I WAS The Rank–1 Hero

"Fuck this stupid academy."

This was the third time I heard her curse this academy.

"Best hero academy in the world? My ass!"

Make it fourth.

Chowing down the steak on her plate, Anna gritted her teeth, letting out her frustration.

"Is-is that so, haahaa..." And I just awkwardly laugh.

Anna from my original timeline was talkative when you match her rhythm, but holy shit, this version was just…

I looked around the cafeteria. Several gazes were already on us, all thanks to Anna. I honestly just want to hide under the table, but I'm here for a task.

Taking a deep breath, I looked at Anna's excited gaze.

"Anna."

"Hm? What is it? You don't like me to talk?"

"N-No," I waved my hands. "I want a favour from you. If you don't mind?"

I know this might sound rude to her, and she might even think that I started talking to her just because I wanted to meet her brother. But I have to ask.

"It's fine," she answered casually, "why would I mind? I mean, if it's within my power, I can do you any favour."

"..."

Holy shit, she's an angel!

Now I want to exchange her with my timeline's Anna.

"Ahem, it's nothing much, but… is it possible for you to set up a meeting for me with your elder brother?"

"With Albert?" She asked, blinking.

How many brothers does she have? Now that I recall, I didn't ask her about her family in my real world.

"Yes," I nodded my head.

Now, through her brother, I can discover the truth about Elise's cause of death.

"I can't help you with that." She simply muttered, lowering her eyes.

"Huh?"

What does she mean?

Clenching my fists, I once again requested her.

"But, I need—"

"Listen," Anna raises her hands, "I don't mind helping—"

"Then why?!"

"Ugh, will you just let me finish?" Anna's face twisted. "My brother was not in good shape to talk to anyone right now."

There was some sort of pain in her eyes. I can see that as clearly as day.

"What happened to him?" I cautiously asked.

Is he injured?

But to my surprise, Anna just stood up from her seat. "It would be best if you just saw it with your own eyes."

See what exactly?

I didn't question her, standing up from my seat, I followed behind her.

Fifteen minutes later, I found myself standing in front of the Celestial Building—the place where the top 10 rankers of the Nova Academy stayed.

Following Anna inside the building, I couldn't help myself from asking.

"What are we doing here?"

"Do you not want to meet my brother?" She glanced at me from the corner of her eyes, "I'm guiding you to his room, but know this, he won't answer you."

I don't know why she was saying all this, but I didn't question her as long as I was able to meet him.

Ding—!

Stepping out of the lift on the third floor, Anna guided me toward a particular door.

"That's his room." Stepping away from the door, she gestured to me, "Go on, ask what you wanna ask him."

Crossing her arms, she leaned her figure against the wall next to the door.

I am slowly catching on to the situation here, and I truly hope that wasn't the case.

Stepping in front of the door, I pressed the bell on it.

"..."

No answer came.

I did it again.

"..."

Still no.

Over one hundred and seven times, I pressed the button until my fingers started to go numb.

"W-why isn't he answering?" With a contorted face, I demanded, "Anna, is your brother not in his room?"

That must be the case, otherwise, why would he ignore this astounding amount of bell press, right?

Frustration gripped me.

I don't know how much time I was here in this timeline, but before I make it out, I'll bring justice to my sister.

"You call yourself her best friend?" My voice cracked with fury as I looked at the door.

Anna was stunned, her body straightened away from the wall.

"..."

My voice was low.

"Does your blood not boil?"

"..."

"Do you not feel your throat burning?"

I remember Mom telling me that none of her friends came to her funeral.

"Do you know? She always talks about you."

"On, how she got the nicest friends in the world… she used to flaunt this to me. Do you know this?"

"She got pictures of you and the rest in our room… she didn't even miss a single day cleaning it."

"Do you…" I pressed my head against the door. "Do you even see her as your friend?"

"..."

Yet, no matter how much I tried, he wouldn't respond or even open the door.

"O-Oi—huh?" Anna tried to say something but stopped. Her voice froze as if she had witnessed something terrifying.

I can't blame her.

"Haahaaa…" I banged my head on the door so loudly that the sound that was generated echoed throughout the empty hall.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

My face must have looked twisted for Anna to take her step back.

"Haaahaaa," My body jolted with anger.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!"

The surge of Essence leaking from my body shook the entire hall, as my maniacal laughter echoed along with it.

"...?!" Anna jerked violently.

"Hey." There was an icy tone in my voice that even made me wonder if it really belonged to me.

This timeline, this place, her death, and now this—they're all driving me insane.

At the moment, I find it difficult to think before I speak.

"Would you still remain silent if I killed your sister right now—Aagh!!"

A sword just landed on my shoulder from inside the room, piercing through the door.

Although I momentarily avoided it, the blade still managed to rip off half of my shoulder.

The broken pieces of bones and my red blood flowed from the hollow cut. I gazed down at it and saw my jagged veins and my white flesh cleanly chopped off.

"Z-Zane!" I ignored Anna's worried call.

But I didn't feel any pain.

Turning my head up, I saw a figure coming out from the sliced open door.

Long messy red hair, those baggy red eyes, and that face with pure anger looming over it.

A grin crept on my lips.

"Ah, I knew you would come out."

Standing up from the floor and wiping up my bloody hands, as a few torn pieces of flesh flopped to the floor from the cut, I curtsied.

"Hello, I'm Zane Skylark, the younger brother of Elise." I stared dead at his red eyes. "Senior Albert, I have questions that I wanted to ask."