Depressed, hangover, weary... what's next?

The academy grounds, large enough to pass for a city, were gradually illuminated by the red glow of dawn. 

There were gardens, forests, stores and a lot of different infrastructure created especially for the cadets. 

Walking down one of the streets surrounded by various stores, Damien finally put his thoughts in order. 

His body still ached, but at least his head was fine. 

Based on the latest issue of the Academy Herald, the weekly newspaper, it was now about a week since the beginning of the second semester of the second year.

Damien, like the main character Lucas entered the Academy at the same time, which means he was now a sophomore. 

Only one question remained. 

Was the plot already irrevocably broken? 

With Lucas dead, the world should already be on the rails of a bad ending, changing the world he know into something different. 

It was pretty sad, but could regrets make a difference? 

No. Which means he had to do it himself. 

"Only going forward, right?" 

Grinning, Damien finally dismissed those thoughts. 

Focusing on the current moment, he glanced up at the sun, which was just rising from behind the horizon. 

He got out pretty early, so there was still time before class. 

Changing direction slightly, he soon entered a deserted park devoid of any hint of people. 

Where the shadows of the trees thickened around him, he pronounced. 

"Lucas White."

According to the girl that called herself God, by saying the name he could get information about someone. 

But after a minute or two, nothing happened. 

The same thing happened when he tried to give the names of those listed in the paper as having died with Lucas. 

For comparison, he said the names of characters who were definitely still alive in the story... and each time this was immediately followed by a panel with their information. 

"So it doesn't work on the dead? That's a shame."

Damien really wanted to see what Lucas had accomplished before he died and if he was lucky, find out what killed him. 

Lucas was the main character and the one through whom players saw and interacted with the world of Academy Slayer. 

And as such, his path of development often depended on the player's choices. Therefore, now that this world was a reality, he didn't know much about the 'Lucas of this world'. 

Except for the fact that he had died in one of the easiest Arcs. 

"Damien Nilfheim."

Then let's check out what I have. 

— — —「Character」— — —

「Name」

◆ Damien Nilfheim ◆

「Identities」

◆ Academy's Bastard, Son of Nilfheim, Lord of Millennium Castle. ◆

「Gift」

◆ Usher's hand ◆

「Affinity」

◆ Mana: D grade ◆

◆ Aura: unknown ◆

「Story value」

Calculating… 

「Condition」

◆ Sealed, cursed, depression, hangover, weary, confusion, destruction. ◆

— — — — — —

Depression, hangover, weary… 

"What a beautiful bouquet of words."

On the other hand, looking at his body now, this list suited him very well. 

Strong at its peak, this body has now slipped to a pitiful state. As for sealed and cursed, he didn't know much about it himself.

The rest of his status status needs no introduction and speaks for itself.

If anything caught his eye... 

[Usher's hand.]

A unique Gift that Damian possessed. 

In simple terms, it allows him to steal anything. It didn't matter if it was knowledge, things, money, or skills. 

As long as it could be stolen, Usher's Hand could work on it. 

But it had one fatal flaw hidden in the condition of its activation. 

[What you wanted to steal must be worthless to the person.]

As long as the person had no attachment to it, you could steal it. In contrast, if a pin would be of value to someone, you couldn't even steal it. 

It was the main reason why Damien was stealing women, humiliating others, and ruining their lives, all to activate Usher's Hand. Not that he disliked the process of it, though.

When a person's self-esteem drops, they naturally become disillusioned with their abilities and become more susceptible to the Usher's hand.

Still, so far Damien hadn't stolen a single skill.

That's why he was nicknamed among the players. 

Empty Damian. 

Although he had this power, it was just empty words. 

Sure, among the things he stole was information, money, things, other people's hearts... but the skills weren't there. 

"Haaah…haaah...." 

A strange sound interrupted the flow of his thoughts. 

Damien looked around. 

Before he realized it, his feet had taken him deep into the park where the forest was already beginning. 

The same sound he had heard earlier continued to repeat itself with the same intervals. 

Damien shook his head with a knowing smile. 

"Students these days are full of youthful energy."

Despite those words, his feet moved in the direction of the sounds. 

And soon, through a few bushes, he saw it. 

The scene unfolding before his eyes was slightly different from his expectations. 

There was a girl. And a huge sword.