Category: The Regressed Extra Becomes a Genius

[Welcome! Special benefits for you, an outsider!]

[In the Point Shop, you can obtain anything you desire!]

The welcoming message appeared as soon as I entered the Point Shop.

It felt oddly mocking, but I brushed it aside and dismissed the notification.

The Point Shop offered several ways to increase mana. However, the efficiency varied widely depending on the cost, and some items were so inefficient that they felt borderline scammy. Careful research was essential.

“Hm… What should I do?”

I skimmed through the shop and first entered the basic stats purchase menu.

[You can exchange points for basic stats!]

---

[Basic Stats Shop]
▶ Health 0.1 – 100 points
▶ Strength 0.1 – 100 points
▶ Mana 0.1 – 100 points
…

---

Exchanging points for basic stats—this was a method I often used before my regression. It showed decent efficiency, especially at first.

1,000 points could increase mana by 1, which wasn’t too hard to earn through achievements.

But this method had a critical drawback.

[Warning]

[Basic stat prices increase by 10 points for every 10 purchases.]

The more you purchased, the more expensive it became.

At first, it might not seem like a big deal—just a 10-point increase—but over time, the costs became unmanageable.

In my previous life, I overused this system to the point where buying just 0.1 mana cost 350 points.

“This isn’t worth it.”

To gain mana efficiently, traits or items were a better investment.

Let’s see… I should start by searching for mana-related traits.

[Using the search function.]

[Searching for ‘Mana.’]

Ding!

---

▶ [Trait] Gluttony’s Gift (B)
▶ [Trait] Energy Absorption Technique (S)
▶ [Trait] Dark Warlock’s Training Method (D)
▶ [Trait] Arcane Meditation of the Ancient Empire (C)
▶ [Item] Great Elixir (B)
▶ [Item] Necronomicon (SS)
▶ [Item] Meditation for Mana Efficiency Vol. 1–2 Set (D)
▶ [Item] Heart of the Elder Dragon, Kaisas (SSS)
…

A long, disorganized list of search results appeared.

After some thought, I decided to check out the first option, Gluttony’s Gift.

[Gluttony’s Gift (B)]

Type: Trait

Description: Gain mana by consuming food.

[Passive Effect]

▶ Calorie Conversion

Gain mana equal to 0.001% of consumed calories.

Price: 20,000

---

“Not bad, but…”

It was expensive. And the efficiency wasn’t great either.

At 0.001%, even if I consumed three 1,000-calorie meals daily, I’d only gain 0.03 mana per day.

Sure, if I ate 3,000 calories daily, I could accumulate at least 10 mana over the course of a year.

But for someone like me, just starting to build mana, 10 mana was nowhere near enough.

…Not that I could afford it anyway.

“Next.”

I dismissed the option and thought about traits that were useful early on yet remained effective later.

“Ah.”

I searched for Nature’s Blessing.

[Searching for ‘Nature’s Blessing.’]

Ding!

---

▶ [Trait] Blessing of Nature (A)

---

An A-rank trait… The price would be exorbitant.

The B-rank Gluttony’s Gift cost 20,000 points. An A-rank trait would undoubtedly be far worse.

“…Shame.”

Blessing of Nature was a reward from a mid-story tower in the novel.

Its ability was straightforward: absorb ambient mana during cultivation to gain additional mana.

While it seemed ordinary at first glance, its true value lay in the unique skill unlocked as the trait’s proficiency increased.

Even though I couldn’t afford it, I opened the detailed description out of curiosity.

---

[Blessing of Nature (A)]

Type: Trait
Description: Absorbs mana from nature.

[Passive Effects]

▶ Nature’s Grace
Gain additional mana during cultivation, up to 150% depending on the environment.

▶ Nature’s Rest
Mana recovery speed increases by 50%.

[Active Effects]
▶ ???
Locked. Unlocks as proficiency increases.

Price: 50,000

---

“Fifty thousand points…”

The price difference between B-rank and A-rank traits was staggering—2.5 times higher.

I only had 6,700 points, less than one-eighth of what was needed.

“Ugh. What am I supposed to do with 6,700 points?”

Frustrated, I flopped onto the bed.

I was eager to act, but things weren’t going as planned, and it annoyed me.

“…Am I being too greedy?”

Thinking about it, maybe I was.

This was just the first day of my regression. There were still plenty of scenarios and time ahead of me.

In my previous life, I didn’t even have 6,700 points at this point.

I was being ridiculously spoiled.

Fine. If I looked hard enough, I was sure to find a low-tier yet useful trait.

I got up and resumed browsing the shop.

“…Wait.”

A brilliant idea struck me like lightning.

Why hadn’t I thought of it earlier?

There was a way to earn over 20,000 points at once.

I immediately used the search function and typed the name of the solution I had in mind.

‘Contract Cancellation Voucher.’

[Searching for ‘Contract Cancellation Voucher.’]

---

▶ [Special] Administrator’s Contract Cancellation Voucher (???)]

---

“Here it is.”

━━
[Administrator’s Contract Termination Certificate (???)]
Type: Special (Single-use consumable item)
Description: Converts one owned trait into points. (Purchase limit: 5 times)
Price: 6,000
━━

As expected!

The Administrator’s Contract Termination Certificate allowed me to convert one of my traits back into points. And I had just the right candidate—a useless trait that had grown to an A-rank after seven long years.

If I exchanged that for points, I could easily gain at least 20,000 points. With that, my options for purchasing traits would expand significantly.

Without hesitation, I purchased the item.

[You have purchased the Administrator’s Contract Termination Certificate (???)!]
[Please select the trait you wish to exchange for points.]

The trait I decided to exchange was Master Chef.

Master Chef was the first trait I bought after landing in the world of this novel. Originally an F-rank trait worth only 1,000 points, it had grown into a dependable A-rank trait over time—a testament to its growth potential.

[Would you like to exchange Master Chef (A) for points?]

I froze for a moment.

Now that I was about to give it up, I felt conflicted.

“…This feels strange.”

It wasn’t a life-changing trait, but it had become a part of me over the years. Thanks to this trait, my quality of life during those seven years had improved significantly.

Getting rid of it now felt like betraying an old companion.

[Exchanging Master Chef (A) will grant you 30,000 points.]

“Wait, 30,000?”

Seeing that number, I accepted without a second thought. Seven years of sentiment couldn’t compete with 30,000 points.

[You have exchanged Master Chef (A) for 30,000 points.]

[You have gained 30,000 points.]

“This is insane!”

In an instant, I had 30,000 points. This opened up so many more options for purchasing traits.

Ding!

[Achievement Unlocked: Well-Invested Trait Sale.]

[Reward: 10,000 points.]

[Calculating trait growth stage…]

[You have sold a high-rank trait.]

[Bonus: 10,000 points.]

“Huh? What?”

Not only had I earned 30,000 points, but the achievement reward had added another 20,000 points on top of that.

“This is nuts. Absolutely nuts.”

In the blink of an eye, I had 50,000 points.

Ecstatic, I immediately turned back to the search function.

With 50,000 points in hand, there was only one trait worth considering:

━━
[Blessing of Nature (A)]
━━

[Would you like to purchase this item?]

There was no reason not to. I selected “Purchase” without hesitation.

[You have purchased Blessing of Nature (A).]

“Done!”

This trait gave me a strong foundation to build up my mana.

In the short term, it might seem less efficient than simply buying stats with points, but in the long run, it was far more effective and economical for growing my mana reserves.

The only downside was that, as a growth-type trait, it wouldn’t yield immediate, dramatic results. But that didn’t bother me much.

What mattered was that I was starting this life with a better foundation than I ever had before.

---

The next morning, Saturday.

I headed to the mana training grounds bright and early.

Despite being the weekend, the place was bustling with students. It was the first week after the semester began, so the training grounds were packed with students eager to make a fresh start—just like how gyms are full on New Year’s Day.

I entered the mana training grounds, glancing around the crowd. Among the sea of faces, a few familiar ones stood out.

On the right was Yoo Ara, her hair tied back and damp with sweat as she rested.

On the left was Choi Seo-yoon, dressed to impress but sitting alone with a sulky expression.

Yoo Ara’s presence was no surprise—she was a known hard worker. But Choi Seo-yoon?

“Ah…”

It was obvious. She must’ve been trying to impress Lee Seo-jun, only to fail.

That reminded me—there was an episode about this right after the entrance ceremony.

Choi Seo-yoon, desperately trying to win over Lee Seo-jun, while he treated her like a cute junior. The scene played out vividly in my mind, making me chuckle.

She looked a little pitiful sitting there, but knowing her, she wouldn’t give up so easily.

‘Anyway, that’s not my problem.’

I wasn’t here to people-watch. My goal was mana cultivation.

I headed straight to one of the mana cultivation rooms tucked away in the corner of the training grounds.

---

―Beep!

[Door Unlocked.]

I tapped my student ID against the scanner, and the door to the mana cultivation room slid open.

The room was small—barely three square meters—but it was outfitted with artificial grass and trees to mimic a natural environment.

Mana was denser in natural settings, and this design aimed to optimize mana cultivation efficiency.

As I stepped inside, I felt the concentrated mana in the air.

Settling onto the floor, I took a deep breath and began sensing the mana around me.

At that moment, faint white energy swirled around me.

[The Blessing of Nature has been activated.]

[Nature’s mana surrounds you.]

Focusing my mind, I drew the mana toward my heart. The sensation was different from any mana cultivation I’d done before—undoubtedly due to the trait.

“Inhale…”

As I breathed in, the mana stirred within me.

Because my body wasn’t naturally sensitive to mana, it instinctively tried to escape. I had to use mana control techniques to force it to stay.

This was the crucial part.

The amount of mana I could firmly bind to myself at this stage would determine the success of the cultivation.

After grappling with the mana for about 30 minutes, a message popped up.

[Mana has increased by 0.01.]

[Due to the effect of the Blessing of Nature, you have gained an additional 0.015 mana.]

[The mastery of the Blessing of Nature has increased by 4%.]

“Phew.”

It worked.

While 0.01 might not seem like much, the additional 0.015 mana from the trait made it a decent outcome.

“Not bad.”

I steadied myself and prepared to continue.

There was no time to rest yet.

---

…How much time had passed?

When I finally opened my eyes, the long, grueling mana cultivation session had come to an end.

[Achievement unlocked: First Steps as a Mage.]

[Reward: 1,000 points.]

“Oh.”

A message notifying me of the achievement popped up before my eyes.

This was an achievement I had unlocked in my previous life as well.

As expected, achievements I had already earned could still be unlocked again in this timeline.

‘I wonder how much my mana has increased.’

━━
[Stats]
Health: 42
Strength: 34
Mana: 21.2
Speed: 30
Agility: 32
Dexterity: 28
━━

“0.2, huh.”

Four hours of meditation had resulted in a 0.2 increase in mana.

While that might not seem like much, it was actually a decent result for the time spent.

If I kept growing at this rate daily, I could theoretically achieve over 70 mana points within a year.

Of course, it wasn’t that simple. As base stats increased, the growth rate would naturally slow down. Reaching 70 mana within a year was unrealistic, considering the diminishing returns.

The higher the mana stat, the harder it would be to increase it further.

“Ahhh!”

Stretching as I stood up, I felt every muscle ache. Sitting still all day had left my body sore, and the constant focus had taken a toll on me mentally.

Besides, there was a natural limit to how much mana one could cultivate in a single day. Pushing myself further would only be inefficient.

Time to head back to the dorm.

 

When the tedious school event finally ended, the students who had been dozing off started to wake up one by one.

“Yawn… Ah, that was a good nap.”

“I thought I was going to die of boredom.”

Indeed, the event had been boring. Listening to a teacher’s speech at this age felt tedious.

“Ughhh!”

I stretched, feeling stiff. I wanted to escape this suffocating auditorium right away, but I stayed seated because the preliminary class gathering was still pending.

“Second-year Class A! Gather here!”

A deep male voice rang out from somewhere.

Second-year Class A—the name of the class I was assigned to. Turning toward the voice, I saw a muscular man built like a boulder standing there.

“They’re calling for Class A.”

“Let’s go!”

Fifty students, including myself, gathered around the man. Among them were familiar faces: Lee Seo-jun, Shin Young-joon, Lee Hyun-joo, Yoo Ara, and other key figures of this world.

The man surveyed us before speaking.

“Nice to meet you all. I’m Jang Ancheol, your Class A teacher for this year.”

A small cheer erupted among the students, which Jang Ancheol quickly subdued with a raised hand.

“I was going to introduce myself, but does anyone here already know about me?”

“Ironblood!”

Some students eagerly shouted the answer.

Ironblood Jang Ancheol—an A-ranked mage known throughout the country. He was a celebrity in the mage community.

Jang Ancheol grinned, seemingly pleased.

“As you probably know, my nickname is Ironblood. It comes from my specialty—hardening my body to be as strong as steel.”

Some students’ eyes sparkled with fascination at his words, their reactions endearingly innocent and youthful.

“I’ll keep it short. I have a simple announcement to make before we finish.”

“An announcement?”

“First, I assume you all know that regular classes begin next Monday.”

The students nodded in agreement.

“And on that Monday, we’ll also have the academy’s traditional all-grade ranking evaluation test.”

“Ah…”

A collective groan echoed through the group.

The all-grade ranking evaluation test—a public examination where students from all three grades competed in front of the entire academy. It was an opportunity for skilled students to gain admiration and respect but a humiliating experience for those who performed poorly. In some ways, it was a cruel test.

“The test will be held here in the auditorium at 10 a.m. Don’t be late.”

“Yes, sir…”

The students replied reluctantly, their spirits visibly dampened.

Jang Ancheol chuckled and spoke with enthusiasm.

“Alright! That’s all for today. Enjoy your weekend and see you here on Monday!”

---

With the day’s schedule finally over, free time arrived.

Wondering how to spend the remaining time, I felt a sudden hunger and decided to visit the campus convenience store.

“Seo-jun, I look forward to this year!”

“Your speech was so cool!”

Turning toward the voices, I saw Lee Seo-jun surrounded by a crowd near the school park. A mix of admiration and envy radiated from the group of students vying for his attention.

Standing to his right was Lee Hyun-joo, his childhood friend, looking visibly annoyed. Beside her, his best friend, Shin Young-joon, was chatting animatedly with someone.

As I observed with mild curiosity, a rough voices reached my ears.

“Lee Seo-jun, Lee Seo-jun—so noisy.”

“Yeah, what’s so great about that guy? Ugh, so annoying.”

“Damn it. Why do I have to be in the same class as him again?”

Who were they?

Looking over, I spotted a group of male students sitting on a bench, their faces full of discontent.

“Just ignore it, Inhwan.”

‘Ah, it’s Park Inhwan’s gang.’

Hearing the familiar name made me chuckle inwardly.

Park Inhwan’s gang—they were notorious for bullying other students in their first year until Lee Seojun had utterly crushed them. Of course, I didn’t personally witness it, but the novel described it vividly.

Later, they would play a significant role as villains, causing chaos.

“Seo-jun, are you focusing on enhancement magic again this year?”

“Of course. It’s my strongest suit.”

“What about your secondary specialty?”

“Manifestation magic.”

“Knew it.”

Eavesdropping on their conversation, it seemed they were discussing their primary specialties.

Specialties…

In this world, magic is categorized into four branches: Enhancement, Manifestation, Support, and Summoning.

Enhancement focuses on strengthening the body or weapons for close combat. Manifestation is more traditional, creating and firing magical attacks—like summoning a spear of fire. The names of the other two branches are self-explanatory.

In the first year, students learn all four branches, but from the second year onward, they select a primary and secondary specialty to focus on. It’s a more efficient way to master magic.

Next week’s ranking evaluation test would reflect these choices. Unlike the first years, who were tested on all branches, second and third years would only be tested on their primary specialty.

As for me, I specialized in Manifestation magic.

No particular reason—it just seemed cooler when I read the original novel. Plus, it was a safe and balanced choice.

“Hmm…”

After watching them for a while, I turned and continued toward the convenience store.

---

After a quick sandwich at the store, I returned to the dormitory.

Beep!

The dormitory door unlocked as I tapped my smart student ID.

“…Phew.”

Stepping inside, exhaustion hit me.

I hadn’t done much today, yet I felt strangely drained. Probably because of all the absurd events I’d been through.

“This dorm is as extravagant as ever.”

A 15-unit studio—it felt unnecessarily spacious and luxurious for a dorm room. Some students might love the decor, but I found it more of a hassle to maintain.

I sat on the edge of the bed and glanced at the mirror.

“Definitely younger.”

The seven-year age difference was apparent. My skin was firmer, and my frame slightly smaller.

Even my arms and thighs seemed thinner. I might need to bulk up a bit.

“…No wonder I don’t eat much.”

Mages in this world weren’t confined to the stereotype of flinging magic orbs. Many, especially close-combat mages, required strong physical endurance. Basic fitness was essential.

“Maybe I should go work out.”

Checking the clock, I saw it was 7:58 p.m.—just enough time to digest my meal and fit in some exercise.

As I stood to leave, a thought struck me.

“…Oh?”

I suddenly remembered an important event I had overlooked.

Why had it slipped my mind until now?

I turned back to the clock.

7:59.

As the time approached, I prepared myself for the moment.

If everything played out like before, the event would start any second now.
I held my breath, keeping my eyes fixed on the clock.

Tick-tock. The second hand moved steadily.

57… 58… 59…
Click.
8:00

Ding!

[The Main Scenario has begun.]
[You have obtained the unique trait: “Outsider’s Blessing.”]

“Knew it!”

Messages appeared before my eyes, confirming my prediction. Right on cue, my trait awakened at 8 o’clock. I’d been a little worried it might not appear, but fortunately, it did.

[The unique trait: “Outsider’s Blessing” has been activated.]
[Achievement System has been activated.]
[Fame System has been activated.]

“Nice, everything’s working properly.”

The Outsider’s Blessing—a perk granted exclusively to me as an outsider in this world—wasn’t immediately ground breaking but would prove immensely valuable over time.

The blessing offered three main benefits.

The first was the Achievement System, which rewarded special points for uncovering hidden achievements in this world, much like in a game.

[Achievement Unlocked: “Second Life.”]
[Reward: 3,000 points obtained.]

Just like that.

“Second Life, huh? They even have achievements like that.”

The second was the Fame System, which granted points whenever my name or deeds left a lasting impression on others.

[Character “Yoo Ara” has remembered your name.]
[Reward: 500 points obtained.]

“…Should I be happy about this?”

The third benefit was the Point Shop, where I could exchange earned points for traits, skills, or items. The Achievement and Fame Systems existed to feed into this.

[Entering the Point Shop.]
[Current Points: 3,500.]

[Previous life data detected…]
[Synchronizing…]

Ding!

[Traits and points from your previous life have been inherited.]
[Additional 3,200 points obtained.]
[Current Points: 6,700.]

“Huh? My traits carried over?”

The unexpected notification surprised me, but it was a welcome development. Carrying over traits meant I could use everything I’d unlocked in my previous life for free.

[Checking inherited traits…]

---

▶ Inherited Traits:

Lifestyle Traits

• [Master Chef (A)]
• [Housework (D)]
• [Memory Boost (A)]

Adaptive Traits

• [Mage Meditation (D)]
• [Stamina Recovery (D)]

Combat Traits

• [Mana Control (B)]
• [Basic Reinforcement Techniques (C)]

---

“This is awesome!”

Sure enough, my traits were intact. None of them were overpowered, but having access to them without spending points again was incredible.

Wait a second—what about my base stats? Did those carry over too?

I quickly checked my status window.

[The unique trait: “Outsider’s Blessing” is active.]
[Displaying attributes…]

---

[Information]
Name: Kim Sunwoo (Current Points: 6,700)

[Attributes]

• Health: 42
• Strength: 34
• Mana: 21
• Speed: 30
• Agility: 32
• Dexterity: 28

---

“What the—?”

My base stats had completely reset. Even the mana I’d poured so many points into in my last life had reverted to a paltry number.

“Ugh…”

A bitter taste filled my mouth. Had I known this would happen, I’d have invested those points elsewhere.

“My stats are pathetic…”

Especially the Mana stat at 21. It was abysmally low. Granted, the backstory said I focused on reinforcement magic during my first year, but still…

Even in a world where mana wasn’t the be-all-end-all, every mage needed a minimum base mana capacity to function. At this rate, I wasn’t even meeting the minimum.

“This isn’t good.”

A low mana stat meant my innate mana reservoir was tiny. To fix this, the most efficient option wasn’t traditional mana cultivation but the Point Shop.

[Entering the Point Shop…]

Still, unlike my previous life, I wouldn’t recklessly dump points into mana again.

[March 1, 2032]

[Today marks the entrance and reopening ceremony of the Korean Academy of Magicians. First-year entrance ceremonies and the reopening ceremonies for second- and third-year students will be held together. All students, please assemble at the Sage Hall Auditorium by 10:30 a.m.]

“Unbelievable.”

Shoving the smart student notebook back into my pocket, I felt my disbelief grow.

Everything was exactly as it had been seven years ago—the uniform, the school, the text message.

At this point, I had no choice but to accept the truth:

I had gone back in time.

“But still, why did Lee Seo-jun die?”

The events of the previous night came to mind, and I sank into thought.

Lee Seo-jun’s death must be the key to all of this. I’d seen it with my own eyes—the message about resetting the world following his death.

Yet, I couldn’t understand it.

In the original story, there was no reason for Lee Seo-jun to die. Even the second rampage of the evil dragon Cruas in the heart of Seoul had unfolded exactly as written.

If that’s the case, there must be some hidden reason behind his death.

“Hm…”

…

…

“Ah, I give up.”

Sighing, I slumped against the bench.

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t figure it out.

That previous life was over, and there weren’t enough clues in this one.

Sure, it seemed like there had to be some inevitable cause, but even that was just a guess.

A chilling thought crossed my mind:

What if Lee Seo-jun dies again in this life?

Would I just get thrown back into the past once more? Or would the world come to an end this time?

One thing was certain—if he died again, there’d be consequences.

So, there was only one answer.

This time, I couldn’t stay on the sidelines. I’d have to intervene in the main storyline or at least prepare for the event of his death.

“…Can I even do that?”

After seven years of living in hiding, the idea of stepping into the spotlight now made my confidence waver.

“Ugh, I should’ve spent that time gaining experience.”

Regret bubbled up inside me but was quickly suppressed.

Still, sorting through my thoughts brought a bit of clarity.

Okay, no need to rush.

After all, Lee Seo-jun’s death was still seven years away.

I had time.

Time to grow stronger, uncover the cause, or devise a solution.

Right now, the most important thing was the fact that I had gone back in time.

Which meant two years of reliving life at this accursed academy.

And today was the day of the entrance and reopening ceremony.

It was a major event, so I had to make my way to the auditorium without delay.

Laughter echoed from nearby.

Youthful energy and joy.

The lively atmosphere stirred a deep sense of alienation within me.

Could I ever adapt to this again?

---

The moment I stepped into the auditorium, the sight of the massive stage greeted me. The preparations for the ceremony seemed to be in full swing.

This academy had a unique tradition of holding the first-year entrance and the second- and third-year reopening ceremonies together.

Each grade’s representative would step onto the stage to recite the pledge—a tedious, predictable ritual.

Standing here now, the reality of being a student again finally sank in.

This would be my third time experiencing school life.

Once in my original world.

The second time, when I first got thrown into this novel.

And now, the third.

The first two times, I’d felt a mix of excitement and anticipation.

This time, there was none of that.

‘The second-year section is… Oh, over there.’

Each grade had an assigned seating area. I headed for the second-year section, which was about half full.

I picked a seat in the middle, leaning slightly toward the back—an inconspicuous spot that felt just right.

“Hmm.”

Looking around, I noticed several familiar faces.

Shin Young-joon, Lee Hyun-joo, and others—they were all key characters from Modern Mage.

And who else…

“Hey, is that guy a first-year?”

“Where?”

“Over there. The tall one with the thinning hair.”

“What the—? Is that a grown man?”

As I searched for more familiar faces, murmurs rippled through the auditorium.

I turned to see a middle-aged-looking man sitting among the first-years.

Despite wearing the same uniform, he stood out like a sore thumb.

A brave student approached him.

“Um, are you a new student?”

“Me? Oh, yes.”

“Can I ask your age?”

“I’m 17.”

“Ah…”

The student sighed.

Watching the exchange, I struggled to stifle a laugh.

That “man” was another major character.

First-year rank two, Jeon Min-gi.

A mage specializing in physical enhancement—and cursed with extreme premature aging.

Despite his appearance, he had a great personality and immense talent, making him a fan favorite among readers.

Though… he looked even older now than he did in the news coverage I’d seen a few days ago.

Screech!

The ear-piercing feedback from the microphone echoed throughout the auditorium.

Students winced and covered their ears.

In an instant, the noisy auditorium fell silent.

[Testing, testing. All students, please take your seats. The entrance and reopening ceremony will begin in three minutes.]

The event seemed about to start.

Students chatting in groups began to take their seats one by one. Empty seats gradually filled up. There were about 150 students per grade, meaning roughly 450 people gathered in the auditorium.

However, no one sat next to me.

As I awkwardly sat alone, I felt someone approach.

“Hi.”

A clear, feminine voice.

Turning my head, I saw a female student with long dark brown hair sitting beside me.

“Yoo Ara?”

Her serene beauty would captivate any guy. Yoo Ara, ranked second among the second-year students.

As I blankly stared at her, she seemed to notice my gaze and quickly turned to look at me.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“…No.”

“Then could you please look somewhere else? It’s making me uncomfortable.”

That’s the kind of person Yoo Ara was. Polite but not particularly sociable.

She was fiercely competitive, treating all her peers as rivals and rarely opening up to anyone.

Especially with Lee Seo-Jun, she harboured strong competitiveness, always being second to him in school rankings.

---

[Now, we will begin the 2032 Korean Mage Academy Entrance and Opening Ceremony.]

The microphone’s voice echoed through the auditorium.

Students seated in their chairs nervously fixed their gaze on the stage.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Yoo Ara glaring at Lee Seo-Jun, who was preparing below the stage, with a ferocious intensity.

---

[Grade representatives, please come up to the stage.]

A brief silence fell.

Then, three students climbed onto the stage, and murmurs spread through the crowd again.

“Wow, the first-year top student is really pretty.”

“What’s her specialty?”

“Ice-element manifestation. But I heard she’s good with enhancement magic, too.”

The first to ascend was Choi Seo-Yoon, the top first-year student.

Though she didn’t play a major role in the main storyline, she occasionally aided Lee Seo-Jun in pivotal moments.

Her bright smile drew cheers from the male students. Most couldn’t help but be charmed by that smile.

But I knew—it was a calculated smile. She thrived on attention, one of her subtle quirks.

Following her was someone I knew well—the protagonist of this world.

Lee Seo-Jun, the top second-year student.

“There he is—Lee Seo-Jun!”

“Wow, he’s even more handsome in person than online!”

“His presence is unreal.”

“Didn’t Kim Jin-Cheol personally mentor him?”

“That’s how talented he is.”

When Lee Seo-Jun appeared, the first-year students’ eyes sparkled as if they were looking at a celebrity.

Despite still being a student, Lee Seo-Jun was already recognized among active mages as a once-in-a-generation talent.

The novel Modern Mage revolved around a protagonist who overshadowed everyone else—a true overpowered main character.

Finally, a slim, bespectacled male stepped onto the stage.

Kim Chang-Hyun, the top third-year student.

Compared to the two before him, he lacked the same striking presence. Truthfully, I didn’t know much about him. Even in the original work, his role was minimal.

---

[Now, the student representatives will recite the pledge.]

“Pledge.”
“Pledge.”
“Pledge.”

The pledges were dull. I glanced at Yoo Ara, who was still glaring at the stage with a sharp intensity.

Her competitive spirit was nothing short of extraordinary. She probably believed the stage was hers by right.

To be fair, I understood her feelings. Yoo Ara’s talent was second only to Lee Seo-Jun in the entire auditorium.

“Must be frustrating, huh?”

I casually tried to strike up a conversation.

No response. She was so focused on Lee Seo-Jun that she didn’t even register my comment.

…Well, this is awkward.

Just as I was about to give up, I heard her voice.

“Was that directed at me?”

Turning to face her, I saw Yoo Ara looking at me with a meaningful gaze.

“Yeah.”

“What’s so frustrating?”

“Honestly, I think you’re better than those two.”

It was a sort of flattery—a way of saying I recognized her potential.

Since I planned to involve myself in the main storyline, I figured forming connections early wouldn’t hurt.

After all, there were unique “benefits” to befriending key characters.

However, Yoo Ara responded with a sharp look.

“Wow, that’s bold. What do you know to say that? Have you even seen their magic?”

“No.”

“Then why are you making assumptions?”

“I can just tell by looking.”

“What?”

Yoo Ara’s expression froze in disbelief at my confident response.

“I’ve got good instincts.”

When I added that with a grin, Yoo Ara’s face twisted in irritation.

“Are you joking?”

“I’m not.”

Scoffing, she shook her head as if deciding I wasn’t worth engaging with further.

Her dismissiveness stoked a small sense of defiance in me. Should I push her buttons a bit more?

“Trouble deciding your career path lately?”

Her shoulders stiffened. She turned to me, her brow furrowed.

“You…”

---

[That concludes the student pledge.]

Before she could continue, the announcement signaled the end of the pledges.

The three representatives stepped down from the stage.

Yoo Ara, still staring at them, turned back to me.

“How did you know?”

I thought she’d deny it, but her candid reaction caught me off guard.

I couldn’t exactly say, “It was in the novel,” so I improvised.

“I told you. I’ve got good instincts.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes.”

“I’m serious. Why don’t you believe me?”

“Whatever. You probably guessed right by luck.”

Then she glanced at the name tag on my chest.

“…Kim Sun-Woo.”

She repeated it a few times, as if committing it to memory. The way she did so sent a slight chill down my spine.

“Kim Sun-Woo. I’ll remember your name. Don’t talk to me again.”

…Something felt off.

It was probably best not to provoke her further. Who knows what she might do if I did.

“…This can’t be happening.”

I was watching the news on TV when a shocking report left me stunned.

There had to be some mistake. There was no other explanation for something this absurd.

「S-Class Mage Lee Seo-jun has died during a mission. It has been reported that he met his end while subduing the evil dragon Cruas, which appeared in downtown Seoul around 8 PM today…」

The anchor, with a stiff expression, announced someone’s death. I bit my lip, unable to take my eyes off the screen.

「Cruas caused an unprecedented second rampage, worsening the situation. Lee Seo-jun fought desperately to protect the citizens but was ultimately unable to withstand the empowered Cruas.」

「Lee Seo-jun, 25, debuted as a mage in 2034 and solved countless incidents, earning widespread admiration. News of his death has sent shockwaves through the public.」

As the brief report ended, the screen changed. Solemn music began to play, and soon, a photo of a bright, smiling young man appeared.

People mourned and raged. News spread that memorial altars were being set up nationwide.

He was someone I knew well.

Lee Seo-jun.

A 25-year-old genius mage.

A young hero of this era who resolved countless incidents and disasters.

And the protagonist of the novel Modern Mage, which forms the foundation of this world.

“…You expect me to believe this?”

The protagonist of the novel had died.

Nothing could be more absurd.

In the original story, Lee Seo-jun didn’t die like this halfway through.

But what made it even stranger was that everything in this world had followed the original plot so far.

Lee Seo-jun solving numerous incidents at a young age, reaching S-Class just two years after debut—everything had unfolded exactly as in the novel.

「The Late Lee Seo-jun’s Memorial」

On the screen, a woman sobbed uncontrollably.

She was Lee Hyun-joo, the female lead who had been with Lee Seo-jun since childhood.

Next appeared a man with a somber expression. He was Kim Deok-hyun, an S-Class mage, colleague, and senior to Lee Seo-jun.

「Lee Seo-jun was a righteous person. Unlike other mages, he wasn’t driven by money. He always prioritized the safety of the citizens. Despite his young age and being a junior at work, I learned a lot from him.」

More mourners appeared on the screen.

Among them were high-ranking individuals, such as the head of the Mage Association and the leaders of Korea’s three major guilds.

Famous star mages, often seen only in the news, were also present.

They were all key characters from the novel.

“This is driving me insane…”

Why had this happened? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find an answer.

A predetermined future.

The only one who could change it was me, an outsider to this world.

But I had never interfered with the main storyline.

I hadn’t done anything that could alter the future.

Ever since I fell into this world, I had lived quietly.

Of course, I worked as a C-Class mage to earn a living, but I was always careful to stay out of the main story, fearing that I might change the future.

I never went near any key characters.

I even turned down several opportunities to advance to B-Class, just to be safe.

All of it was to avoid changing the predetermined future.

As long as the original plot unfolded, everyone would reach a happy ending.

So why?

Why had this happened?

“Why did he have to die…?”

According to the original story, countless incidents and disasters were still ahead. Demons, terrorists, towers, catastrophic beasts—the list went on.

The problem was, these major crises couldn’t be resolved without Lee Seo-jun.

“What do we do now?”

This wasn’t something I could fix just because I knew the future.

If this had happened right after I first fell into the novel, maybe things would be different.

But I had given up every opportunity and fortune this world offered me. Now, I was just a C-Class mage.

Meanwhile, the main storyline was filled with S- and A-Class monsters.

The gap between C-Class and S-Class was beyond words.

“Ha…”

As I agonized over the bleak future ahead, something caught my attention.

The TV screen froze.

“What now?”

Thinking it was a glitch, I grabbed the remote and pressed a few buttons, but nothing worked.

Boom!

“What the…?”

A loud sound echoed from the sky.

Startled, I looked outside.

In the blink of an eye, the bright world had turned ashen gray.

My jaw dropped in shock.

“W-What is this…?”

Something unimaginable was happening.

The sky was collapsing, and cracks, like shattered glass, spread across space.

Everything on the ground disintegrated into dust. People on the streets stood frozen, as if time had stopped.

It was as if the world itself was disappearing.

“What the hell is going on…?”

Just then, a small window appeared before my eyes.

[Lee Seo-jun has died.]

[All main scenarios are deemed failures.]

[Scenario progression is impossible. Resetting the world.]

“…What?”

And then, I lost consciousness.

---

I was dreaming.

The time was seven years ago.

No, it seemed to be before I fell into this damned novel.

In the dream, I was at a bar, downing drinks while passionately making a point.

“I still don’t get it. Why do protagonists in transmigration novels always try to monopolize everything? What if meddling with the original plot messes everything up?”

“Hey, if you know the future, of course, you should monopolize it. What’s the alternative, hiding away?”

“Obviously, you hide. What if you interfere and end up killing the protagonist who’s supposed to defeat the villains? That’s game over.”

“Oh, you coward. If the protagonist is dead then I’ll just take care of the villains myself.”

As usual, the conversation wasn’t exactly productive—it revolved around genre novels.

What would you do if you fell into a novel? Would you hoard all the opportunities, or would you lay low?

It wasn’t the most common topic for young men in their twenties, but I enjoyed these kinds of discussions.

“You think you could take care of the villains? Do you really think it’d go as smoothly as you imagine? You’d probably go through hell. Besides, do you think you’d be as diligent as the protagonist in the story?”

“No chance.”

“Look at you now—lazy as hell. Like you’d suddenly start hustling to monopolize all the power-ups if you fell into a novel.”

“Pfft, fair enough. Honestly, if that happened, I’d probably be too lazy to even leave the house.”

My friend chuckled as he emptied his glass.

I followed suit and, in a more serious tone, added, “The only answer is to live quietly. The protagonist will take care of everything, so why bother?”

Some might call that lack of ambition, but back then, I genuinely believed it was the safest and most reliable approach.

After all, I was just an ordinary guy who liked hero stories, not someone who wanted to become a hero myself.

Buzz.

Just then, my smartphone buzzed with a notification. I glanced at the screen.

“Huh? I got selected for some event or something?”

“What event?”

“Dunno. That’s all it says. Guess I’ll check.”

I picked up my phone and checked the message. The sender was the author of a web novel I enjoyed.

---

Subject: Congratulations! You’ve won the Modern Mage Completion Event.

Hello, Kim Sunwoo. I’m 01k, the author of Modern Mage.

You’ve been selected for the event hosted by our publisher. The prize is a travel voucher to a very special destination.

Would you like to claim it?

[Yes / No]

---

The message was brief. To sum up, I’d won an event, and the reward was a travel voucher. Excited, I showed my friends.

“Guys, this is huge! They’re sending me on a trip!”

“Seriously? When did you even enter an event like that? Lucky bastard, reading novels all the time finally paid off.”

At that time, I was exhausted with the monotony of daily life. I craved something new, and a trip felt like the perfect escape.

“Man, I hope this isn’t a scam.”

Without much thought, I impulsively chose [Yes], slightly buzzed from the alcohol.

A free trip? There was no reason to decline.

“Where do you think they’ll send me? Overseas, maybe? That’d be amazing.”

Little did I know that single choice would change my life forever.

The next morning, when I woke up, the world was different.

---

“…Senior, please wake up.”

As I floated in my dream, someone’s voice called out to me.

“Senior, wake up.”

Senior? Were they talking to me?

“Senior!”

Startled, I opened my eyes.

A schoolgirl in uniform was shaking me awake.

“…Who?”

“Me? I’m a first-year student who just enrolled this year.”

First-year? Judging by the uniform, sure, she looked like a student, but… That’s not what I was asking.

Something about her felt strangely familiar.

“We’ve arrived at school. You should get off now.”

School?

I glanced around. It was a large bus. Students in uniforms were getting off around me.

The surroundings felt oddly familiar, triggering an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

“…What’s going on?”

“You’re still half-asleep. It’s the entrance ceremony today. Oh, wait, it’s the start of the semester for you, right, Senior?”

“What?”

“Are you getting off? I’ll head out first.”

With that, she stepped off the bus. Dazed, I followed her.

Bright sunlight greeted me as I stepped outside, making me squint. Slowly, I looked at my surroundings.

The first thing that caught my eye was a towering spire.

At its base was an enormous building reminiscent of a castle. Students in uniforms were streaming through its main gate.

I couldn’t make sense of the situation.

The scene before me was all too familiar.

---

Korea Mage Academy: 2032 Entrance Ceremony

---

Of course, it looked familiar. This was the school I had graduated from five years ago.

But something was off.

Why did the banner say “2032”?

That would make this seven years ago. Surely, a prestigious institution wouldn’t make such a glaring error.

“…No way.”

An absurd thought crossed my mind.

As ridiculous as it sounded, it explained everything.

To confirm my suspicions, I lowered my gaze.

The moment I saw it, I let out a curse.

“Holy shit.”

I was wearing the same school uniform I’d worn seven years ago.

At the same time, my last memories came rushing back.

Lee Seo-jun’s death.

And the message about resetting the world.

“Is this real?”

I had returned to the past.

Back to the very first day I had fallen into this novel.