The Next Day
News had spread like wildfire—first-year students had defeated second-year rankers in a match.
Hallways echoed with students retelling the battle, and everywhere Kael went, he heard their names whispered everywhere.
Even Professor Sylvia had heard the news.
She didn't say much. But she was proud. .
The classes went on as normal.
During break time
Kael sat at his usual seat by the window, chewing quietly on a piece of dry bread, when Cecelia approached him.
"Kael," she said with a soft voice.
He looked up. Cecelia held a small box in her hands.
Without a word, she placed it in front of him.
"…What's this?" Kael asked, blinking.
"Open it."
Kael slowly lifted the lid.
Inside was a neatly folded academy uniform—... but then his eyes froze on the final piece.
A pink undershirt.
"…Pink?" Kael asked, staring.
Cecelia replied. "It's just a little color. You can wear the white one instead if you want. But… I thought it might suit you."
"I had only pink and purple shirts, i had no choice"
"You really didn't have to give me something like this."
"I'm just helping you," she replied lightly, brushing her hair behind her ear.
Kael lowered his eyes, his face turned red. It was true.
He hadn't been able to afford new ones. All the money he had was going into potions, training, and saving.
Still… no one had ever done something like this for him before.
"I'll pay you back," he said quietly.
Cecelia shook her head. "No need. Just… you do normal training and if it gets torn again, I will give you another one.?"
Cecelia laughed softly. "Figures."
Kael staring at the pink shirt, unsure whether to be annoyed, touched, or just grateful.
But anyhow he felt thankful to her.
Before Kael could respond, Elysia appeared from the corridor—her eyes immediately narrowied the moment she saw the two of them together.
She didn't stop.
She walked straight to Cecelia, reached out, and grabbed her wrist firmly.
"Stay away from him," Elysia said.
Cecelia looked startled. "What—?"
"I'm serious." Elysia's gaze didn't hesitate.
"You don't know what kind of person he is. Don't get
close to him."
Kael stood frozen, stunned.
His lips parted slightly, but no words came out. He hadn't done anything.
But the way Elysia looked at him—it was like she was staring at a monster.
Cecelia pulled her hand free, gently but firmly.
"Elysia, you're overreacting. Kael saved me—he protected all of us."
"You weren't there," Elysia said, eyes still locked on Kael.
"You don't know what I saw. He's brutal. Dangerous."
Kael's eyebrow went up. His mouth opened again, but nothing came out.
Why was she saying this?
What did I do to her?
Why does she look at me like I'm the enemy?
"I'm… just a commoner," he muttered under his breath.
A silence settled.
Cecelia glanced between them.
(Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?), Cecelia.
Elysia finally turned her back.
"Let's go, Cecelia. You shouldn't be around him."
But Cecelia didn't move immediately. She gave Kael a look without a word and left.
Whatever this was—whatever story was playing out between them—he didn't know his part in it.
But it was clear:
(In the novel, Elysia, the main character, was never portrayed as unfriendly toward her classmates—there was no description suggesting otherwise.)
(But why was she acting like this to me? Is it because I am weak?)
(anyway, let it slide)
Kael sighed inwardly, brushing the thought aside.
"My elixirs, potions… and coins—they're running out."
He glanced at his half-empty pouch and felt sad.
"I need to earn as much money as possible, and fast."
There was no choice. Between training, survival, and upcoming events, every coin and resource mattered. He couldn't afford to fall behind—not in this world.
That thought had been echoing in Kael's mind for days, but now it felt urgent—like a blade pressed to his throat.
His elixirs and money were running out. His mana potions were down to one bottle.
He had so little money that even the sound of it felt empty and depressing.
Between constant training, the academy's challenges, and the events, he needed resources—potions, gear, scrolls, weapons—everything.
In this world, strength wasn't free. Every step forward came at a cost.
"I can't survive like this. Not if I keep scraping by."
He stared out over the distant horizon. If he didn't act now, he would be killed in the future.
But unlike the others, Kael had something more than raw effort—he had knowledge.
"I have to use the novel's idea. That's my only advantage."
Somewhere in the middle chapters, there was a strange plotline.
A Lost Land—a hidden ruin never fully explored in the story.
It was mentioned briefly in footnotes, in between the arcs involving the heroes and the demon war.
No one important in the novel ever ventured there.
Not the protagonists. Not the villains. It was as if the author had forgotten it, or abandoned the arc mid-way.
But that only made it more mysterious.
"I remember it clearly… three map fragments. They unlock access to the Lost Land."
Each fragment was scattered across three different cities, sold by obscure merchants or hidden behind quests. The price? Unknown. The danger? High. But the reward?
If the novel's lore was even halfway accurate, those map fragments would unlock not just a dungeon full of fortune—but a sealed skill.
Something outside the original plot.
"If I can get that skill, I might finally stand a chance."
He exhaled, eyes narrowing.
"I don't know if the story changed. I don't even know if the Lost Land still exists. But I have to try."
Whether it was real or a dead-end didn't matter. Because doing nothing was worse.
At least this way, he could take control of his own fate—step beyond the limits the world had forced on him.
He clenched his fists.
"I'll buy the map fragments."
"I'll complete the quest the original heroes ignored."
"And I'll carve out my place in this world."
(therefore, i will go to every guild, guilds including, s rank, ss ranks, sss ranks,)
The higher the rank, the more workers and more money I will get.