The main field of NFS Academy was filled with students from all grades. From first to third year, they stood in neat lines according to their class.
Not a single one stepped out of line. No idle chatter. Everything looked orderly and disciplined.
'This academy… is incredible,' Andress thought to himself. 'Just like what was written in the book. No wonder troublemakers can't survive here.'
He looked around in quiet awe, comparing it to his old school in the real world—chaotic, noisy, full of wandering students. But here? Discipline was a daily breath.
Suddenly, a loud voice broke the silence.
"Leonil! Line up right now!"
Andress quickly turned his head. His expression shifted from relaxed to serious in an instant.
That name...
He scanned the student rows until his gaze landed on the one being called.
'So… that's Leonil,' he thought, narrowing his eyes. 'At last, I get to see the guy who always annoyed me when I read Bad End.'
'His eyes… dark blue, matching his hair.'
[Leonil – 17 years old]
Leonil, the main character of Bad End, looked exactly like the book described—handsome, charismatic, and surrounded by a strong aura. No wonder so many girls were drawn to him. Even from afar, his charm was obvious.
But Andress couldn't bring himself to like him, no matter how perfect he looked.
'He's too naïve,' Andress thought. 'Because of him, my favorite character died for nothing. Honestly, I feel like punching him.'
His eyes were full of frustration—frustration built up over time as a reader. But he had to admit one thing.
'Fine... I admit it. He's good-looking. Far beyond what I expected as a reader.'
Just as he tried to pull his focus away from Leonil, someone stepped onto the podium. A middle-aged man with a firm posture and a strong, intimidating presence stood before the students.
[Berni – 55 years old]
'That's Berni?' Andress muttered. 'His aura really is as powerful as the book said.'
Berni was the principal of NFS Academy. Once a legendary knight who saved the world twice. Though now ranked only twelfth on the list of strongest knights, he was still deeply respected by all.
He had even been offered the position of president—an offer he refused. This man was no ordinary figure.
Berni began to speak. His voice was calm yet strong, enough to quiet the entire field. He gave a long speech, and finally ended with:
"Congratulations to all of you, especially the Leonil cohort. You've officially advanced to the second year."
Andress frowned.
'Second year? Wait... wasn't Bad End supposed to start when Leonil was still in his first year?'
His head started to heat up.
'Damn it… does that mean I entered this world when the story has already progressed about thirty percent? This is bad.'
Andress walked slowly through the hallway, heading toward his new classroom. His mind was a mess, still processing the fact that he had landed in the middle of the story.
-Usually, people who get transmigrated enter before the story begins,' he thought. 'But me? I'm late. And not just a little.'
[Class 2A – New School Year]
Class 2A was Andress's new class. Unfortunately... Leonil was there too. Along with several other major characters from Bad End.
'All right. I just need to be myself. No need to get involved with them. Avoid unnecessary plot changes.'
He stood in front of the door for a moment. Took a deep breath. Then pushed it open gently.
His eyes immediately fell on a group of students chatting together—Leonil, Frisa, Zelen, Brian, and Raon.
[Frisa – 17 years old]
Blonde hair that shimmered and a pretty face. That had to be Frisa—the main heroine of Bad End. In about six months, she would start to fall for Leonil. One year later, they'd officially start dating.
'Frisa… she's even more beautiful than the book described.'
[Zelen – 17 years old]
With short hair and sharp eyes, Zelen stood close to Frisa. The two had known each other since middle school.
'She looks scarier than I imagined... but turns out, she's actually pretty soft inside.'
[Brian – 17 years old]
Quiet, brown-haired. A background character Andress liked for his loyalty. Unfortunately, he was extremely shy and rarely spoke.
'He'll grow stronger eventually. But for now... he's still a weakling.'
'And worse... he dies meaninglessly before he reaches his peak.'
[Raon – 17 years old]
Raon stood slightly apart, but his sharp gaze kept a close watch on Leonil. He was the moral compass of the story—the one who always guided Leonil when his stupidity kicked in.
Raon was also one of Andress's favorite characters.
'If it weren't for Raon, Bad End would've ended by chapter ten.'
'No... ten's too generous. Maybe chapter five.'
A familiar voice called out. "Andress! Over here!" Tengli waved from one of the rows.
"Didn't expect us to be in the same class," Andress said casually.
"Same here," Tengli replied with a smile.
At least Andress had someone he could talk to. Tengli was a positive, energetic type. A bit of a chatterbox too—perfect for someone like Andress who needed sources of information.
Tok tok tok!
A female teacher entered the classroom. The atmosphere instantly turned heavy.
[Selena – 28 years old]
Elegant posture. Intimidating aura. She stood firmly in front of the class. Even Leonil froze in his seat.
Despite her presence, Selena was actually kind. The students liked her—even those who feared her.
"My name is Selena. I'll be your homeroom teacher. I assume you already know me, so let's skip the long introduction."
Unlike the others, Andress wasn't intimidated. He studied Selena carefully.
'This woman is ranked 80th among the world's knights... but in Bad End, her role is practically nonexistent.'
'Such a shame. Her potential is huge.'
Selena noticed his stare and narrowed her eyes. 'That boy... he was watching me so intently. And now he's acting like I don't exist. What's his deal?'
'If I remember correctly... his name is Andress Soniel. The top archer in this year's batch.'
'I'll keep an eye on him.'
The first day wasn't even over yet, and the students were already gathered in the armory to choose their new weapons.
Their old weapons had grown worn, and as part of annual protocol, the academy provided fresh equipment to all students.
'My weapon… a bow, right?' Andress thought. 'Just like what the system screen showed.'
He placed his finger on a weapon bracelet—a special device developed by humans. Its function was simple: to store all types of weapons.
A large, elegant bow materialized instantly. 'So this is the weapon bracelet... not bad,' he muttered.
『Grade E Longbow』
『Special Trait: Does not require physical arrows』
『Grows according to user's stats』
'This bow… looks amazing,' Andress murmured, impressed. 'No need for arrows and it can level up by itself. I wonder how far it can evolve.'
Tengli approached him. "You're still going with a bow?"
"Not sure yet," Andress replied. "What about you?"
"Of course I'm going with iron gauntlets. Barehanded fighters are cool and full of charisma!" Tengli beamed proudly.
Andress returned a small, forced smile.
Not long after, Selena stood in front of the class holding an attendance sheet.
"I'll call your names one by one. When you hear yours, step forward and choose the weapon you want."
The students began moving forward in turn.
Leonil chose a sword, just like in the original story. Frisa picked a PR gun. Zelen took a magic staff. Brian chose a dagger. Raon, a shield.
'PR weapons... expensive and deadly. Fits someone rich like Frisa.'
[PR Weapons]
Modern weapons powered by monster cores. They'd only begun development five years ago. What used to be considered junk tech had now become valuable—PR guns included.
When Andress's name was called, he stepped forward slowly.
Selena, who had been watching quietly, now focused her gaze.
Andress looked over the rows of weapons in front of him—bows, daggers, spears, swords. Everything was here.
'A bow... I'm suited for it. But for some reason, it just doesn't appeal to me.'
His hand paused in front of a long sword.
'My father taught me swordsmanship. Even if I haven't used it in a while, the movements still feel familiar.'
He lifted the sword. The weight felt right. The grip fit perfectly.
There was a strange resonance—a confusing sense of comfort. 'Suddenly… I remember him.'
"I'll take this one," Andress said.
The room went quiet. Selena raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Andress... you're switching weapons?"
"Is there a rule against it?" he asked flatly.
"No. It's just... rare for someone to go from ranged to melee."
"Well, I'm just following my instincts."
Selena didn't respond. But her thoughts were racing. 'Does this boy understand the risk? He ranked fifth last year in the archery division. Why would he change paths now?'
As Andress turned to return to his seat, someone suddenly approached him.
"Hey!" a cheerful voice called.
Andress looked up and saw Leonil smiling widely in front of him.
"You picked a sword, huh? Congrats!" Leonil patted Andress on the shoulder enthusiastically.
Andress stared blankly at him. "Congrats? For what?"
"Well, for choosing the best weapon, of course!" Leonil grinned, giving him a thumbs-up.
Andress gently brushed the hand off. He looked indifferent, but he was clearly uncomfortable.
"Thanks, but I don't need empty congratulations."
Leonil didn't seem offended. He let out a soft chuckle. "So... what's your name?"
"Andress," he answered curtly.
"Andress, huh? Nice name. Well then, starting today, we're friends!"
Andress paused. Then replied coldly, "I don't need friends. One person is enough."
Leonil's smile faltered a little, but he tried to keep a friendly tone. He wasn't upset—just awkward.
"Oh… I see… uh, well, hope you have a good day, Andress."
"You too," Andress replied, walking away without looking back.
From a distance, Selena had watched the entire interaction. 'He even acts cold toward Leonil. And Leonil's usually the type who gets along with everyone. This boy... he's interesting.'
A few hours later.
The sky was dimming. Andress sat alone on a bench in the academy garden, body weary, eyes gazing off into nothing.
'This is only the first day… and I'm already exhausted. No physical training yet, but my mind feels so heavy.'
'Annoying…'
Thud!
A sudden crash pulled his attention. Reflexively, he turned toward the source of the sound.
A few meters away, someone had collapsed onto the ground.
It was Frisa.
Her face was pale, her body trembling, and her breathing was ragged—as if she was on the verge of death.
"Frisa?" Andress half-rose from his seat, but didn't move any closer. He looked like he wanted to help… but then he remembered something.
'Oh... I remember this part. In Bad End, Frisa gets a high fever because she pushes herself too hard during training.'
'A teacher will find her soon, take her to the infirmary, and she'll recover there.'
'Then tomorrow morning, Leonil shows up to give her some basic advice. But, as usual, that tsundere ignores everything.'
Andress sat back down.
'If I were the main character of some anime or manhwa, maybe I'd help her right now. Then some spark of romance would follow.'
He crossed his arms and looked up at the evening sky.
'But I'm not that kind of person.'
'I don't want to change the story. I'm not here to play the cliché simp. My only job is to survive and grow stronger. That's it.'
'Mom's waiting for me at home, so I should stay focused on finding a way back.'
He stood up slowly and walked away, leaving Frisa lying there—even though he clearly could've helped her.
'If I were the actual protagonist, readers would probably hate me for this. I mean, this is the perfect moment for a first meeting with the heroine.'
'Heh... to anyone watching this… I bet you hate me, don't you?'
"…"
A faint smirk formed on his lips, tinged with something bitter. 'I must be going crazy—probably from watching too much Deadpool.'
Two Days Later – Inside His Dorm Room
Two days had passed since Andress was thrown into the world of Bad End.
Though everything felt strange at first, he adapted faster than expected.
'Well, this world is weird... but it's not like I can't adjust.'
'Besides, it's not that different from my old world—except that magic actually exists here.'
Over the last two days, Andress spent every spare moment gathering information.
He wanted to know more about the person whose body he now inhabited—Andress Soniel.
Here's what he had learned so far:
1. Orphan
No parents, no relatives, no family at all. Completely alone in this world.
2. Bow Expert
Two months ago, he ranked first in the academy-wide archery exam.
3. Popular (in silence)
Though quiet, his skills earned him respect among long-range weapon users.
4. Antisocial
No friends except Tengli. The reason wasn't clear, but Andress Soniel seemed extremely reserved.
5. Never Appeared in Bad End
And this... was the most shocking part.
Despite his talent, Andress Soniel was never mentioned—not even once—in the Bad End story.
Besides that, Andress also tried searching for ways to return home. He looked through the system's database, checked the web, tried everything he could.
It was useless.
No clue. No leads. No way out.
"A character this good… and he's not even mentioned in the book? What a waste," Andress muttered.
'Even the info I've found feels off. Like someone tried to erase his existence on purpose.'
He had spent most of these two days trying to answer a single question:
Who is Andress Soniel?
His first step was checking the public student records at the academy's data center. The system was open-access, allowing students to view profiles of their peers.
But when he typed in "Andress Soniel"…
"Only three records?"
One showed his archery theory score.
One listed attendance.
The last one was a promotion slip confirming he advanced to the second year.
No photo.
No teacher comments.
No club history.
Not even a single record of social activity.
Andress raised an eyebrow. "This... is too clean."
He dug deeper, searching the background section—where student family data was usually stored.
And there, he found one line:
Status: Orphan. Lived at Mutiya Orphanage since age five.
No guardian name.
No adoption history.
No medical records.
No letters of recommendation from the orphanage.
Just that one sentence, as if nothing else mattered.
'Mutiya Orphanage… I don't remember ever hearing that name in the story.'
Andress leaned back against the wall and stared blankly at the ceiling.
'This person existed… but was never truly recorded. Even in a world obsessed with rankings and data, he's like a shadow.'
He tried to remember—had the name "Andress Soniel" ever appeared in Bad End?
Even once?
As a side character?
As a casualty in the background?
Nothing.
Not a single mention.
'This isn't just strange.'
'This… feels like someone wanted him to stay invisible.'
A chill crept up his back—not from fear, but from realization.
He might be standing in the middle of a plot hole so deep, it was never meant to be uncovered.
'Was this body… created just for me?'
'Or did someone erase him from the story... before it even began?'
Andress closed the archive screen slowly.
'I don't know who tried to hide this boy's trail… but if I'm truly in a body that shouldn't exist, then I need to be more careful than anyone.'
He stood up, preparing himself for the training ahead.
Training Grounds – Morning
It was around eight in the morning.
Andress stood in the middle of the academy's training field. A gentle wind brushed past, carrying the scent of damp soil—bringing memories of a faraway place.
In his hands was a long sword—the weapon he had chosen two days ago.
He took a slow breath, then swung the blade forward.
One slash.
Two.
Three.
His movements were decent—not stiff, but not yet smooth.
And slowly… his body began to remember something.
"Use your hips. Don't rely on your arms. Exhale at the end of each strike."
Those words...
They were his father's.
Andress closed his eyes for a moment, letting the old memories flow in with the morning breeze.
Back when he was just a child...
The sun had barely risen when the sound of clashing wood echoed through the yard of the Kondevin family's small house.
A father and son stood facing each other beneath the morning sky, wooden swords in hand.
Andress, only five years old, stood with an overly serious expression and stiff posture.
"Don't grip it too tightly," Anjovi said with a soft laugh.
He knelt to adjust his son's hands. "If you're too tense, you'll only be slower."
"But... what if I drop it?" Andress asked, his voice innocent.
"Don't hesitate. You'll never master anything if you're too afraid of mistakes," Anjovi replied with a warm smile.
Andress nodded. He raised the wooden sword again, copying his father's moves—
One strike to the right.
One thrust forward.
One spin behind.
It was clumsy.
And a little ridiculous.
But Anjovi didn't laugh.
He simply nodded with pride.
"Good. What matters is that you're serious. Speed will come later."
Wiping sweat from his brow, young Andress looked up. "I want to be like you, Dad."
Anjovi chuckled. "Becoming like your father isn't such an easy goal."
"But you're amazing."
The words were quiet. Honest.
The kind of admiration only a child could hold for the most important person in his world.
Anjovi paused, looking into his son's bright blue eyes, filled with determination.
Then gently, he ruffled Andress's hair.
"If you can really become that kind of person… I'll be proud."
Andress smiled wide. "I promise I will."
Anjovi laughed again. "Don't just promise. Prove it."
Andress nodded firmly—like he was trying to etch that promise into his bones.
Then they continued training.
One hour.
Two.
Until the sun rose high and their laughter filled the yard.
Andress didn't know back then—
That those days would end much sooner than he thought.
And he had no idea...
That one day, he'd hold a sword not to practice, but to survive.
Back to the Present
Andress opened his eyes.
He swung the blade again.
This time with more confidence, more focus.
It wasn't just muscle memory—it was something deeper.
"Seven years," he murmured.
"Seven years since the last time I held a sword…"
He paused. His eyes stared at his reflection in the blade.
'The last time I raised a sword… was that night.'
His face darkened. 'The night I... killed that man.'
His grip tightened.
Then he kept training. 'Maybe… choosing the sword was the right decision.'
His movements became fluid.
His footwork more precise.
Every strike was faster than the last.
And he realized—this world, the world of Bad End, made his body far stronger than before. He jumped three meters without effort.
Spun midair. Landed. Slashed through the wind like he wasn't even human anymore.
'In this world… I'm like a superhuman.'
But he didn't feel proud. Instead… there was a hollow emptiness inside him.
Ping!
A sudden notification popped up on his phone:
> Practical training will begin shortly. Please report to the simulation room. [From Instructor Selena]
Andress spun the sword once more, then let out a long breath.
'I guess that's enough for now. My body's gotten used to this world's rules.'
Artificial Portal Room – 09:00 AM
Andress now stood in line with the other students.
In front of them was a man-made portal—an advanced device designed to simulate real battle conditions.
'For training like this, they usually form groups of four to ten people,' he thought. 'Please… don't let me end up in the same team as the main characters.'
But that hope was short-lived.
Selena began reading the team assignments.
"Andress, you'll be joining Group C," she said while checking the list. "Your teammates are Frisa, Brian, and Winie."
Andress didn't react. He simply nodded and said, "Understood."
But deep down, he was cursing non-stop.
'Damn it… three characters from Bad End in one team.'
'It's over. There's no way I won't affect the future now.'
[Permanent Team]
Today's test wasn't just for simulation. Its hidden purpose was to determine the permanent teams for the year.
The instructors would evaluate each student's performance and finalize the team arrangements based on this session.
'No matter what I do… the future will change,' Andress thought bitterly. 'Damn it.'
In the original story, Leonil was supposed to team up with Frisa, Raon, Brian, Winie, and Zelen.
Now, Andress had already taken one of their spots.
It hadn't happened yet… but the chance of divergence was already 80%.
TeamC – First Meeting
All four team members had gathered. No one said a word.
Andress decided to break the silence.
"Hey, I'm Andress," he said, standing tall, trying to appear neutral and approachable.
No one responded.
Seconds passed.
Only the wind seemed to answer.
Their gazes were blank—or more precisely, uninterested.
Finally, someone spoke. "…Winie," said the girl with dark purple hair. Her voice was flat, barely audible.
"I-I'm Brian…" added the boy who didn't even have the courage to make eye contact.
"I'm Frisa," she said without looking up. Her hands were busy adjusting the shiny plating on her weapon. She spoke as if Andress's time wasn't worth acknowledging.
Silence returned, heavy like fog.
Andress stood among them, feeling like a host on a stage no one was watching.
He sat down. 'Great… what a lovely atmosphere,' he muttered to himself, half frustrated.
Still, he didn't give up. If this team couldn't communicate, his own survival would be at risk.
"Have you guys trained with your chosen weapons yet?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
No response.
Brian looked startled—like he just realized someone had spoken. Winie stared at her shoes. Frisa glanced briefly, then leaned back in her seat with folded arms, clearly uninterested.
"…Okay then." He tried again. "Have you been inside a portal before? This is my first time."
Still nothing. Even their breathing was louder than their reactions.
Andress was beginning to lose his patience. He crossed his arms and glanced at them one by one.
"Winie, what's your preferred weapon?" he asked directly, hoping a focused question might trigger a reply.
"…Katana," she answered briefly. One word. Like it was already too much effort.
"Brian, you look like you're good with daggers. How long have you been using them?"
Brian peeked up, then quickly looked away again. "…S-since the start of the semester…"
"Frisa, your PR weapon is impressive. The school doesn't provide those for free, so… how much did you pay for it?"
Frisa raised an eyebrow. Then, flatly said, "If you're hoping to borrow it, forget it."
Andress closed his eyes for a moment. 'That's not what I meant… seriously…'
He sighed and leaned back.
No point pushing further.
"Anyway… we need to choose a team leader. Who wants to be captain?" he asked.
"I do," Frisa answered instantly—clear, firm, confident.
Of course. Who else would be the first to volunteer?
Andress looked at Brian and Winie. "Any objections?"
Winie silently shook her head. Brian nodded quickly like a bobblehead.
"All right," Andress said. "Frisa is the official team leader."
And… just like before, silence fell again—thick and heavy.
Not a word.
Not a sound.
Andress glanced at the floor. Then the ceiling. Then at the three people who "technically" were his teammates.
He scratched his head in frustration.
'Why does this feel like I'm teamed up with a bunch of walls?'
Minutes passed.
Still no conversation.
Andress let out a long sigh.
Inside, he muttered:
'What kind of team is this?? It's been five minutes and no one's said anything!'
'Damn it… this is going to be a long day.'