The Status Window Opened on the First Day of School (3) “Senior, come on.
It’s really awkward if we run into each other in places like this, you know?
The orphanage is perfect.
The orphanage.
That’s where we’re supposed to meet.
Do you think I signed you up as a regular donor to the orphanage for no reason?” “It’s urgent.” “Sigh…
If someone with your personality says it’s urgent, then I guess it really is.
And why did you beat those kids up?
Seriously.
You could’ve just had them pass the message.” Grumbling under his breath, Dmitry led Ivan to a nearby café.
The second floor of the café near the university was packed with citizens waiting for the entrance ceremony to end.
At least, that was how it looked.
The instant Dmitry and Ivan stepped onto the second floor, the bustling café fell completely silent.
“Alright, everyone.
Back to what you were doing.
Act normal.” As Dmitry casually waved his hand, the agents filling the café instantly returned to being ordinary citizens.
Only one table remained empty—a seat positioned so cleverly that it was hidden from both the staircase and the windows.
“Have a seat.
Sigh…
This used to be my favorite spot.
Can’t use it anymore.
Do you know how hard it is to create a blind spot right in the middle of Prizhenkaya?” “My apologies.” “It’s fine.
So, what did you bring?” Smiling, Dmitry held out his hand.
Ivan reached into his coat and placed three small explosive devices onto his palm.
In an instant, every trace of expression disappeared from Dmitry’s face.
The moment Ivan saw Dmitry’s hand slip smoothly into his sleeve, he spoke.
“I already removed the detonators.” “Say that first!!
Damn it, you nearly gave me a heart attack!” “If you’re that suspicious, you shouldn’t have hired me in the first place.” “Now that’s just hurtful.
My job requires me to be suspicious of even my own parents.” Shrugging, Dmitry began examining the explosives.
After studying them for quite some time, a broad smile slowly spread across his face.
“Interesting.
These came from inside St.
Jansk University?” “That’s right.
Whoever made them knew what they were doing.” “I can tell just by looking.
Three of them…
Judging by the amount of mana, they weren’t meant to demolish buildings or assassinate someone important.
These look more like distractions.” “Exactly.
There was probably a separate infiltration team.” “We didn’t lose track of anyone on our side.
It’s definitely not the prince’s faction.
We’ve got too many eyes on them.” Still grinning, Dmitry clapped his hands.
A moment later, an agent disguised as an ordinary middle-aged woman approached.
“Send these to the Magic Department at headquarters.” “Yes, Lieutenant Colonel.” “And the documents?
Ready?” “Yes.” She pulled a thick stack of files from her shopping basket.
Dmitry accepted them, skimmed through them once, and slid them across the table to Ivan.
“What you asked for, Senior.
Pulling this together on such short notice nearly killed me.
If His Excellency hadn’t been so determined to support you…
whew.” “My thanks.” “Don’t mention it.
Oh, His Excellency said he’d like to meet you sometime.
Do you have any free time?” “Not for the foreseeable future.” Ivan gathered the files and stood.
Just as he turned to leave with them tucked under his arm— “Senior.” “Hm.” “Your eyes have changed.
You know that?” “…” Ivan looked back.
Dmitry was staring at him with an unusually serious expression.
His shadowed eyes beneath his cap gleamed sharply as they locked onto Ivan.
“Calm down.
This isn’t a battlefield.” “…Mm.” “I know I’m the one dragging a retired man back into work, so maybe I don’t have much right to say this…
but loosen up a little.
Look around once in a while.
Neither Her Highness nor I expect you to be perfect.” Without answering, Ivan gave a slight nod before turning away.
Watching him leave, Dmitry let out a quiet chuckle.
“This is why people need to date.
Lock yourself indoors without seeing the sun, and you end up gloomy like that.
Right?” “Lieutenant Colonel Petrovich…
So that’s the ‘Little’ Ivan.
His reputation truly isn’t exaggerated.
Astonishing.” “The first time I met him, I nearly pissed myself.
How does someone who spent four years doing absolutely nothing still end up like that?
Anyway…” Dmitry tapped the table with his finger.
“Assign someone to him.
Don’t let that senior wander around alone.” “If he crosses the line, should we stop him?” “What are you talking about?
Do you have a death wish?
Just observe him.
From very, very far away.” Well, even if he crossed the line…
How far could he possibly go?
He was probably just angry and planning to personally hunt down the agent who planted those explosives.
At worst, he’d intimidate a few students.
There was no reason to provoke an already furious Ivan.
That was what Dmitry thought.
Meanwhile— Ivan was taking an axe and several Healing Potions out of the Headmaster’s office.
*** He couldn’t tell anyone.
That this world…might actually be nothing more than some kind of game, operated by an intricate system.
Which meant…
He had to do it himself.
Believing that with all his heart, Ivan spread the reports Dmitry had given him across the table.
[Faculty Directory] [List of Freshmen] [Personal Records of All Undergraduate Students] This year’s freshman class consisted of roughly three hundred students.
Since St.
Jansk University was a three-year institution, there were nearly one thousand undergraduates in total.
Adding the faculty, professors, teaching assistants, security personnel, administrative staff, and admissions office…
Then adding graduate students, along with unfortunate undergraduates who had postponed graduation because of leaves of absence…
Total personnel: 1,733.
“One more group.” He also had to examine the families of students who had permission to attend the entrance ceremony.
Anyone with a plausible reason to be on campus that day had to be considered a suspect.
Including foreign dignitaries and every student’s family…
Total personnel: 2,429.
“I know you’re somewhere in here.” Ivan placed a heavy hand on the piles of documents spread across the table.
“I don’t expect to find you easily.” Because arrogance was the sharpest dagger that could kill an agent.
“But it won’t take long.” “I promise.” Those who were Possessed inside academy stories could never live quiet student lives.
That was simply common sense.
They would stop attacks.
Monopolize fortuitous encounters.
Acquire secret techniques from somewhere.
Academy stories inevitably followed the standard wish-fulfillment formula.
After all, who wanted to read about someone attending school normally and graduating without incident?
Therefore…
If that bastard knew the original story…
Then he would undoubtedly imitate the protagonist’s path.
Every Possessed person did.
Even Kim Seonwoo, when he had first been Possessed, had dreamed of monopolizing hidden opportunities and introducing modern technology.
Every Possessed individual was selfish to the core.
Filled with variables.
Capable of doing anything unpredictable.
After the war that the NPCs had desperately fought had finally ended…
He must have been thrilled to enroll in an “academy” and enjoy his fantasy transmigration adventure.
He neither knew nor cared about the countless lives that existed only as background lore.
To him…
It was simply fun.
Like enjoying a carefully crafted theme park.
Ivan already understood that his anger was merely an outlet.
Aimless hatred.
Perhaps nothing more than petty jealousy.
“What’s with that guy?
Santa Claus?” Just a casual remark.
But those few words had revealed exactly how that bastard viewed other people.
He hadn’t even tried to hide that he had been Possessed.
He was simply enjoying himself.
Those words had left Ivan’s heart in turmoil.
Because they treated everyone else as nothing more than objects.
“Lieutenant Colonel!
Did you see that?
Damn, I was amazing, wasn’t I?
I stopped every single one of them—even the Seven Dragon Generals!” “Don’t talk.” “Haha.
I think I could do it again if I had to.
Kind of a shame, though.
I should’ve angled my shield a little farther to the right.” “Cherenovika.
Shut your mouth.” “Maybe then Sasha—that idiot—could’ve survived.
What a shame, Lieutenant Colonel.
Really…” “We’re almost there.
Almost.
Just hold on a little longer.” “I’ll let Sasha punch me when I get there.
At least I won’t be lonely.
Whether it’s Heaven or Hell, we’ve always been good at making connections, right?” “Please…
be quiet.
Your blood is cooling faster.
Cherenovika…
please.” “Lieutenant Colonel…
live a long life.
Come as late as possible.
If you arrive too soon, I’ll stage a mutiny.” These people’s stories were not background lore.
Amid the scattered documents…
Ivan was reliving a nightmare.
A memory from long ago.
“Do not mourn those who departed before us.” “For I now stand beside them.” These people’s stories were not background lore.
“I survived in place of the finest men of this age.” “All of us did.” Their history…
was not some scenario.
It could not be.
Within the nightmare, Ivan murmured softly.
As he heard Kim Seonwoo’s voice patting him on the back.
“Kimchi stew.
Tteokbokki.
Nachos dipped in cheese.
Spicy stir-fried pork.
Hwedupbap.
Sokcho mulhoe.
A bowl of hot ramen.” “Home.
My house.
Korea.
Seoul.
My rooftop apartment.
My parents.” “Subway stations.
Convenience stores.
The streets at night.
Home.
I have to go back.
Stay strong.
Don’t waver.
Face forward.” “It’s alright.
We’re not alone.” He recited anything that could calm his heart.
Over and over.
Until the night finally ended.
*** After the semester began, Esidisi found herself in quite a predicament.
No one wanted to eat with her.
At a school where nobles from all over the world gathered, being royalty alone certainly wasn’t enough to make someone an outcast.
However…
When the royal family’s bodyguard—a middle-aged mountain of muscle carrying an axe—stood nearby glaring at everyone with fierce eyes…
That was an overwhelming burden for students who were barely twenty years old.
“Ugh!
My life is ruined because of you, Uncle!!” “And that’s somehow my fault?
Shouldn’t the real problem be all those idiots trying to flirt with my niece?” “Then why are you chasing away the girls too?!” “Because this uncle already heard those little witches talking behind my niece’s back.” “Aaaaaah…
my college life…
my future…
Dad…
I hate you…!” Thus, on the very first day of school…the strongest music student in history ran off sobbing, having become an outcast.