K_Y_4815

There’s this super-famous game series called First Fantasy—people usually call it FF. It’s a massive franchise, loved by everyone from casual gamers to hardcore fans.

They made an anime version of FF, but it’s often called the biggest flop in the entire series. Why? Because the main characters never catch a break, and the story is full of gloomy, depressing twists. Most people hated it, saying it’s the darkest stain on FF’s record. Some fans even refused to admit it was part of the series! The official title of the anime is First Story, but in a joking way, people started calling it FS to make it sound separate from actual FF.

In this infamous anime, there’s a villain named Arc Noyadarma. His name sounds all grand and evil, but he’s basically just a throwaway bad guy. His final scene is so brutal that viewers don’t feel satisfaction—only trauma. Now, our protagonist has been reborn into this poor guy’s body… even though he knows nothing about FS!

“A count? Isn’t that, like, easy mode for life? I’ll do whatever I want and be a corrupt noble!”

That’s how he decides to take advantage of his new noble status for personal gain. But somehow, he keeps saving the people around him—and ends up wrecking all the depressing storylines of the original FS without even trying.

Reborn as a Villainous Noble

Did you think you could snipe me from a distance? That's too naive!

This is sweeter than a fruit tart!

Assassin-type moves won't work on me!

I sent an ice projectile right back at her.

No way I'll let myself get hunted. That's for the lower classes!

Still, I have to admit Barrett put a scratch on my shoulder.

But hey, I told her to use a gun in the first place.

So that means her success is thanks to me!

Hah, guess I really do have an eye for talent!

Arc made it to the final match, nose stretching like Pinocchio.

He noticed Camilla's magic activation for a reason.

Those symbols resonate slightly with other magic.

Because they're built right into his body, he can sense the smallest hint of magic.

And his magic circuits send signals faster than normal human reactions.

Basically, Arc's reflexes are way beyond normal.

That's how he can wander around without worry, even with Barrett trying to snipe him.

Still, Barrett's shot made him sweat a bit.

She hit him the moment he let his guard down, and she managed to get through his shield.

If he didn't have near-superhuman reactions, he might've been hit much harder.

Either way, Barrett managed to injure Arc after just a few weeks of training.

Surtr's group continues down the academy's dark underground corridor.

They run into more golems, but manage to defeat them too.

Unlike in the original storyline, Camilla is here, and she's stronger than Ruine or Magisa, who should have been.

Thanks to her help, they reach the deepest area.

Just as expected, Embra is waiting.

"You're late," Embra says with her usual friendly teacher smile.

"What are you doing here?" Lost asks.

"Your job? Then why the golems? They're the same black golems that attacked the academy."

"I needed to keep out unwanted guests."

Embra just keeps smiling, not saying yes or no.

"What are you trying to do with the Crystal Aether?" Surtr demands, gripping his sword Laevateinn.

"I'm taking it. My group needs it."

"Tch, so you're showing your real colors. Why do you need it?"

It's basically an endless mana source.

Not truly infinite, but close enough.

It constantly takes in magical essence from the air to produce mana.

It's an ancient artifact the academy owns, so it's heavily guarded.

Even if Embra is a teacher, she can't normally get her hands on it.

But today, the magic tournament is using a huge space-expansion spell that needs a ton of mana.

Hence the Crystal Aether is active.

During that process, the underground area is opened.

Even so, it's still guarded, so she must have forced her way in to steal it.

"Heh heh. Even if I told you why, you couldn't do anything," she says with a laugh.

"Not like we can't—" Surtr starts but stops.

Memories of failing come rushing back—his village destroyed by the Dark Hand, him doing nothing. The exercise, the relief mission—again, he did nothing.

"No! I can at least stop you right here!"

"You sure are quick to act, Surtr. But I don't hate that."

No matter how you look at it, Embra is an enemy.

She's trying to take the Crystal Aether. She may have unleashed the black golems.

So Surtr and Lost naturally attack.

Camilla's chain wraps around both of them.

Surtr and Lost's eyes go wide, taken completely by surprise.

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