Early morning, February 15, Holy Calendar 1016. Three years had passed since then, and I had turned fifteen. No, I had become fifteen. Very soon, the "Main Route" would begin to move. The scenario of the protagonist, by the protagonist, and for the protagonist was about to start.
"Whew..."
After washing my face in the luxurious washroom of the Heisenberg estate, I slapped my cheeks with both hands to psych myself up. It had been seven years since I was reincarnated into the world of Ronzolkia. To overcome the harsh "Hollow Route" and reach a happy survival ending, I had made careful preparations. I cast aside my innate laziness and arrogance, piling up effort with humility and steadiness.
"I'll be fine. I'll definitely be fine..." I muttered as if to convince myself, taking a deep breath to calm my surging emotions. (Still... he really looks like him. Well, he is him, I guess.)
Reflected in the washstand mirror directly in front of me was a splendidly grown Hollow von Heisenberg. I had dark crimson medium-length hair, with only the back grown long and lightly tied with a hair ribbon. Cold eyes that looked down on people, crimson pupils like jewels, and a well-shaped bridge of the nose-it was a face so well-formed it was almost hateful. By the way, my height had finally hit the 170 mark. My line of sight had gotten quite high, too. As I stared intently at myself in the mirror, the wall clock chimed.
"Ah, is it already that time?"
I returned to my room and quickly packed my things. "Exam ticket, check. Writing utensils, check. Sword, check-yeah, perfect." Today was the day of the entrance exam for the Redrick Magic Academy¹. In this Kingdom of Klein, there are three royal academies: Redrick Magic Academy, Bruchlin Swordsmanship Academy, and the Grisia Magic Sword Academy. The original protagonist attends Redrick, and so did the original Hollow. Following the script, I applied for Redrick as well.
(Well, honestly, I thought about it for a bit. A route where I go to a different school from the protagonist.)
The natural enemy of a villainous noble is the protagonist; knowing that, there was no need to intentionally get close to him. (But if I take an action far removed from the Main Route, I don't know what kind of crazy developments might happen...) If that happened, my overwhelming strength-my meta-knowledge of Ronzolkia-would become useless. Hollow von Heisenberg is an existence the world has given the middle finger. Even if I did nothing, just walking down the street, various kinds of death would come seeking me out. (A known death flag is far easier to deal with than an unknown one.) Therefore, I made the painful decision to attend the same school as the protagonist, just like the original story. Of course, I wasn't without a plan. I had already thought of the perfect anti-protagonist measure.
"-Olvin, I'm off," I said.
"Please be careful," Olvin replied.
I climbed into the luxurious Heisenberg carriage. Incidentally, my father and mother didn't come to see me off-or rather, they weren't even at the estate. Since the two of them were performing official duties in the Royal Capital, they had been away for a week. Once I settled into the seat, I signaled through the window, and the coachman started the horses. On the way to the academy, I looked out the window and pondered my future.
(For now, today should be fine. I won't encounter the protagonist during this entrance exam.)
What I should focus on now was carefully tracing the Main Route. The original Hollow took the first-ever perfect score since the school's founding and passed at the top of his class. In other words, I needed to get a perfect score and claim that top spot. That said, it wasn't that difficult. After all, I already knew the contents of this year's exam.
First was the written portion. Between having meta-knowledge and having scoured the books in the Forbidden Library, it was far too easy. (This'll do. No doubt about the perfect score.) Next was the practical exam: breaking through a forest where magical beasts had been released. If I used Void Crossing² to connect the entrance and exit, I could have cleared it instantly... but I wasn't going to do something so conspicuous. Having already studied the original work, I naturally knew the safe route where no beasts appeared. Relying on hazy memories, I followed the path and arrived at the destination faster than anyone else, unscathed.
A week later, while I was eating breakfast in my room, the maid Sisti-san entered. "Hollow-sama, a sealed letter has arrived from Redrick Magic Academy."
"Hmm..." I melted the wax seal with magic and took out the document.
Hollow von Heisenberg: Admission to Redrick Magic Academy is permitted. Furthermore, you have achieved a passing grade with a perfect score, a first since the school's founding. Your martial prowess and wisdom are fit to represent the incoming students; we would like you to deliver the greeting at the upcoming entrance ceremony.
"U-um... how was it?" Sisti-san asked timidly.
"Naturally, I passed," I said. I flicked the certificate with my finger, and it fluttered through the air, settling neatly into her hands.
"H-how amazing! To pass the prestigious Redrick Magic Academy at the top of the class... as expected of Hollow-sama!"
"You're exaggerating. This much is no big deal," I replied.
"Not at all! This is incredibly amazing! I think Hollow-sama should take more pride in his own power!"
"Heh, thank you," I said.
"No, I merely stated a proper opinion," Sisti-san replied.
After seven years of hardship, I'd reached the point where I wasn't surprised when I thanked a maid. (It was long, it really was long getting here...) A storm of emotion and fulfillment raged in my chest. If a subordinate's favorability falls below a certain value, you enter the "Rebellion End."
That's why I took meticulous care not to make those around me uneasy, softening my attitude just a little bit every day. As a result, my reputation has soared. While snapping one death flag, I also finished solidifying my position as the next head of the family.
"Well then, I shall go report to my father and mother."
"Yes! I am sure both of them will be delighted!" Sisti-san said.
I headed to my father's office. Inside were Duke Daphnes and his wife Leila. "Father, Mother, I have passed the entrance exam for Redrick Magic Academy." I presented the certificate.
"I see," Daphnes said. He didn't even look up, just silently continued his paperwork. My mother let out a large sigh.
"Hey, dear, Hollow passed the entrance exam. And look, he's the top student. Couldn't you show a bit more reaction?"
"This much is a matter of course for the eldest son of the Heisenberg family. There is no need to come all the way here to report it," Daphnes said.
"You say that, even though you're actually happy... I saw you, you know? You were secretly buying a success-prayer charm in the Royal Capital."
"Wh-!? D-don't say such foolish things! That was for health! It was out of concern for your body!" Daphnes stood up abruptly, denying it with a bright red face. It was obvious to everyone that it was a cover-up. After sitting down roughly, he cleared his throat. "Hollow, it seems you passed, but such a thing is merely standing at the starting line. What matters is what you achieve there. See to it that you devote yourself so as not to tarnish the Heisenberg name."
"I will keep it in mind," I said.
"And... well, congratulations on passing," Daphnes added. That night, a grand celebration was held at the Heisenberg estate.
April 8, Holy Calendar 1016. Today the entrance ceremony was held, followed by the first classes. As the top student, I was scheduled to give a greeting, but Hollow von Heisenberg is a lazy and arrogant villain. He would never do something as bothersome as a speech. I had politely declined the offer via letter.
The time was 8:00 AM. I arrived at the academy and quickly began my move. One hour remained until the ceremony. Before then-before the protagonist arrived-I had to crush a certain event. (The event occurs around 8:00. The protagonist arrives at 8:20. I only have twenty minutes... let's hurry.)
I headed toward the gymnasium and caught sight of a group of students. Two in black uniforms and five in white were engaged in a heated argument. (Good, I made it in time. No, it's perfect timing!) As I closed the distance, the argument became audible.
"Hey now, you guys are just commoner 'White-clothes' students, right?"
"It should be obvious that you should give way to us 'Black-clothes' lords!"
The men in black uniforms were acting overbearing.
"Don't screw with us! Just how great do you think you are!?"
"Th-that's right! You were just born with Innate Magic³, that's all!" the students in white uniforms fought back desperately.
(Heh, the exact same lines as the original.) It gave me a poignant realization that I was living in the world of Ronzolkia. Now, Redrick is an extreme disparity society. Students are divided into the Main Course⁴ and the Preparatory Course⁵ based on Innate Magic. Those blessed with it wear black; those without wear white. Because they are clearly distinguished, a clear hierarchy develops.
(If I recall, the Main Course students picked a malicious quarrel, and the Preparatory students fell for the provocation...) The dispute would develop into a brawl, and that's where the "super-involvement-prone" protagonist would appear. He would defeat the two Main Course students, winning the appreciation of the Preparatory students and earning a look of respect from the teachers. In other words, it was a "Protagonist-boosting event."
(Sorry, but I won't let that happen!)
I headed toward the center of the trouble. "Listen up? I am Lord Franz, the third son of Count Thomas family! A Count, I say! Moreover, I have elite-class Innate Magic! You White-clothed gravel-trash are different from the moment of birth!"
While Franz was blustering, the others noticed me. "H-hey, look at that... the villainous noble... this year's top student, Rank Number One...!?"
The students in white backed away. Franz must have mistaken that retreat for fear of himself. He wore a sneer. "Haha, that's right! Don't you dare defy me again, you plebeians!" His right hand swung out and thudded against my chest.
"Ah!? What the hell, you... e-egh!?"
"You seem to be having quite a lot of fun. Won't you let me join in, Lord Franz?" I said.
"H-h-h-Hollow von Heisenberg!?" Franz foamed at the mouth and retreated with the movements of a total small-fry. Well, that wasn't surprising. Our family is a Duke family, the pinnacle of the five ranks. Franz's family is a Count family, in the middle. There is a gap in family status higher than the heavens.
"H-h-here... while we are at this school, differences in status don't matter! Here, both you and I are first-year students! Don't act so high and mighty, you pampered brat!" Franz was quite aggressive, likely trying to hide his unsightly behavior.
Technically, his claim was correct. Everyone is supposed to be equal at school. But buddy, you were just flaunting your title a moment ago, weren't you? Besides, once you step outside, the constraints of society return. It wasn't a smart move to pick a fight with the next head of the Four Great Noble Houses.
"Hollow von Heisenberg!" Franz suddenly shouted and threw his white glove onto the ground. I recalled this was the challenge for a duel among Holy Knights. No, surely he wouldn't do something so stupid-
"It's a duel! I challenge you to a one-on-one duel!"
(Ah, this guy is an idiot.) I couldn't help but let out a completely dumbfounded squawk. (Wait, is this guy for real? Ignoring the gap in our ranks to challenge the heir of a Dukedom...?) To be sure, academy rules state that social rank is void within the school. But that's nothing more than lip service. No one is fool enough to actually believe that when you'll be tossed into the turbulent waves of the class system the moment you graduate.
(Besides, he's the third son of Count Thomas. Meanwhile, I'm the rightful heir of Duke Heisenberg.) The political fallout far outweighs any gap in our physical strength. If he were to so much as scratch me, the Thomas family would incur the Heisenberg family's wrath. In the worst-case scenario, they'd face total social annihilation.
"...I refuse. I don't have time for this," I said.
"Wh-...! Are you running away!? You're ranked number one, but you're actually scared of me!?" Franz screamed, his face turning crimson. A ripple of whispers broke out.
"Hey, look, the Heisenberg kid is tucking tail."
"Is he just riding his parents' coattails after all?"
The gazes of the Preparatory Course students pierced into me. To them, the sight of a privileged elitist like me "fleeing" was nothing but perfect ammunition for an attack.
Summary:
Hollow passes the Redrick Magic Academy entrance exam with a perfect score, fulfilling the first milestone of the original story. Despite his success, he realizes the school is a hotbed for social conflict between those with and without magic. To prevent the protagonist from gaining early popularity, Hollow intervenes in a dispute only to find himself challenged to a duel by an impulsive noble named Franz.
Trivia:
- Hollow's height reaching 170cm symbolizes his physical transition into the adolescent 'game' version of himself.
- Duke Daphnes buying a success-prayer charm suggests the 'Hollow Route' ruin might stem from miscommunication rather than a lack of love.
- The mention of 'Void Crossing' as a game-breaking ability highlights how much power Hollow is hiding to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
- Franz's duel challenge is a deviation or a complication of the expected 'Protagonist-boosting event,' showing that Hollow's interference has unpredictable side effects
Character Insight:
Hollow's relationship with his servants, especially Sisti, has shifted from fear to genuine admiration over seven years of effort. His interaction with his father shows a typical 'tsundere' noble dynamic where expectations are high, but underlying support exists. Interpersonally, Hollow is viewed as a high-status threat by lower-tier students, a status he is forced to use to manage academy politics.
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The Kingdom of Klein's academic system is split into three specific focus areas: Magic, Swordsmanship, and Magic Swords. Redrick Magic Academy specifically enforces a caste-like system using black (Main Course) and white (Preparatory) uniforms, fueling resentment between the magically gifted and those without.
TL Notes:
The term 'nepo baby' energy was noted during refinement to capture the modern internet sentiment regarding the 'Black-clothes' students' attitudes. The name sequence follows Japanese order (Surname GivenName) to maintain the authentic flavor of the web novel's setting.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ Redrick Magic Academy: A prestigious royal institution in the Klein Kingdom where students are segregated based on magic ability.
2 ↩ Void Crossing: A unique magical ability held by Hollow that allows for instantaneous traversal or spatial manipulation.
3 ↩ Innate Magic: A hereditary or soul-bound magical aptitude that determines a student's rank and uniform color at Redrick.
4 ↩ Main Course: The elite track for students with high magic aptitude, designated by black uniforms.
5 ↩ Preparatory Course: The secondary track for students with little to no magic aptitude, designated by white uniforms.
Notes:
• Heisenberg - Lord of the Heisenberg family. One of the Four Great Noble Houses. Noted for his immense wealth and territorial holdings.
• Hollow - 15‑year‑old heir of the Heisenberg ducal house, 170 cm tall, dark crimson medium‑length hair in a ribbon‑ponytail, crimson eyes, lean aristocratic build, black school uniform and navy jacket. Arrogant noble of the Four Great Houses, top‑ranked freshman at Redrick Academy, wielding innate Void magic (registered as Refraction) and meta‑knowledge to sabotage rivals while plotting as a ruthless villain.
• Olvin - Tall and composed, with a refined gravelly voice, he serves as Hallow’s swordsmanship instructor and loyal knight of the Heisenberg family, reporting on territorial security while showing deep respect for Hallow’s status. As a servant at the Heisenberg estate, he escorts Hollow to his exam.
• Sisti - A maid in the Heisenberg household, she wears a crisp black‑and‑white uniform, bows repeatedly and trembles when Hollow’s arrogant façade cracks, yet remains respectful and deeply impressed by his growth and academic achievements.
• Daphnes - Lord Heisenberg, Hollow’s father, is a gaunt, silver‑haired titan with a long beard, wielding Origin‑Class Innate Magic: Affectation. Driven mad by his wife Leila’s curse, he rules his lineage with chilling, vanity‑fueled mastery, while presenting a stern, duty‑bound façade that masks hidden affection for his son.
• Leila - Hollow’s mother, the late Mistress of Heisenberg, wears a silvered cloak, sharp eyes and a scarred visage. Once the Sword Saint and the family’s Sun—a top super‑genius swordswoman now bedridden by the Sky‑Eater curse—she is wife of Duke Daphnes. Observant and playful, she teases him about his hidden soft spot for Hollow.
• Franz - Third son of the Count Thomas family. A first-year student at Ledrick Magic Academy. Arrogant and impulsive, he possesses elite-class Innate Magic and wears the black uniform of the Main Course. A student from the Thomas family. Hot-headed and seeks to elevate his family standing by defeating Hollow. Wears a black regular student uniform.