First Class (1)
The dormitory was exactly as it appeared in the game—nothing special. If anything, it felt like a slightly upscale studio apartment. The interior was quite spacious for a single occupant, but I figured most of the rooms would quickly fill up with random purchases within a few days. Right now it looked bare, containing only the basic furnishings provided by the Academy, but that wouldn’t last. Living alone inevitably led to clutter and a shrinking sense of space. Especially since, in this setting, we were all supposed to be curious twenty-year-olds bursting with youthful energy.
Of course, I don’t have much to buy anyway.
I wasn’t particularly materialistic. Anything I might purchase would be for future investment—elixirs or items useful for growth—rather than leisure goods that would take up much room.
“Still, using this thing in person is pretty interesting.”
I activated the black smartwatch the Academy had provided. With a soft zing, a hologram flickered into existence in midair. It was cutting-edge technology rarely seen in the real world. The device had multiple functions: communication, a linked bank account that could substitute for a card, and the ability to store data or notes on monsters. Incidentally, the account connected to the watch contained a far larger sum than I’d expected. I wouldn’t have to worry about money at all.
“Guess I should get organized.”
I pulled out the notebook and writing utensils from inside the room. These were also items supplied by the Academy alongside the smartwatch. I planned to record everything I remembered: the game’s storylines, character traits, the locations of various hidden opportunities, and exactly how to obtain them.
“This one should be acquired around here… and this one isn’t out yet, so I’ll leave it alone for now.”
I would have preferred jotting everything down conveniently on the smartwatch, but unfortunately a few individuals in this world were masters of machines and hacking. To minimize the risk of information leaks, I had no choice but to use an old-fashioned notebook.
Scratch. Scratch.
The blank white pages gradually filled with black text and diagrams. My handwriting wasn’t particularly pretty—I’d grown more accustomed to tapping letters on a phone than writing by hand—but it was still legible enough. Anyway, no one else is going to see it, so it doesn’t matter.
I double-checked to make sure I hadn’t missed anything, and before I knew it, evening had arrived. I’d managed to fill nearly half the notebook with content.
“Whew. I think that’s everything I remember.”
My stats weren’t fake, so even after holding a pen for so long my arm didn’t hurt. I massaged it a few times anyway while reviewing what I’d written. The main story progression and its endings. The opportunities that appeared either during the main story or afterward. I’d paid especially close attention to the hidden opportunities section.
“There’s quite a lot I need to secure for myself.”
Since the main story was essentially the tutorial, there were a huge number of opportunities it didn’t cover. If I factored in everything added through later updates, I could drastically lower the overall difficulty.
“First, I need to obtain this one as quickly as possible.”
Among those opportunities, the one I had to prioritize above all others was something only obtainable during first year at the Academy.
Gurgle.
“…But what about dinner?”
I’d been so absorbed in the notebook since arriving at the dormitory that I hadn’t noticed how hungry I was. In the game, hunger wasn’t really a factor, so I could go without eating. Occasionally I’d grab something simple like bread to fill the satiety gauge, but the sensory implementation wasn’t vivid enough to make it feel real. I usually just ate cheap, tasteless stuff that did the job.
Here, though, I could taste everything and feel real hunger. My taste buds refused to settle for that kind of compromise.
“I’ve got money, so I might as well head out.”
The Academy-provided dinner was already over for the evening. Better to go outside and buy something. I hadn’t changed out of my clothes, so I could head out just like this.
Once I left the dormitory and exited the Academy grounds, a street lined with various shops greeted me. My eyes were immediately drawn to chicken skewers that teased my sense of smell—glossy pieces coated in either sweet or spicy sauce.
“One chicken skewer, please. I’ll pay with this.”
“Tap it here.”
The price wasn’t bad, so I decided to try one. I held my watch against the machine. With a soft beep, the payment went through.
The skewer I received carried a subtle charcoal aroma mixed with the sweet scent of soy sauce.
“Must be thigh meat.”
The chicken was tender and juicy. They’d used thigh meat with its pleasant fat content rather than dry breast.
Step. Step.
It had been a long time since I’d walked down a street while eating. The game lacked realism, so it never felt satisfying, and in my previous life I’d been stuck in a hospital room.
Beep.
“Hm?”
I’d even bought and eaten hotteok by the time my smartwatch vibrated. When I checked it, I saw a message from the Academy.
This is a notification for student Zeon. You have been assigned to Class A of the first-year students. Tomorrow…
The message contained information about the class Garein had mentioned, along with a few precautions. First-year Class A. That was definitely the class where the protagonist would be.
There were no special supplies needed for tomorrow, so I just had to show up properly dressed in my uniform. I’m pretty sure the first class involved that thing.
The day we obtained the weapons we would use at the Academy. In the game, an AI evaluation randomly generated a weapon. It was a growth-type item that grew stronger alongside its user, making it viable not only in the early game but potentially all the way into the late game if handled well.
After snacking enough to fill my stomach, I returned to the dormitory. Surprisingly, I fell asleep within ten minutes.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Morning arrived with the alarm I’d set on my watch. As I got out of bed and headed toward the Academy, I realized something: no matter how superhuman you were, mornings were always miserable. Even with sky-high stats, that fact never changed.
“Huaaam~”
“Ugh… so sleepy…”
Students everywhere were reacting the same as me—or worse—staggering toward their respective classes. The second- and third-years seemed somewhat adjusted to the routine, but the first-years were a mess.
“So this is what student life is like.”
For someone whose daily routine consisted of waking up, eating, then immediately going back to sleep or playing games, being forced to wake up early and go to school was a very strange experience.
When I arrived at Class A—where I would belong for the next year—the board said seats hadn’t been assigned yet and we could sit wherever we liked. I immediately claimed a seat in the back corner and planted my face on the desk.
Good. Time to catch some more sleep…
“Puhaha! Is that for real?”
“I’m telling you! So I immediately pulled out my phone that day and…”
“Whoa, no way. I’d be way too nervous to do that.”
“Hehe, would you like to join us next time, Lady Kena?”
The loud group chattering behind me made me frown and cover my ears. Wasn’t the first day supposed to be awkward, with everyone cautiously eyeing each other? Why were they already so chummy?!
Wait, maybe they’re not exactly friends.
When I glanced at Kena in the center of the group, I immediately realized it wasn’t a simple friendship. Even when I played the game, I hadn’t thought much of Kena. After yesterday’s unintentional slip-up on top of that, my dissatisfaction with this person had grown considerably.
What a thug.
In the early stages, Kena was the classic bully character often portrayed in various media. Later, after getting beaten by Mir and going through a specific event, the character would have a change of heart and become an ally…
Yeah, not interested.
I wasn’t a fan of redemption arcs that involved putting someone through a washing machine. Of course, the choice wasn’t mine but Mir’s to make. If it were the reformed version of Kena, maybe. But I had zero desire to get involved with the current version.
“Then let me join in next time too.”
“I’ll prepare everything cleanly.”
Just listening to their conversation was unpleasant. While there were others like me who frowned at their chatter, no one dared confront them. The prestige of the Freyja family suppressed any opposition. Not to mention Kena’s superior skill compared to the rest.
Maybe three people could stop them?
Regalia. Mir. And me. Aside from the three of us, there probably wasn’t anyone else who could rein Kena in.
“Can you be quiet? It’s too loud.”
Right then, Regalia frowned and snapped at Kena’s group.
“I’m being plenty quiet.”
“In what world is that quiet? Lower your voice so you’re not disturbing the others. And stop having such vulgar conversations in the Academy.”
Of course, Kena wasn’t the type to back down obediently. The Freyja and Einstr families had been at odds from the very attributes they specialized in to the symbols of their houses, so their relationship was never good to begin with. Naturally, Kena twisted their lips at Regalia’s words, turned to the rest of the class, and shouted.
“I’m not being loud, am I? Hey! Is there anyone here who thinks my voice is too loud?!”
“You…”
“See? No one said anything. If someone thinks I’m being loud, of course I’d…”
“Then be quiet. You’re being loud.”
“…Huh?”
Kena’s head turned with an almost audible creeeak, searching for the source of the voice. Since Mir hadn’t arrived at school yet, there were only two people here who would speak up like this. And since Regalia was standing right in front, the person who had just spoken was naturally—
“I said you’re loud.”
Me.