Ep3 - 30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue

Every genre has its formula. What we call clichés. Upon reflection, it's a natural occurrence. For a set form like a specific genre to exist, certain common elements must be present. Take, for instance, the archetypical hero tales. Ivan believes the format of this stale genre is as follows: A demon king or adversary appears. The hero forms a party. The hero embarks on a journey to overthrow the demon king. A sequence where the hero defeats the demon king’s top lieutenants unfolds. One of the lieutenants becomes infatuated with the hero. At the end of the journey, the demon king is slain, and the world regains peace. Ivan considered this world to be a traditional hero tale based on the above format. But now, Ivan was desperately digging through Kim Seon Woo's 30-year-old memories to compile a new list. What is the formula for academy stories? ep3. There’s always a terror attack on the academy entrance train. The princess, acting as if she hailed from the Stark family, would say “Winter is coming,” but she was mistaken. It was January—of course, it was the dead of winter. Recently, they had even thrown a lavish New Year’s party at the orphanage. This meant there was still some time left before the university's term would begin. “Academy...” Ivan found himself reminiscing over the documents he had impulsively burned 30 years ago. He distinctly remembered there were a few academy-themed stories among them. Though the names eluded him now... it was something along the lines of an academy being attended by celestial beings, or a swordsman, or a shaman, or a magician... Hastily jotting down what came to mind, he sketched out something akin to the academy formula: “Anything can come to the academy.” Literally, anything from cowboys to celestial beings could arrive. Therefore, it's implied that assassins who might stab the precious children of hero parties in the back are included. “The academy is inevitably attacked.” Sadly, academies are assaulted even more frequently than frontline strategic fortresses. It’s widely known that statistically, if the protagonist doesn't drop out, the likelihood of the academy being attacked converges to 98%. “Demons infiltrate the academy.” Even after the demon king's death, and with all the demon generals either dead or missing, and the demons pushed to the ends of the world or enslaved, Setting aside the logistics of how it's possible to infiltrate a mere educational institution in the heart of the United Kingdom, The academy will inevitably harbor demon sympathizers or even actual demons. Goblins or orcs, for instance, are excluded. Their appearance is too conspicuous. It’s more plausible to suspect creatures capable of shapeshifting, like succubi or demons. “There’s a traitor among both the students and faculty.” A particular faculty member who shows an unusual hostility towards the protagonist should be identified. There's a high likelihood they’re a demon informant. “The academy harbors secret relics or hidden ruins.” Yansk University is a newly established institution with a history of less than 10 years, and as a clearly national university, it was constructed by the direct order of the previous king right in the capital. Nonetheless, one must assume there’s a ‘secret chamber’ within.... “The students of the academy can be divided into three main types: students, villainous figures tied to demons, and government agents.” Here, students do not refer to hard-working, model pupils. They are akin to ticking time bombs. They frequently get entangled in accidents, needing rescue, inevitably by the protagonist. Other students, those who don’t get embroiled in trouble, fall into one of two categories: the quiet types who are only mentioned by name, or the ones envious of the protagonist. This part is still manageable as a charming aspect of school life. The problem is what follows. Students involved with demons should essentially be classified as demon informants, spies, or partisans. “Kill them promptly upon detection.” The orphanage director, a former officer from an extermination unit, narrowed her eyes and underlined this point. The best way to protect allies was to annihilate the foes. Up to this point, it was merely a common hobby. “Next are government agents.” If the children of international dignitaries are admitted in large numbers, it stands to reason that agents would be dispatched to protect them. The issue is that agents rarely undertake a mission abroad for just one task. Therefore, these bodyguards are bound to moonlight as capable spies for allied nations. Such people can’t simply be killed. As they weren't from a hostile nation, meddling with them would instantly cause a diplomatic crisis. On the surface, their position would be as students. "With no age restrictions, it's not unusual for active agents from wartime to enroll." The orphanage director, a former officer of the extermination unit, stroked his chin, lost in thought. If familiars come, it might not be so bad. At least they speak the same language. Ivan blankly stared at the hand axe adorning the wall near the orphanage director's office entrance. "When an instructor claims an academy test, training, or any scenario is [safe], it means a crisis is imminent." This is why corporations should abolish their own safety inspection systems and outsource all safety checks. In an academy where spies, assassins, demons, and traitors outnumber the students, the only safe place might be the principal's office. After all, Dumbledore wasn't killed in his office. Generally, the position of principal or headmaster should be filled by an administrative officer, yet the ‘common sense’ in academies dictates that the strongest person in the world takes this role.... Next, the most crucial thing. Think of the ‘ending condition’ for an academy story.... "The ending conditions for the academy are [survival] and [world peace]... Wait. Hold on." If this world is an academy story, and everything that's happened so far is just part of the ‘background events,’ Let's break it down. The demon king appeared, the hero slayed the demon king, and the world regained peace. At this point, just four years after the war ended, the United Kingdom is on the brink of falling apart. While each nation is fervently focused on rebuilding, competition for resources and colonies is growing more heated. Meanwhile, military administrations from various nations still exploit demon slaves in the many occupied lands that used to be the demons’ home. What could be the main storyline? "World war? No, that's not it." In academy stories, characters around high school or early university age usually take center stage. If a grand war branded a "world war" were to break out, those students would face glaring limitations in their roles. Then.... "The resurrection of the demon king?" Ivan sipped his coffee, glaring at his notepad with weary eyes. No matter how he saw it, it seemed most logical. A tale where the descendants of the hero party challenge the resurrected demon king to restore world peace. Assuming the demon king’s resurrection is a given, with students possibly dropping out by their second year, and anticipating the academy invasion a year after that, what needs to be done right now? He scribbled another sentence on his notepad, grabbed his coat, and rose to his feet. "There's always a terror attack on the academy entrance train (or transportation)." Since Harry Potter, if trains exist in a given world setting, academy enrollment is always by train. (If not, then carriages are used. The common factor is that both trains and carriages are vulnerable to terror attacks. Truthfully, all forms of transport are. It’s not any different with walking.) And the United Kingdom has been using trains laid for wartime purposes for civilian transport. Of course, even military supply trains are vulnerable to terror attacks, attested by Ivan’s 18 years of military service. Demons, too, often used trains for inland supplies, so Ivan has had ample experience both preventing and executing train terror attacks — a routine part of assignments for the extermination unit. Today, Ivan misses Korea again. A peaceful time where boarding a train meant contending with soft-boiled eggs and tuna kimbap, not terrorism or bandits. His list of "things to eat when back on Earth" expanded to include soft-boiled eggs and tuna kimbap. * "Just watch! Really, just watch! Everyone, pay attention! You'll all see how successful I become!" Dragging her instrument case and suitcase across the train platform, Esydis sniffled as she glared at the onlookers. The crowd held large placards, bidding her farewell. -First daughter of King Einar! Top entrance at St. Yansk University!! Though she wasn’t at the top or even second-place, Esydis didn’t object. They’d written those words to elicit such a reaction from her. -Proud! The best of Doran Kingdom! Beauty! -Continuing the legacy of the great conqueror, King Einar, and taking on the conquest of the symphony!! "What’s wrong with the symphony!!" Crying out shrilly, Esydis turned and got on the train. Laughter echoed behind her, "Wahaha!" Such wretched people. Instead of offering genuine support...! As the train began moving, she buried her face in her sleeves and sobbed, distancing herself. The crowd, watching her through the window, muttered among themselves as they dispersed. "Do you think the young lady will manage to keep her resolve?" "Of course, she's the daughter of a distinguished person!" "Those Krasilov Kingdom folks are so pale, I find them hard to trust..." "But don’t worry; the elder wouldn’t send her off alone. She’ll handle it just fine." The crowd that was teasing Esydis, King Einar's retinue, muttered their concerns away as they dispersed. The eldest daughter of the hero party’s berserker, "The Butcher," Einar Ulrikson. Esydis Eynalsdottir. Admitted to the orchestral department of St. Yansk University! * The very train that Doran’s Vikings gave an honorable send-off to, two days later, derailed near the border of the Krasilov Kingdom. Naturally, given the "common knowledge" that entrance trains to the academy are involved in terror attacks, Ivan wasn’t surprised. Instead, he armed himself with a pistol and an axe. * Author's Note: It's "common knowledge" for there to be a terror attack on the Hogwarts Express, isn’t it...? 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