The 999th Mad Warrior started worshipping me.

"......Interesting."

A cool voice echoed from the dark shadows beside the door behind me, where no light reached. My heart sank with a thud. Don't tell me she found out my secret? Who was it?

Instinctively dropping into a defensive stance, I whipped my head around. But the person who slowly emerged from the darkness with arms crossed was someone completely unexpected.

"Iris...?"

The silver-haired elven princess. She stared up at me with a deliberately haughty expression, her green eyes gleaming in the shadows.

"What's with the surprise? Do you think I'm going to eat you or something?"

The tension drained from me in an instant. It wasn't someone harboring murderous intent—it was just the curious princess...

"You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing here?"

"Hmph. Don't get the wrong idea. I didn't come to see you specifically."

She turned her head sharply and muttered under her breath.

"It's just... that wink you gave earlier bothered me. Don't underestimate an elf's eyesight."

Her words were sharp, but the tips of her white ears were trembling slightly. I let out a small chuckle and waved my hand.

"Hey there. This is our first proper greeting, isn't it?"

"......!"

When I took a step closer, Iris flinched and quickly scanned our surroundings.

"Hey, are you crazy? Don't come near me. Maintain one meter of distance. You'll get that filthy human stench on me."

"You're being awfully prickly. Did you come here because you were bored?"

"Y-you insolent human...!"

Just as she was about to explode, something strange caught my eye. A faint, swirling shape of wind circling around her silver hair. It was a manifestation of mana visible only to the chosen few—not something ordinary students could see.

A wind spirit... So this little guy followed her here.

I glanced back and forth between Iris and the spirit, recalling the original novel's setting. Iris Luminar Eldheim from The Pilgrim of Eternal Night. Throughout her time at the academy, she remained isolated due to her prejudice against other races. The only one who ever approached her was the hero, Adelia.

As a long-range dealer specializing in powerful spirit magic and archery, Adelia would be the one to open Iris's closed heart. Eventually, the two would become the ultimate duo, sweeping away the demon king's army.

That was supposed to be a key connection that Adelia claimed.

But right now, the spirit in front of me was smiling at me. Could I steal this? No—I had to steal it. To survive as an F-class, I needed to claim even the original story's connections as my own.

Alright, let's run a little test.

Normally, communication with spirits required ancient tongue, but I was an Outsider. An existence outside this world's laws. Just in case, I mouthed words in the language of my soul—Korean.

(Hey, can you hear me?)

The spirit froze mid-air. Its tail swished as it floated right in front of my eyes.

......Huh? It actually heard that?

I was genuinely surprised. I'd tried it on a whim, but it actually reacted. What was this? Some privilege of the Observer? No mana, no incantation needed. As long as the words carried my will, they could directly interfere with a spirit's code?

Grinning playfully, I whispered in Korean again.

(Your owner's ears are way too red. Cool them down for me.)

The spirit understood my intent and let out a delighted cheer. Like a child who'd found a fun new toy, it shot upward before diving straight toward Iris's most sensitive spot—right beside her ear.

Shwooo—

Fwoosh!

"Kyaaak—!!"

Iris shrieked and clutched her ears. The spirit had blown a gust of cold wind deep into them.

"You... What did you just do to my spirit?!"

She glared at me, visibly shaken. Her own spirit had responded to the will of a human who knew nothing of spirit arts and attacked its master? It was theoretically impossible.

I played dumb and shrugged.

"Beats me. Maybe the spirit just likes you too much."

"Y-you insolent...! Just you wait! Next time I'll teach you a lesson with my magic!"

She stomped her foot in frustration, her face burning crimson, then spun around.

"A-anyway... See you in the classroom! Hmph!"

Iris fled down the hallway like she was escaping. Watching her adorable retreating figure, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Heh... She's cute. Kinda feels like a little sister."

"Whoa, what the—? It went up by four percent?"

The moment I gasped in shock—

......Sorry, Adelia.

If we wanted to survive, we had to change the world's trajectory. The elf who was supposed to become Adelia's most reliable ally—I had claimed her first.

"Hmm~♪"

I felt great. A hum escaped my lips naturally. I headed toward the classroom with light steps.

......Or I tried to.

The system window wouldn't disappear. Even though Iris had left, the warning tone only grew sharper.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

......What?

A chill ran down my spine. That was strange. Iris had definitely gone that way, right? Then the gaze currently piercing me from the deeper darkness behind me—where Iris had been standing earlier...

"Ugh... what the hell?"

My body began to tremble. This wasn't the playful energy I'd felt before. This was the gaze of a predator.

Behind a shadowed pillar. Two blood-red eyes gleamed there.

".....Huk."

The moment our eyes met, my instincts screamed. I have to run. No explanation needed. That was a beast that had lost all reason. If I got caught here, I might be torn limb from limb before I even reached the classroom.

I sprinted down the hallway with every ounce of strength I had. It felt like a freezing chill was chasing me from behind.

Creak!

Panting heavily, I flung open the classroom door and stumbled inside. Thankfully, she hadn't followed. There were too many eyes here. Amid the strange silence of the classroom, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠brazenly walked to the window seat at the very back that I'd scouted earlier.

"......"

Iris was already sitting there. When she saw me, she huffed and turned her head away—but she'd left the seat beside her empty. I naturally sat down next to her.

"Ahem... Excuse me for taking the seat beside you, Princess~!"

"......Didn't I tell you not to come within one meter?"

Even as she said that, the corner of her mouth was slightly lifted. So far, so good. The problem came next.

Creak.

The classroom door opened again. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Every student's breath caught.

Platinum hair and crimson eyes. Adelia, who had skipped the morning classes, had arrived.

The professor was the strict type who had roared at me for being late, calling my mental state rotten. But now, he merely adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat.

"Ahem... Adelia, you've arrived. Take any seat you like."

Despite being late, she received no punishment. A bitter laugh escaped me. As expected, the treatment of an SS-class hero and an F-class piece of trash was like heaven and earth.

Adelia strode forward with an expressionless face, as if the professor's words didn't even register. Her gaze swept across the classroom. And then it locked onto me with pinpoint accuracy.

......No way.

Without hesitation, she walked straight toward me. And then—

Thud.

She dropped her bag on the empty seat to my right and sat down heavily.

[Iris — (Me) — Adelia]

"......What?"

The sound slipped out before I could stop it. What was going on? She'd looked like she wanted to kill me in the hallway earlier. I glanced at her, feeling both relieved and utterly confused.

It was suffocating. From the left came Iris's fresh forest scent mixed with prickly mana, while from the right came Adelia's cold metallic smell and heavy killing intent pressing down on me. The overwhelming pressure difference from both sides.

But contrary to my thoughts, the surrounding reactions were intense. Especially Kyle, who had been dying to harass me, shouted as if having a seizure.

"H-hey! Hero Adelia?!"

Kyle shot to his feet and pointed.

"There are so many seats—why would you sit next to that trash? That place smells and is dirty......"

Zap.

Adelia turned her head and glared at Kyle. She didn't say a word. Just stared at him with those red eyes, and Kyle swallowed hard.

"It's noisy."

"Y-yes? B-but......"

"I choose my own seat. Don't talk to me. It ruins my mood."

Adelia turned away again and crossed her arms. Kyle's face flushed red with humiliation. He glanced at both sides. On the right, Adelia was radiating killing intent that screamed 'Don't touch my prey.' On the left, Iris was narrowing her eyes as if to say 'What are you doing next to my toy?'

Cold sweat poured down my back like rain as I sat trapped between them. The classroom was filled with shock.

"Dude, are you serious... is this real?"

"An F-class sitting between the hero and the elf princess?"

"Wow, that bastard must have something going on, right?"

And among them was a gaze that looked like it wanted to kill me. Kyle's face was so red from jealousy and inferiority that it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looked ready to burst. His fists trembled violently. His lips moved in a shape I could read clearly.

Just you wait!! I'm really going to kill you.

The moment class ended, the predicted crisis arrived.

"Hey, bastard."

Kyle blocked my path. His eyes were completely unhinged.

"Follow me, bastard... I've got something to say."

"Can't we do it here? I'm busy too."

"You son of a bitch!! If you don't want to die, follow me!"

Without waiting for my answer, he roughly grabbed my arm and dragged me. From the strength of his grip, I could feel his pathetic sense of inferiority. The defeat of being pushed aside by a mere F-class. The deprivation of not being chosen by the hero. All that resentment was aimed at the easiest target—me.

If I refused now, he looked ready to throw a tantrum. I didn't want my reputation to drop any further. Sighing, I followed him.

We arrived at an empty lot behind the old school building where few people went. Kyle turned around, his expression hardening.

"Hey, you F-class trash. Who the hell do you think you are, sitting next to the hero?"

"This is ridiculous... Did I ask her to sit there? She sat down herself, you crazy bastard."

"Bullshit! You must've used some black magic! A piece of trash who doesn't know his place!"

Whoosh—!

Before I could even respond, Kyle's fist flew at me. A C-class punch infused with mana.

Thud!

"Ugh...!"

I had no time to defend. The punch to my gut knocked the wind out of me. The Pilgrim's Ring reduced the impact, but I could feel its durability dropping.

"This bastard's got quite the endurance, huh?"

Kyle smirked viciously and raised his fist again. This time it was aimed at my head. If it hit, I'd die.

Flash—!

At that moment, a golden current exploded from my body.

It was a barrier created by Yuriel's faith. A faint lilac scent spread through the dirty lot.

Clang!

Kyle's fist was stopped in mid-air.

"W-what the...!"

But—

Crackle... shatter!

It only blocked once. The sanctuary shattered like glass after a single hit. The faint trace of faith couldn't withstand Kyle's power.

Now's the time.

I aimed for his opening. The Observer's Eye drew a red trajectory, pointing at his weak point—his right knee. But my body was only F-class.

Thud!

I kicked his knee with every ounce of strength I possessed. However—

"......Ha."

Kyle didn't even flinch. Instead, my ankle throbbed like it was about to break. An F-class's strength couldn't penetrate a C-class body. The absolute difference in stats. I knew it in my head and saw it with my eyes, but my body couldn't keep up with that miserable reality.

"You're... resisting?"

Kyle's eyes rolled back in fury.

"Die. Just die already, you bastard! Who the hell are you to sit next to the hero!"

Crack! Thud!

Relentless violence poured down. I curled up on the ground, protecting my vital points, but the impacts shook me to my bones. My mouth burst open, filling with the taste of blood. The ring shattered. The sanctuary vanished. At this rate, I was really going to die.

"Die! Die!!"

The moment Kyle gathered mana for the final blow—

Slice.

With a chilling sound, the world stopped.

"......Huh?"

Kyle's descending fist froze in mid-air. A cold silver dagger was pressed against his neck. No—it was right before cutting him. The skin had been lightly sliced, and red blood trickled down.

Adelia had appeared at some point and now stood behind Kyle. Her eyes were dead, but the corner of her mouth was twisted strangely.

"How dare you lay a hand on my Roy......"

Her voice trembled.

"......No, that's not it."

She flinched and corrected herself.

"What are you doing to my prey?"

"H-hiiik?! H-hero......?"

"Get lost. Before I cut you into pieces while you're still alive."

Overwhelming killing intent. The aura of a slaughterer who had butchered humans and tens of thousands of demonic beasts engulfed Kyle. His pupils clouded over with terror.

Drip......

The space between his legs grew wet. The stench of urine filled the air.

"K-kyaaaaak! I-I'm sorry! Please spare me!"

Kyle couldn't even scream properly. He crawled across the ground and fled. His pathetic figure disappeared without looking back.

Only Adelia and I remained in the empty lot. I wiped my busted lip and stood up.

"Haa... haa... Thanks, Adelia. For saving......"

Grab.

She seized me by the collar. It wasn't the eyes of someone who'd saved me. She sniffed my body odor. And then—

"Ugh, disgusting... You smell like that bitch?"

Her red eyes had gone ice cold.

The tip of the dagger now pointed at my throat.

Shit...... Fuck.