The entrance ceremony was boring.
Our Grand Academician, who was well along in years, continued his oration as if delivering a lecture.
A long-winded speech that showed no sign of ending.
So I stared at Yu Arin and sank into thought.
'How can I prevent the future tragedy?'
Six months from now.
Yu Arin would kill everyone belonging to her family and disappear without a trace.
Five years after that, she would reappear, and the number of warriors slaughtered by her hand would reach as many as three hundred.
The problem was that among them were fifty Red-Robed Immortals and a hundred White-Robed Immortals.
In other words, she would become a monster beyond all standards.
That was why I couldn't help but think so much.
'Is Yu Arin already a monster?'
Or does she become one six months from now?
If I prevent the destined catastrophe, can I make her an ally?
No matter how hard I try, is becoming enemies inevitable?
Because I had so little information, I couldn't answer any of these questions.
While I was trapped in these tangled thoughts, unable to escape, Sanghyeok, who was sitting beside me, scolded me.
"Don't stare like that."
"What am I doing?"
"Don't look so openly. It's embarrassing just watching you."
"What's there to be embarrassed about? I'm just looking. And you've been sneaking glances too, so why are you picking on me?"
"That's why. Sneak glances, like me."
"I don't have a shred of shame in my heart, so why shouldn't I look openly? Only guys with dirty thoughts like you sneak glances."
"Then you don't have dirty thoughts?"
"Of course not."
Sanghyeok glanced down at my lower body and tilted his head.
"It's still attached, right?"
"…My tastes are different. I'm not into kids like you guys."
How could someone who had lived 180 years possibly like a child like that?
She was practically the age of my grandchild.
"Then what's your type?"
"Hmm, a woman who always smiles no matter how hard things get?"
"What kind of answer is that?"
"You'll understand when you get older. Just having someone smile beside you gives you incredible strength. Never date a negative woman. Life becomes exhausting. Even if things are hard, meet a woman who smiles."
"…You know you're weird sometimes, right?"
Sanghyeok shook his head as if he couldn't understand at all.
Of course he wouldn't understand now.
But one day, he would realize it.
That meeting a positive, cheerful partner is the greatest fortune in life.
'Well, putting that aside for now.'
I casually glanced around.
It wasn't just me—every man here let their gaze pass over Yu Arin at least once.
Even those who couldn't even speak to her during the exam now seemed eager to strike up a conversation, since they were classmates attending the same academy.
To them, I probably didn't look much different.
But there was a clear difference between their behavior and mine.
Rather than romantic attraction, it was closer to an urge to understand her.
Even looking at Yu Arin like this could be considered part of observation.
Didn't they say that if you know the enemy and know yourself, you will win every battle?
After analyzing her for a while, I turned my head toward the Grand Academician, who was still continuing his entrance speech.
The pinnacle of education in this country.
And also the headmaster of Seongmu Academy.
"Those of you who have entered Seongmu Academy with its long and illustrious history will become the future of this nation. By carrying out missions among immortals and experienced warriors, you will gain real combat experience ahead of others."
One reason Seongmu Academy was exceptional.
Unlike other academies, students were deployed to real missions three years earlier.
Of course, they would be placed in the safest and most luxurious teams.
"You must also be able to do everything. The goal of Seongmu Academy is not to raise mere warriors, but future commanders. That is why, before taking the martial examination, you will learn law, tactics, strategy, politics, history, as well as survival skills such as cooking and gathering."
On this point, I agreed.
A leader who commands others doesn't need to excel in every field.
But I agreed that they must be able to do everything.
Warriors frequently face life-or-death situations, but every moment is not a continuous battle.
There are times when you travel on expeditions, times when you camp and wait, and even moments when you are surrounded by demonic beasts and isolated.
In such moments, if the so-called commander is ignorant of how to relieve themselves and clean up, or how to cook using nothing but roots and dirt…
'Ugh, just imagining it is horrifying.'
Even briefly thinking about it made my skin crawl.
Any warrior who has been to the battlefield would agree.
The worst enemy isn't the demonic beasts, but your direct superior.
To prevent such disasters, the intensity of education needed to be even higher.
"Additionally, aside from the academy's standardized curriculum, you will receive personal instruction from immortal-grade warriors dispatched from your respective families."
Unlike other academies that taught uniform martial arts, Seongmu Academy allowed students to learn the martial arts of their own family's immortals.
After all, most students here were heirs who would lead their families, or talents their families were determined to nurture.
It would make no sense for them to use the martial arts of other families.
This was why Seongmu Academy was recognized as the kingdom's finest educational institution.
While learning their family's martial arts, students could also gain real combat experience and rise to immortality more quickly.
"May you all strive unceasingly and become stars of this nation."
At last, the Grand Academician's lengthy speech ended, and a familiar figure appeared.
'What? Why is that guy here?'
Kang Museong walked up to the podium.
The entrance exam was over—shouldn't he have gone on a mission to become a Red-Robed Immortal by now?
'Ah, I see.'
Judging by his face, which looked like he'd bitten into a pile of dung, I didn't even need to ask.
He must have been disciplined because of the incident during the entrance exam.
In many ways, it was good news for me.
With such a clear weakness, I could use it someday when the time was right.
"We meet again. I will now begin assigning dormitories. Starting from first place, choose the number you want. The floor plan is here, so refer to it. The top-ranked student, come forward and choose."
Feeling Kang Museong's fixed gaze on me, I stepped forward.
Come to think of it, I was first place.
I climbed onto the podium and examined the floor plan.
The Seongmu Academy dormitory was shaped like a 'ㄷ', with areas divided by year.
For the freshmen, there were corridor-style rooms arranged in two facing rows, fifteen rooms each.
The numbers at the very ends were Room 1 and Room 30.
I walked forward and picked up a key without hesitation.
Room 1 was better than Room 30, at least.
"Once you've made your selection, go straight to your dorm, unpack, and wait. Classes start at Osi (11 a.m.) today, so don't be late."
Classes on the very first day.
Since academic classes were held only two days a week, it probably meant we couldn't afford to miss even one.
As I left my seat, I passed Sanghyeok and spoke quietly.
"I chose Room 1 at the end of the 'ㄷ' shape, so if you can, pick somewhere nearby."
After offering that brief advice and stepping outside, supplies were distributed.
Official uniforms, a new identification card, and textbooks.
Carrying them, I arrived at my room and opened the door, and the place where I would live for the next year greeted me.
A bed, a desk, and an old storage space.
That was it.
A compact space with only what was necessary.
For a moment, I wondered where the one-year tuition went, but quickly shook the thought away.
I hadn't expected a luxury resort, and this was more than adequate for a warrior's room.
Besides, a room was only for sleeping anyway.
After finishing my first impressions of the dorm, I immediately began unpacking.
After changing into the official uniform, I took out the admission guide and timetable from the supplies.
The first class was Law.
It mainly covered military law.
"Starting with a boring class, huh."
Military law was basic for a commander, so it was unavoidable, but beginning with such a rigid subject made it hard to feel interested.
Still, there was no need to be late on the very first day, so maybe I should start heading out.
As I stepped outside, the door to the room next to mine opened.
Probably Sanghyeok.
I had told him I picked Room 1, so he must have chosen either the room across or the one beside me.
Thinking that, I turned my head—only to be utterly flustered.
"…?"
A woman who met my gaze, blinked her round eyes, and walked past.
"…What?"
Why was Yu Arin in the room next to mine?
Aside from Sanghyeok, she was the person who could have known first that I chose Room 1.
Since rooms were chosen by rank, she would naturally be next after me.
That meant she saw that the key to Room 1 was gone and still chose Room 2.
Wasn't that too coincidental?
'Why, exactly?'
We hadn't exchanged even a single word, and there was no intimacy between us.
Moreover, when our eyes met just now, I couldn't find a trace of surprise on her face.
It was as if she had intentionally chosen the room next to mine…
At that moment, a hypothesis flashed through my mind.
"Don't tell me…"
Was Yu Arin a member of the Silver Moon Group?
The possibility wasn't zero.
The worst mass murderer.
She killed not only her family but even the servants, then disappeared.
Five years later, she appeared alongside Raksha, slaughtered hundreds of immortals, and met her end.
If the Silver Moon Group had been involved throughout that entire process, then the puzzling developments would make sense.
And if their relationship had already existed at this point, before the incident occurred…
A chill ran through my entire body.
"Am I about to get assassinated?"
Perhaps choosing the room next to mine was part of an attempt to kill me, the top-ranked student.
They might have been watching me since the auction house incident.
But it was still a stretch to be certain.
'It conflicts with the records…'
If she had been with the Silver Moon Group from this point, related incidents should have occurred.
She would have preemptively eliminated anyone who might interfere later, except herself, the top-ranked student.
But there were no records of anything unusual around her before the incident.
That was precisely why the event had been so shocking.
While attending Seongmu Academy, she caused no disturbances at all—then suddenly changed and brought about that catastrophe.
I watched Yu Arin's back as she walked away alone.
Why did her fluttering hair look so much more frightening?
And what was this strange sense of dissonance I felt instead?
"What are you doing?"
While I was staring blankly at Yu Arin, Sanghyeok's voice snapped me back.
"You said you weren't interested earlier, but you're staring again?"
"I'm not interested like that."
I turned to Sanghyeok and said,
"But I am interested in Yu Arin."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"No, that's not what I mean…"
"Then I'll help you. What's a best friend for? I'll find a way to connect you with Yu Arin."
"…Yeah, thanks."
I didn't know how much help a fifteen-year-old could really be, but for now, I'd accept the goodwill.
Getting closer to Yu Arin came first.
"I need to hurry."
Only by uncovering Yu Arin's true nature as soon as possible would I be able to sleep peacefully.
A short while later, Sanghyeok and I arrived at the classroom, where Yu Arin was sitting alone in a corner.
'Let's observe the situation first.'
I sat diagonally where I could see Yu Arin's face and watched.
Even without me doing anything, bees naturally swarm to a fragrant flower.
There was no need to rush in before fully understanding her personality.
After all, the way to get close to someone differs from person to person.
Not long after, the first swarm appeared.
Han Yeongsu.
And the three idiots who always followed him.
As soon as Han Yeongsu entered the classroom, he searched for Yu Arin and approached her.
"Hi. You're Yu Arin, the second-ranked student, right? I'm Han Yeongsu of the Unseong Han family. I ranked an impressive 11th in the entrance exam."
I'll give him credit for confidence.
But did he really have to dig his own grave?
Telling someone ranked second that he was ranked 11th.
And on top of that, he was carried in a palanquin.
'Though it's good for me.'
It was clearly an attempt to hit on her, which made it a perfect opportunity to see how she'd respond.
Yu Arin glanced at Han Yeongsu, nodded once, and then returned her gaze to her book.
That was it.
I thought that was a more-than-decent response for someone like Han Yeongsu, but he clearly didn't think so.
"Hahaha, yeah. Well, my family is pretty famous, so people tend to feel intimidated."
As Han Yeongsu continued to pester her, Yu Arin looked up at him and spoke.
"Um…"
A slightly dry yet clear voice.
Even her voice was perfect.
Wasn't that what they called the sound of jade rolling?
But her next words were like a sharp dagger.
"Is it important? I'm trying to study ahead, so I'd appreciate it if you talked to me later."
In an instant, Han Yeongsu and his entire group froze.
"Wow, that lunatic is going to flip again."
Sanghyeok, who had been closest to Han Yeongsu, voiced his concern.
Not just Han Yeongsu—most of the kids here had never lived without being respected.
Even a small slight would wound them deeply, and throwing a tantrum would be the natural course.
But my thoughts were different.
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen."
"Han Yeongsu hates being ignored more than anything. He'll go crazy."
"But he can't do anything. Yu Arin is pretty."
Just as I said, Han Yeongsu's reaction didn't stray even an inch from my expectations.
"Oh, really? Well, class is about to start anyway, right? Hahaha. Sorry."
She had to be exceptionally beautiful.
Her overwhelming appearance was enough to crush the spirit of most men, so they'd overlook even a sharp rebuke to earn her favor.
Amused by that reaction, Sanghyeok couldn't hide his surprise.
"She's cold."
"I don't think that's it."
"That's not cold? That's the pinnacle of coldness."
Fifteen-year-old kids might call that cold.
But the Yu Arin I saw was a bit different.
To understand the true meaning of words, you had to examine tone, manner of speech, and expression.
From the perspective of someone with 180 years of experience and insight—
Yu Arin hadn't been looking down on him.
She simply said that she needed to study ahead, so unless it was important, he should talk to her later.
In short, Yu Arin wasn't cold…
"She lacks social skills. No—more precisely, does she have no intention of making friends?"
She was a woman who would become a mass murderer six months from now.
To hide her true nature, she couldn't afford to make friends.
As that thought crossed my mind, I quickly shook my head.
'Don't jump to conclusions.'
I still didn't know much about Yu Arin.
In this case, the information was limited, and I had only seen a handful of her behaviors.
So I must not form preconceived notions, whether negative or positive.
'Let's observe a little longer before deciding.'
Only then could I determine the future course of action.
Fortunately, the situation was still relaxed.
Six months.
There was even more time left than the period from my regression until entering Seongmu Academy.
I turned my gaze toward the teacher entering the classroom.
Don't rush.
If you rush, even things that could work will fail.
And so, the six-month period of preparation began.