REINCARNATED IN "THE NOVEL´S EXTRA"

TUESDAY - 8:10 AM - VERITAS CLASS

Cubo was the name of a massive island located in the East Sea. This artificial island was twice the size of Yeouido [8.4 km²].

In this vast area, there were only about 5,000 hero cadets, of which 1,300 were first-year students. While 2,000 non-combatants had graduated two weeks prior, elite cadets from all over the world gathered here, making the academy more competitive than ever. In a way, the place was too harsh and somber to be home to young people aged 17 to 19.

Starting from the second year, mages who chose to become Heroes would come from the 'National University of Magic,' so now there were between 200 to 300 of their cadets.

Additionally, there were training instructors, janitors, recruiters who came occasionally, government associates, engineers performing maintenance, dispatched soldiers acting as agents, doctors and researchers caring for the cadets, convenience store employees working at Cubo, and much more... In total, about 50,000 people resided here.

Naturally, this highly important place was where investors' attention was directed.

Given the novel's setting, everything had been faithfully followed. Korea was a world power rivaling the United States.

Sitting almost at the end of the second row of chairs, I tried to stifle a laugh as I remembered "TNE," where Korea was portrayed as a world power rivaling the United States. A situation that, to me, seemed quite absurd.

"Haha! Korea rivaling the United States... that only happens in a fantasy world!"

In truth, I understood Hajin's choice. If I were to write a story, I'd probably also make my country the center of the world. That's common, really. Look at the United States, with their comic books, movies, and TV shows: practically all the "world" problems in their stories are centered in their country. It's like in the Avengers movies—even a multiversal threat makes sure to show up there.

I sighed, adjusting myself in the chair, leaning back and closing my eyes as I waited for class to start.

"Ahem! Cough!"

With my eyes still closed, the person next to me pretended to cough, trying to get my attention.

"Hello, Yoo Yeonha. Good morning!"

That's right. Almost five minutes ago, when I entered the room, she, one of the main heroines of this world, came and sat next to me without saying a word.

At first, I found it strange. After all, she usually sat a few rows ahead, near the other main characters, not down here close to the podium.

"You've been staring at me for a while now. Do you need something?"

I opened my eyes and questioned her.

Without any greeting, she stood up from her chair and, with a stern expression, shoved a piece of paper in my direction.

"You should read what's written there."

"Huh?!"

Did this girl drink something spoiled this morning? Does she think I'm Hajin, who can say whatever he wants and expect me to accept it willingly?

Sorry, Yeonha, even though I like you, I'm not the type to just sit quietly and listen.

"Look, you say. I have no reason to do that. If you want to talk to me..."

The paper, which was near my arm on the desk, floated in the air between us, as if suspended by a thread, and then disintegrated into black particles, disappearing without a trace.

"Don't act like I'm some lackey of yours."

I know this is just a facade of hers. After all, I know that beneath the usually cold and impassive Yeonha lies a soft, kind, and caring girl.

But still, can't she be a bit more polite? After all, she's the one who needs to deliver something to someone.

Of course, I might be acting a bit foolish over this, but I know people like her very well, and the best way to deal with them is to treat them the way they treat you.

Ignoring the incredulous look directed at me, I leaned back in my chair again, leaving a slight smile on my face, as if silently saying that if she wanted my attention, she'd have to lower her guard a little.

"Hmph!"

As if neither of us was willing to back down, Theo and Yeonha sat there in silence.

With a firm posture and a stern face, she sat back down in her chair.

"Tap! Tap!"

A few minutes after the brief conversation with her, I heard some taps on the desk next to me.

With each tap of her finger, her eyes subtly glanced in my direction, but whenever I tried to meet her gaze, she would look forward again or start fiddling with her smartwatch.

"Haha! Are you a child?"

If the cadets in the room had been paying attention to Yeonha, I'm sure they would have wondered the same thing I did.

Unlike me, they didn't have the courage to say it, so let's enjoy this moment.

"Yoo! Here."

I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out two orange candies, offering one to the girl next to me.

"..."

She stared at the open hand holding the candy. Her face looked the same as before, if not for the slight glimmer in the corner of her eyes.

Of course, knowing her, I doubt she'd accept it so easily...

"Eh!"

The candy in my hand disappeared.

"Thank you!"

"Pf!"

Yeah, really, not everything is as we imagine.

I noticed the difference quickly. The cold and closed expression she carried like armor had vanished, replaced by a light, almost happy expression. It was impressive how something so simple could cause such a big change.

"Wow! This is the first time I've seen a candy completely change someone's mood."

I couldn't help but smile. It was funny to think that a simple candy had so much power.

"You really like orange-flavored things, don't you?"

I ventured, watching her curiously.

She glanced at me sideways, raising an eyebrow as if I had stated the most obvious thing in the world.

"Not exactly. I just like candies. But they have to be orange."

Her tone was firm, almost as if that were a rule that admitted no exceptions. I smiled again, finding it peculiar.

"Got it... Only orange candies."

She shrugged and went back to sucking on the candy, letting silence take over the conversation for a moment. But this time, the silence wasn't awkward. It was comfortable.

I looked at her again, reflecting on what had just happened. A girl who was once serious and closed-off, and an orange-flavored candy had managed to break through that barrier.

"I guess everyone has something that melts their defenses. In your case, it's orange candy. Good to know."

She didn't respond immediately. She just gave a slight smile, almost imperceptible, but it was there.

After a brief pause, I took advantage of the slightly better atmosphere between us and brought up the earlier topic again.

"Yoo! I'll call you that from now on."

"?¿"

"What do you want to talk about?"

Yoo Yeonha looked at me in silence and finally opened her mouth to say what was bothering her.

"W-well. About yesterday, can you not tell anyone?"

Yesterday? What is she talking about? Wait...

"Ah! Are you talking about when we met at the vending machine?"

"So you know."

As if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders, Yeonha spoke a little louder, catching the attention of some cadets in the room.

"..."

"..."

The students looked at her, and she looked at me, and I looked back at her with a serious face. She didn't know, but I was holding back from laughing.

Embarrassed, she turned her face away, avoiding my eyes, but soon her expression turned cold as she glared at the others looking in her direction...

"There's nothing to see here!"

My words flowed through the room, and those who were staring at us instantly turned their attention away.

"Huh?!"

Yeonha obviously noticed the abrupt change in the atmosphere. After all, she was about to stand up and confront them.

She looked at me, waiting for an answer.

"They won't bother us anymore."

I spoke briefly, not bothering to give further explanations.

Instead, I returned to the initial topic.

"Yes, I already knew it was you in that disguise."

If you could even call it a disguise.

A cap and a surgical mask—what a great way to hide your identity, especially for someone with such striking features as hers.

"Liar. That's impossible. I made sure of everything before I left. I even used an artifact to alter my voice."

The others didn't realize it was you, not because your disguise was amazing.

But rather, because of the convenience of the plot and the will of the world.

Just as the world favored Suho and Hajin, it also did so for the heroines, though, unlike the other two, things worked on a much smaller scale for them.

"Let's just say I have good eyes."

"What?!"

As soon as those words left my mouth, Yeonha looked at me in astonishment.

Good eyes? No, that's not what she wanted to hear.

"Anyway. I can imagine why you came to talk to me after yesterday. It's fear, isn't it?"

Theo quickly changed the subject.

"Fear?! No, it's just..."

Her eyes widened slightly as she heard Theo speak.

"You're afraid that others will find out about your hobby."

Her concern was understandable. Maintaining a good appearance for others was more complicated than it seemed, especially if you were the person who had to be perfect in everything.

Someone who was not only the heir to Korea's No. 1 guild (Essence of the Strait) but also the successor to a renowned family.

She certainly lived in a different world from the rest.

"But it's okay. In fact, if you hadn't come and reminded me of it, I would have already forgotten."

Unintentionally, Theo, with his words, broke through any worries that had been flooding Yeonha's mind.

"Hah!"

She sighed, and a mix of relief was visible on her beautiful face.

"See, it's easy to resolve things."

Yes, it was extremely simple. It was so easy that she still doubted it.

"...That's it? You don't want anything else from me?"

Theo looked at her silently.

"Hah! You're always like this."

Always doubting, always looking for a hidden motive in others' actions.

"Well..."

He pondered for a few seconds and continued after something came to mind.

"Not yet."

"What? If it's money, I can..."

"No, it's not that. Actually, it's nothing major. It's something that could actually benefit you a lot..."

Yeonha frowned, suspicious but now with a spark of curiosity. As she tried to decipher what I meant.

Some familiar faces started entering through the door.

Nayun, Suho, and Yi Yeonghan were the ones arriving.

It wasn't just them; a guy with silver hair was right behind them, walking with a swagger while staring intently at Nayun ahead.

The girl next to me looked in the same direction I did, and her eyes widened...

As soon as Yeonha saw Jonghak, she quickly stood up from her chair, straightened herself with elegance, and hurried back to her seat.

"This is going to be complicated."

Among all the heroines, Yoo Yeonha was, without a doubt, the most complicated when it came to establishing a relationship. Her meticulous personality and her tendency to analyze everyone around her like pieces in a grand game of chess made it difficult to predict her actions and intentions.

But my biggest challenge wouldn't be her coldness or calculative nature; it would be the fact that she already had romantic feelings for someone.

If we disregard her personality, there's her unrequited love for a guy who doesn't care about her.

A girl who likes a guy who likes another girl.

What an amazing romantic comedy...

...