"Hey, why do I get the feeling... that our new female teacher's gaze is a bit off whenever she looks at me?"
In the classroom, Ansu cautiously glanced backward and suddenly asked this question.
"Over the last few days, I've been quietly observing her from the corner of my eye, and I've found that she's always staring at me..."
"Whenever I'm at school, I run into her no matter where I go... It's like she's stalking me, secretly spying on my every move..."
"Is there something wrong with her? What do you think she's trying to do?"
Just as he finished speaking, Ansu happened to lock eyes with a pair of eerie pupils.
The young female teacher was standing right outside the window of the back door, staring intently at him with a direct gaze that felt like a predator watching its prey.
Ansu felt a wave of unease wash over him.
After the previous teacher took a long leave of absence due to illness, the new substitute teacher was a young woman named Ms. Mary. Usually, she maintained a stern, unapproachable expression, yet for some reason, she was incredibly focused on him...
His seatmate, however, didn't think much of it. "Aren't you being a bit paranoid? Ms. Mary is so nice to you, yet you're still not satisfied."
"Sigh, forget it..." Ansu didn't know how to explain it. It was exactly because she was being "nice" that it felt wrong!
He looked back again, but the doorway and the corridor were empty. The teacher had already left.
However, that heart-pounding sense of dread never truly vanished.
"Hiss..." Ansu pressed a hand against his throbbing forehead. He had been suffering from a migraine all morning.
He couldn't be blamed for being so suspicious. There was a reason for his sensitivity...
In half a month, he was destined to die a tragic death in this school.
When anyone knows their death is coming, they would become ten or a hundred times more vigilant toward any abnormality around them.
It all started two days ago.
That day, Ansu came to school as usual, but as soon as he sat down, a violent headache struck. Immediately after, a massive flood of memories from a past life surged into his mind.
The legendary "awakening of past life memories."
As the memories integrated, Ansu was shocked to discover that he had been reincarnated into a game he once played.
《Sword of Evernight》, a dark fantasy open-world RPG masterpiece.
The game was set in an era where steam technology, black magic, bizarre monsters, and demi-human races coexisted. It featured distinct character designs and a massive worldview...
The world was falling apart due to the invasion of foul forces. In the game, players took on the role of a chosen one selected by the gods, meeting various companions during their journey while gradually uncovering the truth of the fog-shrouded world to eventually thwart the evil god's conspiracy and save the world...
At first, Ansu was quite excited. Although he wasn't a hardcore player, he at least knew the general direction of the plot.
Following the standard routine of his predecessors, he figured that clinging to the protagonist's party, using his meta-knowledge to seize opportunities, and rising to the top of this different world was within reach.
But when he discovered his current identity...
He couldn't smile anymore.
He had reincarnated as a cannon fodder extra who died a tragic death during a certain horrific incident—a scripted death...
If he hadn't miscalculated the time, in half a month, a terrifying cult sacrifice ritual would take place at his school, the Benalu Royal Academy.
At that time, he and many of the school's talented youths would die mysterious and tragic deaths here.
And the only reason Ansu knew the ending of such a bit-part character was thanks to his sister.
【Hunt erthe Darkness - Vera】, an important character in the protagonist's camp who was highly popular among players.
【Hunter of the Darkness - Vera】 had grown up relying on her non-blood-related older brother, but an evil ritual at school led to his unfortunate death. To investigate the truth, Vera joined the church's demon hunting squad, swearing to avenge her brother...
Later on, after experiencing many hardships, she grew into a demon hunter who struck terror into the hearts of the villainous factions.
Thinking about how he was about to become the catalyst for his sister's growth and revenge, a mere background character to advance the plot, Ansu felt speechless.
Becoming a stepping stone or whatever, he definitely didn't want that...
"But I'm just an ordinary student right now. How did I get dragged into the villains' conspiracy?" Ansu kept trying to recall the game's plot. "I have absolutely no memory of the details of this case..."
It wasn't that he had a bad memory; he really hadn't skipped the cutscenes.
This incident occurred three years before the main story of the game began. It only appeared in a character's biography and was basically glossed over.
He only vaguely remembered that this cult sacrifice ritual was related to the late-game antagonist, the 【World-Ending Witch】, and that he likely died at her hands.
This was also why Ansu was so wary of the new "Ms. Mary."
It was said that the evil female antagonist also held the title of "Witch of a Thousand Faces" and was extremely skilled at disguise. It would be perfectly normal for her to infiltrate the school ahead of time to commit her crimes...
Is it possible that the perverted teacher spying on me is the World-Ending Witch?
While he was lost in thought, the bell suddenly rang, signaling the end of class.
Even in another world, the scene after class was the same. The classroom was instantly filled with the buzzing voices of students as many rushed out the door.
Then, the thing Ansu feared most happened.
Ms. Mary's expressionless face suddenly appeared at the classroom door. "Ansu, come to my office for a moment!"
Ansu's heart tightened. Did she realize that I noticed her?
Perhaps because Ansu didn't respond for a while, Ms. Mary tried to force a softer smile onto her emotionless face.
"Be quick, teacher is waiting for you. I need your help with something."
But to Ansu, that smile didn't reach her eyes at all; it looked as uncanny as a skinwalker...
After she left, the classroom returned to its noisy state, but Ansu immediately became restless.
He trusted his intuition.
"Ms. Mary definitely has a problem. I can tell at a glance she's not human!"
So, what should he do...
Skip class? Just bolt?
There seemed to be no simpler or more direct way than running away.
Was there anything more important than his life? He was dropping out!
But at the moment Ansu hurriedly stood up...
A buzzing sound suddenly rang in his head, and rows of long-unseen Chinese characters surfaced in the depths of his consciousness.
【Version 2.0 updating...】
【Loading expansion pack, reading data, please wait...】
A new version? An expansion pack? This unexpected turn of events left Ansu stunned for a moment.
【Loading complete】
【Do you want to reach the pinnacle of life? Welcome to the 'Real Simulation System' produced by our company. This system possesses the top simulation deduction engine, giving you countless chances to start over!】
【For your first simulation, the system provides 10 free points. Points are precious, please use them wisely.】
【The following times can be simulated】
【Future】
【10 minutes later (April 12, 10:32), consumes 10 points】
【10 hours later (April 12, 20:22), consumes 50 points】
【Begin simulation?】
Ansu stared at the system prompts and fell into deep thought.
Simulating the future? This function didn't exist in the original game. This late-arriving system was a bit different from what he had imagined.
But he had to admit, this function was extremely useful.
Perhaps he could use this simulation to test whether the teacher really was a problem...
Ansu didn't have much of a choice; the points he had could only afford one simulation, which was a mere 10 minutes into the future.
He might as well use it. With the intent to give it a try, Ansu silently selected the first option in his mind.
"Future: 10 minutes later."
In an instant, the noisy classroom fell silent.
Ansu looked around. All his classmates were frozen in their last movements. It was as if time had been paused.
Then, darkness gradually invaded his vision.
A string of glowing, vintage-style calligraphic characters appeared before his eyes as a countdown.
【Future: 10 minutes later】
【Radiant Calendar, April 12, 625, 10:32】
【Beginning simulation...】
When the flow of time returned to normal, Ansu's eyes widened.
This was because his surroundings were no longer the classroom, but a dim and cramped unfamiliar room.
The air here was stale and murky, and the floor was piled with discarded junk. This wasn't Ms. Mary's office at all; it looked more like one of those abandoned storage rooms in the teaching building.
Furthermore, Ansu discovered that his body was tightly bound to a chair.
Aside from being able to slightly turn his head, his entire body was practically unable to move an inch.
Was he kidnapped...
Just as he thought, Ms. Mary really was a problem!
"Hmph! The kid is finally awake."
Ms. Mary's voice came from somewhere in the darkness.
She walked up to Ansu, grabbed his chin to look him over, and then roughly peeled back his eyelids.
"As expected of a sturdy young man, you recover fast. I thought you'd be out for a long time after being knocked unconscious."
Only then did Ansu belatedly feel a bit of pain in his skull, as if he had suffered a blow from an external force.
However, he had been having a headache since this morning, so he was somewhat used to it...
"Hiss... Ms. Mary." Ansu struggled to lift his head. "What are you trying to do to me? I don't think I've ever offended you, have I?"
"What am I doing?" Mary looked at the tightly bound Ansu and sneered. "You'll find out in a moment."
Ansu's brow furrowed, a sense of foreboding filling his heart.
A moment later, a mysterious magical glow flashed.
Mary looked toward Ansu's side. Another person had suddenly appeared in the dim room.
"Lady Celia!"
The other person's status seemed much higher than hers. Mary nervously lowered her head and reported:
"I have found the person you wanted. Do you wish to cast a brainwashing spell on him here?"
What? Brainwashing?
Ansu was stunned. How did it turn into this kind of development?
He struggled to turn his neck, trying to look to the side.
There, he saw a mysterious young girl with long black hair and deep purple eyes sitting on a desk, looking down at him with a scrutinizing gaze.
A bit of light from outside spilled through the gaps in the curtains. Because her back was to the light, Ansu couldn't see her face clearly.
But her name, and that signature, faint wicked smile on her face, were far too familiar to him!
【World-Ending Witch - Celia】.
"Very good~"
Celia lazily crossed her legs, watching the visibly nervous Ansu as the corners of her mouth curled slightly.
"Don't worry, it won't be painful at all. It'll be over in a flash~"
Her beautiful amethyst-like eyes flickered slightly.
"From this day forward..."
"You are my possession."
Rate on N.U.
