Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 001
Chapter Title: Wolfram's Final Flame of Life (1)
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Let me tell you an old story.
As a kid, my dream was to be a character in a game.
Think about it—isn't that the ultimate job where effort always pays off?
You hunt monsters and grow steadily with every kill.
You buy gear, equip it, pick skills, form parties, and clear raids.
Put in the work, reap the rewards, grow on your own, and rise to the top. What a glorious life, right?
Then, a bit older—probably middle school age.
By then, I figured it was fine not being the protagonist.
Heroes are too grand a dream anyway.
But hey, just being the protagonist's buddy means riding their coattails to greatness—no worries about retirement.
As an adult, I even thought being the villain was okay.
Dodge all the death flags, endure to the end, and you'll survive. Life graph trending straight up—totally doable.
Point is, if I could just get into a game, I was confident I could rewrite my fate.
How sweet is that deal?
Couldn't pass it up—I'd go all-in on those skyrocketing coins.
Didn't matter who I became. Even a first-act boss would do.
If I just followed the meta builds right, I could handle anything.
That's what I thought.
And then, my dream came true.
I thought I'd become a convenience store owner and was thrilled—until I got hit by a car.
And the result?
I've apparently entered a game I'd sunk ten thousand hours into.
Now, life's mine. Maybe I can dream a little bigger than a convenience store.
Like head clerk at a big-box mart? Holy shit, talk about a life turnaround. This possible?
"Defendant Wolfram von Loengrin. Your position as Student Council President, along with all privileges within the academy, is hereby revoked."
But.
No.
Even in the game, fate screwed me over completely.
An extra who gets booted in the prologue—not even worthy of third-rate villain status.
An event character who never makes it to the main story.
A bug with five minutes until death.
Isn't this a bit much?
In the darkened Student Council room late at night.
A single bold girl stood before me, seated on the jade throne that symbolized the pinnacle of Jefrin Academy.
Three figures loomed right behind her like bodyguards, glaring daggers at me.
In contrast, no one was around me—I just sat on the throne, gazing at her.
Her expression hardened. Unhappy with my blank stare, she thrust out an imperial decree stamped with the emperor's seal and barked.
"Defendant Wolfram von Loengrin. Your position as Student Council President, along with all privileges within the academy, is hereby revoked."
Even laced with hatred, fury, and contempt, her refined, beautiful face remained unmarred.
I recognized that face and voice—and that's why I was secretly awestruck deep down.
The D/Z SAGA—the game I'd poured my life into, clocking ten thousand hours.
The one where my convenience store boss bro teased, "You're still playing that trash game?"
Right there before me was its "Imperial Route" main heroine, Eve von Loengrin.
"...Eve."
"Don't call me by that name! Wolfram!!"
"Wolfram? You mean me?"
"Who else? You, the disgrace of the imperial family!"
The vivid presence of a comrade I'd crossed death's door with thousands of times.
Princess Eve at the center with protagonist Kelters, plus countless other allies.
But this world, the very game I'd loved, filled me with a horrifying sense of disconnect.
I wasn't Kelters—I was Wolfram von Loengrin.
A third-rate villain at best.
Make that trash-tier—a character who doesn't even appear in D/Z SAGA's main story.
In the lore, he was the "root of all evil."
The game's stage: Jefrin Academy City, home to a hundred thousand students. Wolfram had been Student Council President there, but he was laughably incompetent, petty, a blood supremacist, an authoritarian—and utterly talentless scum.
He scorned commoners, looked down on nobles, bribed professors to fake grades, docked other students' scores, and when exposed, sicced puppets on them to get them expelled and cover it up.
Embezzlement? Standard playbook.
Relying solely on his status as the emperor's son, he unleashed a reign of terror.
This split the academy's Magic Division and Knight Division into mutual hatred, killing the whole atmosphere.
And he splurged. Collected famous swords he couldn't even use, hoarded magical robes, obsessed over spellbooks he couldn't learn.
Even got scammed blind—like dropping a million rin on a ninth-tier spellbook.
Blew through so much cash he even pawed the imperial treasures, earning the emperor's wrath firsthand—and getting booted from Student Council.
And per canon, the lines after this are predictable.
'Hmph. You can't kick me out. I'll leave on my own feet.'
'You couldn't bear it. The darkness of this academy...'
'Don't regret this. I'll return for sure!'
That's the prologue's end.
Five minutes later, Wolfram meets a gruesome fate.
'You, it's because of youuuu!! You said if I believed you, you'd let me graduate!! Die! Die! Die already!!'
-Guh... ack. ...You little scum...
He dies.
Stabbed by a henchman he planned to scapegoat and expel.
But weirdly, he keeps his promise.
Our Wolfram reappears in Act 5.
As a zombie.
Groaning and shambling into the Student Council room invasion episode.
On the Imperial Route, he shows up especially in front of Eve...
'Ke-Kelters, I... I can't...'
'Eve! Swing the holy sword! That's not your brother!'
'Kelters!'
'Eve!!'
-Groooaaarrr
'Wolfram... no, brother Wolfram... Rest in peace. Farewell.'
-...Tha... nks.
Chop—holy sword to the neck.
A zombie punching bag to strengthen the protagonist and Eve's bond!
And that's the end of his saga.
Big bro Wolfram hooked up his little sis's marriage prospects too, huh?
Last words: thanks. What bullshit. Couldn't help but laugh. Thanks my ass, you bastard!
And now, I finally grasped my reality, my situation, crystal clear.
For real? I die in the next scene?
This is it? Kicked out of the academy, stabbed, done?
"Wolfram von Loengrin. This is your last mercy. Leave the academy and live quietly."
"......You're kicking me out?"
"Yes. I'll say it again. By imperial decree, your Student Council President authority and all privileges are revoked as of this moment."
"Ha."
I laughed. Or faked it. Had to keep up appearances to buy thinking time.
What now?
This feels like game over.
No way out?
"Revoked... Revoked, huh."
"Yes."
"Revocation it is."
"Correct."
"......"
No.
Hold on.
Can you wait a sec?
Maybe we can talk this out?
Don't rush the answers, okay?
"Get out already, you rot, Wolfram!"
"......"
What to do?
If I spit the canon line here—"You couldn't bear it. The darkness of this academy..."—cool as hell, then bolt, it's straight to stab-town.
To avoid that... to survive...
Ah. Aha. Wait.
Eve definitely said...
Revoked?
"Didn't I tell you to leave the academy already, Wolfram!"
"No. I can't do that. I'm not leaving."
Revoked changes everything.
"......What?"
"Read the decree again. Eve von Loengrin. Where does it say I'm expelled?"
"············Huh? B-But it says revoked!"
"Yes. 'The position of Student Council President of Wolfram von Loengrin, along with all 'privileges,' is 'revoked.' That's what it says."
"Uh, uh... Then!"
"Next Student Council President. Remember Jefrin Academy Code Article 1, Section 8?"
"...Huh? Article 1, Section 8?"
As expected of Eve. The diligent nerd scholarship kid.
She memorized that long, garbage regulation word-for-word.
Of course, I have too. I'm a fellow nerd who's sunk years into this game!
High-five, nerd buddy! Nice to meet ya!
Now.
Jefrin Academy Article 1, Section 8.
[All students of Jefrin are academy students by basic right from the moment of enrollment.]
[Academy students are equal under school rules, except the Student Council President.]
"In other words, being an academy student isn't a privilege. It's a right and duty of enrolled students."
"What are you even saying?"
"I'm saying I'll revert to regular student status. Take all the privileges? Fine. But in return, you can't infringe on my rights and duties as a student."
"...What?"
"Meaning, ignore me and prep for the next Student Council."
"No way that's possible!"
This time, the shout came from a girl beside Eve.
"What do you mean?"
"Revoking all privileges means stripping you of every bit of wealth and power you've enjoyed! The special suite in Glasstheim dorms, the eighty million ril monthly stipend! Even the Student Council accounts! The special grading perks on your credits! You can't survive in the academy like that! Don't spout off easy lies when you don't know how grueling it is!"
Only then did I stare straight at her face.
Silvia, probably. Eve's guardian knight and next Student Council's secretary.
A good senior to canon protag Kelters, and a commoner.
"You think an imperial can't endure that?"
"...Of course!"
"Then what?"
"Huh?"
"...What then?"
"Th-That..."
"Confident?"
"......No, not really."
"Then why say it?"
"Well..."
"Apologize. I can handle it. Don't judge others' capabilities by your standards."
"Sorry..." "Don't apologize, Silvia!"
Eve glared at me with sizzling eyes, and Silvia clamped her mouth shut.
"No need to snap like that, Eve von Loengrin. I didn't even slap you with imperial insult charges. Don't you know? All Jefrin students are equal before the school rules."
"...Wolfram. You snake-tongued bastard!"
I chuckled, and Eve exploded. Time to stop teasing her.
"Fine. Congrats, Eve. Your rebellion succeeded. That seat's yours now."
"······!"
I stood from the throne and faced Eve.
Ten thousand hours played. I'd cleared her route maybe four hundred fifty times?
Seen her face so often, I felt kinda attached.
But no more getting close.
Not that I want to.
Okay. You all live your lives free. Break the story, snag some endings, save the world on the side, enjoy your youth adventures. Got it?
"I'll live free, on my terms."
"...What?"
"If you can't understand, then don't."
Man, thinking about it—every word from this Wolfram prick drips with arrogance.
Probably an imperial trait or character perk. Whatever.
"Now, I can finally be free."
"...Wolfram von Loengrin. You have no freedom in this academy."
"No, I do. I know how."
"······."
"That throne's heavy, Student Council President."
With that, I rose from the Student Council throne, brushed past Eve's back, and left the room.
Before her fist could swing, I was out.
Something roared behind me, but oh well.
Sorry, but I've gotta vanish before the main story kicks off—you're too dense for hints.
Still, I've gotta survive.
What can ya do?
You shine up this school hard.
As for me from now on?
"Guess I'll try finishing that convenience store owner dream."
Casually. Comfortably. My way.
Chasing the dreams I couldn't fulfill before.