Chapter 3: Jo Eun-bi’s Regret

The Broad Academy after Lee Hyunseung left

Inside Class A, where he once belonged, many students were busy badmouthing him.

A girl, Park Hana, spoke.

“Isn’t Lee Hyunseung seriously creepy? I don’t understand why he did something like that.”

A boy, Seong Hyunwook, replied to her words.

“Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Either he liked Yoo Hwiyeon, or he was jealous of her practical skills. It’s one or the other, right?”

Park Hana thought for a moment before speaking again.

“Honestly, liking someone is one thing, but I think it’s also possible that he did it because of her practical skills.

That guy was seriously weak. Sure, he sat at the front like some kind of scholar and worked really hard, but what could a non-awakened guy like him do?

Even though he nearly aced the written exams every time, he was always last when it came to practicals, where he had to use his body or mana.

He might have wanted to learn how Hwiyeon, who was always top of the practical exams, trained. Either way, it’s disgusting.”

People speculated about Lee Hyunseung’s reasons for stalking Yoo Hwiyeon, splitting their theories into two possibilities.

First, Lee Hyunseung liked Yoo Hwiyeon romantically and displayed his twisted affection for her.

Second, he secretly followed her, tracking her movements, in hopes of discovering some hidden training method or secret.

Since mana training methods and job training techniques vary from person to person, with drastically different results, this was not an unlikely scenario.

Regardless of which reason it was, his actions were equally revolting and nauseating. Because of this, Lee Hyunseung had to continue being ostracized by the students.

At that moment, Jo Eunbi quietly spoke from the corner.

“But… could that phone really have been Lee Hyunseung’s? He looked genuinely upset…”

At her words, the expressions of those around her turned cold.

Yoo Hwiyeon, the victim of the stalking, looked at Jo Eunbi with a frosty gaze and spoke.

“Eunbi, what are you saying? He looked upset? Anyone can fake a sad expression. Have you ever seen a criminal admit to their crime? Of course, he’s going to shout that he didn’t do it and deny everything.”

“…I guess you’re right…”

Leaving Jo Eunbi’s ridiculous statement aside, the students of Class A resumed criticizing Lee Hyunseung.

The next morning.

As Jo Eunbi walked towards the academy, she felt uneasy.

‘Did Lee Hyunseung really do something like that…?’

She had observed Lee Hyunseung for some time.

Jo Eunbi had seen him sitting at the front of the class every day, passionately engaging with lessons and speaking politely to the teachers.

His dedication to the lessons and his near-perfect written exam scores made him the ideal type of man for Jo Eunbi, who was attracted to intelligent guys.

Because of this, she had occasionally struck up conversations with Lee Hyunseung.

“Hyunseung, do you know how to solve this problem? I can’t figure it out…”

“Ah… this one? It’s…”

Though he was a little awkward, whenever she asked a question, he would sincerely and diligently help her. Whenever he talked about magical studies, his expression always brightened with a smile.

Lee Hyunseung seemed to genuinely love learning. He was someone who enjoyed solving problems, exploring knowledge, and living passionately for the future.

To Jo Eunbi, that was the kind of person he was.

‘Did he… really stalk someone…?’

Hearing that this very Lee Hyunseung had stalked someone, Jo Eunbi couldn’t believe it.

But the phone that had been found in Lee Hyunseung’s locker contained sensitive photos of Yoo Hwiyeon’s private life.

Photos taken at her house, at a café, and at the magic arena—places where privacy was crucial.

Because of this, Jo Eunbi couldn’t help but just stand by and watch.

– Swoosh –

At the time, while being interrogated by the other students, Lee Hyunseung naturally looked towards Jo Eunbi.

He didn’t have many close friends, and Jo Eunbi was one of the few, so it was natural for him to look for someone who might believe him and testify on his behalf when things were going against him.

When Lee Hyunseung looked at her with pleading eyes, Jo Eunbi turned her head away. When the others criticized him, she pretended not to notice.

It was because she felt betrayed. She felt betrayed that the man she liked had stalked another girl out of romantic interest or that he might have selfishly coveted someone else’s training methods.

In that moment, Jo Eunbi’s view of him shifted. The man she liked had suddenly turned into a disgusting person.

After he left, doubts continued to linger.

—I definitely told you, I didn’t do anything. And you were the one who provoked me first. From now on, whatever happens, it’s all your fault.

He truly looked wronged. His eyes showed killing intent, resentment, frustration, and a mix of various emotions, leaving Eunbi confused.

She couldn’t shake the doubt that maybe the phone found in Hyunseung’s locker wasn’t really his.

Step.
Step.

The girl was almost at the academy’s main gate. Her mind was so tangled that she had come to school much earlier than usual.

“Oh dear…”

At the entrance, Eunbi saw an old lady struggling to move a pile of cardboard. Quickly, she approached and helped her.

“Oh my… Thank you, dear. You’ve saved me some trouble.”

“No, it’s nothing at all.”

Eunbi helped the elderly woman load the large pile of cardboard and paper onto her cart, which was even taller than herself.

After everything was loaded, the old woman looked around the academy, as if searching for someone. Curious, Eunbi asked her.

“Granny, is something wrong?”

“Not really… It’s just that I don’t see the student who’s usually here.”

“A student?”

“Yes… A boy named Hyunseung. He would help me every morning, and I brought some eggs to give him today, but… he’s gone. I hope he’s not sick…”

Eunbi couldn’t believe her ears.

“W-wait, the student’s name is Hyunseung? Lee Hyunseung?”

“Yes, that’s him. Do you know him?”

“Well… I do, sort of…”

The old lady placed three eggs in Eunbi’s hand and continued.

“If you happen to see Hyunseung, could you give him these eggs? Every morning, without fail, he would come out early to help this old lady collect cardboard… I’m really grateful to him, so I brought some eggs again today. Last time, he said they were so delicious… That’s why I brought more today. I hope he’s not unwell…”

Twitch.

The moment Eunbi saw the eggs, a past conversation with Hyunseung flashed in her mind.

—Hyunseung, do you have any favorite foods?
—Hmm… not really. But I do have foods I hate.
—What do you hate?
—Boiled eggs. They’re dry and tasteless, so I don’t eat them.
—R-really?

Eunbi mulled over the old woman’s words.

“He said they were delicious? But… I clearly remember him saying that boiled eggs were his least favorite food…”

Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind.

‘If he ate the eggs out of gratitude to the old lady, pretending they were delicious just to be polite…’

A chill ran down her spine. It made too much sense. And the doubts in her heart grew even bigger.

‘Could a boy who helps collect cardboard every morning, and even eats food he hates out of consideration… really be a stalker?’

Click.

Eunbi began to wonder if Hyunseung had been falsely accused.

Trembling, she nervously opened her phone and called Hyunseung.

Ring.
Ring.
—The person you’re trying to reach is unavailable…

But Hyunseung didn’t answer.

“Ah…”

Eunbi stared blankly at her phone for a long time, looking at the call that didn’t connect.

Ring.

“What the f*ck?”

Hyunseung’s phone rang. He glanced at it.

“Jo Eunbi?”

He recalled the moment before he got expelled from the academy. Back then, Eunbi avoided his gaze and refused to listen to him.

“What the f*ck is she calling for now?”

Click.

“Why the hell is she calling now, after pretending not to know me when everyone treated me like sht? I helped her so many times when she had problems. Fcking disgusting.”

Without hesitation, Hyunseung hung up. Then, he turned to the man standing before him—the gatekeeper guarding the entrance to the labyrinth.

“Sigh… I’m telling you again, kid. This isn’t a place just anyone can enter. You at least need to awaken, even if it’s in any job. It’s too dangerous for an unawakened person to go in.”

“I told you, I’ll be fine. I just need to go in, find something, and I’ll come right back.”

“Look, I’m telling you, that’s not allowed. If anything happens inside, I’ll be the one in trouble.”

Hyunseung was trying to enter the labyrinth to find a hidden piece: [The Goddess’s Well], a secret item that bestows a specific job based on the offerings made to it.

Since he hadn’t awakened, Hyunseung couldn’t use mana, and he was unable to respond flexibly if any problems arose. He realized he needed to awaken as soon as possible.

For reference, The Goddess’s Well was located inside the labyrinth. However, Hyunseung couldn’t enter right now—because he was still unawakened.

The labyrinth, which contained monsters, was only accessible to awakened individuals.

Hyunseung knew this. Still, he struck up a conversation with the gatekeeper to divert his attention. Eventually, he said,

“Alright. I’ll come back after awakening.”

After some back-and-forth with the man, Hyunseung pretended to give up and took a step back.

“Good. You’ve made the right choice. Come back once you’ve awakened.”

The gatekeeper nodded, satisfied, as Hyunseung put on an innocent expression and pulled a small fruit out of his pocket, rubbing it between his fingers.

[Fruit of Illusion]
—A fruit made by combining various ingredients in precise proportions. Inhaling its scent causes temporary confusion.

The Fruit of Illusion was something Hyunseung had prepared in advance. He knew the gatekeeper wouldn’t allow him entry into the labyrinth, so he made the fruit at home, planning to use it as a trick.

“Mister, do you happen to know what this fruit is called? I found it on the road and thought it looked unusual.”

“Hm?”

Feigning innocence, Hyunseung asked the question. The gatekeeper, suspecting nothing, leaned in to examine the fruit and sniffed it.

“This is strange… I’ve never seen a fruit like this before… Hmm…”

His speech slowed, and his eyes became vacant as the fruit’s effect took hold.

Swoosh.

Leaving the dazed gatekeeper behind, Hyunseung slipped into the labyrinth.

“W-wait, where do you think you’re going?”

The gatekeeper regained his senses and called after him. Hyunseung responded naturally.

“Of course, I’m heading into the labyrinth. You told me I could enter, remember?”

“Huh? Did I…?”

“Yes, you checked my awakening status earlier and said I could go in.”

“Hmm… I did, didn’t I? Sorry, I’ve been a bit out of it lately.”

Leaving the confused gatekeeper behind, Hyunseung stepped into the labyrinth’s entrance.

Ding!
You have achieved a hidden achievement.
—First unawakened individual to enter the labyrinth.
—You have earned the achievement ‘Reckless Challenge.’
[Reckless Challenge]
▶Condition: Enter the labyrinth while unawakened.
▶Reward: Gain 3 stat distribution points.

A grin spread across Hyunseung’s face as he read the message.

‘Now begins the time for growth. I’ll become so strong that Yuhuiyeon won’t even compare to me.When my suspension is over, I’ll crush her entire career. I’ll take the top spot and make her feel utter despair, and eventually, I’ll even destroy her father’s guild.’

With that determination, Hyunseung entered the depths of the labyrinth.

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