Exposed as the Assistant

She thought I was that person's assistant! The next morning, the area in front of the central bulletin board was much noisier than usual. I clutched my still-sleepy head and tried to squeeze through the crowd, only to feel someone grab me.

"Yaruru?"

"There's an announcement on the app too—why are you heading over there, ya?"

"Oh."

I opened my mana panel and launched the academy's official app, ignoring her pitying look.

I'd heard the rough details before, but seeing it officially posted hit different.

I thought this was just a peaceful world with no real threats.

But there was a reason for that. The north felt ridiculously distant from the rest of the empire—geographically and culturally.

That's why I never paid much attention. Not until I met Ariel sunbae.

The notice detailed the requirements, activity scope, screening process, and more. Combat majors would assist in platoon-level battles. Magic majors would provide mana support and maintain defensive lines. Other departments could join logistics, maintenance, and such.

And the rewards? Not just academy credits, but contribution points based on your major.

"Credits I get, but... contribution points too?"

"I heard wave battles have been short-staffed lately. Probably why, ya?"

"My parents would never let me go."

"Even platoons don't always have instructor oversight for every one..."

I smacked my lips awkwardly. All this back-and-forth meant no one had a firm decision yet. If anyone was serious, they wouldn't be waffling like this.

That's when I overheard the teaching assistants who had posted the notice chatting quietly as they left.

"Think we'll get a lot of applicants this time?"

"Doubt it. With what happened four years ago... even the professors will set a high bar."

"Ah... yeah. Another incident like that, and the academy's in deep trouble."

"Magic majors might be okay, but regular soldiers and outside hires are the real issue."

I looked up. Four years ago. High cutoff. Even with rewards like imperial contribution points—enough to snag rare imperial materials, artifacts, or even a title—people were still wary.

"What happened?"

Yaruru looked up at me curiously at my mutter.

"You don't know, even after looking up books on the north, ya?"

"...Yeah. I mostly checked monster habitats."

Yaruru's explanation was shocking. Four years ago, the academy revamped practical classes and sent graduating students to the northern waves. But that year's wave was brutal.

"...Thirty dead?"

"Yeah... and way more serious injuries, ya."

"..."

That kind of loss would traumatize the whole academy. So why recruit for waves now?

"But does it make sense for Valkar Duchy to ask the academy for help?"

A nearby student voiced my exact thought. A bespectacled one answered.

"We're not the only ones."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Probably a call for aid across the empire. Academy's just part of it..."

"Yeah, that's why the cutoff's so high."

Aha.

Made sense. Why would the duchy single out our academy? But an empire-wide request...

"They're really hurting for manpower."

"Still dangerous, ya."

"Not going... wait, where'd you get that bread?"

"Hehe. Not sharing even if you stare, ya."

I glanced at Yaruru munching away, then back at the notice.

"You thinking of going?"

"The north?"

"Yeah."

Yaruru shook her head without hesitation at my nod.

"Not going, ya."

"Quick answer."

"North's dangerous, ya."

I chuckled at the straightforward reply. Yaruru bit into her bread, looking puzzled why I laughed.

"You could pass the professors' standards easy."

"No interest, ya. What about you, Chase? Really not going?"

"Like I said last time, basic swordsmanship from gen ed barely keeps me alive."

I waved it off. Back when I first reincarnated, I trained hard hoping for aura... but with my utterly average talent and my genius sister propping things up, I quit fast.

Wonder how sis is doing.

Two years ago, she left a note saying she'd graduate and join a knight right away. No contact since—worrying, bu—

Worried? Nah. That human tank in danger? Unimaginable.

Drop her in a wave, and she'd smile while aura-blending monsters to paste.

"What're you thinking, ya?"

"Uh, huh?"

Yaruru pulled out another bread, staring at the board.

"North's next, then us—and everyone's so casual, ya."

"..."

Ouch... hit home.

"Yeah... but I'm not going either, ya."

"Brutally honest."

"Honesty's good, ya."

She shrugged. Fair point.

I closed the official app and checked the academy community. Mostly people waffling. Right in front of me, folks picked up forms then set them down, eyeing others before bailing.

Life-or-death stuff—better safe.

But for some reason, that silver-haired sunbae from Academy City smiling came to mind.

Even with those machines, you need operators...

# Meanwhile, in the northern Valkar Duchy.

The map spread out had more blanks than expected. The Valkar Duke silently scanned it, then tapped a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠few spots.

Eastern wall. Reserve forces on standby. Maintenance crew. Fireball turret operation support.

A few names were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠listed beside them, but hardly sufficient. No, not just tight—if anything went wrong, it'd collapse entirely.

Ethan, head of the Technical Development Bureau, spoke up.

"We've nailed the fireball turret's direction. But..."

"New weapon means manpower shortage, right."

The duke finished calmly.

"Yes. Apologies... factoring in deployment, maintenance, resupply, rotations, and reserves..."

Ariel bit her lip in anguish beside him.

The turret project was going great. Advice from that chance meeting in Academy City set the course; bureau tweaks skyrocketed performance.

But manpower shortage? Hope in sight, tripped by the absurd.

Less than a month left. Outside the blizzard, monsters gathered.

Ariel ventured carefully.

"Will outside reinforcements fall short?"

The duke sighed, eyes closed at his daughter's question. The disaster four years ago killed aid from every imperial academy. Bereaved noble parents... no help there. Just clueless rookies padding numbers.

"Not enough for what we need."

Ethan bowed his head; Ariel clenched her fists.

"We'll endure with our own strength."

The duke gazed out the window, expression flat.

"As always."

My head spun the whole way back to the dorm.

"That fireball launcher I saw... it'd definitely block monsters."

But the real issue was people. Wave casualties would pile up yearly. And eventually...

The world's vibe turns dark fantasy.

I stopped, muttering.

"Can't go north myself."

What could I do? Distract a few monsters for ten seconds? That's it. No solo leveling here—just game dev.

So what could I do? Answer was set.

Northern Defense. Finish and release my game ASAP.

"Won't help directly, but..."

Best—and only—thing I could do. If it made waves feel real, even a little...

Maybe folks treating it like someone else's problem would think twice. In academy or out.

If it stirred someone's heart, sparked a bit of courage...

Nah, one newbie dev's game won't cut it.

Still.

"Better than doing nothing."

I took a deep breath. If releasing anyway, might as well help someone.

Mind clear, urgency surged oddly. Then footsteps rushed from behind.

"Chase!"

Yaruru.

"Why're you back?"

"Forgot my bread, ya."

"That urgent?"

"Important, ya."

She stopped in front of me, waving her bread bag cheerily. Her bright innocence prompted me.

"Yaruru."

"Why'd you call, ya?"

"...Can I ask one thing?"

She nodded without suspicion.

"Ask away, ya."

I hemmed awkwardly, then went casual.

"Hypothetically..."

"Yeah."

"If Dodge the Fireball's creator—y'know, GameDevNoob—made a north-themed game, whaddya think?"

Yaruru blinked.

"What d'you mean 'north feel', ya?"

"Like... monster waves, defending walls. That kinda."

"Hmm..."

She pondered, then met my eyes straight.

"This about the waves, ya?"

"...Yeah."

"Huge help, ya."

My eyes shook at her firm nod.

"H-how?"

"Sparks interest first, ya."

"..."

"North talk's all negative now, but a game? They'd try it, ya."

"True."

No real games here anyway. Plus fame from last one—half those users come, that's massive.

"And playing it? 'Oh, this is what it's like', ya."

"..."

"Changes minds a bit, ya."

"...You really think so?"

"Yeah, ya."

"Why?"

"Fun sticks in memory, ya."

So Yaruru-like—it convinced me.

For north, empire, duty, responsibility. Sure, vital. But hearts don't always move that way.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Who plays games from obligation? Watches fun shorts from duty?

They do it 'cause it's fun.

In the brief silence, Yaruru's eyes sparkled.

"You relaying this to him, ya?"

"Huh?"

"Tell GameDevNoob good, ya!"

"..."

"You're close, right, ya?"

I gaped, no answer ready. Deny? Too iffy. Admit? Weird.

Yaruru interpreted my silence her way.

"Knew it, ya."

"Knew what?"

"You're that person's assistant, ya!"

"...Assistant?"

"Yep, ya!"

I let out a hollow laugh at her satisfied deduction.

"That obvious?"

"Yeah. Suspicious vibes lately... skimping sleep... out of room tons, ya."

What was my image now?

"Kinda... close enough."

"Whoa! Ask when Fireball 3.0 drops too, ya!"

...No plans there.

What more to add?

Yaruru shook her bag, serious.

"Help north? Good, ya."

"..."

"Better than scary alone—something interesting, ya."

I mulled it. Draw interest... nailed the core.

"Yeah."

I rasped.

"I'll pass it on."

"Got it, ya."

Chat done, she turned, satisfied.

"Gotta go for real. Bread time, ya."

"See ya."

"Don't overdo it, Chase, ya."

"I'll try."

"Doubt it, ya."

Harsh.

Back at dorm, no hesitation—I opened the status window.

"Description... this works."

Plain but poignant, even here. Wanted agro bait, but...

"Agro's covered by community hops."

Not just Grace community—dozens I'd seeded bait in. Past-life trolling skills meant solid launch firepower.

I shook off thoughts, tapped.