The first day of classes arrived.
Ethan had a plan. He couldn't compete with Lucien in raw talent—no one could. But he had advantages the protagonist didn't.
He knew which classes mattered.
He knew which events to avoid.
He knew the secrets of every major character.
And most importantly, he knew where to find hidden opportunities the protagonist would miss.
His first target was simple: the library.
In chapter 156, Elena would discover a hidden room in the library containing ancient spell formulas. But that was over a year from now. There was no reason Ethan couldn't find it first.
The library of Celestia Academy was a tower seven stories tall, containing over three million volumes. It was said that no one had read every book—not even the headmaster.
Ethan entered during the early morning hours when most students were still sleeping.
His [Eyes of the Reader] activated as he walked through the shelves, searching for anomalies. The skill highlighted books and areas that were mentioned in the novel.
Third floor. Eastern wing. Section on ancient civilizations.
There—a bookshelf that looked identical to every other but was positioned slightly wrong.
Ethan approached carefully. In the novel, Elena had accidentally knocked over a book and discovered the hidden mechanism.
He didn't need to be accidental.
He reached for a specific book—Treatise on Pre-Imperial Architecture—and pulled it.
The bookshelf swung open silently, revealing a small chamber filled with dust.
[HIDDEN AREA DISCOVERED]
[Forgotten Sage's Study]
This room once belonged to a legendary mage who taught at the academy centuries ago. His research notes remain undiscovered.
Quest Generated:
Secrets of the Sage
Explore the hidden study and recover what knowledge you can.
Reward: 500 Points, Skill Book, ???
Ethan stepped inside, heart pounding.
The room was cramped but filled with treasure. Yellowed notes covered the desk. Crystal vials lined the shelves. And in the center of the room, on a pedestal, sat a single book bound in leather that seemed to shimmer with inner light.
[ITEM DISCOVERED]
[Sage's Grimoire of Foundations]
Rank: Legendary (Sealed)
Description: A complete guide to magical theory from first principles. Contains exercises that can forcibly awaken magical potential in the talentless.
Requirement: Intelligence 40+
Note: This item was meant to be discovered by Elena Starweaver in Year 2.
Ethan's hands trembled as he picked up the grimoire.
In the original novel, this book was what transformed Elena from a B-Rank mage to one of the most powerful casters in history. It was her inheritance, her destiny.
And now he had found it first.
For a moment, guilt flickered through him. Was he stealing Elena's fate?
But then he remembered: he was going to die in 127 days if he didn't change something.
I'm not stealing her future, he rationalized. I'm creating my own. And there are other ways I can help her.
He opened the grimoire.
[SAGE'S GRIMOIRE OF FOUNDATIONS - UNSEALED]
You meet the Intelligence requirement.
Beginning knowledge transfer...
Chapter 1: The Nature of Mana
Chapter 2: Awakening the Dormant Core
Chapter 3: Foundational Casting Methods
...
Warning: Full absorption will take approximately 30 days with your current abilities.
With [Parallel Thinking], absorption time reduced to 15 days.
Ethan sat down and began to read.
He didn't notice the hours passing.
He didn't notice the sun rising outside.
He didn't notice the silver-haired girl who had followed him to the library and was now watching through the crack in the hidden door with curious, ice-blue eyes.