The ranking ceremony was over and the students returned to their seats. Everyone was in awe at the young group of six as they made their way back towards their seating area. Their classmates were screaming and cheering as the 6 made their way back.

As a part of Class S, everyone was naturally proud of them, especially now since they just finished the raid assignment and had bonded closer with one another. When the group got back to their seats, the rest of the class began crowding towards them giving them their due congratulations. The members from the class parties began grouping up together with their leaders and they began talking and asking about their incredible feats and experiences over the past month.

Ainz was enthusiastically telling his story while Elizabeth and Lucia were calmly talking with their groups. Only Velicia was causing a small uproar with her posse and party that attracted the other students from the different classes near them. Cecil smiled at them and sat down next to Fina who was currently being surrounded by his class party's members. The little girl was at a loss of where to begin her explanations and could only stutter and stumble to get any words out.

The headmaster who had finished arranging for the monitor's repairs stood back up onto the podium as he said with his sound enhanced voice, "Attention, Students!"

His exclamation caused everyone in the stadium to quiet down and turn their attention back to him. Seeing that he's got all the students' attention again, he continued, "Now I will begin explaining the changes we are having for our tournament's second segment!" The headmaster paused and looked around the stadium. He made sure that everyone had their full attention on him before he continued, "This year's tournament is a little different since we're having a joint tournament with other Kingdoms' Magic Academies from all across Urrugdrasil. The main tournament will be held a month from now, so we will have to adjust to the changes!"

"And since this is a joint tournament, we can't have everyone in the academy participate now can we?! So that's why... we'll be hosting our last segment for our tournament's second segment!"

His announcement caused the students to widen their eyes in surprise. The last segment, which was the dueling segment, was going to be the next segment in place of the usual dungeoneering segment.

"The Dueling Segment will begin in 2 week's time! Each Academy is only allowed to bring 100 of their students for the Joint Tournament! The top 100 rankers in the next segment of the tournament will be given the privilege to come join the Urrugdrasil Continent's Magic Academy Tournament!"

Cheers began to erupt inside the stadium, many of the students were looking forward to this. It was one of only 2 individual styled segments inside the entire Arks Academy Magic Tournament, so many strong and capable students were rearing to go head to head and claim a spot in the top 100 for themselves.

"The prerequisite to join the next segment is that you MUST be part of the parties or factions that placed in the top 10 of this segment's rankings!"

Cecil and his party had confident expression on their faces. Since it was a test of an individual's might... then it was safe to say that the spots in the top 10 already had their names written on it. The 6 members of Little Kings were confident in their own individual abilities to take a spot in the top 10. Any less than that would tarnish their reputations as the 'Little Kings'. Even Fina was looking forward to the tournament and she was their party's support. She silently swore in her heart that she would get a good ranking despite her role.

"The entire segment will only go on for about a week! Then the last week of the month will be used to help prepare the 100 individuals going to the Joint Tournament! OUR ACADEMY MUST GET A GOOD RANKING! THE ACADEMY'S HONOR, THE KINGDOM'S HONOR AND YOUR HONORS AS WELL, ARE RIDING ON OUR SUCCESS IN THE COMING TOURNAMENT!" The headmaster spiritedly declared in a very loud and spirited voice.

Cecil was smiling brightly on the side, his smile was a little devilish and every member of Little Kings felt a chill run up and down their spine. They immediately turned towards him and saw the smile on his face.

"CRAP!" Ainz exclaimed.

"Oh no..." Elizabeth mumbled with a strained look on her face while Velicia paled in silence.

"..."

Lucia only sighed and began psyching herself up while Fina was a little scared though when she saw her best friend getting mentally prepared for the hellish training coming at them in the next 2 weeks, she too resolved herself and began pumping herself up!

'I'll do it! I'll definitely get stronger!!'

"Now Students! Will it be you?! Or you?!" The headmaster continued while pointing at random students.

"Step forward and show everyone your might! Come with me as we bring the highest of glory back to OUR ACADEMY! OUR KINGDOM!!!"

"WAAAAAAHHHHH"

The students in the stadium began cheering and applauding once again, the heat in the stadium was turned up to the highest level after the Headmaster's encouraging and moving speech.

The students were soon dismissed and the stadium was cleared out, the students began gathering in their own factions and soon went back together to their HQ, clearly every student was anticipating and were already in the midst of their preparations for the Tournament's Dueling Segment.

The students of Class S also dispersed. Many of them had joined factions so they were heading towards their respective factions. It was only the Little Kings that were left standing alone near the stadium's gateway.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

Everyone was laughing and was without a doubt elated at taking first place during the 1st adventurer segment. The prizes for first place were also abundant. Besides the aforementioned prizes, the headmaster had also given the party a spatial ring that contained many herbs and plants that could be concocted into potions or pills.

The library passes to the 4th and 5th floor were also inside the ring, it was late already so the group decided to head back and gather again tomorrow to head together to the library. It's been a while since they've last visited the Sage, so they might as well drop by. Just as the group was heading back, a couple of individuals blocked their paths.

"Little Kings, I presume?" The person standing in front of the rest asked.

"Yes, it's an honor to finally meet you, Student Council President Zephyr," Cecil replied.

The leading person was the aforementioned person that Cecil had greeted. Zephyr smiled in response to Cecil's polite greeting. Contrary to his beliefs, Cecil didn't seem too difficult to talk to.

While Zephyr was quietly assessing Cecil, the latter turned towards the rest of the 10 individuals that were blocking their path and greeted each individual one by one politely. Warrior faction's Gus August, Mage faction's Lala Naito, Alchemy Faction's Manden Krulle, Research Faction's Lizzy Andar, World Tree Faction's Sol'ai Sunstrider, and Ironforge Faction's Onyx Blackhammer

There was also Draco Faction's Lance Arks and finally Royal Fox Faction's twin leaders Aurellia Aurielle and Friedrich Nabi. The 2nd leader of the Royal Fox Faction was previously acquainted to Cecil and Lucia, though in a bad way. He was currently giving a deathly glare towards Cecil, but he flinched all of a sudden when he felt a cold piercing glare directed at him. He shifted his sights to beside Cecil and saw Lucia eyeing him dangerously.

Friedrich snorted and took back his gaze. The exchange didn't escape Aurellia who was next to him. She started frowning at this. There was some sort of enmity between the two parties that she didn't know of. This caused a mild headache rise in her head.

The rest of Cecil's party also greeted all 11 individuals politely and it was only after they were done with their greetings that Cecil finally opened his mouth to address why they had approached them like this.

"So... is there something we can help you all with?"

"It's simple. We're here to recruit you six into our factions," Zephyr said.

"Oh?"

"Don't worry about the divisions, we already decided that beforehand, we'd evenly divide you up amongst ourselves. Preferably, of course, it'd be better for you guys to choose which faction you want to join."

"Hmmm..."

"Well, take your pick. Do be quick about it since we have to head back soon and begin preparations for the next tournament's segment," Zephyr continued with a smile after seeing Cecil's look of contemplation. His contemplating look caused the rest of his party to frown in worry.

Ainz was the first to speak up, "Oi, Cecil!"

"Quiet Ainz, let me think..."

"What?!"

The exchange caused the leaders to smile. Cecil was the de facto leader in Little Kings and everyone listened to his orders most of the time. This was what the leaders deduced after seeing the brief exchange between Cecil and Ainz. The Dark Moon Faction's Leader spoke up abruptly, "I commend you 6 for showing your talents and prowess, but was there a need to actually create such a small group?"

Cecil only smiled back in response. This caused the leader to smirk back at him and chuckled, "Honestly, if you guys wanted to get some attention, there could have been a better and easier way."

"Ahaha... yes, we did attract a lot of attention with our small stunt," Cecil responded.

"Tsk, can you hurry up already! We don't have all day!" Friedrich, one of the leaders of Royal Fox, said in displeasure.

"Shut it Friedrich!" Aurellia reprimanded him with an annoyed frown, she then turned around and walked away while saying, "We're withdrawing from this."

"Huh? What're you saying Aurel?!"

Friedrich looked back at Cecil's group and then chased after Aurellia. Everyone else was surprised at her abrupt withdrawal. Even Cecil was mildly surprised seeing this, but it looks like the girly had gotten the picture.

'At least someone's smart~'

Another impatient faction leader spoke up after Aurellia and Friedrich left, it was the leader of the warrior faction, "We want you, Cecil, to join our faction. Is there a need to even think? A warrior like yourself would fit perfectly with us!"

"Since the Royal Foxes aren't here anymore, can I assume that Lucia would like to join our faction?" The leader of the Spell Caster Faction asked slowly.

Cecil smiled hearing this, he then opened his mouth, "We did want to attract attention, but not from you guys~"

"What?"

His words caused everyone to narrow their eyes. This kid, it seems like he had no intention to join any faction. Cecil's party members all let out a long withheld sigh of relief. Lucia was the only one who didn't seemed worried at all. The rest regained their confidence and began smiling again. The previous tensed expressions on their faces were now gone.

Zephyr who was in the front of the rest narrowed his eyes dangerously and asked with a tinge of annoyance in his tone, "What do you mean by that?"

Cecil's only response to his question was his usual lighthearted smile.