NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3
My Transmigrated Fanfiction Novel,
[Hwanseangaka] holds significant value as it shapes the past stories not covered in the game [Hwanseangyongsa], focusing on the main characters’ academy lives.
Initially, it enjoyed a decent level of popularity because it offered a glimpse into the first encounters of characters that were omitted or only briefly mentioned in the game.
And the academy featured in the fanfic is none other than [Claris Academy], which is roughly one-third the size of the imperial capital, so large it could indeed be called an academy city.
Inside the academy, there are educational institutions set up to cultivate successors for purifying the fallen sanctuaries, alongside bustling commercial and magical districts, cathedrals, sacred sites, administrative facilities, and civilian residences all packed together.
Moreover, the students come from various backgrounds, ranging from royal families, nobles seeking glory for their households, recently admitted elves, to a handful of commoners hoping for a financial turnaround by aspiring to become heroes…
In total, there are over 3,000 students, regardless of race or status.
That number may seem excessive, but since it brings together individuals from across the continent and naturally filters them out like an audition program, the actual number of graduates isn’t that high.
In any case, eradicating demons was the number one priority in the game, so the academy operates on a meritocratic basis.
A city built solely for students…
The newly admitted freshmen will spend their first two months undergoing basic training and theoretical education, after which the actual curriculum will commence following a real-world test.
And I stepped into the grandiose dormitory.
[Lev Denec]
[Dormitory – Unspecified]
“How fascinating.”
As I slid my student ID into a square magical device, the runes displayed my information briefly and then opened the door for me.
“…”
The interior of the dormitory was a sight that was hard to describe as medieval fantasy.
Perhaps due to the author’s reinterpretation, it resembled a more modern, sophisticated dormitory than I had expected.
The main hall is furnished with fountains, sculptures, and benches, allowing students to chat at any time, and there’s even something resembling an elevator that seems to run on magic.
“Ooh, no fundamentals.”
After all, Hwanseangyongsa isn’t a straight-up fantasy.
Since it’s a time when magic development has replaced science, and the author created a fantasy world with firearms, it’s not that weird at all.
Also, since a lot of the story takes place in the dormitory, there are signs pointing to numerous facilities like fitness centers, cafeterias, and club rooms.
‘Trials, Evolution Chamber… they’ve got those too.’
Anyway, this isn’t the time to be just admiring things.
[Calling characteristics from the previous world… 50%…]
First things first, the status window is still loading.
So, what I need to do right now is gather as much information as I can.
As I checked the academic calendar on the dormitory wall, I saw that tomorrow is the day for positioning.
Reflecting on the main storyline, Lev Denec is, at this point, a supporting character even from a third-party perspective, and probably around today or tomorrow, he’s destined to merge with the demon creature ‘Rag’ that will be used as teaching material in the academy.
For your information, though I’d rather not know, the Rag is an F-rank low-tier demon created from scraps of demon remnants.
“If I have to become a demon, I’d rather merge with something cooler, like Lucifer!”
Moreover, it seems he’s a one-off supporting role existing solely for the protagonist’s awakening, and I don’t think he’s mentioned for anything else…
Ultimately, if I don’t want to end up as experience fodder for Edwin, I have to change my own future…
‘That’s a real mess for a Caeran ending!’
One piece of good news is that since this novel also has aspects of academy slice-of-life, if I can just somehow endure the initial demon transformation, I might be able to breathe a sigh of relief.
My next target can be the author’s self-insert character, Caeran, who’s the source of all evils and has a trash personality.
At that moment, a piece of additional information popped into my head.
‘That’s right, there was that.’
Someone related to Lev Denec’s demon transformation.
The villain ‘Liris Larochelle’.
Come to think of it, she’s behind me.
She indirectly appears later in the [Hwanseangyongsa] story, so it’s ambiguous to assess her fundamental power, but…it’s clear that at this point, she is a villain.
As a minion of the demon tribe, she intends to join the demons to take revenge on the noble family that abandoned her.
Thus, to earn the proof of trust, she’s set to infiltrate the academy while masquerading as the student council president.
She’ll probably try to set me up for demon transformation soon…
‘If I can get through this well…?’
*
Freshmen use temporary rooms, so finding Lev Denec’s room wasn’t difficult.
In a room slightly too large for one person, neatly arranged student uniforms and a personal shower room awaited.
The moment I stepped into the room, I looked for a mirror.
Gray hair and black eyes.
I am indeed Lev Denec.
“Ha.”
Tossing my outerwear aside, I checked the paper hanging on the doorknob.
It was a notice with the dormitory supervisor’s seal.
———————————————————
Recipient: Lev Denec
Accumulated demerit points: 49
No applicable deductions available.
According to Claris Academy dormitory rules,
this student’s dormitory support has been denied in advance.
Raphae Cheong-gwan, Dormitory Supervisor
———————————————————
“…I expected as much.”
It was only natural.
This guy, with no ability, must have lived a miserable school life, and it’s laughable to think he darkened simply because he was rejected a few confessions.
It’s apparent that he underwent demon transformation due to an array of unfortunate situations.
Chirrup!
Next, I rummaged through the drawer.
Despite being one who can supposedly handle magic, it contained necessary magical items and books.
Of course, they were all in pristine condition, as if they had never been used.
While various thoughts crossed my mind, I found a few letters, a mysterious pendant, and some odds and ends deep within the drawer.
“Let’s take a look.”
———————————————————
– We appreciate your contribution; however, according to student council regulations, ‘Lev Denec’ is permanently expelled from the student council.
———————————————————
For a moment, I was surprised by the word ‘student council.’
The student council is not a powerful organization, but there are a few episodes in which the protagonist Edwin intersects with it.
Did Lev Denec hold any position in the student council?
[Permanently Expelled: Student Council Member]
“Damn.”
Not an officer, not a head, not even a council member, but a position bought with money.
Which means, he’s just a bottom-tier character in the student council.
“Don’t tell me he deposited all his enrollment gems here…”
At the academy, currency used externally isn’t accepted; only gems usable internally are permitted.
To ensure equal standing of backgrounds, or something like that.
At first, they give a substantial amount of money as a congratulatory gift for enrollment, but seeing only scraps of gems, it seems he offered everything to the student council.
———————————————————
I’ll be looking forward to the day we meet again.
———————————————————
And there was an unidentified note enclosed with that notice.
“That’s where his encounter with Liris must have started.”
A loser-tier character like Lev can’t possibly become a demon on his own.
It seems there’s an established connection with Liris to ensure the demon transformation setup. This was never mentioned in the main story.
‘And this is…’
Chak-ching!
A pendant with a blend of purple and gold that was of suitable size.
For some reason, it gives off an ominous vibe, and I get the feeling this pendant is related to the demon transformation.
That being said, it’s pretty malicious to have him be exploited for demon transformation after stripping him of all his money.
“Alright, next.”
This time, it was a rather stiff letter.
———————————————————
– Lev Denec, 6th son of the Denec family.
What sort of trouble did you cause to lose to a farmer’s child in the entrance exam?
There must be some limits to tarnishing the Denec family name…
Additionally, this incident has thwarted arrangements for your political marriage.
It doesn’t seem like it will be long before I can no longer call you my son.
You are my only blemish.
———————————————————
Rip!
I tore the letter apart then and there.
If the news about losing to Edwin reached the family, then Lev Denec’s position within the academy is pretty predictable.
He’s probably being totally disregarded and overlooked.
It’s a string of frustrating situations, but whatever.
It’s not like I did anything here.
Lastly, I found a magic power measuring stone shaped like a crystal.
They probably handed it out during the entrance exam, but why is this still lying around unused?
But still, he is a noble, and generally, characters from noble backgrounds have slightly higher innate stats or possess talents.
As I grasped the magic stone and focused, I found it easy to check my status.
———————————————————
[Strength]: 1.0
[Stamina]: 1.0
[Dexterity]: 1.0
[Magic Power]: 1.0
[Mana]: 1.0
[Mental Strength]: 1.0
[Sensitivity]: 1.0
[Specialization]:
Circle Magic (1)
———————————————————
“Just go ahead and become a demon.”
The stats indicated on the magic stone were worse than I expected.
The so-called small hexagon.
Strength and dexterity couldn’t even reach the lowest grade of decent appearance.
And with the specialization being 1 Circle, it indicates that if we were to categorize Lev Denec strictly as either a magician or a non-magician,
he could still be called a magician.
Not every character is talented in magic, so it seems he somehow managed to get accepted by having potential acknowledged.
What we call a standard water rocket scholarship…
Suddenly, right before I was about to be transcribed into this body, I remembered the phrase about feedback being incorporated.
– The author’s feedback has been reflected, and a character closest to the classic status has been selected.
Since he’s destined to lose to Edwin in the early chapters and is meant to become a demon, hasn’t the author set even the detailed figures!?
Thud!
I collapsed onto the bed in a starfish position.
“Seriously, this is infuriatingly pathetic.”
With that spec I just saw, there’s no way I could win against Edwin without turning into a demon.
‘Damn it. And I have to merge with grotesque demons?’
Monsters from Hwanseangyongsa are bizarrely deformed.
If I have to dedicate my body to such things, I might as well prefer death?
‘Is the answer to run away…?’
But that’s not a solution either. No matter how I avoid demon transformation, this current stat almost guarantees failure or expulsion.
Only geniuses survive at Claris.
There’s no way a supporting character without any foresight would have expected something to happen.
In the end, a fate awaits me, becoming a universal wanderer.
“Hey, author! Are you satisfied?!”
–…
My lament echoed through this unnecessarily spacious dorm room.
Even this I’d have to vacate after the selection test…
Crazy. I have an endless list of worries.
It was then.
Ding!
[100%… Complete.]
[You can check the characteristics.]
[Heritage has been achieved.]
[You can receive the previous world’s characteristics.]
With nothing to lose, the last life-saving string was thrown down to me.