EPISODE 2

The first thing Lee Shaun learned after transmigrating into Azriel Valenhart's body was this:

The original Azriel had many enemies.

The second thing he learned?

Most of them were idiots.

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Astra Academy, which is built atop Astra Hill, overlooking the capital city. The academy grounds are so enormous that they practically function as a small city.

The academy resembles a luxurious blend of a modern university and a royal palace. Massive white marble buildings rise toward the sky, decorated with enchanted crystal windows that glow softly at night. Floating bridges connect different towers. Magic-powered elevators move students between buildings. Ancient statues of legendary heroes stand throughout the campus.

At sunset, the entire academy shines with golden light, making it look almost heavenly.

Many people describe Astra Academy as:

"A palace disguised as a school."

Shaun stood outside of the magical institution's gate.

"Is this even school?", he stared.

'8:42 A.M.' Shaun glanced over at his watch.

The academy courtyard was crowded with students heading toward their classes. Some wore expensive academy uniforms decorated with noble insignias.

Others carried magical tablets and enchanted devices.

Everyone looked elegant.

Sophisticated.

Refined.

Then there was Azriel. Looking like he was getting hit by a truck, messy hair and sour face. Deathly stared at the school like it offended his entire life.

"Move quick, he's here!"

"Young Master Azriel is here."

"Don't get involved."

"He's in a bad mood again!"

Students immediately stepped aside.

Some looked fearful.

Some looked disgusted.

Others looked amused.

Shaun walked through the crowd with both hands inside his pockets.

Honestly? He wasn't even doing anything. He was just trying to find the cafeteria. Grab something to eat and then left to the class.

The original Azriel's reputation was doing all the work. Then suddenly—

BAM!

Someone crashed into him. A male student dramatically fell onto the ground.

"AGH!"

Then, that student grabbed his shoulder. "You—!"

He pointed at Azriel.

"You pushed me!"

The surrounding crowd immediately stopped. "Oh?"

Everyone suddenly watching and staring straight at Shaun, who definitely did nothing except breathing the same air with them.

"The fuck?" Shaun blinked. Then blinked again.

"What is your problem, man? What did I do to you? Why did you push me? I did nothing...!" The student grips his hand, faking a cry.

Shaun deadpans. The ones should say that to you is me, bastard!

Shaun sighs.

'Be patience. Be patience, dear self.' Shaun chants the words like some mantras.

The actor on the ground continued. Yelling loudly like an attention seeker, acting like Shaun just pushed him off the 100th floor building.

"My arm!"

"It hurts!"

"Someone call a teacher!"

The said actor continue to roll over on the floor, faking an injury.

"You're 28 Shaun, they're just a kids. Stupid unmature kids. Don't mind them, be patience. Remember what your therapist said." Shaun muttered underneath his breath, trying to calm down before he explode.

The crowd immediately started whispering.

"It's Azriel again."

"It's always him."

"Not surprised."

"Poor guy."

Shaun stared. Then stared some more.

"..."

The guy was literally winking at his friends. Giggling stupidly, and mocking Shaun.

In broad daylight. Right in front of him. Shaun felt personally insulted.

"Are you serious?" Shaun raised his eyebrow.

The fake victim paused. "What?"

"That's your acting?" Shaun looked genuinely offended. "Brother, that acting was garbage."

The crowd froze.

The student froze.

"What did you say—!"

Before the fake victim guy could finish—

THWACK!

Shaun punched him. Hardly on the face.

The student rolled three meters away.

Everyone screamed. "WHAT THE HELL?!"

That student groaned. Blood immediately dripped from his nose. Now, he's really injured.

Shaun pointed at him.

"THAT."

Another point.

"THAT!"

Then another point.

"THAT IS AN ACTUAL INJURY."

Silence.

Everyone stared.

The student stared.

Even the birds stopped singing.

"NOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT." Shaun yells back.

The crowd collectively lost their minds.

"HE ADMITTED IT!"

"HE JUST HIT HIM!"

"IN PUBLIC!"

A teacher immediately rushed over. Talk about perfect timing.

"AZRIEL VALENHART!"

"Yes, ma'am?", Shaun turned slightly.

"What happened?! What did you do now?!"

Shaun pointed at the student. "He lied."

"And?"

"So I fixed the problem." Shaun answered.

The teacher nearly fainted. "YOU ASSAULTED HIM!"

Shaun shrugged.

"He wanted to pretend he was injured."

Another shrug.

"Now he isn't pretending."

The teacher looked seconds away from retirement.

"You'll clean the horse stables after class!"

"Okay." Shaun grabs his bag on the floor and begin to walk away.

The teacher blinked.

"...Okay?"

"Yeah."

The teacher was prepared for an argument. Instead Shaun simply started walking away. Halfway there, he suddenly turned around. And began aggressively cursing in Filipino.

Nobody understood a single word. But everyone could feel the violence.

"—Teka lang! Nakakairita kayo! Mga artista kayo lahat! Kung gusto niyo umarte, mag-audition kayo!"

Students stared.

"..."

Then, stared again at each other.

"..."

"What language is that?"

"No idea."

"Why does it sound threatening?"

"Because it is."

The teacher grabbed his forehead. "Your father will hear about this!"

Shaun didn't even stop walking.

"GOOD!"

Then he raised his middle finger. Towards everyone.

"HE CAN HEAR ABOUT IT TWICE!"

The entire courtyard gasped.

Because nobody.

Absolutely nobody.

Would ever speak to the Duke like that. Especially, The Archduke Valenhart, one of the Valmont Nero.

Meanwhile Shaun was thinking:

That ain't my dad! My real dad in Korea!

Report me all you want!

_____________________________________

Later, Shaun was inside the Horse Stable. He skipped classes.

The punishment itself wasn't difficult. The stable was huge.

Filled with expensive magical horses. Some had glowing manes. Others possessed elemental attributes. One horse was literally producing sparks whenever it sneezed.

The moment Shaun entered, he immediately forgot he was being punished.

"HORSES."

The horses blinked.

"Oh my God! OH MY GOD!"

"HORSES." Shaun rushed over.

"Hello babies!"

The stable workers nearby watched the younger son of Valenhart Family from behind.

Was he talking to horses?

He was.

Five minutes later—

"Listen." Shaun was whispering to a white stallion. "If a rich noble man ever bothers you."

The horse stared.

"Kick him."

The horse snorted.

"Exactly."

The stable workers exchanged looks.

'Wasn't this supposed to be punishment?'

'Why did he look happy?'

Then, things became worse. Or better.

Depending on perspective. Because Shaun discovered something.

The original Azriel's magical storage ring still worked.

Inside it? A portable enchanted speaker.

The stable workers immediately became nervous. "Young Master Azriel?"

A wicked grin appeared on Shaun's face. "Oh."

"Oh no." The workers immediately knew trouble was coming.

"OH YES."

A second later—

BOOM!

Music exploded throughout the stable. The horses collectively jumped. The workers nearly had heart attacks.

"YOUNG MASTER!"

Too late.

Way too late.

Because Shaun had already grabbed a mop. And transformed into a superstar.

"DARLING, DARLING, DARLING—", He spun.

Twirled.

Moonwalked.

The mop became a microphone. Then a dance partner. Then somehow a guitar.

Nobody knew how.

The horses watched.

The workers watched.

One horse even walked closer. Curious.

Shaun pointed dramatically. "YOU."

The horse blinked.

"YOU UNDERSTAND ME."

The horse snorted.

"THANK YOU."

The stable workers were crying. Because Azriel wasn't cleaning anymore.

He was performing.

At some point he climbed onto a hay bale. "DID YOU EVER HEAR THE TRAGEDY OF AZRIEL VALENHART?!"

The horses stared.

"HE JUST WANTED THERAPY!"

Nobody knew what therapy was. Yet somehow it sounded important.

The music became louder. The dancing became more ridiculous.

And then—the unimaginable happened.

Several academy students passing by heard the noise. Curious, they peeked inside.

And froze.

Because there, in the middle of the stable—was the infamous villain.

The arrogant young master.

The academy's nightmare.

Was singing his heart out. Dancing with a mop. Performing dramatic spins. While a crowd of horses watched him like loyal fans.

One student slowly lowered his glasses. "Am I tripping?"

Another blinked. "I swear I didn't take any drugs this morning..."

A third pointed. "Is...Is Azriel twerking?"

The stable workers looked exhausted.

"Unfortunately."

The student looked horrified. "Why?"

The worker stared into the distance.

"Young Master Azriel asked the horses if they wanted a concert."

"..."

Silence.

"And?"

The worker sighed. "He decided their silence meant yes."

Meanwhile, Shaun dipped the mop dramatically and pointed it toward the audience of horses.

"THANK YOU EVERYBODY!"

A horse immediately neighed.

Shaun gasped.

"You like me!"

And somehow...

That horse became his first friend in this world.

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