The door slid open without any resistance.
Inside, the interior was sleek; white with no sign of dust and three long desks cascading up.
Where should I sit?
I looked around the classroom and found Shin Jonghak sitting in the middle part of the third row. With his eyes closed and his hands in his pockets, he seemed imposing. Next to him was his childhood friend, Yoo Yeonha, chattering.
The two of them didn't even bat an eye when I climbed the stairs before their seats.
Well, it's not that I don't expect them to do it.
Shin Jonghak and Yeo Yeonha were, after all, two of the most important characters both in and out of my story. One was the fourth generation of chaebol, while the other was the only daughter of the Yoo clan, both of which were considered the most powerful people in the country. Not only are their riches unlimited, their influence also stretches to the far end of the country.
And with Korea being the most powerful country, I'm sure their family influence could even reach outside the country.
If they want they probably could easily erase someone's existence without any consequences. That's the extent of how big they're in this world.
In my novel Shin Jonghak was someone who's supposed to be the rival of the main protagonist, Kim Suho. Born from the line of the greatest hero, Shin Myungchul, he was someone blessed with a lot of talent and resources. As a child of a chaebol family, he is a narcissist and an elitist. Because of his personality and the sense of inferiority he feels towards Kim Suho, he would later become a cold-hearted villain that opposed the protagonist on many occasions.
On the other hand, there was Yoo Yeonha. She was Shin Jonghak's childhood friend that has liked him since she first met him at age five. However her love for Shin Jonghak was one sided as Shin Jonghak like Chae Nayun, a fourth generation chaebol just like him. It was a love triangle scenario where Yoo Yeonha like Shin Jonghak, Shin Jonghak like Chae Nayun while Chae Nayun would later fall in love with Kim Suho after overcoming many hardships together.
This dynamic created deep insecurity in Yoo Yeonha toward Chae Nayun, since Shin Jonghak's eyes would always wander to Chae Nayun regardless of her effort of making their relationship official. But this complicated relationship and inferiority complex is what drives her to become a great ally to the main character. As because of this, she would help Kim Suho multiple times despite her overwhelming love for Shin Jonghak.
Later in the story she would eventually grow out of love with Jonghak after evaluating the care and support Kim Suho offers her in comparison. Like that, she was one of the most loved and hated character in my novel.
But beyond any of that, they were also described as highly attractive in my novel.
Seeing them in person, though… I realized just how much they surpass the boundary of my mere writing.
Shin Jonghak's appearance could only be described as otherworldly handsome while Yoo Yeonha has eyes that shone like jewels, modest beautiful lips, and cascading obsidian hair that framed a face of ethereal beauty.
So it's not that I expect them to pay attention to some speck of dust like me.
Whatever. Let's just sit at the farthest seats in the middle.
"You know the latest trend…"
"Oh, do you mean the one from that brand..."
Thump
My step froze.
What did they just say?
This is Cube, the place where the most important elites from every corner of the world gather, a place full of investors.
A place where investors pick up talented young hero students from all over the world.
So why… in this place where brilliant young men and women from every corner in Korea gathered, they speak with English?
What the hell is going on?
Even the professor teaches in Korea. Rachel, one of the major characters, a British royalty even learned Korean only to participate in class.
What? Just what?
"What're you staring at?"
The voice cut through the air like a blade—low, cold, and close.
I blinked. The young man sitting before me was now glaring at me, eyes sharp and jaw clenched.
Oh crap. Did he really just space out—staring—at Yoo Yeonha and Shin Jonghak while thinking about what just happened? That Shin Jonghak?
"Are you deaf?"
Shin Jonghak repeated his question—threat the second time. Next to him, Yoo Yeonha stopped talking completely and instead looked at me with cold eyes from above her seats, probably pissed that her time with Shin Jonghak was interrupted.
Fuck. Oh I'm so fucked.
"Ah.. Um, are you two dating? You two look really good together. Ah, how lucky you guys are~"
The words slipped out before I could stop them—half panic, half instinct.
To my surprise, Yoo Yeonha's expression softened almost instantly.
At my words, Yoo Yeonha's face literally melts into warmth. Her cold gaze replaced by a warm, approving smile—clearly pleased by this unexpected matchmaking attempt. I guess it works on Yoo Yeonha...
Then Shin Jonghak..?
"Tch. Didn't your parents teach you that staring is rude? Whatever, don't do it again."
Shin Jonghak clicked his tongue and looked away, finally breaking the murderous glare he'd been drilling into my face. His expression oddly unsettled.
Wait what? Is it that easy?
Never mind, what's important is that I've successfully escaped from a tiger's jaw. God knows what will happen if I manage to become the target not only to the ferocious bully Shin Jonghak but also the fox-like Yoo Yeonha.
Scurrying away to my designated seat, I sat down on the edge seat of the middle row. Like a proper extra, I looked straight ahead at the projection screen in a daze. But unlike my outward appearance, the inside of my mind was bustling.
What was that.
Why did they speak in English in Cube? Thankfully, I'm good at English since middle school, so I could answer Shin Jonghak just fine, but it shouldn't be a concern in the first place.
I shouldn't have any need to use English in Cube.
Just what happened?
That damn fan of mine.
In the first place, it all started after I accepted that mysterious email. Is he the one sending me inside my own novel?
No. This couldn't even be called my own novel anymore. Not only do I transmigrate into the body of some extra I don't know, but that damn co-author also changes the setting of the story!
That shameless bastard! I knew it.
In the first place, only a shameless bastard would want to remake the novel that was in paid serialization. Not only did he turn me into some extra with question mark as a face, he also changed the setting of my story however he liked!
That fucking bastard! If I ever met him I'll choke him to death!
There I was, stuck in the corner of the classroom, deep in my own spiral of frustration and misery. My brain was busy tying itself into knots when suddenly, I felt a little cough creeping up. Not from any actual illness, but from sheer embarrassment—my mind doing a perfect imitation of me choking on my own despair.
Then, without warning, a loud, booming shout sliced through the air, shattering my pathetic little bubble of misery.
I flinched, snapping back to reality.
Before I realized it, the classroom was already full, even the seats next to me were filled. The instructor was standing at the podium, oblivious to my existence, as though I were nothing more than an extra in a scene. Great. Just great.
"Today's the first day, so there won't be any special training, but I hope you all did your morning training. Training is never wrong, especially in the morning when mana density is high."
Morning training?
…Oh, right. There was something like that.
A training ground that opened up from 5 A.M. to 8 A.M. I had hurriedly stuffed it into the story to give the leading characters an opportunity to meet.
So at least that one wasn't changed.
"Now, let's start with self-introductions. I'm Kim Soohyuk, the instructor in charge of you all for the year. My ranking point is 3850. World rank 9737. By the Association's classification, I would be high-intermediate rank grade 5. I think that's enough for my introduction."
Kim Soohyuk seemed to have liked the students' awed reactions.
There's almost 2 million heroes in the world, so rank 9737 isn't that bad, but it definitely wasn't that great either. For reference, most of the other prominent characters should have the rank in triple digits with the lowest being 2000.
However, Kim Soohyuk is oblivious to my thoughts as the corners of his mouth curled up to a grin.
What a show-off.
Was he supposed to be someone like this again?
"The first day will feel special. You might not have slept due to excitement-."
I barely listened to his words since most of what he said merely repeated information I already knew. It felt like a generic first-day military orientation, and I quickly lost interest. Though he continued explaining the grading system, the gist of his talk focused on helping students adapt to Cube's environment—not that his description of life in Cube was particularly accurate.
"I repeat. At Cube, you will need to confirm the things you've learned until now and hone your skills to be used in battle. There will be no kind training here. Remember that."
With that, Kim Soohyuk announced.
"Now get ready. What's scheduled for today won't take long. The first task is 'main weapon selection.'"
***
"Any weapon you can think of should be here."
The main weapon was exactly what it sounded like. High ranking Heroes called their weapons 'treasured weapons,' while weapons above [Unique] grade were given the title 'armament.'
But I didn't know what my main weapon was. I knew nothing about Chundong's past.
"Stand in front of the weapon you want. We'll supply you with the training weapons. But don't look down on them just because they're training weapons. Their market price is 5 million won."
There were all sorts of weapons, more so than I could have ever imagined. However, there's only one weapon I have in mind.
"Choose carefully. Once you pick your main weapon, you won't be able to change it for at least 6 months."
Swords and spears were obviously the most popular choice. Kim Suho and Shin Jonghak should stood in front of a sword and a spear respectively. 70 out of 100 chose the sword, spear, or saber, the so-called Holy Trinity of weapons. On the other hand, Yoo Yeonha chose the whip while Chae Nayun chose the bow….
Wait, what?
Where's Chae Nayun?
"You are... Cadet Kim Chundong? What weapon are you searching for?"
I freeze at Kim Soohyuk's unexpected query.
No, why are you coming here? Now everyone is looking in my direction.
Kim Soohyuk, either oblivious to or simply unconcerned with the attention he's drawing, strides toward me clutching a roster in his right hand. Yet this unwanted spotlight offers an unexpected advantage. With all these curious faces turned my way, I can finally scan the crowd properly, meeting their gazes directly.
Crap.
And among them.
There's no Chae Nayun.
Not only that...
Where's Rachel?!
To worsen the situation, I couldn't spot Kim Suho's perfectly symmetrical, gentle face—the one prominently displayed at the Agent Military Academy graduation ceremony.
Don't tell me... the co-author changed this too?
Looking closer, I realize the student standing opposite Shin Jonghak in the sword section is merely some random cadet with similar build and a completely forgettable face. How could I have missed something so obvious?
That insane, delusional, fanfiction-writing co-author! The audacity to rewrite—!
How DARE he—
"Kim Chundong, are you alright? Your face is flushed. If you're feeling unwell, report to medical after selecting your weapon."
"…"
The instructor's voice reverberated through the room, and other students' gazes fell on me. Shin Jonghak and Yoo Yeonha were among them.
The sudden realization that everyone is looking at me cools my anger in an instant.
As a writer who's always worked from behind a screen, I've never liked being the center of attention. In fact, I avoid it like a plague.
I feel embarrassment creeping up my neck and flooding my cheeks as I slightly bow my head, using the motion to shield my face from further scrutiny. Right, I should probably say something to diffuse this awkward situation.
"Sorry, sir. I'll make my selection right away."
I stared nervously at the one weapon no one gave a glance, trying to ignore the prying eyes of the other cadets.
Unlike the others here, I wasn't a born fighter. No years of training with swords or spears. No mastery of magical artifacts or combat techniques that could make you a legend in the battlefield. No, I was an imposter in this world, a fish out of water, a normal person masquerading as a novel character. The choice of wielding Chundong's original weapon was also out of the picture.
Even if this forgotten extra had possessed some hidden talent, I had absolutely no intention of engaging in brutal close-quarters combat where blood splattered everywhere. Not that I even know what this extra's original weapon was.
So this was the only choice I had.
Something practical.
Something I could handle.
The weapon I'd grown familiar with during my time in mandatory service.
That weapon in my hand was a handgun.
"… Kim Chundong."
Suffocating silence descended upon the armory like a heavy blanket.
Here it comes. I knew some of the cadets who're back on minding their own business are going to stare at me once again.
"You are a gun user?"