What should one do after being reborn in another world? Go on a long adventure to make friends and fight the demon lord? Well, maybe. Be oblivious as shit and make a giant harem unknowingly only for all onlookers to curse at you and your density? That sounds like a plan too. Oh, what about being canon fodder that is more talented than the main character and becomes a hero in their own right? Talk about unique.

All of those sounded like ideas. Great ideas, if I may. But what if you were reincarnated in a world that wasn't based on a book, game, anime, or novel you read? What if there was no great evil demon lord lurking on the horizon, and no main characters or canon fodders for you to take over?

If something like that happened then living a second life was just like living your first life but with a more developed mind.

"Or is that a slice of life?" Mused Makoto as he fitted an arrow to his bow. The wilderness behind the Barabanki estate, though frequently neglected, was not as dangerous as the family's reputation would make one feel. Makoto had learned it personally over the last sixteen years.

The sixteen years he had spent as the third child of the Empire's famed family of wizards were coming to a strange close as a dilemma presented itself in front of Makoto. When he first realized he was a reincarnated individual, he was ripe with joy and excitement about becoming the edgy villain protagonist harem lead number 334234, but things turned out completely differently.

Now, knowing that people were just as normal as they were in the real world (not like the people who read those stories—like Makoto in his original world—would know how people were) he had been living like a normal third son of a count family until his father gave him a new problem.

--

"Makoto, now that you are going to be an adult, you must carve your own path. You know our family encourages self-reliance."

"Yes? You mean I have to make my own money? Maybe I should publicize popcorn."

"Ah, no, not the popcorn." Even the patriarch of the Barabanki County was not immune to popcorn. It wasn't something they could just sell off without making large profits. "I meant more like choosing your path. Maybe become a knight or a ranger, or a great expeditionary in the Empire?"

"Oh... that might take some thought."

"I am sure you will find a good use of your talents, unlike your siblings. Ah, nothing. I never said that. I love all of you equally."

Yeah, sure old man.

--

That was what had happened.

Makoto, still confused about what he should do and where his 'talents' lay, sensed the approach of a bird. He quickly pulled the arrow back and closed his eyes.

The flap of a win alerted him. An owl was approaching from the side!

"Makoto! You are a wizard—"

—SWISH!

The arrow flew out and stabbed the owl straight in the head. The bird fell to the ground like a broken doll.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Sweet!" said Makoto as he hopped over and hopped over, but stopped when he noticed it was an owl. Disappointment clouded his face. Owl meat didn't taste good. If only it were a mallard or something.

"Was it saying something though?"

***

Regardless of the taste, an Owl was an important ingredient for wizards. The family mage would have appreciated the gift, so Makoto took it back with him. As he pushed the growing bushes aside and streamed through the dirt trail—which led to the backyard of the family mansion, Makoto continued thinking about his dilemma.

When Makoto returned, though, a strange atmosphere filled the mansion grounds. People were moving out and about, running around in a hurry as they packed things up. Confused, Makoto made his way to the front door.

The steward of the family noticed him and rushed Makoto along to meet the patriarch, he didn't even get the chance to look and ask around, let alone handle his spoils. The patriarch greeted Makoto with a bright smile, perched on his shoulder was an owl, and in his hand was a letter.

"Makoto!" The Patriarch exclaimed with a smile. "It's a letter from Wyrdhaven, they say you have the talent of a mage. It would be the first in our family of swordsmen."

Makoto was slightly surprised. He had heard of Wyrdhaven, the greatest magic school on the entire continent. But instead of reacting to the news, he had to focus on something else this time.

"What's that owl?" asked Makoto.

"This? It's the messenger from Wyrdhaven."

"Makoto! You're a wizard! You're a wizard!"

Makoto quickly hid the owl he had hunted behind his back.

"Will you go?"

Being a wizard was a rare profession, and to graduate from Wyrdhaven was rarer yet. Though he had heard some of these wizards had a personality issue, the one in the family was rather nice. It was an easy way to a comfortable life, for Makoto who had nothing to inherit and was planning to live a slow, easy, and stress-free life, this was an opportunity!

"I'll go," he said.

That was his first folly.

***

The rattling carriage came to a stop as a caravan of carriages stretched ahead and behind. The western borders of the continent, over hundreds and hundreds of years, this great spot right above a mana vein had transformed into the greatest magical academy in the world.

Makoto was at the doors of Wyrdhaven. Everything had moved rapidly and he had reached here on the very day he became an adult.

"Young Lord," the family mage, Sir Brown had escorted Makoto all the way to the academy. He was the only one who knew anything about magic and was rather close to the boy. "It is time, a policy of Wyrdhaven is 'Equality beneath Wisdom.' You will have to mingle with everyone.

Makoto had heard stories upon stories of Wyrdhaven on his way here. Though the family mage had not graduated, he had told him some things.

It sounded like a great temple of knowledge with some eccentrics in its line-up, but Makoto couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. At last, the carriage came to a complete stop and the coachman opened the door. Another handed him some of his luggage and a few pouches of coins (which were enough to buy a house or two)—

"Oh, you can't take money inside." Sir Brown quickly interjected. At this point, Makoto's subtle uncertainty had turned into alarm bells, but the poor boy, thinking it was just a sign of nervousness about joining an academy, didn't pay attention to it. Who would? In the end, it would be crazy to assume that a historical place of learning would be suspicious. That was his second folly.

The students were overwhelmed by the sight of the enormous gates in front of them and the sight that seemed to stretch far inside. After saying his goodbyes to Sir Brown and the other escorts from the Barabanki estate, Makoto stepped toward the door.

A thrill ran down his spine as he stood in front of the gate, seeing all the other nobles and commoner students pass by one after another. He took in a short breath. This was going to be a new chapter in his life, he thought.

Makoto took a step ahead and passed the doors of Wyrdhaven...

That was his third and final folly.

As soon as Makoto took a step, the world around him changed. The ground was swept from beneath his feet! Before Makoto could make out where his left and right were, he found himself standing in the middle of a dense forest. Not far from him, other students too held their heads and pranced around in shock. Even though it looked like everyone was walking peacefully through the doors, someone had cast an intricate illusion spell just to mess with them!

"Ah... what the hell happened here?"

"Why are we in a forest!?"

"Someone help! Something went wrong!"

"G-guys..."

One of the students pointed at the back. Makoto followed as everyone turned to where he pointed.

And there, stood a dragon.