Daily Rewards! Transmigrating into a novel as a side-character!

Seraphina nodded with a grim expression, her usual composed mask slipping for a moment. "I know him quite well, actually. We were... engaged until recently."

"Engaged?" I couldn't hide my surprise. "What happened?"

"The arrangement was made by our families when we were children," she explained, her voice taking on a neutral tone.

She paused, seeming to choose her words carefully. "Adrian and I dissolved our engagement just before the academy term began. It was... a mutual decision. We both felt we were incompatible."

"But you're surprised he broke my record after I broken his yesterday," I observed.

"Wait. It was Adrian's record that you broke yesterday? I had heard rumours that you had broken another student's record, but I didn't catch the name in the gossip and I was too busy to look into it."

"Yes, why do you look so surprised? Someone with his power, it should be normal, no?" I asked, not knowing much about Adrian Blackwood. I didn't even know how the guy looked, but Seraphina was acting kind of weird that I couldn't help but ask.

Her brow furrowed before she said. "Extremely surprised. The Adrian I knew showed no interest in serious training or combat. He was more concerned with..." She trailed off before stopping herself.

"With what?"

"Personal matters that had nothing to do with strength or skill. His reputation at social gatherings was... not focused on martial prowess."

Victor had been listening to our exchange with obvious interest. "People can change quite dramatically when properly motivated," he interjected. "Perhaps losing his engagement provided the catalyst he needed."

Seraphina's expression remained sceptical. "Perhaps. But the Adrian I knew could barely maintain focus during basic etiquette lessons, let alone develop such power...I don't know, maybe I didn't know him...well enough."

"How long ago did you dissolve the engagement?" I asked.

"Around two weeks ago. Just before we both arrived at the academy."

Seraphina wasn't making sense. Just how could someone who wasn't known to be a genius suddenly become one?

So, I voiced the question on my mind. "Do you know when he awakened his bloodline?"

Seraphina's brows drew together as she thought back. After a pause, she nodded."I think it was after breaking our engagement. Only a few days later."

"That explains it," I muttered, piecing the situation together in my head. "After awakening his bloodline, he must've changed. Maybe his bloodline awakening had changed him, he probably has a powerful one. No… in fact, it has be powerful, most likely at the mythical rank."

But Seraphina shook her head immediately."No. His family claimed it was a rare-rank bloodline."

A rare-rank? A frown formed on my face.

That didn't line up with what I'd just witnessed through his score. Whilst Rare-rank bloodlines were powerful, they weren't powerful to the extent that their wielder would be able to bypass me, a wielder of the supreme-rank phoenix bloodline, especially with his previous reputation that Seraphina spoke of.

Victor folded his hands behind his back, the faintest curve on his lips betraying amusement."Rank alone doesn't determine potential. Bloodlines can manifest differently in each generation. Perhaps Adrian's awakening brought forth a powerful trait, or perhaps they had misjudged the rank of his bloodline. Either way, it doesn't matter."

The words lingered in the air like a blade unsheathed. I glanced between them, unease building in my chest.

Victor tilted his head, regarding me with a curious look."Tell me, Kyle. Does this revelation discourage you? To know another has already surpassed your efforts without any previous accomplishment?"

For a moment, I felt that same frustration building again. But then I clenched my fists, steadying myself. "No. It just means I'll work harder. If Adrian Blackwood can change, so can I. I won't lose to him."

How can I lose when I have a supreme bloodline of the great phoenix clan. That's impossible.

Victor's approving smile deepened, and his eyes glistened."Good. That's the spirit I was hoping to hear. Remember this, Kyle. The academy isn't just about strength. It's about perception. If Adrian has indeed altered his image, others will rally around him. Influence, reputation, alliances, they can be as deadly as any blade. Learn that lesson quickly, and you'll rise above them all."

I nodded, though a storm churned inside me. Adrian Blackwood, a name I'd never heard of was suddenly becoming a rival I couldn't ignore.

...

After class had ended, I made my way toward the student hub. My communication crystal had rung earlier, the faint blue glow flickering with the attendant's voice informing me that one of the students was interested in one of my items.

The student was interested in my enhanced-rank spear.

Just thinking about the profit I was about to make brought a grin to my face. I'd already decided on my price.

100,000 points.

Possibly his full monthly income if he was not in the elite rank class.

It wasn't arrogance. It was simple economics. Enhanced-rank weapons were luxuries for all students including second and third years, bordering on impossible to obtain unless one had either family connections or sheer luck outside the academy. As for inside the academy, it was less scarce, you simply needed points to get it.

The established price in the weapon shops in the mall was around 150,000 - 200,000 depending on the weapon. I knew the value of discounts, and greed of students and I intended to exploit it to sell the items that I had gotten for free from the daily rewards.

The student hub was crowded as usual, filled with groups exchanging items, information, and gossip.

As I stepped inside, heads turned.

Adrian Blackwood. The one who dethroned Kyle Morrison overnight.

Information had already spread about me breaking the record again. I wasn't surprised, information in this academy was welcomed and many people used it to form connections or even sold it.

I approached the designated counter where the attendant, a normal second year student waited, a polite young man in uniform bowing as I arrived. "Sir Blackwood, the buyer is waiting in room three."

With a subtle nod, I made my way to the door before pushing it open.