The announcement arrived quietly.
Yet it shook the entire school.
"Academy Entrance Exam candidates will be finalized next month."
Those words alone were enough to change the atmosphere of Orion High School.
For some, it was opportunity.
For others, it was pressure.
For Jin—
it was inconvenient timing.
He stood by the corridor window, watching students whisper excitedly.
Looks like everyone's suddenly motivated, he thought lazily.
Humans really are simple creatures.
Behind him, voices grew louder.
"Did you hear? Only the top performers will be recommended!"
"That means Aira is guaranteed."
"Minjae too."
Someone laughed. "What about Jin?"
Another student scoffed. "He'll probably apply as a moral support candidate."
Jin turned slightly, smiling politely.
"Support roles are important," he said calmly. "Heroes need audiences, right?"
The students froze.
They didn't know whether to laugh or feel insulted.
Jin walked past them casually.
Inside, he sighed.
Step one: survive without attracting attention. Step two: fail miserably at step one.
On the training field, Kang Minjae stood surrounded by students.
He was sharpening his sword, expression calm but eyes sharp.
When Jin passed by, Minjae spoke without turning his head.
"You're improving."
Jin stopped.
He looked at Minjae thoughtfully.
"Is that a compliment or a warning?" he asked lightly.
Minjae finally turned to him.
For a moment, their gazes met.
Minjae's eyes were sharp.
Jin's were relaxed.
"…Both," Minjae replied.
Jin nodded slowly.
"That's impressive," he said. "Most people can't multitask."
Minjae stared at him in silence.
Students around them felt the tension but didn't understand why.
Jin walked away calmly.
Inside his mind—
If he keeps staring like that, I'll start charging him rent.
Near the stands, Aira watched everything quietly.
She had been pretending to read her book.
But her attention wasn't on the pages.
It was on Jin.
He was laughing lightly with a teacher.
His voice was calm.
His tone was gentle.
Yet somehow—
he felt different from before.
Not loud.
Not flashy.
But… strangely confident.
Why do I keep noticing him?
Aira frowned slightly.
She had never paid attention to ordinary students before.
Especially not F-rank ones.
Yet Jin was different.
Not because of power.
But because of the way he acted.
He wasn't desperate.
He wasn't insecure.
He wasn't trying to prove anything.
It was as if—
he didn't care how others saw him.
Aira's fingers tightened slightly around her book.
Am I… interested in him?
The thought startled her.
She quickly rejected it.
No.
That was impossible.
Then why…
Her gaze returned to Jin again.
Jin suddenly turned his head.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, he looked surprised.
Then—
he smiled slightly.
Not arrogantly.
Not shyly.
Just… naturally.
Aira looked away instantly.
Her heartbeat felt unfamiliar.
Jin tilted his head slightly.
Did I do something wrong? he wondered.
Then he shrugged internally.
Whatever. Humans are complicated.
That night, Jin stood alone on the rooftop.
The city lights of Seoul stretched endlessly beneath him.
He opened his status window quietly.
His attributes were stable.
Balanced.
Firmly in B-rank territory.
Close to A-rank.
He clenched his fist slowly.
The Academy Entrance Exam was approaching.
And this time—
he wouldn't just survive quietly.
He would step forward.
Not as a hero.
Not as a genius.
But as an "extra" who wasn't supposed to shine.
Jin smiled faintly.
Well… this should be fun.