The entrance ceremony wrapped up without a hitch.
Even though I'd managed to mingle with the main cast, I was still just a background extra. In the world of this game, I wasn't the kind of person meant to stand in the spotlight. The class assignments and seating charts posted at the gym entrance proved as much.
The protagonist, Todoroki Rekka, was in Class A.
His rival, Hyouga Mikiya, was right next door in Class B.
The heroine, Saionji Momiji, was in Class A alongside the protagonist.
Then there was the girl who tried so hard to hide her crush on him-the devoted blonde twin-tail and childhood friend, Doumeki Misuzu. She was in Class B.
Misuzu-san was furious about being separated from the protagonist, so she made a point of marching over to his classroom every single break. To everyone else, her feelings were painfully obvious, but the protagonist was your classic "dense-as-a-brick" type. It was a total trope, but he genuinely didn't notice.
Honestly, that's what made him great. Between his looks and his genuinely kind nature, he was popular with everyone. Even the guys liked him because he was just that sort of person. He was frank and friendly with everyone, having almost no sense of personal space. Some might find it annoying, but Todoroki-kun's bottomless optimism could melt anyone's defenses. It was his greatest strength and his greatest flaw. I'll say it again: he's the best. I'm a total fan.
He and his rival, Hyouga-kun, were always bickering, but they both acknowledged each other's strength. There were so many scenes where they fought back-to-back. I heard that female players went wild for the CG illustration of them leveling their swords together. Well, even I shouted "Hell yeah!" in real life when I saw it.
If you played through Saionji's route, Misuzu-san would gracefully bow out. It wasn't because she thought she couldn't win; she stepped aside because she saw that Rekka-kun had found true love. It was a bittersweet route that made players love Misuzu-san even more. Saionji-san carried her own darkness, too-the kind that really brings the waterworks. There was a reason she stubbornly refused to let him call her by her first name. That secret only came out in the latter half of her specific route. Her soul was tethered to the Demon King; you couldn't get through her story without crying.
The main cast was just so intense in every route. They made you cry and root for them all! When I played the game, I was usually seeing things from Todoroki-kun's perspective, so I guess he became one of my favorites too. I wasn't the type to project myself onto the lead; I just enjoyed him as a character.
...Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. My assignment was Class E.
Typical for a background extra¹.
There were six classes, A through F. Even though there would be class competitions and individual matches coming up, the "sub-characters" in this school were also incredibly strong. It meant the Hero's class wouldn't have an easy victory-that was the kicker. By the way, Class A wasn't necessarily the "strongest." Assignments were supposed to be completely random. At least, that was the official story.
I looked around Class E and spotted several characters with high user-usage rates, including the girl known as the strongest sub-character: Sword Saint² Liesha Edelheit. I was student number six, seated right by the back door. The "S-row"³ names usually ended up in a spot like this.
So, the plan was to stay away from the main cast and watch over them from the shadows like a proper extra. I was just mentally recommitting to my "mob" lifestyle when it happened.
"No way! You're the Reo who put his body on the line to save Misuzu?! Damn, man! You're amazing, Reo! That's not something just anyone can do!" Todoroki-kun said.
"Seriously. I'm really grateful, Reo-kun!" Misuzu-san added.
"Hmph... This is Reo we're talking about. He could read the flow of my magic during the exam. It's only natural," Hyouga-kun muttered.
"Oh? It seems Hyouga-kun also holds Reo-san in high regard?" Saionji-san asked.
"Tch! W-well, for the time being," Hyouga-kun replied.
"Whoa! Is Mikiya actually blushing!?" Todoroki-kun asked.
"He totally is! That's a first!" Misuzu-san laughed.
"Shut up, both of you!!" Hyouga-kun barked.
Why were they all crowding around my desk every single break? This was not what I expected! I could hear my heart hammering against my ribs. Thump-thump-thump. Why was it so loud?
"Huh? Reo-kun, your face is beet red. Are you okay?" Misuzu-san asked.
"Gah-!?"
Misuzu-san suddenly pressed her hand to my forehead. A weird sound escaped my throat-was I some kind of maiden!?
"Whoa, you're burning up! Reo-kun, are you alright!?" Misuzu-san cried.
"Operator? This is Saionji Momiji. Please dispatch an intensive care unit to my location immediately," Saionji-san said into her phone.
"Wait, are you serious?! Mikiya, can you make some ice!?" Todoroki-kun shouted.
"Leave it to me. Light Ice⁴. Reo, hold this to your forehead!" Hyouga-kun said.
"Th-thanks! Agh, that's freezing! And Saionji-san, put the phone down! I'm fine, really!" I yelled.
"A-Are you sure? It might be better to be examined... My family's private physician is on standby. He is quite skilled, I assure you," Saionji-san said.
"I'm fine, really!" I insisted.
"Well, if you say so..." Saionji-san murmured desuwa.
Seriously, why was everyone being so kind to a background character like me? It was bizarre. What kind of good deeds did I do in my past life?
"I'm so happy I could die..." I whispered.
"What are you even saying, Reo-kun?" Misuzu-san asked.
"Hmph..." Hyouga-kun scoffed.
"Ahaha! Reo, you're making a hilarious face!" Todoroki-kun laughed.
"Perhaps we should call that doctor..." Saionji-san noted.
"Wait! Please, anything but the doctor...!" I begged.
I was so happy I almost forgot my role, but I couldn't let that happen. This was a school for fighting demons. A school of war. I had to remember that a mere extra like me didn't have the power to stand on the same stage as the heroes.
Summary:
Reo reflects on the game's class assignments, noting he is in Class E while the heroes are in A and B. Despite his plan to stay a 'mob,' the Hero's Party aggressively seeks him out during breaks to thank him for saving Misuzu. The chapter ends with the group fussing over Reo's health after he becomes overwhelmed by their attention.
Trivia:
- Reo's seat is student number six, specifically by the back door.
- Saionji's soul is tethered to the Demon King.
- Liesha Edelheit is in the same class (E) as Reo.
- Hyouga Mikiya has ice-based magic and can perceive magic flow
Character Insight:
Reo's internal fanboying highlights his detachment from the world as a 'participant' and his deep attachment as a 'fan.' Meanwhile, the Hero's Party shows unexpected loyalty to him, showing they view him as a comrade already.
Behind the Scenes:
The author notes a name change for Liesha from 'Valentine' to 'Edelheit' in the revised text.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ Mob (モブ): Short for 'mobile object,' a Japanese slang term for background or NPC-like characters in fiction.
2 ↩ Sword Saint (剣聖): A prestigious title for the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
3 ↩ S-row: Refers to the Japanese syllabary (Gojuon) where names starting with Sa, Shi, Su, Se, So (like Sato) are grouped.
4 ↩ Light Ice: A specific tier or type of cryomancy magic in the game's system.
Notes:
• Todoroki Rekka - Red-haired 'Brave Fantasy' true protag—hot-blooded, friendly Class A golden boy with sky-high phys/magic stats, 'Child Prodigy of East Middle.' Big Four member, body reinforcement magic ace, calls Reo 'buddy,' zero chill on personal space, popular frank dude with bottomless optimism.
• Hyouga Mikiya - The protagonist's rival known as the 'Ice King of Kitachu.' He has the ability to manipulate ice with extreme precision. Member of the 'Big Four'. A student in Class B. He can use 'Light Ice' magic. He has a prickly exterior but acknowledges the strength of others.
• Saionji Momiji - Refined polite 'little lady' with long green hair and model figure—'Brave Fantasy' main heroine, Saionji Group heir, 'Princess of West Middle' in Class A. Big Four member at Valhalla academy, EX-rank magic capacity, Demon King soul tether, rich enough for a private doc on speed dial.
• Doumeki Misuzu - Blonde twin-tail main heroine and childhood friend of the game's protag, reppin' the 'Big Four' crew in Class B—classic LN childhood bestie with that iconic twintail bounce, ready for some feel-good romcom hijinks.
• Liesha Edelheit - A student in Class E. Known as the 'Sword Saint' and the strongest sub-character. A young girl with S-rank strength and speed. She was saved by Todo Seiya in the past and blamed herself for his injury. She approaches Reo at the end of the chapter.
• Reo - Reincarnated HS dude who grinded 'Brave Fantasy' 100+ times, now a bland mob in the game world—black hair, Class E #6 by the back door, F-rank stats but plot meta-knowledge + magic flow reading to sideline-support heroes. Lil' bro to Saki & Taku, survives as background bro.