"Where are we going first?" Silas asked.
"Of course, to the Grand Hall," Edsel replied. "The entrance ceremony will be held there. All the first-year students will attend, and the headmaster will give a speech. We can't miss it after all, it's the start of a new semester."
Edsel remembered this moment clearly from the game.
This was the second time that the original Edsel had faced humiliation in the story. He felt goosebumps and embarrassment just thinking about what was supposed to happen. Right after the ceremony, Fiora would be standing beside Edwin, and she would announce to everyone that their engagement had been broken.
The original Edsel could not bear to see them together, so he would challenge Edwin to a duel in front of the entire building, including all the new first year students. But he would face even worse humiliation than before, and his reputation would sink lower than ever.
"I see," Silas nodded. "Since we're second-years now, does that mean I can finally enter the library?"
"Do whatever you want," Edsel said calmly. "But remember our deal."
Silas smiled.
"You don't have to worry, Master. My other body is still in Cairo, so I can monitor things from there. Nothing important is happening right now."
"You fool," Edsel said flatly. "That's not what I meant."
"Huh? T-then… you mean the part about teaching you dark magic?"
"Yes."
Edsel turned slightly and placed his hands inside his pockets.
"Let's go."
"Y-yes, Master."
Silas swallowed nervously. Edsel had terrible mood swings. Sometimes he seemed calm, sometimes strangely cheerful and other times cold and irritated. Silas was slowly beginning to understand his personality.
One thing was certain: he absolutely didn't want to get on Edsel's bad side. But another problem crossed his mind.
How exactly am I supposed to teach him dark magic?
He had never taught anyone before. As Silas kept thinking deeply, the gazes from other students only increased.
Whispers began spreading through the academy courtyard.
"Isn't that the disgraceful son of the Domitius family?"
"Pwahaha! I can't believe he actually showed up after last semester's humiliation. Who's he going to challenge this time? The vice principal?"
"And Silas is still following him too… two troublesome students. Let's stay away from them this semester."
Silas frowned.
"Gosh… I can understand why Silas was treated like trash, but insulting you too… My lord, did you perhaps—"
What Silas said was technically correct. It was not like he could simply avoid the previous humiliation that had already happened before his arrival.
This was just the aftermath of events that had occurred before he took over the body. But that did not matter right now. After all, every problem came with a solution, and the best way to silence their mocking mouths was to inflict fear upon them.
"We should not think about them right now. I have something that I need to confirm first," Edsel said while continuing towards the grand hall.
**************
Students gathered inside the Grand Hall as the entrance ceremony was about to begin.
The new first-year students were already seated in the front rows. Some looked nervous, while others were clearly excited.
Meanwhile, Edsel and Silas sat quietly among the second-year students, waiting for the headmaster to arrive.
Ding!
[You have reached the starting point of the story.]
[Your survival probability has increased by 5%.]
Edsel didn't expect the system to appear so suddenly.
So this was the true starting point. Which meant the more he interfered with the story, the higher his chances of survival would become.
On the other side of the hall, a young girl with short orange hair, parted bangs, and sharp green eyes frowned the moment she noticed Edsel.
"Tch!"
"What is it, Penelope?" the girl beside her asked. She had black hair, a gentle face, and calm caramel-colored eyes.
Penelope pointed directly at Edsel.
"Who else? It's him again."
"Oh…"
Cecilia stared at Edsel from a distance. He had actually returned to the academy after the humiliation from last semester.
She shook her head in disappointment.
"If that bastard causes trouble for Edwin again—!" Penelope clenched her fist tightly.
"Stop," Cecilia said calmly. "Don't do anything that will anger the instructors."
Edsel suddenly felt a pair of hostile gazes filled with killing intent. He turned his head slightly and saw them watching him from afar.
Those two girls were none other than members of Edwin's future harem, the heroines of this world.
Especially Penelope Wendell, the daughter of Marquis Wendell. She had an aggressive personality, just like the rest of her family. A natural battle mage.
However, in the original story, all of that wild aggression would eventually be softened under Edwin's influence.
The other girl beside her was Cecilia Finnegan, the daughter of Count Finnegan.
Despite her calm and gentle appearance, she was a sword mage. And a complete sadist when it came to battle.
In fact… she was also a bit of a masochist.
Edsel still remembered how unsettling it was when he played as Edwin in the game. No matter how many times Edwin struck her during training battles, Cecilia would only grow more fascinated with him.
Just remembering it gave him chills.
But judging by the way both girls were glaring at him cautiously, Edwin must have already tamed them quite well.
And not just those two.
"Kyaaaa!"
"Look! It's them!"
Several girls suddenly screamed with excitement, pointing toward the entrance of the Grand Hall.
"What's that, Master?" Silas asked, turning around curiously.
Edsel looked as well. Then he sighed quietly. "Finally…" he muttered.
The person he had just been thinking about had finally arrived. Walking confidently into the Grand Hall was the very center of this world's story.
A boy with hair as red as flames and eyes as crimson as blood. 'The Child of Luck.' The main character of this world.
Edwin Perrin.