“What is this…?”

“An outbreak? Inside the tower?”

The rankers stared in disbelief. 

An enormous rift had appeared in front of the testing area, spewing out an endless horde of goblins—a terrifying sight.

Even though I knew what was coming, I was stunned. 

I could only imagine how shocking it must be for those who weren’t expecting this.

“Where’s Kang Hye-jin?”

“Over there.”

The ranker from Gyun Jun-hwi’s team was battling goblins by the wall. 

She had hidden the students in a cave wall crevice and was guarding the entrance, fending off the creatures.

“And those two—are they students?”

“Probably.”

“With skills like that?”

At the frontline, right by the rift, Ki Hyun-min and Gyun Jun-hwi were making their stand. 

Ki Hyun-min moved with blinding speed, his blade a blur as he carved through monsters with overwhelming skill—the telltale mark of a regressor. 

In contrast, Gyun Jun-hwi was swinging his sword like a baseball bat, yet every goblin that touched it dropped dead instantly, thanks to his weapon—the cursed blade “Persephone’s Curse.” 

Watching this, I breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Just like in the original story.’

Gyun Jun-hwi had successfully awakened his item crafting ability. 

This wasn’t some random talent anyone could stumble upon. 

I knew he was special! 

As I was admiring his remarkable determination, a strategy discussion unfolded beside me.

“Shouldn’t we rescue the students first?”

“No, sealing the rift takes priority. We need to shut off the source before we can start dealing with the flood.”

“Can they hold out that long?”

“If we rush in there too, we’ll just exhaust ourselves. For everyone to survive, we have to close that crack first.”

“That’s true, but…”

It seemed Ham So-bong had decided to let my kids handle the outbreak for now. 

It was a logical choice—if they didn’t stop the source, the goblins would keep pouring in endlessly. 

According to the original story, both Ki Hyun-min and Gyun Jun-hwi would survive until the Phoenix Guild arrived, so their safety was guaranteed.

‘Still…’

As I watched, I couldn’t shake my unease. 

Sweat was streaming down Gyun Jun-hwi’s face and neck, beading on his brow. 

Even with his thick eyebrows acting as a barrier, every movement sent droplets into his eyes. 

In one moment of impaired vision, a goblin’s filthy claws slashed toward his handsome face.

Slash!

He cut it down—more by luck than skill. 

Meanwhile, Ki Hyun-min was panting heavily. 

Being a regressor didn’t make him invincible; he had no area-of-effect skills. 

Later, he’d collect AoE items from various dungeons to cover this weakness, but this was only Ki Hyun-min’s first day back. 

No matter how skilled he was, fighting thousands alone was bound to wear him down. 

And I was supposed to just stand here and watch?

【Activating unique skill: <Like My Favorites!>】

【Duration: 10 seconds】

【Mana Cost: 10】

【Casting Yeom Ju-wan’s skill: <Flame Barrage>】

Once again, a radar materialized before my eyes, showing countless red triangles marked ‘Enemy.’

Time to eliminate them all.

【Due to your low level, there are restrictions.】

【Available enemy slots: 10】

【Select (10) enemies for skill application.】

Unlike before, I now faced a limit on how many targets I could take down at once. 

I selected the monsters closest to Gyun Jun-hwi and Ki Hyun-min and activated the skill.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The targeted goblins fell in a thunderous explosion.

Here’s the next section refined:

KIEEEE!

KRAAAAH!

But instead of retreating, the surviving monsters grew even more frenzied, their claws slashing more desperately at Ki Hyun-min and Gyun Jun-hwi. 

I felt my blood boil. 

Who did these creatures think they were attacking?

Gulp.

I downed a mana potion Ham So-bong had given me, quickly replenishing my power. 

With enough mana, I could use the skill as much as I wanted.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

“Does everyone have mana potions?”

Ham So-bong’s voice cut through the chaos from somewhere beyond my field of vision.

“Give them to Yeom Ju-wan. Yeom Ju-wan, pass one to Yeon So-ra whenever she needs it.”

“Got it.”

“Lee Seo-yoon, stay here and protect the students. Everyone else, come with me to seal the crack.”

“Understood.”

I had no time to look around. 

I was too focused on eliminating every red triangle on my radar. 

Those kids were humanity’s future. 

These monsters dared to threaten humanity’s greatest assets—they needed to be punished!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Yeom Ju-wan kept supplying me with potions, and I fell into a rhythm: drink, launch a fiery spear, drink again to restore mana. 

After dozens of repetitions, only goblin corpses remained around Ki Hyun-min and Gyun Jun-hwi. 

They finally had a moment to catch their breath and survey their surroundings. 

When our eyes met, I noticed their glares. 

What was wrong?

“Don’t you think that’s enough? If we keep going, it’ll be impossible to get them out later.”

A voice cut through my focus, forcing me to snap back to reality and take a proper look at the scene.

‘Did I… go overboard?’

In my zeal to protect them, I had concentrated all my attacks on the goblins closest to Gyun Jun-hwi and Ki Hyun-min. 

Thirty rapid-fire attacks. 

The result? 

A mountain of goblin corpses encircling them—a macabre fortress of monster bodies that had effectively trapped my favorites inside. 

While it kept them safe from further attacks, it couldn’t have been a pleasant experience. 

The fortress was far from aesthetically pleasing.

‘Is that why they’re glaring?’

Maybe I had gotten a bit carried away in my enthusiasm, but what was done was done. 

Unsure if they could even see it, I flashed them a sheepish smile.

Sorry.

But it was all to keep you safe.

#

Everything wrapped up without major incident. 

Ham So-bong successfully sealed the rift, and with the Phoenix Guild’s timely arrival, the thousands of goblins were eliminated. 

I’d contributed significantly—taking down 310 goblins myself. 

It was somewhat satisfying, but there was no time to celebrate.

“Worried about them?”

I nodded silently at Yeom Ju-wan’s question.

“Don’t worry. The guild members are getting them out now.”

Phoenix Guild members were sweating as they carefully dismantled the goblin fortress.

“Stay still in there! Moving carelessly could get you injured!”

A guild member shouted whenever Ki Hyun-min tried to crawl out on his own. 

The fortress was stacked like a precarious tower of blocks—one wrong move and it could collapse, sending sharp goblin claws flying everywhere. 

It was a delicate operation, but the guild members could handle it safely—they were professionals, after all. 

The only problem…

‘Don’t look this way!’

Ki Hyun-min and Gyun Jun-hwi kept glancing in my direction, clearly ready to confront me the moment they were freed.

‘I’m such an idiot.’

Regret washed over me. 

I’d made too flashy an entrance. 

To them, I wasn’t supposed to exist.

To a regressor, I was a mysterious woman who’d appeared out of nowhere. 

And to a transmigrator, I was a character who hadn’t even appeared in the novel, showing up with an impossible skill. 

What now?

“Yeon So-ra, are you alright? You look pale.”

“I feel dizzy…”

I staggered toward Yeom Ju-wan, leaned against him, and closed my eyes. 

Making sure they could see. 

Look, guys! 

I’m not feeling so well! 

Don’t come over here!

“Yeom Ju-wan, take Yeon So-ra up first. She’s pushed herself too hard today.”

“Yes.”

“Get her to the medical team as soon as you reach the surface.”

“Right away.”

Eyes still closed, I listened to Ham So-bong and Yeom Ju-wan’s exchange.

Perfect! An escape route! 

Since I was committed to the act, I might as well make it convincing. 

I let myself go completely limp.

“Hey! Hey! Yeon So-ra!”

Panicking, Yeom Ju-wan hoisted me up and started moving quickly.

Nice! Short but sturdy! The ride wasn’t half bad!

Despite enjoying the comfort, I knew I needed to think fast.

‘I need a plan!’

What would I say if they confronted me? 

I wracked my brain for a good excuse, but nothing came to mind. 

Truth be told, I’m not the brightest, so I try to avoid lying when I can.

‘Should I just tell them everything?’

Maybe the best option was to come clean. 

Admit that I’m the second transmigrator. 

But would that even work?

I ran through the scenario in my head. 

I’d start with the easier one—soft-hearted Ki Hyun-min—and save the prickly Gyun Jun-hwi for later.

1) Sit Ki Hyun-min down.

2) Try to talk to him

Me: I know you’re a regressor.

Him: H-How do you know that?

Me: You’re a false protagonist in a novel.

No, that sounds too complicated.

Me: You’re the protagonist of a novel being read by the protagonist of another novel I was reading.

That’s not quite right either.

Me: You’re a character in the novel I read, and this is that novel’s world.

Yes, that’s it! 

Though I’ve polished the words, it doesn’t mean this approach will work. 

It sounds completely insane, doesn’t it? 

To reveal my transmigration to Ki Hyun-min, I’d first need to explain what transmigration even is. 

Quite the challenging task.

‘Maybe I should start with Gyun Jun-hwi instead?’

Perhaps it would be better to approach Gyun Jun-hwi first, since he’s familiar with transmigration. 

Let me imagine another scenario:

① Sit Gyun Jun-hwi down… though honestly, I can’t picture him sitting quietly.

Instead, he corners me while I’m walking past.

Him: Who are you, really?

② Backed into a corner, I confess directly.

Me: Me? I’m the second transmigrator.

Him: …

Me: I transmigrated too! Just like you!

Him: How do you know I’m a transmigrator?

Me: Because you’re the protagonist of a novel.

Him: What?

Me: Like a regressor, you’re the protagonist of a novel. I’ve transmigrated into a transmigration novel!

Setting aside my terrible dialogue, writing it out makes one thing clear—if Gyun Jun-hwi is who I think he is, he definitely won’t welcome me with open arms to “the world of transmigration!” 

He’d be suspicious, probably thinking either “Is she working for the antagonist?” or “How does she know my identity?” 

Then he’d start plotting to eliminate me. 

Not maybe—definitely. 

I know my boy too well. 

If Gyun Jun-hwi suspected another transmigrator existed, he’d try to eliminate them. 

What am I supposed to do?

Throb.

A sharp headache struck, followed by an intense pain, and then a sweet voice whispered temptingly in my mind.

‘Why not just postpone it?’

Hmm, that makes sense. 

After today, I won’t see them until the entrance ceremony next week. 

If I can just get through today, I’ll have a whole week to devise a proper explanation. 

After all, what you can do today, you can do tomorrow—maybe even better tomorrow! 

Instead of rushing and making a mess of things, I should take my time and build a proper foundation. 

Pretty smart, right? 

I couldn’t help but nod at my own brilliant reasoning.

‘Let’s put it off for now.’

And if I do happen to run into them today?

① Run away.

② Pretend to faint.

Just avoid them, delay the inevitable, and face them only when I’m properly prepared. 

Having made this decision, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.

#

But life rarely goes according to plan, and I was learning that lesson the hard way.

“We appreciate your cooperation despite your condition. This is just a routine investigation into the incident, and we ask for your understanding.”

Despite my desperate desire to escape, I found myself trapped in a waiting room with the other test participants, which meant… I was stuck in the same room with Gyun Jun-hwi and Ki Hyun-min—the exact people I’d been trying to avoid.