Zren’s Special Ability is not anything special… It’s called Ordinal Counting. Its only feature is that he can count infinitely. To elaborate, he can count even without thinking about it.

It can be likened to Pedro’s Special Ability to glow which is ultimately useless. Zren’s difference from Pedro though is that Zren is at 99% potential grade, a Peak-grade hero.

When Zren was still a freshman in the academy, he was the scorn of many. It’s because even though he was at 50% potential grade at that time, the only thing his Special Ability can do is to count numbers… If it makes it any special, it allows him to count numbers even in his sleep.

But Zren worked hard, defying people’s expectations. The power to count infinitely is special, he made it that way. By studying, studying, and studying… Zren’s mind has been sharpened over and over again.

Through his efforts and own brand of genius, Zren was able to become the 5th head professor of the academy. That’s only on the surface though as his real job is actually being the Chief Security Detail of the academy.

Zren actually had many identities, each had smokescreens of their own. As a detective, spy or sometimes mentor in the Extolled Police, Zren has achieved plenty with his extraordinary genius.

Sadly, he is an unappreciated genius. The Extolled Police’s secretive nature made it difficult for Zren to gain a name. Zren has no complaints, but Principal Armin Kelon feels differently.

That’s how Zren ended at Heromaker Academy. He has been working as Chief Security Detail of Heromaker for three years and counting. And now, there’s a crisis that has suddenly fallen in his lap after the enrollment.

Zren immediately informed the principal about this, and as such, the emergency meeting commenced. He was strongly against the principal for conducting the meeting, as it was useless, but the principal was stubborn.

Currently, the academy is accumulating possession of very volatile existences— Lorie, an imperial princess; Heather, a rare Special Ability variant; Sheila, a villain’s spawn; Eliya, abilities’ bane; and Carlos, cell clones.

The only student they have to be careful and protective of was only Carlos for his controversial Special Ability. That was only last year! Now, they have four borderline contentious additions to their roster of students they must keep watch.

Now, Zren is adding ‘Alfir’ to the said roster. The stress is killing him. Zren is sure that there will be a war in three months’ time. Be it political, personal greed, or grudge, outsiders have every reason to participate in getting a piece of their cake out of Heromaker.

Zren uneventfully ended his morning class with Class-A-year-1. He walked in the hallways in search of a certain person, Eliya Endshire, Class-R-year-1, a freshman with an interesting ability.

Research of ability nullification powers has gone rampant for years. Until a decade ago, Eliya is but a normal person. But that all changed too suddenly after the Special Ability census of the Allied Kingdoms...

Eliya’s version of ability nullification is now one of the most contentious powers in the world. “Eliya Endshire, who is Eliya Endshire? Come meet me in the Principal’s office.” Zren called the students of Class R as they were about to leave for lunch.

Eliya Endshire visibly tensed up. She has dark long hair, a petite appearance, and wears a thick sweater over her Heromaker uniform. “Y-yes.” She timidly replied. Zren observes Eliya’s dull gray eyes denoting her blindness which is surprising as rarely cripples were accepted into the academy.

In no time at all, they reached the Principal’s office, which is miles away from the East Sector as it was situated in the middle of the Enclosed Forests. Zren drove Eliya there through a box-like vehicle moving on three wheels.

Since Zren has no classes this afternoon, he’ll be able to deal with Eliya who will be most difficult to keep watch for the duration of the war in three months’ time.

Zren has been accused of many things after the emergency meeting. He was called a liar, a con, and a paranoid hack. This war will certainly come to Heromaker either because of political or personal reasons.

The imperial princess to the Empire’s revolutionary forces. For Heather to the black-ends corporations. Sheila who’s a villain’s spawn is also quite a treat for villain groups who wants to make a statement. There are many circumstantial salient points that are making Heromaker vulnerable.

In fact, Zren’s intuition is telling him many organizations have long been coordinating and doing under-the-table deals since Heromaker accepted their freshmen this year.

Eliya nervously sat in the vehicle, and finally, they arrived at the principal’s complex. Led by Zren, they reached the Principal’s office without commotion.

Zren helped Eliya to seat on a chair adjacent to the Principal’s desk. Apparently, the principal isn’t in the academy as he was currently with Merrick coordinating their movements. “Eliya, do you know why I called you?”

Eliya heard Zren’s questioning tone, but she didn’t answer. She slightly trembled as if in pain. She doesn’t want Zren to see it so she gritted he teeth.

Zren noticed the peculiarity. He observed Eliya much closer with half a step forward. The sweater’s fringes are rough as if it was worn for a long time even outside the academy. Eliya’s wrist is a tad darker, it was scarred by something sharp. Zren pulled Eliya’s collar, but the latter filched quite sensitively causing Zren not to have a good look, but he was already certain. Under the sweater hides plenty of bruises and the like. Judging by the too petite of her body, Eliya must be greatly malnourished.

“Eliya Endshire, from what I’ve read in your report, you were sold to slavery twice.” He pointedly asked, aware of Eliya’s backstory of how her family sold her as a slave and then was acquired by Heromaker academy through back-end deals.

Eliya reflexively answered as if she was trying to defend herself. “Y-yes, so what?”

Zren is now 100% certain. Eliya is a victim of abuse and for it, has tried to commit suicide for some time, but always failed. “Eliya, don’t hide it from me. Are you being bullied here inside the academy?”

“N-no…” Eliya bit her nails in anxiety, but Zren can see through her.

Zren sat on the Principal’s seat. “You lied.” He pointed out.

Eliya is now hyperventilating in a panic attack. Seeing this, Zren offered a clean paper bag for Eliya to breathe in and out. “Y-es, I am being bullied. It’s hard…” She started crying a stream of tears as she struggled to breathe with the paper bag.

“I see,” Zren placed his finger under his chin in contemplation. “Has someone made contact with you already?”

“Huh?”

“I meant it exactly that.” Zren reiterated catching on Eliya’s confusion.

It was a boring afternoon like any other, tenser than usual, but Eliya managed to hang in there. She was sharply questioned by Zren, to which she extended her full cooperation. Eliya didn’t find anything peculiar to it as she was personally chauffeured by Zren back to her dorm.

Eliya traversed the invisible path ahead of her with the aid of her walking stick. Girls are most unkind to people like her. She heard the painful whispers quite accurately as being blind heightened her other senses like hearing… or smell… the familiar flowery scent of plum reached her nose, and with it, Eliya suddenly started shuddering on her boots.

“Move out of the way.” It came from the person whose scent was like a plum, it was Zia Zaratul, the person who gave her a tremendously difficult time behind the scenes.

During the enrollment assessment, after Eliya accidentally bumped into this figure, she was then made to suffer under Zia’s merciless whip strikes. This memory served as a strong reminder for Eliya to never cross a noble again.

Zia walked past her without any commotion.

Eliya sighed in relief. Today has been too much for her. She tumbled on her bed and called it a night.

Wishing for the serial killer to just end her life, Eliya cried herself to sleep.