Lucien looked out the window of the carriage as it rolled past tall trees and clean stone roads. The sky was clear. Birds flew in slow circles. Everything felt peaceful.
But inside, Lucien was focused.
[Destination: Royal Academy of Noble Arts]
[Current Status: Background Character]
[Primary Goal: Survive]
[Secondary Goal: Break the Plot]
He let out a breath.
This was where the game truly began.
In the original story, the main character would arrive here and begin collecting the heroines one by one. Lucien remembered the early routes clearly. Aria, the duke's daughter and cold tsundere. Selene, the quiet shrine maiden with a hidden obsession. Rina, the soft maid girl. Fiora, the arrogant princess. Evelyn, the forbidden step-sister.
Each of them had routes with romance flags, affection meters, and secret events.
Each of them also had endings—some sweet, some tragic, and some absolutely brutal.
Lucien had no interest in following the script.
He was going to rewrite all of it.
The carriage came to a stop.
Lucien stepped out, boots touching the white stones of the academy courtyard. It was exactly how he remembered from the game—massive gates, tall marble towers, students in fancy uniforms walking with pride.
Some turned to glance at him.
He ignored them.
[You have entered a Key Location: Royal Academy]
[New System Feature Unlocked: Reputation Meter]
[Current Reputation: Unknown Extra]
Lucien's uniform was different from most. His family crest—Everhart—was a smaller version, marking him as a bastard son. That was enough for whispers to start.
"Isn't that the Duke's illegitimate child?"
"They actually let him in?"
"Just ignore him. He won't last long."
Lucien didn't react. Their words were nothing compared to what he already knew. In this world, people judged you by name, birth, and power. He had no name, no power. But he had knowledge.
That was his weapon.
—
The first day began with a ceremony in the great hall. Hundreds of students filled the seats. Teachers stood in long lines with serious faces. Floating lights lit up the ceiling. A man with a deep voice gave a long speech about nobility, strength, and duty.
Lucien wasn't listening.
He was scanning.
[Target Detected: Aria Albrecht]
A girl with long crimson hair and sharp red eyes sat at the front row. She wore her noble pride like a crown. Every word she spoke was cold. She didn't look at anyone.
[Affinity: Neutral]
[Status: Unreachable without Reputation Boost]
[Trigger Event: Classroom Duel]
Lucien moved his eyes.
[Target Detected: Rina Calloway]
A small maid stood near the back, carrying a tray. Short brown hair. Big eyes. Shy posture. She wasn't even a student—just an academy servant. But she had a hidden route.
[Affinity: Slightly Warm]
[Status: Accessible]
[Trigger Event: Help Her With Her Job]
Lucien kept going. He spotted three more heroines. Each had their flags. Each had their weaknesses. And each could be pulled away from the main character if handled right.
[Main Protagonist Arrival: In 2 Days]
Good. That gave him a head start.
He just had to act before the original hero showed up and started collecting affection like a magnet.
—
Later that day, Lucien found his dorm room. It was small, clean, and had a nice view of the garden. Not bad for a "bastard." Still, there was work to do.
He stood by the mirror and opened the system again.
[Player Perspective Active]
[Name: Lucien von Everhart]
[Title: Illegitimate Son]
[Class: None]
[Combat Ability: Very Low]
[Reputation: 3/100 - Unknown Background Filler]
[Hidden Trait: ??? (Locked)]
[Available Actions]
Talk to a heroine
Trigger an event
Increase reputation
Train
Lucien smiled.
Step by step, he would build himself.
—
The next morning, Lucien left early. He walked to the training grounds, a large open space behind the academy. Swords, staffs, bows—all kinds of weapons were lined up.
A few students were already there, training under the rising sun.
Lucien picked up a wooden sword.
His body was weak, but not hopeless. He swung slowly at first. Then again. And again.
The system didn't praise him. There were no sudden boosts. No shortcuts.
But Lucien didn't expect them. He was used to grinding. He liked the grind.
After half an hour, sweat covered his face. His arms hurt. His legs shook.
Then someone laughed behind him.
"Hey, bastard, you trying to become a knight with those soft arms?"
Lucien turned.
A tall boy with blond hair and a smug face stood there. He wore the same academy uniform, but with a flashy gold badge on his chest.
[Target: Byron Grell]
[Role: Minor Antagonist]
[Personality: Arrogant, Hot-headed]
[Combat Skill: Intermediate]
Lucien didn't speak.
Byron walked up and flicked the wooden sword from Lucien's hand.
"I'm just doing you a favor. If you show up with that weak swing in class, you'll be laughed out of the room."
Lucien looked at him calmly.
[Optional Choice Triggered]
Ignore
Talk back
Challenge
Lucien smirked.
[Selected: Challenge]
"You talk big," Lucien said, "but I bet your mouth moves faster than your sword."
The students nearby turned. Whispers started.
Byron narrowed his eyes. "You want to fight? Fine. Try not to cry when I break your nose."
A teacher noticed the commotion and stepped over. "Save it for class," he said. "Tomorrow morning. Official duel. Both of you. No holding back."
Lucien gave a small nod.
Byron scoffed. "Hope you say goodbye to your teeth tonight."
[New Flag Triggered: Duel Event]
[Reward: Reputation + Combat Boost if Successful]
[Danger: Risk of Injury or Public Humiliation]
Lucien walked away, heart calm, brain spinning.
He had just triggered the first major event in his own route.
It wasn't part of the original story. This wasn't some forced flag. This was his choice.
And if he won?
People would stop calling him "bastard" and start remembering his name.