Freshman, Possessed (1)

If someone asked whether you'd like to go to another world, the answers would vary wildly. Those living content lives might hesitate, while the deeply dissatisfied would eagerly say yes. Regardless of yes or no, the third party has no right to judge that choice. Everyone has their own circumstances and inclinations, after all.

But one thing was certain: once you'd made your choice, you had to humbly accept whatever consequences followed.

That was the reason.

The reason she couldn't humbly accept her current situation.

Because she hadn't chosen this at all.

"Why the hell did I get possessed—!?"

Her name was Park Hana. Age twenty. A fresh-faced college freshman, barely an adult. Her hobby: reading webnovels. Favorite genre: romance fantasy.

And a few days ago, a peculiar new entry had been added to her resume.

Possessor.

"How could this clichéd plot happen to me...? Send someone else! There must've been tons of people who wanted to go!"

She enjoyed webnovels, but she could distinguish fantasy from reality. They were fun, with appealing characters—that was all. She had zero escapist desire to flee her life for another world due to dissatisfaction. She'd just gotten into her dream university and was buzzing with excitement for college life. What was there to complain about? She wanted to study, travel with friends, fall in love with heart-fluttering romance!

"At least give some warning! I just woke up possessed like this. Who the hell handles things this way?!"

These days, possession stories trended toward "no questions asked, skip ahead," but if you were actually going to possess someone in real life, shouldn't there be at least a minimal explanation? Some spam email, a mysterious peddler, a dream apparition—anything!

She didn't know who was responsible, but if she ever met them, she'd sue their asses.

"What's the reason? Why ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me?"

She pondered why she'd been possessed. She hadn't done anything special. She'd just left comments on authors with artistic delusions who disregarded readers: "Lacks plausibility.""They say characters can't outsmart their authors, but these ones seem stuck at sixth-grade level.""Plot holes aren't just gaps—they're a full net. Can't even cover it with the male lead's face, impressive.""Too much frustration. I'm out.""Brain break. Dropping." Or a 5,700-character feedback note.

She was vaguely aware she could be a bit of an extreme fan, but those were all warm encouragements and considerations for the authors. If they couldn't handle that and possessed her instead, it only proved their narrow-mindedness as writers.

In short, it was utterly unfair and unfit as a reason for her possession.

Of course, groaning about the injustice brought no reply.

Three days after the possession, Park Hana—now bearing the name Jenia Welson—finally accepted reality.

"When I get back, I'll send that author a 11,400-character note..."

Dragging herself up from the bed after days of raging, she sorted through her situation mentally first.

"...I can't just hole up here forever. I've got to do something."

She hadn't spent those three days idle in the corner. Thanks to the possession, communication was seamless, and she adapted easily to local customs and culture. Memories integrated without identity confusion, and common knowledge had no gaps. It was bizarrely considerate in these ways—infuriatingly so—but she was grateful not to need separate adjustment.

Anyway, investigating this world as best she could led to one conclusion.

"Probably... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the novel I possessed is The Saintess's Faith Life. No other fits the circumstances."

A world of divine supremacy, not bloodline elitism. Some stories had nations or factions like that, but rarely the whole worldview. Above all, decisive proof existed that this was the world of The Saintess's Faith Life.

"...Sacred Academy. That's a dead giveaway. Hmm."

The main stage of The Saintess's Faith Life, a furnace drawing every incident on the continent. Academies in fiction were always hotbeds of terrorism and intrigue, but Sacred Academy took it to extremes. So much so that an academic building exploding weekly was the norm! In the late plot, when it didn't blow up after a week, readers commented, "Over a week and the academy's intact? Plot inconsistency."

Entering Sacred Academy was the highest honor here, but honestly, if you valued your safety, refusing admission was wiser.

"But I have to go. Skipping won't dodge the plot. And besides..."

Jenia murmured the word softly.

"...Status Window."

"..."

Jenia stared silently at the translucent window before her eyes.

It appeared shortly after the possession, once time had passed. At first, she thought it was a dream, but its vivid persistence convinced her it was real.

And the emergence of the <Status Window> revealed this wasn't mere accident—some scheme was afoot.

"Getting a status window as a possession perk is a cliché. But..."

Now that it was happening to her, it pissed her off. Kidnapping someone living fine, no explanation—just dumping an info screen? Treating people like lab rats?

She figured that penalty would execute on failure. Whether it killed just this body or her soul too, she had no desire to test it personally.

But stewing only fueled her rage at the culprit.

"Fine. Bring it. I'll do it. But..."

Jenia gritted her teeth.

"After it's all over, I'll see that bastard's face. Or I won't rest easy."

No reason to take this lying down. She'd uncover their motives atom by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠atom and make them pay dearly.

She was a reader—a diehard fan from early serialization to finale. Comments "encouraging" the author, multiple full reruns: she remembered every plot, setting, hidden piece of The Saintess's Faith Life.

With that knowledge, navigating this shitshow would be easy!

"Just watch. I'll clear it spectacularly and flip everything upside down!"

With bold resolve, Jenia stepped toward the academy.

And about a week later.

She stared blankly at the scene unfolding before her.

"You're in the way, girl. Move if you don't wanna get hurt."

"Such vulgar speech to a lady. No class at all."

"What'd you say?"

Lines straight from the original. Fine so far. Now the two would fight. Sparks would fly toward the heroine, awakening her special power. Guilt-ridden, they'd approach to apologize.

That was canon.

But...

"Students. What reckless nonsense is this? Even spars shouldn't endanger other cadets."

"And who the hell are you?"

Who was this interrupting? I don't remember anyone like this?

"Ha! A professor from a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠department that might vanish any day, who do you think you're—Guhk!!"

And how was this guy beating him down? The kid was top-tier in combat per canon?

What? Did I possess the wrong novel?

Possessor Park Hana. One week in.

She faced her first snag.