Proofreader: Future Me!

In awkward silence filled the room as we stared at each other. Once again I was able to clearly analyse her character without disruption. However it still hurt to endure, so I inevitably spoke.

“So-“ “Your-“

We had spoken at the same time prompting both of us to stop again. It was starting to get frustrating.

I sighed and told her, “Okay you ask your question first, I’ll explain after.”

Serina’s silence continued until she nodded. My heart which had stayed eerily calm started beating quicker, as I began predicting all kinds of questions.

Her behaviour was so different to the character I had played.

“Then, who are you?” She mouthed quietly.

“I’m Luke, a simple commoner with a humble background- that’s about it.”

“Why do you know me?” Her words came out slow as if wary of my actions.

“You bumped into me earlier today, and I heard your name from the announcements,” I lied without hesitance.

“…” Her eyes seemed to be asking if such a thing had been announced.

“I have no reason to lie. Plus you had left quite the impression, who wouldn’t be curious?”

“…”

Her violet eyes contained curiosity as she studied me, and frankly, I felt flattered but confused.

I made sure to check, “Is that it?”

Satisfied, she nodded her head and left through the front door. I had no idea what that interaction was about, but clearly, I couldn’t rely on the game as a basis anymore.

Pfft- not like I had much to work with anyway.

“Right let's move- argh!” My feeble attempts at movement were met with burning pains.

That dragon screwed me over badly.

“Luke? Is it alright if I come back in?” Julia’s soothing voice came from behind the door.

“Sure, not much I can do in this state.”

Entering, she sat beside me playing with her hair. Quickly her face turned solemn as if realising something.

“Are- are you sure about hanging around me? It’ll ruin your chance at friendships and…”

“Look, stop worrying about your sweet cheeks and listen to me.”

“Hmmm?!” Her face flashed a shade of red, I couldn’t not tease her.

“I don’t care about what other students think about me, they’re all kids in their prime age of puberty anyway. They’ll realise their mistakes when we fix your issue, no?”

“…” Her eyes began tearing up, “I-I’m sorry… no one’s treated me this way before.”

The gap between noble and meek had been made apparent all too well. Even if she was a bit too easy.

She’s too precious! Fuck it! All aboard the Julia train, we are getting out of the death route with this one!

“Let's get along as friends alright?” I desperately maintained my poker face.

“Yes!” She emitted a radiant expression.

The only issue was, her ops- enemies were far beyond our time. Her track to death was set next year, and this could be altered if I interfere now. There were a plethora of things to consider...

“Hello- are you there?” Her eyes turned worrisome as she noticed my silence.

I shrugged, “Sorry, I was thinking."

“This isn't the first time you’ve said that!” Complaining, she shifted into aristocratic mode, “Agh- I have no time to waste, this great noble self has to prepare for the next exam.”

The combat exam, I would’ve been able to excel there if only I wasn’t manhandled… I wanted to test out enhancement too!

It was an event in which you had to battle against a monster of your choice. There were plenty of summoner heroes to go around, so there wasn’t a lack of variety. Although, a monster which would match Julia the best… hmmmm…

“Julia before you go, how do you fight?” This was a necessary question to gauge plausible advice.

“In summary, I use a sword for close combat and telekinesis to support my movements.”

It jogged my memory somewhat, she had one of the more complex fighting styles in the setting.

The best monster for her pick would most likely be the simple Greater Wolf, it simply had a commanding ability and overall high specs. Telekinesis would catch it off guard if she messed with the ground, guaranteeing a safe win.

But… It seemed too easy.

‘A strong monster with a small gimmick that makes it possible. Ah, that’s it.’

“The exam is about hunting a monster of your choosing. So hear me out, when they ask for a choice, I recommend the ‘Elder Sanvermis.’ It has a fatal weakness that you can use to your advantage!”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“First of all, how do you know what the exam is about?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Okay…?”

“The thing is, while this monster is an incredibly large rat-like worm, it has a sizeable hole in which it breathes out. Lodge some large chunks of dirt and bingo! It dies of suffocation, the only issue is, it’s located at the back of its head.”

She looked unconvinced, which was fair but insulting.

I held my head in defeat, “If you fail, I’ll request an item for you from the headmaster.”

“Seriously!?” She closed the gap between me and her immediately.

She clasped my hands and shook them up and down, “I have nothing to lose, Cheer me on okay! Hohoho!”

Instantly, she disappeared from the room and I could hear the echoes of haughty laughter true to her previous impressions.

Hah… at least now I could investigate the small hand held book that randomly appeared in my pocket. When I woke up, it was simply sitting there, I even tried to view it myself. But nothing happened, I theorised that it was a book from the real world.

‘Fun facts about [Enigmatic Academy]’ was its title.

I remembered seeing something like this as part of the game's merch release, although the reason for it being with me didn’t make sense. Opening the front cover, I could only see one blank page.

As if awaiting my presence, words slowly wrote themselves onto the page.

Did you know that the North Empire and Alexander Empire are allied?

“That’s literally basic information found on the blurb of the game…”

My hopes immediately died down, so I threw it out of my sight. However, immediately after doing so, I felt a weight sink into my pockets.

‘Don’t tell me.’

I reached into it, feeling the familiar cover. Once again, the book appeared in my hands. Just to make sure, I opened it again, seeing the same piece of information.

Repeating the same process of throwing it and it appearing again a few times, I sighed.

“I can look at it again tomorrow at the very least,” I whispered with a resigned tone.

-x-

“Thank you very much.”

“Ah, it's no problem, we’re the ones at fault for letting this happen.”

The nurse apologised and let me out of the room. By the next day, I was finally discharged, yet there was no sign of Julia or anyone else. Left alone, I stared at my increased attributes.

[Attributes]

Vitality: Tier 0 (17%) (Up!)

Agility: Tier 0 (8%) (Up!)

Strength: Tier 0 (10%) (Up!)

Mana: Tier 0 (5%)

While my mana has remained still, pushing my body to the limits has proved beneficial. Although, I truly was weak. Also, my strength was finally at the point of a slightly active teenager, whereas my speed was still under…

The first order of business, however, was to sort out what dorm room I’d be in. I was told to visit the headmaster's office by Riel, the head school nurse, who said that the matter had already been resolved.

The school’s layout had been imprinted in my mind through thousands of hours of gameplay, but it seemed my directional sense in real life was not up to par.

By the look of the sky, the day would soon begin. While I was in the nursing sector, rooms and home groups had been decided already, meaning this place would become a labyrinth of human flesh if I didn’t hurry.

I began to speed up and ran across the campus, looking for the main building.

“Ouch!” Running, I accidentally tripped and hit someone, “Sorry, you okay?”

“Yeah, now get off me,” A rugged but calm voice resounded.

I rose without delay staring at his face. Mark was a descendant of Abel and a core member of most routes of the game.

“Hope we don’t meet again,” He shrugged his shoulders and walked forward.

“Wait! Can you lead me to your infinitely old grandpa’s office!” My words triggered something in him.

“Hah?” He turned around revealing a toothy grimace.

“He had something to say to me but I got lost, care to help?”

“And why should I bother?" He sneered mockingly, "That old man can solve his problems.”

Turns out, I forgot to factor in his adolescent rebellion in my request.

“He’ll owe you a favour, that I guarantee!” I attempted to continue persuading him.

Mark quickly dismissed my words, “How can I trust a grunt like you, to get out of my way.”

He swatted his arm toward me without warning.

“Hoh?” He released a surprised murmur, seeing me still standing.

There was one thing not listed in my skills, and that was my years of forced martial arts drilled into my head. Who cares about the level difference when a technique is infinitely better?

“Hah, I’m not meeting that weirdo for no reason you know.”

He reluctantly retracted his arm and sighed, “Fine, you owe me one.” He covered his face, but a small instance of his lips raising didn’t escape me.

Mark’s personality was similar to an edgy teen going through a rebellious phase, except for two things.

One, he loves fighting.

And two, he’s lonely.

If handled right, a free ally is practically guaranteed.

He silently led me around the campus, ending up before a fucking humongous door. It was large enough to fit two giants at the entrance.

“Tell the geezer I said hello.” He left without saying a proper goodbye.

“Asshole,” I muttered, witnessing his fleeting body.

Turning back toward the office, I pushed the bottom of such doors.

“Urgh-“ I kept pushing to no avail, even after utilising enhancement on my arms not much was achieved.

“Ah, I forgot to unlock this!” A voice came up from behind and chanted a magical spell, “Sorry about that!”

Once again I was hit with reality, this always stern and strict dinosaur is now acting in a subservient attitude.

The two gates made rumbling with the turning of the hinges, shaking the ground with a great fervour.

To which we would see a grand opening of-

A desk and chair with large amounts of paperwork.

“Right! Luke was it? Here ya go, take this, I gotta work on this stuff here. Talk to you both later!” Abel’s face was covered with pages as his hand worked at an immeasurable speed, “Also your written exam was quite good, keep it up!”

No matter how much I visited this room, I still couldn’t get used to the disappointment inside. I couldn’t even get to register as the doors shut back on us.

“Indeed, your score was certainly surprising. However, Abel is currently very busy… how about I show you your room?”

I stared at the key numbered “7”, and the paper listing a class selection with the home group stated in bold font. Both appeared in my hand immediately after the closure.

“Sure.”

Upon exiting the headmaster’s corridor, Runalia’s posture had straightened out, exuding the previous atmosphere of the entrance ceremony. The switch-up was still disturbing to witness.

Students began pouring out of who knows where arriving in and out of hallways I had no business of seeing.

“Your room. It is on the same floor as your class, I will exempt you from your lateness, however, be quick to arrive on time.”

In public, she was the perfect dictator, yet in private she was just... hah...

I held in my urge to sigh, “Yes, vice headmaster. I will heed your orders.”

“Good.”

She teleported leaving me alone in front of the door. I stared back at the grandiose keys, remembering their significance. They were dealt out based on the current rankings of the school, however…

Creaaakkk-

The door opened with a frighteningly loud sound, revealing a silhouette.

“Oh, you’re the one rooming with me! Nice to meetcha!” A green-eyed man with a pleased look greeted me, “The name’s Fen!”