After spending only a few seconds memorizing the surrounding environment, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji began to walk. He knew that if he remained standing still in confusion, his conspicuous behavior would draw the eyes of those around him, increasing the risk of unpredictable consequences.
Regardless of the world he was in, Ayanokoji preferred to be an existence that others ignored. Only by blending in could he avoid unnecessary trouble.
In the classroom of Class 1-D, every eye was glued to the screen as if watching the premiere of a blockbuster film.
"This is too realistic..."
"That guy is definitely Ayanokoji!"
"Did he secretly go off and film a movie behind our backs?"
The students whispered frantically, their gazes shifting repeatedly between the screen and the boy sitting by the window.
"Possessing knowledge of almost all geography, biology, and history... is that true?"
Suzune Horikita looked at the boy beside her with disbelief. She had heard from her brother, the Student Council President, that Ayanokoji had scored exactly 50% on every single entrance exam. He had denied it, calling it a coincidence, but she found it hard to believe anyone could control their scores with such surgical precision.
If this video was real, Ayanokoji possessed the strength of a monster.
On screen, Ayanokoji had deduced his transmigration almost instantly. Facing a foreign world, his face showed no panic—only a chilling, detached calm.
"It's just a video," Ayanokoji replied casually.
Simultaneously, he looked down at his Student Terminal. Like the main screen, his personal device was playing the same footage. He focused on the smaller screen, looking for details.
The environment, the demi-humans—none of it looked like CGI or practical effects. Current technology was incapable of creating a simulation that he couldn't distinguish from reality.
But what intrigued him most was that the creator of this video seemed to know him intimately. Only the faculty at this school knew his true capabilities. If he truly were dropped into another world, his thoughts and actions would likely mirror exactly what was playing out on the screen.
My father wouldn't be bored enough to make something like this. So, what is this video?
For the first time, Ayanokoji felt he was facing a truly troublesome problem.
Across the planet, others were watching the same broadcast.
Shuchiin Academy, Student Council Office.
Miyuki Shirogane, dark circles under his eyes, stared at the television in confusion. He turned to Kaguya Shinomiya. "Kaguya, is this a film you're producing?"
"I—I would never release something this strange!" Kaguya replied, her ruby-red eyes wide.
"Let's just change the channel." Shirogane grabbed the remote and hammered the buttons. No response. "Strange... is the battery dead? Or is the TV broken? The power button won't even work..."
"That's easy!" Chika Fujiwara skipped over and yanked the power cord from the wall.
Shirogane and Kaguya's faces turned pale with horror. Even with the cord dangling in Fujiwara's hand, the screen remained lit, the broadcast continuing as if powered by the air itself.
The Kingdom of Lugunica, Capital City.
High above the palace, a brilliant light fractured the sky. It unfurled like a massive curtain, covering the sun and bathing the world in a strange glow.
"What is happening?!"
The Royal Guard scrambled, weapons drawn, as the capital entered an immediate state of crisis. Among them stood a man with hair like fire and eyes as blue as the ocean. His hand rested on the hilt of the legendary Dragon Sword at his waist.
"Lord Reinhard, do you know what this is?" a knight asked. "Is it an attack from a rival nation? The Witch's Cult?"
"My apologies, I don't know," Reinhard van Astrea replied politely. "However... the Dragon Sword has not reacted."
He released the hilt and rubbed his chin. A phenomenon of this scale was beyond any mage he knew. Then, the sky solidified into a screen, and the story of Kiyotaka Ayanokoji began to play.
Ayanokoji walked the streets at a steady pace, appearing to others as nothing more than a traveler in strange clothing.
He quickly ducked into a secluded alley to inventory his possessions. He checked the plastic bag: biscuits, mineral water, some loose change, and his phone. He noted the lack of a signal without surprise.
'The currency here is likely different. Food and water are the priorities,' Ayanokoji thought. He folded the plastic bag and tucked it into his clothes.
'But before that, I need intelligence.' He stood up to return to the street, intending to eavesdrop on passersby. He had already mapped the surrounding buildings and routes in his mind.
"What is this?"
On a street in the capital, a girl looked up at the sky. Her long, silver hair fell like a waterfall of starlight, and her amethyst eyes sparkled with concern.
"The closer we get to the Royal Selection, the stranger things become. Is this a sign from the Dragon?" she whispered.
This was Emilia.
"Lia, that street looks very close to us!" On her shoulder, a small cat-like spirit named Puck appeared, his gaze fixed on the sky.
As Ayanokoji prepared to leave the alley, three sets of footsteps echoed behind him.
"Hey, if you don't want a beating, hand over your valuables!" Three thugs emerged. Ayanokoji turned slowly, his eyes scanning them.
The citizens of the capital buzzed with recognition. Many knew these three as the notorious thugs of that district.
"That area has poor security," Reinhard murmured to himself. "I should patrol there during my next rotation."
'So bandits exist in this world too,' Ayanokoji thought, gathering data.
'The first is large, but he's carrying untrained weight; no threat. The second is thin, but his posture is unnatural—he's hiding a weapon. The third is small; negligible.' In an instant, Ayanokoji had analyzed the tactical layout.
He didn't want to fight. In his world, he could handle them easily, but he knew this wasn't his world. If there was magic or unknown power here, combat was too risky. It was more efficient to stall.
"Move! You're in my way!" A petite, cat-like figure suddenly blurred past, skidding to a halt.
She was small, with short blonde hair and a face smudged with dust. 'Fast. Trained footwork. Is she fleeing someone?' Ayanokoji observed. He had no interest in her, but her speed suggested pursuers were close.
"Don't mind me! Good luck staying alive!" the girl shouted before leaping onto the wall and vanishing over the rooftops.
Ayanokoji's brow furrowed slightly. 'Her expression was far too casual. Is robbery a common occurrence here?' He noted the order of the streets he'd passed. 'There is only one exit to this alley. If she's being chased, the pursuers—hopefully guards—will arrive soon.'
"Hey, give us the money! Did you hear me?!" The largest man grabbed Ayanokoji's collar. The boy's face remained empty, his cold eyes watching the man like he was a boring play.
"My apologies. I am a traveler. I have no money," Ayanokoji said calmly.
"No money? I bet you'll find some after a beating!" The man swung a massive fist at Ayanokoji's face.
Ayanokoji's eyes tracked the motion. Trained in combat since childhood, the punch appeared sluggish. He didn't want to show his hand, but a direct hit would be dangerous.
He leaned his upper body back just enough. The fist whistled past his face, missing by less than a centimeter.
"Exquisite evasion!" Reinhard van Astrea couldn't help but praise the screen. That reaction speed and economy of movement were the results of rigorous, high-level training.
The man in the sky wasn't just calm—he was a master of efficiency.