My Evil System

After I enjoyed my time with the food and stretched a little, I went out and finally headed to the Academy.

There was still a long line of players at its gate, just like when the first time I went there.

Sated and in a happy mood because of the scrumptious meal after not tasting those food like forever, I took my time waiting for my turn.

There was supposed to be a cap of players per day, about a hundred, I think.

I didn't mind if I didn't make the cut. I could just rest in the inn and line again tomorrow.

Life was meant to be enjoyed and not rush things. There was no Apocalyptic Event, and I had come to a realization that my other self would still appear no matter how much I didn't want him to, so I might as well enjoy my own time.

I came to the conclusion that I should just enjoy things in this world. New things to know. A new world to explore.

With the System's help, I could do whatever I wanted, and everyone that hindered my way would face the consequences.

<That's the spirit, Host! You're slowly becoming into an Evil Overlord, the Greatest Villain there is!>

Before that . . . I was curious about this Academy, so I'd just check it out before going my way to Blue River Town.

I stretched my hands over the clouds. Having a good meal in the afternoon made me drowsy. Maybe I should skip the line and just have a good sleep in the inn and come again tomorrow.

<But what about Host's other identity?>

Don't worry about him. He'd call me soon enough again in the future like he always does to fix his mess.

Not gonna happen!

Oh . . . is that time already?

As I looked over at the afternoon sun, I squinted my eyes and blanked out for a second before I regained consciousness.

I rubbed my eyes before shaking my head and massaging my temples. I didn't care if the others looked at me funny as I calmed myself by taking quick successive breaths.

I didn't know if I should be thankful that my other self only killed Brago and the others and didn't cause a massacre or destruction of some town in his five days of roaming free.

<Welcome back, naïve Host>

I took a deep breath and didn't respond to it. I was still getting used to my surroundings.

<Host could always summon his Evil self back, and everything would be easier for both you and the System>

Don't talk to me.

Taking in all I knew in one minute, I decided to go back to my property and abort all missions of kidnapping, killing, and destruction of Blue River Town.

Though I was interested in this Academy, I didn't want to stay in this unknown territory where there were so many factors that would trigger me to summon my other self.

At least, back on my property, I was safe, away from people and away from trouble.

I was going to turn away and find the nearest Teleportation Gate when the System stopped me.

<Don't you want to know if your family or friend is inside in this Academy?>

". . ."

T-that's . . .

That sounded so tempting.

<Host is already here. So you might as well~>

". . ." I think I would only look for a bit. If they're not here, then I would go back.

I would just take a little look. I thought as the line shortened, and it was almost my turn.

"Uhmm . . . Excuse me."

I turned at the man on my back. He had an unusual appearance with his brown hair that was broken at the center, and he wore glasses. His eyes were hidden behind them, and I could tell from his build that he was short, but his face told me that he was probably around sixteen or seventeen.

The way he looked at me made me feel like I was being stared at by an innocent kid.

"H-hello," he greeted with a shy voice. "My name is Thomas."

"Ah . . . Cross."

"Are you also alone, Cross?"

Also?

"Y-yeah." I didn't know if my answer would cause me trouble, but it was too late to take it back.

Thomas's face brightened. "Did you also come here a month before?"

I nodded slowly, and the smile on his face widened.

"Me too!"

Thomas opened his mouth but then closed it again, thinking about something before making up his mind.

"T-Then . . . do you want to stick together?" he asked with a stuttering voice and uneasy eyes.

Hmm . . . I didn't know what to say because all of the players that I encountered, all of them didn't end well.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to be with another player right now.

Betrayal was painful, and killing them was even more so. I would carry the evil deed forever with me.

That I couldn't take.

Maybe it was time to be a loner so my other self wouldn't kill them at the slightest provocation.

However, Thomas's innocent stare and expecting smile punched straight into my heart, and I couldn't say no.

He was just a kid, and his stat didn't even near twenty.

<The System heard of that sentence before>

"S-sure. But . . . only until the Academy," I said and scratched the back of my head. "I have something else to do after that."

I think that answer would be acceptable. I accepted his offer but also protected him in the long run.

Thomas's smile lessened, and I felt bad all of a sudden. Maybe he was just like me, longing for companions in this world but too kind for their own good and often taken advantage of.

I couldn't blame him since being with someone brought comfort and security in this unknown place.

But this was for his own safety and for my own peace of mind as the future was uncertain, and it was best if we parted ways before things turned complicated.

I was sure that he would make other friends once we were inside the Academy. They're lots of players there, I heard.

"Hey, move over there!"

We heard someone yelling, and that was when I noticed that there was already a wide gap in the line between me and the next person in front of me.

"Ah. Sorry." I quickly moved forward while scratching my head in embarrassment.

When it was my turn at the gate, I got a full view of the Academy. The inside was huge, with a wide courtyard at the front before the main building. If I didn't know that it was an Academy, I would think of it as a castle in medieval times.

There were a lot of players inside and this got me excited. It was the first time that I saw so many players congregating at a single place after I was teleported here with the others.

"Move here."

I heard someone say and was surprised to see an old lizard woman hunched at the side. She was covered in a white robe, and she was looking at me under her glasses with her condescending eyes.

"Step on the magic circle," she said with a cranky voice.

I looked at the wide circle at the entrance of the gate. I didn't know how effective the Evil Ring of Deceit was but watching those three pentagrams carved on the stone ground, I wanted to retreat and forget the whole idea.

The truth was, I already forgot about this magic circle until I came face to face with it.

"Step on the Magic Circle!" the lizard woman yelled, and her tongue slithered out of her mouth together with her spit.

I heard the others' discontent yells at the back, as well as Thomas's weak cry.

"C-Cross?"

I ignored them as all my brain did was flashed different scenarios of what might happen if I step on that magic circle – and it wasn't good scenarios.

Was the trouble worth it in the end?

I was about to take a step back as I changed my mind when I spotted someone walking along the corridors and made my world stop.

Her golden curls were shining brightly under the sun, and each sway made everyone stop to stare at her.

Amara Goldstein?!

She was here?!

Like always, she was walking with a group of humans following her. She was the sun and attracted a lot of butterflies around here, and before I knew it, I was being pulled to her location without even knowing how and why. Like she was metal, and I was a magnet.

When I came too, I was already standing in the magic circle, and the light hurt my eyes when it shone brightly.

I didn't know what happened next when the old lizard lady gave me a bracelet with a weird looking pentagram on its center, and said.

"Wear that bracelet at all times when you're studying in the Academy. Used the points allotted in that bracelet to buy anything on campus and in the city. You can also see the rules, your dorm, and your class schedule if you press the pentagram on that bracelet," she explained and shouted.

"NEXT!"

( . . . continuation on NOTES)