OHH SHIT, I OVERSLEPT AGAIN.
Today is another day of my boring college life. During my school days, I studied hard to get into a top college and avoided any kind of fun that could hinder my studies. Thanks to that, I managed to get into the No. 1 college in my country. But now my life has become very boring. Every day feels like a repeat of the previous day. Every morning—no, not morning—every afternoon, I wake up after missing all my morning classes, have lunch, and go to evening classes (without taking a shower, of course). Then I come back to my hostel room, read novels till late at night, sleep, and repeat…
And now I'm coming back from the last class of the day with my friends, whose gay jokes are starting to feel a little too real.
I'm thinking about the novel I was reading last night. The novel was good. I liked it very much. The hunter concept, guilds, heroines—everything was good. There was just one problem: the main character. He was too dumb. Like, literally dumb. Such a disappointment. Even I could do better than that. What a dumbass, huh?
As I was lost in my thoughts, cursing the main character, suddenly a truck hit me…
And now I'm dead. Well, nothing I can do about it. My life was short but pretty decent. The only regret I have is—I died a virgin. I wish I could have fucked the hottest girl on campus, but it is what it is.
Wait… how am I still thinking all this? I thought death was supposed to be a dead end.
I open my eyes.
What the—? Everything that happened was a dream? It felt pretty realistic though. I check my surroundings. I'm lying on a bed that isn't mine. This room is different from the rooms in my hostel. It doesn't look like a hospital.
My body feels different. My clothes are weird too.
And then I see myself in the mirror.
What the fuck…
I look exactly the same as the main character of the novel I was reading last night. Don't tell me this is that reincarnation thing that happens in fantasy novels when Truck-kun hits you.
As I was lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard a knock on my door.
Thuck. Thuck.
I opened the door.
"Mr. Krai, you overslept again, didn't you?" (Eva)
A beautiful woman appeared in front of me. Perfect boobs, a sexy figure. She was wearing a red-and-white uniform and glasses—hot and elegant. Totally my type.
"Ah, good morning, Eva." (Krai)
It was Eva, the Vice Clan Master of First Steps.
From what I remember, my name is Krai Andrey, a Level 8 Hunter, leader of the strongest and most famous party, Grieving Souls, and Clan Master of one of the strongest and most renowned clans, First Steps. I'm known as one of the strongest hunters in the Imperial Capital of Zebrudia, where our clan is based. I also got a second name from the Explorers Association—Thousand Tricks. The man who knows everything.
But here's the worst part: the MC is actually the weakest character. He doesn't know anything and became who he is because of his super-strong friends. But everyone just assumes he's the strongest, and in the end, everything somehow works out. So their belief in him grows stronger and stronger. And now I'm the most trusted, strongest, and wisest hunter in everyone's eyes.
"I went to your office, but you weren't there, so I knew you were still sleeping. Mr. Krai, you are the Clan Master. You should be more responsible." (Eva)
I know the reality about the main character. But now that I myself am Krai Andrey, I can't tell her I'm weak and good for nothing. Neither can I say, "Hi, I'm a college student who just got reincarnated as Krai. Nice to meet you." So I chose the safe way out.
"Sorry about sleeping late again. I was busy last night working on something. I promise I'll wake up early starting tomorrow." (Krai)
Eva looked at me suspiciously and asked,
"May I ask what you were busy doing last night?" (Eva)
"Oh, that? Nothing. Just something, you know… Oh, by the way, why did you come here? Do you need something?" (Krai)
As I tried to change the topic, Eva first looked at me, then at the file she was holding, and said,
"We received a summon from the Explorers Association. Branch Manager Gark wants to see you." (Eva)
Gark is the Branch Manager of the Explorers Association. He thinks Krai can do anything and always shoves the hardest quests onto me. He's a little intimidating, but he's a good person who trusts Krai to get any job done.
"Why does he want to see me?" (Krai)
"I have no idea. Maybe he has some quest he needs your help with." (Eva)
I'm a lazy guy. If someone gives me a job, I just reject or ignore it. And to my benefit, the main character was also very lazy and didn't want to do anything. Now that I think about it, there are many similarities between me and the main character. Both normal humans with no special skills. Lazy. Always pushing difficult jobs onto others.
I don't think anyone will notice any change in my behavior or doubt me. I can just act like my usual self.
"But I don't want to go. Send someone else." (Krai)
As if my reaction was natural, she looked at the file again and said,
"He specifically asked for you. And he also mentioned that if you don't go, then he will come here himself." (Eva)
This is a problem. If I don't go, he'll come here—and he'll be angry that I ignored his summon. But the bigger problem is that I don't know which arc is going on right now. Why does Gark want to see me? Did I do something? Or do I have to do something? Could he already be angry with me?
Angry Gark vs. Unknown Gark.
The choice was easy.
"Fine. I'll go to the Explorers Association." (Krai)
"That would be wise." (Eva)
"Can you bring me breakfast?" (Krai)
"You mean lunch. I'll have it ready in your office." (Eva)
"Thanks for that." (Krai)
After that, Eva left the room. I was still in my sleeping clothes, so I changed into something that matched how the original main character looked in the novel, and then went to my office.
Food was ready on the table. In the novel, Eva does all the official clan work. If I had to guess, I think she's in love with the main character. But because of her professional behavior, I'm not sure. Which works in my favor, because I also don't want to do any clan work. So it's better that Eva handles everything.
I wish I could send Eva to see Gark, but that won't work. I have to go myself.
I quickly finished my food and left the clan house of First Steps.
It's a five-story building, and my office was on the fifth floor. There are no lifts, so I had to use the stairs to come down.
Now, I don't even know the address of the Explorers Association. But that's not a problem. Because of the masks the members of Grieving Souls wear—with the logo of a laughing skull on them—many people haven't seen my face. So if I ask someone for directions, they'll think I'm just a new hunter who wants to go to the Association and tell me how to get there.
So after asking a stranger for directions, I finally arrived at the Explorers Association.