02 - As the Story Begin

The homeroom session is over, and we are dismissed for the day. Our next class starts next Monday.

Some of my classmates are already gathering to discuss forming parties for dungeon diving. Since none of us have any dungeon experience yet and our job class is [Novice], it looks like everyone plans to stick together and rely on sheer numbers. In the shallow levels, where the enemies are very weak, it makes more sense to crowd-hit than to try organizing with dedicated recovery and support roles.

As for me, with my strange skills and this body shape, no one will want me in their party even if I ask. So, I'll probably be diving solo for a while. It's not just about diving; I also need to think about losing this excess weight. Suddenly, the crowd parts, and someone with a group of followers enters the classroom.

"Listen up, you pathetic E-class! This is Ryou Kazami, the one who rules the D-class. From now on, I will select you and put you under our control. Tell me your status and skills."

On the first day of school, the skinny entourage member begins to make demands, speaking on behalf of Kazami, who stands on the podium with his arms folded and eyes quietly closed.

Incidentally, there was a similar event at the beginning of the game. I think it was a duel event that happened about a month in, where the protagonist protected some girls from being harassed by these guys.

"Hey, vermin, don't keep Kazami waiting. First, show your status."

He directed this at a nearby boy student, who looked displeased by the sudden command.

"Why should I show my status to you all of a sudden?"

Then, the expression of another entourage member, a heavyset boy, changed. The air grew heavy and oppressive, suffocating the space around us.

"... Hey. We're not asking; we're ordering, got it?"

Is this the |Aura| of a strong man due to the level difference? The intimidating feeling of being confronted by a beast at close range was overwhelming.

'But still, it's not as scary as a fast-approaching deadline.'

Your level increases when you defeat monsters in the dungeon and accumulate a certain amount of experience points. As your level rises, your HP (physical fitness) and STR (strength) are significantly enhanced, granting you superhuman abilities.

This physical enhancement is effective only within the dungeon or within about 100 meters of the dungeon entrance, as long as the area is filled with "demons" emanating from the dungeon. This area is known as a "magical field."

Outside the magical field, you lose this physical enhancement. However, the adventurer academy building is designed to encompass the dungeon entrance, and this classroom is within the magical field. Therefore, the physical strengthening from leveling up is effective here.

It would be intimidating to let the Aura hang down in that physically strengthened state. Unfortunately, an intimidated schoolboy has shrunk in front of this display.

"Ah... uh, this is..."

"If you don't show it quickly, don't blame us for bullying the weak. After all, the E class is full of level 1 [Novice], right?"

Classes A to D are part of the prestigious group from middle school. They've been leveling up for as long as three years in dungeons, which are generally only accessible to people over the age of 15. If we, who have never leveled up, were to fight these students, there would be no contest. The difference in ability is so great that we could be easily overpowered with a single punch.

"Oi, Theodore! Show me your status!" He called out to me, sounding somewhat friendly.

'Oh? He called me by my name? Does he know Garcia? Crap, I kinda forgot how the prologue goes on...' I wondered how he knew my name, but it wasn't a big deal. I was eager to get through this early prologue chapter, so I quickly displayed my status on the terminal.

"Well, what's with this status and skill? It seems like a one-time use. Although you have some good stats, your skill seems useless. What a waste! Next, you there."

Of course, since I'm still a [Novice], that's to be expected. But once I level up, I'll be unmatched! I'll make this guy regret what he just said!

As I fantasized about beating that jerk in my mind, a girl with loose blonde hair was called up next. Oh yeah, will this girl be noticed?

She's the heroine of The Conquest, an important character who can also be selected as the main heroine. Her name is Sasaki Mitsuki, though we call her "Blondie" in the game. She's got a charming presence and an approachable demeanor. Her mature atmosphere captivates all men.

As a heroine, there's a scenario where she can form a reverse harem, making her a formidable ally and a scary enemy. It's clear she's one of the characters I should be cautious around.

"You're cute. Your ability is... level 1 and not too impressive, but I'll put your name in our party as a special privilege, just for you."

"Um, um..."

Entourage A looked into the frightened Mitsuki's face without hesitation. Then Entourage C, with a sly look, tried to grab her shoulders—

"She doesn't like that!" A boy with a strikingly handsome face stops his outstretched arm towards the girl.

He has fiery red hair and golden eyes. Despite his smiling demeanor, those around him seem intimidated as if under immense pressure.

"Who are you...?"

"I'm Renji Daisuke from E-class. I'm level 1, but I plan to become the strongest in this school."

'Oh, the main character...'

I quickly look away from them, redirecting my gaze to the window and the blue sky above.

'That line is corny as fu–'

I never thought I'd hear that line in real life! It's kind of weird and cringe-worthy, you know? I understand his goals, but saying that out loud in front of so many people is just embarrassing!

The crowd bursts into laughter at his sudden declaration. Still, he seems quite confident. There's no anger or sadness on Akagi's face; he has the mental fortitude to keep smiling even when ridiculed.

Yes, he is the main character of The Conquest, Renji Daisuke. Even at level 1, he has unusually high stats almost same as me, and as he progresses through quests, he can obtain a powerful job called [Heroic]. With his charming and handsome appearance, he can win over more than 10 heroines at the same time. In many ways, he is a superhuman.

When I played him as the main character in the game, I admired his stoic and ambitious nature while keeping it refreshing. But now that I'm the antagonist, Theodore just seems like a bad guy. Could I really be taken down by him at some point if he got a buff?

Kazami opened his eyes and stared at Renji, perhaps because the E-class student who was looking down on him claimed he would become the strongest.

"An ignorant fool who doesn't even know what an adventurer is..."

"Hah! Kazami, give him a break. He's just an E-class nobody."

Kazami's anger was evident, a vein throbbing on his temple. His entourage tried to calm him down. He was undoubtedly the strongest in D-class.

"You want to be the strongest, huh? Then... how about a duel in a month?"

"..."

Kazami, while checking his schedule on his terminal, quietly provoked Renji. His entourage, expecting an outburst, were relieved to see Kazami's calm demeanor.

'So far, everything is following the game's events. Good, good!'

This duel with Kazami isn't part of the main storyline but a sub-event. It's not a mandatory event.

If Renji accepts the challenge, there will be a duel at the arena exactly one month later. If the protagonist wins, the heroines in this class will become more attracted to him, leading to the B-class ruler event. If he declines, it will be considered a failed event, and the heroines' favorability will drop slightly as if he had accepted the challenge and lost the duel.

If so, I think it's okay to accept it, but there's a significant problem: defeating Kazami is difficult unless you're a veteran player who knows everything about the game. Simply put, this event is "for the second round."

In just one month, you need to efficiently level up, equip the right gear, and develop a fighting style that targets key points and counters, all while considering the opponent's weapon characteristics and skills. Only after all that effort can you hope to defeat him.

By the way, I'm now a minor antagonist, not the main character of the game.

I'm not uninterested in Renji's future choices. However, this event is unlikely to affect Butao much. It's merely a matter of whether Renji, the handsome heroic protagonist, improves his harem status.

In other words, it's like thinking, "I'm jealous!" or "Damn! Sasaki's boobs are big." The Kazami event is just something to watch passively.

Contrary to my feelings, Renji and Kazami are still glaring at each other.

"There are a lot of monsters in this school. Even with a month's grace, if you can't beat me and claim to become the strongest... then that's an impossible dream, isn't it?"

"No matter what. I accept your challenge."

Renji straightens up, looks directly into Kazami's eyes, and declares this. The entourage whispers in response, and the classmates roar. They didn't expect him to face the daunting task of overcoming Kazami's three-year dungeon-diving advantage in just one month.

"Duels are held in the arena, with safety rules. You won't die, but be prepared to lose one or two arms."

"...Ahh..."

As expected of the main character. He can confidently withstand Kazami's |Aura| head-on. Meanwhile, I don't feel scared for some reason—perhaps this is a perk of being an antagonist?

When Kazami and his friends leave the classroom, saying, "I remember your face and name," Renji winks at Sasaki, who is trembling with anxiety. Seeing his worry, their classmates quickly rally around him, offering encouragement and support.

Renji is a mood-maker who can transform an atmosphere of anxiety into one of confidence while effortlessly communicating with the opposite sex. Is this the charisma that will soon make him the center of the class? He is the complete opposite of a villain like me, a minor antagonist like Garcia.

However, accepting the Kazami event seems to have more drawbacks than benefits. From my perspective, strength should be recognized by others, not declared. Renji's actions look like a risky provocation. Maybe that's the difference between a main character and someone like me, a mere accessory.

Well, I have a lot on my mind and things to do, so let's call it a day and head home. As I packed up my belongings and started to leave the classroom—

"Umm..."

A hesitant voice came from behind. I turned around to see Akari Hoshimi, Garcia's childhood friend and fiancée-to-be, standing there with her arms crossed.

Even just standing still, her striking beauty, straight nose, and model-like figure captured everyone's attention. Her high ponytail, with dark brown hair tied neatly, added to her elegance and charm.

Suddenly being approached by her, who was even more stunning than in the game's graphics, caught me off guard.

"What are you planning to do today...?"

"..."

What should I do? Did Garcia have plans with her?

In the game, Garcia seemed to be infatuated with her unilaterally, but given that she's a childhood friend, there might have been interactions behind the scenes not shown in the game.

"Why are you staring at my face? Can you reply already..."

Since I was suddenly transported into this world and became Garcia, I have no reference point other than the game information. Honestly, isn't being suddenly swapped into someone else's life a bit too challenging?

Complaining won't solve anything. It's better to use some polite excuses and focus on escaping this situation. First, I need time to gather information.

"Sorry, I have an errand to run today."

"...Okay, so be it."

She doesn't seem interested and quickly looks away, returning to the group with Renji. It looks like I've managed to avoid trouble for now, so I should leave this place.

'What is this feeling of unease... Is this how Garcia truly feels?'

Is he worried that his childhood friend will be taken by the handsome heroic main character? Such a beautiful girl is bound to attract many men, and as a man, I understand his concern.

However, according to the game, the more I try to get involved with her, the worse Garcia's position will become, ultimately leading to expulsion. Whether or not I leave school, I should control his feeling to avoid any obstacles to my survival.

'Geez, Garcia, calm down would you? '