Chapter 0 – The Heroine and Her Boyfriend of the Female-
Oriented Game
"I sincerely welcome you to the Hero Training Academy Union."
I looked up at the podium.
The principal, dressed neatly, was reciting his speech.
After listening to the principal's words for a moment, I quickly scanned the surroundings.
Then, the expansive view of the auditorium unfolded before my eyes.
The many students sitting quietly.
The instructors standing in an orderly manner.
The banners hanging in the distance.
[The 2023 Union Academy Entrance Ceremony for New Students (Hero)]
All these scenes were both incredibly familiar to me, and yet, at the same time, so very unfamiliar.
"The representative for the 20th Union Academy freshman class, Lee Siwoon, please come forward."
Was it then?
The principal called out the name of a male student. Lee Siwoon promptly walked up to the podium.
The gazes of trainees and visitors were plastered on him.
In an instant, all attention was sharply focused as if arrows had been shot through the air.
But Lee Siwoon, with an expression of indifference, merely scanned the faces of the crowd without a care for the thousands of eyes upon him.
"Look over there. That's the Lee Siwoon, Lee Siwoon." "Lee Siwoon, the grandson of SL Group?"
"And he's really handsome too~."
"I know, right. He looks even better in person." Whispers everywhere.
The murmurs buzzed in my ears.
A group of female students sat a short distance away, chatting excitedly like sparrows.
Handsome, a rich family's young master, a genius. Their faces were a mix of admiration and friendliness.
"Wow, damn. Even as a guy, I can see he's really good- looking."
"Stand next to him, and I'd look like a total squid, right?"
"Life is so freaking unfair. Talented and from a rich family, and good-looking too… damn."
The male students clicked their tongues with sullen faces.
Unlike the female students, they were busy spitting out their envy.
Well, that's understandable.
Lee Siwoon was nearly perfect in every way.
Appearance, family background, talent, abilities…
From the perspective of other men, it's only natural to feel envious.
If you put it half-jokingly, Lee Siwoon was like a character you'd only expect to find in a genre aimed at women.
'Lee Siwoon, huh…'
I gazed at Lee Siwoon, who had begun to read his oath on the podium, and I fell into deep thought.
Lee Siwoon.
The top student of the 20th Union Academy freshman class.
The grandson of a conglomerate within the top five of South Korea's business hierarchy.
One of the disciples of the Swordsmen, soon to be recognized as one of the academy's most outstanding talents.
His face, as you can see, unsurpassed among the male trainees at the academy.
If I remember correctly, didn't he win first place twice in a row in the male character popularity polls?
"Wait, is that guy Kang Daehan?" "Kang Daehan?"
While I was looking at Lee Siwoon, one female student widened her eyes in surprise, tapped her friend's shoulder, and gestured toward a male student.
I too shifted my gaze to catch a glimpse of the male student's figure from afar.
"Yawn~… Ugh."
There sat a male student with hair dyed red, yawning loudly in an indolent posture.
He brought to mind the image of a delinquent or a loafer. But Kang Daehan was no ordinary delinquent.
After all, he is a descendant of the legendary hero, Kang Cheolun.
"Kang Daehan, as in the HanYoung Clan?"
"The HanYoung Clan has had some bad rumors, but still."
"Still, it's one of the representative clans of South Korea, right?"
Kang Daehan.
The fifth-ranked student of the 20th Union Academy freshman class.
The second son of South Korea's representative hero, Kang Cheolun.
Renowned for his temperamental nature and animalistic senses, just like his father.
His practical combat skills are expected to rank alongside Lee Siwoon at the top.
However, due to his poor academic scores, he was only accepted into the fifth seat of the academy.
Among the female fans, opinions vary, but he has a cult-like following among some.
His capricious and tough demeanor has earned him fans who like the 'bad boy' or 'beast man' image.
I think he has ranked between first and third several times in the male character popularity polls.
'To think that I would see these guys all in one place.' Lee Siwoon and Kang Daehan.
I know these two people very well.
I can confidently say that I know them better than anyone else here.
Because these two men are the most important 'Heroes' in this world.
"Jinhyuk."
As I sat there, stealing glances at the male leads and lost in thought.
"Why have you been staring like that?" A sweet voice caressed my ears.
I turned my head towards the source of the light and refreshing voice, and suddenly, I could see a silhouette.
"Ah-ha~."
The female student looking at me with a cheeky expression and playful corners of her eyes.
"Looking for a pretty girl, by any chance?"
She laughed with an air of easy familiarity, and I slowly met the gaze of the female student.
Dark hair as if gathered from the night sky.
Skin as pale and tender as ivory, like that of a newborn.
Eyes sparkling mischievously with lashes spread wide. 'It never gets old, even after more than ten years.'
Just by looking at her quietly, she could melt a man's heart. She was like a masterpiece painted with the life's passion of a famous artist.
She was beautiful enough to remind me of the idiom 'Goddess of the Moon Palace.'
'Well, to capture the hearts of numerous male leads, one would need that level of beauty.'
Perhaps one could say her beauty was 'probable'? "..."
I brushed off the pointless thought and contemplated the beauty of the female student.
Her name is Jin Soyeon.
One of the many aspiring heroes who entered Union Academy ranked at 257.
But it would be a mistake to think of Jin Soyeon as just a beautiful girl with aspirations of heroism.
Because Jin Soyeon is destined to receive courtship from numerous male leads and become the greatest hero of the Academy.
"What's wrong? Why are you like that?"
She's the unique heroine of this female-oriented game, 'Romance Hero Academy,' and at the same time.
"Is there something on my face?" She's my one and only girlfriend. "No."
That's right.
I have been reincarnated as an NPC from a female-oriented RPG game I played in my past life.
"Just took a glance."
The reincarnation of the NPC, Lee Jin-hyuk, who was jealously tormented by numerous male characters and made an exit from the
stage in defeat.
Chapter 1 – Let's Break Up (1) Romance Hero Academy.
It was the female-oriented strategy role-playing game (SRPG) I played in my past life.
The plot of the game goes like this:
Jin Soyeon, the female protagonist, teams up with handsome and capable male heroes to defeat world- threatening monsters and villains and become a hero herself.
Following the typical sequence of a female-oriented visual novel game.
But there's a unique twist here.
Romance Hero Academy is a game that cleverly mixes elements of visual novels and RPGs.
As it half-purports to be an RPG, it boasts excellent balance in strategy, combat, and character development, and places a high emphasis on exploration and collection elements.
Dungeon conquering, villain hunting, character romance, and more. For a female-oriented game, the quality is really outstanding.
In my past life, as a gamer, I stumbled upon this game during my internet wanderings and, with a mix of apprehension and expectation, I decided to give it a try.
But who would have thought. Charming characters.
Excellent level design.
Threatening and powerful enemies.
Great settings with South Korea as the backdrop. Despite my low expectations, wasn't it surprisingly fun?
That's why I played it as if I'd fallen in love for the first time.
I saw all the endings, collected all the CGs, searched for hidden elements, farmed all the items, achieved all the achievements, played it over dozens of times, tried various concept plays, and even created and uploaded 100% walkthrough videos on the internet…
I was really hooked on this game for a long time.
I got so into it that I memorized the profiles of the main, supporting, and minor characters, as well as the setting of the game's world.
I searched the internet for related doujinshi, novels, and setting materials.
Well, to be honest, I was half-crazy about this game, wasn't I?
However, if you ask me if I wanted to be reincarnated into the world of Romance Hero Academy, I would have to say
'no'.
Because this world is filled with dangerous monsters and villains.
If you're really unlucky, you could be screamingly dead in an instant.
But why. Why.
Why did I…
Get reincarnated as NPC Lee Jinhyuk…
"Again, look at you spacing out."
"Ah."
Startled.
I was brought back to my senses by the clear voice of a girl.
After snapping out of my needless reverie, I slowly turned my head and realized that a familiarly beautiful girl was staring at me, puzzled.
That was Jin Soyeon.
The heroine of this world.
"You've been weird lately, you know? Always zoning out." "Sorry, sorry."
I responded with a light smile to Jin Soyeon, who wore a soft expression full of questions.
"There's just a lot on my mind."
But it would be rude to have other thoughts in front of Jin Soyeon.
Now I should put aside those needless thoughts and focus on Jin Soyeon.
"Concerns? What concerns?"
This place was Jin Soyeon's room.
A white desk and chair, a single-sized bed, various types of cosmetics, a penguin stuffed toy that I had given her as a gift in the past…
For a girl's room, it could seem quite simple. "Are you worried about life at the Academy?"
Jin Soyeon sat on her single-sized bed and gently hugged the large penguin stuffed toy.
She buried her face in the penguin toy for a moment and then quickly lifted her head, her expression hinting at some teasing thought.
"After all, our Jinhyuk barely passed with makeup exams~."
Jin Soyeon teased me with a mischievous expression, but her words were not wrong.
Because the setting of Lee Jinhyuk in the game was really the worst.
NPC Lee Jinhyuk.
Talent at the level of a commoner, no background. Parents deceased, not much in terms of wealth.
And a poor constitution that meant even with long training, growth was minimal, and he never awoke any special abilities.
The fact that I was able to get into Union Academy was almost entirely up to luck.
The high scores on written exams and the tactical simulation evaluations were just enough to get me in as an additional successful applicant.
My qualifications as an aspiring hero were truly subpar.
Not only compared to Jin Soyeon but even among the male heroes.
Ability, wealth, background, appearance… it was nonsensical to compare.
"Ah well, can't help it. I'll look after you a bit, so don't worry too much. I'm ranked 257th, you know?"
At this point, one might wonder.
Why is the character and treatment of NPC Lee Jinhyuk so unfavorably depicted?
After all, the role of a childhood friend is typically given more importance and better treatment because of its popularity.
But I am different. And so is NPC Lee Jinhyuk.
Because the character Lee Jinhyuk is created with the idea of 'retirement (Retire)' midway through the story.
"Even at 257th, you're just middle to upper tier. Doesn't seem like enough to be so proud, huh?"
"Yeah~ you're next to last~."
To be more blunt, he is a character destined to be sacrificed as fodder for the mental awakening of Jin Soyeon.
Well, why not.
Isn't this a common setting in the hero genre?
The protagonist awakens hidden powers and vanquishes enemies when a loved one, family, lover, friend, etc., dies.
Likewise, it's also common for the devastated female protagonist to gradually open her heart as she is comforted by handsome and cool men.
Really, it's such a clichéd part of the plot.
When I played this game in the past, I remember thinking, 'Oh, how clichéd~' and just accepting it…
If it's about me, that changes things.
It's not just clichéd; my heart is racing so fast it feels like it's going to burst.
'Of course, it's not like there's no route to survival…'
"Anyway, it's good that we got into Union. It would have been awkward if only I passed."
Suddenly, Jin Soyeon lay down on the bed, hugging the penguin toy tightly.
"Right?"
I quietly watched Jin Soyeon, who was smiling broadly with her head thrown back, though I felt quite unsettled.
She seemed happy that we both got into Union Academy, but right now, I was just feeling uneasy.
"Jinhyuk, it was your dream. To enroll in Union and become a hero."
"It was."
In the past.
"It was? Why the past tense?" "Just… well."
To be precise, it had been my dream up until about a month ago.
To enroll in Union Academy, the best place in South Korea for cultivating heroes, and become a true hero.
But now, that's impossible. Because a month from now. I came to realize one fact.
"Like you said, I barely passed. I guess I really don't have talent as a hero."
"Huh? It's not like you to talk like that, Jinhyuk."
Previous life.
I cursed the memory that I had recalled from my previous life.
"You're not feeling down because of a few words I said, right? Huh?"
"Of course not."
Knowing this world is very similar to the female-oriented game, I could no longer aim to be a mere hero and enjoy life at the academy.
Because I know about the numerous incidents and accidents that will occur at Union Academy in the future.
And what will happen to me and Jin Soyeon. I knew everything.
"By the way, Soyeon." "Huh? What's up?"
For a brief moment, I quietly gazed into Jin Soyeon's clear eyes and then broached the subject.
An inquisitive pair of eyes flickered with a golden glow.
Her eyes seemed to have an alluring charm that could draw in men.
"I have something to tell you."
"Something to say?"
She licked her lips a couple of times and then suddenly bit her lower lip gently.
Once spoken, words could not be taken back, hence the slight hesitation.
But after a month of deep thought, following the awakening of my memories of my past life, I concluded that it would be best to say this.
For Jin Soyeon and me. And for leading a normal life at the academy, it was necessary to redefine our relationship.
"What is it? You're making me wait." Jin Soyeon blinked.
Her head tilted curiously from side to side. Even that simple motion was quite endearing. "...Huh?"
Then suddenly.
"Jinhyuk, you don't mean…"
Jin Soyeon wore a startled expression.
And wrapped her arms around herself protectively.
What's going on? Why is she acting like this all of a sudden? "I didn't think you were like that...!"
"What are you talking about?"
Then very slowly.
She began to move her hips away, increasing the distance between us.
"Taking advantage of my mom being on a business trip...?"
"...?"
"Gyah~ Pervert~! Beast~! I never thought Jinhyuk would think like that! Even if it's you, some things just shouldn't be done..."
"...?"
"Uh, uh, Jinhyuk? You're not going to deny it?" "..."
When I looked at her with an expression of disbelief, Jin Soyeon scratched her cheek bashfully with an awkward look.
"Hmm. Don't embarrass people."
I stared intently at Jin Soyeon, who was twirling the ends of her hair and feigning ignorance.
She muttered to herself, 'Why won't he play along with my jokes these days,' and grumbled.
Jin Soyeon avoided my gaze for a moment but then cleared her throat when she could no longer ignore the issue, and brought it up again.
"So, what is it you were going to say, Jinhyuk?"
"Ah, well… it's nothing major."
A little delayed because of Jin Soyeon's irrelevant playfulness, but the words had to be said.
Thanks to Jin Soyeon, at least the mood had lightened considerably.
"Soyeon."
"Yeah?"
"Let's break up."
On the very day the Academy's entrance ceremony, which marks the beginning of the game, ended.
I declared our parting to Jin Soyeon, the heroine of the female-oriented visual novel and the leading female protagonist.
Chapter 2 – Let's Break Up (2)
Romance Hero Academy is a game aimed at a female audience.
Forming bonds with numerous men and enjoying sweet and bitter romances is a key objective.
Rich young masters, scions of leading clans, celebrity classmates…
As one lives through the Academy life, it's only natural to attract handsome and capable men like bees to a flower's fragrance.
But let me ask.
What if the girl you have a crush on is suddenly attached to an unknown man?
Would you accept it if they receive special treatment and maintain a joyous relationship simply because they've been together for a long time?
No. It wouldn't be possible.
You wouldn't accept that a man with no ability, talent, or decent family background monopolizes the affection of the one you love.
Why?
Because, as I've said before, this world is a reverse harem game.
Unlike the typical visual novel that sings of love, this game is a reverse harem visual novel mixed with dark, sticky themes of decadence, obsession, and jealousy.
This is the true face of Romance Hero Academy.
'The personalities of the male protagonists… they're seriously no joke.'
The male protagonists each have a towering sense of self- esteem.
They might not show jealousy overtly, but as the story progresses, their dissatisfaction and attachment will inevitably build up.
If one fails to manage the affinity and favorability properly, the male protagonists will come to view me, Jin Soyeon's only boyfriend, as an 'enemy' or 'obstacle.'
Of course, since they half-claim to be the good guys, they won't bully me openly, but the problem lies with the various NPCs trying to curry favor with the male protagonists.
They will voluntarily torment Lee Jinhyuk to earn the male protagonists' approval.
Malicious rumors, ostracism, isolation, harassment, manipulation.
All of this will be done very spitefully, as long as it stays under the radar.
Really, the more I think about it, the more hopeless my future at the Academy seems.
Perhaps because my character was created to be sacrificed, my treatment is just terrible.
However, there is one way to solve all this. A very simple solution.
Think about it. If being Jin Soyeon's boyfriend is the cause of the harassment, then breaking up with her should solve it.
Therefore, I declared our breakup to Jin Soyeon. "..."
"..."
Then silence fell between us.
The room was filled with an indefinable sense of quietude. "Ah."
But that was only for a moment. "As if I'm joking around… anyway."
Jin Soyeon muttered a monologue as if for me to hear and soon lifted her eyes with a somber expression.
Then she began to act like a bereaved heroine, full of mischief, as if she had been spurned in love.
"How could you…"
Her demeanor was reminiscent of a playful cat or a mischievous girl.
"Is there another woman?"
She feigned a sob with a voice half mixed with tears. "Jinhyuk… how could you do this to me…!"
Even going so far as to pretend to weep openly.
'I sort of expected this, but so she's reacting like this.'
Such a response was possible because of our close relationship.
We had often exchanged playful jokes.
April Fool's pranks, surprise hidden-camera jokes, and more. "Yeah… right."
"Huh?"
"There's another woman I like."
I decided to go along with the playful mood as if it didn't matter much, aiming to shift the atmosphere.
"She's much prettier and kinder than you." "Sniff. A rebound breakup is the worst~."
We continued to banter, laughing nonsensically.
"Did you really find someone you fell for at first sight after the entrance ceremony?"
"Who knows."
"Again~ again with that~. Won't you tell just me, your noona, a little bit?"
Jin Soyeon teased me with a sly smile.
Giggling, she poked me in the ribs.
She didn't look at all like a lover who had just heard a declaration of breakup. But, how could she? Jin Soyeon and I weren't in a typical romantic relationship.
"Anyway, enough with the jokes." "Ah~"
"Soyeon."
"Alright, alright. So, what is it you want to say, Mr. Jinhyuk?"
When I looked at her with a bit more seriousness, she gave a shrug as if to say she got it and prepared to listen.
"That thing I mentioned just now." "Ah, the breakup thing?"
Her eyes flickered as if she remembered.
"I thought it might be time to quit now that we've been admitted to Union Academy."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
I looked at Jin Soyeon intently.
Then… "I see."
She nodded slowly, as if understanding. "Ah~ and I was wondering…"
With a long sigh, a smile crept onto her previously tense face.
She playfully patted my shoulder as usual.
"I was wondering what you were going to say."
"I wanted to try saying it too. The 'let's break up' thing." "It must be nice~ To kick a pretty girl to the curb so easily."
Our conversation about the breakup was casual, as if it wasn't a big deal.
At a glance, our reactions might seem a bit strange, but in reality, Jin Soyeon and I were not truly in a romantic relationship.
We were so-called 'fake lovers.'
A relationship that pretended to be real but wasn't.
'Fake lovers, huh. Sounds like something straight out of a game.'
It's the stuff of love comedies, pure romance comics, romance fantasy… Wouldn't it be disappointing if it weren't featured in subculture genres by now?
"With graduation from the Academy marking the end of our school days, shouldn't we try out a proper romance?"
"Wow? You're already thinking about romance just after entering?"
There was no particular reason why Jin Soyeon and I became fake lovers.
Since she was a child, Jin Soyeon, who had received an overwhelming number of love confessions from boys, asked me to pretend to be her boyfriend because she found it bothersome.
I, who couldn't refuse the request of a young Jin Soyeon who had suffered for her beauty from a young age, became the target of jealousy for many boys.
But not anymore.
Because I have to end this superficial relationship.
"I didn't know you were so eager to be in a relationship, Jinhyuk."
Jin Soyeon laughed and sprawled out on her bed. "As expected, all men are wolves~. Ahaha..."
I quietly looked down at Jin Soyeon, who was joking and laughing.
I watched her for a while, but she seemed no different from
the usual Jin Soyeon.
She didn't seem to attach much significance to ending our fake relationship.
'But really, is she okay? It's hard to tell just by looking.' I scratched my temples thoughtfully.
There was one thing I had been secretly concerned about.
Jin Soyeon was almost always smiling, so it was hard to know what she was thinking.
'But seeing her react so nonchalantly, maybe there's no big problem.'
Perhaps.
There's one little setting about Jin Soyeon. It's not a huge deal.
Just that she unknowingly has feelings for her childhood friend.
In the game, this setting was given so that when I die, she would experience a shock and become a tragic heroine.
Anyway, if the game's setting is to be followed, Jin Soyeon might unknowingly like me.
…Of course, well.
I don't really know if it's true or not.
She's always playing such pointless pranks.
And I was bothered by the ambiguous term 'unknowingly.' It's a hard expression to judge objectively.
Also, her reaction to our breakup was too nonchalant. "Do you really like me?" I wondered.
In the game, Jin Soyeon's inner feelings weren't well expressed.
Despite being a playable character.
'Considering Jin Soyeon's character setting… well, it's possible. But the reaction is too vague, making me hesitant about how to respond.'
I expressly said, "Let's break up," wondering how she would react.
"Soyeon, what about you?" "Me?"
"Yeah."
She blinked a few times, then pointed at herself with her index finger.
"Don't you want to try a real relationship?" "I'm good."
Jin Soyeon fiddled with the penguin toy and answered casually.
"Relationships are bothersome~."
"Is that so?"
"Of course, with my looks, guys won't leave me alone. Ah, Jinhyuk. You might regret breaking up with me? You'll know it's too late even if you beg me to come back."
"There's no cure for princess disease." "Hmph. What?"
Jin Soyeon pouted her lips in annoyance and glared at me.
"After all, boys, you know. Even after rumors spread that we were dating, a few kept confessing."
"Oh, right."
Was it during middle school?
Several boys confessed to her secretly.
They must have been confident that a goalkeeper like me could be easily bypassed. Well. Objectively, Jin Soyeon and I didn't suit each other.
"They'd put me down and say they were much better, question why she was with me, promise to treat her better… sigh."
Was it because of her negative experiences with various boys?
Jin Soyeon seemed to have a poor view of them.
Of course, her bright and lively personality allowed her to be friendly with both genders, but she seemed not to want to form a romantic relationship with a man.
"Do you really have no interest in love?" "I said no, didn't I?"
"Who knows? Maybe there's a really great guy out there?"
Like the male protagonists who are talented, good-looking, and well-backed.
"You really… Ha. Fine then. Go enjoy your love life." Jin Soyeon looked at me disapprovingly.
But considering the future, it would be best for Jin Soyeon and male protagonists to build positive relationships.
They are not only as talented as Jin Soyeon but also superior in abilities, background, wealth, etc.
They would make good allies in resolving various matters down the line.
'If she starts to lead a full-on Academy life, Soyeon will be hard-pressed to handle it alone.'
The difficulty level of this female-oriented role-playing game is quite high.
One wrong move, and you're likely to encounter a bad ending.
Then the world would be in chaos.
A world without its main character never ends well. Like it or not, this is the world I have to keep living in.
I can't just leave it all to Jin Soyeon and walk away without a care.
Ah, of course.
I have almost no intention of fighting myself. Even if I am a veteran of this game.
What can I do if I have to face off against the twisted monsters of the underworld, if not die?
The monsters and villains in this game are genuinely frightening.
Someone like me, with no talent or capability and created to die, would become nothing but a slab of meat if I carelessly stepped forward.
But thankfully, there's someone who will fight in my stead, right?
Jin Soyeon, the chosen heroine at the center of this world.
'Depending on how I guide Soyeon and the male protagonists, the future could vary wildly.'
Okay.
There's no point in hiding it now. I plan to make use of them.
Jin Soyeon and the male protagonists, the top talents of this world.
Ah.
Don't misunderstand when I say I'll use them. I don't mean to use them as tools.
Soyeon is my favorite and my childhood friend. There's no way I'd treat her harshly.
Instead, I plan to support her so she won't be envious of anyone.
I'll take advantage of my past-life memories to reap all the benefits for her.
Of course, the best option would be for me to die in front of her to awaken her, but I can't just die on purpose for her to awaken, can I?
Well… depending on the situation, I might be able to pretend to be dead…
"Are you spacing out again?" "Ah. Sorry, I'm a bit sleepy."
"You're sleepy when your girlfriend is right next to you?" "We decided to stop pretending to be lovers."
"Oh, right."
Jin Soyeon twisted her hair around her finger.
"Anyway, if you're sleepy, you should go back and sleep, right? Tomorrow starts our real Academy life."
"Yeah… you're right."
I nodded.
I had said most of what I wanted to say, so it was time to leave.
"Jinhyuk." "Yeah."
Suddenly, Jin Soyeon's voice stopped me.
"Thanks for indulging me all this time. It must have been bothersome for you."
"No, it's okay. Considering our relationship." "Our relationship…"
Jin Soyeon smiled ambiguously. "See you tomorrow, Soyeon."
"Yeah, take care, ex-boyfriend Jinhyuk." "Dream of me, ex-girlfriend Soyeon." "Ah, stop it, that's gross~."
I parted with the usual nonsensical banter. "..."
Just before closing the door.
I glanced back and saw through the closing gap. Jin Soyeon looking at my retreating figure.
Her eyes, they were…
Different from the usual, much more subdued.
Chapter 3 – Welcome to Union Academy (1) It was our first day at Union Academy.
We made our way to the class we had been assigned.
Glancing around, I saw the vast corridors filled with numerous students sharing cheerful conversations.
The atmosphere buzzed with the freshness of new students.
"Hehe, we ended up in the same class again?"
As we walked down the hallway, Jin Soyeon initiated a conversation with a bright voice.
"I've lost count of how many years we've been in the same class. Ah~ I'm so tired of it already~."
She hummed a little tune and playfully poked my side. She seemed pleased to be assigned to the same class.
Come to think of it, because of the 'childhood friend' setup, Jin Soyeon and I had almost always been in the same class since elementary school.
"Compared to middle school, this place is huge, isn't it? How much further do we have to go even after taking the
internal shuttle bus? I almost got lost during the entrance ceremony!"
"The total area of Union Academy is slightly larger than Yeouido."
"Wow, that much? No wonder it's the best hero training institution in the country."
According to the settings, Union is a famous academy even on a global scale.
Artificial dungeons, combat training fields, simulation centers, physical training facilities, special security offices, internal relic research complexes, magical societies, medical facilities, history museums, apartments for officials, dormitories for students, and so on.
The number of facilities and equipment was too vast to count.
The population living here permanently was equivalent to a small city.
"Here's Class 1-1."
After a few more minutes of walking, we finally arrived at our classroom.
I took a deep breath in my mind.
My heart was aflutter for various reasons.
The 1-1 class at Union Academy was anything but ordinary.
After all, it combined me, Jin Soyeon, and the male protagonists.
Class 1-1 could be considered the main stage of Romance Hero Academy.
Opening the door to this classroom would plunge us into the heart of the story.
"Ah, wait a second." "Hm? What's up?"
Suddenly, Jin Soyeon hesitated with a slight flush on her cheeks.
"I need to use the bathroom…"
"Out of the blue? Are you nervous or something?" "Not nervous, but… anyway, you go in first, Jinhyuk."
"What if you get lost on your own? You have no sense of direction."
"I do not~!"
Jin Soyeon, stung by the comment about her sense of direction, pouted her lips in displeasure.
What's with that? Is she trying to act cute?
…She is indeed cute.
"When you were little, you got lost on an errand and I had to find you crying…"
"Ah!"
As I teased her about her embarrassing childhood memories, Jin Soyeon hurriedly cut me off.
"Anyway! I'll be right back, so save me a spot, got it?" "Sure, sure."
Jin Soyeon shot me a sharp look and then headed off to the restroom with a haughty stride.
I watched her go, and feeling my tension ease thanks to her. Whew… that's good.
Let's go inside.
I swallowed hard and grabbed the doorknob.
Opening the door slowly, the classroom interior unfolded before me.
With its clean design and spacious layout, the semi-circular classroom unexpectedly reminded me of a college lecture hall.
I had only seen this kind of classroom in the game, but it sure looked like a high-quality setup.
'Let's see…'
The noise inside the classroom was quite loud.
Many students were clustered in small groups, chatting away.
There were many students from the same schools, so it was easy for them to stick together.
Students who already knew each other were happily blooming in conversation.
Some still seemed a bit awkward but were trying to make friends by starting dialogues.
Among them…
There was one group that particularly stood out.
Centered around a male student with an icy-cold appearance, a circle of boys and girls gathered, buzzing with various conversations.
I glanced over at that male student.
I could see his hair tinged with a faint blue and his eyes filled with melancholy.
It was almost as if a craftsman had painstakingly sculpted him, detail by detail, into a work of art.
Such an appearance could only draw admiration. 'That's Lee Siwoon.'
The young master of the SL Group, Lee Siwoon. Up close, he was even more handsome.
Handsome, capable, from a good family…
No wonder he has so many female fans. I feel a bit envious, honestly.
"Siwoon, did you see that event by GB Group last time? I'm Hanna Kim, and my father…"
"Are you friends with Baek Yurin, one of the top ten swordsmen's disciples?"
"Congratulations on being the top student, Siwoon. You're really amazing, aren't you?"
Was it because of his status as the young master of one of Korea's leading conglomerates?
Numerous students clung to his side, wagging their tails eagerly.
The sight of these kids trying to score even the tiniest crumb of favor made me sigh for various reasons.
They were acting so sycophantic at such a young age. "Yeah, Hanna. How's your father doing?"
"Ah! Yeah! Maybe you can visit our house sometime…"
Lee Siwoon responded to the students with a composure that suggested he was used to such attention.
The girls burst into giggles just from his slight nod and subtle smile.
I watched Lee Siwoon for a moment before turning away.
There was another important male protagonist in this classroom besides him.
That was Kang Daehan, the second male protagonist. "Yaaawn."
"Um, Daehan?"
"Huh?"
There, at the far back of the room, sat Kang Daehan with his red hair.
He had pushed his chair back and propped his legs on the desk, nodding off.
The way he had carelessly loosened his tie and opened his shirt reminded me of a lounger.
"I'm… Chae Hwayoung, and I…" "Hey."
Interrupted by a brown-haired girl who kept talking to him, Kang Daehan woke up with an irritated response.
True to his character, he disliked anyone who disturbed his nap, regardless of gender.
"What do you want? It's noisy, so buzz off." "Ah, yes. I'm sorry."
At Kang Daehan's harsh words, the girl looked startled, breaking into a cold sweat as she quickly apologized.
He snorted disdainfully before falling back asleep.
"You idiot. That's why I told you not to bother Kang Daehan for nothing."
"Yeah…"
The friend beside her patted Hwayoung's shoulder, offering some comfort.
"But still, I'm happy I even got to talk to Daehan… Hehe."
Despite being scolded, Hwayoung giggled, her cheeks slightly blushing.
I simply couldn't understand such a reaction. Wow, really?
Is that what being handsome gets you? Damn it.
'And Kang Daehan… He's just as hot-headed as in the game.'
As expected of the bloodline of a hero who represented Korea.
Arrogant, self-centered, and prickly.
Many female fans disliked him for his thuggish appearance, but his popularity was high because of his warmth towards his own woman.
Such a sassy character. "…Zzz."
Kang Daehan had fallen asleep again. There weren't many students around him.
They were just sneaking peeks at him, slightly uncomfortable.
'Well, his family is quite scary.'
The HanYoung Clan, founded by a legendary hero.
But the background of the clan's founding wasn't so rosy.
It was established by overpowering ability-users who were almost like villains themselves.
Though it's been quiet lately, compared to other clans, it maintains a strong top-down culture and is a bit frightening.
'Lee Siwoon and Kang Daehan… Anyway, I hope they form a good relationship with Jin Soyeon.'
Recruiting these two as allies would be a great help. Their talent and abilities were beyond words.
Plus, their families were very solid.
A conglomerate and a leading clan, after all. They'd be helpful in any case.
"Oh? Jinhyuk~ Hi."
Just then, a male student patted my shoulder and approached.
"Wow. I saw your class assignment yesterday, but it's really amazing. You actually got into Union."
He chuckled and slung an arm around my shoulder.
"Your practical skills were so-so, right?"
The student with the short sports haircut and muscular build was named Yuseong Kim.
"But what can you do? Union isn't a place to survive just on written test scores. Jinhyuk, you're going to have a hard time, right?"
Unfortunately, we had some interaction since we came from the same middle school.
He was the typical hyena type of person.
He liked to stomp on those who seemed weak to boost his own ego.
For Yuseong Kim, clinging to the strong and looking down on others was in his nature.
'If I hadn't broken up with Jin Soyeon, he would've been the first to join Lee Siwoon or Kang Daehan in tormenting me out of jealousy.'
It was fortunate I could cut off the superficial relationship right at the start of the Academy.
"Isn't that so?"
"Yeah, whatever. Unhook your arm." I shrugged off his arm-hold.
Ugh, why do guys get all clingy? "Are you still dating Soyeon?"
"None of your business, right?"
Yuseong Kim slyly mentioned Jin Soyeon.
He had been a bit concerned about me and Jin Soyeon dating for a while.
Unsuited, wondering why we were together, envious, and all that.
"It's a bit disappointing to hear you talk like that. Honestly, I'm just curious. How long have Soyeon and you been…"
"What?"
All of a sudden.
A familiar voice interjected from behind. "Oh, Soyeon. Hi."
"Hey."
Jin Soyeon had returned from her errand and come close. "Why is my name coming up, Yuseong?"
"Uh, just…"
Yuseong Kim hesitated a bit in his reply.
Apparently, he couldn't openly ask why she was dating me in front of her.
So, I took the opportunity to mention it. "He was asking if we were still together."
"What?"
As I casually responded, Jin Soyeon frowned slightly and glared at Yuseong Kim.
"Why do you care about that?" "Oh, just curious."
Jin Soyeon shot a blunt look at Yuseong Kim, who could only respond with an awkward smile.
"You're very interested in other people's relationships on the first day…"
"We broke up." Suddenly.
"I mean, we decided to just stay friends."
Interrupting Jin Soyeon, I revealed the fact that we had broken up, causing Yuseong Kim to blink in surprise.
He clearly hadn't imagined we would have broken up.
"Oh, I see. Sorry for asking about something unnecessary." "Don't worry about it. We didn't break up on bad terms."
I shrugged nonchalantly with a smirk.
"We were childhood friends and have been dating for so long that it just felt like we didn't see each other as romantic partners anymore. Right, Soyeon?"
"Ah, yeah. That's right."
Jin Soyeon twisted her hair around her fingers after frowning slightly.
She seemed somewhat displeased.
Was revealing our breakup on the first day not to her liking? Well, from Jin Soyeon's perspective, it could be.
Pretending to be lovers was a good barrier against annoying guys, but now that was no longer an option.
"I don't think we needed to announce it on the first day. It's just going to stir up gossip."
"But it's better to clear the air about these things." Because, you know.
There needed to be a clear message for someone currently standing with perked ears, listening in.
The fact that Jin Soyeon and I were no longer a couple. "Right?"
"Do what you want."
Behind Jin Soyeon's indifferent reply.
There was a male student staring intently at us from a distance.
Though surrounded by other students, his gaze was fixed on me and Jin Soyeon.
It was Lee Siwoon.
"…"
"Siwoon, what's wrong?" "Nothing, nothing."
A chattering girl turned her questioning eyes to Lee Siwoon who had been staring in one direction.
She seemed to sense something odd about his focused gaze.
But even after responding, Lee Siwoon continued to sneak peeks over here.
Well, he had to.
The news that we had broken up would have caught his attention.
'The first day, and he learns that Soyeon and I have split. It'll be easier for him to approach her now.'
We had attended the same middle school as Lee Siwoon, after all.
Though we hadn't spoken much back then, I knew from his character setting that he had been secretly in love with Jin Soyeon since back in the day.
It must have been hard for him to approach her while I was still her boyfriend.
But now that wasn't the case, right? Isn't that right, Lee Siwoon?
Chapter 4 – Welcome to Union Academy (2) "Huh?"
Perhaps she felt a peculiar gaze upon her? Jin Soyeon blinked several times.
When she looked around, her eyes met Lee Siwoon's, who was staring intently at her. Despite the sudden eye contact, Lee Siwoon did not look away. Jin Soyeon tilted her head in wonder.
"...?"
As if wondering why he was looking at her, a small question mark seemed to float above Jin Soyeon's head.
But soon after, she raised her hand and greeted him as if they were old friends.
"Oh~ Siwoon, you're in the same class too? Hi?" "...Hello, Soyeon."
The two exchanged greetings amicably.
Unlike with me, Jin Soyeon had a slight acquaintance with Lee Siwoon.
"But Soyeon."
Suddenly, Lee Siwoon stood up. With a slide.
The sound of the chair being pushed back echoed.
The students who were circled around him carefully made way.
Everyone looked puzzled at Lee Siwoon's abrupt rise from his seat.
He began to walk slowly towards where Jin Soyeon and I were standing.
Oh, what's this?
Was he that curious about our breakup? To approach us so quickly.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but is it true that you two broke up?"
"Uh? Ah, well."
After twirling a lock of her hair, Jin Soyeon glanced at me briefly before answering languidly.
Then a strange light shone in Lee Siwoon's eyes, which were previously as cold as ice.
"You two have been known as the childhood sweethearts since the old days, so I was quite surprised."
We were rather infamous as an ill-fitted couple during our middle school days.
Many students wondered why a beauty like Jin Soyeon would date someone like me.
Especially the boys who secretly admired her would spread strange rumors that we were dating just because we were childhood friends.
"We were a good match."
Lee Siwoon glanced at me once with a fleeting look. Did he really think we were well-matched?
I doubt that.
He likes Jin Soyeon, after all. "Me and Jinhyuk?"
With a playful smile and straightened posture, Jin Soyeon looked at me and then laughed.
"No way. I'm way too good for that." She's right, of course.
We don't match.
But looking at her triumphant attitude just makes me want to put her in her place.
"Always so full of yourself." "What?"
As I added my comment, Jin Soyeon glared at me with a dangerous look.
"You have no idea how many guys have confessed to me, do you?"
"Oh, sure. Must be nice being so popular." "Wow… your tone is irritating."
As Jin Soyeon and I were bickering.
Lee Siwoon interjected with a subdued look.
"You two seem to get along well, even after breaking up." Ah, maybe we shouldn't act too friendly in front of him.
Honestly, it's a bit strange for ex-lovers to seem too friendly in many ways, isn't it?
"We didn't part on bad terms. We've known each other since kindergarten, after all."
"Childhood friends, is that it…"
I quickly added to the conversation.
Lee Siwoon pondered the term 'childhood friends', seemingly envious of our relationship.
But Lee Siwoon has a childhood friend too. Not as close as Jin Soyeon and I, but still.
A pretty young lady with her own 'fiancée' setting, arranged by their families.
"What's up with her?" "It's really unbelievable." Then, at that moment.
"Why is she acting all friendly with Siwoon?"
"Look at her, trying to charm him. Ha. Ridiculous, isn't it?"
I heard the chatter of girls from a little distance away.
A group of female students by the back window were gossiping.
They were blatantly bad-mouthing Jin Soyeon for all to hear. "Right, Seolhyun?"
"...."
In the midst of the female students. "Seolhyun?"
"Was her name Jin Soyeon?"
Was she the standout among the flock?
There was one girl who was obviously beautiful at a glance. The poise and grace emanating from the clothes she wore
reminded me of a lady from a drama.
Wow, did she already form her clique on the first day?
"It seems like this is the first time Siwoon has shown interest in a girl."
Her golden hair waved down to her scapula.
The porcelain-like skin characteristic of her Slavic heritage. A somewhat glamorous figure.
"She is pretty."
"In comparison with Seolhyun? Not as much, not at all. Right, guys?"
The girls nodded and agreed with each other.
It might be a bit off to say, but it's almost like they are her attendants.
Honestly, it's somewhat amusing.
'That's Yoo Seolhyun.'
Yoo Seolhyun.
An honor student admitted in the top seven.
She is one of the antagonists in Romance Hero Academy.
The daughter of the clan leader of one of the top ten clans
representing Korea, Gaon Nuri Clan.
The granddaughter of the high-ranking spear demon, Yoo Gamyeong, and one of the aspiring heroes who had been childhood friends with Lee Siwoon since they were young.
'Yoo Seolhyun really isn't a joke either.'
True to her noble upbringing, her pride is quite high.
She shows little interest in what doesn't intrigue her but can become excessively absorbed in what does.
She has a strong sense of possession and hates anyone who covets her things.
…Well.
To sum up Yoo Seolhyun in a word.
She's the villainous lady that always appears in female- oriented games.
But she can't be seen as merely a villain. She doesn't torment people for fun.
As long as she's not intentionally irritated, she's relatively harmless.
Right. As long as she's not irritated, that is. 'She's already taken an interest in Soyeon.'
I somewhat expected this, but is it because of Lee Siwoon after all?
Because Yoo Seolhyun and Lee Siwoon are childhood friends as well as fiancés.
Ah, of course, their engagement is something their families jokingly arranged, so neither of them takes it too seriously.
But still, an engagement is an engagement.
Even if they claim to have no romantic feelings, Yoo Seolhyun's prideful nature would be quite displeased to learn that her childhood friend and fiancé is interested in another girl.
'The closer Soyeon gets to Lee Siwoon, the worse her relationship with Yoo Seolhyun will become.'
It's a matter of female pride, I guess.
She wouldn't readily accept that someone who hasn't shown the slightest interest in her is paying attention to some common girl.
Especially given her strong pride.
'This will eventually turn into a completely antagonistic NPC.'
It's a common development.
The fiancée of a rich young master being a villainous lady and turning hostile towards the female protagonist out of jealousy.
However, Romance Hero Academy is a role-playing game with a high degree of freedom.
Which means there's also a route where Yoo Seolhyun becomes a friendly character instead of a foe.
In the game, I often managed to build a positive relationship with Yoo Seolhyun and Lee Siwoon and recruited them as reliable allies.
Of course, it's not easy.
In the first playthrough, it's nearly impossible.
But who am I?
A veteran of Romance Hero Academy.
I've succeeded in conquering it over dozens of playthroughs.
I even created a 100% completion guide and distributed it online.
'We'll need to secure as much power as possible to face the various villains and monsters to come.'
And that includes Yoo Seolhyun.
Given her role as a lady of a major clan and her excellent performance as a villain, she's definitely worth recruiting.
Not only for her personal abilities but also for the support of her influential family.
'If I can just prevent 'that incident' from turning Yoo Seolhyun completely dark, it will all be much easier.'
It's one of the turning points where a mischievous lady falls into villainy.
If I can resolve that event first and slowly build up intimacy and relations, I'm sure I can form a positive bond with Yoo Seolhyun.
Just like I did in the game, let's give it a try. Reality is surely different from a game, but still. "Hey, you guys. What did you just say to me?"
Irritated by the mockery from Yoo Seolhyun's group, Jin Soyeon's eyebrows furrowed as she growled back.
"Do I look like someone who would fawn over someone? Wow, that's funny, you guys."
"...."
Lee Siwoon also cast a lingering look at them.
The girls flinched when their eyes met Lee Siwoon's. Some even averted their gaze quietly.
Right, they can afford to belittle Soyeon, but Lee Siwoon is too intimidating for them.
"If you have something to say, don't murmur behind my back but say it to my face."
Jin Soyeon, having dealt with the envy of other women due to her exceptional beauty from an early age, was not intimidated by their backtalk.
"Do you understand me?" "Sorry."
Ah, is she finally stepping in?
"Our girls are very interested in Siwoon."
With a haughty stride, Yoo Seolhyun made her way through the crowd of girls to stand before Jin Soyeon.
"I'll apologize on their behalf."
With a sly smile, Yoo Seolhyun approached right up to Jin Soyeon's face.
She said she was sorry, but her attitude didn't seem apologetic at all.
Was it the confidence of a lady or just her smirking face? Either way, Jin Soyeon couldn't help but feel unwelcome. "You're Jin Soyeon, right? I'm Yoo Seolhyun."
"...Yoo Seolhyun?"
"Ah, have you heard of me?"
"You're famous. The third daughter of the Gaon Nuri Clan."
"Don't worry too much about it. It can be burdensome if you care too much."
"...."
Jin Soyeon, who looked at Yoo Seolhyun's chuckling with a dull expression, sighed once and then nodded her head.
It seems she couldn't bring herself to speak against a smiling face.
"Lee Siwoon, you too, hi?" "Yeah."
Yoo Seolhyun naturally turned to greet Lee Siwoon as well. He seemed perturbed by Yoo Seolhyun's sudden intrusion. After all, she was his nominal fiancée.
"Siwoon, she seems to like you, judging by how much attention she's paying you."
"What? Huh?"
As Yoo Seolhyun dropped her teasing remark, Jin Soyeon blinked her large eyes in confusion.
True to the nature of a reverse harem protagonist, Jin Soyeon was clueless when it came to matters of love.
"You, Yoo Seolhyun."
"What? Oh, was I being inconsiderate?"
With a wrinkle in his brow, Lee Siwoon watched Yoo Seolhyun brush back her hair with a light laugh.
A strange atmosphere enveloped them.
I looked at them with a somewhat interested face.
It might sound odd, but I found the situation quite fascinating.
The heroine, the hero, and the villain from the game were all gathered in one place, creating an intense scenario.
As a hardcore fan of Romance Hero Academy, I couldn't help but be excited.
"Why is the atmosphere like this on the first day? What are you all doing over there?"
The delicate atmosphere that had persisted for a while was shattered by a woman's voice.
"Come on, we're going to start the homeroom, so everyone should take a seat. I can't be bothered, so just find a place to sit."
With the appearance of the teacher, the students hurriedly took their seats.
"Then, I'll be off. And…"
Yoo Seolhyun finally glanced at me, having paid me no attention until now.
"Lee Jinhyuk, right? Soyeon's ex-boyfriend." "Yeah."
"Hehe, ex-boyfriend, that's interesting. Anyway, see you next time."
With that, she walked back to her group. "What's up with her, seriously."
Jin Soyeon responded with a snort.
As expected, the relationship between the main heroine and the villainess seemed like it would take a lot of effort to improve.
Chapter 5 – Welcome to Union Academy (3) "Is everyone seated?"
Our homeroom teacher, with her dark blue ponytail, stood at the podium in a casually thrown-on outfit. She looked to be in her late twenties.
With a listless expression, she scanned over the students.
"Alright… since it's the first day, let's just do a simple orientation."
The teacher yawned as if bored. It was apparent that she lacked enthusiasm.
"Is she really a Union instructor?"
"I heard the teacher who assigned us our classes during the ceremony was only a substitute."
Some of the students whispered among themselves.
They seemed displeased with the apparent lack of motivation from our homeroom teacher.
It was disappointing to think that the person in charge of us at one of the world's most renowned hero academies could be so indifferent.
However, some students looked at the teacher with a mix of interest and curiosity.
Though she had changed a lot from her active days and was hard to recognize, a few knew who she was; she was a figure often mentioned on the internet, television, and newspapers until a few years ago.
"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Hong Daye." She wrote her name on the blackboard swiftly.
"Ranked 93rd among national heroes, I will be your instructor from now on."
Murmurs spread among the students. A ranking of 93 indicated a high-ranker.
Korean heroes are recognized even internationally. Especially someone like Hong Daye, who boasted incredible abilities in her prime. Though she's not active and her ranking has fallen, she used to be much higher up.
"Hong Daye was a hero?"
"That Hong Daye… the one who resolved the Busan infection explosion incident?"
"She was once a candidate for the top ten."
A young blood who had burst onto the hero scene like a shooting star.
She was one of the candidates for the top ten and received much attention as a representative of the next generation of heroes, but she retired from active duty after a major infection incident a few years ago.
"Anyway… let's skip the trivial introductions."
She suddenly threw a glance at the students. A mysterious strength filled her otherwise dull eyes. When her gaze met theirs, the students flinched reflexively.
"As you all know, Union is Korea's premier hero training institution."
Hong Daye's voice rang in the ears of the students. "The competition here is fierce with many promising
individuals gathered from around the world. Freshness of
freshmen? Romance with new people? You'd better wake up from those dreams."
This is supposed to be an otome game.
And she's telling us not to even dream about romance.
"You may have been considered geniuses until now, but here at Union, you may end up at the bottom. If you don't want to be left behind, you must work harder than everyone else."
The students listened to her words in silence.
"Union will evaluate you at every moment. Your every action will be recorded and graded. You will need to continuously compete with other students and prove your worth. That is if you want to join a good clan."
Students glanced at each other swiftly.
"In other words, you might get left behind if you slack off just because you have a bit of talent. And Union is not
forgiving. Every year, many students either fail or get expelled."
"Ah."
"Well, it seems like there are quite a few useful rough diamonds this year."
Hong Daye quietly glanced at a few students.
It seemed she noticed Lee Siwoon, Kang Daehan, and Yoo Seolhyun.
Those three were geniuses well-known enough to have been heard of.
"And."
She cleared her throat and continued slowly.
"Having been admitted to Union, all of you should have been issued a temporary hero license. With this temporary license, you're allowed to explore dungeons and have the right to subdue monsters. You also gain immunity for collateral damages related to the apprehension of criminals under criminal law."
These settings were crucial for Jin Soyeon, who was still only an academy student.
Without such settings, it would be impossible to naturally involve her with monsters, criminals, and dungeons.
"There are other benefits, too. Of course, you can't just receive benefits. With great authority comes great responsibility."
Hong Daye sighed and resumed speaking.
"As apprentice heroes, you will assume several responsibilities. In the event of an emergency declaration, you will be mobilized without exception, and you have the duty to protect citizens from villains and monsters."
"...."
"Legally, you're treated almost like an adult. Until now, you've been the students who receive help. But now it changes. You're not the ones getting help; you're the ones providing it."
"...."
Suddenly, a spark of intensity flashed in Hong Daye's eyes.
"The burden on your shoulders now is incomparable to before. Moreover, Union will rigorously train you to be useful. It's a completely different dimension from middle school. Many of you will want to quit halfway."
I listened to the familiar speech of Hong Daye, preparing myself mentally.
By now, I knew she was about to perform the so-called 'initiation' that I had only seen in games.
The thought of witnessing it in person was bringing back a wave of nostalgia.
"In middle school, we didn't do much practical training because it was considered dangerous. Now, you'll experience things you can only encounter in real combat."
She let her words trail off slowly.
"For example…"
Hong Daye then revealed a chilling smile. "…like this."
Chills. "...!"
"...Uh?"
"What, what's going on?" "Ooh, uh, eugh."
In an unconscious moment.
The students trembled like aspen leaves.
They looked as frightened as frogs facing a snake.
A few students broke out in cold sweat and lost their composure.
One male student took heavy breaths and glared at the teacher with great difficulty.
That seemed to be the best they could do right now; even holding on was a struggle.
At least Lee Siwoon, Kang Daehan, and Yoo Seolhyun seemed okay.
They furrowed their brows and took slow breaths, but they were handling it much better than the other students.
Of course, they were struggling just the same.
…Except for me.
All I felt was goosebumps.
'This is remarkably similar to how it was described in the game. Is this what they call murderous intent?'
Murderous intent.
By definition, it's the energy that feels as though one could kill or harm another.
In reality, there's no such thing as murderous intent.
It's a concept that seems to belong only in the realm of fiction.
However, in Romance Hero Academy, it's a real thing.
It's treated like an intangible force emitted by those of a certain level of strength.
Heroes who can actually feel murderous intent say it allows them to gauge the capability of their opponents.
But murderous intent doesn't work on me. Why? Because I'm strong enough to resist it?
No, no. That couldn't be further from the truth.
As stated before, to feel murderous intent, one must be a certain level of a fighter.
Which means…
'I must be so weak that I can't even sense murderous intent.'
Damn. It's just disheartening. Is this really a sensible setting?
Until I remembered my past life, I trained hard, really hard. And now I'm such a loser that I can't even properly feel Hong Daye's murderous intent.
'I knew about it from the game, but experiencing it in reality is a different feeling.'
Look at those kids.
They're all trembling with fear from the ferocious murderous intent.
They are Union's new recruits just like me. But what about me? It makes the efforts I made for years to become a hero feel somewhat pointless.
'…How did I even pass the entrance exam to Union? Even considering it was through supplementary measures, did I really get in on the written exam alone?'
Thinking about it made me feel a bit depressed. "...."
"Hm?"
For a moment, I thought I felt a peculiar gaze.
Or was it my imagination?
Either way, I carefully tucked away my unnecessary thoughts.
Knowing that murderous intent does not affect me is enough.
I've already given up on the dream of becoming the ultimate hero.
Now, I just need to focus on providing support in the field and not show off, especially after being reminded today just how weak I have become.
"Let's call it a day."
The oppressive air seemed to dissipate suddenly. Ah, it's just a feeling, just a feeling.
I can't sense murderous intent, after all. It's like I've become just another bystander. "Haah, haah, haah."
"My stomach doesn't feel good."
"Uh, uh… I never felt murderous intent like this before. Is this what high-rankers' intent feels like?"
"Huuk, hoo…"
The students mopped away their sweat and caught their breaths.
Some had experienced murderous intent before, but others seemed completely overwhelmed by the ordeal for the first time.
"If you're this affected by it, then forget about becoming a hero. The murderous intent of real monsters and villains is beyond imagination."
"...."
"Well, some don't seem too affected by it, at least." "...."
Hong Daye slowly shifted her gaze.
"Ah, is it already this time? Let's wrap up the orientation. I'll be going now. You all prepare for the next class."
After a brief glance at the clock, Hong Daye walked away with a listless expression, as if she hadn't been the one to release that dreadful murderous intent just moments ago.
Once again, she seemed to have lost all motivation.
"Haah…."
A heavy sigh came from beside me.
Jin Soyeon was slightly panting.
"That was harder than I thought. The murderous intent I felt before was nothing like this."
"Are you okay?"
"Huh, but it was an interesting experience. We didn't have such stimulating moments in middle school."
"I see."
If this had happened in middle school, parents would have come storming in, complaining about what we were subjected to.
"Is this some sort of initiation ceremony? Huh."
Jin Soyeon grinned mischievously, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Although she still couldn't fully harness her talents and found it hard to withstand even that level of murderous intent, she would become stronger than Hong Daye in the future.
"How about you? Jinhyuk, you've always been on the frail side, right?"
"Oh, well. I was fine, just fine."
Jin Soyeon didn't seem to think that I was so weak I couldn't even feel Hong Daye's murderous intent.
And I had no intention of correcting her perception. It seemed better to keep quiet rather than become the butt of a joke.
There's no point in saying anything anyway. And honestly, it's a bit embarrassing.
Isn't it?
Chapter 6 – Welcome to Union Academy (4) Inside the staff room.
Numerous teachers were busy with their tasks.
Among them, a young female teacher with her dark blue hair stood out.
"Teacher Hong, what are you doing?"
"Just looking through the middle school records and entrance evaluations of the students."
"Working hard from the first day, huh?"
Park Hanna, the homeroom teacher of class 3, stealthily approached Hong Daye and offered a can of sweet coffee. For Hong Daye, who was usually in need of sugar and caffeine, canned coffee was a perfect pick-me-up.
"Have this as you work, Teacher Hong." "Thank you. I was feeling a bit tired."
"My, my~. Losing sleep over the new school year?" "No, it's my liver."
With a smug smile, Hong Daye responded to the frivolous jest with a nonchalant face and sipped the coffee.
Park Hanna wanted to quip back with a 'What, because of the liver?' but considering Hong Daye's past injuries, she didn't want to make an inappropriate joke. So, she gulped down the words that had risen to the tip of her tongue.
"Ah, by the way, Teacher Hong."
As if something had just occurred to her, a lightbulb seemed to flicker above Park Hanna's head.
"Now that I think of it, did you do 'that thing' with the kids? You know, 'that thing'?"
"That thing?"
"Yeah~ you know, where you exude that murderous intent and intimidate the kids."
"I didn't really intend to intimidate them."
Not intending to intimidate?
If Park Hanna had been a student, she would have been cowed, perhaps even becoming timid. Maybe she would have even gossiped about Hong Daye behind her back with the other students.
"Ah, come on. Teacher Hong's murderous intent can even make active heroes tremble."
"If they're that scared, they should quit being heroes. They won't be useful in real combat anyway."
"As always, you're tough, Teacher Hong."
Just like someone who isn't a high-ranker.
"But still, scaring the kids too much isn't good. They're at a sensitive age, you know?"
"These students aren't just kids, they're aspiring heroes. We can't always treat them like children."
"You're so rigid~ That's why the kids never come to you on Teacher's Day. Look at me. See how popular I am with the students?"
Proudly puffing up her nose, Park Hanna boasted about her popularity. And indeed, she was quite popular. Her youthful age and puppy-like features only added to her appeal.
"Teacher Hong, you should try not to look so bored and dress up a bit. Isn't it a waste of your beauty?"
"Sure."
What a curt response.
At this rate, she might end up an old maid. As a colleague, it's a bit concerning.
"By the way, how are the students in class 1? I've heard they're called the 'Golden Generation'."
"Not bad. There are a few students I'm keeping an eye on."
"Really? Of course, there's the young master from SL Group, the second son of the HanYoung Clan, and… oh, the little lady from the Gaon Nuri Clan. Wow~ the talent pool is certainly impressive."
They were kids who had been rumored to be geniuses for years.
Likely to grow into the heroes who would lead the next generation.
In a few years, they could be the solid pillars supporting Korea, possibly seen on television. Even as a teacher, Park Hanna found a sense of accomplishment in such prospects.
"But what are you looking at so intently? Let me see… Huh? Who's this Lee Jinhyuk?"
"Just someone I'm curious about."
Lee Jinhyuk, Lee Jinhyuk, Lee Jinhyuk…
No face came to mind despite her pondering. Park Hanna was puzzled. If Hong Daye was taking note of him, he must have been famous before admission, right? Strange.
"A new name to me."
"That would make sense. He barely made it into Union." "What?"
Park Hanna blinked in surprise.
Why waste time on a student like that? Especially when there's so much to do at the start of the new school year.
"Hmm? Supplementary admission? Wow… completely bombed the practical evaluation. How did he even get in? Ah~ perfect score on the written exam? That's quite unbalanced."
Looking at the documents Hong Daye was reviewing, Park Hanna expressed a mix of amazement and concern.
Indeed, Lee Jinhyuk's theoretical scores were impressive. It was even more regrettable because of that.
"His theoretical scores have been… wow? Definitely, his written scores are extraordinary. It seems he's been highly evaluated for his potential as a tactical advisor. Though, as a hero, he's quite lacking."
He could have gone to a normal school and smoothly landed a good job, enjoying a peaceful life.
As a teacher, she felt heartbroken to see him struggle for a hero's path he wasn't suited for.
It's well known that those without talent for heroism can't accomplish much, no matter how much they try.
Lee Jinhyuk looked like he lacked the talent to be a hero.
"It doesn't seem like he's the kind of student Teacher Hong usually concerns herself with."
Perhaps focusing on students like Lee Siwoon, Kang Daehan, or Yoo Seolhyun would be better.
"Is there a particular reason you're paying attention to him?"
"This kid…"
Hong Daye paused, then continued.
"He seemed unfazed even when I released my murderous intent."
"Him?"
Well, that's surprising.
Even if Hong Daye went easy on him, a student's tolerance level shouldn't be that high.
Normally, the expected response is to tremble like an ordinary person facing a tiger alone in the middle of the night.
But a student named Lee Jinhyuk withstood Hong Daye's murderous intent.
"Ah? Could it be that?"
But then, seeing Lee Jinhyuk's physical ability assessment, she sighed as if everything suddenly made sense.
Ah, right, this kid.
His physical ability was a disaster.
"Maybe he's too dull to even sense Teacher Hong's murderous intent? It's Union, but you know, sometimes there are those kids."
Occasionally… very occasionally.
There are students who can't sense things like murderous intent.
Of course, considering the average level at Union, it's a strange thing, but sometimes a stone gets caught in the sieve that's meant to sort the gems from the rubble.
"That's true."
Hong Daye nodded readily.
Not every student at Korea's top academy can be top-notch, and there are always students like Lee Jinhyuk, who manage to get in on exceptional written scores among various other profiles.
"But I'm not only interested in this kid because of that." "What else then?"
Leaning in with a slight question, Hong Daye scratched her chin and replied.
"He was too composed." "Composed?"
What did she mean?
Ah, she must be talking about when she exuded murderous intent.
That was a bit puzzling.
No matter how immune one is to murderous intent, seeing other students gasping for air and collapsing should have some effect.
Without any warning, being thrust into such a situation, even a tough character would be startled.
"Should I say too relaxed or too composed? He acted like it was all familiar to him, even though it was enough to disconcert anyone."
"Maybe he heard about Teacher Hong's initiation ritual somewhere?"
"Well, that's possible… but…"
Hong Daye mused over the earlier events.
"…It was as if he was evaluating something with that gaze."
Not just the other students, but even Hong Daye felt judged by that look.
It was quite unsettling the more she thought about it.
"You know, the kind of kids who always have something hidden."
"Ah! Like an intuition thing, right? Well, Teacher Hong's instincts are trustworthy after all. Right, right. It reminds me of that kid from two years ago."
"...."
"The one who caused that 'insubordination' and withdrew on his own two years ago."
"…Well, anyway, I'm planning to keep an eye on him."
To see if he's a case like that kid from two years ago or not.