Chapter 2

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 2

Chapter Title: Sophia Litwell

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The next day, I was out in the student-exclusive training ground from the early dawn, checking my status window.

"Hmm..."

"...Even with two of these insane difficulty constraints, my stats are still way below the protagonist's."

Stats can be thought of as the size of the vessel that can hold your power.

Max stats are 30, with F-rank Awakeners averaging around 12 and S-rankers roughly 24~26.

Stats are determined the moment you awaken, and there's almost no way to raise them afterward.

Of course, there are stat-boosting items, but they're obtainable only at extreme odds.

They're so rare that even in the late main story, you might see one if you're lucky.

Essentially, my stats can't rise any further from here.

The protagonist has an average of about 25 depending on the growth route, but nearly always around there.

On top of that, the protagonist Kim Do-yoon possesses the S-grade trait Versatile.

He can handle any class without restriction, proficiently.

In theory, one character could be a grand mage, sword saint, or top spirit user all at once.

But that makes control demanding and subjects to learn numerous, so most players stuck to one class.

"...Or not? If we're talking that way, if the protagonist isn't controlled by a player, who knows what he'll choose?"

But thinking about it, now that the game world has become reality...

If the protagonist is acting and judging by his own will,

Then the information I know could become completely useless.

The same goes for the supporting characters, heroines, and villains.

Players picked headaches with one class, but Kim Do-yoon might choose multiple without care.

"Him picking multiple is fine... but the worst choice would be spirit user. Picking that barely involves heroines, so the main story would derail too."

Suddenly, ominous thoughts began churning in my head.

I'd planned to naturally join the protagonist and supporting cast following the set story,

and just resolve the main story. But it seems I was thinking too simply.

Staying idle without preparation risks even my sole advantage as an extra who knows future info fading away.

"Whew... For now, let's do what I can right now."

I took a calm deep breath and sorted my thoughts once more coolly.

Preparing for the worst is right, but don't fixate only on that.

Nothing has changed yet, so until the main story starts,

I just need to complete all preparations I can.

With thoughts somewhat sorted, I pulled out the S-rank trait selection ticket enshrined in my inventory.

"Yeah."

"..."

I'd already decided on a trait beforehand, but now that the moment came, I hesitated again.

S-rank traits are a one-time thing besides now.

So I had to decide with utmost caution.

"First, it has to be either Swordsmanship Predator or Mana Sensitivity Genius..."

Swordsmanship Predator lets you perfectly copy any swordsmanship seen without error,

and even corrects immature technique—essential for the Sword Saint class.

Conversely, Mana Sensitivity Genius helps master everything mana-related perfectly, as the name implies.

From magic to spirit arts and alchemy, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and possibly even the lost holy magic.

"Haa... Too ambiguous, both traits are too good."

Honestly, the pros and cons were so clear it was hard to pick a superior one.

Swordsmanship Predator has a rock-bottom early game but sky-high peak.

Mana Sensitivity Genius is stable low-to-high but risks tough late main story progress.

"..."

I stared at the two floating cards.

One 'Swordsmanship Predator', the other 'Mana Sensitivity Genius'.

I had to choose anyway.

"...Then I should trust my control again this time?"

Every playthrough, I'd thought:

The protagonist with Versatile talent could handle all classes flawlessly

because of my player talent.

Plus, with my low stamina, strength, and agility, Sword Saint seems nearly impossible...

"...And if I can't use that trait for some reason, it'd be a big problem... Okay, decided."

Resolved, I reached out without hesitation and selected one card.

"Oh... This is mana?"

As the system message ended, blue light threads rippled from my fingertips.

It was an amazing feeling.

Like playing with an invisible ball of yarn? Now it really felt like this world was real.

"So I can cast magic with this?"

Gathering the yarn, I tried forming a small orb in my palm.

But that instant.

Pfbt—!

The mana exploded like a firecracker and scattered from my palm.

"Agh, shit. Stings! ...This is way trickier than I thought? Definitely different from the game..."

"Intriguing. To gather that much mana without any magic training—you've got talent."

"!!!"

I jumped in surprise at the calm, intrigued voice from behind and turned around.

"You...?"

I spotted a familiar-looking girl with a turquoise head of hair and a 1st-year nameplate on her chest.

"Ah, late introduction. I'm Sophia Litwell. Nice to meet you."

Sophia smiled softly, introduced herself briefly, and offered her hand.

"Uh, uh... Nice to meet you. I'm Kang Hyun-sol."

I gave an awkward smile, pretending delight as I shook her hand.

But my head was total chaos.

'What? Why is Sophia here?'

Sophia Litwell.

Britain's fourth S-rank Awakener, who came to Korea for the world's top Hunter Academy.

One of this game's main heroines with that backstory.

And as I recalled, Sophia doesn't train separately in the training grounds.

Not some magic supremacist who scorns swordsmen and tanks.

She just loves researching and organizing magic so much she's always holed up in the library or lab.

So after getting the Book of Restraints, I'd planned to avoid the library entirely in case I ran into her...

But meeting here felt like all effort wasted.

"Sorry if I startled you. I was just watching quietly to leave, but it was too fascinating... Anyway, mind letting go of my hand now?"

"...Ah, sorry."

'Lost in thought holding her hand the whole time...'

At her words, I realized I'd been gripping her hand while deep in thought and quickly let go.

Sophia glanced at her palm, tilted her head questioningly, and asked,

"More importantly, Hyun-sol? With talent like yours, you'd naturally enter the academy top ranks, yet why do I feel like I've never heard your name?"

"Well..."

'Haa... Of all people, her.'

Actually, the biggest reason I panicked seeing Sophia wasn't meeting her at the training ground.

It was encountering the most dangerous person I needed to avoid first.

Sophia's purpose in coming to Korea was partly the top academy,

but more precisely, to find a husband.

Something about Korea's great stock of young Awakener seeds for SS-grade talented kids? A very eroge goal.

Thanks to that, most players chasing the naughty scenesd her easily.

The protagonist met all her conditions perfectly.

'Handsome as hell, great ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠body, top talent—total unreal golden boy. No wonder heroines fall... Not me.'

I ground my teeth inwardly and shook my head.

Brief tangent aside, point is, I absolutely cannot attract Sophia's interest now.

If I draw her attention before she falls fully for Kim Do-yoon, with my Purity Vow, main story progress would headache city.

Worst case, semi-forced deed loses the constraint—disaster.

I knew well Sophia gets what she wants by any means.

"..."

Sophia still eyed me with curiosity brimming.

"Me not knowing you probably means you hid your trait during entrance exams with high probability? I don't get why you'd hide such talent..."

She smiled lightly and continued.

"But someone with talent like mine... I'm curious what magic you'll unleash."

"Y-Yeah."

I replied dryly, trying to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠end the talk fast.

But Sophia ignored it.

"If you're okay, want basic theory at the library? Wielding mana by feel alone with that talent is such a waste."

"..."

'Library is a hard no. Once entangled properly, she'll devour me in seconds.'

I waved it off with an awkward smile.

"Today I'm doing physical training. Didn't hide talent to apply, but entered as melee anyway."

"...Really? Take it slow then. But you'll definitely need me someday. I'm sure. I'll be waiting?"

"..."

Sophia scanned me once more with violet eyes, waved lightly, and left the training ground.

I blankly stared at the now-empty field, then muttered toward where she vanished.

"So why'd she come here? No, before that, what confidence makes her so sure I'll need her?"

Nothing changed yet, so take it slow—my ass. Enrollment day one, and it's already properly fucked.