Yuuji's morning began with a battle against his alarm clock. Not a real one—though after being thrown into a game world, he'd stopped assuming anything was normal. The magical rune-inscribed alarm bell he'd been gifted by the academy's administration went off with a blinding flash and a chime that could wake the dead.
He grunted, rolled out of bed, and promptly slammed face-first into the stone floor. Pain bloomed across his forehead. "Yep. Still in magical hell," he muttered, rubbing his nose as tears welled in his eyes.
After some hasty washing up, he threw on his uniform and checked the System window hovering patiently in the corner of his vision.
[Daily Quest: Don't Die] Status: In Progress Reward: Continued existence
Yuuji rubbed his face, eyes squinting. "Thanks, System. So supportive," he said dryly, the sarcasm doing little to mask the fatigue in his voice.
He trudged through the hallways of Vortemer Academy, weaving around gossiping nobles, sleepy first-years, and at least one suspicious floating eyeball with a monocle. His steps were sluggish, and his shoulders drooped under the invisible weight of yet another unpredictable day.
Arriving at the cafeteria, he was immediately hit by the scent of magical stew—a bubbling concoction that seemed to breathe on its own. It was served daily, and rumors said the stew once tried to unionize. Yuuji eyed it warily, stomach growling despite the unease curling in his gut.
He grabbed a tray, slid into the food line, and tried to look inconspicuous. Which was hard when your reputation included "villainess's tutor," "weird transfer student," and now, apparently, "Elira Vortemer made eye contact with him for two whole seconds." Students whispered as he passed, and he could feel their eyes on his back like a swarm of bees.
He scanned the tables, noting familiar faces—nobles from various houses, a few recognizable from game lore. There was Marelle from House Greystone, quietly eating soup with her nose buried in a grimoire. Across the room, Ajax Flamehart was arm-wrestling another student using conjured lava gauntlets. He had to stifle a grin. Ajax always did that in the second arc of the game, which meant...
[Memory Fragment Recovered: Optional Event Chain — Inter-House Rivalry Tournament]
"System," he whispered, "don't you dare start a side quest."
[Side Quest Offered: Encourage Ajax's Ego. Optional Reward: +3 Influence with Flamehart House.]
Yuuji clicked "Decline" without hesitation.
As he picked up a bowl of ominously quivering stew, a familiar voice sneered from behind.
"Well, well. If it isn't the commoner comedian. Still surviving, tutor boy?"
Yuuji turned, jaw tightening. Claude Alvenhart. The smirk on the third-year noble's face made his fists itch. His blonde hair looked like it had been styled by angels, and his entourage stood behind him like a pack of smug hyenas.
"Barely," Yuuji said, forcing a smile. "But the stew hasn't killed me yet, so I'm considering that a win."
Claude smirked wider. "Must be hard, playing errand boy for the Ice Queen. You polishing her boots too, or just licking them clean?"
Snickers rippled through the group. Yuuji felt his ears burn.
He took a breath, then deadpanned, "You're really committed to being that guy, huh? The one who peaks in school and dies in the background of Chapter 12?"
Claude's smile faltered, his eye twitching. "What did you say?"
Yuuji blinked innocently. "Sorry, spoiler. You'll love your ending though—it's very... explosive."
Claude's hand twitched toward his wand, fury bubbling under the surface—
A tray slammed onto the table next to Yuuji, rattling the plates.
Elira Vortemer, in all her frosty glory, sat down as if she'd always been there. Her white hair was braided neatly over one shoulder, and her crimson eyes were locked onto Claude with clinical disdain. Yuuji noticed the faint shimmer of mana dancing on her fingertips. She hadn't even looked at him, yet he felt the air chill by a few degrees.
She looked at Claude. "You're in my spot."
Claude's smirk evaporated. "This table is—"
"Mine," Elira interrupted, her voice like ice cracking over a frozen lake. "And unless you'd like to be demoted to stable cleaner, I suggest you find another one."
Claude swallowed. The room had gone quiet. Even his lackeys were inching away.
"Fine," he muttered, backing off. "Enjoy your stew, commoner."
Yuuji raised an eyebrow as Claude stormed off. "Wow. You're like an anti-bully spell with legs."
Elira ignored him, sipping her tea with mechanical grace. "You were late."
"Had to respawn. Floor crit."
She didn't respond, but for a fleeting moment, the corner of her mouth twitched—an expression so brief Yuuji almost missed it. But he didn't. That tiny flicker felt like winning a national championship.
He grinned to himself and reached for his spoon.
Ping.
A System alert echoed in his mind like a chime of doom.
[Flag Triggered: Unknown Variable] New Character Introduced Target Approaching
Yuuji stiffened. "Huh?"
A shadow fell across their table.
"Mind if I join you two?"
The voice was smooth, playful, and laced with confidence.
Yuuji looked up and blinked. A student he'd never seen before stood there with a disarming smile. Tall, lean, and dressed in the academy uniform with deliberate sloppiness, the new arrival exuded charisma. Violet eyes gleamed with mischief.
"I'm Seraine. New transfer. You must be the tutor everyone's talking about."
Yuuji's gut tightened. This guy had 'plot device' written all over him. "And you're the walking flag, huh?"
Seraine chuckled, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve. "Sharp. This might be fun."
Elira glanced between them, her eyes narrowing by degrees. Her posture straightened, and Yuuji could sense a subtle shift in the air—tense and colder.
He watched Seraine sit uninvited, slide his tray beside Yuuji's, and chat like they were old friends. The confidence was... off. Too smooth. Too rehearsed.
[Danger Level: Undetermined.] [Relationship Chart Updated: Rivalry Potential Detected.]
Yuuji gave the newcomer a lopsided smile. "System, what the hell did you just drop into my lap?"
[Hidden Quest Started: ???] Objective: Unknown. Monitor 'Seraine.']
He groaned inwardly. "Wonderful," he muttered, just as his stew let out a suspicious gurgle.
And so, breakfast ended with a new rival, a probably jealous villainess, and food that might be sentient.
Yuuji stared at the bowl. "I really, really want a refund."
Somewhere in the distance, the bell rang. Another day in magical academy hell had just begun.
And Yuuji had the sinking feeling that things were about to get much, much worse.