episode_0003

Every genre has its conventions, what’s commonly referred to as clichés.

When you think about it, it’s quite natural. In order for a specific genre to take shape, there must be common elements.

Take, for example, the classic hero genre. Here’s how this tiresome genre’s format goes, in my opinion:

The Demon King or a formidable enemy appears.

The hero forms a party.

The hero embarks on a journey to defeat the Demon King.

The process of defeating the Demon King’s subordinates unfolds.

One of the subordinates becomes infatuated with the hero.

At the end of the journey, the Demon King dies, and peace is restored to the world.

Based on this format, Ivan considered this world to be a classic hero story.

However, now, Ivan was painstakingly extracting memories of Kim Sunwoo from 30 years ago to compile a list.

What is the formula for an academy story?

ep3. There is always a terror incident on the academy admission train.

The princess lamented “Winter is coming” as if she were from the Stark family, but that was wrong.

It’s January now. Naturally, it’s midwinter, and not long ago, they had an extravagant New Year’s party at the orphanage.

In other words, there’s still plenty of time before the university starts its semester.

“An academy…”

Ivan was lost in thought, yearning for the collection he impulsively burned down 30 years ago.

He remembers there were definitely a few academy-themed stories among them. He can’t recall the names now, but… It was something about a demon going to the academy, or a vampire, or a shaman, or a sorcerer… If he tries to jot down what comes to mind in a hurry, it goes like this.

Sort of like formulas for academy stories.

‘Anything can come to the academy.’

Literally, anything from cowboys to demons can come.

So, this means that even assassins who lurk behind precious sons and daughters of hero parties are included.

‘The academy is always under attack.’

Sadly, the academy suffers more frequent invasions than a frontline fortress.

Statistically, it is widely known that if the protagonist does not drop out, there is a 98% chance that the academy will be invaded.

“The academy harbors demons.”

With the Demon King dead, all seven dragon generals deceased or missing, and the demons either enslaved or driven to the ends of the earth, at this point, right in the heart of the United Kingdom, of all places, even if one were to disregard the possibility of simply hiding within an educational institution, it means that supporters of the demons or the demons themselves are definitely hiding within the academy.

For now, excluding races like goblins or orcs is acceptable. These creatures do not possess the ability to hide just by doing so.

It’s better to assume that beings capable of shapeshifting like succubi or demons are the ones who are hiding.

“There are traitors among the students and faculty.”

One must seek out faculty members who antagonize the protagonist to an unusual extent. The likelihood is high that they are under the influence of demons.

“There are secret ruins or hidden artifacts within the academy.”

Even though Yansk University is a newly established university with a history of less than ten years, directly ordered to be built by the reigning king in the heart of the capital, one must assume that there are “secret rooms” within… for some reason.

“The academy’s students can be broadly divided into three types: students, antagonists related to demons, and government agents.”

Here, students do not refer to model students who study diligently. They are no different from time bombs.

They easily get involved in accidents and have to be rescued, and of course, the protagonist has no choice but to rescue them.

The other students, those who do not get involved in accidents, can be further divided into two categories: quiet students whose names are barely mentioned and students who envy the protagonist.

Of course, up to this point, it can be considered part of a cute school life. The problem lies ahead.

Students related to demons. In reality, these individuals should be classified as demon sympathizers, demon spies, or demon informants.

“If they stand out, eliminate them in advance.”

The orphanage director, a former officer of the Extinction Unit, narrowed his eyes and underlined the statement.

The best way to protect allies was the annihilation of enemies.

Up to this point, it’s nothing more than ordinary leisure activities.

“Next are government agents.”

When international dignitaries’ children enroll in large numbers, it’s only natural for agents to be dispatched to protect them. The issue is that, in most cases, these agents don’t just carry out one mission. In other words, the children’s bodyguards are actually active as excellent spies for friendly nations during their free time. These individuals cannot be killed. If they were, it would immediately become a diplomatic issue due to their non-hostile country status. After all, on the surface, they are just students.

“Since there’s no age limit, it wouldn’t be strange for active-duty agents to enroll during wartime,” thought Ivan, the orphanage director and former officer of the eradication unit, as he stroked his chin with concern.

“It’d be better if I knew who they were. At least then we could communicate,” he mused, gazing at the battle-axe displayed on the wall near the entrance to his office.

“If an instructor says ‘it’s safe’ during academy exams, training, or other situations, crisis is sure to follow,” he contemplated. This is why companies should abolish their own safety inspection systems and outsource all safety inspections. Given the abundance of spies, assassins, demons, and traitors at the academy, the only safe place is probably the headmaster’s office. Even Dumbledore didn’t die in his office.

Normally, the position of headmaster or principal should be held by an administrative official, but strangely, at the academy, it was considered “common sense” for the world’s strongest to assume this role…

Next. The most important thing.

Let’s recall the “ending conditions” of academy stories…

“The ending conditions of the academy are [survival] and [world peace]… Wait. Just a moment.”

If this world is an academy story and everything that has happened so far is merely “background events,” let’s summarize.

The Demon King appeared, a hero killed the Demon King, and the world regained peace. At this point, just four years after the war ended, the United Kingdoms are on the brink of falling apart, each nation focusing on its own reconstruction. However, there’s increasing competition for resources and colonial territories. At numerous former demon strongholds, various countries’ military governments are still exploiting demon slaves.

What could be considered the main story here?

‘World War? No, this can’t be.’

If it’s an academy setting, the main characters are usually high school to college-aged individuals. If a grandiose war named World War were to break out rather than a simple local conflict, the limitations for such students to shine would be too distinct.

In that case…

‘Resurrection of the Demon King…?’

Ivan took a sip of his coffee and peered at his notebook with a contemplative gaze. No matter how you looked at it, that seemed to be the most rational explanation. The story of descendants of hero parties resurrecting to confront the revived Demon King and restore peace to the world. Assuming the resurrection of the Demon King is a constant, and students drop out around their second year… if we assume that the academy invasion will occur at least a year later. What should I do right now? He added one more sentence to the note and then, grabbing his coat, he stood up.

‘Terror will definitely occur on the academy admission train (or transportation).’

Ever since Harry Potter, in worlds with trains, academy admissions always involve using a train. (If not, they might use carriages. One common point is that both trains and carriages are vulnerable to terrorism. In fact, all modes of transportation are vulnerable to terrorism. There was no difference in walking.)

Moreover, this allied kingdom was using military supply trains, meticulously prepared during wartime, for civilian transport.

Of course, even though they were military supply trains, they were vulnerable to terrorism. Ivan’s 18 years of military service could attest to that.

The demons also frequently used trains for inland military material transport, so Ivan had experienced preventing train terrorism as well as perpetrating it countless times.

That was always the nature of the eradication unit’s work.

Ivan missed South Korea today. When riding a train, instead of terrorism or demons, it was a peaceful world where he had to struggle with egg kimbap and tuna kimbap.

MacVansuk and tuna kimbap were added to Ivan’s ‘list of things to eat when returning to Earth.’

*

“Just watch!! Seriously, watch! Everyone watch closely!! See how successful I am!!”

Dragging his instrument bag and suitcase, Ecidice pranced around on the train platform, eyeing the crowd.

The crowd waved large placards, bidding her farewell.

“Ecidice, daughter of King Aynar! Top admission to Saint Jansc University!”

Not even close to the top, let alone the best, Ecidice didn’t bother correcting them. They deliberately used such phrases to provoke her reaction.

“Proud! The beauty from the Kingdom of Droan!”

“Continuing the bloodline of the great conqueror King Aynar, she challenges the realm of orchestral conquest!”

“So what about orchestral conquest!”

Ecidice retorted sharply, boarding the train. Laughter echoed behind her.

Bad, bad people. Instead of cheering, they…!

As the train departed, she buried her face in her sleeve, sobbing quietly as she moved away. The crowd that had been watching her through the window dispersed with murmurs.

“Even so, the young lady will stay strong, won’t she?”

“Who cares, who are you anyway!”

“The folks from the Kingdom of Krasilov are so unreliable…”

“But still, the elders didn’t send her off alone, so don’t worry. She’ll do well.”

The mocking crowd, King Aynar’s retinue, departed, each filled with concern.

Ecidice Einarsdottir, the daughter of the warrior ‘Butcher’ Aynar Ulriksson. Admitted to the Music Department’s Orchestral Division at Saint Jansc University!

Two days after the grand send-off by Aynar’s retinue, the very train met its demise near the border of the Kingdom of Krasilov. Naturally, Ivan wasn’t surprised that a terrorist attack had befallen the academic departure train. Instead, he armed himself with a pistol and an axe.