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

Ashok quickly moved on to last few remaining choices, skipping over Divination without a second glance.

'No interest in staring at visions of futures already known,' he thought dismissively.

Occult Research: Pass. For Ashok, he already knew about the Outer Gods.

Dungeon Research: Another firm pass.

Study of Other Languages. The heading might have intrigued others, but Ashok dismissed it with the same calm indifference he had shown toward previous options.

'I already know all the languages in the world—not to mention the Five Ancient Languages. With my knowledge, I could teach at the Academy rather than learn under someone. Another pass.' His thoughts were decisive, his strategy unyielding.

Having combed through the remainder of the manual, Ashok found nothing of interest that aligned with his goals.

Satisfied with his choices, he capped his selection at five classes, meeting the minimum requirement but not exceeding it unnecessarily.

With a flick of his hand, he sent his pen back to his storage ring.

Crossing his arms, he leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as he let the ambient noise of the classroom wash over him.

It was finally time to relax, and he was content in knowing there was still plenty of time—more than forty minutes—before the manuals would be collected.

Around him, the classroom buzzed faintly with activity.

The sound of rustling papers and whispered exchanges filled the air as the other students wrestled with their decisions, flipping pages and discussing options.

A few curious glances sneaked in his direction, Elara's golden eyes among them.

But she, like the others, quickly returned to her work, aware that time was running out.

The methodical deliberations of his classmates felt distant to him, their whispers fading into the background like the rustle of leaves in a breeze.

At the front of the classroom, Mia finally closed her book, her piercing blue eyes lifting to scan the room.

"Five minutes left," she announced, her voice sharp yet calm, commanding immediate focus. She added, "Those who have made their choices, simply raise your hands."

As the final moments of the allotted hour ticked away, multiple hands shot up across the classroom, signaling the completion of the students' selections.

The Manuals, guided by Mia's magic, lifted gracefully into the air one by one, swirling briefly before stacking themselves neatly atop one another in the center of the teacher's desk.

Each manual landed with meticulous precision, creating a perfectly aligned pile right in front of Mia.

Mia, with her characteristic poise, took a moment to observe the stack of manuals before reaching for them.

Her gaze sharpened slightly as she flipped through the submissions in order, her blue eyes briefly scanning the chosen classes listed by each student.

Purposefully, she left Adlet's manual for last, her curiosity piqued by the confident and defiant air he carried throughout the class.

When she finally lifted Ashok's manual, her expression hardened momentarily as she read through the choices he'd made. At a single glance, the thought sprang unbidden to her mind:

'What kind of weird set of choices are these?'

Adlet's selections—distinct, deliberate, and entirely unorthodox—stood out starkly among the more predictable combinations chosen by his classmates.

Though Mia's face betrayed nothing, her mind raced as she tried to make sense of the decisions reflected in the manual.

Mia's fingers lingered briefly on the edge of Adlet's manual as she finished scanning his selections, her sharp mind trying to piece together the rationale behind them.

The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

His choices defied the typical logic and structure that students at the Academy adhered to, especially given how classes were designed to align with combat archetypes: Close Combat, Long Range Combat, and Support.

From the depth of Mana she sensed within his body, Mia could tell immediately that Ashok wasn't a Close Combat specialist.

If he were, he would have formed an Aura Core by now, something fundamental to all fighters who relied on physical and aura strength. And yet, his decision to take Physical Training stood out.

While unconventional for a mage, it wasn't without merit. Most mages rarely invested in physical development, relying solely on their spells for survival.

Ashok's choice to train his body was unique but strategically sound, and Mia was quietly impressed by it.

However, her approval of that choice quickly faded when she examined the rest of his selections.

Ashok ignored all the typical offerings under Magic and Element Training, the very core of why mages came to the Academy in the first place. The absence of Spell Creation or Elemental Training in his choices was baffling.

Mia couldn't help but think, 'If you're a mage and you don't train in spellcasting or elemental mastery, then what's the point of being a mage?'

What truly perplexed her was his decision to take Mana Sensitivity and Control Training, a course notorious for its difficulty.

Even second-year students, many with far more experience, struggled to succeed in this training.

It was hard to imagine someone like Ashok, a first-year who had shown no signs of conventional magic aptitude, taking on such an advanced and demanding course.

Her confusion deepened further when she noticed his complete disregard for Weapon Training.

If Ashok were a hybrid class, such as a Magic Swordsman or a Magic Archer, it would have made sense for him to choose something under weapon skills, but he had skipped that entirely.

Yet, despite ignoring Weapon Training, he had chosen Magic Engineering under Alchemy, a subject that focused on crafting specialized consumables and tools rather than traditional weapons.

This, too, was an unusual choice—one that hinted at a creative but unorthodox approach to combat and problem-solving.

As Mia placed the manual back on the stack, her thoughts turned in circles. 'Just what is his class? And what does he aim to become?' she wondered, frustration and intrigue mingling in her mind.

Mia, after her thorough but fruitless attempt to decipher Ashok's choices, silently decided to relinquish any further effort to understand his thought process.

'Mad student,' she concluded internally, yet her exterior remained calm and composed as she gathered the remaining manuals from the students.

Once all the manuals were neatly collected, Mia's voice carried through the classroom with commanding authority. "Everyone, brace yourselves."

Her words left the class momentarily stunned. Students exchanged confused glances, uncertain of what was about to happen.

Before any questions could be raised, Mia clapped her hands softly, her movements elegant yet deliberate.

A vast and intricate magic circle illuminated beneath their feet. Before anyone could react, the magic activated, and in the blink of an eye, the entire class vanished.

When the students opened their eyes, they found themselves standing in a grand hall.

Towering walls were lined with glass cabinets that displayed an assortment of weapons—swords, spears, bows, and more—each meticulously preserved, their gleaming forms emanating a faint magical aura.

The sheer magnitude of the hall and its contents left many students wide-eyed, their awe palpable.

Mia appeared before them in her typical composed manner, her voice cutting through their wonder with clarity. "Everyone, I welcome you to the Weapon Hall of the Academy."

The students' eyes sparkled with fascination as their gazes darted toward the weapons now on display.

Each weapon seemed to emanate its own allure, encased within the pristine glass cabinets that stretched endlessly across the grand hall.

Just as the students began to take cautious steps closer, Mia's authoritative voice rang out, commanding their full attention.

"Each student is allowed to pick a single weapon which will serve as their main weapon inside the Academy," she began, her tone firm and unyielding.

"You will ONLY use these weapons in duels or any other tasks assigned by the Academy. From this moment forward, personal weapons are strictly prohibited. Anyone caught wielding a personal weapon will be subjected to disciplinary action."

The weight of her words hung in the air, and the students exchanged nervous glances.

For many, parting with personal weapons was an unexpected blow, while others viewed this as an opportunity to secure a symbol of their growth in the Academy.

"You are allowed to test the weapons," Mia continued, "so make your choice carefully. You are given half an hour." Her sharp gaze swept across the students before she added,

"Ensure that you handle the weapons with care during testing, avoiding any injuries to yourself or others. These weapons were crafted by your Seniors in the Blacksmith Division. If you meet them, make sure to express your gratitude for their work."

With a final authoritative note, she concluded, "When you have made your decision, proceed to the gate at the end of the hall with your chosen weapon."

And, in the blink of an eye, Mia disappeared, leaving the students alone amidst the hall's grand collection.

As her presence faded, the enchantment on the glass cabinets activated.

One by one, the cases opened smoothly, granting the students unrestricted access to the displayed weapons. A quiet awe settled over the room as the students spread out, their footsteps echoing softly in the expansive hall.

While his classmates eagerly swarmed the cabinets, inspecting the enchanted swords, elegant spears, and radiant staffs with awe and determination, Ashok strolled leisurely through the grand hall, his hands tucked into his pockets as though he were idly passing time in a park.

Ashok's casual demeanor seemed completely at odds with the tense, focused atmosphere of the Weapon Hall

His footsteps were measured, unhurried, as he glanced at the contents of each cabinet—sometimes lingering for a minute to study the weapons, only to move on without a second thought.

With no one paying attention to him, he was free to do as he wished.

However, Ashok wasn't merely wandering aimlessly—he was deliberately avoiding touching the weapons, mindful of the potential reaction his curse might have.

The consequences were unknown, and Ashok wasn't one to gamble recklessly, even in such an environment specially in front of his classmates.

Ashok was simply observing the main characters to compare them to the game while waiting for a certain special individual who would trigger a event for him.