“So-ra, did you… also awaken?”

Ham So-bong clearly wanted to ask more questions about my ability, but he held back. 

Probably due to the Awakened Privacy Protection Law. 

In this world, you can’t force awakened individuals to reveal their traits or skills. 

Of course, I’ve already used flaming spears – so it’s obvious I can use some kind of fire magic. 

But directly asking and confirming a skill is another matter entirely. 

‘Should I keep this secret?’

Well, that’s not my type. 

I’m not fond of superpower characters who hide their identities, only to reveal their superiority later on. 

I like it all up-front. 

At buffets, I go straight for my favorite dishes, and when payday hits, I buy what I want immediately. 

I mean, what’s the point of waiting? 

You may get hit by a truck before fully enjoying life, at which point you’d die full of regrets.

“Yes, those were mine.”

I admitted to creating the flaming spears, at which Ham So-bong’s eyes widened.

“I see. A fire mage.”

Well, actually, it’s skill replication. 

But I decided to keep that to myself. 

Skill replication is… sensitive territory. 

Ham So-bong stroked his chin thoughtfully before muttering. 

“Inventory.”

Wait… a subspace inventory? 

I’d never seen one in person! 

Ham So-bong reached out into a purple ripple that had formed in the air, and pulled out three black glass bottles.

“You must have depleted your mana. Take these.” 

They were mana potions. 

I accepted them without swiftly – perhaps too swiftly. 

He seemed somewhat surprised. 

‘Should I have pretended to refuse?’ 

But I’m not one to refuse gifts. 

Ham could change his mind any minute, so I immediately uncorked one bottle and downed it. 

I checked my status screen – the empty mana bar refilled instantly. 

“Keep the others in your pocket. Save them for emergencies.”

I’m grateful, but… why offer something this expensive? 

Not that I’m complaining! 

Meanwhile, Ham So-bong looked pretty beaten up. 

No surprise, considering he fought thirty experimental goblins with the “gets stronger when cut” trait, all with sound muffling magic. 

Taking them all down proves he’s a true ranker. 

I only managed seven goblins—he handled all the rest.

Lost in these thoughts, I was startled when—

“Everyone will now evacuate the test area,” Ham So-bong announced with resolve.

“This isn’t a natural disaster. Given the emergency situation, waiting here would be unwise. We don’t know what’s going on outside, so stay alert and follow my instructions to the tee.”

As he spoke, he peered at me in a meaningful way. 

I instantly understood his intent. 

Ah, so that’s why you gave me the mana potions? 

He wants me ready to rain down flaming spears if monsters ever appeared during the evacuation process.

#

We followed Ham So-bong’s lead. 

He’d walk a short distance, examine the ground for traces, then advance again – ears attuned to every sound as he guided us forward. 

How long had we been moving like this? 

A prison cell appeared in the distance. 

It resembled the underground chamber where we’d taken our test — another test site.

“Wait here. Stay sharp.”

Ham So-bong approached the prison alone. 

As he peered inside, dark arms shot through the bars. 

Not human arms. 

In one fluid motion, he swung his sword, severing every limb that had reached beyond the iron bars. 

When he returned, his expression was grave.

“Let’s move.”

No explanation was needed. 

The same tragedy had played out here. 

Goblins had broken free and ambushed everyone. 

Unlike us, they hadn’t detected the threat in time—leading to a massacre. 

The weight of this knowledge hung heavy as we proceeded to the next site.

“Anyone alive in there?”

“Ham So-bong?”

This time, a human voice answered.

“What happened here?”

“If you’re alive, open the door. I’ll explain inside.”

At this site, both examiner and students had survived. 

Better yet, the rotating goblin mechanism remained intact, dozens of goblins still frozen in place. 

The adults conferred in hushed tones before reaching a decision.

“Everyone move as one unit. Stay alert.”

A new ranker took point while Ham So-bong stayed behind to kill all the remaining goblins before rejoining us. 

The third test site also had survivors.

“Anyone there?”

“Kim Gyu-hwan?”

No casualties at this site, nor the next. 

The only deaths had been at that first site we’d visited.

‘Was there just one bug?’

Maybe the bug I’d killed had been responsible for this entire sector. 

If it had lived, it would have continued freeing goblins and casting silence spells at each site. 

In other words, by killing that bug, I might have saved everyone here. 

Not bad—my first bug hunt and I’d nailed it! 

We gathered survivors as we moved site to site, our group growing larger. 

After several more stops…

“Why are there only four students here?”

“What? What do you mean?”

We’d reached a site where one student was unaccounted for.

“Maybe you miscounted?”

“Impossible… It’s only five students—we’d notice if one was missing.”

“That’s true.”

“What’s going on? This is insane… Should we organize a search?”

“Let’s secure everyone here first, then come back to look.”

The examiner was visibly rattled, but there was no real cause for concern. 

The missing student was Ki Hyun-min. 

Our regressor had outsmarted the examiner and headed straight for the outbreak site. 

No need to worry—we’d see him soon enough.

“One test site remaining.”

Our final destination: Gyeon Jun-hwi’s test site. The outbreak point.

# 

“Wait.”

“Quiet!”

“Shh.”

The rankers halted abruptly before our destination.

As we fell silent, distant sounds echoed through the air.

Kieeeeek!

Grrrrrr!

The rankers’ expressions hardened instantly.

“Kim Gyu-hwan, Lee Seo-yoon, Yoo Ji-hwan, and Kang Yeon-seo—come with me to investigate.”

Ham So-bong issued the command. 

Come to think of it, he’d been leading naturally—was he the highest-ranked among them?

“The rest escort the students to Test Site 9. Lock down and wait. We’ll return once we’re done.”

Ham So-bong split the group efficiently: one team to guard the students, another to check the outbreak site. 

Obviously, they couldn’t drag kids into combat. 

But I’m no ordinary kid. 

“I want to join you.”

Several rankers openly scowled at my words.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Have you lost it?”

“Did you not hear those sounds?”

Ignoring them, I locked eyes with Ham So-bong. 

In situations like this, always address the leader directly.

“You’ve seen what I can do. I can help.”

Ham So-bong had witnessed my Flame Barrage. 

He’d even supplied me with mana potions, seeing me as a combat asset rather than a liability. 

Sure enough—

“Fine. Come along.”

He agreed without hesitation.

“Hey, Ham So-bong!”

“You can’t take responsibility for this!”

“She’ll be an asset.”

“She just awakened—”

“I’ll vouch for her.”

“But still…”

The other rankers shifted uncomfortably. 

Ham So-bong seemed ready to argue but held back. 

Explaining why he wanted me would mean revealing my ability, potentially violating privacy laws. 

So I declared it myself. 

“I’m a fire mage.”

“What? You?”

“Yes. With an area-effect, and target-specific skills.”

“That’s—!”

“Impossible!”

Their reactions amused me. 

Technically, these are Yeom Ju-wan’s abilities, not mine, but I couldn’t help feeling a little smug.

Yeah, my Juwan’s powers are pretty incredible, right?

There’s a reason Yeom Ju-wan ranks among the strongest in <Doomed Academy>

He wields not just powerful flame magic, but an area-effect ability letting him face tens of thousands of enemies alone, plus target-specific attacks for precision. 

This combination is nothing short of divine.

“There might be students our age ahead. My target-specific ability could make the difference.”

Target-specific attacks eliminate only selected enemies—invaluable when allies and enemies are mixed. 

Perfect for hostage situations or rescuing students during an outbreak. 

Sure, revealing my ability to so many people feels awkward, but… it’s not really my skill anyway. 

More importantly…

“I have to go with them!”

Right now, reaching the outbreak site is all I can think about. 

I’m worried about Ki Hyun-min and Gyun Jun-hwi.

They should survive, but…

Nothing’s truly 100% certain, is it?

It’s ironic for a side character to fret over the protagonists, but I nearly lost Yeom Ju-wan earlier.

Since my arrival, the story has been diverging from the original, bit by bit. 

The butterfly effect, you know? 

What if my presence endangers Ki Hyun-min or Gyun Jun-hwi?

“Though it’s different from Yeom Ju-wan’s case.”

Unlike Ju-wan, who’s been by my side this whole time, I haven’t even spoken to Ki Hyun-min at all, and only exchanged trivial words with Gyun Jun-hwi. 

So even if there is a butterfly effect, it might not have reached them yet… 

But who knows? 

What if that bug I killed had a vengeful friend waiting there? 

Now that I have this amazing skill, I can’t just sit back and wait—I need to verify their safety myself.

“I’m going too.”

“Count me in.”

“Me as well.”

Behind me, Yeom Ju-wan, Noh Ji-tae, and Lee Hyo-jun chimed in. 

Loyal as always!

“Yeom Ju-wan can come. Noh Ji-tae and Lee Hyo-jun stay.”

“But we could help…”

“What did you accomplish last time?”

Ham So-bong was unyielding. 

Come to think of it, Noh Ji-tae and Lee Hyo-jun hadn’t managed to take down even one yellow-eyed goblin.

“Though there aren’t any experimental goblins at the outbreak…”

The outbreak only has regular goblins, but pointing that out would raise questions. 

They wouldn’t believe me anyway. 

“Let’s move out.”

At Ham So-bong’s signal, I set off with the rankers and Yeom Ju-wan. 

We headed toward the outbreak site.