Episode 3: From Now On, I Am Ordinary/Not Ordinary

‘The date is……’

[December 21, 2029]

[7:34 AM]

December 21st – it seems there’s still some time before the original story begins.

Instinctively turning on my phone to check the alarms, it appears the semester ended yesterday. At least I don’t have to struggle with commuting to school, which is a relief.

‘I was terrified thinking I’d have to move out of the dorm, but the system where third-years graduate and leave Raon Academy, making room for incoming first-years is quite innovative. It’s nice that unless you get expelled, you can use the same dorm for all three years.’

Single rooms are usually given to exceptionally talented students.

Raon Academy has an annual enrollment of about 120 students per grade, with room assignments based on rankings determined during the tutorial phase by whether certain scores were met.

The lowest-quality dorm accommodates six people with just three bunk beds, followed by four-person rooms, two-person rooms, and finally the single room I’m using.

‘Only…20 people get single rooms, right?’

That means Yun Se-ah’s current academy ranking is at least within the top 20. Since she was already maintaining the top position as the youngest student council president when the protagonist enrolled, my ranking is probably number one.

‘Status window – I didn’t get a good look earlier.’

When I muttered “status window” quietly again, a shimmering blue screen flickered before me instantly.

Information

Name: Yun Se-ah

Age: 18

Alignment: Good, Order

Skill List

Psychokinesis (A)

Can freely manipulate telekinetic power

Recovery (S)

Can perfectly heal any injury, though pain is still felt

Dulled Senses (B)

Due to prolonged experiments, pain is barely felt

Stats

Physical Strength: C+

Defense: D

Magic Power: A+

Stamina: F

Agility: B+

Luck: A+

‘………[Hypnotic Evil Eye] isn’t listed?’

From my vague memories, I distinctly recall Yoon Seong-ho forcibly implanting a monster’s eye into me.

“I wonder if there’s something like an inventory… Ah, found it.”

Inventory

When I quickly tapped the shimmering “Inventory” tab below the status window, detailed information about the monster’s eye Yoon Seong-ho implanted appeared as expected.

Hypnotic Evil Eye

When activated, can place targets who see the pattern in the eye into a hypnotic state. Targets with higher magic power can resist. Hypnotized targets have all senses dominated and become trapped in a completely hypnotized state within an illusory world of the user’s choosing

Additional Effect: Magic Rank +1

‘….Isn’t this totally broken?’

This ability has even better versatility than that used by a certain manga villain who left famous lines like “I shall stand in the heavens,” “Since when were you under the impression I wasn’t using Kyoka Suigetsu?” and “Don’t use such strong words – it makes you look weak.”

While that manga’s ability couldn’t show things that didn’t exist in reality, the Hypnotic Evil Eye can do exactly that.

Though targets with higher magic power can’t be permanently hypnotized, the additional magic rank boost means early-to-mid game villains should be easily susceptible.

‘Yun Se-ah lost to the protagonist despite having this amazing ability…no, wait – she must have resisted and weakened its power in that moment.’

With abilities of this level – whether Yun Se-ah developed them naturally or through forced experiments – plus Psychokinesis (A) and Recovery (S), the probability of a second-year protagonist defeating her was practically zero.

‘She originally had Natural Recovery (A), but…that bastard Yoon Seong-ho must have experimented on her relentlessly to evolve it into Recovery (S) just to survive.’

Normally, skills are enhanced by consuming elixirs that boost them or through frequent use that increases understanding, allowing evolution into higher-tier skills.

Higher ranks naturally have greater limits, but…look at Recovery (S), which evolved without any regard for such constraints.

‘Probably…the elixirs and monster corpses she was force-fed like torture, combined with Yun Se-ah’s desperate will to survive through constant regeneration, rapidly increased her skill comprehension.’

Not exactly a pleasant thought.

‘Anyway…now that it’s vacation, should I return home?’

Raon Academy students are given two options when the semester ends:

First: Go home during vacation and return on the first day of the new semester.

Second: Stay in the dorm, either attending special lectures from professors on duty or relaxing until classes resume.

‘…Honestly, if the original story plays out as is, there’ll be massive casualties.’

The protagonist and friends will be fine, of course, but many will die just to prove “the enemies you defeated were this strong.”

From Raon Academy’s chairman to the S-rank heroes supporting the protagonist.

“What should I do……”

As I sighed while pondering, a blue window began flashing as if waiting for this moment.

Main Quest

Help the protagonist defeat [Demon King Mephisto] and save the world

Reward: Private audience with God, 1 Wish Ticket

‘…..Private audience with God? What’s a wish ticket?’

If I use the wish ticket, can I return to my original world?

“……I suddenly feel motivated now that I have something to do, when I didn’t want to do anything before.”

At least there’s now a way home – defeat the final boss.

‘…….Using knowledge from the game and various other things……’

I can probably return home faster than in the original story.

“For that…I should first return home, I suppose.”

Just as I was about to contact home, a notification appeared showing numerous blocked messages in the texting app linked to my phone.

[Blocked Messages]

[Lee Seolhwa] 999+

[Blocked Calls]

[Lee Seolhwa] 99+

‘These must be accumulated records.’

I checked the block list to see if Yoon Seong-ho’s number was there, but surprisingly, Lee Seolhwa’s call history was overwhelmingly present.

[Lee Seolhwa]

[Se-ah, it’s dangerous there. You need to get out quickly…]

[Lee Seolhwa]

[Se-ah, I’m really sorry about that time. I probably don’t have the right to say this to you but…]

[Lee Seolhwa]

[Se-ah, please answer my calls. It’s truly dangerous there. You’re being deceived by that person. If you see this message, contact a healer I know…]

‘….There’s quite a lot.’

She seems to know I’ve been brainwashed by Yoon Seong-ho and warns me not to be fooled…

“At least when it comes to brainwashing and hypnosis, nothing can surpass [Hypnotic Evil Eye].”

By the time Yun Se-ah realized this, it was far too late. But I, who know the original story, am different.

‘From the moment I possessed this body, any brainwashing effects were completely gone – if my soul was even swapped in the first place.’

When hypnotized by Yun Se-ah, a red [Hypnosis] status effect appears beside characters. But my status window earlier showed nothing like that.

Still, just in case.

Like Yun Se-ah did in the game, I stared into the mirror.

“[Hypnotic Evil Eye], activate.”

-Fwoosh!

An octagonal magic circle-like pattern appeared in one eye.

“If there’s any brainwashing affecting me, ignore it all. You must achieve your goal – to return home – by any means necessary. You must bring this story to a happy ending.”

Good, I’m starting to feel something clicking into place in my mind.

‘Now, next.’

“Become the shield protecting Academy Swordmaster’s protagonists, and the blade that tears apart anything threatening them. Yun Se-ah.”

Then, my reflection nodded and plunged a hand into its chest, pulling something out.

‘So…there was indeed some slight hypnotic influence after all.’

What she pulled from her chest was a purple orb.

Identical to the one from the elephant statue I destroyed earlier.

‘It’s never been activated even once.’

Must have been a final hidden card prepared just in case.

Then, my reflection began mouthing words silently.

-I leave the rest to you, this world.

‘………!’

Before I could respond, the reflection shattered into purple amethyst fragments, revealing my stunned face reaching out behind it.

‘……Alright, I accept your request, Yun Se-ah.’

Thanks to that, I’ve steeled my resolve.

“I swear that no matter what happens, ‘I’ will stop at nothing to achieve this story’s happy ending.”

‘With that, self-hypnosis complete.’

Before returning home, I should get myself a sharp sword.