This scene feels surreal – like something out of my dreams.

On my left: Ki Hyun-min. 

On my right: Gyun Jun-hwi.

Characters I once only knew through the screen, figures I’d never imagined sharing the same space with, are now within my reach. 

Yet I can’t fully savor the moment.

I’m reminded of that famous meme, “who’s the worst possible travel companion.”

Let’s say you win a dream vacation. 

It’s all great and amazing – until you discover you’re trapped in an island with Detective Conan.

That’s exactly what this feels like.

I mean, I’m a huge fan of you both… but do I really need to be here?

“I’m going to the bathroom. Will you be alright alone?”

I nod.

As Yeom Ju-wan heads toward the exit, he walks right past Gyun Jun-hwi, who didn’t even spare him a glance.

Strange… why doesn’t Jun-hwi recognize him?

An unsettling thought crossed my mind.

Is this really the Jun-hwi I know – the possessed Jun-hwi?

What if… I took his place instead?

Haha, ridiculous! That’s impossible!

I tried to laugh it off, but the unease lingered.

Could there be two possessed characters in one novel? 

That almost never happens.

Maybe in romance stories, but has there been any fantasy series ever featured a double possession?

Not that I’ve heard of.

A shiver ran through me.

A version of <Doomed Academy> without a possessed Jun-hwi would be 500 times more dangerous.

The Awakening Test alone would be insurmountable.

The original story puts it this way:

⎨If events follow the novel’s course, only three people will survive this test. I’m dead.⎬

Without Jun-hwi, only 3 people survived.

But with Jun-hwi possessed, the survivor count jumped to 9.

I’m not sure what I need to do, but for now…

I need to confirm if my suspicions are true.

#

I made my way to the snack table in the corner of the waiting room.

Macarons, cheesecake, butter cookies. 

Orange juice, cranberry juice, passion fruit juice…

An array of treats laid out before me.

Juice seemed too risky, so I decided to stick with water.

I filled a paper cup with water and, while passing by Gyun Jun-hwi, I orchestrated a natural-looking “stumble.”

Splash!

Clear liquid spilled onto Jun-hwi.

He looked up, and our eyes met.

Beeeeeeep—

My heart stopped.

Well, that last part was just in my head.

But that face… seriously?

Jun-hwi’s deep crimson gaze was innocent yet strangely intense, with a hint of tragic allure. 

He’s one of those dangerous beauties. 

And now, his hair was wet. 

‘I could just die now.’ 

Nope, don’t talk about death. 

That’s not a metaphor in this world. 

I forced myself to picture getting gutted by goblins as I held Jun-hwi’s gaze.

“Sorry, did you get wet?”

“It’s fine.”

Jun-hwi brushed the water from his hair, and my heart betrayed me with a flip.

How did he make something as simple as drying off look like a commercial?

This was what they meant by ethereal beauty.

“Sorry. I was nervous and slipped. I’ve got a bad feeling about this test.”

While I was trying desperately to make conversation, Jun-hwi was just staring down at the floor, completely ignoring me.

“Have you heard anything about the Awakening Test?”

“…”

“Are we really going to see actual monsters? I’ve never seen one in person before.”

“…”

“Have you?”

No response, but I didn’t give up.

Undeterred, I continued my one-sided conversation until Jun-hwi suddenly stood up.

Then, he walked away on those long legs.

Don’t go!

I had to find out if this Jun-hwi was the one who was possessed, the real protagonist of this story. 

The only reason <Doomed Academy> had survived 400 chapters was because of the possessed Jun-hwi.

He’s a genius, the only person capable of standing in the way of the villains. 

If this was a world without a possessed Jun-hwi… honestly, death by goblins might be a better choice than what lies ahead. 

But how could I get him to turn around?

Maybe mention something only a possessor would know…

“Actually, I dreamed about an outbreak last night.”

Outbreak. 

That’s one detail that only a possessor would know. 

Jun-hwi froze mid-step.

He turned, then looked me up and down with a cold stare.

“What’s your name?”

“Yeon Sora. And yours?”

“Gyun Jun-hwi.”

So you are possessed, aren’t you?

A regular person would’ve just thought, “What on earth?”

At this point, an outbreak was a rare, once-in-a-decade event, and today was (or should be) the first time one would occur inside the Tower.

“You saw an outbreak occur in your dream?”

“Yep.”

“What kind of monster appeared?”

“Goblins.”

“What species of goblin?”

“There are different species?”

“Dark goblins, green goblins, desert goblins, swamp goblins—four total. Which ones did you see?”

This level of interest was way overboard.

I’d mentioned the outbreak impulsively, but I wasn’t prepared for this kind of conversation.

Well, I already confirmed what I needed to know, so it was time to make a quick exit.

“Uh, I’m not really sure. Don’t worry about it; it’s probably just a silly dream.”

I flashed him a cheerful smile. 

That was when I noticed Jun-hwi’s left pinky twitched upright.

That was the tell-sign for when he was annoyed. 

Time to get out of here.

“Good luck.”

After a quick smile, I hurried back to Yeom Ju-wan. 

Judging by the prickling sensation on my neck, Jun-hwi was still glaring at me.

Did I talk too much?

Oh well, no regrets.

Confirming that Jun-hwi was possessed had definitely put my mind at ease.

#

“We’ll now begin dividing into groups. When I call your name, gather with your group members. Group 1…”

Following the staff’s instructions, we arranged ourselves in groups of five. 

Though I wasn’t placed with Gyun Jun-hwi or Ki Hyun-min, I found myself paired with Yeom Ju-wan again. 

Then came introductions.

“I’m Lee Hyo-jun.”

“I’m Park Ra-hee.”

“No Ji-tae. First time taking the awakening exam.”

“Isn’t that true for everyone?”

“Oh, right? Haha.”

In this world, unusual hair and eye colors were common. 

In my group, the two guys sported green and blue hair, while the girl had yellow hair. 

Given their unfamiliar names, they were likely in the same category as me — nameless extras. 

Their bright, innocent smiles made my heart ache. 

They were unaware of this, but these children were all victims of the first massacre of the novel. 

“What’s your name?”

“Yeom Ju-wan.”

“And yours?”

“This is Yeon So-ra.”

Unable to introduce myself while fighting back tears, Ju-wan stepped in for me. 

Hyo-jun then tilted his head toward me curiously.

“Why didn’t you introduce yourself?”

“Sorry, I’m not feeling well today.”

“Oh… I see.”

Hyo-jun’s face flushed as he looked down. 

Wait, why was he acting like this? 

His ears had turned carrot-red! 

Then I remembered Yeon Sora’s beauty from the student ID. 

Ah, of course — this was a natural reaction from a 17-year-old boy faced with an ethereal beauty. 

“Looking forward to working together.”

I offered a small smile to ease the tension, but the kid’s face instantly froze up. 

Why did he look so stiff? 

That’s when Ju-wan made an odd comment:

“Don’t misunderstand; that’s just how Yeon Sora’s face looks when she smiles.”

What was that supposed to mean? 

Come to think of it, I’d only seen Sora through the student ID and hadn’t actually looked at her (me) in person yet. 

There hadn’t been time.

“The ranker examiners will arrive shortly. While waiting, please talk with your group members. Restroom breaks are allowed, but only two at a time with permission.”

I immediately requested bathroom time, and the moment I got approval, I rushed over. 

Thirty seconds later, I finally saw my reflection in the mirror.

“Good lord!”

The real Yeon Sora exceeded all expectations. 

If she was otherworldly in photos, in person she was cosmic. 

Her skin gleamed like pearls, and her eyes seemed to contain every shade of pink diamond in existence. 

Transcendental beauty. 

Peak aesthetic perfection. 

I pinched my right cheek, and the goddess in the mirror did the same. 

Was this really me? 

I’d become a goddess! 

…No, wait, that wasn’t why I came here. 

What was it again? Right—to check my smile. 

I tried recreating the smile I’d given Hyo-jun earlier. 

Then, suddenly, everything suddenly made sense.

“This is it.”

Yeon Sora’s smile was unique. 

It seemed to demand a caption overhead:

[You and I do not belong in the same category, human.]

It was arrogance at its fullest. 

Adjusting my facial muscles or trying different angles made no difference.

Chin up?

[You and I do not belong in the same category,  pitiful mortal.]

Chin down?

[You and I do not belong in the same category, though I pity you enough not to say it directly to your face, human.]

No matter what, it always came across as “you’re not good enough for me.” 

The reason was obvious.

“Her nose is too perfect.”

With such a flawless nose—its height, angle, and shape— a humble smile was just impossible. 

No wonder they say arrogant people are “high-nosed.” 

But… something felt off. 

Wait—oh no! 

I remembered; I’d smiled at Gyun Jun-hwi too… 

What did I say while smiling? 

— Sorry, don’t worry about it. Just a silly dream. *Smirk.* [You and I do not belong in the same category, human.]

— Good luck.

Oh no! 

I think… I accidentally picked a fight with the protagonist!

# 

When I returned to the waiting room, a new face greeted me—a man with navy-blue hair towering before my group. 

His height was impressive, probably around 190 cm, and he carried a massive sword nearly matching his own height.

“You must be the last one. I’m Ham So-bong, your examiner for today’s test.”

“I’m Yeon So-ra.”

“Haha! Looking forward to working together.”

After a slight bow, I quickly assessed him. 

The insignia on his chest read [Republic of Korea]—marking him unmistakably as a Public Hunter.

In the ❮Doomed Academy❯ universe, Public Hunter service replaced mandatory military duty. 

Awakened individuals were required to serve the nation for three years after graduating. 

His status as a Public Hunter meant he was likely within three years of graduation—still in that phase where he held a human sympathy, as he wasn’t yetworn away by years of hunting.

‘Perhaps…’

A spark of hope flickered.

“Examiner, I’m feeling quite unwell today. Would it be possible to reschedule the awakening test?”

With nothing to lose, I attempted one final escape plan. 

I only needed to avoid it today.

“You can change the date with medical approval.”

The medical examiner—wasn’t she the one who’d expertly spotted fake illnesses earlier? 

Truthfully… I doubted I could fool her. 

If I failed, I’d definitely end up with that eye injection this time.

“Should I call the medical staff?”

“No.”

I answered with a bitter smile, noticing Ham So-bong’s face stiffen. 

Ah, did the bitter smile have that “looking down” effect too? 

But that wasn’t important right now…

‘Escaping is impossible.’

This confirmed it. 

Running away wasn’t an option. 

Somehow, I’d have to survive the outbreak today.