Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Prologue

The Osung Building was the largest structure at Florian Academy.

It bore the name of Osung Corporation—South Korea's highest-grossing company—whose sponsorship had funded its construction.

"Hoo."

My body drew a deep breath on its own.

Osung Building, 9th floor, Lecture Hall 2.

I came here every week, yet standing in front of it always made me nervous.

Back in my school days, I couldn't even give a proper presentation in front of others. The fact that I was now lecturing at South Korea's finest educational institution still didn't feel real.

Pinch—

I squeezed the back of my hand for no good reason, trying to shake off the nerves.

By the time the pain overpowered the tension, I pushed the door open and stepped inside the lecture hall.

Dozens of eyes locked onto me at once.

The emotions behind them ran the gamut—from anticipation to outright hostility. No pressure or anything.

My voice echoed through the silent hall.

"Good to see you all. I'll take attendance."

I spread the roster open on the lectern.

Names listed in alphabetical order. I called them from the top, one by one.

"Baek Seolhwa."

"Here."

A stiff reply.

At first listen, you'd think she was angry. In truth, she was simply awkward with people.

"Seo Dayun."

"Y-yes, yesh!"

A nervous answer—she'd bitten her tongue slightly. Quiet snickers broke out around her.

Embarrassed, Seo Dayun's face flushed bright red as she buried her head.

I know that feeling all too well. I'd have been mortified too.

"Song Seokhwan."

"Here."

This time, a cocky voice answered.

At the end of my gaze sat a man with his legs crossed at a crooked angle.

His arrogant bearing resembled that of an emperor.

"Put your legs down. You look rude."

"Sure thing."

He was impossibly relaxed for someone sitting in front of a professor. Put another way, he had zero manners.

Exactly the kind of attitude you'd expect from the young master of the Bisang Guild.

"An Seri."

"Here."

Her confident voice was similar to Song Seokhwan's.

In fact, she and Song Seokhwan were alike in many ways.

Both possessed the greatest talent of their generation, and both were the leading successors of massive guilds.

But the roots of their confidence were different.

Song Seokhwan's sprang from an arrogance that looked down on others, while An Seri's came from a self-love that believed she was the best.

Similar on the surface, yet fundamentally different.

For a rookie professor's very first lecture, the lineup was far too star-studded.

And for good reason—those kids were the future great heroes who would one day save the world.

How could I be so sure of that?

Because they were the playable characters of Florian Rhapsody, the game this world was based on.

The game I'd once been obsessed with to the point of madness. A love-hate relationship.

After calling a few more nobodies, attendance was done. The moment I closed the roster, I felt the students' intense stares bearing down on me. Annoyingly intense stares, at that.

No matter how I thought about it, the whole situation was bizarre.

I mean, come on.

All I'd ever known was hammering away at a keyboard in front of a computer. I'd never held a sword, never cast a spell.

And yet here I was, teaching someone.

Something was clearly wrong with this world.