Is That Guy Completely Insane?

Is that guy completely insane? I wondered if something was wrong. The gazes pouring in the moment I stepped through the door were more than enough to invite that kind of misunderstanding. Of course, I quickly realized the reason was that the guy had panicked all on his own and caused a scene, but the misunderstanding didn't seem to be clearing up. There was no reason to hit someone I'd already beaten once. The terror of me had been thoroughly branded into him, just as I'd seen a moment ago.

But if there was one problem, it was that his reaction went way too far.

For whatever reason, the guy named Kang Seok would nearly have a seizure whenever I got close. The earlier incident happened because he'd thrown a fit right in front of the door, preventing me from entering.

Was he always like that?

I muttered quietly and scratched my head. The game had never shown such fine details, so there was no way I'd know. It had simply demonstrated once that people around me would be afflicted with fear and left it at that.

Well, that aside.

I glanced around the room. Just like in the game, everyone had naturally formed their own little groups. Even beyond those three main clusters, most of the students were chatting with people they clicked with. Those sitting alone like me, unable to join any conversation, were an extreme minority.

That's what it meant to be an insider. How could they make friends so easily even before the first semester started? Weren't you supposed to only manage one or two friends after an entire semester? And even then, only after some soul connection confirmed you were the same kind?

...The world was wrong. I would change this damn—!

"Is this seat taken?"

While I was lost in pointless delusions, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned my head to find Tana smiling as she set her bag down.

"Tana?"

"I don't know anyone here. Sitting next to someone you've at least met once is better, right?"

"I haven't said the seat is free yet."

"It looks free at a glance."

It looks free at a glance. What a shock. I'd thought my face wasn't that bad, but maybe women's eyes were different?

"After causing that commotion in the training room, it'd be stranger if someone approached you."

"Ah."

"And from what I saw earlier, you caused another scene on top of it."

"No, that was him all by himself..."

Knowing any excuse would be meaningless, I trailed off. Even if I proved I hadn't hit Kang Seok, the training room incident wouldn't disappear. Therefore, the current uproar would remain—though slightly reduced. Or rather, it might even get exaggerated further. That he was so terrified he'd flee without me even touching him.

As I thought that, Tana's earlier words suddenly came back to me and I asked casually.

"But if you said approaching people are strange, then Tana, you're also a strange per—"

"Shut your trap."

Yeah. I should just be grateful she came over. Two was better than one. Hooray for life! Though saying it out loud felt a bit much.

I sighed inwardly and looked forward. Even while happy that Tana had approached me, I sometimes wondered what the point of any of it was.

The fact that I no longer had my little buddy didn't just affect me physically—it caused even greater damage mentally. This emptiness could not be filled by anything. Even while going about my days normally, the moment the thought struck, I would plunge into depression instantly. No matter how I tried to control it, I couldn't. It was a natural reaction.

And when that depression hit, I naturally wanted to strangle the past me who had chosen this trait. If I could go back in time just once, I'd pick something else. I'd be confident in avoiding this trait even if it meant becoming one-armed.

...Damn it.

Knowing such fantasies were pointless, I rested my chin on my hand and stared ahead. The classroom door opened now that all the new students had gathered, and someone entered. Probably the dedicated professor in charge of the first-years.

The Final Academy might have countless branching developments across playthroughs, but the dedicated professors for each grade never changed. The first-year professor should have been Hong Do-jin. He wasn't a particularly memorable character. Just someone who faithfully fulfilled the exact role of dedicated professor—nothing more, nothing less. The reason I remembered such an insignificant character was because.

"Everyone, attention."

At the very least, that person had never been the first-year professor before.

Some students' eyes widened at the sight of the professor who had quietly entered and was now smiling brightly. A few even gaped openly, and I heard someone whisper, "That person is our advisor professor...?"

"Some of you seem to already know me, but just in case, let me introduce myself."

As soon as she finished speaking, a name appeared on the board at the front of the room.

Elegant handwriting. The name written there was Shiruen Arpelt.

All the professors at the academy were awakeners who had made quite a name for themselves or were still renowned, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but among them were two with particularly standout reputations. The dean and special professor, the Sage. And—

"The Fighting Star, Shiruen Arpelt..."

Tana murmured quietly beside me. I, too, widened my eyes and stared at Shiruen.

If the Sage had created her title from knowledge and truth accumulated through countless experiences, the Fighting Star had forged hers exactly as the name implied—through combat itself. Battles that made no distinction between monsters and humans. The victories claimed there. Her title was proof of innumerable triumphs.

Well, to put it grandly, she was the person who fought the most and the best in the world. Anyway, why was this person teaching first-years?

From what I knew, only those who stood out even among the third-years could become professors. I'd played through the Final Academy multiple times, but the Fighting Star had never come down to teach first-years. No, at her level, she was someone who only appeared briefly as an ally in the late game. It was hard to even catch a glimpse of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her face a few times throughout an entire playthrough.

"Well, I can see from your eyes that you're all wondering why I'm here."

Shiruen scanned the students before slowly opening her mouth.

"Among this batch, there are a few brats with real promise, so I came down. I won't tell you who."

A few brats with promise in the eyes of the Fighting Star. Those were by no means light words. If it were simply at the student level, there was no chance the Fighting Star—who only bothered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with third-years because the lower grades weren't worth her time—would take on first-year advisor duties. There was someone talented enough to catch her attention.

The moment the students realized that, the classroom suddenly erupted into noisy chatter. Everyone was speculating about who it could be, some getting excited at the thought that it might be them.

"Quiet, quiet. I'll explain the upcoming schedule."

When Shiruen rapped the lectern a couple of times, the voices died down instantly. She cleared her throat twice and delivered the simple announcements.

Perhaps because of the professor's personality, the announcements contained no personal remarks whatsoever. Though that last bit about giving a "thump on the head"—was that a joke? Her own special brand of humor?

As Shiruen seemed about to conclude, someone raised their hand.

"How exactly are fights between students handled?"

It was Ferdinand's question. At his words, several students' gazes turned toward me. It was clearly a targeted jab.

Shiruen glanced at the faintly smiling Ferdinand before answering.

"The academy's regulations state that fights between students can result in anything from suspension to expulsion, depending on the reason for the fight, the extent of the victim's injuries, and the viciousness of the act, however..."

However?

"I believe fights between students are bound to happen, so as long as it doesn't cross a certain line, I intend to settle it with one good thump on the head."

Why did that "thump on the head" keep coming up? The question kept bothering me. This was the first time I'd seen Shiruen take on the role of advisor, so I had no way to anticipate her methods. I could only focus and listen carefully to what the woman said.

Ferdinand, apparently having nothing more to add, sat back down.

"Any more questions?"

"......"

"If not, today's lecture is over. Decide on your main weapon and complete your class registrations by the end of this week."

With those words, Shiruen left the classroom first.

A silence like the calm after a storm settled over the room, only for the classroom to quickly regain its noisy energy. Students discussed what weapons to choose and which classes to register for as they filed out, and I had been planning to do the same.

"Hey."

To be precise, I had been planning to. Until Tana tapped my shoulder.

"What?"

"Have you decided on your main weapon?"

"Yeah."

"What is it?"

"I'm going with a sword."

Of course I wouldn't focus solely on the sword, but at my current level, it was the most manageable option. Magic and spirits would probably require more time. Using a sword would help me grow familiar with handling weapons and allow me to move my body more naturally.

"How about a sparring match? What do you say?"

"A sparring match?"

"Yeah. Let me see the skills you used to take down that iron-horned bull."

Expectation was written all over Tana's face as she spoke.

I thought for a moment before nodding.

"Alright."