Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: A Dangerous World and First Crushes
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God created the world and made angels to manage it. The angels granted power and knowledge to powerless humans, aiding the development of civilization.
However, as humans gained power, they eventually began warring among themselves. Disappointed, God abandoned the world.
After God departed, some angels began to fall. The fallen angels resented the humans who had driven God away.
The fallen angels summoned beings from other realms to attack humanity, forcing humans to halt their wars and unite against this sudden external threat.
Humans began calling the fallen angels "demons" and the otherworldly beings they summoned "magic beasts."
The angels who remained friendly to humans, along with empowered individuals, established academies to train talent against the demons.
That was the origin of Acamedy Academy.
'...This worldview looks insanely dangerous.'
That was my first thought when I read the worldview section in the early part of Chapter 1. Seeing mentions of transcendent beings like angels and demons, it was clear this wasn't some lighthearted story.
Was there any other possessed soul as pitiful as me? Thrown into a complete stranger of a novel, only able to wield low-level weapons, and at the very end of the episodes to boot. And even skimming that first chapter, the worldview seemed incredibly perilous.
Before, I figured, "He's the protagonist, so if I get friendly, it'll be fine." But after reading the worldview, my mindset shifted. To survive, I had to stick close to the protagonist.
'Alright. I'll latch onto the protagonist no matter what...'
And I absolutely had to get my hands on those weapons. Sure, it was partly my desire as a weapon collector, but survival was the bigger reason. Right now, all I could summon were low-level weapons. I needed the protagonist Han U-sol's powerful creations.
'And I'm... pretty cute, so it should be easy to get close.'
Using my face to befriend guys? The thought twisted my expression in disgust. Just a day ago, I'd been an upstanding Korean man—this felt deeply wrong. Plus, judging by that guy's handsome, playboy looks, he might not be satisfied with the heroines and come sniffing around me too.
'Kinda unsettling...'
They say the mind follows the body. What if my mind adapted to this female body and I ended up falling for Han U-sol? The worry crept in.
'Hmm... Still, to survive, I have to get close first and worry later.'
Such concerns could wait until I was alive to fret over them.
The next day at the academy, everyone had switched up their seats. Like in my old world's universities, there were no assigned spots—just sit where you wanted when you arrived. I glanced around for Han U-sol, but he wasn't there yet. I plopped down in a random seat.
The kids who'd already gotten chummy were huddled together chatting. Socially inept me just sat there quietly.
'This vibe... am I the loner again?'
My old school days flashed back, leaving me glum. Was I doomed to be the dark templar in this life too?
'It's fine... As long as I befriend the protagonist, it'll all work out.'
Lost in that thought, head down staring at my innocent desk, someone sat next to me. Yoon Na-rin.
She flashed a smile and greeted me.
"Hey, Anis... right? I'm Yoon Na-rin. Let's get along!"
"Uh, yeah... Nice to meet you."
"I was shocked during the mana measurement last time! Is your mana naturally that high?"
"Uh, probably...?"
"Lucky! Mine's not that high innately... I'm jealous~"
So she'd clawed her way to third place through sheer effort alone? This must be one of those hard-working heroine types you hear about. Given her mention right from Chapter 1, she was likely a main heroine.
"That sword you summoned during intros was gorgeous! Got any other weapons?"
"Yeah. Swords, spears... daggers, axes too."
I'd noticed it during self-intros too—Yoon Na-rin had great charisma. She steered the conversation so naturally; total popular kid energy.
I tensed up chatting with this friendly beauty. It'd been ages since I'd talked to anyone, after all.
"Got a crush!?"
"Huh? N-no, nothing like that...?"
Yoon Na-rin peppered me with questions, then out of nowhere asked if I had a crush. I stammered, caught off guard. Why spring that suddenly? Was this what popular kids did?
As she quizzed me and I answered on repeat, Han U-sol entered the classroom. Eyes flicked to the handsome guy for a moment.
He scanned the room once, then sat far from me.
'If he'd sat nearby, I could've said something...'
Internally bummed, Teacher Silbi Bell entered, outlined the curriculum, and started class.
'...So sleepy.'
Not long in, I face-planted on my desk and conked out.
"Anis, wake up. Lunchtime."
Yoon Na-rin shook me awake.
"Mm...?"
"You slept straight through without stirring. Up late last night?"
I nodded at her question. I'd stayed up all night refreshing for Chapter 2, just in case.
"Let's grab lunch!"
Yoon Na-rin pulled me up to head out. I glanced at Han U-sol, sitting off alone.
'Doesn't he have anyone to eat with?'
As groups headed out with their new friends, our protagonist sat there solo, mismatched with his looks.
'Chance to get close... Should I invite him?'
Eating together from day one raised odds of lunch buddies later—and more bonding time.
'But how to say it naturally.'
Bluntly asking might get weird stares. Out of practice talking to people, I had no clue.
As I dithered, staring at Han U-sol, Yoon Na-rin shot him a warm smile.
"Hey! Wanna eat together?"
Inborn popular kids were on another level. The line I'd agonized over a hundred times in my head? She tossed it out effortlessly.
'Nice one, Yoon Na-rin! True heroine material—bold!'
So she was into him too! I inwardly cheered. With that face, it'd be weirder if a pubescent girl wasn't interested.
'You're the main girl! I'll cheer from the friend zone and snag those weapons!'
Rooting for her silently, Han U-sol spoke.
"...Sorry. I planned to eat alone."
'...Huh?'
What? Why reject her? She's a heroine! She wants to eat with you!
"Oh... uh, okay? Guess no choice. C'mon, Anis."
Even top-tier social butterfly Yoon Na-rin looked awkward. She grabbed frozen me and bolted to the cafeteria.
"Anis Harper. Nice to meet you. My ability is... Weapon Summon."
The girl who introduced herself as Anis closed her eyes briefly, groaning softly, then summoned a sword in her hand.
'Pretty.'
That was Yoon Na-rin's first thought upon seeing Anis. Her ebony-black hair and pale blue eyes were captivating, even to another girl.
As Anis sat, a handsome boy from the back stood to introduce his ability.
"My ability is... Weapon Creation."
'Hmm...'
Right after her turn, someone with a strictly superior version of her power. Glancing at Anis, her expression seemed a bit stiff.
Yoon Na-rin felt a kinship with Anis. She'd constantly been compared to her brother's superior abilities too.
'...Should I talk to her later?'
Yoon Na-rin thought. She wanted to befriend this girl named Anis.
The next day at the academy, Yoon Na-rin entered the class and spotted Anis sitting alone. Other kids were starting to chat, but Anis just sat with her head down, no signs of joining in.
'Shy personality, maybe.'
Thinking that, she sat next to Anis and greeted her.
"Hey, Anis... right? I'm Yoon Na-rin. Let's get along!"
"Uh, yeah... Nice to meet you."
Anis seemed startled at first, then shyly replied.
'Cute!'
Yoon Na-rin kept chatting her up. Despite the barrage of questions that might annoy anyone, Anis answered patiently without snapping.
Seeing her tense and withdrawn sparked a slight sadistic urge to tease. Yoon Na-rin lobbed a surprise prank question.
"Got a crush!?"
"Huh? N-no, nothing like that...?"
Anis's big fluster was amusing. That reaction was so cute she kept going—until the classroom door opened and a boy entered. Han U-sol, probably. First in mana measurement, super handsome; stuck in her mind.
As Han U-sol entered, Anis's attention locked on him. She pretended otherwise, but her clumsy acting fooled no one.
'Oh ho...'
Yoon Na-rin's eyes sparkled.
Anis merged with her desk the moment class started and slept straight through to lunch.
'Hates studying... or just super tired?'
As Yoon Na-rin went to wake her for the cafeteria, Anis's gaze fixed on solo Han U-sol, her brow furrowing in hesitation.
'She wants to eat with him!'
Clearly into Han U-sol but too shy to speak up.
For this hesitant kid, Yoon Na-rin took the initiative.
"Hey! Wanna eat together?"
Anis's face visibly brightened beside her. Playing it cool but with a hint of hope—adorable.
"...Sorry. I planned to eat alone."
But Han U-sol's reply was a rejection.
Crack-
For a split second, it felt like something cracked from Anis next to her. Huge expectations? She froze solid.
"Oh... uh, okay? Guess no choice. C'mon, Anis."
Seeing her disappointed and stiff tugged at Yoon Na-rin's heart. Awkward from Han U-sol's response, she dragged Anis and fled to the cafeteria.
At the cafeteria, Anis ate with a gloomy expression the whole time.
'Don't worry, Anis...! I'll help you out!'
Watching her stuff food in like a sulky hamster, Yoon Na-rin vowed to play cupid for this girl.