68 Starting Point
The 58th Spring Academy Tournament of Rodren Academy has come to a close. The champion is Dianne Alben (21), a 4th-year student from the Academy and the beloved daughter of Duke Alven, making her the first winner from the Department of Magic in a whopping 12 years. The runner-up is Vivianne Velocan (21), a 4th-year student from the Knight Department and a member of the Velocan family from the Kingdom of Nysell. This student, too, surpassed all the strong contenders and emerged as an unexpected protagonist of change.
The person who caused the most commotion in this tournament, more than anyone could have anticipated, was Adrias Cromwell (22), a 4th-year student from the Department of Magic.
As the head of the Cromwell family, he invented the Everlast Potion last year... and this time, he revealed his unique constitution by using the mana of a knight. From the moment he appeared, he was extraordinary, surprising everyone with his powerful swordsmanship. However, he fell short against the champion, Dianne Alben. Despite being relentlessly attacked by Dianne Alben throughout the match, he managed to turn the tide with a powerful move in the latter half of the game. Unfortunately, right after that, he suffered an injury.
-Rodren Post, Jackson Drake, Journalist.
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Finally, the Academy reopened.
After the tournament ended, the schedule felt chaotic, with everything happening at once.
Especially now, as I found myself entering the game at the same time the game's start time approached, I couldn't help but feel a heavy burden on my shoulders.
'It's inevitable.'
Playable characters lead the scenario.
No.
To be precise, I, the one playing the playable character, was leading.
Honestly, I wish the characters could solve the scenario on their own after growing stronger, but ultimately, without my will as the player, it was impossible to resolve anything.
They wouldn't have any milestones like quests in the game.
'In the end, I, who knows the information, am the protagonist.'
As someone who entered the game, I had to lead the scenario as the 13th playable character, Adrias Cromwell.
I firmly reminded myself that my will was the key to advancing the scenario.
'Unlike the game, there are many variables and no save points, but I'll try everything I can.'
I examined the courses I registered for.
'Well, then, first...'
Aside from the small episodes at the beginning of the semester, the problem was the first chapter scenario.
Kyle Schutzman.
Like Charon, he was a professor disguised as a dark magician and the boss of the first chapter.
After his scenario concludes, a clue about another dark magician within the Academy comes out from his office.
'Because of that, the atmosphere inside the Academy is oddly changing.'
If you look closely, because of this, even if I end up dying, I could see it as the starting point.
If it weren't for that clue, Charon wouldn't have become agitated, and due to his agitation, there would have been no chance for Adrias to be exposed.
'If I can solve just that, the cause of my death will diminish.'
To properly fasten the first button, I needed to resolve Kyle first.
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As I walked from the dormitory to the lecture hall to attend classes, I felt piercing gazes fixated on me the entire way.
It was an even more intense feeling than when I first created the Everlast Potion, and the atmosphere was different from back then.
One could say it was an atmosphere of both fear and admiration.
Anyway, I ignored it and continued walking towards the first lecture of the new semester.
I registered for the courses not for the subjects themselves but for the professors in charge.
'Potion Fusion and Manufacturing, Kyle Schutzman.'
I already knew most of his information, but if you want to catch a tiger, you have to go into the tiger's den yourself.
Maybe because of what happened at the assembly, Kyle might know my true identity.
But I didn't care at all.
From the beginning, I was considered a sacred figure in the field of potions.
It's not particularly unusual for someone like me to take a class related to potions.
"Adrias! Adrias Cromwell!"
I saw someone calling me from a distance as I walked.
It seemed to be a staff member rather than a student, so I stopped in my tracks and waited for him.
"Oh, out of breath. Are you Adrias?"
"Yes, that's correct."
The man who called me was Morgan, one of the staff members of the Academy.
As far as I knew, he was one of the employees working directly under the principal, but I didn't know what business he had with me.
"By any chance, do you have time?"
"I was on my way to attend a lecture."
"Ah, I came without checking properly. Then, would you have time after the lecture?"
"Yes, that's fine. But what is it about?"
"Principal Deos wants to have a meeting with you."
A meeting?
A meeting with Deos.
It seemed to be because of the appearance I showed during the tournament.
He didn't bother me because of my injury so far, but now it seems like he wants to resolve his curiosity.
I nodded my head.
"Understood. Let's go to the principal's office as soon as the lecture ends."
"Yes, thank you. Well then, I'll take my leave."
After Morgan left, I resumed my steps.
From the moment I revealed my abilities, I had abandoned the idea of hiding.
Rather, the goal was to become more known, so that my enemies wouldn't dare to mess with me. Therefore, no matter what the principal asked, I planned to answer sincerely.
'After all, it's a completely separate ability from dark magic.'
As I entered the lecture room, a sudden silence enveloped the room, reminiscent of déjà vu.
And a heavy gaze poured upon me.
"What now?"
In the end, I couldn't help but mutter those words.
But this time, instead of being ignored like before, they showed even more interest in me, creating even more commotion.
'The tournament had a significant impact, indeed.'
I tried my best to ignore the commotion and find a suitable place to sit, but the students around me started showing interest in me.
"Um, Senior Adrias?"
The one who spoke to me was an extra character.
But since I had played the game for a while, I remembered their name.
But wait, they haven't taken this class before, as far as I know.
Most students who were taking this course knew about it because they had played as Lucia.
"Was your name Carlos? What's up?"
"Oh. Do you know my name?"
"Well, you're a 3rd-year student."
In response to my words, Carlos was at a loss for words.
Not only him, but the students around also stared at me in surprise.
"Senior Adrias recognized me!"
"Wow, I'm jealous."
I was dumbfounded by the conversations I overheard from the surroundings.
What's all this fuss about just mentioning my name and grade?
It seems like my reputation has risen more than I expected from the tournament.
But I didn't expect everyone to make such a fuss about it.
After all, I was eliminated in the early stages of the main competition.
"Senior, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Senior, you're a magician, so how can you use a sword?"
"I just practiced, and it worked."
"Oh..."
Carlos, who asked boldly, seemed a bit disappointed by my somewhat unsatisfactory answer and simply nodded his head.
Even I thought my answer was a bit lackluster, but so what?
"I see. Yes, understood. Thank you for answering."
"Yeah. You should practice consistently too. How would you know if you can become like me?"
I was aware of the rumors about me that spread throughout the Academy.
The eccentric who exercises as much as a knight every morning, despite being a magician.
Since I was the one saying it, there must be some credibility to it.
'It's not a lie. I just didn't mention that I'm a dual-core.'
Even if I was a dual-core, it was not like my relentless training using potions for infinite energy wasn't a factor in awakening my swordsmanship.
So my statement about practicing consistently wasn't entirely false.
Perhaps because of my response, the atmosphere inside the lecture room suddenly became awkward, but I ignored it and took out my textbook.
Until recently, I couldn't even think about buying textbooks because I was poor, but now I could feel the changing times.
"Hello, senior. So, you're taking this course too."
I wondered when she would come.
Lucia, who never missed herbology and manufacturing classes, greeted me and sat next to me.
But why does it feel like she's saying fewer words?
"Lucia."
"Why?"
"...Nothing."
I decided to let it go and not bother responding. It actually felt quite nice to return to a peaceful daily routine.
Then Lucia stabbed me with her words.
"Does it hurt?"
"No."
"But you're not completely healed, right?"
That's true. Once everything is healed, I'll remove the bandages.
Thanks to the regeneration and healing potions, I recovered quickly. If it were another person, they would probably still be in the infirmary.
"But Senior..."
"What?"
"How did you get hurt like this?"
I turned my head awkwardly in response to Lucia's question. I had prepared some excuses, but when it came to actually saying them, it felt a bit difficult.
"I got injured while training for the main competition."
"You trained too hard. If you train once more, you might end up as a corpse."
Yeah, I think the same way. After defeating Hozan, that's exactly what I thought. How come she has the same thought as me?
Luckily, Lucia didn't seem too suspicious and I just nodded my head casually.
"We need to be careful in the future."
"Aren't you disappointed?"
Lucia asked with a slightly subdued expression.
It was somewhat surprising and also grateful that she seemed more disappointed than I was.
She wasn't a character with this kind of personality, but somehow we've become quite close.
"If it were a real battle, I would have died. I should be grateful that it was just a tournament."
"That seems like an extreme comparison. Anyway, if it weren't for that injury, it would have been the same as you winning."
I can't say I'm not disappointed, but there's no point in dwelling on "ifs" that don't exist.
As I tried to express that I couldn't help it, Lucia looked at me with her sleepy eyes, as if she was upset that I didn't sympathize with her. It made me feel a bit uneasy.
Well, there's nothing I can do about it.
"Senior, more importantly, since you can wield a sword like that, do you make potions too?"
I enrolled in the herbology course this time.
"Ugh, what a waste of talent."
...Are you talking about yourself?
As I listened to Lucia, who was overflowing with talent but lazy, the assistant professor entered the lecture room and began setting up.
'That guy is also a dark magician. Alexander Tiben.'
He was a student in the graduating class until last year, but it seems he became Kyle's assistant professor this year.
That's how it was in the game's scenario as well.
He would eventually become an enemy when I confront Kyle.
'For now, I'll observe.'
The timing is crucial.
I can't prevent what Kyle is planning to do in advance.
No, more precisely, I shouldn't prevent it.
There were two reasons for that. First, the event that I tried to prevent was not something I could actually prevent.
And second, in order to deal with Kyle, I needed concrete evidence that he is a dark magician. So an event needed to occur in order for him to be exposed.
Since I couldn't prevent the inevitable event, once the event occurs, Kyle will be revealed as a dark magician.
'There's a bit of time until the event occurs and Kyle is implicated as the culprit. I'll take advantage of that opportunity to deal with him first.'
That way, I can secure or eliminate any evidence of another dark magician's existence within the academy before anyone else.
Suddenly, Kyle entered the lecture room.
With his bright brown hair and gentle eyes.
Unlike Charon, he had a bright appearance and his actual personality wasn't that bad.
In fact, during my first game play, I was surprised to find out that he was a dark magician.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Kyle Schutzman, responsible for potion fusion and manufacturing."
Kyle's smiling eyes turned towards me.
