First Meetings

To be honest, the anime depiction of the Academy falls short of capturing its true essence.

Even as I grow accustomed to the opulence of the buildings and estates, my temporary residence for this Trial being on the grander side, it still pales in comparison to the sheer vastness and splendor of this place.

While leisurely strolling and absorbing the scenery, I noticed other students entering the Academy.

They all seem to avoid crossing paths with me. Not that I mind, really.

If no one bothers me, that's better.

My first order of business: dive into the Academy's Library. I know it holds a wealth of magical knowledge crucial for elevating my strength.

Sure, I could have relied on the library back home, and I did glean some knowledge from there, but I wasn't about to leap into one method without thoroughly exploring other sources.

Here, there's no luxury of an undo button. Any misstep could be irreversible.

Just as you wouldn't rely on a single newspaper for news, instead opting for multiple trustworthy sources, I approached the Academy with a similar mindset. Gathering information from various credible avenues, cross-referencing details, was my approach to building a reliable knowledge base about Magic.

As soon as I set foot inside the Academy, prompts filled my vision as if they had been eagerly anticipating my arrival.

[New Chain Quest!]

[Marriage: The First Step]

[Description: As the Protagonist, you are faced with an important choice. Who should you marry? Will you pick the arrogant yet kind-hearted Alexia, or are you leaning towards the mighty but not-so-mighty Iris? It's your rom-com destiny!

Tasks to Complete:

Meet Iris Midgar(0/1)

Meet Alexia Midgar(0/1)

Save Alexia or Iris Midgar(0/1)

Additional Information:

Both Princesses are in trouble! You should save at least one of the two to have the opportunity to complete the Task given by the Trial.

On Failure: Both Princesses will die. You will fail the Trial.

On Success: Level up(10)]

[New Chain Quest!]

[Cult of Diablos: Hiding]

[Description: Currently, the Cult of Diablos is running rampant in this World, their existence still hidden. Shadow Garden has not moved yet. They think their leader is currently doing other jobs, and decided to leave everything to them. As such, things will unfold differently compared to how you remember

Tasks to Complete:

Meet Alpha, the Leader of the 7 Shadows(0/1)

Form an Alliance with Shadow Garden(0/1)

Time Limit: 60 days

On Failure: Shadow Garden will suspect you are a member of the Cult of Diablos. 

On Success: Level up(10)]

Save Alexia or Iris Midgar, huh.

I guess I will evaluate that when I have the chance to meet--

"...May I have the honor to court you, most beautiful flower of this academy---...!!"

Ewww....

I cringed at the cliche proposal.

As if scripted, my face contorted with disdain, standing out amidst the others.

The red-eyed, silver-haired girl, none other than Princess Alexia, noticed my less-than-enthused expression and locked eyes with me.

It's almost comical how I've unwittingly fulfilled part of a quest mere moments after receiving it. 

I sighed internally. What more could I expect? Here I am, stuck in a cliche encounter.

Both of them are in my way, and as a noble, I can't just stroll past the princess of this kingdom without offering some form of greeting. What a mess.

Yeah, much for being a noble, that's just a pain in the ass!

Why is this dumb ass proposing right in front of the main gate anyway? Dude, at least pick a better location...

After Princess Alexia unceremoniously shot down the proposal from the unnamed noble, most people took the hint and scattered, offering their polite bows. Naturally, I had similar intentions—But there was something I forgot.

"Fray Von Garoff. I see you are back at the Academy..."

This princess loves one thing more than anything else in this world.

And that is, to prey on those weaker than her.

"Yes, Princess Alexia. I am delighted to have the honor of greeting the esteemed Moon of our Kingdom before all else. Now, if you'll excuse me, urgent matters demand my attention..."

Of course, just before I could go on my merry way, she flashed a kind smile, which I knew was as fake as one could be.

"You are free to go. I will be seeing you later in the Gymnasium, then..."

She referred to Swordsmanship Training.

In this Academy, Dark Knights need mastery in both Swordsmanship and Magical Power, aiming to unleash a devastating combination of the two—a force that drowns out any opposition.

I have doubts about the swordsmanship part, but oh well, that's just me.

Princess Iris Midgar is the shining example. Her strength is deemed the pinnacle, destined to ascend to become the world's mightiest.

If only they realized that lurking in this world are monsters far more potent than she could ever hope to be..

In this Academy, Sections dictate both training facilities and classes. Unsurprisingly, this identity shares Section 1 with Alexia Midgar.

On one hand, it's convenient. On the other, given her arrogance, it's a golden opportunity to impart her a lesson. I haven't been slacking off these past two days...

Regardless, the quest mandates saving her. But what does that truly entail? Is it just rescuing her from the cult? I doubt that's the full extent of the quest. If not, then...

I'll have to probe further, conduct some tests when the time comes.

 ---

Finally rid of Alexia Midgar, I could make my way to the Library without anyone else disturbing me on the way.

I was really excited to go in there to steal-

Cough

I mean, to kindly register all the books in my Mental Library.

Given only a short window of two days and a myriad of other tasks demanding my attention, progress on my home front remained disappointingly stagnant. However, with the sanctuary of the Library at my disposal and the luxury of time to spare, my sole focus was to absorb every iota of knowledge on Magical Power, Magic Spells, Magic Circles...

This Library easily surpassed any I had encountered before, leaving me practically salivating at the wealth of knowledge it held. Its grandeur was unmistakable, undoubtedly designed to cater even to the refined tastes of royalty.

Within its expansive confines, I could easily lose myself. Each book, meticulously arranged within its designated section, seemed to emit a faint aura of Magical Energy, ensuring their pristine condition for generations to come.

As I delved into the section devoted to Magic, a malicious grin crept across my face.

The wealth of information laid out before me was a treasure trove waiting to be claimed—

As my hand hovered over the first book, its cover promising insights into 'Magic,' my eagerness reached a fever pitch. I was on the verge of seizing my coveted prize when a voice interrupted me.

"If you're interested in Magical Power, this book is a great choice," the voice suggested.

I shifted my gaze to the source behind it, and an involuntary sigh escaped me. Standing before me was an elf with captivating blue irises and silver hair, indicating with a finger another book a little further apart from me. Caught in a momentary lapse of response, I found her tilting her head in mild confusion.

She was none other than Beta, one of the seven Shadows belonging to Shadow Garden.

Seriously? How could I meet her as soon as I stepped foot inside the Library? What kind of luck is this?

Also, how come she's here, speaking with a 'nobody' like me?

Hold on...

Protagonist's luck?

A sudden realization struck me. I couldn't resist going back and scrutinizing the Trial's description.

'You will have to wear the Protagonist's Mantle'

Was that not just a way of saying things?

Damn. Does that mean I have plot armor now?

Or, are people going to start liking me out of the blue for no apparent reason or something?

I highly doubt the System would be so generous...

All I know is that this kind of luck in meeting people related to the original story is awkward. I'll see if there is more to it as time passes.

I didn't have the luxury to mull over it right now.

It was a chance to complete one of my quests earlier than planned, so I had no qualms about entertaining her...

"I see, thanks for the advice, uh..." I said, with a neutral expression on my face.

"Natsume Kafka! May I ask what's your name?" the elf replied, her tone friendly.

She's using a fake identity as an author of books to be here?

So, Shadow Garden is playing the waiting game, monitoring the Academy until something unfolds?

And why is she engaging in conversation with me? Is she trying to get something out of me?

"It's Fray Von Garoff, Miss Natsume. Thank you for the recommendation; I'll trust you and read this book instead."

What a joke. Even if she isn't Shadow Garden's strongest Shadow among the 7, I know her real strength was in her intelligence. If she's suggesting this book, I have no qualms about starting with it.

I have to read every book in the Library, after all. Starting from one or another doesn't change much.

With that thought in mind, our brief exchange ended, and I snagged an empty seat, gearing up to dive deeper into the world of Magical Power before the Gymnasium training...

---

Author's Note:

I guess that's about it for the introduction of the Academy. Akira has no friends, but he sure has luck in catching ladies here and there. 

Ah no, wait, that's because he has the Protagonist Aura now! Damn... that's sad.