How long had she been unconscious? Yoo Eun-ha was now able to rise from a bed made of luxurious materials.
Confused by the sudden change in location, and trembling with the thought that she might have failed the test, she began trying to calm herself.
However, as she attempted to forcefully calm her restless body,
“Stop right there. Don’t spill blood in my office.”
Suddenly, it felt as if someone had cast a spell to restrain her movements, and Yoo Eun-ha found herself completely immobilized with all four limbs bound.
“….Where am I?”
“This is my office. It’s doubling as a bedroom for now.”
With great effort, Eun-ha turned her head to see Eve Meitner, dressed in attire close to nudity and wearing a witch’s hat from the regression test, staring at her.
“I was clearly taking the test… uh!?”
“You still have some wounds left over, so stay still. After all the effort to have you pass, don’t go ruining it.”
“…”
PASS.
The words rang in her mind—those who had pushed her to her limits for what felt like an eternity had finally acknowledged her.
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s just that according to Se-ah, there’s no better time-waster than you when it comes to buying her escape time. Han-ra and the others have evaluated you, that’s all.”
“That’s more than enough for me.”
Though the words were quite humiliating, Yoo Eun-ha didn’t care at all.
Finally, she could meet her sister. That’s all she could think about.
“So, can I meet my sister now…?”
“Not yet. I don’t have plans to let you see Se-ah right now.”
But Eve Meitner’s actions, ready to block Yoo Eun-ha from leaving the guild leader’s office and heading to Yoon Se-ah’s location, prompted Eun-ha to question.
“Didn’t I pass the test?”
“You barely met the standards set by the kids. You’re still lacking by my standards.”
Eun-ha’s mood instantly dropped, and Eve smirked at the sight.
“Still, it would be good to rest for a day. Se-ah has also recovered, and just yesterday she mentioned wanting to be alone for a while.”
“Has Se-ah recovered?”
“Yes, if not for all the medication, she would’ve returned to the academy long ago.”
“…”
“Even if you know, you won’t go visit Se-ah without my permission, right? Not that you even know the safe house’s location.”
In truth, Yoo Eun-ha already knew where Yoon Se-ah was. Given all of Eve Meitner’s safe houses scattered across the nation, and considering Se-ah’s personality, it was highly probable Se-ah would continue to use the current safe house she was in. Hence, the location was clear—it was a safe house not far from Raon Academy.
Purchasing an entire mountain, layers of protective Magic were applied, ensuring even top-tier A-ranked Hunters couldn’t breach the entrance. It was the perfect residence for Yoon Se-ah.
“Then, let me participate in the kids’ training for a day. If I’m deemed useful by your standards, you’ll tell me the safe house’s location?”
“…I can start right now if you want.”
“No, in six hours. We can’t overwork the guild members who just dealt with an A-rank Gate due to you.”
“…Understood.”
And shortly after, while attempting to sneak off to Yoon Se-ah’s location, Yoo Eun-ha was caught by a security spell, effectively ‘baked’ by it, and later retrieved by Song Da-in, sighing deeply.
…
…
…
Six hours later, the scene that greeted the reawakened Yoo Eun-ha was utterly shocking.
Even though a group of A-class members handling A-class monsters might sound trivial…
“Alright, summon three more!”
“!!!”
Even then, the number was overwhelming.
Swiftly, Song Da-in wielded her hammer for offense, while Yoo Han-ra followed with chaotic combat skills. Meanwhile, the backline magi and archers were tasked with eliminating the summoned beasts—standard tactics.
In essence, Yoo Eun-ha was experiencing the suppression of A-class monstrosities firsthand.
Training alongside golden guild members, with mock scenarios involving large monsters and overwhelming odds while being tasked with protecting Song Da-in and Yoo Han-ra’s duo, not to mention the additional order of safeguarding a mage.
Perhaps this was to protect the mage position of Yoon Se-ah in the future.
Fortunately, behind Yoo Eun-ha stood none other than Eve Meitner herself.
It was unclear why Eve was aiding her, but
“Se-ah’s magical attacks are quite powerful. Though her magical power might be lower than mine, the maximum damage she deals in bursts is likely higher than mine—it’s her Star Magic, isn’t it? However, it does take her a longer time to activate.”
Understanding that Eve aimed to prepare her for future protection by making her experience the power of Yoon Se-ah, Yoo Eun-ha threw herself fully into the training.
And, as if the fruits of past grueling training bore results, Eun-ha’s body felt lighter than ever before.
-ROAR!
“Director!”
“Haa… Against my will, you pass.”
-Krrrrk!
Catching Song Da-in and sacrificing herself to Eve’s lightning spell, then handling the same situation with Yoo Han-ra with grace, Yoo Eun-ha successfully passed.
“So, you pass…”
-POP!
Before the Director could finish, Yoo Eun-ha was already rushing towards Yoon Se-ah’s safe house, causing Eve to sigh.
“Haa… go then, I’m tired too…”
“Mister Director…?”
“…”
“Um, she’s going without recovering?”
Her electrically-seared body must still have been in immense pain, yet the recovery potion Eve offered remained untouched on the ground.
“…Who does the summoning button connect to these days?”
“Should be closed now… but…”
Realizing the situation, Yoo Han-ra rapidly rushed to feed Yoo Eun-ha the potion.
“Director, what about teleportation…”
“Ah… that.”
Eve too wanted to rapidly teleport with Yoo Eun-ha, but recent actions like sneaking into Yoon Se-ah’s bedroom while she was asleep (pinching her cheeks and various other deeds) earned her an eviction notice, preventing the use of teleportation.
“Please stop her, Saint Da-in!”
Thus, most members of the Golden Guild wished for Eun-ha to arrive faster at Yoon Se-ah’s safe house but…
[“Director, the traffic is so bad!”]
“I’ll send someone later to retrieve your vehicle just go ahead and run!”
Regrettably, when Eun-ha arrived, Yoon Se-ah was already there, greeting her with a body full of wounds.
[“…Eve Meitner Director, we should keep the Teleport Ban feature active.”]
“AAAH! Please not that!!”
-THUD
“Director?”
“Our troubles have started!”
Frustrated, Eve and Song Da-in lamented the inevitable sight of Yoo Eun-ha and Yoon Se-ah living together for some time. (Yoo Han-ra, who was pushed out of the way just before their eyes, was an added bonus.)
…
…
…
“…”
Yoo Eun-ha, sound asleep in bed, was silently observed.
-TWANG!
Pulling her cheek yielded an adorably stretchy result like sticky rice cakes.
‘No wonder Eve acted the way she did with her.’
“What have you done that caused you to endure so much trouble, all for a girl? Aside from blocking a spear for her during one specific event, you’ve endured far more than necessary. Even though you tried to trick me and almost killed me…”
Though Yoo Eun-ha had betrayed her in the past and caused her three terrible endings, this poor girl—victimized by the past Yoon Se-ah—could Eve really hold any grudge against her?
“Yoo Eun-ha and Yoon Se-ah… weren’t they always caught in a complicated love-hate relationship in the original story?”
It’s a relationship where understanding exists, but true comprehension remains out of reach.
“To be honest, I hated you when I was tortured and nearly drowned… but now I’m strangely calm.”
‘I will remember every word I said to you back then.’
In the original, she was the villain who killed people and tormented the protagonist—considered a psychopathic murderer.
“But… I don’t hate you that much. There’s a sense of familiarity between you and me, Eun-ha. In the end, we’re both people striving to reach certain goals.”
In the original story, Yoo Eun-ha is a loyal helper and heroine who supports the protagonist. Letting her die here would be problematic.
‘…In such a situation, all I can think of is returning home.’
It’s a strange feeling. Still underage, unable to drink alcohol… all I feel is irritation.
“…I don’t belong here. Or rather, I am an impurity, an alien element that shouldn’t even exist in this world.”
I am, in every sense, an anomaly, a bundle of variables in this world.
There are good people like Kang Ayul and Lee Seo-yun, but… the uncontrollable variables like Yoo Eun-ha pose a great danger.
Worrying and fearing that the clean and pure people like Yoo Eun-ha will be dragged into my uncontrollable storyline.
Some might call me a coward.
‘There are too many variables.’
My every action could lead to someone’s death or save a wicked villain from certain death.
The original story has already changed so much, my knowledge may no longer hold any influence.
“Therefore… all of you, including you, must become strong to successfully conclude this story, by any means necessary. This is an academy genre, a relatively bright one despite the dark undertones, where the students, including Yoon Se-ah, practice and grow to achieve their dreams.”
Isn’t that the definition of a happy ending?
“Once this mission is accomplished… I won’t need to be here anymore, will I?”
Therefore, I will forgive Yoo Eun-ha…
“Since you won’t hear these words… let’s use each other fully to reach our respective goals. You, for the peace of the world; and me, to return to my world.”
Because I must return home.
