I Became a Rogue Fox [1]

I had one friend. 

In my narrow social circle, she was my one and only precious friend. 

"Seung-woo, what if I gave you a tail on your back?" 

Except for when she did things like this. 

My friend, Eve, stretched out her hand. 

Then, blue particles poured over it. 

On her empty palm, nine fox tails appeared. 

A miracle that couldn't be achieved with common sense. 

This was the manifestation of Eve's specialty and talent—magic. 

"Stop making weird things with magic." 

"I'm doing it because I have extra mana. If it were wartime, I wouldn't be doing this." 

"Wartime or not, just stop making it." 

This world had already faced destruction once. 

Perhaps because of that, we were granted abilities. 

Abilities that were different from others, capable of restoring the destroyed world. 

In Eve's case, her ability manifested as magic. 

Magic was incredibly rare and precious. Unbound by physical laws, the power born from imagination was utterly transcendent. 

Seeing its power and utility, even I wanted to learn magic. 

But the magic was Eve's unique ability. 

It wasn't something that could be learned. 

Well, at least I had my swordsmanship and martial arts. 

But still, I couldn't help but feel envious. 

"If you're going to use magic like that, why not give it to me?" 

"Even if I taught you, you wouldn't be able to use it." 

"Yeah, I guess so." 

"Instead of that boring talk, how about this?!" 

She stretched her hand into the air. 

Then, the space distorted. 

Beyond the distorted space, a desk came into view. 

On the desk were several notebooks, and Eve pulled out one of them. At the same time, the space returned to normal. 

"Do you know what this is?" 

"Strategic documents or supply accounting?" 

"Wrong! You're thinking too rigidly. Anyone can see it's a novel." 

She flipped through the book. 

The long passages and frequent use of quotation marks proved it was a novel. 

Wait, how could she tell it was a novel just by looking at a plain notebook? 

"Hold on, that's a novel? It looks like a notebook to me." 

Among military entertainment items, novels in this format didn't exist. 

All novels existed either as physical books or e-books on specific devices. 

I knew this well because I loved reading books. 

Novels in this format didn't exist. 

At least, not to my knowledge. 

"Why? Does the cover look weird?" 

"Of course it does. Even illegally obtained novels don't come in this format." 

"Well, it's because I wrote this novel myself. Of course, it's like this." 

"...What?" 

Her answer made me doubt my ears. 

She wrote the novel herself? 

If Eve had written the novel, then it made sense for it to be in a notebook. 

But why a notebook? 

A laptop would have been more appropriate for writing a novel. 

The answer was simple. 

"I wrote it during the war, bit by bit. It's not like I had a reliable way to charge a laptop." 

Eve explained in detail the hardships she faced while writing the novel. 

She also explained the plot and content of the novel in great detail, but it was so long that it made my ears hurt. 

"So, you see. I made you the rogue." 

"Why did you have to mess with me?" 

"Because it's fun." 

Among her lengthy explanations, there were parts I couldn't just brush off. 

Especially the part where she used me as a character in her novel. 

Not as the protagonist, but as a villain. 

And not even a major villain—just a minor extra. 

"But I made your family super wealthy. Isn't that enough?" 

"Haha, yeah, the head of a noble family sounds great. But then I get betrayed by my younger sister and older sister, turn into a villain, and get killed by the protagonist, right?" 

"That's the fate of a villain." 

I had a lot I wanted to say, but I couldn't bring myself to interrupt Eve as she explained her novel with sparkling eyes. 

I should have stopped her then. 

"The title of my novel is 'Academy's Genius Rogue,' about a hopeless rogue who awakens as a genius after a certain incident." 

"What incident?" 

"His friends die in front of him." 

"That's pretty intense, but it definitely has a strong narrative." 

She excitedly talked about various things—hidden pieces in dungeons, how the plot unfolds, and so on. 

From her explanation alone, it seemed like a typical academy genre novel. 

The only unique aspect was the worldbuilding, which was like a magical realm where accidents and incidents never ceased. 

So, I didn't feel particularly compelled to read her novel. 

But I should have. 

If I had known that years later, I would be transported into this novel, I would have twisted her settings and read the novel at least once carefully. 

"...I'm screwed." 

I had entered the world of my friend's novel. 

A modern fantasy world where swords, magic, and science coexisted. 

At first, I thought it was a dream or an illusion. But no matter how much time passed, the hazy sensation didn't fade. Instead, I realized that the situation I was in was all too real. 

Now, I had no choice but to accept it. 

"I… really entered the novel?" 

It was hard to believe, but what could I do? This was reality. 

I had become the minor villain in my friend Eve's novel, "Academy's Genius Rogue." And to make matters worse, I had a tail on my back. 

***

After accepting the situation, adapting to this world didn't take long. 

My swordsmanship and the manipulation of mana, the primary energy source for both my abilities and Eve's magic, were the same as in reality, so adapting was particularly quick. 

As someone who was used to meditating quietly while refining mana, I thought to myself in a low voice. 

Why was it? 

Even considering my mana manipulation, my adaptation was too fast. 

Was it because of the personality of the body I had possessed? Or was it because I had steeled my resolve to survive no matter what? 

Whatever the reason, adapting quickly to this world was a good sign. 

If I didn't, I could die at any moment. 

"By the way, where is this…?" 

Still holding my confused head, I looked around and saw a place filled with piles of documents. People in suits were busily moving about. 

Was this some kind of company? 

Curious, I picked up one of the documents and saw the name "Professor Nam Hwa-yeon" written in elegant handwriting. 

Next to the signature was a red seal with the words "Chilseong Academy." This was a thesis. 

A thesis for academy classes. 

It was then that I realized where I was. 

"...No way." 

My jaw dropped naturally. 

It was an even greater shock than realizing I had entered a novel. 

Just then, someone grabbed my shoulder. 

──Thud! 

I turned around to see a man with a gaunt face staring at me. I waited to see what he wanted. 

"What are you doing just standing there?!" 

"...What?" 

"What? Is that how you talk to your senior?!" 

The man suddenly started scolding me. 

He handed me the stack of documents he was holding and added, 

"Show some respect in front of your seniors. If you can't do that, at least keep your head down." 

"...." 

"If you keep spacing out like this, you're really dead." 

Even in this unfamiliar situation, I could be sure of one thing. 

This was Chilseong Academy, the setting of the novel. 

And within it, a professor's research lab. 

And my identity was that of a teaching assistant. 

A junior teaching assistant, at that. 

'Wh-what on earth is going on…?' 

It was easy to tell that I had possessed Baek Seung-woo. 

My physique and face were identical to his, likely because I was the model for the character. There was plenty of evidence. 

But a teaching assistant? This deviated from the original story. 

Looking at the calendar, it was March 2021. 

The time when the protagonist and supporting characters were just entering the academy. The very moment the novel began. 

And the Baek Seung-woo I had possessed was supposed to enter the academy as the second-ranked student. 

Baek Seung-woo, who harboured an inferiority complex toward the top student, belittled and ignored the protagonist, whose talent had yet to bloom, to boost his own ego. By the second semester, he had completely fallen from grace. 

After his fall, Baek Seung-woo ranked at the bottom of his class and, despite his desperate attempts, received multiple academic warnings before being expelled. 

Later, he reappeared as a villain and met a cold end at the hands of the protagonist. 

But why was I a teaching assistant instead of a student? 

Had other settings changed as well? 

I wanted to think seriously about it, but the man who had handed me the stack of documents was glaring at me, so I didn't have the luxury of pondering. 

But what was I supposed to do with these documents? 

Flipping through them, I saw densely written symbols and magic circles. Since every page was filled, it probably didn't mean I had to process them. 

Fortunately, there was a small note on the first page. 

It said to move them to a specific location. 

Professor Nam Hwa-yeon's first research lab. 

I just had to take them there. 

"...Alright!" 

Carrying the stack of documents, I started walking. 

Wow, this is heavier than I thought. 

It was heavy, but not unbearable, so I moved around looking for the first research lab. Since I didn't know the layout of the place, I kept walking around. 

I tried asking people for directions, but as soon as they saw my face and tail, they all ran away. 

It's not like I look that intimidating. 

Was it because of the tail? 

That might be it. 

Even though this was a novel since it was set in modern times, having a tail was quite rare. 

Glancing at the fluffy fox tail on my back, I convinced myself that it made sense and found my way on my own. 

The building was larger than I expected, so it took quite a while to find the first research lab. It was located in the most remote part of the building, which made it even harder. 

Don't research labs usually have prominent locations? 

"...This looks more like a personal office than a research lab." 

Holding the stack of documents with both hands, I used my fingers to open the door to the first research lab. What greeted me was the stimulating aroma of coffee beans and a desk cluttered with documents. 

Most people imagine research labs as places filled with state-of-the-art equipment and clean spaces. But here, there was only one chair, and the bookshelves and desk were completely cluttered with documents. 

It looked more like a personal office. 

If that was the case, then it must be the professor's private space. 

Given the lack of equipment and the personal items scattered around, that seemed likely. 

──Thud! 

I placed the stack of documents on the cluttered desk. 

There was no space, so I just put it on top. 

After finishing my task, I looked around. Since it was the professor's private research lab and located in a remote area, there was no sign of anyone around. 

I stuck my head out the door and looked around, then let out a sigh of relief. 

"Phew, thankfully there's no one around." 

After realizing I had entered a novel, there was one thing I really wanted to try. But I didn't want to do it in front of others. 

This place seemed safe enough. 

I muttered softly, 

"...Status window." 

Then, a translucent window appeared before my eyes. 

As various texts came into view, I clenched my fists without realizing it. 

Thankfully, it worked. If nothing had appeared, I would have been embarrassed. 

I let out a sigh of relief and manipulated the translucent window. 

This was the status window. 

The status window was a power granted by the system, and in this world, it was an absolutely unforgivable form of identification. 

「Name: Baek Seung-woo」 

「Age: 21」 

「Race: One-Tailed Fox」 

「Title: None」 

「Rank: ——」 

「Abnormal Status: Solar Severed Meridians」 

「Magical Aptitute」, 「Nation-Toppling Beauty」, 「Bluffing」 

「Stamina: D+」 「Strength: E+」 

「Endurance: E+」 「Agility: D-」 

「Mana: A+」 「Senses: S」 

「Charm (S)」, 「Fox Fire (A)」, 「Demon Eye (A)」, 「Energy Absorption (A)」 

「The owner of Solar Severed Meridians, an incurable condition where the meridians are blocked and twisted due to an overwhelming amount of yang energy. All physical abilities are restricted, and it is impossible to reach a certain level of stats.」

The status window displayed various details. 

From personal information like height and weight to detailed descriptions of physical abilities, skills, and traits. 

Many things caught my eye, but what stood out the most was my "age." 

'I'm pretty sure the setting had me at 17 years old.' 

The calendar indicates the start of the novel. 

In other words, my existence in this world had been twisted in some way. 

Baek Seung-woo's age had changed from 17 to 21. 

His status had changed from a freshman to a teaching assistant. 

A significant portion of the story had changed. 

Just in case, I took out my phone and searched for the novel's settings and content that I remembered. 

Everything matched what Eve had told me. 

Fortunately, it seemed that only my settings had changed. 

"Sigh, if I had known this would happen, I should have stopped her from making me an extra villain..." 

When my friend Eve said she needed more characters for her novel and decided to model one after me, I should have stopped her then. 

'Well, it's too late now. I should worry about what's to come.' 

Though regret welled up deep in my chest, I forced myself to ignore it and focused on the "stats" section. From what I remember, the average stats of academy freshmen were around C-rank. 

My stats were below the freshman average. However, my mana and senses were exceptional. 

'A+ rank' mana and 'S rank' senses were, by this world's standards, higher than most active dungeon players. 

At least that fact gave me some comfort. 

"Sigh..." 

After checking my stats, my gaze shifted to the "traits" and "skills." 

There were four of each. Not a small number, but just reading their names made me sigh. 

「Nation-Toppling Beauty」, 「Bluffing」, 「Charm」, and so on. These names didn't exactly inspire confidence. 

How was I supposed to handle these abilities? 

'At least my race is One-Tailed Fox, so that's something.' 

One-Tailed Fox. 

A fox with a single tail modelled after the nine-tailed fox. As the number of tails increased through training, so did its power and abilities. 

With ten tails, it would become a Celestial Fox, capable of controlling even the heavens with its unique divine powers. 

Of course, that was just the setting. 

But at least the setting existed. 

Reaching the level of a Celestial Fox was harder than achieving enlightenment or nirvana, but even becoming a nine-tailed fox would be enough to protect myself in this harsh world. 

As I scanned the status window, a document caught my eye. 

Among the piles of documents in the research lab, this one was particularly old and worn. 

Curious, I flipped through the pages. 

It was filled with unfamiliar symbols, characters, and equations. 

Below them were explanations. 

Let's see. 

"...Astrology is an ancient magic that observes the shapes of celestial bodies to predict fate and the future. In modern times, it is closer to sorcery than magic, but the concept of astrology has greatly influenced modern magic systems." 

The language was difficult, so I read it aloud. 

After reading an entire page, I realized what it was. 

It seemed to be a lecture script on magic. 

However, unlike the systematic magic I had imagined, this script was more akin to occultism. Every page was like that. 

Magic that embodied celestial bodies, rituals that utilized the power of stars, and so on—it was filled with mysterious and complex occult-like systems. 

But just because it was complex and difficult didn't mean it wasn't interesting. 

Regardless of understanding, reading this document was fascinating. It made me forget, even if just for a moment, that I had entered a novel. 

As I read through the document, page by page, I eventually finished the worn-out papers. 

I put the papers back in place and thought. 

Why did it feel like something was missing? 

'It feels like something's been left out...' 

Though I was a layman when it came to magic, I could tell that this document was incomplete. It was more of an intuition. 

Starting with astrology, it covered celestial bodies and related rituals, but there was no conclusion or examples. 

It felt like someone had intentionally removed the latter part. 

"...I think I get it." 

I didn't understand the symbols or magic circles written on the paper, but I had a feeling I knew what the missing content pointed to. 

It was like a puzzle piece clicking into place in my mind. 

Without realizing it, I reached for the scattered documents around me. 

Grab!

The densely written documents. 

But the back pages were completely blank. 

Similarly, I picked up a fountain pen lying on the desk and began scribbling down the inspiration flooding my mind. 

Repeating sentences and phrases were organized into symbols, and detailed content was filled in. Without any prior knowledge, I filled the pages solely based on intuition and inspiration.

One sheet of paper wasn't enough, so I flipped over the adjacent documents and continued the content.

Filling page after page densely, I began to see the outline of what needed to be done.

The inspiration gradually took form.

With each stroke of the fountain pen, my vision expanded.

[You have entered the state of No-Self!]

[The talent of「Magical Aptitute」is manifesting!]

Something flashed across my retina, but I ignored it and continued writing the next page.

While I was immersed in the state of No-Self, someone entered the research lab.

Even though they entered openly, I didn't notice. My hearing was no longer functioning properly.

All my nerves were focused on the documents being drawn by the fountain pen.

Thus, 20 sheets of paper were completed.

I didn't even know how much time I had spent writing this.

When I came to my senses, I gasped for air as it filled my lungs, and I heard applause from behind.

Very clearly.

──Clap clap clap!

"...!"

Without realizing it, someone had entered the research lab.

Noticing this belatedly, I slowly turned my head.

Deep blue eyes, like a vast ocean. They curved slightly as if seeing something amusing.

"What are you doing now?"

She was an incredibly beautiful woman.

Long, straight black hair like a starless night sky and a pure white suit were enough to stir the hearts of many men. But my attention was drawn not to her appearance, but to the name tag on her chest.

Nam Hwa-yeon.

The name of the owner of this research lab was written on the name tag.

"Well, your academic enthusiasm is commendable. Without effort, there can be no progress."

She chuckled.

Her voice was as beautiful as rolling pearls, but for some reason, her laughter sounded unsettling.

"But you know."

Nam Hwa-yeon's finger pointed to the scattered documents.

"Even so, using my documents as scrap paper is a bit much, don't you think?"

Then her finger pointed to the stack of papers I had written.

"If you've done wrong... you should be scolded, right?"

Nam Hwa-yeon's lips curved into a smile.

But her deep, ocean-like eyes were inscrutable, and an inexplicable sense of unease surged within me.

Uh, this seems like a disaster, doesn't it?