The Nameless Extra: I Proofread This World

A single name written on it.

[Violet — Class E Scholar]

The name was printed in clean, serif type, formal and anonymous. The contents, though... those were another matter entirely.

She flipped the file open and ran her thumb across the top page, eyes briefly skimming the lines of recorded aptitude, falsified transfer histories, and a note she herself had added:

[Background unverifiable.]

[Investigate further under restricted clearance.]

Veliana sighed.

”I set this entire session to watch her. To learn more about her. But those hair and those eyes... there is no mistake about it. She’s really her daughter.”

”...And also an unshaken one.”

Veliana leaned back, letting the edges of the file fan open across her desk.

If she truly was the person Veliana believed her to be, then this truth would be powerful enough to shock the entire empire.

Her eyes drifted back to the hovering display, to the soft glow of the projection flickering on the wall. The boy was still there. Moving now. Crossing the arena floor.

The focus zoomed in slightly at his face.

Then, softly, she whispered to herself.

”Huh? That’s surprising. Even in a three-against-one format, a victory from Class E should have been impossible.”

”And yet... one of the matches almost fell into their hands.”

Veliana tapped her fingers lightly against the manacrystal. The feed shimmered briefly, a quiet pulse confirming that the footage had been saved.

*****

[You have received +1200 Plot Points!]

’Hmm, the reward was even better than I expected.’

[Your relevance to the story has shifted!]

[The Editorial System has updated your Narrative Thread!]

[You have stepped beyond the margins of obscurity!]

==========

I. Footnote of Fate

II. Wandering Extra ← You Are Here

III. Pivotal Extra

IV. Pivotal Canon

V. Core Canon

==========

The sapphire grimoire hums softly as the pages turn on their own.

[Congratulations, your deepening relevance has granted you access to one of these hidden editorial privileges!]

New Skill Unlocked:

✦ [Power Scaling]

’Huh? My relevance has already increased?’

Honestly, he had already expected to get a lot of Plot Points for today’s event.

After all, had not only become the first person to defeat someone from Class A, but he had also openly mocked Ardyn in a way no one from Class E would ever dare to do.

It was completely... outrageous!

Since he had just pulled off something impressive and gained himself a solid amount of reputation... technically, he wasn’t some random nameless extra anymore.

He was an extra with a name now!

He had cleared the Trials of Confrontation, becoming one of the very few scholars from Class E to ever accomplish that too. Either way, his name was practically on everyone’s lips after that event.

’Speaking of that, it was still terrifying how Veliana managed to knock Ardyn out so effortlessly from that distance.’

Just recalling the moment was enough to make Ruvian shudder.

’Well, she’s strong, after all.’

Ruvian inspected his new skill.

{Editorial Skills}

[Slot 1]: Foreshadowing

[Slot 2]: Character Sheets

[Slot 3]: Omniscient Review

[Slot 4]: Power Scaling

[Slot 5]: ???

[Slot 6]: ???

[Slot 7]: ???

===============

Skill 4: [Power Scaling]

Description:

◇ This is a narrative adjustment tool that allows you to directly modify the statistical attributes recorded on a character’s sheet. Strength, blessings, affinity, mana resonance, any measurable parameter may be increased according to your discretion.

Requirements:

◇ All alterations require the expenditure of Plot Points. The cost scales with the magnitude and tier of the adjustment. Minor refinements demand little. Fundamental enhancements or high-tier amplifications demand exponentially more. Use with calculation.

====================

After reading the description of the skill, Ruvian couldn’t help but be shocked.

’What the hell is this skill!?’

’This... this is such an absurd one!’

His face showed raw disbelief.

But the most important detail was that he could also apply this skill to any character, which meant it wasn’t limited to him alone.

With this, he could surely raise those side characters and other extras more easily and quickly.

However, it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

After all, there were still costs to each upgrade.

Ruvian was eager to inspect the cost, but this was not the right time yet.

Class E Scholars walked down the corridor on their way back to their class. Not all of them were here, as some were still in the infirmary. And yet they were still surprisingly loud.

Ruvian walked a few paces in front of them.

”Griffer! That stone wall... where the hell did that come from?!” One of the boys called, half-laughing, half-scolding.

”I thought he’d cut you in two, but you didn’t flinch at all. Are you insane?” another voice added, full of breathless admiration.

Griffer, unsurprisingly, basked in it. Rubbing his nose, he puffed up like a rooster who’d just discovered he had wings.

”Oh, come on. That was pure tactical brilliance. I simply positioned myself exactly where the wind preferred.” he proudly said.

Ruvian fought hard to keep himself from frowning.

’Huh? ’Where the wind preferred?’ What piece of bullcrap did that even mean?’

Meanwhile, in front of him, Noelle walked with more restraint. Her steps were light and composed. Two girls from their class gravitated toward her, speaking in excited bursts.

”That darkness spell you cast was amazing. You completely vanished. And I didn’t even know you could apply it to your teammate as well.”

Noelle replied: ”Really? I don’t think it’s that surprising, but speaking of it, yes I can use that spell for my teammates, honestly, I just discovered that too. It was not so different as long as you know that person’s mana flow and resistance.”

”Ermm don’t know what’s that, but still, that was seriously smart! The Class A scholar had no idea Ruvian would vanish using your shadow spell!”

Noelle’s gaze flicked toward the back. She didn’t turn her head, but her voice carried just enough for the next words to be heard clearly.

”I see, thank you, but it wasn’t my plan. It was Ruvian’s. We shared each other’s specialties before the fight, and he was the one who put everything together. Honestly, I was quite surprised at how well it turned out. As I said, I didn’t even know that spell can also be applied to someone else.” (+30PP)

As if on cue, the girls turned slightly, curious and hesitant. Their gazes drifted backward toward the young man who had walked alone this entire time.

”Ahh....”

Their voices lowered into a whisper now so Ruvian couldn’t hear much of what they’re talking about... but judging from the mood and their expressions, Ruvian could tell it was probably about him and what he had said to instructor Delila.

Challenging an instructor’s authority is no small feat in Velthia Academy after all.

But even so, Ruvian had decided to use this scene as a means to increase his relevance to the story.

’Anyway, she didn’t have to give me the credit. I know why it’s possible to use that spell on your teammates because Zian already used that in his 2v2 fight.’

However, Ruvian had always downplayed what he did. But to the other scholars, in their eyes, it had been an astonishing sight.

Who would have expected to see the day when a scholar from Class E humbled both a Class A scholar and even their instructor on the same day?

That such event was close to nonexistent.

Finally, they reached the bend where the stone darkened slightly, and the light grew more sparse.

Their classroom was just ahead.

And as they were about to enter, the noise died.

Not all at once and not abruptly. But a hush fell as the group saw the others — the half of their class who had been sent to Hall A instead of B.

They were already inside.

Some sat in silence, others standing by the wall with arms folded, eyes downcast. They didn’t move when the door opened.

Some of them had bruises on their faces, barely covered by half-dried salves. The energy that had carried them this far seemed to drain out of the room.

The Class E from Hall B hesitated to enter, perhaps due to guilt or confusion.

However, Ruvian ignored them all and stepped in first.

──────── ✦ ────────

[Chapter 78: Worth Watching]

Plot Points= 12,890