The Status Window Opened on the First Day of School (2) It was something most students never even thought about, but a university’s staff consisted of far more than just professors and teaching assistants.
For example, there were security guards responsible for campus safety.
Administrative assistants who handled the university’s paperwork.
Just as you rarely notice the employees cleaning the cafeteria while you’re eating, there are people who drift in and out of your peripheral vision unless you consciously pay attention to them.
A Gardener was one of those people.
That was precisely why Elizaveta had arranged for Ivan to become one.
Unlike professors or assistants, it wasn’t a conspicuous position.
It was the sort of idle post that wouldn’t seem strange no matter where you stuck it.
More importantly, it was a position with virtually no assigned duties.
After all, you need a garden before you need a gardener.
And St.
Jansk University had no garden.
“Hm.” Naturally.
Why would a university built in the heart of the capital waste precious land on gardens or flowerbeds?
So even if the princess created the position out of thin air, no one would find it suspicious.
If the person had truly been important—or if Elizaveta intended to manipulate something within the university—she would have placed an agent in a far more influential position.
The Prince’s faction would probably assume one of Elizaveta’s subordinates had quietly gotten an acquaintance a comfortable job.
It was nothing more than the kingdom’s everyday brand of corruption— “Giving cushy government jobs to people you know so they can collect a pension.” (It technically wasn’t illegal.
Among the House of Nobles, this level of corruption was practically considered honest.) “As expected.
It was here.” That was why the St.
Jansk University gardener had plenty of free time.
Enough to enjoy hobbies.
At this moment…
The gardener’s hobby was bomb disposal.
They considered the patrol routes of the guards, the flow of people across campus, and every building’s lines of sight.
These people were professionals.
As Ivan disarmed the third explosive, his eyes narrowed.
It was a crude homemade mana bomb.
Which ironically made it impossible to narrow down the culprit.
The reasons Ivan had gone looking for explosives were simple.
First— An attack during an academy entrance ceremony was common sense.
Second— With bombers circling overhead and the Counterintelligence Command maintaining the highest possible level of alert, only professionals could possibly carry out an attack on the academy.
Once you assumed that…
You could reverse-engineer the enemy’s movements.
Places hidden from security.
Places concealed from civilians.
Blind spots invisible from every building’s windows.
Search every location where those conditions overlapped…
And you found bombs.
At this point, it wasn’t much different from harvesting potatoes.
Figure out the approximate location.
Stroll over casually.
Pick it up.
Done.
“Now the only question is…” “Who planted them?” The problem was exactly that.
There were simply too many suspects.
The Demon Race.
The least likely possibility.
Which made them strangely suspicious.
They certainly had enough motive to bomb St.
Jansk University.
But unless they were complete idiots, they wouldn’t attempt another operation immediately after their previous failure.
The elves.
Also suspicious.
But their motive was weak.
Their warships were still floating above St.
Jansk University, making them the group best positioned to pull something like this off.
Even so…
Embarrassing the Krasilof family this way gained them almost nothing.
The Crown Prince’s faction.
Probably the most likely culprit.
They possessed both the motive and the means.
But today would’ve been difficult.
The Counterintelligence Command, still burning with fury after Elizaveta’s wrath, had flooded the area with agents.
So…
There were simply too many possibilities.
Which meant…
Some mysterious organization had infiltrated an exceptionally capable operative into the academy.
A perfectly ordinary academy story.
At that thought, Ivan actually relaxed.
Right.
An academy story wasn’t complete without terrorists attacking the entrance ceremony and secret agents hiding among the students.
Honestly, he’d been worried.
None of this year’s freshmen had dramatically drawn a sword…
Declared themselves the Heavenly Demon…
Acted like a cowboy chewing on a blade of grass while working a pump-action shotgun…
Or been a tiny girl tank who swore like a sailor.
Shaking his head with a bitter smile, Ivan headed toward the next likely bomb location.
Then…
He heard something strange.
Very faintly.
“…What’s that supposed to be?
Santa Claus?” Ivan’s eyes snapped open.
Without betraying the slightest reaction, he bent down.
A pebble.
Perfect.
As naturally as someone tying their shoelaces, he picked it up…
And threw it toward the voice.
Clang!
Something deflected it.
At the exact same instant, Ivan shot forward like lightning.
Straight toward the sound.
Tap!
Tap-tap!
Rapid footsteps echoed ahead.
Then…
Ivan stopped.
Gone.
Without leaving a single trace.
The figure had disappeared into the crowds waiting outside St.
Jansk University for the entrance ceremony to end.
“Santa Claus…” Ivan let out a dry laugh and turned around.
When he returned to where he’d thrown the pebble…
It lay neatly split in half.
One by one, he dismantled the information in his head before putting it back together.
Swordsmanship.
A young male…
or female.
If male, probably pre-pubescent.
The voice was too faint.
I’d need to hear it two or three more times to identify it.
Height…
unknown.
Excellent mobility.
Excellent reflexes.
Most likely…
Line-of-Fire Detection.
A difficult ability for a student to possess.
Yet the chances they’re a student are extremely high.
He changed direction.
This time…
Toward the campus.
Toward the most dangerous place in St.
Jansk University.
The grand auditorium where Elizaveta was observing the entrance ceremony.
And nearby…
The Counterintelligence Command’s field command post.
“Santa…Claus…” There was no legend of Santa Claus in this world.
Naturally…
There was no Christmas either.
No righteous old man in red sneaking candy and toys into children’s stockings.
That was why…
Even such a trivial mutter had provoked such a strong reaction.
Which meant— Which meant— “A Possession victim.” Had this person also written a 5,700-character critique out of gratitude?
Or was it simply coincidence?
Got hit by a truck?
Well…
Jumping into the Han River was a little too outdated these days.
Of course, they could even be the original author.
That happened often enough.
What had brought them here?
How had they crossed into this world?
He didn’t know.
But there was one thing he was certain of.
They knew this game was an academy story.
Otherwise there’d be no reason for them to enroll—or get employed—at the university.
Which meant…
They knew the original story.
They knew everything that would happen.
They knew the ending.
“H-Hey!
Stop right there!
This is a restricted area!” “Call Dmitry.” “What?
Where exactly did you hear—” Crunch!
Ivan twisted aside the uniformed soldier’s arm blocking his path.
The instant another soldier drew a pistol from inside his sleeve…
Ivan casually flicked the latch and disassembled the weapon in one smooth motion.
The soldier stared blankly at the pistol grip still left in his hand.
Then— Click.
Click.
Gun barrels appeared from every direction.
Five.
Well-trained.
Excellent disguises.
The five soldiers surrounding him were all dressed as ordinary civilians.
Ivan slowly looked around at them.
He took a deep breath.
Then let it out.
Anger simmered inside him.
Impatience crackled away at his remaining self-control.
“Call Dmitry.” “Do you know Lieutenant Colonel Cherkatov?
Please stop causing a disturbance and come somewhere quieter—” “Ivan.” “…Pardon?” “My name is Ivan Petrovich.” “Former Extermination Unit.” “Is anyone here from it?” “I…
I was in the last graduating class, Senior.
May I…
confirm your face?” The soldier Ivan had forced to his knees cautiously looked up.
He slowly set down the pistol grip still in his hand and spread both palms open.
He stared at Ivan’s face for a long while.
Then quietly raised one hand…
Covering the area beneath Ivan’s nose.
“My God…The real…’Little’ Ivan…?” Examining his eyes.
His nose.
His forehead.
Cold sweat rolled down the soldier’s face.
He hurriedly signaled the surrounding soldiers to stand down before respectfully bowing.
“Lieutenant Colonel Petrovich.” “It is an honor to meet you.” “Your name?” “Osip Sorenov.” “You probably don’t remember me.” “I served in the Third Assault Squad.” “I only saw you once—from very far away.” “I remember now, Osip.” Ivan released the man’s arm and stepped back.
Osip dusted off his knees before extending his hand.
Ivan accepted it.
The two exchanged a firm handshake.
“Do not mourn those who departed first.” “For I stand beside them as well.” “I heard you were killed, Lieutenant Colonel.” “I clearly saw your memorial plaque at the National Cemetery…” “I also never imagined there would be survivors from the Third Assault Squad.” “I merely survived in place of better men.” “We all did.” Every Assault Squad of the Extermination Unit had received the same final mission.
Assassinate the Seven Dragon Generals.
Which meant…
Including Ivan’s squad—the only team known to have returned alive— Any other survivor…
Was merely someone who owed their life to greater men.
Ivan patted Osip’s shoulder twice before speaking again.
“Bring Dmitry.” “And tell him I need the complete roster of all incoming students…” “No.” “Every undergraduate.” “And every faculty member.” “Everyone attending today’s ceremony.” “VIPs.” “Their families.” “Their acquaintances.” “Their relatives.” “I need a list of every single person who can currently access St.
Jansk University.” “Yes, Lieutenant Colonel!” “Hey!
Inform Lieutenant Colonel Cherkatov!” “Emergency situation!” The agents, still struggling to understand what had just happened, hurried away.
Looking toward the auditorium where the entrance ceremony was still underway…
Ivan slowly inhaled.
A Possession victim.
Was it a Korean?
No.
It didn’t matter.
They were from Earth.
A fellow countryman.
Sadly.
That was exactly what they were.
Kim Seonwoo.
Ivan.
Both felt the same bitterness.
Because…
He would have to kill them.
He needed information about the ending.
He had to eliminate every variable that could alter it.
And above all— “I am not some NPC.” Ivan closed his eyes.
I am not an NPC.
My memories.
My experiences.
My career.
None of it is merely a prologue.
I am not an NPC.
My life is not some passing background story.
I…
I…
I have to survive.
I have to return.
So…
There were more reasons to kill you…
Than to let you live.
Before I hear you say that your damned “original story” contains…
“Ivan Petrovich.” Before it’s too late.
No matter what.
*** “Huff…
huff…What the hell was that lunatic…?!
An aggressive monster?
No, damn it!
Nobody said monsters like that existed!
Damn it…Where did everything start going wrong?!” As he wiped away his cold sweat and struggled to catch his breath…
A familiar voice suddenly reached him.
His “father.” “So you’ve returned.” “What have you been doing…?” “No matter.” “Pathetic.” “Father…” “Sit.” “All this commotion just because you went to the bathroom.” “You’re still hopeless.” This damned good-for-nothing youngest son.
Wasn’t a “good-for-nothing noble” supposed to receive endless head pats immediately after transmigrating?
I’d been supposed to stop the academy attack in spectacular fashion and begin my redemption arc!
Instead…
The quest was suddenly canceled!
[“D-Rank Quest” Stop the Academy Attack — CANCELED] The academy is under attack by an unidentified organization!
Prevent the assault on the grand auditorium and university facilities during the entrance ceremony!
Objective: Remove campus explosives: 3/3 (Completed) Optional Objectives: Eliminate the intruders — Canceled Protect freshmen: 0/322 — Canceled Reward: Canceled “Damn it.” I’d just lost one of the most important early-game quests.
Wasn’t the academy attack supposed to be the protagonist’s grand debut?
It was the perfect chance to make an unforgettable impression on the heroines and future companions…
And earn the instructors’ respect!
When the quest suddenly canceled itself, I panicked and rushed over…
Only to run into some monster that looked like Santa Claus!
And what the hell was this?
[“???-Rank Quest” The Gardener of St.
Jansk University] You have caught his attention.
May fortune be with you.
Objective: Kill the St.
Jansk University Gardener, Ivan Petrovich Optional Objectives: Recruit Ivan Petrovich Conceal your information Additional Objective: Survive Failure Penalty: Death