Darkness.

That was the first thing Ren Hoshizuki registered when he opened his eyes.

No, not just darkness—code.

Strange, glitching text flickered in the void, twisting and reshaping itself as if reality itself were struggling to define him. A low, distorted voice echoed through the emptiness, broken and fragmented, like a corrupted game file trying—and failing—to load properly.

[ERROR: UNRECOGNIZED ENTITY DETECTED.]

[SYSTEM ATTEMPTING TO REASSIGN ROLE…]

[ROLE: NPC ASSIGNED.]

The words sank into Ren’s consciousness like a brand, cold and absolute.

And then—

The void shattered.

A sharp gasp tore from his throat as he stumbled forward, his vision assaulted by a sudden explosion of color and light. Gone was the empty blackness; in its place, a golden sunset stretched across the horizon, painting the sky in hues of amber and crimson. A warm breeze brushed against his skin, carrying the distant scent of baked bread, lantern oil, and something sweet—perhaps candied nuts being sold at a market stall.

His head throbbed. His heartbeat pounded unevenly in his ears. His breath came in ragged bursts as he tried to process the sudden shift.

What… just happened?

He blinked hard, willing the dizziness to pass, then lowered his gaze to examine himself. Plain brown boots, a simple tunic, and a dull, nondescript cloak draped loosely over his shoulders. His fingers brushed over the rough fabric, taking in its texture—real. Tangible. Nothing like a dream.

And yet, everything around him was impossibly familiar.

The towering spires of white stone stretching toward the heavens. The fluttering banners adorned with the golden crest of the Astra Empire. The rhythmic clanking of knights in silver armor patrolling the streets. In the distance, the grand silhouette of a magic academy stood tall, its stained-glass windows catching the light of the setting sun and casting colorful patterns onto the cobblestone roads.

Ren’s breath hitched.

He knew this place.

Not just vaguely, not just as a passing memory—he knew it down to its finest details, as intimately as one would know the layout of their own home. He had seen it countless times before. In anime episodes. In light novel pages. In fan discussions online.

But now, he wasn’t watching from behind a screen.

He was here.

The realization struck him like a thunderbolt.

His fingers trembled as he pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the rapid rise and fall of his breathing.

“Okay… stay calm,” he muttered to himself. His voice was quieter than he expected, slightly hoarse, as if his body was still adjusting. “If this is Celestial Chronicles, then that means…”

He trailed off, his thoughts spiraling into chaos. How? Why? Was this a dream? A hallucination? Or—

His eyes caught something reflective in a nearby shop window.

A sudden, irrational fear gripped him. Slowly, hesitantly, he turned his head toward the glass—

And froze.

The face staring back at him was not his own.

It was unfamiliar. Bland. Forgettable.

Dark brown hair. Dull gray eyes. An average face with no defining features, no striking presence—nothing that would stand out in a crowd.

An NPC.

Ren inhaled sharply, his pulse hammering in his ears. No. No, no, no. This has to be a mistake.

He spun away from the reflection, scanning the town with frantic eyes. If this really was Celestial Chronicles, then where was the main cast? The protagonists? The future heroes of the empire?

And then—

As if fate itself had answered his silent question—

He saw them.

A group of young men walked through the streets, their presence commanding attention despite the bustling crowd. They stood out effortlessly, as if an invisible force ensured that all eyes were drawn to them. The main characters.

Leonhardt von Astra—his silver hair catching the dying sunlight, his noble features sharp and unreadable. The sword saint of the empire, raised on discipline and duty, unshakable as steel.

Elias Solberg—his confident smirk barely hiding the sharp intelligence in his golden eyes. The crown prince, arrogant yet undeniably charismatic, moving with the effortless grace of someone who had never known inferiority.

Kael Draven—leaning back casually, his black leather armor a stark contrast to the pristine uniforms around him. A rogue mercenary with a sharp tongue and a sharper blade, the kind of man who danced on the line between ally and enemy.

Azrael Noctis—tall, elegant, draped in dark robes that seemed to shift with the wind. The enigmatic magician, his violet eyes shadowed with unreadable thoughts, magic humming in the air around him like an unspoken warning.

They walked together, completely absorbed in their own world, their conversation flowing naturally as if scripted to perfection.

Ren’s heart pounded in his chest.

They were right there.

The ones whose stories shaped this world. The ones who stood at the center of fate itself.

And yet—

They passed by him without a second glance.

Not a flicker of acknowledgment. Not even a stray glance in his direction.

As if he truly was nothing.

As if he didn’t exist.

Something inside him twisted. A sickening mix of dread, frustration… and something fiercer.

No. He refused to accept this.

His hands curled into fists, nails digging into his palms.

If this world wanted to ignore him, he would force it to see him.

If fate had labeled him a mere background character, then he would rewrite that fate with his own hands.

As the main cast disappeared into the distance, their voices fading into the evening air, Ren took a single step forward.

He would not remain an NPC.

He would carve his own destiny.

No matter what it took.

Ren walked through Astra City, his thoughts a storm of emotions.

The weight of his situation pressed down on him with every step. He had woken up in Celestial Chronicles, but instead of being the protagonist, the chosen hero, or even a named side character, he was just an NPC—an existence meant to be ignored, destined to fade into the background.

Not happening.

His fingers curled into fists. If this world followed the anime’s timeline, then certain key events were about to unfold—major battles, betrayals, wars that would shape the empire’s future. He had seen them play out before, time and time again, from the safe distance of a screen. But now, he was inside that world. And if he wanted to escape his fate as a background extra, he needed more than just knowledge.

He needed power.

The streets around him bustled with life—merchants shouting their wares, knights patrolling in gleaming armor, robed scholars discussing magic theory. None of them spared him a second glance. To them, he was just another faceless stranger in the crowd.

He turned down a quieter alley, his footsteps echoing against the stone walls. The scent of fresh bread and burning lantern oil faded, replaced by damp stone and the faint staleness of an enclosed space. Here, away from prying eyes, he pressed his back against the cool wall and took a deep breath.

It was a long shot, but he had to try.

"Status."

For a brief moment, nothing happened. A cold weight settled in his chest. Maybe it really was impossible. Maybe NPCs weren’t allowed to—

[ERROR: SYSTEM OVERRIDE DETECTED.]

[UNREGISTERED ENTITY FOUND.]

[GRANTING ACCESS TO RESTRICTED FUNCTIONS...]

His vision flickered.

Then—

A translucent blue screen materialized in front of him, glowing softly in the dim light.

Ren’s breath caught.

This… this shouldn’t be possible. NPCs weren’t supposed to have status screens. That was a privilege reserved for the protagonists, the chosen few who shaped the story.

And yet—

──────[STATUS]──────

Name: Ren Hoshizuki

Role: NPC (?)

Level: 1

Skills: [???]

Unique Trait: [System Glitch – Unbound]

───────◇───────

Ren’s pulse quickened. His gaze locked onto the anomaly in his status:

[System Glitch – Unbound]

A cold shiver ran down his spine as he tapped on it.

[System Glitch – Unbound]

An anomaly in the world’s code. This entity is not bound by the prewritten script. This allows for unrestricted growth and deviation from fate.

His heart pounded.

Unrestricted growth.

Unlike the countless background characters doomed to repeat their scripted lines, he wasn’t bound by the same rules. He could change. He could grow.

The implications were staggering.

A slow grin spread across his lips.

"Fine. If this world wants to treat me like a mistake…" His fingers clenched into his palm. "Then I’ll become a mistake they can’t ignore."

First Step to Power

The path ahead was clear—get stronger.

By design, NPCs had no combat potential. They were set dressing, existing only to make the world feel alive. But if Ren had access to the system like a protagonist, then he could break that limit. He could level up.

And he knew exactly where to start.

The Slums.

A hidden mechanic in Celestial Chronicles allowed for certain low-tier NPCs to be attacked without consequence. The protagonists often used it as a grinding spot in the early chapters, testing their skills against desperate vagrants and petty criminals.

If Ren wanted to grow stronger, he had to survive the same way.

Pulling up the hood of his cloak, he made his way toward the city's underbelly.

Into the Slums

The change in atmosphere was immediate.

The well-kept roads and grand architecture of Astra City faded into crumbling stone, broken cobblestones, and narrow, winding alleys. The air grew thick with the stench of unwashed bodies, spoiled food, and stagnant water. The lanterns here flickered weakly, barely holding back the encroaching darkness.

Eyes followed him from the shadows.

Figures lurked in alleyways, half-hidden behind crates and broken barrels. The tension in the air was palpable—a constant, silent promise of danger.

Ren barely had time to process it before a voice sneered behind him.

"Well, well… what do we have here?"

He turned.

A group of thugs emerged from the darkness—grimy clothes, cruel grins, weapons glinting under the dim light. Their eyes gleamed with amusement, as if they had just found an easy target.

Perfect.

Ren’s muscles tensed. He didn’t hesitate.

He lunged forward.

The thugs blinked in surprise. An NPC… attacking first?

He grabbed a discarded wooden plank from the ground and swung with everything he had. The impact cracked against the nearest thug’s face. A choked cry escaped the man’s lips as he crumpled to the ground.

[EXP Gained!]

A rush of energy shot through Ren’s body.

It worked.

Another thug lunged at him, but Ren twisted to the side. His movements were sloppy, unrefined—nothing like a trained fighter’s—but adrenaline fueled him. He wasn’t bound by a script. He could move, react, and fight on his own terms.

A second swing. The wooden plank smashed into another thug’s knee, sending him toppling forward with a sharp yell.

Another. He kicked out, driving his boot into a third attacker’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

His breathing was ragged. His muscles ached. But he kept going.

One by one, the thugs collapsed around him, groaning in pain. And then—

[Level Up!]

Ren staggered back, gasping. A familiar blue window flickered into view, confirming what he already felt—

He was stronger.

A shaky grin tugged at his lips.

His knuckles throbbed from the fight. Sweat dripped down his forehead. Every muscle in his body protested, but he barely noticed the pain.

This was only the beginning.

He glanced down at his hands—hands that had once belonged to a background character fated to be forgotten.

Not anymore.

He had stepped beyond the boundaries of an NPC.

Now, he was something else.

Something new.

Something unstoppable.