The Main Character Everybody Hated Is Back

His next class was Mana Control. A mandatory class for everyone. Of course, they couldn't all take it at once. The school was far too big for that.

There were still seats left. He chose one in the middle row. Not too close to the front. Not far enough to draw attention.

The safest place.

In this class, there were two important people: Selene Asper and Landon Dusktone.

In the original story, Selene would have spotted him immediately, dragging him to sit beside her. The seat she chose would coincidentally place them right in front of Landon, who would scold them for being too loud.

That scene did not happen in his first life.

In this one, he made sure it wouldn't happen either.

Axel sat quietly, lowered his gaze, adjusted the strap of his bag.

His presence vanished into the idle noise, swallowed by the sound of soft conversations and the gentle sound of mana rods floating above each desk.

He had taken this class before. He knew exactly how it would unfold.

The door opened.

The man stepped in with heavy, dull footsteps.

Instructor Vale. He was a man with many insecurities. One being his looks. A man who always looked tired. A man who faded into crowds. His features were sharp, but they didn't make him handsome. His stubble was faint, his dark hair combed back like he had tried, but didn't really care. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing rough, scarred arms, but no one knew where the scars came from.

He wasn't a man people remembered.

But his voice

That sharp, cold tone

Was impossible to forget.

"Quiet."

Just one word.

The class silenced itself immediately.

He didn't spare them a glance as he made his way to the front, picking up the roster.

"I am Vale Fryberg. You will call me Instructor Vale. This is Mana Control." His eyes swept the room, empty of warmth.

"This class is simple. If you can't control your mana, you will die. If you waste my time, I will make you wish you had."

His voice wasn't loud. He didn't need to be.

The weight of it sank into their bones.

"Selene Asper," he called.

A familiar voice answered.

"Present!"

Selene Asper.

The heroine.

His childhood friend.

Even in this life, her presence was bright, stubborn, painfully warm.

Just like before.

She sat just as she always did. Energetic posture, scribbling furiously in a notebook she would never read again. Her brown hair tied loosely, strands falling near her cheek. Her soft blue eyes smiled first, always. Even now.

In his past life, Axel never got to sit beside her.

In this one, he didn't plan to.

He lowered his head.

The roll call continued. Some answered confidently. Others barely managed to speak.

Landon's voice rang out firmly when called.

The roster snapped shut.

Vale's next words were simple. "Practical. Two tasks. Draw mana and maintain form."

His gaze drifted over them with disinterest. "This is not a beginner's class. Fail to produce mana? You're dismissed."

The rods above their desks hummed to life.

"If you can't keep it spinning," Vale said, his voice sharp, "I'll personally remove you."

The rods began to rotate.

Axel exhaled. Slowly. Calmly.

His hand hovered over the rod.

It spun at a steady, lazy pace.

In his first life, this had been a wall. He had poured out mana desperately, too much, too fast. He wanted so badly to be seen.

He failed.

Miserably.

Now?

Now it was easy.

His mana crept out in a smooth, controlled stream. The rod spun at a stable rhythm. Not too fast. Not too slow.

He was more experienced now. And with Glowell's Guide… this was nothing.

But even then, Axel deliberately slipped. He let his mana tremble, just enough, whenever Vale passed his row.

Too perfect would attract attention. It would make him a target.

The class dragged on.

Vale's gaze scanned the rods. His steps were heavy, deliberate.

Some students trembled under his shadow.

Some lost focus.

Some were dismissed without warning.

Axel's rod spun, undisturbed. His mana danced at a quiet, controlled speed.

Selene's rod spun perfectly. A natural talent. She always had been.

Her soft glances toward him were obvious. She was waiting for him to turn around. Waiting to call his name like she used to.

But he didn't turn.

There was no need.

Across the room, Landon struggled to maintain balance. His mana surged forward in short bursts, unstable, raw. He grit his teeth, forcing the rod to keep pace.

Vale passed by, pausing only briefly.

His evaluation was cold and silent.

When Vale finally passed Axel's desk, he gave a small nod.

"Decent," he muttered. Then moved on.

The moment class ended, Axel slipped out quickly, walking at a steady pace, pretending not to hear the footsteps chasing after him.

"Axel? Axel! Is that you?!"

He didn't stop.

But his body turned automatically.

Selene Asper.

She caught up to him, her breath quick, her expression bright.

And without hesitation—

She hugged him.

Axel's body stiffened immediately. She was soft and warm but the only thing Axel felt was discomfort. 

"Get off." His voice was inhospitable and detached. 

Her arms loosened. She pulled away, gaze downcast.

"I'm sorry…" Her voice cracked. "A-Are you… Are you still mad that I left you?"

Her soft blue eyes shimmered with guilt.

In the novel, Axel and Selene were orphans. They promised to always stay together.

But Selene was later revealed to be the daughter of the Dragonblood Guild's leader. At ten years old, she was taken in by her father, her name rewritten, her status changed. 

She never came back. Not even once.

However, Kai, the reader, knew more.

The orphanage only survived because Selene's father funded it quietly. Selene wasn't allowed to return. She wasn't allowed to associate with "commoners."

But Axel didn't know that.

Not yet.

Plot-Axel didn't know.

So, he had to play the part.

He summoned the brightest voice he could muster.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't still a little mad." His lips didn't smile. "But I'm glad to see you again. How have you been?"

The words were sweet, but they didn't reach his eyes.