I hurriedly opened my mouth.
"I'm really sorry… Miss. Couldn't we run the test one more time?"
"Ha…"
The female staff member let out a tired sigh, her eyes looking at me as if she had already seen hundreds of men like me.
"I'm sorry. Retests rarely change attribute results. And if you apply for a re-examination, there will be an additional fee, understood?"
She looked me up and down as if scanning my body once, and I unconsciously stiffened.
—Additional fee.
I knew what that meant.
And it was true that retests almost never changed the results.
…Even so, it was hard to accept the outcome.
[Spear Lv.1]
Among the many possible attributes, having Spear could be considered a poor result, but…
No. It was bad.
It felt almost like the worst result possible.
"I'll pay the extra fee."
I made up my mind and handed over the payment.
"…Alright. Then step back onto the altar."
Receiving the woman's pitiful gaze, I stepped forward again.
I had no choice but to request a retest, clinging to the faintest hope.
My life now depended on this attribute.
If there was even the slightest possibility, I had to try.
Damn.
As I stood straight on the circular altar, a pure white light once again began to surround me at the staff member's gesture.
Watching the light, I prayed desperately.
'Please, a magic attribute! Please!'
In this world, magic is the most favored path. Close-combat attributes are practically hopeless.
Flash!
———
Name: Hancheonseong
Gender: Male (20)
Title: None
Height / Weight: 178 cm / 67 kg
Current Continental Influence: 5
Abilities
[Strength 3]
[Agility 8]
[Stamina 9]
[Magic 2]
[Luck 5]
Attributes Owned [1]
[Spear Lv.1]
Skills [0]
———
As I stared at the status window—seeing for the first time that nothing had changed at all—I felt like I was completely falling apart.
"I-I understand…? I know you're very upset right now. But others are waiting to take the attribute test."
My vision blurred as I stood there blankly, the female staff member holding my shoulders and helping me up.
'How…?'
Suddenly, it felt as if I couldn't see ahead. As if someone had covered my eyes.
What I had just taken was the 'Attribute Test,' something you could only take once you became an adult.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this single test determined your entire life.
And yet—
It was ruined.
Completely ruined.
Damn it.
Step. Step.
I rubbed my eyelids as I walked absentmindedly toward the exit.
A heavy gloom filled my chest as the moisture gathering in my eyes seemed to sink into my heart.
"Oh…"
"What are we supposed to do?"
"It's a spear… Has anyone ever succeeded with a spear?"
Perhaps my result had been displayed publicly, because the whispers of those still waiting in line pierced straight through me.
Ha.
I let out a deep breath I couldn't hide and left the attribute testing room.
Even my wallet, once heavy, was now empty—making my heart feel even emptier.
"Damn…"
Standing in the street, I muttered curses under my breath as all motivation drained from me.
'How am I supposed to make a living with a spear?'
The reality I was facing felt unbearably cruel.
I had become a character inside the novel I once read.
And not even in some grand opening scene—
But as an ordinary extra.
Unbelievably, that's what happened to me.
I don't know whether I committed some great sin or did something wrong without realizing it, but it had already happened.
"…"
Even now, at the edge of my vision, I could see the academy building towering high into the sky.
When I looked at its exterior—grand like an imperial castle—I was reminded once again
that I was in the world of ＜Grand Royal Academy＞.
The charming heroines with their various hair colors. And like any academy-genre novel, I remembered reading about the protagonist who devoured every opportunity and rose above all.
But with that knowledge… what was I supposed to do?
Even when I thought about a way to return, nothing came to mind.
First of all, I wasn't even the main character—
not even a supporting one.
I was just 'me.'
In other novels, people usually transmigrate into a talented noble or some gifted character.
But I didn't even get that.
I was simply myself in this world—present, yet unrelated to it.
Like a stain.
Still, somehow, I had grown used to this world. Since I didn't have a status window I could freely check, I stayed at an inn and did small jobs, saving up the money needed for the attribute test.
With a vague hope that maybe I could live well here—like the protagonist, or at least a supporting character who shows remarkable talent.
The attribute test you can take once you become an adult.
If that went well…
Then there would be nothing I couldn't do—just like the protagonist.
"Some bastard once said that if you expect too much, you'll only end up betrayed…"
I muttered a line I once saw in the past, and only a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
If your life could change with a single jackpot from the attribute test, how could you not expect something?
"Mom, that uncle… he's weird."
"Oh. It's best to avoid people like that and not get close to them. Understand?"
"Yes. Okay!"
…The strange voices of passersby made me lower my head, forcing a bitter expression.
Uncle.
There are things you should say—and things you shouldn't.
Even though my mood had sunk even further, I kept walking.
"…But I still have to try."
Even so, it was still possible to apply to the academy.
Anyone who had taken the attribute test could submit an application.
In this world—one that resembled a medieval era ruled by nobles and spirits—the Academy could be seen as a single ray of light.
"Would it work… if I tried?"
A small sigh slipped out as I muttered to myself—a habit I had developed while living alone.
I muttered a line I once read somewhere in the past, and only a hollow laugh came out.
If your life could change by hitting the jackpot in the attribute test, how could you possibly not expect something?
"Mom, that uncle… he's weird."
"Oh. It's best to avoid people like that and not get close to them. Understand?"
"Yes. Okay!"
…The strange voices of passersby made me lower my head, forcing a stiff expression.
Uncle.
There are things that should be said—and things that shouldn't.
Even though my mood sank further, I kept walking.
"…But I still have to try."
Even so, applying to the academy was still possible.
Anyone who had taken the attribute test could submit an application.
In this world—one that resembled a medieval era ruled by nobles and spirits—the Academy could be seen as a single ray of hope.
"Would it work… if I tried?"
A small sigh escaped me as I muttered to myself—a habit I had developed while living alone.
Those who managed to stand out at the academy were usually taken in by noble families or even the imperial court.
That was the kind of life I wanted.
Of course, there were times I dreamed of an easy life—reincarnated between the protagonist and a talented supporting character—but my most ordinary wish was simply this:
'A life with a secure future.'
I just wanted to do what I had to do and not have my life fall apart.
"…"
With a sigh, I opened the details of my Spear attribute.
Flash!
———
Attribute Name: Spear
Grade: Common
Current Level: 1
Description: When wielding a spear, you receive a "correction" to proficiency.
———
It was such a simple explanation that it almost felt absurd.
At first glance, I wondered how important that "correction" really was—but there was a difference you couldn't ignore between having it and not having it.
"…Common."
The grade was exactly what I had expected, but seeing it in reality only made my thoughts more complicated.
In this world, close combat was practically a disaster.
Almost all monsters possessed incredible physical resistance.
Even a goblin had thick skin—it wasn't easy to wound one with an ordinary weapon. And even if you managed to kill a monster, maintaining your weapon's blade cost a lot of money.
On top of that, from what I knew, there wasn't even a spear instructor at the academy.
"If I didn't know anything, maybe I'd still have hope."
Knowing the world of Grand Royal Academy too well was what made it so painful.
I shook my head firmly.
'There are still two months left.'
The time remaining until the entrance exam was tight.
…I didn't even have time to resent my attribute.
I needed to get an iron spear immediately and somehow raise my attribute level.
At the very least, I had to enter the academy to have a chance.
Tap.
I turned right toward the blacksmith.
Two months passed.
"Hey… damn it…!"
It felt like my heart was about to burst.
Breathing heavily, my throat burning, I leaned on the spear in my hand and stared up at the sky.
Then the status window appeared in my field of vision.
———
Name: Hancheonseong
Gender: Male (20)
Title: None
Height / Weight: 178 cm / 67 kg
Current Continental Influence: 5
Abilities
[Strength 5]
[Agility 10]
[Stamina 13]
[Magic 2]
[Luck 5]
Attributes Owned [1]
[Spear Lv.3]
*Skills [0]
———
"Damn it."
Even as I cursed, a smile spread across my lips.
I did it.
I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs—but even letting out a full breath was my limit.
After two months of grueling effort, I had raised my attribute to Level 3.
Some of my stats had increased as well, but more than anything, seeing Spear reach Level 3 filled me with relief.
"This is the passing line."
In the novel, the average attribute level of academy applicants was 2.
Those with truly broken talents could pass even with a Level 1 attribute—but my Common-grade spear technique wasn't anything like that.
So for the past two months, I had worked myself to the bone to raise it.
"Ha…"
Letting out a heavy breath, I wiped the sweat running down my cheeks.
Only then did I realize how much my body had changed.
'Seriously… I trained like a dog.'
Over those two months, forced training had reshaped me.
Considering that my average stats had risen by two points, it really was remarkable progress.
Tap.
As I lifted my exhausted body and moved to head for the exam, my gaze drifted toward one side of the gymnasium.
—! ——
Since this was one of the city's gyms, I could see many people working hard to raise their attribute levels.
And among them, one woman stood out.
With blue hair flowing down to her waist and eyes shining like stars, it was immediately clear she was no ordinary person.
…She was holding a sword.
Whoooosh!
A fierce wind constantly swirled around her, making it impossible not to stare.
'What kind of attribute is that?'
Just because someone has the basic [Swordsmanship] attribute doesn't mean wind like that would manifest.
This world revolved around talent and bloodlines. Phenomena like that didn't appear without reason.
There were special, well-named attributes—like [Changcheon One Sword], possessed by the protagonist of Grand Royal Academy.
The blue-haired woman I was looking at now must have an extraordinary attribute.
At the very least, it had to be Rare grade.
Rustle.
"…?"
When she suddenly looked at me, I lightly waved, thinking it might help ease the awkwardness.
Rustle.
Then I quickly turned my head away.
Embarrassed, I stopped waving halfway through.