I averted my gaze from her inquisitive glare, leaving my mind in temporary turmoil.
Was that the reason she'd chosen me earlier to knock out into oblivion?
However, it didn't take a long time for me to realize what she meant by her abrupt question.
For those satisfied with their life, each day was anything but misery.
Yet for those who were tired, every passing day was nothing but the means to age.
For the latter, 'Fiction was better than reality.'
'That's my principle too.'
That's also the reason why readers, those who cling to reading more than just a hobby but a means to survive, tend to sympathize with fictional characters than the ruthless nature of reality.
'I am that kind of person.'
One's age never mattered when resonating with one's story.
If something echoed the soul, then so be it.
The difference between fiction and reality was that the former was unchangeable—it couldn't be changed; the readers had to accept whatever the author had written and published until the end.
Meanwhile, as unfortunate as it could be, we tend to turn a blind eye to the cruel reality… since even though it could be mended, some lives were just powerless to make a change.
But I've transmigrated inside the story I loved.
It had become my alternate reality in the blink of an eye.
Without warning, without preparations, I was given the opportunity to see what was written, to make a change, and to avoid the impending tragedy.
"Hah. I can't believe you misinterpret my gaze."
After what felt like an eternity, I responded to the True Hero candidate's question.
Of course, I pity her… and it's the same for the others if the original story flowed seamlessly.
I needed to alter it with my knowledge… to the best of my ability.
Was there even a story of someone transmigrating inside a novel that stayed true to the end without messing the plot at least once? That's utter bullshit.
"…" Alana continued to scrutinize me with her eyes.
'No, I couldn't say anything appropriate… I had no right to empathize with what happened to you.' I steeled my resolve.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Come on! Don't you know me? I mean, of course you don't..." I mumbled whatever I could, then stood up quickly to leave.
Alana remained seated, her gaze seemed to pierce my soul.
It was then… that as I was about to leave, one of the waitresses stopped me.
"Hey! You there, where do you think you're going? Pay up!"
Looking behind with confusion, I was then reminded of the academy rules.
'Damn it! Other than for students of Class Mu, the class I belonged to, the cafeterias are free of charge!'
"Ah…"
Having no money, I slowly glanced at Alana, whose curious expression turned into pity in an instant.
That night, I fell into debt to the True Hero.
*
"Seriously, what kind of life is this…," I mumbled in frustration.
In this vast and dust-free hallway, as I gently strode to my dorm room, I noticed a familiar figure.
"Maya? What is it?"
With her arms crossed, she leaned against the wall, just beside my dorm room's door.
"Hmm… why are you being lovey-dovey with that woman?" Maya asked.
This time around, her tone was cold yet filled with curiosity, not the same way she often addressed the Imperial Princess.
I scoffed at her question, "The hell do you mean?"
Getting past her, I pulled a key from my uniform's pocket and inserted it into the door's keyhole, which was followed by a metallic clicking sound.
"Answer me." She pressed further.
Since it came to this, I better confront her with everything… so that I could move forward to forge my own path.
Taking a deep breath, I suddenly reached for her hand, pulling her inside my dorm room.
Though I didn't know what kind of expression was etched on her face, I sensed that she was momentarily shaken.
Closing the door, I offered her a seat.
This time, I leaned against the door, and to satisfy her curiosity, I recounted what happened with Alana… minus her question why I looked at her with pity.
"So you're telling me that the True Hero candidate… whimsically picked a wastrel like you as her sparring partner? Then she felt sorry, waited for you to wake up, and had dinner with you?" She smirked, though suspicion filled her eyes.
'Wastrel?' I frowned.
"If you don't believe me, you could ask the Zenith Class. Anyway, I didn't pull you here for this… I want to ask you something, and I want you to answer me with all honesty."
Maya tensed. Even though I could die with a flick of her finger, my change in demeanor seemed to catch her off-guard.
"Why? Is there a problem?" She asked, one of her hands on her chin.
"In fact, there is."
Too many to start an unbothered life, I'd say.
I then asked frankly, "Why did the Imperial Princess pardon me…? You also told me that I owe you one in exchange of the teleportation scroll. And whether it's urgent or not, what would you have me do?
There was a sense of urgency in my voice, and Maya certainly noticed it, prompting her to ask with squinting eyes, "What's wrong with you today? You seem on edge. Let's stay put-"
However, before she could finish her words…
Bang!
I punched the door behind me, ignoring the searing pain that surged through my frail body.
I am utterly infuriated… staying here would limit what I could do with my knowledge of the story, its ins and outs.
My plan was to let the original scenarios in the academy flow while I built power elsewhere, so being confined in this place was nothing short of vanity.
Maya's eyes widened in incredulity.
"What the hell's wrong with you?! I told you-"
"Just fucking tell me, would you!? I hate this damn academy! Why would you pull me here again?! Also, many witnesses had seen the imperial knights barging into the academy that night… yet it seems no one's questioning it these days! Even a breath of rumor… just disappeared!"
I found it eerily ominous that the nobles or even commoners, who witnessed dozens of imperial knights wreaking havoc during the night of this body's original owner's attempted sexual assault, remained silent… as though that memory was deliberately erased in their minds.
"Did you hit your head or something, huh, Lugh?! Would you calm down?"
"That might be the case… Do you think I would ask if I remember? If you won't tell me, just get out of my sight." I said, exhaustion in my voice. After all, if she wanted to kill me, then so be it.
But I doubt she would do so… I didn't know what it was, but there's something between me, Maya, and the Imperial Princess that connected each other.
What was it…?
Maya's breathing turned ragged; she didn't expect my sudden outburst.
It was then that Maya opened her mouth to speak,
"Alright… it seems it's the side effect of what you've been through, that you don't remember what happened… But first, I need you to raise your Talent's tier, and by using it during the Commission Semester…"
She continued explaining as I attentively listened.
Commission Semester.
It was a whole semester of potential heroes being deployed to gain experience. Throughout the continent, the students would be tasked with finishing commissions based on the demand.
That being said, Maya argued that until then, I should form a bond with other students to the point that I could be fully trusted to temporarily plunder their talents just to raise my own.
"But why would you need me-"
It was at that moment that Maya blurted something incredulous, holding off the words I was about to say.
"...What?"
*
Maya vanished from my sight, leaving me in deep contemplation.
'What did she just say?'
A new agreement was formed.
My mind was occupied with her favor… and the Imperial Princess' predicament.
Even then, it was a step forward for me to leave the academy.
Though there was one problem.
"Damn it. I don't have any money."
But a smile crept to my face.
I guessed it's time for me to exploit what I knew.
With that in mind, I reached for a pen and paper on the desk and began to scribble something on it.
After that, I returned to the cafeteria earlier and handed the same paper to one of the waitresses.
"Uh, may I ask what this is?" The waitress asked.
"Please deliver it to Golden Crown."
*
In one of the luxurious and incredibly spacious dorm rooms throughout the academy, a woman of elegance was seated at the table filled with stacks of documents. Yet every report was already resolved, a testament to her undeniable skills.
Her eyes were glimmering emerald, while adorned with crimson strands that seemed to signify her burning personality.
In front of her was a miniscule letter so straightforward yet peculiar.
The woman silently read the letter sent anonymously.
[111-222-333-NC-DF-Underground.]
"Interesting…"
The woman mumbled in amusement, a smirk painted on her lips.