Chapter 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Awakening (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I realized I'd been dropped into the world of a novel I hadn't even properly read only after ten years had passed since my rebirth.
On my way home from school, I happened to look up and noticed the streets were even noisier than usual.
Word was that an S-Rank Awakener from our country had finally succeeded in slaying the colossal monster threatening the world from the Arctic Ocean.
It piqued my interest a bit. After all, this was the moment when gates, monsters, and awakeners—things that didn't exist in my previous life—became vividly etched in my mind.
So I went home and looked up a little about this S-Rank Awakener. Name: Yang Chan-ho. Age: early twenties. Hometown: Daejeon.
And his trait: the ability to turn a mop into a holy sword against monsters...
"......"
This ability felt familiar, like I'd seen it somewhere before.
A strong sense of déjà vu washed over me.
Click, click. I decided to dig a bit more into the internet. Hero Yang Chan-ho—what exactly did this guy do?
That's when I came across an article.
[Korea's pride, the slayer of Jörmungandr, expresses desire to establish an academy for training awakeners if given the chance...]
"Ah."
And that's when I remembered. Or rather, it came rushing back to me—would that be more accurate?
A novel from my previous life, one I vaguely recalled reading but couldn't remember clearly anymore.
It was a standard academy story, nothing special. I didn't even bother with the prologue, let alone chapter 1.
Was it boring? Not my taste? Probably nothing worth dwelling on. Stuff like that happens all the time.
Still, there was one reason I remembered the setting of that nameless novel so well.
It all came down to Hero Yang Chan-ho.
Abilities like controlling fire or emitting sword aura from the tip of a blade? All cliché, no big deal.
But an ability user who turns a mop into a holy sword? Regardless of the story, the impact was unforgettable.
Awakener abilities in this world were generally like that. Jumping like a rabbit but outpacing a train, or turning into a giant by drinking seawater.
At first, I thought it was a world full of unique quirks. Was it because it was a novel setting?
Anyway.
That was the moment I started seriously considering my future path.
This place wasn't entirely disconnected from my previous life, after all.
The worries came naturally. Sure, this was an academy story, but I'd repeated it: I hadn't properly read the novel.
I didn't know the plot. Couldn't recall the protagonist. Developments? Ending? No clue.
...But there was one thing I did know. Academy stories usually had hardcore world-building.
Whether contrived or not, civilians were inevitably exposed to threats outside the academy.
That's how it always went. No way did I want to end up as some extra caught in a villain brawl during a weekend outing in the city, getting hurt or killed.
So, was enrolling in the academy the best choice?
Even that wasn't a surefire guarantee, which was frustrating. Enrolling didn't mean safety was assured.
I wasn't the protagonist, so ultimately, my own safety was on me—
Should I still go for the academy?
Or look for a safer alternative...
Around that time, a year into my deliberations and agonies, something happened. Was it meant to ease my burdens a little?
Ding!
"Hm?"
That distinctive mechanical chime said to be heard only by rare awakeners rang—or so it seemed—in my ears.
Congratulations. You have been selected as an Awakener.
...No, it wasn't an illusion. The mechanical chime really sounded, and right after, a translucent blue window appeared before my eyes.
That's how I became an awakener. Even though I hadn't desperately wished for it.
But I didn't even have time to properly process the bewilderment.
Before that, my hand had unconsciously tapped the status window—
"Huh?"
I'd hoped to live my whole life without knowing my 'trait,' but because I so carelessly tapped the status window, I ended up seeing it.
No taking it back now...
Oh, and for reference.
I was in third grade at the time.
People go through life with their predictions going wrong or carefully laid plans derailing from the very first step more often than not.
It's only natural. No one can perfectly predict their own future.
Well, unless you're that famous British prophet with the ability to glimpse the future by swallowing gold bars whole.
Anyway, my point is.
Not everything I imagined or speculated about at age ten—back in my childhood—turned out exactly right.
First off.
Was this world a brutal place throwing life-threatening crises at civilians left and right?
Not really. It wasn't as safe as my previous life, but public security here was pretty decent.
For example, gates didn't explode every other day, go berserk, and spew monsters everywhere.
The world had regained considerable peace since Hero Yang Chan-ho defeated the massive serpent monster named Jörmungandr.
There was talk of Korea's international standing rising as the 'Yang Chan-ho powerhouse,' whispers of villain guilds lurking in the shadows...
But that stuff didn't really concern me.
Dealing with gates and monsters had become highly standardized, so mass casualties like in the early cataclysm days were a thing of the past.
As a result, I didn't even strictly need to enroll in the Blue Pine Academy that Yang Chan-ho founded...
Still, I went ahead and enrolled anyway. It would've been a waste not to, after all my hard work since that fateful 'turning point' day in third grade.
Whether it was a reincarnation perk or not, I was born with considerable mana talent among awakeners.
Luckily, I found a capable mentor and became a promising young mage.
Thus, I proudly claimed second place among the freshmen of the 9th class at Blue Pine Academy.
At nineteen, I spent a year in this arena called an academy. Maintaining second place wasn't hard.
I'd studied under one of Korea's three great archmages, after all.
All those from prestigious awakener families? They were beneath me. The Sword Saint's disciple, the Fist Emperor's granddaughter, the Dragon King's successor—wiped the floor with them all.
By now, it was only natural I'd take pride in my magic abilities.
Yeah, with skills and talent like this, why rely on that awkward unique trait?
There were plenty of S-Rank Awakeners who'd reached the top with useless traits through sheer skill.
So, I'd keep my trait hidden from the world, never use it, and live cautiously forever to ensure it stayed secret.
No good could come from rumors that a promising young mage had such a scandalous trait.
That's what I resolved. I held onto second place until the semester's end and advanced to second year.
And on the day break began, I had drinks with my same-class rival—the top student we'd fought tooth and nail against all year...
By trait, copying Cheon So-yul's unique magic, Heavenly Thunder.
Eh?
"...Die. You bastard. Animal. You're the worst, Lee Hyun-jin."
Eh.
"And I have to die too. Even if I was drunk, how could I sleep with a guy like that? I should just die."
Hm.
"...It was my first time, sob..."
"......"
"Take responsibility, take responsibility..."
How did things end up like this? I remember the drinks tasting good after nearly twenty years, going all the way to the third round.
When I came to, morning light was streaming in, and I was under the covers with a beautiful girl with light brown hair, her pale skin fully exposed.
Her name was Cheon So-yul. The family treasure of the prestigious Cheon family of awakeners, the top student of the 9th class at the academy, specializing in lightning magic.
For a whole year, she and I had vied fiercely for the top spot.
Last night was probably no different. We'd always clashed fiercely.
Except now, the battlefield was the bed.
"Sob, sob."
"......"
"I barely remember, but you were so rough, sob. You have no manners at all, I told you it was my first time, no consideration. Sniff. You could tell I was a virgin, you idiot, really..."
Ah...
This is, uh.
Yeah.
Things turned out like this.