"Did something happen?"

Mary approached me with a worried look after I arrived late to class, having missed the first period because of Rafne.

"You weren’t in class this morning."

She probably thought I got caught up in some bullying incident. Well, technically, the girl who used to bully me last year did hold onto me and refused to let go, crying the whole time.

"I just found a stray cat on the way. Got so caught up that I lost track of time, haha…."

There was no need to tell her the truth. I'll have to keep visiting Rafne's tower for the time being, and it would cause all sorts of complications if word got out about her situation.

It’s not that I don’t trust Mary, but better safe than sorry.

"A cat, huh?"

Thankfully, Mary didn’t seem suspicious of my story. In fact, she looked intrigued, her eyes lighting up.

Ah, so Mary likes cats. That’s new. In the game, she was always portrayed as a villain, so I didn’t know these little details. Since the goal was to build affection with the male characters, I never paid attention to such nuances.

Since becoming Ken, I’ve realized that there’s more to this world than just the information I gathered from the game.

After all, when I played the game, I could only view things from the protagonist Emily Epirus’s perspective.

"If anything happens, please call for me anytime."

With that, Mary checked that I was okay and returned to her class.

This was another thing I hadn’t known while playing the game. Mary, according to the game's background, couldn’t stand seeing people being bullied or isolated.

I had thought that her followers were just infatuated with her and followed her blindly. But seeing her checking on people’s well-being, I understand why she has such a loyal fan club.

‘Looks like my immediate priorities are clear.’

What I need to do right now is simple.

Dieting and item crafting.

I don’t know how much my physical abilities will improve as I lose weight, but right now, it’s the most efficient way to increase my stats.

In the game Epirus Academy, if you were playing as the protagonist Emily, you’d normally build up your starting skills and abilities step by step to get stronger.

You could also explore the surroundings to collect various items or skills and find different ways to grow.

In one playthrough, you could master swordsmanship to the point where you’d skip every event by brute force.

In another, you could master magic, unlocking multiple magical options for solving problems.

Or, you could take on lifestyle skills and amass a fortune in a playful “wealth-building” route.

There were so many ways to play the game. But here’s the problem.

I’m not Emily Epirus.

[Name: Ken Feinstein
Unique Skills: Crafting, Calorie Burn
Unique Trait: Physical abilities increase as weight decreases
Possessed Trait: Obesity
Current physical stats: 175 cm, 110 kg]

‘For an extra, they didn’t even bother giving him basic stats?’

I am now Ken Feinstein. An extra character in this game.

Not only that—an extra with no events tied to him.

Just a standing illustration and nothing more, barely a supporting role.

It seems the game developers didn’t even think to give him starting skills or traits beyond his unique skills and traits.

‘So, learning basic skills and traits is another task to handle.’

I’m not sure how I’ll gain skills or traits yet.

When you play as Emily, you have a skill tree to work with from the start.

There are also items scattered throughout the world that grant skills, but going out to find them now would be a death wish.

So, first things first—lose weight.

It’s the only way to boost my stats right now.

And then, my other ability—crafting.

In Epirus Academy, every character has a unique skill that defines their future. These skills manifest at different times but are predetermined and shape their destinies.

‘System, open the detailed window for Ken Feinstein’s crafting skill.’

[Unique Skill: Crafting
Skill Levels
Handcrafting LV 2
Weapon Crafting LV 1
Potion Crafting LV 1
Magical Tool Crafting LV 1]

‘As I thought, the skill is divided into categories.’

In the game, the standard use of the crafting skill appears only later in the story through an NPC. Emily would normally rely on that NPC to craft items.

Since the crafting skill lets you make anything as long as you have the recipe and materials, Emily doesn’t have it at the start to maintain the game’s difficulty.

Instead, you’d find or buy the necessary items from shops.

This is my first time seeing the crafting skill in such detail.

‘So, I need to raise my skill proficiency if I want to make the Goddess’s Pendant.’

The game’s NPCs never failed at crafting as long as you provided the money and materials.

But, based on Emily’s other skills, it’s clear that having a skill doesn’t guarantee success. Other stats also influence skill performance.

‘Looks like I need to raise my stats too.’

There’s a lot to do.

Normally, I’d focus solely on losing weight to increase my physical abilities.

But if I want to save Rafne, I need to move faster.

The war event with the demons will eventually happen, no matter what character Emily bonds with or which ending route she takes.

When the war begins, the demons always prioritize attacking the academy.

If that happens, I can’t guarantee Rafne’s safety while she’s locked in the tower.

‘And for my sake, Rafne needs to live.’

Of course, I’m not just trying to save her out of pity.

In the game, Rafne is one of the strongest characters.

She might have disappeared after losing to Emily in part one, but her unique skills and potential are ranked among the academy’s best.

Saving her and getting her on my side will dramatically increase my chances of survival.

‘Alright, my plan is set.’

I closed my notebook, where I’d been secretly jotting down my thoughts during class.

Right on cue, the bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson.

It seems time flies when you’re deep in thought.

"Ken, how about we eat lunch together today?"

It was lunchtime, and Mary had come to find me, accompanied by some other students.

"Oh, I’m sorry. I already have someone to eat with for the time being."

“…I see.”

Until Rafne recovers from her curse or her mental state improves, I’ll have to keep eating with her.

[Ken Feinstein’s immersion level has decreased.]

It seems like whenever I go against Ken’s core instincts, this “immersion level” drops.

The usual pressure I feel when standing near Mary loosened a bit.

I’ve discovered something new.

“…In that case, should I join you?”

Mary asked as I packed up my things.

"Huh? But there are others waiting for you…"

"They’ll be fine. They’re in a group, after all."

No, they’re your fan club—they won’t be fine without you.

“…It’s just that the person I’m eating with is a bit shy. Maybe another time, haha."

Naturally, it would be a disaster if Mary came along.

Mary and Rafne don’t get along, and it would be awkward if people saw me eating with the girl who bullied me last year.

Not to mention, Mary wouldn’t be able to get close to Rafne because of her curse.

“…I see. Well, alright then.”

Mary nodded, then walked back to her group.

I wonder if she misunderstood, thinking I was eating alone.

She’s very considerate. If she weren’t the game’s villain, she’d probably be a very popular heroine.

Before heading to Rafne’s tower, I first stopped by the dormitory to pack some supplies.

The various tools rattled in the large wooden box.

"Huff, huff."

Carrying all this heavy equipment along with my large body was a real workout.

I guess it’s good for my weight loss, but it’s exhausting.

‘I need to get that item soon.’

I thought of an item hidden in the Droplet Forest, located at the academy’s outskirts.

The academy, located on the edge of the Pracia continent in the Lillias Kingdom, is surrounded by a massive forest.

Ken’s dormitory, Applelore, and Rafne’s tower are on opposite ends of the academy grounds.

“Damn, I’m going to die.”

It feels like every time I visit the tower, I get an intense workout.

The tools I’m carrying are various crafting instruments.

Though I didn’t know this from the game, Ken’s memory revealed that he’s the son of a wealthy merchant from the Lillias Kingdom.

The Lillias Kingdom is the only gateway between the human lands of the Pracia continent and the demon lands of the Carav continent. It’s the center of trade, with rare resources like magic stones coming from Carav.

As a wealthy merchant’s son, Ken Feinstein naturally had access to significant funds.

And judging by his body, it’s clear he wasn’t living like a poor commoner.

Thanks to that, his dorm room was well-stocked with all kinds of crafting tools.

"W-whoa!"

Lost in thought, I tripped on something and fell with a crash.

"Oink!"

A pig-like squeal escaped my lips, but thankfully, I managed to protect the tools.

As I pushed through the pain and looked up, I saw three female students laughing as they walked by.

Were they the ones who tripped me?

Those girls were part of the group that used to bully Ken regularly.

They had been bold last year when Rafne was backing them, but with Rafne gone and Mary protecting me, their bullying had lessened.

But they still made a point of tormenting me when Mary wasn’t around, especially on rainy days.

‘I need to lose this weight as soon as possible.’

Their reason for bullying me is obvious.

I’m fat and easy to pick on.

In terms of the game, I must be one of those characters that’s just made to be bullied.

If I want to escape this situation, I need to shed these pounds quickly.

“…Huff.”

Being possessed by Ken, I don’t feel much emotional distress from their bullying.

The physical pain is unavoidable, but I’m able to stay relatively calm.

Still, I’m sure the real Ken must’ve suffered terribly.

And yet, he didn’t even bother losing the weight. Well, that’s his own fault.

“Hm?”

As I dusted myself off, I noticed someone watching me from afar.

When I looked up, I saw the game’s protagonist, Emily Epirus.

She glanced at me indifferently, and when our eyes met, she frowned and looked away, as if disgusted.

“…I’ll never get used to this.”

In the game, Emily’s personality wasn’t well-defined, as the developers wanted players to project themselves onto her.

The only information about her character was a few lines from the official game guide, describing her as just and righteous.

‘How does that description even fit?’

When I played the game, at least Emily would rush over to help someone who had fallen.

But now? It seems she only does that for attractive male characters.

Or maybe fat, ugly guys like Ken don’t even count as people in her eyes?

Either way, she’s nothing like the protagonist I remember.

It’s becoming clearer that this world has many hidden aspects I wasn’t aware of.

“Are you not going to help him?”

Adrian, standing beside Emily, asked her.

“Hmm, do I really need to?”

Emily glanced at Ken Feinstein again.

He was struggling to move his unkempt, overweight body, panting heavily as he lifted his things.

The sight of him waddling and sweating made her grimace in disgust.

“I thought you wouldn’t leave someone in need like that. Did he do something wrong?”

“…No, it’s just…”

Adrian wasn’t wrong. Normally, Emily wouldn’t be able to ignore someone in trouble.

But Ken Feinstein filled her with a deep sense of repulsion.

It stemmed from her past, a detail Ken wouldn’t know.

Before entering the academy, Emily had been a simple village girl living in the outer reaches of the Lillias Kingdom.

Until the country had personally sent her a recommendation letter, naming her the “Child of Prophecy,” she had led a very ordinary life.

Then, she remembered the unwanted attention from a higher noble overseeing her hometown, a man much like Ken—fat, greedy, and disgusting.

Whenever the noble came to inspect the village, his lecherous gaze would linger on Emily and her younger sister.

One day, when she was out gathering herbs in the forest, he had tried to drag her away.

His fat fingers had grabbed her slender wrist, his heavy breathing filled with lust.

The memory of that moment still made her shudder.

Thankfully, a golden-haired knight passing by had rescued her.

Seeing the knight chase away the noble with his commanding presence had made Emily’s heart race uncontrollably.

From that day on, her sense of what she liked in men—and what she despised—had become clear.

Ken Feinstein was the embodiment of everything she hated.

“Let’s go.”

Leaving behind the pathetic sight of Ken waddling along, Emily urged Adrian to move on.

Let me know how this translation works for you! Feel free to point out any changes or specific tones you need!