Words began to appear in the darkness, one after another. Something about the DLC update... hero selection, character sync... and finally,
< A new game is starting. >
The screen went black.
When I came to, someone was shaking me—very gently, as if afraid I might break.
“Professor.”
My vision was blurry.
My head felt like it was stuffed with wet cotton.
“Please wake up, Professor.”
...Professor?
The foggy world gradually came into focus.
I was sitting in the back of an incredibly ornate, vintage-style car.
The door was open.
A woman in a spotless, formal uniform tilted her head, looking at me curiously.
“...Where... am I?”
“My, Professor... You’re quite the joker. It’s your first class today, remember?”
“First class?”
“Yes, yes. Are you feeling unwell? I’ve been trying to wake you for a while now, but you wouldn’t budge.”
What the hell is she talking about?
Outside the window, I saw something bizarre—
The scenery looked exactly like Hiaca Academy brought to life.
That striking white-and-blue aesthetic. The beautiful academy gleaming under the sky.
Students in crisp white uniforms, each with assassin harnesses strapped over their chests, wandered about in cheerful groups, laughing without a care.
“The weather’s just lovely today, isn’t it?”
“...Sure. I suppose it is.”
I was still lost in confusion—when something strange entered my field of view.
The bottom of my vision.
The dialogue between the woman and me was popping up like a script.
【 Adele, TA of the Department of Assassination: “The weather’s just lovely today, isn’t it?” 】
【 Dante, Neutral Professor: “...Sure. I suppose it is.” 】
The student uniforms—exactly as I remembered.
Adele, the Department of Assassination’s teaching assistant.
Dante, a Neutral-aligned professor.
And the game’s dialogue window.
None of it felt out of place.
As if this had always been the world I belonged to.
‘Holy shit...’
After thinking it over a bit more, I was sure of it.
For some reason—somehow—I’d ended up inside the game.
Right into Hiaca Academy.
The Department of Assassination...
where you graduate by killing your professor.
And I had entered...
as a professor.
****
Hiaka Academy was an elite royal institution designed to train exceptional combatants.
Students in the Warrior Department or Mage Department could enjoy a bright, lively, and happy school life.
But the Assassin Department was different.
In the Assassin Department, cadets have to kill their professor to graduate...
To be precise, they could only receive their diploma after four years of training and killing their professor.
Those who failed were expelled, leaving them without a diploma or qualifications.
And despite being a professor, my current stats were pathetic.
All my attributes were at 1. No training, no combat skills whatsoever.
Maybe that’s why my whole body felt weak, my mind sluggish.
And to make matters worse, my first class was about to start.
...Once I enter my classroom, the assassination attempts will begin. Are you seriously expecting me to survive with this crappy build while pretending to be a professor?
This was ridiculous. So this was why Hell Mode existed.
If I stepped into that classroom unprepared, I’d die immediately.
I need something—anything—that could help me survive. Tools, weapons, whatever I can get my hands on.
Just then...
【 Teaching Assistant Adele: Why is the professor acting like this? Should I take him to the hospital? 】
The text box showed something in italics instead of double quotes (“”). That had to mean it was displaying her internal thoughts, not just her dialogue.
Wait a second...
I turned to Adele.
“...No need to worry. I’m fine.”
“Oh, okay.” Adele smiled warmly, her expression gentle.
【 Teaching Assistant Adele: Ah, whatever. Let’s not worry too much. This professor will die soon anyway... 】
Did she really just think...? With such a gentle smile, too? Just how many professors had already died?!
Adele’s subsequent thoughts popped up in the text box as if answering my unspoken question.
【 Teaching Assistant Adele: Hmm... Professor Harun lasted three months, and Professor Rucandel only lasted ten days, right? 】
Three months? Ten days?! Those aren’t professors—they’re glorified practice dummies for murder training!
Of course, it was normal for professors to be assassinated in this world from time to time. But this frequency...? It was way too high. It had to be because we were in Hell Mode. The cadets were far stronger now.
Just then, Adele grinned brightly.
【 Teaching Assistant Adele: Still, I hope this professor lasts a little longer. He’s pretty handsome. 】
That wasn’t comforting at all.
I took a moment to think.
The tradition of assassinating one’s professor in the Assassin Department was deeply ingrained in this world. Yet despite the extreme risks of the job, people still kept applying. The reason?
Money.
The royal family provided professors with enormous salaries and research grants.
...And I’ve already signed the contract.
I couldn’t just quit and run away.
In this world, assassins were similar to real-world intelligence agents—experts in assassination, espionage, and counterintelligence. Our location was also an issue. We were currently in Zone 0, a restricted area. If I tried to escape, I’d be obstructed by security fences and barriers.
On top of that, Adele wasn’t just a teaching assistant. She was also assigned to monitor me.
Driving away? Not an option.
“I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll see you later in the office.”
“Got it.”
“Then, stay safe, Professor.”
With those foreboding words of care, Adele got back in the car and drove off.
I started walking toward the Assassin Building.
First off, I needed information.
I opened my briefcase and flipped through Dante’s class materials. Since it was the first lesson, the content wasn’t too difficult. In fact, as someone who has always loved assassins, I already knew most of the content.
Wait a second.
A familiar piece of paper caught my eye.
_________________
▶ Assassin Department Rules
1. Members of the Assassin Department may kill each other. It is tolerated as long as they don’t get caught.
2. Students who successfully assassinate their professor will receive their diploma, 15 million hika, and all of the professor’s possessions after completing their education.
3. Assassination attempts outside of class hours will be penalized. Professors have the authority to impose penalty points and permanently confiscate equipment. Three penalty points result in expulsion.
_________________
The third rule stood out to me.
I was already familiar with the first two, but the third? That was new.
Students will face serious penalties if they try to assassinate me outside of class?
That was... somewhat reassuring. At the very least, I wouldn’t have to fear for my life every waking moment.
Just as I was starting to relax—
【 Assassin Department, First-Year Dominic: “Is that him?” 】
A dialogue box suddenly appeared.
Who is that?
I was the only one on this narrow path through the thicket.
For now, I didn’t react. I kept walking as if nothing was wrong, making sure not to alert whoever was watching me.
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Hwaru: “Whoa, he’s handsome.” 】
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: “What’s so handsome about him?” 】
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Dominic: “No, no, he’s got a point. He’s tall, sharp-featured, and has that dangerous look. Looks like they brought in someone different this time because the last professors kept dying so quickly.” 】
There were at least three people, but I couldn’t spot a single one.
Judging by ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) their comments about my appearance, they had to be somewhere in front of me.
Just where were they talking from?
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: “...Should we just kill him now?” 】
What the hell?! In broad daylight?!
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Hwaru: “What? No way.” 】
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Dominic: “Forte, don’t forget that assassinations outside class will get you penalized.” 】
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: “I don’t care about mere penalties.” 】
They’re still willing to risk it?!
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: “It’s fine as long as I don’t get caught.” 】
I felt conflicted because, technically, Forte was correct. That was the first rule of the department.
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Dominic: “Fine. If you’re going to do it, show us how well a Moon Shadow cadet can handle it.” 】
Fuck.
I finally noticed the affiliations written next to their names. I was about to face a Moon Shadow cadet?
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: “Sounds good.” 】
The Moon Shadow Division was a subdivision of the Assassin Department made up of highly skilled second-class cadets.
Out of the thousand-odd first-year cadets, only thirty were selected.
Every single one of them was far stronger than the average cadet.
The text box vanished soon after. That meant they had stopped thinking or talking and were preparing something.
My heart pounded as my imminent death approached.
I had to stop them, but how? I didn’t even know where they were...
Then—
Huh?
A minimap suddenly appeared at the bottom-right corner of my vision.
Three red dots blinked roughly 200 meters away, positioned diagonally from me.
I turned my gaze in that direction and, eventually, I saw them—three figures perched on a nearby rooftop.
There they are.
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Hwaru: “Huh?” 】
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Dominic: “Wait, is he looking at us?” 】
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: “That can’t be. There’s no way he’d notice us from this distance.” 】
Too bad for you, I did notice. Now, stop it.
Unfortunately, they were too far away for me to see exactly what they were doing.
My perception stat was too low.
All I could make out were three small dots wriggling and shifting around.
What on earth are they—
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: Head. 】
Aha. A sniper.
My brain immediately deduced their plan: a headshot.
A glint of light flickered on the roof—likely the lens of the scope reflecting sunlight.
I squinted, but they were too far away to confirm.
This Forte guy must be the sniper.
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: Breath. 】
I was sure of it now. He was controlling his breathing.
That meant he was about to pull the trigger...
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: Three. 】
The countdown had begun.
Although I was pretending to stay calm, my mind had gone completely blank.
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: Two. 】
What could I do? What on earth could I do right now—
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: One. 】
Shit!
Fwip—!
A sharp whistle sliced through the air, passing just inches from my ear.
I tilted my head at the last possible moment, dodging the bullet by less than an inch—
And by only 0.01 seconds. Had I been any slower...
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion erupted behind me.
I turned around.
The stone statue behind me had been obliterated.
My heart pounded violently in my chest.
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Hwaru: “Huh?! He dodged it?!” 】
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Dominic: “The hell? Did he actually see the bullet coming with his bare eyes?” 】
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Hwaru: “Wow~!” 】
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Dominic: “That’s an insane reaction speed. The shot came from 200 meters away!” 】
The cadets were freaking out.
I took a deep breath. I had to calm down.
That dodge was pure luck, and my opponent still had a rifle in their hands.
I have to stop them!
But what could I do? I couldn’t just start shouting at them to stop shooting at me.
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: “He dodged it instead of blocking it...?” 】
Those words suddenly gave me an idea.
Blocking a bullet with an ability or a magic spell wasn’t too difficult.
But dodging a bullet—just by tilting my head at the perfect moment, without an ability?
That was another story.
A bullet fired only 200 meters away? No ordinary person could react in time.
In other words, I had to make them believe I was far stronger than I actually was. They might back off if they thought I was powerful enough to dodge bullets.
Having made up my mind, I raised a hand and gestured at them.
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Hwaru: “H-Huh?! He definitely saw us. I think he’s calling us over?” 】
【 Assassin Department, First-Year, Dominic: “Forte, go apologize. You caused this mess, so clean it up yourself.” 】
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: “Fucking hell... He’s really that strong...?” 】
With that, they finally stopped.
But this wasn’t the time to lower my guard.
Moments later, a figure leaped from the rooftop of the seven-story building, deploying a parachute magic tool to slow their descent.
● Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte
A tag appeared, displaying the boy's name and affiliation as it floated above his head.
As the distance between us shrank, the tension thickened.
The cadet’s face was uneasy, but I felt the same. My stomach twisted in anxiety, but I wasn’t about to let it show.
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: Fuck, this is humiliating... 】
Eventually, a boy with reddish-brown hair and a wolfish demeanor landed before me.
His sharp gaze and stiff posture made it clear—he was as prideful as he looked.
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: I can’t go down like this. Not by getting a penalty point. 】
What else is this crazy bastard planning?
His rifle hung on his back, untouched.
Did he have a hidden card up his sleeve? Or was he just going to walk up and strangle me to death?
Then he spoke.
“Hello, Professor. I am Forte, a first-year Moon Shadow cadet.”
I remained silent, staring at him.
“I apologize for hastily attempting to assassinate you. I forgot that it was against the rules to do so outside of class.”
He bowed deeply as if in sincere regret.
But the moment his hand brushed against the pocket on his thigh, another tag popped up into my vision, this time displaying a weapon name and its grade.
* Jackknife [Common]
I reacted instinctively...
“You’re dead if you draw that knife.”
And threatened the boy.
Forte’s body stiffened mid-bow. His fingers flinched, hesitated, and then slowly retracted.
【 Moon Shadow Division, First-Year, Forte: Huh?!! 】