I couldn’t sleep at all.
I met the opening day of the ceremony with wide-open eyes since I couldn’t fall asleep at all.
The main story begins with the opening ceremony here.
This scene is both the introduction of the game and the moment the protagonist first reveals themselves to the world.
I took my seat in the majestic auditorium and looked around. Beneath the dazzling chandeliers, talented individuals shone as they sat in rows. Amidst the atmosphere of tension and anticipation, I looked toward the opposite side of the auditorium.
“There they are.”
My gaze lingered at a corner on the opposite side of the auditorium.
Silver hair gleamed softly in the light, with an intense yet somewhat unstable gaze.
Currently, they rank low and their skills are nothing remarkable, but their appearance alone is so overwhelming that it stands out even from the opposite side of the auditorium.
There he was – the protagonist of this game.
I had been worried that the story might change, but fortunately the protagonist existed, which eased my mind somewhat.
However, that didn’t last long.
“Really.”
My thoughts immediately snapped back to reality.
The Death Regression ability was gone.
After reincarnating, I had planned to roll around like a dog for the past ten years, intending to clear the story through regressing.
The basic framework was simple.
I was going to assist in the growth of the protagonist and the heroine, using all the knowledge I possessed to help them.
I intended to make use of any opportunities—chance encounters for encounters and training for training.
Moreover, since I couldn’t die, I had planned to take the lead in the more dangerous parts of various battles, allowing the others to finish things off. To that end, I had been improving my combat style accordingly.
===
[Talent: Renaissance Person]
① Complete Individual
– Possesses exceptional talent in ‘all’ aspects.
===
This was the one talent that remained with me even without the regression ability, and it was thanks to this that I could perform the actions I had taken over the last decade.
This talent helped me survive the past ten years and ensured that I was prepared for all sorts of situations.
But should I stick to the plans I made in a scenario where regression is gone?
…I’m dead.
I’ll actually die.
With such an extreme approach, I’ll be buried before I can even leave the academy in the story.
I need to modify the plan. I will continue to assist in the growth of the protagonist and the main characters, but as passively as possible.
Ah, my head’s spinning.
Clutching my aching head in deep thought, I felt a tap on my shoulder and heard an unfamiliar voice.
“Is something troubling you?”
Reflexively, I turned my head and gasped.
Next to my seat, a female student had quietly taken a seat without me noticing.
“You’re so close.”
The distance was close enough that I could hear her breathing, yet despite the proximity, her appearance was flawless—not a single strand of hair out of place.
Her sharp facial features, crystal-clear eyes, and gentle smile were all perfect.
For a moment, I thought about moving back, but instead remained still and looked at her. She didn’t step back either.
We locked eyes for a while before she finally smiled gently and slightly pulled back her head.
“Cheon Yeoul.”
The thin cloth neatly tied around her head, reminiscent of a symbol of faith, immediately identified her presence.
Students entering the academy are treated like celebrities, and those who possess both appearance and talent gain even more popularity. Naturally, such a character inevitably becomes one of the main characters in the story.
There she was—the same heroine from the story who first appeared in front of me exactly as she did in the story.
But,
Why?
This should be impossible for her at this point.
Cheon Yeoul is a heroine whose character changes through her encounters with the protagonist. Her personality is not one to show interest in anyone first, and especially someone who is not the protagonist but a mere ‘male’ student like myself, even less so.
Cheon Yeoul slightly tilted her head and gently asked,
“Would you answer me? You don’t look so good.”
“Hmm, it’ll pass.”
Including you too.
I silently shook my head after a brief moment of silence.
“Anyway, it’s nothing serious. Don’t worry about it.”
“…Really?”
She slightly raised an eyebrow and watched me before breaking into a playful smile.
Just then, a voice echoed over the speakers on the upper part of the auditorium:
“The opening ceremony is now over. New students, please move to your respective classes according to the instructions.”
The auditorium began to stir, and students started rising one by one.
I quickly stood up, leaving Cheon Yeoul behind me. I didn’t want to get entangled with her at this point.
Suddenly, the academy-issued watch on my wrist vibrated. Looking down, I saw my assigned class displayed on the screen.
“Class B.”
This information alone didn’t provide any particular insight. In the game, classes were randomly assigned by different numbers per round. This was one of the charming aspects of the game, where the composition of players changed with each round.
However, while it might be enjoyable in the game, I am merely living real life. If I end up in a class with some individuals of concern, it won’t be a pleasant experience.
Grasping my trembling chest, I headed to Class B.
As I opened the door, the classroom was filled with the chatter of students.
To enter the ‘Gaeon’ Academy, one needs exceptional skill at the very least. Thus, most of the students here have completed an Elite Education Course – prestigious military academies or similar institutions.
So, except for me, who was selected through a sort of loophole, most of them knew each other either directly or indirectly.
Loneliness was unavoidable, but there was nothing to be done about it.
I quietly searched for an empty seat and glanced around.
Fortunately, a seat near the window in the corner was empty. Such a place is always legally reserved for people like me.
‘Let’s check out the members.’
This spot gave me a good overview of everyone, making it suitable for observation.
There were ten classes in total, up to Class J, and it was important to know how many major characters were in my class.
Hmm?
There was the silver-haired protagonist, not a bad turn of events. Being in the same class would make it easier to look out for him. He walked in as if the entire classroom was his stage, opening the front door and striding in casually, ignoring the gazes directed at him from the front.
And he settled down comfortably in the central seat of the front row.
… Was he always like this?
While player styles vary, he generally didn’t exude such confidence. Nonetheless, it didn’t matter much since personality wasn’t crucial.
As I was about to observe my surroundings, a presence approached my side, drawing my gaze.
‘What is this?’
It was Cheon Yeoul.
She quietly approached and took her seat, smiling gently while looking at me and asking in a low voice,
“Is it okay if I sit here?”
It was less of a question and more of a statement since she had already claimed the seat. Her voice was gentle, but there was a subtly oppressive air suggesting rejection wouldn’t be allowed.
This… is really off. It doesn’t make sense.
I stared at the table in front of me, tapping it with my fingers without looking at her.
“Sure, it’s fine.”
She tilted her head in confusion and asked,
“Huh? What is it?”
“Didn’t I hear you dislike men?”
I asked rather directly.
Upon hearing this, Cheon Yeoul momentarily paused, then smiled faintly and replied,
“Ahh~ That’s right, wasn’t it?”
Cheon Yeoul. In the original story, she didn’t merely dislike men—she loathed them.
And until she met the protagonist, she refused to engage in conversations with any men.
Here she is now, conversing with me, smiling, even initiating the conversation.
Her playful smile lingered at the tail of her words, which might seem cute at a glance but filled me with tension.
“But now, I’m fine. I met someone who was very kind.”
She gazed steadily into my eyes and smiled.
“Thanks to that person, I’ve changed a bit.”
Her words froze my fingertips.
Who?
Had she already met the protagonist?
If so, it would make some sense, but I was distressed by the emergence of an unknown development.
“Then why don’t you sit next to that person?”
I gestured with my chin to the front. There sat the protagonist, ‘Seong Si-woo,’ his arms crossed, eyes closed.
“… That person?”
Cheon Yeoul’s gaze followed my gesture toward the front.
For a brief moment, her expression changed.
Damn it.
I had indeed caught a glimpse of an icy glare.
That chill, that coldness that she used to direct toward men in the early part of the original story when she looked at them like shards of ice, had momentarily reappeared as her gaze swept past Seong Si-woo.
“Hasn’t it changed?”
My fingertips trembled slightly. She wore the mantle of the Saint and was generally mild-mannered in reality. However, the sharp edge hidden beneath has always been the most difficult aspect of her character to handle in the story.
On the surface, she was kind and gentle, but ironically, she was the most difficult heroine to approach in the story.
Swallowing my frustration, I rested my fingertips on the table. Cheon Yeoul soon smiled softly again, as if nothing had happened, shaking her head slightly while saying,
“Yeah… it’s fine.”
Her voice was decisive but carried a strangely gentle undertone.
“I’m good right here.”
She was still smiling tranquilly next to me.
In her gaze, there was none of the male aversion that existed in her setting.
Instead, it was filled with a certain warmth and a hint of anticipation.
“Do you not like it?”
A clear voice tickled my ear.
Though her soft question didn’t upset my mood, the subtle pressure that seeped through was inexplicable.
Something was seriously wrong.
