Unexpected Special Excellence Award
Generally, the academy's entrance ceremony ended with a valedictorian speech from a selected noble or royal representative. There had never been any additional awards afterward. So, it was inevitable that the entire auditorium buzzed with murmurs at this sudden development.
Theo couldn't hide his confused expression either.
"Theo, from Der Viscounty."
"Huh?"
His name being called out of nowhere made his confusion even more apparent.
"We don't typically select a top student from the commoner division, so we couldn't name you valedictorian. However, the chairman, who observed the exams, insisted we couldn't let such an outstanding student go unrewarded. That's why we've prepared a Special Excellence Award this time. Would you please come up to the stage?"
Outstanding student? Special Excellence Award?
Theo couldn't quite grasp what any of it meant. They were speaking the same language, yet it felt like a foreign tongue. As he stood there dazed, someone nudged his back.
"Theo, go on up!"
It was Iris, sitting beside him. She was one of those who believed Theo deserved the award, so she pushed him without a hint of surprise.
"No, special excellence... what is this..."
Pushed by Iris, he stumbled onto the stage, but Theo remained stiff and awkward.
"Yes, Theo. Nice to meet you. This is a first since the academy's founding, so I was curious about you. And you're quite handsome!"
Even as the teacher bantered cheerfully, Theo just stood there sweating profusely.
No way, why am I the outstanding student? Isn't this stuff everyone can do...?!
Because it was the academy—the empire's greatest—Theo had assumed everyone could wield Aura and cast magic at his level. Only now did he recall that the game he possessed was a dating sim.
Doom sounded like it involved adventures and battles to save the empire from a demon king, but at its core, it was a romance simulation. Combat rarely featured, so such details weren't clearly marked.
That said, there were battle scenes, and the enemies there were powerhouses on par with the protagonists, all wielding Aura and powerful magic.
Crazy, right? That's why I mistakenly thought everyone here was at that level.
Of course, only rivals worthy of the protagonists wielded Aura and strong magic. Not everyone in this world had such insane talent.
But what left Theo even more flustered was...
Wait, wasn't I just supposed to be some badass Villager #1?
His Status Window still listed his job as Villager.
"Theo?"
The teacher called his name, seeing him frozen in thought.
"Ah... y-yes."
"The chairman will present the award himself! Congratulations! Getting noticed by him on day one! Haha, your future looks promising!"
Ignoring Theo's mood, the staffer beamed excitedly and stepped down. With the click of heels, the chairman appeared on stage—an unprecedented sight since the academy's founding.
"You did great on the entrance exam. It's been ages since I saw someone that strong; my heart was racing."
"Th-thank you."
"You look displeased?"
"No, no, not at all."
He said that, but Theo's face wasn't smiling.
I've gone and caught perfect attention from day one. Well, haha... better than seeming weak?
It depended on perspective, but since he'd be around Iris and Estelle anyway, standing out was inevitable. Better to be seen as strong than weak, he figured.
"The Special Excellence Award comes with prizes too: three vouchers worth 100,000 silver each, usable at the academy. Use them well."
Nobles or royals might scoff at 300,000 silver, but to a commoner like Theo, it was a fortune.
"Thank you."
After receiving the prizes and certificate, shaking hands with the chairman, and posing for a photo, the ceremony ended. People still murmured, eyes on Theo—and two watched with jealousy.
"Theo's mine, and now he's even more famous."
Saintess Estelle Ingrid.
"Cut the nonsense, Estelle. Why would Theo be yours?"
Crown Princess Iris Lua Sa Ermunt.
"But it's great Theo got the special award. The chairman has good taste preparing this."
Ignoring Iris, Estelle hooked her arm through Theo's with a pleased smile.
"H-hey, let go of my arm?"
"Why? Can't friends link arms? Jealous, Iris? Do it yourself."
"Think I can't?!"
Thus sandwiched between the two, arm-in-arm, Theo drew even more stares.
"Whoa, he's tight with the crown princess and the saintess? What's his deal?"
"Der Viscounty? Never heard of it. Where even is that to produce someone like him?"
"Jealous...! I'd kill to chat with the princess...!"
"Ahh, Saintess...! Link arms with me too...!"
Theo's historic first day at the academy began under massive spotlight.
"Haah, I'm so damn tired."
I collapsed onto the bed like I'd fainted the moment I entered the dorm room.
The sudden special award, plus Iris and Estelle constantly bickering—it drew insane attention.
That spotlight... it's so burdensome.
I'm a pure introvert—I with a capital I...!
Sure, I'd braced for some since I'd be hanging with them, but this is too much...!
Argh...!
How did it end up like this...!
No, if everyone had just said I was strong, I could've dialed it back and pretended to be moderately tough...!
"Haah... damn, this is ridiculous."
When I first possessed this body, I thought, What am I supposed to do as a mere villager? But who knew this ridiculously overpowered Badass Villager job would shine like this.
Honestly, I was panicking from the sudden attention and whining internally, but...
Special Excellence Award
Recipient: Theo
Holding this certificate—no one had ever received it, a first in academy history—made my heart race a bit. Recipient: Theo. I'd never gotten a proper award before.
"Kinda... badass."
Who knows when I'd get something like this again? I grinned despite myself.
"Whoa?! No way! You're my roommate?!"
A voice hailed me familiarly—my dorm roommate entering the two-person room.
Why's this stranger using casual speech...?
"Hey, nice to meet ya! Remember me? Matty from the entrance exam!"
There he was, the noisy guy from the exam, barging in.
Ah... my roommate's a capital-E extrovert...
"Dude~ I saw you get the special award! Figured you were strong, but damn, that level?! I barely scraped by! Argh~ spill the secret to getting that strong!"
I stifled a sigh at Matty's nonstop chatter from the jump.
Ah, dorm life for the next year will be exhausting.
"Seeing you shake hands with the chairman? My chest swelled with pride!"
"...Yeah. Thanks..."
How does anyone talk that much? Kinda impressive, honestly.
"So, what's your deal with Crown Princess Iris or Saintess Estelle? Looked super close."
"Ah, just friends. Both of 'em."
"Whoa! Dude, your life's blooming!"
Blooming or not, I'm the guy who has to stop this world's doom. He'd pity me if he knew—not envy.
"That so?"
I just played along vaguely.
One noisy guy's fine—no ear damage, right? Positive thinking.
"Oh, you got academy vouchers, right? Wanna shop together? They sell top-tier stuff cheap to students!"
Yeah, the academy's shop had high-quality goods at bargain prices—way below market. Weapons, armor, potions, rare adventure items. Commoners bought and resold on the black market for profit.
Of course, getting caught meant instant expulsion.
With 300,000 silver in vouchers, grabbing useful class stuff sounded good, but...
Do I have to go with this guy?
"My family's got a weapon shop, so I'm a pro at spotting good ones! Plus, you only have a wooden sword—time for a real blade, right?"
Oh, weapon shop family? Cool, I could use his eye.
But if I go just with Matty, will Iris and Estelle get sulky later?