***
I sometimes have these kinds of thoughts. If I could go back to the past, would I not have to live like I do now?
The moment I got accepted into the Korea Academy, the best Hunter training institution in South Korea, I thought my life would change.
I thought light would shine on my life, which had fallen to rock bottom after losing my parents in the Gate collapse.
But reality was harsh.
Am I just destined to live a bottom-tier life? Even after entering the Korea Academy, nothing changed.
"Is that Kim Si-woo over there?"
"I heard he still hasn't awakened."
Voices of contempt echoed around me. Yes, I still haven't awakened.
Because I lost my parents in an accident, I was able to enter the Academy with some special treatment. Even with special treatment, they can't admit someone without potential here.
I wasn't particularly outstanding compared to others, but I definitely had potential that exceeded the baseline.
Everyone else had awakened, but my damn body was trash that couldn't use even a speck of Mana.
Why are awakeners called awakeners? Because they can use Mana, that's why they're called awakeners. I, who can't use Mana, was just an ordinary human.
Can an ordinary human compete with humans who wield the power of Mana?
Of course not. That's why I set a historically terrible record of always ranking last in all practical skill evaluations.
__Look, it's Kim Si-woo passing by.
__If it were me, I would have dropped out a long time ago. His persistence is amazing. Kiki.
__What? Either way, isn't he just going to be a porter? Or maybe he can't even do that?
Today, as always, I heard mocking voices. The reason I was able to endure through any hardship was because of the hope that better days would come.
To keep the last words my parents left me, to live happily no matter what, I stood up strong in any situation, but now I honestly don't know anymore.
"Hey, Kim Si-woo."
Turning my head at the familiar voice, I saw my sharp-tongued partner, Kang Min-ji, standing there.
It could be said to be my only luck.
Among the freshmen in the Hunter department, Kang Min-ji, who was called a goddess for her looks and figure, was my partner.
Kang Min-ji was the partner assigned by the Academy, and we had been together for the past four months.
Firm and elastic F-cup breasts, wide hips, well-proportioned legs, and a beauty resembling a cat.
With her cold and sharp impression, she was called the Iron Wall Queen because she would get angry if a man even spoke to her. I could say that I was the only human who could talk to Kang Min-ji.
"Hey, idiot. I told you not to make that face."
"Sorry."
"Are you going to give up that easily?"
"I guess I'm just not cut out for it."
I was the only person Min-ji, known for hating men, would talk to.
I don't know if it's because I'm easy to deal with, but even though she seems a bit fierce, she's quite warm-hearted.
"Haa. Don't you know the next evaluation is the last one?"
She doesn't seem to like the way I've given up on everything. It's not like I was always like this from the start.
"Follow me."
Suddenly, Min-ji grabbed my wrist and started dragging me somewhere.
"Min-ji? Where are we going?"
"Just follow me, you dweeb."
*
I don't know if it's because I'm different from the guys who try to hit on Min-ji, or if it's because I'm easy to deal with,
but we entered a Gate inside the Academy, and a Gate mixing phenomenon occurred.
Monsters of a rank we couldn't handle appeared, and we're currently taking refuge in a cave.
It couldn't be helped that the duration of the protective shield was shorter than the time needed for the Gate to stabilize.
It's embarrassing, but I'm actually a virgin who's never even been in a relationship.
Since I don't have money at home, even buying a meal for a girl is a burden, so dating is out of the question.
Is it just that some guys are destined to fail?
I thought my life would change if I entered the Academy, but the reality is that I'm the lowest-ranked student who hasn't even awakened.
'But still, I became partners with Kang Min-ji, whom everyone envies...'
I'm going to die here.
"..."
"What? Why are you looking at me like that..."
Kang Min-ji was narrowing her eyes and glaring at me.
Other guys would be intimidated and wouldn't say a word if Min-ji glared at them, but I've gotten used to it since we've been together for a while.
"Min-ji..."
"What?"
"I'm sorry. Because of a guy like me, you're..."
Seeing Min-ji answer in a prickly tone, I naturally lowered my head. When I think about it, Min-ji probably never imagined she would die here either.
"What are you talking about, you dweeb? Why is this your fault... We're just unlucky."
"..."
Min-ji is so cool after all. It's so sad that this is the end.
*
There's a saying that you're more likely to awaken if you hunt inside a Gate.
There aren't any exact research results, but since it's a situation where I have to grab at straws, there's no harm in trying.
'Still, Min-ji is the only one who cares about me.'
She sometimes calls me a dweeb and orders me around, but Min-ji is the only one who cares about me inside the Academy.
Even though we're just randomly selected partners, it was really lucky to become Min-ji's partner.
How many people would do this for someone who always holds them back in partner evaluations?
I was really grateful, but I wonder if this happened because of me.
"I'm sorry, Min-ji."
"Why are you apologizing when I was the one who suggested coming here?"
"Because I'm unlucky."
__Slap!
The stinging pain helped me regain my senses. What came into my view was Min-ji, whom I always thought was confident, trembling.
"..."
"I'll protect you, so don't say that kind of shit, you dweeb!"
Min-ji, who was putting on her combat gauntlets, shouted quietly.
Even though she's angry, it seems like Min-ji is the only one for me. The reality that I have to die with such a Min-ji is just too despairing.
'It'll be over when that breaks, right?'
The barrier generator that I brought just in case, a tool that temporarily creates a safe zone by consuming magic stones.
Since I haven't awakened, I have no choice but to rely on such tools.
Every time I saw the magic stone gradually losing its light, my mouth felt parched.
It's obvious, but this was a practice dungeon that Min-ji could clear as easily as eating a meal. That is, until the Gate mixing phenomenon occurred.
A natural disaster where two Gates mix, thanks to that, Min-ji and I were in a life-threatening situation.
'Shit... If only that bastard wasn't here...'
The sight of a huge number of skeletons came into view beyond the barrier that was gradually losing its power.
Among them, a Skeleton Knight stood, emitting an ominous aura.
My life, which has always been unhappy, was going to end up like this. And I'm even making the girl I like die.
'It's unfair...'
"Prepare for battle!!!"
With Min-ji's shout, the device finally lost its function and lost its light.
As soon as the Mana supply ended, the skeletons began to crawl over the barrier that broke as easily as if it were nothing.
"Y-you bastards! Don't touch the dweeb, come at me!"
Is she really protecting a guy like me?
Every time Kang Min-ji swung her fist, the skeletons collapsed one after another. Some of the less durable ones even had their bones broken.
"Dweeb, let's get out of here alive!"
Kang Min-ji's voice, as she said that, was trembling endlessly. She probably knows it herself, that we can't win.
The Skeleton Knight, emitting a strange light, entered the cave. A boss monster that drags all the skeletons around.
There was no visible space to escape. True to his name as a knight, he entered the cave with a rusty sword.
He was a little over 2m tall, wearing armor that looked like it would fall apart at any moment, but I felt overwhelmed for some reason.
"Die!!!"
Kang Min-ji rushed at him with great momentum. A few exchanges began to take place.
If we could have won, we wouldn't have run away to this cave.
Scratches began to appear on Kang Min-ji's body one by one, and soon her posture collapsed.
"..."
"Dw..Dweeb..."
Kang Min-ji, who had been thrown away, was bleeding and looking this way. Then she smirks.
That was the end.
"Shit..."
Complex emotions arise. I was disgusted with myself for hiding behind her until Min-ji died.
If it's going to end anyway, I wanted to take that bastard with me.
"Die, you bastard!!!"
The moment I rushed in, my body tilted.
After thinking that my legs weren't moving, I checked and saw that my lower body was separated.
'He's fucking strong.'
My body falls to the floor. Would something have changed if I had fought with Min-ji?
'I would have died in one hit... I don't think anything would have changed.'
It would be nice if I could turn back time. If I could go back to before I came in here, no one would die.
That won't happen. Something appeared in front of my slowly closing eyes.
[ If you are given a chance, can you change your destiny? ]
Strange letters obscured my vision.
"Change my destiny...?"
My consciousness is fading more and more.
"If..if I could..."
[ Confirmed. ]
[ You have awakened the Deus Ex Machina System. ]
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