Forty minutes should have been enough for Elijah to come to terms with his new identity as Colton Becker.
But it wasn't.
It would never be enough.
Because what the hell was this? Not only was he cursed to live as a despicable villain, now he had to behave like an asshole just to survive?
"What if I just ignore all this and play the scenario as… I don't know, a reformed man? A model citizen?"
[No immediate penalty will be imposed by the system.]
[However, be advised: this kingdom is rotten to its very core.]
[Even without the involvement of the character 'Colton Becker,' the kingdom will collapse, and society will descend into chaotic revolution.]
[The character 'Colton Becker' is likely to suffer the same fate as in the original scenario—or perhaps an even worse one.]
No immediate penalty, it said.
Elijah snorted.
As hypocritical as it sounded, that was an undeniable fact.
Because Colton Becker wasn't the only one corrupted. The other six council members were just as rotten. And so was the royal family.
So even if he somehow became a saint, destruction still loomed over this land.
Damn kingdom.
"I understand." Elijah clicked his tongue. "So, how do I perform this Binding?"
***
Starborn Academy. Not the best on the continent of Anastasia, but certainly the most expensive.
It didn't boast cutting-edge technology that could aid in cultivating its students—but who needed tools when you had superior resources?
This academy required a minimum qualification of Tier 3 Mage for every instructor. And Tier 3 Mages made up only thirty percent of the world's population.
That alone gave them enough prestige to demand exorbitant tuition fees—money that was then funneled into increasingly burdensome building taxes, with the rest allocated to other so-called 'functional' needs.
Since they acted 'cooperatively' in the interests of national development, surely the kingdom's key figures wouldn't interfere, right?
Yet that morning, Dean Mauricio Valdez received shocking news.
"What?"
His assistant, Julia Gatti, repeated timidly: "Councilman Becker is paying a visit."
Valdez gaped, fury bubbling in his chest.
Nothing good ever came from a councilman's visit. They were greedy maggots who only showed up when profit was involved.
But what profit could be found here?
What mistake had he made?
Starborn was always punctual in paying its taxes—Valdez oversaw that himself!
No unpaid wages. No negligence in student obligations. No loopholes to exploit.
Then what was wrong?
At last, Valdez found the answer: an irresponsible article written by a scholarship student.
An article criticizing the parliament and the royal family, condemning the harm they inflicted on society.
"Damn brat!" Valdez slammed his desk.
He should have revoked that scholarship at the first sign of trouble. How could he have been so careless?
"D-D-Dean?" Julia flinched back at his sudden outburst.
"Summon him to my office—" Valdez began, then froze. No, that would look presumptuous, and that bastard councilman would only grow more hostile. "Take me to him! Now!"
Still trembling, Julia nodded. "I'll show you the way."
Valdez waddled out of his office, down the hallway. Once he had boasted that his plump figure was the mark of a prosperous man, but now he cursed every roll of fat weighing him down.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! He prayed desperately that the councilman hadn't already met the student.
And then… Valdez began to wonder if perhaps the gods didn't exist at all.
For how else could They abandon him at his moment of greatest need?
"I don't need any more empty words!"
In the middle of the main courtyard, surrounded by dozens—no, perhaps hundreds—of students, a girl was shouting with fiery passion.
"Now tell us, Councilman, how could you be so cruel?" she cried provocatively.
***
There were so many questions Elijah wanted to ask.
First: had Colton Becker—or rather, he himself—committed such an unforgivable crime that everyone glared at him with pure hatred?
Not just commoners, but nobles as well. Even a few instructors.
And second, most importantly—since when had Maine Hudford, the original protagonist of this story, become a girl?
His body, which should have nearly matched Colton's height, was now only 160 centimeters. His once broad figure was slimmer, compacted in certain places. His short, curly black hair had been tied back into a shoulder-length ponytail.
But the system made it clear!
[Recommended Target (Maine Hudford) detected!]
[Form a 'Pact' to establish your bond.]
A Pact?
[Something that both you and the Recommended Target can agree upon.]
Colton glanced at the girl. 'Maine' smirked back at him with mocking scorn. "What? Playing deaf again, like when you ignored your people's suffering, Councilman—"
"Councilman!"
A man came hurrying toward them, panting. Plump, half-bald, his wrinkled face flushed red.
One of the academy instructors?
Colton tried to recall—none had such distinctive features. Then again, he had never paid much attention to the academy staff anyway, since most of the story's setting unfolded in the kingdom at large.
"Oh, this is… truly… a delightful visit." The fat man wheezed, catching his breath as he planted himself between them. His face flushed crimson as he looked up. "You should have informed us. We couldn't prepare a proper welcome."
Colton glanced between Maine and the man. "I think I've already received a proper welcome."
The man followed Colton's gaze, then growled in anger. "Hudford! You insolent brat! What did you just say to the Councilman? Apologize at once!"
"Apologize?" Maine frowned. "He's the one who should apologize to all of us!" she shot back, pointing at Colton.
Yep. That was definitely Maine.
Not even the most arrogant noble would dare raise a finger at a councilman.
And Maine was supposed to be a commoner.
The fat man panicked. "You! Wretched brat! What have you done—"
"This girl is right." Colton's voice rang out.
The fat man paled. "No, Councilman, she's just rambling, please ignore—"
"No, she has a valid point. The policies we've made are controversial, and I'm sick of pretending otherwise."
Maine scoffed. "Hah? So now you're just going to wash your hands of it and pretend you had no part—"
"You're right," Colton cut her off. "That does sound like cowardice." He glanced at the crowd of students glaring at him in disgust. "I can't deny that I am fully responsible for every wrong decision made. And suddenly claiming I'll make up for it? Even I don't believe such a cheap lie."
Maine raised an eyebrow. "Then why—"
"But at the very least, I don't want the next generation to repeat our mistakes. I don't want you to become like us."
Colton drew in a deep breath, then declared:
"I swear, in the name of my family and my ancestors, to support the growth of this academy.
"I will become its primary donor, pledging half my fortune to reduce annual fees and improve its facilities.
"And… I will appoint the academy's top graduate as my chosen successor for my council seat."