Episode 44: Yu Eun-ha [5]

Yu Eun-ha managed to rise from the luxurious bed after an unknown period of unconsciousness.

As she questioned the sudden change of location and trembled at the thought of possibly failing the test, she tried to calm her shaking body.

Just as she was about to forcefully suppress her uncooperative body—

“Stop there. Don’t splatter blood in my office.”

A magical restraint suddenly immobilized her limbs, rendering her completely helpless.

“……Where is this?”

“My office. Though it doubles as a bedroom now.”

Turning her head with effort, Eun-ha saw Eve Maitner—wearing her signature near-naked outfit and witch hat—observing her, just as she remembered from pre-regression times.

“But I was taking the test… Ugh!?”

“Stay still. Your afterimages are severe. Do you want your hard-earned pass revoked?”

“………!”

Passed.

The word echoed—those who’d beaten her senseless for what felt like eternity had finally acknowledged her.

“Don’t misunderstand. Han-ra and others reported you’re uniquely suited to buy time for Seah to escape.”

“That’s enough for me.”

Though the words were insulting, they meant nothing to Eun-ha. All that mattered was reuniting with her sister.

“Then… may I see my sister now—”

“No. I won’t let you meet Seah yet.”

Eve’s immediate blockade of the guildmaster’s office door prompted Eun-ha’s question.

“Didn’t I pass?”

“You barely met their standards. Not mine.”

Eun-ha’s aura darkened instantly. Eve chuckled at the sight.

“But rest properly today. Seah’s fully recovered… and mentioned wanting solitude yesterday.”

“She’s recovered?”

“Yes. Would’ve returned to the academy sooner if someone hadn’t pumped her full of drugs.”

“………..”

“You won’t try sneaking to her, right? Not that you know the Safe House location anyway.”

In truth, Eun-ha already knew. Among Eve’s nationwide Safe Houses, only one matched Yun Se-ah’s needs—a mountain estate near Raon Academy, layered with impenetrable protective magic.

“Join our guild’s training tomorrow. Impress me, and I’ll reveal the location.”

“…I can start now—”

“In six hours. My members just cleared an A-rank Gate. They need rest.”

“…Understood.”

Later, Eun-ha attempted to teleport to the Safe House but triggered security spells, getting scorched before Song Da-in retrieved her.

…

…

…

Six hours later, Eun-ha witnessed something shocking.

Even for A-rank hunters, the scale was excessive.

“Summoning three more.”

“”””Yes!””””

Da-in charged with her hammer while Han-ra wreaked havoc—a classic formation where mages and archers eliminated monsters from the rear.

Eun-ha was essentially experiencing an A-rank monster subjugation.

Training alongside Golden Guild members, she faced scenarios from large-scale hunts to protecting mages against the Da-in/Han-ra duo.

Likely simulation drills for guarding mage-positioned Seah.

Fortunately, the rear mage was Eve herself.

“Seah’s magical bursts rival mine in peak output. Her Stellar Magic just requires longer casting.”

Understanding this was preparation for guarding Seah, Eun-ha trained relentlessly. Her body moved lighter than ever—a testament to past brutal training.

-Kwaaaaak!

“Chairman-nim!”

“Haa… Reluctantly, you pass.”

-Zzzzt!

Grappling Da-in into Eve’s lightning blast, then repeating the tactic against Han-ra, Eun-ha succeeded.

“So you pass—”

-Tatatat!

Eun-ha immediately bolted for the Safe House. Eve sighed deeply.

“Haa… Just go already. You’re exhausting me.”

“Guildmaster? She left without recovery potions.”

“……Who’s on call duty?”

“Currently me, but— Oh.”

Han-ra rushed to force potions down Eun-ha’s throat.

“Guildmaster, teleport—”

“Well… About that.”

Eve couldn’t teleport—banned after sneaking into Seah’s bedroom to pinch her cheeks.

“Sein-ah, stop her…!”

While Golden Guild prayed Lee Se-in would arrive first—

[“Traffic’s jammed, Guildmaster!”]

“Abandon the car and run!”

By Se-in’s arrival, Eun-ha—covered in wounds—already stood at the Safe House gates.

[“…We should keep teleport restrictions permanently, Chairman-nim.”]

“Nooo! Please don’t!!”

-Click

“…Guildmaster?”

“We’re doomed!”

Eve and Da-in lamented being forced to watch Eun-ha and Seah coexist (with exiled Han-ra as bonus).

…

…

…

“………….”

Se-ah gazed at Eun-ha sleeping soundly.

-Squish…

Pinching her mochi-like cheeks—irresistibly cute. No wonder Eve kept doing it.

‘What drove you this far? All I did was take one spear for you.’

The main heroine, labeled a murderous psychopath in the original story for killing people who tormented the protagonist.

Though she nearly killed me… How could I hate this pitiful girl who endured three regressions and horrific bad endings from past-me?

‘Eun-ha and I shared love-hate even in the original.’

Understandable yet irreconcilable.

“Honestly, I hated you after being tortured and nearly drowned. Strange how calm I am now.”

‘I’ll remember what you told me then.’

In the original, Eun-ha becomes the protagonist’s ally. She can’t die here.

“But… I don’t despise you. We’re alike—both striving relentlessly for goals.”

‘…Still just want to go home, even now.’

This frustration—underage and unable to drink—only irritates me more.

“…I shouldn’t be here. An impurity that shouldn’t exist in this world.”

I’m an anomaly here—a variable that disrupts everything.

Though I’ve met good people like Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun… uncontrollable variables like Eun-ha pose too much risk.

I can’t let these pure souls get entangled in the chaos I attract.

Some might call me cowardly…

‘Too many variables now.’

My actions could get someone killed or save a villain. The original plot’s changed beyond recognition—my knowledge may soon become useless.

“So… you must grow stronger to complete this story. By any means necessary.”

The academy genre’s supposed bright narrative—students honing skills to achieve dreams—should lead to a happy ending.

“Once that mission’s done… I’ll have no reason to stay.”

So I’ll forgive Eun-ha.

“You won’t hear this, but… let’s use each other. You pursue world peace. I’ll return to my original world.”

I must go home.