A gold badge was also shining on Cheshireâs chest, who had been wearing a white name tag all along.
âW, what? Itâs Dos?â
âWasnât that kid in Grade 6?â
âHey, what do you mean that kid? He must feel bad. Speak quietly.â
The surroundings were buzzing.
It was a more shocking atmosphere than when I came out with my Grade 4 badge.
âPhew, I almost got into trouble.â
After quickly assessing the situation, I quickly got up and hid behind Cheshire.
And I stuck out my tongue at Bruce.
âH, h, howâŠâ
Bruceâs face was now completely pale.
He raised his finger and pointed to Cheshire, trembling with disbelief.
âW, whyâŠâ
âFinger.â
Cheshire said.
âDo you want me to break it?â
âHeup.â
Bruce quickly lowered his finger pointing at Cheshire and hid it behind his back.
I looked around again.
Cheshire hadnât done anything yet, but all the children were shaking with fear.
Thereâs only one thing thatâs changed.
The white name tag has only become a gold badgeâ.
ââŠ.â
Cheshire strolled to Bruce. I didnât want to miss it either, so I clung to the back and stuck out my head.
âAh, that⊠C, CheshireâŠâ
ââŠ.â
Bruce smiled awkwardly. Cheshire remained silent.
I glanced up at Cheshire.
âOh, Iâm scared.â
And I immediately put my eyes back on it.
The terrifying eyes that were really angry.
Cheshire seemed to be contemplating what to do with Bruce. Will he let him go or will he scare him off?
Iâm sorry for Bruce, but if you get hit by Dos, it will hurt a lotâ If you do something wrong, you might dieâ.
âC, Cheshire.â
Iâm trying to stop it because I donât want thatâ.
âGuys! letâs go!â
âW, w, weâre done!â
Jem and Rom finished their measurements and came out wearing white badges.
The two, still unaware of the fight in the hallway, approached us puzzled and startled.
âWhat, what happened? Did you two change badges?â
Jem tilted her head as she looked at Cheshireâs and my badges.
Then, soon after, she felt the awkward atmosphere of confronting Bruce and shut up.
âDo you want to try something you like?â
Cheshire asked. His voice was horrifyingly low.
âE, eung?â
He pulled me from behind and put me in front of Bruce.
Then he said
âKneel down.â
Then, the children who were watching from all over the place gasped in surprise.
I was also surprised and looked back at Cheshire.
âWhy is your expression like that? Itâs what you like.â
ââŠ.â
âDidnât you tell Rom to get down on his knees and crawl whenever you feel bad?â
Really? Stunned while listening, I alternated between Bruce and Rom.
Bruce was breaking out in a cold sweat, and Rome hesitated, not knowing what to do.
Cheshire even put Rom next to me.
âKneel down.â
At the urging words, Bruce looked around. Everyone around him avoided their gaze.
Eventually, Bruce hesitated and knelt down in front of Rom.
ââŠ.â
Bruce was always proud, but it was amusing because there was no expression of displeasure on his face. I was laughing inwardly.
If he looks unhappy, heâll go against Cheshireâs temper.
âI guess I really donât fit in here.â
Even though Bruce, who tried to attack me, was on his knees, my heart didnât feel any better.
âOpen your mouth too.â
Cheshire ordered.
Feeling a bit strange, I turned to him and stopped him.
âYou know, Cheshire, IâŠâ
âIâm sorry, Lilith. Iâm sorry, Rom. Itâs my fault.â
Bruce opened his mouth.
I sighed and looked back at Bruce.
* * *
âNo, really, whatâs going on here? Is this possible?â
âI, i, itâs amazing. B, but I thought Cheshire wasnât G, Grade 6. Because h, heâs so strong.â
At the training groundâs pergola.
Jem and Rom were constantly surprised by Cheshireâs rank, which they had never imagined.
Even kids who were out for a walk looked at us, who were all wearing badges, and whispered.
To be precise, Cheshire with the gold badge and me with the green badge.
âHave you seen the look on Bruceâs face? Laughing while kneeling down? He always makes a fuss when Lilith says something!â
Jem said as if she was refreshed inside and added.
âItâs nice to have a real badge!â
âJ, Jem. S, stop it.â
âEung? Ah!â
When Rom poked her in the side and looked at me, Jem covered her mouth with her hand.
I just laughed.
âHaha, what? Why do you keep looking at me? Iâm fine.â
âA, are you r, really okay?â
âEung, Rom. Iâm really fine.â
âB, but you h, havenât said anything since e, earlierâŠâ
âAh, itâs just, well.â
After putting on the badge, I felt a sense of skepticism about this atrocious class society that I felt again.
âLilith.â
At that time, Cheshire, who had been quiet, called me.
ââŠDo you not like it?â
âEung?â
âBruce. He knelt down in front of you.â
âNo, itâs refreshing! Phew, heâs such a bad boy! Did he really intend to kill me?â
ââŠ.â
Despite deliberately pretending to be bright, Cheshire had piercing eyes.
âHmm.â
So I told the truth.
âBruce needs to be punished. So, itâs not that I donât like it⊠but itâs a bit weird like this.â
All the kids were watching me.
âEveryone ignored Cheshire until yesterday, but now, when they see his face, they get scared and try to avoid him.â
I raised my eyes and saw the children running around the training center.
The majority of them were both amazed and afraid of Cheshireâs rank.
They must be thinking what to do if he gets revenge for harassing the white name tag so far.
âActually, I havenât felt⊠that well until now. That class is scary.â
Iâm Dadâs daughter and everyone thought I was a Dos. So there was nothing to be ignored.
Also, most of the people I met since I became an aristocrat were on the side of the main character.
People who donât judge others based on their rank.
âThe butler and the maids who work in my house are all powerless commoners, but my Grandfather, Aunt and Dad are all kind to them.â
I added, grabbing Cheshireâs arm.
âItâs the same with twin brothers too, right? Among my brothersâ friends, there are 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-grade friends, but my brothers treat them all the same.â
âThatâs right.â
When Cheshire agreed, Jem and Rom nodded in amazement.
âBut when I came here⊠Because I came and got a rank again⊠Itâs just, I realized that my family was unusual.â
ââŠ.â
âIt would be nice if everyone were like our family.â
âLilith.â
âEung?â
Cheshire called me.
âItâs not unusual. I thought so too at first.â
He looked straight ahead and spoke.
âUncle said that. This country that crushes people by class is strange, so donât ever get used to it.â
âRight. Everything my Dad said is right.â
âEung. And one day, there will come a day when everyone wonât think your family is weird.â
Cheshire looked at me.
Has Dad already told Cheshire something? Or is Cheshire convinced alone to do something for my Dad?
Either way, the outcome was already decided with the main characterâs victory.
I smiled and nodded.
âIâm sorry if youâre paying attention to Bruce kneeling earlier.â
âHmp, no? I told you itâs not? Honestly, Bruce should have been beaten at least once! Right, guys?â
âRight, of course!â
âI, I know I s, shouldnât be like this, but it w, was refreshing. T, thank you CheshireâŠâ
Jem and Rom helped.
Cheshire smiled and looked up at the sky.
âPerhaps he also realized what happened today. Because Iâve only seen him kneel for one badge.â
âEung. Thatâs right.â
I agreed.
âThis is something strange. Bruce must have felt it too.â
We looked up at the blue sky in silence for a while.
âLilith Rubinstein?â
It was around that time that researchers in white coats flocked to find me.
âWhat? Why are they looking for Lilith?â
âH, huh?â
Among the puzzled children, I stood up calmly.
âIâll see you later, guys.â
Enoch Rubinsteinâs daughter has a Grade 4 and thereâs no way I wonât be retested.
So it was already expected.
Iâll give them Grade 4 again and again.
* * *
Emperor Nicholas von Pavilion, as always, was looking at the map of the continents hanging on the wall of his office.
A kingdom attached to the edge of the continent like an insect will disappear before the end of the year.
In the hands of his loyal subject, Enoch Rubinstein.
âYour Majesty, this is Ramon.â
It was his aide.
He must have brought the long awaited report.
âCome in!â
Nicholas was delighted.
It was Enochâs daughter, who was fortunate enough to graduate from the training school in one month.
How long he had been waiting for the day when he would be informed of the childâs rank.
âI, Your MajestyâŠâ
âSo, did you find anything useful this month?â
After asking while sitting in his seat, the aide came over and bowed his head and reported.
âTwenty-one people received ranks this month. Nine Dies, one NuvenoâŠâ
âRamon.â
After cutting off the aideâs words, Nicholas gestured toward the folder in his hand.
âThere is no need to report every bug. Just give me the front page.â
Nicholas felt something strange by then.
If it were his aide, he would have started talking about Enochâs daughter as soon as he came in.
âHow many Dos came out?â
âTwo, two came out.â
Nicholas, who was nervous for a moment at the expected answer, was relieved.
There was no change.
Two Dos.
It must be the youngest son of the Duke of Schmidt and the daughter of Enoch.
âWhat is it?â
However,
Nicholasâ face hardened as he looked at the list of two received Dos.
It was a bloody reaction.
The aide became contemplative and trembled with his head bowed.
Eventually, Nicholas, who was facing the list, slowly lifted his head.
âLilith Rubinstein is.â
âYour MajestyâŠâ
A voice like frost.
The aide quickly bowed down in front of the angry Emperor.