Two weeks had passed in the blink of an eye.
During the holidays, I spent my time wisely, gathering information and adapting to my new reality.
Things I Learned and Decided:
First, I honestly didn't remember most of the story of the novel. I knew major events, but the details were blurry. With my presence here, the plot could have already changed, making my knowledge unreliable.
Second, I discovered something unexpected in the System. There was an option to invite people to my Team, allowing them to level up alongside me.
Jinwoo never used this function, but his son, Sung Suho, did in the sequel.
I tested it on my interface and confirmed that Karma, Oreki, and Yuji were eligible to join.
But—
No way in hell was I using it.
If they suddenly got stronger for no reason, Karma and Oreki would figure it out immediately. They're too damn smart for their own good. It wouldn't take long before they started questioning me.
So I needed a way to make them stronger naturally—without raising suspicions.
Third, I hadn't seen Artoria since that day at the café. Maybe she was in a different department, or perhaps a professor's relative. Either way, she vanished as mysteriously as she appeared.
Putting that aside, I dedicated part of my time to understanding this world's technology. It was more advanced than my previous world—so much that I felt like a caveman staring at fire.
I also familiarized myself with the currency, cities, and culture to avoid looking like a complete fool.
I wasn't an expert yet, but at least now, I wouldn't get lost in the middle of a conversation.
In these 14 days, I religiously completed my daily quests and gained a solid amount of stat points.
And finally—
I used the Dungeon Key (D-Rank) and stepped into my first real dungeon.
Inside, I faced the Blue Venom-Fanged Kasaka, the same giant snake Jinwoo fought in the novel.
But unlike Jinwoo, I was pathetic.
I had no life-or-death experience.
I had no real combat training outside of killing weak goblins.
And yet—
I pushed through.
I trained myself through battle, adapting as much as I could.
And in the end, I won.
I received the same rewards Jinwoo got—
The Kasaka's Venom Fang Dagger and Kasaka's Snake Boots.
But I didn't use them immediately.
I decided to wait until I got stronger before relying on them.
For now, I needed to keep improving.
Because the deeper I went into this world—
The more I realized how weak I truly was.
After two weeks, my time in this small but cozy apartment had come to an end.
Standing in front of the door for the last time, I took a moment to reflect.
"It's a bit uncomfortable to leave. This place was quiet, good for my experiments, and had books I never had in my previous world. But... it's time to move on. It was nice while it lasted."
The words felt less like a statement and more like a mantra, as if I was trying to convince myself.
But before I could dwell on it any longer—
"Yo."
I turned to see my friends waiting for me, looking as relaxed as ever.
We chatted for a bit, nothing too deep—just banter about how fast the two weeks had passed.
Then, we left our apartment behind, handing over the keys to the Cube-assigned receptionist.
As we stepped out, the morning breeze wrapped around us, refreshing and cool.
I took in a deep breath of the city air, feeling the warmth of the sun against my skin.
After setting up the map on my phone, we began our journey to the Cube.
Eventually, we arrived at the bus station, where something unexpected caught my eye.
A Cube-branded bus was parked nearby, designated for cadets.
"Huh... was there a Cube bus in the novel?" I muttered under my breath. I honestly couldn't remember.
The others seemed equally surprised.
Karma Akabane crossed his arms with a smirk. "Man, I was kinda hoping we'd have to fight for seats like in those 'survival of the fittest' public buses."
Yuji Itadori laughed. "Right? I was expecting the 'shove-your-way-in' kind of experience, but this looks fancy."
Hōtarō Oreki sighed. "I don't see why you're both disappointed. A comfortable ride means I can sleep."
Karma nudged him with his elbow. "Ah yes, because sleeping is your true talent, Oreki."
Oreki yawned, completely unbothered. "Correct. I don't see a reason to be excited about a bus."
Yuji stretched his arms. "Well, I think it's kinda cool! Feels like we're VIPs or something."
I chuckled at their reactions. "Alright, alright, let's just get inside before someone steals your 'precious' seat, Oreki."
Oreki gave me a thumbs up as he walked ahead. "Good thinking."
As we stepped into the bus, I was surprised.
The inside was way more comfortable than any normal public transport. Spacious seats, smooth lighting, even a faint scent of lavender in the air.
Yuji whistled. "Damn. This is way too nice for a academy bus. Are we sure we're not in the wrong place?"
Karma casually leaned back in his seat. "Maybe the Cube finally realized future heroes deserve first-class treatment."
Oreki had already taken a window seat, head resting against the glass, eyes half-closed. "If we're gonna talk, keep it down. Let me sleep in peace."
Yuji grinned. "You always say that, but somehow you still hear everything we say."
Oreki cracked one eye open. "Because you two are loud."
Karma looked over at me, smirking. "So, boss, what's the plan once we reach Cube? Another mystery dungeon run?"
I smiled, hiding my thoughts. 'If only they knew…'
For now, I simply said— "Let's just get there first."
With that, the bus began its journey, and we were officially on our way back to Cube.
The Cube. A vast island spanning over 16 km²—a place where students train to become heroes.
As I stepped onto the grounds, my eyes darted around, scanning the students and staff.
This feeling... was strange.
"I should move forward as fate guides me."
But even as I told myself that, my hands trembled slightly.
A lump formed in my throat.
"What if I can't do it? What if I'm not good enough?"
Doubt crept into my mind like a slow poison. But before I could sink any deeper—
"Oi, what are you waiting for?"
Karma's voice pulled me back to reality.
"Let's go inside already," Yuji added, flashing his usual grin.
Oreki simply sighed. "Standing here won't change anything."
They all moved forward without hesitation.
I smiled.
"Right. I'm not alone."
With that, I stepped forward.
I had my brothers beside me.
[Novice - Veritas]
Catching my breath, I checked my watch—7:40 AM.
The class didn't start until 8:30 AM.
"The bus really was convenient..."
I turned to the classroom door.
"Time to go in. Maybe this is my beginning... or maybe it's my end."
With determination, I pushed the door open.
Inside, the classroom looked surprisingly familiar—a blend of a Naruto-style academy but with a modern touch.
Three long tables arranged in a cascading pattern. No students yet.
We were the first ones here.
Naturally—
"Back row?" I asked.
"Back row," Karma confirmed.
We all walked to the last seats and made ourselves comfortable.
Oreki took a seat by the window, stretching lazily.
Karma leaned back, propping his legs on the bench in front of him.
Yuji, being Yuji, sat normally—but still full of energy.
I, on the other hand, rested my arms on the table, creating a small gap to keep an eye on the door.
Silence settled in.
…Until, of course, Karma spoke up.
"So, anyone wanna bet on who our instructor is gonna be?"
Yuji hummed. "I hope it's someone cool. Like, strong but also kinda chill, y'know?"
Karma smirked. "Like Kakashi-sensei in Naruto?"
Yuji's eyes sparkled. "That would be awesome! I wanna try Rasengan"
Oreki, who had his head resting against the table, muttered— "As long as they don't expect too much from me, I don't care."
Karma glanced at him. "Oreki, my dude, we're training to be heroes. You might wanna adjust your mindset."
Oreki sighed. "Wake me up when something important happens."
I chuckled, shaking my head.
"Yeah. This is how it should be."
Even in an unknown world, surrounded by uncertainty—
I had my friends.
Shin Jonghak and Yoo Yeonha entered the classroom.
Their gazes swept over the room, barely sparing us a glance before heading to the front tables on the far right.
Yoo Yeonha turned to Jonghak, engaging in conversation.
He, as expected, responded with indifferent one-liners.
I watched them for a moment, then—
—it hit me.
"Wait..."
A memory surged forward.
The second arc of the novel.
Kim Hajin, the protagonist, knew of an upcoming deaths—where five innocent female cadets would die at the hands of a Djinn, a follower of Lilith.
And he let it happen.
Oh, sure—he saved one girl, Yoo Yeonha, and got a Desert Eagle as a reward. But the others? The five that died?
Not a single mention.
Even the readers forgot about them.
Nobody cared.
Because they were "NPCs."
But I—I couldn't accept that.
"NPCs? No. They're people. Real people."
They were someone's sisters, someone's daughters.
And they were going to die.
Unless—
"I kill that Djinn first."
It's not I hates Hajin but the starting stage Hajin is idiot to me.
I closed my eyes, letting my emotions settle.
When I reopened them—
The classroom was completely full.
I took a slow breath.
This world was real to me.
Karma leaned back in his chair, balancing on two legs. "Man, the room really filled up fast. Think any of these guys will be important?"
Yuji stretched. "Who knows? But I bet at least one of them is secretly super strong."
Oreki, still resting his head on the table, muttered— "If you want to avoid trouble, don't stand out."
Karma smirked. "Too late for that, buddy. With your sleeping face, you're already famous."
Yuji perked up. "Oh yeah! Speaking of that—the sketch!"
Karma pulled out his phone, grinning.
The legendary drawing of Sleeping Oreki, enhanced with cat ears and whiskers, stared back at us.
Oreki lifted his head, his eyes narrowing.
"You actually went through with it..."
Yuji snickered. "Dude, it's art."
Karma nodded sagely. "Exactly. The world deserves to see it."
Oreki exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "You two are going to be the death of me."
Yuji slung an arm around him. "But what a way to go, right?"
Karma laughed.
For a moment, I let myself relax.
But deep inside—
I was already planning how to hunt a Djinn.
—The Door Opened.
I barely had time to process my own thoughts when she walked in.
Artoria.
Our eyes met.
Shock flashed across her face—the same expression I must have had.
"Wait—what? She's in the same class as me?"
Before she could react, I ducked my head, burying my face under my arms, pretending to sleep.
Meanwhile, Artoria, still visibly surprised, slowly took her seat.
Despite my attempt to play it cool, my mind was racing.
'How the hell is she here?—?'
Karma grinned, already catching on. "Oh? Someone's got a crush."
I sighed, not even bothering to lift my head. "Shut up, Karma."
Yuji snickered, resting his chin on his hands. "Man, your reaction was way too strong. You sure you don't know her? Wait isn't she that girl who freaked out that day"
Oreki, still lying on the table, glanced at me with half-lidded eyes. "...You're hiding something, did you two meet before again."
"Tch."
Damn it, they're sharp.
But before they could push further—
The Instructor Arrives
"NOW!"
The voice boomed through the classroom.
Instant silence.
All eyes turned to the front.
I lifted my head slightly, leaning on my palm out of habit.
A man in his late 30s, Kim Soohyuk, stood at the podium with a sharp gaze.
"This guy..."
I recognized him.
A strict instructor. Ruthless. By-the-book.
He wasn't a villain, but he didn't go easy on anyone.
"Today is the first day, so there won't be any special training," he began. "But I hope you all trained this morning. Training is never wrong, especially in the morning, when mana density is at its peak."
I internally nodded, recalling my daily quest.
"I didn't get a single dungeon key again. I wonder why?."
Putting that thought aside, I focused back on the instructor.
"I am Kim Soohyuk, the instructor in charge of all of you for the year."
Then, he revealed his rank.
> "Rank Points: 3850. Worldwide Rank: 9737."
The room buzzed with whispers.
A top 10,000 ranked hero.
It made sense—there were over 2 million heroes in the world. This guy was elite.
But while the majority of students looked impressed, Shin Jonghak, Yoo Yeonha, Kim hajin and I didn't react.
"The first day will be special. Some of you may not have slept from excitement. Others are eager to push themselves. And maybe—some of you are just happy to see your 'passions' again."
The class laughed.
But then—
The instructor's face turned cold.
"Oh boy."
"But let me make this clear—the Cube is not the same as before."
The air stilled.
"There will be no time for relationships. No playing around. At the Cube, you will experience real combat situations."
A few students gulped.
"Are you eager to see how terrifying the real world is?"
His mischievous smirk sent chills down my spine.
"The Cube is very objective. The only thing that matters—is your score."
The mood turned tense.
"Guilds don't care about talent. Only results. Thus, we evaluate with precision and rigor."
"If you perform poorly, you will repeat the semester."
> Less than half of Cube cadets graduate without repeating.
A maximum of four repeats before expulsion.
"Can't become a hero? Then you'll be a mercenary or an agent. I doubt that's what you want."
The weight of his words settled over the room.
For a moment, he scanned our faces.
Then, his eyes landed on specific students.
Kim Suho. Shin Jonghak. Yoo Yeonha. Chae Nayun. Rachel. Yi Yeonghan.
I recognized them instantly.
"Key figures. But... one is missing."
Kim Hajin.
I glanced at him.
His face filled with disappointment because of how his life turned out to be.
"At the Cube, you will confirm what you've learned and refine your skills for battle."
"There will be no gentle training here. Remember that."
Then—
> "Now get ready. The first task is—'main weapon selection.'"
Yuji perked up. "Oh, hell yeah! Time to pick a weapon!"
Karma leaned back, smirking. "This is where we see who's all talk and who's got the skills to back it up."
Oreki exhaled, still resting his head on the table. "...We haven't even fought yet, and I'm already tired."
I rubbed my temples, feeling my nerves settle slightly.
This was it.
The first step.
We followed instructor and went to a room.
[Weapon Selection – Veritas Academy]
The room was filled with weapons—more than I could have ever imagined.
Swords. Spears. Sabers. Daggers. Halberds. Greatswords. Zweihanders. Bows. Firearms. Whips. Gauntlets.
The sheer variety made some cadets freeze in indecision.
> "Choose carefully. After you select your main weapon, you won't be able to change it for at least six months."
Cadets rushed forward, standing before their desired weapons.
Karma went straight for the daggers.
Oreki stood lazily in front of a spear.
Yuji picked up a bow, testing its string with a thoughtful expression.
I saw Artoria took Saber sword.
When he turned away she looked at Ritsuka and smiled happily. But Ritsuka doesn't know this.
Meanwhile, Ritsuka walked straight to the instructor.
Kim Soohyuk raised a brow as I approached.
"I want to change my weapon from sword to gauntlet."
His expression shifted to mild surprise, then to annoyance. "Why the sudden change?" His tone was harsh.
I didn't waver.
Instead, I smiled.
"Men fight with their fists. And I had more experience in my first fight."
Silence.
Then—
"PFFT—!"
The instructor laughed. A genuine, amused laugh.
"Hah! You've got guts, I'll give you that."
Then, his expression turned serious again.
"Fine. But remember—cadets make their own choices at Cube. Instructors won't interfere. That also means if you fail, the responsibility falls on you."
I nodded.
"Understood."
"Good. But don't forget—you can only change weapons again in six months."
"That's fine."
With that, I turned and walked back toward my friends.
As soon as I got back—
Karma grinned. "Gauntlets, huh? Planning to punch your way to victory?"
I smirked. "It worked for my first fight."
Yuji nodded approvingly. "Hey, respect. Fistfights are always cool."
Oreki, still leaning on his spear, yawned. "Fighting bare-handed sounds like a lot of work. Too much effort."
I rolled my eyes. "Of course, you'd say that."
Oreki shrugged. "I prefer a weapon that keeps people away. Less movement, less hassle."
Karma snickered. "And here I thought you just wanted to look cool."
Oreki sighed. "I don't 'want' to do anything. I just exist."
Yuji chuckled.
I rubbed my temples, already feeling the headache forming.
"These guys…"
[Dormitory Assignment – Cube Academy]
We arrived at the dorms—six extravagant skyscrapers standing tall before us.
According to Kim Soohyuk, each building had 100 floors, each consisting of five rooms.
Top cadets got penthouses.
Kim Suho, being Kim Suho, refused his, saying it was "too big for him."
"Guys to the right, girls to the left," Kim Soohyuk instructed.
Then, the smartwatches were handed out.
> "Chundong, Kim Chundong!"
Hajin froze. "Huh? Me? Why?"
Kim Soohyuk's hawk-like eyes narrowed.
"…Why?"
His stare alone made Hajin tense up.
With a sigh, Soohyuk gestured.
"Your smartwatch. Come take it."
"Ah, yes."
As Hajin stepped forward, his legs wobbled—
And he almost fell over.
But—
Yuji moved fast, grabbing his shoulder and steadying him.
"Woah, easy there," Yuji said, grinning. Then, he gave a thumbs-up. "Take care, man."
Hajin blinked, then turned to glare at the other cadets laughing at him.
'You dare laugh at your creator? I got angry for a second, but I generously chose to forgive you—because an NPC helped me. You all should learn from this guy.'
Standing nearby, I looked at Hajin's expression and immediately read his thoughts.
I sighed. "He still thinks this world is a fiction, huh…"
Next—
Oreki stepped forward.
Soohyuk checked his name.
"Hōtarō Oreki."
Oreki yawned before lazily taking his smartwatch.
"...Right," Soohyuk muttered, clearly not impressed with his attitude.
Then it was Karma's turn.
"Karma Akabane."
Karma grinned mischievously.
"That's me~"
"Take this seriously," Soohyuk warned.
"Of course, Instructor~," Karma replied in a tone too polite to be sincere.
Soohyuk sighed and moved on.
Finally, Yuji and I got our watches.
"Yuji Itadori."
Yuji took his watch with a bright smile.
"Thanks, Instructor!"
Soohyuk blinked, surprised by his energy, but nodded.
And then—
"Ritsuka Fujimaru."
I stepped forward and took my smartwatch.
"Try not to slack off," Soohyuk said, handing it over.
I nodded. "I won't."
After checking the smartwatches, we gathered.
"So," Karma stretched, "how are the room placements?"
I checked mine. "Looks like we're all in different sections."
"Tch," Karma clicked his tongue. "So much for being neighbors."
Oreki sighed. "Honestly? Good. Now I won't be forced into 'social interactions.'"
Yuji laughed. "You make it sound like a disease."
"Isn't it?" Oreki replied flatly.
Yuji slung an arm over my shoulder. "Well, even if we're not in the same place, we'll still hang out, right?"
Karma grinned. "Obviously. Just don't lose to anyone before I get to mess with them."
Oreki shook his head. "…You're all exhausting."
With that, we parted ways, heading toward our respective dorms.
As I walked, I glanced at the skyscrapers.
"This world isn't just a fiction but a hard version reality, Hajin."
He'd realize it soon enough.
[Ritsuka's Dorm Room]
Opening the door, I stepped into my assigned room.
It was bigger than I expected. The bed looked comfortable. The window view stretched over the vast Cube campus.
Yet—something felt off.
I walked inside, feeling a faint pang in my chest. The loneliness, the abrupt change—it was settling in.
The room was nice. Spacious. Luxurious.
But it wasn't home.
Change always comes with anxiety. No matter how much we prepare, our roots pull us back.
"My old apartment was small, imperfect… but safe."
I sighed. "I still can't get used to this, but I'll adjust quickly."
I sat on the sofa, grabbing the Gauntlets.
Lighter than expected. Sleek, well-crafted.
And yet, all I could think about was—
"I never thought I'd hold a Thanos Gauntlet."
With a grin, I mimicked his voice.
"I am inevitable."
Snap.
Of course, nothing happened.
-Ding dong-
An electronic voice echoed through the door.
> "Rank 884, Fuji. maru. Rits. uka. Retrieve. Your. Luggage."
I got up, opened the door—
And found two large boxes.
"Good thing I sent my belongings in advance," I muttered, thanking the delivery robot before hauling them inside.
> [Agent Military Academy Rank: 1048, Hero Military Academy Rank: 884, Ritsuka Fujimaru. Personal belongings.]
Rank 884.
Higher than Kim Hajin.
I wasn't sure if I should be proud or worried.
I tore the tape from the first box.
Books.
Good. I needed them.
I opened the second box.
Clothes.
Even better.
Slipping out of my Cube uniform, I changed into something more comfortable.
I sat back down and opened my status window.
> [STATS]
NAME: Ritsuka Fujimaru
LEVEL: 18
JOB: NONE
FATIGUE: 0
TITLE: WOLF ASSASSIN
HP: 2220
MP: 350
STRENGTH: 48
HEALTH: 27
AGILITY: 27
SENSE: 27
INTELLIGENCE: 27
AVAILABLE ABILITY POINTS: 0
"Not bad."
I leaned back, thinking.
"Next stat boost should go to Agility, Health, and Perception."
A solid plan.
But then—
I thought about Artoria.
She chose a sword.
I wondered how she was feeling now.
For some reason—
I smiled.
"I'm glad she's in my class."
I could talk to her.