Earth.
What a beautiful name.
This world was similar to Earth—but not quite the same.
When my friend, the author of World's Greatest Hero, created this world, he made a few significant changes. The most recognizable thing left untouched was the name of this planet: Earth.
Two hundred years ago, a sudden surge of energy swept through the atmosphere, and with it, the first dungeon break occurred.
Unknown creatures burst forth from these dungeons, rampaging through the world and destroying everything in sight.
Human civilization teetered on the brink of annihilation.
But just when it seemed all hope was lost, certain individuals stepped forward—individuals who, for reasons unknown, had developed strange abilities.
During the energy surge, some chosen few awakened an unfamiliar power.
Later, this energy came to be known as Mana.
And those individuals, those extraordinary beings, began to call their abilities Talents.
From that moment on, events unfolded at an incredible pace.
More and more people began awakening their Talents. Armed with newfound power, humanity clawed its way back from extinction, fighting off the monstrous hordes and reclaiming their world.
But the Earth of old—the Earth as we once knew it—was no more.
The seven continents that had once shaped the world were now gone.
Only four remained:
1. Velmoria
2. Aetherion
3. Dravencia
4. Cyrithia
The continent once known as Asia had become Velmoria.
And within Velmoria, I found myself in the Velkova Republic, a global superpower renowned for its cutting-edge military and research institutions.
Its capital? Novagrad.
Novagrad housed the Hero Association Headquarters, the governing body overseeing all heroes worldwide.
It was also home to Velcrest Academy—though technically, the academy had its own separate city, commonly referred to as Velcrest Academy City.
This city had been built specifically to support the academy's cadets, providing everything they needed, whether it was daily necessities, training facilities, or rewards in the form of Achievement Points and U-Credits.
(U-Credit was now the only recognized currency in the world, with 1 U-Credit being equivalent to 1 US dollar.)
Now, you might be wondering: Why am I giving you this long, boring lecture?
Well, as any proper transmigrator in a novel would know, it's my duty to provide world-building exposition early on—so I don't have to explain it again later.
I did good, didn't I?
Anyway—today was the day I was finally discharged from the hospital.
And let me tell you… being able to walk on my own two feet without feeling like I was on the verge of death? That was a blessing.
I had learned that the hard way these past two days.
Going from being half-dead to merely weak in just one day was nothing short of a miracle.
"It's been two days."
Velcrest Academy.
This was where I'd be staying for a while.
It was the heart of the story.
For now, the place was quiet. Only two days had passed since the entrance ceremony, and most students hadn't fully settled in yet.
But soon, this academy would be teeming with life—both in the brightest and the bloodiest of ways.
A tale of growth, friendship, and ambition was about to unfold.
But alongside it…
A story drenched in blood and tragedy awaited as well.
But I will change that since I have to lead this story to more satisfying ending.
Anyways, that was future goal.
..."But for now, let's begin my life at Velcrest Academy."
***
"Did I hear that correctly?"
"Yeah, Cadet Rin Evans, you sure did."
"But can't you make an exception? I don't have anywhere else to stay!"
"Sorry, kid, no can do. Rules are rules, and I have to follow them."
Fuck.
I mentally screamed as I stomped out of the dorm manager's office, frustration boiling inside me.
Once I stepped outside, I let out a deep sigh.
I seriously had no idea.
"How the hell was I supposed to know that Velcrest Academy's early dorm admission starts tomorrow and not today?!"
There wasn't a single mention of this in the novel when I read it.
And that bald guy… couldn't he have taken pity on me and just let me in a day early?
Let me tell you—he didn't. Not even a little.
So, what now?
I had no money. No place to stay.
…And most importantly—
Growl—!
I was starving.
There was still one option left.
I could go home.
Not my home, obviously, but Rin Evans' home—the owner of this body I had transmigrated into.
But yeah, that was out of the question for obvious reasons.
So, what else was left?
I hesitated for a moment before pulling out my phone.
There was only one person I could turn to right now.
I dialed Professor Lena.
After a few rings, she picked up.
"Rin… or rather, prospective cadet Rin Evans?"
And just like that, I met Professor Lena again—far sooner and in a much more embarrassing way than I ever expected.
I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
And now… I was at Professor Lena's house.
…Huh?
What the hell just happened?
It had only been a few minutes ago when she said—
"You have nowhere to go? Ah, right, it must be difficult to go to your family home right now."
And then—
"Since early admission starts tomorrow, how about staying at my place for today?"
Just like that, I found myself standing in her living room.
This situation escalated way too fast.
My secret friend looked at me like I was some poor runaway teenager, and honestly… that stung my pride.
I mean, setting aside security—since she could probably kill me in three moves if she wanted—was it really okay for an academy professor to bring a young man in his prime into her single-person home like this?
Was she seriously okay with this?
"Would you like to shower first? Or are you hungry?"
I blinked.
"…Let's just say it's the right choice."
"What?"
"Ah, no, it's nothing. I was thinking about something else and misspoke. I'm sorry."
I cleared my throat, pretending that I hadn't just questioned her entire judgment in my head.
Right now, the only thing that mattered was that I had a roof over my head… and possibly dinner.