The shrill, jarring BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEP of the alarm clock slices through the stillness of my room, loud enough to shake the air. It's relentless, almost mocking—the kind of sound that refuses to be ignored. Each beep is like a sharp jab in my ear, dragging me out of my fragile slumber and into the harsh reality of another day of unexpected chaos. The blaring noise echoes off the walls as if it has a life of its own, refusing to stop until its mission is complete.
"This damn alarm... Since when did I set it to 5 o'clock...?" I groan, my voice thick with the fog of sleep.
Groggily, I roll out of bed and fumble for my phone, desperate for any important notifications or reminders that might help me make sense of the day. As soon as I unlock it, I'm bombarded with a flood of messages—dozens from Rowland, and even some from my grandparents, all filled with worried comments.
I scroll through them, feeling my stomach twist. Rowland's messages are frantic—he's probably worried about me moving out. I haven't been very communicative since I decided to leave. I could already feel the weight of his concern from the last time we talked.
But right now, nothing about today makes sense. It's all blurry and fuzzy, like a dream I can't fully grasp. As I try to piece things together, a notification pops up from Amelia, an acquaintance I barely tolerate. She's sent me an invitation to one of her friend's birthday parties—a friend I was introduced to once and immediately forgot.
I sigh, rolling my eyes. Amelia has always been a nuisance, only ever messaging me when she needs help with exams or homework. No matter how much I try to ignore her, she still finds ways to pester me.
"Can't I just get a break from this for once?" I mutter to myself as I drag myself into the bathroom to rinse off the fatigue clinging to my body.
But then—
A memory flashes through my mind.
Something about a system… and a school…
I freeze, gripping the sink as the realization crashes down on me like a cold wave.
"Oh my god…" I whisper. "I remember now... I accepted a contract to become the Headmistress of that school—the one I bought to turn into my home and cooking business!"
My stomach churns. Why the hell did I agree to that? I must've been too exhausted to think straight.
"Why would I do that?!" I nearly scream, gripping the edge of the counter for support. "I don't want to be a Hunter! I can't run a school! I just wanted to live quietly... what is wrong with me?!"
I pace back and forth in the bathroom, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if everything goes wrong? What if I'm stuck in this strange new world forever? I don't know the first thing about running a school, let alone managing Hunters and dungeons. The weight of the decision presses on my chest like a suffocating force.
After a few deep breaths, I force myself to calm down. Panicking won't solve anything. I need to think clearly.
Before I can even collect my thoughts, a familiar glowing screen materializes in front of me.
[Would you like to view your status?]
[Yes/No]
I freeze. Of course… now that I'm officially a "Headmistress," I can see my status, my skills, my abilities—everything about my strength and wisdom. It almost feels like a game, but a very real, very dangerous one.
"No," I mutter to myself, shaking my head. "I don't need to deal with that right now. Just… focus, Elaine. Focus."
But curiosity gets the best of me. "What harm could it do?" I sigh, tapping the screen. "Open status window…"
Saying that aloud makes me cringe. It reminds me of when I used to daydream about being the main character in some grand simulation. But that was just fantasy. This? This feels too real, too out of control.
[Showing status]
====================
Name: Elaine Winters
Title: -
Role: [School Headmistress]
Level: 1
Health (HP): 100/100
Mana (MP): 150/150
Stamina: 80/100
Attributes:
Strength: C+
Agility: C
Intelligence: A
Charisma: D
Luck: C
Unique Skill:
[Overviewer's Insight] – Grants administrator access to Academy and Dungeon Systems. Can observe without being detected. (Spectator Mode Enabled)
Skill Slots:
[Empty]
[Empty]
[Empty]
System Notes:
Title is not registered in any known class. Possible anomaly.
Role designation is pending classification.
Dungeon Design function: Locked
Academy: Currently unstaffed
Students: 0
====================
I stare at the screen, my jaw slack.
"This… this is some overpowered bullshit…"
I mean, I can control illusions? Make a fake clone of myself? Design the entire school to my liking? And I can influence the abilities of my students?
I let out a low whistle. "Wait… there's even a dungeon in the school?"
Dungeons are rare and incredibly valuable. The Hunter Associations monopolize most of them, charging absurd entry fees. Only the rich and elite get proper training grounds, while solo Hunters struggle to find decent spots to grow stronger.
Owning just one dungeon is equivalent to owning five high-end buildings. And I apparently have a fully customizable one…
"And I can decorate the school however I want?" I mutter, almost in disbelief. "Huh… Maybe I'll try that out later."
-Notification beep!-
My phone buzzes again, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glance at the screen. More messages from Rowland.
Rowland: Elaine! Where are you?
I haven't heard from you in hours!
Call me back, please!
Are you still planning to go through with this?
I groan. I don't have time for this right now… but I know Rowland will keep texting until I respond. He's persistent, always has been.
I quickly type out a reply:
Me: I'm fine, Uncle. Just sorting some things out. Don't worry. I'll call later.
Before I can even put my phone down, another message pops up. This time, from my grandparents.
Grandpa: Elaine, we're really worried. Is everything okay?
I roll my eyes but can't help the small smile tugging at my lips. They really do care about me… too much sometimes.
Me: I'm doing okay. Don't worry. I'll visit soon and explain everything.
I set my phone aside, rubbing my temples. What should I do now? The future feels uncertain, the weight of my new reality pressing down on me. I have a school to run, a dungeon to manage, and a system I barely understand. The more I think about it, the more I feel like I'm in over my head.
I pick up my phone again, staring at the messages. Maybe I should call Rowland. He's my family, after all. Even though he's constantly trying to drag me back into the world of Hunters, I know he's just looking out for me. But this… this is different. I can't tell him the truth. Not yet.
The truth is, I'm not just moving to a new home. I've signed up for something I can't escape. But telling him that would bring everything crashing down. I can't afford to drag him into this world.
Rowland has always been protective of me. Too protective, really. He's part of the Red Vanguard guild, one of the most well-known and influential Hunter factions in the area. They've got the money, the strength, and the connections. I've never agreed with the way Rowland handled things with his guild—he wanted me to join the Hunter life too, but I never wanted to be a part of that blood-soaked world. He's always tried to get me to join Red Vanguard for "protection" and "safety," but I refused every time.
If I tell him the truth now—if I reveal even a hint of what's really happening—he'll immediately try to pull me into Red Vanguard as his protegé, despite my objections. He'll claim it's for my own good, but I know better. He'd never let me out of his sight, not even for a second. He'd want me to become a Hunter, and with the system's powers, I'm sure it would make my life in Red Vanguard hell.
There's also the matter of my grandparents. They've never liked the idea of me being involved with Hunters, and if Rowland finds out what I've really gotten myself into, I'll be stuck in the middle of their conflicting expectations.
So I do what I've always done—I bury the truth. I give Rowland half-truths and avoid the questions I'm not ready to answer. I can't tell him about the system, the dungeon, or the school. I can't let him pull me into a world I've spent my life trying to avoid.
With a sigh, I dial Rowland's number. The phone rings twice before he picks up, his voice sharp with worry.
"Elaine! Finally! Where have you been? I haven't heard from you all morning! What's going on?"
"Uncle Rowland… I'm fine, really. Just—just needed some time to think."
"Think about what? You're really doing this, aren't you? You're actually going through with the move? Moving to that place in the village?" His voice is tinged with disbelief. "You didn't even tell me much about it. I thought you were just setting up a small place to start your business, not—"
"Not what?" I interrupt, my stomach twisting. "Uncle, it's just a new chapter for me, okay? I'm fine. Really. Don't worry about me."
There's a long pause, and I can almost hear him trying to make sense of it. "Elaine… you're sure this is what you want? You don't have to do this alone. You can always come back."
I close my eyes, forcing the words to come out in a calm tone. "I know, Uncle. I'm just… figuring things out. I'll call you when I have more to share, okay?"
His voice softens. "Alright, but don't shut me out. You're family."
"I won't," I promise, even though the lie hangs heavy in my throat. "I'll call soon."
After hanging up, I slump back against the wall, breathing deeply. The weight of everything is heavier than I expected. Rowland doesn't know the truth, and I have no intention of telling him anytime soon.
Not until I figure out how to deal with this insane situation on my own.