"...It seems that most of everyone is here." The tall and frail elderly man whisked his head around the room. Although his eyes were squinting, one could feel his gaze as soon as it glossed over. "...As per usual, let us begin."
Sitting at the back of the room, my fingers failed to pick up my pen and write. Listening to all the content introduced that finally sounded interesting for once, it was too bad my current situation took over me like a chokehold.
My head felt glued to my empty page. For whatever reason I felt compelled to look at the teacher in the front of the class now writing notes on the chalkboard.
But as soon as his figure registered in my eyes, a ding went off.
( Extra Character : Benson Faramond )
I grimaced at the sight.
There was simply too much going on in my head for me to think clearly. Why is there a magical screen in my vision? What is all this about some story? Who is Lucian Ado really? And why is everyone, myself included, a 'character'?
I inwardly groaned. I could feel a headache coming.
I lent my head to my fist as my other hand started writing in my book. While I have so many questions, I felt I could discern a couple through the vague prompts made before.
My first interpretation was that I'm dreaming. That this is some weird and eerily surreal experience in a wacky dream. It would explain why such nonsense is happening, and why I was hallucinating in real time.
But that fell short, a simple pinch to my hand deterred me from believing this.
Another interpretation of this mess would be that this is what fate feels like. Strangely taking the form of a game Hud, this is me just somehow connecting with fate and being able to visualize a whole person's backstory…totally not a stretch.
That one didn't seem all that plausible.
Or, my final interpretation, where I was in a story. It was the only conclusion that everything pointed to. Characters? Arcs? A skill plainly called, {Narrative Insight}? Even a dark and brooding protagonist with a large harem!
What else could it be!?
My head banged against the wooden desk. Although a soft echo sounded in the classroom, I paid none of my classmates any attention. They were all bots, or rather, extras.
The only other person in this class that wasn't an extra was… I straightened up slightly as a curious gaze met mine. With raven hair that drooped down her shoulders, delicate eyes and thin lips, a special kind of character noticed my pain.
( Cast Character : Robin Olsen the Dedicated Conduit )
Wow, full name and everything. Must be a status above side character seeing how her title was a word longer than mine.
Meeting her gaze, I gave a small nod and turned my attention back to class. Whilst I had become some side character now, it didn't give the excuse to start interacting with the student council president.
Yep, still a mob.
Plus, she seems way out of my league.
…
I massaged my head.
It felt weird now viewing the world through a novel.
Like my priorities had switched up and now I'm thinking weird things. Who cares if I'm a mob, I'll talk to who I want to! Giving a short glance to Robin and seeing the back of her head, I shuddered.
If I was still an extra, would I have entirely dismissed talking to Robin? Is that how it works? Maybe that's why I was so oblivious to it as a side character, it seems like the higher one's status, the more aware you are.
Isn't this… crazy?
Shouldn't I be telling someone about this? The principal maybe?
My mind buzzed in contemplation until it was jolted by the ring of class finishing. Quickly packing up my things, I headed out the door trying to remember where the principal's office was.
That is, until a startling presence stood before me. I thought my nod was good?
Robin stood before me with her arms crossed and with an unreadable face. Blocking my path exiting, she did make enough room for other students to slip by. How magnanimous.
"Student Jae, may I have a word with you?" The student council president's outfit was similar to the regular student, except that it had more detailed embroidery and insignias around the black blazer. She seemed to also like wearing black knee high socks.
"Can I ask why?" Surely my side character duties didn't mean I'd be put in a scenario like this a lot?
If before she seemed unbothered by anything, at my words her gaze straightened with mine no longer tilting her chin up slightly. As if to recognise or suddenly respect me. Strange.
"It won't take long and I believe it's a break period for you, am I correct?" I nodded. "Perfect, come with me then. I'd like for it to be private."
Robin turned and I quickly learned how fast a walker my student council president was. At first, as we passed chatting students and busy classes, I wondered what she wanted to talk about privately. Especially since we had never talked before.
But then as the clamour of students seemed to deafen and I followed her deeper and deeper into the more unknown parts of the school, I soon began to seriously question my safety. Does a cast character include villains?
Damn, why didn't I think this through more!
Before my brain dismantled my whole nod towards her, Robin abruptly stopped at a door. I looked up and read, 'Literacy Club'. A book club. This feels strangely thematic.
"I didn't know there were clubs like this still alive." I was genuinely intrigued, in a battle-manic world we live in, a book club seemed like the least interesting option for anyone. How has it survived if clubs need a minimum number of members?
Robin hummed as she pulled out a chair for herself. "We manage, which is sufficient." The student council president then pulled another chair for me, "Sit".
I sat.
"So…what was it that you wanted to talk about?" I can't lie, the atmosphere made me a little sweaty.
Robin let out a sigh before a certain light reflected in her eyes. A gleam seemed to restore itself before a tilt of her mouth created a smirk. I watched on as I saw the president turn into an entirely different person.
"I know, you know." My eyes went wide.
"...What would I know?" I replied.
The president gave an amused sigh.
"It's totally obvious, you're not following the script after all." Her legs had been crossed, but now her arms joined the display of sass.
At the mention of a script my brain shot through with clarity. Was she a person like me? Someone who, not only is a character, but aware that they are?
"...That's right." There was never a reason to withhold my understanding. It seemed we were like kindred spirits. "But how could you tell?"
"It's easy, frankly. Well, easy for me in particular. I'm sure you've experienced what happens when you've unintentionally diverted the plot, the whole 'karmic ties' shtick." My mind fired as the word was familiar to my own situation. I nodded. "Well, you would also then know about the consequence of accumulating more karma than your character is supposed to. I for one gained the skill, {Script Reading}. I'm able to read what has been said throughout the whole story."
Hearing Robin's explanation it sounded fairly easy to discern if someone was being controlled by their predetermined character. So to see an extra acting out of the script would be a sure tell.
"I can see why it's so easy for you…" I hummed. To be honest, I was still confused as to why we were given such skills. What does 'karmic ties' have to do with anything?
"It was easy, indeed. You talked with the princess after all. I don't know what you did, but the script used to say (Unnamed character). Then a few seconds later, it changed." Robin had gotten up by now, taking a paper cup from a nearby water dispenser. "To you."
I mulled over the meaning behind it, yet nothing appeared to me. Is it because I stopped an Arc from happening? It seemed like a pretty big one considering it was called 'Princess Rescue Ops'.
"Now," Robin took a sip of water. "What skill did your interference grant you?"
"I think it's called something like, {Narrative Insight}"
"What does it do?"
"I–ahhh," I realised I don't really know anything about it. "Nothing just yet?"
Robin let out an exacerbated sigh and chucked her finished paper cup into a distant bin. With a hand on her hip she strode closer to me.
"Just say Status" Perhaps she saw my confused face, because she then continued on to say, "You'll start understanding just exactly what your role is, in the grand scheme of things."
Jeez. Way to make someone feel uncomfortable.
"...Status"