It was a quiet morning.
Sunlight slipped through the small window and landed directly on Cael's face.
He frowned slightly and turned his head.
"…Tch."
He opened his eyes slowly.
For a few seconds, he just stared at the ceiling.
Then reality came back.
First official day.
Academy life begins today.
It had been a week since the attack.
A week of investigations.
A week of being called back and forth between the academy and the orphanage.
A week of answering the same damn questions again and again.
"Where were you standing?"
"What did you see?"
"Did you notice anything unusual?"
Over and over.
Cael sighed.
"I'm not a suspect, but they sure treat me like one…"
Still, he couldn't complain.
He had no power.
No status.
Just an S-Class student with a weird constitution.
He got up from bed and walked toward the mirror.
Blue eyes.
Black hair.
Academy uniform—black coat with silver lining, fitting his body neatly.
He stared at himself.
"…Damn."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I look handsome as hell."
A small grin appeared.
"With this face, maybe I can actually build a harem."
He chuckled.
Then immediately shook his head.
"Yeah right."
Harem is far away.
Survival comes first.
He survived once.
That doesn't mean he's safe.
The one-eyed bandit is still alive.
The inside traitor is still hidden.
The future events of the game still exist.
And this world?
It does not forgive weakness.
He exhaled slowly.
Focus.
He stepped out of his room and walked toward the dining area.
The children were already sitting around the table.
Laughing.
Arguing over bread.
Fighting for milk.
The moment Cael entered—
"Cael oppa is here!"
A small boy shouted and ran toward him.
Cael immediately caught him before he could trip.
"Ralf," he sighed, lifting him up. "Why are you running like that?"
Behind him, a short girl with tied hair crossed her arms.
"Oppa is right. What if you get hurt?"
Cael looked at her.
Mae.
Twelve years old.
Always acting more mature than her age.
Mae smiled slightly.
"And Cael oppa… aren't you getting late for the academy? I heard they're very strict."
Cael puffed his chest proudly.
"Don't worry. Your big brother is in S-Class."
"Even if I'm late, nothing will happen."
Inside—
Oh shit, what time is it?
He quickly sat down and ate breakfast faster than usual.
The children kept looking at him.
Their faces were not excited.
They were sad.
Because they knew.
He would move into academy dormitory today.
Due to security reasons, candidates must stay inside campus.
Official reason: protection.
Real reason: easier control.
There had been cases of candidates getting assassinated before enrollment.
Cael stood up after finishing.
He looked at all of them.
"Take care of each other, okay?"
Ralf hugged his leg.
"Come back soon."
Mae tried to look strong.
But her eyes were slightly red.
Seeing them like that—
Something twisted inside Cael's chest.
These people love him.
Not El.
Not the soul inside.
But Cael.
The original boy who died.
Whose body he took.
Shamelessly.
Still—
He smiled.
"I'll come back whenever I get time. Don't worry so much."
He walked toward Sister Ammy.
She was standing near the door.
Watching quietly.
"Ready for your first official day?" she asked gently.
"I hope you stay out of trouble."
Cael scratched his cheek.
"I never get into trouble."
She stared at him blankly.
"Says the boy who got caught in a bandit raid."
"And then survived a terrorist attack on entrance day."
Cael opened his mouth.
Closed it.
"…I'm still alive, aren't I?"
Sister Ammy suddenly grabbed his ear and twisted it.
"And you won't be if you don't value your life!"
"Ow ow ow—okay okay!"
She let go and sighed.
"Just… take care of yourself."
Her voice softened.
Cael nodded.
"I will."
But inside—
Will I?
The path ahead is full of landmines.
In the game, one wrong choice meant world destruction.
And now—
The protagonist is not a player.
She's a real person.
She doesn't have save files.
No restarts.
And neither does he.
After talking a little more, Cael went back to his room.
He grabbed his small bag.
Clothes.
Some books.
A few coins.
That's all he had.
He looked around the empty room.
This small space.
This cheap bed.
This cracked window.
This place where Cael grew up.
And died.
He turned away before thinking too much.
And stepped outside.
The orphanage door closed behind him.
The sound felt heavier than usual.
He didn't look back.
Because if he did—
He might hesitate.
The road toward the academy felt longer today.
Students walked in groups.
Talking excitedly.
Laughing.
Dreaming about future glory.
Cael walked alone.
Hands in pockets.
Eyes calm.
But mind active.
The academy gates appeared ahead.
Massive.
Intimidating.
Guards were tighter than before.
Magic barriers glowing faintly.
Security doubled after attack.
As he approached—
He felt it.
Eyes.
Watching.
He didn't turn his head.
Didn't react.
But he knew.
He was being observed.
From where?
Balcony?
Tower?
Hidden mage?
He didn't know.
But instinct screamed—
Stay sharp.
He passed through the gates.
Inside, instructors guided students toward dormitory registration.
A staff member handed him a key.
"S-Class Dormitory. Room 17."
Cael raised eyebrow.
S-Class dormitory.
Separate building.
Higher security.
Closer to main faculty.
He walked toward the building.
Tall.
Elegant.
Unlike the orphanage.
He entered.
The hallway smelled clean.
Quiet.
Expensive.
He stopped in front of Room 17.
Took a breath.
Unlocked it.
The room was large.
Soft bed.
Wooden desk.
Private bathroom.
Balcony view.
"…What the hell."
He laughed lightly.
From rotten fish smell room…
To this.
Life changed fast.
He placed his bag down.
Walked toward the balcony.
Looked at academy grounds.
Students below.
Training fields.
Magic towers.
Somewhere in this place—
The traitor exists.
Somewhere in shadows—
Enemies are moving.
And somewhere—
The main heroine is walking toward her own path.
Cael leaned against the railing.
"This world…"
He exhaled.
"…is not a game anymore."
No restarts.
No reload.
No second chance.
He survived once.
That doesn't mean he'll survive again.
His fingers tightened slightly.
But his eyes didn't waver.
"Fine."
"If this place is a cage…"
"I'll become the predator inside it."
And for the first time since arriving in this world—
Cael truly felt it.
Academy life had begun.
And the real game…
Was about to start.