Chapter 3: The Reveal of the Guild ‘Sadae Cheonwang’

[The pride of South Korea, the first photo shoot of the top 10 ranked elite hunters guild ‘The Four Heavenly Kings,’ revealed exclusively!]

On the bus to school, I casually glanced at the screen of the person sitting next to me, and my face instantly turned red with embarrassment.

There were certain words embedded in the magazine, along with the photo shoot, that made me freeze.

Luckily, the day I possessed this body was the first day of summer vacation, giving me plenty of time to get accustomed to this world.

I took the time to focus on strengthening my mental resistance and prepared for the upcoming school year, though reality turned out to be much more than I expected.

“Sung Hyun! You’re so handsome!”

“Ahhh! Eunbada’s eye smile is to die for!”

“Look at Han Ji-bin, he’s so cute! What should I do? He’s the cutest boy in the class!”

“Hey, Ji Kang-han is the most handsome! Even his purple hair is perfect!”

“Ugh, I’m drunk on that Cool Water scent.”

What did I just hear?

I could hardly believe the gushing compliments and overwhelming fan adoration around me.

I stumbled and dropped my phone, checking to make sure the screen wasn’t cracked.

Trying to block it out, I consciously shut my ears and focused on walking forward.

How long did it take me to get used to hearing the name The Four Heavenly Kings?

And now, I had to listen to all that every weekday?

In a daze, I rushed into the classroom before the group of Four Heavenly Kings arrived and sat down, pretending to be accustomed to the situation.

How long has it been since I’ve been in school?

I had dropped out in my first year of high school, never thinking I’d have to attend school again.

The thought stirred up a complex mix of emotions in me, but before I could fully process them, one of my new friends—the ones from this body’s circle—shook me violently by the shoulder.

“The Four Heavenly Kings are coming. The Four Heavenly Kings.”

At that signal, all eyes turned to the back door.

Leading the charge was Ban Hyun, his blue-black hair flowing like a fan in front of his face.

He was the embodiment of the classic original male lead—handsome in a way that seemed almost too perfect to be real.

With sharp, piercing eyes, dark black irises, a nose that could cut glass, full peach-colored lips, and broad shoulders leading down to a towering frame, it was impossible not to notice him immediately.

“Move.”

He raised one eyebrow, his voice deep and cold—just as described in the original story.

Of course, his family was absurdly rich.

As the third-generation heir to a conglomerate, he was the epitome of the “perfect” protagonist, excelling in everything—academics, martial arts, and his rank at the top.

Though now rankings were determined by awakening levels and magical power, Ban Hyun still held the #1 spot.

He awakened as an S-class, after all.

Apart from his slightly off-putting personality (a bad boy archetype), he was the perfect male lead in every way.

Thud.

He carelessly tossed his bag onto the back seat by the window.

“Really living up to that protagonist status.”

I tried not to look at Ban Hyun, consciously avoiding him.

After all, I had followed him around to the point of confessing, which had only earned me a permanent spot in his bad books.

Thinking about the contemptuous looks I would likely receive made me long for everything I had in my original world.

Like my apartment with a view of the Han River, my fan club, and the comfort of seeing my bank account balance rise…

“I need to figure out how to distance myself from Ban Hyun naturally. I’m not into bad boys. And I need to find a way back to my original world as soon as possible.”

Just then, as I was lost in thought, the cheerful voice of Eunbada, another member of the Four Heavenly Kings, caught my attention.

She was standing by the back door, talking to the teacher.

“Yeah, I’ll pick up the handouts and bring them over.”

Her soft, kind voice echoed pleasantly in my ears.

“Bada, hi!”

“Good morning, Bada.”

“Ah! I just talked to Bada!”

With a warm smile, Eunbada greeted the class and took a seat right in front of Ban Hyun.

As her name suggested, her hair was a lovely shade of ocean blue, and her soft, honey-colored eyes and gentle expression made her even more endearing.

Her poised demeanor and good nature made her the favorite of all the teachers.

Eunbada was the class president, and she was always impeccably dressed, unlike Ban Hyun, who was often disheveled.

She was an A-class awakener, ranking #5, and despite her image as a perfect student, she was just as involved in skipping classes with Ban Hyun as anyone else in the group.

Was skipping class really something the main characters couldn’t escape from?

Eunbada’s dedication to her studies was impressive, and she always ranked in the top 10 of the school, despite her laid-back attitude toward school rules.

After her, Han Ji-bin, the cheerful and bubbly member of the Four Heavenly Kings, entered the classroom.

He was a pure Korean with golden hair that seemed to shine like the sun, round brown eyes, and delicate features that made him look adorable.

Though he was the shortest among the Four Heavenly Kings, his presence was still strong.

Ji-bin was the most sociable, often engaging with students from other classes, and was loved by everyone for his cute and playful demeanor.

“Eutcha! I missed you, Doldori!”

“Doldori?”

“Yeah, my desk! See the round wood grain? So it’s Doldori!”

Ah, I get it… Doldori…

“Did you just give your desk a nickname? That’s so cute!”

“Don’t listen to this. Just don’t,” I silently told myself, trying to tune out the growing chatter around me.

Han Ji-bin, now awakened as an A-class and ranked #9, entered next.

His cheerful personality contrasted with the rest of the Four Heavenly Kings, as he immediately struck up conversations with others.

I shifted my attention to the last person entering the room.

Slowly walking in, with a demeanor that contrasted starkly from the others, was Ji Gang-han.

Unlike Han Ji-bin, who greeted everyone warmly, Ji Gang-han went straight to his seat, not bothering to even sit.

His quiet demeanor made him one of the least involved characters in the story.

He laid his head down on the desk and immediately fell asleep.

His appearance was striking, however.

His long, thin eyes gave him a sharper look, but the purple hue of his eyes softened that sharpness slightly.

His hair—impossibly purple—moved slightly as he shifted, catching my eye. “He’s really good-looking, in a unique way.”

That was my first thought.

But I knew better than to expect any kind of friendship with him.

With his indifferent attitude, lack of emotional expression, and the fact that he was the least sociable member of the Four Heavenly Kings, it was clear we wouldn’t be getting close.

Even though he didn’t talk much, Ji Gang-han had still awakened as an S-class and was ranked #4, just ahead of Eunbada.

He clearly benefited from the protagonist-level buffs that came with his rank.

I couldn’t help but glance back at the Four Heavenly Kings from my seat.

They were so good-looking, it was hard not to admire them.

But honestly, it wasn’t like I was going to get involved with them. I had my own goals to focus on.

It was clear to me that their fame wasn’t just from being in my class anymore.

Now that they had formed their own guild—Blood Scent, no less—their popularity had skyrocketed.

The guild’s name alone was enough to turn heads.

Everywhere they went, it seemed, others were there to catch a glimpse of them.

“I should run more dungeons… unlock more skills… and find a way back to my world. Fast.” I silently promised myself, making a fist in determination.

But just as I started zoning out, I overheard more praise for the Four Heavenly Kings from my classmates.

“Han Ji-bin’s hair looks like gold under the sunlight! He looks like he’s glowing!”

“Eunbada’s eyes look even softer today! I’d love to get lost in those eyes!”

“Ugh… I have to keep dealing with this…?” I thought bitterly, my mental stamina rapidly draining.

Summer break had given me a little bit of respite, but now I could already feel my magical resistance fading.

The Four Heavenly Kings were everywhere now.

They were constantly surrounded by attention, and their every move was scrutinized.

And now that they had their own guild, it seemed like there was no avoiding them.

Suddenly, the door to the classroom opened again.

“Late again, huh? Are you feeling better?”

It was Yeon Ha-yeon, strolling into class without a care in the world.

Despite arriving late during the second period, no one seemed to mind.

“Sorry for being late on the first day,” she said with a calm smile.

But I knew better.

The Yeon Ha-yeon I knew from the novel had been fighting another gang until early morning and had only come to school after getting a good night’s rest.

Yet, with her perfect student act—black-framed glasses and hair tied neatly—no one suspected a thing.

“What a cover-up. I bet she’s hiding something.”

But I couldn’t deny that she was stunning.

Even through her modest, studious appearance, her beauty was impossible to overlook.

Her long, jet-black hair, pale skin, sharp yet delicate features—she was truly mesmerizing.

And her body, lean and athletic, added to her appeal.

“She’s definitely awakened, but what class is she?” I wondered quietly, trying to figure out her awakening grade.

Yeon Ha-yeon had been a mystery in the original story, and I couldn’t help but be curious.

Just as I was lost in thought, I overheard some students gossiping in the corner of the room.

“Wait, she was the leader of the Blood Scent guild?”

“Unbelievable. She was hiding her face all this time?”

My heart sank.

Yeon Ha-yeon’s true identity was revealed?

She wasn’t just some top student anymore—she was a leader of one of the most powerful guilds around, awakened as an S-class.

That was going to stir up a lot of attention.

And now, the whole country knows.