An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

The next morning came quickly. The sun peeked through the curtains, casting warm, golden light across the room. Arthur stirred from his sleep, stretching lazily in his massive bed. Today was the entrance ceremony for the academy—a significant event marking the beginning of a new chapter.

He glanced at the time. 6:45 AM. Early, but not too early. The academy ceremony would begin around mid-morning, so there was enough time to get ready.

A soft knock echoed on his door before it opened slightly. Lily stepped in with their usual silent grace.

"Good morning, young master," Lily greeted, her voice calm and professional, though a soft smile tugged at her lips. "It's time to get ready."

Arthur blinked a few times, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as Lily moved toward a nearby chair and placed a neatly pressed outfit—a plain shirt, pants, and a blazer—carefully over it.

"I've already informed the butler," Lily continued, "and he's sent everything you'll need for the ceremony."

Arthur smirked, still groggy but amused. "You're always ahead of everything."

Lira, standing by the door with her arms crossed, gave a small nod of approval. "It's our job to be. You can't afford to be late on such an important day."

"Agreed. Today, all eyes will be on you," Lyra added, her tone serious. "As the heir of the Ludwig family, you're expected to stand out."

Arthur stretched again and swung his legs over the bed. "Standing out isn't exactly hard when you look this good," he teased, his smirk widening.

Lily chuckled softly. "True, young master. But even the most handsome man needs to freshen up."

"Is everyone else awake?" Arthur asked, standing and stretching again.

"Yes," she replied. "They're getting ready as well. I suggest you wash up, young master." She paused, a playful smirk forming. "Or… do you need my assistance?"

Arthur raised an eyebrow, matching her energy. "Oh, I'd loveto take you up on that offer…" His hand slid around her waist, grabbing a handful of her firm ass cheek and giving it a playful squeeze. "But if you join me, I doubt I'll make it to the ceremony on time."

A soft gasp escaped Lily's lips, her cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of pink. "Mmm... Master, you're getting too bold."

Arthur leaned in, his lips brushing her ear. "Bold? You haven't seen bold yet."

Lily bit her lower lip, stepping back with a coy smile. "I'll wait outside, Master… unless you change your mind." She left the room, a sway in her hips that Arthur couldn't help but appreciate.

Arthur watched her walk out, her hips swaying with a deliberate tease. He chuckled to himself. 'Damn, mornings could be a lot more fun if they didn't have schedules to keep.'

Arthur chuckled and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. A cold splash of water woke him up, getting him ready for the day ahead.

About 30 minutes later, Arthur joined the others in the dining room. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. Everyone was ready for the academy's entrance ceremony.

Cedric was already there, munching on a piece of fruit. He looked up and grinned. "Well, look who finally decided to show up. Ready to steal the spotlight, Arthur?"

Arthur smirked, sliding into a seat. "Steal? Cedric, I don't need to steal anything. I am the spotlight."

"Indeed, you're looking quite the gentleman," Alicia commented, her lips curling into a soft smile.

Alicia looked radiant in a sleek, elegant dress. "You're looking gorgeous, Alicia," Arthur said, his eyes lingering on her.

Arthur glanced across the table and caught sight of Kaela, who was wearing a new, form-fitting dress that accentuated her curves. "You too, Kaela. That dress looks awesome. Did you go shopping or something?"

Kaela blushed slightly and wrapped her arm around Cedric's neck, leaning into him. "Thank you. Cedric bought it for me yesterday."

Cedric's face instantly flushed red at the unexpected physical contact.

Arthur, noticing his reaction, smirked. "Looks like someone's a little shy."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Cedric's eyes widened, and he immediately shot back, "Who's shy? I'm not shy!"

Alicia leaned forward, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Then why is your face so red?"

"It's just… it's just too hot in here," Cedric stammered, tugging at his collar.

Arthur and Alicia exchanged amused glances. "Right," Arthur said, chuckling. "Must be boiling in here."

Kaela tightened her grip on Cedric's neck, whispering teasingly, "You're adorable when you're flustered."

Cedric mumbled something under his breath, clearly trying to play it cool but failing miserably.

Arthur observed their interaction with a raised eyebrow, his mind swirling with curiosity. 'Did something happen between them yesterday?'

He leaned closer to Alicia, whispering softly, "Aren't they acting weird today?"

Alicia glanced at the duo, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "There's definitely something going on between them."

Arthur frowned slightly. "How can that be? Their personalities are polar opposites. What could've possibly changed?"

Lily, standing quietly behind Arthur, leaned in just enough to join their whispered conversation. "Opposites attract, young master. They spent the entire day together yesterday. Maybe they got to know each other better… and grew closer."

Arthur's eyes narrowed in thought, but before he could respond, Cedric's voice cut through their hushed conversation.

"What are you guys whispering about?" Cedric asked, his gaze bouncing between them with suspicion.

Arthur quickly straightened up, putting on a casual smile. "Oh, nothing. Just… the usual stuff." He waved it off hastily. "Let's eat quickly and get ready to leave."

"Yeah, let's eat," Cedric agreed, though his eyes lingered on them for a moment longer.'

"Yes, let's eat."

With that, everyone began eating, their conversations shifting to the academy and the upcoming entrance ceremony. But Arthur's mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with a nagging thought.

What should I do now? He glanced at Cedric and Kaela, noticing the subtle smiles and glances they exchanged. I never expected them to get close.

His fork paused mid-air as he remembered the system mission from when he first met Kaela:

[Tame the Wild Beauty].

At the time, it felt like just another task. But now, watching Kaela's hand wrapped around Cedric, a twinge of irritation crept in.

Should I abandon the mission?

The thought of stealing a woman his friend had feelings for didn't sit well with him. But he didn't want to miss the system rewards too.

Arthur sighed softly, pushing a piece of bread around his plate. I'll deal with it later. He took a calming breath. Once the system upgrade is complete, I'll talk to Sol. She might have a solution.

After breakfast, Arthur, Alicia, Cedric, and Kaela departed for Arcane Academy together. Unlike the bustling crowd from the previous day, today was much quieter, with only a few students and families arriving for the entrance ceremony.

They were guided to the ceremony venue.

The ceremony venue was a masterpiece of elegance and grandeur, designed like a colosseum with rising tiers of marble seats arranged in a perfect circle. Each seat gleamed under the morning sun, while towering ivory columns wrapped in ivy framed the structure. The air was filled with the fragrance of vibrant flowers lining the railings, adding a touch of natural beauty to the architectural brilliance.

At the center stood a raised obsidian stage, its surface etched with glowing golden runes, beneath a banner displaying Arcane Academy's emblem—a sword crossed with a quill.

Staff explained that seating wasn't random, nor was it based on social status or noble rank. Instead, it was determined by their entrance exam scores.

High-scoring students were assigned seats in the front rows.

Mid-tier students were placed further back.

Sophomores occupied the second half of the Colosseum.

Arthur's exceptional performance earned him a spot in the first row—a position reserved for the top-ranked newcomers. He calmly made his way to his seat, aware of the curious glances and whispers following him.

Alicia, having performed well, was assigned to the third row.

Meanwhile, Cedric and Kaela weren't as fortunate. They had completely bombed two of the entrance tests—Cedric barely passed the intelligence assessment, while Kaela only succeeded in the combat assessment. Both were seated much farther back, among the lower-ranked students.

"First row, huh? No surprise," Cedric muttered as he and Kaela took their seats in the back. "Arthur's always gotta shine."

Kaela smirked. "Well, he did earn it. Maybe you should've worked on your combat training more."

Cedric raised an eyebrow. "And maybe if you cracked open a book once in a while, you wouldn't be back here with me."

Kaela rolled her eyes. "Touché."

They both laughed, the sound drawing a few glances from nearby students.

Time passed, and the seats gradually filled with students buzzing with excitement and curiosity. Arthur remained seated alone in the front row, enjoying the quiet confidence of his placement.

But soon, he felt it—a sharp, lingering gaze from behind.

Turning his head slightly, his eyes locked with those of a girl sitting behind him. Her intense, scrutinizing stare fixed on him like she was sizing him up. She wasn't subtle about it either, scanning him from head to toe with a look of blatant curiosity mixed with something else.

Arthur raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "Uh… is there a problem?"

The girl tilted her head slightly, as if evaluating him further. "Hmm… So you're the one sitting there, huh?"

Arthur's curiosity piqued. "Yeah. Why? Is there an issue with me sitting here?"

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing. "The front row is usually reserved for the top three students from each department. The seat closest to the stage is meant for the highest-ranked student overall." She paused, her tone growing a little sharper.

"And here you are, taking all three seats for yourself."

Arthur's eyes widened slightly before a smirk curled on his lips. "Ah… I see," he said, brushing his hand casually through his hair. "So, you're upset that I monopolized the entire front row?"

The girl's eyes flickered with annoyance. "Yes. You topped all three tests and claimed the entire row. Not exactly fair, don't you think?"

Arthur leaned back, arms resting lazily on the chair's armrests. "Well," he said with a cocky grin, "it's not my fault I'm a genius."

Her expression darkened instantly, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"Genius, huh?" she echoed, her voice low with barely concealed irritation.

"Exactly," Arthur replied smugly, his grin widening. "Maybe you should try harder next time."

Her eyes narrowed further, and Arthur could see the simmering frustration in her gaze.