As Hyon Hyung left, Hajin came to realize just how comforting it was to have a friend around. However, he hesitated to call the guy by his given first name. Referring to someone younger than him as ‘Hyung’ just felt ridiculous.

Hajin reflected on the events from earlier. He wasn’t exactly weak—though not overwhelmingly strong either. Before his reckless stunt, he had been pushing his instructor into a corner using his Gift. His body, gradually shifting to resemble Kim Chundong’s original physique, was becoming more capable, and with it, so was he.

The [Master Sharpshooter] Gift was undeniably powerful, and combined with his improving stats, he knew he would only grow stronger from here.

"Come to think of it, I should join a few clubs..." he muttered to himself.

Cube wasn’t entirely devoid of fun. There were all sorts of clubs, from hobby groups to more combat-focused ones, even gaming clubs.

"I should invite Hosup and Hyon..."

Hajin already had a few clubs in mind—the Traveling Club, Hunting Club, and Academic Club. It wouldn’t hurt to have friends with him, so he planned to invite Hosup and Hyon along.

But his true motive in joining these clubs was to stay close to the main characters. It was crucial for him to maintain contact with the core of the story. Boosting his relevance in the novel was a key goal—more Story Points (SP) meant greater safety and quicker progress toward his objectives.

He also considered joining the Reading Club, since Rachel was part of it, but he knew he couldn’t stretch himself too thin. Realistically, he needed to prioritize. And with Nayun no longer practicing archery, there was little reason to join the Hunting Club, which he had originally chosen to increase his training opportunities.

"Hmmm... I guess I’ll skip the Hunting Club. I'll go with the Traveling Club, Academic Club, and Reading Club..." In the end, Hajin decided to stick closer to the main storyline.

For now, he resolved to focus on his own training. With no plans to continue the Anti-Personnel Training, especially while stuck in the infirmary, Hajin decided it was time to head to the Training Grounds and train alone.

***

I swung my daggers, the dull thuds of metal against the scarecrow's vital points rhythmically echoing around me. My strikes were calculated, each one aimed at a pressure point or critical area, but despite my improvement, I still knew I was far from the physical standards of a Cube Cadet.

But I was growing.

That thought alone elated me, even though I was keenly aware of how much farther I had to go. My immediate goal was to at least match the average cadet—no more lagging behind, no more excuses. Yet, the gap still loomed wide.

I stopped for a moment, catching my breath. The slight vibration of my smartwatch pulled me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Hajin, inviting me to join some clubs he was interested in—the Academic, Reading, and Traveling Clubs.

"Huh, not bad," I muttered to myself, scrolling through the online application forms. It was funny; Hajin didn’t even realize you could sign up for the clubs online. I quickly filled out the forms, glancing at his message.

“Man, you should read the brochure... That is why they exist.”

I sent him a reply with a simple “Done,” and a moment later, I received a reply: an “LMAO.” It felt strange to see Hajin sound so human.

My honest impression of Kim Hajin from the novel had been that he was too eager to go home and finish the story to the point that he did not care if it hurt him in the process. He might not show it, but he was kind, and that was why he struggled to make cruel choices at the expense of good people for his benefit. Many times, I felt that Hajin could achieve more if he were just a little more ruthless.

For example, he could manipulate Chae Nayun into falling in love with him and use her after. While at it, he could also seduce Yeonha or even Rachel. With the tools he could access, he could just as easily break the story than fix it... and it had always been easier to destroy than to fix.

I also sensed that Hajin was implicitly trying to please the co-author—the entity responsible for bringing him into this world. As a result, he was moving unknowingly within the co-author’s plot. In my eyes, Hajin's kindness was being taken advantage of by that same co-author.

In my opinion, the real big bad boss of The Novel’s Extra was the co-author, the very existence who swapped Kim Chundong’s soul with Kim Hajin’s. The co-author might as well be responsible for my presence here.

While around Hajin, I was walking on landmines. That much I was aware of, but this was a risk I had to take. For all I knew, 'I' might be an accident that the co-author did not foresee. I couldn’t really tell, but the 'error' notification gave me some level of confidence.

Despite knowing the plot of The Novel’s Extra, I was severely lacking in information. Moreover, I could barely remember the novel despite reading it back and forth from the manhwa and the novel itself.

My memory retention of the plot was my only silver lining, which I feared I might lose someday. Thus, I dedicated an hour each day to writing down the novel according to my memory. I recorded it in a little dingy notebook I hid under my bed pillow. It was dangerous since this could compromise my knowledge of the future.

As a countermeasure, I made it so that I changed the names of the characters in the notebook, and if anyone ever read it, I could simply claim it was a novel I was planning to write. It was not foolproof, but it was better than nothing.

After writing in the notebook, I proceeded to make food. I glanced at my hands and fingers, now full of bandages from dagger cuts during training.

I didn’t know whether I should be thankful that I was a terrible cook; my state didn’t matter when it came to preparing food. In the end, I just heated up some canned goods.

After eating, I washed the dishes, returned to my bed, and meditated according to the Agent Military Academy’s old manual I found in the library. I felt my heart burst dangerously but it didn’t explode—this could be the death of me and the culprit was my pride.

“I can’t continue like this.”

The practice of my Gift had been fruitless, however. It was a more difficult Gift than I had bargained for. Except for the application of [Always Here], the function of [Not Here] required a massive amount of magic power. My [Nobody Knows] Gift might have been more special than I imagined.

Following the laws of equivalent exchange, there must have been something more to my Gift, as the more energy I consumed, the greater the effects should have been. I just didn’t know the mechanics behind it.

For now, my Gift’s second option was useless to me. Invisibility for three seconds until magic power exhaustion was not really helpful in combat.

"Do I need to go out to the Field?" I groaned, glancing at the ominous gray clouds swirling outside. Fields were where monsters roamed free, and let me tell you, those weren't exactly the best spots for a relaxing afternoon.

My smartwatch buzzed violently, snapping me out of my thoughts.

[Travel Club Announcement]—There would be a short trip on Sunday to serve as a freshman orientation.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

[Academic Club Announcement]—There would be an orientation on Friday for freshmen.

I rolled my eyes and quickly dismissed the notifications. Who had time for orientations? I was too busy slicing through spherical projectiles in the stage 3 evasion room, daggers in hand, pretending my training was actually a scene from an epic action movie. Spoiler alert: it wasn't.

Days passed in a blur of combat training. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday felt like a relentless marathon, and now it was Friday—my one chance to rest and recuperate. But no! Instead, I had to attend the Academic Club orientation. I swear, the universe had it out for me. Did they not know I had delicate needs? I needed my beauty sleep!

“Onwards with the plot, I guessed…”

Sighing dramatically, I thought about the lengths I had to endure. And was about to endure.

“Hyon, you look more haggard than usual,” Hajin chimed in, his grin annoying yet strangely comforting.

Oh, great! He was at least talking to me, which was a small blessing. He wasn't brooding in a corner or contemplating life choices. Progress! My dear Kim Hajin, please don’t spiral into despair or develop a newfound obsession with existential dread. That was my job, thank you very much. Maybe he thought he was doing Kim Chundong a favor—getting him a friend for when he returned to his own world. How noble of him!

But seriously, screw you, Hajin. With your cheat skills and your effortless training regime. I was about to throw my daggers in frustration when a thought crossed my mind.

Is it my period? Ah, what a dumbass… Of course not. If I were a girl, I could just flirt with Hajin, Suho, or even Jonghak. Wait—no! Forget Jonghak. That guy was off the list.

I sighed again, realizing my life had turned into an absurd comedy where I had to juggle monster fields and friendship dilemmas instead of, you know, just enjoying a nice cup of coffee.

"Your face is contorting so much you look like you had a seizure," Hajin remarked, raising an eyebrow at me.

I blinked at him, processing his comment as my inner voice spiraled into an existential crisis, the kind that usually came with dramatic monologues.

What was I even doing here?

Each training session felt more like a reminder of my inadequacies. I was in a place that demanded perfection, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was only skating by on borrowed time. The weight of expectations bore down on me, each day pulling me deeper into a pit of doubt. I was supposed to be a warrior, yet I often felt like a pretender.

"Why can’t I just be normal? Why is it always this?”

Hajin’s voice brought me back. "Hey, you okay? You look like you just had an epiphany or something."

"Yeah, an epiphany on how to fail spectacularly at life."

I forced a smile, the kind that barely reached my eyes. “Just… contemplating the meaning of existence. You know, typical stuff.”

He laughed lightly, but I could see the concern lurking behind his amusement. I tried to shake off the weight that clung to me. Maybe if I just threw myself into training harder, I could drown out these thoughts?

“Hey, Hyon… Are you okay? Your eyes don’t look straight…” Hajin worriedly inquired.

“Nah,” I replied, my voice flat as I blinked like a fish out of water. “I’m fine…”

The least I could do was avoid being a jerk to him. As Hajin and I made our way to the clubroom, silence enveloped us. Hajin wasn’t much of a talker, and I certainly wasn’t in the mood for chit-chat. My back pain throbbed relentlessly, a reminder of the grueling exercise session I had endured the night. I insisted that pushing myself was for the best, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I might have gone too far this time.

The more exhausted I became, the more I questioned whether it was helping me improve. Agent Military Academy’s philosophy was that if I could build mental endurance, I would eventually be able to train independently, without relying on others—how noble.

“I see it, room 304…” Hajin called out, pointing ahead as he led the way.

As we approached the door, I noted the two remaining seats inside. Apparently, the number of seats was predetermined, and competition for a spot was inevitable. I glanced at Hajin, and he returned my gaze with determination written on his face. Without a second thought, he surged ahead, his pace brisk and confident.

We raced toward the chairs, but it was clear I was no match for him. Hajin swiftly claimed the seat behind Yoo Yeonha, an enviable position that I couldn’t help but feel was part of his plan. I could almost picture him fantasizing about smelling her hair—silky smooth and all that.

Reluctantly, I settled into the only remaining seat beside Yeonha, who immediately clicked her tongue in disapproval. I chose to ignore her disdain, instead allowing a smirk to creep onto my face.

“Birds of a feather flock together… You two crazies must be friends already, huh?” Yeonha remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

I snickered at the jab, recognizing that the sight of Hajin probably reminded her of the debacle during Anti-Personnel Training when he had started biting the instructor’s hair. That had been a bizarre day.

“Y-Yoo Yeonha… Are you suggesting you’re my friend?” I called out, my voice teasingly bright.

“Are you crazy?” she shot back, her eyes widening as she realized how ridiculous that sounded. The attention of our classmates turned toward her, and I couldn’t help but relish the moment.

But impressively enough, Yeonha regained her composure quickly, communicating her irritation with just a look. “Are you suggesting I’m crazy?” she asked, her voice steady despite the looks around us.

I nodded eagerly, emphasizing just how truly crazy I thought she was.

Her annoyance flared visibly, and she snarled at me, a brief flicker of anger crossing her face. It was amusing how quickly her mood shifted. In the end, she simply rolled her eyes and batted them away, deciding I wasn’t worth her time.

After five minutes, the club president finally arrived.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yun Hyuk. Welcome to our Academic Club, Veritas,” he said, flashing a charming smile that made the atmosphere in the room shift. It felt like he had cast some spell over everyone present.

He continued, “We’ll only briefly discuss what our club is about since today’s just orientation.”

I leaned back in my seat, crossing my arms, and tried to tune him out. This was a classic case of the villain hiding in plain sight, and I wasn’t about to fall for his act. My instincts screamed at me to stay alert; I could feel the danger lingering beneath his polished exterior. The Djinn abilities he possessed made him even more unpredictable, and I had to remind myself that not everything was as it seemed.

Yun Hyuk’s words droned on, but I focused on the shifting dynamics in the room. I caught Hajin glancing at me, a look of bemusement on his face. I couldn’t decipher if he was oblivious to the danger or if he simply chose to ignore it. Either way, I could only hope he understood the gravity of the situation.

“This club is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge,” Yun Hyuk declared, his voice smooth as silk. “We aim to provide a supportive environment for those who seek academic excellence while also encouraging personal growth.”

As he continued outlining the club’s activities, I noticed that not a single person in the room questioned his authority. Everyone hung onto his every word as if they were gospel. It frustrated me. Had they all forgotten that we were supposed to be a group of aspiring warriors, not disciples?

“Membership grants you access to exclusive resources, including research materials and mentorship from upperclassmen,” he elaborated, his eyes sparkling with the promise of power. “We also host various events, such as guest lectures and study sessions, to foster collaboration among members.”

The presentation dragged on, each word washing over me like a dull wave.

“In this club, we researched and discussed the classifications, weaknesses, behaviors, and attributes of monsters. Topics included how they behaved, where their vital points were, what their attributes were, and how to efficiently deal with them.”

I nodded perfunctorily, giving the impression that I was paying attention while my mind drifted somewhere else entirely. Honestly, I was only lending half an ear. The Academic Club might not be completely useless after all. I didn’t have Hajin’s cheat codes or easy access to information, so I might as well glean some knowledge from the overly enthusiastic members around me.

Damn, I was so envious of him! But at the same time, I felt regretful. If only Hajin had learned to love this world as his own from the very beginning of the novel, maybe the tragic events of The Novel’s Extra could have been avoided altogether.

“I’ll give a quick example,” Yun Hyuk said, smoothly transitioning into his lecture. “Let’s take a look at this monster. I’m sure you all know a Totem Scallop.”

I perked up at that. A monster that sounded like a fancy seafood dish? This might just get interesting. Yun Hyuk calmly continued his demonstration, and I tried to stay focused. Monster analysis was generally desk work, but a competent hero at least needed to know how to interpret data. Learning the academic side was just as important as the major subjects in Cube.

Suddenly, a hologram popped up from the device on the table. “Totem Scallops are high-intermediate rank, grade 3 monsters with high intelligence and magic. They act gently and won’t attack as long as you stay out of their territory. However, their pearls fetch an incredible price, and every guild is targeting them.”

My mind began to wander again. What if I went to a seafood restaurant and ordered a Totem Scallop? Would it come with a side of danger? Or worse, would it come with an unyielding quest for my life?

“As you know, it’s extremely hard to kill Totem Scallops,” Yun Hyuk continued, glancing over his notes. “But careful analysis shows they’re classified no differently than an ordinary scallop. It’s quite difficult to locate their vital points because no other monster shares similarities with them.”

I snorted. Great! So we were basically learning how to fight dinner! Did that mean I had to dress up in a tuxedo before engaging in combat? How do you even prepare for that? “Excuse me, Totem Scallop, but could you please hold still while I adjust my bow tie?”

I shook my head, trying to refocus as Yun Hyuk droned on about strategies for dealing with these oddly majestic monsters. Maybe I should take notes. If anything, I’d be able to tell my future self how to avoid becoming a seafood platter. After all, knowing how to tackle a Totem Scallop could save my skin—and my dinner plans.