A Guide to Pretending to Be a Genius

Congratulations, you have awakened to consciousness inside a comic. Your current identity is as follows:

[Name: ■■]

[Appearance: a shadowy silhouette (Appearance 0)]

[Ability level: None]

[Identity: Background NPC]

Would you like to bind to the Comic Reputation System and gain appearance, a name, talents, and more through popularity points?

[, Yes]

How can you earn the readers’ affection?

■■, who had only just become conscious, read a huge number of comics and tried countless possibilities. In the end, he discovered that the genius second male lead was the most popular character with readers!

And to become a second male lead, first you needed a handsome face, a distinctive personality, a tragic yet powerful background, unique talents, great strength, a compelling character arc, and maybe even the chance to become the cherished first love of every character in the original story!

■■ pondered. Perhaps... he could have it all?

*

The hot new comic The Esper Academy follows a kind and gentle protagonist as he gradually grows stronger and becomes a savior of the world.

However, when the genius second male lead, Qiu He, made his entrance, every reader’s gaze was drawn to him in an instant.

[He’s handsome and aloof, rational and brave. He carries a blood feud, yet still walks resolutely down the right path, leading everyone behind him with his strength. He’s a genius, an unparalleled existence, by a reader]

Everyone loves Qiu He!

*The black-haired boy drew his sword. Its icy blade reflected the coldness deep in his eyes, lightning dancing along its length. With a swift swing, a terrifying blue-violet slash cleaved through the vast ocean.*

[I’m screaming, he’s way too cool! Why is he only the second male lead?!]

[Aww, I love how talented he is and how hard he works. He even thoughtfully teaches the protagonist what courage is.]

[This guy is so handsome and tsundere, and his little gestures are adorable. But his backstory is way too tragic... I declare our Qiuqiu the coolest! Go vote for him!]

In the latest comic character popularity poll, Qiu He was far ahead at the top of the rankings, even surpassing the protagonist to become the undisputed fan favorite!

Reader’s Guide

[Blurb events take place from Chapter 9]

1. A male lead who grows over time but pretends to be a genius in public

2. From having nothing to having it all

Recommended upcoming novel: Guide to Playing the White Moonlight Evil Cultivator

Lian Yunwang transmigrated into a novel about a school for magical nobles, where he was tasked with playing the white moonlight everyone cherished before the protagonist arrived.

The higher his white moonlight score, the more comfortably he would live, and the less tragic his retirement would be compared to the original story.

The school was full of handsome geniuses from prominent families, making it incredibly difficult to become their cherished white moonlight.

How was he supposed to play the part?

Lian Yunwang read all sorts of novels and decided that gentle redemption was terribly outdated. He was going to take the evil-cultivator route!

He would be the moon hanging high in the sky.

A lofty moon that outclassed everyone with his strength!

*

A new student enrolled at the school for magical nobles this year.

He had a slim waist and long legs, a cool and clear face, and an air of refined elegance. Wherever he went, he drew everyone’s attention like a beacon.

But no one dared approach him. Not only had he entered the school with the highest possible SSS magical aptitude, but he was also the first to cast magic without an incantation, earning recognition as the academy’s greatest genius.

...But did you think that was all? No!

Over the next few months, this guy signed up for countless competitions! Pegasus riding, magical note performance, fencing, ancient magical languages, magical banquets, and more.

And without exception, he took first place in every single event!

Genius? Top student? Nobleman? Untouchable beauty?

Every word described him, yet none of them could fully capture him.

He sat high upon his throne, his cool face gazing down at everyone below.

People looked at him as if he were a beautiful moon, distant and impossible to reach.

They rushed to chase after him, hoping only that the cool moonlight would take pity on them and cast down a little of its beautiful glow.

Lian Yunwang smiled. “Isn’t that a kind of white moonlight too?”

Theme: Fight against fate and battle evil forces to the very end