The hall was packed with students, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Yet, every time I passed by a group, their chatter abruptly stopped, and an uncomfortable silence took over.
Though I kept my face neutral, it stung a little to be treated this way, like I was some kind of plague.
I was being avoided at every turn.
I did my best to keep my emotions in check, and surprisingly, it wasn't difficult.
Despite how I felt inside, my expression remained unreadable.
It's been less than 24 hours since I became Ian Dismdom, but I can already tell that this ability to mask emotions is something Ian was born with.
In the game, when Ian was expelled from the academy, he barely reacted.
At most, he voiced his dissatisfaction, but he never raised his voice or lashed out at the director.
Even as he was escorted off the island, his face remained stoic, emotionless.
It wasn't until the game explicitly mentioned his feelings that players even knew what he had gone through at that moment.
It seems that Ian's ability to hide his emotions might be a special trait unique to him.
Could it be a characteristic inherited from the Dismdom Family?
The game didn't elaborate much on the first head of the family, but it did describe him as a stoic man who maintained a calm demeanor during crises.
It's possible that Ian, as his direct descendant, inherited this trait, which would explain his current ability.
While there's a high likelihood that this theory is correct, it's not guaranteed.
There's still a small chance that it might not be the case.
As I walked through the seemingly endless hall, a familiar face caught my eye.
In the distance was a handsome boy with light brown hair and blue eyes.
I knew him instantly.
Rein Orlenaz—the player character and a regressor.
He's the protagonist of the game.
It's puzzling why he isn't the Hero, but if I had to guess, it's probably because of his role as a regressor.
Seeing Rein again reminded me of a question I've been pondering: How many times has he regressed?
In the game, Rein is limited to ten regressions, the starting point being on the first day of the academy.
Each of these ten regressions represents a separate life he has lived.
The 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 10th regressions are distinct from one another.
You can tell which regression Rein is in by observing his personality.
Each regression affects his psyche differently.
Over time, the strain of these repeated experiences causes him to lose his composure, gradually eroding the cheerful personality he usually wears.
Rein was with his group of friends, all of them smiling and chatting away.
Should I get closer for a better look?
The thought crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it, realizing how dangerous that could be.
I wasn't sure which regression he was on.
If I approached carelessly, Rein might become suspicious of me—and if he's in his 5th regression or higher, he could even plan to kill me later on.
Judging by his cheerful demeanor and the smile on his face, it seemed likely he was in his 1st or 2nd regression.
But then again, in the game, he was a master at hiding his emotions, able to act like his usual self with ease.
That smile could be nothing but an act.
Damn it.
This is giving me a headache, and class starts in less than 10 minutes.
I glanced at Rein again, scrutinizing him closely.
Approaching him and pretending to be friendly wasn't an option; Ian's personality wouldn't allow it.
It'd be completely out of character.
Then, I'll have to handle this the way Ian would.
Ugh...
So much for wanting to stay out of trouble.
...
It's nerve-wracking.
With every step I took, it felt like I was walking straight towards death itself.
Which, in a way, I was.
I'm gambling with my life on the line here.
With my current level of strength, there's no way I could defend myself if Rein decided to kill me.
I could feel multiple eyes on me as I walked, but I forced myself to ignore them, keeping my gaze locked on the back of Rein's head.
Sensing my stare, Rein stopped and turned around.
His blue eyes met my golden ones.
His group halted as well, confusion evident on their faces.
I knew them all, of course.
They were important characters too.
On the far left was Averie Verice, her long white hair and striking purple eyes unmistakable.
Next to her, with black hair and eyes, stood Rolan Blackheart.
And on Rein's right was Sol Rhene, his mismatched green hair and purple eyes were watching me closely.
But none of them mattered right now.
My full attention was on the protagonist.
Rein frowned when he saw me, but I kept my expression neutral and calm.
That confirmed it for me.
He had already regressed.
Coldness and a little hint of familiarity.
"How can—"
Before he could finish, I cut him off.
"Rein Orlenaz, a filthy commoner, right?"
My voice, dripping with the usual arrogance, rang out clearly for him—and everyone else—to hear.
He took a moment to process my words, but he quickly regained himself and finally spoke.
"...Yes, do you need anything?"
"Heh. You should consider this as an honor. That I, Ian Dismdom from the Dismdom Family, challenge a Sanction I duel from you, Rein Orlanez, a commoner with nothing next to his name."
Naturally, the academy doesn't allow violence as that would easily get you an Academy's warning.
But there's also a way for you to fight someone without consequences, and that is by initiating a duel.
The academy has three sanctions of duels that every student must remember.
The higher the sanction, the more dangerous the duel becomes.
Under Sanction I, the most damage you can deal to your opponent is limited to breaking bones or anything less severe.
Sanction II permits the dismemberment of limbs—excluding the head.
Sanction III allows you to kill your opponent without any consequences.
In other words, it's a system that legally permits students to kill each other. And, for example, if a student from a noble or royal background dies in a Sanction III duel, their family or backing are prohibited from retaliating against the winner.
It's brutal, truly.
But who in their right mind would ever request a Sanction III duel?
You're basically branding yourself a killer—someone to be feared, avoided, and cast out.
Even Ian, arrogant as he is, has never once requested a Sanction II duel with the protagonist.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand.
Rein, having just heard my challenge, looked at me with a cold, unreadable expression.
Step.
He took one step forward. We stood at the same height, so our eyes were naturally locked.
It was intimidating.
Every part of me wanted to kneel down and apologize.
But I'm a Dismdom, and I couldn't allow myself to falter—not just because of fear.
So I masked my trembling with a confident front, even though I was shaking inside.
"I, Rein Orlanez, accept your duel, Ian Dismdom of the Dismdom Family."
After an awkward, silent stare-down, he finally spoke.
His voice was firm like a judge delivering the final verdict.
At this point, any sane person would probably call me insane for challenging the protagonist himself to a duel.
And honestly? They'd be right.
But this is the only option I could think of.
I'm not doing this because I'm a masochist or anything—I have a reason. A clear one.
...
"Hey, did you hear? Ian challenged Rein to a duel."
"Seriously? That Rein?"
"Yeah, Rein Orlanez—the number one in the academy!"
"Dude! Lower your voice. He might hear you."
After that terrifying encounter with the protagonist, I finally made my way back to class.
Annoyingly so, these brats couldn't keep their mouths shut, and the rumor about me challenging Rein spread like wildfire.
Just like that, I became the main topic of the day.
"Huu..."
Trying to calm myself, I exhaled and looked out the window.
The view was filled with towering campus buildings, sprawling training grounds, and even a well-kept garden.
Honestly, it looked much more beautiful in person than it ever did through a screen.
But I couldn't enjoy the scenery.
My eyes kept drifting to the training ground—the place where my duel with Rein would soon take place.
To be honest, we could've skipped class and gone straight to the fight. No one would've stopped us.
But I didn't want that.
I needed time to prepare… even if it wasn't much.
Of course, I made sure the duel was scheduled after classes, and I did it in the most Ian Dismdom way possible:
"Hmph! Then let's do it after school. Consider this my mercy—giving you time to prepare against me."
Yeah… no. That was pure bullshit.
Rein doesn't need to prepare for me.
He could wipe the floor with my face without even breaking a sweat.
Just then, the classroom door swung open and an instructor stepped in.
"Alright class, back to your seats!"
A brown-haired woman with glasses—it was the instructor for our Mana Theory class.
Alicia Revolqint.
Her eyes swept across the room, landing briefly on each student until they locked onto me—the notorious troublemaker from the Dismdom Family.
I met her gaze head-on, not flinching in the slightest.
Unprofessional, really—especially for a professor at the prestigious Erlan Academy.
I could complain, sure… but then I'm reminded of whose body I'm currently stuck in, and, well… I get it.
"I see you're not skipping my class this time, Ian."
Her voice rang out loud enough for the entire class to hear.
"And so what if I am? I'm only here because the academy forced me to."
I shot back without thinking, letting the words fly.
"Oh, is that so? Are you sure it's not because you've got an Academy Warning hanging right next to your name now?"
Her lips curled into an irritating, smug smile.
"This bitch!"
Is what I wanted to shout—but sadly, she wasn't wrong.
I did already have one warning, and I couldn't afford a second.
"Seriously? A warning already, and it hasn't even been a month?"
"I know, right? He's that bad."
"Can you believe he's from the incredible Dismdom Family? What a letdown."
Hey, hey! I can hear you bastards whispering!
They're lucky there's an instructor in the room. If not, I'd already—
"Why the sudden silence? Did I hit a bullseye?"
Still wearing that damn smirk, Alicia threw another jab my way.
"Tch. Just start the damn class already."
I dropped my head onto the desk and buried it in my arms, blocking out everything else.
~
(End of Chapter)