The total number of students in first year Class S was 41.

The total number of students in second year Class S was 23.

Originally, second year Class S had 26 students, but due to the death of two students during last year's practical training and the demotion of one student to Class A, the number became 23.

Although it was still less than half of the number in first year Class S, it was honestly impressive that Class S had more than 20 students in one grade.

There was no fixed number for the total enrollment, and only the students who met certain "special conditions" within Stella were assigned to Class S.

Being special in Stella, where exceptional geniuses gathered, was not easy, so typically, Class S would have around 10 students in one grade at most.

Many students who couldn't become part of Class S, especially the students in Class A, held strong envy towards Class S, but in reality, most of the students in Class S didn't attribute any special meaning to the class.

Among those students who maintained top-level grades and rankings in the second year, Ben was one of them.

"Phew..."

Ben sat on the corner of the training ground, and wiped off the sweat while gulping down the water.

It had become a daily routine to train his physical strength after evening classes, but that time, his condition was not good due to poor exam scores, and even though he ran a little, his breath was heavy.

"Phew! Hey, you brat! Are you tired already?"

"Ugh... This monstrous guy..."

In contrast to him, who seemed to lack energy, Denmark in Class 2-S was full of vigor, and he was already running around the training ground for dozens of laps with full power.

Increasing stamina or strength through mana was something that only existed in legends. As such, he had no idea how he trained to become so powerful with pure physical strength.

Of course, for a magician, as long as they had a sufficient amount of stamina, physical strength was not lacking.

Therefore, the act of pushing the body to its limits, like Denmark, was quite inefficient and foolish.

‘Hmm, come to think of it, there was one peculiar underclassmen who fought with strength.’

Ben still remembered what happened at the Martevis Cemetery.

Among the dark mages, the individuals with the fewest and most terrible reputation were necromancers, who were even capable of bringing about the greatest disasters.

From the second year onwards, one could officially receive missions related to hunting demons, including the eradication of dark mages.

However, the necromancer was by no means a dark mage that could be dealt with at a student's level. It was a catastrophe that was thought to never be encountered.

The memories of facing it were still vivid.

The reason why Ben and Denmark were able to survive at that time was not because they were exceptional, but thanks to the help of a peculiar underclassman.

The boy with an unusually sharp mind, Baek Yu-Seol.

The reason why thoughts of him suddenly came to mind... was because of the rumors he had been hearing recently.

Baek Yu-Seol, a first-year student, confronted Edman Atalek, a third-year student.

Since the discussion was related to alchemical engineering, all irrelevant details were omitted, and only that part remained, which led to rumors spreading.

From a conventional perspective, Baek Yu-Seol was indeed at fault. Challenging someone of higher rank in the magical society goes against the hierarchy.

However, Edman Atalek had a notorious reputation, and while Baek Yu-Seol exhibited extraordinary and unique behavior, some people who knew that he was not the type to disrespect seniors found it surprisingly intriguing.

"Did Baek Yu-Seol really do that?"

The Baek Yu-Seol he knew was a student who fearlessly led everyone with his unique courage and determination on the front lines to save struggling classmates.

He also seemed thoughtful and one step ahead of others... Did such a Baek Yu-Seol really confront seniors like a fool? Knowing well the disadvantages it would bring upon himself?

Doubts kept creeping in.

"Hey, who's that guy?"

"You know that arrogant first-year student, right? That guy. They are just trying to give him some education."

"Oh yeah? Anyway, these days the first-year students are getting out of control."

"Huh?"

Ben, who was resting quietly, turned his head towards the voices coming from the corner. Now he realized that his fellow second-year students had brought a freshman to the corner and were harassing him.

"Here we go again. Pathetic fools."

Nairigalgum.

If someone is bullied by someone above them in the hierarchy, he ends up bullying someone even lower in the hierarchy.

{TN:- "Nairigalgum" is a Korean term that refers to a phenomenon where individuals who experience oppression or mistreatment from those in higher positions tend to exert their frustrations by mistreating those in lower positions than themselves. The term signifies a cycle of hierarchical abuse or oppression within a social structure.}

It existed within Stella, although not to a great extent.

Due to the clear hierarchy, it was intended to correct the attitude of juniors who dared to confront seniors.

For that reason, it was quite common for second-year seniors to bring first-year students to the second-year facilities and bully them.

Why specifically bring them to the second-year facilities?

It was to deliberately make them more intimidated by attracting the attention of other second-year seniors.

This absurdity of pushing the victim to the psychological extreme was mainly experienced by commoners or lower-ranking nobles, so the freshman student was probably a commoner as well.

It didn't happen often, but it occurred occasionally, so he tried not to pay attention to it.

But upon closer inspection, he recognized the face.

"Baek Yu-Seol...?"

As expected.

He caught the attention of the seniors, and eventually, he ended up here. Our previous connection was what it was, but unfortunately, there was no justification to intervene in this bullying.

Educating juniors was an accepted matter even within Stella.

"Hey, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Are the first-year students worth anything these days? Huh? Your eyes seem quite lively, very lively."

Baek Yu-Seol, with his transparent yet bright eyes, stared silently at the seniors.

‘What is he thinking...?’

Ben was about to ignore the situation.

"Hey, this won't do. Get down right now."

In the end, as Ben watched the scene where Baek Yu-Seol lowered his stance to kneel down...