The F-Class dormitory was exactly as I remembered it.
A dilapidated three-story building tucked away in the furthest corner of the Academy grounds, far from the luxurious towers where A-Class and S-Class students lived. The paint was peeling, the windows were cracked, and the entire structure looked like it might collapse in a strong wind.
Perfect.
"This is your room, Kim Hajun. Room 301."
Instructor Kang handed me a rusty key and walked away without another word. He didn't even try to hide his disappointment.
I climbed the creaking stairs to the third floor. The hallway smelled of mold and cheap instant noodles. Through the thin walls, I could hear someone crying.
*Right. Park Minjae.*
In my previous life, Park Minjae was an F-Class student who dropped out after the first semester. He couldn't handle the constant humiliation and eventually took his own life.
But I also knew something else. In another timeline—one I'd only heard about through fragmented System messages—Park Minjae awakened a hidden S-Rank healing ability and became one of humanity's greatest supports.
He just needed to survive long enough.
I made a mental note. *Save Park Minjae. Priority: Medium.*
I unlocked my door and stepped inside.
The room was tiny. A single bed, a desk, a closet. The window overlooked the Academy's garbage disposal area.
But I didn't care.
I sat on the bed and opened my Status Window.
[STATUS WINDOW]
**Name**: Kim Hajun
**Class**: Hunter (F)
**Level**: 5
**Mana**: 12/12
**Strength**: 8
**Agility**: 9
**Intelligence**: 11
**Luck**: 3
**Unique Skill**: [Perfect Copy] (Sealed - Insufficient Mana Core)
**Traits**: None
**Titles**: [Debtor], [Academy Reject Candidate]
---
I stared at the sealed skill.
[Perfect Copy] was the reason I became SSS-Rank in my previous life. It allowed me to observe any skill once and replicate it perfectly, regardless of rank or complexity.
But right now, with my pathetic F-Class mana core, it was completely unusable.
*I need to expand my mana core. Fast.*
In my previous life, it took me three years to break through to D-Class. But I didn't have three years this time.
The dungeon break was in 28 days.
I needed a shortcut.
And I knew exactly where to find one.
---
**Knock knock.**
I opened the door.
A short girl with messy brown hair and thick glasses stood in the hallway. She was holding a plate of cookies.
"Um... hi. I'm your neighbor. Room 302. My name is Choi Yuna."
I recognized her immediately.
Choi Yuna. F-Class. In my previous life, she died during the dungeon break, crushed by a collapsing ceiling while trying to save others.
But what most people didn't know was that Choi Yuna had a hidden talent for magic engineering. In another timeline, she invented the 'Mana Amplification Device' that revolutionized Hunter equipment.
*Save Choi Yuna. Priority: High.*
"Thanks," I said, taking the cookies. "I'm Kim Hajun."
"I know. I saw you at the entrance ceremony. You looked... um... really out of place."
I raised an eyebrow.
She blushed. "I mean, not in a bad way! Just... you seemed like you were thinking about something really serious. Most F-Class students just look scared."
Smart girl.
"I was thinking about how to survive," I said honestly.
She laughed nervously. "Yeah... me too. The Academy's dropout rate for F-Class is like 80%, right?"
"Seventy-three percent," I corrected.
She blinked. "You memorized the exact number?"
"I like to be prepared."
She smiled. "Me too. Hey, if you ever need help with theory or magic circles, let me know. I'm really bad at combat, but I'm good with the technical stuff."
"I'll keep that in mind."
She waved and disappeared back into her room.
I closed the door and bit into a cookie.
*Not bad.*
---
That night, I couldn't sleep.
My mind was racing with plans, contingencies, and timelines.
The dungeon break would happen during the first practicum, which was scheduled for exactly four weeks from now. A C-Rank dungeon would suddenly mutate into an A-Rank Gate, releasing a horde of Bloodfang Wolves and a boss-level Crimson Alpha.
In my previous life, 47 students died. Including Park Minjae and Choi Yuna.
The Academy covered it up as a 'tragic accident,' but I knew the truth.
It wasn't an accident.
It was sabotage.
Someone inside the Academy had deliberately triggered the mutation. And I had a pretty good idea who.
*Professor Han Jiwoo.*
In my previous life, he was exposed as a traitor five years later, after he'd already caused irreparable damage. He was working for the 'Outer God Cult,' feeding them information about the Academy's defenses.
But right now, he was still a respected professor. Untouchable.
I couldn't just accuse him without evidence. I'd be expelled—or worse.
No, I needed to be smart.
I needed to gather proof, build alliances, and prepare for the dungeon break.
And most importantly, I needed to get stronger.
---
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of shouting.
I looked out the window and saw a crowd gathered in the courtyard.
Curious, I headed downstairs.
A group of A-Class students were surrounding someone. I pushed through the crowd and saw Park Minjae on the ground, his face bruised and bleeding.
"Pathetic F-Class trash," one of the A-Class students sneered. "You bumped into me and didn't even apologize."
"I-I did apologize!" Park Minjae stammered.
"Not good enough."
The A-Class student raised his fist.
I felt my blood boil.
In my previous life, I was too weak to stop this. I just watched as Park Minjae was beaten and humiliated.
But not this time.
I stepped forward.
"That's enough."
The A-Class student turned to me. "Who the hell are you?"
"Kim Hajun. F-Class."
He laughed. "Another piece of trash. Get lost before I break your face too."
I didn't move.
He swung at me.
And that's when I made my first mistake.
My body moved on instinct—SSS-Rank instinct.
I sidestepped the punch with perfect timing, grabbed his wrist, and twisted it into a joint lock that would've dislocated his shoulder if I'd applied full pressure.
The courtyard went silent.