I Killed The Main Characters

Chapter 151: This Is How It's Done! [1]

? Noah's POV ?

The notice board loomed ahead, a gathering point for students, buzzing with excitement and tension.

As I approached, the crowd parted like waves before a shark.

Whispers filled the air, low murmurs carrying my name.

No doubt they were expecting an outburst.

Perhaps me ripping the board off its hinges or picking some unlucky soul to beat up and vent my frustration on.

Instead, I stood still, arms pocketed, eyes scanning the rankings.

Third.

A sharp contrast to the number I had in mind—First.

I glanced at the glowing text from the system that only I could see, hovering faintly before my eyes:

?Quest: Top the Second Year Opener Exams!?

?Reward: +100 Plot Points (PP)?

?Status: Complete?

Complete?

The system registered the quest as complete.

Yet my name was sitting snugly at third place.

"Was it that question?"

I wondered, recalling a particularly twisted logic question on the exam that had left me irritated.

The murmurs around me swelled, pulling me back to the present.

A group of students—about ten—separated from the rest of the crowd, walking towards me with smug expressions.

I recognized most of them, former victims of my sharp tongue and sharper actions.

"Number three, huh?

Did hell freeze over, Ashbourne?"

A lanky boy from Class B sneered, his grin wide.

"Guess even the great Noah isn't untouchable after all."

Another piped in, flipping his hair dramatically.

"Third place?

What happened?

Did the mighty prince run out of money to bribe the professors?"

A noble girl from Class A taunted, her voice dripping with faux innocence.

"You'd think with your arrogance, you'd at least have the skills to back it up."

Someone else added, their laughter echoing.

"Guess all that trash-talking was just overcompensation!"

"You sure you're not aiming to top the rankings from the bottom next time?"

One after another, they hurled their insults, each one trying harder than the last to land a hit.

Meanwhile, my gaze remained fixed on the board

Arms still pocketed, I replayed the system's words in my mind.

"Quest Complete."

If first wasn't necessary, what was the trigger?

The students' taunts grew louder.

"No comeback, Ashbourne?

You're just going to stand there?"

"He's ignoring us.

Probably trying to think of an excuse!"

"What's wrong? Can't handle a little criticism?"

Still, I didn't react.

My silence only fueled their determination.

"It's pathetic, really," a girl scoffed.

"He doesn't even have the dignity to defend himself.

Just proves he's all bark and no bite."

The others laughed, clearly enjoying their shared performance.

I could feel their eyes on me, hoping for a reaction, desperate for acknowledgment.

Finally, one boy muttered under his breath, loud enough to hear.

"He's not even worth it. Let's go."

With grumbled curses and parting jabs, they scattered.

The system chimed in as their voices faded.

[+40 False Evil Points Acquired!]

[Condition Met: Made perceived "inferiors" feel insignificant and embarrassed without direct confrontation.]

[Remark: Insects scurrying away after realizing the futility of seeking attention. Well done.]

A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I finally turned from the board.

The crowd parted again, whispers resuming as I walked away.

Let them talk. I had what I needed.

I'd get back at them soon enough.

***

? Maya's POV ?

The hall was filled with low murmurs.

The kind of restless energy that came after a grueling exam.

Class A and Class B, the top two classes of the second year, were seated together in a spacious lecture hall.

Its walls lined with intricate carvings of magical runes that seemed to hum faintly.

I sat in the middle row, gripping my notebook tightly, waiting for the professor to arrive and discuss the results.

It wasn't long before the door creaked open, and Professor Grent entered.

His robes swishing as he moved toward the podium.

A hush fell over the hall as everyone straightened in their seats.

Professor Grent was known for his sharp tongue and unyielding standards.

And no one wanted to be on the receiving end of his ire.

"Well," he began, his voice cutting through the silence, "the results for the Second Year Opener Exams are in."

I felt my heart skip a beat.

This exam was crucial, not just for rankings but for how we were perceived by professors and peers alike.

"Overall," Professor Grent continued, "you all performed admirably.

However..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the room.

"There was one question that all of you failed."

A collective gasp rippled through the hall.

"What?" someone whispered behind me.

"That's impossible," another muttered.

Even I couldn't help but furrow my brows.

All of us?

Even the prodigies in Class A?

"Yes, you heard me right."

Professor Grent said, his tone unwavering.

"Every single one of you answered incorrectly, which means twenty marks were deducted from everyone's score."

The hall erupted into murmurs, students exchanging confused and frustrated glances.

"How can everyone get it wrong?"

A boy near the back asked, leaning toward his friend.

"Not even Noah got it right?"

Someone else chimed in.

"Noah?... He fell off... I doubt it's him... "

Professor Grent raised a hand, silencing the chatter.

"Allow me to clarify. I said everyone got it wrong, except for one student."

That brought an immediate wave of stunned reactions.

"One student?"

"Who could it be?"

"It must be Draven," someone declared confidently.

"Yeah, he just surpassed Noah.

If anyone got it, it's him."

The murmurs grew louder, filling the hall with speculation.

I glanced toward the far end of the room, my eyes landing on Noah Ashbourne.

He was sitting back in his chair, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

'What's he so happy about?'

I thought.

It was rare to see him outwardly pleased, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

As if to confirm my suspicions, Professor Grent cleared his throat. Explore hidden tales at M V L

"The scores have been adjusted accordingly, and after the recalculations, the student who answered the question correctly has risen to the top of the rankings."

The murmurs stopped abruptly, replaced by a tense silence.