I Want to Be an Extra

In her first year at Beresha Academy High School, Lepis Wond, the recently appointed president of the Nameless God research club, regarded the mountains of paperwork piled up before her with an expression of unjust resentment.

What could she possibly call this predicament?

Several explicit terms sprang to mind, but she failed to pinpoint the most accurate expletive.

“Why?”

The question echoed in her mind—why, why, why?

“Really, why?”

Clutching her long, ivory tresses, she slumped over her desk, hiding her face.

‘How did it come to this?’

The seeds of this crisis were sown this very morning.

It all started on the first day of term at Beresha Academy.

She was already in a poor mood when she woke up, feeling disheartened that the holiday had drawn to a close.

This discontent might have contributed to her struggle to adapt to the early morning wakeup.

Could that be the cause?

She had arrived late the previous evening and spent what remained of the night sorting out her belongings. By the time she had everything in order, it was already past her bedtime.

To sum it up, she was operating on minimal sleep.

But her circumstances were unique.

It was rare for students to return to the academy the day before the term commenced.

“Could the club be shut down?”

Despite her friend’s dire prediction, she managed a nonchalant smile.

“Well, if it comes to that, I’ll just join another club.”

After all, most students held their club activities in high esteem.

Clubs served as an excellent social platform, and the accomplishments one could attain through club participation were substantial.

In an attempt to entice new members, it was typical for students to return to the academy a few days prior to the start of the term.

‘But that’s irrelevant to me.’

From her perspective, such matters held no importance.

She harbored no desire to forge social bonds or become a civil servant of the empire.

Thus, she was confident in her approach.

“But you’re the club president! What will you do if it’s really disbanded?”

“Let’s not forget that Prince Lutess is a member.”

“Oh, don’t remind me.”

Yet, this was something she could not dismiss lightly.

The upheaval from last year had deeply shaken her.

“Has the prince of the empire ever tried to join your club? Has he?!”

Her friends were taken aback by her sudden flare-up.

“Do you have any idea what a headache that was?”

Why on earth had he decided to join the Nameless God research club?

She simply wished for a peaceful, uneventful life.

As the eldest daughter of a rural viscount, she had no need to immerse herself in social activities.

Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to use club hours for extra rest in the dorm?

Joining the club under this assumption, she found that the other members harbored similar views.

To them, Prince Lutess’s admission into their club was a nightmare.

“Every member of the student council showed up, even the president! Not to mention teachers, and even the director of the academy!”

Many others had descended upon the club as well.

As the freshly appointed club president, she was left to face the onslaught alone.

“Even my family found out and chastised me!”

“Why?”

“Well, my parents are devout followers of the God of Creation.”

“Right, they’re the sort to barely scrape together their limited land tax to donate to the church, yet their beloved daughter is not just neglecting their faith but seeking the Nameless God.”

They had nearly erased her name from the family records—a mere hairsbreadth away from a threat. How much persuading did it take to convince them that she joined the club simply to avoid other extracurricular activities?

“If I actively recruit freshmen? That would surely lead to my name being expunged.”

Her friends couldn’t help but chuckle at her trembling form and clenched teeth.

“Who else could have gone through such an ordeal, though.”

“It would be exhausting even for the Royal Academy.”

“Well, knowing Lepis, even without the prince, she wouldn’t have bothered to recruit freshmen, right?”

“Why would I put myself through that?”

Lepis didn’t refute the claim.

Having half-friends to maintain social connections was sufficient for her.

Even if they were the offspring of viscounts or barons of similar stature, this was more to her liking.

‘Living within one’s means is ideal.’

The adage that birds of a feather flock together held truth for a reason.

She had firsthand experience of the havoc caused by just having the prince’s name associated with her club. What other catastrophe could she potentially invite?

“I plan to live a low-profile life and retire just as quietly.”

Her friends laughed and concurred with her declaration of aspiring to the typical life of a minor citizen, or rather, a minor noble.

“That’s fitting for you.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way, either.”

“Do you think it’s that simple? Rumor has it that individuals from the Duke’s household are among the new entrants in your club…”

“You’re doomed.”

Where did that ominous remark originate?

With a quick leap, Lepis tackled the friend who was hurling jinxes.

She then climbed atop her, delivering a punch fueled by frustration.

A few hours later, she found herself regretting her rash action.

‘I should have finished her off when I had the chance.’

With that thought, she shifted her gaze to the person before her.

“Hahaha, Junior Lepis seems to be quite capable.”

The president of Beresha Academy’s Student Council observed her with amusement.

‘Did you stir up trouble again?’

With a forced smile, Lepis responded to the Student Council President’s automatically translated words.

“Absolutely not. What could I possibly have done?”

‘Really, I’ve done nothing. So why has it come to this?’

To begin with, she had only learned about the issue from the Student Council President.

That’s why she felt so wronged.

“Really, without you having done anything, would Junior Lewin, who is sought after by everyone, just join the club?”

‘First a royal, now a duke’s kin joining out of the blue—it’s ridiculous.’

Yet the Student Council President didn’t seem to think so.

“I returned to the dormitory only late last night.”

‘How unjust is this!’

Had her sense of injustice reached him?

“……”

The Student Council President fell silent for a moment after hearing Lepis’s words.

He was aware that she had only returned to the academy late the previous night.

‘But it’s too peculiar to ignore.’

Babelian, Dryerf.

Could those widely known not just in the empire but across the continent, join one specific club by ‘coincidence’?

And that too, an obscure club centered around the theme of a nameless god!

‘It would make more sense if this individual before me were an extraordinary puppet master.’

But it was farfetched given the weak influence of Baron Wond.

‘Perhaps she leveraged this to her advantage.’

Entertaining this train of thought, he shook his head.

He realized he’d end up in a rabbit hole if he indulged in such conspiracy theories.

“Really?”

So, this time, he spoke genuinely, without needing interpretation,

“It’s misinformation, right?”

And she replied just as sincerely.

“I’m afraid not.”

It’s misinformation, right?

The brief response carried a myriad of complex emotions, which the Student Council President could sense.

“…”

What could possibly be the reason for the prince and the Duke’s son to join this dormant club?

Lepis felt as though the universe was conspiring against her.

“I’m just as clueless.”

Why on earth?

Both were genuinely intrigued but found no explanation.

“Anyway, since it’s already happened.”

“Pre, President?”

Lepis’s pupils dilated, as if in the throes of a seismic event.

She seemed to be wondering what she should do if he simply informed her and departed,

“The Reinhardt family has applied to join the labor club.”

He too was dealing with a headache-inducing issue.

“What’s the labor club…”

“It’s a club exclusive to student council members. You know how there’s this rule that each student should join one club, right?”

That explanation sufficed.

She hadn’t known until last year, but after Lutess joined the club, she came to understand the extent of the student council’s behind-the-scenes work.

‘It’s probably just the tip of the iceberg.’

In such an exclusive student council club, the daughter of the Duke had applied for membership.

Under normal circumstances, they could deny her, but their opponent was a Reinhardt.

If she desired, she could easily secure a leadership position in the student council next year.

It would be absurd to prevent her voluntary participation.

“Good luck.”

It must be chaos over there as well.

Thus, she decided to let the Student Council President leave.

“You too.”

The student council president, showing a clear understanding of Lepis’s emotional turmoil, left her with a succinct farewell.

“Haah.”

In the aftermath.

Lepis lingered at the spot where she had encountered the student council president.

“He told me to visit the club room, but once I get there…”

Thump, thump, thump.

Every time her forehead hit the desk, her white locks fluttered wildly.

“Ah, thankfully I have white hair; otherwise, it’d be peppered with gray from all this stress.”

She yearned to deny reality, to flee from the relentless truth.

“It’ll be fine. Prince Lutess and I rarely crossed paths, right?”

Unable to disprove the inevitable, she found solace in comforting herself.

“Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?”

Smack!

With a palm slap to her cheek, she set out for the club room with a renewed determination.

After all, she was crowned club president merely because she was the oldest among the members.

What was this so-called nameless god research club?

It was a small, almost insignificant group with less than ten members.

There were no club activities, no achievements to speak of.

At any point, the student council could deem the club unnecessary and disband it.

What reason could a noble child possibly have to join such an unimpressive club?

‘It must be for the same reasons as ours.’

Freshmen are usually only ten years old.

While some students might have to repeat a grade, it’s not as if Beresha Academy is a place one would willingly redo a year to stay!

“Yeah. Being a duke, he doesn’t need to create networks like I do.”

The Dryerf name, on its own, would inevitably draw people to him.

He probably thought he had no need for club activities.

He’s either unlucky or he might have mentioned joining our club simply because Prince Lutess was in it!

“All you need to do is carry on as you are. Accept the club application and once he becomes a member, that’s it!”

The nameless God Research Club will remain inactive, and she will continue her routine activities for another year before stepping down.

“Yeah, that’s the plan. Just need to hold out until the second year, then pass on the presidency when I’m busy as a third-year.”

That seemed like a sound strategy.

With a firm grip on the club room door handle, she repeated these affirmations to herself several times before she entered the unfamiliar club room with a strong sense of determination.

“Hello! I am Lepis Wond, the president of this club!”

That wasn’t bad at all.

Despite being a fleeting comment, she was pleased with her introductory statement, practiced in her mind several times, and then turned her attention to the new members.

“Hello. My name is Lewin Dryerf.”

“My name is Daisy.”

“Oh, hello?”

The academy treats everyone equally.

The academy treats everyone equally.

The academy treats everyone equally!

With this nominal rule that nobody genuinely adheres to echoing in her mind, she managed to compose herself.

‘I can’t give up now, just because they introduced themselves!’

“You both mentioned you wanted to join our club, any particular reason?”

There shouldn’t be any.

The cherished offspring of a noble house couldn’t possibly harbor faith in an obscure deity like the nameless god.

‘Right?’

Lepis sent fervent prayers to the Creator God Rachel.

Despite not being a devotee herself, her parents were deeply religious.

Couldn’t their daughter’s prayer be answered just this once?

“Indeed, to investigate the nameless god.”

“Ah, is that so?”

His words suggest sincerity, but it feels forced.

As nobility, he probably can’t openly admit that he wants to join the club to avoid the burdens of club activities.

That must be the reason.

‘It appears genuine, yet I can’t shake off the feeling I’m overthinking it!’

It’s all in her head.

It surely must be.

“That’s, um, a commendable spirit.”

Lepis responded with a nod and accepted their memberships.

Honestly, she had no power to decline.

Being a minor noble herself, both in heritage and temperament, refusing a duke was simply not a viable option!

“Both of you are now members of our club. So now…….”

Let’s retire to the dormitory.

Just as Lepis was about to propose that, Lewin was quick to interject.

“It’s time to commence club activities!”

“Uh…?”

We don’t do that.

“Because we also invited Senior Lutess….”

“Uh, what?”

There was no need to invite him,

“We’re launching into club activities with gusto from day one at the academy!”

We didn’t plan on that.

While lost in these thoughts, Lepis quietly assumed her seat.

She was oblivious.

Unaware that this simple act of settling in her chair was the onset of a new, rapidly growing religion, one that would challenge the teachings of the Creator God and unify not only mankind but also the demon tribes.

And that she, herself, would emerge as the leader of this burgeoning faith.

‘Please, let everything go smoothly!’

At this moment, she had no inkling of the role she was to play.