The morning after the duel was not kind.
Yuuji opened his eyes to the sound of muffled shouting outside the dorm window, the fluttering of a dozen enchanted paper birds slamming into the walls, and—most distressingly—a glowing box floating an inch from his forehead.
[System Alert: You Are Now "Publicly Relevant"]➤ Social Standing: Unknown But Rising➤ Current Status: Hero to Some, Menace to Most➤ Suggested Action: Run. Just... run.
"…I regret everything," Yuuji muttered.
From across the room, Elira didn't look up from her book. "If it makes you feel better, Liam Everhart hasn't spoken a word since the duel. That's probably a good sign."
Yuuji groaned. "You say that like nobles aren't biologically incapable of taking Ls quietly."
Another paper bird smacked the window and exploded into confetti that spelled out "YOU LEGEND" before vanishing.
"Okay, that one was kinda flattering," Yuuji admitted.
Elira flipped a page. "Fame is fleeting. Gossip is eternal."
Yuuji sat up and rubbed his face. "What time is it?"
[Reminder: Emergency Assembly in 10 Minutes – Mandatory Attendance][Optional Bonus: Try Not to Pass Out from Attention Overload]
"…Great. Let me go panic into a comb real quick."
The Assembly of Awkward Protagonist Consequences
The central amphitheater of Halcyon Academy was packed to capacity—students from all four Houses crammed shoulder-to-shoulder, whispering, glaring, or pointing depending on their proximity to Yuuji.
And Yuuji? Yuuji wanted to become a lamp post. Or a decorative shrub. Or anything that didn't have to sit dead center next to Elira Vortemer, the school's resident Ice Queen, and Kael Zyrion, their new teammate-slash-nocturnal cryptid.
[Social Notice: You Are the Talk of the School]➤ Reactions:— House Draconis: Impressed (and suspicious)— House Sylvaeon: Betting on your downfall— House Nocturne: Taking notes— House Aetherlight: Quietly seething
Professor Varnes stomped onto the stage, cape flaring as if personally offended by gravity.
"STUDENTS!" he boomed. "Yesterday's duel has... shifted expectations."
Yuuji slouched lower. "That's one way to put it."
"You've proven that even those outside the traditional hierarchy can challenge the norm!" Varnes shouted, fist raised. "For better or worse!"
"Definitely worse," Yuuji whispered.
"And so, due to rising interest and intensified tournament pressure, the Headmistress has approved the formation of an Elite Exhibition Team—a squad to represent the academy in demonstration matches, rival school showdowns, and eventual regional qualifiers."
The crowd stirred. Murmurs rose.
"Selection will be performance-based," Varnes continued. "But participation in last week's duel has fast-tracked one student…"
His hand snapped toward Yuuji.
"YUUJI HOSHINO."
Yuuji blinked. "I'm sorry, what."
[New System Quest: Join the Elite Exhibition Team]➤ Mandatory Objective: Accept Your Fate➤ Optional Objective: Try Not to Die
Gasps erupted. Whispers. Outrage. Laughter. A distant "HE WHAT!?" echoed from House Aetherlight's row.
Kael clapped once. "Congratulations. The prophecy thickens."
Yuuji turned to Elira in panic.
"Say something reasonable," he hissed.
Elira calmly stood. "As his tutor, I'll ensure he doesn't humiliate us."
That... was not comforting.
Post-Assembly Fallout: Accidental Protagonist Syndrome
They made it five steps outside before the crowd swarmed.
"Is it true you beat Liam using a trap spell?"
"Can I touch your robes for luck?"
"Are you dating the Ice Queen?!"
Kael politely elbowed a third-year aside. "Move. The stars require personal space."
Elira grabbed Yuuji's collar and yanked him through a side corridor before he could combust on the spot.
"You need a plan," she said once the hallway cleared.
"My current plan is 'panic and flail,'" Yuuji gasped. "So far it's been very effective."
[Achievement Unlocked: Local Legend (Accidental Edition)]➤ New Title: "Duel-Slayer Commoner"➤ Reputation: Unbalanced and Rising
Elira glanced down the hallway, then raised an eyebrow. "Incoming."
Yuuji turned.
And there he was.
The Mysterious Smirking Guy.
Tall. Dark cloak. Blonde hair. Smug aura dialed up to 11. His footsteps made no sound, and every move felt like he knew the next three plot beats before they'd even been written.
"...You're Yuuji Hoshino," the guy said.
"No, I'm a bench," Yuuji replied instinctively.
The stranger laughed. "Interesting. I've been watching you."
Kael materialized from the shadows. "Creepily?"
"Strategically," the guy said. "I'm Rafe. You'll be seeing more of me."
Yuuji squinted. "Are you a rival, a love interest, or a walking red flag?"
"Yes," Rafe said.
Then he vanished in a swirl of light and shadows.
Yuuji turned to Elira. "...What the hell was that?"
"Foreshadowing," she said.
Later: Training Montage Lite™
Back in the training ward, Yuuji reluctantly accepted a magical staff from Professor Daelin while Kael practiced necromantic dodgeball and Elira casually froze an entire row of target dummies.
[Training Boost Activated: Combat Familiarity x1.5]➤ New Skill Learned: Reactive Glyph Pulse➤ Description: Instinctively emit a short burst of defensive mana when startled
"I hate how accurate that is," Yuuji muttered as the staff sparked.
Kael hurled a shadowball past his ear. "Good. Hate sharpens the edge of survival."
"Can you not throw death near my ear canal!?"
Evening: Downtime and Doomscrolling
Yuuji collapsed into the dorm's one semi-comfortable chair.
Elira handed him tea. Kael handed him a book titled "Embracing Existential Madness."
[System Update: Rankings Announcement Tomorrow]➤ Expect: Surprises, Political Drama, Possibly a Fire
Yuuji groaned. "Why is my life anime now?"
"You said you liked anime," Elira pointed out.
"Yeah, watching it. Not living it."
She smiled faintly.
[Bonus Objective Updated: Make Elira Smile Again (Progress: 2/5)]
Yuuji sipped his tea in resigned silence.
"I'm going to die here," he muttered.
Kael patted his shoulder. "We all do. Some sooner than others."
Next Time on Villainess Tutor!:➤ Tournament Rankings Revealed!➤ A Surprise Duel Invitation Appears!➤ Who is Rafe, really?➤ And can Yuuji survive another day without stress-napping into oblivion?