As Claude lowered himself back into his seat, silence briefly lingered in the lecture hall.
For a heartbeat, no one spoke.
Then, the quiet began to fracture into murmurs.
"Strange, he didn't mention his family…"
"Riviere… never heard of that name before."
"But the way he carried himself… he didn't seem ordinary."
Whispers spread quickly but quietly, yet none could reach a clear conclusion.
Claude hadn't uttered a single word about his background, but his presence, his composure, and the weight in his tone made it impossible to dismiss him as a nobody.
He had given them nothing to judge, yet nothing to doubt either.
Back in his seat, Claude wore a perfectly neutral, unbothered expression, eyes fixed calmly on the professor as if the murmuring around him had nothing to do with him.
Outwardly, he looked composed.
But inside?
Inside was chaos.
What the hell was that?!
Did I really just say my name and nothing else?!
They're all suspicious now—I'm finished, I'm doomed!
His thoughts poured nonstop, one after another, crashing against his skull like waves.
Embarrassment, panic, disbelief—every emotion tangled together until they could be summed up in a single word.
Doomed.
I'm really doomed!!!
Claude's fingers curled slightly against the desk, hidden from sight.
He couldn't believe what the system had forced on him.
Act with a noble's temperament… all the time? Around the entire school?
His chest tightened at the thought.
This wasn't just pretending for a moment in class.
This was walking a thin line, where one wrong move could unravel everything.
These people weren't ordinary students—each one of them had wealth and power behind them.
Families with influence so vast that with just a single phone call, they could investigate anyone's background.
Claude swallowed hard, keeping his outward mask perfectly calm.
If they ever find out my real life… that I'm nothing but a broke scholarship student…
The weight of the risk pressed heavily on him.
One slip, and he's finished!
The line of introductions finally came to an end, and Professor Harrington adjusted his glasses, scanning the room once more.
His tone shifted slightly, less rigid than before, though it still carried authority.
"Since it is the first day, there will be no lectures. Instead, take this time to familiarize yourselves with the expectations of this course and with each other. Discipline and preparation are not optional here. That will be all for today."
With that, he gathered his notes and strode out of the lecture hall, his presence leaving behind a faint pressure even in his absence.
The silence lasted only a moment before students began moving again.
A few of them stood and approached Claude's seat, offering polite nods and handshakes.
"Claude Julien Riviere, right? Nice to meet you."
"I look forward to studying with you."
Their tone was courteous, but nothing too familiar—it was more of a formality, the kind heirs of wealthy families practiced easily.
Most of the others, however, didn't bother.
They simply returned to their own groups, continuing their conversations without sparing Claude a glance.
Claude returned the greetings calmly, keeping his mask unbroken.
Inside, though, the tension refused to fade.
***
Back in the cramped space of his dorm, Claude finally let out the storm he had been holding back all day.
Dropping his bag onto the desk, he ran both hands through his hair and groaned aloud.
"Damn it! What kind of absurd task was that?!" he snapped, pacing the narrow floor.
His calm mask was gone, replaced with the raw frustration he had swallowed in front of everyone.
Then—
|╣Task Completed: First Impression Secured╠|
|╣Reward Granted: Identity Immunity — All personal data and background are now fully protected. No investigation or power can penetrate.╠|
Claude froze, blinking at the glowing system prompt before him.
His eyes widened as he read the words again, making sure he wasn't mistaken.
Immunity.
His personal history, his poverty, his nothingness—all of it had been sealed away.
No matter how powerful the family, no matter how vast their resources, no one could dig into his real background.
For a second, relief washed over him… but it didn't last.
He clenched his fists, snapping at the empty air.
"As if that helps! Now they'll just get even more suspicious. The more they can't find anything about me, the more curious they'll get!"
Claude fell back onto his bed, covering his face with one hand.
His chest heaved as he tried to calm himself.
This system… it's going to drag me straight into chaos.
Claude lay on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as his mind swirled.
At this rate… will I end up rich, or will I rot in jail?
The question echoed endlessly, tightening the knot in his chest.
Then, the familiar light flickered before him once more.
|╣Bonus Reward Issued: Audemars Piguet Royal Grand Complication – Limited Celestial Edition. Valued at 3,200,000 CP. Exclusive luxury, with only 10 pieces crafted worldwide.╠|
Before his eyes, the reward materialized.
A magnificent wristwatch hovered in the air, radiating brilliance.
The platinum casing gleamed under the dim dorm light, its dial an intricate masterpiece of constellations and celestial patterns.
Every gear and hand moved with perfect precision, the embodiment of wealth and craftsmanship.
The logo of Audemars Piguet, one of the most prestigious luxury watchmakers in the world, sat proudly on its face.
Claude's breath hitched as he reached out, the watch landing softly in his palm.
It was heavy—not just in weight, but in value.
The kind of item only the rarest billionaires could dream of owning.
His entire demeanor shifted at once.
Straightening his posture, he bowed his head slightly, voice filled with genuine humility.
"Thank you… system."
The shock gave way to a thrilling realization.
If rewards like this keep appearing… I really will become rich.
Yes, it was dangerous.
Yes, it felt like walking into a lion's den.
But Claude clenched his fist, eyes burning with resolve.
Well… I've already started down this path...
No point turning back now. Why not continue?
Claude's vision flickered as the familiar interface appeared before him. Lines of text shifted, reorganizing themselves as the system updated.
|╣System Status Updating....╠|
|╣System Status Updated╠|
|╣SYSTEM STATUS╠|
[BASIC INFO]
Name: Claude Julien Riviere
Age: 18
Height: 181 cm (5'11")
Weight: 78 kg (172 lbs)
Blood Type: AB-
[ASSETS]
Funds: 210 CP
Properties: Royal Celestial Edition Watch (3,200,000 CP)
Claude's eyes widened, a rush of excitement coursing through him as he stared at the updated screen.
His lips curved into a faint smile, unable to hold back the elation bubbling inside.
He's one the people who owned a watch that only 10 people in the world can get.
The sight of the newly listed watch under his properties felt surreal, yet it was right there before him.
For the first time in his life, he held something of true, immeasurable value.
Claude stared at the glowing interface for a while before finally breaking the silence.
"System… is it really necessary to go this far? To force me to act like a noble, to live like them? Isn't this too extreme?"
|╣It is necessary.╠|
Claude frowned, leaning back against his bed.
"Necessary? You saw what happened today. One mistake, and I'll be doomed. If they find out who I really am, I'll be done for. Not that I'm doubting my immunity."
If I made a mistake.... Can I really survive?
|╣For one to become rich, one must act rich. Wealth attracts wealth. Power respects power.╠|
Claude pressed his lips together.
The words felt heavy, but there was a strange sense of truth in them.
"Act rich to become rich, huh…? Still, it feels like I'm playing with fire."
|╣Fire burns the unprepared. But to those who dare, fire forges steel.╠|
Claude blinked, caught off guard by the sudden metaphor.
Slowly, he chuckled, shaking his head.
"You sound more like a mentor than a system right now."
|╣Interpret it as you wish. Your path is yours to walk, but the system will guide.╠|
Silence filled the small dorm again, but this time it wasn't suffocating.
Claude looked at the shimmering watch resting on his desk, then back at the glowing status window.
"I guess… you're right. If I keep hiding and cowering, I'll stay poor forever. But if I keep moving forward, even with the risks, I might actually become someone great."
|╣Correct. Continue forward. Wealth awaits.╠|
Claude exhaled deeply, his eyes firming with newfound resolve.
"Alright then. If this is the path, I'll walk it. Let's see just how far we can go."
The system interface flickered once before fading, leaving Claude with nothing but the quiet hum of determination in his chest.