An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

After Principal Ariana's intense and enigmatic speech, she floated off the stage, leaving a palpable tension hanging in the air. Moments later, the atmosphere shifted as an older figure stepped forward.

The man exuded wisdom and authority, his long white beard flowing down his chest, framing a face lined with experience. His sharp blue eyes twinkled with a knowing light, and his tall frame, draped in elegant robes, commanded immediate respect.

"Greetings, younglings," he began, his deep, steady voice cutting through the murmurs. "I am Theodore Smith, your Vice Principal. On behalf of the faculty, I welcome you to Arcane Academy."

He paused, scanning the audience with a calm smile. "I trust you enjoyed the principal's speech?"

A heavy silence followed. The students exchanged awkward glances, unsure how to respond.

Theodore chuckled softly, the sound warm and reassuring. "Haha, no need to look so tense. Yes, our principal does have a... unique way with words. Blunt as she may be, her message is true. Your journey here won't be easy. But it will be worth it."

The tension in the room eased slightly.

"Now," Theodore continued, his tone lightening, "let's move on to something a bit more exciting—recognizing the top students from each department."

The students straightened in their seats, anticipation building.

Theodore unfolded a scroll and began reading. But instead of listing several names, he repeated the same one—three times.

"Arthur Ludwig."

A pause. Then again.

"Arthur Ludwig."

And once more.

"Arthur Ludwig."

The hall fell into stunned silence.

Theodore raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smile. "Well, it seems we have quite the exceptional student among us. One young man has claimed the top rank in all categories."

Whispers rippled through the crowd as eyes turned toward Arthur.

"Let's give a round of applause to Arthur Ludwig," Theodore announced, his voice rich with amusement. "Our top scorer across the board. Arthur, please join us on stage."

The applause started slowly—hesitant, curious—then grew into a thunderous ovation. Some clapped with admiration, others with thinly veiled envy, but all eyes were now on Arthur.

In the crowd, a few students whispered.

"Who is this guy?"

"All three departments? That's insane."

Theodore chuckled, clearly enjoying the growing buzz. "Oh boy, it seems we've got ourselves a prodigy." His gaze flicked to Arthur, sitting in the front row with an air of calm confidence. "Well then, Mr. Ludwig, would you kindly grace us with your presence on stage?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

A round of applause erupted, some clapping out of genuine admiration, others out of sheer curiosity. Arthur stood, adjusting his uniform with a composed smile, and began making his way to the stage. He could feel the gazes on him—admiration, envy, and even resentment.

As he ascended the steps, Theodore extended a hand in welcome. "Congratulations, Arthur. It's not every day someone sweeps the rankings like that."

Arthur took the offered hand with a firm grip, meeting the vice principal's eyes with a confident smirk. "Thank you, Vice Principal. It's an honor."

Theodore leaned in slightly, voice lowered for only Arthur to hear. "Let's see if you can keep that top spot. It's a long year ahead."

Arthur's smirk deepened. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

The audience watched, captivated by the exchange. Some students were already sizing him up as competition, while others couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Arthur turned to face the crowd, standing tall and proud.

Arthur addressed the students. "Ladies and gentlemen, remember this name. Arthur Ludwig—a name you'll be hearing quite often."

Arthur scanned the sea of faces, a mix of admiration, curiosity, and envy directed his way. He recognized several familiar figures among the crowd.

In the third row, Alicia enthusiastically waved at him, her smile bright and full of pride. A few rows behind, Cedric and Kaela were making a scene—cheering loudly and whistling, drawing amused glances from the surrounding students.

To his left, near the center of the arena, Princess Eleanor offered a graceful wave, her royal composure never faltering, but the sparkle in her eyes revealed genuine excitement.

Arthur's gaze shifted further back, locking onto Luna Harper. She sat stiffly beside Alex Stale, the academy's golden boy and the supposed protagonist of this world. His sister, Cassandra, sat next to him, her calm demeanor masking a quiet confidence. Beside her sat the serene figure of Saintess Eveline, her hands folded gracefully in her lap as she observed the proceedings with a gentle smile.

Arthur allowed himself a small, knowing smirk. All these key characters… and I'm standing here, center stage. Let the game begin.

But soon, Arthur was pulled from his thoughts by Theodore's commanding voice echoing through the arena.

"Now," the vice principal declared, his tone effortlessly drawing everyone's attention back to the stage, "let the opening ceremony continue."

The students shifted their focus back to the proceedings as Theodore resumed the formalities. Arthur exhaled softly, his moment in the spotlight concluded—for now. With calm confidence, he descended the steps of the stage and made his way back to his seat in the front row.

Vice Principal Theodore stepped forward, commanding the attention of the entire arena with a single glance. His authoritative voice echoed across the arena.

"Since the introductions are done. Let's move on to the main topic. Let me clarify the majors you'll be choosing from," Theodore began, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "As you know, the academy offers three main majors: Combat, Scholar, and Magic. But within these broad categories lie numerous sub-majors, each tailored to specific talents and ambitions."

He paused, letting the students hang on to his every word before continuing.

"For example, let's consider the Scholar Department. At first glance, the name might sound... a bit vague, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes," the students murmured, nodding in agreement.

Theodore chuckled softly. "Exactly. It does sound vague because the Scholar Department is an umbrella term for various fields of theoretical knowledge. Here, you can specialize in Magic Engineering, Magical Research, Alchemy, Business Management, Strategic Development, and more."

The students exchanged intrigued glances, a newfound interest flickering in their eyes.

"Now, doesn't that make things a little clearer?" Theodore asked with a knowing smile.

"Yes!" the students responded in unison, their voices filled with newfound enthusiasm.

Theodore nodded in approval. "Good. The Combat Department is no different. It's not just about brute force or mindless fighting. This department offers specializations in diverse fighting styles—Martial Arts, Swordsmanship, Spearmanship, Archery, and other forms of combat you'll encounter as you progress."

He gestured toward the students seated in the Combat section. Some sat up straighter, eager to prove themselves.

"And lastly," Theodore continued, turning his attention to the students in the Magic section, "the Magic Department provides majors such as Healing, Summoning, Elemental Manipulation, Spirit Magic, and many other branches of magic. Each path will require you to master different types of mana and develop unique affinities."