Fantasy Libary 32

Title: I Will Bring You Down From Your Pedestal

Why challenge Kirin specifically?

This question was almost redundant.

“You’re ranked first.” Ark replied with a relaxed smile. “In the academy, who wouldn’t want to knock the top-ranked student off their pedestal and take their place?”

It wasn’t just about fame and status—it also came with tangible benefits.

In the short term, those with higher ranks enjoyed privileges within the academy, and the facilities for Page One were extraordinary. What about the top rank? The special monthly bonus alone was enough to ensure a carefree life. Who wouldn’t be tempted?

In the long term, higher rankings yielded advantages in world-class competitions like the Festa. Competitors with greater visibility gained unimaginable opportunities, especially someone ranked first in their academy.

So, everyone naturally wanted to be at the top, and finding a reason to challenge the top-ranked student was never difficult.

Kirin, as the one sitting at the top, clearly understood this better than anyone.

However...

“Senpai doesn’t care about those things, right?” Kirin said, her tone very serious.

“Oh?” Ark raised an eyebrow, curious. “What makes you think that?”

“Because you’re not that kind of person.” Kirin stated firmly, her tone unusually resolute.

“You’re quite confident about that, huh.” Ark commented with a hint of amusement, making Kirin blush slightly in embarrassment.

“It’s because of what you said earlier.” Kirin murmured shyly.

“What did I say?” Ark pressed.

Kirin hesitated for a moment before whispering softly, “You said that if you defeated me, my expression wouldn’t be as heavy anymore...”

It was clear that Kirin had taken those words to heart.

In truth, the question she really wanted to ask wasn’t why Ark had challenged her, but why he had said something like that.

Those words had given her a misunderstanding—a feeling that Ark had challenged her for her sake.

However, Ark neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply smiled faintly and continued walking forward.

Kirin quickly caught up, walking beside him while glancing at his face.

The young girl was either patient or had simply run out of courage to ask further.

In this situation, Ark moved forward at his own pace, his eyes fixed ahead.

“I know a little about your situation.” Ark suddenly said, as if speaking to himself. His words made Kirin freeze in place.

Without acknowledging her reaction, Ark continued,

“Your uncle, Toudou Kouichirou, is a staff member of Galaxy, the operational body behind Seidoukan Academy and part of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation.”

“He is the head of the Seventh Training and Investigation Office under the Integrated Entertainment Division, responsible for human resources in the Far East region.”

“The Training and Investigation Office is a unit that essentially manages the academy’s human resource agents and is closely tied to Festa outcomes. As such, your uncle holds significant authority.”

“However, that alone isn’t enough for him. He’s aiming for an even higher status.”

“So, he’s doing everything he can to exploit you.”

Kirin’s expression grew uneasy, but Ark kept walking.

“The Integrated Entertainment Division is highly valued by Galaxy’s top management. If someone like Toudou Kouichirou, a high-ranking official in this division, can develop a Festa competitor of historical significance, he might have a chance to join the central leadership.”

“For that purpose, he’s been exploiting you. He arranged your matches since you enrolled, ensuring you became one of the Page One. In your first month, he orchestrated a challenge against the former top-ranked student, allowing you to defeat them and claim the academy’s top position.”

“Since then, almost all your matches and schedules have been under his control. He’s constantly strategizing for you, providing intelligence on your opponents—all to ensure you remain in the top rank and boost his own reputation.”

“In other words, your position as the top rank isn’t something you chose willingly.” Ark stopped walking and turned his gaze to Kirin. “Am I wrong?”

Kirin remained silent.

“...It seems Senpai understands my situation well.” She said softly, her expression growing darker.

“Not entirely.” Ark replied. “First, I don’t know why you always listen to him.”

However, that was a lie.

Ark knew full well why Kirin obeyed her uncle’s strict, even harsh, demands.

It was because she wanted to save her father.

“...My father went to prison for a crime when I was eight.” Kirin said, her lips trembling. Her confession surprised Ark.

“At the time, my father took me to a store, and there we encountered robbers.”

“I... I was careless and got caught, becoming their hostage.”

“To save me, my father...”

Kirin’s voice faded to a whisper. The words “killed them” were barely audible, drowned out by the surrounding noise.

“I want to save my father.”

This statement, however, was clear and firm.

“That’s why I came here—to this city.”

This was the closest place to fulfill Kirin’s wish.

“My uncle is amazing. He was the one who uncovered my father’s case. If his position rises and he gains more authority, he’ll be able to help my father escape from prison.”

This wasn’t just wishful thinking.

Ark understood well that in this world, manipulating the law, twisting the truth, and using authority to overturn decisions were not uncommon.

Especially in this world, where the arrival of the Falling Star Rain had shattered the old societal system and replaced it with the Integrated Enterprise Foundation.

In this new world, the Foundation was the supreme ruler, driving rapid economic recovery at the cost of exploiting every opportunity for profit.

The Festa itself was a creation of the Foundation—a massive commercial spectacle designed to stimulate economic growth.

To attract participants, they offered enticing rewards, with the most appealing being the promise that the winner could make one wish.

The six Integrated Enterprise Foundations pledged to work together to fulfill the champion’s wish, whatever it may be.

That was why the competition among the Six Academies was so fierce, with underhanded tactics like ambushes, schemes, and even assassinations becoming commonplace.

If Toudou Kouichirou rose to a high position in Galaxy, freeing someone from prison would be a trivial task for him.

For this reason, Kirin obeyed her uncle’s orders.

But...

“For someone relying on his niece to climb the ranks, he treats you terribly.” Ark said indifferently. “I heard he’s quick to scold or even hit you. After the incident with the princess, he must have been really angry at you for helping her, right?”

Otherwise, Kirin wouldn’t have been in such a bad state for those few days.

“...There’s no other way.” Kirin murmured, lowering her head.

She had been disobedient.

She wasn’t supposed to help her rival.

“Yeah, I guess there’s no other way.”

Ark’s tone remained neutral.

Then he said something unexpected.

“That’s why I made the right decision to challenge you.”

Kirin raised her head, looking at Ark in confusion.

“Senpai...?”

Seeing her bewildered expression, Ark smiled.

“Just wait.” He said, his voice calm yet clear.

“I will bring you down from your pedestal and shatter his unrealistic dreams.”