The Protagonist Already Knows

"This is unacceptable. WE NEED A SUB!"

Looking at the angry elf with blond hair standing before her, Headmaster Cynthia couldn’t help but groan inwardly.

How was it the academy’s fault that a group of first-year elves had decided to secretly leave The Sunken Pearl and head to the capital city for dinner?

Of course, these first-year elves had unknowingly eaten seafood, which their species was extremely allergic to.

"We already have substitutes, but we’re missing a single swordsman for today’s game!"

Glancing out the window at the street filled with famous heroes and guild representatives, anticipating the match-up today, Headmaster Cynthia eventually sighed before saying.

"According to the rulebook, in a situation where a team is unable to meet their roster requirements due to external reasons, the hosting academy must provide a student."

After pausing for a moment, meeting the furious elven teacher’s gaze, Cynthia continued.

"You may select one of the Sunken Pearl’s first-year students, who are not already on our first-year team, to temporarily join your team for this match."

...

...

...

"Charlotte, as our team captain, you are in charge of choosing our substitute from the Sunken Pearl first-years."

"...yes, Headmaster Roan."

As Headmaster Roan left the building the elves were temporarily using, Angel curiously asked.

"Who are you going to choose?"

"..."

Seeing Charlotte silent, she immediately suggested.

"How about we use the rankings? I can pull them up right no-"

Interrupting Angel mid-sentence, Charlotte shook her head.

"We can’t just pick the most powerful student. They might just purposely lose and not do anything to make us lose..."

Furious, Angel yelled back.

"They can’t! That’d be unjus-"

Maintaining her composure, Charlotte stood up and responded.

"They will."

Hearing their conversation, one of the male elves asked while playing with his bow’s bowstring, as if it were a violin.

"How are you going to choose then, captain?"

A smirk on her face, Charlotte smiled, her light-blue eyes glowing.

"I’ll find someone who has a reason to hate their own. We need someone who wants us to win."

...

...

...

[5:30 AM]

Waking up earlier than usual, I groggily rolled out of my bed and simply put on a large hoodie, covering my messy hair, and a pair of jogging shorts.

Pushing my dirty, ruffled hair off my forehead, I took the elevator down and exited the building, a cold breeze immediately embracing me under the early-morning sun.

Starting a timer on my smartwatch, I stepped onto a pathway and began jogging, zoning out while admiring the light-blue sky.

"You run at this time too, Ash?"

Suddenly looking back down, I found Ren in front of me, backpedaling while gazing at me with a bright smile.

Nodding my head, I simply answered while speeding up past him.

"Getting in the habit."

For some reason, Ren’s smile widened even further as he heard my words.

"Mhm, whatever you say."

What? Did he think I was lying!?

His cheerful face pissing me off, as I was simultaneously struggling to even keep my eyes open and continue jogging, I clicked my tongue and said before stepping onto another path.

"You better win your match today."

Early-morning runs seemed rather common: as I continued jogging on the new path, I spotted many other students, talking in groups while jogging together.

They all had grins on their faces while chatting with others excitedly about their plans for the day.

Additionally, for some reason, every time I passed one of them on the path, they waved at me with a friendly smile, as if encouraging me.

"Keep going!"

No way...how were people enjoying this!? They had to be faking, right!?

Were early-morning jogs some sort of cult?

Gasping for breath as I continued jogging, my hoodie now drenched with sweat to the point where dark spots were visible on it, I constantly resisted the urge to just collapse and go back to sleep.

I had regenerative powers, for God’s sake, but this act of running on an empty stomach right after waking up even made me exhausted.

After about thirty minutes of jogging, I arrived in one of the parks on campus and sat down on a bench, sweat dripping from my face and already-greasy hair.

Taking a moment to just enjoy the cold breeze, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the warm sunlight pouring down on my face.

As the trees swayed gently around me, I stood back up and glanced at my smartwatch, scanning the stretches Professor Sooyung had told me to do.

However...as I attempted to stretch out my right leg,

"AHH!"

A pained scream left my mouth as I fell to the ground, having overextended my right leg way too far forward.

Massaging my motionless right leg, I lay on the hard stone-brick ground with my eyes closed for a moment, biting my tongue as my calf surged with pain.

Opening my eyes, I immediately looked for a way to pull myself up off the uncomfortable ground, but there was nothing nearby.

Yet, at that moment, a pale-white palm suddenly appeared right above me, dazzling under the sun.

My savior!

Looking straight down at me with her usual blank expression, Evangel nodded her head.

"Here."

Dryly coughing, I gently grabbed her palm as she hoisted me to my feet.

Hopping forward with my left foot, I finally collapsed back on the bench.

"*PFFT*"

My eyes suddenly flicking upward, I found Evangel standing a few feet in front of me, her red cheeks puffed up while her hands covered her mouth.

"..."

Wasn’t she supposed to be the emotionless character!? The one who showed no emotion to anyone but her family!?

Then, why did she just laugh every time she saw me?

The pain slowly fading away, I muttered.

"Is me hurting myself really that funny!?"

Her entire body trembling, Evangel pointed at me and said in between laughs.

"It’s just t-that’s *PFFT* n-not how you d-do that stretch!"

"..."

Seeing me unamused, Evangel approached the bench and stretched her right foot, placing her heel on the edge of the bench.

"Like this!"