DING.
A new notification appeared.
[New Quest Generated]
Beginner Survival Trial
Description:
The host currently possesses extremely low combat and academic ability.
To increase chances of survival, basic competency must be achieved.
Objectives:
• Reach Top 1000 in the Academic Ranking at Eldoria Nexus Academy
• Reach Top 1000 in the Physical Examination
Time Limit: 30 Days
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then slowly looked back at my status.
Rank: 2500 / 2500
Dead last.
I looked at the quest again.
Then back at the rank.
"…You're joking."
The system did not respond.
I let out a slow breath.
"Alright."
"Let's do some math here."
I raised a finger and pointed at the air like I was explaining something to an idiot.
"I'm ranked 2500."
"The quest says top 1000."
I paused.
"…That means I need to climb 1500 ranks."
Silence.
I rubbed my face.
"So basically…"
"I wake up in another world."
"In the body of the weakest student in the academy."
"There's some dungeon thing in three months with a 97% chance of killing me…"
And now this.
I stared at the quest window again.
"…and the system decides the best way to help is by telling me to beat half the academy in a month."
I leaned back against the sink.
"…Fantastic."
Another screen appeared.
Rewards:
• +2 Stat Points
• Low Grade Mana Core Stabilizer
• Unlock: Basic Training Quest Line
Penalty for Failure:
• Increased Death Probability during Dungeon Incident
I stared at the penalty.
"…Oh good."
"So failing makes my chances of dying even worse."
I looked up at the ceiling.
"Thanks."
"Really appreciate the support."
After a moment I sighed.
Then glanced at the mirror again.
The purple-eyed idiot staring back at me didn't look like someone who could even win a jogging competition, let alone climb fifteen hundred ranks.
"…Well," I muttered.
"This is going to be a complete disaster."
After staring at the quest screen for another minute, I finally gave up arguing with the system.
It clearly wasn't going to negotiate.
"Yeah… I'm starving."
Almost as if on cue, my stomach growled loudly.
Right.
Between transmigrating into another world, throwing up in a sink, and being told I had a 97% chance of dying, I hadn't exactly had time to eat.
I grabbed the academy jacket hanging near the door and stepped out of the dorm.
The walk to the cafeteria didn't take long.
Students were already moving through the academy grounds in groups, talking and laughing as if nothing in the world could possibly go wrong.
Lucky them.
A few minutes later, I pushed open the large doors of the Eldoria Nexus Academy Cafeteria.
The place was huge.
Rows of long tables filled the room while large holographic menus floated above the serving counters.
Students from all years crowded the hall, the noise of conversation echoing throughout the room.
I grabbed a tray and picked the first things that looked edible.
Then I started scanning the room for a seat.
Preferably somewhere quiet.
Preferably somewhere that wouldn't involve social interaction.
My eyes quickly spotted a table near the far corner of the cafeteria.
Empty.
Perfect.
I sat down and placed my tray on the table.
"…Nice."
No people.
No attention.
Just peace.
Exactly what I needed right now.
But that wasn't the only reason I chose this spot.
I glanced toward the center of the cafeteria.
If my memory of the novel was correct…
Something pretty ridiculous was about to happen here.
A scene involving the protagonist.
Leon.
And a very unlucky second-year student.
I rested my chin on my hand and waited.
"…Should be any moment now."
Across the cafeteria, the doors suddenly opened.
A tall silver-haired boy walked inside.
And the moment he stepped into the room—
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
Students began whispering.
Some looked impressed.
Others looked nervous.
I sighed quietly.
"…Right on cue."
Leon had arrived.
Now all that was left was waiting for the second-year idiot who was about to embarrass himself in front of the entire cafeteria.
I took a bite of my food and leaned back in my chair.
"…This should be good."
The first thing anyone would notice was his silver hair, slightly messy yet somehow still neat enough to look intentional. It reflected faintly under the cafeteria lights as he walked in.
His posture was relaxed but confident, the kind that made it look like he belonged anywhere he went.
His face was sharp and calm, paired with steel-grey eyes that looked almost completely unbothered by the dozens of students staring at him.
Even if someone didn't know his name, it was obvious he stood out.
Students around the cafeteria immediately began whispering.
"Is that him?"
"Yeah… that's Leon."
I sighed quietly.
"…Right on cue."
Leon.
The protagonist of Leon's Odyssey.
But he didn't enter alone.
Walking beside him was a girl with long golden hair that flowed down her back. Her bright blue eyes moved around the cafeteria with a calm curiosity while she talked casually.
Lia.
Leon's childhood friend.
One of the main heroines of the story.
"Seriously Leon," Lia said with a small smile, nudging his shoulder lightly. "You could at least try being a little less dramatic in class."
Leon let out a quiet sigh.
"I wasn't being dramatic."
"You accidentally froze the training dummy solid."
"That wasn't an accident."
"…That makes it worse."
Walking just behind them was another girl whose presence was much harder to ignore.
Her crimson red hair fell over one shoulder like a small flame, and her sharp amber eyes scanned the cafeteria with mild annoyance.
Rina Emberheart.
Even without knowing her name, the fiery attitude alone would've given it away.
"You two talk too much," Rina muttered, arms crossed. "It was a simple exercise. Why is everyone making such a big deal about it?"
Because freezing academy equipment wasn't exactly normal.
But apparently no one felt brave enough to tell her that.
Behind them followed a tall broad-shouldered boy with dark hair and a calm expression.
Carl Vane.
He walked quietly beside the group, carrying two trays of food like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"You're all drawing attention again," Carl said calmly.
Rina shrugged.
"They're staring because of Leon."
Leon frowned slightly.
"…Why me?"
Rina snorted.
"Because you're Leon."
Meanwhile…
From my quiet seat in the corner of the cafeteria, I watched the entire group walk in.
"…Yep."
That was definitely the main character party.
The protagonist.
His childhood friend.
The fiery noble girl.
And the reliable tank.
Basically half the important characters of the novel walking into the cafeteria together like some kind of story event trigger.
I stabbed a piece of food with my fork and leaned back slightly.
"…Now all we need is the second-year idiot."
Because if my memory was right…
Someone here was about to make a very bad life decision.
And I had the perfect seat to watch it happen.
Leon's group didn't stay near the entrance for long.
They walked further into the cafeteria.
Toward another table.
A table where two very familiar figures were already sitting.
Both had striking blue hair, nearly identical in shade.
The only real difference was the way they carried themselves.
The boy sat calmly with perfect posture, quietly eating while ignoring most of the noise around him.
Liam Veridian.
One of the strongest swordsmen among the first years.
And beside him—
A girl leaned back in her chair with a bored expression, spinning her fork between her fingers like she was waiting for something entertaining to happen.
Nia Veridian.
Her bright blue eyes wandered around the cafeteria until—
For a moment—
They landed in my direction.
She tilted her head slightly.
Then smirked.
I immediately looked back down at my tray.
"…Nope."
Not dealing with that today.
A few seconds later, Leon's group reached the table.
"Looks like you got here first," Leon said casually.
Liam glanced up briefly and nodded.
"We finished class earlier."
Carl placed the trays down on the table.
Rina dropped into a seat with a small .sigh.
"Finally."
Lia sat down beside Leon with a relaxed smile.
Meanwhile, Nia leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Leon.
"Well well," she said, clearly amused.
"The famous Leon finally arrives."
Leon looked mildly confused.
"…Famous?"
"Mhm everyone's talking about how you froze that dummy and how mad professor Clara was.," Nia replied.
"H-haha."
Rina scoffed.
"They talk too much."
Liam remained quiet, continuing to eat like none of this concerned him.
I watched the entire scene from the corner of the cafeteria.
The main characters of the story had basically gathered at one table now.
Leon.
Lia.
Rina Emberheart.
Carl Vane.
Liam Veridian.
Nia Veridian.
Pretty much half the important first-years in the academy.
But one person was missing.
Vayne Desmund.
The second-ranked student.
If I remembered correctly…
She rarely ate in the cafeteria.
Which meant this scene would probably play out exactly like it did in the novel.
I leaned back slightly in my chair.
"…Now all we need is the second-year idiot."
Because someone was about to make a very poor decision.
And I had front row seats.