Chapter 5: I Can’t Just Drift Along Like This

After yesterday’s humiliating farewell at the school gates, I spent the entire night before falling asleep thinking one thing:

I can’t keep living like this, dragged along by the whims of this world.

On my way to school, I contemplated how to stay under the radar in this unpredictable world—one that had already strayed so far from the original story.

As usual, I got off at the bus stop across from the school gates and scanned the area, half-expecting the Four Heavenly Kings to be lurking nearby.

“Vote for your favorite! The Four Heavenly Kings Popularity Poll is now open!”

…Huh?

Across the crosswalk, a large foam board with the Kings’ faces plastered on it stood in front of the school gates.

A group of students was handing out stickers for voting.

Not a single person refused.

Some students even cut across the schoolyard just to participate.

“Whoa, I almost missed this by using the back gate!”

“Obviously, Ban Eun-hyeol from Focus is Rank 1!”

“I’m voting for Kiyomi Ji-bin!”

“Zi-Zone Strong is the best!”

Why is there a popularity poll at the school gates?!

And since when do people call them by their nicknames?!

I barely managed to keep my disgust off my face as I approached the board.

…Ah, my life.

Moving like a robot, I mechanically took a sticker, my hand trembling slightly as I prepared to vote for Ban Eun-hyeol—

“Wait! You can’t put it there!”

Startled, I looked back at the board and nearly groaned.

The students had avoided sticking the votes on the Kings’ faces like some sacred rule, leaving only the surrounding areas densely covered in stickers.

Right.

Gotta protect their precious faces, huh?

Just as I was about to place my sticker and leave—

“Looks fun! Hey, let’s check it out!”

An annoyingly cheerful voice pierced my ears.

I turned toward the sound and—

“KYAAAAH! IT’S THE FOUR HEAVENLY KINGS!”

Do they have to scream every time?

Sure enough, there they were—taller than most students, standing out like royalty among the crowd.

Watching the same old fanfare with dead eyes, I fought to cool my burning face, torn between secondhand embarrassment and irritation.

Today was supposed to be the day I started quietly distancing myself from Ban Eun-hyeol.

And yet, here I am—caught red-handed voting for him.

His slight frown as he stared at the board told me everything:

He saw me.

“Talk about bad timing.”

Resentment toward the poll organizers bubbled up as I hurried into the school building.

The moment I entered the classroom, I dropped my bag and rushed to the window to check if the Four Heavenly Kings had disappeared into the schoolyard.

‘They must be on their way up to class—it’s too quiet.’

After confirming they weren’t nearby, I turned back and headed to my seat.

A few moments later—

“KYAAAAH! WHO RUINED THE KINGS’ FACES?!”

A shriek echoed through the courtyard before the homeroom.

“Who did this?! Was it an Awakened?! Show yourself!”

The organizer’s furious yelling ended only when a teacher scolded them, and the schoolyard settled back into its usual peaceful morning chaos.

***

The Unreachable Prodigy

After Yeon Ha-yeon’s shocking transformation, students from other classes swarmed ours, hoping to catch a glimpse of the infamous Blood Scent Guild Leader.

Some finally recognized the stunning face behind those glasses and tried to befriend her—but it was useless.

Because of that impenetrable wall of hers.

“Ha-yeon, can we visit the Blood Scent Guild building sometime? We’re classmates now!”
“Yeah! Let’s get closer. We never approached you before because you were always studying, but we really wanted to be friends!”

Liar.

They treated her like part of the classroom decor, ignoring her until now.

“You want to see our guild building?” Ha-yeon asked flatly.

“Yes!”

“Are you Awakened? Congrats. What’s your rank?”

“Huh? No, I just want to visit!”

“Why would you want to go if you’re not Awakened?”

“Uh…”

Even in the original story, Ha-yeon had a uniquely off way of speaking, but seeing it in person was surreal.

The baffled expressions of the students as they exchanged glances at her bluntness were almost comical.

After a few more failed attempts, most gave up and returned to their seats.

‘No wonder no one’s ever had a real conversation with her.’

By the end of the day, most had abandoned their efforts to befriend her.

***

Whispers and Speculations

“Ha-yeon became the Blood Scent Guild Leader, but she hasn’t changed at all, huh?”

Leaning my chin on my hand, I pretended to look elsewhere while stealing glances at Ha-yeon’s seat.

My friend, Lee Na-bi, nudged me and whispered.

“Right? She’s still obsessed with studying.”

“I had no idea she was that good-looking, ranked first in school, and an S-rank Hunter and a guild leader. She’s got it all,” Na-bi grumbled.

“So jealous! I want to Awaken too!” another friend chimed in.

‘Did she decide normal school life was impossible the moment she Awakened?’

While the others gushed about Ha-yeon’s achievements, I silently pieced together why she had suddenly dropped her “studious nerd” act.

‘My guess is probably right… but only she knows for sure.’

In the original story, the school only discovered Ha-yeon’s true identity around the mid-point.

But now, with everything changing so early, the plot was bound to diverge even further.

I watched Ha-yeon, her brow furrowed as she solved problems with terrifying focus, before finally turning away.

‘What’s the point of worrying about this? I’ve got my own survival to figure out.’

“Everyone, sit down! Break’s over—take out your textbooks.”

As class began, I stared blankly at the chalkboard, pretending to listen while mentally sorting through everything that had happened so far.

The teacher’s voice faded into the background as I sank deep into thought.

First, when I possessed this body, a system message appeared before everyone, announcing that dimensional gates had activated due to an “Outsider’s” possession.

Though most of my skills and precious items were locked after possession, I managed to recover a few by grinding dungeons all summer.

Then, I emerged from the first-ever gate in this world, slaughtered monsters, and was hailed as a hero—only to later be labeled a villain when they realized “Outsiders” were here to destroy this world.

With hunter-themed media suddenly becoming reality, organizations scrambled to establish regulations.

Flimsy as they were, the speed of progress was impressive.

And then, Yeon Ha-yeon was revealed as the Blood Scent Guild Leader, derailing the original plot from the start.

On top of that, a chat feature—nonexistent in the original world—popped up.

[▶Kiyomi◆(9): I’m booored ᅲ_ᅲ
Focus (1): Go to sleep.
»Kiyomi◆(9): Eun-hyeol changed! He used to play with me!
Zi-Zone Strong (4): When?
Ocean (5): Guys, class…^_^;]

…Yeah. This nonsense.

The constant chat notifications blocking my vision were beyond annoying.

‘Why’s it so cold all of a sudden?’

A chilling aura suddenly radiated from the front of the class.

“Who turned on the AC?”

The teacher, mistaking the killing intent for a draft, glanced around mid-lecture.

[Sashimi: Let’s all study~]

The source?

Yeon Ha-yeon, sitting right in front of the teacher’s desk.

Judging by her expression, she was just as irritated by the chat spam as I was.

The crease between her brows was visible even from here.

[▶Kiyomi◆: But I don’t wannaa ᅲ_ᅲ
Sashimi: Should I make you want to?
Sashimi: Study.
Sashimi: Study.
Sashimi: Study.]

Han Ji-bin, caught off guard by the copy-paste barrage, froze mid-breath.

Even without looking, I could tell she was nervously eyeing Ha-yeon.

In an attempt to cool her temper, Ha-yeon rummaged through her bag and pulled out—a *30-pack of yogurt drinks*.

She stabbed a straw into each one and downed them aggressively while listening to the lecture.

I was a little scared.

‘I really need to find a way out of here. Life was so much better when I wasn’t stuck in high school…’

I started seriously planning my next move.

Plan #1: Transfer Schools (Failed Spectacularly)

“Mom, I want to transfer schools.”

“Transfer? Why all of a sudden?”

“It’s just… school’s getting a little hard.”

“But the only academic high school nearby is Gamseong High. The rest are all vocational schools.”

“Oh.”

Damn this novel and its obsession with trade schools.

The only regular high school in the district was ours—the rest were all specialized.

“Did you fight with your friends?”

“No, I was just mentioning it.”

“Really? Then go buy some tofu. I’m making doenjang-jjigae for dinner.”

“…Okay.”

Not only did my transfer idea fail, but I was now stuck running errands.

Dragging my feet, I headed to the supermarket.

I could’ve taken the main road, but the alley shortcut was faster—until I remembered:

‘Oh right. Alleys are dangerous in this world.’

“Hey, kid. You’re kinda cute.”

Of course.

The most cliché line imaginable echoed behind me.

‘Who’re they calling a kid?!’

I was already struggling to adjust to my shorter post-possession height, but being called a kid was a first.

The delinquents sauntered over, their smirks oozing sleaze.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“This brat’s weak as hell! Summer just ended and you’re already freezing?”

I tensed, reining in the killing intent that almost slipped out.

I let my guard down just because they don’t know me.

‘How do I handle this?’

“Don’t just stand there. Come here, kid.”

Maybe I can just beat them up and bolt?

It’s not like they know who I am.

“Come play with us, yeah?”

No.

Better not risk exposing myself.

“Hey! Ignoring us?!”

I kept my head turned away, but one reached for my shoulder—

Whack!

I reflexively smacked his hand away.

Their eyes darkened instantly.

“Kid, you better come nicely before I lose my temper.”

Then—

“How about you walk away nicely and leave the kid alone?”