The World Begins to Shift

A Presence That Couldn’t Be Ignored

Claude had no intention of attracting more attention.

But fate—or perhaps this world itself—was determined to ruin his plans.

Two days had passed since his conversation with Evelyn, and while she hadn’t approached him again, her actions spoke louder than words.

She had acknowledged him.

And in the academy’s unspoken hierarchy, when someone as high up as Evelyn took an interest in you…

Others followed.

Which was why, at that very moment, Claude found himself standing in front of the Crown Prince of the Empire.

Leonhardt von Reinhardt.

The future ruler. The one who held absolute authority within the academy.

And the one who had no reason to call upon a background noble like Claude.

Yet here he was.

Summoned.

Standing in the prince’s private study, with no idea what was about to happen.

A Dangerous Conversation

The room was silent.

The Crown Prince sat in a high-backed chair, one leg crossed over the other, his expression unreadable.

His golden hair was immaculately styled, his uniform pristine, yet his presence carried an undeniable pressure.

He wasn’t just a student.

He was a ruler in the making.

“…Claude Arden,” Leonhardt finally spoke, his voice even. “You’re an interesting one.”

Claude kept his stance relaxed, though every instinct told him to be cautious.

“I wasn’t aware I had done anything of interest, Your Highness.”

Leonhardt smirked slightly. “That’s exactly why you’re interesting.”

He leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand.

“You don’t belong to any faction. You have no connections. Yet suddenly, Evelyn von Estera—one of the most perceptive people in this academy—acknowledges you.”

His gaze sharpened.

“Why?”

Claude met his stare evenly.

“I wouldn’t presume to understand Lady Estera’s thoughts.”

Leonhardt studied him for a moment before chuckling.

“A careful answer. Not bad.”

He leaned back in his chair, seemingly amused.

“I don’t trust people who appear out of nowhere, Claude. And you… you’re an anomaly.”

Claude’s fingers twitched slightly at the word.

Anomaly.

He had suspected it before. Now, hearing it directly from the Crown Prince himself…

This world truly wasn’t prepared for his existence.

Leonhardt’s golden eyes glinted.

“I wonder… are you worth keeping an eye on?”

Claude knew this was a test.

The wrong response could make him a target.

So he did the only thing he could.

He smiled.

“I’d rather not trouble Your Highness with something so trivial.”

Leonhardt chuckled again, shaking his head, then, his expression grew serious.

“I’ll be watching you, Claude Arden.”

Claude bowed slightly, keeping his face neutral.

So much for staying invisible.

Chance Encounter

Claude left the Crown Prince’s study with a calm expression, but his mind was anything but that.

Evelyn. Leonhardt.

Two of the most important figures in the academy had now taken an interest in him.

Not good.

This world was already unstable because of his existence—but now, he was actively influencing it.

And the more attention he drew, the more unpredictable things would become.

Lost in thought, he almost didn’t notice when someone barreled into him at full speed.

A small girl with fiery red hair and bright golden eyes crashed into him, nearly knocking herself over in the process.

“—Oof!”

Claude barely managed to catch her before she could hit the ground.

The girl looked up at him, blinking rapidly. Then—

“Ah! I’m sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going!”

She straightened quickly, brushing off her uniform.

Claude blinked. This girl… wasn’t in the game.

She wasn’t one of the key players.

Then who—

“Oh no, wait—where is it?!” The girl suddenly started frantically searching the ground, muttering to herself.

Claude glanced down. A leather notebook had fallen near his feet.

He picked it up. “This?”

The girl gasped. “Yes! Thank you!” She grabbed it from his hands and hugged it like it was her most precious possession.

Claude studied her.

She was… different.

Not like Evelyn, who was controlled and poised.

Not like Leonhardt, who was sharp and calculating.

She was pure energy, overflowing with unrestrained emotion.

And then, just as he thought that—

She froze.

Her eyes snapped back to Claude’s, widening in horror.

“…Wait. Oh no.”

Claude raised an eyebrow. “Something wrong?”

She gulped.

“You’re Claude Arden, aren’t you?”

A Reputation That Was Growing Too Fast

Claude sighed. “What have you heard?”

The girl hesitated, then waved her hands frantically. “N-No, it’s not anything bad! Just that Lady Estera acknowledged you, and then the Crown Prince suddenly summoned you, and now people are saying you’re secretly some hidden noble with a powerful backer or maybe an exiled prince or—”

“…They really came up with all that in just two days?”

The girl nodded rapidly. “Yep. Nobles are excellent at making up rumors.”

Claude exhaled.

Fantastic.

He had wanted to avoid attention, yet somehow the student body had turned him into a walking mystery.

The girl suddenly realized something and brightened.

“Oh! I forgot to introduce myself! I’m Lilia Hawthorne! First-year! I, um… I do a lot of research, so I hear things.”

Claude’s brain paused.

Lilia Hawthorne?

…That name was in the game.

But she wasn’t a noble. She wasn’t even a side character.

She was a background student who only appeared in passing dialogue.

Yet now, she was standing right in front of him, completely different from how the game described her.

More proof that his presence was altering things.

Still, if she wasn’t part of the main cast, that meant—

“Oh! I have to go! The librarian will kill me if I’m late again!”

She sprinted off before he could respond, her red hair bouncing behind her.

Claude stared after her, then sighed.

“…I have a bad feeling about this.”