Unlike the Status Window—or rather, Derek—who couldn't hide his shock upon seeing Yi Han's absurd stats, Yi Han faced him more calmly than expected.
'I thought I might run into him soon enough.'
Yi Han wasn't too surprised by the sudden appearance of the Status Window.
Honestly, he believed they would inevitably meet at some point, whether sooner or later.
And just as predicted, he met the Status Window, and the emotion Yi Han felt was...
'He's got a seriously strong character identity.'
The regressor guy was like the typical youngest son of the Northern Grand Duke.
And just like how the female possessor in a Ro-Fan had typical secret origins and special talents.
The main characters he had met each had an aura about them where their individual character traits perfectly suited their roles.
But in the case of the Status Window, whether he was a reincarnator or a possessor...
'He's quite the gloomy fellow.'
Wasn't he steeped in gloominess?
He thought this might be a refreshing character too.
'He's the type to be very shy around strangers.'
To be precise, dealing with others seemed overwhelming for him.
As evidence of that.
"T-T-That is, um, I am..."
The moment he spoke to him first, he panicked and started buffering immediately.
The typical loner outsider style.
For others, it would be a frustrating type that could cause many misunderstandings.
'It's not like I haven't dealt with guys like this once or twice.'
He just accepted it.
Having spent 10 years as a professional soldier in his past life, the number of social misfits he encountered alone would easily exceed a thousand.
Is saying a thousand too much of an exaggeration?
He wished it was a joke himself.
'At least this type is quiet. The bastards who spout dogshit beliefs and engage in ridiculous politics are the truly terrible ones.'
So Yi Han quietly waited for him to speak.
Because loner types, although slow to speak, would answer earnestly if you waited for them without getting angry or raising your voice.
Sure enough, as if rewarding Yi Han's trust.
"D-Did you know I approached you on p-purpose?"
"It'd be harder not to know."
"...I really came secretly."
"Your footsteps were quiet, to the point where I couldn't even sense your presence."
"...But you still k-knew."
"My instincts are pretty sharp."
"D-Definitely... It seems that way."
"Hmm."
"!"
When Yi Han cast a meaningful glance at him, the guy flinched violently like a squirrel caught stealing food.
A gaze that pierced through him as if saying, 'I know what you did.'
And just as predicted.
'This guy must have seen my status window, right?'
Yi Han had already roughly guessed what the Status Window had done.
Therefore.
"So, was it fun observing me?"
"!!?"
"Don't do that from next time. Doing that when we first meet seems like bad manners, don't you think?"
"T-That's..."
"Your answer."
"...I-I'm sorry."
"I'll let it slide since you apologized honestly."
"......"
"Here, take a handkerchief and wipe your sweat."
"......"
Every time he spoke, the Status Window flinched, and Yi Han finally ended up chuckling.
They hadn't even had a proper conversation yet, but seeing as he apologized properly and his reactions were sincere.
'He doesn't seem like a bad guy.'
Click.
Figuring there was no need to gouge his eyes out, Yi Han slipped a knife—which he didn't know when he had drawn—back into his coat.
'-H-He saw through my skill just now?!'
For Derek, it was a completely dumbfounding situation.
His heart pounded with the shock that perhaps, for the first time, someone had recognized him using a skill.
However, Derek thought the other party wouldn't know exactly what he had seen.
'T-T-There was no
Why did Derek approach Yi Han today, throwing his Status skill—which he could only use once every three months—like a gamble?
The existence of another player he had always suspected in his heart.
He approached him to confirm this.
Because if the other person's trait column had the
So he had to take a gamble.
He didn't know what kind of variable another player's existence could be, and if they were a villain, it would be a huge problem.
After bracing himself and checking, fortunately, the word 'Player' was not in Yi Han's trait column.
This was proof that he was not a player, but a resident of this world!
Derek felt both disappointment and relief.
Because at least for now, he was the only player.
But.
'H-He caught me?!'
A sharp gaze flying at him the moment he felt relieved.
Even the meaningful look that implied he had sensed the presence of his skill...!
It was only natural for his blood to run cold.
'N-No, he didn't completely catch me.'
But as he calmed down a bit, he thought he might have sensed something strange from his gaze through his [Wild Beast's Instinct] or [Effort-born Intuition].
With traits of that level, there was a fear they might notice the heterogeneity emanating from his skill.
So it wasn't a situation where the skill itself was caught.
'I... was in real danger.'
Still, it was definitely a dangerous situation.
If this person had launched an attack the moment he sensed the heterogeneity, he would have been 'instakilled' with no way to deal with it.
With his specs, he had no way to handle a Lv.7 Warrior.
'He doesn't seem to be as violent as I imagined.'
Derek thought this person might be a calmer and more intellectual person than he thought.
He sensed the heterogeneous energy, the skill, yet let it slide without displeasure, which was one thing, but what left the deepest impression on him was...
'He's being considerate of me.'
He was the one who had been ostracized, called a stutterer or a mute.
Born with a slow and clumsy way of speaking and a blunt personality, others would often raise their voices or get angry at him.
For Derek, it was a past full of unfairness, and there were many moments where he would have been so grateful if only they gave him a chance to speak slowly, step by step.
And in Derek's life so far, there were only exactly two people who listened to his story step by step to the end and waited for him.
One was Karin, who was giving a wonderful speech in the center of the debate hall right now, and the other was...
'His name, the atmosphere... he really resembles...'
The person like his mentor he met during the 2 years of military life he thought would be hell.
'He seems a bit like my platoon leader.'
Platoon leader.
He seemed to resemble 'Sergeant Yi Han'.
'......Did the platoon leader reincarnate or something?'
"...Hah."
'There's no way.'
Even so, Derek shook his head, saying the probability of a dead acquaintance reincarnating in another world and meeting him was absurd.
Meeting a regressor or a possessor was one thing, but such a cliché couldn't possibly exist.
Derek denied it himself, thinking it was a truly absurd imagination.
So now.
'I should just consider myself lucky to have met a good person.'
Derek slowly opened his mouth toward the third 'good person' he had ever met.
* * *
"I-I'm Derek. I'm a first-year in the Department of History."
...Funnily enough, the Status Window—that guy Taechang—only now revealed his name and affiliation, and with a nonchalant expression, Yi Han said,
"You sure took your time revealing that."
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Apology accepted. More importantly, as a member of the Department of History, hmm, do they teach combat arts in the History Department these days?"
"!!?"
"And quite a high-tier combat art at that. You're learning something that only nobles, and high-ranking nobles at that, would typically learn."
"......"
"What's your surname?"
"...I'm sorry."
"So you can't reveal it. You're getting more and more suspicious."
"Ugh...!"
Taechang swallowed a groan and became even more intimidated.
He seemed to know that having a lot of information he couldn't reveal would itself instill a sense of distrust in the other party.
The visible embarrassment and anxiety.
He looked like he was walking on eggshells, worried he might have offended him.
Of course.
'He doesn't look like a scoundrel though?'
Yi Han was already certain that this guy was the infamous Second Prince, the scoundrel.
The high-tier combat art was one thing, but he also had an atmosphere similar to his sister.
The unique atmosphere that only the Pendragon royal family possessed.
Because of that, Yi Han was certain he was royalty, but for now, he decided to pretend he didn't know Taechang's identity.
To avoid unnecessarily showing that he knew more.
Someone might argue that pressing him would yield more information.
'With a guy like this, it's better to extract information naturally rather than forcefully.'
Yi Han was somewhat of a veteran in extracting information from countless military personnel.
There were methods like torture and threats, but there were opponents they worked on and opponents they didn't.
In that sense, the Status Window was definitely the latter.
'He's the type to naturally spit out information as we chat.'
He was naive and simple, so once his guard was down, he'd blurt everything out on his own.
So what he needed to do right now was...
"Cadet Derek."
"Y-Yes?"
"Let's put aside your suspiciousness for now."
"!?!?"
"However, you probably know yourself how suspicious you appear."
"T-That's..."
"I understand you approached me with some purpose. Since I didn't feel any hostility or killing intent, I'm not threatening you, but your suspiciousness is still obvious."
"......"
"So I'm proposing this: how about we continue our conversation in a Q&A format?"
"...Q-Q&A format...?"
"If we have something we're curious about, we take turns asking. You go first."
"T-That's..."
"I won't rush you."
"......"
...For a moment, silence hung in the air.
It was a sudden proposal, but the Status Window guy seemed to take it seriously.
Well, he'd probably be thrilled.
He might not know Yi Han's intentions, but he had gained an opportunity to get information.
Since he was able to achieve his purpose solely thanks to Yi Han's consideration, he must have thought this was a windfall.
After Yi Han calmly waited for about 3 minutes.
Suddenly, the guy.
Click.
"[Silence]."
Whoosh.
"...Oh. You have quite a fascinating talent."
In an instant, all sound was blocked, and their presence faded.
Glancing at the noble lady, Gomsoon, and the second chick, they were focusing entirely on the debate without paying any attention to them.
They seemed completely absorbed in the eloquence of the intensely presence-heavy girl named Karin.
The guy opened his mouth.
"I-It's hard to call this a reward for your forgiveness, but I've revealed my ability. I thought it might create some level of trust..."
"It's an interesting ability. Did you say Silence?"
"...Did you hear that?"
"I heard it clearly."
"...It's a useful ability for having secret conversations between the two of us."
"Not bad."
Wow, the Status Window guy, he couldn't help but be envious of him.
This was definitely a 'skill'.
One of the talents he had wanted so badly when recalling his past life memories.
Yi Han clenched his teeth and feigned ignorance, swallowing a bitter feeling.
It was an envy born from thinking that if only he had an ability like this, his life in this world might have been better than it was now.
When Yi Han was briefly recalling the past like a reminiscence.
"I-Instructor, are you perhaps from the Temple side?"
"...Hmm."
Finally, a question flew in, and he thought it felt like a familiar question.
'The Temple again?'
It was exactly like the situation where the regressor's subordinate had asked him before, really.
With deep-set eyes, Yi Han organized his thoughts.
'Both the regressor's side and the Status Window... there's definitely something going on with the Temple.'
Reaching that conclusion, Yi Han shook his head.
"I, at least, have no connection to the Temple."
"I-Is that so..."
"Hah, why ask a question if you're going to doubt it?"
"...Still, you don't seem like the type to spout lies. So I'll try my best to believe you."
"That's an answer I like, Cadet Derek. As a reward, I'll allow you one more question."
"T-Then, may I ask what your relationship is with Irene Windler?"
"......"
-He took the bait.
Just as he thought, by naturally continuing the conversation, the big fish had bitten, hadn't it?
Without showing any joy, Yi Han put on the most bewildered expression he could.
"Are you talking about Cadet Irene Windler? Why are you suddenly asking about my relationship with her?"
"F-First, your answer..."
"Hmm, fine. The relationship between Cadet Irene Windler and this instructor can be defined as that of a cadet and an instructor."
"......"
"But if I were to answer a bit more, we're also next-door neighbors."
"Neighbors...?"
"Exactly as it sounds. She lives right next to the cabin I live in."
"...I-Is that true?"
"What benefit would I get from lying? I am still speaking only the truth."
"T-Then other than that..."
"An acquaintance. That would be the clearest way to define my relationship with her."
"......"
"Then I'll ask the reverse. Why are you curious about my relationship with Cadet Irene? Do you perhaps have some hostility towards her?"
"I-It's not like that, but..."
"But?"
"Ugh..."
He hesitated to answer with a groan, but the Status Window guy was conscientious.
Since Yi Han kept showing the virtue of yielding, he was the type to answer in return.
He slowly...
"I-It might be a strange thing to say, but the Irene Windler I knew was not that kind of person."
"What exactly do you mean by 'that kind of person'?"
"She's not the type to smile innocently, or have that bright feeling like a girl of her age."
"Then?"
As soon as he asked back, lightly poking at it.
"S-Spiteful, wicked, jealous of others, and a black hand trying to take over the academy with the power of her family and magic..."
"......"
"...A wicked villainess who would only appear in a play, t-that's how I know her."
"...Who does?"
"Of course, Lady Irene Windler."
"...???"
His head turned slightly, and he saw the girl chatting softly while leaning her shoulder affectionately against the noble lady.
*Her*, a villainess?
'...Is this the hidden nature of a spellcaster?'
His innate disgust towards spellcasters instinctively surged, but he shook his head, trying hard to deny it.
Because at least the Irene Windler he had personally experienced wasn't trash like a common spellcaster.
However.
"...Why did a mid-boss end up like that?"
"......"
...He might have thought he was just muttering to himself quietly again, but it was clearly heard by Yi Han's ears.
The phrase 'mid-boss'.
Thus, Yi Han blinked as he heard the shocking true identity of Irene Windler.
'What, I thought she was the female lead or heroine of a Ro-Fan, but she's not a female lead or heroine...'
—Was she a boss mob?