“Keep up and stay focused!”

We exited the waiting room in a line, following Ham So-bong across the first-floor village. 

We were headed toward the weapon rental station. 

Choosing the right weapon could mean survival. 

I knew I needed to choose, but it was difficult to concentrate. 

I mean, just look at this place!

In ❮Doomed Academy❯, each floor of the tower housed its own medieval European-style village, reminiscent of that famous wizard town with its textbook shops. 

The sight was enough to make any fantasy fan’s heart race!

And there—

‘The Hideout Café! My favorite characters’ hangout spot! And Chinko’s Toy Shop! I’ve always wanted to try that claw machine!’

Every turn revealed another sacred site, so my attention was pulled in all directions. 

This place deserved to be called the ❮Doomed Academy❯ theme park… if I survived, that is.

“Focus, stay focused!”

I snapped out of tourist mode and tuned into the conversation beside me.

“…My little sister says the awakening test isn’t as scary as people make it out to be.”

“Little sister?”

“Yeah, my younger sister.”

“Is she awakened too?”

“Yeah, everyone in my family is awakened—three brothers, three sisters, even my parents.”

The blue-haired chatterbox was Lee Hyo-jun. 

As the youngest of seven, with three older brothers, three older sisters, and awakened parents, his family was quite the anomaly in a world where only 10% of the population possessed awakened abilities.

“Then you must know a lot about the test?”

“Well, naturally.”

“What did they tell you?”

“They chain up the monster. As long as you keep your distance, you’re safe. Plus, the rankers are there if anything happens.”

Lee Hyo-jun eagerly shared every detail about the awakening test, and I gratefully absorbed the information. 

Truth was, I had no idea how the test actually worked. 

Since ❮Doomed Academy❯ was written from the protagonist’s perspective, details of the tests weren’t included. 

In the novel, Gyun Jun-hwi encountered an outbreak before reaching the test site, awakening then and there. 

He never took the actual test, so there was no description of it in the story.

According to Hyo-jun, the test was simple:

1. Bring 17-year-old children before a monster.

2. Let them approach death’s door.

3. Save them before it’s too late.

4. Ask, “Did you awaken?”

Harsh, but logical. 

Awakening required “strong will,” and most people didn’t naturally possess such determination, so they used monsters to help. 

Even the most unmotivated person would find a desperate will to live when faced with a charging monster.

“What weapon did your family choose?”

My thoughts were interrupted. 

Yeom Ju-wan was eyeing Hyo-jun with interest.

“Everyone picked swords, except my younger sister who chose a bow—and regrets it. The maintenance costs are insane.”

“Is archery really that expensive?”

“Well, you keep having to buy arrows.”

“Ah, makes sense. What about your siblings’ swords? Longsword? Broadsword? Rapier? Saber?”

“Ha! You know your stuff, Ju-wan. My oldest brother uses a longsword, my oldest sister uses a saber and a kukri…”

Yeom Ju-wan seemed genuinely invested in swords. 

Should I tell him, “You’re better suited for magic than swords”? 

Is that too much? 

Also… why was he so cheerful? 

This seemed out of character.

In the novel, Yeom Ju-wan was known for his prickly personality, like a bristling stray cat avoiding human contact. 

His charm points were threefold: his stunning looks, his reluctant enjoyment of the protagonist’s forced company, and his transformation. 

He would grow into a 185cm fire mage and become one of the world’s top three powerhouses. 

To maintain his charm, he should be acting more like a defensive stray cat, not this sociable lap cat. 

What was going on?

“So, Yeon So-ra, what weapon are you picking?”

Before I could solve this mystery, Yeom Ju-wan turned to me with his question.

“A gun.”

“I see.”

“Whoa! Don’t do that!”

While Yeom Ju-wan accepted it without comment, Hyo-jun nearly jumped.

“You won’t awaken with a gun! Almost no one awakens with long-range weapons!”

That made sense. 

You needed a strong will — essentially, a life-or-death situation — to awaken, and it was hard to feel that urgency while shooting from a distance.

“Still, I’m choosing the gun. I don’t have the strength for a sword right now.”

“But awakening is… it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…”

Hyo-jun looked genuinely concerned, assuming I’d given up on awakening.

But he needn’t worry. 

Did I look crazy? 

No way I’d give up awakening. 

But with the goblin horde we were bound to encounter later, I’d surely be facing a life-or-death moment — even with a gun. 

At that point, having an easy-to-use weapon seemed like the best choice.

# 

The Phoenix Guild’s weapon rental shop was vast—comparable to a large warehouse store, like Walmart. 

The moment we entered, Ham So-bong checked his wrist and barked:

“You have 15 minutes. Get moving!”

“What?!”

“How are we supposed to…”

“14 minutes, 50 seconds!”

No mercy. 

At Ham So-bong’s words, our group scattered like startled birds.

“See you later!”

I tried to dash off, but something caught my clothes. 

Looking back, I found Yeom Ju-wan clutching my sleeve.

“You’re going by yourself?”

“You want a sword, right? I’m heading for guns.”

“I know, but…”

“This place is too big to cover both sections together. Let’s meet back here.”

“…”

Yeom Ju-wan’s cheeks puffed up like fresh morning bread. 

Was that… a pout? 

My little tiger was sulking? 

Adorable, but I didn’t have time for this.

“Then I’ll get a gun too.”

“Didn’t Lee Hyo-jun say guns lower your chances of awakening?”

“Then you should choose a sword too.”

Why was he so insistent on doing everything together? 

Was this typical childhood friend behavior? 

True, I’d planned to stick close to Yeom Ju-wan today, but right now, I needed space. 

I was about to do things I’d rather others didn’t witness.

“14 minutes left! What are you two doing?”

Perfect timing! 

At Ham So-bong’s shout, Yeom Ju-wan finally released me, and I bolted for the [Firearms] section. 

I selected an Ether Airsoft Gun. 

Despite its fancy name, it was basically a BB gun. 

In the story, it was described as a weapon “even dogs and cows could use.” 

Since I ranked somewhere between dog and cow when it came to facing monsters, it seemed perfect.

After grabbing the gun and magazine, I headed to my next destination.

[Consumables]

Let’s see… 

I needed to find ‘Persephone’s Beads,’ ‘Demeter’s Hair,’ and ‘Vesuvius Lava Stones.’ 

Strange items, yes, but I had my reasons—these were Gyun Jun-hwi’s choices.

Early in the story, when Gyun Jun-hwi awakened his item-crafting ability, he used these materials to create the ‘Curse of Persephone,’ an item specifically designed for fighting goblins that helped him survive the first massacre. 

The key to awakening was “strong willpower.” 

If I could muster similar determination — like “I desperately want that item-crafting ability!” — I might awaken it too. 

Whether I possessed such determination remained uncertain, but it worked for Gyun Jun-hwi, so it was theoretically possible.

Since I knew the answer, why not copy it? 

Just as I finished gathering my supplies—

“3 minutes left! Anyone not back in time loses their weapons!”

Ham So-bong’s voice boomed. 

I hastily grabbed everything and sprinted toward the exit.

# 

A jeep awaited us outside the weapon rental area. 

As soon as we loaded in, it sped off across a field reminiscent of the Serengeti Plains.

“Yeon Sora, are you alright?”

“Huff, huff!”

“I knew it, getting worked up over the Awakening Test!”

“Huff, huff!”

“Why can’t you take care of yourself? You know I’ll get scolded by your mom, right? She told me to make sure you don’t do anything foolish.”

“Huff, huff!“

While I was deep in an intense breathing exercise, Yeom Ju-wan launched into a serious lecture. 

What was wrong with this body? 

Yeon Sora was naturally frail.

No, this felt different from mere weakness—more like a desynchronization, like controlling a marionette with tangled strings. 

Whenever I ran, it sent my joints pulling in different directions. 

From Ju-wan’s scolding, it seemed this was Yeon Sora’s normal state.

‘With a body like this, how am I supposed to survive two hours against goblins?’

No doubt about it. 

In the original story, Yeon Sora must have died in the outbreak. 

That would explain why the friendly cat Ju-wan turned into a moody stray—her death would have devastated Ju-wan. 

Everything was starting to make sense.

“Everyone out!”

Just as the pieces were falling into place, the vehicle halted at our destination. 

A cave. 

Potentially my grave.

“Watch your step—it’s slippery! Take it slow!”

Though dim, bioluminescent stones in the walls provided minimal lighting.

Drip, drip.

Water echoed somewhere, there was a fishy smell, and humidity was everywhere. 

We walked for a while, then—

Screech!

A monstrous cry sent chills down my spine. 

Novels always write monster cries as “screeeech,” but the reality is different. 

Imagine fingernails on a chalkboard mixed with throat phlegm—a nauseating combination creating that “screeeech.” 

The shrill sound made me instinctively shrink, but Ham So-bong led us steadily toward its source.

“Here we are.”

The test area was far from ordinary. 

Wait—this was a dungeon, wasn’t it? 

Ham So-bong opened a door and ushered us into the dim space.

Clang!

As the door shut, lights flickered on. 

The first thing I noticed was a bizarre carousel-like structure. 

Like an amusement park ride, but instead of white horses and carriages, dozens of goblins were chained to it.

Screech!

Only one goblin moved while the others remained frozen, as if paralyzed.

“Fifty goblins, ten per person. If you don’t awaken within your ten, you’re done.”

Ham So-bong continued explaining, but I couldn’t focus. 

Goblins. 

Dark goblins, specifically. 

People typically imagine goblins as small, green, child-sized creatures. 

But the goblin before me was tall and black.

“Anyone know about dark goblins?”

“I do.”

“Go ahead.”

“They’re hybrids of green goblins and orcs. Goblin appearance, orc strength.”

“Correct. Don’t try to match their strength. And beware their steel-like claws. One grab and they’ll tear your flesh off. Now, let’s begin.”

After his brief explanation, Ham So-bong surveyed our group. 

His gaze settled on me. 

Please, don’t say my name…

“Yeon Sora, you’re first.”