The carriage came to a halt, and I stepped out onto the cobblestones.
Before me, the majestic silhouette of Arcana Academia stretched across the horizon. Between the massive main gates, the magnificent sprawl of the campus buildings, and the sea of noble students milling about, something pulsed violently deep in my chest.
I had finally made it.
This was the main stage of the original game, Arcana Academia.
To be honest, as someone who knew exactly how the original Albert’s story ended, it wasn't exactly a place that inspired comfort. But as a fan of the source material, I couldn't help but feel a certain sense of awe. Anyone would be thrilled to step into the world of a beloved game they had dedicated a significant portion of their life to.
And my excitement didn't stop at mere nostalgia.
Tons of literature on Ancient Magic supposedly lay slumbering within this Academy. The Forbidden Library, the Old Archive, the Underground Storage... the very locations I had explored countless times on a screen were now real, physical places standing right before my eyes.
I intended to investigate every single one of them.
The craving gnawed at me. As a gamer, "completion" was the ultimate joy. I mean, who doesn't want to catch 'em all?
Wearing a defiant, fearless smile, I stepped through the gates.
Arcana Academia was a fully residential institution, and I was assigned a private room in the dormitories. To be honest, it was a bit cramped compared to my suite at the ducal estate, but I wasn't complaining. In my previous life, I’d lived in a tiny one-room studio. I was more than used to living small.
The following day, the entrance ceremony commenced.
Dozens of new students gathered in the vast assembly hall. While the student body was primarily composed of those with noble blood, a few commoners deemed to have "potential" were also permitted to enroll.
The faculty, led by the Academy Director, stood in a solemn line upon the stage. After the Director’s opening remarks concluded, it was time for the student representative’s address.
The person who stepped up to the podium was none other than her.
"Everyone, congratulations on your enrollment in this glorious Kingdom Magic Academy today. Representing the new students, I, Eliana von Artoria, would like to offer a few words of greeting."
With her shimmering golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and the regal poise expected of royalty, it was Princess Eliana.
As I looked up at her from the crowd, I quietly appraised her in my mind. I hadn't seen her since her social debut a year ago. Even though only a year had passed, the difference a single year makes during a growth spurt is massive—especially for young women. Princess Eliana was no exception; her beauty had become even more refined and sharp.
Her voice was dignified, resonating clearly through the entire hall. She was the perfect image of a model royal. It was no wonder the other freshmen were enchanted. The male students, in particular, looked completely lovestruck.
"Her Royal Highness is so beautiful..."
"To think someone like her is our classmate."
"I wonder if I’ve got a shot..."
Of course, my strategy was the exact opposite.
My plan was to maintain as much distance as possible from anyone involved in my death flags—not just Princess Eliana, but Hero Leon and his entire social circle.
Hero Leon... he had to be somewhere in this crowd. Then there was Princess Silvia of the Duchy of Osterreich, and Luna, the Commoner Scholarship Student. By getting tangled up with them, the story would progress, and I would be dead by Chapter 2.
I needed to keep my head down and stay out of sight. Just pretend I don’t exist, okay?
Once the ceremony concluded, we moved to the venue for the New Student Welcome Party. The hall was adorned with lavish decorations, and the tables were lined with an array of gourmet dishes. It was a buffet-style setup, clearly intended to encourage networking.
The relationships formed at this Academy would last long after graduation. Among the nobility, where the class system was rigid, it was usually difficult to socialize across ranks, but the Academy was the exception to the rule.
The lower-ranked nobles wanted to form connections with their superiors. The higher-ranked nobles wanted to scout subordinates they could truly trust. It was a party fueled by intersecting ulterior motives.
Normally, as the heir to a ducal house, people should have been swarming around me.
But they weren't. Not a soul approached me.
While the other freshmen were chatting happily and forming friend groups, a void of several meters had formed around me alone. Albert of the prestigious House Kronstadt was a total loner at a party where high-ranking nobles were supposed to be the center of attention.
Instead of greetings, I was met with thorny glares and hushed whispers.
"...Hey, that's the notorious heir of House Kronstadt."
"Seriously? I heard he’s bad news."
"I'm definitely not going near him..."
"I heard rumors from the maids who quit his estate. Apparently, they were treated horribly."
They gossiped like cowards. When I sent a sharp glance their way, they hurriedly shut their mouths and scurried off to a different part of the room.
Good grief, my reputation was truly in the gutter.
Technically, it wasn't my fault, but the fault of the "Albert" who existed before I was reincarnated. Since I had spent my time as a shut-in after regaining my memories, it was only natural that the rumors had stagnated at his worst behavior.
Because I had stopped mistreating the staff after taking over, no more maids were quitting, which meant there was no one to go outside and spread word that "Young Master Albert is actually wonderful now." The old, negative evaluations from the girls who quit years ago had simply taken on a life of their own.
Hah. Well, that suited me just fine.
I felt a little guilty toward my father, who wanted nothing more than for House Kronstadt to thrive, but I had no interest in social climbing. My policy was simple: survive and master Ancient Magic. Friendships were nothing but a distraction. In fact, it was actually better if they hated me; it gave me the freedom to act however I pleased.
It was perfect.
Isolated from the crowd, with no one daring to approach—I could finally focus on my research.
...Actually, maybe I should deliver one final blow just to be sure.
I began to move. My destination? Princess Eliana.
I didn't even have to look for her; she was at the center of the largest crowd in the room.
Good grief, is she still here? If I recalled the game’s prologue correctly, she was supposed to slip out of the social gathering early to have her fated encounter with Hero Leon. She was one of the main heroines, after one.
I didn't know why she was running behind schedule, but this wouldn't do. The scenario needed to stay on track. I needed Eliana to hurry up and get cozy with that "sunlight" of a Hero. That way, she’d lose whatever lingering interest she had in me.
With that in mind, I shouted toward the crowd.
"Hey, move! You’re in the way! What, are you really that honored to be in the Princess's presence? Are you all that desperate to sell yourselves? You self-centered lot! Know your place!"
I threw the words out with an aggressive, biting tone. My conscience pricked me slightly, but it was surprisingly easy to do. All I had to do was unleash the "raw" Albert. Usually, I chose my words carefully, but if I just let my guard down, these kinds of insults tumbled out of my mouth effortlessly.
It was a very convenient function for being a jerk. Seriously, was the original Albert’s personality really this rotten?
The nobles swarming Eliana spun around to face me. Their eyes burned with the hostility of people who had just had their true motives called out.
The first to speak was Victor, whom I hadn't seen since that last disastrous party.
"Albert, you! Don't ruin the mood with your typical arrogance!"
"Aren't you lot the ones getting carried away?" I countered. "The Princess looks bored to tears."
"Such insolence! You’re just angry because you want to push your way to the front!"
"Hah? Please. Don't lump me in with a pack of dogs who only know how to wag their tails for a scrap of attention."
With that parting shot, I turned on my heel and walked briskly out of the hall.
Now that my bad reputation was fresh in everyone's minds, the crowd would likely disperse in shock, allowing Eliana the opening she needed to go find the Hero. This villainous act carried the risk of drawing more hate, but it was a necessary evil. After this, no one would want anything to do with me.
Consider this an investment. If you're going to make a scene, you might as well do it where it counts.
From here on out, I would spend my academy life fading into the background like a ghost.