"I’ll be your instructor for Class 1. My na is Joo-yeon."
Rohan felt overwheld just by being in her presence.
Whether comparing her to his current self or even his past life’s strength, it was clear—there was no way he could asure up.
‘This is insane…’
The sheer intensity of her presence was staggering. It was almost hard to believe she was human. Even the most prominent hunters he had t in his previous life would pale in comparison to her.
As Rohan continued to marvel, staring at Joo-yeon, a tily notification appeared.
[ You have encountered the Dragon Slayer. Achievent unlocked. ]
[ Achievent Reward: 50P ]
‘…!’
The “encounter” achievent wasn’t triggered by a re passing glance.
For most characters, you needed to establish at least a minimal connection or achieve so level of rapport. In this case, the achievent unlocked because Rohan and Joo-yeon now had an official relationship as cadet and instructor.
‘It’s applying much faster than it did in the ga.’
As Rohan imprinted this new insight into his mind, Joo-yeon picked up a thick marker from the board and continued speaking.
"Since it’s the first day, I’ll keep things brief. Pay attention."
Her sharp eyes scanned the room, and every cadet instinctively straightened under her gaze.
"First, I’ll outline the upcoming schedule and the goals our Class 1 will strive for over the next two years."
At Orion Academy, cadets were assigned to a single instructor for the entire two-year program. It wasn’t exactly a long ti, but it wasn’t short either. Setting clear goals was crucial for maintaining focus over such a period.
"Our priority is to grow stronger every day. But that doesn’t an you can neglect theory."
Her words were direct and left no room for misinterpretation.
Under her scrutinizing gaze, Rohan remained silent, while Noah wagged her tail cheerfully, grinning.
"Once you’re in real combat, there will be tis when theory feels useless. But when you’re truly cornered, it can be the lifeline that saves you."
Joo-yeon, who had returned to the academy after attending off-campus etings, had already reviewed the evaluations of her assigned cadets thoroughly.
She couldn’t deny that Noah Frozenheart and Rohan had impressive practical scores, but recalling their one-line answers on the written test gave her a mild headache.
"And… we need a clear standard. Does anyone here know the criteria for an F-grade monster?"
Most of the cadets raised their hands.
Joo-yeon’s gaze landed on the cadet sitting next to Noah Frozenheart.
‘That must be Ichinose Jun’s daughter.’
Ranked first in the written exam and showing no shortcomings in the practical evaluation, Ichinose Yui’s achievents were remarkable for her age. Perhaps even more so than her father’s.
"Ichinose Yui, explain."
"An F-grade monster is one that a typical adult male can handle with a weapon," she replied promptly.
"Correct. And what about a B-grade monster?"
"B-grade monsters are surrounded by a special barrier called the ‘Abyss,’ which renders ordinary physical attacks ineffective. To inflict damage, one must use sufficient magical power to pierce the Abyss."
"…Excellent. Sit down."
Her explanations were so precise they sounded chanical, as if she had morized the academy’s textbook verbatim.
‘She must have completed all the theory in advance.’
Joo-yeon stifled a bitter smile as she thought about Ichinose Yui’s parents.
"To keep it simple: our goal by the ti Class 1 graduates is to reach B-grade."
"!?"
So cadets’ eyes widened in shock, trembling as if an earthquake had struck them.
B-grade monsters were the kind that required imdiate intervention from renowned military units.
"B-grade monsters most commonly include creatures like Owlbears or Frost Golems," Joo-yeon continued.
Her words replaced the room’s earlier liveliness with a heavy silence.
As expected, Joo-yeon began elaborating.
"Of course, I’m not asking you to take down a B-grade monster on your own. That would be absurd. If you can at least pierce the Abyss barrier and inflict a wound, that’s enough."
What mattered was developing the ability to concentrate or channel magical power into an attack that could penetrate the Abyss.
Even one additional person capable of such an attack on the battlefield could be a ga-changer.
Graduating with that level of skill would ensure a cadet was highly valued wherever they went.
And, among the cadets present, there were already so who could achieve that.
"You don’t need to overthink how to reach that goal. I will help you maximize your talents. Understood?"
"Yes, Instructor!"
The cadets answered in unison, their voices filled with resolve.
Joo-yeon possessed a charisma that compelled everyone to respond together, as though rehearsed.
“Continue,” Joo-yeon instructed, her voice firm, as she began writing large, clear numbers on the board.
The aning behind the 11 digits was evident.
"If you’re ever unsure about sothing or have concerns that you can’t resolve on your own, feel free to contact anyti—day or night. I’ve registered all of Class 1’s numbers, so don’t hesitate to reach out."
The cadets imdiately pulled out their phones to save her number.
Rohan followed suit, taking out his smartphone from his pocket.
‘I should ask her about part-ti jobs.’
His contact list and photo gallery, untouched until now, had finally co to life. Though the gallery was already filled with pictures he’d taken for achievents, the contact list had remained stubbornly empty.
This mont—adding his instructor’s number—felt strangely sentintal.
"Within the Orion Academy grounds, the instructors, myself included, are responsible for ensuring your safety. That’s our duty as your instructors," Joo-yeon continued.
However, she clarified that once the academy day ended and the cadets returned to their dormitories, the sa level of protection could not be guaranteed.
"But this doesn’t an we’re indifferent to incidents outside the academy. If you find yourself in a dangerous or troubleso situation outside, don’t be afraid of consequences—contact imdiately."
Her unwavering tone left Rohan in awe. Hearing her words firsthand, rather than reading them in text, added a depth of sincerity and conviction that moved him.
‘What an incredible person.’
Joo-yeon wasn’t just a strong and disciplined instructor; she was soone who took her responsibilities to heart.
In Abyss City, she was a pivotal character who saved the protagonist multiple tis during critical monts.
"And finally…"
After placing the pen back beside the board, Joo-yeon checked the ti before addressing the class one last ti. Her voice dropped slightly, commanding full attention.
"Recently, there have been unsettling rumors circulating within the Elysium Security Departnt. Investigations are ongoing, so cadets are advised to avoid late-night outings."
Her cautionary words struck Rohan, causing him to blink in surprise.
‘That line…?’
There was sothing eerily familiar about her statent.
His thoughts grew hazy.
"That’s all for now."
***
After Class.
Later that evening, after returning to his dorm, Rohan couldn’t stop replaying Joo-yeon’s words in his mind.
Despite installing an app to look for part-ti jobs, he hadn’t even opened it yet.
─ Recently, there have been unsettling rumors circulating within the Elysium Security Departnt…
‘That’s it…’
It was clear now. The mory was faint, but he rembered it perfectly.
This was the prelude to the combat system tutorial, a key event from the ga.
‘There’s no doubt about it now. The protagonist isn’t at the academy. If the protagonist doesn’t exist in this world… then what happens?’
Rohan’s curiosity burned.
He wondered how this upcoming incident would unfold.
‘Could the Elysium Security Departnt handle it on their own?’
Lying on his bed, Rohan stared at the ceiling, speculating about what might happen without the protagonist.
The deeper he thought, the more absurd his conclusions beca, until a ridiculous idea made him furrow his brows and stroke his chin.
‘…Even with the protagonist, it might be a problem.’
While the protagonist’s sense of justice and inability to tolerate injustice often uncovered hidden truths, their impulsive actions weren’t always ideal.
In Abyss City, the protagonist usually operated as part of a three-mber party drawn from a gacha system, as was common in many subculture gas.
But despite being the main character, they weren’t particularly effective beyond the early stages. Most players, including Rohan, rarely used them after the tutorial.
‘Sure, the protagonist could make connections everywhere… but that’s about it.’
In the ga’s story, the protagonist’s role often felt secondary to the player’s chosen characters.
But now, the situation was different. This was no longer a ga.
Without capable allies or party mbers, how far could the protagonist even go?
"…Hmm."
Rohan let out a long sigh, trying to think it through.
But no matter how much he speculated, he couldn’t find concrete answers, leaving him increasingly frustrated.
‘Maybe I should go check it out myself.’
It was the perfect ti for a tutorial event to trigger.
Donning a black hoodie, Rohan opened his closet and grabbed it, pulling the hood over his head.
Click.
Turning the door handle, he stepped outside. The chilly evening air hit him imdiately as he began walking.
Stopping by a convenience store, he purchased the cheapest mask he could find and put it on, covering the lower half of his face.
"…"
Would they be in place tonight?
With the protagonist absent from this world, Rohan couldn’t guarantee anything.
Step. Step. Step.
Rohan’s steps carried him toward the direction of the female dormitory.
Along the way, he noticed a vehicle parked suspiciously—its windows heavily tinted, obscuring the interior.
‘…It’s here.’
A gray van, identical to the one he rembered from the ga, sat in the shadows.
While it was unmistakable, he still couldn’t jump to conclusions.
Approaching cautiously, Rohan tapped on the driver’s side window with his knuckles.
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