Introduction Arc: Chapter 2.
Amongst the hidden and barely disguised snickers, Mary Anne Grace stood out from the snickering rest, barely reacting. Her expression is inscrutable, maintaining a neutral yet thoughtful expression.
Mary Anne Grace offered a hand to the fallen Lyle Cass, helping him to stand up.
(Her hand is so perfect. She's practically glowing.)
Lyle thought, accepting the hand as several classmates nodded in approval, their chuckling vanished, much to the dismay of Freya.
"T-thank you..." Lyle smiled, turning away his gaze.
Mary did not acknowledge the gratitude, passing by him and spotting a vacant desk in the back row. An indescribable fragrance followed her, slightly distracting Lyle.
(No cologne in the real world can replicate that aroma. This A.I. is amazing!)
Lyle Cass walked past Freya May and then winked, confusing her as he headed for the exit.
A huge breath of relief escaped him. First, he was 'transmigrated' to the novel he loved and then he managed to cancel a canon yet minor event. The world was his oyster.
"Plenty of students walking around..."
"First things first, what was the boon that I was given?" Lyle mused, closing his eyes and focusing on his worldly talents.
His eyes snapped open, a grin widely forming as he jumped into the hallway in excitement.
"I have three worldly talents! Ha!"
"[Blessed Guided Everything] is a talent from the video game version of the novel. This talent provides divine guidance to all my actions, boosting my chances of success."
"[Fleetfooted] is an uncommon talent that some of the students here should have. Increasing their movement and sprinting speed. All in all, a basic yet useful talent."
"[Martial Advice] is an upper-rare talent. My tolerance to a martial skill's drawbacks has significantly increased. However, this would mean that I can barely cast magic..."
"But on the plus side, I am given access to multiple martial skills."
Lyle then leaned against a pillar, deep in thought.
"Three talents should guarantee my success. Most students here only have one, though there are a few.... impressive exceptions." Lyle thought, thinking of several enrolled students not yet introduced.
"Talents don't guarantee success anyway. Magic and martial skills are where it's at."
He reasoned, shrugging his shoulders.
"Class A is where this country's top talented students are placed at and the lowest of the low are the Class E's." Lyle mulled deep in thought while looking at the Class A-1 sign.
"Class A-1 are the cream of the crops while Class A-3 are strong but yet not quite meeting the proper upper-standards."
Lyle ended his train of thought, realizing an idea. There were hundreds of hidden artifacts and legendary items in the world of
"First and foremost, start with the easy and accessible secrets first." He said, walking past a student who had a fierce and intense gaze.
"Wait, was that? Ah never mind. I have better things to do."
"I guess I will start with that book with a secret compartment."
⟐ One hour later.
Lyle Cass found it difficult to focus and stay on the objective.
The school was majestic and elegant, clearly for the elites and it showed. The positive and grand aspects of both medieval and Renaissance architecture were combined.
Producing a spectacular structural synthesis.
Not a single speck of dirt can be found on the tiled floor as each student was thoroughly cleansed by magic upon entering.
The glassy windows were massive and tall, the glass on it was stylized yet durable and expensive. The ceiling was towering, it was almost like a castle and a fort mixed in one.
Wherever Lyle would look, there would be something amazingly distracting.
Eventually, he arrived at the grand library. The entrance is supported by two colossal pillars adorned with fancy art and a clothed banner, displaying the name of the library.
"Grand Hatteo Library."
The librarian, a middle-aged woman with a strict expression glared at the oncoming student. Her hair was reddish-brown, wearing an eyeglass while a single bang half-covered her face.
"Lyle Cass. Eleventh Grade, Class A-1, lead teacher Cassie Cydonia." The librarian knew who Lyle was upon a single glance, a feat due to her worldly talent.
The recognition caused Lyle Cass to step back, shocked and surprised.
(It's that annoying librarian. Madame Stephanie, was it?)
The librarian, Stephanie Lushin. A middle-aged and strict woman, dressed in a grey long robe, approached Lyle with a curious gaze.
"This library is currently off-limits. I advise you to leave, young man. Your teacher should arrive soon and you should be there to introduce yourself to your new classmates."
"It won't take but a moment, ma'am. I assure you. This library is a grand sight. Let me stay for a minute or two, just a simple sightseeing please."
Lyle Cass felt something surge within him, and his [Blessed Guided Everything] was activated. The librarian's expression slightly softened while rolling her eyes.
"Three minutes, starting now, and then you go back to class."
The librarian turned around, walking away from Lyle Cass, her wide bottom in full view.
"Not only is this A.I. amazing but it's also unfiltered!?"
Lyle mumbled to himself while quickly jogging around the library, looking for a specific shelf. He passed by several bookshelves, quickly reading the plaques one by one.
"Disproven and Antiquated Arcane Theories." He read, recognizing the name.
"Ah! This is it."
A book, similar to the rest, was pulled from the shelf.
Lyle opened the book, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside the unassuming book was a scroll. The dust had accumulated inside the hidden compartment, the scroll was kept in storage for a long while.
"Blade Screen Scroll."
(Once activated, this scroll will provide me with a thin and invisible magical shield that absorbs roughly a quarter of physical damage.)
(A top military-grade emergency scroll hidden by this school's former head of security. The effects are semi-permanent and not only that, this is illegal for civilian use.)
Lyle ripped the scroll in half, activating it. The scroll's magical essence enveloped him, ingraining him with the scroll's spell effect.
(This is only active during daytime.)
Recognizing that he overstayed his welcome in the library, he hurriedly placed the book back and rushed to the library's entrance, planning to head back to class.
(When the school tournament arc arrives. That character will have a very bad time without the blade screen scroll. Too bad.)
⟐ Thirteen minutes later.
Lyle finally arrived at Class A-1's doors.
"Damn... This school is so big." He huffed, barely escaping a security guard earlier. He opened the door, alerting the whole class and the teacher.
All eyes were trained on the new arrival.
*Gulp...*
The teacher loudly closed a book, meant to catch his attention. The teacher, dressed in a fitting grey uniform while wearing heels approached Lyle.
Her age betrayed her youthful figure. Lyle knew this teacher.
(One of the headmaster's mistresses. Stern, strict, and punishing yet always striving for her students to be the best version of themselves.)
"Well, I take it you're Lyle Cass? Tardiness from a Class A-1 student. Well, there's a first time for everything."
The teacher remarked, scanning Lyle as the whole class lightly chuckled.
"I am your adviser and main teacher. Madame Cassie Cydonia. Take a seat."
Lyle could only smile and bow his head apologetically, rushing to his desk.
"You are in Class A-1. Please, act like it."
The teacher, Cassie Cydonia, sternly added while a small hostile intent waved through the class. The whole class instantly ended their light laughter, feeling the intent.
Lyle however, wasn't aware of it.
"Introduce yourself young man and tell your new classmates about yourself, whether you're a martial or magic caster and also your worldly talents."
Lyle internally sighed, standing beside his desk and facing his new classmates, recognizing some familiar faces.
(This A.I. is really amazing. Even if it's all not real. I can still feel the anxiety, like how your average student would feel when put on a spot.)
"I am Lyle Cass and I am eighteen years old. I have three worldly talents and primarily a martial caster."
The whole class murmured. The teacher glared as if appraising Lyle a second time. Not expecting the capabilities of the student in front of him.
Mary Anne Grace half-inquisitively raised a brow, staring.
Freya May's jaw slightly dropped while her brown-haired seatmate chuckled, lightly admiring Lyle.
The glares were overwhelming since he never was a social person. However, a particular glaring presence from behind disturbed him.
Slowly turning and spotting one of the main character's rivals.
A young dark and short-haired attractive man with red fiery eyes. All of his fingers were equipped with rings, magical in nature.
Lyle recognized this young man, one of his disliked characters and the one he passed by earlier.
(Loid Ferener. A competitive rival, always challenging himself and others. For the sake of proving himself to his mother. In short, a mama's boy.)
Lyle coughed, finished with his introduction, and then sat down.
(I think I may have attracted some unwanted attention...)
"Now that's all over. Let me begin again. Tomorrow will be a magical and martial aptitude test."
The teacher added as the whole class eagerly cheered, confident in their abilities.