A Privileged Extra's Troubles

Monday morning. The second week of school, and the second class of Gate Exploration. But before then, I was grabbing breakfast with my one and only friend here at this academy.

Roland gave me once over and said, "You seem like you had a productive weekend, Alex. Did you manage to completely recover?"

"Something like that."

Giving a half-hearted reply, I gave a quick glance at my stats.

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[Status Screen]

Name: Alex Smith

Age: 18

Equipped: <Unique > Diamond Mana Galaxy

Strength: 11 (+10)

Agility: 11 (+10)

Vitality: 11 (+10)

Endurance: 11 (+10)

Mana: 11 (+10)

Stamina: 110 (+700)

Mana Pool: 110 (+600)

===

It was a success… kind of.

I had wanted to make a personal attack drone, but ended up making a tactical nuke instead after using up all my SP. 

That thing was waaay too dangerous to risk letting anyone see. It'd be handing a vial of the corona virus and a list of its dangers off to Nazi Germany. 

In other words, things could go catastrophically wrong if it got into the wrong hands.

Thankfully, I was allowed to put it in the RPG app inventory and treat it like an equip item instead.

Effectively, it was like I had used my rank-up voucher. Well, that and have an auto-mana potion injector into my veins or something from how much more stamina and MP I got from equipping the thing.

And that reminded me that Sophia still hadn't dragged me to her office to interrogate me about my new gear which she definitely saw being made.

…Maybe she was being lazy again? She had a setting of procrastinating under stress, though it never came up in story.

Hm. Speaking of stress, it seemed like I was doing compartmentalizing. This was reality, but I was still viewing everything under the lens of it being a 'story' and 'characters.' Definitely needed to get that under control and also sort out my emotions about being here and leaving everything back at Earth.

Anyway.

I reached up to stretch and took a look around.

Roland had texted me last night to meet him for breakfast at a cafe before class today. Since I didn't have anything in particular planned, and since I wanted to check on his progress, I agreed.

Speaking of which…

"I can't tell for sure, but it seems like you had a productive weekend as well, Roland?"

I didn't have the ability to clearly sense just how much mana someone had, but I could sense that the air around Roland was a bit sharper.

Roland scratched the back of his head and said, "I got lucky and found something useful while exploring this weekend."

"Nice, nice." I nodded and said, "Considering that Isaac keeps bothering you, it should help close the gap, right?"

Roland sighed. "...I don't understand him. He may be from a higher rank of nobility, but at the end of the day we'll both be a Hero when we graduate."

"Mm…" I munched on some French toast… Well, the equivalent, and then said, "He's probably just jealous."

Roland blinked. "Jealous?"

"Yeah. Especially since you seem close with Evelyn and all."

Isaac looked up to Evelyn a lot because the Frostblades were maneuvering to prop her up as the future Empress. That was also why he went full edgelord after she died to hunt down the Void Arbiters.

…Man. Although it was useful knowing all of this, I could do with out the almost crippling decision paralysis from thinking about all the ways the future could change due to shifting character relationships and events.

Roland paused and then said, "If that's true, won't he be even more upset with you?"

"Hm?" I blinked and said, "What do you mean?"

"Well, the princess definitely keeps staring at you in class. She also trains at the same time you do. And she often eats near where you eat too."

"...Does she?"

I hadn't been paying attention to that. Mostly because I didn't want to jinx anything by acknowledging the flag. But if even Roland was pointing it out…

"Not only that…" He paused and tilted his head, staring at me.

"What?"

"You call the princess by name a lot. Are you sure there's nothing between you two?"

I froze.

…Right. I was used to calling the characters by name, so it didn't strike me that it would be a problem. 

Good thing I hadn't done that to Sophia yet.

…I think.

"Well." I quickly changed the subject and said, "What about you and Marisa?"

Roland blinked. "Who?"

"...Marisa Sagewind?"

Roland frowned and rubbed his chin. But then his eyes lit up and he said, "Ah, the helpful girl at the top of our class." He paused and said, "What about us?"

SHE'S YOUR FUTURE WIFE! WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT ABOUT US?!?!

I wanted to scream. 

The carefully crafted love story. The casual interest that turned into affection after a crucial encounter. 

It should have started by now, but this guy didn't even know her NAME?!

ROB! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH MY STORY! GET DOWN HERE SO I CAN BEAT YOUR ASS!

"U-Um."

A polite female voice echoed from the side.

I blinked and instinctively glanced over. And then I had to resist the urge to let out a giant sigh.

It was Evelyn. 

Carrying a tray with a small stack of blueberry pancakes, she looked at me and Roland before saying, "Is it fine if I join you two for breakfast?"

Before I could reply, Roland spoke up.

"Of course, Princess. Here." Roland immediately stood up and offered his seat to Evelyn before heading over to a nearby table to steal its chairs.

While Roland did that, Evelyn sat down in the now empty chair and looked at me.

…I had to admit, she was enchanting. Her elegant features paired with her golden hair and silver eyes was captivating. 

Also, up close like this, I could see that her pupils actually hid a pair of crescent moons, barely illuminated in faint silver.

It was a face that you couldn't get tired of looking at, and one that could probably get any guy to drop what he was doing and immediately rush off on whatever task she gave him.

Evelyn shifted her gaze to the side and then said, "Am I disturbing you?"

"Yes."

Evelyn flinched.

I instinctively felt a pang of guilt at my heart seeing that expression cross her beautiful face. But I hardened my heart against it.

After all, it was absolutely true.

===

> Your peers are surprised at the princess's bashful actions! +100 SP. Current SP: 100

> Isaac Frostblade seethes with jealousy. He vows to humiliate you in front of the princess at the earliest opportunity. +1000 SP. Current SP: 1100.

> Marisa Sagewind wonders if she should be as bold as the princess in order to be friends with you. She quietly resolves to ask you to be her partner at the earliest opportunity in class. +1000 SP. Current SP: 2100.

> The spy for the Void Arbiters is surprised. They make a quick report to their superior, updating your priority on their list. +1000 SP. Current SP: 3100

> Roland lets out a deep sigh and starts planning how to pave the way for you to be with the Princess. He makes a mental note to write a letter to his father later. +1000 SP. Current SP: 4100.

===

HELLO?!

I'm not the main character here! 

And Roland! Stop shipping me! I'm supposed to be the one shipping you!

Argh! You know what?

"Forget it." I get up and quickly make an escape.

Alright guys, get it straight. I don't like her, and I don't want anything to do with her…

===

> Isaac Frostblade can't believe his eyes. He instinctively draws his blade, but is stopped by his friends. +1000 SP. Current SP: 5100.

> Marisa Sagewind realizes that her approach may have been flawed and decides to revise it by observing you more. +1000 SP. Current SP: 6100.

> Roland is even more determined to match you up with the princess. 'They're perfect for each other. I just know it.' +1000 SP. Current SP: 7100.

> Your peers are even more determined that you are putting on an act to hide your illicit relationship with the princess. +500 SP. Current SP: 7600.

> Evelyn vi Eternia is stunned and then feels incredibly regretful. 'Does he hate the Imperial family that much…?' She is determined to make it up to you and makes a note to see if she can find a useful elixir as compensation. +1000 SP. Current SP: 8600.

> The spy from the Void Arbiters makes note of this new development. They send a message suggesting capturing you as a hostage for to increase the princess's negative emotions. +1000 SP. Current SP: 9600.

> The story quest has been updated!

[Story Quest: First Revision]

Description: Though minor, your actions have already caused ripples.

Objective: Defeat the spy of the Void Arbiters and successfully resolve the terrors planned for the midterm practical.

Time limit: Midterms.

Success: 100000 SP, ??? 

Failure: Death

> A subquest has been unlocked!

[Story Subquest: Ambush!]

Description: You have been marked as a target by the Void Arbiters. Prepare yourself for an intense encounter this evening!

Objective: Survive or defeat your would-be kidnappers

Success: 10000 SP, ???

Failure: Death

===

Motherfu-

No. Calm down.

It's not like things could get any worse.

===

"Hello class!" A man with golden hair and silver eyes stood at the front of the class with a beaming smile. "My name is Elio Endless, your new Professor! Now, since I just got here and don't know your names, let's do roll call! Marisa Sagewind?"

I blinked.

No. 

This couldn't be right.

"Here, Professor."

"I've got you. Luis's niece, right? Pleasure to meet you!"

Elio Endless.

He was a friendly and carefree man who was famous for exploring gates. So much so that he threw away his imperial heritage to do so.

"Next… Oho? Evelyn vi Eternia, my cute niece. You're here too?"

"U-Uncle! Please!"

He was also the Emperor's younger brother. A man who, if in the story, would have changed a lot.

But that was precisely why…

"Isaac Frostblade… Hilda's son, right? Nice to see you again!"

"...Please be professional, Professor Endless."

…Unlike his name, he was dead before the story started.

How and why was he here?!

===

> SYSTEM: A new plot point has been added to make the story less predictable to the readers. Princess Evelyn's fun-loving and charismatic uncle who had a tragic death exploring the Chaos Gate in the Northern Wilderness has been reinserted into the story as a red herring. Meanwhile, additional spies from the Void Arbiters have infiltrated the staff. Good luck ^_^

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THIS FU-

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