"How did it end up like this...? Did I do something wrong?"
A few hours later, Yugo—now Hugo—was huddled in his sleeping bag like a cocoon, staring up at the star-studded night sky with a heavy sigh.
This was Luminous Academy. It was an educational institution for those aspiring to become Magic Knights.
An integrated K-12 school, it was supposedly a top-tier establishment, boasting numerous academic buildings, well-appointed dormitories, and state-of-the-art facilities.
Recalling the information he’d heard from Fee, Hugo cursed his predicament. He was currently camping out in a remote corner of this massive campus, letting out a sorrowful groan.
"It doesn’t make sense... I was supposed to have saved someone, wasn't I? Why am I going through this?"
It was one thing to have been accidentally reincarnated into a person with the same name in another world, but this "Hugo" fellow seemed to be a real piece of work.
Naturally, a man destined to be pummeled by a protagonist and have his fiancée stolen away like a typical manga villain was bound to have a nasty personality, but in Hugo's case, it was remarkably worse.
Just a short while ago, when he was being evicted from the luxurious student dormitory, his peers had mocked him and pelted him with garbage.
Even on his way to this secluded spot, students from other dorms had relentlessly teased him, and some had even shouted direct verbal abuse.
"Your chickens have finally come home to roost!" "Serves you right, Hugo!" "Just go rot in a ditch!"
Every time he heard those shouts, Hugo couldn't help but wonder: Just how much of a bastard were you to be hated this much?
Well, he could take a guess. Hugo had likely used the prestige of the House of Clay and the power of the Sacred Sword Galandil as a shield to do whatever he pleased since entering the Elementary Division. He had spent nearly a decade stoking the fires of resentment in everyone around him.
That hatred had finally boiled over following his pathetic defeat in a duel and the subsequent declaration of his disownment. Having arrived at this logical conclusion, Hugo felt like crying as he shouted toward the night sky.
"I'm so hungry! It's freezing! Someone, help me!"
He lamented his wretched fate. He’d risked his life to save someone, only to be berated for sins he had no memory of and then left to rot under the cold night air.
He didn't know who was responsible, but if there was a god who had put him in this situation, he was certain they had a twisted personality. As his stomach gave a thunderous growl, he heard a rustling sound, and a small figure approached.
"I finally found you, Brother. So this is where you were."
"Ah... you’re Fee, right?"
"Yes! Um, Brother... I brought some food from my room. It might not be much, but please eat if you'd like."
"Wait, seriously?! Thank you!"
Fee rummaged through his bag and pulled out a loaf of bread wrapped in a small sack.
Deeply grateful for this mercy from his angelic younger brother—whose adorable appearance only added to the effect—Hugo wiggled out of his bagworm-like state and began ravenously devouring the bread.
"So good! This is amazing! Ah, I’m coming back to life...!"
"You’re eating so fast... you must have been starving. I’m sorry, Brother. If I’d found you sooner, I could have saved you from this misery."
"Don't say that. The fact that you went out of your way to bring me a meal is more than enough. Truly, thank you, Fee."
"Brother...!"
In a world where everyone seemed to despise him, Hugo was touched by Fee’s genuine kindness. When he expressed his heartfelt thanks, Fee smiled back at him, looking genuinely happy.
A moment later, Fee lowered his gaze and spoke in a small, fragile voice.
"Brother, you still haven't regained your memories, have you? For Father to disown you and kick you out of the dorms in that condition... it's just cruel."
"Hmm... well, the old man probably has his reasons. It sounds like I really crossed the line in the past, so I guess it can't be helped."
"...I’ll try to talk to Father and see if I can get him to revoke the punishment. Just wait a little longer."
"I appreciate the thought, but with how furious he was, I doubt it'll work. Besides, even if I went back now, I’d just be sitting on a bed of thorns."
While he was grateful for Fee’s willingness to help, Hugo knew it was likely a lost cause. Even if the disownment were retracted and he returned to the dorms, the sheer volume of hatred directed his way wouldn't just vanish.
In that case, he’d rather just start over from a clean slate.
He had been drowning in negative thoughts just moments ago, but knowing he had an ally like Fee gave Hugo the strength to be a little more optimistic.
He didn't know why he’d been reincarnated here, but he had to accept it and keep moving forward.
Start an era from zero... Humming a line from one of his favorite hero songs, Hugo began to feel like himself again. Just then, Fee reached into his bag once more and held something out to him.