As a member of the British royalty, Rachel put in every effort to maintain a certain level of elegance and dignity. She had always envisioned herself as the perfect Hero, both in theory and combat. But beyond that, she nurtured a dream goal—to write a textbook for the English Royal Hero Academy.
This aspiration drove her to work tirelessly, fueling her desire to elevate the standards of Heroism in her homeland.
The citizens of England had become fanatical about Rachel. They beamed with pride at the prospect of a Master Rank Hero finally emerging from their country. In the global hierarchy of Heroes, the designation 'Master' referred to the top 70 most exceptional Heroes worldwide. Currently, 33 of these illustrious figures hailed from Korea, 18 from America, and 9 from China. Only 2 were from England, and even those two had become Korean citizens 15 years ago. The disparity among the nations only underscored Korea's status as a superpower in the realm of Heroism.
In light of her subjects' expectations, Rachel barely slept more than two hours a day, abusing her superhuman constitution In the process. Each moment she spent resting felt like a moment stolen from her pursuit of greatness. However, her efforts culminated in a bitter disappointment when the results of the latest exam were posted. Today, her well-maintained record had crumbled.
She wasn't sad; rather, she felt a sense of apprehension and guilt. If she felt any anger, it was directed solely at herself. The results of a single written exam were unlikely to reach England, but the topic of 'Phenomenon Realm Analysis' was notoriously difficult, even for her. The gap between her score and the first place was substantial, and she knew it would take time to bridge that divide.
"…"
At that moment, Rachel sensed a gaze fixed upon her. She turned her head slightly, discovering it belonged to an above-average guy with a dull presence—Kim Hajin. Though she didn't know his name, she recognized the way the other cadets' attention converged on him. As he turned to face the front of the class, Rachel's mind lingered on his features.
Inexplicably drawn to him, Rachel began to covet the notebook Hajin had placed before him. It wasn't just any notebook; it seemed to be a treasure trove of notes, insights, and perhaps even study materials that could aid her in her quest for excellence. She imagined the knowledge contained within those pages, and a spark of envy ignited within her.
It was absurd, really. She, the aspiring Master Rank Hero, coveting the notes of someone who had only recently emerged from the shadows. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that Hajin possessed something valuable that she lacked—a different perspective, a unique understanding of their studies.
Rachel knew she had to suppress the urge to let her envy show. As a royal, she had been taught to conceal her emotions, to project confidence and grace at all times. But the more she thought about Hajin, the more that feeling of inadequacy gnawed at her. What if his insights could bridge the gap between her and the top rank?
A frown tugged at her lips as she considered her options. She could approach him, ask about his notes, but the thought of it made her feel vulnerable. Would he even be willing to share? Or would he see her as just another entitled royal, desperate to cling to her status?
The tension within her mounted as she weighed her choices. She wanted to be the best, to prove herself not just as a royal but as a Hero worthy of admiration. Yet, here she was, tempted by the work of a fellow cadet.
Rachel took a deep breath, steadying herself. She needed to focus on her studies and her goals—not on the fleeting distractions that arose around her.
***
There was a slight uproar at the fact that Hajin had taken first place in the 'Phenomenon Realm Analysis' written exam. It was a topic notoriously difficult, even for the standards of Cube cadets. But honestly, this was already within my expectations.
After the professor lavished praises on Hajin, the said professor turned his attention to me, delivering a special mention. "For the next following week, I expect you to be in detention. Catch up you're your studies, while there," Apparently, I was destined to suffer detention until next week in any subjects he taught. Well, that was his loss; his classes would never be as entertaining without my endless nonsense questions.
Sheesh… I was clearly a lost cause.
Last night replayed in my mind. The plan to convince Hajin to join us through Nayun was a gamble, but it was the safest method to get him to willingly work with us. If I tried to recruit him myself, it would raise dangerous suspicions and complicate our mission.
Despite being friends with Hajin, I believed he would trust the other characters more than me. The reason was simple: Hajin knew Nayun, Suho, Yeonha, Jonghak, and Rachel far better than he knew me. Among them, Nayun had the strongest persuasive power. The trump card here was Chae Nayun's regression. If Hajin caught even a hint of it, he would almost certainly join our quest.
As I mulled over my thoughts, I arrived at the Detention Center. This wasn't a sanctioned detention by the Cube AI, so there was really no need for me to be here. But I had my reasons. I stepped into the room that cadets rarely frequented. In fact, I believed I was the first in five years to return to this place.
Delinquents didn't even exist in Cube, and if there were any, they were smart enough to avoid detention. My situation was unique.
"Hhhow may I help you?"
I smiled at the familiar electronic buzzing.
Cube didn't have a principal or a headmaster. A single AI controlled enrollment, hiring, and operations. It made autonomous decisions aimed at fostering the next generation of Heroes.
The Cube AI remained largely unexplored in the novel, and my curiosity about it piqued.
"I just came to learn. My brain is terrible, and I don't want to fail Cube."
"Ttthis center serves to offer psychological counsel. Sadly, I won't be able to help you with studying. However, I can recommend several books for you to start over."
What should have been detention had turned into a makeshift class for me. Not bad, I consoled myself.
After several long hours of studying, the Detention Center finally let me go. It claimed it couldn't help me study, yet that was precisely what it was doing. I had to answer a ten-question essay after reading three different books I didn't even know where they came from.
Still, I thought, the makeshift class had been beneficial. Maybe I would return to study more. Ugh… Just when I started thinking I was past the age of studying, Cube was back to biting me in the ass.
It was time to head to my next appointment.
Waiting for me in a café inside Cube was Hajin. He had chosen this place, and I could never understand his attachment to coffee. "Man, it's high noon. LUNCH! And you're having coffee. Just great…"
"So, what is this private deal you want to talk about?" he asked, curiosity evident in his tone. He was getting more accustomed to my playful comments, and I relished the shift in our dynamic.
I showed him two different daggers. The first was the same one I had received from Yoo Sihyuk, while the second was a dagger I had bought from the museum at a discount. I managed to get it at a cheaper price, and while it wasn't better than Sihyuk's dagger, it was adequate for my needs. Both daggers shared the same shape, and though they looked nice, I felt they were insufficient.
"I'm not sure of your Gift," I said, "but I suspect you have the ability to reinforce items—maybe like guns and bullets. I'm thinking, maybe you can reinforce my daggers…"
"Sorry, but—"
I cut him off, refusing to accept a no. "Think about it after you talk with Nayun." I stood up, leaving my double daggers on the table. As I passed by Nayun entering through the door, I leaned in and whispered, "I leave this to you."
With that, I stepped out, hoping my gamble would pay off.
I knew how manipulative this was, anything was fair game in love and war.
***
Kim Hajin felt tense at that moment, an unease settling over him like a heavy fog. It stemmed from the notification on his laptop—an alert that was visible only to him.
[A change in setting has been detected.]
The message was easily misunderstood, yet the implications of it loomed large.
[Chae Nayun— painfully in love with Kim Hajin.]
This was a true conundrum. Hajin was well aware of the signals she sent. He was not oblivious; he noticed the way Nayun looked at him, the subtle shifts in her demeanor whenever he was near. But why? He couldn't fathom it. He wasn't doing anything particularly noteworthy to earn her affection.
Moreover, Hajin was a 27-year-old dude on the inside, a fully grown man by all accounts. And Nayun? She was just 17 years old! The age gap felt like a chasm he couldn't bridge.
[A change in setting has been detected.]
Hajin's eyes flicked back to the new alert. These notifications of 'change in settings' only activated if a character had appeared in his novel, The Returnee Hero. Characters like Kim Hosup and Hyon Hyung did not exist in Hajin's narrative, which was why he could relax around them. There were no strange dynamics to navigate, no underlying tensions.
[Chae Nayun— real age is 25 years old.]
Hajin felt his breath catch in his throat, choking on the unexpected revelation.
"Guh—" he gasped, the reality of her real age sinking in like a stone.
"Kuch~" He sputtered, struggling to regain his composure. But before he could process this new information, Nayun was right there, her instincts kicking in.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. But her concern quickly turned to action, and in a swift motion, she delivered a punch right to his gut.
The impact was immediate and overwhelming. Hajin's vision blurred, and he felt himself teetering on the edge of consciousness. It all became too much to bear.
With a final gasp, he fainted into unconsciousness, leaving Nayun standing over him, half worried and half bewildered at the chaos she had inadvertently caused.
***
"What—what happened?" The café owner exclaimed, panic flooding his voice as he rushed to the fainted customer slumped over the table. His eyes darted between Chae Nayun and Kim Hajin's unconscious form. "Why did you punch him?"
Nayun felt her cheeks heat up at the accusation, but she stood her ground. "He looked like he was choking! I thought if I took my time and went around him to help him spit it out, he might be dead already. I figured the most efficient way to assist him was to hit him from where I sat."
The owner stared at her, confusion etched on his face. "That doesn't make any sense!"
"Look," Nayun pointed emphatically at the small pool of liquid pooling under Hajin's mouth. "He must be choking on his spit, and I helped him!"
Another customer nearby piped up, a nervous gulp escaping him as he observed Hajin's condition. "I think he's just frothing at the mouth from the pain."
Nayun felt a surge of frustration bubble within her. "I'm sorry, I panicked," she defended herself, her voice small and shaky. "I didn't know what to do! I thought I was helping."
The café owner ran a hand through his hair, still dazed by the unfolding situation. "You can't just punch someone when they're in trouble! That's not how it works!"
Nayun sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. She had only wanted to help, but now it seemed like she had made things worse. The owner continued to check on Hajin, muttering under his breath about the strange way things unfolded in his café. Meanwhile, Nayun felt a pang of guilt gnawing at her insides. She hadn't meant to hurt him, not at all.
***
Kim Hajin drifted in and out of consciousness, caught in a whimsical dream. He found himself surrounded by rainbows stretching across a vibrant sky. Unicorns pranced nearby, but they were strange creatures—one had a single leg for a horn and another had horns for legs. It was absurd, yet somehow comforting. As the dream faded, he felt himself being pulled back to reality, and he awoke to find Chae Nayun looking at him with a worried expression.
He straightened in his chair, trying to appear as if nothing had happened, forcing the remnants of his dream from his mind. Thank goodness for his much stronger stats; they helped him endure whatever oddity had just occurred.
"So, what are we talking about again?" he asked, blinking at Nayun as if she had just materialized from thin air. He had completely forgotten why she was there in the first place.
A notification from his invisible laptop caught his attention.
[A change in setting has been detected.]
Hajin wiped the small drool from the corner of his mouth, the very spit that had almost choked him moments before. He subtly glanced at the notification again.
[Chae Nayun—she is about to confess something very important.]
Before Nayun could even gather her thoughts to speak, Hajin took the initiative. He sensed the tension in the air and wanted to address it maturely to avoid any awkwardness later on. "I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in dating… moreover, dating younger girls…"
"Huh?" Nayun's brow furrowed, and she instinctively picked at her ear with her pinky finger, as if thinking she might be mishearing him. The look on her face was a mixture of surprise and confusion, which only deepened Hajin's sense of urgency.