The nature of my actions was almost second to me. Looking at the poor bloke sprawled out on the floor, my body reflexively thought of following up my punch with another just to keep him down for the count. But my mind stopped him and the girl by my side acted like a dunk of cold water.
What did I just do? Why had I just punched some random ass kid for looking weirdly?
Secondly, why do I feel so different? A simple flex of my hand told me all I needed as I felt brimming with energy so unnaturally. My sight felt a bit blurry as well, but I never really needed glasses? What changed?
"KAEL!!" A short pigtailed girl broke through the crowd that I was oblivious to forming. "Are you okay? Hey! This is academy grounds! Dueling is not permitted without instructor supervision!"
Her whinny voice, although annoying, reached far and wide allowing more and more students to catch wind of this incident. Seeing the girl give me the dirtiest look, I was speechless.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Lee?" It wasn't the pigtailed girl this time that confronted me, but the cold beauty by my side. She distanced herself from me and held herself with elegance.
I thought we were on the same side?
Didn't I… wait, why did I think that?
And first of all, who are you all?
My blank gaze met this strange cast of characters. This felt so unfamiliar to me whilst at the same time, being incredibly familiar. Why was I feeling this way, and how had I even come to this position?
Looking at the expectant gaze of everyone present, my mind emptied. I said the first words that came to my mind.
"...I didn't like the way he looked."
The reaction was instantaneous. The bystanders vibrated with criticism and the girl cradling the boy on the ground was especially critical, a dirty look meeting mine.
"Lee, I would prefer if you would apologise to Kael. This is not the behaviour befitting a noble." The graceful young lady put a hand to her hip and jutted on one leg.
I blinked.
Before I could respond, a small click sounded in my head.
Memories of another person seemed to recount itself. Numerous visions passed by my sight as I fell into the pit that was this young man's life, his endeavors and importantly his relationships.
Information jammed itself into my head like a jackhammer, pounding relentlessly into every bit of my brain. I didn't have the processing power to comprehend a single passing piece, but a strange power was forcing me to be able to.
Doubling over, I fell on all fours and retched. My breakfast splattered onto the floor as the crowd dispersed around me. A strange atmosphere began to form as I let out everything I had in me.
"L-Lee?"
"What's happening to him? Who did that?"
"Was that the power of guilt?"
Voices overlapped as my mind spun.
Facing the growing pool of vomit on the floor, a trace of a reflection looked back at me. This wasn't me. This isn't the Lee that I know.
It clicked all at once.
From my pathetic position I looked towards the young man I had just struck. He had medium length black hair that was messily styled. His eyes were black and his face was delicate.
My mind was slowing down now with information, but there was a clear cut fact in the mix. His name was Kael Ardent.
He was the protagonist of the novel, 'Legacy Chronicles'. A fantasy shonen novel that I had read during my time as 'Earth Lee'.
But now I was in this half-baked novel as a third-rate villain, 'Aether Lee', or rather Lee Valebryn. A scumbag noble pinning for the same chick he's crushing on.
I was so screwed.
After emptying the contents of my stomach all over the academy grounds, I quickly got up and excused myself.
"I apologise, Kael. If you'll excuse me." And like that, I bolted away. Forget about mere classes, this was a dangerous novel to be complacent in.
Although the memories of 'Earth Lee' and 'Aether Lee' had combined, I still found myself lacking. This was essentially a fantasy battle-maniacs fantasy world carefully hidden behind a teenager's dream harem.
If I wanted to survive any longer, especially as someone labelled a third-rate villain, I had to become much much stronger. That also began with leveraging the most important advantage I had…
Knowledge and connections!
Exiting the academy grounds without even looking if my sister followed, I called up my father. Having just contributed to a minor event, I knew exactly what part of the novel we were at. At this point, Kael hasn't collected any major power ups, which was fortunate for the most important reasons.
"Son, for what reason did you call me?" A deep voice echoed from the other end of the phone. "If you need more money, I am afraid I cannot give you anymore after your most recent escapade."
Almost tripping, I had forgotten Lee had done that. At least now he knows not to go gambling on illegal beast fights.
"Thats not it, father." I cleared my throat of phlegm. "I simply wish to cash in my inheritance."
There was an elongated pause between us. I had expected this. Lee was not the sort of son to relinquish his claim over being the head of the guild. So what I was doing was something so out of character, but who cares about that.
This is a matter of survival!
"...D-Did I hear that right, son?"
"Of course you did." I sighed. "I said what I meant, I want to give up my claim in exchange for my inheritance."
In the house of Valebryn, there were rules in place. The next inheritor of the guild was always the first born. However if for whatever reason this claim was given up, they were allowed to exchange a few items from the vault.
What I desperately needed now wasn't a position at the highest guild in the country. What I needed now was instantaneous power, and this was one of the few that was particularly easy to get considering my status.
"I'm going to be visiting the house tonight if you don't mind. I'll take a very short time to decide." I was confident because I already knew what was in the vault. There were plenty of priceless items in there, but there were a few that were truly overpowered.
In the novel, Kael eventually saved my sister from some convoluted scheme during some tournament arc. Hearing of this, my father allowed him to get one item from the vault. Reading from his point of view I was able to realise the best items to choose.
"A-Alright son, if that's what you wish." It was strange hearing my father so flustered, but then again it probably seemed like his son had just gotten replaced with a skinwalker.
"Thank you, father. I will see you tonight."
"Yes… Son."
I chuckled after hanging up. Looking at the distant buildings of the Hero Academy, I found myself wondering if I could really do this.
It hasn't really hit me yet so I still had this sense of anticipation towards this strange but crazy world. But in the face of demonic forces and catastrophic disasters, could I handle that?
Burying this deep in my heart, I called up my driver and headed home. Props to being rich and that.
Once I arrived at the massive mansion, this world's Lee subconsciously went through the motions. Striding through the gardens and servants catering to plants, I passed by ignoring them entirely even if they went out of their way to bow and greet me.
This was the type of person Lee Valebryn was.
"Good evening, young master Lee. Your father is expecting you in his study." A gentle elderly butler opened the door for me whilst greeting me.
"Thank you, Geoffrey." Surprise washed over his face hearing me. Passing by the shaken man who knew no such young master, I scoffed inwardly.
I guess I really was trash in this world.
Heading up, I readied myself and opened the door to my father's study. The door opened up and from both walls stood grand bookshelves housing the Campball's great history and knowledge.
My eyes gazed around before settling on the man staring intently back at me on his cushioned chair. Behind his large wooden desk, Alaric Valebryn leaned on his two clasped hands. With elbows on the desk, it looked like he was in deep thought.
"Hello, father…" Breaking whatever tension my father was trying to build up, I strode forward. "So about my inheritance."
"Lee," Whenever he used my name it always meant he was trying to be serious. "Do you have any idea what this might do? What relinquishing your birthright might do to our reputation? Have you ever thought about the consequences of those factions supporting you?"
Hearing my father, I supposed there was some concern regarding this. But I had already thought this through numerous times, I wouldn't have proposed it if I wasn't sure.
"Father… I already know. The factions that support me are already under scrutiny, they're not without clean hands. As for the consequences, there will be none. I'm a scumbag so is this not an upgrade?"
My father followed along with each of my words yet it seemed like he still couldn't understand me. He looked at me as if I wasn't truly Lee Valebryn, which was true to some degree at this point.
"The guild will be in better care under Raven. You know this to be true." Plus she eventually robs away my birthright using the cheat that is Kael Ardent. But nobody knows that yet.
His eyes squinted under his creased brows.
"...There is no reversing this decision, Lee."
"I know, father. Just let me do this."
There was a pause.
"Alright then."