(Picking a fight with the Four Great Noble Houses¹ on the very first day of school... that's a bold move. If your father found out about this, Franz, he'd probably have a stroke.)
As I stood there feeling utterly exasperated, the student in the black uniform standing next to Franz tried to rein in his friend's suicidal bravado.
"C-calm down, Franz! Hollow is the Heisenberg family's golden child-a magical prodigy! Word on the street is that back when he was seven, he entered a tournament and humiliated the heiress of the Ainsworth family... he tore her apart! You don't stand a chance!"
"Don't sweat it," Franz replied. "I've heard Hollow let his natural talent rot behind that lazy, arrogant attitude of his. No matter how much potential a gem has, if you don't polish it, it's just another pebble on the road!"
"I... suppose that's true," the other student muttered.
"If I take this bastard down right here, my name will ring out across the entire Kingdom of Klein! I'll leapfrog over my useless older brothers and become the undisputed heir to the Thomas family!"
"A-as expected of you, Franz! That's a foolproof plan!"
It was a foolproof plan, alright-if you ignored the fact that it was physically impossible. Birds of a feather really do flock together; a moron like Franz could only ever attract equally moronic friends.
"Well, Lord Hollow? What's it going to be?" Franz sneered. "Surely the great Heisenberg scion-this year's top-ranked scholar-isn't going to tuck his tail and run?"
I glanced at the clock tower. It was 8:15 AM.
(Five minutes until the Protagonist arrives... I'm out of time.)
If I dawdled any longer, I'd run head-first into the Protagonist. I had to avoid that at all costs. My mission was clear: shut this pathetic circus down at breakneck speed while staying perfectly in character as the villainous noble, Hollow von Heisenberg.
(In a spot like this, how would the 'real' Hollow handle things...?)
I decided to surrender my consciousness to my "Hollow Brain." Immediately, words I didn't mean began to spill from my handsome lips.
"Sigh... My apologies," I said.
"Ha! Hahaha! I knew it! You're just another silver-spooned brat! The second a real duel starts, you're too chickensh-"
"I'm afraid I have something of a fastidious streak," I interrupted. "It's quite regrettable, but I simply cannot bring myself to touch those filthy rags you're wearing. I shall humbly accept your challenge, so please, forgive my lack of manners."
It was a masterclass in psychological warfare-vicious mockery gift-wrapped as an apology. Wow, I'm actually the worst, I thought. Hollow von Heisenberg really was the absolute dregs of society.
"Pfft, look at Franz! He's getting totally clowned on!"
"When you're a direct descendant of the Four Great Noble Houses, even your trash-talk has 'class'..."
"Hollow-sama² is so dreamy... I'm officially a fan!"
The surrounding preparatory students³ were practically jeering at Franz now. Publicly humiliated and pushed to the brink, Franz's face turned a violent shade of crimson. He drew his sword in a blind rage.
"You... you bastard! You filthy, villainous noble! I, Franz Thomas, shall deliver your judgment!"
He let out a primal scream and lunged at me. I quickly dropped into an intercepting stance-and was immediately baffled.
(...Wait, what?)
He was slow. No, "slow" didn't even cover it. I could blink, take a deep breath, and leisurely tilt my head, and Franz would still be miles away.
(He talked all that game just to show me this? This is just sad.)
I wound up my right leg and gave the ground a sharp, effortless tap. In that instant, the stone-paved walkway buckled and shattered with a violent crack. A hail of stony shrapnel erupted forward like a blast of buckshot.
"Gah-!?"
Franz took the brunt of the stony fragments and was sent flying. He skipped across the pavement like a flat stone on a pond before slamming into the main building. He didn't so much as twitch after that.
"Oh dear, wherever did Lord Franz go? This is quite the predicament. He was such a tiny, pebble-like individual that I'm afraid I've lost him among the gravel."
Okay, stop. Shut up now, I told myself. If I kept letting my Hollow Brain run the show, the insults would never end. I took a deep breath, shoving those wicked thoughts back into the abyss of my mind.
"H-hey! Franz! Speak to me! Damn it... hang on, I'll get you to the infirmary!"
His friend in the black uniform dug Franz out of the debris and rushed into the building, leaving muddy footprints all over the hall. Mission accomplished. Now to vanish before the Protagonist shows up. Just as I turned to leave, a girl in a white uniform called out to me.
"U-um, excuse me!"
"What is it?" I asked.
"Thank you for stepping in. You... you really saved us."
"Don't mention it."
"Lord Hollow, please... just tell me one thing," she pleaded. "Why would someone like you-the 'Number One' at the peak of the regular students⁴-bother helping those of us in the preparatory track?"
"I had no particular reason. If pushed, I suppose I'd say that fool was simply an eyesore."
I could hardly tell her I was just trying to sabotage the Protagonist's "Hero Moment." She'd think I'd lost my mind.
(Still, that answer was a bit cold...)
I needed to build at least a baseline of goodwill with the preparatory students. Looking at the future main story routes, having them on my side would be incredibly useful. I decided to leave them with a parting gift-something inspiring.
"Since we're here, I'll grant you a pearl of wisdom."
"W-what is it?"
"The metrics decided by others-whether you wear a white uniform or a black one-are utterly meaningless. What matters isn't how the world evaluates you, but who you choose to be."
In that moment, a spark ignited in the eyes of the preparatory students. They say it's not what is said, but who says it. Coming from me-the guy at the very top of the social food chain-telling them the uniforms didn't matter hit them like a freight train.
"H-he's right! Even if we weren't born with Innate Magic⁵, if we just keep grinding, we can still have a future!"
"Yo... wasn't Hollow von Heisenberg supposed to be some kind of monster?"
"That's what the rumors said, but... isn't he actually a total saint?"
"Man, I wish all the regular students were like Hollow-san..."
"Hollow-sama is definitely my top pick now!"
Yes! I'd successfully farmed some reputation points! Another death flag snapped like a twig!
(In the original story, Hollow treated the preparatory students like literal trash, burying them in mockery. As a result, one of them eventually snapped and stabbed him to death while he was napping on the roof.)
It was the infamous "Rooftop Slashing End." While I technically didn't have to worry about knives thanks to my⁶ Void Possession, there was no sense in being a magnet for unnecessary hatred. Regardless, I'd done what I came to do. I immediately cleared out, steering far away from the Protagonist's scripted path.
(Everything is going perfectly.)
The "Protagonist Praise Event" was dead in the water. Plus, I'd dodged one of Hollow's nastiest Bad Ends. I thought Franz might have ruined everything, but this was the best possible outcome. However, I couldn't afford to get c**ky. Because right now, I was about to come face-to-face with my character's fated arch-enemy: the Protagonist himself.
* * *
The entrance ceremony concluded without any further drama, and the students dispersed to their assigned classes. The "Class" and "Rank" lists were posted on a massive board in front of the gym. Being the top scorer, I was naturally placed in the elite Special Advanced Class with the "First Rank" designation. Again, Redrick Magic Academy was a hyper-stratified society. Students were sorted from Special Advanced down to D-Class based on merit, with every single individual given a specific number in the hierarchy.
(Alright. This is it.)
I made my way to the main building and ducked into the third-floor restroom to check my "mask" in the mirror. I untucked my shirt slightly, made my eyes look sufficiently dead to the world, and shoved my hands in my pockets. Between the sloppily worn black uniform, the cold crimson gaze that screamed everyone was beneath me, and my bored, weary posture, I was a picture-perfect villainous noble. No one could look at me and see anything else.
With my character settings locked in, I headed to the Special Advanced classroom and swung the back door open. Inside, the "Named" characters of the original game were all gathered in one room.
(U-W-O-O-O-O-O-A-G-H! It's them! They're the real deal!)
I almost screamed. For a die-hard fan of Ronzolkia, this was the ultimate fan service. My eyes were having a literal feast.
"Look, it's him... the 'Villainous Noble'..."
"Hollow von Heisenberg? The top-ranked freshman?"
"Huh? But I thought Elisa-san gave the freshman speech?"
"He blew it off. He hasn't changed a bit since that gala ten years ago. Still the same arrogant prick."
I felt the weight of their stares, but nobody dared approach me. Given Hollow's reputation, that wasn't surprising. Since seating was first-come-first-served, I grabbed an empty desk by the window.
(The Protagonist... isn't here yet.)
He was probably embroiled in some freak accident or "event" right now. If Hollow was a magnet for death, the Protagonist was a magnet for trouble. It was nothing for him to get caught up in a crisis in the five-minute walk between the gym and the classroom.
Three minutes later, the back door creaked open, and a boy in a white uniform stepped inside. In that instant, an icy dread raced down my spine.
(...He's here.)
Allen Fortis. Fifteen years old. Hair as white as fresh snow, cut in a medium style. He stood at about 160cm with a slender frame, but he possessed a terrifying, hidden strength. With an androgynous face, large sky-blue eyes, and a gentle smile, he stood there clad in the white uniform of the preparatory track.
This boy who looked like he wouldn't hurt a fly-Allen Fortis-was the Protagonist of Ronzolkia. He was an anomaly who carried the blood of heroes more purely than anyone else, yet harbored a massive concentration of the Demon King's cells within him-and he controlled both.
"A white uniform?"
"Why is a preparatory student in the Special Advanced Class? I thought this was only for the regulars?"
"Maybe he's lost?"
"Wait, I heard a rumor," whispered another student. "Word is, some kid made it into Special Advanced this year without having any Innate Magic at all."
As a low murmur swept through the classroom, the protagonist navigated his way to an empty seat with stiff, awkward movements.
Almost immediately, the front door slid open and a woman with striking black hair stepped inside. She took her place behind the lectern, gave a sharp, measured cough to silence the room, and began her introduction.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am Fiona Seder, and I will be overseeing this Special Advancement Class⁷. I look forward to our time together over the next three years."
Fiona-san, whose graceful movements masked a truly foul interior, offered a polite bow. The class responded with a warm smattering of applause.
"Seriously... she's way too cute, right?"
"I don't know if 'cute' is the word. She's gorgeous... sophisticated."
"Look at that style... tiny waist, huge chest... she's perfect."
The male students were clearly captivated by their young teacher. From a distance, she certainly looked the part of the flawless, raven-haired beauty. Too bad her soul was a gutter.
Of course, the fact that Fiona-san was our homeroom teacher wasn't a coincidence. I had personally asked my father to pull the strings to get her here. House Heisenberg provides a massive endowment to the Redrick Magic Academy, which buys us a significant amount of leverage. Long live the merit of power.
(Fiona-san will do exactly as I say. Having her in my pocket should make navigating school life a breeze.)
While I was busy plotting my next moves, Fiona-san spoke up. "Now then, let's begin morning homeroom-"
"-Wait just a moment."
A voice like the chime of silver bells-clear, yet sharp enough to cut-sliced through the air. Every eye in the room turned toward a girl as she rose slowly from her seat, her composure as cold as it was absolute.
"There is an interloper among us," she stated flatly. "A Mage who simply does not belong."
The speaker was the Fourth Seat: Nia Le Ainsworth. Fifteen years old. Standing five-foot-four with long, golden hair tied in twin-tails, she was a peerless beauty. Her amber eyes were striking, her skin luminous and pale. Her figure was nothing short of perfection-a firm, full chest, a narrow waist, and lithe, healthy thighs. She was dressed in the standard Redrick undergraduate uniform: a black blazer over a snow-white shirt and a pleated black miniskirt with a side slit.
"-Allen Fortis. I have to wonder... what is a 'White-Vest'⁸ loser like you doing in the Special Advancement Class?"
Nia looked down at the protagonist with the piercing gaze of a sovereign.
While the atmosphere turned brittle with tension, my heart was actually soaring.
(Wow! Prickly Nia in the flesh! This is incredibly nostalgic!)
Nia is one of the primary heroine candidates in this story. She's a fan-favorite, mostly due to her stunning looks and her "tragically unlucky" traits. Right now, she's grappling with a massive burden that has her mentally cornered. She starts the story as a total ice queen, but by the endgame, she falls for the protagonist so hard it's embarrassing.
In other words, this "Tsundere Nia" is a limited-time offer-available only here at the very beginning. I intended to savor every second of it.
"I came to Redrick to hone my skills alongside the elite, not to play house with some dropout who doesn't even possess a Signature Magic⁹," Nia spat.
"Th-that's not true!" Allen barked back, refusing to be cowed. "Just because someone wasn't born with a Signature Magic doesn't mean they're a failure! If you put in the effort, anyone can become a great Mage!"
(Whoa, whoa, slow down there, buddy. Don't go triggering the main plot on your own...)
In the original story, this exchange leads straight to a duel. Nia would dominate using her Origin Class magic, 〈Primordial Flame〉, only for a cornered Allen to awaken his true power at the last second and pull off a miraculous victory. It was a classic "Protagonist Power-Up" event.
(Sorry, pal, but I'm skipping this cutscene.)
The main story is littered with these events. By collecting them, Allen eventually awakens the powers of both the Hero and the Demon King. My plan was simple.
(I'll use my meta-knowledge to pull the strings from the shadows and snap every single one of his power-up flags!)
That way, I could gut his potential without ever having to become his enemy. It was the ultimate "Anti-Protagonist" strategy.
(Step one: I need to steal Nia's attention.)
Fortunately, there was a bit of history between the original Hollow and Nia. If I played it right, I could hijack her focus entirely.
"Heh... heh heh..." I let my shoulders shake, letting out a low, mocking laugh.
"...And what exactly is so funny, Hollow?"
Nia, prideful to a fault, took the bait instantly. She was just as easy to read as she was in the game.
"Nothing. It's just that the two of you are so pathetic I can barely look at you."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
I gave a dismissive snort, looking between Allen and Nia with a look of pure contempt. "You, him... what's the difference? From where I'm standing, both of you are nothing more than pebbles on the side of the road."
"Your arrogance is as tiresome as ever," she said, storming over to me. She loomed over my seat, her amber eyes burning. "How long do you plan on living in the past? You beat me in a tournament eight years ago. But in the seven years since, while I've been training with humility, you've become nothing but a lazy, bloated, villainous excuse for a noble. I wonder... which of us is truly stronger now?"
"A field mouse crawling in the dirt can sharpen its teeth all it likes," I replied smoothly, "but it will never reach the dragon treading the clouds. Even a child understands that basic truth."
"You...!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I bruise your fragile little ego?"
God, this Hollow personality is no joke. Biting sarcasm and vitriol were just flowing out of me like a faucet. If there were a "Trashiest Personality" ranking, the original Hollow would be the undisputed champion.
"-Fine! If you're that confident, I'll just have to beat you down first!" She snapped her slender finger toward my face. "Hollow von Heisenberg! I challenge you to a Rank Duel!"
Wow. Seriously. She's a total walkover. I'm actually starting to worry about Nia Le Ainsworth's future if she's this easy to manipulate.
Summary:
Hollow successfully navigates a confrontational duel with a lower-ranked noble, Franz, using minimal effort to crush his opposition. By choosing to help the preparatory students instead of mocking them, Hollow effectively dismantles a major 'death flag' from the original game story. The chapter concludes with the high-tension arrival of the game's actual protagonist, Allen Fortis, in the elite classroom.
The reincarnated protagonist, Hollow, successfully manipulates the school's social structure by having a complicit teacher, Fiona, assigned to his class. Nia Le Ainsworth confronts the protagonist Allen Fortis, creating a scenario destined for a hero-awakening duel. Hollow intervenes, using his villainous persona and meta-knowledge to redirect Nia's hostility toward himself, effectively sabotaging Allen's growth path.
Trivia:
- The mention of the 'Rooftop Slashing End' highlights the vulnerability of the original Hollow despite his high magic stats.
- Hollow's 'fastidious streak' comment is a calculated insult disguised as noble etiquette, showing his mastery of the persona.
- Allen Fortis wearing a white preparatory uniform in an elite class signals his 'underdog' status in the academy hierarchy, a classic trope.
- Hollow's use of 'Void Possession' indicates his constant defensive state, hinting at the high-threat environment he anticipates.
- Fiona's 'gutter soul' hints that she is not a typical kind teacher but someone Hollow can leverage for illicit school activities.
- Nia's 'tragically unlucky' attribute suggests that her current aggression is a symptom of external pressures or a family crisis yet to be revealed.
- Hollow's ease in generating vitriol indicates the 'Hollow-Brain' or original character's personality might be influencing the reincarnator more than he realizes
Character Insight:
Hollow's relationship with the preparatory students shifts from one of mutual contempt to one of awe. His 'pearl of wisdom' regarding the worthlessness of uniforms radically alters their perception of him, turning a potential group of enemies into a fan base. Meanwhile, his internal terror upon seeing Allen reveals the massive power gap he perceives between a 'villain' and a 'true hero.'
Hollow shifts from a passive observer to an active antagonist of the 'scenario.' His relationship with Nia is established as a long-term rivalry, which he successfully exploits by wounding her pride to protect Allen from his own awakening event.
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The chapter establishes the 'Redrick Magic Academy' as a merit-based hierarchy where students are physically segregated by uniform color (Black for Regulars, White for Preparatory). The 'Four Great Noble Houses' represent the pinnacle of political and magical power in the Kingdom of Klein.
The Redrick Magic Academy operates on a rank-based system where the top seats (like Nia's 4th seat) hold significant social power, and students are visually categorized by their uniforms ('White-Vests' being the lowest).
TL Notes:
The term 'Hollow Brain' represents a disassociative narrative technique where the narrator lets a 'scripted' personality take over, allowing the translation to lean into more archaic and haughty English noble-speak.
The term 'White-Vest' (白服) is a literal translation of the uniform color used in the raw to denote dropouts. The phrasing 'Silver Bells' is a standard Japanese metaphor for a clear, high-pitched feminine voice (suzu wo korogasu yō na koe).
TL Notes:
1 ↩ The Four Great Noble Houses represent the highest echelon of aristocracy in the Kingdom of Klein.
2 ↩ -sama is a high-level honorific used for someone of significantly higher status or deep admiration.
3 ↩ Preparatory Students (Yoka-sei) are lower-ranked students often looked down upon by the Regular (Honka-sei) students.
4 ↩ Regular Students are the core academic body, denoted by their black uniforms and higher magical aptitude.
5 ↩ Innate Magic (Koyuu Mahou) refers to a specialized magic unique to an individual or lineage.
6 ↩ Void Possession is a specific defensive spell or state maintained by Hollow for protection.
7 ↩ Special Advancement Class: An elite track within Redrick Magic Academy for high-ranking students or those with significant political backing.
8 ↩ White-Vest (Shirafuku): A derogatory term for students in the undergraduate or remedial track, distinguished by their uniform color.
9 ↩ Signature Magic (Koyu Maho): A unique, innate magical ability specific to an individual, often required for high-tier mage status.
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• Allen - The protagonist of the original story world. Currently a student at the academy under Hollow's observation. The original protagonist of the game Ronzolkia. Fifteen years old with snow-white medium-length hair and sky-blue eyes. Wears the white preparatory track uniform despite being in the Special Advanced Class. The protagonist of the original story. He wears 'White-Vest' clothes signifying his status as an underdog or dropout. He initially lacks Innate Magic but is destined to awaken powers related to the Hero and the Demon King.
• Fiona - An 18‑year‑old Arbiter of the Ministry of Magic, 160 cm, slender, black‑ponytail, mauve eyes, snow‑white skin, wearing a white jacket, black shirt and miniskirt. She teaches the Special Advancement Class at Redrick Academy, sharp‑witted, manipulative, gambler and drinker, loyal to Hollow’s family, owes him 60 million Gordo, and obeys his whims.
• Dia - A descendant of the Hero who manifested the Crest of Impurity. She has transparent, beautiful silver hair and was sold by her parents.
• Nia - Ranked 4th in the academy hierarchy. Fifteen years old, 163cm tall with long golden hair in twin-tails and amber eyes. She wears a black blazer, white shirt, and a black mini-skirt with a slit. She possesses the Origin Class Innate Magic 'Primordial Flame' and harbors a grudge against Hollow from a tournament eight years prior. A member of the Ainsworth family, one of the Four Great Noble Houses. Ranked 4th in the academy. Possesses the Primordial Flame (Origin Class Innate Magic). Described as 'pity-cute' with a terminal physical condition and a heavy family burden.