Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: I Want to Drop Out
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I haven't seen that many other reincarnators or regressors.
But one thing I'm certain of.
A typical ordinary reincarnator or regressor would look at this elementary school admission letter and sink into self-loathing, thinking, "Do I really have to go to elementary school again in this life?"
To put it in perspective, it'd be like finally becoming a knight only to feel like you're back to being a squire.
From a knight admired by all to a squire shoveling manure.
I was the same.
"Can I really go to elementary school in this life?"
But unlike them, I was brimming with anticipation.
They despaired at having to go, but I was thrilled at the mere possibility of going.
A guy who's lived as a squire his whole life resents knights.
But a knight despised for never having squire duties envies those who did.
And just like that, I envied the squire life.
In my incredibly long life,
I'd never once lived a life as peaceful as this one.
Of course, this life has its own twists and turns if you want to call it that.
But at least it's far better than my previous lives.
The very fact that I could have a chance to study like this was a miracle.
"A chance that came after three tries—I can't let it slip away."
I couldn't waste this third opportunity after blowing the first two.
If I missed this one, who knows when the next would come.
Memories of past lives flashed through my mind.
In my first life, I was a hunter in a completely ruined world.
"School? Back then, I had to climb the tower just to survive."
In my second life, I was a back-alley kid and a hero at the same time.
Naturally, no formal education for me.
"I always wanted to attend an academy if I ever had the time, but I was too busy scraping by."
This life isn't all smooth sailing either, but having the chance to enjoy this kind of normalcy made it feel truly affluent.
I wanted to savor this boring, mundane life to the fullest, while also achieving those dream-like things I couldn't before.
And the first step toward that was experiencing "ordinary school life."
"How much I envied this back then..."
A wave of nostalgic longing washed over me.
No matter how messed up the world is, there are always people living well somewhere.
Nobles or the upper class.
They, or their kids, could attend school without a care,
enjoying the carefree youth of that age.
Unlike me, who lived every day in full plate armor.
The thought that I could do it now filled me with excited anticipation as I prepared for school.
First, I headed out.
This would be my second outing already.
"Hey, kiddo, what brings you here?"
A friendly-looking middle-aged man approached.
I pointed to a bag.
"Just this one bag, please."
"Oh? Picking out a school bag, huh."
"Yes."
At the shopping center, I first chose the sturdiest-looking bag.
With it being elementary school enrollment season, there were plenty of discounted bags, but their garish designs explained the discounts, so I went with a safe bet—a black, functional one from a well-known sports brand store.
"Pencils and erasers. And what else...?"
"Oh my, shopping for school supplies? We've got sets over there."
"Then one of those sets... and this ice cream too."
"Sure thing."
I also picked up various stationery from the shop.
And wandered around munching on a chocolate bar.
"What else do I need?"
Being new to this, I had no idea what else to prepare.
"I'll have to change clothes every day at school, so maybe buy more outfits."
I could always get more later as needed.
Since it's my first time, I'd figure it out through trial and error, picking up necessities one by one.
I bought several trendy clothes and plain gym uniforms,
and finished preparing for school with heaps of excitement.
To put it crudely, I had illusions about school.
What would the other kids be like?
What about the teachers?
Being elementary school, it wouldn't feel anything like the academies or military training facilities I knew, but that was fine.
And...
"Hello, everyone! I'm your teacher, Oh Eun-ye. I'll be your homeroom teacher guiding you for the next year!"
The first day of school arrived.
Day one at school.
Now, how would the first lesson go?
I looked at the teacher, full of eager anticipation.
Meanwhile.
The League of Worlds community was still reeling from the aftershocks of Third Life's broadcast.
By now, the hype should be dying down.
But he kept tossing more fuel on the fire whenever there was a chance, so the community's heat showed no signs of cooling.
After messing around with all sorts of posts for a while, they soon zeroed in on the culprit of this whole game.
For reference,
the one unintentionally dominating the community with last time's broadcast,
and the target of the community's severe hangover—
"Today, we'll start with simple self-introductions! Ye-sol, you first?"
—was currently having his fantasies and expectations about school shattered in real time,
suffering extreme reality-check blues.
"Oh, everyone. When the teacher rings this bell like ding!", shout "Focus!" together and pay attention to me!"
Ding!
"Focus!"
The kids shouted in unison.
Everyone except one who couldn't bring himself to join in.
The self-introduction time at the beginning was fine.
Sure, first time meeting, so introductions make sense.
Different from what squires did, but manageable enough.
"I'm... Ye-sol! Uh... um, I like Pusanping!"
I could watch it like a kids' talent show and breeze through.
Even when my turn came, I handled it casually.
"Nothing specific I like right now. Hobbies are a few, like swordsmanship or watching broadcasts."
"Got it. Everyone, clap!"
Clap clap clap clap!
A bit embarrassing, but tolerable.
However.
"Alright, self-intros done. First lesson today is Korean. Everyone open your textbooks to page 14?"
Korean, page 14.
Unit: Speaking and Writing
The moment I saw what we were learning, I understood immediately.
Why so many regressors and reincarnators despaired like that.
Actually, thinking about it, it wasn't despair over "having to go to school again."
It was despair over "what they have to do at school."
"Does everyone know what Hangul is?"
"Yes!"
Unlike the kids shouting energetically,
I couldn't say a word.
"Then let's learn how to write what we say."
"Ah."
My age: unguessable.
Stopped counting properly long ago; only know this life's age.
But.
At least several decades.
No less than centuries lived,
and here I was, chasing glory,
learning to write.
The basics like gna dara mabasa...
Should I drop out?
One hour into school.
I caught a disease.
The illness so many modern students inevitably get during school years.
The disease you can't have at school.
Ah, no.
I still had hope.
I still held romantic notions of school life.
I might give up on classes,
but my school fantasies weren't just about lessons.
It was...!
Building fun memories with classmates during school years...!
"...Here?"
Ah.
For real.
I wanna drop out.