The Useless Extra Knows It All....But Does He?

The moment we stepped through the archway into the test grounds, the temperature shifted. The air was dense—thick with arcane pressure. The field was wide and circular, surrounded by high obsidian walls etched with ancient runes. Magic thrummed beneath our feet, pulsing through the stone like a heartbeat. A dome of pale blue light shimmered overhead, enclosing the field and reflecting a sky that wasn't quite real. The faint scent of mana-infused mist curled through the air.

It was artificial, yes—but every inch of it felt real. Alive.

Crimson flags fluttered at the edges, marking boundaries. Golems stood stationed near the gates, their hollow eyes glowing faintly. Several instructors hovered mid-air on levitation discs, overseeing us like hawks. The energy in the air was buzzing. Nervous tension. Excitement. Ignorance.

But all I could think was—

What the hell is going on?

This… wasn't right.

Lilliane was supposed to be in a party with Aiden and Vincent. That was how the story went. The trio of protagonists. The perfect blend—2 Knights and a mage for a 3-party team. Balanced, iconic, flawless.

Why the hell am I in the middle of this instead?

I looked around, squinting past the haze of magic and moving students. Where was Aiden?

There.

He stood tall and proud near one of the starting platforms, his red scarf fluttering slightly in the wind. On either side of him—Selena and Vincent.

My jaw slackened.

What the—Selena?

She wasn't supposed to be in their group. And where the hell was Kyle then?

I scanned the area again, eyes flicking across faces until I found him. Kyle was off near the southern edge, with two unfamiliar students—probably a third-year and another first-year. He looked mildly annoyed, arms crossed.

I clutched my head.

This is wrong. This is so wrong. The script has officially left the building.

Everything was getting scrambled. I had been preparing for the story to unfold in a certain way. I thought I could use the script to navigate safely—to stay under the radar. But now?

Now I was at the center of something I didn't plan for.

And then I saw them.

My assigned party members.

Lilliane approached with her usual composed stride, her eyes locking onto mine like she already had a thousand questions but no intention of asking any of them just yet. There was no hint of complaint in her expression, only calm calculation—as if she'd already accepted the party and was thinking ten steps ahead.

Wait, wasn't she supposed to be a yandere? Why is she calm? Shouldn't she be throwing a tantrum right now? And why the hell isn't she in a party with Aiden like she's supposed to be?

Was the butterfly effect already taking full swing?

And beside her walked the third-year.

Elowen Aeryllis.

The name alone was enough to make several nearby students whisper.

Her presence was calm, yet undeniably sharp—like a blade hidden beneath silk. She was a high elf—tall and graceful, with smooth, emerald-green hair tied in a single braid that fell over one shoulder. Her crimson red eyes shimmered like rubies under moonlight, cool and piercing. There was something otherworldly about her, even among a crowd of magic-wielding prodigies.

A gentle aura of mana clung to her like mist, and yet she moved with an ease that said she didn't need to prove a damn thing. Every step was confident. Every glance deliberate. She wore her Arcadia robes with effortless poise, silver embroidery swirling around her cuffs like waves of wind.

There was no mistaking it—Elowen Aeryllis wasn't just another senior. She was someone who mattered.

Just my luck.

The scent of artificial forest was always strange to me.

Too symmetrical. Too controlled. Like a well-rehearsed orchestra trying to mimic the chaos of a storm. The real woods breathe—they pulse and shift with life that obeys no mage's command. But this? This was a cage painted with leaves.

Still, I kept walking.

Lilliane matched my pace silently beside me. The girl's aura was composed but intriguing—a perfect balance of all basic elements. That alone had piqued my interest when the rosters were being planned.

No one questioned my request.

After all, I was Elowen Aeryllis—High Elf of the Elven Forests of Ylladwyn, Princess of the Forest Courts, and chosen of the World Tree.

My words still had some weight in here, at least to choose my party members.

I remembered the ceremony vividly.

The moment he appeared at the center platform—Luca Valentina.

The phenomenon he triggered was unnatural. Ancient. Like time had unraveled itself for a breath. The light, the magic, the silence that followed… it haunted even me.

But it was Vincent Valentina's reaction that truly disturbed me.

That boy, cold as steel and just as unyielding, had flinched. His eyes had widened. His mask had cracked—for just a second.

That alone was enough to ignite my curiosity.

And then came the message from the World Tree.

"Approach the bearer of Time and Space. Observe. Protect. Learn."

It was rare for the World Tree to speak. Rarer still for it to command.

At first, I resented the order. I was no babysitter. I had my own path. But curiosity had already bloomed within me. The ceremony… the rumors… the brother's reaction…

So I made the request personally: Place Luca Valentina in my party.

And while I was at it, I added Lilliane.

Not for strategy.

Just because she intrigued me. So balanced. So restrained. And… so cute.

Now, as we neared him, I spotted our third member standing by himself. He looked like he was debating whether to fake an injury or throw himself into a portal.

His expression screamed, "Why me?"

Fufufu. He looked just as distressed as I expected.

I couldn't help but smile.

Let's see what makes you so special, Luca Valentina.

I straightened my posture as they approached and offered a polite nod. "Greetings to both of you."

Elowen returned the gesture, smiling with a cheerful, confident ease. "Hello, junior. Let me introduce myself properly to my cute new teammates."

She placed a hand elegantly over her chest. "Elowen Aeryllis, Forest Element, weapon of choice—a bow. Knight Class. Let's work well together."

Lilliane gave a polite bow next. "Lilliane Fairmoore. Affinity with all basic elements. Mage Class."

Her voice was calm, but her tone was stiff—like she was reciting lines more than actually talking. Social interactions still weren't her strong point.

Then it was my turn.

"Luca Valentina," I said, stepping slightly forward. "Elements: Space and Time. Weapons—dual sabers. Knight Class. Please take care of me."

There was a moment of silence.

A flash of surprise flickered across both their faces—brief but unmistakable.

Especially Lilliane.

It was subtle, but the way her eyes widened and her breath caught was telling. So she didn't know until now.

Elowen, too, blinked—her smile faltering for just a second before returning with a curious gleam in her eyes.

A strange quiet settled over us, as if the very air around us acknowledged something important had just been said.

Well… it was bound to come out sooner or later.

Better I tell them myself as they are my party members who will fight beside me, at least for today.

If nothing else, I owed them that truth.

After introductions were exchanged, we stood together in a quiet triangle, waiting for the instructor's cue to begin. The tension that had filled me earlier had mellowed slightly. Elowen's presence, while still mysterious, didn't feel threatening. And Lilliane—well, her subtle surprise had faded into quiet contemplation.

Then Elowen leaned closer to Lilliane, her red eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, Lilliane," she whispered with an exaggerated air of curiosity, "do all mages with perfect affinity also freeze up during introductions, or is that just your personal charm?"

Lilliane blinked, lips parting in momentary confusion. "I—I wasn't freezing up."

"Of course not," Elowen teased, smiling with faux innocence. "You were radiating elegance and composure. Naturally awkward silence is part of your tactical spellwork?"

Lilliane's ears flushed a soft pink. "I don't cast awkwardness."

Fufufu~

Elowen chuckled behind her hand. "No need to deny it. It's rather cute."

Lilliane looked away, her composure visibly cracked. Her voice dropped to a near-whisper. "...I wasn't trying to be cute."

I stood quietly, watching the interaction unfold like a bizarre dream. Elowen was thoroughly enjoying herself, while Lilliane was struggling not to vanish into the nearest wall.

Oddly enough, it helped ease the nerves.

Before anything else could escalate, the instructor's voice boomed across the field, carried by magic amplification.

"All participants, prepare yourselves!"

Magic rippled beneath our feet. A soft hum filled the air as the barrier separating us from the dungeon shimmered, beginning to thin.

And there I was—sabers in hand, staring down the Dungeon Boss.

How in all hell did it come to this...?