Changed Academy Life
"This place I'm in isn't just some game world. It's another reality."
I repeat it to myself once more. I can't afford to mistake this. If I do, I'll screw everything up for sure.
If I'd heard this before the incident, I would've shot back that I already knew it all. Then I'd say something like, Bullshit. You don't know jack, you moron. First off, ditch that mindset that everything will work out just because you know the original plot. The original had four routes branching from seemingly minor divergences, each with three endings. And that was in a game where variables were strictly controlled by the devs. What do you think happens in reality?
Mark my words—even if I follow original Joo Hyowon's actions to the letter from here on out, the future will veer into some unprecedented route. Treat your original knowledge as mere hints, nothing more.
And one more thing. Realign your priorities. What should I truly focus on first? What values should I pursue? Get that straight, and the path forward will clear.
What I must pursue above all is...
※
A week had passed since that war-like day ended. But for the instructors and heroes, it still felt like overtime.
Why were gates popping up at such an insane rate? What the hell were those crazy sewer rats targeting first-years inside the gates? Is the safe zone really safe? Why did the entire safe zone get locked down? Whose fault is the worse-than-usual civilian casualties?
In some ways, this bureaucratic wrestling was more headache-inducing than fighting monsters. Viewed that way, life as a first-year—with no real responsibility due to lack of ability—might not be so bad after all... or so Hwa Yujin found himself thinking.
It still doesn't feel real.
He'd decided to face off against that monstrous beast—and he was still alive. Back then, Yujin remembered steeling himself for death. In truth, he'd probably been half out of his mind, moving on pure instinct.
But any average joe would've bolted like a coward or frozen in terror and died. No one could downplay Yujin's heroism for that.
Anyway, facing death head-on had ushered in a new chapter of life. Wasn't there a saying like "those who seek death shall live, and those who seek life shall die"?
This "new life" wasn't some sloppy hyperbole. At the very least, Yujin's academy days had truly changed.
And the first button on that new shirt? Surprisingly, it started with Esmeralda.
"Hwa Yujin, I want to formally apologize to you. I, Esmeralda, completely misunderstood you, you see."
On her first day back at the academy after qi treatment and discharge, Esmeralda said this straight to Yujin.
He was so blindsided he couldn't even muster a proper reply—just stood there dumbfounded. Esmeralda, who'd despised him most openly, suddenly?
"Lady Esmeralda! That's absurd! For you to apologize to a rotten guy with that kind of grit?!"
"Right! It tarnishes your dignity!"
"We could praise him at most, but an apology? No way..."
Her lackeys flipped out even more.
He was so used to reactions like that, theirs almost seemed normal by comparison.
But Esmeralda lightly raised a hand, silencing her flunkies' protests.
"Hush now. How could sincerely apologizing for a wrongdoing tarnish one's dignity? True nobility lies in the courage to face one's mistakes head-on. Understand that, you see."
By the way, this world doesn't officially recognize class systems. "Former nobility" fits better.
Esmeralda looked Yujin straight in the eye.
"I've heard the full story from Instructor Sonya, you see. That even facing mortal danger, you never fled—you stood your ground to protect the civilians."
"Ah, well... uh."
Truth be told, he'd been half out of his mind then. He doubted he could pull it off now if asked.
"I don't know what motives drove you, you see. But in the end, this world turns on actions, not thoughts. And I believe your actions were undoubtedly heroic."
Heroic.
That word carried more than dictionary weight—coming from the daughter of an active Hero.
The lackeys, who should've groveled in agreement, threw a fit instead, claiming it didn't suit Yujin. The two ignored them.
"I held prejudices against you. With such a sleazy Unique Ability, I assumed the man himself was vile and repulsive."
But no. The notion that a person's Unique Ability reflects their true nature was just prejudice.
...That's what I figured the story would go for. But nope.
She still firmly believed Yujin's nature was rotten to the core. Only...
"Now I know you possess the supreme discipline to control your wicked nature with trained reason and heroism."
"......"
How was he supposed to respond to that?
Basically: Sure, you're innately ugly inside, but you know how to suppress it. Good job~
Hard to be thrilled, hard to be offended.
"On reflection, there might be greater value in forging the right path despite an evil nature, rather than being born purely good. My insight was too shallow to see it before, you see."
With that, Esmeralda extended her hand to Yujin.
A handshake.
"Will you accept my apology?"
"...Yeah. Thanks for seeing it now, even if late."
...Truth be told, Yujin hadn't fully forgiven her.
She'd treated him like dirt for no reason—hard not to hold a grudge.
But she'd owned her mistake and apologized sincerely. No gain for her in doing so now, no one forcing her.
He wanted to honor that sincerity.
Plus, refusing might stir up more headaches.
Anyway, after accepting Esmeralda's apology, academy life got noticeably easier.
No instant new friends or 180-degree attitude flips from everyone. Just... the overt hate stares vanished, and no one nitpicked his every move. That alone made breathing easier.
All thanks to Hyowon.
Because of her, Yujin hadn't quit the academy.
She'd helped Ayumi—and saved his life, no less.
Hyowon had said it: When facing that massive monster, Yujin stepped up first.
Honestly, he barely remembered. It was spinal reflex, before his brain caught up.
But even without details, he was dead certain it was all thanks to Hyowon.
She'd pushed so hard—helped his only family Ayumi, scored the decisive feat resolving that bizarre floor lockdown. For a guy like him to do nothing? Pathetic.
That resolve moved his body.
"She's one hell of a mysterious girl."
She treated him—perverted Unique Ability and all—without a hint of bias. Even Ayumi had paled at first, unsure how to react.
Ridiculously strong, yet acutely aware of her limits. She claimed she moved only on revenge—but her shame over that motive proved her heroism, Yujin thought.
She was... beautiful. Really beautiful.
He had to admit it honestly. Yujin was drawn to Joo Hyowon's elegant, stunning looks.
And twice as drawn to her casual personality, contrasting that haughty allure.
Ayumi's constant nudges to "go for it" didn't feel so bad anymore.
'She's definitely into you too, you know? Why else would she care so much? Rumor has it Hyowon was ice-cold before. But not with us—what's that about?'
...Huh, maybe.
Words he'd brushed off before now rang true.
Yujin was just past twenty—prime age for romantic thirst.
Sure, Hyowon had drawn a line: she'd never see him as a man.
Back then, he'd felt inexplicable disappointment without realizing.
But lines like that could crumble anytime, right? Maybe even tomorrow.
Yujin quickly amended his fantasy.
"Hey, wanna talk alone? Got time?"
Maybe that day was today.