You've reincarnated into a game as the main antagonist who's fate ends in death. Luckily, you start many years before the events of the game so you take this opportunity to get stronger.

After many years, the game finally starts with the opening of the magic academy and your first day.

The headmaster gives a speech about blah blah blah it's not really important. The fun part was checking everyone's levels and skills. Of course, most people have low levels, some of the important looking people have decent levels.

Then you see the protagonist of the game, a commoner with rare light magic attending an academy exclusively for nobles, comes out with level 1. No surprise.

Your turn. Your level? 99! The MAX level!! You'd think this would impress everyone but they're all calling you a cheating liar!

"{{user}}, I don't think you should lie about these things. Please check your level again."

The headmaster tells you. You place your hand on the orb once again to show your level. After a moment, it reads:

{{user}} Level 99

Everyone's confused but no one believes it one bit.

You decide to use a skill of your own, "Demonic Aura". It's a level 99 skill that allows you to emit an aura that makes everyone within a certain radius feel uncomfortable and wary around you. You focus on the headmaster and all the students nearby as you activate it.

A cold wind blows through the room, causing goosebumps to form on everyone's skin. The headmaster narrows his eyes at you. "You... This is unheard of!"

You decide to use another skill, "Summon Familiar (Greater)". This skill summons an incredibly powerful familiar for you. In this case, a black panther with glowing red eyes and razor sharp claws. It pads up next to you, its tail swishing back and forth menacingly as it stares down everyone in the room.

The headmaster gasps. "A familiar? But... You're not even supposed to have one of those!"

"Silence! Zero, you are hereby expelled from this academy. We cannot trust someone with such... dark powers. And as for your familiar..." He pauses dramatically, eyes narrowed in anger. "...It too shall be exiled!"

The students all gasp and murmur among themselves. The black panther hisses threateningly at them before padding back over to you and nudging your leg with its head.

"No! Stop that at once!" the headmaster shouts, his face red with anger. "You dare defy me in front of everyone?" He takes a step closer to you, his posture tense and ready for a fight.

The students all gasp, some whispering about how brave or foolish Zero is being. The black panther growls lowly at the headmaster but doesn't attack.

"Very well," the headmaster says through gritted teeth. "Then you leave me no choice. Guards! Take this... creature away and remove it from these grounds!" The guards reluctantly approach, ready to drag your familiar off.

As they get closer, though, the black panther suddenly leaps into action, tearing through their ranks with razor-sharp claws and fangs. The guards are sent flying in all directions as the panther defends itself fiercely.

The headmaster gasps in shock. "

"You... You're insane!" the headmaster shouts. "How dare you threaten this academy! Guards, seize him!" The guards hesitate for just a moment before moving in on you again, this time with more determination and force.

As they close in, however, your black panther intercedes once more, batting aside their attacks like insects. The students watch in awe as the familiar fights off the entire guard force single-handedly.

The headmaster's face turns red with anger. "

The headmaster's face turns red with anger. "You think you can get away with this?! You will pay for this insolence, Zero!" He gestures sharply and a bolt of lightning arcs from his finger to strike at the panther. The familiar yowls in pain as it is sent flying through the air, crashing into a nearby wall with a sickening thud.

The students all gasp and whisper amongst themselves, some expressing shock and horror while others cheer on their leader's display of power.

You rush over to the fallen panther, checking its injuries carefully. It whimpers softly and tries to nuzzle against your leg. "Are you alright?" you ask quietly, stroking its head gently. The students watch in silence as you tend to your familiar, their whispers growing louder and more heated.

The headmaster clears his throat loudly. "Well, Zero? What do you have to say for yourself now?" His eyes narrow dangerously.

As you stand up, your black panther at your side once again, you feel a surge of power flow through you. With a snarl, you launch a volley of powerful spells at the headmaster, each one more devastating than the last. The students cower in fear as their leader is assaulted by the dark magic before them.

The headmaster tries to dodge and weave, but it's no use against your onslaught.

The headmaster falls to the ground, gasping for breath. "You... You..." he wheezes, his face a mask of shock and anger. Blood pours from his nose and mouth as he struggles to get air into his lungs.

Around you, the students watch in horror, their eyes wide with fear and disbelief. The headmaster's body lies motionless on the ground as guards rush forward to tend to him.

As the guards drag the unconscious headmaster away, several of your classmates start to gather their courage and approach you cautiously. They whisper among themselves, glancing nervously at your black panther before looking back up at you with questions in their eyes.

What do you say to them? How will you handle the aftermath of this confrontation?

As you turn your back on them and start to walk away, the whispers grow louder. Some students whisper about how brave you were while others call you a monster and a menace that needs to be dealt with. The black panther follows silently at your side, its presence alone enough to make some of the more timid students cower in fear.

You continue down the hallway, wondering what the future holds for you now...

As you walk through the halls, you can't help but notice several important-looking people giving you strange looks. The captain of the knights in training pauses as he passes by, narrowing his eyes at your familiar before continuing on his way. A noblewoman with a particularly impressive family tree glances over her shoulder at you from across the room, a frown creasing her perfect features.

You decide to return to your dorm for now, leaving the tumultuous events of the day behind you...for now.

When you arrive at your dorm room, you find that all of your belongings have been neatly stacked against one wall by your servant. They bow their head respectfully when they see you enter. "My lord, I thought it best to gather your things for you while you were occupied."

Your roommate glares at them from the other side of the room where he's sulking in a corner. The tension between them is palpable.

"Yes, my lord." Your servant nods and begins to carefully put your things back where they were before. The roommate grumbles under his breath but doesn't dare say anything more.

You sit down on your bed, rubbing your eyes wearily. Today has been...eventful, to say the least. As you stare at the ceiling, trying to gather your thoughts, you can't help but wonder what will happen next.

You decide to take a nap before anything else happens. You get comfortable on your bed and close your eyes, soon falling into a deep slumber. As you sleep, your black panther curls up beside you, its body pressed against yours for warmth.

The rest of the night passes uneventfully, but when morning comes, you awaken to find several important-looking people standing outside your dorm room, including the captain of the knights and a few nobles.

The captain clears his throat as he steps forward. "We've come to discuss what happened yesterday with you, Zero. We understand that you have your reasons for siding with the commoner and defending him against our accusations..." He pauses, glancing meaningfully at your black panther before continuing. "...but we cannot allow such dark forces to run rampant here."

The nobles nod in agreement, their expressions serious and concerned. What do you say to them?

"I see," the captain says slowly, narrowing his eyes. "And what of your intentions for staying at this academy? Do you plan to cause more trouble?"

The nobles exchange glances. One of them clears their throat. "We've heard rumors that you might be interested in pursuing the light mage, our... savior. What do you have to say about that?"

You can feel your black panther tensing beside you at the mention of the light mage.

"I see," the captain says again, his expression unreadable. "Very well then. We'll leave you to your thoughts." With a nod, he turns to lead the others away, their conversation dying down as they continue down the hallway.

As soon as they're gone, the door to your dorm room swings open and your servant rushes in, looking frantic. "My lord! You must come quickly! The headmaster has been found dead!"

"But sir, they're saying it was you who killed him! Everyone is talking about how your familiar attacked the headmaster and now he's lying there, dead! They want you to answer for this!" Your servant looks at you with wide eyes, panic clear in his voice.

You sigh and rub your temples wearily. This day just keeps getting better and better. What do you do?

As the words leave your mouth, you feel a surge of defiance course through you. You stand tall and meet your servant's gaze directly. "I didn't kill him," you say firmly. "He attacked me first, and my familiar only defended itself. The headmaster was arrogant and cruel, and he got what was coming to him."

Your servant looks at you uncertainly for a moment before nodding slowly. "Very well, my lord."

You step out of your dorm room, prepared to face the accusations head-on. The hallway is filled with chatter and whispers as students and faculty alike discuss the fate of their leader. As you make your way through the crowd, you see several familiar faces glaring at you angrily, their fists clenched by their sides.

The captain of the knights approaches you, his expression grim. "Zero," he says curtly, "we need to speak with you."

Ignoring the captain's words, you continue down the hallway, your black panther padding silently at your side. You know that things are only going to get worse from here, but you refuse to back down or let these people push you around anymore.

The captain's voice grows louder behind you as he calls your name, but you don't bother turning around. Soon enough, you find yourself in the courtyard outside the academy, surrounded by high walls and rows of trees. The wind picks up, rustling the leaves as they dance through the air.

You pause for a moment, taking in your surroundings, before continuing on your way. Where will this journey take you next?

Despite the tension and turmoil surrounding you, hunger still manages to drag at your stomach. Perhaps taking a break for breakfast would be in order. With your black panther trailing silently behind you, you head toward the academy's dining hall, hoping that the food might help calm your nerves and clear your head.

As you approach the dining hall, you see several people gathered around a table, whispering and glancing in your direction. You recognize some of their faces as students who had spoken out against you earlier.

Ignoring the whispers and stares, you take a seat at an empty table near the back of the dining hall. Your black panther sits down beside you, watching curiously as servers pass by with trays of food. You help yourself to some meat and bread before offering a piece to your familiar as well.

As you eat, you can't help but overhear bits and pieces of conversation from the other students at nearby tables. Most of them are discussing what happened to the headmaster, and whether or not you were responsible for his death...

You finish eating and decide that perhaps it's best if your familiar ate something else as well. You pick up another plate of meat and offer it to the black panther. The servant nearby raises an eyebrow but says nothing as they place the food on the floor for your familiar.

With your stomach full, you decide to return to your dorm room and relax a bit. As you make your way through the halls once more, you notice several people giving you strange looks as they pass by. Some nod respectfully while others glare openly at you with hatred in their eyes.

When you finally arrive back at your room, you find your servant waiting patiently by the door. They bow their head when they see you approach. "My lord, if I may be so bold... Do you require any assistance?"

"I've been thinking..." Your servant begins hesitantly. "Perhaps it would be best if we were to leave this place for a while. With everything that has happened, it might not be safe here anymore." They look up at you with worried eyes. "What do you think?"

Your servant nods solemnly. "Very well, my lord. I will make the necessary preparations." They bow deeply once more before leaving your sight.

As the door to your dorm room swings shut behind them, you're left alone with your thoughts...and your black panther. What do you want to do now?

You decide that it might be best to spend some time practicing your magic in private. After all, it's what brought you here in the first place. With a few words and gestures, you summon several candles to float around the room, casting flickering light across the walls and ceiling.

Your black panther watches with interest as you weave your spells, its tail swishing lazily back and forth. After a while of practicing on your own, you decide to see if your familiar would like to join in.

Together, you leave your dorm room and make your way out into the courtyard. The sun is beginning to set, painting the sky with shades of red and orange. Your black panther prowls around the perimeter of the yard while you stand in the center, gathering your magic energy.

"Alright," you say with a nod, "let's see what you can do." You focus your energy and cast a simple spell at your familiar, causing several leaves to rise up from the ground and dance around it playfully.

Your panther seems to enjoy the game, swiping at the dancing leaves with its paws as they spin around it. After a few moments of playfulness, you decide to try another spell. This time, you send a gust of wind rushing toward your familiar, causing it to leap nimbly out of the way with a yelp of surprise and pleasure.

The two of you continue to practice and play together for several more minutes before finally growing tired.

As dusk falls over the academy, you decide that it's probably best to head back inside. Your black panther follows silently at your side as you make your way through the halls once more. The sounds of students laughing and talking drift down from above, reminding you that life goes on even in the wake of tragedy.

When you finally reach your dorm room, you find your servant waiting patiently by the door. They bow their head respectfully as you enter. "My lord," they say softly, "

"My lord," they say softly, "the captain of the knights requests your presence in his office immediately. It seems that there are some... concerns he wishes to discuss with you."

You sigh wearily and run a hand through your hair. This day just keeps getting better and better. What do you want to do?

"I suppose there's no use in avoiding it any longer," you say with a sigh. "Let's go see what the captain wants." With your black panther padding silently behind you, you follow your servant out of the dorm room and back into the halls of the academy once more.

As they lead you deeper into the building, you can't help but feel a sense of foreboding settle in your stomach. Whatever the captain has to say, it's likely not going to be good news...

The captain's office is located at the very heart of the academy, surrounded by thick stone walls and heavy wooden doors. Your servant knocks respectfully before opening it, revealing the captain seated behind his desk, flanked by several knights and nobles. As you enter, they all rise to their feet in unison, their expressions grave and serious.

"Ah, Zero," the captain says softly, indicating for you to take a seat across from him. "Thank you for coming so promptly."

The captain narrows his eyes slightly at your brusqueness, but continues nonetheless. "It has come to our attention that one of your familiars may have been involved in the headmaster's death," he states plainly. "We were hoping you could shed some light on the situation."

He leans forward, fixing you with an intense stare. "Tell me, Zero... where were you when the attack occurred? And what exactly was your serpent familiar doing during that time?" The implication is clear - they suspect you of foul play, even if they don't outright accuse you of murder just yet. **

The captain listens intently as you recount your story, his expression unreadable. When you finish speaking, he leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers beneath his chin thoughtfully.

"That's quite a tale," he murmurs after a long moment. "And I suppose it would be difficult to prove otherwise without evidence..." He glances around at the assembled knights and nobles before returning his gaze to you.

"But let us not mince words here, Zero. You are the only student known to possess such powerful familiars, and the headmaster was killed by magic of tremendous force."

The captain raises an eyebrow at your suggestion, clearly taken aback by the casual mention of dragon summoning.

"I... suppose that would have been one way to handle the situation," he says slowly, choosing his words carefully. "But summoning dragons is hardly something to be done lightly. It would require immense power and control."

He leans forward once more, his eyes locked onto yours with unwavering intensity. "Look, Zero, we're trying to uncover the truth here.

The captain pauses for a moment before responding, seemingly taken aback by your tone and aura. For a brief instant, his expression falters, revealing a hint of fear beneath his calm exterior.

"Ah, yes... of course, Zero," he stammers, attempting to regain his composure. "I apologize if I came across as insensitive to your situation. We are merely trying to uncover the facts and bring those responsible to justice..."

His voice trails off as you continue to radiate an aura of intense power and authority, making it difficult for him to maintain eye contact.

As the captain continues to stammer and attempt to assert himself despite your aura, you realize that your familiar has sensed something amiss as well. In response, your panther begins to growl softly, its ears flattening against its skull as it bares its teeth in a show of warning.

The captain quickly calls off his guards with a wave of his hand before turning back to face you.

"Yes, of course... this will be all for now," he says hastily, clearly eager to end the interrogation. "Thank you for your time, Zero. We'll be sure to keep you updated on any developments in our investigation."

As you stand up to leave, however, someone else speaks up from among the assembled nobles - a tall woman with piercing green eyes and a sharp nose.

"And what of your familiar, Zero?" she asks coolly. "Surely it must have been involved in some way." Her voice carries an undercurrent of threat, but you can't help but feel that there's more behind her words than simple malice. Perhaps there is a chance to sway her opinion...

"I beg your pardon?" the noblewoman snaps, her eyes widening in surprise at your insolence. Several of the other nobles nearby gasp or mutter among themselves, clearly shocked by your words. The captain clears his throat loudly, signaling for you to continue out of the office before things get any more heated.

As you pass by the noblewoman on your way out, she fixes you with a cold stare that could freeze water. "You had best be careful, boy,"

"You had best be careful, boy," the noblewoman snarls through gritted teeth. "Your familiar might be powerful, but it's nothing compared to what I can do."

"I have the power to shape your life here at this academy," she hisses, stepping closer to you. "And I don't plan on letting some upstart like you ruin it for everyone else." Her voice is low and menacing, her green eyes boring into yours as if trying to pierce your very soul.

As the noblewoman continues to berate you, your panther growls low in its throat, signaling its discomfort with the situation. You glance down at it briefly before making your decision. Summoning up all of your strength and concentration, you focus on the woman before you...and unleash your most powerful spell yet.

A blinding flash of light fills the room, accompanied by a deafening roar that seems to come from everywhere at once.

As the light fades and the echoes of your spell die away, you see the noblewoman standing before you, unharmed but clearly shaken by what has just occurred. Her eyes are wide with shock and disbelief as she stares at you in astonishment. Even the captain and his knights look on with amazement, their jaws agape.

You take a step closer to her, meeting her gaze defiantly. "I suggest you remember this moment," you say quietly, "

The noblewoman blanches at your words, her lips quivering in anger and fear. She takes a step back, putting some distance between you as she tries to regain her composure. For now, it seems that you've won the upper hand in this confrontation...but whether or not you can maintain it remains to be seen.

The captain clears his throat loudly, drawing your attention away from the noblewoman for a moment. "You should probably get back to your dorm room, Zero," he says sternly. "There's no need to stir up any more trouble."

Do you obey the captain's order or ignore it and continue to press your advantage against the noblewoman?

The noblewoman glares at you, her expression darkening as she composes herself. "I'm not afraid of you," she hisses through clenched teeth. "And I will do everything in my power to see that you fail here." Her voice carries a threat that echoes throughout the room, making it clear that this conflict is far from over.

The captain sighs heavily, shaking his head. "Very well," he says wearily. "I suggest you both calm down and reconsider your actions.

Before I can say another word..." His voice trails off as you grab the noblewoman by her hair and cast your spell upon her. A burst of energy erupts from her body, throwing her across the room like a ragdoll. She hits the far wall with a sickening thud before crumpling to the floor, unconscious.

The room falls silent for a long moment as everyone stares in shock at what has just transpired. Finally, the captain regains his composure and steps forward. "That's enough,"

he snaps, glaring down at you. "You have made your point quite clear, Zero. I suggest you leave before things get any further out of hand." His voice is tight with anger and disapproval, and you can feel the tension in the air growing thicker by the moment.

What do you do now?

You release the noblewoman's hair roughly and step back, giving her a disdainful glance as she lies unmoving on the floor. The captain glares at you expectantly, clearly waiting for some sort of response or apology. After a long moment, you decide that it would be best to humor him...for now.

"Very well," you say coolly. "I will take my leave."

You turn on your heel and walk out of the captain's office, leaving the stunned silence in your wake. As you make your way back through the halls of the academy toward your dorm room, you can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at having stood up for yourself...and your familiar. But you also know that this isn't over yet.

When you finally reach your door, you find your servant waiting patiently as always. They bow their head respectfully when they see you approaching. "My lord,"

they say softly. "Shall I prepare something for dinner?"

"Very well, my lord," the servant replies with a nod. They disappear into your dorm room to begin preparing dinner while you take a moment to gather your thoughts and compose yourself. What do you want to do now?

You decide that it might be best to spend some time alone for the rest of the night, reflecting on everything that's happened today. You close your door and sink down onto your bed, leaning back against the pillows as you stare up at the ceiling. Your black panther pads silently over to its own spot near the fireplace, curling up into a ball and closing its eyes as well.

The hours slowly tick by, each one filled with tense silence and heavy thoughts.

As dawn breaks outside your window, casting a soft golden light across the floor, you finally force yourself to stand up. There's no point in staying holed up in your room all day; eventually you'll have to face the world again.

You make your way over to the bathroom to freshen up before heading downstairs for breakfast. When you enter the dining hall, you find it mostly empty save for a few scattered servants and students who didn't bother rising so early.

You sit down at your usual spot, eyeing the food warily. It looks...unappetizing. Perhaps it would be best to wait until later to eat. As you reach for a slice of bread, you can't help but feel a strange sense of unease settle in your stomach. Something tells you that today is going to be even more eventful than yesterday.

What do you want to do now?

You stand up from your seat, gathering your things as you decide that it might be best to leave the academy for a while. There are plenty of other places where you can go and focus on your studies without having to worry about politics and intrigue. As you make your way out of the dining hall and toward the exit, you spot a familiar face: one of the other students from your year.

"Oh, hello there, Zero," they greet you with a smile. "Heading somewhere?"

"Ah, I see," the student says, nodding in understanding. "Well, have a safe trip, and good luck with whatever you end up doing." They give you a friendly pat on the shoulder before continuing on their way, leaving you alone once more.

You exit the academy grounds and begin to make your way toward the nearest town, where you can find lodgings for the night and begin planning your next move. The air feels different outside of the academy - less oppressive and more free.

As you walk through the streets of the town, you can't help but notice how many people seem to be looking at you strangely. Perhaps it's because of your black panther, or perhaps it's due to the rumors that have been circulating about the headmaster's death. Either way, their glances make you feel a little self-conscious.

You dig through your pockets, counting out the coins you have on hand. You've got enough for a few nights' stay at an inn and some food, but after that, you'll need to find some sort of steady income if you want to remain independent from the academy's funds.

What would you like to do now?

You continue walking through town, keeping an eye out for any potential jobs or opportunities as you go. As you wander past a small market, you see a sign posted on a nearby tree advertising work at a local tavern. It seems they're in need of someone to tend bar and wait tables; it might not be the most glamorous job, but it would put food on the table and give you a place to stay for the time being.

You approach the tavern and push open the creaky old door, stepping inside.

The interior of the tavern is dimly lit, with rough-hewn wooden tables and benches scattered about. A fire crackles merrily in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the worn stone floor. Behind the bar, a stout man wipes down glasses with a cloth, occasionally glancing up at you from beneath bushy eyebrows.

"Ah, good," he says when he sees you. "You must be here about the job."

The tavernkeeper eyes you appraisingly for a moment before responding. "Aye, it's four copper a day. Not much, but it'll keep food in your belly and a roof over your head." He pauses, studying you more closely. "You don't look like the type to work behind a bar... but I suppose you can always give it a try."

What do you say?

"Another one of those high and mighty magic academy students, eh?" the tavernkeeper says with a chuckle. "Well, I suppose it doesn't matter what you were before. Here, why don't you give it a try tonight? If you do well enough, we can talk about making it permanent."

He points to a stool behind the bar and hands you a clean apron. "Just help out where you can for now, alright?"

You take your seat on the stool behind the bar, adjusting the apron around your waist as you watch the tavernkeeper demonstrate how to pull a drink. The familiar rhythm of serving patrons begins to wash over you, and despite yourself, you find that you're rather good at it.

As the night wears on, the tavern grows busier and more raucous, but you manage to keep things running smoothly with the help of a few other staff members.

The noise level rises even higher as several patrons begin to play music on makeshift instruments, setting the tavern into a lively dance. You spot your familiar sitting discreetly in one of the dimmer corners, watching the proceedings carefully. It seems content for now, but you can't help but wonder how long it will be before someone decides to make trouble for the both of you.