Chapter 2 – Genre Confusion

“…And so, the title of Lord Protector has been passed down through generations to those with the greatest defensive capabilities. Social standing was never a consideration. Only the ultimate shield, capable of steadfastly guarding the empire…”

The female instructor, mid-lecture, abruptly placed a finger to her lips.

The students, diligently taking notes, sensed something amiss.

“Pfft!”

“Heh!”

They soon discovered the source: a male student dozing off in the back row.

Ordinarily, an average student might have gone unnoticed in the rear.

However, fate had it that he stood a full head taller than everyone else.

Even his nodding off seemed to possess an almost dynamic energy, creating a peculiar illusion.

“It’s a teacher’s duty to give their all during class. And it’s you student’s duty to concentrate. Agreed?”

—Nod, nod

“Then. I assume I’m within my rights to gently correct this student for dozing, correct?”

Of course, that was the reflexive answer, the consensus.

But gazing upon the slumbering giant, a thought of, ‘Should we, though?’ crept into minds.

The silent chorus of muscles, barely contained by the generous cut of the school uniform.

An aura that discouraged any casual approach.

This particular student was the most promising prospect among the freshman class.

— *Shhhshsh!*

A translucent shard of ice materialized in the instructor’s hand. An ice manipulator.

Judging by the speed of the power manifestation, she was exceptionally skilled.

“Hmm. That might be a little too… risky.”

She dismissed the ice. This time, a snowball formed.

“This should do nicely.” With a smile, the instructor locked onto the male student as her target.

Students, with knowing glances, scattered in all directions. A moment later, an unexpected snowball flew.

It travelled with considerable velocity, arriving before the dozing student in an instant.

Surely, it would impact squarely on the center of his forehead, showering him in snow…

— *Frrrrt!*

…It didn’t.

“Are you feeling a bit more awake now, Deus-ssi?”

“…My apologies, Instructor. I will pay attention.”

Deus, rousing in a mere 0.01 seconds, had vaporized the snowball.

Melted water trickled from between his fingers.

The female instructor, witnessing this, could only smile and remark, “Truly lives up to his reputation!”

“Alright then. Let’s continue. The current Lord Protector…”

The students, while focusing again on the lesson, stole glances at Deus.

It was uncanny. To possess such a physique, seemingly the same age as themselves.

Again, uncanny. To snatch a snowball that even they struggled to see.

‘No surprise the top prospect is different.’

‘Whoa…is he even human?’

‘Goodness. Look at those biceps. I want to hang off them!’

Regardless of gender. Alone, or paired in twos and threes.

Deus had to scratch his cheek, the glances so persistent.

‘Why are they staring like that? Makes me uncomfortable.’

Did he doze off? Yes. It must be that.

Honestly, even he had to admit it was laughable. A guy nodding off in class.

Probably succumbed to the spring breeze wafting through the windows.

Or maybe the tension he’d held until recently had simply unwound.

The early days of possession, his body coiled tight with nerves!

Muscles braced to explode at any moment!

A will to bulldoze through everything with overwhelming force!

…Turned out to be utterly useless.

When did he realize something was amiss, anyway?

Ah, yes. Two weeks after delivering that resolute declaration to survive.

The first world he’d encountered. Unfamiliar place names. People he’d never seen before.

No matter how he thought about it, this wasn’t the novel, ＜The Mercenary Company’s First Day: The Gate Opens＞.

It was a completely different world. And a completely different story.

Yes. Foolishly, he’d misidentified the possession genre.

*

Morning classes were all done. Now it was noon. Lunchtime.

Scratch that. It wasn’t lunchtime, it was war time.

“Bell’s rung! Hey! Run!”

—Thump-thump-thump!!

Several students sprinted down the hallway with terrifying speed.

“Damn those Strong Leg types! Only excited at times like these, seriously!”

“I beg you. Can’t you maintain some decorum as nobles?”

“The teacher said not to run in the hallways!!”

This was a place where people who wielded supernatural abilities lived.

Different from ordinary humans. Commoners, nobles. All imbued with that special something.

Which led to slightly peculiar. Or even strange behaviors.

Like now. Seemingly risking their lives for lunch.

But in reality, showing off their abilities and skills was part of it all.

The superiority of being different from others. The desire to flaunt it.

Everyone here was special, but the confidence that *he* was the best among them!

—Crash!

“That guy went through the wall again!”

“Honestly! All this dust! Doing this while we’re eating is really too much!”

“Who dares! Who dares cause such a ruckus in this sacred dining hall!”

A teacher, thin as a rail but with a spirit ferocious as any, bellowed.

At that, the students with wall-piercing leg strength, instead of fleeing, readily confessed.

For that teacher, too, possessed the same leg-strength ability as they did. They knew well they couldn’t escape.

“You lot again! That’s it. Three thousand squats and stands, execute!”

“Execute!!”

For most, an unimaginable number. But for them, a mere ten minutes’ worth.

—*Papa-papa-papa-pa!*

Deus, watching the students move madly like machines with motors attached,

“Haaah.”

Thought: *This is truly screwed up, truly screwed up.* This wasn’t the world of the novel he had anticipated, ＜The Mercenary Company’s First Day: Gate Opens＞.

So what was it, then? Which novel had he mistakenly stumbled into?

To that question, sadly, answering was awfully ambiguous.

The world itself was fantasy. They used special abilities called powers.

And indeed, a gate did open, and monsters emerged from within.

But fantasy, wuxia, romantic comedy, slice-of-life, gag – all genres were mixed together.

‘*And why did they add nationalistic sentiment? No, seriously, why is kimchi in a fantasy world? Nobles drink soju instead of wine, and commoners drink makgeolli instead of beer?*’

Even today’s lunch menu was like that.

“Stir-fried pork should be cooked dry, without broth, that’s right!”

“What are you saying?! How are you supposed to mix it with rice if there’s no broth!”

“Hmph! Such a miserable reality! This is why they are commoners! Daring to eat stir-fried pork like a rice bowl! Unforgivable! This is treason!!”

“Oh, dear noble sirs. I hope you choke while eating that dry, unseasoned stuff!”

Such was the situation. Blonde, blue-eyed folks were arguing over stir-fried pork.

Even seriously debating it, even spouting talk of impure ideologies!

‘*Have I ever read such a nonsensical novel? When?!*’

After formally possessing the body, he had torn at his hair for a while.

But now, he had given up and was living as Deus, as a possessor.

*If it was going to be like this, then why did they make me swear that oath?* He pondered the one question he couldn’t quite shake.

Still, shouldn’t stir-fried pork have some broth? He was thinking that when,

“Deus, junior?”

A female student approached, snapping her fan shut with a sharp *thwack!*

An air of mystery surrounded her violet hair. Her cleanly extending legs were striking.

“Why are you standing in line here? I clearly stated that I would grant you the right to eat lunch comfortably in a special way, junior.”

“I appreciate the sentiment. But I simply prefer this. Your Highness.”

—*Tsk!*

At the girl’s tongue-click, Deus let out a sound of realization.

And apologizing for his mistake, he quickly changed his address.

“I’m sorry. President.”

“From now on, be careful. Junior. Normally I’d issue a warning, but seeing as you’re a promising talent this body has personally recognized, I’ll let it slide this once. Ho ho!”

“…Thank you.”

“You *should* be thankful! The student council president is taking such an interest, after all!”

Ohohohot! That girl with the rather peculiar laugh.

Neferti. The student council president of Ineung Academy, ‘Cradle.’ Top of the entire third year. A wind-element ability user.

And outside of these walls, the precious youngest daughter of the Maenheim ducal family.

A prodigy who, upon entering the academy, displayed abilities exceeding even the second-year seniors.

As time flowed and she reached the third year, she seized the student council presidency not through her status, but through pure skill.

A true genius. Ultra-elite. Words that hardly do her justice, yet…

“Are you moved? You should be! This is *me* showing my magnanimity, you know! Ohohohot!”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

From Deus’s perspective, she was just a senior who laughed very strangely. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Anyway! If you change your mind, you can come to the student council room anytime. The door will always be open for our rising star!”

*Chwat!* Neferti, who had been holding a folded fan, unfurled it with a flourish, fanning herself gently.

Then, promising to see him later, she moved away with a very graceful gait.

“….”

Watching her disappear into the distance, Deus counted in his head.

‘One. Two. Three.’

“Eek!”

A short yelp, and Neferti fell flat on her face.

There was no stray stone on the hallway floor. She hadn’t bumped into anyone.

She had simply fallen on her own. Tripped over her own feet.

“President?!”

“Are you alright?!”

“Ah, ahaha! I’m fine. Hmm! It seems the hallway is a little slippery! I’ll have to ask the cleaning staff to do something about it! Ohohoho!”

“It doesn’t seem *that* slippery though….”

Even after that. Until she was out of sight.

“Kyak!”

“Heuk!”

“Kkiyangg!!”

Neferti fell a total of three more times.

‘That’s the student council president? Top of the third year?’

He couldn’t help but cover his face with his hands. Was this a comedy after all?

“I’m seriously going crazy…”

He muttered to himself, when suddenly, someone poked him in the back.

Wondering what it was, he turned around and was met with hair the color of cherry blossoms.

“….”

“What.”

“…Th-that, wouldn’t be so bad either, I think.”

Who is this one now? And what was with the sudden suggestion?

Deus quietly turned his gaze to the pink-haired girl.

Of all people, it had to be a short female student, forcing him to lower his head as far as it would go.

“What did you say just now?”

“Uhm, lunch.”

“Lunch?”

“I, weren’t we…going out to eat?”

He felt like he was going insane. ‘Going,’ mysteriously transforming into ‘Going, let’s go out for lunch.’

Wasn’t this a fantasy world setting? Deus covered his face once more.