Silas stepped out of the infirmary just as the lunch bell rang. Students poured out of their classes. For the delinquents, it had been two days—but for the rest of the school, only a few hours had passed.
"Guess that has to wait, then…"
He chuckled to himself, slipping his hands into his pockets.
"Better go grab my briefcase from the room and head to the cafeteria," he muttered, then walked off.
The hallway buzzed with life—students chatting, laughing, some even dueling. A glowing magic circle surrounded the duelers, keeping their spells confined to a safe space.
"Dueling magic, huh… might be useful."
Silas made a mental note.
After a few minutes of walking, he arrived at his classroom—Room 4-D.
When he stepped inside, a few lounging students glanced his way, but only briefly. They'd already forgotten—or chosen to ignore—his earlier outburst that nearly leveled the classroom.
Guess troublemakers like me are commonplace.
Silas chuckled, grabbed his briefcase near the professor's desk, and stepped back out.
"Now then… I could hang out with the delinquents… or try making friends with someone else."
He followed a student ahead of him carrying a lunch tray, assuming he was heading to the cafeteria.
Memorizing this school might be a bigger accomplishment than killing that wolf lord.
Still following the student, Silas eventually found himself in the school's back courtyard—more vibrant than the bustling hallways. Students chatted freely, some summoning magical pets that frolicked around them, adding to the lively atmosphere.
This courtyard's bigger than most parks back home... and probably more expensive, too.
Lush flora and the occasional magical fauna filled the space, blending seamlessly with the elegant, otherworldly architecture that framed it all.
I still can't get used to how rich my new life is now...
"Well… guess this is better than the cafeteria."
He looked around—then froze. Victoria was here. She stood in a gazebo with the Prince and the game's main heroine, deep in serious conversation.
"I guess the game's progressing naturally."
Silas considered approaching—tempted to insert himself into the main cast's story—but sighed and turned away.
Just as he began looking for a place to eat, a sudden needle shot toward his face. Instinctively, he caught it with his bare hand, stopping it just before it touched skin.
"Well… I certainly didn't expect that."
He dropped the needle to the ground and traced the trajectory—his eyes narrowing. There, behind a tree, lounged the culprits: the same delinquents from the counselor's office and the Forest of Trials.
One of them, crimson-haired with piercing sky-blue eyes, waved him over casually.
Guess the needle was just to get my attention—not to hurt me.
Silas sighed and walked toward them. The trio smirked as he approached.
"Yo, it's the one and only Combustion King," the crimson-haired one called, voice lighthearted and joking.
"Combustion King? I'm flattered," Silas replied.
Another spoke next—this one with chestnut-colored hair and eyes to match.
"Fitting, ain't it?"
The last of the trio chimed in, violet-haired with pupils that resembled a snake's more than a human's.
"I came up with it," he said, chuckling.
Silas studied the three, something in his mind beginning to click. Recognition dawned.
Aren't these… the same three from the game? The ones Dwayne fought in his redemption arc—the transition from delinquent to honor student?
"What do you three want with me…?"
Silas asked, tone flat. Sure, he was fine living as a side character, but making friends with a group that, in the game, were the cliché bullies? That sounded entirely uninteresting to him.
The crimson-haired one chuckled and spoke.
"Ease up, why don't you? I'm Cecil, the brown one's Lucas, and the violet one is Vael."
Silas sighed, unimpressed by the introduction.
"If this is about an autograph, you're a day late."
He replied, still sounding bored, his gaze drifting past them toward the rest of the students. Honestly, they seemed far more entertaining than this trio.
Vael raised a hand, noticing Silas' growing irritation.
"Relax, man. Let me get to the point—we wanna duel."
Silas let out a brief laugh, covering his mouth as he chuckled at the audacity.
"Really? You three?"
Cecil's smile twitched with irritation, but he kept it up, clearly intent on humbling Silas.
"Confident, aren't you? Then how about a three-on-one? And none of that zombie minion stuff."
He extended his hand toward Lucas, who responded with a nod and a smirk.
"Or are you too cowardly?" Lucas added, clearly trying to provoke him.
Silas raised an eyebrow at their arrogance.
Did they just forget I killed a literal boss with one hit…?
"Fine,"
Silas muttered, eyes narrowing.
"Better reserve three beds—this won't take long."