"Hmm, hm-hmm~ Hmm~"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Reader-nim, you look like you're in a good mood.
"Of course I am. I've gotten acquainted with the protagonist."
Whoa, that was an unexpected bonus.
Come to think of it, the protagonist took down a monster too.
So it made sense that he'd show up. I'd totally forgotten because of Writer-nim.
We shook hands when we were alone and got on friendly terms. If I take it slow, we can get closer, right?
"Everyone, quit yapping and take your seats."
The teacher burst through the door.
...Probably the Academy's star, our homeroom teacher.
"I'm Claire, and I'll be your homeroom teacher from here on out. Nice to meet you."
"Cl-Claire? You don't mean..."
"That famous hero...?"
"I heard she retired. She's a teacher now?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Hmm... I did set her up as a famous, powerful figure like in other Academy stories to be the homeroom teacher, but why would someone like that be just an Academy teacher...?
"You're asking the obvious."
What else could it be?
Maybe she took a critical injury that's convenient for long-term fighting but fine for short bursts, forcing her to retire.
Or perhaps she lost a subordinate or comrade and her spirit broke.
Something clichéd like that.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙As expected of Reader-nim...! My setting basket! Thanks! Hehe, a cool beauty big-sis homeroom teacher with a hint of tragic allure is always a delicious setup!
I let Writer-nim's words go in one ear and out the other.
She's always spouting nonsense.
"First off, I apologize for the unfortunate incident yesterday. On behalf of the school, I bow my head."
She bowed deeply.
The students panicked at the sight of their idolized homeroom teacher bowing her head.
"Pl-Please stand up, Teacher!"
"Yeah! We're fine, so don't worry about it!"
Despite the students' protests, Claire kept her head down for a long while. Only when they started looking uncomfortable did she finally raise it.
But something still felt off. She seemed like she wanted to apologize more.
"T-Teacher! What's today's lesson?"
"Yeah! Haha, we wanna learn already!"
"...Lesson? Oh, right."
Did she forget?
This is ridiculous.
Claire scratched the back of her neck awkwardly, cleared her throat, and lowered her voice.
"I don't know what weapons you've used until now. But the ones you choose here will be what you train with going forward, so decide carefully."
Ah, this is it.
Weapon selection.
That staple of Academy first classes that pops up every time.
"Writer-nim, isn't there a bit of a problem with this...?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Yes? A problem? Why?
"I don't know how to use weapons?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙...Huh? Oh yeah.
My head started to hurt, so I squeezed my eyes shut.
Here we go again!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙H-Haha, but Reader-nim can just grab anything...
"Don't heroes and villains in this world each have one ability?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Y-Yeah. That's right.
"What's someone with fire-breathing powers supposed to do with a weapon?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙...Huh?
No, seriously.
Does someone who can breathe fire from their mouth really need to get up close and swing a sword?
They could just walk up, shoot flames at the enemy's back, and wipe them out.
Wouldn't it be better not to use weapons at all?
Weapons just make enemies more wary.
Wouldn't the Academy's best role be training personal abilities instead of weapons?
You were just praising the Academy as competent. This is a setting conflict.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙M-Mana! It's because of mana! Uh, um... Ability users have mana circulating in their bodies, boosting physical abilities! They don't die easily! They can save mana by not using abilities!
"Haa..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙And if we're nitpicking, what about guns?! Normal people die from bullets! So ability users are resistant to guns too! Boom! Perfect! And guns don't use mana! I just decided that!
It wasn't a perfectly convincing explanation, honestly.
But having read countless webnovels, I decided to let it slide.
Instead of questioning why use weapons when you have abilities in this world.
I realized I should accept that they use both abilities and weapons here.
The problem is that this is the world I'm living in now.
"Alright, follow me. You need to pick your weapons from the warehouse."
Come to think of it, in Academy stories with weapon selection.
Didn't classes get divided based on the weapon chosen, not A, B, C classes?
She didn't notice that inconsistency, did she?
I perked up my ears with a sliver of hope, but heard nothing.
Meaning she didn't catch it. Damn.
"Writer-nim, in weapon-selection stories, classes are assigned after picking weapons."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Oh, huh?! Was that how it was?!
"Probably most of them, yeah?"
Of course...
Teachers aren't assigned one per student.
That'd be way more efficient for instruction.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Uh, uh... Right! After-school clubs! W-We can do it like that! Regular classes in homeroom, then a few hours a day with specialized weapon instructors! E-Ehehe...
Ah, this is exhausting.
Why is my Writer-nim so dense?
I wish she'd think things through when setting stuff up!
"This is the weapon warehouse. Pick what you want. These will be your Academy weapons from now on."
Fine, nothing I can do about the settings now.
Let's see what weapon our protagonist picks.
I hid among the noisy students picking weapons and stared at the back of his head.
...A sword, as expected.
I saw him use one against the monster, so it makes sense.
Protagonists usually go for swords. Classic.
"Hmm, is something wrong? You've been staring off without looking at the weapons."
"Oh, Teacher."
"Don't be shy. Tell me."
"...By any chance, which class do daggers go to?"
"Daggers?"
Yeah, daggers.
Honestly, I have no confidence with swords.
It'd just be like swinging a pointy stick.
Bow? No way.
Spear might be okay, but storage is a hassle...
Daggers seem best.
Small size, easy to sheath and carry.
No fancy techniques needed—just stab.
Even if I have to learn something, it'd be easier than a long sword.
And if I end up in swordsmanship, I can keep an eye on Yoo Siu. That's the real perk.
"Daggers are a type of swordsmanship, so probably the sword instructor."
"Oh, I see. Thank you."
Oh, good info.
I grabbed a dagger without hesitation.
"Heh, got a crush, huh? I don't recommend picking a weapon to chase love, but I'll cheer you on."
"...Huh?"
Did she catch me staring at Yoo Siu?
Good thing she didn't think it suspicious, but she misunderstood in a weird way.
It's not like that?
I wanted to correct her, but she'd already moved on to advise other students.
Just let it be?
It's not true anyway.
I cautiously approached Siu, who was smiling contentedly with his sword.
"Oh, did you pick the sword?"
"...?! Y-Yeah. Wh-Why...?"
What? Why's he so jumpy?
Cold? The warehouse is cool, but not that cold.
"...? You cold?"
"N-No. Just a bit nervous... It's the Academy's first class."
Is it? This feels more like prep than a class.
And his voice is trembling a little.
...Whatever.
If it's a cold, he'll take meds later.
"Still, sword, huh? What a coincidence! I went with dagger."
"R-Really? Dagger. Yeah, good weapon."
"Hehe, must be fate. We took down the same monster, and now weapon classes together."
"Y-Yeah. Ahaha..."
His face is so pale.
This is worrying, even if it's a cold.
You need to stay healthy and beat some unknown final boss.
"You okay? You look really sick."
"Yeah. I'm f-fine, don't worry."
If he insists he's fine, pushing more would be rude.
Nothing to do. If something comes up, I'll ask Writer-nim then.
"Your face is pale, so rest up. See ya!"
I left Siu sweating bullets and started browsing weapons.
Truth is, I've never seen stuff like this. Super cool.
"You got spear? Haha, total spear-whore."
"Hey! Don't make puns like that!"
"Why? It's true. Girl with spear. Spear-whore."
"You, you...! Stop right there!"
The students were already loosening up, joking around.
Lively bunch.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Phew, crisis averted... No setting conflicts...
It's total patchwork, Writer-nim.
I held my tongue so she wouldn't cry.
Poor thing.
"Everyone done? Back to class! That's it for today!"
At Claire's words, students headed back in groups.
Of course, I walked alone.
Pathetic.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Hoo, haa...! Haa...!"
I thought I was gonna die.
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it'd burst out of my chest.
"Arte, that girl... She was definitely watching me...!"
She saw me pick the sword and grabbed a dagger without a second thought. No doubt.
I don't know why, but she was intensely interested in me.
Good interest or bad?
No matter how I thought about it, it wasn't good.
And I couldn't recall doing anything to attract that kind of attention from her.
I couldn't ditch the sword for something else to avoid her.
Sword was the only weapon I'd used so far.
Switching now would just set me back.
For Siu, who entered the Academy to become a hero, that was unacceptable.
"Why is she interested in me...?"
I had no idea.
Someone who could hack the Academy database in seconds and infiltrate as a freshman—what reason could she have to fixate on me like that?
I thought I'd make friends, spar hard, all that after enrolling.
Siu wanted to cry.