“Valedictorian, Michael Foxin, please step forward.”

Finally, graduation day.

I watched with pride as the Protagonist ascended the podium. The distance made him look about the size of a cotton swab, but he was the only one around here with such striking white hair—Michael.

I couldn’t sit in the prepared seats like the other professors, but at least I could celebrate his graduation from here. I’d grown fond enough of him, after all.

<…Greetings. I am Michael Foxin, a graduate of Bedallua Academy’s 52nd class.>

His voice, magnified by amplification magic, reverberated powerfully across the grounds.

My, it felt like just yesterday he was stumbling over a simple greeting. And now here he was, delivering the valedictorian address.

Well done, Protagonist. Even though I did absolutely nothing for you as your homeroom teacher.

<The past three years I spent at Bedallua Academy were the most enriching and precious time of my life.>

True enough. A great deal had happened over those three years.

I experienced firsthand just how grueling it was to stand beside the Protagonist of a fantasy novel.

But they say the past always takes on a golden glow, doesn’t it? Looking back, it all felt like fond memories—not such a bad time after all.

‘Well, it’s all over now anyway.’

With graduation, the Protagonist would venture out into the wider world, and I would finally be free of this wretched main quest.

No more exhausting myself to maintain a persona! My personal healing life begins!

I’d had my post-retirement plans mapped out for ages. I’d even scouted out a quiet country house where I could live alone. It came with a pretty red roof and a spacious yard. Maybe I’d plant an apple tree or two, shaped like those drifting white clouds.

I was struggling to keep the smile from creeping onto my face at the very thought, when—

<That is precisely because I met you, Professor Chris.>

Huh?

Wait, why is my name coming up there?

I looked up in surprise and felt as though my eyes had met the Protagonist’s.

…That was my imagination, right? I was currently perched in a tree a considerable distance away from there.

There was no way he could see me clearly from this distance. If he could, would he even be human? Though I suppose the guy was overpowered.

<If not for you, Professor, I would not be here today. I was pathetic, weak-willed… thank you for continuing to guide me. Thank you for never giving up on me.>

This was excessive even for lip service. I had no recollection of doing anything that would warrant nearly tearing up during a graduation speech to express gratitude.

I had merely played the role of a rude, insufferable teacher. The Protagonist had grown entirely on his own because he was simply built different.

So what was there to give up or not give up! I never guided anyone!

But the Protagonist’s bombshell didn’t end there.

<…I know that you can no longer remain at the Academy. But please, give me the chance to repay my debt to you, Professor. I will follow you.>

At this point, my jaw had no choice but to drop.

He was the Protagonist. The entire world desperately needed his heroics.

Going on adventures, slaying dragons, saving other races, building a harem. He had so much to do, and yet here he was…

‘So you’re coming to ruin my healing life, is that it?’

Was this any way for a fantasy novel Protagonist to behave?

My head throbbed, but it was too early to collapse. The Protagonist’s resolute voice continued.

<It is not only me. Every member of the X-Class you raised stands here today, ready to become Chris Dotten’s people.>

At that very moment, the X-Class students sitting side by side in the back row rose and turned to face me.

What was this, what was this!

<Michael Foxin and five others! We pledge our loyalty to Chris Dotten!>

You idiots, scouts from every nation are here to recruit you, and what are you doing?! Can’t you see people whispering? My face is burning from secondhand embarrassment, damn it.

“These lunatics, seriously…”

This came straight from the heart—not a character roleplay or anything of the sort.

I was just an ordinary Transmigrator who couldn’t cast a single spell. How on earth did it come to this?

As applause erupted loudly, as if encouraging their declaration, I stared blankly up at the sky.

Mom, I ruined myself playing a character.

* * *

Right before I died in a traffic accident, a system window straight out of a game appeared before my eyes.

[Main Quest: ‘Request of the Earth God’ has arrived.]

[In a new life… bring … from … to … and save ….]

[Do you accept?]

[Yes/No]

‘Life.’

Only that word seemed to shine.

It was probably just a hallucination that came with dying, but right now, I would have done anything to stay alive.

I couldn’t die. I was still young, damn it.

With my last ounce of strength, I reached out my bloodied hand and pressed ‘Yes.’ Then, my consciousness faded to black.

* * *

Ding, ding.

My eyes snapped open at the notification sound ringing in my ears.

“Gasp.”

Wait, am I actually alive? I’m breathing?

Still in a daze, I sat up and found myself face to face with a blinking system window.

…Wait, do system windows normally have eyes?

“Aagh?!”

“Ah, Patient Chris. You’re awake.”

The man who had been staring at me through the semi-transparent window spoke.

His demeanor was excessively calm. Could he not see the system window?

Then again, it would be stranger if he could. Hallucinations were a known aftereffect of traffic accidents…

More importantly, who the hell was Chris?

“Chris…?”

“Yes, Patient Chris Dotten. Are you not? That’s what it says on your ID.”

What the man held out wasn’t a resident registration card but some unfamiliar card I’d never seen before.

Beneath the name ‘Chris Dotten’ written in elegant cursive, I could make out the words ‘Bedallua Academy, New Professor.’

This wasn’t even Korean. How could I read it?

“Looks like you were on your way to your first day of work. The entrance ceremony has already passed, but with this recent train accident throwing the whole area into chaos, the Academy should understand.”

“Train accident? I wasn’t hit by a truck…?”

The man’s words were equally far from Korean, yet strangely, I could understand him perfectly.

I could even speak naturally myself. Could it be…?

“Excuse me! Sorry, but could I get a mirror—”

Ding, ding!

The notification sound rang again, tickling my ears as if urging me on.

It seemed to be coming from the system window. Was it telling me to check it?

When I furrowed my brow, white text cascaded across the system window—chwararak.

[Main Quest: Request of the Earth God 1-1]

[Welcome, Player! You have entered the body of Chris Dotten, a new professor at Bedallua Academy. From this point forward, you will live as her and complete quests over the course of three years.]

An actual transmigration? No wonder the classic Transmigrator line about finding a mirror slipped out so naturally.

And Bedallua Academy—I’d seen that name before. In a fantasy novel I’d read to pass the time, no less.

It was probably called… <When the Demon King Hero is the Strongest He Goes on a Rampage>. Or <Hero Rampage> for short.

It was a novel about a weak Protagonist who awakened the Demon Lord’s blood and became an overpowered force of nature, conquering the world and building a harem.

But it had been a while since I’d read it. I’d dropped it partway through, so I barely remembered the latter half.

Above all, Chris Dotten? I had no memory of seeing that name in the original story, which meant she was clearly a passing extra. The kind who’d be described as insignificant, with no plot armor or anything.

And systems like this one always assigned harsher trials at times like this.

For example…

[A professor belongs at their post. Arrive at the *Bedallua Academy entrance* within the time limit.

Success Reward: Bedallua Academy Map (1/4)

Failure: Death

Time Remaining: 24:00:00]

Something like that.

Are you insane? I was in a train accident. Looking at myself now, I seemed to have bandages wrapped around my head too.

No time to rest? Does the Earth God have no conscience? I’d barely come back to life and already you’re trying to kill me again!

But no matter how many times I punched at the translucent system window, my fists only sliced through empty air in vain.

I finally let out a sigh and climbed down from the hospital bed.

“Uh, patient. It would be best to rest a bit more. There’s nothing seriously wrong with your body, but you’ve only just regained consciousness.”

Tell me about it, Doctor. I’d love nothing more than to rest, too.

[Time Remaining: 23:59:12]

That blood-red countdown was like a time bomb strapped to my neck.

“I’m fine. Um… how far is it from here to Bedallua Academy?”

“If you catch a carriage, you’ll arrive in half a day. But are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yes.”

What a kind man. I was touched. So there was warmth in this other world after all.

“Then please settle your medical fees first. I’ll guide you through the discharge process afterward.”

But I didn’t have health insurance, damn it…

“Oh, of course. By any chance, do you know where my belongings are? And if you could point me toward the exit…”

“Just this bag. Your wallet is inside, so you needn’t worry about running off without paying.”

The words ‘Thank you’ nearly came out as ‘Thrangks-yurgh.’