"What?"

  I frowned at Serena Sterling's surprise offer. In the original game, she never once came up to talk to me first.

  "Why pick me?"

  Serena was ranked 7th in our class. There were tons of students who would kill to be on her team. She had been personally trained by Alexander Sterling, the man known as the "Spear Phantom," so her fighting skills were just as good as the main male heroes.

  Since she was little, she drank expensive potions and learned secret techniques, making her way stronger than the average student. Except for Julian Vance and Damian Steele, she was probably the strongest person here.

  "Do you not want to?"

  "It isn't that I don't want to..."

  Serena laughed, and I quickly shook my head.

  "There are plenty of people better than me."

  "Sure, if we only look at fighting power, there are better choices."

  She nodded calmly, looking relaxed.

  "But right now, we don't know what the practical test will be, right?"

  I knew, of course. I had seen it a million times in the game.

  "Ms. Reed said to think about different situations when picking teammates. It seems like a bad idea to only pick fighters."

  Serena looked at me closely with a tricky smile.

  "You were really good at the tactical simulation against giant monsters and acting as an operator in middle school, weren't you?"

  "I was okay," I admitted.

  I had studied theory and taken written exams like crazy because I knew I didn't have any natural talent for being a hero. I wanted to pass the Vanguard Academy entrance exam with Lily Pierce and become a great hero... until I got my memories back from my past life.

  "Since we don't know what kind of events the test will have, I wanted someone smart with tactics on the team. Oh, and don't worry. We already have enough muscle."

  "Hmph."

  Serena smirked and gently patted the shoulder of the girl standing next to her. The girl with the long, straight pigtails glared at me with a sour look. She looked like she was only tolerating me because of Serena.

  "You are Nina, right?"

  Nina. Ranked 17th among the new students. Even though she was small and looked like a middle schooler, she was a martial artist with crazy strength.

  She was one of Serena's loyal followers and had been with her since childhood. Because she admired the beautiful and proud Serena, she took on the job of chasing away annoying people who swarmed around her.

  Nina, huh...

  To Nina, I must look pretty useless. She fit the 'I love my big sister' character type often seen in anime.

  "Hmph. You actually know my name?"

  "We have been in the same class for about a month."

  With her power, they could definitely compete with Julian Vance or Damian Steele's teams. Serena and Nina had enough skill to stand out even against the main male characters.

  "Honestly, your fighting skill isn't great, but since Nina and I are close-range fighters and tanks, we need support or a ranged attacker. You are okay with a bow, right?"

  "You said your name was Oliver Brooks? You should count yourself lucky that you get to join a team this strong."

  I scratched my chin at Serena and Nina's words. Despite what she said, I knew it was all an act. There really wasn't a good reason for her to pick me. There were plenty of other students who were stronger and smarter than I was.

  So Serena's offer must have a hidden motive.

  Is it because of Lily after all?

  Julian Vance must have been acting annoyed or cold toward Lily, and treating Serena differently. Given Serena's personality, she wouldn't just sit back and watch. Being ignored in favor of a normal girl from a common background would have hurt her pride.

  She always did this in the game.

  If Lily and Julian got too close, one of the events that triggered was Serena trying to steal Lily's boyfriend to cause drama. Serena's character was designed to create conflict by seducing her rival's boyfriend or making him think Serena liked him, leading to a breakup.

  She played the villain role perfectly and could be kind of cruel and petty.

  I didn't expect Serena to make a move this soon.

  I casually looked over at Lily and Julian. They were talking in the crowd.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Is Julian moving faster than he did in the game?

  In the game, since Lily and I were dating, Julian held back. He often hesitated, stuck in jealousy, until he couldn't take it anymore. That's why Serena's direct fight with Lily usually happened much later.

  But things were different now.

  Well, it isn't a bad thing.

  Because I had planned to be on Serena's team anyway. I had plenty of stories ready to convince her.

  "Okay, if you are both fine with it."

  "Good choice," she said, her eyes teasing me.

  Ah, Serena was already starting. Most guys would crumble if a beauty like her flirted with them, but knowing Serena's true personality, it didn't impress me much.

  "Oh, but there is one condition."

  "Hm?"

  Serena looked curious.

  "A condition?"

  "Yeah."

  "Ha, what a joke."

  Suddenly, Nina yelled as if I was being ungrateful after being saved from drowning.

  "Hey, Oliver Brooks. Who do you think you are to make demands...?"

  "Nina."

  "Huh?"

  "Could you keep it down?"

  "Uh, oh, okay."

  With just one word from Serena, Nina deflated like a puppy caught in the rain. Her excited eyes went dull, and her bouncy pigtails seemed to droop.

  "Tell me your condition. What is it?"

  With a mix of interest and curiosity, Serena looked at me as I spoke slowly.

  "For this practical assessment, you follow my orders. That is all."

  "Huh?"

  Her eyes lit up with interest.

  "Well... I don't really want to do that."

  From her point of view, it must sound crazy. She pitied me enough to let me join, and now I wanted to be the captain? Any normal person would think, 'Does this guy not know his place?'

  But Serena, you aren't normal, are you?

  "You must have thought this through and prepared something to convince me, right?"

  "If you follow my orders, I promise our team will finish first... or at least second."

  Honestly, we might not get first if we got unlucky. But I was pretty confident. After all, I am a veteran of this game. I already know how to win.

  "You have some nerve," laughed Serena.

  The situation was so random that it was ridiculous for me to say that. I would have reacted the same way in her shoes.

  "It is interesting. The other teams won't be easy to beat. You certainly have ambition."

  She glanced at Julian and Damian. Even she couldn't be sure of beating those two.

  "Well, okay. Let's say I agree to your terms... but what if..."

  She grinned sharply.

  "...the result isn't good?"

  "..."

  "What if we fail? This is an important test, and I was taking it quite seriously."

  You aren't taking this test seriously at all, are you? If you really thought it was important, you wouldn't have picked me as a teammate. You're just showing off.

  "Shall we make a bet, then?"

  "A bet."

  Everything we said was just leading up to this. The word 'bet' was extremely important to Serena.

  "If you agree to follow my orders and we don't win, I will be your servant for our whole time at the Academy. How about that?"

  "Huh?"

  Serena's eyebrows danced with excitement at the idea of having a servant. Ah, she liked that kind of thing. I'm glad I memorized her character profile.

  "Sounds fun. Are you that confident?"

  "Enough."

  "You are taking it too lightly, aren't you?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "If you can't keep your promise... I will make sure you do, by force if I have to."

  Her eyes flashed. If we failed, she wouldn't let it go easily. Bets were something Serena took very seriously.

  Since she was young, Serena had won and lost many things through bets with Alexander Sterling. Her father never went easy on her, and she had to accept the result of every bet. Because of that, betting became like a religion to Serena.

  "Are you still okay with that?"

  "Fine. Let's do it."

  If she refused to accept the result of the bet, she might even use her family's power. That is how seriously Serena took betting.

  "Oh, by the way, you aren't planning to lose on purpose just to make me lose, are you?"

  "Haha, you say funny things. Obviously, I care about my grades more than bets."

  No, you care about your curiosity more. But knowing Serena, she wouldn't lose on purpose. She was too proud for that.

  "Oliver, were you here...?"

  Lily walked up, giggling playfully, and then stopped. She looked at Serena. The two of them stared at each other.

  "Hi, Serena."

  "Hi."

  They had spoken a little over the past month, but still seemed awkward. Not surprising, since their first meeting went badly.

  "That is an interesting group. What were you two talking about?"

  "I am here too."

  "Ah, right, Nina. Yeah, I remember."

  "What? Are you saying you didn't see me because I'm short?"

  "Haha, no way. Oh, our Nina~ So cute~."

  "Stop it! Hey! Don't pinch my cheek! Are you crazy?!"

  As Lily reached out to pinch Nina's cheek, Nina quickly jumped back. She looked genuinely grossed out, so Lily cleared her throat and looked at me.

  "Anyway. Oliver, did you find a team?"

  "A team?"

  "If you haven't, do you want to join me?"

  Lily stood tall with her hands on her hips.

  "Who else would take care of you if not me? Hehe. You really should be grateful."

  "Aren't you on the same team as Julian?"

  "Right, but I was talking with Julian about who else to ask, and he said you would be okay."

  "Oh, really?"

  "Of course, it is different for a top student. Not the same as being with someone at the bottom, right?"

  "...It sounds like you are just pitying me because of him."

  Why is she so dense? Is it because she is the heroine of a reverse harem?

  "Anyway, if you don't have a team, let's team up."

  "No, it's okay."

  "Stop playing hard to get. You don't need to feel pressured. Julian said it is fine if..."

  "I have a team."

  "...Huh?"

  Lily blinked in surprise as I cut her off.

  "Huh? You have a team already?"

  "That is how it turned out."

  "But with whom? Who is your teammate?"

  "It is me."

  With a small smile, Serena answered.

  "I decided to team up with Oliver this time."