What saved me was the instructor’s indifferent single word.
“Please pay attention.”
“YES!”
I answered louder than anyone else.
I had never wanted to stand out like this in my entire life.
“Hmm…”
She seemed to decide to step back for now and adjusted her posture as she sat up straight.
The instructor, walking up onto the dais, brushed his scruffy hair aside and picked up the microphone. There was a certain weariness in his gaze.
“Hello… I’m Instructor Do Han-seong, here to guide Class B for one year at Gaon. Nice to meet you.”
He cleared his throat once and slowly looked around.
“Since it’s the first day… Actually, I don’t really have much to say. Your presence here in Gaon by itself already proves you have the qualities of an outstanding hero.”
Do Han-seong… That name isn’t unfamiliar. Although it’s been ten years, so not everything is clear, it seems he was someone quite significant in the past.
“So, anyway, today is the first day. We’re not starting with theory lessons immediately…”
Do Han-seong paused mid-sentence, glanced at the students’ eager faces, and chuckled bitterly.
“…Of course not. We do have something else to do today.”
– Wow!!
As the students cheered behind him, he turned his head. Then, he gestured toward the blackboard, and it split open to reveal a massive room behind it.
“Wow…”
So this was it?
Though it was the world I created in the game, I couldn’t help but gasp in awe when I saw it with my own eyes. The back of the small classroom suddenly opened up, revealing an immense dome-like space.
The ceiling was so high that you could see the sky, and the interior resembled an indoor stadium.
“Let’s go.”
The instructor led us into this space. Sunlight poured down inside where many students were already gathered—not just Class B, but all the freshmen, it seemed.
Instructor Do Han-seong, with one hand in his pocket, continued his explanation in a nonchalant manner.
“From A Class to J Class, you’ll be doing your practical training here. Today, we’ll spend some time choosing your weapons.”
Indeed, students from other classes were already picking their equipment. We lined up in one of the designated seating areas.
“You can reselect the weapons you’ve been using so far, or you can opt for something entirely different that suits your recently awakened talents—it’s entirely up to you.”
Do Han-seong slowly continued while looking around at us.
“Just one thing to remember: you’re here to become heroes, which is different from what you’ve done so far. Keep that weight in mind.”
With that brief statement, the students swallowed nervously—presumably to instill a sense of responsibility.
“The process is simple.”
The instructor pointed to a panel installed nearby, next to which was a separate weapon storage room with a glass wall.
“To verify your identity, just place your hand on this panel. Once verified, an alert will sound, and you can then go in and choose your weapon. If the verification is successful, multiple people can enter at the same time, so please proceed swiftly.”
He looked up and scanned the front row.
“Let me demonstrate. Student in the middle of the front row, will you come up?”
He accurately gestured toward the protagonist, Seong Si-woo, who stood up and approached the front.
I anxiously watched from the back of my mind.
‘Please…’
It was a tense moment. I had no idea what he’d choose. In the original story, this was where the main character decided on the weapon they would use moving forward, and that choice significantly altered the difficulty of the unfolding story.
What weapon would he pick?
Honestly, it doesn’t matter too much. With the right high-grade equipment and advanced techniques, you can power through regardless of the weapon. It’s essentially what you might call ‘gear boosting.’
However…
Seong Si-woo placed his hand on the tag, and a confirming sound rang out. He stepped into the opening transparent glass door of the weapon storage room and slowly moved between the displayed weapons.
“Please, don’t pick a sword.”
This might seem strange. After all, swordplay is the foundation of any game or creative work. However, not here. Swords generally have short range, no right-of-first-strike advantage, and weapon performance is barely influenced by the weapon’s level or the user’s technique.
It’s a heartless, purely physical weapon, determined by the user’s innate talent affecting performance and potential.
He looked around for a moment, paced a few circles, then stopped in one spot.
Right where Seong Si-woo stood, there was a dagger on the first shelf, and a wakizashi on the second.
‘Damn it.’
With a confident smile, he picked up the wakizashi and held it high.
“Ugh…”
I facepalmed. He seemed completely clueless as to how much it irked me.
“Huh…”
I covered my eyes with both hands. There’s nothing I could do about it. Then again, I had anticipated this possibility, so I did prepare somewhat.
You never know, maybe the protagonist has some insane talent.
Instructor Do Han-seong waved him off with a disinterested glance.
“Well, come back quickly. Next!”
*
What’s the best weapon?
It’s always a debatable topic. There are countless types of weapons, and each wielder has a different style, so it’s hard to establish one definitive answer. Some would argue for swords, while others would champion bows. Both could be right, or both wrong.
Over the past ten years, I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating this to survive, and I’ve come to a certain conclusion.
In front of me was a spear with a sharply pointed blade. My reason for choosing it was the long reach and the agility in transitioning between offense and defense.
But now, things have changed.
Should I switch now?
The absence of reincarnation disrupts the plans I’ve made so far, but the weight of the spear that I’ve become accustomed to over the last ten years still lingers in my fingertips.
After hesitating briefly, I made my decision and grabbed the spear.
There’s no turning back. This is the best choice for me right now. All I can do is try my best.
However…
As I tried to lift the spear, it was abruptly blocked by an invisible force.
“Not allowed.”
I looked up at the familiar voice—it was Cheon Yeoul. She was grinning as she gripped the shaft of the spear.
“Spear? Not allowed.”
Her statement left me with a somewhat awkward expression. Just as I was about to lose my patience, I attempted to forcefully take the spear from her.
Or at least, I tried to.
“What kind of… strength is this…”
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t budge it. Defeated and exasperated, I finally asked in a low voice.
“Why?”
Please note, I’m not weak. Absolutely not.
Cheon Yeoul was still grinning.
“Just… because it seems dangerous. Trust me, okay?”
“What do you mean by ‘trust’?”
As I was about to question her, she tightened her grip slightly, cutting me off.
“Okay?”
Fine, you’re strong, so you’re the sister.
I seriously began to doubt if Cheon Yeoul was even correct in this situation.
With the spear firmly in place, neither put down nor retrieved, all I could do was stand there.
This was a dead-end situation. Just as such a useless thought crossed my mind…
A delicate and refreshing floral fragrance subtly filled the air.
“Why not let him do as he wishes?”
Turning my head slightly, I saw a woman with flowing blue hair approaching. Her presence was serene, blending with the clear sky, creating a mysterious vibe. She was so noticeable that every eye in the exhibition room was on her.
“Sometimes trusting and believing in a loved one… or a friend, can be the greatest form of protection.”
“Yoo Hana…?”
She looked at me, then smiled brightly and casually waved to the others without them noticing, as if welcoming me.
What the heck is she doing here?
Yoo Hana glanced briefly at the spear tightly held by Cheon Yeoul and suppressed a faint smile.
“And by the way… puff, calling her ‘sister’? Are you crazy?”
Would anyone call a middle-aged woman ‘sister’?
The added insult was spoken softly enough that only Cheon Yeoul and I could hear it. Cheon Yeoul’s smile faltered ever so slightly.
“Besides, you’re breaking the rules. You know? It’s called ‘territory invasion.'”
Yoo Hana looked at Cheon Yeoul with a continued smile.
Although her smile was gentle, her eyes glinted sharply.
“Who created those rules? I don’t care about them.”
Cheon Yeoul held onto the spear with one hand and nonchalantly polished her nails with the other.
The atmosphere seemed peaceful since the two were smiling while conversing, but anyone close enough could tell that this was anything but.
‘What kind of battle of wills is this?’
Both were not ordinary.
Had the two of them been on bad terms? It didn’t seem like it, so why…?
Finally, Cheon Yeoul, her eyes firmly set, shot back at Yoo Hana.
It was only then that I realized the spear handle she had been gripping with both hands had loosened.
Seizing the opportunity, I firmly retrieved the spear this time around.
“!”
Cheon Yeoul tried to reach out in surprise, but it was too late.
I gripped the spear lightly and looked up.
It’s all quite confusing.
But ever since things took a major turn, I’ve had no expectations that any situation would resolve easily.
“Even if I don’t know why you tried to stop me…”
I looked directly at Cheon Yeoul and spoke.
It’s been ten years. Exactly ten years of contemplation and refinement on this path. I’m convinced that no one understands this choice as well as I do, for any reason or context.
“I’ll handle it myself.”
You should focus on supporting me and aim to grow. Even if the reincarnation is gone, nothing changes.
Cheon Yeoul’s gaze lingered on the spear shaft, her fingers hesitated in midair before slowly dropping down.
Her lowered head revealed eyes that wavered, and trembling lips.
Her expression was unexpectedly tender. As if she wanted to say something, she hesitated but ended up closing her mouth.
“I’m leaving.”
That’s it, everything is done.
As I turned my head to leave, Yoo Hana came into my line of sight.
She stood quietly, her hands covering her mouth, looking at the space I just occupied.
Her flushed cheeks, slightly trembling fingers, and subtly suppressed breathing all hinted at a smile that couldn’t be hidden.
Even the blush on her face and the quivering of her breath added a strangely sensual touch.
I turned my head and walked away, pretending not to notice, maintaining an indifferent demeanor.
‘There are no normal people here.’
That was my conclusion.
Huh