<b>Chapter 2: Congratulations, You’re a Scumbag!</b>
When I finally regain my senses, the first thing I realize is: I’m in pain.
The second thing I realize is: My face hurts. A lot.
The third thing I realize is: I have no idea what just happened.
I blink up at the ceiling, brain still buffering like an old Windows XP startup screen. Then it all rushes back—Lady Eleanor, a red-haired noble with the aura of a high-and-mighty queen, had just SLAPPED me so hard that I entered another cutscene.
I groan, clutching my burning cheek.
“What the hell was that for?!”
Eleanor crosses her arms, her ruby-red eyes glaring down at me like I just stepped on her expensive dress.
“For your crimes, obviously!” she declares. “I, Lady Eleanor of House Luthgart, am officially breaking off our engagement!”
...Wait. Our what now?
I sit up so fast I nearly get whiplash. Engagement? I don’t remember being engaged. Hell, I don’t even remember having a girlfriend in my past life, let alone in this stupid game!
And that’s when it hits me.
Oh, no. I know this trope.
This is that classic “villainous noble gets dumped by the heroine” scene you see in every fantasy story. But this never happened in the original game!
I grab my head. WHY AM I EVEN HERE?!
DING!
A notification box appears in front of me.
> [System Message: Congratulations! You have successfully triggered the “Scumbag Noble Breakup Scene” trope!]
> [Your Reputation Has Dropped Even Further!]
> [New Title Unlocked: Walking Red Flag]
>
"THE HELL KIND OF TITLE IS THAT?!"
Eleanor scoffs, tossing her hair over her shoulder like she’s just thrown me into the trash where I belong. “It’s about time. Do you know how much of a disgrace you are?”
Okay. Time out. Pause the damn game.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
I need to understand something.
Who the hell am I supposed to be in this world?!
I glance at my reflection in a nearby window and almost scream. My face is familiar, but not because I recognize it—because I remember this character.
Leon.
A minor noble in Diamonds of Dregna. No real background. No development. Completely removed from the final version of the game because players found him boring.
And yet, for some reason… everyone here thinks I’m an overpowered monster.
I scan the faces of the gathered nobles and students. The moment I make eye contact, they flinch like I just kicked a puppy.
What’s going on?
Eleanor points a perfectly manicured finger at me. “Not only are you a notorious bully, but you even tormented poor Sophia!”
...Sophia?
I turn my head.
Standing behind Eleanor is a small girl with soft silver hair and trembling blue eyes. She looks like the kind of character that dies in the first act to make the protagonist care.
Oh, wait. That’s exactly what happens in the game.
Sophia.
A kind, humble commoner girl. No one important, but she was a tutorial NPC that helped the hero, Adam, learn about the world. She was supposedly bullied to death by nobles, leading to Adam swearing revenge against them.
And now…
They think I’m the one who bullied her?!
I rack my brain, trying to remember what I did to her, but I never even played far enough to see her story!
DING!
Another notification appears.
> [System Flashback Feature Unlocked!]
> [Replaying your crimes...]
>
Huh?
Suddenly, memories I don’t recognize flood into my brain.
—Me, standing over Sophia, looking smug.
—Me, stealing her lunch while laughing like a cheap anime villain.
—Me, saying something cruel that makes her eyes water.
...Wait, wait, wait. I don’t remember doing any of this!
“I DIDN’T DO THAT!” I scream.
DING!
> [System Notice: Oh, but your body did. Too bad, sucker.]
>
YOU’RE KIDDING ME.
I break out in a cold sweat. No wonder everyone thinks I’m a scumbag! The old Leon actually did bully her!
I glance at Sophia, who is trembling like a lost kitten.
Crap. I have to fix this.
I take a deep breath, put on my best "I''m totally not evil" smile, and walk up to her.
“Hey, Sophia, listen… about before. I—”
Before I can even finish my sentence, her eyes roll back, and she faints.
She literally collapses in front of me.
The crowd screams.
“HE KILLED HER WITH HIS AURA!”
“HE MUST HAVE USED DARK MAGIC!”
“RUN BEFORE HE CURSES US ALL!”
WHAT?!
I didn’t even touch her! I was trying to apologize!
DING!
> [System Update: Congratulations! You have successfully upgraded your reputation from ‘Scumbag’ to ‘Demon Lord in Training’!]
> [New Title Unlocked: Terror of the Academy]
>
THIS SYSTEM IS ACTIVELY TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE.
Eleanor steps forward, glaring daggers at me. “Unbelievable. You’ve proven my point.”
I hold up my hands in surrender. “Wait, let me explain—”
“Save your excuses! This is exactly why I’m breaking off our engagement!”
I blink. Oh. Right. We were still in the middle of that scene.
Eleanor flips her hair dramatically. “I refuse to be associated with a villain like you! From this day forward, we are nothing to each other!”
The crowd erupts into cheers. The villain has been vanquished! The noble heroine has freed herself from her evil fiancé!
I stand there, stunned, watching as Eleanor struts off with Sophia in her arms, Adam following behind like a true hero.
And just like that…
I am officially the most hated man in the academy.
DING!
> [System Message: Good job, idiot! You’ve completed the ‘Publicly Humiliated & Abandoned’ event!]
> [Your Reputation Has Dropped to Rock Bottom!]
>
I sigh, rubbing my temples. This is going to be a long year.
Just when I think my day can’t get any worse, a small letter appears in my hand.
I unfold it, only to see a familiar, elegant signature at the bottom.
—“My dear Leon, we need to talk. I’ll be seeing you very soon.”
—Stepmother.
I stare at the message.
…Ah, crap.
[To Be Continued]"