The Transmigrated Author

[Pinnacle Academy, Main Courtyard - Club Stand: Gaming Club]

"So why should I let you join my club junior?"

Rocco looked at Rel pushing his glasses up.

Rocco Rose, a character in his final year at Pinnacle Academy, is an exceptional control mage with unique abilities to rival Aeliana regarding dungeon subjugation.

He's also an otaku nerd in his free time, hosting international gaming sessions for his club activities. Yet, for all his geekiness, his post-graduation plans are pure ambition as he would later on join The Miracle's guild after he graduates.

Though Rel wasn't so sure about his character storyline, He'd assume that his events follow, regardless of whether Valencia is a first-year or a third-year.

"Just want to spend my free time doing something else."

"hmm... I see." Rocco blithely ignored the tone, pulling out a clipboard.

"Glasses? Check. Generic yet somehow popular hairstyle? Hmm, passable. Ranking?"

"994. Combined," Rel spoke with certainty.

The senior blinked.

"Interesting. But the real question is, in League, who do you hat-"

"Teemo."

"But-"

"They need to die. All of them." A twisted frown spread across Rel's face.

The senior gaped for a moment, then burst out laughing.

AHAHA

"Culture! This club needs more culture! Welcome aboard, junior!"

With a firm handshake and a schedule Rel already knew by heart, that he was in.

This was going to be… something.

Maybe even fun, in the same way watching a car crash unfold in slow motion is fun.

He wandered to the next station, a sense of absurdity hanging over him like a glitched aura effect.

[a few minutes after Rel left...]

Valencia nudged the tiny bird perched on her shoulder.

"Look, can you guys keep some distance? It's embarrassing enough having bodyguards, let alone ones that transform."

"We're instructed to stay close, Ms. Freya," Vanessa chirped in her bird form.

Christian-the-other-bird added, "Yeah, protection and all!"

His tiny voice held an unfortunate amount of cheer.

"This is ridiculous." Sighing, Valencia spotted the club registration hub.

Time to salvage what little time she could after waking up.

First stop: the gaming club.

As she searched throughout the courtyard it wasn't in a spot where Valencia could think of.

The familiar face of Rocco, glasses shining in the afternoon sun.

"Rocco?" she said in surprise.

"...!"

Rocco hearing the familiar voice turned.

"Ms. Freya!" He bounded over. "Didn't expect to see you here!"

Wait, he ran this club? Rocco seemed more like the 'shut-in and raid' type.

Then again, appearances could be deceiving.

"So, here to join?" He grinned.

"Yeah…" Valencia braced herself for the usual barrage of questions.

"Awesome! Welcome to the club!" He thrust a schedule into her hand.

"That's it?" Valencia blinked. "No questions? Like, do I even game?"

Rocco laughed.

"Nah. After your dad offered me that sweet internship last year, figured I'd return the favour."

Internship? A flicker of worry tightened her chest.

How much did her father manipulate behind the scenes?

"Oh… okay." She bowed stiffly and hurried off.

From her shoulder, Vanessa-in-bird-form whispered to Christian,

"Is academy life always this weird?"

Christian chirped back, "Maybe. The campus looks nice, though. Beats mercenary work…"

"Yeah…" Vanessa-bird ruffled her feathers. "Definitely not…bad."

***

{Rel's POV}

[Pinnacle Academy, Male Dorms]

[Monday, 5:32 PM]

haah...

That was tiring... All the clubs I tried to sign for rejected me because of my rank.

But luckily for me, 2 clubs were willing to let me in.

The Gaming Club and the Archery Club.

Although these clubs have no real significance to the story itself, I figured that passing time doing these activities would probably make school life more interesting.

However, my problem with having a fun time was going to be Jae Yoona and the archery club.

In the novel, she was the Archery Club's ace in all competitions – undoubtedly a great archer, and probably the greatest.

So, part of me considered joining the club purely because I wanted to learn from her... but let's be real, that could backfire horribly.

Well, I'll be doing my best from here on out anyway.

Knock. Knock.

hmm?

Who could be knocking on my door for a time like this?

Don't tell me it's Jan.

Please, please not Jan.

I swear to god if it is.

Peeking through the peephole, I saw the unmistakable crest of the Miracles Guild.

[Perceptive Mind Has Been Activated!]

[Status Window Of Mateo Rossi]

[Age: 37]

[>Strength: ???, >Durability: ??, >Speed: 80, >Mana: ??, >Elemental Attribute: Wind]

[Current Thoughts: "Is this address correct?"]

Maeto Rossi?

Oh... it's the Freya family butler.

Judging by his sudden appearance he should be here to give me the skillbooks.

Strange.

He looked empty-handed.

creakkk...

Creaking the door open, I managed a casual, "Can I help you?"

He surveyed my room with a cool gaze. "Rel Laurence?"

"Yes, that's me. What's this about?"

"Mateo Rossi, the butler of the Freya family. Master Gerrard has instructed me to bring you this… reward."

His hands were still empty and I was suspicious if there was a reward.

"Right. And what am I being rewarded with…? "

"Naturally, I have them here."

He touched a ring on his finger.

Ah, a dimensional storage ring.

Invented by that genius, Oberon... but this was an experimental model.

It was supposedly Incomplete until the end of the Pinnacle Saga, and notorious for swallowing items and never giving them back. Sneaky. Very sneaky.

"Would you mind if I came in?"

"Sure," I said warily.

He glanced around my cramped dorm.

"Looks better organized than most rooms I've seen."

His tone held a hint of surprise, maybe even a little respect.

Was that supposed to be a compliment?

"Thanks, I guess?"

Whatever. Right now all I wanted was a few good skill books, knowing that Gerrard had a few broken books in his treasury.

"Care to show me those skill books?"

"Of course. Just a place to set them…"

I shrugged towards my bed.

That was the only available surface.

With a tap of the ring, a beam of light shot out onto the bed.

thump!!

Books materialized, collapsing under their weight with a satisfying thump.

Five in total. Not a bad haul... if they were actually useful.

[Perceptive Mind Has Been Activated!]

[Analysing 5 skillbooks...]

[Analysing complete!]

FWANG!

[Shadow Step (Grade 3): The user can momentarily blend into and move through shadows, allowing for quick repositioning and surprise attacks from unexpected angles.]

[Phantom Mirage (Grade 5): The user can create illusory duplicates of themselves, confusing enemies and making it difficult to determine the user's true location, allowing for strategic positioning and evasion.]

[Mana Shield (Grade 4): The user can conjure a shield made of mana that absorbs incoming attacks and can be expanded to protect allies.]

[Elemental Fusion (Grade 4): The user can fuse two elements to create a new, more powerful attack. For example, combining fire and earth to create molten shots.]

[Echoing Blade (Grade 5): The user's weapon emits sonic waves with each strike, not only damaging the opponent but also disorienting them and disrupting their focus.]

"Is this all?" I tried to mask the disappointment in my voice.

Mateo's lips thinned. "Let me see…" He tapped his ring again.

tap...tap...tap...

Nothing. Then, a few hesitant taps, as if struggling with the mechanism. Finally, a single book tumbled out.

FWANG!

[Alert!!!!]

[The Book Of Equaliser - [Grade ???] - [Contents are unknown.] - [Consuming this will scale the story difficulty...]

My eyes widened at the book... It was The Book of Equaliser.

"I…don't know how this got in here," Mateo said, his brow furrowed. "This one needs to go back to Master Gerrard."

The Book Of Equaliser, the high risk high reward ability...

"Wait," I blurted.

"Can't I just take this one instead? It wasn't meant to be here, right?"

Mateo turned, his gaze cold.

"This is a power you do not understand, Mr. Laurence. I cannot give this to you."

A flicker of doubt crossed my mind.

"But…Gerrard chose these books himself? There must be a reason he put this in the ring, right?"

"Listen,"

Mateo said, his voice low and dangerous.

"I don't appreciate your insinuations about Master Gerrard. Be grateful for the gift you've been given."

Silence stretched but this opportunity... it was something I couldn't pass up... I needed this.

"Look, could you just... ask? Wouldn't hurt, right?"

Mateo suddenly got close up on me...

"Look, I don't know who you think you are–" Mateo's voice had risen, a hint of disdain lacing his words.

"But Master Gerrard is an extremely busy person. He doesn't have time for the likes of–"

ring!....ring!...ring!...

The sharp sound of his watch cut him off mid-sentence.

A trace of annoyance crossed his face but changed as he saw the contact.

It was Gerrard.

...

...

...

I could only hear the muffled conversation where Mateo had asked that book

"... yes... yes... okay... hmm... oh...I understand..."

Mateo turned back to me, the arrogance wiped off his face.

"Master Gerrard wishes to speak with you."

Well, well... I couldn't help the smug smile.

"Always happy to chat with the Leader Of The Number One Guild."

I'm nervous...

______________

Authors Notes:

- The club president of the archery club Bianca Laurier

- The club president of the gaming club Rocco Rose