Fated to Die in an Academy Novel – Chapter 137

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
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That day, the Witch of the Time Flower told me about Authority.

That the miracles performed by gods…

…were just the result of people’s wishes gathered together.

Individually, they were worthless, but when gathered, they could perform the greatest of feats.

But there was something even more important for a miracle to happen.

However, I never got to hear what that was.

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My mother’s funeral was held.

I didn’t attend it.

I dragged my broken body and focused on training.

They told me I might die, but for some reason, I didn’t feel like I would.

No, to be more precise, it felt like I was playing a game.

Yes, everyone around me was an NPC.

There wasn’t a single real person among them. They were just puppets that gave predetermined responses, so it really felt like a game.

Wait, was I also a character? My birthday is my mother’s death anniversary. How cliché.

One day, Cheon Yoo-hak came to visit.

He said that he would snap me out of it.

I couldn’t fight back with my broken body, so I let him hit me.

He looked at me with disbelief, but I didn’t care.

Sometimes, the house staff would gossip about me.

They said that I didn’t see them as people.

So, I laughed in their faces and agreed.

That’s right. I don’t see you as people. No, not just you, but my oh-so-great sister and father as well, none of you seem like real people!

When I said that, instead of getting angry, they looked at me with pity.

How ridiculous.

How dare you puppets imitate humans?

Would this life, where I couldn’t even breathe properly, continue until I went to the academy, or even until I returned to my original world?

I hated it.

I really hated it.

It felt like I was the only one floating, detached from the world.

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After an excruciatingly long time, I was finally old enough to enter the academy.

At first, I didn’t want to attend the entrance ceremony.

I would die if I went, so why should I?

So, I planned to just pretend to go and then kill time somewhere.

“Hey.”

Yes.

I was going to leave, but I couldn’t.

It was a girl I had never seen before.

But for some reason, she didn’t feel like a puppet.

“I told you to stay in one piece until I saw you again. Why are you so messed up right now?”

Ah.

Her smile was just like… hers.

“Hey, don’t you dare pretend you don’t recognize me… Huh?”

I ran and hugged her.

I needed something to hold onto.

“Huh…!? What the!?”

There was something. Something for me to hold onto. Something for me to protect. Something that wasn’t a puppet. Something that had meaning.

“Hey…? What’s wrong with you? Are you crying…?”

I thought I could endure until I returned.

Now I didn’t need to.

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I attended the entrance ceremony, but I didn’t do anything special.

I just healed my body with the potion she made for me with her Authority and slowly waited while preparing to defend myself.

I didn’t feel guilty about not being able to save those who could be saved.

It wasn’t like real people were dying.

And the tragedy unfolded before me.

Everyone near the wall, except for me and her, died, and the hall was filled with fear at the appearance of the monster.

The plot was proceeding as it should. The only difference was that she and I survived.

It should have been that way.

Lilac fought hard. Cheon Yoo-hak surprisingly started helping him.

Even seeing the scene, which was different from the original story, I didn’t do anything.

Just that…

…when Lilac made a foolish mistake, I instinctively deflected the monster’s attack for him, just once.

That was all.

But that was the problem.

After that, Lilac clung to me relentlessly. Well, it wasn’t bad to be close to the protagonist. He had to become stronger for us to get to the end anyway.

I was really surprised when my roommate turned out to be Kang Ha-ni, but I tried my best not to get involved with her.

I roughly pushed Cheon Yoo-hak away when he approached me, and when Yoo-na picked a fight with me while telling me not to hang out with Lilac, I fought back without hesitation.

“…Was I hanging out with him? That idiot just came to me on his own.”

“Watch your mouth if you don’t want to die. I hate that you don’t see people as people. I’m warning you, stay away from Lilac.”

…People? You?

You’re just puppets that move along a set path if I don’t do anything. And you call yourselves people?

I laughed, unable to hold it back.

Yoo-na, who took my laughter as a provocation, threw the first punch, and we fought until our noses bled.

There were occasional moments of stimulation like that, but academy life was incredibly boring.

The character based on Ms. Cathy approached me. Perhaps she felt sorry for me because I had no friends.

I wasn’t going to give her any attention though since she was going to die anyway.

Sometimes, when Kang Ha-ni and Yoo-na picked fights with me, I just left because it was annoying.

Lilac would stop me, and the two would give me shit, as if they didn’t like it.

Kim Ga-eul died.

…I felt a bit uneasy about that, but I just dismissed it as a character dying and forgot about it.

And so, my gloomy academy life passed with events not much different from the original story, except for the fact that I was alive.

Sometimes, the puppets would talk to me or act friendly with me, but I ignored them.

It was ridiculous to play with puppets at my age, wasn’t it?

“I believe in you, So-hyun!”

When we did group activities together, Lilac often told me he believed in me.

Believe in what? The person you should be most wary of in this world was probably me.

The villain you could never forgive, based on your sense of justice, was me.

…Well, those who were meant to die died, and those who were meant to live lived, and the main stories passed by one by one.

And finally, the last story of the first year of the academy began.

It was an incident that was supposed to happen a bit later, but she used her Authority to make it happen sooner.

“It has to be now.”

I wondered what she had meant back then, but since it was her, I just let it go.

Come to think of it, she might have planned it from the beginning.

Because she was the one who loved and cursed this world more than anyone else.

She probably wanted to deny this world.

I could have noticed, but I just looked away while using the excuse that I didn’t have time.

A major event occurred: the King of Sloth, one of the seven demon kings, crossed dimensions and attacked the academy.

It was a clichéd story where only Lilac, with his Holy Sword talent, could pierce the demon’s heart without being harmed.

A plan was formed: the other professors and cadets would hold back the demon king and deal with the other demons while Lilac finished him off.

I knew it.

You would start to stand out from here on out in the original story.

Go get him.

I thought nothing would be different.

So, I did the bare minimum.

I saved those who were supposed to live and let those who were supposed to die die. And I didn’t care about those who were ambiguous.

I thought it was foolish to waste my energy on an episode that would have passed even without me.

Though I didn’t expect Lilac to do that.

I didn’t expect him to struggle to save even those I abandoned.

The chairman’s talent exploded.

The demon king’s movements stopped due to her overpowered ability to control the flow of the atmosphere.

For some reason, Cathy and the other characters, who were still alive, opened a path to the demon king’s heart.

Lilac, exhausted, ran while panting.

He ran while cutting through the demon king’s tentacles with his shining Holy Sword.

What did you believe in? You could do it on your own.

He fought well, and finally, the Holy Sword pierced the demon king’s heart.

Right after that, Lilac, who was tired, tried to catch his breath…

And a tentacle filled with demonic energy suddenly pierced Lilac’s abdomen.

…Huh? Was this supposed to happen? No, right?

I felt uneasy and ran.

He was smiling foolishly. It was an unpleasant smile, similar to the one I hated.

“Hee, hee. See? I told you we could do it.”

What are you talking about? Get up, you idiot. You’re not supposed to die. You’re the protagonist.

Normally, the Holy Sword’s light would have purified the demonic energy, but perhaps because he overexerted himself, the faint light couldn’t even push back the demonic energy ravaging his insides, let alone purify it. Because he saved people instead of focusing on the demon.

“Thanks for putting up with me even though you hated me…”

What happened?

“Ah, sorry… I’m… dizzy… Yoo-na… please…”

And with those last words, he never opened his eyes again.

Lilac, the protagonist of this world, died. Because of me and her.

…Huh? Then what would happen now? The ending? The end of the world? Going back?

Wasn’t everything supposed to follow the original plot no matter what I did? Weren’t they all just puppets in a set story? No? Then what have I been doing all this time?

Nausea washed over me.

The truth I had vaguely known was now a harsh reality.

As I was panicking, she approached.

She looked surprisingly calm.

Or not? She seemed to be pitying me and she also looked anxious, but at least she wasn’t angry.

“Why are you so worried? Does the protagonist have to be Lilac?”

Her hand glowed.

That light was Authority.

A blessing that subdued and controlled, making it unnecessary to think.

As I received that light, my mind gradually went blank, but at least the pain seemed to be fading.

Even so, I had a question.

…Then who will be the protagonist?

“What’s there to worry about? I told you, it was fine as long as the story had a proper ending. Then let’s do this.”

What did she mean?

“A bad ending is still an ending. With Lilac gone, it’ll be foolish to stick with the heroes.”

Was that okay with you? The world would change completely.

“How many times do I have to say it? Is this shitty world more important than you? So what if a few characters die? They’re not even real people.”

Really…? Is that right? They were all fake, meaningless, right? There was no need to worry, right?

As my last remaining question disappeared, my mind became even more blank.

Right, going back was the only thing that mattered. Nothing else.

By the time she removed her hand, there were no more questions in my head.

I don’t think I hesitated much after that.

It was easy. I could harm and betray people as she ordered, without much resistance.

At first, I didn’t regret it much.

They were just puppets, so what was so difficult about killing them? Who would say anything about breaking puppets when the owner allowed it?

I betrayed villains who were close to their goals and grew stronger.

I broke characters who were already destined to be broken and used them as tools.

I deceived with lies, subdued with violence, and killed anyone who got in my way.

I told myself it was all fake while suppressing the disgust and revulsion that surfaced through the brainwashing, and pushed forward.

That foolish delusion and hypnosis started to waver after my confrontation with her.

A woman who should have been dead long ago was still alive and was blocking my way.

Cathy.

Perhaps because she was based on my benefactor, guilt gnawed at me whenever she stood in my way.

[I don’t want to kill her. I wanted to hold her hand and beg for forgiveness.]

So, I decided to kill her.

Even at the last moment, before my short sword pierced her, she reached out to me.

‘Although you are someone I can never forgive, if you have a shred of remorse left, I will help you. As the teacher who failed to guide you.’

She smiled, not with resentment, but with pity, even as I stabbed her.

Starting with her, people who weren’t just puppets started appearing.

I used Yoo-na, promising to tell her the truth about Lilac’s death, but after she found out that I had deceived her, we fought to kill each other several times.

‘I came here to kill you, but it wasn’t enough?’

[I would rather die by your hand than kill you.]

She wasn’t this kind of character. Could puppets change their own destiny?

I shouldn’t doubt now. The moment I doubted, I would stop. I sacrificed so much to get here, so I couldn’t stop now.

‘I like that you don’t see me as a person.’

[I’m the one who made you this way. I’m the one who can’t be forgiven. So please, don’t look at me like that.]

The Sword Demon, who lost her humanity and became obsessed with the sword, headed to the battlefield with a single word from me.

I used her as a disposable pawn to defeat Arcadia, who had allied with the government.

Her dying smile after she finally cut down the Fighting Demon was still vivid in my mind.

This wasn’t right.

I felt nauseous.

Was I feeling guilty now? Did I even have that right?

After treating so many people as puppets, using and betraying them to get here?

I wanted to break down, but I couldn’t.

The public enemy. The most cruel villain. The slayer of heroes. The demon who even killed fellow villains for his own gain. That was me.

There was no turning back now.

The misguided thought that I had to move forward because I couldn’t stop came to me like an obsession.

‘I will fulfill my responsibility for not stopping you that day, here and now.’

After defeating the government and Arcadia, the hero who poured everything into a deal with a foreign god and became a monster stood before me, spear in hand.

It was dangerous, but in the end, I was able to defeat him by mobilizing even the Creator’s Authority.

I crossed a sea of blood, moving forward for the sole purpose of returning.

The hero who could have stopped me, the protagonist of this world, was already dead.

I became the demon who destroyed this world.

And when there was no one left to resist me…

…when the remaining people, calling themselves heroes, tried to protect those weaker than themselves, and I, who had been ignoring the truth, finally began to doubt myself…

-…Is this the ending you envisioned for this world?-

The Lord of All Worlds, who had been silent for so long, spoke to me.

My mind was worn out.

I didn’t want to do anything anymore.

The brainwashing she put on me had long since lost its effect.

But I couldn’t remain silent.

I had to ask the being who resembled God, who was surely greater than me, something.

-…What a foolish question. Are the people here puppets? Are they just characters? I’m not kind enough to answer someone who already knows the answer.

-I said it was a world for you, not a world only for you. Did you think everyone living in this world you created were just toys?-

Ah, right. I knew it. I merely came this far out of spite.

I wanted to run away because I didn’t want to admit my mistake. It was childish.

I swore I wouldn’t do it anymore, yet I clung to her again because I needed a place to escape to.

Even though I was losing myself in the process.

-Anyway, it was shitty, but that’s okay. This is also the end of a world. If this is the conclusion you speak of, I admit that my expectations were probably too high. So, I’ll send you back now.-

As the end approached, the disgust that had been piling up behind the wall of brainwashing came flooding back.

I was such an idiot.

Why did I deny this obvious truth and even ask about it?

Was I crazy? No, that wasn’t an excuse.

Perhaps I came this far because I needed a place to escape to, and that I was actually hoping that she would tell me that they were all just puppets.

This wasn’t right.

So, I couldn’t end it like this. I shouldn’t.

“It’s not over yet.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

It wasn’t stubbornness. I was certain that if I returned like this, it would all be for nothing.

I would still be someone who only lost, and I would still try to rely on her, who was already beginning to crumble.

And eventually, the fact that I couldn’t atone for my sins would consume and break me.

I couldn’t let that happen.

My life was a series of regrets, always too late.

I should have stopped when I realized something was wrong, instead of continuing to move forward.

I made things worse by throwing a tantrum, as if intoxicated by my own misfortune.

Unlike the flustered her, the Lord of All Worlds became interested, asking what I meant.

“Hey, what are you talking about? We can finally go back!”

She gave me potions and items with her Creator’s Authority whenever I was struggling.

Thanks to her, I became the only human in this world with more authority than her.

My very existence was sustained by Authority.

The Witch of the Time Flower, as if anticipating this day, had told me…

“You said that the Creator’s Authority can even overturn the laws of the world.”

I might not have the right, but I had enough Authority.

-…That’s true. Are you trying to revive everyone who died? You don’t have enough.-

You’re right. But that’s not enough.

I’ll do it again.

I’ll fix everything I broke. It was a series of wrong choices, so I won’t make a mistake this time.

-…Even with the return you so desperately wanted right in front of you? Does doing it again erase your sins?-

I didn’t really want to return. Rather, I just wanted to run away.

My sins won’t be erased, but I can at least try my best.

“Who says we’re doing it again? What are we doing again!? After everything we sacrificed to get here!? No, right? It’s just a novel. It’s strange to feel guilty about a few characters dying! Is that more important than going back with me!?”

She reached out to me again.

But I wouldn’t rely on you this time.

You hated this world so much you wanted to pretend it never existed.

But you shouldn’t have thought that way.

This world was based on our novel, but there were things here that we didn’t write.

I knew that, but I tried to ignore it and caused so much trouble as a result.

So, I couldn’t go back like this.

We didn’t learn what we needed to learn in this world, and we wasted the opportunity we finally got.

So, let’s do it again.

“My way, bitch.”

-The Witch of the Time Flower is worried about you. Your soul is very unstable.-

-…She’s right. I’m disappointed, but you should go back. Your soul is torn right now, but it’s still closer to your original world than to here.-

-But if you experience something as abnormal as regression, your soul will be worn down and might even be destroyed from the shock. Even if, by some miracle, you endure it, you won’t be able to maintain your original form. You’ll undoubtedly become a resident of this world, and it’ll be difficult to return to your original world.-

-And even if you go back to the past, you won’t be able to fix your biggest regret. You’ll also be paying with Authority, so the body you healed with Authority will become weak again. Are you still going to make such a foolish choice?-

“I don’t care.”

No? Actually, this was good. I needed something to alleviate my guilt.

I was an idiot.

I always made the wrong choices and tried to blame others for it.

So, this time, I would seize the last chance I had.

I would make the right choice for the first time in my life.

“Let’s make a deal, Witch of the Time Flower, Lord of All Worlds.”

In exchange for seeing the end of the world, I would regress instead of returning.

The price for performing this insufficient miracle was the Authority within my body.

-Your soul will be worn down, and you won’t remember everything. You might even be degraded into a different existence, and you’d no longer be you anymore.-

I didn’t care. I was certain for the first time in my life.

Certain that this choice wasn’t a mistake.

Even if I lost my memories and only the emotions remained, I wouldn’t make a mistake this time.

I would help those I hurt while thinking that they were just puppets, and I would stop denying the feelings I had for them.

-If that is your choice…-

“Don’t be ridiculous! Do you think I’ll just let you do this!?”

-We will respect it.-

She tried to do something, but the light of the miracle enveloped me a little faster.

“No!”

With a scream, she poured her remaining Authority into me.

Right after that, an unbearable lethargy consumed me.

I couldn’t remember anything in my dizzy mind, and my very existence was fading, worn down as the price for going against the flow of time.

As I was breaking apart and disappearing, someone forcibly held onto me at the last moment.

The scattered pieces reassembled, and I regained my form.

For the first time in my life, something called a miracle found me.

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When ‘I’ regained consciousness, I stared blankly ahead.

My head was dizzy, but the surrounding scenery was strangely clear.

I couldn’t remember clearly because of the dizziness, but no matter how I thought about it, the last scene I remembered and the place I was standing on now were completely different.

Was this an auditorium?

Numerous students were gathered in one space as if waiting for something.

I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

I had never seen this place or these people before, but for some reason, I felt like I knew what would happen next.

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T/N – And, scene! Now we’ve come full circle. All my previous questions have now been answered. Quite an unusual choice from the author, considering there’s like 700+ more chapters before the end. Most novels usually save these reveals for the end or at least near the end.

Also, it’s kinda funny. I already concluded that the author friend wasn’t the one trying to fuck the MC over, but this chapter proves that I was right the first time around. The author friend really was a bitch. She was also probably pretty pissed off with the MC’s decision to regress.

As for the Succubus Queen’s suddenly gaining Authority, my guess is either the author friend gave it to her in secret or that it’s leftover Authority of the MC.

Let me know what other realizations you have in this chapter. There’s so much to digest here, after all.

If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.