The shrill, jarring BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEP of the alarm clock slices through the stillness of my room, loud enough to shake the air. It's relentless, almost mocking—the kind of sound that refuses to be ignored. Each beep is like a sharp jab in my ear, dragging me out of my fragile slumber and into the harsh reality of another day of unexpected chaos. The blaring noise echoes off the walls as if it has a life of its own, refusing to stop until its mission is complete.
"This damn alarm... Since when did I set it to 5 o'clock...?"
Groggily, I roll out of bed and fumble for my phone, desperate for any important notifications or reminders that might help me make sense of the day. As soon as I unlock it, I'm bombarded with a flood of messages—dozens from Rowland, and even some from my grandparents, all filled with worried comments.
But right now, nothing about today makes sense. It's all blurry and fuzzy, like a dream I can't fully grasp. As I try to piece things together, a notification pops up from Amelia, an acquaintance I barely tolerate. She's sent me an invitation to one of her friend's birthday parties—a friend I was introduced to once and immediately forgot.
I sigh. Amelia has always been a nuisance, only ever messaging me when she needs help with exams or homework. No matter how much I try to ignore her, she still finds ways to pester me.
Shaking my head, I drag myself into the bathroom to rinse off the fatigue clinging to my body. But then—
A memory flashes through my mind.
Something about a system… and a school…
"Oh my god…"
I freeze, gripping the sink as the realization crashes down on me.
"I remember now... I accepted a contract to become the Headmistress of that school—the one I bought to turn into my home and cooking business!"
My stomach churns. Why the hell did I agree to that? I must've been too exhausted to think straight.
"Oh, I'm so stupid. What should I do now? I don't want to become a Hunter… What if—what if—"
I start pacing around the bathroom, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if everything goes wrong?
After a few deep breaths, I force myself to focus. Panicking won't solve anything. Right now, I need to figure out what to do next.
Before I can even think, a familiar glowing screen materializes in front of me.
[Would you like to view your status?]
[Yes/No]
My heart skips a beat. Of course… now that I'm officially a "Hunter," I can see my status, my skills, my abilities—everything about my strength and wisdom. It almost feels like a game, but a very real, very dangerous one.
"No, I shouldn't..." I mumble, but curiosity gets the best of me. "What harm could it do?"
I sigh and tap the screen. "Open status window…"
Saying that aloud makes me cringe. It reminds me of when I used to daydream about being the main character in some grand simulation.
[Showing status]
====================
Name: Elaine Ardent
Age: 25
Title: -
Rank: ???
Occupation: School Headmistress
Strength: D-
Agility: B
Intelligence: A
Charisma: C-
Luck: ???
Abilities:
Absolute Authority – Any Hunter inside the academy is bound by the system's rules (penalties, forced training, discipline, etc.). Disobedience is not an option.
Hidden Dungeon Control – The academy itself hides a secret dungeon that evolves based on the students' progress. The stronger the students become, the more challenging the dungeon grows.
Phantom Network – Grants the ability to create and control illusions, manipulate voices, and generate a fake "Headmistress" persona remotely. Ideal for maintaining anonymity.
Student Evolution Pathways – Instead of merely training students, the system shapes their potential, allowing them to break past normal Hunter limits.
Domain of the Headmistress – Enhances authority within school grounds, granting buffs to allies and debuffs to intruders.
Architect's Touch – Allows full customization of the academy's layout, from classroom designs to training grounds.
====================
I stare at the screen, my jaw slack.
"This… this is some overpowered bullshit…"
I mean, I can control illusions? Make a fake clone of myself? Design the entire school to my liking? And I can influence the abilities of my students?
I let out a low whistle. "Wait… there's even a dungeon in the school?"
Dungeons are rare and incredibly valuable. The Hunter Associations monopolize most of them, charging absurd entry fees. Only the rich and elite get proper training grounds, while solo Hunters struggle to find decent spots to grow stronger.
Owning just one dungeon is equivalent to owning five high-end buildings. And I apparently have a fully customizable one…
"And I can decorate the school however I want?" I mutter. "Huh… Maybe I'll try that out later."
-Notification beep!-
My phone buzzes again, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glance at the screen. More messages from Rowland.
Rowland: Elaine! Where are you?
I haven't heard from you in hours!
Call me back, please!
Are you still planning to go
through with this?
I groan. I don't have time for this right now…
I quickly type out a reply:
Me: I'm fine, Uncle. Just sorting some things
out. Don't worry. I'll call later.
Before I can even put my phone down, another message pops up. This time, from my grandparents.
Grandpa: Elaine, we're really worried. Is
everything okay?
I roll my eyes but can't help the small smile tugging at my lips. They really do care about me…
Me: I'm doing okay. Don't worry. I'll visit soon
and explain everything.
I set my phone aside, rubbing my temples. What should I do now? The future feels uncertain, the weight of my new reality pressing down on me. I have a school to run, a dungeon to manage, and a system I barely understand.
My phone buzzes again, but I ignore it. I have more important things to focus on.
"Okay, Elaine. Focus." I take a deep breath, letting the air fill my lungs as I steady myself. "One thing at a time."
First, I need to figure out how to run this school.
Whether I like it or not, I'm now the Headmistress.
...
Ugh I really don't like this....