In my previous life, my name was Yuri. Park Yuri.

With a face so pale it was almost white, and limbs thin with only the muscles necessary for survival.

With minimal private tutoring, I had the chance to enter a prestigious university with passable grades, but in the end, I chose to apply to a lower-ranked university to receive a scholarship.

To maintain the scholarship, I had to study diligently, and once I started living in a studio apartment, I worked part-time jobs day and night to earn rent and living expenses.

This was because my parents were already struggling to support my younger sibling who was preparing for college entrance exams.

The only joy left for me was watching dramas.

The dramas I watched by sharing an account with my high school friends.

Watching those immature high school dramas, I can’t express how envious I was of those carefree kids attending good schools.

Moreover, the characters in those dramas would get into the universities I aspired to and continue their romances.

In my tough life, how I longed for their world while watching those dramas.

I probably died from overwork in my previous life.

I vaguely remember collapsing on my desk, nose bleeding, while watching a drama.

…In my previous life, I entered a university I didn’t want due to family circumstances, but could things be different this time?

‘If I can’t be the protagonist of a high school drama, I’ll at least claim the top academic credentials to fulfill my unfulfilled desires!’

That’s probably why the system read my desires early on and gave me the title ‘Academic Monster’.

…But even though I said I wouldn’t mind being called materialistic, isn’t it too much to give me the ‘Academic Monster’ title right away as if they were waiting for it?

It seemed as if someone had been watching my materialistic behavior and bestowed this title, so I couldn’t help but frown.

“Why the expression, Juno?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Adrian asked me as I stood there with a sour look on my face.

I shook my head and quickly swiped away the status window.

The miserable title acquisition window disappeared, and Adrian’s status window reappeared.

Now was not the time to worry about titles.

I carefully examined Adrian’s ability stats.

‘It seems in this world, not everyone unlocks skills simultaneously with their awakening.’

According to the news, most awakened individuals awakened on the day when gates opened simultaneously across the world.

While the grade and assigned skills were random for each awakened person, most could utilize one or two skills.

Except for Adrian and me.

Specifically, Adrian’s skill settings were in a locked state.

Unlike me, who had at least a passive skill unlocked.

‘I’ve never heard Teacher Gina mention anything like this… Could there be something different about A-grade and S-grade? By the way, does Adrian know he’s S-grade?’

I inadvertently clicked on Adrian’s ‘Skill Attributes’ window.

A new screen popped up instantly.

[Skills are in a locked state.] [S-grade awakened individuals must complete a quest to unlock skills.] [Locks will be released upon completion of the awakening quest.]

‘…Quest?’

It seemed that S-grade awakened individuals had to complete an unlock quest to utilize their skills.

I was about to ask Adrian if he was aware of his current state when a loud whistle sounded from behind me.

“What’s this, Adrian? You’ve awakened too?”

“What grade are you? You must be high-grade, right?”

“Ah, they say the rich get richer. Even awakening… The heavens are so unfair. Aren’t you hogging too much of the world for yourself?”

It was the F-grade American football team members gathered in the gymnasium.

They swaggered about with their hands in their pockets.

These were clearly mocking words aimed at Adrian.

‘Well, everyone knows Adrian comes from a promising family.’

Adrian seemed to be the object of both admiration and envy from everyone.

“Hey, Adrian. Just tell us honestly what grade you are. You’re on a different level from us F-grade nobodies, right?”

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at them.

If Adrian’s grade was superior, they would sneer that God indeed favors some people.

If Adrian’s grade was similar to theirs, a low grade, then they would gloat triumphantly.

Saying that even the oh-so-great Adrian was just an F-grade like them.

‘Well, it’s none of my business anyway.’

Adrian smiled faintly at the transparent question.

“Well, whatever grade I am, you and I are the same humans and the same students of Roingham School. There’s no fundamental difference.”

“We didn’t ask to hear such nauseating words. Why the pretense?”

“Pretense? I’m hurt that you’d interpret it that way.”

Adrian must have heard such sneers countless times before.

His expression didn’t crack even slightly at their prodding and sneering.

But then I caught a glimpse of an expressionless face at the edge of Adrian’s smile that remained gentle in the face of any mockery.

‘Oh.’

The expressionless face vanished in an instant.

After entertaining the football team with a few words, Adrian slipped away from my side as if escaping.

I stared at Adrian’s retreating back and thought.

‘So he can make that kind of expression too.’

Well, not that I cared much.

[This is the timeline separator]

After being summoned to the gymnasium, we heard about the current situation in Connecticut through Teacher Gina’s words.

An hour ago, self-gathered awakened individuals in the United States had closed a gate that opened above a company in Connecticut.

However, according to breaking news from other countries, gates were continuously opening and closing.

This time, we were lucky to close it without any casualties thanks to the awakened individuals, but there was a possibility that gates could open again.

“In fact, India, China, and Costa Rica are reportedly seeing new gates open every day. It’s unlikely that this will be the last gate for us, right?”

Because of this, new laws and systems were being created daily.

It was also a time when every single awakened individual was precious. It was natural for the government to eye even underage awakened individuals.

However, due to parental opposition and ethical reasons, they couldn’t forcibly conscript students.

“For that reason, it seems that each high school will form teams with students who voluntarily express their willingness to participate, and they will engage in activities to close low-level gates nearby.”

“Teams?”

“Yes. Using the school as a base, the students of that school will close nearby gates with the help of the military. Don’t be afraid. The military will assess the dungeon’s grade and only assign low-difficulty gates to us.”

To summarize, students will form teams at an extracurricular activity level to close low-grade gates that open near the school.

A few U.S. soldiers will be stationed at the school as a base to control and assist the awakened individuals.

In this process, they can educate underage awakened individuals and cultivate them into excellent adult hunters.

‘The president was eyeing even morning self-study time… Is this some kind of early hunter education or what?’

Naturally, the U.S. soldiers assigned to the base are also awakened individuals.

“The assigned soldier will probably come to our school within a few days.”

“What? So we’re going to continue regular school classes?”

“Of course, Simon. Students should attend classes, shouldn’t they?”

Teacher Gina said, shrugging her shoulders.

From the start, with the education-obsessed Yulia Kim as president, there was no dream of school closures.

A few days ago, it became an issue on the radio when politicians were arguing about this situation.

It was broadcasted nationwide that if schools and companies close because gates opened, who would support the stock market.

‘Wow, valuing the stock market over human lives.’

Isn’t this too similar to reality? No matter what, it’s still a drama world, but it’s too harsh.

Anyway, for that reason, while maintaining daily life, teams of high school students would close low-grade gates near the school together with U.S. soldiers.

‘I hope that U.S. soldier who’s supposed to be stationed at the school is a kind person.’

I don’t even hope for them to be handsome or benevolent.

I just hope this high teen material doesn’t degrade into some military stuff.

After listening to Teacher Gina’s brief explanation of team activities, I left the gymnasium.

Honestly, I didn’t have much expectation.

‘It’s fine that Adrian is S-grade, but the rest are F-grade. And a U.S. soldier awakened individual who we don’t know when will arrive. There are too many variables.’

I hope we won’t end up being pushed around under that person until we die.

I, who had intended to comfortably accumulate bonus points while having it easy, headed towards the school building with a pale face.

Or rather, I was about to.

“Hey, why don’t you use your skill in front of us?”

My head turned involuntarily at the gruff voice.

After the teachers had already returned to the school building, burly American football team members were gathered behind the gymnasium.

Looking closely, there was a familiar face among them.

‘Adrian?’

Adrian was standing still among the football team members without any expression.

The football team had been pestering Adrian to show his skill since they were in the gymnasium.

Adrian shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t show you.”

The monotone voice seemed to irritate the football team members even more, and they became increasingly unreasonable.

“Are you refusing to use your skill in front of us F-grades? Do you think you’re that great? Your family background and grade were all given to you for free. It’s not because you’re special!”

“You don’t want to show your skill to people like us? If that’s not the case, just show us once when we ask?”

It was a dialogue full of tremendous leaps in logic and inferiority complexes.

Adrian looked at them and sighed lightly.

“I told you I can’t show you.”

“This bastard…!”

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, one of the football team members grabbed Adrian’s collar.

At this rate, they seemed likely to start a fistfight before even forming a team to enter the dungeon.

‘And Adrian…’

I glanced at Adrian, who remained motionless even with his collar grabbed.

‘Adrian is currently in a skill-locked state, so of course he can’t use any skills.’

How disconcerted must he feel?

To be S-grade but unable to properly utilize skills due to being in a locked state.

“I didn’t like you from the moment you entered as the school president. Do you think you’re the center of this world or something?”

“I don’t know why you think I have such thoughts… It’s a misunderstanding.”

“Why do I think that? Because you’re so damn unlikable!”

Simon, who was gripping Adrian’s collar, slammed his fist against the gymnasium wall.

A very fine crack appeared on the solid concrete wall.

He must have reinforced his fist as befitting a reinforcement ability user.

I quickly read Simon’s character information again.

[Skill: Hard Fist (F).]

It seems his fists become slightly harder than a normal person’s.

Even though it’s a junk-grade skill, couldn’t it break at least one human bone?

Such a crack could form on the bones of Adrian, my precious lifeline.

Then he’d end up in the hospital instead of entering the dungeon with me…

‘What should I do?’