I Became an Illegal Cheat User

10 – Head Student (1)

The next day.

The long-awaited day of the entrance ceremony has arrived.

So on the way to the academy.

“Hmm, hmm.”

Constantly adjusting my collar, I straightened the uniform I wore.

Why suddenly in a uniform?

Because when I went out of the studio apartment to check the delivery outside the door in the morning, a uniform was delivered.

Checking the on-screen message of absence on the smartwatch, the delivery time was yesterday evening.

Due to tiredness, I ended up collecting it just before leaving the studio apartment.

Still, thanks to the transmission skill, I could quickly change and wear it without a hitch.

“…Feels awkward.”

Although I wore it flawlessly with a clean transmission, the fact that I was in a uniform felt awkward, making me keep touching the clothes.

I may look like a freshly turned twenty-year-old young man now, but my age before the possession was already in his thirties.

But going to school again in a uniform made me feel strangely emotional.

As I approached the academy with this awkwardness.

Gurgling.

Students who seemed to be fellow newcomers were buzzing with excitement.

But as I listened carefully to the buzz…

It was evident that the students’ topic was me.

‘Somehow…’

They kept glancing at me, smirking.

“Hey, hey. That guy…”

“…Yeah. He’s the one who ranked first in the third exam.”

“The one who dismissed Lee Seoyeon and Arthur with a single gesture?”

“…A single gesture? Both Lee Seoyeon and Arthur?”

“…He’s an amazing guy.”

Something felt off, something peculiar.

There was an oddity embedded in their conversation.

‘…Did I dismiss Lee Seoyeon and Arthur with a single gesture?’

That’s utter nonsense.

Lee Seoyeon and Arthur were knocked back because of the shockwave from the sound pocket I created.

Did I miss seeing when I threw it?

‘Maybe I didn’t see it?’

As soon as I threw the pocket, Lee Seoyeon and Arthur changed the trajectory of the swords they were directing at each other, slashing the pocket immediately.

‘…Did the pocket explode right away, disappearing, and they only saw me reaching out my hand?’

Thinking that way, it was quite easy to misunderstand.

Realizing that the students were seriously misunderstanding, I entered the auditorium where the entrance ceremony was about to begin.

And I found out that the words I overheard outside were exaggerated.

“He’s the top student, right?”

“They say he has an S-grade skill.”

“He also has S-grade talent.”

“Wow… he’s a total monster.”

“So, he must have surpassed Lee Seoyeon and Arthur to become the top student.”

Whispers echoed from all directions.

Maybe because I was straining to listen from outside the auditorium.

Even the faint murmurs seeped into my ears.

Saying I have some S-grade skill.

Saying I have some S-grade talent.

I was on the verge of bursting into laughter at the absurd nonsense.

“Throwing just a couple of loud pockets, and that’s it.”

Isn’t it too much of an exaggeration?

I chuckled inwardly, casually heading to the front of the auditorium.

The chairs in the auditorium were arranged in order of admission rank.

To align with that order, I had no choice but to head to the very front.

But….

“What’s this?”

Next to the front chair, there was a sign that read ‘Top Student.’

And next to it, a sign that said ‘Second Place,’ with Arthur sitting in the chair.

“Oh, right. There was something like this.”

Just like now, in the game, when you become a top student or second place, they place a sign with ‘Top Student’ or ‘Second Place’ in an elegant script next to your chair.

If you investigate why they embarrassingly set up signs like that, it was to convey, in line with the spirit of the Arena Academy, which took skills and heroism as its foundation, “We prepared this for people like this.” It was literally saying, “Want to receive this kind of treatment? Then raise your rank.”

“……”

I want to remove that sign immediately.

But unfortunately, I can’t do that.

The words ‘Top Student’ and ‘Second Place’ on the sign represent figures of immense stature.

“No, that person has lived up to their age, but this…?”

That incredible figure is none other than the founder and chairman of the academy.

The first-generation transcendent being and a living legend.

….

……

It was the Martial God Baek Yuhwa.

But even if it’s a work of the Martial God….

“I don’t want to sit.”

It would be embarrassing to advertise, “The person sitting on this chair is the Top Student!” like that.

Still, I can’t just keep standing, so I have no choice but to sit.

“….You came.”

Resignedly, Arthur sat in the chair, sitting up straight without turning his head, pretending not to notice.

So, in order to greet him, I turned my head to look at him.

“…Pfft!”

I almost burst into laughter.

Arthur, sitting with a composed posture and not turning his head.

Arthur’s ears were turning red.

And judging by the flush on his cheeks.

“You’re embarrassed too, huh?”

He was embarrassed by the sign next to his chair.

“Hey! Mr. Chief! Mr. Vice-Chief!”

At that moment, from the fourth seat, Asuka with pink hair resembling cherry blossoms stood up, shook hands with Arthur, and greeted him.

Yesterday, she called him 5th and 3rd, but today she referred to him as the chief.

Thinking that, I also shook hands with Asuka.

Then, as I looked at Lee Seo-yeon sitting in the third seat.

Nod.

Lee Seo-yeon politely greeted and then turned her head forward again.

“hehehe!”

As Asuka greeted me, she laughed cheerfully and sat back in her seat, and the auditorium lit up as the principal appeared.

The principal, as always, teleported in and descended from the air to the stage.

After briefly looking at the new students, including me, he raised a wand to his neck and said.

“Welcome to Arena Academy, everyone.”

The principal, with a grandfatherly, gentle voice, sincerely welcomed the new students.

Then, he swung the wand towards the sky.

Suddenly, the brightly lit auditorium became dark.

Boom, pop, rumble.

Like fireworks exploding in the darkness, colorful flames adorned the sky.

“Wow… it’s beautiful….”

“…Indeed, a great wizard. Without an incantation, such powerful magic….”

Expressions of admiration echoed from various places.

Some marveled at the fireworks display in the sky.

Some marveled at the headmaster’s skill in using high-level magic effortlessly, even without the need for an incantation.

I, on the other hand, withheld any expressions of admiration.

Being a seasoned individual, I was somewhat accustomed to such scenes, and there was someone staring intently at me.

Amidst the spectacle of flames.

The gaze of the headmaster standing on the platform was fixed on me.

I didn’t know why he was observing me.

However, since there was no reason to deliberately avoid his gaze, I, too, stared back at him with keen interest.

“……”

“……”

How long had we silently locked eyes?

– A fascinating child, you are.

The headmaster’s voice echoed in my mind.

– A child whose destiny remains unseen.

Perhaps this was a voice only I could hear.

Nevertheless, a child whose destiny remains unseen?

‘…What does that mean?’

Faced with this unprecedented dialogue, I could only raise an eyebrow in confusion.

Headmaster of the Academy, Yuback.

Having transcended to become a ‘Grand Magician’ and bestowed with the title, he could use all forms of magic and read the celestial bodies in the sky.

Quite literally possessing the ability to read the destinies of individuals.

Yet, my destiny remains unseen?

Despite playing for 30,000 hours and achieving 99% completion, this was a statement I had never heard before.

However, the current setting was not conducive to resolving such curiosity.

‘I’ll make sure to ask the headmaster about this when we meet in person later.’

While pondering this, the headmaster’s eyes sparkled as if illuminated.

– Those unable to see their destiny can be broadly divided into two categories.

Oh, is he going to explain it here?

– However, as the timing is not ideal, I’ll explain it later.

…Ah.

No, Headmaster. Can’t you just tell me now?

The mood soured abruptly.

Was it because of my expression?

The principal’s eyes formed crescents, as if finding it amusing.

“hahahahaha. Don’t get angry now. We might have to meet soon enough.”

I suppressed the building frustration within me.

After that brief interaction with the principal,

the once dim auditorium brightened again under the sunlight.

Most of the students responded to the principal’s performance with applause.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!

The resounding applause filled the hall for a brief moment.

Perhaps satisfied, the principal raised a hand, signaling the end of applause.

“Your enthusiasm for my welcome speech is truly appreciated, I must say.”

Saying this, the principal’s gaze swept across the students and landed on me.

“Now, let’s begin the induction ceremony. First, the oath from the representative of the new students. Please step forward.”

I rose from my seat and ascended the stage.

As I stood there, numerous gazes fixated on me.

Through those stares, a multitude of emotions surged.

Admiration, envy, jealousy, anger, fear, and more.

Various emotions overwhelmed me through those glances.

But I remained expressionless till the end, pretending to be nonchalant.

Internally, however, I was sweating bullets.

Click, click.

Behind the students in their seats, the sound of camera shutters echoed from the back of the auditorium.

That sound heightened my tension.

A single mistake here would lead to tomorrow’s headline, ‘Arena Academy’s Top New Student Makes This Blunder,’ followed by hyenas tearing me apart with ridicule.

Despite the nervousness dripping from my hands,

“The oath.”

My voice, when it came out, held not even a hint of tremor.

“…With this, I will conclude my oath.”

Fortunately, I was able to remember the oath I had thought in my head without stumbling or hesitation, and I was able to speak it all.

After completing the oath safely, I felt a slight release of the tension that had been building up inside me.

However, since it wasn’t completely over, I didn’t let my guard down.

“Chief, it was a great oath.”

The principal approached and extended his hand.

In response to his handshake request, I stepped forward from the podium and shook hands with the principal.

Clap clap clap clap clap!

Finally, the applause erupted.

After a moment of applause, when the sound completely subsided, the principal and I released each other’s hands.

Then, putting strength into my trembling legs due to the tension, I casually descended from the podium and returned to my seat.

Sigh.

‘Phew…’

As soon as I sat down in the chair, I felt the tension dissolve.

With it, the tension in my body also relaxed.

‘I wish I could quickly return to the dormitory.’

I just want to go to the dormitory and sleep.

But there are still a few more scheduled events before I can go back to the dormitory.

In a normal school, the day’s schedule would be over after the opening ceremony and students would be sent home, but Aren Academy wasn’t like that at all.

Rather, the real schedule begins after the opening ceremony is over.

“With this, I conclude the opening ceremony.”

As the principal said those words, he swung his wand lightly.

Then, a bright light flashed and enveloped all the students.

When I blinked my eyes, we were no longer in the auditorium but in an entirely new place.

Looking around, it was a classroom that was not as big as the auditorium but still spacious.

And there were 100 people, including myself, seated in their respective positions.

100 people.

Among them were the main characters.

That’s right.

The principal had teleported all the people in the auditorium to their respective classrooms.

Certainly, around the time when one would consider the Archmage’s magic to be the best in the world.

Clap, clap.

Someone applauded, drawing everyone’s attention.

As all gazes, including mine, turned toward the source of the applause, a voice rang out.

“Welcome to Class A of the first year.”

Short, sporty hair.

A long scar that ran from the forehead to the cheek in a diagonal line.

And a massive physique with muscles so huge that it seemed like the suit would burst at any moment.

Instructor Kang Cheolsu, with a stern expression, was observing us.