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Croa Academy.

‘Croa Academy,’ commonly known as ‘Croaca,’ is a game about solving various incidents that occur at Croa Academy, an educational institution in the Croa Empire.

With hundreds and thousands of routes, an engaging story, and unique NPCs, many people played Croaca, and I was no exception.

“It’s been 10 years already.”

In my room, I mumbled to myself while looking at the monitor screen.

It’s been 10 years already.

From middle school until now, I’ve been engrossed in this game for a decade.

As usual, I logged into Croaca today, and there was a message in my inbox.

A message?

I was puzzled, as I rarely received messages since I enjoyed solo play, but I checked it anyway.

[Sender – Game Master]

Seeing the sender, I couldn’t help but feel even more puzzled. The company that made Croaca was still a mystery even after 10 years, so nothing was known about the Game Master.

“A message from the Game Master. If I post this on the game’s website, it’ll get noisy.”

[Hello, Player Loki-nim. We are the Game Masters of Croa Academy. We sent this message to offer Loki-nim an early access opportunity for Croa Academy 2.]

“Croaca 2!?”

At the mention of early access for Croaca 2, I couldn’t hide my excitement.

Croaca 2, really?

No matter how many routes Croaca had, after 10 years, I had enjoyed most of the content available in the game. Users were eagerly awaiting a sequel.

[If you’d like to learn more about Croa Academy 2, please click the link below. wwvv.gldthrdkTwl]

I clicked the link without hesitation.

Crackle… crackle..

Suddenly, strange sounds began to come from the computer, and the monitor screen went black.

What’s wrong with this?

Flash.

“It turned back on.”

On the re-lit screen was a man.

‘Is this the protagonist of Croaca 2?’

The man on the screen had white hair and was wearing an academy uniform. But what stood out most was the white mask he was wearing. The mysterious yet comical mask drew my eyes.

‘They did a good job with the design.’

[Clown]

[Poker Face]

[Creator’s Touch]

You can think of Traits as something like passives.

Unlike existing characters, there didn’t seem to be any combat-related traits.

[Illusion]

This unique skill is practically the core of the character.

A unique skill is a skill that only that person in the world possesses.

‘Illusion, so it’s similar to illusion-type magic?’

[Would you like to play Croa Academy 2?]

[Y/N]

I clicked Y without hesitation, and the screen went black again for a moment before turning back on.

[You can bring up to 2 items from your existing character.]

I tapped on my desk, lost in thought. If I chose too strong an item, the game would become too easy and lose its fun.

“Ah, that’s right, there was that.”

There was an item I had made by pouring money into it when I had nothing else to do.

[???’s Subspace /Mythic Grade]

Subspace was an item you received by default at the start of the game, and it was Normal grade. But after seeing the ending and having nothing else to do, I kept pouring money into it, upgrading the Normal-grade inventory all the way to Mythic grade.

However, Mythic-grade items for characters had a limited number of equip slots, so I had never been able to use it. I chose the Mythic-grade Subspace without hesitation.

“What about the other one?”

After pondering, I chose a movement-related skill book.

[Shadow Walk]

As soon as I selected the items, the screen went black again.

Contrary to my thought that it would turn back on in a moment, the screen remained off for about 30 seconds.

“Haa… it hasn’t been long since I changed my computer. Why is it doing this?”

As I sighed, a huge hand suddenly popped out of the monitor.

“What the hell!”

The hand that emerged from the monitor grabbed me and pulled me into the monitor at a speed I couldn’t even resist.

**************

After the man entered the monitor, the monitor screen returned to normal, displaying the protagonist of Croa Academy 2.

White hair, academy uniform, and even the mask on his face were identical, but the one difference was that he was holding the mask he had been wearing in his hand.

The face hidden beneath the mask was identical to the face of the man who had entered the monitor.

***********************

Half a year had passed since I entered the game.

At first, I wondered what was happening and tried to return to reality somehow, but I gave up after only 40 minutes.

After all, I had no family in reality, and Croaca was closer to my reality anyway.

I was now walking through the imperial capital to participate in the academy’s entrance ceremony.

“Masked Mister!”

Just then, a little child shouted, looking at me from afar.

“Little lady. ‘Mister,’ you say? Can’t you see this academy uniform?”

I spun around in place, showing off the uniform I was wearing.

The reason for my tone and actions was my [Clown] trait.

It was awkward at first, but now I’ve gotten used to it.

“But why are you wearing a mask?”

“There’s a special magic on this mask.”

The reason I wear this mask is because this mask is also an item.

Wearing the [Clown’s Mask] increases proficiency more than usual.

For example, if I exercise while wearing this mask, my stamina increases more than when I do it without the mask.

“Show me some magic!”

“I’ll show it specially just for the little lady.”

I snapped my fingers.

Snap.

The sound of my fingers snapping echoed cheerfully, and a cat appeared in mid-air.

“Ohh, a cat!”

“Hehe, isn’t it amazing?”

“A dog too! Can you do a dog too?”

I snapped my fingers again.

Snap.

This time, a dog appeared in mid-air.

This is my unique skill, [Illusion].

It literally creates illusions. It was awkward at first, but as a result of continuous practice while wearing the mask, I can now use it freely.

After that, I continued to create various illusions for the little child.

The child’s reaction was so good that I unknowingly kept showing them.

“Wow! This time, it’s a butterfly!”

“……..”

And around the time I created and showed the butterfly, I realized that a woman was squatting next to the child, watching me.

I was surprised once by the sudden appearance of the woman, and twice by her beauty.

Platinum-blonde hair that reached her waist, blue eyes like sapphires. These two combined to make her appearance beautiful. Her eyes looked somewhat blank, but that didn’t detract from her beauty.

Her appearance was not human, but like a work of art painstakingly crafted by a god.

A sword at her waist, and finally, the Disciplinary Committee’s insignia on the sleeve of her uniform.

The reason I played Croaca for 10 years, my favorite character, Johanna Freya.

She was right before my eyes.

But perhaps because of my [Poker Face] trait, I could hide my emotions upon meeting my favorite character in person.

“Eek! Who are you? You startled me!”

Unlike me, who was startled, the child smiled brightly upon seeing Johanna.

“Pretty Unnie!”

The child naturally hugged her. I’m envious!

“Does the little lady know this person?”

“Yeah! She’s the Unnie who sometimes comes and buys me delicious things.”

Johanna naturally stroked the child’s head, who had hugged her. Seeing her stroking, I could tell it wasn’t the first time.

“That’s a lie.”

“Pardon?”

“That you were startled.”

“No, no, it’s not a lie, I was genuinely surprised! My heart felt like it was going to burst from how surprised I was!”

Johanna probably thought I was lying because of my [Poker Face] trait. It was so unfair. How startled was I!

“Pretty Unnie, by the way, what brings you here at this hour?”

“A report.”

“A report came in?”

I couldn’t help but interject into their conversation. What was going on? As I recalled, there was nothing for the Disciplinary Committee to intervene in at this time. Could something have changed?

She stared at me.

“A suspicious man in a mask talking to a little girl…”

A suspicious man in a mask…

That’s me, isn’t it?

“Mister, are you suspicious?”

“No, no, if you say something like that after we were just having so much fun talking, I’ll get hurt.”

As I clutched my chest and pretended to collapse, the child giggled as if greatly amused.

“A freshman?”

“Yes! I’m a brand-new freshman enrolling this year. But how did you know?”

“First time seeing your face.”

“Well, I suppose I do have a face that’s hard to forget once you’ve seen it.”

“Mister, say things like that after taking off your mask.”

Johanna stared at me as I chatted with the child. Then she made an unbelievable suggestion.

“Shall we go together?”

For Johanna to suggest something first! She had never once suggested anything first, even in the game.

“For Senior-nim to make such a suggestion, it is my honor.”

“Name.”

“Ah. I haven’t revealed my name yet, have I? My name is Loki. What is Senior-nim’s name?”

“Johanna Freya.”

Ugh! To receive an introduction from Johanna! It felt like the six months of hardship after falling into the game were finally being rewarded.

“May I call you Johanna Senior-nim?”

“Do as you please.”

“Please feel free to call me Loki.”

She muttered my name, “Loki… Loki…” So cute!

“Loki. Let’s go.”

“Yes! Understood! Johanna Senior-nim!”

I deliberately answered loudly to Johanna, who had softly called my name.

“Masked Mister and Pretty Unnie, see you later!”

“Little lady, see you later. And next time we meet, don’t call me ‘Mister’!”

The little child raised one hand high and waved it vigorously.

I raised both hands high and waved them even more vigorously than the child.

“……..”

Watching the two of us, Johanna timidly raised her hand and gave a small wave.

And so, she and I began walking towards the academy.