Cho Eunbi's Regret
Inside A-class at Broad Academy—the place Lee Hyunseung had once belonged to—numerous students were busy tearing him apart among themselves.
The girl, Park Hana, spoke first. “Lee Hyunseung is seriously creepy, right? I still don’t get why he’d do something like that.”
The boy, Seong Hyunwook, answered her. “Well, he was probably obsessed with Yoo Heeyeon, or maybe he was jealous of her practical scores. Pretty obvious, isn’t it?”
Park Hana thought for a moment, then continued. “Honestly, liking someone is one thing, but I think it’s more likely he did it because of her practical scores. That guy was seriously the weakest of the weak. Sure, he sat at the front like some model student and studied like his life depended on it, but what could a non-awakened actually accomplish? He always scored near perfect on written exams, but he came dead last in every practical that required real physical ability or mana control. So maybe he wanted to spy on how our number-one ranked Heeyeon trained. Either way, it’s disgusting.”
The students had narrowed Lee Hyunseung’s reasons for stalking Yoo Heeyeon down to two possibilities. The first was that he’d developed an inappropriate romantic obsession with her. The second was that he had tailed her to uncover her hidden training methods or secret techniques and recorded her daily movements. Since mana cultivation methods and class training regimens differed from person to person—with wildly varying efficiency—both theories were plausible.
Either option was equally repulsive. Because of that, Lee Hyunseung remained the target of their endless ridicule.
At that moment, Cho Eunbi spoke up quietly from the corner of the room. “U-um… but is that phone really his? The look on his face… he seemed genuinely wronged…”
The moment Cho Eunbi spoke, every face around her hardened into ice. Yoo Heeyeon—the actual victim of the stalking—stared at her with a freezing gaze. “Eunbi, what are you even saying right now? He looked wronged? Anyone can fake an expression like that. And have you ever seen a criminal willingly admit they’re a criminal? Of course they’d scream that they’re innocent and deny everything.”
“I-is that… so…”
Leaving the flustered Cho Eunbi behind, the A-class students immediately went back to ripping Lee Hyunseung apart.
The next morning. On her way to the academy, Cho Eunbi felt a growing sense of unease. ‘Did Lee Hyunseung… really do something like that?’
She had watched him for a long time. She had seen how he sat in the front row every day, listening to lectures with genuine passion, and how he always spoke to the instructors with perfect politeness. The way he threw himself into his studies and consistently scored near-perfect marks on written exams had made him the ideal type for Cho Eunbi, who had always been drawn to intelligent boys.
That was why she had occasionally approached him.
“Hyunseung, do you know how to solve this problem? I just can’t figure it out…”
“Ah… this one? Well, it’s like this…”
Even though he seemed a little awkward, he would always explain things sincerely and patiently whenever she asked. Whenever he talked about magic theory, a bright, happy smile would appear on his face. He seemed to genuinely love all kinds of learning. A person who found joy in solving problems. Someone who pursued knowledge and lived passionately for the future. That was the Lee Hyunseung she knew.
‘Did he… really stalk her?’
She simply couldn’t believe that the same person would do something like that. But the phone they had found in his locker had contained photos of Yoo Heeyeon’s private life—pictures taken at her house, at cafés, at the magic training grounds, and other sensitive locations.
Because of that evidence, Cho Eunbi had no choice but to stay silent and watch.
Back then, while the other students were interrogating him, Lee Hyunseung had naturally turned to look at her. He didn’t have many close friends—only a handful—and she was one of them. Looking to her for help in such a desperate situation was only natural.
‘……’
When his eyes had met hers, pleading for her to believe him, Cho Eunbi had turned her head away. While everyone else condemned him, she had pretended not to know him. The sense of betrayal had been too strong. The boy she liked had apparently been stalking another girl. Or perhaps he was just a selfish person who coveted someone else’s training methods. In an instant, her view of him had shattered.
But after he left, the questions kept coming.
“I clearly said I didn’t do anything. And you were the one who provoked me first. Whatever happens from now on, remember that it’s all your responsibility.”
He really had looked wronged. In his eyes she had seen killing intent, resentment, frustration—many different emotions. That was why she felt so confused.
Cho Eunbi began to seriously question whether the phone found in his locker had truly belonged to him.
Step. Step.
The girl had almost reached the academy’s main gate. Her mind was so tangled that she had arrived much earlier than usual.
“Aigoo…”
Cho Eunbi spotted an elderly woman struggling to move a cart full of waste paper near the front gate. She quickly walked over and helped her.
“Aigoo… thank you, dear. You’ve saved me a lot of trouble.”
“It’s nothing, really.”
Cho Eunbi lifted the bundles of paper—some larger than she was—and loaded them into the old woman’s cart. Once everything was loaded, the grandmother began looking around the academy grounds as if searching for someone.
Seeing this, Cho Eunbi asked curiously, “Grandmother, is something wrong?”
“Not exactly… It’s just that the student who’s usually here isn’t showing up today…”
“A student?”
“Yes… A boy named Hyunseung. He helped me every single morning, so I brought some eggs for him today, but he’s nowhere to be seen. I hope he isn’t sick…”
Cho Eunbi doubted her own ears. “D-do you mean… Lee Hyunseung?”
“Yes, that’s him. Do you know the boy?”
“Yes… well, I know him, sort of…”
The grandmother placed three eggs in Cho Eunbi’s hands. “If you see him, could you give these to him? That child came out every dawn without fail to help this old woman pick up waste paper… I felt so grateful that I brought eggs for him today. Last time he ate them so deliciously… so I brought more today. I’m really worried. I hope he isn’t ill somewhere.”
Cho Eunbi flinched.
The moment she saw the eggs, an old conversation with Lee Hyunseung flashed through her mind.
“Hyunseung, do you have a favorite food?”
“Hm… not really? I don’t have a favorite, but I do have something I hate.”
“What is it?”
“Boiled eggs. They’re dry and tasteless, so I never eat them.”
“R-really?”
Cho Eunbi mulled over the grandmother’s words. ‘He ate them deliciously…? But he definitely said they were his least favorite…’
A single thought suddenly crossed her mind. ‘If he forced himself to eat the eggs the grandmother gave him out of gratitude, and even pretended they tasted good…’
A chill ran down her spine. It was entirely plausible. And the doubts in her heart grew even larger.
‘A boy who helps an old woman pick up waste paper every dawn and eats food he hates just to honor her kindness… Could someone like that really have committed stalking?’
Click.
Cho Eunbi began to wonder if Lee Hyunseung had been framed.
Her hands trembled as she pulled out her phone and dialed his number.
Tu-ru-ru-ru—
Tu-ru-ru-ru-ru—
“The customer is not available…”
But Lee Hyunseung didn’t pick up.
‘Ah…’
Cho Eunbi stared blankly at the unanswered call for a long time.
Tu-ru-ru-ru—
“What the fuck?”
Lee Hyunseung’s phone was ringing. He glanced at the screen.
‘Cho Eunbi?’
He recalled the situation right before he had been expelled from the academy. Back then, Cho Eunbi had avoided his eyes and refused to listen to him.
“Fucking hell. What kind of bullshit does she want to say now?”
Click.
“Calling me now, after pretending not to know me while I was being treated like a fucking idiot. I helped you so much whenever you didn’t understand a problem. Disgusting bitch.”
Without a shred of hesitation, Lee Hyunseung ended the call. Then he turned his attention to the man standing in front of him—the gatekeeper guarding the entrance to the Labyrinth.
“Sigh… Look, kid. How many times do I have to say it? This isn’t a place just anyone can enter. You need to be awakened first—no matter what your class is. It’s way too dangerous for a non-awakened.”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll just go in, grab one thing, and come right back out.”
“Ugh… that’s what I’m saying isn’t possible. If something happens to you in there, I’m the one who gets in trouble.”
Lee Hyunseung had come to the Labyrinth to obtain a hidden piece. What he was after was the Well of the Goddess, a hidden piece that granted specific classes based on the sacrifice offered. Currently, as a non-awakened, he could barely use mana and would be unable to respond flexibly if problems arose. That was why he had decided to awaken as quickly as possible.
The Well of the Goddess was located on the first floor of the Labyrinth. However, he currently could not enter. The reason was simple—he was a non-awakened. Only awakened individuals were permitted to enter the monster-infested Labyrinth.
Lee Hyunseung knew all of this. Nevertheless, he had deliberately spoken to the gatekeeper. He needed to draw the man’s attention.
Finally, he said, “I understand. Then I’ll come back after I awaken.”
After arguing with the gatekeeper, Lee Hyunseung pretended to give up and stepped back. “Good. You’re thinking smart. At least awaken first before coming back.”
As the gatekeeper spoke, Lee Hyunseung nodded with an innocent expression, then pulled a single fruit from his pocket and rolled it between his fingers.
Special Consumable
A fruit crafted by combining various fruits in precise ratios. Inhaling its scent causes temporary confusion and hallucinations.
He had known the gatekeeper would never allow a non-awakened to enter the Labyrinth. That was why he had prepared this trick in advance—making the fruit at home before coming here.
“Mister, do you know what this fruit is called? I found it on the road. It looks really strange, doesn’t it?”
“Hm?”
When the innocent-looking boy asked the question, the gatekeeper approached without any suspicion, examined the fruit closely, and took a sniff.
“Strange… I’ve never seen a fruit like… mm…”
The gatekeeper’s speech gradually became slurred, and his eyes turned hazy as he stared into empty space. The effect of the Fruit of Bewitchment had activated.
Lee Hyunseung slipped past the dazed gatekeeper and entered the Labyrinth.
“W-wait, where are you going?”
The gatekeeper soon came to his senses and called out to him. Lee Hyunseung answered naturally.
“Into the Labyrinth, of course. You said I could go in earlier, didn’t you?”
“Huh…? D-did I say that?”
“Yes. You clearly finished checking my awakened status and said I could enter.”
“Mm… I suppose I did. Sorry about that. My mind’s been all over the place lately.”
Leaving the gatekeeper—who could no longer think straight—behind, I stepped into the Labyrinth’s entrance.
Hidden Achievement Unlocked!
You are the first Non-Awakened to enter the Labyrinth.
Achievement: Reckless Challenge
Condition: Enter the Labyrinth while in a Non-Awakened state.
Reward: 3 Stat Distribution Points acquired.
I smirked at the message window floating before me.
‘Now it’s time to grow. Yoo Heeyeon—that bitch won’t even be worth comparing to me. When the suspension period ends, I’ll crush her entire career, steal the top seat, make her taste overwhelming despair, and ultimately destroy the guild her father runs.’
With that firm resolution, I stepped deeper into the Labyrinth.