'This guy is still here?' Xian scrutinized the boy before him. Just like in the game, he had that approachable main character face, plastered with an innocent expression; there wasn't a trace of his bruises, and, looking closely, his face had a slight blush.
Xian was almost tired of always seeing his face in every scene, wishing he could at least customize character appearance. Though he liked his current appearance more, unfortunately, Carmillia didn't prefer it.
'I guess it's not that easy for the original protagonist to disappear.' Xian clicked his tongue internally.
Meanwhile, Carmillia, were inwardly amused, observing the protagonist's behavior. His friendliness, cheerful smile, and impression of naivety were a curious anomaly to witness. She wondered how such a person could exist in this world.
"Do you remember me, my lady? W-we met by chance in the labyrinth and… Ah! We got attacked by another entrant!" The protagonist stuttered in an effort to speak. Xian thought he was watching a kid introduce himself to his crush.
"I remember." Carmillia answered, smiling faintly, "What business do you have with me?" She responded with a surprisingly amicable tone, not angered at the fact that Adrian's loudmouth had turned her into the center of attention and murmurs.
"Ah, it's just, can we walk together to class?"
"Walk… together?" Carmillia tilted her head at the simple request of the protagonist
"Yes. Can't we?"
"... I permit it."
Xian watched with a calm gaze as the two agreed without so much as his involvement, after all, her was just a butler. But the protagonist seemed to be unaware of the underlying meaning of the actions he took, nor how others would see it.
The surrounding murmurs resumed as Carmillia walked past, Adrian hurrying after her. Xian could hear the whispers through the hall as it took a different direction.
'Maybe she's not as bad as they say…'
'There's no way she really did those rumors, right?'
'She accepted him just like that?'
To others, it already seemed like Carmillia permitted the protagonist to join her faction despite his obvious naivety, making them doubt her infamous stories.
Carmillia walked with Xian still by her side and Adrian who saw the widening distance between him and the lady, so in an attempt to draw closer and start a conversation, he quickened his steps to match her pace. Only for a large figure to slide in.
Looking up, the first thing he saw was a shade of blood-red hair and the similarly stern expression worn by the professor who talked to him yesterday.
Xian had put himself between Adrian and Carmillia, not even sparing a glance on the protagonist as if he didn't exist at all.
Earlier, as if in a trance, the protagonist had completely ignored him and hadn't even paid him any attention. Xian didn't mind being overlooked, but what was strange was the protagonist's bashful behavior toward Carmillia.
Normally, that shouldn't have been the case. The protagonist always chose which route to follow: one of the 'Seven Main Heroines' or one of the sub-heroines. He should either be with one of the heroines, like Fahna or Gumin, or someone from the Silver Boughs. Unless, he was set on the protagonists path where no route was chosen and almost guarantee's a bad end.
Deviations did happen in the game, such as when a player follows a heroine but changes his mind midway. However, it usually came with the expected bad end for the heroine left behind, sometimes even turning her into a crazed ex who becomes an enemy later on.
Observing Adrian's badge, Xian noticed silver linings instead of gold or bronze. He still ended up in the Silver Boughs, huh?
Xian didn't know what kind of magic or plot armor Adrian had to retain a position in the Silver Boughs despite passing out halfway through the exam, but he wasn't going to let him do as he pleased, especially when he's eyeing what's his to conquer.
Adrian, confused with Xian's actions, stared at him indignantly, as if his eyes were asking, 'What are you doing?' Xian did his best to put on the most intimidating glare he could muster. Apparently, it worked, as he saw the protagonist's shoulder flinch slightly.
Who is inside that body? If Xian, a former player, had taken over the body of Carmillia's supposed butler, then who was inhabiting Adrian, the protagonist of the game and this world?
The first time he saw himself in this body, the thought that Adrian might exist somewhere else had already become a curious puzzle.
What if Adrian also knew the path he needed to take and the scenes he needed to be involved in? The only saving grace was that he wouldn't be a competitor to Carmillia, but that was before this moment.
Rather than displaying the caution of a player, he was showing a naïve interest in her. Perhaps that was why he hadn't caught the villainess's attention as much, compared to back in the game.
Several more attempts were made, but Xian made sure to cut Adrian off every time. The normally amicable and kind protagonist now had a twitching mouth because of Xian. He found it interesting that the protagonist reacted this way because in the game, the player usually remained the voice of reason in many dialogues and scenarios.
"Well, then, this is where we part ways." Carmillia, who had been silent the entire time, turned to Adrian. The room for the Silver Boughs was separate from the Golden Boughs, but it had been placed so that they were sure to cross each other.
They parted ways in a atrium full with stained-glass windows where sunlight seeped through from above, as if it were an arena prepared for the two sections to face off. Likely, it was an insidious placement devised by the eccentric headmaster of the academy.
Adrian, about to respond, was shooed away by Xian, who pointed in the other direction. "Your class is that way." Xian followed after Carmillia and left Adrian alone.
The protagonist's mouth opened and closed several times, but Xian didn't even pause to hear whatever he wanted to say.
In the end, apart from a few lines, Adrian couldn't talk to Carmillia at all and turned away with a bitter taste in his mouth.
"What's up with that guy?" Of course, he hadn't forgotten Xian, who hindered him at every opportunity to converse with Lady Montagne, the girl who had caught his eye at first sight.
"Next time, definitely…" Adrian murmured, heading toward his class, the Silver Boughs.
…
True to its name, the classroom for the Golden Boughs stretched wide enough for one to wonder whether it was meant for auction events. Natural light seeped through the high windows and skylights, and the edges of the podium and students' seats were lined and chiseled with gold, signifying the status of those who stepped inside.
The row of seat rose a step higher, circling around the lecturer's platform. Behind it stood a large, imposing door serving as both the entrance and exit. Inside, the students were already acquainting themselves with one another, some speaking in pairs and others gathering in small groups.
The interior resembled a noble's masquerade ballroom event, had the students been dressed for such an occasion instead of wearing their uniforms. Even so, the navy-blue blazers accented with white-and-gold lapels and gold-lined pins made for striking eye candy to anyone who witnessed it.
Each step the students took barely made a sound on the carpeted floor as they clustered together in a particular spot. The academy's students ranged from those just coming of age to those already two years past it.
In this regard, Fahna was someone who had just come of age last year, the majority of ages in the academy student population, and already, because of that, she was having 'that kind' of trouble.
Something every sought-after noble lady has to go through.
"My lady, I've long heard and admired the feats of your prestigious family, but your beauty is just as exceptional." A young nobleman with a sleazy expression spoke with a slight bowing gesture."Might I interest you in a tea after class as we regale about the tales of the sword saint?"
"Do not trouble her with your lazy ways of spending time." A rather brash-looking one chided as he put forward his proposal, pushing the other one with his brisk body, "As someone who hails from the sword saints clan, she's probably going to train swordsmanship after class. We should be sparring partners, Lady Fahna!" He spoke, smiling with a determined expression.
"Please accept this gift as a gesture of making my acquaintance." Another young man with pompous hair and a dismissive expression slammed a gift on her table. "Should we grow closer further… This isn't the only gift you will be receiving. Are you open to any further talks?"
Fahna's perfect smile almost broke due to an urge to twitch. Opportunities and offers like these was a familiar matter, but this is the first time she's dealing with suitors outside of her somewhat secular clan.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in finding a partner yet." Finding a suitably powerful partner in the academy would be a noble girl's goal before graduation, but for her who's a descendant of the sword saint?
'No way.' She's aware of the reputation her clan upholds and the dignity that comes with it. Her clan has always insisted on standing on its own and refused to do business with other families, but she's different.
She will be the first to pave the path into opening the doors of the Del Alinde household to the world and lead her people to expand beyond.
For that reason, she cannot be tied to a noble's heir.
To do that, however, she will need to gather people from the outside, and that's where the academy comes in.
Simply training behind closed doors in her clan wasn't enough, she also needs to experience the outside world for what it is before she's too old and don't have enough time.
'I already have people in mind too.'
As if finding this rejection absurd, the boy who offered her a gift tapped on the table and spoke, "How could that be, Lady Fahna? With my household's riches and your reputation, we can make the perfect couple!"
'Ugh, this guy…' Just when she thought about how he knew her household's present money problems, the grandiose door of the room creaked slightly as it opened.
All heads turned to see who the new guests were, whether it's an early professor or another student.
Then, an almost deafening silence filled the surroundings as Xian came into view with his intimidating looks. Behind him was Carmillia following along. Apart from beauty, every entrant from inner nobilities gave her a knowing gaze, for they knew the atrocities her family caused, apart from her usual tales of beheading subordinates.
Her appearance heralded the coming of one of the most dangerous lady to be associated with in the room.
"Oh? What's wrong with everyone? Please continue with your conversations." Carmillia, noting the silence upon her entry ran her eyes throught the students.
Xian waited for her to enter before closing the doors. Although her entry made an impact, the other students soon returned to their topics.
After all, in this room, students with equally formidable backgrounds existed, such as Fahna and the aspiring arcmage, Gumin. And to Xian's dismay, there weren't just heroines for the protagonist to snatch in this game. It wouldn't be a Souls counterpart of dating sim academy otherwise if there weren't any competition.
Carmillia opted for the highest seat in the room, and as they passed by an unassuming student lying down with a book covering his face, Xian heard an amused voice.
"Looks like this will be a tumultuous generation for the academy."
He wasn't unfamiliar with whose voice it belonged to, and his fists slightly tightened, remembering all the failed runs this particular character caused.
"Wouldn't you agree, lady Montagne?" He removed the book, revealing turquoise eyes with a calm, steady gaze. Although he addressed Carmillia, his eyes were locked onto Xian.
'Rhykard Oregon, one of the more successful villains in the game, who stayed alive until the post-graduation arcs.'
Carmillia only gave the man a silent glare and decided to ignore him.
Rhykard Oregon was a rival character for Fahna's route. The game after all, also offered its alternate version, where the protagonist is a woman and will wrestle attention from the female heroines. It's vastly different from the male protagonist, who gets their heroine taken from them in the story.
In the alternate version, the male leads were always vying for the heroine, and the female protagonist has to snatch them. Some players complained that it was such a disrespectful difference but the game devs simply offered no explanation.
Xian suddenly felt thankful he wasn't transmigrated and genderbent as the female protagonist, since he didn't even touch the alternate version.
Rhykard's gaze lingered on Xian for a moment longer before he spoke again, "So the rumors were true," he straightened up in his seat and said, "You actually went through the trouble of enrolling a butler of yours into the academy."
His eyes turned to Carmillia, "And not just in any section, but the golden boughs no less. How bold of the Duke."
Carmillia didn't slow her step, "Say what you want."
Rhykard chuckled, "Sponsoring a butler as a student in the highest status of the academy is a flagrant misuse of privilege. Even for Montagne. Wouldn't you agree, everyone?" He tilted his head, looking back at the gazes directed at them. Despite Carmillia's reputation, there was more than one student here opposed to her.
Each on their own, they couldn't possibly hold a candle to her family, but with Rhykard's and their unity, even Carmillia would be hard-pressed to deal with them.
"Or are we pretending the academy suddenly accepts servants on payments alone?" It was a provocative slander to the academy, but no one dissuaded Rhykard. Almost all noble households here knew of the headmaster's love for money and the bottomless pit that is the academy.
Seeing Carmillia's silence, he provoked further, "A novelty then? A pet project? Or could it be… for your own indulgence?"
Carmillia stopped. She turned her head just enough for him to see a sneer.
"He placed first." The words came out clearly for everyone to hear.
Rhykard's smile froze as his gaze observed Xian once again.
"First?" He repeated with an incredulous look.
"First among the entrants, above heirs and prodigious prospects alike. And even you, Rhykard." Carmillia said simply without a change in her tone and indifferent expression.
"Hah, I'll be damned. Basically a butler who partially deserves his seat." He turned and looked ahead from his seat, as if to end the conversation there, "It seems the academy has become far more unhinged than I thought. Interesting."
"If you have a problem with it, go tell the headmaster." Carmillia replied with a sneer. "Though I doubt it will change anything."
"From now on, I will be the head and representative of this class. With my butler as my right-hand man." Carmillia said as a matter of factly, as murmurs spread immediately among the students. Everyone in the golden boughs has a pride and power of their own, and choosing a representative was always a contentious matter.
Pushing it further would only turn the entire class against them, something Xian had no desire to deal with. Just as he was about to intervene, he caught the silent movement of Carmillia's lips.
'You'll keep your promise, won't you?'
Xian winced.