The Legendary Programming Mage

I suppose it's starting now.

How to control a crowd, or rather, how to make lazy people work hard.

In my past life I was indeed a lazy person, only doing things when they interested me or if I was forced.

However, I still knew how to control masses.

A central villain.

If different people with different ideals had one person they could call a villain, then they would band together, train, and work hard to defeat that person.

Of course, if that said person were to die then they would fight each other again.

But I was that said person, and I wasn't planning on losing to anyone.

My eyes darted around the frozen crowd.

They were stunned.

The Apex of every year was meant to be a leader and motivator.

But I wasn't just any Apex.

I was Allen Vanderbilt.

If Alicia needed an inspiration so badly, then I would show her how the Night_Hawks did things.

Consciously darkening my gaze, I muttered, "You all seem oddly quiet; it's rather strange not hearing the noble people booing."

Even though I said that I still had my own fears.

What if the people I cared about vanish because of this—can I bear it?

I had already dealt with the pain of losing my previous family and couldn't bear to lose anyone else.

But...

I knew somewhere inside me that those who were truly close to you won't vanish just because of a few words.

I forced a smile, and I could see some students quiver in their seats.

"Did you actually think I was going to smile and be lenient with you all? Give some fancy speech?"

From now on, I was going to play the villain of the story.

No, I would be both the hero and the villain.

I would fill the gap Jake Kim left in the first year while being their goal, a being they want to take down.

"You know what you all think: being in Apex is a roadmap to a good life. Some of you, even after hearing all the words from the student council, will still live mediocre lives."

I raised a finger. "'I have a month of pardon, I can make points with my friends, I can leech on a high ranker' — that's what some of you are thinking, right?"

"'If I get enough points, I'll never be expelled.'"

I gave a mock chuckle. "But is that really what it means to be in Apex?"

I paused as if a thought just flashed through my mind.

"Why don't I fix that mentality, then?"

I snapped my fingers and the Quilbot in charge of the holographic image activated.

"Quilbot, use my points to expel those four sitting over there."

[Understood]

[You have spent 1,000,000 points]

All the students froze as the hall grew heavy.

"You four over there, you can leave now; from now on you aren't students of Apex anymore."

One of the four yelled out.

— "What the hell, you have no right to—"

I raised a hand to cut him off. "I do, actually."

My lips curved slightly. "Apex runs on points, did you forget?"

The boy snapped back.

— "Even still this month we are—"

I laughed, low and cold. "Are you stupid? Even rules can be broken here. Did you think you're worth a million? Those points were mainly to break a rule."

One of the four, a girl with blue hair and eyes who was practically trembling, raised a hand.

— "Please, can you have mercy? I will do anything, I don't..." She whimpered. "I don't want to go back home."

I stared at the girl for some time.

Perhaps I could have decided to have mercy on them, but that would defeat the entire purpose.

This was my mask and I couldn't let it slip.

"No," I answered flatly. "You aren't even a student anymore, and I can't waste my points on people who only fill space."

No one objected again and just sat on their chairs in silence.

Alicia hadn't announced how many points I had, so for them I could have an infinite amount.

As long as they believed that, none would act.

Allies? Friendship?

I wasn't planning on doing any of that.

The first years from today would have one enemy: me.

"If you guys hate me so much... then."

I paused briefly, looking into their eyes. "Beat me. If any one of you can push me from first place, then I will step down as Apex, leave this academy, and shatter my core."

Their eyes suddenly flashed with something primal.

"Not once did I take any of you as my allies or friends; you are nothing but tools to me.

I will expel those who cross me, and leave those who do their best. As long as you are useful to me you have a chance, so..."

I tilted my head slightly, my gaze darkening. "Bring me down if you can; if not, you all die."

Silence swallowed the hall, and for a second I heard my own pulse.

Alicia didn't say a word throughout all this, but I could see her lips curve up a little.

After a moment of silence I turned my back on them and left through the backstage.

All the students could only stare at my back as I walked away.

A back they wanted to catch up to, someone they wanted to pull to the ground.

That was me, their greatest foe and the reason they would continue to fight.

***

"... If not, you all die."

What the hell is going on?

Allen... what is he doing?

In the game, Allen was meant to be a leader for the first years.

So why was he doing this?

Has he turned to the dark side already?

Step. Step. Step.

The gorgeous young man walked past me and spared me a glance before going backstage.

A mask.

I was sure of it.

Just like that person, Allen Vanderbilt had put on a mask.

"Looks like my fate has already started to change."

It had happened way too fast.

A villain to kill, and the devil of the arctic.

The only man no one could even dream of touching.

His story had already started.