On the surface, NFS Academy looked like any ordinary high school. It had classrooms, teachers, and standard subjects like math, physics, and general science—just like any other school.
But one thing set it apart: this academy was built specifically for those with supernatural powers.
Every student enrolled here had awakened a special ability known as IPR—Inner Power. NFS Academy served as a sanctuary for these extraordinary teenagers, guiding them so their powers wouldn't be misused.
All students were required to live in the dormitories. Outside of class hours, however, they were free to do as they pleased. There were no suffocating rules to restrict their movement. The academy believed in personal responsibility. That's why, even though the campus was closed to outsiders, the atmosphere felt more like an independent college than a prison.
Their education was divided into three years.
The first year focused on the basics—learning to control their powers, self-discipline, and combat techniques. Students were trained as future knights, official combat forces for the nation.
In the second year, the training became real. Students were tasked with entering artificial portals and fighting monsters head-on. This was also the year they were assigned to permanent teams, teams that would become the foundation of their cooperation until graduation.
By the third year, their status would rise to amateur knights. At this point, they were considered strong enough to take on government missions. However, after graduating, there was no obligation to remain a knight. Each student was free to choose their own path.
The country wouldn't force anyone. From the very beginning, the academy's goal wasn't to mass-produce soldiers—it was to ensure that teenagers with powers didn't become a threat to society.
[The Awakening Phenomenon]
That term referred to the moment a person awakened their IPR—a rare, extraordinary power granted only to a select few.
Nearly 99% of those who awakened did so during their teenage years. On the night of their fifteenth birthday, they would suddenly find themselves with newfound abilities.
Of course, there were exceptions. Children born into knight families had a significantly higher chance of awakening.
Frisa was a perfect example. As the daughter of a renowned knight, she inherited not only a powerful bloodline but also the heavy weight of expectations from those around her.
Because this pattern occurred consistently throughout the world, society responded with one unified solution:
Specialized academies—like NFS—were established to accommodate and guide awakened teenagers. They needed to be taught. They needed to be trained. And most importantly... they needed to be understood.
When great power awakens too early in someone's life, it can become both a blessing and a curse.
— — —
2 PM – Academy Cafeteria
The cafeteria buzzed with laughter and chatter that afternoon, filled with students enjoying their lunch break. But in the farthest corner of the room, one person clearly wasn't part of that joy—Andress.
He sat alone at the end of a long bench, silently scooping spoonfuls of food into his mouth. No conversation. No companions. Just a vacant stare at what remained on his tray.
He let out a quiet sigh. 'My team… is nothing like the original story.'
'I knew changes would happen, but still… this is more chaotic than I expected.'
The one thing Andress had relied on ever since he was thrown into the world of Bad End was his ability to predict the future. He had read the entire novel. He knew every major event.
But now, that foundation was beginning to crack.
'If the story veers too far from the original, I can't count on the knowledge I remember.'
'And if I can't predict the future... how am I supposed to survive?'
His head began to feel heavy as dark thoughts crept in, pressing against his chest like a tightening grip.
Finally, he stood up. 'Forget it… I need some fresh air.'
He left the cafeteria, walked through the hallway, and headed outside toward the garden.
Once there, he sat down on a bench, leaning back with his eyes closed for a moment.
'This feels nice. Just like that little park near my university.'
The tension in his shoulders began to ease. For a moment, he didn't feel like a stranger trapped in a fictional world—just a college student resting in the afternoon sun.
But that peace didn't last.
In the distance, he spotted two familiar figures—Frisa and Zelen—sitting at the far end of the garden, deep in what looked like a serious conversation. Frisa seemed visibly anxious.
'Frisa...? What's she doing with Zelen?'
Andress squinted, curiosity rising. And when he saw Frisa's hands move in frustration, he knew this wasn't just small talk.
He stepped closer, crouching behind a bush to listen in.
It wasn't exactly the most honorable thing to do—but in this world, Andress had already learned one hard truth: Information was everything.
"So… this is all because of Andress? That quiet kid?"
Zelen's voice rang out clearly, making Andress freeze. 'What? Why is my name coming up?'
Andress held his breath, trying not to make even the slightest sound. The bushes he was hiding in weren't very tall, and the distance between him and Frisa was no more than ten meters.
Frisa bit her lower lip. "I'm really ashamed…"
Her voice was soft, heavy—not like her usual confident tone.
"I volunteered to be the team leader, but during training… all I did was complain about wanting to get through the portal quickly."
"And then everyone ended up listening to Andress instead of me—even though I'm the official leader."
"And… Andress also said I was a stupid leader, even if he didn't say it outright."
Zelen listened silently, his eyes filled with sympathy.
"I was really mad at first. But when I thought about it more… maybe he was right. I really am dumb and not fit to lead."
Andress didn't move. He had assumed Frisa hated him, maybe even held some sort of grudge.
But in reality… all she felt was shame and self-doubt.
He let out a silent breath. 'So that's all it was. I thought it was something bigger.'
He slowly stood up and turned away, deciding to head back to the academy before he got caught eavesdropping.
But then— 'Still… I kinda feel bad for her. Maybe I went too far during training. I should probably apologize.'
'After all, she's still my teammate. And if our relationship gets worse, that could be a real problem.'
'Let's just hope she doesn't lose her drive over one small failure.'
With that, he continued walking, feeling a little more at ease.
But one thing was certain—This story had already strayed far from the Bad End he once read. And no one could say how much further it might drift.
One hour after the incident in the garden, Andress returned to class.
This marked the beginning of their permanent team formation—the group they would stay with until graduation.
Six students sat in a circle: Frisa, Brian, Winie, Ariel, Saman… and of course, Andress himself.
Ariel waved enthusiastically. "Hey, everyone! I'm Ariel. So happy to be on the same team!"
"I'm Saman," the boy beside her said, his deep voice polite and composed.
Andress gave them only a quick glance. 'Two names I don't recognize… which means they weren't in the original story.'
Ariel and Saman didn't appear in Bad End at all. To Andress, they were NPCs—background characters with no major role, no impact on the ending, and not to be relied on...
Or at least, that was his initial impression.
Ironically, they were the most lively ones in the group.
While the other four sat in awkward silence, Ariel and Saman kept trying to start conversations. They asked questions, chuckled at small jokes, and did their best to lift the mood.
It took time, but eventually, a natural rhythm of conversation began to form.
So far, Andress mostly watched in silence. 'Not bad. These two are pretty good at breaking the ice.'
Once everyone had introduced themselves, Andress finally spoke up, bringing attention to the main issue.
"So... who's going to be the leader of this team?"
The room fell silent. No one answered. Even Frisa looked down at the floor.
Andress turned to her. "Frisa, how about you take the lead?"
Frisa snapped her head toward him, glaring.
"What? Me? Why me? You should be the leader—you're way more suited for it!"
Andress narrowed his eyes. "Didn't you want to be leader during training earlier?"
"That was just because... well, no one else wanted to! And besides, you're the one who called me a dumb leader, remember?"
"I didn't mean to hurt you. And anyway, if you think you're not ready, you can still learn."
Frisa turned away. "I don't want to. I'm done with being leader."
Andress sighed. 'Classic tsundere. She's still mad at herself.'
Winie, who had been quiet the entire time, finally spoke. "I think you should be the leader, Andress."
Brian gave a small nod. "Yeah. I agree—Andress fits the role."
Andress opened his mouth to protest, but Frisa cut in. "I agree too. Let Andress lead."
Saman raised his hand. "If everyone else is on board, I'm good with it."
"Same here~," Ariel chimed in with a cheerful grin.
In just a few seconds, the vote was unanimous.
"Congrats, Leader~" Frisa said, grinning smugly.
Andress fell silent, then shot her a sharp look. "…None of you even asked what I think."
Frisa looked satisfied. "We already agreed. So just accept it."
With no way out, Andress gave in. "Fine. I'll take the role."
— — —
In the training area.
Two students sat at the edge of the field, sipping bottled water. Their breaths were still uneven from the light training session they had just finished.
One of them was Leonil—the strongest student of their generation. The other was Raon, a quiet young man known for his intelligence.
"Hey, Leonil," Raon began.
"What?"
"I heard… Andress got a perfect score from the instructors during this morning's practical."
Leonil turned sharply. "Huh? Seriously?"
Raon nodded.
"But wasn't his team the last to finish the portal? How'd he end up with a perfect score?" Leonil asked, frowning.
"I don't know either. But the teachers looked really impressed with his performance."
Leonil leaned back against the wall behind the training stands, deep in thought.
"Interesting… Andress isn't the type to stand out. But if he managed to impress the instructors that much, then maybe there's something we're not seeing."
Raon replied calmly, "You might be right. Makes me wonder what exactly he did during that session."
"No idea. But now I'm kind of curious. Might be fun to find out."
Leonil went quiet for a moment, then shifted the topic. "By the way, are you still not interested in being a team leader?"
Raon let out a heavy sigh. "Nope. The responsibility is too much."
Leonil chuckled. "Same here. I don't want that kind of burden either."
"But you still ended up as a leader, didn't you?"
"Yeah, not by choice," Leonil replied flatly.
"Everyone just picked me without even asking. Said it's because I'm 'the most reliable.'"
"But I know the truth—they didn't want to lead because they were scared."
Raon patted his friend's shoulder. "Just roll with it. At least you're strong—that alone gives the team peace of mind."
— — —
A few hours later – Late afternoon
Andress had just returned from a nearby convenience store after picking up a few things. In his pocket was a single strawberry-flavored lollipop—something he had bought on purpose.
As he walked back to the academy grounds, he spotted Frisa sitting in the garden with Zelen.
Without thinking too much, he approached them.
As he arrived, Frisa gave him a sharp look.
"What are you doing here? Do you need something?"
Andress didn't respond. Instead, he reached into his pocket and handed her the lollipop.
Frisa blinked in confusion. "Why are you giving me this?"
Andress finally spoke. "I wanted to apologize."
"The things I said during training… I think I went too far. It was obvious that my words bothered you."
"W-Who said I was bothered? Don't flatter yourself," Frisa huffed, turning her face away.
Andress looked at her for a moment before replying.
"Look, we're going to be on the same team for the next one or two years. I don't want a bad relationship messing with our teamwork."
Frisa went silent for a moment, then muttered under her breath. '...Fine. I forgive you.'
Andress gave a small nod. "Thanks. Let's try to work better together from now on. I'll also try to be more mindful of how I talk."
He turned to leave, but Frisa's voice stopped him.
"Wait a second."
He glanced back. "What?"
Frisa stared at the lollipop in her hand before asking, "Why a lollipop?"
Andress replied instantly, "Because I'm poor. I can't afford anything fancier. If you don't want it, throw it away."
"Besides, it's just a symbolic gesture."
And with that, he walked away.
After he left, Frisa kept staring at the lollipop for a long while. In truth, strawberry was her favorite flavor.
Beside her, Zelen finally spoke.
"I didn't expect that… Andress is actually like that."
Frisa turned. "Like what?"
"I was in the same class as him last year," Zelen said.
"My impression of him back then was completely different from how he is now."
Frisa waited for her to continue.
"He used to be super quiet—never talked to anyone. His face was always gloomy, and even when someone tried to talk to him, he'd either nod or stay silent."
Frisa looked intrigued. "Seriously?"
Zelen nodded. "Yeah. That's why the whole class stayed away from him. He didn't have any friends all year—except maybe for Tengli."
"But strangely enough, he never seemed to care."
Frisa looked down at the lollipop in her hand.
"That's why I'm so surprised. He apologized first, and it felt sincere. I didn't think someone like him could be that considerate."
She gripped the lollipop tighter, but her expression turned sour again.
"Maybe he is considerate... but he's still annoying. His face is always cold, and the way he talks is even sharper than my brother."
Zelen chuckled. "That's kind of his trademark. He never held back with his words."
Then she glanced at the lollipop. "So, are you going to throw that away?"
"Obviously," Frisa replied.
"I don't even like lollipops. Stuff like this is for little kids."
But her hand didn't move. She didn't throw it in the trash or slip it into her pocket. She just held it… tightly.
Because the truth was—Frisa loved lollipops.
And Andress knew that very well.
— — —
Back in his room, Andress flopped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.
'Honestly... I hate having to get along with Frisa.'
He closed his eyes for a moment.
'But since we're on the same team, I have no choice. I have to keep things smooth. Otherwise, I'll be the one who suffers.'
He let out a long sigh. 'Let's just hope everything goes well…'
Knock, knock, knock.
There was a knock at the door.
Andress groaned as he got up and dragged himself to open it.
Standing outside were two familiar faces—Leonil and Raon.
"…Leonil? Raon? What are you two doing here?" Andress asked, surprised.
Raon stared at him blankly. "You recognize me?"
"Of course I do. Who doesn't know the smartest student in NFS Academy... and Leonil's best friend?"
Leonil chuckled at the response.
Raon gave a side glance at Leonil. "I only came because he insisted."
Leonil finally got to the point.
"We just want to ask something. Raon overheard the teachers talking earlier. They said you got a perfect score on this morning's practical."
Andress looked thoroughly uninterested. "So?"
"I'm just curious. I want to know how you pulled that off."
Andress didn't answer right away, clearly not expecting Leonil to ask seriously. "Why don't you just ask the teachers?"
"We did. But Miss Selena wouldn't tell us anything."
"She just said, 'If you want to know, ask Andress himself.'"
Andress rubbed his forehead. He sighed and opened the door wider. "Fine. Come in. We'll talk inside."
Once they were seated, Andress began to explain.
"The answer's simple: I prioritized safety."
Raon nodded slowly, listening intently, while Leonil still looked unsure.
Andress continued, his voice calm but firm.
"Completing a mission is important, yes. But what matters more is making sure everyone comes back alive."
He looked both of them in the eyes. "Other teams might've finished the portal faster—but many of them got hurt. They focused too much on results and ignored the most basic foundation of teamwork."
Leonil searched his memory, and silently acknowledged the truth in those words.
Andress added, "Maybe that's why the instructors gave me a perfect score. But I'm not completely sure. That's just my guess."
Raon gave a slight smile. "Makes sense to me. I like your reasoning."
Leonil nodded. "Yeah… now that I think about it, I only cared about slaying as many monsters as possible. I didn't even consider my teammates' safety."
Andress stood up. "If that's all, I'd like to get some rest. So go home already."
Leonil and Raon also got up. "See you around," Raon said.
"Thanks for the explanation," added Leonil, and with that, they left.
Once the door closed, Andress flopped back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling again.
'That damn Selena… always dragging me into things.'
— — —
Two weeks later.
Two weeks had passed since Andress was thrown into the world of Bad End.
In that short time, he had absorbed a lot—everything from social structures and local customs to random bits of trivia like food trends and how public transport worked.
Every day after classes, he would lock himself in his room and study this world through the internet. From important things… to utterly useless things.
Because he knew one thing for sure—if he wanted to survive here, relying solely on what he remembered from the novel wouldn't be enough.
He needed to understand this world as if he were truly one of its citizens.
6 AM.
That morning, he was lying on his bed playing a game on his phone when suddenly…
『System Notification』
You've received a message from: Author
Open message? [Yes/No]
Andress immediately sat up, eyes narrowing at the screen.
"…A message from the Author?"
He paused for a few seconds, processing what that might mean.
'Don't tell me… is this from the writer of Bad End? Or more accurately… the person who sent me to this world?'
Curiosity overpowered caution. He tapped "Yes."
『Hello, Andress. I'm the author of Bad End. Just call me Author.』
Andress's focus snapped sharp, his body tense.
'I knew it. That damn Author.'
『As you've probably figured out, you're now living inside the novel I wrote. The reason I brought you here is simple: I want you to change the ending of this story.』
『Don't worry—you won't die for real. If you die in this world, you'll return to your original one.』
Andress scowled.
"So… if I want to go home, I just have to die? That's insane."
He leaned back against the wall.
''I do want to go back to my world…But every death hurts. And I'm not the type to gamble with something like that.'
『If you manage to change the ending, you'll return to your original world…
And as a bonus, I'll prepare a proper reward for you.』
『Good luck, Andress! I believe in you!
Love from Author ❤️』
Andress had the sudden urge to throw a pillow at the ceiling.
"Damn it... You think changing the fate of an entire world is that easy?"
『Oh, one more thing. From now on, I'll be watching you. Don't worry—I won't peek into your personal moments. I'll only monitor events that relate to the progression of the story.』
Andress clenched his jaw, annoyed—
but there was nothing he could do about it.
Meanwhile, somewhere far away—
in a dimension no one could see—
the Author chuckled softly, watching Andress's reaction.
'You're so entertaining, Andress~'
'Once again, I'm sorry. But this world really does need to be saved.'
12 PM – Academy Cafeteria
Aftertwo weeks, Andress's team was finally starting to click.
The once-awkward atmosphere was beginning to warm.
Ariel remained the team's source of energy, Winie had started to speak up—though still in short sentences—and Brian seemed more relaxed. Even Frisa had become more open... albeit with her usual tsundere attitude.
Suddenly, Ariel spoke up, her tone full of excitement.
"Frisa, Winie! There's a new movie by Director Kumala coming out tomorrow—let's go see it together!"
"I'm in," Winie replied without hesitation.
But Frisa's expression turned cold. "Sorry, I can't. I've got training tomorrow."
Ariel looked disappointed. "Oh… okay, that's fine."
From the seat next to them, Andress—who had been eating—suddenly stopped. His expression tensed as he looked toward Frisa.
'Seriously...? She's training again?
Tomorrow's a holiday, and she's already been training every day for a week straight.'
He set down his spoon and stood up.
'If this keeps up, she's going to collapse.
And if that happens, it's going to be my problem too.'
Andress walked over to her table and stood beside her. "Frisa," he said flatly.
"What?" she asked, clearly annoyed.
"Go with them to the movies."
Frisa turned to glare at him. "I don't want to. Why are you ordering me around on a day off?"
Andress remained calm. "Because you've been pushing yourself too hard. Your body needs rest. If you keep this up, you're going to get sick."
"It's my body, my choice. I can do whatever I want on my day off."
Andress rubbed his temple. "I get that. But this has gone too far. As team leader, I can't just sit back and watch one of my members burn out."
Frisa narrowed her eyes. "You're so annoying. Stop acting like you control other people's lives."
Andress stepped a little closer, his voice deeper and sharper. He looked genuinely frustrated.
"This isn't a request."
He stared at her, eyes firm. "As your team leader, I'm ordering you to rest and go to the movies."
Frisa opened her mouth to argue, but before she could say anything, Andress gently pressed down on her shoulder.
"Ow… That hurts!" she exclaimed.
Andress let go. "See? I barely used any force. That proves your body's already worn out."
Frisa went silent. She couldn't argue with that.
Andress's tone softened slightly. "I'm not trying to control you. But if you get sick, the whole team suffers—including me."
He gave her a light pat on the shoulder. "So just go. Enjoy your day off. You're only young once—don't waste it all on training."
Frisa mumbled under her breath. "Fine, Grandpa Andress. I'll go. Happy now?"
Andress sighed internally. 'She's so damn difficult.'
Across the table, Ariel looked unsure. "If Frisa doesn't like movies, she doesn't have to go…"
Andress turned to her. "It's not that. Frisa likes movies. She's a huge fan of Director Kumala."
Frisa froze, eyes wide in panic. "…How do you know that?" she asked suspiciously.
Andress paused, keeping a calm face even as his mind raced.
"L—lucky guess," he said.
"Liar. That's a lie."
Andress exhaled. "Fine, I'll be honest."
"One time, I saw you watching a Kumala film under the tree behind the school.
You smiled the entire time—from start to finish."
"STOP! Don't say another word!" Frisa quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Not another word," she said, then slowly removed her hand.
"So?" Andress asked. "You coming?"
"…Yeah. I'll come."
— — —
While the mood in the cafeteria was lightening, in the faculty lounge, two academy instructors were having a serious conversation—though one of them looked far too excited for something so formal.
"Miss Selena!" a teacher called as they hurried into the room.
Selena turned from her seat. "What's the matter?"
"You know those students, Andress and Frisa, right?"
Selena raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Why?"
"I just saw them in the cafeteria. And you were right!"
Selena leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "Right about what?"
"About how Andress can actually handle Frisa. You said they were a good team—and he just got her to stop overtraining and rest."
Selena gave a faint smile. "Told you."
Frisa was known as one of the academy's most gifted students. But also... one of the most stubborn.
As the daughter of a powerful conglomerate family and a descendant of famous knights, she had grown up under constant pressure to excel. She was used to being on top, and because of that, she hated being outshined—especially in areas she considered her own strength.
In the original Bad End story, Frisa viewed Leonil as her eternal rival. Her stubborn nature softened over time, influenced by Leonil's calm and empathetic personality.
But in this life… she wasn't on the same team as Leonil.
Instead...
She was with Andress. And to be honest, Andress had a much more unusual way of dealing with her.
"I didn't expect someone as quiet as Andress to have that much impact on Frisa," the teacher admitted.
Selena smiled again. "Sometimes, the quietest people leave the deepest impression."
— — —
A few hours later, Andress and his team gathered in their designated Team Training Room—a pocket dimension created specifically for each group.
Unlike regular training grounds in the real world, this space was entirely artificial, built using the same system as synthetic portals. Every team had their own exclusive access, and the environment could be customized to suit any type of training.
At the moment, Andress and Brian were training together.
Andress fired arrows in rapid succession while Brian did his best to dodge and deflect them using his twin daggers.
Swish!
Srak!
Thud!
The attacks came faster and faster. Brian gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face. His body was tiring, but he kept going—despite the growing strain in his breath.
"Nice work, Brian. You managed to block every one of my shots," Andress said, lowering his bow.
"Th-thanks…" Brian replied, panting and drenched in sweat.
Ten minutes later, the two of them were sitting together at the edge of the training field. Soft instrumental music played through the room's ambient system. A cool artificial breeze circulated, creating a calming atmosphere.
"Andress…"
"Hm?"
"Thanks."
Andress glanced over. "Thanks for what?"
Brian took a deep breath. "Thanks for being my friend."
Andress went silent.
Brian continued. "Out of everyone… you're the only one who didn't avoid me—even though I'm so awkward to talk to."
Andress leaned back against the wall. "I think you've misunderstood something. It's not that people hate you."
Brian looked at him, confused. "But they barely talk to me. Out of all of us, I'm the one people talk to the least…"
"They're not avoiding you because they hate you.
They just don't know how to approach you.
From the outside, it looks like you don't want to talk."
Brian looked stunned. "B-but… I actually do like talking to people. It's just… I get nervous…"
"And that's the problem," Andress said. "Your expression gives people the wrong idea.
You look like you want every conversation to end as soon as it starts."
Brian lowered his head. "I… didn't realize that…"
"So… what should I do?" he asked softly. "How can I change?"
"You don't have to change completely.
Just open yourself up a little bit, one step at a time. The rest will follow."
Brian looked into Andress's eyes, then nodded slowly. "I'll try… because I believe you."