The chandeliers on the ceiling bathed the banquet hall in a golden hue.

The light, neither too bright nor too dim, accentuated the luxurious interior.

At the center of each table were decorations like vases, surrounded by a variety of foods from different cultures.

Brand name drinks and mineral waters, some of which cost hundreds of thousands of won per bottle, were also available.

“Do we really need to take Basic Magic? It’s probably stuff we’ve already learned at the Academy.”
“Even so, the level of the professors here is different, so you can expect to gain something new.”

“Liana Velus teaching ‘The Correlation Between Spirits and Magic’? I remember her being active on the African front…”
“She retired recently, they said it was because of an injury.”

Cadets, dressed in casual clothes, were scattered throughout, each finding someone to talk to and engage in conversation.

What subjects are you going to focus on?
I heard this new professor is conducting such a course.
Lately, the growth of this clan has been remarkable.
I’ve heard that the magic environment in Africa is unusual, and so on.

There were trivial personal stories, but there were also a significant number of professional topics such as the state of the world.

Shio-ram cadet.

It is a status granted to those who are considered to have the highest potential among all people of this age group worldwide.

If there are no particular problems, they are the ones who will become the main axis of the next generation. Being a cadet comes with its benefits, but many take pride in the status alone.

“Obviously, I’ll need to take Basic Magic… Looks like I’ll have to take all the foundation courses.”
“That’s what the free semester is for. You have to take whatever courses you didn’t get to do in advance.”

There were also those who weren’t engaging in such professional-level conversations.

More precisely, they were the ones who didn’t yet have the knowledge to hold such discussions.

There are officially two methods of admission to Shio-ram.

First. Admission through examination.

After announcing the exams worldwide, individuals are selected based on current skills and future potential across various areas.

Most of these cadets come from so-called superhuman families and have grown up with professional and systematic education.

If the first method is about finding sprouts that are awakening their potential, the second method is about finding seeds that have yet to begin sprouting.

Those who are neither from superhuman families nor have received systematic education but whose potential is undeniable are carefully examined and then brought to Shio-ram as cadets.

The ratio is approximately 9:1.

“That guy who just came in must be a special admission. Looks like he really is blind.”
“I heard he has a perception-specialized unique ability. With that, he could definitely navigate even with his eyes closed.”
“Perception abilities are indeed essential for an assault squad. But…”

Is special admission that important?

One cadet lowered his voice to say this, and the cadet next to him nodded cautiously.

“…We still don’t know.”

There was one topic common to both groups of conversation.

Special admission.

This word popped up here and there throughout the banquet hall.

Strictly speaking, it’s a concept similar to recommendation admission, but ‘special admission’ is different in that the person who reviewed it is different.

A talent personally selected and brought by the owner of the cradle. Interest in that person is still burning in real-time.

Whether it’s in a good way or a bad way.

If we’re being honest, there was more negative public opinion.

Most keep their mouths shut because they know who made the decision for special admission, but they harbor discontent and doubts internally.

Thump! That was when the doors swung open assertively. A cadet with scarlet hair made her appearance through the wide-open doors.

Exclamations burst out from various places.

Her hair, seemingly the embodiment of raging flames, flowed just over her shoulders, and her eyes, like top-tier rubies inset whole, captured the attention of the people.

She had such a fine figure that even the casually worn jumper looked luxurious, and her gait overflowed with self-assurance.

Hong Yeon-hwa.

A topic of conversation not unlike the special admission student.

She’s one of the most promising cadets of the 122nd batch of Shio-ram and the successor to the Gop-hwa Clan.

Before admission, she was the prodigy who single-handedly subdued a 5th-rank monster.

…And everyone’s gaze, which had been focused on the boy who followed her in, widened.

[Thank you for guiding me here.]

“No, what’s there to thank me for? If you need help with anything, just let me know. The mistake was on my end, after all.”

[Yes.]

Doesn’t the atmosphere seem rather gentle? Hong Yeon-hwa even took on a considerate demeanor, as if conceding something.

Those who had previously met Hong Yeon-hwa all knew very well about her fiery temperament.

Overwhelming ability and stunning beauty. If there was another feature that followed her, it would be her prickly character.

There’s an anecdote of someone who kept provoking her at a party getting beat up and thrown out of the party venue.

There are countless other stories about her eccentricities.

From the perspective of those who have experienced it, the current demeanor Hong Yeon-hwa is showing… almost as if being considerate… the gentle-feeling attitude was a culture shock in itself.

It was like seeing an ill-tempered tiger not eating a small puppy it took in but instead licking it tenderly.

“My god.”

The perception of the special admission student in the minds of the majority was revised.

By something that managed to change the attitude of the infamous Hong Yeon-hwa.

* * *

‘…What kind of gaze is this?’

The variety of emotions directed at me before was diverse.

Curiosity, doubt, suspicion, envy, and jealousy, among others.

While similar, different emotions were now being thrown my way, and now, something else seemed to have been added.

It was as if they were looking at something incomprehensible, something remarkable.

“These motherf*ckers…”

The gaze was also directed at Hong Yeon-hwa next to me. Grinding her teeth, she started to say something but then suddenly flinched and turned to look at me, closing her mouth.

“Uh… I wasn’t talking to you, it was meant for them over there.”

“……”

“Don’t misunderstand…”

‘What’s really going on? Why does it feel like she’s watching me?’

Isn’t this a new form of harassment?
I’ve never experienced it, but I’ve read lots of stories about outcasts during school days.

It was about the popular kids pretending to take care of the outcasts while actually mocking them…

If this truly is harassment, how should I escape it? While pondering deeply, a woman approached with quick steps.

“Hong Yeon-hwa, why are you so late? You barely made it before the start.”

A voice as fresh and lively as her footsteps. This time, too, it was a voice I had heard in-game.

“I overslept. Ariel usually wakes me up, but she left me alone today.”

“Why?”

“Dad’s orders. He said to stop pampering me from now on.”

‘Being pampered to this extent, what a joke.’ As Hong Yeon-hwa grumbled and complained, the woman who had just smiled at her turned her gaze toward me.

“And who is this?”

“Oh. This is Lee Ha-Yul. He was a special admission this year. We ran into each other on the way here and came together.”

“Huh? You ran into him and came together? You, Hong Yeon-hwa…?”

“What’s wrong with that, you b*tch…! Ah, ahem!”

“?”

There are three renowned clans that represent South Korea.

‘Gop-hwa’, the clan to which Hong Yeon-hwa belongs.

‘Taesan’, known as the first clan established in South Korea.

And the woman in front of me, Baek Ahrin, belonged to ‘Changhae’.

Casually known by names that mean fire, earth, and sea, they are collectively called the three great clans of South Korea. In the original work, they were superhuman forces with significant importance.

‘Baek Ahrin.’

In the original story, Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin were a pairing that was often intertwined.

If Hong Yeon-hwa was the next successor of the Gop-hwa Clan, Baek Ahrin was the next successor of the Changhae Clan.

If Hong Yeon-hwa had shoulder-length red hair and a hasty, fiery temperament, then Baek Ahrin had blue hair that reached her waist and a calm, cool demeanor.

Hong Yeon-hwa was a flame that burned everything, while Baek Ahrin was water and ice that healed and blocked.

“…What is it? Did something happen?”

“What do you mean something happened? Why are you suddenly talking nonsense?”

“That’s a lie. You didn’t listen even when I told you to fix your bad habits until recently.”

Baek Ahrin, seeming to press for the truth, and Hong Yeon-hwa, revealing a reaction as if something had pricked her conscience.

How can I put it? Listening to the two of them bicker brought a new sentiment.

I’m experiencing a scene I’ve only seen in the game right before my eyes… or rather, not seeing it.

‘Damn sensory seal. This is the biggest problem.’

“Ah! Sorry, I got distracted for a moment. I’m Baek Ahrin of the Changhae Clan. Nice to meet you.”

[Yes, I’m Lee Ha-Yul. Please take care of me.]

After a bit of bickering, as if she had forgotten something, Baek Ahrin with an expression of realization extended her hand to greet me.

Without hesitation, I clasped her hand. The cool chill from her palm almost made me shudder involuntarily.

Baek Ahrin’s eyes curved prettily.

“You have perception… right? It’s an essential unique ability for assault teams. Oh, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

[No, it’s alright. And yes, it’s in the perception category.]

Baek Ahrin, relieved that I wasn’t uncomfortable, smiled brightly saying she still apologizes.

To the eye, she seems bright and chirpy, yet with a sheen of politeness.

‘Is this an act? Even now, I’m not quite sure.’

If you raise Baek Ahrin’s favorability, you can hear about her ‘mask’ episode.

That’s where the choices diverge.

Whether to deal with the mask or leave it. If you make the wrong choice here, Baek Ahrin turns into a clear enemy.

The run where I messed up the mask story and ended up killing Baek Ahrin was the 11th run.

For reference, the 11th run ended with me retiring because of Hong Yeon-hwa, who chased me like a madwoman.

Despite their nearly opposite personalities, the two were depicted as especially close in the game.

So when one died, the other came charging with a vengeance. I experienced it in the 11th run.

Somehow Baek Ahrin found out who killed her, and it was quite a hassle when she dropped everything to pursue me. Hong Yeon-hwa holds about 30% of the blame for ruining the 11th run.

That’s why, in the next run, I didn’t go anywhere near Hong Yeon-hwa or Baek Ahrin.

After a brief chat and as the time for the welcome party to start drew near, Baek Ahrin waved her hand with regret.

“It looks like it’s about to start. See you later. And…”

Baek Ahrin reached out with her hand, which had a smartwatch, and tapped mine.

[Contact ‘Baek Ahrin’ has been saved.]

“If you need help with anything, please contact me anytime.”

As she said that, Baek Ahrin walked towards a group of people who seemed to be her friends.

“That’s right. I almost forgot.”

[Contact ‘Hong Yeon-hwa’ has been saved.]

After similarly registering her contact, Hong Yeon-hwa looked around concerned.

Although she pretended not to, there were many glances furtively directed this way.

“Should I stay with you? It’s no bother, you can hang out with me and our group.”

[It would be too much of an imposition. Thank you, but I’ll have to decline.]

I’m already feeling maximum pressure right now.
Being alone is still the most comfortable.

Hesitating, Hong Yeon-hwa finally moved toward where Baek Ahrin was after I repeatedly insisted that I was fine.

‘Sigh…’

Finally, I was alone. The focus soon dispersed due to the entrance of other main characters, giving me a little breathing room.

I trudged to a secluded spot and slumped down into a chair prepared for the weary.

Despite the grand preparation, in essence, it’s simply a celebration for new students as the name suggests.

In the game, it would be the vice-principal giving a few words before the party immediately starts amongst the freshmen.

‘I’m tired.’

Just yesterday, I barely slept. Partly because of the spatial perception, and partly due to my restless mind…

The headaches were unrelenting, and it’s not just that my vision is blurry – my sight cuts off entirely.

The world as I perceive it now has a limit of a 30m diameter sphere. Even that is a plain world of black and green outlines.

I’m trying, but even though it feels like my spatial perception will change soon, it remains the same.

‘Sigh…’

I feel like I’m going to go crazy, and I haven’t even started. I’m so tired, my eyes are closing, but I can’t fall asleep.

If it were up to me, I’d just crash for two straight days.

‘But I should at least see the main characters before I go.’

– Thud!

As I sat there blankly, the sound of the chandelier shutting off echoed. I anticipated darkness surrounding me, but suddenly, my spatial perception expanded beyond its normal range.

‘?’

My usual 30m perception range had almost stretched to 50m.

Thanks to that, I could sense someone stepping onto the central stage, which had just come within my perception range.

It was as if the woman had teleported there suddenly, draped in a large robe as if to advertise herself as a magician.

‘It’s the vice-principal.’

The Freshmen Welcome Party begins with a speech by the vice-principal, who appears on stage through teleportation.

The party had started.