Whatever the cause, whether I investigate and resolve it or not, I can prepare in advance.
The important thing right now is that I've returned to the past.
Returning to the past means I have to attend this damn school for another two years.
Today is the entrance ceremony and opening ceremony.
Since it's an important event, I should head to the auditorium without being late.
Laughter from students echoes from somewhere.
Youth and laughter. Watching that warm atmosphere stirs a deep sense of rejection in my chest.
I wonder if I can adapt.
Opening the auditorium door revealed a massive stage. It looked like preparations for the opening and entrance ceremonies were still in full swing.
This school has a unique tradition of holding the first-year entrance ceremony together with the second- and third-year opening ceremonies.
Representatives from each grade come up on stage and recite oaths together—it's a terribly boring and predictable ritual.
Being in the auditorium like this makes it real that I've returned to being a student.
This will be my third time living school life.
Once in the reality I lived in, once when I first fell into the novel, and the third time is right now.
The first two times had excitement, but not this time.
'The second-year seats...
Ah, over there.
There are designated seats for each grade, so I headed to the second-year section.
About half the seats were filled.
I sat in an appropriate empty spot. Not too front or back, just a bit toward the middle-back—somewhat ambiguous position. This feels mentally stable.
Like this, sitting here, I spot a few familiar faces.
Just among those visible: Shin Young-jun, Lee Hyun-joo, and others. They're all major characters in [Modern Wizard].
And who else is there.
"Hey, is that guy over there a first-year?"
"Where?"
"That big guy who's a bit bald."
"What the hell? Isn't he like an uncle?"
I was searching for familiar faces when murmurs arose.
Turning my head, I saw an uncle-like figure sitting in the first-year seats. Even in the same uniform, he stood out alone.
One brave student approached the man.
"Um, are you a freshman?"
"Yes? Oh, yes."
"By any chance, how old are you?"
"I'm 17."
"Ah..."
The student sighed.
I watched the conversation and held back a laugh.
That uncle was also a major character.
Jeon Min-gi, second in the first-years.
A physical enhancement wizard with extreme presbyopia. Good personality and outstanding talent—he was pretty popular among readers.
But I saw him on the news a few days ago. Why does he look even older now.
Screeech!
A piercing mic feedback rang loudly through the auditorium.
Students frowned and covered their ears. The noisy auditorium fell silent in an instant.
[Ahem. Everyone, please take your seats. The entrance and opening ceremonies will begin in three minutes.]
It's starting soon, huh.
Students chatting in groups began sitting down one by one.
The empty seats filled up densely. About 150 students per grade. All grades together made around 450 people gathered in the auditorium.
But no one sits next to me.
Feeling awkwardly alone, I sensed someone approaching from the side.
"Hello."
A clear female voice.
Turning my head, a girl with long light brown hair sat next to me.
'Yoo Ah-ra?'
An innocent beauty that any guy would fall for. Yoo Ah-ra, second in the second-years.
As I stared blankly at her, she seemed to notice and turned toward me sharply.
"What? Got something to say?"
"...No."
"Then could you look somewhere else? It's kinda burdensome."
That's how Yoo Ah-ra is. Polite in greetings, but poor at socializing.
Strong pride, sees all surrounding students as rivals, doesn't open up easily.
Especially, she has fierce rivalry toward Lee Seo-jun, always losing the top school rank to him.
[Now, we will commence the 2032 Korean Wizard Academy entrance and opening ceremonies.]
The mic echoed through the auditorium again.
Students sat tensely, looking up at the stage.
Glancing sideways, Yoo Ah-ra was glaring fiercely at Lee Seo-jun preparing below the stage.
[Representatives from each grade, please come up to the stage.]
A few seconds of silence.
Then, as three students ascended the stage, murmurs started again.
"Wow, the freshman top student is so pretty."
"What's her specialty?"
"Ice attribute manifestation. But she's good at enhancement too, I hear."
The first to ascend was Choi Seo-yoon, first in the first-years.
She doesn't have a big role in the main scenario, but occasionally helps Lee Seo-jun with major contributions.
As she smiled brightly, cheers erupted from the male students.
Probably no guy wouldn't fall for that smile.
But that smile is all calculated. Overflowing with narcissism, she enjoys the attention.
One of her minor bad habits.
Following her was the guy I know well, ascending the stage.
Lee Seo-jun, first in the second-years and the protagonist of this world.
"He's here. Senior Lee Seo-jun."
"Wow, way more handsome than on the internet."
"His presence is no joke."
"He gets personally taught by Chairman Kim Jin-cheol, right?"
"That's how insanely talented he is."
As Lee Seo-jun appeared, the first-years' eyes sparkled. Like gazing at a longed-for celebrity.
Even as a student, he's already regarded as a once-in-a-generation prospect among active wizards. [Modern Wizard] is that kind of novel. A munchkin story where the protagonist does everything alone.
Finally, a lanky bespectacled man came up.
Kim Chang-hyun, first in the third-years.
Compared to the two before, his presence is a bit lacking.
Honestly, I don't know much about that guy either. He had such a minor role in the original.
With all grade representatives on stage, the mic rang again.
[Now, the student oath.]
"Oath."
"Oath."
"Oath."
Watching the boring oath, I glanced at Yoo Ah-ra.
She was still glaring at the stage with scary eyes.
Impressive rivalry no matter how many times I see it. She probably thinks that spot on stage is hers.
Well, I get her feelings. Her talent is the second-best in the auditorium after Lee Seo-jun.
"Must be disappointing."
I tried talking to Yoo Ah-ra.
No response. She was so focused on Lee Seo-jun she didn't even register I spoke.
...Feels awkwardly embarrassing.
Doesn't feel right to speak again, so I turned forward.
Then a voice came from the side.
"Was that directed at me?"
Turning, Yoo Ah-ra looked at me with meaningful eyes.
"Yeah."
"What do you mean disappointing?"
"Honestly, you seem better than those two up there."
It was a kind of lip service. Signaling I know she's superior.
Since I plan to intervene in the main scenario ahead, building rapport early isn't bad.
And getting close to major characters brings me 'special benefits.'
But Yoo Ah-ra's face turned serious at my words.
"Hey, you're funny. What do you know? Have you seen them cast magic?"
"No."
"Then why assume on your own?"
"You can tell just by looking."
"What?"
Her face went blank at my firm words.
"I've got good instincts."
I grinned as I said it, and her face twisted.
"Are you messing with me?"
"I'm not."
Yoo Ah-ra shook her head in exasperation, her expression saying she shouldn't bother with me.
Being outright dismissed stirs up unexpected defiance.
Maybe tease her more.
"You've had a lot of troubles with career paths lately, right?"
Yoo Ah-ra's shoulders twitched.
She glared at me with furrowed brows.
"You..."
[This concludes the student oath.]
As Yoo Ah-ra was about to say something, the announcement ended the oath.
The three on stage descended.
Yoo Ah-ra, who had been watching them, spoke to me.
"How did you know?"
I expected denial, but an honest reaction.
I couldn't say 'I read it in the novel,' so I glossed over it.
"Told you, good instincts."
"Not in the mood for jokes."
"It's true, but you don't believe me."
"Hey! ...Fine. You just got lucky, I guess."
Then she shifted her gaze to my name tag on my chest.
"...Kim Sunwoo."
She repeated it a few times, like memorizing. It felt oddly chilling.
"Kim Sunwoo. I remember your name. Don't talk to me from now on."
...Something went wrong.
Teasing more here seemed dangerous, so I nodded.
If I didn't back off, who knows what she'd do.
The boring school event ended, and dozing students began waking one by one.
"Yawn... Man, slept well."
"Thought I'd die of boredom."
It was definitely boring. Listening to teacher advice at this age feels dull.
"Ungh!"
I stretched. Wanting to escape this stuffy auditorium, but class preliminary assembly remained, so I stayed put.
"2nd Year Class A! Gather here!"
A thick male voice rang out.
2nd Year Class A. My class.
Looking toward the voice, a rock-like muscular man stood there.
"A class, gather."
"Let's go!"
Thus, 50 students gathered before the man.
Among them, familiar faces: Lee Seo-jun, Shin Young-jun, Lee Hyun-joo, Yoo Ah-ra, etc. Major characters of this world.
The man looked us over and spoke.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Jang An-cheol, the teacher in charge of Class A for the year."
Waa-! Small cheers erupted among the students. Embarrassed, Jang An-cheol raised a hand to quiet them.
"I was about to introduce myself—does anyone know about me?"
"Iron Blood!"
Some students shouted loudly, as if waiting.
Iron Blood Jang An-cheol. An A-Rank Wizard, a star wizard so famous in Korea that almost no one doesn't know him.
Satisfied with the response, Jang An-cheol smiled again.
"Yes, as you know, I have the moniker Iron Blood. It's because my specialty is hardening my body like steel."
Some students' eyes sparkled with wonder. Their innocent, childlike cuteness fits young students.
"No long talks—I'll give a brief announcement and wrap up."
"Announcement?"
"First, you all know proper classes start next Monday."
Students nodded at Jang An-cheol's words.
"And next Monday, there's the academy tradition: the All-Grade Ranking Evaluation Test."
"Ah..."
Sighs swept through some students.
All-Grade Ranking Evaluation Test.
A public test where all students from first to third years gather in the auditorium.
Skilled students earn admiration and respect among 450 peers, but unskilled ones get jeers and ridicule—a somewhat cruel test.
"Time is Monday 10 a.m. Gather back here in the auditorium without being late."
"Yes."
Students replied glumly.
Jang An-cheol smiled vigorously.
"Alright! That's the announcement. Enjoy the weekend and see you here next Monday!"
With the school schedule done, free time arrived.
Pondering what to do, hunger hit, so I decided to stop by the school convenience store.
"Seojun, take care of us this year too!"
"Your oath was cool."
Turning at voices calling Lee Seo-jun.
Near the school park, Lee Seo-jun and crowds wanting to befriend him gathered.
To his right stood his childhood friend Lee Hyun-joo with a dissatisfied face, and next to her, close friend Shin Young-jun chatted with someone.
Watching amusingly, a discontented voice came from somewhere.
"Lee Seo-jun, Lee Seo-jun. So noisy."
"Yeah. What's so great about that guy. Annoying."
"Damn, why am I in the same class as that jerk again."
Who?
Turning, a group of male students sat on a bench far away, looking displeased.
"Inhwan, just ignore him."