There are 30 minutes left until class, so I took the pillow I hid in my [Inventory Bracelet].

A short nap is a good cure for a worried mind.

I know that Deron is an early bird, always the first to arrive in class. It would be nice to have some idle conversation with Deron to build some level of relationship. I am not planning to befriend him, I simply see the bigger picture.

When I woke up, Deron and Lorie is already in the classroom and it's past 15 minutes already since the start of the class. There are also some notable characters who comprise the main cast— purple, white, blue, and green— such notable colors that speak volumes of their status (or maybe, their uniqueness...)

Looks like I overslept. Meh...

"What's up Deron, a good day to you!"

Then I went back to my pillow and then fell asleep. I can already imagine Deron's confusion... Plus the curious looks of the others... Come on, they are curious teens...

This five fought quite grandly in the tournament. Purple and white shared the top 4, while green in the top 5, nameless in the top 6, and blue in the top 7.

I didn't watch their fights, since there are too many spectators in them. If I wasn't in the equation, purple and white would have been ranked third plus the other contenders a plus one in rank. It's not that far from the original storyline, so I think we're still safe.

But purple, white, green, and blue? I kept calling them by the color of their hair since I felt more comfortable doing so.

Honestly, it irks me that I know so much of their characters it feels uncomfortable— their struggle, likes, pain, and so on... I can even see the possibility of winning myself a harem if I play my cards right.

But no. The accidents happening lately are because of this arrogance.

I am a mob, and what I want is WORLD DOMINATION! Calm, me! Be calm! Don't be a slave to your hormones!

Speaking of arrogance...

Zia pissed me off, despite the fact that I mentally prepared myself. Jana one-ups me for forfeiting like that... and Lorie? Don't get me started with that mutant. She's the reason why I am crowned champion after all.

Sigh...

That is just biased, self-glorifying crap because I know. It is all in me...

In the end, it's all Alfir...

But what can I do, when some obscure fallen god has been manipulating me from the very start?

***

"Why is the teacher late!? Doesn't he know he has students?"

"Calm down Lorie," Looks like Deron has made a good friend of Lorie already. As expected of the protagonist.

"You know that he is always late..." Deron added.

I observed the class secretly. I enhanced my hearing as I pretend to snore. There are 17 of us. Excluding the special 6, I have other 11 to consider as possible candidates.

My eyes accidentally met Zia, she flinched either from fear or bitterness. Hmmm... She will make a good candidate, but I have to entice her.

How about the others? Rodney is a 'noble'. He also had a good rank in the assessment, but it would be hard for me to control him with his radical noble superiority beliefs. He is surrounded by three other lackeys, these four were the ultimate lackeys of Class A. A bunch that likes to stick themselves either to Cain or Lorie.

So I am left with 7 to choose from. The black-haired dude is a no. That nameless rank 6 is not entirely nameless at all. I simply called him that, because that is how others see him... but no. Samael Iznik is a heretic spy of a very dangerous kind.

Ok, I am left with 6. Trom is out too since he will make a mercenary group that will play a crucial role in the future. Philip is a no-go, the guy has a two-faced personality, the kind that would backstab others. Heather? I can't either, she's a peasant who will play the role of a hot potato in the future.

Okay, I am left with three candidates in this very room. Zia, no introductions are needed. Then the other two, mob-like existence that I don't even know their names. They desperately need an introduction, especially to me.

So with impressive stealth, I stood then went straight to them.

"Hello there, My name is Alfir. Nice to meet you both." I shook their hands. The girl with dark wavy hair's hand felt rough specifically between the thumb and index finger. She must be good with the sword. She is a unique black beauty of her own right, she's quite an eye candy. Then there is curly brown hair that is about my height. He is tanned and gives off a wild vibe. Rough too, like everywhere. He looked thin like me, but I can feel explosive power from his relaxed muscles. I can also observe the callouses in his knuckles, a fist fighter or a hand-to-hand close quarters specialist, I guess.

"Ummm... My name is Pedro. Yeah, nice to meet you too," Pedro shyly gave his name. Black beauty remained aloof, but I will simp my way to your heart any sooner. "But... Why the pillow?" Pedro suddenly asked.

Pillow? Oh, it's only now, but I realized I am still holding my pillow by my side. Pedro gave me a curious look, while blacky is... miffed?

"Well. In my time of absence, I was clued that we had a very weird teacher," Not weird, lazy is the right word. I already knew it beforehand. Pedro groaned as I hit the mark perfectly. Blacky here has a stern expression, but judging from her trembling fist, it must be true.

"So, right. It's my first time seeing you here. What happened?" Pedro as an active speaker asked.

But the first time? That is a good sign. They must have forgotten my amazing feat last assessment.

"I had an accident." I wryly smiled. Yeah, it was an embarrassing accident, please think like that.

Then the black beauty abruptly introduced herself— "Nika." She said it bluntly, with that business-without-pleasure kind of face.

"Excuse me?"

"My name."

Wow. Blacky spoke in a succinct and cool manner. I should stop calling her blacky, that was rude.

Way to go Alfir! You are making new friends!

***

TRIVIA!

Hobgoblin: Evolved from a goblin. Hobgoblin sacrificed a lot of their cunning in exchange for more explosive strength. Their physiology closely resembles the human body. They are ferocious and prone to violence.

"Graaaah!"

Can evolve into a more dangerous and intelligent variant called Nobgoblin.

STRENGTH: Strength...

WEAKNESS: Intelligence...