Chapter 1: Ch 1: Entering the Academy

[New Mission Update: Ensure Subjects E-001 and G-002 achieve a 100% Esper-Guide Bond.]

"I get it. I mean, I have been seeing the same words appear on my screen again and again for the past 18 years. You don’t have to repeat them to me."

Noah spoke with frustration as he stood outside the National Esper-Guide Academy. Any human who heard his frustrated words would have chosen to quiet down, but the System had no such emotions.

In fact, Noah was not even sure what it was, but if he had to guess, he would say that it was an extension of his guide abilities. But he could not say so with confidence.

And it was not as if he could ask his ’guardians’ because that would just give them another reason to call him a failure...or experiment on him. Either was likely, given his circumstances.

[Warning: Failure to complete the mission before the final catastrophe will result in the host’s death.]

"I said I got it. Would you stop urging me to hurry up? It’s not like I’m the main character of today’s show. Besides, everyone is looking at me like I have lost my mind."

People stared at Noah even more once he finished speaking and the System disappeared. Many even got out of his way as he skipped across the sidewalk to get to the testing grounds.

It was widely accepted that among Espers and Guides, there were all kinds of nutjobs, but even for those people, Noah seemed to be too much.

Not that he minded.

In fact, he preferred this outcome. That way, no one would try to come close to him, and he could focus on his job. And if he disappeared one day, people would just consider it one of his eccentric behaviours and wouldn’t ask questions.

Whistle

"It looks like freedom is finally in sight. First, I make sure this world survives, and then I make sure I can run away."

...

The testing hall was filled with over a hundred students, but only the top 10% would be able to get into the National Esper-Guide Academy.

Noah had already done his research and secured his spot based on the written portion, so he was not worried. All he had to do was wait for his turn to be called and fake his results.

And once he was inside, he would progress his mission to get E-001 (Alan) and G-002 (Daniel) into a relationship. ℴ

The calling was based on their names, and Alan was one of the first ones to be called inside.

Most people could not see the results of the test, but the rankings were shown on-screen for everyone to see.

Loud gasps filled the area as the screen suddenly stopped working before it broke down. Everyone panicked, as this had never happened before.

Soon, the Dean walked toward the stage to address what was happening, and his voice sounded serious as he looked up.

"It seems like our systems were not able to process our student’s powers, but our mainframe has confirmed what his results are. There is no need to worry. However, because of this, the rest of the test results will not be announced."

Noah pretended to be as shocked as everyone else around him was. But unlike these kids, he already knew what was going to happen.

After that initial shock, the tests continued, and people went up to get their ranks checked.

Some came out with smiles on their faces, while others wore expressions of disappointment. But the one Noah had his eyes on was Subject G-002.

Daniel had a blank look on his face when he came out and went back to his seat. People questioned him about his rank, but he remained quiet. But it was understandable.

It was hard for him to tell the others that he was an SSS-ranked Guide.

Finally, Noah’s turn came as well, and he went inside the test chamber. It was a cold room with neon-blue lights shining all around.

The screen in front of him lit up in a second, and Noah reached out to touch it without hesitation.

[Scanning Path Energy. Confirmed: Guide. Designation: B-Class.]

Noah pulled his hand back as soon as he was done confirming his class and data, and he went to the teacher to get it recorded.

"All done?"

The teacher asked with a smile, but it fell off as soon as she noticed that he was only a B-Class Guide.

Being a B-Class Guide was not a small feat, but it was something that the academy teachers saw in dozens.

In fact, B-Class was the cut-off to get into the academy, so everyone around Noah was at least B-Class. The teacher silently recorded his result and gestured for him to head back.

Noah went back, but he quickly scanned the room for his two targets. Both Alan and Daniel were present, and their eyes lingered around the room.

Noah met their gaze when it landed on him and even waved a little. But the pair decided to turn their heads away as soon as that happened, showing that they wanted nothing to do with him.

"That is rather rude of them. Not that I can fault them. I already knew that they don’t recall a single thing. I envy them for being able to live outside the labs with families that love them. Maybe I should have escaped with them that day."

Noah muttered, feeling a longing in his chest, which he quickly suppressed. There was no point in thinking about what-ifs.

That day, when the breakout happened, he made his choice, and he needed to live with it.

Besides, he was not a wide-eyed 18-year-old boy but a jaded adult on the inside.

That was right, Noah, also known as Subject S-001, aka the failed experiment, was reincarnated into a story he knew very well.

It was a dark romance R18 fantasy with Subject E-001 and Subject G-002, aka Alan and Daniel, as the leads. And he was just an extra with a single purpose—to make sure these two got together.

And today, he had taken his first step toward that goal.

He was born and raised in the same facility as the other two, but unlike them, he had been regarded as a failure because of his dull mind. Even though he had SSS-Class potential, it had never shown up until that fateful day when the lab caught fire.

Both Alan and Daniel had managed to escape, and Noah? He regained his memories and chose to stay back, all to ensure that this world had hope for the future. Wasn’t he such a good person? And—

"Excuse me, but the ceremony is already over. We need to report to our advisors for the next step."

Someone touched Noah on the shoulder, startling him. He suddenly snapped out of his daydream and realized that everyone else had already left.

He was the only one left behind.

’Well, this is a great start to my mission. I just need to make sure I have an opportunity to get closer to Alan and Daniel from now on.’

Luckily for him, the first opportunity would come quickly.