Chronocross Academy was exactly as I remembered.
White spires rose into the sky like frozen spears of light. Floating bridges connected the towers, humming softly with mana. Students in black-and-silver uniforms filled the courtyards, each carrying weapons, grimoires, or relics bound to their souls.
A place that trained heroes.
A place that decided who lived…
…and who vanished.
I walked beside Lee Taeyang, the protagonist of this world. He was tall, confident, his presence naturally drawing attention. In every route, he became the axis around which fate revolved.
And I?
I was Han Jiwon—a side character.A name that never appeared in the endings.
Around us, familiar figures gathered.
Jung Woojin, loud and carefree, waving at everyone.Kim Nayoung, sharp-eyed and distant, already measuring rivals.And standing quietly beneath a blooming crystal tree—
Baek Seola.
White hair shimmered in the sunlight. Blue eyes reflected the sky. She held her books close, smiling gently as students passed her by.
Just like the game.
This was the prologue phase.
The calm before the routes branched.
Taeyang stretched. "First day at Chronocross. Feels like destiny, doesn't it?"
I forced a nod.
In the Eternity Route, this day mattered.
It began with a simple evaluation duel between students. A ritual to measure potential. Harmless on the surface.
But in that route…
Seola's latent power reacted to the academy's core.The world marked her.And from that moment on, her fate was sealed.
An immortal ending.
Not for her.
For everyone else.
The bell rang.
A voice echoed across the courtyard.
"First-years. Report to the central arena."
The script was moving.
The arena was a circular platform carved from white stone, surrounded by floating sigils. Students stood in pairs. Magic flared. Steel rang.
Taeyang was called.
So was I.
"In the original game," I thought, "this duel never happened."
I was never meant to stand here.
Taeyang smiled at me. "Guess it's us. Don't worry—I'll go easy."
That line.
He said it in every route.
The duel began.
Mana surged. Taeyang moved like lightning, his blade wrapped in crimson light. I barely dodged. Each strike felt scripted, perfect.
So this is what fighting a protagonist feels like.
I was thrown back, skidding across stone. Pain flared.
The crowd murmured.
"Isn't that Han guy weak?""Taeyang's already won."
He raised his sword.
"Yield."
In the game, I would.
This was where I disappeared.
But behind him, beyond the arena—
I saw Seola watching.
Worried.
That same gentle expression she wore before every sacrifice.
Something inside me snapped.
Eternity Route…A world that continues forever… by erasing her.
"No," I whispered.
Taeyang struck.
Darkness swallowed my vision.
Then—
Warmth.
A presence.
As if something ancient had answered me.
Golden light seeped from my chest.
The impact vanished.
Gasps filled the arena.
A golden aura rose around my body, swirling like liquid sunlight.
Taeyang staggered back. "What… is this?"
A black mantle formed around my shoulders—cloth woven from shadow, traced with glowing golden lines.
Not from the game.
Not from any route.
A power that never existed.
My voice tore from my chest.
"I won't surrender!"
The aura erupted.
"I won't let her die!"
The arena trembled.
And somewhere beyond this world—
The script of fate cracked.