ã€ŠAcademy&#x27;s Gumiho is a Magic Geniusã€‹


 Chapter 3: I Became a Rogue Fox [3]

    "That''s enough."

    At the professor''smand, Bang Seok-hoon stopped in his tracks. His body stiffened, and he barely managed to turn his head to look at Nam Hwa-yeon.

    "Professor, what do you mean by that¡­?"

    "Exactly what I said. That child did nothing wrong, so stop there."

    At Nam Hwa-yeon''s words, Bang Seok-hoon protested in a voice filled with frustration.

    "But, Professor! For a freshman to act like this, the discipline in theb will¡­!"

    "Do I need to repeat myself?"

    "¡­No, Professor."

    Bang Seok-hoon lowered his head at Nam Hwa-yeon''s firm tone. He didn''t raise his head again. At a nce, it seemed like he had no choice but to ept the professor''s words.

    ''From what I can see, it seems like he doesn''t want to meet her eyes.''

    Well, even I found Nam Hwa-yeon''s eyes, as deep and unfathomable as the ocean, unsettling. In a situation like this, meeting her gaze wasn''t easy. I nodded, empathizing with his reaction.

    Even as this was happening, Bang Seok-hoon and Nam Hwa-yeon didn''t exchange a single word.

    Bang Seok-hoon remained with his head bowed, his arms trembling slightly, while Nam Hwa-yeon watched him with a faint smile.

    The silence between them ended when Bang Seok-hoon finally stepped back.

    Still staring at the floor, he spoke.

    "¡­I apologize for causing a disturbance in yourb, Professor."

    "Good. If you understand, you may leave."

    "Yes¡­"

    Bang Seok-hoon''s expression still seemed somewhat aggrieved.

    He kept his head bowed even as he opened theb door and left. His pitiful demeanour suggested there was more to the story.

    Well, it''s none of my business, so I''ll just ignore it.

    What''s important now isn''t him, but Nam Hwa-yeon standing in front of me.

    When I turned my head to look at her, she noticed my gaze and smiled softly.

    "Did he give you a hard time? He''s been stubborn and strong-willed since he was a child. It must''ve been tough working under him"

    "No, not really. But you mentioned ''since he was a child''¡­?"

    "Ah, Seok-hoon is someone I took in from an orphanage. He was bright, so I taught him from a young age, but before I knew it, he became so rude."

    This was unexpected information.

    Nam Hwa-yeon, who looked to be in herte twenties at most, had taken in Bang Seok-hoon from an orphanage and raised him.

    From appearances alone, Bang Seok-hoon looked at least ten years older than Nam Hwa-yeon.

    It was surprising, but since it wasn''t particrly important information, I filed it away in a corner of my mind.

    I was about to ask her what she had been trying to tell me earlier when¡ª

    "Ah, it''s almost time for my lecture."

    She beat me to it.

    After checking the clock on the wall, Nam Hwa-yeon picked up some documents from her desk and stood up. She opened theb door wide and turned to ask me,

    "Aren''t youing?"

    "¡­What do you mean?"

    "Don''t you see the time?"

    Looking at the clock, I saw it was 2:48 PM. But what does that have to do with me?

    Then I remembered what Bang Seok-hoon had said earlier.

    ©¤Professor, you have a lecture at 3 PM.

    A lecture at 3 PM.

    That meant she should be heading to the lecture hall soon.

    So why was Nam Hwa-yeon still staring at me?

    Shuffle.

    Thinking there might be something behind me, I moved to the side, but her gaze followed me. Left, right¡ªit didn''t matter where I moved.

    Unable to bear her silent stare, I finally spoke.

    "Um¡­ Professor. Shouldn''t you be going? I thought I heard you have a lecture at 3."

    "Yes, I should."

    "Then shouldn''t you hurry?"

    "A professor can''t go to the lecture hall alone, can she?"

    "Huh?"

    What is she talking about?

    Is she saying she wants me toe along?

    "So get ready."

    Ugh, I guessed right.

    But why does she want to take me?

    I know that teaching assistants usually apany professors to lectures, but that''s usually the job of senior assistants like Bang Seok-hoon.

    Snap!

    Before I could escape, Nam Hwa-yeon grabbed my hand and pulled me along. She told me to grab the textbooks and writing tools from the desk, and I had no choice but to carry them as we moved.

    There was no point in arguing.

    Even the¡¸Bluff¡¹skill, which had worked perfectly fine in front of Bang Seok-hoon, was useless against her.

    I couldn''t resist and was dragged along like a ragdoll.

    ***

    The lecture hall wasrger than I had expected.

    It was spacious enough to hold hundreds of students without issue. The vast hall waspletely packed, not a single seat empty.

    Truly fitting for a ce that serves as the main setting of the story.

    There must be at least 400 people here, right?

    As I looked at the sea of students and stepped onto the podium, hundreds of pairs of eyes turned to me. It was slightly overwhelming.

    If even I, who wasn''t giving the lecture, felt this way, how must Nam Hwa-yeon feel, standing in front of me? I turned to look at her.

    "¡­"

    Nam Hwa-yeon was calmly preparing for the lecture, her expression unreadable.

    Whether she was used to this environment or just had nerves of steel, I couldn''t tell. She finished her preparations and began to speak.

    "Wee."

    Her clear voice echoed through the lecture hall.

    Perhaps amplified by magic, her words reached every student clearly.

    "It''s only been a week since you started, so I''m sure you''re still adjusting, but don''t expect any hand-holding in my lectures. If you want to learn, you''ll have to struggle on your own."

    Her opening remarks were unusually blunt for a lecture.

    But it was effective in grabbing everyone''s attention. She flicked her fingers, and colours began to appear on therge ckboard behind her.

    [Flowing Constetions]

    The students were momentarily startled by the words that appeared on the ckboard, but they quickly opened their textbooks and began searching for what they meant.

    Even I, who had been keeping my distance from Nam Hwa-yeon, quickly flipped through the textbook.

    Where is this mentioned?

    ©¤©¤Rustle!

    Soon, the lecture hall was filled with the sound of pages turning.

    Everyone was flipping through their textbooks, searching for where [Flowing Constetions] was mentioned.

    But no matter how hard they looked, no one could find it.

    I was no exception.

    I had thought reading the lecture script in advance would make it easy to find, but the term [Flowing Constetions] was nowhere to be found. Nam Hwa-yeon, who had been quietly observing this, let out a heartyugh.

    "Of course, it''s not in the textbook. This lecture is based on something I created."

    At her words, the students grew puzzled.

    Why study something that wasn''t even in the textbook?

    While everyone was wondering this, Nam Hwa-yeon continued.

    "As most of you know, the majority of magical forms are based on circles."

    Amon, typical magical circle floated in the air.

    Nam Hwa-yeon''s doing.

    Soon, the circle transformed into squares and triangles.

    "Of course, some use square or triangr forms. Though they''re less efficient."

    When I turned to gauge the students'' reactions, only a few were paying attention. Most weren''t even taking notes, instead chatting with their friends.

    Ipletely understood their behaviour.

    There was no need to pay close attention to lecture content that wouldn''t even be on the exam.

    Moreover, what Nam Hwa-yeon was discussing was the most basic of basics.

    Even I, who had little knowledge of magic, understood it to some extent. For students who had just entered the academy, this attitude was probably natural.

    But then again, a professor is a professor.

    "But what if we increased the effect and range of the form?"

    Suddenly, the atmosphere of the lecture changed.

    Nam Hwa-yeon extended her hand, and numerous forms appeared on the ckboard.

    The magical circle in the air changed forms ording to what was written on the board¡ªcircles, squares, triangles, and more.

    Eventually, the magical circle transformed into a three-dimensional sphere.

    At that moment.

    Most of the freshmen, who had been passively listening, pulled out their writing tools.

    They could no longer just listen. They had to write it down to remember.

    I was no different. I scribbled in my textbook.

    Come to think of it, this textbook wasn''t even mine, but I was so engrossed in the lecture that I forgot.

    Her lecture had that kind of power.

    "The key point here isn''t the core of the magic. It''s the forms orbiting the core like satellites. By adjusting these forms, the structural form of the magic continues to change."

    Up to this point, it was something any student interested in magic would know. But the lecture didn''t stop there.

    "However, if you add more forms here, the form bes fixed."

    As she spoke, a few lines were added to the sphere, and smaller spheres began to break away.

    The detached spheres wandered aimlessly before naturally flowing around therger, central sphere.

    Like stars orbiting a, the magical forms flowed around the core.

    ©¤"..."

    By this point, there was no more idle chatter.

    Everyone was focused solely on the lecture and taking notes. An inexplicable charisma had drawn the students into the lecture.

    "Once this form is applied, no matter what magic you add, it will maintain its current form."

    The forms, interfering with each other, still flowed around the core like stars.

    Hence the name [Flowing Constetions]. The forms and flow of the forms resembled the stars in the night sky.

    "Using one form as the core and having others orbit it likes is the essence of this magic. Once you understand the principle, you can modify it to suit your own style."

    And so, the lecture, which hadsted a full hour and a half, came to an end.

    Nam Hwa-yeon straightened her clothes, while the students were still busy taking notes. Especially those who had been cking off at the beginning were now writing furiously.

    Since I wasn''t a student, I didn''t need to take notes, so I stood up and stretched.

    ©¤©¤Crack!

    The sound of bones popping was heard.

    I had been sitting still for so long that my back and shoulders had stiffened. But if this was all, why did she bring me here?

    She didn''t use me as an assistant during the lecture, nor did she hand out worksheets. The only thing I did here was sit still.

    If that''s all, was there really a need for me to be here?

    ''Still, the lecture was impressive.''

    Honestly, I didn''t understand most of the theoretical parts.

    However, the asional insights sparked my inspiration.

    But, there was one question lingering in my mind.

    ''Will the form really not change?''

    She said that once the form waspleted, the form wouldn''t change.

    But is that really true?

    As I was pondering this, Nam Hwa-yeon, who had finished straightening her clothes, spoke.

    "Now that the lecture is over, let''s take some questions."

    As soon as she spoke, the students who had been taking notes all put down their pens. Then, hands shot up into the air.

    Hundreds of hands rose, each student eager to be called on, creating a scene reminiscent of an idol concert.

    The sight was overwhelming, but as soon as Nam Hwa-yeon spoke, everyone fell silent.

    Her lecture must have left quite an impression.

    "It seems like a lot of you have questions. What should we do in this situation?"

    What else? Just pick one or two at random.@@novelbin@@

    I was thinking this to myself when her gaze turned to me.

    What, is she going to pick me? I thought, but then¡ª

    "Then let''s have my youngest assistant answer."

    "¡­Me?"

    Really?

    Is this why you brought me here?

 Chapter 4: I Became a Rogue Fox [4]

    The unexpected words left me bewildered.

    Giving a student the right to ask questions? And now, throwing a question at me?

    Without any prior discussion?

    My mind was a mess, but in a way, it was a good thing.

    It was a clear opportunity to ask about the doubts and shes of inspiration that arose while listening to her lecture. I sprang up from my seat.

    "Regarding what you just mentioned about [Flowing Constetions], once their form isplete, do they never change?"

    At my question, most of the students began whispering.

    "Who''s that teaching assistant?"

    "He''s ridiculously good-looking."

    "So what if he''s good-looking? His question is so basic."

    "God is fair, after all. He gave me knowledge and gave that guy looks."

    "You''re just mediocre, and that TA is genuinely handsome. But shouldn''t a TA be good at studying? Why is he asking about something the professor just exined?"

    Their reactions were natural.

    Earlier in the lecture, Nam Hwa-yeon said that once the form of [Flowing Constetions] isplete, it doesn''t change. Asking a question when the answer had already been given was something only someone who hadn''t been paying attention would do.

    Most of the students mocked my question, while the rest showed no interest. Only Nam Hwa-yeon on the podium took my question seriously.

    "Hmm, well, in the face of vast magical power or distortion fields, even [Flowing Constetions] would lose their form. The same goes for when the spell ages over time. But our TA didn''t mean it that way, did he?"

    Hoho, sheughed and waved her slender fingers, conjuring several magic circles in the air.

    Rotation and revolution. The [Flowing Constetions], which maintain their form through the forces of attraction between them, reappeared.

    A magical spell so beautiful that the students couldn''t help but marvel.

    Seeing it again, I became even more certain.

    "What if we change the units?"

    "Change the units?"

    "Yes, exactly."

    What I proposed was to modify the structural units that make up the spell.

    At my suggestion, Nam Hwa-yeon''s face suddenly lit up with interest. She manipted the spheres floating in the air, shrinking them to a size that could fit in my hand, and brought them over to me.

    Her gesture seemed to say, "If you can do it, go ahead."

    I wasn''t sure how to handle them, but I had a vague idea.

    I used the¡¸Double Helix¡¹I had gained today.

    Whoooosh©¤©¤©¤©¤!!

    As I reached out my hand, the stars that had been shining blue turned a deep red. The brilliant magical energy was reced by my own, dyeing the spheres.

    At that moment, I felt the units that formed the structure of the magic transforming into a double helix.

    Soon, as the blue star waspletely dyed a deep red, the sphere in the centre greedily swallowed the others.

    Just as the students were gasping in surprise, the sphere that had devoured all the others began to emit a bright light.

    ©¤©¤©¤Shine!

    The sphere shone like the sun.

    But perhaps that was its limit, as the magical energy burst and scattered in all directions.

    "Ah...."

    I swallowed my disappointment.

    So close. If I had pushed just a little further, it might have worked as I had envisioned.

    Some of the students also seemed disappointed, but most took my failure as a given.

    I looked up at Nam Hwa-yeon.

    I wanted to see her reaction.

    But for a failure, she looked quite satisfied.

    "Well, now that the questions are done, let''s end today''s lecture here."

    And so, the lecture concluded sessfully.

    Many students remained in their seats, continuing to take notes, but Nam Hwa-yeon left without looking back. As her TA, I followed her.

    As we stepped out the front door, I saw people in suits.

    Bang Seok-hoon was standing among them, so they were clearly TAs. They bowed to the professor and then turned to bow to me as well.

    What''s going on? Why are they doing this?

    "We heard that Bang Seok-hoon TA behaved inappropriately. We sincerely apologize."

    "We will ensure such incidents do not happen again."

    The TAs kept bowing and addressing me with honorifics.

    Wondering what was going on, I turned to Nam Hwa-yeon, but she took a step back, smiling.

    She had no intention of intervening.

    Confused, I looked back at the suited TAs.

    I could see Bang Seok-hoon''s shoulders trembling. It seemed he wasn''t happy with the situation.

    Of course, the other TAs didn''t look toofortable either.

    Though they didn''t show it on their faces, they seemed quite uneasy.

    At that moment, Bang Seok-hoon stood up.

    "Seniors! Why should we apologize to him?!"

    His words were valid.

    A senior apologizing to a junior? That doesn''t usually happen.

    But the other TAs'' gazes turned cold.

    "Hey, just stay quiet."

    "I told you before, there''s one newbie you shouldn''t mess with..."

    They sighed and smacked the back of Bang Seok-hoon''s head, forcing him to bow.

    It seemed they were seniors above Bang Seok-hoon. Maybe head TAs or something.

    But why were they apologizing and using honorifics with me?

    As I pondered this, Nam Hwa-yeon, who had been quietly observing, stepped in.

    She pointed behind me and said,

    "That tail, there''s no way people in this country wouldn''t know about it."

    "Tail?"

    Following her finger, I saw a fluffy ck fox tail swaying into view.

    It seemed oblivious to the tension.

    The tail wagged happily, as if pleased.

    "Does this really have that much value..."

    "Wait, you''re from that family and you don''t even realize it? I can''t tell if you''re acting dumb because it''s so real or if you''re actually dumb."

    I knew this tail symbolized Baek Seung-woo''s family.

    I also knew his family was influential in South Korea, but was it enough to affect Chilseong Academy?

    Or was there something wrong with Baek Seung-woo himself?

    As I thought about it, an old conversation came to mind.

    ©¤Hey, Seung-woo. How about this setting?

    ©¤What setting?

    ©¤You being the rogue head of a prestigious family. With all sorts of scandals trailing behind you.

    ©¤Even if I said no, you wouldn''t change it.

    ©¤Of course not.

    Originally, Baek Seung-woo''s initial setting was as the head of a noble family.

    Famous for being a rogue, but also called a promising figure, Baek Seung-woo is thoroughly beaten down by the protagonist.

    That''s my purpose¡ªto create that satisfying moment.

    To induce that satisfaction, all sorts of rumours swirl around me.

    Their origins are unclear, but there are stories about me being a fox who seeks out livers, or that I verbally and physically abused my fianc¨¦e, leading her to break off the engagement.

    Armed with various infamies and a solid background.

    ...Now I understand how those people felt.

    "..."

    "..."

    "..."

    As the atmosphere grew even more awkward, Nam Hwa-yeon pped her hands to get our attention.

    We all turned to look at her.

    "It''s about time for other ssrooms to finish their lectures. Let''s wrap up for today and sort out the rights and wrongs tomorrow."

    At the professor''s announcement, the TAs nodded in agreement.

    Bang Seok-hoon mumbled, seemingly chewing over what he wanted to say, but in the end, they all reluctantly left.

    I tried to follow Nam Hwa-yeon, but she told me I could head back to the dorm now, leaving me alone in the hallway.

    "...Where am I?"

    I had gotten lost in the researchb, and now I wandered around the lecture building for about an hour. Fortunately, a kind security guard taught me how to use the academy''s internal map on my phone, so I managed to find my way out.

    After borrowing a few books from the library, I finally made it back to the dorm.

    But was the dorm always this big?

    "..."

    Staring nkly at the dorm building, I unconsciously furrowed my brows.

    Even for a novel, this is a bit much.

    Since when does a TA dorm look like a penthouse?

    ***

    Back in Research Lab 1, Nam Hwa-yeon flicked her finger.

    All the dust in the room flew into the trash bin. The coffee pot boiled water on its own and served her a hot cup of coffee.

    Sip.

    The freshly brewed coffee was hot, but the fragrant aroma rose beautifully. Nam Hwa-yeon savoured the scent as she picked up a document from her desk with her other hand.

    "...How strange."

    The paper was no different from the other documents on her desk, but the back was densely covered with various writings and symbols.

    While the writing was readable, the symbols on the back were hard to decipher.

    She could decode them if she wanted, but it wasn''t worth the effort.

    Yet the man who had written this had acquired a skill right before her eyes. Solely through the insights he had organized while writing this.

    "New, but the content is simple. Yet it has its own depth. Quite contradictory."

    With his level of knowledge, he shouldn''t have been able to acquire a skill, let alone sit in the TA''s seat.

    But the man had definitely acquired a skill. Perhaps his low level of knowledge allowed him to analyze the lecture script from a different perspective.

    "...Whatever it is, it''s interesting."

    Curious about this, Nam Hwa-yeon took the new TA to her lecture. Normally, she would have brought a head TA or a senior TA, but she wanted to see how he would react.@@novelbin@@

    And the result was a sess.

    Seung-woo had focused on her lecture like a student.

    From his demeanour, Nam Hwa-yeon could roughly gauge his level. [Flowing Constetions] wasn''t part of the regr curriculum, but it was something second or third-year students might study.

    The fact that he didn''t know this suggested Seung-woo''s knowledge level was on par with a student''s. Maybe even lower.

    But he had talent.

    "To intuitively grasp the principles of magic and create a skill purely from inspiration..."

    It''s a rare talent.

    On par with the world''s great mages or the genius mages praised since their student days. Maybe even beyond.

    The perfect specimen to satisfy a mage''s curiosity.

    It seemed like her research progress would slow down for a while, reducing her stress. Having him around would certainly keep things interesting.

    "After all, even a rotten thousand-year-old fox''s bloodline is still a fox''s. Or should I say, the family head?"

    Just a few years ago, there was a great family that wielded immense influence in South Korea.

    Born with a fox''s tail and ears, they wielded unparalleled financial and political power, backed by their unique spiritual abilities and medical knowledge.

    But five years ago, the family head and his wife died in an ident, and the great family, the Cheonho Baek Family, stagnated.

    I had heard rumors that after the family head and his wife died, their young son inherited the family. After that, there were intense conflicts with the elders and other siblings.

    I never thought he''d be exiled here.

    When I first saw Seung-woo, even I, who rarely show emotional fluctuations, was startled.

    "Even in decline, that bloodline doesn''t fade."

    Or maybe he was hiding it while acting like a fox.

    Whatever the case, it''s interesting.

    Nam Hwa-yeon chuckled and took a sip of her coffee.

 Chapter 5: I Became a Rogue Fox [5]

    Late at night, I opened a book.

    The title of the book was [Basic Elemental Magic You Can Learn in One Night].

    Tonight, I n to learn this book as the title suggests¡ªin one night.

    Elemental magic is one of the easier schools of magic to learn, yet it is highly powerful. Elemental magic is primarily focused onbat.

    For an extra viin like me, who could be killed by the protagonist at any moment, this is a type of magic I must learn.

    The book had only four chapters. Each chapter was based on one of the four elements: [Basic Fire Magic], [Basic Earth Magic], [Basic Wind Magic], and [Basic Water Magic].

    Among these, the part I particrly wanted to learn was [Basic Fire Magic].

    "In the original story, Baek Seung-woo was called a first-year prodigy just by mastering fire magic."

    I don''t know how objectively skilled a prodigy is, but if he was called that, he must have had a natural talent for fire magic.

    Well, even so, he ended up being beaten like a sandbag by the awakened protagonist and reduced to a mere power-level gauge.

    Recalling the novel''s content, I flipped through the book. Naturally, I started with the first chapter, [Basic Fire Magic].

    [Fire magic is all about burning things. But if it''s all about burning, why is there a need to delve deeper? You could just grab a torch and throw it.]

    A question posed by the magic book to the reader.

    It was a truly appropriate and reasonable question.

    Fire magic is ultimately all about burning. It''s a simple, brute-force school of magic, different from high-level magic that maniptes space or objects.

    Is fire magic really only forbat?

    I know the answer to that question.

    ''Of course not.''

    [Fire magic is all about burning. At best, you can control the size of the mes or increase their power. But like other schools of magic, the effects and power of fire magic vary depending on what you burn.]

    Magic is a force that creates supernatural phenomena beyondmon sense.

    Fire magic can''t just burn tangible things like ordinary mes.

    [Those who have reached the pinnacle of fire magic can burn emotions or incinerate the mana in the air to restrict their opponent''s movements. However, these are techniques that only those who have mastered advanced fire magic can learn. Since this is a basic magic book, it focuses on how to control mes. Now, let''s talk about the most basic fire magic, [me]...]

    I flipped the page, impressed.

    The book was meticulously detailed, and my talent allowed me to understand all of it.

    Even though I was learning magic for the first time today, it felt like I was reviewing something I had learned before. I perfectly understood every word and sentence written in the book.

    Is this the power of ¡¸Magical Aptitude¡¹?

    ¡¸Magical Aptitude¡¹**

    [Category: Traits]

    [Description: An absolute talent for magic. It grants the qualifications to be a saint of magic.]

    Among the many traits I possess, ¡¸Magical Aptitude¡¹ seems the most useful.

    I didn''t fully understand what the description meant by "granting qualifications," but after opening this magic book, I get it now.@@novelbin@@

    ¡¸Magical Aptitude¡¹ grants talent to its possessor, whether innate or acquired.

    It''s a talent capable of leaving a mark in the history of magic.

    This incredible talent held such immense power that even someone like me, who was aplete novice in magic, could understand a magic book I was reading for the first time.

    I must have already experienced the power of this trait when I obtained ¡¸Double Helix¡¹.

    ''But did Baek Seung-woo originally have this?''

    The ability of ¡¸Magical Aptitude¡¹ was so overwhelming that I had momentarily forgotten.

    No matter how simr the physique and appearance are, this body is one I''ve possessed. The tail on my back and the fox ears on my head prove that.

    So, was¡¸Magical Aptitude¡¹also a trait that the original Baek Seung-woo possessed?

    It''s an excessive power for an extra viin. I don''t know if Eve gave me this special power because she modelled the character after me.

    ''Whatever the case, it''s good for me.''

    No need to overthink it.

    Right now, learning magic is the priority. The book I brought from the library wasn''t the only one.

    After quickly reading the book, I took notes on the important parts and continued reading. By the end of the night, I had read three magic books.

    All of them were about elemental magic, particrly fire magic.

    Though the content was basic, it was enough to build a foundation in one night.

    [me], [Fireball], [Burst], and so on. Now that I''ve learned the basic fire magic in my head, it''s time to practice it with my body.

    "...It''s toote to sleep now. Maybe I should head to the training room."

    After finishing the borrowed magic books in a single night, I checked the window and the clock. The sky was still dark, but the clock showed 6 AM.

    For those who don''t sleepte, it''s time to start the day.

    Since work starts at 8 AM, I have two hours to spare.

    It''s too tight to sleep, so I should test the magic I learned today.

    Swish.

    I quickly changed into workout clothes suitable for training. The tail on my back was bothersome, but I managed to put them on.

    Wow, just having one tail is tough. If I be a full-fledged gumihoter, getting dressed will be a hassle every time.

    After neatly adjusting my workout clothes, I didn''t forget to put on ck gloves.

    ck gloves are reminiscent of a medieval gentleman.

    As I put on these luxurious gloves befitting a noble, I suddenly thought about my family.

    Unlike in the real world, where noblesrgely disappeared as society transitioned to democracy, in this world, nobles like me, who inherited the blood of foxes, continue to exist.

    The Cheonho Baek family is one of the remaining nine great families.

    Due to their uniqueness, there are many rumours surrounding the family members, especially me, the family head.

    These rumours are a mix of truth and malicious lies.

    But the family behind me is also ying a significant role.

    ''I''ll have to deal with the family''s internal issuester.''

    Among the most annoying things in the world are politics and family problems, and Baek Seung-woo has both.

    The elders covet the family head''s authority, and family members covet the family head''s position.

    Just thinking about it makes my head spin.

    Let''s postpone these annoying worries forter.

    Click.

    I opened the dormitory door.

    As soon as I opened the door, the cold morning air greeted me.

    Ugh, it''s cold.

    I should hurry to the training room.

    ***

    The distance between the assistant dormitory and the training room was quite far.

    It took about 20 minutes to walk.

    I guess it''s because the assistant dormitory and the student dormitory are separated.

    ''Originally, the training room was built for students.''

    There''s no rule that only students can enter, but that''s the general perception.

    While security guards, assistants, and professors can use it, the training room is usually considered the students'' domain. After all, training and bing stronger is the students'' role, so it''s only natural.

    That''s why it feels awkward to use it during peak hours.

    Of course, the Chilseong Academy grounds are vast, so there are many ces to practice magic besides the training room.

    ''But none are as good as the training room.''

    A spacious area that can amodate hundreds, with individual rooms as the standard.

    ssic training equipment like dumbbells, treadmills, and barbells are a given. The training room is also equipped with state-of-the-art mana training equipment worth billions.

    That''s why I have to go this early in the morning.

    "...There are already students up and training."

    I thought there would be no one at 6 AM, but a few individual training rooms were lit. At that age, they should be sleeping.

    As expected, an academy ranked among the top five in the world is different.

    Truly, the students of Chilseong Academy.

    Their mindset is so different from the 17-year-olds I know.

    Everyone is working hard.

    ''Then I should get started too.''

    Seeing the students training hard early in the morning, I moved deeper into the training room.

    I didn''t want to run into anyone, so I headed to a less crowded area.

    "There''s someone here too."

    The training room at the very end.

    The lights were on there.

    Ah, a bit disappointing. I wanted to train there.

    I had no choice but to settle in the training room next to it and release my mana.

    The blue mana, like smoke, wafted out of my body and swirled around.

    I concentrated this mana into my right hand and lit a small me.

    Flicker!

    A me the size of a campfire flickered on my hand.

    Now, I need to control it and throw it.

    But how?

    ''Is it because I only learned from books? I can''t get a feel for it...''

    I understand the theory after reading it all night, but I don''t know how to physically execute it.

    The book said the first step is to create a me and shape it into the desired form.

    But mine doesn''t work like that.

    ©¤©¤Whoosh!!

    Even when I try to increase the heat and shape it into a spinning circle, I keep making mistakes.

    At first, I failed to control the heat and created a merger than my body. Then, when I tried to make a circle, it turned into an oval. It''s been the same ever since.

    Today, nothing seems to go right.

    "I thought it would be easy since I have talent. It''s tougher than I expected."

    Because of the talent from¡¸Magical Aptitude¡¹my expectations were high, but my actual skill level was disappointing. Well, you can''t be full after the first bite.

    Let''s think of it as building up from the basics.

    With that in mind, I decided to exclude techniques like [Fireball] or [Burst] that require application and focus solely on one spell.

    [me]

    A spell that creates and controls fire, the most basic of basics.

    But while it''s the most basic, it''s also the most essential in fire magic.

    The power and difficulty of fire magic depend on how you control the me.

    Since controlling fire is amon element, [me] is an essential spell for all fire magic.

    "..."

    I closed my eyes and stretched out my right hand.

    A small me flickered on it. Now, I need to grow it to the desired level.

    ''Make it the size of a person''s head, and shape it into a perfect circle...''

    Little by little.

    I increased the size of the me and refined its shape.

    It felt like opening a gas valve and slowly turning the dial on a stove.

    I think I''ve grown it to the size of a tennis ball. Just as I was about to open my eyes to check.

    I identally turned the stove dial to the maximum.

    ©¤©¤©¤Whoosh!!!

    A merger than a tennis ball, enough to turn the training room into a sea of fire.

    Fortunately, as soon as it touched the wall, it lost momentum and fizzled out.

    "...Damn it."

    But the me in my heart didn''t go out and burned fiercely.

    This is driving me crazy.

    If there was no progress at all, it would be one thing. But repeatedlying close to sess only to fail is maddening.

    ''...Maybe I should call it a day.''

    I don''t have the luxury to keep struggling with something that''s not working.

    It''s 7:15 AM. I need to start preparing to go to theb.

    But now that I''m about to leave, I feel a bit reluctant.

    Since I''m already here, I should test my maximum firepower before I go.

    A+ grade mana.

    What would happen if I concentrated all this mana into a single me?

    ''Maybe it could start a forest fire.''

    The high level of mana that the protagonist only reaches in the middle of the novel.

    I only know it''s high, but I don''t have a sense of how much. Hoping it''s not disappointing, I condensed my mana, and a skill came to mind.

    A skill that resonates mana to amplify it twofold,¡¸Double Helix¡¹.

    Using this, I should be able to produce even greater firepower.

    Whoosh©¤©¤©¤!

    Without much thought, I twisted my mana into a helical shape.

    Two spirals of mana intersected and began to resonate, and the moment Iyered the [me] spell on top.

    "...!!"

    I realized something was wrong.

    I hastily dispersed the condensed mana in my hand, but it was toote.

    Therge amount of mana condensed in my hand amplified and summoned a massive me.

    ©¤©¤©¤©¤!!!

    A giant me shot out like a rocket, propelling my body backwards.

    The mes spread in all directions, threatening to burn down the training room. Fortunately, as soon as they touched the walls, the defensive magic on the walls extinguished them instantly.

    "Haa, haa!"

    I gasped for breath after being thrown back and hitting the wall.

    Fortunately, there were no major injuries. My body was just startled by the sudden impact.

    As I hit the wall, I realized something. My body is much weaker than I thought.

    To be pushed back and startled by just this much impact...

    I noticed the treadmill and dumbbells in the corner of the training room, but thinking about my physical condition, I shook my head.

    ¡¸Sr Vein Severance¡¹

    [Grade: Legendary ]

    [Description: A disease that only appears in legends. The patient''s blood and fine veins are filled with excessive yang energy, gradually disrupting the body''s bnce. It''s an incurable disease that cannot be healed by ordinary means and restricts the growth of all physical abilities.]

    With this disease, exercise is meaningless for me.

    That''s what¡¸Sr Vein Severance¡¹is.

    If the¡¸Nine Yin Vein Severance¡¹often seen in novels is a disease where cold yin energy fills the blood and fine veins, then¡¸Sr Vein Severance¡¹is a disease where zing yang energy fills the body.

    Because of this, Baek Seung-woo''s body gained a handsome appearance and talent for fire attributes, but the severity of¡¸Sr Vein Severance¡¹overshadows those advantages.

    Not only will I not live long, but I also can''t improve my physical abilities.

    It''s no wonder my mana and senses are disproportionately higher than my physical abilities.

    Moreover, having energy-filled blood and fine veins means that blood doesn''t circte smoothly.

    If blood doesn''t circte properly, oxygen bes insufficient, making strenuous exercise and even difficult actions burdensome.

    That''s why I''m still gasping for breath.

    "Haa, haa... I need to find a solution soon."

    I can''t keep being held back by my low physical abilities.

    Although¡¸Sr Vein Severance¡¹is an incurable disease, it''s not entirely without treatment. Someday, an opportunity to cure this disease wille.

    Or, I need to be strong enough to unleash powerful attacks without moving, so my low stamina doesn''t be a weakness.

    I need to do one of the two.

    I raised my right hand to the sky.

    A weak and pitiful arm.

    It''s hard enough just taking care of myself.

    Flicker!

    A me rose on my hand.

    Compared to earlier, it''s small and humble.

    But this is undoubtedly my power.

    "...If only I can perfectly control this power."

    I can survive.

    Just as I was having these self-deprecating thoughts.

    Something flew swiftly toward my neck.

    ©¤©¤Whoosh!

    I noticed it, but my reaction was slow.

    As expected, my agility is below average for a freshman. Too slow.

    Before I could move, a student came into my view.

    "Who are you...?"

    Thud!

    A girl holding a spear pressed it against my throat.

    She seemed to be urging me to answer quickly.

    No, that''s what I want to ask.

    What kind of behaviour is this, suddenly attacking me?

 Chapter 8: Motivation [3]

    Ever since I wrote Nam Hwa-yeon''s lecture script, I''ve been writing scripts every day aftering to work.

    Perhaps because she liked the script I wrote, she always assigned tasks to me personally. Maybe because I received tasks directly from the professor, the other assistants showed no signs of stopping their disregard for me even after a week.

    Even though I''m just an extra viin, being ignored like this hurts.

    At this point, I even started to think that the errands I ran on the first day were better.

    Currently, aside from Nam Hwa-yeon, the only person who talks to me is the head assistant.

    Maybe because he''s been under the professor for the longest time, he acts as he pleases without caring about the other assistants'' reactions.

    It seems that kind of behaviour rubbed off from Nam Hwa-yeon.

    "Oh, our newbie. Are you making the professor''s lecture script again today? Impressive."

    "¡­It''s not something worthy of praise from the head assistant."

    "Huh? That can''t be. If the professor just asked you to do it once out of curiosity, that''s one thing, but giving you the task of writing scripts every day means she likes your work. Have more confidence!"

    The head assistant patted my back hard and cheered me on.

    He went around to other assistants too, patting their shoulders and backs, encouraging them. He''s a very bright person.

    Maybe that''s why.

    Every time he patted my back, I could feel the other assistants'' gazes and the atmosphere change.

    It''s just a guess, but it might be an unspoken pressure, like, "Why is the head assistant cheering you on too?" I thought this without realizing their gazes were directed at my tail.

    ''If you have something to say, say it out loud instead of giving me looks.''

    While I was dumbfounded by the other assistants'' behaviour, I also understood them.

    The more time I spent in this world, the more I realized what it meant to be a viin. Viins are enemies that the protagonist must defeat and beings that deserve criticism.

    And I am one of those viins.

    Rumors about me assaulting and verbally abusing my fianc¨¦e during school days, leading to the breakup, or beating up people I didn''t like so badly that they couldn''t even function in society, were quite famous. There were also rumours that I openly expressed disgust towards orphans, telling them to stay away.

    The guy I possessed was particrly nasty, even among extra viins.

    Moreover, the personal history of Baek Seung-woo, the person I possessed, was quiteplicated. The existence of the Cheonho Baek family, a powerful family, was binding me.

    I didn''t know much about the Cheonho Baek family since Eve hadn''t exined it in detail.

    In this world, it was a family with considerable influence. Especially in South Korea, where the main family was located.

    ''From conglomerates to S-rank guilds, there''s no ce the Cheonho Baek family hasn''t touched.''

    Eve had mentioned that the family was in decline, but as they say, even a ruined rich family has enough to eat for three years.

    The real deal doesn''t show signs of copse just from one or two failures.

    The influence of the Cheonho Baek family, big or small, could affect even the Chilseong Academy. That''s why the assistants avoided having any contact with me.

    Because I was the parachute head of that family.

    A head in name only, with no real power.

    Even the few privileges I had were being taken away by other family members.

    Bad rumours circted on the inte, and the media scraped them up to publish articles. Just how ipetent was I to end up in this mess?

    ''I need to fix what I can, starting now.''

    Grow enough strength to not be killed by the protagonist and gain the means to control the family.

    These are the priorities for surviving in this world.

    Amidst theseplicated thoughts.

    "Um, excuse me¡­ Could you help me with this?"

    Someone spoke to me.

    A voicepletely different from Nam Hwa-yeon and the head assistant.

    I wondered who the brave soul was.

    "I-I''m not used to this kind of work yet¡­ I''ve done what I can, but if it''s okay with you, could you spare some time?"

    She didn''t look brave at all.

    Her trembling voice and uneasy eyes proved that.

    She handed me a document.

    "I have time, but are you sure you can ask me for this?"

    "Huh? I-I''ve only been here for a few days, so I don''t know much¡­ Was it rude of me¡­?"

    "Not really."

    Talking to her, it seemed she was a new hire like me.

    That''s why she could talk to me without knowing anything.

    I scratched my head and took the document she handed me.@@novelbin@@

    "It''s not hard to do, but how are you going to handle the aftermath¡­?"

    "¡­Huh?"

    "No, it''s nothing. I''ll have it on your desk within an hour, so you can do other work in the meantime."

    "Ah, th-thank you!"

    She bowed at a 90-degree angle and quickly walked away.

    She walked so fast that she almost tripped and then slowed down. Quite an interesting character.

    I watched the back of her head and skimmed through the document she gave me.

    It was a simple document suitable for a newbie.

    I finished processing it in less than 30 minutes and was about to ce it on her desk when I heard a strange noise.

    The sound of someone scolding and reprimanding.

    This area should be near the water dispenser and coffee pot.

    "Haven''t you seen how we''ve been acting all this time? Where are your eyes?!"

    "I-I''m sorry¡­"

    Curious, I peeked out slightly and saw the newbie who had just asked me for help being scolded.

    "It''s been over a week already. If you had any sense, you''d have figured it out by now!"

    "I''m sorry¡­ He was the only one who seemed free, so I¡­"

    "Ugh, I''m so annoyed. Hey, Reina. Social life is all about reading the room. If you act like that anywhere else, you''ll be in big trouble."

    The reason she was being scolded was, of course, because of me.

    Probably because she associated with me.

    "¡­."

    It was an awkward situation to intervene.

    If I stepped in now, I could mediate, but it would definitely mess up her future.

    I didn''t want that.

    I just ced the document on her desk and was about to go back to my work when our eyes met.

    The newbie assistant''s eyes widened, and her mouth slightly opened. I pressed my index finger to my lips and shook the document.

    I moved carefully so the man scolding her wouldn''t notice.

    Then I ced the document on her desk and returned to my seat, gulping down my coffee.

    Yeah, today''s another tough day at work.

    ***

    After finishing the gruelling work, I headed to the library.

    "Oh, you''re here again today. Looking for more magic books?"

    "Ah, yes. The books I read are all like that."

    "You must really like books."

    Since I''ve been borrowing magic books from the library every day after work, I''ve be familiar enough with the librarian to have light conversations.

    Strangely, she seemed unaware of the rumours surrounding me and continued talking casually. However, she asionally gave my lower back a scary look.

    Sometimes it''s terrifying.

    "Phew, let''s just find some books."

    Enough with the useless thoughts, let''s find some magic books.

    I''ve long since mastered the basics of me magic. Of course, there''s a difference between knowing something intellectually and embodying it.

    It''s about time to move into more advanced applications.

    I should take books on magic that synergize well with me magic.

    I strode through the vast library, searching for books on curse magic or telekinesis.

    Now, I just need to find a book on verbal incantations.

    ''Where on earth is it?''

    It''s so hard to find that even after using the library''s searchputer, I still couldn''t locate it.

    Maybe because verbal incantations are such a niche magic.

    It''s not easy to spot.

    As I turned my head around, I noticed a few old books tucked away in a corner.

    Just in case, I checked the titles, and they were the magic books I was looking for. I grabbed two or three from the shelf and was about to head back to the librarian to check them out when¡­

    "¡­Was there always a ce like this here?"

    A small door I had never seen before, despiteing to the library countless times.

    The door, worn yet elegant in design, caught my attention, and I tried to open it.

    Rattle! Rattle!

    Turning the handle, it just spun without opening.

    Seems like a key is needed.

    ''Why is there a ce like this in the library?''

    Maybe it''s a storage room.

    But the door''s design is too fancy for that.

    I''ll have to ask the librarianter.

    Carrying a variety of magic books, I headed to the checkout counter.

    Thud¡ª!

    Maybe because I brought so many books, there was a loud noise when I set them down. The librarian, scanning the barcodes on the books, frowned and said,

    "Eleven books in total. Are you nning to borrow all of these?"

    "Yes, is there a borrowing limit?"

    "No¡­ For students, maybe, but there''s no limit for assistants and professors. But usually, people borrow two or three books a day, right?"

    As the librarian said, my routine had been to borrow books after work, read them overnight, return them the next day, and borrow new ones.

    So I always borrowed just two or three books, enough to read in one night. But today was different.

    "I''ve been reading in a specific field, but I''ve pretty much finished, so tonight I want to try a bit of everything."

    "Ah, I see¡­"

    "Haha, starting tomorrow, I''ll go back to borrowing two or three books, so don''t worry."

    The librarian and I exchanged a few words, and as it was getting dark, I was about to head to the dorm when¡­

    That elegant door I saw earlier came to mind.

    Just in case, I asked.

    "Do you know anything about that door?"

    "The door? What door are you talking about¡­"

    "I found a door near the shelf where I took these books."

    I showed her the old books rted to verbal incantations.

    The librarian checked the titles and the identification numbers assigned to each book.

    "AZ-2361¡­ That''s a number given to pretty old books. If it''s near there, you must be talking about the basement."

    "¡­Basement?"

    "Yes, the library appears to be a three-story building, but it actually has four floors, including the basement."

    A fact unknown to most students or assistants.

    But I know it well.

    Because Eve told me what''s hidden down there.

    "The basement is a restricted area, and inside¡ª"

    "¡ªThere are original copies of old magic books, and books banned by the academy, right?"

    "Oh, you know about it. Well, if you''re interested in books, it''s hard not to know."

    Previously, you could read and borrow books from the library without any issues, but for protection or because they contained dangerous content, all sorts of ancient books were stored in the library''s basement.

    The Forbidden Archive.

    It''s a dream space for many mages, as it contains many lost magic books. However, only a handful of people are allowed to enter.

    I, like many other mages, want to enter the Forbidden Archive.

    But my goal isn''t the lost magic books or forgotten forbidden texts.

    ''The hidden piece deep within the library.''

    A hidden piece that appears in thetter half of the original story. Excluding intangible things like rtionships or connections, it''s the best-hidden piece you can obtain in this academy.

    <em>"Vampires are one of the top races among the non-human species I''ve set up. To think that their legacy is hidden beneath the academy, isn''t that exciting? Huh? Why is it under the academy? Because having a forbidden archive under the library is romantic! Oh, and by the way, I''m not revealing exactly what''s in there yet!"</em>

    I don''t know what''s in the Forbidden Archive.

    At least, since it''s a forbidden archive, it must be something in book form.

    It could be a spell or a skill book.

    Maybe even a map hiding a vampire''s treasure.

    ''Hmm, it''s definitely rted to vampires, so there''s a high chance it''s something rted to blood-sucking.''

    Vampires, like my race, the Cheonho, are an ancient race.

    ording to the setting, they went extinct thousands of years ago, and only a few descendants inherited their powers through gic mutations, proving their existence.

    In this world, there are several extinct races like vampires.

    Their existence is proven through various traces, with skills, artefacts, and relics being the most prominent examples.

    Among those traces, the vampire''s legacy is undoubtedly the best.

    ''Whatever the vampire''s legacy is, it will probably take a long time to adapt to it, given its reputation. Maybe I should learn healing magic just in case.''

    There''s a possibility it''s a skill that activates through blood by inflicting wounds.

    In that case, healing magic would be effective, so it wouldn''t hurt to learn it in advance.

    I told the librarian I''d get one more book and searched for the most borrowed healing magic book at the search desk. Fortunately, there was exactly one left in the library.

    Feeling lucky, I printed out the number tag from the search desk.

    TC-7847. It wasn''t far from here.

    After telling her I''d be back soon, I arrived at the shelf with books starting with TC.

    Let''s see, number 7847 should be around here.

    As I scanned up and down, a fresh green cover caught my eye.

    That''s the book I''ve been looking for.

    As I reached out to grab the book, suddenly two hands ovepped.

    It wasn''t me ovepping my hands. Who would ovep their hands while grabbing a book?

    Feeling the warmth through the gloves, I turned my head and saw a girl.

    A girl in a school uniform with brown hair tied back.

    Her features seemed familiar.

    "¡­Ah."

    The girl who attacked me a few days ago.

    It''s definitely her.

    Back then, she was wearing sweat-soaked gym clothes, and it was hard to make out her face in the dark ce with only one fluorescent light on.

    But seeing her in the bright library, it''s clear.

    This young girl is the one who struck my throat.

    "¡­Huh?"

    Staring at her, she also turned her head.

    At first, we both sent intense messages with our eyes, as if telling each other to let go of the book. But as she slowly looked at my face, she seemed to remember.

    "Long time no see, right?"

    With a smiling face, I pulled the book towards me, and she pulled back, not willing to give up.

    I''m definitely not letting this go.

 Chapter 9: Motivation [4]

    First, I borrowed the books under my name.

    Since the librarian was about to leave, it was better for me, as a teaching assistant, to borrow them rather than a student who might have borrowing limits.@@novelbin@@

    Of course, it was still undecided who would take these books.

    "I found that book first."

    "But I was the one who grabbed it first and borrowed it, wasn''t I? I''ll read it overnight and lend it to you tomorrow. Why don''t you go get some sleep?"

    "No. I''ll read it and lend it to you tomorrow."

    Neither of us was willing to back down.

    In my case, since I had borrowed so many books, I didn''t necessarily need to read it today.

    But the memory of what happened a few days ago made me reluctant to let it go.

    "That''s a book by our Healing Magic professor. You need to read it to understand the lecture."

    "Is it a required reading for students? I thought books rted to assessments or coursework were set aside in advance."

    "...It''s not that. It''s just a book I want to read."

    Ah, I thought it was a book you absolutely needed for ss.

    If it were, I would have handed it over, but since it''s not, well... I don''t think I need to give it up, especially since I''m not trying to get along with her.

    "Anyway, I borrowed it under my name, so I should read it first."

    "...If that''s the case, return it now. I''ll borrow it instead."

    "It''s already time for the librarian to be preparing to leave. How do you n to return and borrow it now?"

    "Ugh... You knew that and deliberately borrowed it under your name."

    The girl looked defeated.

    I felt a sense of triumph seeing her like that. It wasn''t intentional, but¡¸Bluffing¡¹had activated.

    She red at me, clearly frustrated.

    "...I''ll remember this."

    She took off the coat she was wearing over her uniform and slung it over her shoulder.

    Even though it was spring, the night breeze was chilly, but she seemed quite heated. As she did so, the name tag on her left chest caught my eye.

    Curious, I tried to read her name.

    But she turned away too quickly, heading toward the student dorm, so I couldn''t see it clearly.

    ''...I think it said Seo Yerin.''

    Seo Yerin or Seo Yerim. It was definitely one of the two.

    If my eyes weren''t mistaken, it was probably Seo Yerin.

    I think there was a character with a simr name among the main cast in the original story.

    What a coincidence.

    "...?"

    The same age and name as a main character, and even attending the same academy.

    The only difference was the original story''s description of her appearance.

    Only then did I realize something was off and turned to look back.

    But she was already gone.

    I muttered, thinking of the worst possible conclusion.

    "...Wait."

    Seo Yerin and the spear.

    These two things pointed to a certain supporting character.

    How did I miss something so important?

    ''...Come to think of it, there aren''t many people who train with a spear at dawn.''

    <em>"In academy genre stories, there should be multiple heroines, right? It''s nice to have heroines who rely on the protagonist, but heroines who can solve problems on their own are also appealing. Hmm, but maybe a heroine stronger than the protagonist is too much. Ah, whatever, I''ll just go with this setting."</em>

    Eve had said.

    A martial goddess with long, flowing hair, wielding a spear.

    The Divine Spear, Seo Yerin.

    In the early parts of the novel, she was stronger than the protagonist.

    In the distant future, she would carve mountains with a single spear and effortlessly crush armies of monsters. A monster among monsters, ranked within the top five in terms of pure talent in the story''s world.

    And I had a squabble with someone like that?

    "I''m screwed..."

    Right now, she''s just a fresh-faced first-year, but in just a year, she''ll be a hunter who can easily surpass most active professionals.

    No, even now, her skills are already impressive.

    To have a falling out with such a student over a book...

    I must have been out of my mind.

    No matter how much I regretted it, time had already passed.

    Feeling sick to my stomach, I skipped dinner and read the books. The first one I read was, of course, the green book.

    The one I fought over with Seo Yerin.

    I hoped it was worth it.

    "Nothing special."

    It was a typical textbook-style book, without any of the professor''s personal tips or advice.

    If it''s going to be like this, I might as well just read the textbook.

    The main story hasn''t even started yet, and I''ve already ruined my rtionship with a main character over something worthless.

    I grabbed my head in despair.

    Really, if I had known this would happen, I should have asked Eve more about Seo Yerin.

    Unsurprisingly, I couldn''t sleep again tonight.

    How can I sleep in this situation?

    ***

    A vast, empty cavern.

    There were clear signs that people had been here, but no living beings remained.

    No, there was one person left.

    "Ugh, I thought it would be useful. Turns out it''s not that great."

    A man drenched in flowing blood, as if he had showered in it.

    He looked at the gem in his hand, muttered that it was a waste, and threw it to the ground.

    It could fetch a high price on the market, but that wasn''t his concern. He was just annoyed at getting covered in blood for nothing.

    The blood on his skin and clothes had long since dried.

    Ah, this won''te off even if I wash it. Do I have to buy new clothes?

    "Buying new ones is a hassle. Maybe I''ll just raid a nearby store."

    It was a good idea.

    No need to spend money, and he could take whatever clothes or equipment he wanted. While raiding, he thought he might as well grab some gifts, so he picked up a bag lying on the ground.

    I can fill this with gifts.

    Shaking out the bag, a bunch of disposable items like potions and bombs fell out.

    It seemed the bag''s owner had really wanted to live. Not that it mattered, since he had just killed everyone in sight.

    As the potions shattered and the bombs fell to the ground.

    ©¤©¤ng!

    Somethingpletely different fell out.

    Something shiny and golden.

    "Huh? What''s this? It looks different."

    Curious, he picked it up and examined it. It was a small locket. Pressing a tiny button, a photo inside was revealed.

    A middle-aged man and woman.

    Between them was a young child.

    "Did they have a kid? But whose is this?"

    The man''s gaze turned to one side of the cavern.

    The wall was piled high with all kinds of corpses.

    In the heap of human and monster flesh and bones, it was impossible to identify anyone.

    In that pile, there might be a middle-aged man, or a middle-aged woman. Or maybe the couple died side by side.

    A couple is one body. They promised to be together forever.

    ©¤©¤ng!

    The man threw the locket away.

    If it were an artifact, maybe. But this trash was useless.

    He had plenty of loot from today anyway.

    As he sorted through the usable items.

    He sensed a presence behind him.

    Familiar footsteps. Familiar breathing. Familiar heartbeat.

    All the sounds pointed to someone he knew.

    "Ah, the horned guy''s here?"

    "...You''re always so rude."

    "Nothing new there."

    The blood-soaked man turned his head to see a man in a suit. Outwardly, he looked like a gentleman, but on his head were unnatural horns.

    Not a Halloween costume or anime cosy.

    Those horns were part of his body.

    A genuine physical organ with physiological functions.

    "But can a Demone to a ce like this? This is Nine-Tails Guild territory."

    "Of course, all the information has been manipted. You''re the one who should be worried,mitting mass murder in an S-rank guild''s territory. It won''t be easy to survive."

    "It''s fine. I''ll just avoid and run from anyone I see."

    The two casually exchanged chilling words.

    Words like "Demon" and "murder" would make any passerby shudder.

    The only saving grace was that they were in a closed dungeon.

    At least there was no chance of a third party overhearing.

    "So why did youe all the way here? Another job?"

    "Of course. Do you think I''de all this way to meet a lowly mercenary like you for anything else?"

    "So, what''s the job?"

    The horned man pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

    The blood-soaked man took it and unfolded it. The bloodstains smudged the writing, but it was still readable.

    ©¤©¤sh!

    The blood-soaked man drew a sword from his waist and pressed it against the horned man''s neck.

    A fluid, natural motion.

    "...Are you in your right mind?"

    The blood-soaked man asked.

    Unlike his usual flippant tone, his voice was grave and chilling.

    "Attack an academy? And the Seven Stars Academy at that?"

    It was madness.

    It would be easier to infiltrate the headquarters of an S-rank guild andmit terrorism.

    Attacking any academy is no small feat, but to attack one of the top five academies in the world?

    It''s not even worth considering.

    Survival chance: 0%. His instincts, honed through decades of mercenary work and contract killings, screamed at him.

    "Do you want to fight me?"

    A sticky, murderous intent, like the fresh blood he had just spilled, enveloped the man.

    But the other was no ordinary being either. A Demon, a monster who had forsaken humanity. This level of murderous intent was nothing to him.

    "Haha, don''t worry. The academy''s professors will be leaving within a week."

    "...Are you serious?"

    The professors are the academy''s greatest strength.

    Each one is a dangerous individual to be wary of, but without them, attacking the academy might be feasible.

    "Of course. Have I ever lied to you before?"

    "...What about the guards and the upperssmen? Even without the professors, they''re a significant variable."

    "I''ll lend you some monsters. The Viscount said to spare no expense in supporting this operation."

    "The Viscount? Thatzy noble actually moved? This must be a big deal."

    The man''s tone remained flippant.

    The horned Demon tried to endure it, but he couldn''t tolerate the disrespect toward the nobility.

    This time, it was the Demon who exuded a thick murderous aura.

    "I won''t ask for manners from a vulgar man like you, but if you keep pping that loose tongue of yours, your life won''tst much longer."

    "Don''t worry. I can still see plenty of life left in me."

    "Ha! Can we really entrust such a major operation to this guy...?"

    The Demon felt a headacheing on.

    This flippant man was always like this.

    Despite appearing foolish and ipetent, his abilities were exceptional, earning the attention of even the great nobles.

    Not the type he liked, but this was a major operation directly ordered by the Viscount. Personal feelings couldn''t interfere with such a grand undertaking.

    To end this conversation, the Demon made an offer the man couldn''t refuse.

    "If you sessfullyplete this mission, I''ll give you the reward you''ve been singing about."

    "What is it?"

    "Whatever you want."

    "Alright, deal."

    As the Demon was about to leave.

    The man spoke up.

    "...Oh, right."

    "What is it? Something else to say?"

    "No, I epted the job, but I didn''t hear the exactpletion conditions."

    Blinded by the reward, he had epted without hearing the details.

    It''s not just about attacking the Seven Stars Academy, right?

    "Didn''t I tell you?"

    "Yeah, you said to attack, but you didn''t mention the conditions."

    "There are two main conditions."

    The Demon held up two fingers.

    Hmm, fewer conditions than I thought.

    The man thought it wasn''t bad.

    "The first is to retrieve a book from the library''s basement level 1."

    "A book? Any book? Should I grab a dirty book?"

    "A ck book. One bound in ck leather with ck pages. Bring that."

    "And? You said there were two conditions."

    The Demon''s lips twisted into a grotesque smile.

    As if imagining it brought him joy, he licked his lips.

    "The massacre of the first-years."

    The Demon savored the words.

    "Crushing the budding heroes called the next generation will create quite a spectacle."

    The man thought to himself at the Demon''s insane reply.

    He really is a Demon, a madman.

    "Okay, no take-backster."

    Of course, the fact that he epted the offer without hesitation made him realize he was a madman too.

 Chapter 11: First Event [1]

    Last night, I tossed and turned again.

    My mind was too cluttered to focus on reading magical texts, and when I tried to sleep, I dreamt of Seo Yerin chasing me with a spear. Unable to do either, I spent the night aimlessly.

    Though exhausted, thanks to "Bluffing," I didn''t outwardly show my fatigue. This allowed me to carry on with my work as if nothing was wrong, even though I was drained inside.

    ''...Wow, so this is how people die from overwork.''

    I thought this as I wrote the lecture script with sleepy eyes.

    At this rate, I might actually die from overwork.

    Every night, I feel like sleeping is a waste of time, so I cut back on sleep to study and master magical texts. My body has reached its limit.

    Until now, I''ve been holding on with sheer willpower, but I''m starting to feel the limits.

    It''s getting a bit dangerous.

    ''After two more days, I''ll rest properly.''

    Tonight, most professors are leaving for the academic conference.

    The remaining professors will also leave within two days, citing external schedules or preparation for evaluations. The perfect conditions for an attack on the academy are falling into ce.

    -"Did you see the news about the casualties in the <Nine-Tails> guild yesterday?"

    -"Yeah, I heard there was an ident in an A-rank dungeon. They said there were no survivors."

    -"I heard from someone involved that it was actually done by humans."

    -"What, really? I thought the ident happened in a dungeon owned by the <Nine-Tails> guild. Was it internal strife? Or some political move?"

    -"I''m not sure about that, but from the traces, it seems they were hunted by a ''mage hunter.''"

    I looked up to gauge the atmosphere in theb.

    Unlike usual, the assistants seemed brighter. The fact that they were even engaging in small talk suggested they were all looking forward to attending the magical conference.

    How would they react if they knew the academy would be attacked the day after tomorrow?

    ''Would they give up the conference they''ve been looking forward to and stay to defend the academy? Or would they leave for the conference, not believing the warning?''

    The thought crossed my mind, but it wasn''t worth dwelling on.

    They would follow Nam Hwa-yeon to the conference anyway. With all the professors and most assistants gone, the first-year students would be left exposed to danger.

    Thinking about it, it''s truly irresponsible.

    Even if the professors have externalmitments, taking most of the assistants with them?

    No one seems to consider that the academy might be attacked while they''re away.

    Is this the well-founded confidence of an academy ranked among the top five in the world? Or is it recklessness born from a sense of invincibility?

    Either way, they''re better off than me.

    ''At least they don''t know the future, but I have some idea.''

    The image of theughing and chatting students still lingers in my mind.

    The thought of that scene being stained with blood gives me a headache. I opened a drawer to look for painkillers.

    ©¤©¤Rustle.

    The drawer was filled with all kinds of medication.

    From vitamins to digestive aids, it looked like a mini pharmacy. My health hasn''t been great, so the drawer was packed with various pills.

    Let''s see. The painkillers were definitely red.

    There are so many pills that even though I bought them, I often forget where I put them.

    As I fumbled through the rustling packaging, I quickly found the painkillers.

    ©¤Rustle, rustle.

    I tore open the packaging and took out two red pills.

    I was about to swallow them with water when...

    "...?"

    The pills on my hand disappeared.

    Did I drop them? I looked around.

    They didn''t seem to be on the floor. Maybe they''re on the desk?

    The headache was narrowing my vision and clouding my judgment.

    But the pills weren''t on the desk either. As I turned my head, I saw an assistant with a startled expression.

    What? Are they freaking out just because I looked at them?

    "Headache pills? It''s only been two hours since you started work, and you already have a headache?"

    "...Professor."

    A clear voice came from behind.

    I turned my head and saw Nam Hwa-yeon staring intently at the red pills.

    She wasn''t holding them in her hand but was observing them floating in mid-air.

    The pills hung in the air as if fixed in ce.

    I''d seen a simr technique in the first researchb before, but after studying telekinesis, it looked different. The level of control was on a whole other levelpared to the¡¸Pyrokinesis¡¹I''d learned.

    Is this what makes a professor different?

    As I marveled at Nam Hwa-yeon''s telekinesis, she seemed to finish analyzing the pills.

    The pills gentlynded back on my hand.

    I swallowed them with water, and Nam Hwa-yeon''s gaze turned to me.

    Why is she looking at me like that? Is she going to give me more work?

    ''I hope not....''

    Initially, the tasks she assigned me weren''t too demanding.

    I followed her requirements, wrote the script, and added some parts of my own.

    But for some reason, the demands have been getting moreplex over time.

    Some tasks even required me to read specialized research papers.

    Reading and writing scripts based on them helped organize my thoughts, but it was exhausting.

    "Did you finish the script I asked for?"

    "...The basic script is done. It''ll take about two more hours to polish it."

    "Good, you''ve worked hard."

    Nam Hwa-yeon praised me, which was unexpected.

    Just as I was taken aback, she took a step toward me. The sweet floral scent that filled my nose was momentarily startling, but then she ced her hand on my forehead.

    It was cold. Does she have poor cirction?

    How can someone''s hand be this cold?

    "Oh my, you have a high fever."

    "...Isn''t it just that your hand is cold?"

    "My body temperature is on the lower side, but it''s within the normal range."

    After hearing her words, I checked my own body temperature and realized I was indeed running a fever.

    Did I catch something? I didn''t feel chills, though.

    I didn''t think much of my condition.

    But Nam Hwa-yeon seemed concerned, stroking my forehead and speaking in a worried tone.

    "You must have been working too hard. Why don''t you take half a day off and rest?"

    She was worried about me.

    It was the first time sinceing to this world that someone showed concern for me.

    Especiallying from someone like Nam Hwa-yeon, whose thoughts are hard to read, it felt strange.

    "No, I''m fine."

    "Still, it''d be good to rest for a day. You''ve been pushing yourself to meet my demanding requests..."

    Did you know that all along?

    I was shocked by her response but also sensed guilt in her words. Did she think my headache was her fault?

    While it''s true that her demands contributed to my stress, it wasn''t entirely her fault. She didn''t need to feel guilty.

    ''This is unexpected.''

    I never knew Nam Hwa-yeon had this side to her.

    To the students, she was a figure of respect, and to the assistants, she was an object of awe and fear. I always thought of her as difficult, but...

    "Really, I''m fine. Headaches are a chronic issue for me, so you don''t need to worry."

    "Still... Ah, how about this?"

    She pped her hands as if she had a good idea.

    Curious, I listened closely.

    "Why don''t youe with me to the conference? There won''t be any lectures or work during the conference, so you can treat it like a vacation."

    "...!!"

    I didn''t see thating.

    I never expected her to invite me to the conference.

    She reached out her hand, and I hesitated.

    If I take this hand, I won''t be here when the attack happens.

    My life would be spared. But would it really be that simple?

    "The magical conference is always filled with new research and papers. Attending will surely inspire you."

    "...I see."

    "Plus, there''s a rumor that groundbreaking research will be presented this year."

    It''s tempting.

    If I just take her hand, nothing bad will happen to me.

    But is it really okay to do that?

    Doubt gnawed at my conscience.

    "If you don''t say anything, I''ll add you to the list? We''re leaving early in the morning two days from now, so prepare in advance..."

    "No, it''s fine."

    I forced a smile through the throbbing headache.

    "I have things to do here."

    I''ve already made my choice.

    To stand by and watch the students die.

    I made that choice, and I must take responsibility for it.

    And I must bear the consequences of that choice.

    Witnessing the tragedy at the academy.

    That''s what I must do by staying here.

    Besides, even if I told Nam Hwa-yeon, the chance of her believing me was practically zero. Who would believe that the academy would be attacked and ten students would die?

    In the end, there was nothing I could do.

    No intervention, just standing by.

    That''s the best choice I can make for this world.

    Nam Hwa-yeon looked disappointed but returned to her seat.

    The next day.

    And the day after.

    Just like that, two days passed.

    Now, there''s not much time left.

    ***

    The nights at the academy are long.

    Thanks to the students studying hard, the assistants being worked like ves, and the guards patrolling all night for safety.

    The fluorescent lights that never go out, evente at night, are a point of pride for Seven Stars Academy.

    It shows how hard everyone is working.

    A guard in the security room hummed as he made coffee.

    "Hmm~ If it were like before, the seniors wouldn''t let me drink coffee. This is why I love the conference."

    At Seven Stars Academy, the presence of professors is immense.

    Each one is a valuable asset and a symbol of the academy. That''s why, whenever they have external engagements, guards are assigned as escorts.

    Originally, it was supposed to be guards with moderate experience to gain practical experience.

    But the seasoned guards all volunteered to escort the professors to gain favor. Thanks to that, for the past few days, I''ve been able to work without worrying about senior guards.

    "Let''s see what''s on the news."

    He wasn''t supposed to take his eyes off the CCTV, but the guards at Seven Stars Academy are all skilled.

    They may not be active in the field anymore, but they''ve stepped into the realm of superhumans. Watching the news and CCTV at the same time isn''t difficult.

    [This morning, at 8 AM USE time, the magical conference began. Held annually around the world, the magical conference attracts attention by inviting famous figures from various countries. Among them are top-ranked individuals like the Demon King, the Hero, and the Divine Archer.]

    "Wow, what a lineup. The Demon King is a regr, but I didn''t expect the Hero and the Divine Archer to attend. They must have spent a lot on this conference."

    The Demon King is practically a regr, attending the magical conference every year. She''s known for her thirst for knowledge, devouring every paper presented at the conference.

    In contrast, the Hero and the Divine Archer have no connection to the magical conference. They are martial artists, not mages.

    Under normal circumstances, they wouldn''t be at the magical conference.

    "The rumors about a groundbreaking announcement at the conference must be true. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have invited those two."

    A rumor that''s been circting in the huntermunity for the past few days.

    It''s said that a discovery that could elevate magic and magical activities to a new level will be unveiled for the first time at the conference.

    At first, everyone dismissed it as a baseless rumor.

    But with the conference''s aggressive marketing, people are starting to wonder.

    Why else would all the academy professors have left for the conference?

    "Well, thanks to that, even lowly guards like me can catch a break."

    As he sipped his coffee, the guard suddenly craved something sweet.

    He had nothing in his pockets, and since it was work hours, he couldn''t go to the convenience store. If he were on outdoor patrol, he could''ve sneaked out, but with CCTV monitoring, that wasn''t an option.

    "No choice... Ugh...!"

    He dragged his stiff back to the tea cab.

    This was usually the seniors'' domain.

    A forbidden area that lowly guards like him weren''t even allowed to look at.

    But at this moment, the guard reached out to that forbidden area.

    Clunk!

    The sound of the cab opening revealed an array of colorful snacks.

    All premium snacks, not avable at convenience stores or regr markets.

    Naturally, their prices were astronomical.

    But with so many, surely one wouldn''t be missed.

    The guard took out a luxurious cookie. A butter cookie that would pair well with his hot coffee.

    As he unwrapped it, he suddenly remembered he hadn''t been watching the CCTV.

    "Eh, it''s just one minute. Nothing''s going to happen."

    Who would be bold enough to break into Seven Stars Academy?

    asionally, students get caught trying to sneak out by climbing the walls, but there''s never been a case of someone breaking in.

    Just as the guard was about to take a bite of the cookie.

    He dropped it on the floor.

    "Ah, ahhh!!"

    Not just the cookie, but his right hand holding it also fell.

    The burning sensation of his severed wrist.

    The clean cut left him momentarily stunned. The guard, who had been screaming, soon copsed to the floor.

    He tried to grab his right arm with his still intact left hand.

    ©¤©¤Squelch!

    With a sound like cutting meat at a butcher''s, his left hand was also severed.

    The indescribable pain. It was so intense that no sound came from his mouth.

    Just then.

    A man who had cut through the security room door with a sword entered.

    As soon as he entered, he scanned the academy through the CCTV.

    After checking a few feeds, a crescent moon-shaped smile appeared on his face.

    "Wow, there really isn''t a single professor in the academy?"

    Just as that horned guy said.

    Not a single professor was present. Not even that magic-obsessed woman or the old monster.

    The perfect conditions for an attack were in ce.

    The manughed heartily and kicked the guard''s body.

    He had seen the guard trying to press the emergency button with his leg. The man grabbed the guard''s hair and lifted his head.

    A face filled with pain and despair.

    What an amazing expression.

    "By the way, Seven Stars is indeed Seven Stars. Even when a high-ranking demon self-destructs, the barrier doesn''t break. It''s not easy."

    The guard couldn''t understand the man''s mutterings.

    All he could see were the images on the CCTV. Giant demons were using their bodies as bombs to destroy the academy''s outer barriers.

    The sturdy barrier held against the massive explosions.

    It was a barrier worthy of Seven Stars Academy, but cracks began to form as the explosions continued.

    Moreover, they were targeting the weaker parts of the barrier.

    Rumble©¤©¤©¤!!

    Finally, the barrier copsed, and a horde of demons appeared from beyond. The absolute fortress that had never allowed foreign invasion in decades had fallen.

    They spread out in all directions as soon as they arrived at the academy.

    The guard, who had been watching helplessly, was kicked away by the man.

    The impact shook his insides. The kick had broken his ribs and punctured his organs.

    "T-This is no time to be lying around...."

    But the shock helped him regain his senses.

    This was no time to be lying around. The guard crawled to a corner with his broken legs.

    Emergencymunication devices were ced throughout the security room for such situations.

    Using his teeth instead of his severed hands, the guard pressed the button. The connectedmunicationwork linked to the entire academy grounds.

    Suppressing the blood flowing from his torn lungs, he spoke.

    ©¤"D-Danger! Demons have invaded the academy! A-Allbat-capable personnel, prepare for battle... Ahhh!!"

    He struggled to continue.

    But his words ended in a scream like a pig being ughtered.

    The mysterious man had stabbed the guard''s back with a sword.@@novelbin@@

    The man kicked the dead guard and marveled.

    Most people would have died from the shock.

    Is this what professional dedication looks like?

    "What a bothersome guy."

    He had already known the guard would make the emergency broadcast.

    But he couldn''t stop it.

    No matter how much he peered into the future, that guy always found a way to broadcast.

    Even if he tore off his limbs or cut off his head, the guard would use magic to move his body and send Morse code. What kind of person is he?

    "Thanks to him, a sneak attack is impossible."

    To ensure the guard was dead, he targeted his back the moment he started broadcasting. He broke his spine and aimed for his organs to make sure he couldn''t move.

    Because of that, a covert attack was impossible.

    "But it''s fine."

    Without the professors, there''s no one in the academy who can stop him.

    The man, already confident in his sess, began thinking about how to spend his reward.

    The dying students were not his concern.

    After all, he came here to kill them all.

    ***

    Just then, a status window appeared in the vision of Seung-woo.

    <strong>[Sub Quest: Awakening] </strong>

    <strong>[Description: The foreseen event has arrived. The protagonist will awaken, and the freshmen will be faced with a life-threatening situation, naturally separating the weak from the strong. Survive until dawn breaks and prove your worth.]</strong>

    <strong> [Reward: Survival, 3 points]</strong>

    ***

    <strong>Hey readers!</strong>

    Want to read ahead? ?? Join my Patreon for early ess to 20+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.

    ??<strong>patreon/aarvan</strong>??

    Thanks for being awesome! ??

 Chapter 12: First Event [2]

    "Hey, what are we going to do about this week''s performance evaluations? Is it for real that six of them are ovepping in one week?"

    "What else can we do? We just have to do all of them."

    "Honestly, isn''t it enough to just focus on the major subjects? It shouldn''t be a problem for getting a job, right?"

    The students were huddled together, chatting away.

    Judging by their youthful appearance, they were undoubtedly first-year freshmen.

    They had gathered because of the performance evaluations and were sticking together to build camaraderie.

    "Everyone''s freaking out. The exam scope hasn''t even been announced yet. Just study and it''ll be fine."

    "Oh, right. The second-years went to an uninhabited ind for their midterms this time. I heard it''s for six nights and seven days."

    Their conversation was undoubtedly about academics.

    Of course, given that it was Seven Stars Academy, the scale of their discussion was quiterge.

    "Really? Wasn''t that just a rumour? That''s what I thought."

    "I heard it''s true. The professor hinted at it during the lecture yesterday. Since the second-years are gone starting today, he told us not to cause any trouble."

    "Oh, and I heard a lot of the third-years also left for guild training or academic conferences. This is totally our world now."

    As they talked, something felt a bit off.

    Both the second and third years were away for external activities at the same time. That would leave only the first years at the academy. Had something like this ever happened in the academy''s history?

    An ordinary adult might have found this situation suspicious.

    However, to the eyes of these young students, the fact that only the first-years remained on campus was a golden opportunity.

    ces they couldn''t normally go because of the upperssmen''s watchful eyes were now essible. The students eagerly spoke up, not wanting to miss this opportunity.

    "Should we check out the third-year area? I heard the facilities there are amazing."

    "The second-year ssrooms have magic barriers installed. Let''s go there too!"

    "Ha... I can''t believe these kids."

    Amidst the chatter, one male student scoffed.

    A bespectacled student adjusted his sses and said, "Do you even know how big the academy grounds are? If you wander around aimlessly like that, you''ll copse from exhaustion."

    "B-But we can''t miss this opportunity! If we don''t go now while the second and third years are gone, we''ll have to wait a whole year!"

    "Exactly. I want to check out the areas we couldn''t go to before because we were too cautious."

    "That''s why I prepared in advance!"

    The boy pulled out his phone from his pocket.

    As everyone''s attention focused on him, a photo appeared on the screen.

    It was a drone-captured image of Seven Stars Academy.

    "Isn''t that just a map? We all have that on our phones."

    "Hehe, take a closer look."

    "What? This is just a regr map..."

    "Guys! There''s a small line drawn here!"

    "A line...?"

    At one girl''s exmation, everyone''s expressions changed.

    Upon closer inspection, they noticed a red line connecting various points.

    The line linked ten locations in sequence.

    Each of these ces was a famous spot that had been featured on SNS or in the news. Finally, they understood what the red line meant.

    It was the order in which they should visit these ces.

    Wandering around aimlessly would only tangle their route and force them to backtrack, so the line was pre-drawn to avoid that.

    "Wow, that''s pretty clever. Unexpected."

    "I always thought you were just a jerk, but I didn''t know you had this kind of preparation."

    "Hey, I can hear you, you know?"

    "Then let''s follow the order of the line! The closest ce from here is the second-year ssroom."

    They immediately set off.

    They sneaked into the second-year ssrooms and visited a famous hole-in-the-wall shop that had been featured on SNS.

    When they got hungry, they had a meal at a snack bar known as a third-year hotspot.

    Click!

    A girl took photos of the entire process and posted them on SNS.

    A boy walking beside her nced at her phone and shook his head, muttering about her severe SNS addiction.

    Before they knew it, the sun had set.

    Having visited all the nned locations, it was time for dinner. Given the vastness of the academy grounds, there were all kinds of restaurants.

    "How about some hearty soup? I heard there''s a great ce nearby."

    "Who eats soup like an old man? Let''s go for pasta, okay?"

    "I think chicken sounds good too. What about you, Kyle?"

    With so many people, opinions were divided.

    Amidst the back-and-forth, the boy who suggested chicken spoke up.

    "Huh, me...?"

    "Yeah, you. You must have something you want to eat."

    "Hey, Kyle! Say something. How about soup? Sounds good, right?"

    At his friend''s urging, Kyle scratched his head.

    He felt ufortable in this situation. Kyle struggled with social interactions.

    He had onlye this far because he was dragged along for a group project.

    He didn''t feel like answering, but he had to say something. So, he mentioned what he wanted to eat most at the moment.

    "Well... I guess... eel...?"

    "..."

    "...Yeah, eel it is..."

    The atmosphere turned awkward.

    Kyle, oblivious to the mood, was about to say he wanted eel over rice when¡ª

    Thud!

    The ground shook.

    It wasn''t an earthquake. It felt different from an earthquake.

    It was as if something enormous was approaching¡ª

    "Hey, guys, look over there."

    "Suddenly? Did you finally realize the appeal of soup...?"

    "...What is that?!"

    Something massive was approaching.

    It seemed to have caught the students'' scent as it began to slowly approach with a sinister grin, its red pupils gleaming.

    A startled girl dropped her phone.

    It shattered on the spot.

    ***

    The monster''s attack was sudden.

    It was an evening like any other. As the red sunset painted the horizon, the academy began to be dyed in bright crimson blood.

    "Run!!"

    "Everyone in the dorms and cafeteria,e out! There''s a shelter in the basement of the auditorium!"

    "Professor! Where are the professors?!"

    "Mom! Save me...!!"

    Screams echoed from all directions.

    Among them were strange, inhuman cries.

    "Krrrk!"

    A bizarre sound that no human throat could produce.

    Something on four legs darted swiftly and snatched a boy by the waist. A beast with ck fur and a body the size of a baby elephant.

    It shoved the boy''s lower half into its massive maw.

    Just as it was about to crush him with its powerful jaws, a sharp spear flew through the air, tearing through the monster''s jaw muscles.

    It was a powerful throw.

    Simultaneously, Seo Yerin moved swiftly, throwing the boy who was caught in the monster''s mouth to the ground. The boy, drenched in the monster''s foul saliva, looked up dazedly.

    "Ah..."

    St!

    A girl who appeared to be his age swung her spear.

    As she mercilessly shed at the monster''s joints, she muttered under her breath.

    "...Die."

    As if her words were a spell, the monster copsed.

    The creature, now a bloody mess, hung its tongue out limply. Itsck of breath indicated it was clearly dead.

    A boy who had been watching the scene struggled to his feet and shouted.

    "You should run too! The shelter has powerful protective magic!!"

    The girl shook her head.

    She swung her spear, shaking off the blood, and said, "Not yet."

    Not yet?

    What did she mean?

    There was no time to think deeply. In a situation like this, every second counts.

    Just as the boy tried to grab her hand and run¡ª

    Crunch!

    A long spear de targeted the monster''s neck like a guillotine.

    With a crescent-shaped sh, the massive head flew off.

    At that moment, the creature''s facial muscles twitched. It wasn''t the stiff movement of rigor mortis.

    It was proof that the monster had been alive just moments ago.

    "...What the?"

    The boy couldn''t help but be amazed.

    No, more than amazed, he was horrified.

    What on earth was this girl in front of him?

    The fact that she was still at the academy meant she was a first-year, just like him.

    But her skill with the spear and her ability to see through the monster''s feigned death was far beyond what one would expect from someone her age.

    The boy''s gaze fell to her chest.

    There, her name tag was disyed.

    The moment he saw her name, everything made sense. Everything fell into ce with just that one name.

    "Seo Yerin..."

    On the first day of school, a rumour had spread through the academy.

    A rumour that the granddaughter of the high-ranking Spear Master had enrolled at Seven Stars Academy.

    At the time, it was a hot topic, and the students spent days trying to find the rumoured girl. But with 2,000 first-years, it was no easy task, and they soon gave up.

    The rumour became just that¡ªa rumour, remaining as hearsay.@@novelbin@@

    He, too, had thought it was just baseless gossip.

    But seeing her fluid spear skills and her ability to instantly determine the monster''s life or death, the rumour naturally came to mind.

    At that moment, Seo Yerin approached the boy.

    "Are you okay...?"

    "Huh? Ah, yeah. I''m fine."

    "Good, then that''s that."

    If he wasn''t hurt, that was enough.

    Seo Yerin nced at the boy and then dashed off in the opposite direction.

    Away from the auditorium where the shelter was, towards the second and third-year ssrooms and dorms.

    The boy stared nkly after her.

    He couldn''t bring himself to tell her to head to the shelter. The determination in her eyes didn''t seem like something that could be swayed by mere words.

    ***

    Meanwhile, Seo Yerin ran at full speed, operating her phone with her left hand.

    On the screen was a colourful SNS feed. Despite her quiet nature, she had never used SNS before, but her best friend was an SNS addict.

    Seo Yerin bit her lip as she looked at the recent posts.

    [yura01- Taking advantage of the professors and seniors being away, I''m exploring the academy with my group project team. We''re nning to eat near the third-year ssroomster.

    #SneakingAround #Exploring #SevenStarsAcademy]

    [470 likes]

    "Why would they go there...!"

    She felt frustrated and incredulous.

    Why would they go to other grades'' ssrooms or cafeterias to hang out? And of all times, during an emergency like this!

    This was truly the worst.

    The academy''s top professors were all away on external activities, leaving the campus devoid of its strongest defenders. Even the veteran security guards had followed the professors for their own achievements.

    If that were all, it might have been manageable.

    The third-years, who were next in strength after the professors, could have handled the situation.

    But most of the third-years were away for guild training. Only a few remained, fewer than ten, making it impossible to ovee the crisis.

    Even the second years were gone.

    All the second-years had left for an uninhabited ind for their midterms.

    Only the first-years remained at Seven Stars Academy¡ªinexperienced freshmen who hadn''t even received proper training.

    "This is the worst."

    There were still some security guards and teaching assistants holding the fort, but could they really protect the entire academy grounds?

    She already knew the answer to that.

    Of course not.

    The academy grounds were vast. They surpassed the size of most universities,parable to a small city.

    The number of teaching assistants and security guards couldn''t possibly cover such arge area.

    They would naturally focus on securing key points, most likely the first-year dorms and ssrooms.

    And if that happened...

    ''Yura will be isted...!''

    She couldn''t even ask for help.

    Even if she asked a passing first-year for assistance, they would most likely refuse or be a burden. She couldn''t ask the security guards either.

    Securing the nearby dorms would save more students than risking lives for a few who were far away and whose survival was uncertain.

    ''Right now, I''m the only one!''

    For a moment, she felt anxious.

    Seo Yerin tried to calm her burning emotions.

    Calm down, crises alwayse unexpectedly. That''s why I''ve been practising with my spear every dawn without sleep.

    She desperately maintained herposure.

    It was a technique she had honed over hours of quietly wielding her spear, a way to stabilize her mind and body. The training she had undergone shed through her mind.

    "That''s right, this is what I''ve been doing."

    She reminded herself of her training, trying to stay as rational as possible. If only the incident from two days ago hadn''te to mind.

    The day she had crossed paths with that parasitic teaching assistant and the floor had exploded, ruining her expensive uniform.

    The shock from that day had left a momentary gap in her movements.

    And then a monster appeared. It moved like a shadow, targeting only Seo Yerin''s weak point.

    sh!

    A long tailshed out like a whip, aiming for her legs.

    Unable to dodge, she fell, and the monster climbed on top of her.

    "Kyaaak!"

    It opened its maw wide, ready to swallow Seo Yerin whole.

    She pushed against the monster''s mouth with her spear, but it was already on top of her.

    "Ugh!"

    A pained groan escaped her lips.

    Her ankle twisted from the impact of the tail and the fall.

    To make matters worse, the monster was now on top of her.

    She was barely holding it off with her spear.

    ''This position is bad...!''

    Her body was already in disarray from the fall, and her position was terrible.

    If this turned into a battle of strength, Seo Yerin''s defeat was inevitable. She tried to think of a way out, but the stench of the fish-like monster made her head spin.

    ''...Huh? My strength is fading.''

    The more she smelled the stench, the weaker her grip on the spear became.

    It seemed the monster''s stench had a paralyzing effect. Panicked, Seo Yerin struggled, but the monster only opened its maw wider, drawing closer.

    One wrong move, and she could die.

    Just as Seo Yerin was steeling herself for a final effort¡ª

    Whoosh!

    A massive me approached from behind the monster.

    The flickering fire made it hard to see clearly, but it seemed to take the shape of a hand. The giant ming hand twisted the monster as if squeezing juice from a fruit.

    The surging mes cooked the creature''s flesh, which then fell lifelessly to the ground. It was a white-fleshed fish.

    Seo Yerin was stunned by the sudden intervention of a third party.

    A man ran up to her. When she looked up and saw his face, she couldn''t hide her confusion.

    "Why are you...?"

    Seo Yerin stared up at him in a daze.

    The same position as the boy she had saved earlier, but the roles were reversed.

    This time, a man had saved her.

    With eyes as red as a monster''s but shining like gemstones. Fluffy fox-like ears and tail.

    There stood Seung-woo, the new teaching assistant at Seven Stars Academy.

    "...I don''t know."

    He wore an expression that suggested he had done something wrong.

    ***

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 Chapter 13: First Event [3]

    Hell had descended.

    The once lively atmosphere of the academy was nowhere to be found. The scene resembled a battlefield.

    "Seungho! Seungho! Save meeeee!"

    "Stay right there! I''ming to get you!!"

    "Move, move out of the way, you lunatics!! Those who can survive should survive!!!"

    "Ahhhh!!! Where, where is my leg?!!"

    Screams echoed from all directions.

    Pleas for help and agonizing groans filled the academy.

    It was hard to believe that just an hour ago, this ce had been filled withughter.

    "...Ugh, this feels disgusting."

    I felt a sense of guilt. But I didn''t try to justify myself.

    I already knew, didn''t I?

    I had stood by, using the excuse that the protagonist needed to awaken.

    My desire to survive had blinded me.

    This disaster was the result.

    I had a responsibility to watch this scene unfold without saying a word. No matter how painful it was, I couldn''t look away.

    This was the scene I had chosen, and no matter how hard it was, it couldn''t be worse than what they were going through.

    "..."

    Silently, I looked down from the top of a tall building.

    The rooftop offered a clear view of the chaos below.

    The cold night wind carried the stench of blood.

    "Contact the professors! Tell them toe back immediately!!"

    "They''re overseas right now! We should call the nearby guilds instead!"

    "An A-rank guild is sending support! Just hold on for 20 minutes!!"

    "Damn it. I''m going to die without even confessing."

    "Save the kids at least! Leave me behind and get the kids out...."

    As I looked down, a thought crossed my mind.

    In the original story, ten students had died. All of them were students who had been with the protagonist on the outskirts.@@novelbin@@

    What about the guards and teaching assistants? Did they all die, or did some survive?

    Well, judging by the scene before me, they probably all died.

    "Everyone seems to be in chaos."

    From the rooftop, I could see all sorts of students.

    Some prioritized their own lives, others tried to save their friends, and some fought back with weapons.

    The majority, however, were those who prioritized their own survival.

    Students were running toward the shelters in a panic.

    In their frantic rush, many tripped or collided with each other. Fractures and bruises weremon, and in the worst cases, some pushed their ssmates or fainted from the chaos.

    "What a disorganized mess."

    I understood their actions.

    The desire to survive is one of humanity''s most primal instincts. But to survive, one must act rationally.

    At this point, the best way to increase survival rates wasn''t to run but to fight back.

    But they couldn''t even make such a simple judgment. I had expected more from the elite group known as Seven Stars Academy, but I was sorely disappointed.

    "...Is it because it''s their first real battle? Well, I''ve been there too."

    Watching them made my chest feel heavy.

    After some thought, I realized it was because their behaviour reminded me of my younger self. I, too, had been a child soldier once.

    Old memories shed through my mind like a slideshow. The children running for their lives reminded me of myself back then.

    "..."

    As my thoughts deepened, my gaze shifted downward.

    I stared nkly at the scene below when I suddenly sensed something.

    The setting sun cast long shadows, and something clung to one of them. It was a decent attempt at stealth, but not enough to fool an S-rank senses.

    The shadow began to move closer to me.

    Just as the shadow revealed massive fangs and wings, preparing to pounce¡ª

    Whoosh!

    A fiery spike erupted from the ground, piercing the monster''s wing. The intense heat travelled through the wing, burning its grey skin ck.

    The monster was weaker than I had expected.

    But the consequences of its weakness were unexpected.

    Thud©¤©¤©¤!!!

    The massive monster fell from the rooftop.

    The impact was loud, and the ground cracked under its weight, sending up a cloud of dust. Instantly, all eyes turned to the scene.

    "...We''re screwed."

    Everyone stared at the monster that had fallen from the rooftop.

    Then, their gazes shifted upward.

    Naturally, theynded on me.

    ''How did ite to this...?''

    At first, I had nned to kill it quietly.

    I was going to cut its throat and leave it on the rooftop. But without realizing it, I ended up killing it in a much more dramatic fashion.

    I scratched my head in frustration.

    Then, I extended my right hand.

    A vast amount of magical energy surged, and a massive fireball formed in my palm.

    Looking at the students who were startled by my sudden appearance, I thought to myself.

    I hadn''t nned to intervene.

    But now that everyone''s attention was on me, I had no choice but to fight.

    ''If I get dragged into a ss trial for being a bystander, it''ll be a disaster.''

    So, this was something I had to do.

    It wasn''t my choice at all.

    With that thought, I jumped down from the rooftop.

    ''I want to live.''

    Just as much as I want to live.

    The kids who are dying probably want to live too.

    That''s why this is an unavoidable action.

    "Hey, someone''s falling!"

    "Huh? Isn''t that Baek Seung-woo, the teaching assistant? He''s a legend in ourb."

    "Who cares about legends right now?! Catch him!"

    The ground was in chaos.

    The teaching assistants and guards were too busy fighting monsters to notice.

    Inded as far away from them as possible to avoid getting in their way.

    Normally, a fall from that height would have paralyzed my lower body, but I used telekic magic to mitigate the damage.

    Still, my ankles took quite a beating.

    I''ll never do that again.

    As soon as Inded, I surveyed my surroundings.

    In my attempt tond as far away from people as possible, I ended up right in the middle of a horde of monsters.

    Ugh, the stench was worse than that of wild beasts.

    "You smell disgusting, so why don''t you shut your mouth?"

    As soon as I finished speaking, dozens of monsters charged at me. What, do they have ears or something?

    As they rushed toward me, I rolled my foot against the ground.

    Boom!

    Magical energy spread out, creating a massive shockwave.

    Then, mes erupted from the ground. The mes bound the monsters'' movements, and soon, giant spikes pierced through them mercilessly.

    Dozens of monsters within the range of the mes fell helplessly.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Therger monsters, whose internal organs weren''t pierced by the fiery spikes or whose skin was too tough, barely survived, but in an instant, dozens of monsters had died before my eyes.

    The monsters began to retreat.

    People swallowed hard as they watched the scene.

    It was a fearsome disy of power.

    With just one move, I had taken down dozens of monsters. In a chaotic battlefield like this, such a feat was no easy task.

    But the person responsible for it felt nothing special.

    "...Ugh, that hurt like hell."

    While others might have been amazed, all I felt was pain.

    That little stunt had made several joints and bones in my legs scream in agony. If I had known it would hurt this much, I wouldn''t have done it.

    My body is really too weak.

    How am I supposed to ovee this crisis with such a frail body? I can''t afford to stomp my feet again.

    If I do, I might really break my legs from the pain.

    I red at the horde of monsters and pondered.

    Most of the monsters here were low-level creatures with weak defences.

    The students'' area-of-effect magic should be enough to kill them. But the few stronger monsters mixed in among them were the real variables.

    If I could just deal with those, the people here should be able to handle the rest. Then, a good idea suddenly came to me.

    If I kill those, the rest will be disorganized, so I can leave without hesitation.

    Once I finished thinking, I immediately put my n into action.

    Suddenly, fireballs the size of human heads floated into the air, obstructing the monsters'' vision. As the fireballs moved erratically, burning the monsters'' skin, I channelled magical energy into the ground.

    The chain reaction of embers I had triggered in the training room before.

    I nned to recreate it on arger scale.

    Hoo, I took a deep breath.

    Releasing arge amount of magical energy from my body caused my blood to flow rapidly.

    My blood pressure rose, and my oxygen supply became insufficient. My skin turned slightly pale, but I ignored it andpleted the magic in my mind.

    "Grrr!"

    The monsters sensed something was wrong and let out cries.

    At that moment, a massive explosion shook the ground.

    The monsters lost their footing, and a second explosion erupted among them.

    Kaboom©¤©¤!!

    A huge explosion and a massive cloud of smoke followed.

    Most of the monsters were within the st radius.

    This level of explosion wouldn''t kill all of them, but since I had concentrated the firepower on the stronger monsters, they were almost certainly dead.

    With that, I no longer had to worry about the variables. I could leave now.

    "Cough, I guess I can leave this ce now."

    Without hesitation, I started walking forward.

    I couldn''t run.

    My stamina was too poor, and the continuous use of magic had left me feeling dizzy. Fortunately, there were only a few monsters on the path ahead.

    Just one or two, which I easily dispatched with a few skewers.

    ''...This is strange.''

    I had only killed about a hundred monsters.

    That''s a significant number, but in the original story, nearly a thousand monsters had invaded. Less than a tenth of that number.

    Maybe the other teaching assistants or guards had taken care of some. Or perhaps the few third-year students still at the academy had handled them.

    But I didn''t entertain such naive thoughts.

    ''That''s unlikely.''

    The academy grounds are vast.

    Even if the monsters were weak, it''s natural that they would seem fewer in number. At worst, there were probably around 900 monsters left.

    If I had to take care of all of them, I''d be in trouble. I could probably pull off the same stunt once more, but killing 900 monsters was out of the question.

    I hoped the guards, teaching assistants, and remaining third-years would handle the rest.

    As I was running with those thoughts in mind.

    I sensed a human presence in the distance.

    Speeding up in a panic, I saw a fallen female student and a monster in my line of sight. It wasn''t exactly a beauty and the beast scenario.

    Without hesitation, I reached out my hand.

    mes erupted in the air, forming a giant hand.

    The zing hand lifted the monster effortlessly. The monster iled in the sudden sensation of floating, but the fiery hand clenched tightly.

    The intense mes cooked its flesh, crushing it easily.

    I tossed the now-crushed monster aside and checked on the student.

    She seemed to have injured her leg, but thankfully, she was conscious. After giving her some basic first aid, I prepared to leave.

    "Why are you...?"

    If only the girl in front of me wasn''t Seo Yerin.

    ''Of all people, I had to run into her.''

    I hadn''t expected to meet her here.

    She seemed to have a lot to say to me, but I quickly administered first aid. I used magic to wrap her injured area like a cast.

    That should at least prevent her wound from worsening.

    "Hey, Seo Yerin. Can you run away on your own?"

    "...Yes."

    "Then get out of here. There were no monsters on the way to the first-year dorm, so don''t worry and just move."

    She looked at me as if surprised I could say such things.

    Well, every time we''ve met, my image has been a mess. But that''s not important right now.

    I hurriedly tried to send her to the shelter.

    But then she grabbed my pants tightly.

    Hey, my pants are going to fall off.

    "...Where are you going?"

    "...I don''t know."

    I wasn''t sure either.

    After being forced into the battlefield, I had just been running forward aimlessly. There was no destination.

    Then, she pulled my pants even harder with her small hand.

    Is she really nning to report me for public indecency?

    I had that ridiculous thought, but her expression was more serious than ever.

    Swallowing the pain in her leg, she spoke.

    "Then, help me... My, my friend is over there."

    "...Where?"

    "Near the third-year dorm."

    "...!"

    That''s definitely where the protagonist would be.

    In the original story, when the protagonist awakens, the nearby third-year dorm is partially destroyed by a massive wind pressure.

    ...Huh?

    ''Why do I know that?''

    A question arose about the knowledge that had suddenlye to me.

    But that wasn''t important right now.

    There was something more important at the moment.

    It seemed Seo Yerin''s friend was one of the sacrificialmbs.

    A sacrifice needed to awaken the protagonist.

    When I didn''t respond, she clung to my leg like a cicada on a tree.

    "Please help me... Please. She''s the first friend I''ve ever made..."

    It was the first time I''d heard her use honorifics since we met.

    In fact, it was the longest sentence she''d ever spoken to me.

    She was pleading with me.

    The girl who had boldly entered the training room, snatched the book I was about to read right in front of me, and unintentionally got caught in an explosion.

    What could I possibly say to her?

    That her friend had to die for a happy ending?

    That I had to utter such nonsense?

    I gritted my teeth so hard they might have cracked, and I patted Seo Yerin''s head.

    "...Alright."

    Her hair was long and beautiful.

    Though it was covered in dust from rolling on the ground and had be dry from the heat, making it less pleasant to touch. But as I stroked her head, I could feel her warmth.

    "I''ll handle it. You go to the shelter."

    At first, I had nned to stand by, thinking it was just a novel.

    But now, I couldn''t just stand by anymore.

    It wasn''t just to avoid being dragged into a ss trial.

    There was a girl before me, her eyes red, begging me to save her friend.

    She pleaded with me to save her.

    How could this be the world of a novel?

    "...Please..."

    "I got it, so go."

    After hurriedly sending Seo Yerin away, I ran toward the third-year dorm.

    My low stamina and agility held me back, but I used magic to enhance my leg strength and managed to increase my speed.

    The cost was that I could feel my ankles slowly breaking.

    But I couldn''t afford to bete.

    To avoid beingte, I ignored the pain in my ankles and sprinted across the vast academy.

    ***

    Meanwhile, near the third-year dorm.

    "R-Run away!!"

    "There''s nowhere to run! Defend! Defend!"

    "Ahhh, ahhhhhhh!"

    "Yura!"

    The children screamed.

    One girl tripped while running and fell. The monster, seemingly enjoying the sight, slowly moved its massive body toward her.

    In its path was the fallen girl named Yura.

    "Hey, No Yura! Get up!"

    "I-I twisted my ankle!"

    "Damn it!"

    Yura tried to get up, but her twisted ankle made it impossible.

    Her friends tried to help her up, but.

    "Ugh, ugh...!"

    "Hey, what''s wrong? Are you okay?"

    "I-I can''t move... my legs are shaking...!"

    One friend turned pale and stepped back.

    He breathed heavily and pointed.

    At the end of his finger was a massive monster. The creature grinned with an eerie smile, its mouth corners impossible to discern.

    "T-That thing is using the ambient magical energy to press down on me...!"

    "...What?"

    It was unbelievable.

    A monster using ambient magical energy to pressure its opponent.

    This could only mean one thing.

    "...Could it be, Fear?"

    Fear, is the symbol of high-level monsters that can pressure their opponents with magical energy alone.

    Only a handful of monsters can use this ability. If it can use such a high-level skill, it must possess considerable intelligence.

    Enough intelligence to toy with its prey.

    Hehe, the monster grinned with its massive mouth.

    At the same time, all the students felt their legs go numb.

    They couldn''t fight back. There was no way they could stand against something like that.

    "Ru, run away! Hurry!"

    "But what about Yura!"

    "So what?! Should we all die together? I want to live!"

    "Are you even a friend?! Stop talking nonsense!"

    The group was divided by the monster''s overwhelming presence.

    The monster, seemingly pleased with the scene, didn''t interfere and simply took slow steps.

    Until a cold gust of wind targeted it.

    ©¤©¤Swish!

    Kyle, trembling, grabbed his weapon and swung it.

    It was a thin, portable sword.

    Kyle, who had imbued his sword with a gust of wind, was prepared to bisect the monster.

    But the monster only looked annoyed.

    His sword couldn''t even scratch the monster''s skin. Not a single drop of blood was drawn.

    It was a weaker strike than an A4 sheet of paper.

    Thud©¤©¤©¤!!

    The monsterzily swung its front leg.

    The half-hearted strike shattered the sword and sent Kyle crashing into a wall. He felt as if every bone in his body had broken.

    He was barely conscious, but he had lost too much blood and was feeling faint.

    The monster, not missing this, seemed to have a good idea.

    Its slow movements gradually sped up.

    Half a step, one step, two steps.

    Its stride widened, and its speed increased.

    The students who had been trying to flee were now trapped by the monster''s Fear.

    Bound by the pressure, the students screamed and cursed.

    Yura, lying on the ground, clenched her eyes shut, but tears and snot streamed down her face as the footsteps grew closer.

    Kyle, embedded in the wall, could only watch.

    ''Move.... Move!!''

    Kyle screamed internally.

    He was disappointed in his weak and powerless self.

    Why am I so weak?

    Was it because I was the 1,999th out of 2,000 freshmen? Because my parents abandoned me? Because, unlike my siblings, I didn''t even have a shred of talent?

    All of those were correct.

    He felt a sense of self-loathing. It was disgusting.

    His first friends at the academy were about to be helplessly ughtered before his eyes.

    Yet, his limbs refused to move.

    ''Please! Please move!!''

    At that moment, the monster reached Yura.

    The monster raised its huge forelegs.

    Then he stretches out his legs.

    The monster intends to crush Yura.

    She tried to crawl to escape, but the guy''s front legs were bigger than an elephant''s. There was no way she could escape.

    Then the monster''s eyes turned to Kyle.

    "¡­!!!"

    Only then could he understand the monster''s thoughts.

    The guy is mocking Kyle right now. He wants to have fun by killing Yura in front of his eyes and killing the rest of his friends.

    Kyle felt something stirring in his chest.

    It was not yet conscious because it was indistinguishable from anger. It would be only when all the friends before my eyes were dead that I would realize it.

    At this very moment, the first episode of the novel is about toe to fruition.

    Everyone dies, and only Kyle survives.

    Through this, the world will be saved and lead to a happy ending.

    Except for the children in front of you.

    "Pyrokinesis"

    Can we just sit by and watch that fact?

    A man intervened on the battlefield.

    At the same time, the burning desire subsided and something else burned. It was as vivid and hot as a me before my eyes.

    A kind of self-loathing, wondering why I am so weak.

    "Hey, I almost missed this."

    A man approached me with his fox tail swaying behind his back.

    It was a face I didn''t want to see.

    As soon as I saw his face, I remembered something very old. Even back then, he had a smiling face.

    At that moment, something inside Kyle shifted slightly.

    In a negative way.

    Kyle gritted his teeth until they broke.

    ***

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 Chapter 15: First Event [5]

    The man who invaded the academy scratched his head after smashing the security room.

    He had no further ns in mind.

    "The original n was supposed to be improvised on the spot..."

    He is a mercenary who takes on any request without discrimination.

    Over decades of mercenary work, he has learned one truth: no matter how well you n, it''s ultimately meaningless.

    Life doesn''t go as nned.

    So, preparing in advance is as futile as it gets.

    You just have to adapt to the reality thates your way.

    "...But this ce is way too big."

    If it were just vast, it wouldn''t be a problem.

    He''s carried out requests in evenrger territories.

    However, the academy wasn''t just vast in size¡ªits "environment" was expansive too.

    While surveying the area around the security room, he discovered a massive waterfall and a hill.

    As he continued walking, he was greeted by an endless grasnd.

    Then, a dry desert and a damp swamp came into view, making him tense up naturally.

    So this is what makes one of the world''s top five academies different.

    He had no idea what variables thisnd might hold.

    There could be massivendmines buried underground, or carpet bombings might rain down from the sky.

    He might even encounter unexpectedly strong opponents.

    "Haha, this is interesting."

    The man felt a thrilling excitement as his tension rose.

    Yes, for the Seven Stars Academy, this level of challenge is expected.

    It felt too easy otherwise.

    This level of tension is what makes it worthwhile.

    With high expectations, he pulled out a horn flute he had tucked away.

    A flute adorned with protruding horns, its ck exterior making it clear this was no ordinary factory-made item.

    It was an artifact crafted from the vocal cords of a special magical beast.

    The horn flute was borrowed from the client of this request, a demon named Main.

    The power contained within this flute controls magical beasts. Rumor has it that it''s a precious item created using the power of nobility, but he didn''t care much about that¡ªit was just a useful tool.

    ©¤©¤©¤Buuuuuuuuu!

    As he blew the horn flute, magical beasts scattered throughout the area began to advance.

    Themand given through the flute was ughter. Now, the beasts would kill every living creature in sight.

    "Now, let''s find where the students are hiding."

    The request from Main was to massacre the students.

    The magical beasts would take care of the students roaming the streets, so he only needed to kill those in hiding.

    He felt a pang of guilt at the thought of killing children, but it was necessary for the reward.

    Please, die for my sake.

    The man dashed between buildings, searching for shelters.

    Perhaps in preparation for emergencies, the locations of the shelters within the academy weren''t even listed on the Inte. So, he had no choice but to run around himself.

    His eyes darted around as he moved, and he suddenly arrived at a ce thick with condensed magical energy.

    Hmm, what''s this?

    "...It doesn''t seem like a shelter or a hiding spot."

    His curiosity piqued, his pupils dted.

    His gaze was fixed on the ground.

    Because of this, his reaction to the mes targeting his back was dyed.

    A massive explosion of mes would have blown off his head and incinerated his body.

    Thus, the man would die.

    He saw such a future.

    "...A stealthy and powerful attack."

    The man immediately created distance.

    He ran about 1 km with all his might. When he looked back, he saw the ce he had been standing turned into a fiery hell.

    Hmm, with that level of firepower, it''s understandable that his sturdy head would be blown off, and not even his corpse would remain.

    Once again, he expressed gratitude to his "eyes" for saving him, and felt a thrill at the fact that he had almost died.

    It was a contradictory feeling.

    But the man was broken enough to feel such contradictory emotions simultaneously.

    "Now, shall I take the initiative this time?"

    Having confirmed the opponent''s location, he charged forward.

    Dozens of ming arrows flew toward him as he drew his sword from his waist.

    ***

    Attacks using arrows are monotonous.

    No matter how much you curve their trajectory, their limits are clear.

    All you need is a shield or armour to protect yourself.

    But what if those arrows were magic, with unpredictable trajectories?

    Moreover, what if they were made of mes instead of metal?

    The man threw himself into action to find the answer to that question.

    "Hahaha, quite clever arrows. You must have an excellent sense for handling magical energy!"

    The dozens of arrows didn''t fly at him simultaneously.

    They came in sequence, forcing the man to move.

    Then, like a fish caught in a, they aimed to cut off his escape and suffocate him.

    The skill in handling magical energy was extraordinary.

    If he didn''t have his "eyes," he might have lost an arm to such a cunning move.

    "But tricks like these won''t work on me...!"

    The man swung his sword.

    A massive gust of wind from the sword twisted the arrows'' trajectories. Of course, since the arrows were made of magic, they immediately homed in on him like guided missiles.

    But the fish had already escaped the.

    Just as he broke free from the of arrows.

    Whoosh, a me the size of a human head flew toward him. Its firepower and speed were impressive, but this level of attack wasn''t hard to handle.

    The man tried to deflect the me with his sword. For a moment, his eyes went nk.

    As he deflected the me with his sword, a massive explosion urred.@@novelbin@@

    Even if he dodged, the result would have been the same. It was reasonable to think of that me as a timed bomb.

    The world he glimpsed with his "eyes" warned him.

    Following the ming arrows, it was an excellent move. An ordinary opponent would have fallen for it.

    But the man wasn''t ordinary.

    His eyes and experience were beyond human. Thinking you could take him down with such tricks was a mistake.

    Whoosh, as he assumed a thrusting stance with his sword, the de emitted a sharp energy.

    The energy, materialized by magical power, ruthlessly shredded the mes. It extinguished the mes without even allowing them to explode.

    Now, it''s my turn.

    The man took his stance. Having received such impressive attacks, he nned to deliver a decisive blow.

    But Seung-woo didn''t give him that opening.

    The mes flickered and rose from the ground.

    Sharp, thorn-like mes. The spikes rose about 2 meters, making it impossible to step on the ground.

    The man, floating in the air, dodged again, but he missed one variable.

    He relied on what he saw and twisted his body.

    ng!

    A metallic sound that was hard to believe came from the sh of mes and sword. Seung-woo had wrapped himself in mes and charged.

    The man retreated, wary of the unique mes that had both form and physical force.

    It was a bizarre situation.

    The man was too busy defending. There was no opportunity or opening to attack his opponent.

    No matter how wless the opponent was, even with his eyes, he couldn''tnd a single attack.

    It was his first time facing such an opponent.

    He was tense but inwardly enjoying himself. He couldn''t imagine himself losing.

    In the industry, he was known as the Mage Hunter.

    Not because he could reverse-engineer magic or defend against all spells. Simply because his nature was inherently opposed to mages.

    Unless you''re a martial artist who can split even a moment into fragments.

    A mage who relies on calctions and distance could never defeat him.

    Confident he wouldn''t lose, the man spoke in a yful tone.

    "Oh, you''re quite handsome."

    The stars and moonlight were obscured by clouds. Barely able to secure his vision, he encountered a pyromancer capable of turning the surroundings into a sea of fire.

    As the battle continued, the mes spread widely, revealing the opponent''s skills.

    Overall, he had the kind of appearance that would be popr with women.

    His head was small, and his limbs were thin and long. His face was so clean that not a single blemish could be seen.

    Would my daughter like it if I stuffed him and gave him to her?

    He seriously considered it, thinking it might be better than gifting an ordinary doll. Then, suddenly, a familiar scent tickled his nose.

    A scent he recognized.

    Amidst the thick smoke, a distinct smell stood out¡ªone he definitely remembered.

    The man fell deep into thought.

    Seung-woo didn''t miss the opportunity and showered him with a barrage of mes.

    St! St!

    Instead of fleeing, the man pulled something out from his pocket. A green talisman fluttered in his hand, and a green barrier enveloped him.

    "...Tsk!"

    Seung-woo clicked his tongue at the sight.

    All magic was blocked by that barrier.

    It seemed to be a barrier of considerable strength. Even a decent attack wouldn''t pierce it, let alone deal damage.

    While Seung-woo caught his breath and regrouped.

    The man, hidden within the barrier, pondered. The scent from his memory.

    A strong, unforgettable scent that stimted his nerves.

    "...Ah! That''s it!"

    It came to him.

    The pleasure district he often visited for requests.

    The perfume the courtesans there wore was simr.

    No, to be precise, it was more than that.

    It was a scent that stirred something instinctual. What was it called again?

    "...What was it? Ah, pheromones, right?"

    Yes, it was pheromones.

    This sweet, intoxicating scent was definitely pheromones.

    But why does it smell like this?

    He looks like a male courtesan.

    Was he really a male courtesan?

    Then, an old memory surfaced.

    Not a fond one.

    Rather, it was closer to a curse.

    The day he lost his wife, and his daughter fell ill.

    That day, there was a simr scent.

    As the man fell into memory. Seung-woo regrouped the scattered mes.

    Multiple mes swirled together like a whirlwind.

    Kaboom!

    Another attack aimed at the barrier.

    Of course, there was no damage.

    The man remained lost in thought within the barrier.

    To do such a thing in the middle of battle.

    It was truly the act of a madman.

    The man took it a step further.

    "I can never forgive a male courtesan like you!"

    The man spat out iprehensible words.

    Perhaps he had some history with male courtesans.

    Of course, that wasn''t Seung-woo''s concern.

    In his mind, the Mage Hunter was beyondmon sense.

    It was easier to think of him as a madman.

    He decided to treat him like a beast.

    Just then.

    Bang!

    The green barrier shattered, and the man burst out.

    He moved wildly and fiercely, like a ruined man who had lost everything.

    Why is he acting like this?

    "...Ugh!"

    While his mind was filled with such questions, his body was busy responding to the wild movements.

    Swift and raw, like a wild animal.

    He aimed for every opening as he moved.

    Each time, he countered with walls of me or shields.

    The man''s face reddened as he realized his abilities weren''t effective.

    Then I''ll force my way through, the man thought as he raised his sword. It might be a bit reckless, but it''s fine.

    With his eyes, he could minimize the damage.

    Now, the man wanted tond a blow, even if it meant taking damage.

    So, he abandoned all defence and went on the offensive. A ring opening that would surely be attacked. But©¤©¤

    "©¤©¤Huh?"

    Something was off.

    He had abandoned his defense, yet Seung-woo didn''t take advantage of the obvious opening. Instead, he was busy defending and neglecting his attacks.

    What, is this a show?

    He''s not attacking even when I''m wide open?

    The man thought as he swung his sword.

    As time passed, his confusion deepened, and his suspicion turned into certainty.

    His way of thinking was that of a madman, but his ability to deduce situations was exceptional.

    A judgment honed by years of mercenary work.

    Haha, so that''s how it is.

    The man opened his mouth to solidify his conviction.

    "You... know what ability I have, don''t you?"

    That''s why you''re holding back.

    Even if he was certain, it was just his own thought.

    But beyond the opponent''s expressionless face. He clearly caught the subtle tremor in the pupils.

    Bingo, it was the correct answer.

    ***

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 Chapter 17: The Mage Hunter [2]

    Seung-woo had turned the area into a sea of fire.

    The red mes that had previously covered the surroundings were nowhere to be seen. They had long been consumed by the purple "Foxfire."

    "How is it? It''s a skill I''ve been too scared to use, so I kept putting off training it."

    When I first possessed this body, I had four skills:

    "Demon Eye," "Foxfire," "Energy Absorption," and "Charm."

    I had just used "Demon Eye" for the first time in battle, and "Energy Absorption" required certain conditions to practice, so I hadn''t been able to try it yet.

    As for "Charm," it felt off, so I avoided using it.

    But unlike the three skills above.

    "Foxfire" was a skill I had avoided purely out of fear.

    My only offensive skill, "Foxfire."

    It''s a rather abnormal skill.

    [Foxfire]

    [Rank: A]

    [Description: One of the powers of a yokai originating from Eastern legends. The mes of a fox can burn even spiritual concepts like souls, and they are mes that honour the spirits of the dead.]

    [However, honouring the spirits of the dead also means harbouring their grudges, so extreme caution is required when using this skill.]

    [Ghostly Phosphorus]

    [mes that burn using souls as fuel. Since they are mes imbued with grudges, they do not distinguish between friend and foe and scatter curses in all directions.]

    [Ghostly Lantern mes]

    [The fox wieldsnterns that illuminate the funerals of the deceased. Thenterns, fueled by souls, split into nine branches and burn.]

    Burning with souls as fuel, scattering curses with grudges.

    The description is quite eerie, but it gives a rough idea of how powerful "Foxfire" is.

    In fact, this is why I borrowed books on curses and sorcery from the library, along with telekinesis-rted magic books.

    If I could enhance the curses within "Foxfire" or increase their variety, it would be even stronger. But Iter realized that was a clear miscalction.

    "...You''re insane. Absolutely insane. Is this some kind of S-rank skill?"

    "No, it''s A-rank."

    "I never expected you to have such a trump card..."

    The curses were eating away at Yuren''s body.

    Of course, the same was happening to me.

    "Foxfire" is a skill that doesn''t move ording to my control.

    What good is power if it tries to consume its own user?

    That''s why I wanted to avoid using it as much as possible.

    "I''mpletely done for. My body won''t move."

    "Then why don''t you just die quietly?"

    "But I have a potion prepared for situations like this."

    "...Damn it."

    Is that coat of his some kind of fourth-dimensional pocket?

    He keeps pulling out perfectly timed items.

    He uncorked a red vial and chugged it down.

    I immediately shot "Foxfire" at him, but he wasn''t going to fall for it twice.

    Yuren dodged with all his might.

    Watching him move so quickly, I thought to myself.

    Then I''ll have to deal with him unconventionally.

    I lit the cursed "Foxfire" again. The mes split into nine branches, following thentern mes.

    Whoosh, the nine branches of mes chased after him.

    Meanwhile, Yuren used his "Ten-Mile Eye" to evade through the optimal path.

    He''s been dodging non-stop since earlier, probably waiting for my mana to run out.

    Ha, as if A+ rank mana is somethingmon.

    I could keep thesenterns burning all day.

    Of course, my frail stamina is a hindrance, but I''ll endure it with sheer willpower.

    Crack! Boom!

    The nine branches ofntern mes tangled wherever Yuren dodged.

    The purple mes, capable of breaking through walls or digging into the ground, showcased their destructive power.

    They cleverly wove a, tightening around his neck. Yuren looked up, trying to figure out how to get rid of them.

    "Ouch...!"

    While he was distracted, the "Foxfire" aimed for his legs.

    Realizing he couldn''t dodge, Yuren pulled out an item from his pocket.

    An item that nullifies status ailments. But it''s a one-time use.

    Naturally, there''s a limit to how many he can use.

    ''If this keeps up, it''ll turn into a battle of stamina...''

    He suddenly turned toward the source of the mes.

    The nine branches ofntern mes were spreading from around Seung-woo''s waist.

    Where the tail would be.

    The mes looked like nine tails.

    It was as if he had be the legendary nine-tailed fox from myths and folktales.

    Fighting something like that... It''s clearly not going to be an easy battle.

    "Closebat seems like it would be a life-or-death situation. I guess I''ll have to try to persuade him."

    Yuren''s gaze turned toward Seung-woo.

    Especially toward those purple eyes. The pupils, wide open with the "Demon Eye," showed no emotion.

    But to Yuren, a seasoned mercenary, it was clear.

    He could see that Seung-woo was gradually tiring. And that he waspensating for hisck of stamina with sheer willpower.

    A memory shed through his mind.

    Hadn''t Seung-woo just sent him flying with a single punch?

    Maybe he could use that to persuade him.

    As soon as he made the judgment, he acted. Yuren raised his hand and shouted.

    "I surrenderrrrrrrrr!"

    He stopped running and stood still.

    The eerie mes chasing him stopped.

    Instead, they began to circle around him, as if ready to pierce him if he made any sudden moves. Yuren immediately delivered his prepared speech.

    "How about you be a demon too?"

    "...What?"

    The sudden statement made it hard to stay silent.

    Be a demon together?

    Did that mean he was close to bing a demon himself?

    I racked my brain, but there was far too little information.

    Reluctantly, I withdrew the "Foxfire."

    Seeing this, Yuren smiled with satisfaction.

    He could tell that Seung-woo was intrigued by what he had just said.

    "You know about demons, right?"

    "Of course. They''re creatures who''ve abandoned their humanity, no, even the slightest bit of human decency."

    "Well, that''s not wrong..."

    Yuren scratched his head, seemingly flustered by the aggressive tone.

    This wasn''t the atmosphere he was aiming for.

    It''s not like I''d ever want to be a demon or anything.

    "I have no intention of bing a criminal, nor do I have even the slightest desire to be someone''s servant or ve."

    "Well, demons are particrly strict about their hierarchy. They''re the ones maintaining the five-rank peerage system in the 21st century."

    But where there are disadvantages, there are also corresponding advantages.

    Yuren took a breath and continued.

    "But in return, there are clear benefits."

    His right hand folded.

    Then he extended his index finger.

    "First, you can gain demonic energy. As a mage, you''d be tempted, right?"

    Demonic energy is a more potent force than mana.

    It also enhances the power and speed of magic.

    There''s a reason the "demon" in "magic" is written with the character for "devil."

    Yuren extended his middle finger.

    "Second, if you be a demon, you can escape the influence of that damn system. Ah, maybe that''s just a benefit for me."

    He shook his head and then extended his ring finger.

    "Ahem...!"

    Yuren cleared his throat and spoke.

    "Third, demonic energy is the most suitable energy for demi-humans. You''re of the nine-tailed fox lineage, right?"

    His finger pointed toward my tail.

    Then he pointed at the fox ears on my head.

    "Demi-humans are naturally drawn more to demonic energy than to holy energy. Especially if you''re of the nine-tailed fox lineage. If you y your cards right, you could reach an even higher level."

    Yuren extended his little finger.

    But he didn''t say anything, just stood there awkwardly.

    Only after my face showed displeasure did he finally speak.

    "...Actually, I wanted to list five benefits since I had my fingers out, but I couldn''t think of anything after the fourth."

    "...You''re really pushing it."

    What a ridiculous joke.

    Even if there were five benefits, there''s no way I''d be a demon.

    Why would I, after stopping the protagonist''s awakening and standing here now?

    Listening to Yuren''s words was simply to clear up my doubts.

    And to catch my breath, if only for a moment.

    "Hey, you might change your mind after hearing the fourth benefit."

    "Stop talking nonsense. I don''t want to waste any more time talking to a lunatic like you."

    "If you be a demon, you can heal your body."

    "..."

    A pool of blood had formed on the ground. It was the blood I had just shed.

    Yuren dipped his finger into it and licked it.

    A disgustingly unpleasant scene.

    While I frowned, he savoured my blood.

    He looked at me with a knowing expression.

    "Your blood is full of yang energy. You probably have a yin-yang imbnce. That''s why you''re skilled in fire magic, but over time, you''ll suffer from pain and a shortened lifespan."

    "...So, what''s your point?"

    "Your yin-yang imbnce can be cured if you be a demon. Well, more urately, it''ll be as if it never existed."

    If you be a demon, the system abandons you.

    The system only grants the blessing of a status window to humans.

    This ties into the second benefit Yuren mentioned.

    "If the status window disappears, the ''Status Ailments'' section will be gone too. Then you can fully showcase your skills."

    His gaze turned to my right arm.

    The arm that had been destroyed after just one strike against Yuren.

    Just one technique, and it had exploded from the inside.

    Yuren dug into that.

    "In this line of work, you see a lot of things. You were quite a skilled martial artist, weren''t you?"

    "..."

    "Well, it seems like you''ve switched to being a mage now. But if you can send me flying with one hit, you must''ve trained hard."

    He wasn''t wrong.

    Before I possessed this world, I was a martial artist.

    Cold steel is more familiar to me than mystical magic.

    Without confirming or denying it, Yuren made another proposal.

    "If you be a demon, you can change that frail constitution of yours. And I came here to be a demon in the first ce."

    "...What?"

    "If I sessfullyplete this mission, I''ll be rewarded by bing a demon. There''s no limit to the number of rewards. If I talk it over, I can help you be a demon too."

    I fell deep into thought at Yuren''s words.

    If I became a demon, as he said, there would be benefits that outweighed the disadvantages.

    Most importantly, I was intrigued by the idea of curing my "Yin-Yang Imbnce."

    So that''s another way to heal it.

    But that was all.

    The thought of bing a demon didn''t cross my mind.

    In fact, I felt deep disgust toward Yuren for even suggesting it.

    Demons are always ugly.

    They are evils that should disappear, worse than filth.

    Creatures with no redeeming qualities, inferior even to wild beasts.

    "Now, what will you do? If you take my hand, you definitely won''t regret it..."

    "...Get lost."

    "Huh?"@@novelbin@@

    I raised my middle finger.

    A clear expression of refusal.

    "Get lost. Can''t you see this?"

    "..."

    "Ha, I thought you were making some grand proposal. I just wasted my time."

    I could feel his gaze on me.

    His proposal, which he thought was so great, had turned out to be a waste of time.

    It was a statement that struck at Yuren''s Achilles'' heel, who had been carrying out missions to be a demon.

    As Yuren radiated intense killing intent.

    I realized something from our conversation.

    ''Demi-humans are drawn more to demonic energy than holy energy. That''s true.''

    If you trace the roots of demi-humans, you''ll find races like vampires and elves.

    They are beings fundamentally different from humans.

    Their veryposition is closer to that of demons.

    So, does that mean I''m also immersed in demonic energy?

    That''s disgusting.

    I''ve spent my life killing those entangled in demonic energy.

    That''s why I couldn''t die and had to keep living.

    For someone like me, urging me to be a demon is akin to a deration of war.

    I fell deep into thought at his words.

    I closed my eyes, blocking my vision.

    I observed myself.

    It was a catalyst.

    A kind of training to objectively observe and understand myself once more.

    The continued doubts shattered my own existentialposition, only to rise again. Like an empty cup being filled.

    <strong>[Your training has reached a new level!] </strong>

    <strong>[Through Nine Transformations and Nine Returns, the moonlight rises twice and falls twice.]</strong>

    Crackle!

    Something split apart, and my skin tore.

    Like shedding ayer, my skin fell away. Then new flesh grew.

    The process repeated once more.

    The regenerated skin split again.

    Soon, the missing flesh quickly filled in.

    Thus, having transformed twice and returned twice, this is the "Two Transformations and Two Returns."

    <strong>[Shedding the firstyer.] </strong>

    <strong>[Creating the second tail!]</strong>

    Foxes are a race born under the moon''s yin energy.

    They undergo nine transformations and nine returns, imprinting the moon''s attributes onto their bodies, bing moreplete beings.

    I am now walking that path.

    <strong>[Evolutionplete.] </strong>

    <strong>[You have be a Two-Tailed Fox!]</strong>

    Two ck tails swayed like shadows.

    At the same time, nine branches ofntern mes ignited.

    Seven of them branched out like tails near my waist, while two were held in my hands. It felt like I had be the legendary nine-tailed fox.

    Now, I felt like it was possible.

    I reached out with the sensation that I could do it.

    The two mes in my hands crossed.

    The mes spiralled in a double helix, amplifying as they crossed. Soon, they took shape, forming a long spear.

    "..."

    I was in perfect control of the double helix.

    That fact brought a slight sense of relief.

    Whether this was temporary or permanent, I didn''t know.

    Whoosh!

    I swung the spear following the movements my body remembered.

    At that moment, blood vessels burst into the air.

    The blood evaporated in the heat of the atmosphere.

    "...I''ve been thinking about it. You definitely need to die here."

    I don''t want to die.

    But he''s trying to kill me.

    Then I''ll just kill him before he kills me.

    Why hadn''t I realized such a simple truth?

    Whoosh!

    A spear technique that cut through the sea of fire.

    The unexpected, intense strike shattered Yuren''s form.

    ***

    Hmm, Yuren''s forehead furrowed.

    Persuasion hadn''t worked, and now the only option was a life-or-death battle. But the opponent had started to metamorphose like a pupa mid-fight.

    ''No, that''s closer to shedding skin than metamorphosis.''

    I''ve heard that some demi-human races evolve like that.

    Of course, it''s just hearsay. Unless it''s thousands of years ago, there aren''t even 1,000 demi-humans in the modern era.

    Even Yuren, with decades of mercenary experience, had never witnessed a demi-human''s evolution before.

    The skin split.

    As the fair, beautiful skin split, new skin filled the gaps.

    The process repeated once more.

    As the skin split, waste was naturally expelled.

    Outwardly, it looked clean, but in reality, it seemed to be suffering from extreme fatigue. The shed skin turned ck.

    Whoosh, the fallen skin was consumed by the cursed mes.

    The same happened to the other waste. Strangely, the mes only burned the waste.

    Yuren observed this carefully. He swung the sword in his left hand, testing the waters.

    ''Can I stab him now...?''

    It was hard to predict what Seung-woo would do during his evolution.

    For a normal creature, this would be the perfect time to strike.

    But with the blood of a nine-tailed fox, it was impossible to be sure. If I made a wrong move, I could be the target of those purple mes.

    He enjoyed life-or-death battles.

    But he couldn''t die yet. He still had things to do for his daughter.

    He had staked his life, but he had no intention of losing.

    Yuren opened his eyes and raised his gun. The barrel pointed at Seung-woo''s heart.

    I''ll shoot first and thinkter.

    Click!

    He finished reloading and ced his finger on the trigger.

    Right at that moment. The "Ten-Mile Eye" sent a warning.

    "...!"

    He glimpsed a future where all his limbs were severed, or his head was blown off. Most of the futures he saw were like that.

    Yuren chose the future with the least damage.

    He dodged to the left. It saved his life, but not his right arm. The gun fell to the ground.

    More urately, the hand holding the gun fell.

    Whoosh!

    The rapidly moving foxfire severed his right arm.

    There was no bleeding. The wound had been burned the moment it was cut.

    "Haha..."

    Yuren let out a hollowugh as he looked at his now-empty right arm.

    In his 24 years as a mercenary, had he ever suffered such a devastating injury?

    He searched through his memories of horrific nightmares, but there was no precedent.

    There were few who could inflict meaningful damage on Yuren with the "Ten-Mile Eye." Let alone being so helplessly overpowered.

    It was hard to believe that this was the future with the least damage.

    "Now it''s your turn to taste the de."

    It was clear that his eyes were different now.

    Now I understood.

    The opponent didn''t have the ability to glimpse the future like I did.

    Instead, he had something else.

    The "Ten-Mile Eye" allows one to glimpse the future and make choices, but the opponent''s experience allows for instantaneous judgment.

    Naturally, the former should have the advantage, yet his experience surpassed Yuren''s eyes.

    What kind of life had he lived?

    Yuren was deeply curious but held his tongue.

    "It''s going to be hard to keep glimpsing the future and moving."

    He didn''t consider retreating.

    Even without using the "Ten-Mile Eye," he knew there was no way out.

    The only options left were to die or kill.

    Extremely drastic, but it suited Yuren''s taste.

    A thrilling sensation ran up his spine, reaching his brain.

    "Come at me, fox monster. I''ll skin you and make a coat and scarf for my daughter."

    Yuren took an aggressive stance.

    He had made up his mind.

    For my life. And for my daughter''s safety.

    I will definitely kill him here.

    ***

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 Chapter 19: The Mage Hunter [4]

    It''s an old memory.

    No, perhaps not that old.

    It was only five years ago.

    For someone in their mid-twenties, five years might seem like a long time, but looking back, it doesn''t feel that way. The memory is still vivid.

    So vivid, in fact, that it sometimes takes my breath away.

    "Lieutenant, were you here?"

    A hoarse, aged voice called out from the end of the path.

    Normally, I would have responded, but I didn''t feel like it this time.

    No, I didn''t have the confidence to answer.

    To answer properly.

    "Hey, Lieutenant. Did you hurt your ears? If so, you should go see the Holy Mother."

    "...Since when was my rank Lieutenant?"

    My tone was sharp,ced with thorns.

    It was clear that I was holding back a lot. The old man, dragging his aged body, approached me.

    "As of today. To be precise, you were promoted 40 minutes ago."

    "Do they usually promote someone without informing the person in question?"

    "Well, what can you do? There''s no one to tell you or a ce to hold the ceremony."

    "...Hah!"

    His tone was utterly nonchnt.

    At that moment, magical energy spread everywhere. Sharp, de-like mana surrounded the old man.

    The sharp mana sliced through everything it touched, cleanly cutting through the half-destroyed barracks and charred trees as if they were tofu. But it didn''t touch the old man.

    I gritted my teeth so hard they might have shattered.

    Even though that old man''s heart had long since turned cold, his honed senses and skills were as sharp as ever.

    If only he had used that ability, perhaps those who died meaninglessly on the battlefield wouldn''t have. I was disgusted by his shameless attitude.

    "Lieutenant Baek, calm down. I''m fine, but there are wounded nearby. Most soldiers can''t handle your aura."

    "...You''re utterly shameless."

    The old man spoke with an indifferent expression.

    I didn''t want toply with his request, but I decided to suppress my aura, considering it might harm the wounded.

    It wasn''t because I was following the old man''s orders.

    I acted ording to my own principles.

    "Since when have you cared about the safety of your subordinates? You''ve always treated them as pawns."

    "Lieutenant, your words are harsh. I understand you''re angry, but you should use honorifics with your superiors."

    The badge on the old man''s chest gleamed.

    It bore a single star.

    The symbol of a Brigadier General in the military.

    The gap between a Lieutenant and a Brigadier General is vast.

    An ordinary Lieutenant wouldn''t dare look him in the eye.

    "...Superior?"

    In my case, it was different.

    I couldn''t care less about rank.

    In a world where a Second Lieutenant bes a Lieutenant overnight.

    There was no time, ce, or even people for a proper promotion ceremony.

    Even the person in question had just heard about the promotion. In such a world, why bother with ranks?

    "Hey, old man, do you know why I haven''t rebelled against you yet?"

    "...."

    "It''s because I still feel like I need you."

    I pointed at the old man with my finger.

    Such a rude gesture should have angered him, but the old man couldn''t bring himself to say anything.

    Sweat dripped down his forehead. Not just a drop.

    It was as if a bucket of water had been poured over his head.

    "I''m stronger than you. I have more achievements. Why do you think someone like me is still under you?"

    The aura I emitted now was iparable to before.

    It wasn''t just anger. It was a sticky, deep killing intent.

    The old man''s instincts, honed on the battlefield, screamed at him.

    Run. Run for your life.

    He had never felt this way, even when facing giant monsters or hordes of demons.

    "First, it was because of your connections."

    The war had been going on for decades.

    Though shorter than the Hundred Years'' War, the damage was beyond imagination. Humanity had united for survival.

    The frontlines against the demons were spread across the world, and supplies were always scarce.

    That''s why we relied on the old man''s connections.

    With a Brigadier General''s connections, supply dys were unheard of.

    Indeed, we benefited greatly from hiswork.

    "Second, I trusted your experience andmand abilities."

    As the war dragged on and the damage grew, humanity lost the need for national borders and distinctions. There was no room for countries to take sides.

    Thus, under the name of the Military State, the military systems were unified.

    It was simpler and more efficient.

    The old man, who had risen to Brigadier General in such a massive army.

    His experience andmand skills had long been proven.

    Even if age had clouded his judgment, I believed his experience, honed in the hellish battlefields, was as solid as a fortress.

    But that trust was betrayed.

    "What do you have left now?"

    The Brigadier General''s connections?

    The old man''swork, mostlyposed of his ageing peers, was like a frayed rope.

    The old man''s experience andmand abilities?

    Though his experience was vast, hismand was ipetent.

    His tactics were stuck in the past.

    Because of that, countless soldiers, andrades, died meaningless deaths.

    They didn''t die gloriously in battle.

    They died like dogs.

    "Th-that was..."

    "No. It was your mistake."

    The intelligence that the demons were moving through the valley.

    The old man, trusting his close aide without question, moved thousands of soldiers into the valley, only to realize it was a trap in an instant.

    As the soldiers were organizing their ranks, the valley suddenly copsed.

    Countless soldiers fell into the deep valley or were crushed by rocks, losing their lives.

    And from the cracks of the copsed valley, demons emerged.

    It turned out the old man''s aide was a traitor who had betrayed humanity.

    We had been yed by false information.

    Thousands of soldiers were massacred.

    But there was still a chance. Hundreds of soldiers remained on the edge of the copsed valley, ready to turn the tide.

    We could have bought enough time.

    Leading a special unit on an outer mission, I trusted they would hold out and brought a single sword.

    But there©¤©¤

    "©¤Nothing was left. Nothing."

    All I found there was the old man, stubbornly clinging to outdated tactics, leading the remaining soldiers to their deaths. Every soldier except him had died.

    Some even sacrificed themselves to save him, the Brigadier General.

    "You''re not qualified."

    With a swift motion, I drew my sword. The pure white de aimed at the old man''s forehead.

    I wanted to pierce through that head filled with outdated tactics.

    I wasn''t worried about insubordination.

    The soldiers'' trust was already with me, not the old man.

    Given my achievements, even the Military State''s higher-ups would have to tolerate my rebellion.

    In this dying world, what matters is not hollow titles, but visible results.

    His achievements had long faded.

    Now was my time.

    With a smooth swing, I cut through the old man''s badge and medals.

    I sheathed my sword and spoke softly.

    "From now on, the White Sword Unit will leave the battlefield of Region 14."

    "...Where are you going?"

    The White Sword Unit.

    That was the name of the special unit I led.

    For the White Sword Unit to leave Region 14 meant changing our area of operations.

    It also meant we wouldn''t cross paths with the old man again. Something unimaginable for a regr unit.

    "Who knows."

    It didn''t matter to me.

    Though just a special unit, our achievements far surpassed those of a regr battalion.

    Even the military authorities couldn''tin about the White Sword Unit''s movements.

    In this crumbling world, petty grievances were meaningless.

    Though honestly, there weren''t many battlefields worth moving to besides Region 14.

    Region 14''s battlefield was vast. Moving to another battlefield would take at least two weeks.

    It would be a gruelling march.

    Though I hadn''t decided on a destination, the direction was clear.

    "We''re going to die."

    In this dying world, standing on the frontlines meant going to die.

    Well, even if we didn''t stand on the frontlines, we''d die anyway. But I wouldn''t let my unit die like dogs.

    At least our deaths would be meaningful.

    After delivering the notice, I packed up and moved the White Sword Unit.

    The road was rough, and the demons attacking from all sides made it hard to sleep, but we reached another unit.

    A few dayster.

    News came that the old man had died.

    The cause of death: killed in action.

    As expected, he was surrounded by a demon army, and his body couldn''t be recovered.

    He probably became food for the demons.

    The next day, I was promoted to Captain.@@novelbin@@

    A rapid promotion, not long after bing a Lieutenant.

    The reason was a shortage of officers.

    Of course, this promotion also came suddenly, without a ceremony.

    What a damn world.

    ***

    When I opened my eyes, daylight streamed in.

    It had been a long sleep, but I didn''t feel refreshed.

    How much time had passed?

    I brushed off the dirt and ash clinging to my back and buttocks.

    I absentmindedly dusted myself off.

    Ugh, my whole body ached.

    "...I feel like I''m going to die."

    Bones, skin, blood vessels, joints¡ªnothing was intact.

    It felt like my entire body had been tenderized. I could barely hold on until I passed out, but now it felt like the day after a car ident.

    By the way, it was already daylight, but there was still no sign of people.

    If there had been amotionst night, it should have been noisy by now.

    Had not much time passed?

    I rummaged through my pockets.

    I wanted to check the time, but everything in my pockets was ruined. Well, after such a fierce battle, nothing could remain intact.

    "My body isn''t intact either."

    Getting up from where Iy wasn''t easy either.

    My leg joints and ankles seemed broken. I used my still-functional left arm to feel my way along the wall as I moved.

    Shaky, shaky.

    My steps were like those of a newborn.

    Even a baby taking its first steps wouldn''t tremble this much.

    As I moved, my wounds kept reopening, but there was no other choice.

    No phone, no passersby in sight. No way to call 119 or contact the outside.

    "How can there be no one on the streets?"

    It made sense afterst night''s attack, but the silence was unsettling.

    No screams, no demon cries, no sirens from ambnces or police cars. Not even the chirping of birds heralding the morning.

    It felt eerie.

    I brushed it off as my imagination and quickened my pace. The pain from my twisting body was intense, but it was the least of my worries now.

    I hurried to the infirmary.

    No one was inside. Instead, there were traces of medical supplies and equipment being taken away.

    ''Did they take everything to the shelter?''

    Thinking that, I headed to the shelter.

    The path I took was stained with blood, but I didn''t have the energy to care.

    My mind was a mess, anxious from not seeing a single person on the way.

    No one was outside the shelter.

    Just in case, I focused my eyes.

    My red eyes glowed like amethyst.

    Whoosh!

    Then, the movements of artificial mana became visible to my eyes.

    People.

    "They were all in the shelter..."

    Whew, what a relief.

    I knocked on the shelter door, relieved. In emergencies, the shelter door couldn''t be opened from the outside.

    Only those inside could open it.

    ©¤Who''s there?

    A voice came from behind the door.

    A voice filled with tension and wariness.

    Suppressing the pained groan rising in my throat, I put on my friendliest voice.

    "I''m Assistant Baek Seung-woo, under Professor Nam Hwa-yeon. Could you open the door, please?"

    ©¤Assistant Baek Seung-woo? Just a moment, I''ll confirm with the other assistants.

    As soon as the person finished speaking, I heard hurried footsteps.

    While I leaned against the wall, the sound of footsteps grew closer, and the shelter door opened.

    "S-Sorry. Did I take too long to open the door?"

    "No, it''s fine. By the way, you''re a student?"

    The voice was quite mature, so I thought it was another assistant or a guard.

    Unexpectedly, the person was a female student. Judging by her worn uniform and the colour of her nametag, she was a third-year.

    Had I been staring too intently at her uniform and nametag?

    The girl, sensing my gaze, blushed.

    "Uh, that look is too..."

    "Ah, sorry. I didn''t expect to meet a third-year in this situation."

    I didn''t have any particr thoughts about staring at her.

    I was just curious. The third-years of Seven Stars Academy.

    They were the strongest in the academy, excluding the professors.

    Of course, they were just promising students.

    But as third-years, they were no pushovers in terms ofbat.

    She should have been able to handle the attack to some extent.

    Why do I feel like I''m seeing her for the first time?

    Sensing my gaze, the girl spoke softly.

    "I''m not very strong. Last night, I was organizing other students'' documents..."

    I think I understand.

    Her presence was faint. Even a first-year could probably beat her.

    Not all third-years are strong. It''s entirely possible.

    It would be rude to pry further, so I changed the subject.

    "By the way, do you know where the first-years are? I told ten students to head to the shelter a few hours ago."

    "The first-years are over there, wearing uniforms. If they arrivedte, they''d be at the front."

    I thanked the girl and moved on.

    I wanted to check on Kyle.

    Now that I was here, I was curious about his condition.

    He wouldn''t awaken anymore, but I wanted to see him onest time. I also wanted to apologize for my harsh words.

    ''I hope I didn''t hurt his young heart with my rushed words.''

    They weren''t wrong, but I might have hurt his feelings. I wanted to apologize.

    With 2,000 students packed together, I couldn''t find Kyle. But I did spot Seo Yerin in the distance.

    She had a splint on her leg and was sleeping like a log.

    Next to her, the injured were lined up.

    Kyle was injured too, so he must be there.

    "Ah, Assistant Baek Seung-woo?"

    "...Ah, that kid from back then."

    Someone called my name, so I turned my head. It was the male student in a torn uniform, the one I saved with Kyle.

    "What brings you here? Is the operation already over?!"

    "...Operation?"

    What did he mean?

    Did the guards or assistants who weren''t here go to hunt the remaining demons?

    As I tilted my head in confusion, the student spoke.

    "Huh? You didn''t know? Two hours ago, the assistants went to fetch the students who weren''t in the shelter."

    "Was there no aid from nearby guilds?"

    "Ah, the A-rank and B-rank guilds nearby entered a dungeon two days ago and left. Why now of all times..."

    Nearby guilds entered a dungeon two days ago?

    It must be because this is a novel. The timing is too perfect, like a well-written script.

    ...Wait a minute.

    Students who weren''t in the shelter?

    I grabbed the student''s shoulder and asked.

    "There are students not in the shelter?"

    The student, flustered by my action, opened his mouth.

    "Y-Yes, there was a rescue request from the outskirts of the academy on a phone. They said there were critically injured, so even students were dispatched to find them."

    For a moment, I doubted my ears.

    What did he just say?

    A ''sudden'' rescue request from the ''outskirts'' of the academy?

    Critically injured, so ''students'' were dispatched?

    ''...Wait, students were dispatched?''

    The situation was so contrived, like a script, that I questioned it.

    I denied the thoughts rising in my head and forced myself to speak.

    "Names! What are the names of the students dispatched?!"

    "Ah, you''d know them. My friend Kyle, who was really weak, suddenly had a change in demeanour..."

    "Damn it!"

    In an instant, I rushed out of the shelter.

    The student might have found it strange, but that didn''t matter.

    The pain in my legs was excruciating, but I couldn''t let it stop me. My low physical ability was enough to hold me back.

    I''d endure this pain through sheer will.

    I immediately ran towards the outskirts.

    The academy grounds were vast, and the outskirts, being the outermost area, covered thergest portion.

    How could we find the students in such a wide area?

    That''s why the assistants and guards must have taken Kyle.

    "...Wasn''t it all over?"

    I thought I had eliminated all variables.

    The high-ranking demons targeting the protagonist''s friends, the mastermind behind the incident.

    I killed them all with my own hands.

    So what''s going on now?

    I ran frantically.

    My already overworked body was pushed further, and I almost fainted.

    Each time, the screams from my body served as an rm to wake me up.

    How long had I been running?

    As my body grew heavier and my mind hazier.

    A smell hit me.

    "...!"

    The metallic stench of blood.

    The unmistakable smell of blood and corpses.

    I moved towards it.

    Please, let them be alive. Even if they''re bleeding profusely, just let them be alive.

    With that hope, I arrived at a remote forest.

    A cursed forest, off-limits to anyone but authorized personnel. Even I, as an assistant, couldn''t enter freely.

    But from there, I heard a faint, hoarse breath.

    A sign that someone was alive.

    The off-limits area didn''t matter now. I entered the cursed forest without hesitation.

    "...What is this?"

    I was cursed on the spot.

    I couldn''t believe my eyes.

    The densely grown trees in the forest.

    Among them, one particrlyrge tree stood out.

    A beautiful evergreen conifer, like a spruce or fir. Perfect for decorating as a Christmas tree.

    Is that why?

    Even though it was March, long past Christmas, decorations hung everywhere.

    Intestines, whose they were I didn''t know, dangled like ribbons.

    Multicolored mana glowed like lights. The remnants of mana flowing from chest cavities.

    And not just that.

    In ce of winter snow, the ash of the nts I had burned piled up. All sorts of organs decorated the tree.

    Late March.

    An early Christmas had arrived.

    One that took the lives of students.

    ***

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 Chapter 21: Decision [1]

    The letter from the family was a headache.

    "What? You used the elixir without permission and now you want to bepensated?"

    Who is saying what to whom, really?

    Baek Seol-hee is Baek Seung-woo''s younger sister, known for her calcting and meticulous personality.

    Given her personality, the fact that she sent such a letter means she has already set the stage to some extent. Whatever it is, it''s likely something that will harm me.

    "Why are you billing me for the elixir in the first ce?"

    The elixir is a universal potion.

    A potion that can save anyone as long as they''re not dead.

    Mass-producing it could make you filthy rich, but even producing a single one is difficult, let alone mass-producing inferior versions.

    So, for emergencies, the Cheonho Baek family had stored a few.

    And now, you''re asking forpensation?

    That''s utter nonsense.

    The elixir is clearly the property of the Cheonho Baek family.

    And I am the head of the Cheonho Baek family.

    How can you demandpensation for me using my own property?

    This goes beyond mere overreach; it''s almost an act of rebellion. If Baek Seol-hee really demandspensation from me, I have no choice but to stand up against it.

    "...I guess I''ll have to visit the main house soon."

    Until now, I had no intention of going to the main house.@@novelbin@@

    I nned to watch the protagonist awaken and let the events unfold as they would. I didn''t want to stir up trouble by unnecessarily visiting the main house.

    Even if I were to go, I intended to dy it as much as possible.

    But now, my thoughts have changed.

    ''I need to reim all the lost privileges.''

    I will personally recover everything Baek Seung-woo lost.

    By doing so, the massive power of the Cheonho Baek family will fall into my hands.

    Vast wealth, honour, connections with major families, and the military power that underpins it all.

    If I can fully conquer the Cheonho Baek family, most episodes will be easily manageable. But then, a question arose.

    It''s good that some episodes can be easily managed.

    But what does that even mean?

    "I''m not the protagonist, after all."

    I can''t do anything.

    I tried to save the students even while preventing the protagonist''s awakening.

    So, what exactly did I gain?

    Nine students who didn''t need to die, still died.

    The protagonist probably resents my actions.

    And I almost died while trying to overturn the episodes.

    There was no gain at all.

    Thinking about it, it''s obvious.

    Everyone has their own role. My role is that of an extra viin.

    My purpose is to be utterly defeated for the protagonist''s sake.

    Unknowingly, I must have been intoxicated by a heroplex and vanity.

    Why did I forget that simple fact?

    "...I can''t change anything."

    I let out a deep sigh.

    I sighed until my chest ached and hurt.

    I sighed until there was no breath left in my lungs, and my head felt dizzy and light.

    I needed oxygen, fresh oxygen. I desperately needed breath to fill this hollow chest.

    I channelled magic into my hands and tore off the restraints.

    Although the blood vessels carrying magic and the flesh containing them haven''t fully healed yet, I used the medical pole with various IVs as a cane and stepped outside.

    Step by step, my footsteps were as slow as my heavy sighs.

    ***

    Before I knew it, April had arrived.

    It''s the full swing of spring.

    Freshmen have somewhat adapted to the academy and are making friends. It''s also the time when couples start popping up like mushrooms after rain.

    In the past, I found those unting couples quite annoying.

    "Now, there''s no one."

    Flower buds have bloomed all around.

    As someone with pollen allergies, my nose itches, but my eyes are delighted.

    Ah, this ce would suit young people better than an old man like me who can''t enjoy the charm.

    Despite my mental age being in my mid-twenties and my body only 21, I''m quite pessimistic.

    It''s quite mncholic that in this park full of colourful flowers, there''s no one but me. It''s not that it''s lecture time, or everyone has gone out.

    Professors are rushing back to the academy to handle the aftermath.

    Second and third-year students are absent due to their midterms and guild training. And then there''s the issue of the first-year students.

    "All first-years have PTSD, truly a blow to the reputation of one of the world''s top five academies."

    Hundreds of students are hospitalized in the academy''s infirmary. There are professors skilled in healing and experienced health teachers, so there''s no need to worry about injuries.

    The injuries are not a concern. The problem is the psychological scars.

    Currently, about 1,000 students, excluding the injured, areining of psychological stress. Among the injured, it''s unclear who might show psychological issues, making it even more troublesome.

    "At this rate, everyone in the academy will be on antidepressants."

    The mental hospital will do great business.

    With 2,000 students needing treatment and medication.

    Maybe I should open a mental hospital myself.

    I had such a frivolous thought, then realized the number was wrong.

    ''Now it''s not 2,000, but 1,991.''

    It''s an unprecedented number in the academy''s history.

    The maximum number of students per grade at Seven Stars Academy is 2,000.

    This number has never wavered.

    For decades, not a single student has transferred or dropped out. But now, nine students have left.

    Whether this gap will be filled or left as is remains unknown.

    The novel didn''t cover such details.

    There''s no room for extras who are already dead, let alone supporting characters. I felt stifled by this fact.

    Sigh, I thoughting outside might make me feel better.

    But instead, I feel even more stifled.

    While walking, I saw a bench and sat down.

    "Thinking about it, I have nothing to do. The professor said I''m on medical leave, so I can''t even go to work..."

    "That''s true. From what I see, even if you go to work, you''d only handle trivial tasks."

    A soft voice responded to my muttering.

    I''ve heard it before, but it wasn''t a familiar voice.

    Turning my head, I realized whose voice it was.

    "...Why are you here?"

    "Can''t Ie to the park?"

    "The academy is in chaos, so you must be busy."

    "Yeah, I''m taking a 10-minute break after 29 hours."

    The man who had me run errands as soon as I entered this world.

    After that, he harboured inexplicable hostility towards me and avoided me as much as possible.

    I never expected him to seek me out.

    "Assistant Bang Seok-hoon..."

    "Call me Senior Bang Seok-hoon. Don''t act like a freshman."

    "Didn''t you get scolded by the professor for that? If you want to act like a senior, go bother someone else."

    I didn''t particrly want to talk to Bang Seok-hoon.

    We''re acquainted, but not close enough to have a private conversation. How do you handle that hysterical mess?

    I can''t.

    "You''re the only junior who talks to a senior like that, you parasitic bastard."

    "If you want respect, change your behaviour first. So, what do you want from me?"

    "I heard you got hurt. Are your lungs okay?"

    Good heavens.

    Bang Seok-hoon, who caused all sorts of trouble from day one, is asking about my well-being. I was shocked.

    But what surprised me more was the content of his concern.

    He didn''t ask if I was okay; he asked about my lungs. Truly, Bang Seok-hoon is extraordinary in many ways.

    "...Why are you making such a stupid face?"

    "No, I was just thinking that you''re probably the only person in the world who would ask such a thing."

    "You''re a rude brat... I just can''t warm up to you."

    I feel the same.

    Over the past month, I haven''t done anything to get close to others, but there are two people I''d consider bad acquaintances.

    Bang Seok-hoon and Kyle.

    Regarding Kyle, it''s entirely my fault, and I don''t have any particr feelings towards the assistants who avoid me. But Bang Seok-hoon is an exception.

    "I don''t want to get close to you either, so why don''t you just go your way?"

    "...I''ll sit here for a bit."

    "No, why of all the benches would you sit next to me... Oh, you''re already sitting."

    Bang Seok-hoon sat next to me.

    The bench was wide enough that we weren''t touching, but it was still quite unpleasant. I''d like to swing my medical pole and tell him to get lost.

    But if I did, the pole would probably just break.

    Though he''s an assistant, Bang Seok-hoon is also a mage studying under Nam Hwa-yeon. If I were in my prime, like when I fought Yuren, maybe.

    But in my current half-crippled state, I''m no match for him.

    "By the way, your tail has grown. I heard it''s a trait of the Cheonho Baek family, but it''s fascinating. What''s the principle?"

    "...Is that what you came for?"

    "Half of it."

    Well, it is fascinating.

    I''m also fascinated by my growing tail.

    Having a tail grow is a very strange sensation.

    It''s different from growing an extra limb. It''s like having something foreign attached near your waist. But the sensation of it moving on its own is indescribable.

    "It''s more a result of training than a family trait."

    "...Training?"

    "Yes, training. It''s simr to a Buddhist attaining enlightenment and reaching nirvana. Now that I''ve exined, why don''t you go back to work?"

    I gave a rough exnation, but I''m not sure if it was clear.

    I don''t know much about training myself.

    A fox growing its tail is different from simply acquiring knowledge.

    It''s not about increasing physical strength or patiently waiting for a hundred years.

    I can''t even guess the method.

    Well, that''s why it''s called training.

    "That''s fascinating."

    "Now that you know, why don''t you go back to work?"

    "I''ll have a cigarette first."

    "You...!"

    Bang Seok-hoon took out a cigarette from his pocket.

    Click, click!

    He lit the cigarette with a lighter.

    What is he doing now?

    "What are you doing in front of a non-smoker? I''m a patient, are you crazy?"

    "Nice rhyme."

    "Wow, I knew you were crazy, but not this crazy."

    He''s been beating around the bush since earlier.

    I knew from the start, but I didn''t expect him to be this crazy.

    Bang Seok-hoon handed me a cigarette.

    "...Are you asking me to light the cigarette?"

    "Have a smoke."

    "I''m a non-smoker."

    "..."

    Offering a cigarette to a non-smoker. And I''m a patient.

    Now that I think about it, he must have asked about my lung health because of the cigarette.

    Wow, where else would you find a senior like this?

    He''s truly the worst.

    "But you used to smoke, right?"

    "...How did you know?"

    "Just a guess."

    "..."

    What could I possibly ask this guy?

    Talking to him really makes my head go nk.

    I stared nkly at the cigarette Bang Seok-hoon handed me.

    It''s not that I don''t want to smoke.

    I used to smoke due to stress on the battlefield, but I was forced to quit due to ack of luxury supplies. I don''t mind smoking.

    But I don''t want to smoke the cigarette he''s offering.

    Look at that.

    A cigarette with no brand on it.

    How can you trust and smoke something like that?

    I can''t. I just can''t.

    Bang Seok-hoon watched me intently.

    His eyes no longer held the previous hostility. Instead, there was a sense of pity, or perhaps a sense of kinship.

    I felt a gaze on the back of my head and turned around.

    There, Bang Seok-hoon was flicking away the remaining cigarette.

    White powder flowed from the cigarette butt, then evaporated into the air.

    It looked like an angel had scattered gold dust in the air.

    It was a strangely fascinating cigarette.

    He straightened his cor and stood up from the bench.

    "...Don''t do this kind of thing."

    "Huh?"

    "Then I''ll be going. You should recover quickly ande back."

    Is he crazy?

    Before I could ask, Bang Seok-hoon left.

    Bang Seok-hoon returned the way he came, and someone approached along that path. They seemed to know each other, exchanged greetings, and parted ways.

    As the distance closed, I saw the face and was startled.

    It was someone I never expected.

    ***

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