Chapter 3
First Day at the Academy
At Astrong Academy, the best academy on the continent, there's only one saying: "Only the strong matter." Anyone considered weak will be expelled if they fail the exam every four months. Passing at this academy means securing your future. The difficulty of each test is extreme—out of 240 first-year students, only 100 make it to the second year, and 40 to the third. Even then, if you're not careful, you can be expelled. There were years when only 20 students passed.
"The worst is that in this generation, only eleven students passed."
[Eleven? Then this must be the worst generation.]
Enrico looked at the system and chuckled, covering his mouth.
"Ha, why did they send someone who knows nothing about the story? When I look at you, I question if having a system is even a good thing."
The system started shaking around Enrico, looking quite angry. "Well, he deserves it after tormenting me yesterday."
This actually happens during the "Hell in the Academy" arc, where they are trapped by a barrier for two years and constantly attacked by demons. They end up growing faster, but because of that, several characters die during those two years. Those who survive graduate as the Golden Age of Astrong. I need to prepare because the author never revealed who created the barrier.
[Well, that's bad for you then… I'm happy.]
Enrico sighed at the system's bitterness.
"Good thing yesterday was Sunday and I managed to organize my thoughts. It was a horribl—"
"That's strange, don't you think?"
Enrico heard a voice and looked to the side, seeing students talking and looking at him.
"Has he gone crazy?"
"Maybe. That idiot only cares about tormenting others. Maybe someone hit him on the head."
"If they did, I'm grateful."
Enrico then noticed students walking by and staring at him strangely, realizing that to them, he was talking to himself. He began walking quickly, wanting to get away, and thought, "Damn it, how am I going to talk to the system?"
[I can hear your thoughts.]
Enrico looked up.
"Why didn't you say so?"
[You didn't ask.]
Enrico bit the tip of his finger. "The worst part is, he's right."
Arriving in class, he sat down and looked around, seeing students sitting far from him. Looking forward, he saw a boy with light red hair and dark glasses reading a book with focus. Tolen Rusk—the person he needed to ask for help with magic.
"I can't trust him completely because in the original story, he had already spoken to the student council president early on. So I'll have to wait until the last day and manage on my own for now."
[So he becomes the protagonist's friend.]
Enrico smiled and nodded.
"Yes, yes. Besides, he's in my top 10 favorites. He's incredible—even with the worst mana capacity in the school, thanks to his intelligence, he helped the protagonist several times. Even only reaching Circle 6, with strategy alone, he helped the protagonist land a blow that defeated one of the evil gods and—"
[You talk too much.]
Enrico's mouth curled into a smirk.
"Then why ask?"
The door opened, and then they appeared: the protagonist and his friend. He looked around and saw Enrico, walking toward him—short black hair, blue eyes. Kai Zaraphor, the protagonist whom Enrico had followed for over 500 chapters until he became a man—and Enrico's second favorite character.
"I look forward to our duel."
He offered his hand to Enrico. He was a good person, even to someone who treated him badly. In fact, he was quite cheerful—he only had a serious expression because he was in front of someone he didn't like. Even so, in the original story, after defeating Enrico, he tried to be his friend, but Enrico refused—idiot. "But the worst part is, I can't accept that hand now."
[Why not?]
"Because in this story, if a character changes overnight, it might mean they've been possessed by a demon—a good person becomes evil, and an evil one becomes good. I have to change this character naturally, or they might burn me alive."
Enrico put on an arrogant smile and looked at him.
"I feel the same. Don't disappoint me."
He wasn't as rude as the original, but he wasn't friendly either. Kai lowered his hand and tilted his head.
"He won't."
The brown-haired girl with long hair grabbed Kai's hand and dragged him to another seat far away—Valença Bravulha, the protagonist's friend and main love interest. She wasn't in love with him yet, but that would happen two arcs later.
"Tsk."
[You don't seem to like her much.]
"No, I do. It's just that when I think about the potential she wasted by not helping in the end—even though they all would've died anyway… Her personality after she fell in love with the protagonist changed. She asked what kind of girl he liked, and he said 'very affectionate girls.' He added 'very,' which ruined her personality. She wasn't just affectionate; she was affectionate to a level that became extremely annoying. Even so, she had her moments."
[You talk too much.]
After that, Enrico went completely silent.
"Enrico, where were you? Maid Angela said you stayed in your room all day."
It was a female voice. Enrico turned and saw her—the leader who gave orders to the three stooges. Short blonde hair, purple eyes, a beauty mark on the left side of her chin. Her uniform was the academy's, but the difference was that she wore blue pants instead of black. Serenya Malquess.
"Yes, we planned to invade the abandoned warehouse yesterday."
"Don't tell me you got scared."
The other two were the ones who completed the three stooges. One was small—about 1.40 meters tall—with long black hair and a slightly feminine appearance: Elian Tervayn. The other was the most normal of the three—about 1.73 meters tall, shaved brown hair: Caelan Rivareth.
[Well, looks like the three stooges are together.]
"Shut up."
Serenya sat in front, and the other two sat beside her.
"So, what happened?"
"I was sick, so I couldn't go out."
Serenya narrowed her eyes.
"I heard you made a lot of noise."
"That's exactly why—I couldn't leave."
The three looked at Enrico. "Damn it, I managed to fool the maid with that excuse."
"Actually, I was preparing a surprise for Kai for our duel."
The three looked at each other and smiled, and then Elian spoke arrogantly:
"Do you really need that to beat that commoner?"
"I could beat him with my hands tied."
Serenya rolled her eyes.
"Why bother? My family can take care of that easily. Hohoho."
She put her hand to her mouth and laughed, and Enrico's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Idiots. All of you will be crushed by him and used as stepping stones."
Enrico then looked to the side. "But I have to admit, I like her noblewoman laugh. It's funny."
The classroom door opened, and then a teacher with long green hair, glasses, and dressed like a noble entered. Professor Virelle D'Rosvalia—the strongest first-year teacher and the one who most despised the weak.
"I hope you all rested well this week, because today we'll have a mini test."
"Damn it."
[Ha, you're screwed.]