Everything began with a subtle sense of discomfort.
Kate, a professor in the Magic Department at Stella Academy, sat at her desk in her research lab, quietly gazing down at a file labeled 'Jeron Airgia.'
The silver-haired cadet who had blatantly sprawled over his desk and slept through the first class of Class 1.
At first, she thought he was just some dimwit.
But when she confronted him after class, she sensed something off.
"You're planning to do the same next time?"
He had bowed politely in response to her reprimand and even apologized.
Yet those pale purple eyes held no trace of shame or remorse.
An eerily calm gaze.
Even in the professors' lounge, he was the topic of conversation.
"The entrance exam dead last is sleeping through every class from day one..."
"Tsk tsk, leaving a stain on what they call the golden generation."
As she listened to her fellow professors' lamenting voices, Kate thought differently to herself.
'Sleeping through every single class on the first day?'
That meant it wasn't mere irresponsibility or laziness.
There was something else... something deeper.
In the end, she used her professorial authority to pull up Jeron Airgia's personal records. Her finger stopped abruptly at one entry.
- Orphanage origin.
- Appears to have no relatives or connections.
- Only the name 'Jeron Airgia' is on record, but no other individuals with the surname 'Airgia' exist in the imperial registry.
Short, succinct sentences.
They pierced her heart with a chill.
The final puzzle piece fell into place at the training grounds.
She had heard rumors of a duel between Kaiser Fireheart and Jeron and secretly visited the 1st Year training grounds.
A matchup between the 13th place in the entrance exam and dead last—an objectively impossible fight.
Yet some vague premonition that the result might defy expectations drew her feet there.
And there, Kate witnessed something unbelievable.
'...Ha, he's a monster beyond genius.'
While others were lost in shock and confusion, she instantly saw through the essence of Jeron's magic.
A spell that turned the opponent's power against them. A brilliant signature magic reminiscent of the legendary archmage's 'Mirror Image.'
There were still rough edges to refine, but developing such a spell at his age was clear proof of genius.
It was also proof that he could never have placed last in the academy entrance exam. He must have deliberately held back, just meeting the minimum threshold.
So why was Jeron acting so slothful on purpose? Why enter the academy as the bottom rank with such talent and sleep through every class?
Putting together all the information so far, one conclusion formed.
'...He's wandering aimlessly.'
Kate turned her gaze to the window. Her reflection faintly shone there.
In it, the Kate from her unfortunate childhood stared back.
***
"I'm an orphan too. Just like you, Jeron."
...?
The unexpected orphan bombshell made my face stiffen involuntarily.
I thought I was immune to this stuff as a K-gamer.
But ambushing me like this...!?
Professor Kate seemed to interpret my frozen expression differently.
"Academy professors have the authority to access cadets' personal records within regulations. Sorry for touching on something sensitive. I just wanted to say I understand your situation and feelings."
She gave a bitter smile and exhaled a long trail of cigarette smoke.
'Ah...'
Jeron Airgia, your parents are gone.
In [Stella Academia], he was just an extra, so I didn't know the fine details.
Suddenly treated like an orphan.
But it might not be so bad.
Thinking about it, I have parents back in my original world. Having another set here would feel awkward.
From their perspective, some weirdo stole their son's soul.
Better to have no ties—more peaceful that way.
So I just nodded silently.
*Sniff*, sorry Mom and Dad...! I'll survive this world and find my way back to you...!
"That spell you just used was impressive. Did you create it yourself?"
She meant 'Lower Reflection.'
Of course, it wasn't a skill I made.
Just something I bought from the Sloth Shop for 200 points with a click.
In the original game, it's a self-developed skill for the protagonist—the player character. One you could pick up around the latter half of 1st Year?
By then, better skills are available, so you usually skip it. It only reflects lower skills.
No protagonist in this world, so claiming I made it should be fine.
Sorry, gonna plagiarize a bit.
"Yes."
"I thought so..."
Professor Kate spoke with a thoughtful expression.
A brief silence followed. I fidgeted uncomfortably.
Dragging me to the rooftop, dropping orphan facts, now just smoking...
Hey, isn't this school bullying?
Of course, the atmosphere wasn't that.
She looked at me with pitying eyes.
Gray eyes tinged red by the sunset, filled with melancholy.
I'd never seen her eyes like that.
Even maxing affinity in the game didn't give this vibe.
Then Professor Kate spoke.
"With talent like that, the reason you're wasting it... must be pain from the past, right?"
"Pardon?"
"Intentionally ranking last in the entrance exam, sleeping through every class. It's not just sloth."
Professor Kate gave a wry smile.
"You can be honest with me. I understand..."
Uh...
Um...
No, it's not.
It's just my trait?
...No way I could say that in this mood.
Couldn't agree either.
Stuck, I just shut my mouth with a dark expression.
Professor Kate took my silence another way and continued.
"Yeah... Then let me share my story too. Fair trade since I pried into yours."
Professor Kate suddenly began recounting her tragic past.
"My story... isn't very pleasant."
She took a deep drag on her cigarette.
The burning tip glowed faintly in the sunset light.
Her voice, stripped of its usual sharpness, was worn like a smoothed stone.
"As a child, I lived in a small rural village with my parents. We were poor, but happy. Then one day, bandits raided the village."
She paused. Her gray eyes, staring into the distance, seemed to relive that horrific day.
"I could only watch my parents die right in front of me. Powerless. Just as their filthy hands reached for the last one left—me—somehow, my magic surged uncontrollably. When I came to, the bandits were all reduced to ashes."
I listened intently.
This was lore not even in the game.
[Warning! Diligent behavior...!]
'Argh, you maniac. Read the room!'
This system is pure evil. Interrupts if talks drag on.
Story-skipping scum!
I sacrificed a few sloth points and focused on her tale.
"Funny thing is?"
She gave a self-deprecating smile.
"The power that did nothing while my family died exploded on its own just to protect my worthless body."
The resentment in her voice was aimed squarely at herself.
"After that day, I hated everything. The world, myself, this damned talent. So I deliberately went astray, wandered—just like you're doing now."
Of course, everyone's story differs, and ways of wandering vary slightly—.
Professor Kate trailed off, looking at me with eyes full of understanding.
"The current headmaster took me in. He told me that power wasn't a curse, but a blessing to protect others. That's what made me who I am. I vowed then: if I met a student like my old self, I'd reach out too..."
She cleared her throat awkwardly and continued.
"Ahem, sorry. Got lost in sentiment, rambling alone. Anyway, no pressure. Just saying, if you want, I can help anytime..."
Professor Kate, flustered and babbling unlike herself.
Only then did I fully grasp the situation.
Professor Kate. In the game, she had a soft spot for orphan cadets.
Now I knew why—she was an orphan too.
So... I hit the jackpot with [Orphan + Rebel + Genius] special admission, skyrocketing her affinity.
It matched her life perfectly, so she empathized.
Thus, I got an event cutscene normally mid-to-late game, but with a different feel.
In [Stella Academia], she was like a cool big sis or squad leader. Now, it's like that sis comforting over soju.
'Who knew it'd turn out like this?'
Definitely an unexpected variable.
Just sleeping in class and fanboying Kaiser caused this butterfly effect...
Being Jeron Airgia instead of the protagonist breeds these misunderstandings.
That aside. No way I could suddenly go, "But Professor, I'm a soul possessor—my parents are alive!"
So, in the end.
"...You've seen through me."
I answered gazing afar like a brooding protagonist with a backstory...!
"And, thank you. That warmth reached me."
"I-is that so?"
"Yes. It won't change overnight, but I'll try my best to stand up."
"Jeron..."
Pleased by my response, Professor Kate made a bold offer.
"Good. From now on, you don't have to attend my classes. Do whatever, and I'll exempt you from evaluations."
...Oh?
My eyes sparkled. An unexpected sweet deal?
Professor Kate rarely smiled faintly.
"Heh, I can tell you like it. I know the type. You really have no interest in theory studies anyway."
"That's... true."
"But on one condition."
She laid it out.
"Don't waste your talent anymore. Set a new goal. I'll judge you on that. You seemed to enjoy duels today—especially that last taunt was memorable."
Ah, she heard 'Bored to death'...
Suddenly embarrassed to death.
"Yes, duels were fun."
In [Stella Academia], combat was the most enjoyable part anyway. Studies were hopeless here.
Zero basics, and my trait blocks effort. Duels were a hundred times better.
"I see. How about this: aim for S-Rank in 1st semester."
That instant, a translucent system window appeared before me.
[A sudden quest has occurred!]
[The Dead Last's Jolly Rebellion!]
Goal: Achieve 1st Year S-Rank within the semester in a 'slothful manner.'
Reward: ? ? ?
Oh, another quest. Slothful manner again.
Seems diligent life is off the table here.
A rotten life of freebies and cheats...
...Not bad!
Question mark rewards were iffy, but no reason to refuse. I answered without hesitation.
"Understood."
Seeing that, Professor Kate smiled faintly.
***
After my private talk with Professor Kate, I returned to the training grounds just as Artel's duel started, so I watched.
"Why won't it hit?!"
Artel's opponent was unfamiliar but decent.
Yet not a single spell touched Artel.
Whoooosh!
She conjured ice in midair as platforms, effortlessly dodging attacks.
Mages come in varieties.
If Kaiser was a 'Standing Mage' overwhelming from one spot with firepower, Artel was the opposite.
Contrary to mages being weak up close, she was a 'Battle Mage' aggressively closing distances.
She danced across her ice platforms, toying with her foe.
Like a figure skater gliding lethally on ice—flashy and deadly.
I was quite impressed.
'A mage, but insanely fast. Without [Sharp Eye], I couldn't even track her?'
In-game, it was just high strength and agility stats, but live, the pressure was on another level.
Boom! Boom boom!
Sharp ice spikes stabbed the ground, slowly boxing in her opponent.
"Urk!"
Cornered, the opponent cadet pulled his trump card.
"Tidal Beam!"
Likely his signature spell.
Grand name, but just rapid water jet.
Potent, though.
Then.
"Hya!"
Artel didn't dodge—instead, she charged straight at the oncoming water stream.
"Huh?"
"What is she doing?!"
Bewilderment and shock erupted from the stands. But.
The moment the stream touched her hand.
Crack—!
"S-she froze the opponent's water spell solid?!"
The raging torrent turned into a massive ice block, encasing the opponent at the end.
"Wh-what is th..."
The opponent cadet became an ice statue, face frozen in bewilderment.
"Taylor Linde, combat incapacitated! Winner: Artel Rosendal!"
"Woooah...!"
The instructor's call unleashed massive cheers and applause from the stands.
...Totally different reaction from mine.
Well, Artel's a celebrity.
"Haa, haa..."
Catching her breath after victory, she locked eyes with me in the stands.
'She's really good.'
Blind to mage details, but as a [Stella Academia] vet, solid fight.
And that last move? Never saw it in-game.
So I clapped in approval like everyone else.
But Artel flinched and whipped her head away.
Her ear tips faintly flushed red.
...Huh?
That's the reaction?
In-game, rare special response from 'Praise' interaction when way higher level than Artel.
Never triggers at peer or slight advantage—only when she fully acknowledges you as superior.
...But why to me?