The starting point

The 58th annual Spring Academy Tournament at Rodlen Academy has concluded. Diane Alben (21), a fourth-year student from the Duchy of Alben in the Department of Magic, emerged as the winner, becoming the first champion from her department in twelve years. Vivian Velocan (21), a fourth-year student from House Velocan in the Kingdom of Nachtel, finished as the runner-up, surpassing all the favored contenders.

...But the upset of the tournament, more than any other, was Adrias Cromwell (22), a fourth-year magical student who no one saw coming.

The patriarch of the Cromwell family, who invented the Everlasting Potion last year... this time around, revealed himself to be an outlier by using knight's mana. He surprised everyone with his unexpected appearance and powerful swordplay, but he was no match for the eventual winner, Dierne Alben. After being attacked by Diene Alven for much of the match, he managed to turn the tide late in the game with a strong numerical advantage. Shortly thereafter, however, an injury forced him to retire....

-Rodlen Post, Jackson Drake Reporter.

* * *

The academy is finally back in session.

School started the week after the tournament, which made the schedule feel like a whirlwind.

Especially when I realized I was finally in the same time zone as the games, I felt a weight on my shoulders.

"It's bound to get heavy.

It's the playable that drives the scenario.

Well, no.

More accurately, it's me playing the playable.

Honestly, I wanted the characters to grow up and solve the scenario on their own, but in the end, they couldn't do it without my will as the player.

They wouldn't have milestones like quests in a game.

'In the end, I am the one with the information.

This meant that I, the player, had to lead the scenario with the 13th playable character, Adrias Cromwell.

I was reminded that in the end, my will is what drives the scenario.

"Unlike a game, there are a lot of variables and no save loading, but I do everything I can.

I looked at the courses I'd signed up for.

"For now, then."

The first chapter scenario was the problem, aside from a minor episode at the beginning of the semester.

Kyler Schutzman.

A warlock and professor who, like Karon, hides his identity, he's the boss of the first chapter.

At the end of his scenario, clues that there are other warlocks in the academy spill out of his office.

'That's what makes the atmosphere inside the academy so strange.

Technically, this was the trigger for my death.

If it weren't for that clue, there would be no reason for the stoic Karon to become impatient, and there would be no reason for Adrias to be unmasked in his rush to fulfill his overwhelming errand.

'If I can get this out of the way, the cause of my death will be removed.

He had to get Kyler out of the way before he could sew the first stitch.

* * *

As I made my way out of my dormitory and into the lecture hall, I felt the prying eyes on me.

It was worse than the first time I made the Everlast Potion, but the atmosphere was different again.

I should say that I was a little afraid and envious at the same time.

Anyway, I shrugged it off and went to my first lecture of the new semester.

This time, I signed up for the course not for the subject itself, but for the professor in charge.

"Potions Fusion and Brewing, Kyler 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.

Kyler probably knew who I was because of what happened at the assembly.

But I didn't mind at all.

In the first place, I was a divinity in the potions world.

It shouldn't be too unusual for me to be in a Potions class.

"Adrias! Adrias Cromwell!"

As I walked, I heard someone call out to me from a distance.

I don't think it was a student, but a faculty member, but for now I stopped and waited for him.

"Hey. You're out of breath. You must be Adrias, right?"

"Yes."

The man who called me over was Morgan, one of the academy's staff.

As far as I could tell, he was one of the employees who worked directly for the headmaster, but I had no idea what he wanted with me.

"Do you have a moment?"

"I was just on my way to a lecture."

"Ah. I see I didn't catch that, so maybe you'll be free after your lecture?"

"Sure. I don't mind, but can I help you?"

"Principal Deos would like to speak with you."

A meeting?

A meeting with Deos?

I guessed it was because of my performance at the tournament.

He hadn't touched me because of my injury, and now he's finally going to ask me questions.

For now, I nodded.

"Okay, let's go to the principal's office as soon as the lecture is over."

"Okay. Thank you, and I'll be off."

Morgan left, and I resumed my steps.

I hadn't intended to hide my powers since I'd revealed them in the first place.

My goal was to be known so that my enemies could not mess with me, so I would answer whatever the headmaster asked me truthfully.

"It's not really black magic in the first place.

As I entered the classroom, a sudden silence enveloped the room like déjà vu.

The pressure of the room's eyes was on me.

"Well."

I finally managed to get the word out.

This time, however, they didn't ignore me as they had before, but instead made more noise and drew my attention to themselves.

"The tournament must have had an effect on you.

As I tried to ignore the commotion and find a decent seat, the students around me turned their attention to me.

"Excuse me, Mr. Adrias?"

It was an extra character speaking to me.

But I've been playing the game long enough to have memorized his name.

But I don't think he's had any training.

I had played Lucia, so I knew most of the students in the class.

"Her name was Kalos. Why?"

"Hmph. You know my name?"

"Uh, you're in third grade."

His mouth dropped open and he was speechless.

He and the other students around him looked at me in surprise.

"Senior Adrias recognized you!"

"Wow. I'm jealous."

I was stunned by the chatter around me.

What the hell is going on here?

I barely said my name and grade, and this is the reaction?

Apparently, I have a higher reputation in the tournament than I thought.

But I didn't expect all this fuss around me.

I got knocked out of the main draw in the first place.

"Hey, senpai, do you mind if I ask you something?"

"What?"

"You're a mage, so how are you able to use a sword?"

"I just practice, right?"

"Ah...."

Kalos asked curiously, and I just nodded, speechless at how vague my answer was.

A little inarticulate even for me, I thought, but so what.

"I see. I see, thank you for your answer."

"Okay. You should try practicing for a while. See if you can become like me."

I was somewhat aware of the rumors about me that circulated within the academy.

A nerd who was a wizard and worked out as hard as a knight every morning before dawn.

Coming from me, it must have some credibility.

"I'm not lying, I just didn't tell them I was dual-core.

Even if I were dual-core, I wouldn't have been able to awaken Danzig without potions and infinite power training.

So I'm not wrong when I say it's all about practice.

Maybe it was my answer.

Ignoring the suddenly awkward atmosphere in the classroom, I pulled out my textbook.

I felt a sense of empowerment, as I hadn't even thought of buying a textbook until recently when I was broke.

"Hello. Senior. You're taking this class too."

It was always the same.

Lucia, who still skips other classes but never misses a class related to herbal medicine or manufacturing, greeted me and sat down next to me.

But for some reason, she seems to have gotten shorter.

"Lucia."

"Why?"

"...Nothing."

I didn't bother to say anything, so I left it at that.

It wasn't a bad feeling to be back to my normal routine.

Then Lucia poked me and said.

"Does it hurt?"

"No."

"It's not all better though, is it?"

"It is. I'll probably take the bandage off when it's better."

But thanks to regeneration and recovery potions, I'm healing so quickly.

If it were anyone else, I'd still be hospitalized in the infirmary.

"But you."

"Why."

"How did you end up so injured?"

I shrugged at Lucia's questions.

I'd already thought of an excuse, but I couldn't bring myself to say it.

"I was practicing for the main event and got a little hurt."

"Don't you think you're pushing yourself too hard? One more training session and you'll be a corpse."

Yeah. I think so too.

After all, that's what I thought after beating Hosan, so how could she think the same thing as me?

Luckily, Lucia didn't seem surprised, so I nodded.

"I'll have to be careful in the future."

"Isn't that a shame?"

Lucia asked, looking a bit deflated.

I was both slightly surprised and grateful that she seemed more disappointed than I was.

I didn't think she was this kind of character, but she'd gotten to know me so well.

"If it was a real battle, I'd be dead, so be thankful it was a tournament."

"That's a bit of a leap, isn't it? After all, if it weren't for that injury, you would have won."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed, but there are no what-ifs."

When I said that in a tone of helplessness, Lucia looked at me with those sleepy eyes, as if she was upset that I didn't agree with her.

If you look at it that way. What the hell?

"Come on, senior, you can wield a sword like that, why are you just going to make potions?"

"I signed up for herbology this semester."

"Ugh. Seems like a waste of talent."

...Is that what you're saying?

As I was listening to Lucia, who was as talented as anyone, but lazy, an assistant professor entered the room and began to set up.

"He's a warlock, too. Alexander Tibburn.'

He was a senior last year, but apparently, he's Kyler's TA this year.

That was the original game scenario.

He'd be one of the enemies I'd have to fight later when I hunted down Kyler.

"For now, we'll wait and see.

Timing is everything.

You can't stop Kyler from doing what he's going to do.

Or, more accurately, I couldn't.

For two reasons: one, it wasn't an event that could be prevented.

The other was that in order to deal with Kyler, we would need hard evidence that he was a warlock, so it would have to happen.

It's an unstoppable event, and when it happens, Kyler is exposed as a warlock.

"There's a little bit of time between the event and Kyler being accused. I take advantage of that gap and take him out first.

I would be the one to secure or destroy any clues indicating the presence of another warlock in the academy, should there be any.

I felt nervous as Kyler finally entered the classroom. He had light chestnut-colored hair and piercing eyes, but he seemed like a cheerful guy, unlike Karon.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he was a warlock during our first game.

"Nice to see everyone. I'm Kyler Schutzman, responsible for potion-fusing and brewing," he greeted us with a smile and a bow, his eyes meeting mine.