Chapter 7

[It’s Han Kangyoon.]

[Honestly, I thought he’d quit…]

My ears feel strangely hot for no reason.

Since the Academy’s founding, this was the first case of someone falling from Class A all the way to Class D. I was keenly experiencing the feeling of being a famous non-celebrity.

[Ah, that senior is the one…]

[Surely I won’t end up like that, right?]

[Shh, speak softly. He might hear.]

It seems among the newly enrolled first-years, I’ve become the bad example not to follow.

Since I roughly expected this reaction, I paid it no mind and headed towards the auditorium where the entrance ceremony, also the school opening ceremony, was being held.

[We sincerely welcome all new students who have just enrolled. I won’t speak long. From now on, you will…]

The massive two-story hall.

On the first floor, school officials, external dignitaries, and the first-years themselves were lined up in long rows. On the second floor balconies on either side, second and third-year students had taken their seats.

Amidst this, I felt a sharp gaze from the first floor. It was definitely a face I remembered.

‘It’s Han Seoa.’

A supporting character from the same orphanage as Han Kangyoon, enrolling as a first-year this time.

Somehow, she had spotted me in this massive crowd and was glaring at me.

‘From my perspective, this is the first time actually seeing her face.’

Of course, I knew the reason.

She was angry that Han Kangyoon had hidden his situation and overextended himself to support the orphanage’s maintenance fees.

‘She probably heard rumors from the students around her.’

Since Han Seoa herself is a character with significant weight, in the original work, scenes of her being angry at Han Kangyoon were often portrayed. In a way, it was foreshadowing for a future event.

‘Of course, I won’t let that happen.’

Maintaining a cold war for months like in the original is something I’d rather avoid.

First of all, the current me has a solid supporter named Seo Jian. I can probably explain the situation well and move past it.

‘And surely, in the center of the back row…’

Yoo Haon. The playable character and protagonist of Exorcism Academy Part 1. I shifted my gaze to find him.

And tilted my head in confusion.

“Why isn’t he here?”

Perhaps my memory was wrong. After all, it had been about two years since I last played the initial release.

But in that back row, and the row behind it. There was no man who could be presumed to be Yoo Haon.

Only after scanning all the seats did I realize something was terribly wrong.

‘He’s not here. Yoo Haon.’

The reason wasn’t important. Because Yoo Haon was a character absolutely indispensable for the conclusion of this game.

I paid no attention to how the entrance and opening ceremony proceeded, simply waiting for the event to end.

And then.

“Alright, second-years, please move to your classrooms according to your class! Everyone must be gathered by 9:30!”

As soon as the awaited time came, ignoring the escort’s guidance, I moved my steps towards the first floor where the first-years were.

Thud, thud!

Tick.

“Eek!”

“Ah, damn, what the?”

The hall was so congested that I bumped into someone in the process, but this was no time to worry about that.

‘He’s not here. Really.’

The first-years following the escort out. Among them, Yoo Haon’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Then, someone’s face caught my eye.

A single female student occupying the seat where Yoo Haon should have originally been.

‘That’s…’

A black ponytail and a soft, likable impression just from looking. I definitely hadn’t seen her in the original, but for some reason, she felt familiar.

And crucially, around her slightly exposed neck, she was wearing something I knew extremely well.

It was a necklace with a form incredibly similar to the keepsake left by Yoo Haon’s parents.

‘Could it be…?’

Thump.

My vision tunneled. I grabbed the shoulder of the girl about to follow the escort and attempted an Appraisal. And thankfully, I could confirm my guess was correct.

【Yoo Haon】

▶Level 21

▶Stats

【Stamina: C+】

【Spiritual Power: B-】

【Art Formula: C】

【Mental Strength: B-】

▶Traits (4/10)

【Limit Breakthrough (S)】

【Blue Lighthouse (A)】

【Growth Acceleration (B)】

【Agile Hunter (C+)】

Limit Breakthrough, a trait considered the protagonist’s exclusive patent regardless of the series.

Blue Lighthouse, which instinctively allows for choosing better options.

Growth Acceleration, a growth-type trait that most main and supporting characters possess.

That appearance was exactly the Yoo Haon I remembered. But, the most crucial thing was missing.

‘The Unidentified Trait… is gone.’

Demon Breaker, the only trait ranked EX in Exorcism Academy Part 1.

Initially existing as an Unidentified Trait, it reveals itself as the story progresses, a unique trait belonging only to Yoo Haon.

That trait, which is in line with Yoo Haon’s very reason for existing, was now absent.

“Uh, excuse me.”

Yoo Haon, who I had grabbed in my daze, was flustered. But my reason had already completely flown away.

“Why…?”

Staring at her with a hollow face, I soon staggered out of the hall as if my soul had left my body.

This world, whatever was wrong, was completely wrong.

In the auditorium Han Kangyoon had left, someone hurriedly approached Yoo Haon, who was standing there dazed. It was Baek Eunseo, who had recently become her friend through the shared occasion of being new students.

“Haon, are you okay? Who was that person?”

“That… I don’t really know. He’s not someone I remember.”

Yoo Haon was equally flustered. At first, she wondered if she had forgotten, but no matter how much she thought, he was a stranger.

‘But why that face…?’

The expression was too filled with genuine emotion to be a mistake, so Yoo Haon couldn’t bring herself to shake off Kangyoon’s hand.

If he hadn’t confused her with someone else, there was only one possible scenario to consider.

‘I don’t know him, but that person knows me?’

That was no small matter for Yoo Haon.

With an unclear birth and no relatives, such a relationship was hardly possible for her.

‘T-then, perhaps…’

She had been searching for her past all along, but so far, there had been no clues.

But he might know something about her past self. If so, she absolutely must not let him go.

“If he tries anything, tell me. I’ll totally wreck him.”

“It’s fine. I wasn’t threatened or anything. It’s just…”

It’s just a bit on my mind. Yoo Haon glanced unnecessarily in the direction Kangyoon had disappeared.

You’ve probably seen this kind of scene in movies often.

While dozens of bullets rain down, the main characters safely dodge them, or zombies that others struggle with even one are torn apart like paper in front of the protagonist.

In reality, it’s a contrived and nonsensical story.

But people don’t object much. It’s that kind of story from the start, and that’s the protagonist.

‘Of course, even so, some device for minimal plausibility is necessary.’

Like using smoke to obscure vision, or the protagonist having a past as a combat-skilled soldier, that sort of thing.

‘And in Exorcism Academy Part 1, that device was the Demon-Suppressing Trait.’

The EX grade, called ‘beyond standard.’

The Demon-Suppressing Trait can be called the primary contributor to how the protagonist and surrounding supporting characters somehow manage to navigate through fights with slim chances of victory.

For example, a deus ex machina, a cheat key-like existence for progressing the story.

But what if that’s gone?

‘In every future situation, there will inevitably be a hole somewhere.’

Considering there are even enemies later where the Demon-Suppressing Trait itself is the key to defeating them, that says it all.

‘If it were an ordinary trait, there might be a possibility of obtaining it later, if not now.’

But the Demon-Suppressing Trait is different. It’s a trait impossible to possess unless you are born with it from the start.

“Sigh.”

Exorcism Academy Part 1, being an old game, follows a fairly classic storyline. That is, it inevitably involves a series of precarious tightrope walks by the main party.

If, due to the absence of the Demon-Suppressing Trait, that tightrope walk fails, what happens next is obvious enough to know with your eyes closed.

‘One of the main or supporting characters dies.’

And if that happens repeatedly, ultimately leaving the allied forces short on strength?

‘Can the story really continue to the end?’

As I was lost in endless worry, someone began approaching from afar.

I didn’t pay attention, but the owner of the presence soon stopped in front of me and spoke.

“What are you doing here?”

Jade-colored short hair falling to her shoulders catches the light, disrupting my vision.

It was Seo Jian.

“I have things to think about.”

“I can see that.”

Seo Jian, looking incredulous, took out her phone, showed me the screen, and said.

“…It’s been thirty minutes? Aren’t you going?”

Only then could I recall the words the escort had shouted earlier in the auditorium.

[Everyone must be gathered by 9:30!]

I had completely forgotten.

Flustered, I asked Seo Jian, who was giving me a pitiful look.

“What about you?”

“Special consultation.”

In the end, it meant I was the only one late.