Became a Traitor in an Academy

Test from Day One

The status window said she was a heroine. However, my reason was wary of her.

Everything from start to finish was strange. Even setting aside her identity, her behavior was strange. Meeting me and suddenly telling me her name and asking for mine.

After I told her my name, immediately giving me her phone number and asking for mine was strange too. But above all, her attitude was strange. She seemed very uncomfortable, as if unfamiliar with such things.

Like she wanted to show interest but was struggling because she didn’t know how.

“Um… well. Looks like we’re going the same way?”

“Yeah. Are you in the Hero Department too?”

“Yes.”

If there was one thing I could deduce from this, it was that this student called Blanca was definitely not the sociable type.

She kept trying to make conversation, seemingly aware that her staring was awkward, but it only amounted to exchanging a few words like just now.

That’s why it was even stranger. It made no sense for someone with such poor social skills to suddenly approach me specifically.

I had never saved any Ein race people before. And if I thought she might be infatuated with my looks, that definitely wasn’t it.

Although I had a face that I could evaluate as handsome every morning while washing up, I wasn’t yet at the level where someone would fall for me just by looking.

Moreover, if she were infatuated with looks, she would have glanced at me dozens of times while passing by, but she didn’t do that at all. She only showed interest in me.

Like that rich young master we just passed, Lim Chang-won. Even if she didn’t know anything about his background or abilities, she would know he’s much better looking than me.

Yet she only gave him one glance before continuing to look only at me.

She clearly approached me with some purpose, but I couldn’t guess what that purpose might be at all. Well, I had no way of knowing since she wasn’t in the original work.

Even when I opened the relationship character list and viewed her entry, there was nothing except her name, photo, and physical information.

The physical information was something I didn’t know, but that wouldn’t help identify who she was.

Still, well. It was surprising. How could this be a first-year student?

Even though the heroines had good figures, they were at least understandable as students. But this could pass for an adult, not even a third-year academy student.

“…It’s a bit much when you stare so intensely.”

Ah. I lowered my head and apologized. Blanca fluttered saying that wasn’t necessary, but then sighed saying she was getting used to it.

Must be a complex. I should be careful.

When I entered Class A, she naturally followed. So she was in Class A too.

When we arrived at the classroom, there were no empty seats except in the back.

So when I sat in the middle back seat where the heroine would sit, Blanca naturally sat… not next to me, but in the window seat at the very end.

…That startled me.

I never intended to steal the protagonist’s seat in the first place, but I still wanted to tease him a bit.

So I casually walked by, but when I saw his expression instantly darken, I realized my mistake.

Though unintentional, he was someone who couldn’t receive his original rewards because of me. I couldn’t take away his chance to sit next to the heroine too.

I sat by the window feeling remorseful. I wanted to watch from afar anyway.

But that wasn’t the only reason I sat by the window.

“Oh, Blanca? You’re in Class A too?! Wow, that’s great! I was worried you might be in a different class since you went ahead without saying anything…!”

The game protagonists being right in front of where I sat was a big factor.

I needed to get close to them according to the plan anyway. Pretending to be glad, I naturally exchanged phone numbers and made a chat room with them while saying insincere things like ‘you’re in the same class too’ and ‘this must be fate’.

I was used to doing things I didn’t mean, so it came as naturally as swallowing water. While chattering like that, the front door slid open and our homeroom teacher entered.

And students began to stir as they recognized her.

“Nice to meet you, future heroes. I’m Justitia, who will be your homeroom teacher from today. Perhaps you’re more familiar with the name Gazer?”

Black hair and black sunglasses. Her attire was a bit flashy for a teacher, but too modest to be a hero’s costume.

“Rank 14, Gazer as our homeroom teacher…? I knew Heros Academy’s level but… my god. To think an active hero, and a ranked one at that, would be our teacher…”

One student muttered blankly as if seeing something unbelievable.

For someone ranked, especially in the top 20, they could openly refuse even if Heros Academy asked them to come.

Rather, it was strange that Gazer readily accepted.

Looking around the classroom, she smiled slightly when she saw me sitting in the corner.

While I also smiled at seeing a familiar face, I only smiled with my eyes and mouthed ‘later’. There were too many people watching right now.

“Ugh. Jin-hyeon. Don’t tell me you don’t even know Gazer? You at least know who Number One is…?”

The game protagonists sitting in front were saying exactly the lines I had seen. Hearing it like this felt a bit strange, like watching story dubbing that wasn’t originally there.

“It’s Invictus, right?”

“Yes… at least you know that much… Though not in the top ten, she’s a hero respected even by decent S-rank hunters. You need to pay more attention to the world…!”

How could a hero aspirant not even know ranked heroes’ names well?

Yeonhwa scolded Jin-hyeon, but as she always did, she ended up sighing and muttering about how he would have lived without her.

“Such spirited attitudes, truly wonderful to see. Youth indeed. However, enthusiasm alone cannot make you a hero. To become a hero, that is, to save others, you must first know yourself.”

Justitia slowly laid the groundwork. Yes. They’re doing this as planned. I had been secretly anxious wondering if this would be canceled because of me too.

“First, let’s start light today by finding out your limits. Change clothes and gather at Stadium Alpha.”

It was the Limit Test.

If you ask what the Limit Test is – it’s nothing grand, just a test that squeezes students to their limits.

Making children who have never given 100% until now give 100%.

While it also tests various abilities required of heroes, the main purpose was to make them know their limits.

The secondary purpose was to let teachers properly know the students’ abilities.

That way teachers could distinguish between students who needed intensive care and those who could be left to realize things on their own.

“A test from day one…”

“They said it’s just called a test, it’s not one where they rank us. Jin-hyeon, let’s do our best!”

“No, but they said we have to use our abilities. It makes me uncomfortable.”

“That’s true, but we’re not using them on people! Besides, this will be our first impression, you’re not thinking of half-hearting it like usual, are you?!”

Yeonhwa was scolding the still spiritless Jin-hyeon like a mother. A grown man showing such a lifeless attitude. It was quite unsightly.

“To get everyone’s attention… is there no other way.”

In contrast, Min-ho showed no such lifeless attitude at all. Rather, he seemed to be trying to somehow salvage the twisted development.

Probably trying to resolve something that went wrong because the entrance ceremony quest got messed up.

Since there had never been cases in the original work where quest content changed due to twisted development, I don’t know what happened… but still, he’ll probably overcome it wisely somehow.

“What a pointless thing to do.”

“Agh? If I knew we’d do this, I would’ve at least brought my gold necklace! Damn.”

“Let’s work hard not to disgrace grandmother’s name.”

“I have a bad feeling about this…”

Other students were showing various reactions too. Justitia corrected such a chaotic atmosphere with one clap, and after everyone quieted down, she spoke.

“It sounds grand, but it’s really just a physical test using abilities. We won’t even rank you. But don’t think to approach it with a lax attitude. If your total score falls below the standard… you might be moved to a lower class.”

“N-no way…!”

Yeonhwa visibly panicked and tried to say something to Justitia, but she continued without letting Yeonhwa speak.

“If you came thinking you don’t need to worry anymore since you got into Class A, you’ll need to think again. Class A is a place for only the best of the best. Not for those who settle in their position, but for those who endlessly advance toward the summit.”

Yes. This was that kind of event.

No such thing as a white lie. Revealing how intense the academy is while letting them know they’ll be sent to lower classes without mercy if they fall below standards.

“I’m sorry if you came hoping for an enjoyable academy life. Heros Academy will endlessly question whether you’re worthy of sitting in that seat.”

Saying this, Justitia removed the sunglasses she had been wearing.

“At the end of all those proofs, I wonder which of you will remain… I’ll be watching.”

When her dark purple eyes behind the sunglasses began to glow, the students’ bodies literally froze.

Most students rolled their eyes in panic as they suddenly couldn’t breathe, and some, including Jin-hyeon and Yeonhwa, were struggling to break free.

Only Min-ho and I remained still without any resistance. Because her ability wasn’t something you could break free from by resisting.

“…Since even this is part of the curriculum, I was a bit mischievous. Even if the academy doesn’t, I’m rooting for all of you. Now then, starting from the leftmost student in front, please come forward.”