I CHOSE to be a VILLAIN, not a THIRD-RATE EXTRA!!

Ashok's sharp crimson gaze flicked to the next section of the manual: Mana, Magic, and Element Understanding.

This category was vast, boasting nearly thirty subheads that sprawled across the pages in orderly columns.

From Basic Understanding of Mana to History of Magic, and even History of All Elements, the options were numerous—ideal for scholars or those seeking theoretical knowledge.

The list also included practical learning classes, such as Elemental Affinity Training for each individual element and Magic Spell Creation specialized by element.

Yet Ashok paid little attention to most of these subheads, dismissing them with barely a glance.

His goals were clear, and he wouldn't waste time on classes that held little relevance to him.

His pen hovered until it found the final subhead, Mana Sensitivity and Control Training.

Without hesitation, he marked the box beside it, his decision immediate.

Ashok knew better than anyone the limitations imposed on him by his second and third curses—the inability to use magic or wield elements.

But those curses didn't exclude him from tapping into the raw essence of mana itself.

There was fundamental difference between Mana and Magic.

Mana was the untamed, primal energy coursing through the world, while Magic was the crafted application of Mana, turned into spells through knowledge, technique, and affinity.

Though cursed to never use Magic or manipulate elements, Ashok knew that learning to control Mana—its raw, unrefined form—was a loophole worth exploiting.

His knowledge, carried over from the game, revealed countless techniques achievable through sheer Mana Control, without ever invoking spells or elemental affinities.

One of such technique was Telekinesis—a skill that required refined control of Mana but bypassed the need for Magic entirely.

For Ashok, this class wasn't just a strategic choice—it was a step toward mastering the highest levels of Mana Control.

His ultimate goal was Ether Manipulation, the pinnacle of raw Mana mastery, a skill that could reshape the battlefield and defy conventional expectations.

Ashok's focus was singular—he aimed to optimize his choices based on his unique circumstances and the knowledge he carried.

'Though Ether Manipulation will take years, let's aim for the Mana Control Trait first.' This short-term goal was clear in his mind, and he wasn't interested in wasting time.

Meanwhile, the rest of the class was an entirely different story.

The sound of pages flipping and whispered discussions filled the room as students struggled to decipher the contents of the manual.

Some debated the merits of particular classes, others tried to understand unfamiliar terms, and many were clearly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information.

Elara, immersed in her own careful reading, couldn't resist glancing to her side. What she saw both intrigued and baffled her.

Ashok had already marked four classes on the very first page, his demeanor calm and indifferent.

'Didn't the teacher instruct us just minutes ago to read the entire manual before making our choices?' she thought, her golden eyes narrowing as she studied him. 'Did he not hear Teacher Mia, or does he simply not care to follow her instructions?'

Across the classroom, Teacher Mia sat at her desk, her attention seemingly absorbed in the book she was reading.

Yet, she observed the students keenly under the guise of studying, her sharp eyes catching the nuances in their behavior.

Like Elara, Mia couldn't help but notice Ashok's direct and unorthodox approach.

'He didn't even bother with the descriptions,' she thought, her lips tightening slightly. 'My job is to instruct them, not force compliance. If he makes the right choice, well and good. If not, he'll pay for his foolishness in the coming days.'

Mia's gaze shifted momentarily to the first rows, where the prominent figures of the class—the heirs, the prodigies, the main characters of this unfolding narrative—were actively discussing their options.

Even as they flipped through the manual, their voices rose and fell in measured tones, each exchange laden with strategies and insights.

Yet among them, there was one notable exception: Alina Cindergarde.

The heir of her family sat silently, showing no interest in engaging with the Princess's lackey seated beside her.

Unlike Mia, Elara was different.

Elara, true to her composed and occasionally overbearing nature, had leaned slightly toward him, whispering her well-meant advice:

"You should read the description of the additional classes before selecting them."

Ashok, however, remained unmoved. His crimson eyes flicked toward her, his expression as steady as ever.

He did not whisper nor was he loud but because of his charisma his voice was heard by everyone present in the classroom.

"Human Princess, have you ever heard of a famous saying?"

Elara's golden eyes narrowed slightly, curiosity and unease flickering within them. "What saying?" she asked cautiously, her voice betraying a hint of anticipation.

With surgical precision, Ashok delivered his sharp retort: "Mind your own business."

He then turned back to the manual without so much as a second glance in her direction, his focus seemingly unshaken.

The room froze for a moment, the silence thick as the implications of his words registered. Then, it began—subtle but unmistakable.

"Hah."

"Hmpf."

Muffled laughter slipped through the silence like cracks in a dam.

Gideon, sitting in the first row, failed to suppress his amusement entirely, his shoulders trembling slightly as a smirk escaped.

From the last row, Lilia—always one to enjoy stirring the pot—covered her mouth, her eyes alight with mischievous glee.

A few other students managed to stifle their laughter, though their shoulders shook as they struggled to maintain composure, likely out of fear of incurring the Princess's wrath.

The silent buzz of activity in the classroom was briefly interrupted as a few students seated near Elara stole furtive glances in her direction.

Her cheeks were flushed a deep crimson, a mix of emotions swirling in her mind—anger, embarrassment, perhaps even a trace of disbelief.

Those observing couldn't discern whether her flushed face stemmed from fury at being humiliated yet again by Ashok or the shame of having laughter ripple across the room at her expense.

"Forty-five minutes left," Teacher Mia's crisp voice cut through the room, her reminder pulling the class back to their tasks.

The shuffle of pages resumed, whispered conversations dissipating as the students returned to their manuals, their focus renewed.

Elara, however, wasn't so quick to recover.

'Third time! He Mocked Me for the third time!' she fumed inwardly, the words shouting in her mind as she struggled to maintain her composure.

Her golden eyes flickered with suppressed fury, her lips twitching as a faint tremor ran through her hands beneath the desk.

She wanted to retort, to let loose the cutting words boiling in her chest, but even she knew this wasn't the place for it. There was too much at stake, and she couldn't risk drawing more unwanted attention.

With visible effort, Elara swallowed her indignation and forced her focus back onto the manual before her. Yet, the sting of humiliation lingered, fueling her determination to regain control of the narrative—if not here, then soon.

Ashok's crimson eyes fell on the next category:

Divine Training. With a faint flicker of disinterest, he dismissed it without a second thought. 'Hard pass. I'm not interested in studying doctrines of other churches or wasting time helping people in need,' he mused, flipping past the section with steady resolve.

His gaze then landed on Spirit Training, another option promising unique opportunities, yet he barely hesitated before moving on.

'Another hard pass. My curse renders this irrelevant.' The unyielding nature of his limitations made the choice simple, eliminating the possibility of pursuing Spirit-based growth.

Next came Beast Taming, a category that caught his attention briefly.

Ashok tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing in thought before turning to glance at Roan, the classmate seated at the last bench near the gate.

Roan, engrossed in his manual, was scanning the sections with diligence, his presence calm and deliberate.

Ashok studied him for a moment before turning back to his own manual, curiosity flickering in his mind. 'How does my charisma affect animals?' he wondered, considering the implications.

Despite the potential intrigue, Ashok's strategic mindset quickly reasserted itself.

He couldn't afford to pick classes merely based on interest or curiosity.

The End of Semester Evaluation loomed large in his calculations—a critical juncture where grades would be averaged across all enrolled classes, determining not only academic standing but also access to numerous Academy benefits.

'I can't lower my score,' he thought sharply, understanding the weight of each decision. 'Students gain significant advantages during the evaluation, and I won't allow a poorly chosen class to jeopardize that.'

Ashok resolved to bide his time, making a mental note to experiment with animals first before committing to a class like Beast Taming.

'If the results are promising, I might pick this next year,' he concluded, setting his focus on the next section of the manual.

Ashok's sharp crimson eyes scanned the new headings, dismissing them swiftly when they didn't align with his meticulous plans.

Weapon Training: Without hesitation, a pass.

Stealth Training: Another disinterested pass. Ashok had neither the inclination nor the necessity to invest in this area.

Blacksmithing: Pass. Crafting weapons or armor was a skill he deemed irrelevant given his curse. He only wanted to work for himself not for anyone else.

When his gaze landed on Alchemy, however, his approach shifted.

The section's significance wasn't lost on him—it was tied to an important character whose trajectory he couldn't afford to leave in the hands of the Hero.

The subcategories under Alchemy—Potion, Poison, and Magic Engineering—each offered unique applications, but Ashok's strategy was clear.

Without deliberation, he selected Magic Engineering.

It was the only subcategory that aligned with his needs for versatile, specialized consumables that could augment his plans especially explosives.

While Potions and Poisons were undeniably useful, Ashok knew he could acquire these easily through his connections, specifically the Duke.

Magic Engineering, however, provided opportunities to craft items that operated outside the Weapon category and held value across diverse scenarios—a versatility he couldn't ignore.