Death and Rebirth
The last thing Han Seojun remembered was the blinding headlights of a truck.
He had been walking home from another grueling shift at the convenience store, earbuds in, listening to the audiobook of his favorite web novel—Chronicles of the Radiant Hero. It was a guilty pleasure, a story about a chosen hero named Lucien Ashford who attended the prestigious Celestia Royal Academy, gathered a harem of beautiful heroines, and saved the world from the Demon King.
Seojun had read the novel seventeen times. He knew every plot twist, every character's fate, every secret hidden in the story.
And now, apparently, he was going to die thinking about it.
What a pathetic way to go.
Darkness consumed him.

When Seojun opened his eyes, he was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
His body felt wrong—lighter, younger. His hands were pale and slender, not the calloused hands of a twenty-six-year-old who worked three jobs.
A translucent blue window materialized before his eyes.

[SYSTEM AWAKENING]
Welcome, Transmigrator.
You have been reborn as Ethan Blackwood, a background character in the novel Chronicles of the Radiant Hero.
Character Status: Extra (Cannon Fodder)
Original Fate: Death in Chapter 47 (Demon Beast Attack)
Days Until Death: 127
Would you like to activate the [Regressor's Advantage System]?
[YES] / [NO]

Seojun—no, Ethan now—felt his heart stop.
Ethan Blackwood. He remembered that name. A forgettable side character who appeared in exactly three scenes before being killed off to demonstrate the danger of the academy's practical exam.
"You've got to be kidding me," he whispered.
His voice was different. Younger. He stumbled to a mirror hanging on the wall of what appeared to be a modest dormitory room.
A handsome young man with ink-black hair and silver-gray eyes stared back at him. He was attractive—far more so than his previous life—but his features were forgettable in the way that background characters often were. Pleasant but unremarkable.
He was eighteen years old, a first-year student at Celestia Royal Academy.
And in 127 days, he was supposed to die.
"System," he said aloud. "Yes. Activate."

[REGRESSOR'S ADVANTAGE SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
As someone who has read the novel, you possess knowledge of future events. This system will help you leverage that knowledge.
SYSTEM FEATURES:

* Status Window: View your attributes
* Quest System: Complete quests for rewards
* Knowledge Archive: Access your memories of the novel
* Skill Shop: Purchase skills with points
* Affection Tracker: Monitor relationships with key characters

STARTING BONUS: 500 System Points
Current Quest:
Survive the First Week
Reward: 100 Points, Random Skill Box

Ethan took a deep breath. He could work with this.
He pulled up his status window.

[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Ethan Blackwood
Age: 18
Class: Unawakened
Rank: F (Lowest)
ATTRIBUTES:

* Strength: 12
* Agility: 14
* Intelligence: 45
* Mana Capacity: 8
* Charm: 32

SKILLS: None
SPECIAL TRAIT: [Eyes of the Reader] - Can perceive hidden information about characters and items you remember from the novel.

His stats were abysmal. In a world where the average person had attributes around 20, his physical stats were below average. Only his intelligence was notable—a remnant of his previous life, perhaps.
But Ethan smiled grimly.
He didn't need to be strong. He had something far more valuable.
He knew the future.

The headmaster took the stage—an ancient elf named Aldric Silvanus whose age was measured in centuries rather than decades. His voice echoed across the courtyard without magical amplification.


"Welcome, students, to Celestia Royal Academy. For the next four years, this will be your home, your battleground, and your crucible."


He gestured, and a massive holographic display appeared in the sky.


"Our academy operates on a simple principle: strength determines status. Your rank determines your privileges, your resources, and your future."


The display showed a pyramid of classifications.


Legendary tier Reserved for those who could challenge armies alone Full access to all academy resources Private mansion quarters Personal instructor assignment


Elite tier Top 1% of students Access to restricted archives Luxury dormitory Priority mission selection


Advanced tier Top 10% of students Access to advanced training facilities Standard single dormitory Group mission eligibility


Intermediate tier Average performers Standard facilities access Shared dormitory (2 per room) Supervised missions only


Below average tier Remedial training required Limited facilities access Shared dormitory (4 per room) No mission eligibility


Failing tier Probationary status Minimum facilities access Communal dormitory Subject to expulsion review


"Rankings are updated monthly based on academic performance, practical combat assessments, and mission completion," Headmaster Silvanus continued. "Those who climb will be rewarded. Those who stagnate will be left behind."


Ethan grimaced. He was F-Rank—the lowest of the low. In the original novel, F-Rank students were treated as servants by higher-ranked students. They received the worst food, the worst accommodations, and the worst treatment.


Most F-Rank students either dropped out or died during practical exams.


First goal, he decided. Reach at least C-Rank within a month. That should be enough to survive the demon beast attack.


Chapter 3 - The Academy's Ranking System