Chapter 2

001. The Last Flame of Wolfram's Life (1)

Let me tell an old story.

In my childhood, my dream was to be a game character.

Think about it, isn't it the best job where your efforts are rewarded?

You grow steadily as you defeat monsters.

You buy equipment, level up your skills, form parties, and clear raids.

Isn't it a wonderful life where you are rewarded for your efforts, grow, and become self-made?

Later, when I was a bit older, probably in middle school.

I thought it didn't matter if I wasn't the protagonist.

Being a hero is too big a dream.

But honestly, even if I just became the protagonist's friend, I could suck up to him and grow together, and there would be no worries about my future.

When I became an adult, I thought even being a villain was fine.

If you avoid all the death flags and endure, you can survive. The life graph can definitely go upward.

In short, if I could just enter the game, I was confident I could control my fate.

How sweet is that?

I couldn't stand it, so I immediately bought all the in-game coins.

It didn't matter what character it was, even if it was a first-stage boss.

I was confident I could do anything if I just played well.

That's what I thought.

And then, my dream came true.

I was so happy thinking I had become a convenience store manager, but then I got hit by a car,

As a result.

I think I've entered a game I've played for ten thousand hours.

Now my life is mine. I might be able to dream a little bigger than just being a convenience store manager.

Maybe a department store supervisor? Wow, what a life turnaround. Is this possible?

"Defendant Wolfram von Loewen格林. Your position as Student Council President and all privileges within the Academy are hereby revoked."

However.

It wasn't so.

Even in the game, fate thoroughly deceived me.

An extra who can't even be a third-rate villain and exits in the prologue.

An event character who doesn't appear in the main story.

A scum with only five minutes left to live.

Isn't this a bit too much?

***

In the dark student council room at midnight.

Sitting on the throne that represents the pinnacle of the Ten Thousand Academy, a girl stood boldly in front of me.

Three figures stood behind her, glaring at me as if guarding her.

On the contrary, there was no one around me, and I just sat on the throne, looking at her.

Her resolute gaze. The girl, seemingly displeased, thrust a decree stamped with the emperor's seal and shouted.

"Defendant Wolfram von Loewen. Your position as Student Council President and all privileges within the Academy are hereby revoked."

Despite the mix of hatred, anger, and contempt, her elegant and beautiful face remained unmarred.

I knew that face and voice, and I secretly admired it deeply.

The D/Z SAGA, the game I had played for ten thousand hours, the game my friend said I was still playing even though it was a terrible game.

Among them, the main heroine of the 'Royal Route', 'Ive von Loewen', was right in front of me.

"…Ive."

"Don't call me by that name! Wolfram!!"

"Wolfram? Are you talking about me?"

"Who else? This disgrace to the royal family!"

The vividness of a comrade who had crossed the line of death with me thousands of times.

The protagonist Kelthers, the royal princess Ive, and countless other comrades.

However, this world, while being the game I enjoyed, also gave me a sense of terrifying alienation.

I am not Kelthers but Wolfram von Loewen,

a third-rate villain.

To the extent that I became a trash character who doesn't even appear in the main story of D/Z SAGA.

In the game's setting, I am the 'source of all evil'.

The stage of the game.

I served as the Student Council President of the Academy City of Jefrin, which houses ten thousand students, but my incompetence and despicable nature were so appalling. I was a supremacist and an authoritarian, and at the same time, a talentless scum.

I ignored the commoners, looked down on the nobles, bribed professors to manipulate grades, lowered other students' test scores, and if there was a risk of being caught, I used a scapegoat to expel and cover it up.

Embezzlement? That's a given.

Relying on the authority of being the emperor's son, I unleashed tyranny.

As a result, the magic department and the knight department, which divided the academy, hated each other, and the atmosphere of the academy was completely dead.

And I indulged in luxury. I collected swords I couldn't use, coveted magical clothing, and was obsessed with magic books I couldn't learn.

How could I be scammed like that? I once bought a 9th-tier magic book for 1 million ryn.

Spending money, I eventually had to resort to the royal family's secrets, and I had to face the emperor's stern wrath, and I was removed from the position of Student Council President.

And according to the original setting, the next lines are obvious.

"Hmph. You can't drive me out. I'll leave on my own."

"You won't be able to bear it. The darkness of this academy…"

"Don't regret it. I will definitely return!"

This is the prologue.

And Wolfram meets a very tragic end five minutes later.

"It's your fault, your fault, eee!! You said I could believe, you said you would graduate me!! Die! Die! Die!!"

-Cu... Huh... You... scum...

He dies.

He is killed by a knife from a student he expelled as a scapegoat.

But strangely, he keeps his promise.

Our Wolfram reappears in Act 5.

As a zombie.

Groaning and appearing in the Student Council Room Invasion Episode.

In the Royal Route, he especially appears in front of Ive...

"K, Kelthers, I can't."

"Ive! Swing the holy sword! That's not your brother!"

"Kelthers!"

"Ive!!"

-Grooo

"Wolfram. No, Wolfram, my brother... Rest in peace. Goodbye."

-...G, goodbye.

His head is cut off by the holy sword.

A zombie extra that strengthens the bond between the protagonist and Ive!

And that's the end of his story.

He even found a wife for his sister. Great, Wolfram!

His last words are also appreciated. This is ridiculous. I can't help but laugh. Thank you, you bastard!

And now I finally understand my reality and the situation I'm in.

Really? Am I going to die in the next scene?

Is this the end? Being expelled from the academy and stabbed to death?

"Wolfram von Loewen. This is your last mercy. Leave the academy and live quietly."

"…Are you going to drive me out?"

"Yes. Let me repeat, by royal decree, your authority and privileges as Student Council President are hereby revoked as of this moment."

"Huh."

I laughed. Or rather, I pretended to laugh. I had to maintain some composure to buy time to think.

What should I do?

It really seems like I'm in trouble.

Is there no way out?

"Revoked... Revoked."

"Yes."

"Revoked, huh."

"Indeed."

"..."

No.

Wait a moment.

Can we still solve this through conversation?

Don't rush me for an answer. Okay?

"Get out of here, Wolfram!"

"..."

What should I do?

If I follow the original and deliver the line "You won't be able to bear it. The darkness of this academy…" and try to leave, I'll be stabbed.

To avoid that... to survive...

Ah, ah, wait.

Ive definitely...

said "revoked," didn't she?

"Didn't you say to leave the academy, Wolfram!"

"No. I can't. I won't leave."

If it's revocation, it's a different story.

"..."

"What?"

"Read the royal decree again. Ive von Loewen. Where does it say I am expelled?"

"..., But it says 'revoked'!"

"Yes. It says 'Wolfram von Loewen's position as Student Council President and all 'privileges' are 'revoked.'"

"Ah, ah... Then!"

"Next Student Council President. Do you remember Article 1, Section 8 of the Jefrin Academy Regulations?"

"..., Wait, Article 1, Section 8. Section 8?"

Indeed, Ive. A diligent scholarship student.

You memorized all those long, trashy clauses.

Of course, I also memorized them. I played this game for a long time, like a nerd!

Hi, nerd friend! Nice to see you!

Now.

Jefrin Academy, Article 1, Section 8.

[All students of Jefrin are, from the moment they enroll, students of the Academy by right.]

[All students of the Academy, except the Student Council President, are equal under the rules.]

"In other words, being a student of the Academy is not a privilege. It is a right and an obligation of a current student."

"What are you talking about?"

"I am going to return to being a regular student. All privileges? I will return them. In return, you cannot infringe on my rights and obligations."

"..., What?"

"I am telling you to ignore me and prepare for the next Student Council."

"You can't do that!"

This time, a girl standing next to Ive shouted.

"What do you mean?"

"Revoking all privileges means taking away all the wealth and power you have enjoyed! The special room in the Glassheim dormitory, the 80 million ryn you received every month! The Student Council's account! The special grading you received! You won't be able to survive in the Academy! Don't talk so easily without knowing how hard it will be!"

Only then did I look at the girl's face.

Her name is probably right. Siphia. Ive's guardian knight and the next Student Council Secretary.

She was also a good senior to the protagonist Kelthers and a commoner.

"Do you think I, a royal, can't endure that?"

"..., Of course!"

"So what?"

"Ah?"

"..., So what?"

"..., Are you confident?"

"..., I'm not really confident."

"Then why did you say that?"

"..., It's just that..."

"Apologize. I can do it. Don't judge others' abilities by your standards."

"..., I'm sorry..." "Don't apologize, Siphia!"

Ive glared at me with a seething look, and Siphia closed her mouth.

"Don't be so angry. Ive von Loewen. You didn't even charge me with the crime of insulting the royal family. Don't you know? All students of Jefrin are equal before the rules."

"..., Wolfram. You snake-tongued man!"

I chuckled, and Ive burst into anger. I'll stop teasing her here.

"Right. Congratulations. Ive. Your rebellion has succeeded. From now on, that position is yours."

"..., !"

I stood up from my seat and stood in front of Ive.

After ten thousand hours of playtime. In my memory, I have taken her route more than four hundred times?

I have seen her face so many times that I have developed some affection for her.

But now, I can't get close.

No, I don't even want to get close.

Now. Live your lives freely. Break the story, see the endings, save the world, and enjoy your youth. Got it?

"I will live to find my freedom."

"..., What are you saying?"

"If you can't understand, you don't have to."

But thinking about it, Wolfram, this bastard, really knows how to talk.

It seems to be a special trait of the royal family or the Wolfram character. Anyway.

"Finally. I can be free."

"..., Wolfram von Loewen. You have no freedom in this academy."

"No, I do. I know the way."

"...,"

"That chair is heavy. Student Council President."

Saying that, I stood up from the Student Council President's chair and passed behind Ive.

I left the student council room before her violence could reach me.

I heard a roar from behind, but there was nothing I could do.

I have to disappear before the main story even starts, but I'm sorry for being so clueless.

But I have to survive.

What can I do?

You work hard to shine in this school.

From now on, how will I live?

"Maybe I'll try to be a convenience store manager."

Roughly. Comfortably. As I want to live.

I'll dream the dreams I couldn't achieve.