Draekon hummed under his breath as he pushed through the examination hall's heavy oak doors, the cool afternoon breeze hitting his face like a splash of cold water. Finally. Freedom.
Golden liquid—warm, alive—rushed through his veins like molten sunlight. It pooled at his wrist, condensing and hardening until it formed the familiar weight of the Dragon's Bracelet. The artifact pulsed once against his skin, as if acknowledging his presence.
He sighed, rolling his shoulders. "So annoying..."
The written exam had been brutal. Not because it was difficult—honestly, the questions were straightforward if you'd done the reading—but because his body still felt wrong. Heavy. Sluggish. Like someone had replaced his bones with lead pipes and filled his joints with sand.
He stretched his arms overhead, trying to work out the stiffness, and felt that familiar heat building in his skull. Not quite a headache, but close. A constant pressure that made everything feel slightly off.
Still not fresh, he thought, snorting softly. How long is this backlash going to last?
And to think I still had to write exams on top of this.
He paused mid-step, a memory surfacing unbidden.
Last time I wrote a serious exam?
CSAT. Yeah.
Eighteen years ago. Eighteen years since I took something this seriously.
Speaking of which—
TING!
The notification chime rang in his head, crisp and clear. Blue text materialized in the corner of his vision, hovering like augmented reality overlays.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Congratulations! Chapter 1 Complete!
Heroic Entrance!!.
Class Selection Exam – Grade: F – 1/1
Reward: 250 Gold
Written Exam – Grade: S – 1/1
Reward: 750 Gold
EARLY ACCESS TO STORE UNLOCKED!
Chapter Grade: C
Draekon blinked at the floating text, his brain taking a second to process.
C-Grade. For the whole chapter.
He grimaced. If I was streaming this run, chat would be flaming me right now.
But honestly? Given how off-the-rails everything had gone—fighting Aurora—a C-rank felt generous.
He swiped the notification aside and focused on the important part.
Store access. Finally.
With a thought, he pulled up his system interface. The translucent blue screen expanded in front of him, invisible to everyone else. Numbers and icons arranged themselves neatly:
[PLAYER STATUS]
Current Balance: 1,500 Gold
(500 from Seraphina's allowance + 1,000 from quest rewards)
STORE – NOW AVAILABLE
Categories:
EquipmentResourcesSkills
Draekon's lips curled into a grin. Time to go shopping.
He tapped the Equipment tab first.
[EQUIPMENT SHOP]
Available Items: 2
Used Iron Sword (F-Grade) – Durability 7/10 – 10 GoldUsed Iron Shield (F-Grade) – Durability 7/10 – 15 Gold
He stared at the listings, his excitement deflating like a punctured balloon.
That's... it? Two beat-up starter weapons?
He clicked over to Resources.
[RESOURCES SHOP]
Available Items: 1
Water – 1 Gold
"Water," Draekon muttered aloud, deadpan. "Literally just... water."
He rubbed his temples. This store is garbage.
Still, he checked the last tab: Skills.
[SKILLS SHOP]
Available Items: 1
"My Fingers Are Sharp!!!" (F-Grade)
Effect: Allows user to cut objects with bare hands (equivalent to box cutter sharpness)
Cost: 100 Gold
Draekon read the description twice, just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.
Box cutter sharpness. For a hundred gold. Are you serious right now?
He closed the shop window with a mental swipe, his shoulders slumping slightly.
I need to get higher chapter grades for better items to show up. This is tutorial-tier gear.
Still, the realization stung. He'd been looking forward to this unlock for weeks, and the store was basically a dollar-store clearance bin.
At least I've got gold saved up. When better items appear, I'll be ready.
Before he could dwell on it further, noise pulled his attention back to reality.
Students poured out of the examination hall in waves—some grinning, others groaning, a few looking like they'd just survived a natural disaster. The academy courtyard buzzed with chatter, relief and stress mixing in equal measure.
Draekon drifted toward the edge of the crowd, scanning faces.
Then he spotted her.
Serina stood near the fountain, surrounded by a small group of students. Her blue hair caught the afternoon light, and her face was flushed pink—not from embarrassment, but from barely contained excitement. She was talking rapidly, hands gesturing animatedly, and the students around her hung on every word.
Draekon's grin returned. Looks like the researcher hit her jackpot.
He wandered closer, thoughts turning analytical.
To think this change would actually happen... Well, it was just a theory until she used it in combat against Raul. Thermal Acceleration Dynamics. Now that she's proven it works in practice, sponsors should be lining up.
But then another thought hit him, and his smile faltered.
Wait. What about the potion event?
In the original storyline—the game storyline—Serina's big introductory event was brewing a speed-enhancement potion during a public demonstration. That was supposed to be her "breakout moment," the thing that got her noticed by the academy's research guilds.
But now? She'd already made her mark with Thermal Acceleration Dynamics.
That event might not even happen now. Or it'll play out completely differently.
His jaw tightened.
This is turning into a mess. No—I'm thinking about this too late. It's already gone off the rails. Ever since Prince Agni showed up alive at this academy, everything's been different.
"Well, well! If it isn't the researcher!" Draekon called out, his voice bright and teasing as he approached.
Serina turned, her eyes lighting up. "Draekon!"
The group around her parted slightly, making space. Serina's cheeks were still pink, her grin so wide it looked like her face might split.
"Seems like you've hit your jackpot," Draekon said warmly, hands in his pockets. "How're you feeling?"
Serina laughed, a bit breathless. "I—honestly, I can't believe it. The academy actually included my theory in the written exam! Long answer on Thermal Acceleration Dynamics!"
"They'd be idiots not to," Draekon said simply. "You proved it works in live combat. That's the kind of practical application researchers dream about."
Serina's blush deepened, but her grin stayed firm. "Thanks. That... that means a lot."
As they talked, Draekon's gaze flicked past Serina's shoulder.
Ashen.
The white-haired heir stood a few paces back, half-hidden by the crowd. His golden-slit eyes were locked on Serina, expression unreadable but tense—like he was waiting for an opening to approach.
Their eyes met.
Ashen's jaw tightened. He clicked his tongue—tch—and turned on his heel, walking away without a word.
Draekon watched him go, eyebrows raised slightly.
Before he could comment, a new voice cut in.
"I'm so glad I joined the Talent Advancement Program!"
A boy with round glasses and neatly combed brown hair stepped forward, practically vibrating with enthusiasm.
"To think I get to study alongside you, Serina!" His eyes sparkled like he'd just won the lottery. "This is such an honor!"
Serina's face went from pink to scarlet. She waved her hands frantically. "N-no, I'm happy to study with you guys too! Really! We're all learning together, Sie!"
Serina cleared her throat, trying to regain composure. "A-anyway, we've still got the Freshers' Party coming up, right?"
Draekon nodded. "Yep. Results get announced during that event. Should be fun."
Sie turned to Draekon, glasses glinting. "Oh, you're the Hero, right? Draekon Ardent?"
"That's me," Draekon said with a casual shrug.
"We had mock exams in the TAP," Sie explained, adjusting his glasses. "And Thermal Acceleration Dynamics questions that showed up on our mock actually appeared on the real written exam today! Sir Michael insisted we study everything Lady Ignatia prepared, and man, I'm glad we did."
"Ignatia?" Draekon blinked. Ignatia. If I remember the timeline correctly, she never actually studied at the academy. No—more precisely, she quit in the first week after Agni's death was made public.
"Ignatia?" Draekon blinked.
The temperature rose.
"Hero."
Draekon froze.
Ignatia stood directly in behind him—when had she gotten there?—her heterochromia eyes boring into him like drill bits. One red. One blue. Both utterly unreadable behind her sleek silver glasses.
Her white hair into a bun, and her academy uniform was immaculate, not a single wrinkle. She stood with her arms loosely at her sides, but something about her posture radiated danger.
"You seem interested in the Sun Empire's Talent Advancement Program," she said smoothly, voice like polished steel.
Draekon's mouth opened slightly. His brain scrambled for a response.
"N-no," he said quickly, then forced a smile. "I'm just glad the Sun Empire is working toward general welfare. The effort to bridge the gap between commoners and nobles is truly... underappreciated."
Ignatia's eyes sharpened, just a fraction. Then she nodded once. "Thank you."
She turned to Serina, and her expression shifted—softening, just slightly.
"Congratulations on your theory receiving official approval. You have six months to present a full demonstration before the Magical Judiciary Council."
Serina's eyes went wide as saucers. She nodded so hard her whole body bobbed. "I-I'll do my best! I promise! I'll work day and night if I have to—"
"You know, Lady Ignatia," Serina blurted, still nodding, "you're not as scary as I used to think you were!"
Ignatia's hand moved—smooth, deliberate—and clamped down on top of Serina's head. Her long fingers wrapped around Serina's skull like a vice, stopping the bobbing motion instantly.
Ignatia leaned down slightly, her heterochromia eyes locking onto Serina's with laser focus.
"Am I scary?" she asked softly, each word deliberate. "Ever?"
Serina shook her head frantically—or tried to, but Ignatia's hand held her in place. "N-never! Never ever!"
The joy drained from Serina's face like water down a sink, absorbed into Ignatia's palm.
"Indeed," Ignatia whispered, her voice dropping to something almost inaudible. "I am not scary. I am unmatched in all aspects a lady should possess. Grace. Intelligence. Refinement."
Her eyes went distant, unfocused.
"But it's all for naught..." Her voice turned hollow. "Why doesn't the prince fancy me...?"
The lightless quality of her gaze intensified. Even her heterochromia eyes seemed to dull, like someone had turned down the brightness.
"Sie?" Her voice snapped back to normal.
Sie jumped, nearly dropping his glasses. "Y-yes, Lady Ignatia?!"
"I believe Sir Michael is looking for you. Best be on your way."
Sie nodded so fast his glasses slipped. "R-right! Excuse me!"
He practically bolted.
Ignatia adjusted her glasses with one hand, released Serina's head, and walked away without another word.
Draekon stood frozen in place, like a stone in a flowing river. A single bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. His throat felt dry—painfully dry.
He swallowed, his saliva doing almost nothing to help.
All the doubts just connected.
His mind raced, pieces clicking together with horrifying clarity.
Ignatia quit the academy in the first week after Agni's death was made public. But in this timeline, Agni's alive. And she's... obsessed with him? No—"why doesn't the prince fancy me?"
That's...
His hands trembled slightly.
Is Agni... a player? From Earth? Like me?
The thought hit him like a freight train.
Another reincarnator? Another person with a system? Someone else who got isekai'd into this world?
If that's true... then everything's different. The whole game. The whole story.
I'm not the only one anymore.