The entrance examination results would not be announced until the following day, so the candidates were assigned temporary dormitories according to social status.
I was currently walking toward the dormitory district with Seren.
We were merely crossing the campus, yet every student and staff member who passed turned to stare at us.
The attention was not because we were direct descendants of the prestigious House Astraea.
“Um…… Sister?”
“What is it?”
“This position is rather embarrassing.”
It was because Seren was carrying me in her arms like a princess.
Every person along the road watched us with a mixture of shock and horror.
Even for siblings, it was understandable that they would be stunned to see her carrying me like a baby in full public view.
Seren ignored every stare and smiled sweetly.
“Is that so? Would you rather I drive you into the ground, just like you drove your sister’s honor into it?”
“No. I love this position. I would be perfectly happy to remain like this for the rest of my life.”
“I knew you would.”
The situation made me want to sigh, but I should consider myself fortunate.
Her expectations of me might have been unfairly high, but at least she had not suspected that I was someone other than her brother.
Even so, being carried like a princess by a woman was too much! I could feel my dignity as a man eroding in real time!
I searched for a way to escape.
“Am I not heavy? I weigh quite a bit.”
Exactly. Seren was a mage, and a man’s body should be too much for a woman who was not a knight to carry comfortably.
She answered with a radiant smile.
“It’s fine. I train regularly so I’ll always be able to carry my adorable little brother. Besides, one hundred seventy-seven centimeters and sixty-three kilograms isn’t particularly heavy.”
Why did this obsessive sister know another person’s physical measurements by heart?!
Seren’s eyes curved with delight.
“You could close your eyes. Then at least you’ll look like a patient.”
She clearly had no intention of putting me down.
Fine. I gave up.
It was not as if I had a better idea.
And the situation was not entirely bad. My embarrassment aside, even if I secretly caused a large-scale incident later, nobody would suspect me.
Who would suspect the student who ranked last in the entire school?
I would have to be satisfied with that……
***
After Van Astraea’s turn ended, the examination hall descended into chaos.
For some reason, the test stone had stopped recording damage.
The examination resumed only after the staff hurriedly replaced it, while Hazen—who had watched Van’s test from nearby—was entrusted with inspecting the malfunctioning stone.
The moment he tapped it in an empty classroom, its surface fragmented and collapsed like onion skin.
Snow-white powder poured from within.
“What in the world……”
Upon inspection, the shattered surface still retained its original hardness.
That meant Van’s magic had passed through the outer shell and pulverized only the interior with perfect precision.
The test stone had recorded such a low score despite taking a devastating attack because it stored damage only at its surface.
‘Could the mana he used while envisioning the result have done this by itself……?’
Had he properly activated the spell, the resulting blaze could easily have swallowed and melted the entire examination hall.
With that much power, even a glancing blow would have earned the highest possible score.
Then why had he deliberately used 【Tracing Fire】?
‘Was he intentionally concealing his ability?’
He possessed so much power that it could not be hidden even when he tried. The boy was a monster.
Hazen’s gaze deepened.
Perhaps Van Astraea was more than an ordinary scoundrel.
Only then did Hazen understand why Seren doted upon her brother.
‘With talent like this, she would protect him no matter how rotten his personality was.’
His conclusion was incorrect, of course.
Whether it was right or wrong mattered little to Hazen. He was simply looking forward to the incidents the boy would create in the future.
Hazen could never resist an intriguing possibility. That habit was what had turned the once-wandering man into a professor.
‘I’ll need to write another incident report if I want to conceal this.’
The report itself was not important.
What he truly needed was a bottle of premium liquor capable of persuading an old friend.
***
Iris Academy’s dormitory district contained three residences: Sinion Hall, Tatia Hall, and Iris Hall.
In keeping with the academy’s ideals of merit and equality, students received better accommodations according to their grades.
Sinion Hall housed the greatest number of students, but contained no special facilities.
Tatia Hall accommodated roughly the same number, yet was larger because it included amenities such as an underground sparring hall and a small workshop.
Iris Hall held only half as many students as the others, but exceeded Tatia Hall in size and offered private maids and luxurious facilities.
I had no idea what would happen tomorrow, but until the examination results were released, my status as the child of a high-ranking noble placed me in Iris Hall.
The maids repeatedly tried to stop Seren as we made our way to my temporary room, but she stubbornly carried me all the way inside before finally setting me down.
“You understand now, don’t you? I hope you won’t disappoint your sister again.”
Her words were stern, but her expression was far too bright and satisfied.
“You didn’t merely pretend to be angry so you could indulge yourself, did you?”
“Haha. You really are my little brother. Such remarkable insight.”
No. I thought anyone could have seen through something that obvious.
“It was also punishment for my cheeky little brother pretending to be weak.”
It had not been intentional, but there was no point arguing.
Seren walked past me into the center of the room, and I followed.
Just as it had appeared in the game, the room was spacious enough to run around in even after all the essential furniture had been placed.
All it needed was a computer.
A desk integrated with a set of drawers stood in one corner. Its shelves were already filled with pristine textbooks and reference books.
Opposite it was a wardrobe, and between them rested a large, antique bed.
Seren drew a deep breath, threw herself onto the bed, and sprawled across it.
“Mmm! What a wonderful bed.”
She already had one in her own room, yet she kicked her feet in delight.
Her skirt fluttered with every movement, so I closed my eyes.
“Sister. You are aware that you’re wearing a skirt, correct?”
“What does it matter? We’re siblings.”
I’m not Van! And even real siblings would complain!
When I continued to keep my eyes shut, Seren clicked her tongue and sat up.
She suddenly seized my cheeks and stretched them.
“Your sister should leave now. If I rest any longer, I’ll be scolded.”
“Guhbye, Shishter. (Goodbye, Sister.)”
Seren burst out laughing.
If you have enjoyed yourself, would you kindly release my face?
Then, as if remembering something, she searched an inner pocket and handed me a small bundle.
“Albert asked me to give this to you. He said it contains everything you’ll need for now.”
The bundle was a Subspace Pouch!
It was only a low-grade model with limited capacity, but its interior was large enough to hold an entire wardrobe.
More importantly, this was still the beginning of the game.
A Subspace Pouch this early? What an absurdly privileged extra!
If one had to live like a scoundrel, it was clearly best to do so in a prestigious family.
I wanted to inspect the contents immediately, but Seren was still present, so I restrained myself.
“And as always, keep the fact that Albert gave it to you a secret. If Father hears about this, I’ll be in trouble too.”
Because Van’s misconduct had driven the family head to cut off all support, Albert had apparently been helping him in secret.
When I nodded, Seren waved goodbye and left the room.
Only after her footsteps had faded did I release my tension and collapse onto the bed.
“Ugh……”
Blankets woven from expensive fabric wrapped softly around me. Their faint coolness felt wonderful.
The sun had only just begun to set, yet I was already exhausted. Seren seemed to have drained every drop of energy from me.
Perhaps I should inspect my gains to restore my spirits.
Humming, I opened the Subspace Pouch. It contained gold coins, a wand of respectable quality, and an assortment of daily necessities.
Albert’s concern that I would struggle to live alone was evident in every item.
There was nothing valuable enough to overturn the balance of the game, but I now possessed the materials and funds needed for my immediate plans.
I carried the pouch to the desk and sat down.
Spell Breaker had a crafting system.
With the right materials, the player could create items, though not weapons or armor.
In other words, only utility items such as low-grade potions, disposable Magic Stones, and poor-quality clothes could be made.
I intended to create a disguise that I could use for some time.
It would be inadequate for direct combat, but perfect for moving unseen.
When I prepared to begin, a system window listing the available crafting options appeared before me just as it had in the game.
【Workbench】【Crafting: Level 1】
【Enchanting】
【Dismantling】
【Armor Crafting】
【Patched Top】
【Patched Bottom】
【Consumable Crafting】
It was convenient that the system still functioned exactly like the game.
I had worried that I would need to make everything entirely by hand.
Let’s see. I needed the complete patched clothing set.
The required material was cloth scraps. I had none at the moment, but I did have clothes made of cloth.
I pulled several dark outfits from the Subspace Pouch.
Albert had prepared them for me, but even if I tore them apart, I would ultimately be the one using the result.
I selected Dismantling and placed three outfits into the target slots.
A desk drawer suddenly opened. A pair of scissors flew out and settled into my hand.
So this was how the game’s habit of automatically supplying the required tool manifested in reality.
After I finished dismantling the clothes and released the scissors, they returned to the drawer on their own.
【Dismantling complete! Obtained 15 Black Cloth Scraps. Obtained 3 Cut-Up Outfits.】
【Great Success! Additional crafting experience acquired.】
Oh. I had triggered the rare Great Success result.
It almost never appeared at this level. I was unusually lucky today.
Now that I had the scraps, it was time to craft.
When I selected Patched Top, several design options appeared. I chose a hooded version.
Thread and a needle emerged from the drawer, followed by a set of crafting guidelines in the air.
I selected black thread and began stitching seven cloth scraps together. The top was complete in moments.
【Crafting complete! Obtained Patched Top (Black).】
【Great Success! An additional effect has been granted.】
【Equipment】
【Patched Top (Black)】
【Grade: Normal】
【Category: Top】
【Description: Its use of high-quality fabric makes it more durable than an ordinary patched top. Excellent craftsmanship has reduced the probability of the wearer’s identity being discovered.】
What was this? Had today secretly been my birthday? Two Great Successes in succession?
It was slightly disappointing for such luck to attach itself to equipment of the lowest grade, but the result was rare enough to leave me pleased.
Riding the momentum, I crafted the bottom as well.
【Crafting complete! Obtained Patched Bottom (Black).】
【Great Success! An additional effect has been granted.】
Another Great Success.
Two in succession occasionally happened.
Three did not.
Across countless playthroughs, I had never experienced this situation even once.
Could it be connected to my transmigration?
Was all the corresponding misfortune going to strike me at once later?
I had no idea. I would worry about the future when it arrived.
In any event, the careful stitching made the clothes look nothing like a collection of patches.
In the mirror stood Van Astraea: a handsome young man with a mild impression.
Black clothes covered him from head to toe. Even beneath the deeply pulled hood, a few locks of black hair escaped.
I wanted to deny it, but anyone would have mistaken me for a terminal sufferer of eighth-grader syndrome.
Suppressing the creeping shame, I tested the description’s claim that my identity would be more difficult to recognize.
Nothing felt different at close range. But as I stepped away from the mirror, my face became strangely difficult to perceive at a distance of about ten paces.
In the game, it had always looked as though the characters were deliberately pretending not to know the protagonist. With an effect like this, their confusion was believable.
For additional security, I cut two holes into the remaining cloth scrap and fashioned it into a mask.
Even if someone saw my face, they would struggle to identify me now. Unfortunately, my reflection looked even more painfully theatrical.
Then again, the longer I stared, the cooler it began to seem……
Was it because the face underneath was handsome?
I pulled the hood low, clutched my right hand, and struck a pose.
“The Black Flame Dragon within my right hand is……!”
The gesture stirred memories from my younger years, but every memory suited to such a pose belonged to an unbearably embarrassing past.
As I confronted reality and writhed in shame, my stomach announced itself.
Grrrrrrumble……
Come to think of it, it was nearly dinnertime.
The timing was perfect. The person I had failed to meet earlier should be in the student dining hall around now.
***
I changed into my uniform and headed for the student dining hall, only to find an enormous crowd already gathered there.
Was I too late?
As I approached to assess the situation, I saw Reina hopping from side to side in an attempt to see over the people in front of her.
I called out to calm her.
“Reina.”
“Van, hello!”
“Are you trying to see what’s happening inside?”
She nodded.
“A huge crowd gathered, so I wondered what was going on.”
“They’re probably fighting before the results have even been announced. A commoner and a noble, most likely.”
Reina tilted her head.
“Didn’t you just arrive? How do you know?”
Ah, right. I had spoken without thinking.
“W-Well, when you live as a scoundrel, rumors tend to reach you quickly.”
“Oh! The Empire’s Greatest Scoundrel really is different!”
Fortunately, she did not dwell on it. I needed to watch my mouth next time.
“I’m going closer. Want to come?”
“Sure!”
I tried to take the lead and clear a path, but the crowd was packed too tightly.
One student scowled when I bumped into him. The moment he recognized me, however, he clicked his tongue and moved aside.
It was unpleasant, but convenient that people cleared the way on their own.
Once we had pushed sufficiently close, I heard two men arguing.
One sounded furious. The other remained perfectly calm.
“Apologize right now!”
“I see no reason why I should.”
I recognized both voices instantly.
When we moved closer, the two men came into view.
The noble student, Cain Tromer, possessed a naturally underhanded appearance. He shouted angrily,
“A mere commoner dared lecture a noble about honor! That is reason enough to apologize!”
The commoner opposite him had a cold face that matched his equally cold reply.
“Equality within Iris Academy is guaranteed by imperial decree. By invoking status here, are you announcing your intention to violate the law?”
“Ghk……!”
“Even to the eyes of a commoner, your conduct was profoundly divorced from honor. That is why I criticized it. If you can provide even one valid reason why I should apologize, I will kneel and beg your forgiveness here and now.”
That distinctive, chilly baritone belonged to the person I had come to meet.
The illegitimate son of the current Emperor, disguised as a commoner.
The protagonist of Spell Breaker.
Drener Azerum.