Damn, That Hurts
Ow, it hurts. It really, really hurts. No exaggeration—I'm in so much pain it's bringing tears to eyes I didn't even know could cry. Was life always this agonizing...?
"...Kuh, is this what I get for overreaching?"
"My, stepping up in a crisis is a virtue every noble should possess, you know?"
Huh? Who's there?
I shifted my gaze from the grid-patterned white ceiling, and the first thing I saw was a massive book.
...A book?
Then it folded in half with a thud, revealing a girl who smiled brightly at me.
"...Reina?"
"Yes, it's Reina."
The moment I saw her, my mind went blank, like I'd been struck by lightning.
Why is she here?
But I quickly pieced it together. In the original story, Reina has zero involvement in Act 1, Scene 1. No game throws in a heroine right from the opening act... Well, actually, that's not true. In the original, the incident happens while she's in the self-study room. So, she shouldn't be here at all.
But Act 1, Scene 1 got utterly derailed... It's more accurate to say Reina got tangled up in an event she was never supposed to touch.
"You've been out for half a day. Oh, and it's morning now."
"Morning? Then..."
"Ahaha, if you're worried about me, don't be. I'm used to all-nighters by now. Perks of being the runner-up in the magic department."
I couldn't help but feel guilty watching her smile faintly through her exhaustion. Her robe and uniform were caked in dust.
"Besides, nursing my fallen fiancé is the fiancée's duty, right?"
Reina said that, placed the book back on the shelf, and helped me sit up.
My mana was already depleted to nothing, so every movement sent stinging jolts through my body.
"Reina, sorry, but the incident..."
"It's all taken care of. But before I explain, promise me one thing, Adrian."
"..."
Reina placed a hand over her heart, took a deep breath, and looked at me with serious eyes.
"If something like this happens again, please tell me first. Do you know how shocked I was when Millije told me you were fighting a beast? You've always had a weak body... If the Snowwhite heir hadn't been there, it would've been a disaster. Am I wrong?"
Faced with her earnest gaze, I had no choice but to nod. And part of it was true.
Without Kalen, blocking the lycanthrope alone would've been impossible. I could've held it off, maybe, but my stamina would've given out first.
"Don't go to dangerous places alone without telling me. Please. No—promise me."
"...I promise."
Only after we hooked pinkies did Reina smile brightly again.
"Alright, then. Let me tell you what you want to know."
Reina gave a concise rundown of what happened after I passed out. Millije reached Lubrium Hall and reported the incident, so Reina gathered fifteen students and easily finished off the beast, which was already on its last legs. Then the fleeing first-years returned just in time, and with the arriving professors, they wrapped everything up.
"Adrian, the professors..."
"...I know. Salenium Academy Rule Article 1, Clause 4. No one except students— not even board members or professors—may intervene in 'Salenium affairs.'"
"..."
This was an ironclad rule etched by the founding emperor himself. Professors and other 'adults' can't 'intervene' in academy incidents. Everything that happens in Salenium must be overcome by the students themselves.
Unreasonable as hell, but...
That's how it is.
"Yes, and Erhan..."
Even amid the chaos, Erhan had delivered the killing blow to the beast, just as I'd instructed.
"...Seven-colored mana?"
"Yes. His hair turned pure white for a moment, and seven colors shimmered from his sword. Hard to believe, but... can that Erhan boy really wield all seven elements? Did you know about this?"
"Who knows? No way for me to tell."
"Well... the world's full of extraordinary people."
I felt a twinge of guilt toward Reina, but I knew the truth. Wielding mana infused with all seven elements was the original protagonist Erhan's unique skill: Hero Sword.
Truly the sword of a 'hero'—hence the name. It required the intent to vanquish the foe before you, and when activated, the protagonist's hair turned white as part of the effect.
At least that part went off without a hitch.
In the original event, he unwittingly awakens to the Hero Sword during the fight. That seems to have happened properly.
"Reina."
"Yes, Adrian?"
"Guess I owe you my life."
"Owe me? It was only natural. You would've saved me if the roles were reversed, right?"
"True, but..."
"So no need to be so grateful. It'd hurt my feelings. Are we just strangers?"
Reina giggled, then stood.
"I've got morning lectures, so I'll head out first. Rest well, Adrian."
I watched her graceful bow and retreating figure from my bed.
Everything's gone off the rails.
By the script, Erhan awakens his Hero Sword while battling the beast near death, then Lumen Ribens swoops in like a comet to finish it off and chats with him about his mysterious power.
But Reina brought students and Erhan, handling the beast themselves. Probably possible because Kalen and I had worn down over half its health.
The only commonality with the original? Erhan at the center.
Still, it's over. Things changed a lot, but Erhan—the protagonist—did take down the mid-Act 1 boss and tutorial boss, the lycanthrope. And he seems to have grasped the Hero Sword fine.
Act 1, Scene 2 follows Erhan questioning the incident, gathering evidence alone, and pinpointing the culprit.
No room for me there.
...Which leaves Melwood Elion, the Scene 3 boss and Act 1 final boss.
Especially the Melwood fight—you can't clear it solo with just Erhan. Without Lumen Ribens, it's game over.
Her abilities are essential for victory.
With Erhan and Lumen's flag shattered, I'll bridge the gap.
Guide Erhan along the original path while securing Lumen as future backing—even if not immediately.
And I need to get much stronger. The lycanthrope fight exposed my limits. Not skill, but specs.
Wind Blade alone has reached its ceiling.
"...Gotta master one more low-tier spell before the Act 1 boss fights."
A spell with great synergy to my frequent Wind Blade. Low-tier fire elemental magic: Fireball.
Common, but crucial. I already know where to get it.
First things first.
I clicked the notifications huddled in the corner of my vision, and messages flooded in.
Congratulations! You made a major contribution to slaying the beast 'Lycanthrope'!
Your courage in throwing yourself into battle to save your comrade is commendable!
Thanks to your foresight, Act 1 Scene 1 'Beast Summoning Chaos' ended without a single casualty!
Calculating rewards based on performance...
Rewards granted!
Right. Gotta have reward time after all that suffering.
What appeared before me was something pretty intriguing.
Reward for completing the main story.
Randomly selects one of your five stats and increases it by a random amount (1~5).
Appraisal: This item cannot be appraised.
"Ho ho."
Randomly picks and boosts one stat? Exactly what I need right now.
As I waved away the mirror, more unchecked system messages popped up.
Mana stat increased by 1 due to mana usage beyond limits!
Main Story Act 1 Scene 1 cleared! 'Adrian True Ending' progress +1%.
Attribute Sword: True skill proficiency slightly increased.
Main story clear boosts progress. Skill proficiency and stat ups too.
Listing the rewards, it's all stuff I desperately need. Good news: mana hit 5.
I immediately clicked the Stat Boost Random Box.
Mana +3!
"Hm."
Mana rose again, hitting 8. Meaning I've met the minimum mana stat for higher-tier spells.
In that case...
Time to move for real.
The original plot matters, but my ultimate goal is becoming the Repelheit Marquis.
Fail, and I die.
After classes, I headed straight to the central district's public library.
The central district is open to all Salenium students, so the library is massive.
Shelves packed floor-to-ceiling with books, arranged in circular rows extending outward, categorized by section farther in. The domed ceiling is transparent glass, letting you watch clouds drift by overhead.
Reading rooms for study, plus single chairs scattered for casual reading.
Definitely here...
I veered left into the library corner, crossed diagonally down the path.
"Hm, should be around here."
Soon, at the base of a shelf, I spotted a transparent male student sobbing his eyes out.
—Sob, ugh...
"Greetings."
—Sniff...
Huh? The transparent, sniffling student looked up at me. I met his gaze.
—C-can you see me?
"Clear as day. Why the tears? Need help?"
In the early evening, standing between the left-corner shelves gives a chance to encounter the crying ghost.
Talk to him, and he asks you to find his 'diary' from life. Complete it, get a magic tome as skill reward.
—Could you help me, maybe?
I nodded, and a window appeared.
Lay the Library Ghost's Grudge to Rest
This ghost was once a Salenium librarian, now wandering unrested.
To help him pass on, find his 'Ghost's Diary'.
-Acquire the 'Ghost's Diary' item and return it to the ghost.
-Ghost appears only after 18:00 in the library.
Reward: Low-tier fire elemental magic Fireball acquisition tome x1
Low-tier fire magic, but Fireball's power varies by combo. Essential for the Melwood boss later—must get it now.
—Thanks...
Time up, the ghost dissipated like smoke. I left the central library, heading to the grassy clearing behind the residential district.
The diary's somewhere here.
A quick scan, and a window popped.
> Lingering ghost resonance detected!
> 'Diary' nearby!
I picked up the weathered diary leaning against a nearby tree trunk, dusted it off, and the quest completed.
Lay the Library Ghost's Grudge to Rest completed!
Speak to the ghost to claim your reward.
"Done."
Even Salenium's no-freebies saga allows this one easy ride.
As I turned to head back with the diary...
"...Senior Adrian?"
A familiar voice made me freeze.
"...You."
A known character stood there, bags stuffed full, dressed to leave for good. Not even in uniform.
"...Millije?"
The girl who'd run to Lubrium Hall at my request. The one swept into the summoning incident.
She was right there.