Why the Sub-Male Lead is Derailing
Professor Emilia. Her cheeks were flushed red right now. Her breaths came in ragged gasps. And her blue eyes were glazed over in a hazy daze. She was fixated on Rian's back like some feverish patient, her gaze sticky and unrelenting.
It wasn't for nothing that Ardelia de Solarrium, who was technically thirteen but carried the perspective of an eighteen-year-old girl from her pre-regression memories, had suspected her of pedophilia.
Aaah!
Even if Professor Emilia composed her expression, that sticky lust and madness seeped through in a way she couldn't hide. In truth, it was more akin to the fervent devotion black mages who worshipped outer gods directed toward their deities.
The thirteen-year-old boys and girls gathered here would mostly just see her stare as a bit peculiar. At least Ardelia had noticed it wasn't normal, even if she'd misunderstood the nature of it.
Not even a regular pedophile—she's eyeing a scrawny thirteen-year-old commoner kid!
Chills prickled across Ardelia's skin.
If you looked closely at Rian, he seemed a bit healthier than yesterday. But he was still the picture of a rail-thin commoner boy.
At that moment, Professor Emilia cleared her throat with effort, barely regaining her composure.
"Ahem! Well, everyone. Thanks to Rian student's brilliant demonstration, your standards might have gotten a bit too high."
She strolled lightly in front of the blackboard, clapping her hands.
"But that's a miraculous exception. We need to start from the basics suited to our level and build up step by step. Everyone has different affinities for elemental magic based on the wavelength of their innate mana."
She gave the students gentle instructions.
"Now, from your seats, try the basic spells for fire, water, wind, earth, light, and darkness one by one. This is time to see which element you respond to the fastest. Oh, of course."
Professor Emilia's gaze turned toward Rian, who was propping his chin on his hand and dozing off.
"Rian student is beyond needing this basic affinity test, so feel free to skip it and rest."
A genius archmage of the 8-Circle was treating Rian as a complete exception, granting him special privileges.
That declaration subtly shifted the classroom atmosphere.
The students stole glances at Rian, gauging his mood.
Those looks no longer held the mockery and disdain from moments ago.
That's no lowly commoner.
A future great mage. No, he's already basically one.
He won't remember us mocking him earlier and get revenge later, right…?
Damn it, who would've thought he was really 4-Circle!
Gazes laced with fear.
But among them, only Asrion clenched his fist under his desk, trembling with rage.
Damn it! Even Professor Emilia, a great mage, fell for that sly commoner's tricks!
Asrion felt his insides twist.
He brainwashed himself into believing the commoner was fooling everyone with some artifact of unknown origin or black magic.
But even as he burned with inferiority and hatred…
Deep in his subconscious, a sticky fear was bubbling up.
What if… just what if that guy's power is the real deal?
He had lived his whole life worshipped as the era's greatest genius.
This was the primal terror that his world might crumble entirely.
Asrion desperately ignored that fear.
"Alright, everyone, let's begin."
With Professor Emilia's instruction, the practical session kicked off in earnest.
Tiny flames flickered here and there in the classroom, water droplets formed, and faint winds stirred.
I already know my affinity.
Ardelia knew her answer already.
As blood of the imperial line, she had a pure affinity for light magic.
"Light."
A warm, dazzling orb of light formed at her fingertips, drawing gasps of admiration from some students.
"Whoa!"
"So pretty…."
"Brighter than my Light spell?"
"As expected of the princess!"
On the other hand, the jet-black-haired Vesperia von Edelgart had shadowy wisps of darkness rising from her fingertips.
"Ooh."
And in the spot where all eyes converged, Asrion proved his talent.
He floated the four basic elements—fire, water, wind, and earth—around his hands and shoulders, controlling them perfectly.
He even demonstrated light and darkness, followed by ice.
A staggering genius with aptitude for virtually every element.
"Yawn…."
Rian, watching the scene with half-lidded eyes, indifferently recalled the original story in his mind.
By now, Asrion should be awakening as the sub-male lead.
According to the original novel's setup:
Asrion was a boy immersed in his overwhelming talent, arrogant to a fault.
But Ardelia was a regressor.
Though her mana capacity was low, her mind held perfect knowledge of magic up to 4-Circle.
In this class, Asrion would make a tiny error in his mana arrangement while handling the four elements.
Ardelia would approach and correct it with advice based on her pre-regression experience.
I thought I was superior in every way, but this princess has insight surpassing me in a specific field?
He was superior in over 90% of areas.
But this peer overwhelmed him in that remaining 10% of knowledge.
It was the first time he'd met someone even partially better than him.
That shock and curiosity would make Asrion fall head over heels for Ardelia—the sub-male lead's awakening route.
But….
Rian scratched his chin and glanced at Asrion.
Right now, even while juggling the four elements, Asrion wasn't looking at Ardelia at all. He was glaring murderously only at Rian.
That annoying mosquito keeps staring at me.
It was only natural.
To give an arrogant genius the right shock, the rival couldn't be overwhelmingly superior.
They had to be just approachable enough, yet special.
But to Asrion, Rian was a cosmic horror dismantling his world.
Just pay attention to the princess or whatever. Yawn.
Rian had no interest in understanding Asrion's feelings.
He'd never been good at grasping others' emotions, even in his past life.
He couldn't comprehend why they'd pursue such inefficient methods when answer keys existed.
So Rian had no intention of realizing what impact he'd had on Asrion.
He didn't think of the guy as more than a mosquito.
Worrying about that mosquito is making me so sleepy.
As Rian nodded off, Vesperia poked his arm sullenly from the next seat.
"Rian…."
"What?"
"I think I'm darkness affinity. People don't like darkness magic 'cause it's ominous. I don't think I can become an amazing great mage like you."
Vesperia looked down at her purple eyes, utterly dejected.
The usually bright girl was moping.
Like there's any chance you could become like me in the first place? Why mope over something like that?
Honestly baffled, Rian yawned and offered advice.
Not to abandon dreams of becoming a great mage like him, but explaining efficiency. His version of kindness.
"What's ominous about affinities? No light, no darkness. Darkness has insane utility. Stealth with mana concealment or shadow interference—master those, and it's top-tier for survival."
To Rian, who valued efficiency and survival, darkness was highly appealing.
Its applications were limitless depending on how you used it.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Once I'm less sleepy, fed, and energized, I'll take a quick look. Yawn~ Too tired now."
He tossed it out casually, pure reciprocity—no deeper thought.
She showed kindness, so fairness demanded he return some.
And while you won't be like me, I could probably make you a great mage someday.
But Vesperia's face lit up instantly.
"For real?! Yay, thanks Rian! I'll study super hard! Hehe!"
Vesperia flashed a dazzling, radiant smile.
Watching that heartwarming scene, Ardelia's eyes gleamed.
Opportunity!
That off-the-charts genius offering personal magic lessons!
This was her chance to connect with the sleepy boy.
Ardelia plastered on a smile and carefully opened her mouth.
"Rian. If it's not too much trouble… could I join those lessons too? My light magic feels a bit unstable. I could use the help."
The princess was humbling herself like this.
Ardelia figured since he'd agreed to teach Vesperia, he'd nod to her too.
But Rian glanced at her with half-closed eyes.
Then, without a hint of hesitation, he replied.
"No."
"…Pardon?"
"Too annoying. And you have that same face as Professor Emilia over there—like you're scheming something every time you ask for stuff. So no. Yaaawn~"
"……."
A brutal, unfiltered bombardment!
Ardelia's elegant smile froze, her facial muscles hardening like stone.
I have the same face as Professor Emilia?