I don't like school.
Who the hell thought it was a brilliant idea to establish an educational system designed to trap and enslave people who could be living out the fullness of their pathetic lives? Goddammit, I wake up every day thinking, what is the point of all this?
I have a politician father who's dead set on me becoming a lawyer. Want me to defend your vile crimes, old man? No, pops—you're cooked if I ever become a lawyer. Straight up, flames-from-the-abyss cooked. Because I'd be holding you responsible for the evil of this world, of this country.
Regardless of what I think or how I think about it, I was walking toward the school gate right now—the fate of so many teenagers like me. What pitiful creatures.
If my life was a story and someone was reading it, they'd probably think, oh finally, my escape. No, brah—we're in this together. There is no escape!
I sighed as my legs dragged toward the entrance. The morning sun fell gently on my cheek, as if licking me with dark glee and saying, Cade boy, I'm enjoying your suffering.
"Cade! You're late again this morning!"
This man... he's always here, guarding the gate like it's his family heirloom. Is that how much you love destroying people's lives, Mr. Rampberry?
I bowed my head to him like the respectful child they expect me to be.
"Mr. Ramp, have you tried being a student? And don't say you've been there—you were a student twenty years ago. Have you tried being a student in this age? Honestly, it'll wear you out."
Mr. Rampberry looked at me with compassion in his eyes, as if I'd fallen prey to depression or something. But all of that was nonsense, because both of us knew the reason why he gave a shit about me. If I was some random, average-status student, he'd be chasing me down and yelling at me.
"Cade, you see... I know and understand how difficult it can be, but all this effort, this..." he hesitated, "suffering, as you may see it—which it isn't, by the way—it's for your own good. For the betterment of your future. You'll be proud of yourself that you held on one day."
I stuck my pinky finger into my ear. This man—his words had quickly formed a fresh batch of earwax. I flicked it off before walking away, giving him a look that said: "I hope you understood me, Mr. Rampberry."
Afterward, I entered class through the back door. Even though I was late, the teacher wasn't here yet, so there was a gentle murmur in the class that muffled my steps and made my presence unnoticeable as usual.
I settled into my corner seat by the window, looking outside. Beside our classroom block was the center of the school—the sports field—where two students were clutching their ears and hopping forward like frogs. Two unfortunate students Mr. Rampberry didn't give a shit about.
A heavy breath escaped my nostrils. I closed my eyes and slumped onto my desk, wishing I could at least get summoned from this damn world and awaken in some fantasy realm where I'm surrounded by pure-hearted heroines—knights, saints, maybe a gentle healer or two—women willing to do anything to get a piece of my big dick and actually make business of the one thing that makes sense about my existence.
[Initiating Summoning Protocol]
'Uhh? Is this supposed to be a trick?'
I raised my head, scanning the room with slight confusion knitting my brows.
My classmates were busy chatting and talking to each other like a cold, monotone feminine voice hadn't just spoken above our heads.
'Is it just me?'
My eyes drifted around, confusion creeping across my face.
'Looks like it's just me...?'
[Drafted Universe: Earth]
[Target Universe: Ealdrim]
[Awakening Unique Summoner System]
[10...20...30...40...]
I stared in absolute shock and confusion because now, I wasn't just hearing things—I was seeing things too. There was a purple-colored HUD display floating in front of my eyes, with white letters spelling out every word I was hearing.
It was intensely confusing and had me trembling to my core. It was even weirder because everyone else was talking and didn't seem to have noticed this strange display.
[...80...90...91...]
[...]
[System Error]
[System Error]
[Unique Summoner System Defective]
[Virus Detected]
[Combating System Virus with System Antibodies...]
[Combating System Virus with System Antibodies...]
Cold sweat dripped down my neck. This wasn't just some fantasy—something was genuinely wrong
It was all bizarre, but as I watched the display keep glitching, I began to sincerely hope for the antibodies to win. But more than that, I hoped for my own survival because I had no idea what was happening and definitely didn't want to get caught in some crossfire of a universal war.
'I know I said I hated being born a politician's son and that I hated school. I still don't want to die, and I'm definitely not ready to fight on behalf of the universe, so please, Summoner System—grant me this one-time pardon, okay?'
As I was still thinking this, the murmurs in the class suddenly swelled, causing me to jerk my head up in confusion. As I did, there was an enormous circle—something that looked like a magic circle from a game or those you watch in anime. It blazed brighter, blue light cascading across the entire class, and everyone, including me, shielded their eyes from the light.
The next thing I knew, my butt hit hard polished floor instead of my chair.
'What the hell?!'