039 Duke Billian

I chose to enroll in Nobless Academy for one simple reason: I was bored out of my mind.

It feels a bit weird to say this about myself, but I’ve always been… well, pretty great at everything. I didn’t mind training my body, and I could breeze through my studies without breaking a sweat.

But man, was it dull.

The Billian Family is a lineage of knights. We only snagged our title because of some old military exploits, but a title is a title. Being the eldest son, I figured I had to at least try to act the part, so I dragged myself to those suffocating noble parties. I hated dancing, but I wasn't exactly bad at it.

Besides… getting to see my childhood friend, Shari, was always the highlight.

I’d never really stopped to think about whether I "liked" her or anything like that. It was just fun being around her. Even though she was a noble, she was easy to talk to—not that I really understood why myself.

“Duke, what do you want to do with your life?” she asked me once.

“...I wonder.”

I was good at the whole social thing. I liked talking to people, and I knew my communication skills were top-tier. But I didn’t actually have a goal.

It sounds arrogant to say it’s because I could do anything, but if I’m being honest, that was the problem. The only time I didn't have to overthink things was when I was pushing my muscles to the limit. I was probably at my happiest during a fistfight, but did I want to do that forever? Not really.

I was content enough just drifting along, but then Shari went and befriended a commoner guy named Allen.

I didn’t feel jealous or anything. I just wanted to see what kind of guy he was, so I went to meet him. Turns out, he was hilarious. I’m not mocking the guy, but he’d spout these grand, sweeping dreams without a single hint of embarrassment. He talked about the abolition of the nobility, which didn’t really bother me—I just figured, Hey, it's good to have ideals.

I wasn't blind; I knew this world was rotting.

Before I knew it, the three of us were inseparable. I didn't decide to join the Academy just because of them, but I figured if I tagged along, I might finally find something interesting for myself.

I ended up oversleeping for the entrance ceremony, but Nobless Academy lived up to its name—they actually let me take the exam after I gave them a bit of a "please." I’d heard they were strict, but apparently, they knew how to be flexible.

Or maybe it’s just because I’m a Billian? Who knows.

“I lost…”

When the exams were over, Allen was a total wreck. It was the first time I’d ever seen him so discouraged. He was usually the human equivalent of a golden retriever—bright and energetic. Well, not as energetic as me, obviously.

“Who was the guy?” I asked.

“Weiss Fancent. You’ve heard the name, right, Duke?” Shari answered for him.

“Weiss, huh?”

I’ll admit, hearing that name gave me a genuine jolt. Weiss Fancent, the eldest son of House Fanscent. He was the kind of guy whose bad reputation preceded him by a mile. I’m the type who only believes what I see with my own eyes, so I took the rumors with a grain of salt, but I figured there had to be some truth to them if everyone was talking.

But more than that, I was shocked that Allen had lost.

I’m not trying to bring up the commoner thing again, but Allen hadn't received any special elite training, yet his growth was terrifying. After we decided to enroll, the speed at which he got stronger was honestly laughable. We’d fought so many times, knocking each other unconscious over and over, until we became best friends.

And that Allen lost? I don't like the sound of that at all.

That was my first impression of Weiss.

When I finally met him, he had these sharp, nasty eyes and a massive ego. Right, I thought, this is definitely the Weiss I’ve heard about.

But after fighting him in the tests and watching how he carried himself, I realized the truth pretty quickly. Yeah, rumors are worthless.

See, I love effort. I love the grind—dripping with sweat, forcing myself to diet, doing the repetitive work day in and day out. And I could tell that Weiss was doing the exact same thing.

Shari wasn't convinced, but I think she knew it deep down too. She’s smart, but her family circumstances make her biased, so I didn't push it.

Then came the Tag Tournament. Weiss teamed up with Carta and took the top spot.

Honestly? I was beyond frustrated.

I’d never felt my blood boil like that before. Sure, I’d been annoyed when I lost to Allen, but somewhere in my head, I’d labeled him a "genius" and just accepted it. Well, maybe I was a little mad. Okay, a lot mad.

But Weiss was different.

This guy… he was working even harder than I was.

Realizing that made the loss sting a thousand times worse. Everyone is born with some level of innate talent, and it’s not like Weiss was lacking in that department. But he was pushing past his limits through sheer, bloody-minded effort. He was sweating, bleeding, and never looking back.

I saw it for myself one night in the training room. I’d gone in to work on my daily muscle growth when I saw him—all alone, swinging his sword.

A student training late wasn't a rare sight at this Academy. What stopped me in my tracks was the way he was pushing himself. He looked like he was fighting for his life, resisting some invisible force with everything he had.

This guy has a goal I can't even imagine, I realized.

From that moment on, I’ve secretly considered Weiss my rival. He probably doesn't even know I exist, but I don’t care.

When we were paired up for the Survival, I was actually pretty pissed off. It was cool to see him up close, sure, but I wanted to surpass him, not work with him.

He really is something else, though. He’s brilliant, and more than anything, he’s straightforward. Shari claims he’s the polar opposite of Allen, but she’s wrong. They’re exactly the same. They might look like opposites, but their foundations are identical.

God, I want to beat these guys so bad.

Before I knew it, my goal had finally been set.

The future? My career? Who cares about that crap? I can do anything, and I’m way better at making friends than those two.

But none of that matters.

I want to win. Before we graduate from this Academy, I want to stand over both of them.

I know it’s a long shot. When I watch them, I feel like I’m just some supporting character in their grand play. But I’m always watching, and I’m always learning.

I’m going to climb over them. Absolutely.

I’m Duke, the eldest son of the Billian Family. I’ve got the muscles, I’ve got the brains, and I’ve got the charm.

But I’m throwing all that pride away. It doesn't mean a damn thing if I can't win. I am definitely, 100% going to surpass those two.

And then, I’m going to make them admit it.

I’m going to make them admit that I’m the best.