From Dumbass To Nerd

William Miller was just your typical college freshman, currently studying at the prestigious Blackwood University. This elite institution was renowned for being the exclusive domain of the world's most beautiful, handsome, and wealthy students. William, however, was the complete opposite—an ordinary-looking guy who felt utterly out of place among his privileged classmates.

He had only gained admission to this prestigious school thanks to his uncle Leon. When William's parents died in a tragic car accident when he was just fourteen years old, Uncle Leon had stepped in to raise him. Despite working as a truck driver with modest means, Leon had a close friend who worked in Blackwood University's administration, and through this connection, he had managed to secure William's enrollment.

Life had been difficult, but at least William had his uncle's unwavering support—until one fateful day when everything changed.

The shrill ring of William's old, battered phone pierced the silence of his small dorm room.

"Hello, is this the nephew of Leon Miller?" came a woman's voice through the crackling speaker.

"Yes, that's me. Why are you calling?" William replied, confusion evident in his voice.

"It's about your uncle..."

William's heart immediately began racing. "What happened? Is he okay?"

"Your uncle was involved in a truck accident earlier today..." the woman paused, her voice heavy with sympathy.

"WHAT?!" William screamed, his voice echoing off the walls of his cramped room. "What do you mean? Is he alright? Please tell me he's going to be okay!"

"I'm so sorry... he didn't make it. The injuries were too severe."

The line went dead.

William sat in stunned silence, staring at the phone in his trembling hands. Slowly, his gaze shifted to a framed photograph on his desk—a picture of him and Uncle Leon smiling together at his high school graduation. That had been one of the happiest days of his life.

"Everything is gone..." he whispered to the empty room. "Not even my grandparents wanted me when my parents died. Uncle Leon was all I had left, and now... now I'm completely alone."

The next day, William walked through the university campus like a ghost. His usual awkward nervousness had been replaced by a hollow emptiness that seemed to consume him from within.

"Liam!" called out a familiar voice.

William turned to see Anne approaching—his childhood friend who was one of the few people allowed to call him by his nickname. She was beautiful, popular, and everything he could never be.

"Hey Liam, are you alright?" she asked, studying his face with concern.

But William had been avoiding Anne for the past few days, ever since a devastating incident that had shattered what remained of his already fragile self-esteem.

Just three days earlier, William had finally gathered the courage to confess his feelings to Anne—feelings he'd harbored since they were children.

"Anne," he had said, his voice shaking with nervousness, "I know this might be crazy, but I've liked you for so long. Would you maybe want to go on a date with me?"

Anne had looked at him with a mixture of surprise and pity. "Oh, Liam... I'm sorry, but I don't have time for dating right now. Besides, we're just friends, you know?"

Those words—"just friends"—had hit him like a physical blow. But what happened next was even worse.

Later that same day, while walking home from campus, William had spotted Anne laughing and holding hands with someone. Not just anyone—it was Ethan, his best friend since middle school. Ethan was everything William wasn't: tall, handsome, athletic, and from a wealthy family.

Watching them together, William had felt something break inside his chest. He wasn't angry—he was just painfully aware of reality. Anne deserved someone like Ethan, someone who could give her the life she wanted. Someone who wouldn't embarrass her.

Now, as Anne stood before him with genuine concern in her eyes, William made a decision.

"I'm fine," he said quietly. "I just don't want to bother you anymore."

"What do you mean by that?" Anne asked, her brow furrowed with confusion.

William took a deep breath. "I know you're embarrassed to be seen with me. You only talk to me when there's no one else around. I've always known I wasn't good enough to be your friend, but I was selfish and clung to our friendship anyway." He managed a sad smile. "Thank you for being kind to me for so long, but I don't want to be a burden in your life anymore."

Before Anne could respond, William turned and walked away, leaving her standing there in shocked silence.

Anne felt a chill run down her spine. Something was terribly wrong with Liam, and deep down, she knew her rejection had played a part in whatever was happening to him. The truth was, she had been using their friendship for years—William was incredibly smart and had always helped her with schoolwork and projects. Now, seeing the pain in his eyes, she realized how much she had taken him for granted.

After leaving campus, William found himself walking aimlessly through the city until he reached Veilmoon Bridge—a towering structure that spanned the river running through the heart of the city. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the water below.

Standing at the edge of the bridge, William felt the weight of his entire life pressing down on him.

"My life is completely worthless," he said aloud, his voice carried away by the wind. "Why was I even born like this? If God really exists, why did you make me so pathetic? Why do you just sit there watching me suffer?"

Tears streamed down his face as years of pain and rejection finally overwhelmed him.

"Do you really think I can handle all of this? My parents are dead, my uncle is dead, I have no money, no friends, no future... Why did you even let me exist? WHY?!"

In a moment of complete despair, William climbed over the bridge's safety railing and jumped.

As he fell toward the dark water below, watching the bridge grow smaller above him, he felt an strange sense of peace. Finally, the pain would end. Finally, he would be reunited with his family.

[Ding!]

Suddenly, a glowing blue screen materialized in front of his falling body.

"Great, now I'm hallucinating as I die," William thought bitterly.

[I apologize for my delayed intervention. Being a deity comes with... complications. As an apology for your suffering, I will grant you a system that will transform your life completely.]

"HAHAHAHA!" William laughed hysterically, even as he continued falling. "NOW you want to help me? After letting me suffer for years? This life is worthless anyway—just let me die!"

[I cannot allow that. You have committed no sins against me or others. You are kind, caring, and selfless—you always put others before yourself. The only person you've ever been unfair to is yourself.]

"Unfair to myself?! Do you see how ugly I am? How worthless?"

[Yes, I see you clearly. That's precisely why I will help you transform into everything you wish to be. I will make you wealthy, attractive, and successful. Everyone who has wronged you will regret their actions. Even your family members who abandoned you will come begging for your help.]

"What a ridiculous fantasy..."

[This is no fantasy. I am granting you the System now.]

William's eyes snapped open. He was lying in his familiar dorm room bed, completely dry and uninjured. Sunlight streamed through his small window.

"When did I get back here? Who brought me home?" he wondered aloud, sitting up in confusion.

[System Initialization Complete! Greetings, Host! I transported you here via teleportation. The System is now fully operational and ready to begin your transformation!]

The glowing blue screen hovered in front of him, displaying text that seemed impossible yet undeniably real.

[Tutorial Quest #1]

[Objective: Drop out of Blackwood University immediately!]

[Rewards: Luxurious Villa (no utility bills, unlimited electricity and water), and a Rolls-Royce Phantom]

[Time Limit: 3 hours]

[Failure Consequence: Immediate cardiac arrest]

William stared at the screen in disbelief. "This... this is actually real?"

[Affirmative! The countdown has begun. You have 2 hours and 47 minutes remaining.]

"What the hell?! I need to move fast!"

William threw on his school uniform and rushed toward the door, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and terror.

As he stepped outside his dormitory, he nearly collided with someone waiting by the entrance.

"Hey Liam!" It was Anne, looking concerned and slightly out of breath.

"What do you want?" William asked impatiently, glancing at the timer counting down in the corner of his vision.

"I wanted to walk to class together. We need to talk about yesterday—"

"No," William interrupted. "I have something urgent to take care of. Good luck with your life, Anne."

He took off running before she could respond, leaving her standing there with hurt and confusion written across her face.

Ten minutes later, William burst through the doors of Blackwood University's main administration building. He sprinted up the marble staircase to the principal's office and knocked frantically on the heavy wooden door.

"Come in!" called Principal Harrison's authoritative voice.

William entered the lavishly decorated office, still breathing heavily from his run.

"Well, well. If it isn't William Miller," the principal said with barely concealed disdain. "What do you want? Are you finally here to discuss your overdue tuition payments?"

"No, sir," William said, standing straighter than he ever had before. "I'm here to formally withdraw from Blackwood University. Thank you for the educational opportunity, but I'm dropping out effective immediately."

Principal Harrison's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he couldn't hide the relief in his expression. "Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Very well, I'll have the paperwork processed."

Back in William's former classroom, Anne kept glancing at his empty desk with growing worry. Something was seriously wrong with her childhood friend, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was partially responsible.

"Hey Ethan," she whispered to the handsome boy sitting beside her, "do you know what happened to Liam? He's been acting strange lately."

Ethan shrugged. "No idea. He's been avoiding everyone."

Their conversation was interrupted when their professor, Mrs. Chen, entered the classroom.

"Please take your seats, everyone. I have an important announcement to make."

The classroom fell silent as students settled into their chairs.

"I've just been informed that William Miller has officially withdrawn from Blackwood University due to personal reasons. He will no longer be attending classes here."

Most of the students seemed relieved or indifferent—William had never been popular, and many had viewed him as an outsider who didn't belong among Blackwood's elite student body.

But Anne felt her blood run cold. "Personal reasons?" She knew this had something to do with their conversation yesterday, and the guilt hit her like a physical weight.

Ethan, meanwhile, felt an unexpected pang of loss. Despite their recent distance, William had been his best friend for years.

[Tutorial Quest #1 Complete! Rewards have been granted. Please proceed to Crestwood Collection to collect your villa documentation and to Zenith Motors for your vehicle.]

William's phone immediately buzzed with two messages:

Message 1: Dear Mr. William Miller, Your luxury villa is ready for occupancy. Please visit our offices immediately to complete the final paperwork. Sincerely, Crestwood Collection

Message 2: Dear Mr. Miller, Your Rolls-Royce Phantom has arrived and is ready for delivery. Please come to our showroom to sign the final documents. Best regards, Zenith Motors

William stared at his phone in amazement. "This is actually happening. This is really happening!"

William decided to visit Zenith Motors first, since it was closer to the university. The luxury car dealership was housed in a gleaming glass building that screamed wealth and exclusivity.

As he walked through the pristine showroom filled with cars worth more than most people's houses, he approached the reception desk where a beautiful young woman sat filing her nails.

"Excuse me," William said politely, "I'm here to sign paperwork for my car?"

The receptionist looked up at him with obvious disgust, taking in his worn school uniform and nervous demeanor.

"HAHAHA! You? You think you have a car here?" she laughed mockingly. "This isn't a bicycle shop, kid. You look like you couldn't even afford a tire from one of these cars! HAHAHA!"

William felt his old insecurities rising, but then he remembered the System. Instead of shrinking away, he pulled out his phone and called the manager's direct line.

"Good afternoon, sir. How may I assist you?" came a professional woman's voice.

"I'm William Miller, and I'm here to collect my Phantom, but your receptionist has been extremely rude and unprofessional. I'm reconsidering this transaction."

The receptionist's laughter died in her throat as she realized he was actually on the phone with someone.

"Who do you think you're calling? Your mommy? AHAHAHA!" she continued mockingly.

William hung up the call, and within seconds, a well-dressed woman came rushing out of the back office. This was Diana Martinez, the dealership manager.

Without hesitation, Diana slapped the receptionist hard across the face.

"How DARE you speak that way to Mr. Miller! He's here to collect his Rolls-Royce Phantom!" Diana shouted.

"W-What? But he's just some poor student—" the receptionist stammered.

SLAP!

Diana hit her again. "Get out! You're fired! Security will escort you from the building."

The receptionist collapsed to the floor, crying as she realized she had just insulted a customer wealthy enough to buy a $500,000 car.

"Mr. Miller, I am profoundly sorry for this treatment," Diana said, bowing slightly. "Please, would you follow me to my office so we can complete your paperwork properly?"

"Of course," William replied, feeling a surge of confidence he'd never experienced before.

Twenty minutes later, William walked out of Zenith Motors holding the keys to a gleaming black Rolls-Royce Phantom. The car was a masterpiece of luxury engineering, and as he settled into the hand-stitched leather driver's seat, he felt like he was living in a dream.

"Thank you for your business, Mr. Miller! Please don't hesitate to contact us for any future automotive needs," Diana called out as he prepared to leave.

"I'll certainly keep that in mind," William replied. "But you might want to train your staff better. First impressions matter in luxury sales."

As he drove away in his new car, William couldn't help but smile. For the first time in his life, he had been treated with respect—real respect, not pity or charity.

Next stop: Crestwood Collection. This real estate company specialized in ultra-luxury properties, and their office was even more impressive than the car dealership.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Miller," the receptionist greeted him warmly as soon as he walked in. "Our manager is expecting you. Right this way, please."

The difference in treatment was immediately apparent—no judgment, no condescension, just professional courtesy.

The manager, Mr. Richards, was a distinguished gentleman in his sixties who greeted William with genuine enthusiasm.

"Mr. Miller! What a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Thank you for choosing Crestwood Collection for your real estate needs. I must say, Villa #1 at Grand Haven Estate is our crown jewel—I'm impressed that someone your age has the resources and vision to invest in such a premium property."

After signing the paperwork, Mr. Richards handed William an ornate key.

"Your villa is located in the most exclusive section of Grand Haven Estate. The property includes seven bedrooms, four full bathrooms, one master suite with panoramic city views, a three-car garage, private pool, and landscaped gardens. All utilities are included in perpetuity as part of your purchase package."

When William arrived at Grand Haven Estate, the security guard's entire demeanor changed upon hearing "Villa #1" and confirming William's identity.

"Welcome home, Mr. Miller! Please drive straight up the main boulevard—your property is at the very top of the hill."

As William's Phantom glided up the winding road, he passed several impressive mansions, but nothing prepared him for his own villa. Villa #1 was a modern architectural masterpiece that commanded a breathtaking view of the entire city.

Walking through his new home for the first time, William felt overwhelmed by the sheer scale and luxury of it all. The master bedroom alone was larger than his entire dorm room, and the panoramic windows offered a view that looked like something from a movie.

"This is incredible!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the spacious rooms.

[Tutorial Quest #2: Pathway to Genius] [The System will grant you a skill that allows instant absorption of knowledge from books. First, visit the nearest library to activate this ability.] [Reward: Instant Learn Skill - Master any subject by simply touching a book] [Time Limit: 24 hours]

William grinned as he read the new quest. His transformation was just beginning, and he could already feel that his old life of poverty, rejection, and loneliness was becoming nothing more than a distant memory.

"Anne, Ethan, Principal Harrison... you all treated me like I was worthless," he said to himself, looking out at his spectacular view. "Let's see how you feel when you realize exactly what you lost."

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A/N: First time writing novel and english is not my original language there might be a lot of grammar mistakes I will try even more in the next chapter