{Eren Brown's POV}
I opened my eyes in the same room I had slept in, and you could say I hadn't been dreaming.
Why do I say that? Because I had been having nightmares in recent days…
About the death of my parents and everyone I know.
Normally, I wouldn't care about such things, but my intuition tells me that I've forgotten something very important—something that will affect everything.
"There's no use crying over something that hasn't happened and won't happen."
I muttered as I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash my face and prepare for the day.
I didn't go to morning training because I wanted to be at my best. Who goes to the academy on the first day looking exhausted? Not me.
"But I know who will."
After putting on the academy uniform that was in my closet—
Which could be described as a black shirt and black pants, with the sun emblem appearing over the heart.
The sun emblem clearly signifies the Sun Academy.
After making sure everything was fine and admiring my appearance a little—don't call me narcissistic; I was ugly, very ugly, in my previous world.
And since beauty standards have risen with the emergence of mana…
If I went out like this in my world, people would think I was a famous actor or a fashion model.
But here, I am average at best.
"All right, everything's fine."
I muttered as I left my room and headed to my class—and yes, you can guess…
I'm in the same class as the protagonists.
I mean, out of forty first-year classes, fate decided that eight of the top ten students would be in one class.
You could say this is just bad writing and nothing more.
At least give a reason, man.
I approached the first-year classrooms and saw a sign from afar that read:
"Class VII"
This is my class—and the class of the protagonists, where most of the events of the first arc of this novel take place. Let's hope things don't go badly.
I entered the classroom and was immediately greeted by a hall that looked like ordinary classrooms in my world, except that it was huge. It's true that students sit close to each other in theoretical classes, but if there is a class for, say, chemical experiments, the hall expands to provide space for everyone.
"Technology and what it does."
No—this time, it was magic.
I immediately began looking for a seat far from the main cast so I could begin executing my plan. It's worth noting that I arrived early; no one had arrived yet.
"Here."
I found a suitable seat for an extra like me—not too close and not too far, in the middle of the class, slightly to the right.
Of course, I didn't choose the famous protagonist's seat by the window.
I sat down and began waiting. I didn't wait long before most of the students arrived, and from my seat I could see the main cast. Let me say this—their looks are truly impressive. Now I can be sure: I really am average.
I started observing them and trying to match their appearances with what I remembered.
Then the teacher entered the classroom—and let me say, she looked exactly as described in the novel.
Long red hair reaching the middle of her back, a body that could only be described as perfect, with everything in the right proportions, and ruby-red eyes that felt as though they could ensnare you.
She looked at the class and began speaking:
"Welcome, everyone. I am Scarlett Jones, an S-rank hero, ranked 67 in the current hero rankings. I will be your teacher for this class for the next three years. I hope we can work well together."
She said this with a serious expression that never left her gaze.
"Did you hear that? She's ranked 67."
"Man, she's really beautiful."
I began hearing whispers from here and there, and honestly, I don't blame them. I mean, she's truly perfect.
"I will start calling your names. When you hear your name, respond."
"Rank one: Ren Foster."
"Here."
A young man with dark blue hair and red eyes raised his hand. Everyone looked at him in astonishment—not suspicion, but amazement at realizing that the top-ranked student was sitting in the same class as them.
Yes, this was the protagonist of the first novel and one of the strongest characters in the future.
He was one of my favorite characters in this world. Who doesn't love the ideal hero who sees good in everything, while still maintaining a drive for revenge against the demons who killed his parents?
"Rank two: Lucas Silver."
"Here."
A handsome young man with blond hair and dark red eyes raised his hand, and it seemed the girls were affected by him.
This is the author—you could say the protagonist of the second novel—who entered this world and is trying to return to his own. You could say his personality is a bit tragic; he tries not to get attached to anything or anyone in this world, but he failed miserably.
"Rank four: Selena Hall."
"Here."
A girl with green hair, red eyes, and a slightly small but beautiful body spoke. She was wearing glasses.
Selena Hall, the first heroine and one of the best supporting characters in this novel. She specializes in science, potions, and magic. Yes, magic—you could say she is the best mage in this class… before my arrival, of course.
"Rank six: Mai Fuji."
A girl with black hair and crystal-blue eyes raised her hand.
Yes, this is my childhood friend, Mai Fuji, who has the smallest role among the main protagonists. You could say she is their friend at best, as she was busy with her organization's missions for most of the novel.
A cursed organization, indeed. Hah.
"Rank seven: Ryan Veer."
"Here."
A young man with black hair and black eyes raised his hand. He looked somewhat handsome, with an arrogant smile on his face.
Well, you could say he is one of the protagonists' friends—but not from the beginning. That only happens after a certain event, when Lucas beats him severely, snapping him out of his arrogance and making him focus on gaining power.
Ironically, in Ren's novel, it was Lucas who beat him—ordinary Lucas, not the author. And in Lucas the author's novel, it was Ren who did it.
A strange but truly entertaining paradox.
Most of the main cast had been mentioned, and the names I didn't recognize followed, until they reached mine.
"Rank 240: Eren Brown."
"Here."
I raised my hand with a neutral expression. You could say my ranking in the class is fairly average. If the class were arranged according to the ranks assigned by the academy, I would be around twentieth place, out of forty students.
"Perfectly average."
I muttered, feeling happy that my plan would likely succeed.
After that, the teacher mentioned the remaining names in the class, which I honestly wasn't interested in.
"All right, now that we've finished with your names, I can—"
Teacher Scarlett said, her expression turning into a wide smile.
"Damn it."
I had completely forgotten this scene. It seems things won't go as I planned.
"Your test."
As soon as she said that, a powerful pressure descended, causing most of the class to collapse immediately, while the rest struggled to remain standing.
"Well, well, it seems I have good students this year."
As soon as she said that, the pressure increased again, and the remaining students fell. Only two students remained standing.
The first was Ren Foster—which was almost expected. The teacher didn't even focus on him much. Don't misunderstand me; in the novel, he was the only one standing and received all the attention.
And you can guess who the second one was.
Yes, the second student was me. I didn't remember this scene clearly, and you could say it makes all my plans for hiding go down the drain. I had now become the center of the class's attention.
How did I know? Well, I noticed several pairs of eyes staring at me in shock—but that wasn't what worried me.
What worried me were two specific pairs of eyes fixed on me. The first belonged to the teacher, her smile like that of a predator who had found its prey.
The second belonged to Lucas, shock clearly written on his face.
Why didn't I fall? Well, I have some excellent passive skills that I can't control at will.
Dragon Presence—and when combined with the Reader's Mind, it becomes an unbeatable combination against mental attacks.
It seems my plans failed before they even began.