The Plot Twist Teacher
Ja-an maintained his expressionless face throughout, simply waiting for the lots to be drawn.
The other cadets had already formed their teams among themselves.
In a weird way, it felt like we'd received special treatment.
The other students were shooting us jealous glances.
And the ones sending looks that weren't jealousy... yeah, that had to be Dana.
Our eyes met.
She still looked like a total delinquent.
I immediately dropped my gaze.
It was instinctive.
Honestly, at this point... I could probably take her if there's no trap.
I had no particular desire to avenge the living Han Ye-seo, but I couldn't guarantee a fight wouldn't break out at some point.
I needed to consider every possibility.
I really didn't want to die that many times.
Unless someone's life was on the line, throwing away my own for a more perfect outcome in a no-death scenario? That was... straight-up psychopath thinking.
Han Ye-seo tossed out a joke to lighten the mood.
"Hey, what should we name our team?"
"...Team name?"
"Yeah!"
A team name? I'd never even considered it.
Group projects always just got slapped with something generic, right?
Back in high school, it was always Team A, Team B, or whatever.
The weird name-makers got chewed out by the teacher.
Thinking back now, those were good times.
...Nah, still too soon for nostalgia.
Hoo. I took a deep breath.
Ja-an stared straight ahead, stone-faced, while Han Ye-seo kept peeking at him, trying to liven things up.
As everyone probably guessed, it all fell flat.
Han Ye-seo cranked up her energy even more.
"We've got three people! How about the Three Musketeers?"
"...But then every other team has three people too, right?"
"Oh, y-yeah?"
Ah, maybe I should've just played along with a "that's a great name" to keep the vibe going.
I'm something of an expert at killing moods myself, so this stuff doesn't come naturally.
I'd have needed actual experience with normal human relationships for that.
Finally, it was our turn.
The lot was drawn.
"F-Class teacher, Gun-seok."
...F-Class. I knew the name, but I couldn't recall his ability.
He wasn't even a named NPC, and he barely showed up in the story.
In an A-Class-focused plot, F-Class had zero screen time.
They had abilities and barely scraped through selection, but they were low on mana talent and physical prowess.
Throw them on the front lines right now, and they'd turn up as corpses before the day was out.
That was F-Class.
Harsh to say, but they were at a level I could overwhelm with pure physical stats.
I didn't know about E-Class, but F-Class was basically civilians with abilities.
Most ability users aren't talented in combat or support anyway. Tons of trash abilities, and even if you build up mana, your physical stats don't always follow.
They're barely useful. They build up a little mana.
In one word: awkward.
Too valuable to discard, but kinda meh in practice.
A man climbed onto the platform.
"...Well, nice to meet you."
He had a cigarette dangling from his lips. Were all front-line vets smokers?
His hair was long and white.
His beard was patchy, like he'd shaved haphazardly, with stubble dotting his jaw.
Gray eyes, sharp impression.
Dark shirt, black tie, black coat.
The classic worn-out-but-handsome middle-aged guy archetype.
"My ability's magnetism. I designate two targets and repel or attract them. Former A-rank hero, now retired."
...Revealing his ability first? Unexpected.
Two targets at once, so if three attacked simultaneously, we'd break through.
Clap! Irene Rock clapped her hands.
Her signature move.
"Alright, Ja-an, Han Ye-seo, Ivy Lane. Come forward."
Ja-an gripped his sword, glaring straight ahead.
His eyes were locked on Irene Rock.
Calling him a child soldier must've struck a nerve.
Irene Rock gave the signal.
Ja-an's eyes stayed on her.
...He'd lost his cool.
This isn't good.
The match began.
"Begin."
The instant it started, I watched Ja-an's movements and timed my attack to sync perfectly.
Han Ye-seo melted into the floor and zipped forward at high speed.
I eyed the opponent.
Gun-seok was watching us, scratching his stubble.
Cigarette still in his other hand.
Bubble bubble. Black ink boiled up from the floor, and Han Ye-seo's hands burst out, grabbing his legs.
"Feels kinda unfair."
Ja-an closed in instantly and swung his sword.
Choices right from the start...
No mana cost, so no big deal, but Ja-an was the type who avoided choices unless absolutely necessary.
Unless it was a real pinch, he handled things himself.
His matchups had just been rotten luck so far—that was his real style.
But this time was different.
He was leaving it all to the choices.
I supported his movement and launched my attack in tandem.
And—we got repelled.
My spear and Ja-an's sword were both blocked at once.
...Magnetism, my ass.
Designate himself as one magnet, same pole on my spear or Ja-an's sword—repel.
He'd said two targets max himself.
"You lied."
Ja-an shifted his gaze.
Not to Irene Rock—to Gun-seok.
"The golden rule against ability users: don't believe everything they say."
"......"
"Any idiot who honestly spills their ability is dead. That's the world."
Ability users rarely fought each other.
Most got scooped up by the government at birth.
Straight to facilities, registered, stats measured.
No escape.
Heroes from back when stat measurers didn't exist.
Before the current system, when ability users ran wild?
He seemed experienced against them.
A hero from that era.
Retired A-rank, and not against monsters—against people.
Probably PvP specialist.
Gun-seok smirked.
"Finally looking at me, huh."
He'd known Ja-an wasn't focused on him from the start.
Ja-an spoke up.
"Sorry. I'll focus."
"Nah, it's fine. I can guess what that bitch said."
"......"
"She looks all prim, but she can't resist mouthing off when she sees an opening. That's why she poked you on purpose—first class too, rambling bullshit to trip you up. Once you start listening, it's like hitting a speed bump."
Irene Rock averted her eyes.
Ja-an asked,
"What's your real ability?"
"You hear what I said earlier?"
"Yes. But this isn't real combat—it's training. Everyone else explained theirs honestly before proceeding. Please be fair."
Gun-seok hesitated, then spoke.
"My ability's Plot Twist. Designate a target or concept and reverse it."
"...What."
"Obviously, limits. Can't do super abstract stuff, narrow range, has to relate to me. Can't apply directly to opponents."
An ability loaded with restrictions.
Paradoxically, that's why it was strong.
Heavy-condition abilities always packed proportional punch.
That's the rule in stories.
"Just now, I targeted 'direction of attacks aimed at me' and reversed it. That's why both attacks bounced."
Han Ye-seo was still binding his feet with her hands.
Gun-seok pointed downward with a finger.
"What she's doing isn't an attack—it's restraint, suppression—so couldn't target it. That enough?"
Ja-an nodded.
"Sufficient."
Now with the real explanation and counters, Ja-an's choices would adapt.
Deconstruct the info, analyze, offer new paths.
Versatile as hell.
Ja-an turned to me.
"Sorry."
"It's fine."
"I'll match your breathing. Together."
"Got it."
Bubble bubble. Han Ye-seo... responded? Right?
The ink bubbled.
Gun-seok watched us a moment, then spoke.
"Hm. Before restarting the spar, got something to show you."
"Pardon?"
"Your ability applications seem too rigid."
Rigid applications?
What did that mean?
"Abilities shatter science and common sense. You're using yours too normally."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll show you."
Gun-seok's body began to change.
Chest swelling, beard vanishing, body lines curving from straight to feminine.
A beautiful, melodic voice rang out.
A woman's voice.
"My Plot Twist fundamentally reverses things. Reverse my gender, and this happens."
The now-female Gun-seok looked at us.
The cigarette in her hand had become a fancy pipe.
She noticed my stare and praised me.
"Ivy caught another lie of mine. You two high-rankers lack the sense."
The real fight was just beginning.
From far off, some guy cadet yelled,
"Can't you fight like that the whole time—?!"
...They must've had a bet going.
Gun-seok bellowed back,
"We'll talk after— you're dead!"
Hm. Rest in peace, buddy.
After we win, anyway.