The early morning air was brisk as I stepped onto the path leading to the mana-powered bus, the quiet stillness of Silvercrest Hall settling around me.
A small crowd had gathered by the bus stop, noble students murmuring softly, casting occasional glances my way.
Their eyes gleamed with contempt, lips curling in disgust, as if my mere presence was a personal offense.
I ignored them and focused on the bus trundling down the road.
This was my first day actually stepping into the novel's storyline, and I was glad that, for now, things seemed peaceful.
But I knew this wouldn't last.
The world I was in would only get more chaotic, throwing all sorts of trials and life-threatening dangers my way.
Thanks to the original Noah's memories, I had some advantage—at least a bit of insight into the novel's plot and the direction it was supposed to go in.
Still, I knew from experience that the game mechanics might come in handy here.
So not everything I knew about the game was useless.
Noah Ashbourne wasn't truly a villain, at least not at heart, but his role demanded it.
He was a symbol of everything detestable about the nobles, a representation of their worst flaws.
But, villain or not, I had only one goal now: to get stronger, no matter the cost.
If I was going to play the villain, I would do it well—well enough that the so-called "hero" and his allies would feel the weight of the final confrontation.
My pride wouldn't allow me to be outdone.
Letting Draven and his band of heroes simply walk all over me?
Until then, though, there was a simpler goal: being the top student.
It wasn't just for bragging rights.
Being at the top came with practical benefits.
The academy heavily favored its best students with resources, privileges, and exclusive training.
The higher you rose, the wider the gap between you and the others.
And in this ruthless place, I'd need every advantage to stay one step ahead of my rivals.
The bus finally pulled up, creaking to a halt, and the crowd shifted forward.
I stepped on, ignoring the stares that followed me.
My eyes caught an empty seat near the back, and I moved there, taking a quiet satisfaction in the hush that fell as I passed.
Before I'd even settled, a notification from the system blinked across my vision.
『+1 False Evil Point』
Apparently, just being detested was enough to earn me points.
At this rate, accumulating FEP would be easy.
As the bus moved along, I took out a book, determined to spend the time productively.
There was no room to be complacent here.
Every moment mattered, and every moment was a chance for Draven to close the gap.
The pressure was intense, knowing that if Draven ever surpassed me, he wouldn't have the same drive to push his limits.
That drive was what would power him through the final battle against me—and if he didn't have it, then the world would fail.
The academy's final scene would end in annihilation, with Draven and the others falling before the final boss.
And somehow, that thought made me smile.
I'd never felt this way before.
In my previous life, I'd coasted through everything, from school to work, never really putting my all into anything.
But here, in this place, with so much on the line, there was a thrill in the challenge.
Redemption didn't matter.
Even if I had the chance to turn my reputation around, it would be pointless.
Better to lean into it, to fully embrace the role.
The academy didn't care about my behavior as long as I was the top student.
If I fell from that position, though, the consequences would be swift and brutal—suspension, expulsion, everything I'd built crumbling.
The bus rolled to a stop at the town center, and after a moment, two girls stepped on.
One, with sleek black hair, sat at the front.
The other made her way down the aisle, and I couldn't help but glance up.
Just a quick, casual look—no interest or recognition.
But my heart skipped a beat when I saw her.
Short, dark purple hair, striking purple eyes.
Beautiful in a way that demanded attention, despite her calm expression.
She moved quietly, taking a seat by the window a few rows ahead.
I knew Maya well, but this time was different.
In the game, she'd been my assistant, a key ally.
But here, she was a major character in her own right.
I lowered my gaze back to the book, resisting the urge to stare.
There was no way she'd recognize me or our connection from the game timeline.
Here, in the novel, her role with Noah was… something else entirely.
I activated my skill, [Character Catalogue], and a window appeared in my view, displaying her information.
[Character Catalogue]
Importance to Story: Major Character
Role: One of the Main Heroines 』
「Description: A noble-born saintess from the Count Brenthall family, bound to the teachings of the Saint Eldred Church. Prodigy of magic and wisdom, she stands as a beacon to the righteous. Yet her heart is shadowed with resentment, for she has been forced into a loveless engagement with the insufferable Noah Ashbourne, whom she detests with every fiber of her being. Her eyes burn with the quiet fury of a saint wronged, and her mind holds a secret desire—to see her arrogant fiancé suffer… and, perhaps, to bring about his end」
I closed the window, feeling a chill settle in my chest.
In this version of the story, she wasn't here to help me; she was here to oppose me.
As one of the main heroines, she was bound to play a critical role in the unfolding drama, and if her resentment was anything to go by, I'd likely be in her crosshairs.
This was just the start.
The academy would be filled with rivals, alliances, and more hidden threats than I could count.
But no matter what came my way, I was ready.