“What!? You’re going out alone? That’s so unfair!”

Meiling shouted, her voice rising in protest.

Behind her stood Seo Yui and Lumina, both with expressions that said they wanted to argue too.

I understood how they felt.

Yesterday, we’d gone out because of All Around’s welcome party and initiation trial.

But what we really did was grind levels in a dungeon. If you thought about it, it was closer to hard labor than a celebration.

On top of that, we were still under threat from Forward. Even if things had been peaceful lately, there was no way they could feel at ease.

Honestly, I wanted to take them out and let them relax a little.

But I couldn’t.

“There’s a reason,” I said calmly. “If too many of us go out, we’ll need more guards. Yesterday was fine because we went with All Around. But today’s outing is for personal business. So it makes sense that I go alone.”

“Why do you need guards anyway? Yang Len’s already been captured!” Meiling glared.

“Yang Len isn’t the whole story. Plenty of Black Hound members are still out there. Not to mention the hunters under Forward’s banner who aren’t officially part of the Black Hound.”

And what I couldn’t tell them was that Forward’s forces weren’t limited to hunters. They had far more dangerous assets, though using those would mean going all-in.

“I get that it’s frustrating. But just endure a little longer. Before long, you’ll be free to move around like before.”

I added, looking at Meiling with her arms crossed and lips jutting out.

“All four of you.”

“…”

I saw the tension drain from her face in an instant.

“R-really?” Lumina asked from behind.

“Of course.” I smiled. “Even today’s trip is connected to Forward. Trust me.”

“I trust you,” Seo Yui said with a smile. “I’m just worried. Letting you go alone…”

“She’s right. What if something happens? You can’t even fight,” Meiling muttered.

I didn’t show it, but her words made something snap inside me.

Damn it.

If only Nam Yein had been born with combat aptitude, how much easier would things have been?

“Yein can fight. He just shines more when he’s with others,” Seo Yui said, tapping her own chest. “That’s why at least I should go with him.”

Immediately, Meiling and Lumina stiffened, their eyes snapping to her.

“…Mm.”

Bringing one person wouldn’t be so bad, I thought.

But then Meiling and Lumina turned to look at me.

“…I appreciate the thought, but it’s better if I go alone. Don’t worry too much. The Peacekeepers will be with me the whole time.”

“…Alright,” Seo Yui said, her voice tinged with disappointment.

For a moment, I had considered bringing one person as an escort.

But thinking about the person I was about to meet, I knew it wasn’t possible.

Besides, I couldn’t explain it, but I had a bad feeling.

Right then, the front door opened.

“Hiya!”

The loud, overly cheerful greeting carried way too much energy.

So that’s the bad feeling.

I almost sighed.

Jang Hayun beamed at me. “You’re the only one going out today, right? All ready?”

“…Yes.”

“Then let’s go!”

I nodded and turned back.

“I’ll be back—”

A chill ran down my spine.

The three of them were watching me and Jang Hayun with ice-cold eyes.

“Should we tell him, Sang-sik?”

“Forget it. Not worth it,” Kim Sang-sik replied from the sofa where he and Jodie sat, sharing some cryptic conversation.

“…I’ll be back.”

With that, I left with Jang Hayun.

“Hm-hm~”

She hummed cheerfully as she started the car.

[Hong Heecheol. What the hell are you doing?]

A voice rang in my head, and I nearly clicked my tongue.

[If you like Seo Yui, just bring her along. Why hesitate, then back off because the others glared?]

What was this woman talking about?

[Or are you stringing all three along? If so, that’s garbage. Even if they’re game characters, that’s still low.]

…Unbelievable.

Three-timing?

I already knew she was the type to live in delusions, but this was on another level.

[Think carefully. How hard do you think they’ll cry when we return to the real world?]

And this from the woman who suggested leaving them permanently brainwashed?

“You okay, Yein? You look pale,” Jang Hayun asked.

“I’m fine. Just… too much on my mind.”

“Ah, I get it. I feel the same way when I think about all the paperwork waiting for me. Makes me want to ditch it all and run off to the East Sea.”

“You mustn’t.” I said seriously.

“Geez, I was joking~.”

She laughed and turned on the car’s stereo.

A lively pop song filled the air.

[You’re ignoring me. Maybe I should just turn that woman into a puppet so we can talk properly.]

Driver’s seat: Jang Hayun.

Inside my head: Choi Yuri.

For a moment, I honestly considered opening the door and jumping out.

“Did you happen to bring a phone I could use?” I asked instead.

“Oh, right. There’s one in the glove box.”

Just as she said, I opened it to find a wig, glasses, hat, and a smartphone.

I used it to send a message to Lee Hanye.

Even though we weren’t near a cell tower, the message went through. This car must have some special equipment.

“Is there a place near Yongsan where I can talk privately without being seen?”

“Yep! The mayor told me to take you there.”

“Can you give me the address?”

“Sure.”

I forwarded the address, and Hanye replied he’d come at the right time.

Then I closed my eyes.

I cleared my head, determined to let every word wash past me.

By pretending to nap, I survived thirty minutes of hell until we arrived at a house in Yongsan.

[This isn’t a secret base. It’s just a house.]

“It may look that way, but it’s one of our Peacekeeper hideouts. Looks totally normal from the outside, right?”

[Ah. Disguised as a family home. Clever.]

“Pretty smart, huh?”

‘Wait… do you two actually hear each other?’

Well, not exactly. It was more accurate to say only Jang Hayun couldn’t hear her.

We waited in the living room until the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it~!”

“I’ll handle it.”

I stopped her from bounding off like a puppy and went to the door myself.

When I opened the door, standing there was Lee Hanye—wearing the skin of Principal Im Seong-yeon.

“Please, come in.”

Hanye stepped inside, her eyes lingering on Jang Hayun.

“Forgive me, but I’d prefer to speak with Student Nam Yein alone.” Her voice was cold.

“Oh, really?” Jang Hayun replied with a smile. “Unfortunately, the rules require either me or another Peacekeeper to be present in this space. That won’t be possible.”

Huh.

For the first time, Jang Hayun actually looked like a real Peacekeeper.

“Surely it can be possible. The topic is sensitive for the Principal. I’ll report to the Mayor what was discussed later,” I said, backing Hanye.

“Mm… one second.”

Jang Hayun pulled out her phone and made a call.

“Yes, Captain, it’s me. Yein says he wants to speak with the Gwangcheon Principal privately. Yes. The Yongsan safe house… understood.”

She hung up, gave me a strained smile, and shrugged.

“The Captain says it’s not possible.”

Tch.

So Lee Seon still didn’t trust me fully.

[Ugh. What a pain.]

A voice rang in my head—just as Choi Yuri materialized right beside me.

“!!”

Hanye’s hand immediately darted to his inventory.

“—!”

Jang Hayun gasped, pulling out a vial of liquid from her own inventory.

“Stop.”

Yuri traced her finger in the air. Instantly, Jang Hayun’s expression went slack.

“Put the vial back in your inventory. Then go outside. Wait in the car where no one can see you.”

Without hesitation, Jang Hayun obeyed.

Hanye turned to me, eyes hard.

“…Student Nam Yein. Explain.”

“Sorry for the late notice. The phone I used to contact you belonged to the Peacekeepers. I couldn’t risk leaving a record.”

I pointed at Yuri.

“She’s the third transmigrant. The one who arrived in this world first.”

“Transmigrant…!”

“Wow. So the Gwangcheon Principal was a transmigrant.”

Both of them were shocked, though to different degrees.

“Hanye.”

I called her name, and she looked at me with a stiff face.

“The orb.”

I gave Yuri a sidelong glance, and Hanye immediately understood. She pulled the Orb of Bound Fate from his inventory.

“What’s that? A crystal ball?” Yuri tilted her head.

Hanye and I fixed our eyes on the orb.

“Oh? The color changed.”

“…Haa.”

Hanye let out a short sigh—relief.

The orb glowed green.

Not as strong as when it had reacted to me—closer to light green than pure emerald—but it was enough. It meant Yuri wasn’t an enemy, at least not yet.

“Alright. Introductions, then.”

I sat down on the sofa.

“I’m Lee Hanye. Currently possessing Im Seong-yeon, the Principal of Gwangcheon Academy.”

“I’m Choi Yuri. Possessed a Horima Latessai.”

“L—Latessai!?” Hanye’s eyes went wide. She looked from Yuri to me.

“But she looks like an ordinary human?”

“Sorry for being ordinary,” Yuri muttered with a sulk. “This is my real form. I refuse to walk around in my Latessai body, so I use my own.”

“How?”

“….”

She clammed up.

“Well…” Hanye hesitated.

“She’s had it rough. Came here ten years ago, and has been hiding ever since,” I supplied.

“What? Ten years?”

Hanye’s eyes rounded further.

I stood, moving closer to both of them. From my inventory, I drew out a shining hammer—my craftsman’s ability manifesting.

“Eh?” Yuri flinched.

I placed a few demonic materials on the table and swiftly crafted a potion.

“This is my trait. And yes, as you’ve guessed—I’m the Mysterious Craftsman.”

“I knew it!” Yuri’s face lit up, delighted her hunch had been right.

I slipped the potion into my inventory.

I’d gifted Hanye before, but this woman? No way.

“Your turn.” I looked at Hanye.

“Fine, Brother Heecheol.”

“…Ugh.”

Yuri’s face immediately twisted.

“Brother? With that face?”

“I’m nineteen. Just acting through Im Seong-yeon.”

Oh.

Hanye bristled, genuinely offended.

“…Ah, I see. Sorry. My mistake.”

Unexpectedly, Yuri apologized straight away.

I’d thought she’d deflect with something like ‘Well, you’re the one confused by appearances!’ but no—she actually admitted fault.

“My trait is this orb,” Hanye explained. “It tells me whether someone is friend or foe.”

“Ahh. So since she’s explaining, green must mean ally, right?”

“Correct.”

“Now, your turn.”

I fixed my eyes on Yuri.

“Why? You already know.”

“That was just my theory. I’ve never heard it from you directly.”

“…Fine. I’ll tell you.”

The next moment, Yuri’s form shifted.

“Ah!”

Hanye gasped.

Standing before us now was Im Seong-yeon.

“This is my trait and my gift: complete transformation. I can change my body at will.”

She shifted again—this time into Caymon, the final boss of the scenario.

Hanye’s jaw dropped.

“If you change like that, do you also gain their skills or levels?” I asked the question that had nagged me for a while.

If she did, her ability would be limitless.

But I didn’t expect a yes.

“No. If only. It’s purely the appearance. Nothing else.”

As expected.

If she could copy abilities, she wouldn’t be hiding. She’d already have crushed the other Valro.

“…I’m jealous.”

Hanye muttered bitterly, gazing at Yuri.

The frustration of being stuck in Im Seong-yeon’s skin was written all over her face.

“Alright, now that introductions are done, let’s talk about what comes next—”

“Done? Hardly.”

Yuri cut me off.

“I haven’t even started telling my story yet.”

What?

“That’s right. You said you came here ten years ago. As a Latessai, no less. How have you survived all this time?”

Wait—what?

Hanye latched onto Yuri’s words instantly, and I had the sinking feeling things were about to go very, very wrong.

(End of Chapter)