8 (Update)
"I want to run slowly at first to conserve energy. After all, this is just the first lap," Su Bei said, sounding righteous, as if his real intention wasn’t to slack off.
This explanation made some sense, but Feng Lan was still a bit puzzled. "But even if you want to conserve energy, you don’t have to run this slowly, right?"
The leading group of students was not going all out either, and this was the normal speed for the early stages of a ten-lap run.
Saying this, he slowed down and, once he was running alongside Su Bei, carefully observed Su Bei’s muscular, exposed forearms. After a moment, he asked uncertainly, "Did you build those muscles with protein powder?"
With his keen eye, Feng Lan could naturally see that Su Bei’s muscles were among the best in the class. If they weren't built with protein powder, why would he be running so slowly?
Su Bei was furious, "You can insult me, but you can’t insult the muscles I’ve worked so hard to build!"
Realizing he might have broken character, he coughed and said, "You go on ahead, don’t worry about me. I’ll finish the run."
Hearing this, Feng Lan hesitated for a moment, then continued running alongside Su Bei instead of catching up with the leading group.
This move surprised Su Bei, but he didn’t say much. Ten laps would be difficult for him too, so it was best to talk less.
Halfway through the first lap, their homeroom teacher, Meng Huai, came down. That big guy standing there made the hesitant students quickly start running.
However, after watching them complete one lap, Meng Huai left, and the running group immediately returned to its previous loose state.
Several students switched from running to walking, and the fifty-four students in Class F naturally divided into five groups, sparsely filling the track.
By the ninth lap, they had consolidated into three groups. The first group, including the main characters, had four people, half a lap ahead of the others. The second group had eleven people, where Su Bei and Feng Lan blended in inconspicuously. The third group had twenty-one people, who were too exhausted to run but kept walking.
The remaining eighteen had left the track. Some planned to skip the task and go eat, while others stood by, intending to join in for the last lap to fake it.
Su Bei panted heavily, sweat dripping from his face to the ground. Though the weather wasn’t hot, the exercise was intense.
However, anyone familiar with running would notice that despite his heavy breathing, it was even. His pace had remained steady, indicating he still had energy left.
Next to him, Feng Lan looked even more relaxed, not even panting. This made Su Bei glance at him, thinking that the pretty boy was indeed deceptive.
He looked at the first group ahead. The worst off was Jiang Tianming, who was last among them.
No joke, even from this distance, Su Bei could faintly hear his panting. Sweating profusely and staggering, he looked ready to collapse at any moment.
Yet, he somehow managed to stay at the end of the first group.
Was it the effect of his ability? Su Bei wondered. Pure willpower couldn’t sustain him this long.
But from the first season of the manga, he seemed to be a summoner.
Then again, the manga clearly hinted at hidden potential in the protagonist’s ability, so perhaps it did have a physical enhancement function.
In the hallway, the homeroom teacher of Class A, who had just settled his students, walked out leisurely. Passing by Class F, he saw Meng Huai standing by the window and stepped in, "What are you looking at?"
He spoke with a hint of schadenfreude, patting Meng Huai's shoulder, "You took the easy way out by teaching Class F this year, but the principal isn’t happy with you."
Meng Huai replied indifferently, "I’ve taught several batches of Class S. Can’t I take a break? Besides, this year’s Class F has some interesting people."
"Oh?" The Class A homeroom teacher raised an eyebrow and stood by the window, observing for a few seconds before figuring it out, "You mean that Feng family kid? He’s so far behind?"
"Not just him," Meng Huai shook his head, "The blue-haired girl in front of him, her ability is enough for Class A. If she weren’t too socially anxious to speak, she wouldn’t be in Class F."
The Class A homeroom teacher knew about the girl and chuckled, "You got lucky with that one. Anyone else?"
Meng Huai pointed behind her, "The black-haired boy behind her. Don’t be fooled by his appearance; he’s maintained that exhausted look for four laps and is still in the first group. Interesting, right?"
That was indeed interesting. If Meng Huai hadn’t pointed it out, even the Class A homeroom teacher, with his keen eye, would have thought Jiang Tianming had just started tiring and would soon fall behind.
But he had maintained this state for four laps, so it seemed unlikely he would fall behind.
If he had been trailing the group in that state, it could be attributed to strong willpower. But staying in the first group suggested his ability was at play.
Thinking of this, the Class A homeroom teacher couldn’t help but ask, "What’s his ability?"
If it were a physical enhancement ability, he wouldn’t be in Class F.
Meng Huai wasn’t surprised by this question and answered meaningfully, "I don't know."
"Don't know?"
"When the academy tested him, no ability was detected. But the scanner confirmed that he does have an ability." Meng Huai had clearly looked into this special case.
This answer made the Class A homeroom teacher twitch his lips. "This kid has some bad luck, huh? Did you find out the reason?"
"Not yet. We'll ask tomorrow. He won’t be able to hide it for long."
After saying this, Meng Huai continued, "The Feng family kid, for some reason, insisted on joining Class F. You know their family’s situation; it’s hard not to think of..."
"Prophecy ability, right?" The Class A homeroom teacher was also well-acquainted with the Feng family, or rather, the whole faculty of the Ability Academy knew about this family with their special talents.
He scanned each student and mumbled, "Sending the next head of the family here, I wonder for whom."
"I suspect it might be the one next to him," Meng Huai said, watching the students on the track.
Hearing this, the Class A homeroom teacher immediately focused on Su Bei. "The blond kid?"
As the Class A homeroom teacher, his vision was sharp. He hadn't noticed earlier, but upon closer inspection, he saw the inconsistency. "This kid isn’t giving it his all, is he? Slacking off right under your nose?"
Detecting the teasing tone, Meng Huai scoffed, "Not just that. He’s also dragging the Feng family kid into slacking off."
Before the other man could burst into laughter, Meng Huai continued, "Su Bei, parents deceased, no close relatives or friends, yet he became friends with the Feng family’s young master on the first day of school."
The Feng family members were notoriously aloof, possibly due to their abilities. Even newly awakened ability users exuded an intimidating aura that kept most people at a distance.
To make friends with Feng Lan at first sight, either Su Bei had some exceptional skill, or Feng Lan had some specific intention.
"But that’s not enough to support your theory, is it? Maybe they just hit it off," the Class A homeroom teacher, knowing Meng Huai's thoroughness, queried.
Indeed, Meng Huai took out his phone and played a surveillance clip, adjusting it as he spoke, "I just took a look at the surveillance from when I wasn’t around. Look at what I found."
The footage showed Su Bei’s earlier conversation with Jiang Tianming.
"...the unluckiest person this year? What is this? A prophecy? Is his ability also related to prophecies?" After watching the video, the Class A homeroom teacher asked several questions in a row, musing, "That would explain the Feng family's interest."
The Feng family was known for producing prophecy ability users, and many newly awakened prophecy users would join the family to develop their talents further.
However, prophecy abilities were extremely rare. Even the Feng family, with those who had joined them, had fewer than twenty members with this ability.
If they foresaw the emergence of a new prophecy ability user, it would be normal for them to reach out.
"No, his ability is 'Gears.' The only thing it does is produce gears." Meng Huai said this with a look of expectation for the other man’s reaction.
The Class A homeroom teacher didn’t disappoint, his eyes widened in disbelief. "How is that possible? Then how could he say something like that?"
Meng Huai’s eyes gleamed, "That’s why I said it’s interesting, isn’t it?"
Knowing Meng Huai wouldn’t joke about such matters, the Class A homeroom teacher adjusted his glasses. "Could he be bluffing? No, that wouldn’t make sense. Do you mean his registered ability is fake?"
This matched Meng Huai's theory. "Very likely."
"But if that’s the case, his choice of ability is too careless." The Class A homeroom teacher couldn’t help but criticize.
'Gears' sounded like the sort of weak ability that would be assigned to a character destined to die early in a manga.
"He isn’t putting much effort into acting either," Meng Huai pointed out to the student slacking off on the field. "Besides, making such a statement on the first day of school indicates he wasn’t planning to hide."
"You’re right," the Class A homeroom teacher agreed. "So what’s your plan?"
Meng Huai crossed his arms, looking relaxed, "Just let things play out naturally."
After the long ten laps, Jiang Tianming collapsed as soon as he crossed the finish line. Lan Subing wanted to help him but was too exhausted. Despite her strong ability, she hadn’t exercised much before, and completing ten laps at high speed was her limit.
Fortunately, a boy with orange hair came over energetically, and after understanding the situation, he hoisted Jiang Tianming over his shoulder like a sack and carried him away.
Su Bei found the scene somewhat amusing, clearly recognizing that the person in question was the final member of the protagonist group—Wu Mingbai.
Despite his sunny demeanor earlier, Wu Mingbai wasn't easy to get along with. The main plot of the first part began because of him.
However, once he truly acknowledged Jiang Tianming and Lan Subing, he became extremely loyal, which is why he could join the protagonist group.
This character was also very interesting. Even though he had a life-and-death bond with the other two members of the protagonist group, he often used his sunny and cheerful exterior to deceive people in everyday life.
He was like a sesame-filled dumpling.
Speaking of which, while looking at the promotional images, there was a red-haired boy who also seemed very enthusiastic and cheerful. All the important characters appeared in the image, but it was unclear what his situation was.
After walking a slow lap, it should have been enough, but no one spoke up. Su Bei glanced thoughtfully at Feng Lan and then prepared to start the second lap.
As he had expected, Feng Lan stopped him: "…Shall we go eat?"
Su Bei nodded agreeably and stood still, waiting for the other to go first.
However, the handsome white-haired boy stood there just as cluelessly. After a moment, he seemed to realize something and said, "Could you go first? I don't know where the cafeteria is."
Was this "not knowing" because he hadn't looked at the campus map at the entrance of the teaching building, or was it because he didn't know how to get there despite knowing its location, meaning he had a poor sense of direction?
Already having an answer in mind, Su Bei didn't ask further and took the lead.
Even though it was their first day of school, the "Ability Academy" had already sent out the student handbook a week before school started.
One key point highlighted in the handbook was the academy's point system. In addition to automatically earning 1 point every day for attending all classes, students could earn extra points by achieving good grades or completing academy tasks.
Points could be used for various purposes, such as hiring specialized teachers, reserving good spots in the library or for public classes, exchanging for ability-related tools, and having a good meal in the cafeteria.
The academy's cafeteria was divided into two types. One was free for everyone, but the food was quite basic, all set meals. The other required points and offered a variety of gourmet dishes.
Arriving at the cafeteria, Su Bei was about to lead Feng Lan to the free cafeteria since it was the first day and they had no points.
Unexpectedly, at the fork between the two cafeterias, Feng Lan suddenly stopped him: "Let's eat at the points cafeteria."
Su Bei raised an eyebrow at this. He didn't ask if Feng Lan had points but instead asked straightforwardly, "Are you treating?"
Having someone treat him was certainly a good thing. Su Bei grinned and, deliberately exaggerating his tone, said, "Thank you, Young Master!"
Feng Lan: "…"
Feng Lan nodded, seeing Su Bei agree, and his expression relaxed. He had been a bit worried that Su Bei might think he was looking down on him, which would have been troublesome.
The points cafeteria was paved with white tiles, looking clean and attractive. Inside, there were many windows, and different dishes required different amounts of points.
Currently, there were no other students eating in the cafeteria. Clearly, because they had no points today, most students hadn't considered eating there.
After some discussion, the two decided on a 5-point beginner ability enhancement set meal.
This set meal consisted of fragrant rice, stewed mushroom and pheasant meat, and specially cultivated vegetables. Each component could slightly enhance the body and abilities of an ability user, with even better results when combined.
The fragrant rice and specially cultivated vegetables were grown by plant ability users, while the pheasant was a relatively mild and harmless beast often raised by humans.
Beasts were unique to this world and ability users. Besides native beasts, there were also stronger ones that appeared through spatial wormholes.
They, like ability users, had abilities and usually harbored natural hostility towards ability users, treating ordinary humans even worse. The difference between ability users and ordinary humans to them was like a feast versus regular food.
Ordinary weapons couldn't harm beasts, especially the stronger ones from wormholes. Only abilities could cause significant damage. Therefore, eliminating beasts in wormholes was the main task for most ability users.
However, the limited number of talented ability users couldn't compare to the vast number of beasts. The balance was maintained mainly because of a few top-tier experts. If something happened to these experts, it would cause incalculable losses to the world. This imbalance was probably why the manga suggested the disparity in power between the protagonists and antagonists.
Shaking his head, Su Bei cleared his mind and focused on watching Feng Lan order.
Five points could be accumulated in five days. With Feng Lan treating, he didn't mind indulging a bit, as long as it was within his ability to repay. Five points were just right. And judging by Feng Lan's nonchalant demeanor, 10 points were probably a trivial amount for him.
Sure enough, when Feng Lan swiped his student card, it showed a balance of 1000 points.
Su Bei was amazed. Was this what it meant to be a big shot who could sit at the back row? His status was indeed extraordinary.
After deducting 10 points, Feng Lan turned to look at him, seemingly a bit hesitant, unsure whether to explain or not.
However, Su Bei had no interest in listening, at least not at the moment. He slung his arm around Feng Lan's shoulder with exaggerated ease, flirtatiously batting his eyelashes and asked cheekily, "Sugar Daddy, do you need a kept man?"
Feng Lan breathed a sigh of relief. Although expressionless and disapproving, he earnestly asked, "I don’t, but do you need me to recommend a few who do?"
Though he despised the idea of keeping a kept man, such things were common in the upper circles, and Feng Lan knew a few people with such needs.
"No, thanks," Su Bei replied dryly, seeing Feng Lan's serious expression.
After this little interlude, the two began to eat. These ingredients were things Su Bei had never eaten before. For non-ability users, consuming such food could be deadly.
To say the least, the food tasted great. The fragrant rice was soft and aromatic, and even plain, it was delicious enough to eat half a bowl. The Nightmare Pheasant meat was tender, more elastic, and tastier than regular chicken. As for the specially cultivated vegetables, Su Bei didn’t find much difference. He was a meat lover, so even the tastiest vegetables were just okay.
After a few bites, he felt warm all over, especially in his lower abdomen, as if he had swallowed a small heater.
At this moment, footsteps sounded at the door. They turned to see three people walking in, two boys and a girl. The silver-haired boy with a ponytail, whose beauty was androgynous, was clearly the leader.
Honestly, if not for his tall build, Su Bei might not have recognized him as a boy. He looked more like a high-cold silver-haired beauty with a ponytail.
The moment they saw them, Su Bei keenly noticed Feng Lan’s momentary hesitation, indicating he knew them.
As expected, the silver-haired boy scanned the cafeteria, dissatisfied, and then walked straight to Feng Lan. "Which class are you in? S-class?"
This was an intriguing question. The silver-haired boy clearly knew about Feng Lan’s abilities, at least partially. His guess of S-class indicated he thought Feng Lan’s abilities had S-class potential.
So why was Feng Lan in F-class?
"F-class." Feng Lan glanced at Su Bei subtly, unable to gauge his reaction, and answered the silver-haired boy coldly.
Hearing this, the silver-haired boy was momentarily stunned, wisely refraining from further questions. His gaze naturally shifted to Su Bei, raising an eyebrow, "So this is your new friend in F-class?"
Feng Lan nodded, "This is Su Bei."
He then introduced, "This is Si Zhaohua."
The name suited his face well.
Si Zhaohua, familiar with his old acquaintance’s speaking style, nodded at Su Bei before turning to leave.
Clearly, he had no intention of getting to know Su Bei.
The chubby boy behind him went to get food, while the fully made-up girl, complete with manicured nails and colored contacts, asked softly, "Si Shao, why are you interacting with two F-class guys?"
Though her voice was low, in the nearly empty cafeteria, even a pin drop would be audible, let alone a person speaking.
For a moment, the already quiet cafeteria grew even quieter. The girl’s face turned beet red, and she stiffly stood still, not daring to look at Su Bei and Feng Lan.
Though her words weren't entirely bad, just curious, speaking behind someone’s back was never good. If she hadn't been overheard, it would have been fine, but unfortunately, they heard it clearly.
She felt rather foolish.
In the end, Si Zhaohua spoke up to break the awkwardness, "Sorry, Baozhu isn’t very bright but means no harm."
He glanced at the girl.
Baozhu forced herself to stand and walked over to Su Bei and Feng Lan to apologize, "I’m sorry, I shouldn't have spoken ill of you."
Their actions surprised Su Bei. This wasn’t very manga-like. He had expected a scenario where the rich kids would mock them and then get humiliated in return, but it resolved quietly instead.
Was it because he wasn’t the protagonist?
However, avoiding this trouble was clearly a good thing for him. Su Bei wasn’t suited to antagonizing the powerful. If they investigated his background and exposed him, it would be hard to continue using his unknown identity to deceive readers.
Interestingly, the chubby guy accompanying the duo seemed hostile towards Su Bei, unlike the other two.
When Baozhu apologized, his small eyes were filled with anger, as if they had insulted Baozhu.
Su Bei ate quickly, finishing before Feng Lan. After thinking for a while, he waited for Feng Lan to finish and directly asked, "By the way, is your ability really ‘Prophecy’? What can you predict?"
Note: I just read the comments and realized there is indeed a missing part. Thanks for letting me know!
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