Death and Rebirth
The last thing Han Seojun remembered was the blinding headlights of a truck.
He had been walking home from another grueling shift at the convenience store, earbuds in, listening to the audiobook of his favorite web novel—Chronicles of the Radiant Hero. It was a guilty pleasure, a story about a chosen hero named Lucien Ashford who attended the prestigious Celestia Royal Academy, gathered a harem of beautiful heroines, and saved the world from the Demon King.
Seojun had read the novel seventeen times. He knew every plot twist, every character's fate, every secret hidden in the story.
And now, apparently, he was going to die thinking about it.
What a pathetic way to go.
Darkness consumed him.

When Seojun opened his eyes, he was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
His body felt wrong—lighter, younger. His hands were pale and slender, not the calloused hands of a twenty-six-year-old who worked three jobs.
A translucent blue window materialized before his eyes.

[SYSTEM AWAKENING]
Welcome, Transmigrator.
You have been reborn as Ethan Blackwood, a background character in the novel Chronicles of the Radiant Hero.
Character Status: Extra (Cannon Fodder)
Original Fate: Death in Chapter 47 (Demon Beast Attack)
Days Until Death: 127
Would you like to activate the [Regressor's Advantage System]?
[YES] / [NO]

Seojun—no, Ethan now—felt his heart stop.
Ethan Blackwood. He remembered that name. A forgettable side character who appeared in exactly three scenes before being killed off to demonstrate the danger of the academy's practical exam.
"You've got to be kidding me," he whispered.
His voice was different. Younger. He stumbled to a mirror hanging on the wall of what appeared to be a modest dormitory room.
A handsome young man with ink-black hair and silver-gray eyes stared back at him. He was attractive—far more so than his previous life—but his features were forgettable in the way that background characters often were. Pleasant but unremarkable.
He was eighteen years old, a first-year student at Celestia Royal Academy.
And in 127 days, he was supposed to die.
"System," he said aloud. "Yes. Activate."

[REGRESSOR'S ADVANTAGE SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
As someone who has read the novel, you possess knowledge of future events. This system will help you leverage that knowledge.
SYSTEM FEATURES:

* Status Window: View your attributes
* Quest System: Complete quests for rewards
* Knowledge Archive: Access your memories of the novel
* Skill Shop: Purchase skills with points
* Affection Tracker: Monitor relationships with key characters

STARTING BONUS: 500 System Points
Current Quest:
Survive the First Week
Reward: 100 Points, Random Skill Box

Ethan took a deep breath. He could work with this.
He pulled up his status window.

[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Ethan Blackwood
Age: 18
Class: Unawakened
Rank: F (Lowest)
ATTRIBUTES:

* Strength: 12
* Agility: 14
* Intelligence: 45
* Mana Capacity: 8
* Charm: 32

SKILLS: None
SPECIAL TRAIT: [Eyes of the Reader] - Can perceive hidden information about characters and items you remember from the novel.

His stats were abysmal. In a world where the average person had attributes around 20, his physical stats were below average. Only his intelligence was notable—a remnant of his previous life, perhaps.
But Ethan smiled grimly.
He didn't need to be strong. He had something far more valuable.
He knew the future.

Seven days until the demon beast attack.


Ethan had prepared as much as he could. His rank had risen to D—not high, but no longer lowest. His mana capacity had quadrupled. He had learned three combat spells and four utility spells.


He called a secret meeting in the hidden sage's study.


The attendees: Seraphina, Aria, Elena, Victoria.


Luna came too, though she stayed in the shadows and pretended not to be there.


"I know this will sound insane," Ethan began, "but in seven days, there will be a demon beast attack during the practical exam. It will be orchestrated by a traitor within the academy."


"How do you know this?" Seraphina demanded.


"I can't explain. But I can prove I'm telling the truth. The traitor is Professor Damien Graves."


"That's impossible," Aria protested. "Professor Damien is one of the kindest teachers—"


"His kindness is a mask." Ethan's voice was hard. "He's been feeding information to demons for years. The attack in seven days is a test—he wants to see how the academy responds to a surprise assault. Students will die. Including, originally, me."


"You said 'originally,'" Elena noted, her analytical mind seizing on the word. "What does that mean?"


"It means I've seen possible futures," Ethan said. "And I'm trying to change them."


Victoria crossed her arms. "If you know who the traitor is, why not report him?"


"Who would believe me? An F-Rank student accusing a beloved professor? I need evidence. And I need allies who can help me expose him."


Seraphina leaned forward. "You want us to help you catch a traitor."


"I want to save lives," Ethan corrected. "Whether you believe me or not, please—just be careful during the practical exam. Stay away from the eastern forest quadrant. Protect the weaker students."


"I know I'm asking you to trust someone you barely know. But I've proven myself before. The Sage's Grimoire. The diplomatic assassination. Victoria's aunt's cure."


"The cure worked," Victoria admitted reluctantly. "The healers are already preparing the ingredients."


"And my family's alchemists confirmed the assassination plot," Seraphina added.


"Then please," Ethan said. "Trust me one more time."


Chapter 11 - The Gathering Storm