SSS Rank)

- Irvin Earthrend - Son of an Head Of Blacksmith Guild. (Maelis Earthrend- SSS Rank)

- Elysia Moonglow/Ray Dawson – A commoner.

- Ethan Nightshade – From an SS Rank Assassin family.

Fun fact: Melissa and Ethan's parents were academy buddies, so they arranged their marriage. Gotta love those classic family deals! ????

(P.S. When I say 'commoner,' I mean someone without a background or strong affiliation—hope that clears things up!)

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