A Changed Fate
The blue screen appeared in front of Cael.
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System Message
Congratulations for surviving the attack on academy
You have successfully changed the fate of yourself.
Reward: Random permanent stat increase.
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Seeing this message, Cael's eyes widened, all the terror he experienced in past 24 hours, at tension for the attack, he threw his uninjured arm up, ignoring the sharp burning sting of pain he experienced and he shouted,
"LET'S FUCKING GOOOO!"
The moment he shouted, the nurse, who had dried blood on her cloths mostly because of tending to everyone because of the attack turned toward him with an irritated face.
"There are other patients here," she scolded. "Keep your voice down and rest, not to mention You are a patient yourself."
Hearing her words and noticing the dark bags under her eyes, Cael immediately lowered his head slightly.
"Sorry. I will not do this again."
But inside?
He was exploding with happiness.
He survived.
That attack was supposed to kill him.
Original Cael died there like a background character nobody remembered.
His death was meant to be nothing more than a passing line of text established for the story.
But now—
He was alive.
And even rewarded for it.
His fists clenched under the blanket.
So the system rewards fate changes as well...
Then that means—
If I change more events, I get stronger faster.
His heart started beating faster.
This was huge.
A guaranteed way to grow stronger.
He tried opening his status again, but the system screen disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
"…Still locked, huh."
He sighed.
Still, permanent stat increase meant his body had already improved.
He just couldn't see it yet. But soon he will be able to see the changes in his body.
It was the next day.
The academy remained closed for a week due to investigation regarding the attackers.
Guards were everywhere. Mages were tracing the magic traces left by attackers.
Students weren't allowed to leave campus freely.
Rumors spread everywhere.
Terrorists from evil organisation.
Demon followers trying to summons demons.
Dark guild trying to destroy mankind.
Nobody knew the truth.
But Cael did.
He traced back to the story's lore in his mind.
The attackers had inside help.
The protection around academy is covered with complex and ancient magic formula, not just anyone can broke through it easily.
Someone inside the academy leaked information.
And that person—
Was a future pain in the ass.
A mini-boss who constantly interfered with the female protagonist's progress, trying to take her out because of his petty jealousy.
Cael sighed while staring at the ceiling.
"I need to get discharged already…"
Staying in bed felt worse than fighting.
Suddenly, the infirmary door opened.
Three well-dressed people walked inside.
Cael frowned slightly.
Who are they?
Before he could think further, a young man stepped forward.
"Hello. My name is Mathew, son of Count Lepster, governor of the East Mining Route."
Cael blinked.
Ah… right.
Nobility exists here too and they hold quite a power.
He almost forgot after living in an orphanage.
Compared to them, he was just a commoner.
Cael straightened slightly.
"Hello, Mr. Mathew. I'm Cael. May I ask what brings a noble of your status here?"
He stayed cautious.
Not all nobles were friendly.
Hearing him, Mathew laughed lightly.
"No need to be on guard."
"You might not remember me, but I remember you."
"You saved me during the attack."
"And I came here to personally say thank you."
Mathew then slightly bowed his head.
Cael froze.
Nobles bowing?
That didn't happen in the game.
Usually it was just a lazy thank you.
Seeing this, Cael hurriedly waved his hand.
"No need to bow. I was just saving fellow students."
He almost said he was saving himself too, but kept quiet.
Mathew smiled and turned back.
"These two are Cristan and Listan. Barons under my family."
Both of properly dressed man bowed politely.
"You saved them as well," Mathew added.
"Though I'm sure you don't remember."
Cael scratched his cheek.
"Honestly… I don't. I was just trying to help whoever I could in that chaos."
Mathew laughed.
"Well, someone entering top class doesn't need to worry about remembering everyone."
Cael frowned.
"…Top class?"
Mathew grinned.
"Congratulations."
"You've been selected into S-Class."
Cael blinked. Once. Twice.
S-Class.
The elite class.
Where all main characters studied.
Mathew continued,
"If the attack hadn't happened, people would complain about someone with Mana Defect entering S-Class. Especially nobels."
"But your legendary constitution and performance during the attack shut everyone up."
"In a way, the attack turned out good for you."
Cael smiled awkwardly.
Yeah… good my ass.
That attack almost killed me.
Still, he nodded politely.
"I guess… things worked out."
Mathew stretched slightly.
"Well, we should leave. My parents are panicking after hearing about the attack."
"We'll meet again when classes start."
Without waiting further, he left.
The two barons followed, but before leaving said,
"Thank you again for saving us."
Then they left.
Silence returned to the infirmary.
Cael stared at the ceiling again.
Helping people feels… weirdly good.
He wasn't even planning heroics.
Just survival.
But results turned positive anyway.
Then another thought surfaced.
That one-eyed bandit was there…
And escaped again.
And Lyria…
What was she doing inside the academy during the attack?
He frowned.
Too many unknowns.
He exhaled slowly.
"Well…"
Now it's not time to dwell that much into it,
He need to think how he can use his time in S class to train even stronger as well as it's time to prepare to save the other heroines before the tragedies occured to them.
And survive doing it.
He closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, somewhere far away—
Inside a dark chamber—
A masked man knelt before a figure hidden in shadows.
"The target survived," he reported.
Silence followed.
Then a cold voice replied,
"…Then eliminate him next time. Ensure nothing is left of him."
Back at the academy infirmary—
Cael suddenly felt uneasy for no reason.
As if something had shifted.
The wheels that were supposed to move in one direction…
Had slowly begun turning somewhere else.
And he was right at the center of it, unaware that the decision he took today greatly influenced his future.