Chapter 1: Prologue

Chapter 1: Prologue

Top Seat.

The highest position or rank.

In other words, it refers to the most outstanding individual in a group.

Below that is the Second Seat.

The second-best person in that group.

The world only remembers the first, not the second.

This doesn't mean that the second place isn't outstanding.

It doesn't mean that the second place lived a casual life.

It's because second place put in backbreaking effort and excruciating hard work that they could become second best.

***

It's already been a week since I transmigrated.

When I first transmigrated, I naturally thought it was a dream.

I pinched my cheeks and screamed like a madman to be sent back home, but nothing changed.

The initial emotion I felt was despair.

Being dropped into a world where I knew nothing made it hard to adapt.

However, humans have a reputation for adapting, and soon I accepted this reality.

I began investigating my new identity.

After investigating, I learned a few things.

From today on, I must attend an academy.

Liberion Academy.

The empire's largest academy, teaching magic, swordsmanship, and alchemy... that's the setting.

I seem to have transmigrated into the game 'The Academy's Top Wizard.'

Anyone who has played this game would know the name.

'Rudy Astria.'

Always second to the protagonist.

The second son of the Astria dukedom, and a guy who enters the academy as the top seat.

However, as the game's title suggests, the player-controlled protagonist takes the first seat from midterm exams onwards, leaving Rudy as the permanent Second Seat.

As the second son and second seat, 'Rudy Astria' receives various nicknames from players like 'perennial second-place' and 'the successor of the bean line,' but there's a reason behind this character's creation by the game developers.

The protagonist's antithesis.

He took on a completely opposite role.

The protagonist, a commoner, puts in effort to seize the first seat, while the high-ranking noble 'Rudy Astria' maintains the second seat with innate talent, showcasing a stark contrast between the two.

Thus, the story of the protagonist overcoming talent with effort is the main story of this game, 'The Academy's Top Wizard.'

However, this posed a problem.

I'm a veteran player of this game, so I know all the endings and the ways to achieve them.

'Rudy Astria' is an essential existence in all these endings.

He is the villain appearing from the very beginning and takes on an increasingly important role as the story progresses.

The protagonist's rival and a character doomed to be crushed by the protagonist.

That is 'Rudy Astria.'

And now, I have become 'Rudy Astria.'

***

Raei Translations

***

As I stepped out and looked around, many people were watching me.

Although I arrived quietly with only a knight, the carriage bore the white lily emblem of the Astria family, so everyone would know I was Rudy Astria.

"Ah, Young Master Rudy."

No sooner had they realized who I was, a quick-witted person approached me.

"I've heard so much about you, the new light of the Astria family."

I didn't know who they were, but they suddenly approached and started flattering me. As they began, more people approached.

"Hello, I'm the eldest son of Viscount Corwell..."

"Aren't you Young Master Rudy who entered as the top student...!"

Their sweet, honey-like words flowed as they came towards me. But I knew better.

Those who speak honeyed words often harbor venom within.

Regardless, the venom wouldn't do much harm to me. Even if I were a disfavored second son, I was still part of a central noble family in the empire.

However, being friendly with them wouldn't be helpful.

They were most likely trying to leech off me. I didn't have time to expand such useless connections.

I was too busy studying and building relationships for the main storyline.

I signaled my knight, and he began to ward them off.

"Young Master seems tired from the long carriage ride. Please greet him later."

"Y-Young Master?"

The knight blocked them, leaving the noble children who had been trying to appeal to themselves flustered.

They seemed to be checking if they had made any mistakes that upset me.

Although I could have just let them leave like this, I felt there was no need to reveal my bad reputation from the start, so I added:

"I'm tired, so let's talk later when I have more time for conversation."

As I said that, the expressions of the noble children brightened again. They seemed to think it was because I was really tired, not their fault.

"Haha. You're right. We'll visit you later."

"We'll see you at the entrance ceremony."

The gathered nobles lost interest in me and began to chat with each other.

"Let's go."

With my words, the knight began to follow me, carrying my luggage.

***

"Hmm~?"

In a spacious dormitory room, someone was watching the scene outside the window with interest.

"Isn't this different from what I heard?"

She tilted her head as she observed the situation. Rudy Astria's act of pushing past the nobles seemed different from the image of the young master she had in mind.

"Is he really tired?"

Although she was undoubtedly looking down from a high floor, she spoke as if she had heard the conversation taking place below.

"Well, I'll find out later."

A pleased smile formed at the corners of her lips.

***

Heya! Note from the future: This novel is being re-edited. You can read ahead anyway or wait, re-edits should be done by the end of the week.

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