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.'

Sigh...

I'm currently riding in a carriage on my way to the academy.

Since the distance between the Astria dukedom and Liberion Academy is quite long, I have been sitting in the carriage for an extended period of time.

Fortunately, the carriage floor is lined with soft cushions, so it's not uncomfortable. I just feel a little stiff from sitting for so long.

"Young Master, we are approaching the academy."

At the coachman's words, I slightly open the window and see the majestic buildings outside.

The very same scene from the opening of the game, Liberion Academy, unfolds before my eyes.

The academy, reflecting the slowly rising sun, is enough to send shivers down my spine.

The game boasted an impressive view, but seeing it in person was a whole different experience.

Excitement makes my heart race. This is the only time I can afford to enjoy the scenery.

Once I enter the academy, I must focus solely on surviving.

There are two endings in the game where 'Rudy Astria' dies.

First, there's a story where he turns to the dark side, joining the villains.

Some might say that since 'Rudy Astria' is already a villain, this doesn't make sense.

However, it's a bit of a stretch to call him a complete villain in the initial story.

While players might label him as a 'villain' due to his condescending attitude towards the commoner protagonist, it's actually just the demeanor of a high-ranking noble.

It's difficult to call him a true 'evil' person. The story where he fully awakens as a genuine 'evil' character comes later in the game.

I must change that part somehow.

The second ending where 'Rudy Astria' dies isn't just his death; everyone in the academy dies.

It's a bad ending where the protagonist loses the final battle.

This ending is called the 'annihilation ending.' The biggest problem with this ending is that it's easier to trigger than one might think.

The game's title, 'The Academy's Top Wizard,' gives a clue.

If the protagonist fails to claim the top spot even once during any semester except the first, the bad ending occurs.

While part of the reason is that the commoner protagonist cannot afford tuition if his grades aren't good enough, there's a more important fact.

If he continuously fails to claim the top spot, he won't be able to reach the necessary specs to defeat the final boss.

However, the main problem for the protagonist to reach the endgame specs is me.

To steer this world towards the original happy ending, it's not only essential for the protagonist to maintain his top spot, but it's also crucial for me to keep my second-place position.

The rivalry between the protagonist and 'Rudy Astria' must continue so that the protagonist feels the desperate need for growth and strives to become stronger.

But there's a problem. While I am now 'Rudy Astria,' I am not the real 'Rudy Astria.' The magic genius 'Rudy Astria' doesn't exist.

That means I must study hard to maintain my second-place position.

I didn't even entertain the possibility that I might have a talent for magic and could surpass the protagonist to claim the top spot.

I must maintain the second seat... Being second place in a normal high school is not an easy feat, let alone here at Liberion Academy, the empire's elite academy.

I knew of several geniuses in the same grade, so it was doubtful whether I could maintain the second seat.

While I was pondering, the carriage entered the academy grounds. Inside the academy, there were numerous carriages and people bustling about.

Today was the entrance ceremony, so parents and acquaintances of students were present to watch. Of course, I only brought one knight with me.

It wasn't because I was frugal, but because I was an outcast in the eyes of the duke's family.

Rudy Astria, who had always felt inferior when compared to his older brother, led a miserable life in the family.

Though he was talented in magic, his abilities still paled in comparison to his brother. It wasn't that Rudy was severely lacking; it was that the eldest son of the Astria family was exceptionally gifted.

As a result, Rudy's parents had given up on him. They saw no reason to care for a son with a poor temperament and lacking skills, so they didn't even attend the entrance ceremony.

I considered bringing a maid, but it would be a hassle to bring one just to send her back after the ceremony.

A single knight was enough to protect me.

"Young Master, we have arrived."

Upon the coachman's words, the knight opened the carriage door for me.

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.

Enjoy the chappy!