Reborn As An Extra In My Own Novel-Chapter 34: Dramatic Weekend

The table reserved at the far end of the left wall had remained silent for quite some time, prompting occasional glances from others, as though they suspected we were in mourning.

’Why the hell is he even here?’

"Sir," I began in a hushed tone, "what are you doing here?" I asked Deerheart, who was seated to my right.

"Nothing much, Kaiser. I merely wished to see the two students of mine who went missing, that’s all," he replied, sipping from his milkshake, his ever-present smile unwavering.

It was profoundly unsettling to sit beside the very villain I had every intention of eliminating. Worst of all, his disturbingly cheerful expression never once faltered.

I was already drained before the conversation began.

"Hmm... You two may continue your discussion. Just pretend little old me isn’t even here."

I glanced at Deerheart, then at Amy, who was visibly irritated. "Sir, why exactly are you here? Don’t feed me that nonsense about stumbling upon Amy and deciding to chat with her," I said, my tone laced with subdued annoyance.

"Wow! How did you know? Are you sure you’re not telepathic, Kaiser?" Deerheart asked, visibly intrigued by me as though I were some peculiar specimen.

"..."

I let out a slow, theatrical sigh at his sarcastic remark.

Just as I was about to answer, the atmosphere shifted, became bleak. Amy and I simultaneously turned to Deerheart, who appeared oddly perturbed. His demeanor changed abruptly as his smile gave way to a stern frown.

"I shall be taking my leave," he muttered, rising without further notice.

A few steps away from our table, he turned one last time, forcing a faint smile. "If you encounter any issues, consult me, alright?"

I gave a slight nod as he exited the mall, now leaving only Amy and me.

’Another alteration in the plot,’ I mused, my expression briefly darkening.

I had already anticipated significant changes after manipulating so much of the storyline: Alyan’s arrest, earning the teachers’ recognition, and more.

But at the current rate, the entire Deerheart arc might be either skipped or unnecessarily extended, and that was something I could not afford.

It was already problematic that Matthew had done absolutely nothing since our arrival at the academy, and to have his first major arc vanish? That wouldn’t merely alter the plot. It would devastate it.

Perhaps I was overanalyzing. Perhaps not.

It wasn’t as though every major organization would suddenly cease their malevolent operations just because Matt didn’t fight Deerheart. Yet, being confined to the academy meant the consequences would be unpleasant.

"Are you alright? You’ve been kind of distant all day."

I lifted my gaze to Amy, who looked genuinely concerned. Shoving aside the turmoil stirring in my mind, I offered a bright smile. "Yeah, I’m fine."

’Yeah, everything will be fine,’ I reassured myself.

"So... did you get the item?" I asked Amy, who was dressed in a long white gown.

She nodded, lifting a silver sniper kit. "Here you go," she said, sliding the box toward me. "Amy had to pull a lot of strings to acquire this," she added smugly.

I offered a faint smile at her remark, then opened the case slightly.

Inside was a long, black sniper rifle accompanied by two handguns. ’Perfect.’

As I examined the contents, Amy inquired, "If I may ask, what is Kai doing with a sniper? Don’t tell me you’re switching to firearms?"

I shook my head after a moment. "No. Let’s just say it’s for amusement."

Ever since acquiring infinite adaptability, I had been curious about its limits, whether I could replicate fighting techniques or talents.

But I hadn’t tried. Firstly, due to the stringent restrictions placed on students of Noctis. And more importantly, I had to brush with death to learn anything at all.

Then an idea occurred to me: virtual reality, something I’d invested countless hours into in THD.

Deadstar was the largest corporation in full-dive virtual reality, offering immersive games that felt indistinguishable from real life. Their latest game had a feature designed specifically for mages, allowing them to alter their appearances while retaining their innate talents.

That was also why I had asked Hari to procure a virtual pod for me, since my Bitcoin profits were due to arrive tomorrow.

Closing the box and placing it into the dimensional ring I received from Neko-sensei, I redirected my attention to Amy.

As soon as she noticed my focus return, she shifted her chair closer. "Do you want to switch classes?" Amy asked directly.

"What?"

"I mean, would you consider transferring to Amy’s class? You do realize that after this week, Noctis’ primary curriculum will begin. That’s when we’ll be selecting clubs and electives."

I nodded. "I’m aware. But any class can join any club or choose whichever electives they prefer, so I doubt that’s your real reason for asking."

Amy leaned back in her chair. "I suppose you’re right. But..." she continued, "each class in every academic year competes fiercely until graduation, and the upperclassmen certainly don’t make things easier."

I understood what she was implying. Though students were encouraged to behave amicably with one another, the intense rivalry ensured those superficial bonds rarely endured.

It was even more intense this year, with elite talents from across Meltonia converging, all vying for the top spot.

Graduating as a top student or from the leading class at Noctis practically guaranteed a life of luxury post-academy.

One would receive a furnished residence and the academy’s top performers were fast-tracked to the highest echelons of the mage world.

Every student, therefore, fought relentlessly to remain at the top. Plus, guilds had little interest in those from lower classes or without at least mid-tier rankings.

"Don’t worry, I’m not particularly interested in politics. If you want, we can join the same club," I assured her.

"Really? Amy is really happy..." she beamed, then added, "Why don’t we choose the same electives too?" she asked shyly.

I looked up from the coffee I was sipping. "Nah, your brain wouldn’t handle it."

She pouted, cheeks puffing as she averted her gaze. "Amy isn’t that stupid."

I nearly choked on my coffee. "The same Amy who didn’t even know what mana was?"

Her face flushed crimson with embarrassment. "Amy did know what mana was..." she fidgeted with her fingers. "Amy was just testing you. Yes, that’s right, Amy was testing you," she said, snapping her fingers.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. "It’s honestly entertaining teasing you."

"What?! What do you mean by that? Are you saying Amy is easy or something?" Her flustered attempt to compose herself was genuinely amusing.

With a few deep breaths, she gradually regained her composure. "Don’t do that," she pleaded.

"Alright, alright," I responded.

She looked at me, then abruptly stood as she glanced at the time on her watch. "Sorry, Kai. Amy has to leave to meet a friend."

I nodded. She offered her final words before leaving. "Okay, bye. Let’s meet again tomorrow."

Tomorrow was Monday, which meant school resumed.

I exhaled heavily, gazing at the wall. "Let’s take a short break."

I raised my arm and summoned my laptop. It was time to review the storyline and assess the extent of the changes.

As the laptop’s glow lit my face, I swiftly entered the password and positioned my body inconspicuously, given that I’d long since discovered no one but me could see this device.

REBORN AS AN EXTRA IN MY OWN NOVEL

Chapter 34: DRAMATIC WEEKEND

’Huh? What is "Dramatic Weekend" supposed to mean?’ I dismissed the ominous sensation creeping in. ’Let’s see.’

My fingers glided over the keys as I scrolled through the page.

From the look of things, Hari and the remaining first-years had gone on a trip that she herself proposed. ’And here I thought I was the only one altering the storyline.’

The news headlines read: Students of Noctis Save AZ Museum from Demonic Humans Attack.

The New Hero of the First Years: Cordelia Blackwood.

From my knowledge, the AZ Museum housed the molten stone Cordelia originally needed to obtain her gift.

I skimmed past the headlines, browsed through the Chapters that had unfolded in my absence, and eventually arrived at the segment I referred to as the Thought Section.

AMELIA REINHARDT IS THINKING ABOUT YOU DEEPLY.

CORDELIA BLACKWOOD AND ANICA ABRAHAM ARE FIGHTING IN YOUR ROOM.

PRINCESS FRIEREN HOHENZOLLERN IS FEELING REGRET FOR WHAT SHE DID TO YOU. HER ACTION HAS REDUCED HER CHANCES OF ASCENDING THE THRONE.

DEERHEART IS INTERESTED IN YOU.

NEKO-SENSEI IS BOASTING ABOUT YOU.

PROFESSOR KYLIE WANTS YOU. YOU ARE LIKE A DIAMOND IN HER EYES.

MATTHEW VON SILVER ACKNOWLEDGES YOUR STRENGTH.

MANY FEMALE STUDENTS ARE HARBOURING ROMANTIC FEELINGS TOWARDS YOU.

EDO IKENNA ACKNOWLEDGES YOU.

I inhaled deeply as I focused on the most significant lines.

"Haha, I hope you suffer in hell, Frieren," I whispered, a smile of dark satisfaction playing on my lips.

Except for the princess’s thoughts, the only things that struck me as strange were—

"Why the hell is Class B’s teacher interested in me?" I muttered, perplexed.

I knew she and Neko-sensei had been friends during their time at Noctis; not only that, they were also rivals.

But after Neko-sensei ascended to the peak of A-rank while she remained in B-rank, she couldn’t help but feel inferior.

That brought about her desire to cultivate a disciple who could rival Neko-sensei. It seemed I was one of the candidates.

Even though Kylie was a little eccentric and might come across as malevolent at times, she was, in fact, a kind person whose only aspiration was to be acknowledged, and not once did she stray toward the demonic path. She actually died protecting her students.

I shifted my gaze to the last few letters on the monitor. "Why is the prince of the Edo’s thinking of me?"

I sighed. It wasn’t the time to dwell on unnecessary thoughts; it was only natural for people to think of me after the stunt I pulled in the dungeon, especially since the students didn’t know exactly how I killed the Mollusk.

I closed the system, rose from the chair, and paid by simply placing my hand above a small screen on the table.

"Let’s go home before someone destroys my room." I folded my sleeves and left the mall, but before heading home, I had something to take care of first.