When I opened the door, I saw Sebastian organizing his side of the room. He turned around, noticed me, and smiled.
"So, we're roommates," he said casually.
It was definitely a surprise. Sharing a room with someone like Sebastian—a major villain in the novel—was the last thing I expected. But deep down, I was actually happy. I'd always liked these types of characters.
"Start getting ready," Sebastian said.
I looked at him, confused. "For what?"
He stared at me for a moment, then finally opened his mouth. "The welcome ceremony. You need to wear your academy uniform."
Internally, I cursed. In the novel, Ian wore the uniform too, but the author never mentioned where he got it. Why would you introduce something out of nowhere? Damn you, author, I thought to myself.
"I brought an extra uniform. Want it?" Sebastian asked.
"Yes, please," I replied immediately.
"10 gold. It's yours," he smirked.
Sometimes I forget he's a villain, I muttered inside.
"I'll trade you the answers to the theoretical exam this semester instead," I offered.
He narrowed his eyes. "Where did you get that info? And what if you're lying?"
"Doesn't matter where. But if the answers are wrong, I'll pay you 50 gold," I said confidently.
He handed over the uniform. "I'll trust you—for now. And I won't ask how you got that info. Everyone has their secrets."
In my past life, I never had a social life. It was always about studying, I thought. But this time… I'll make space for myself too.
I looked at Sebastian. "Don't you think Senia's cute? What if I asked her out?"
He stared at me for a long moment. "Honestly, I think you're moving a bit fast. You don't even know her personality."
But I do, I thought. She was my favorite female character in the novel. Now she's here, real, and even more captivating.
Sebastian had a dream—to rebel against the empire and take the throne. To do that, he would eventually make a deal with demons. In the beginning, they seemed like a minor threat, but with time, they became a catastrophe. In the novel, Ian and his allies tried to stop that disaster.
As long as Sebastian hasn't made that deal yet, there's still time, I thought. And if I help him succeed without involving demons, I could stop the catastrophe. Maybe he'd even give me a high-ranking title.
He didn't begin his rebellion plans in the first year, so I decided to focus on my academy life for now. This world is my second chance. Time to enjoy it—and master the abilities I'd only dreamed of before.
Sebastian broke my thoughts. "Stop overthinking. Forget Senia for now. Enjoy the academy."
We arrived at the grand hall where the welcome party was being held. The place was packed with students. Upperclassmen sat at long tables with a commanding presence.
Soon, the headmaster and instructors began speaking, their voices amplified through a magical device.
"To our new students—welcome. May you find friendships and have a wonderful year. To our upperclassmen—don't forget your studies… but have fun too."
As soon as the speech ended, hundreds of waiters entered, placing all kinds of food on the tables. The headmaster gave a final word: "Eat as much as you can. Classes start tomorrow!"
I piled about ten kilos of meat onto my plate.
Sebastian looked at me like I was insane. "Are you really going to eat all that?"
"Of course," I said, already diving in.
After two hours, the students began returning to their dorms.
Tomorrow is the first official day of my life at the academy.
I can't wait.