I focused energy into my left palm, then my right, forming a small ball of wind and hurled it straight at Dan.
He was caught off guard but still managed to raise his arms to block it. Taking that moment, I leapt backward, putting some distance between us. Dan didn't show any signs of being hurt—his body reinforcement magic was seriously strong. The only way to win… was to push him out of the ring.
Dan was arrogant and full of confidence in his strength. He rarely bothered to use his brain.
Getting him riled up? Not hard at all.
"Is that all you've got?" I smirked.
Instantly, his face twisted with anger.
I took a step back, staying one beat faster than him. Two more dodges, and I could see the frustration piling up on his face. The third time, he roared and charged at me, pouring everything into a single punch, like a wild beast lunging forward.
But I moved just in time, leaning just enough for the punch to brush past my face.
"Match over!" the teacher's voice rang out.
Dan froze. He looked down at his feet—he'd stepped outside the boundary.
A bead of sweat rolled down my temple.
If I hadn't known Dan's abilities in advance… I probably would've lost.
---
After the match, I headed to the showers, then returned to the stands, where Sachi and Lucy were already waiting. I dropped into the seat next to them, still feeling the rush of adrenaline in my veins.
"You're really fast, Yuto. One blink and you completely avoid him ," Sachi grinned brightly, then turned to Lucy. "Right, Lucy?"
Lucy, as always, wore her usual cold expression. She replied flatly,
"Not bad."
I chuckled and looked at her. Our eyes met for just a moment before Lucy quickly turned away, a faint blush on her cheeks.
She's cute when she's like that, I thought.
The teacher announced the next round. One by one, Lucy, Kiana, and Sachi stepped into the arena.
All three of them won with ease,just like I remembered from the original story. Different fighting styles, but their strength was unmistakable.
---
After the battles, we were informed about the academy dormitories. Unsurprisingly, boys and girls were strictly separated, with clear boundaries and rules—
,no one was allowed to cross without permission.
I said goodbye to Sachi and Lucy. Both looked tired but satisfied. Lucy gave a small nod, while Sachi waved with her usual radiant smile.
An elderly maid led me to the boys' dormitory.
The room was a double—standard dorm layout: bunk beds, desks, and personal wardrobes. It was clean and had the faint scent of fresh wood. Not luxurious, but comfortable enough.
I glanced around. My roommate hadn't arrived yet.
This part wasn't mentioned in the original novel, so I had no idea who I'd be sharing the room with.
I chose the top bunk, tossed my bag up, and climbed in. The mattress was surprisingly soft,my back sank into the padding like I was being swallowed by clouds.
Golden rays of sunset streamed through the small window, casting a warm glow on the ceiling. I raised a hand to block the light and sighed quietly.
So much had happened in just one day.
I—Yuto—once just a reader, had stepped into the very story I used to follow… now playing the role of a side character.
And scarier than anything: I knew what would happen next—though not everything.
Then, the door creaked open.
I sat up instinctively and froze.
A "boy" with short red hair stepped in. His sharp golden eyes scanned the room and then locked onto me. Even though he wore the boys' uniform, something about his posture and movements felt… off.
I recognized her instantly.
Alice.
Alice Valleria—one of the main heroines in the original novel. The only daughter of a long-standing viscount family. Since childhood, she'd lived under strict rules, practically imprisoned in her family's estate. No friends. No freedom.
At sixteen, she was finally allowed to leave but only under one condition: she had to disguise herself as a boy and enroll in the academy under the alias Arisu.
Her mission? Something secret and political. The novel never revealed the details, only that it was tied to a dangerous conspiracy.
"…I'm Arisu, new student, Class B," she said curtly, voice slightly deeper than natural,clearly trying to sound more masculine.
I sat up, pretending not to recognize her.
"I'm Yuto, Class A. Nice to meet you, roommate."
She gave a small nod, her sharp eyes never leaving me, as if trying to assess whether I was a threat. Then, she walked over to the bottom bunk and placed her bag down.
"Where are you from?" I asked, trying to keep the mood casual.
"…The West," she answered shortly, without looking at me.
This was hard. I knew exactly who she was and why she was here. But I couldn't let that slip. If Alice knew I'd seen through her disguise, things could get messy fast.
"Nice hair, by the way," I said offhandedly, trying to keep things light.
She froze for a second, then turned to look at me.
"…I'm a boy."
"Ah right, I meant the color. Red. Pretty unique."
She didn't respond, but her shoulders relaxed just slightly. Then she turned back and started unpacking in silence.
I lay back down and stared at the ceiling, one arm over my forehead.
Day one, and I'm already living with a walking time bomb…
Not sure whether I should be excited or terrified.