episode_0021

After making Yoo Yeon-hwa pee—no, cry tears—by beating her up.

Surprisingly, my company life didn’t change much.

Partly because the rumor’s subject was a chaebol heir, making it hard to gossip recklessly.

And also because I was already close to being a loner.

“D-did you hear the rumor?! They say you fought with Yoo Yeon-hwa!”

At most, it was just Yoo Eun-hye getting startled and coming to find me.

Though, calling it a “fight” instead of “beating her up”…

Eun-hye really is kind-hearted.

“It was more like a sparring session than a fight. Even martial artists do a lot of sparring, right?”

“But I heard Yoo Yeon-hwa cried?”

“The kind of competitive spirit that makes you cry is what makes people stronger. Yoo Yeon-hwa will definitely go far.”

“I-is that so?”

Faker and Keria cried after getting second place too.

And then they achieved a repeat.

That’s the kind of competitive spirit the world’s best need.

I worship you, Sang-hyeok Shin, and Deft.

…Though Yeon-hwa cried because she got hit, not out of frustration.

But from Yeon-hwa’s perspective, this is probably better.

I mean, isn’t it better than rumors spreading that she got beaten up and bawled her eyes out?

‘This isn’t an excuse—I’m saying this for Yoo Yeon-hwa’s honor. Nod!’

“Anyway, how’s class? Is it worth attending?”

“Ah, I was worried because it’s Cheonjihae, but I’m glad I can learn a lot here.”

Yoo Eun-hye smiled brightly.

“Plus, they give us free delicious meals!”

…For dirt-poor Eun-hye, that was probably the most important part.

Well, good benefits are a perk of big companies.

“Anyway, glad nothing major happened. Have a good class!”

“Yeah, you too, Eun-hye.”

We exchanged light greetings and parted ways.

This time, since Eun-hye and I had different classes, we headed to our assigned lecture halls.

As I sat down, whispers reached me again.

“Oh, it’s the top trainee.”

“He’s still fine even after beating up Yoo Yeon-hwa.”

“That just means he’s got something backing him~”

Being the center of attention is never comfortable, no matter where you go.

Especially for a loner like me.

“Um, hello.”

Then, a brave soul approached me.

In this situation, talking to me risks getting ostracized too.

But when I checked who it was, it was someone who could afford to.

‘Minahye?’

The protagonist’s childhood friend and one of the main heroines.

Minahye gave me an awkward smile.

“We’ve met before, right? At the store when I was possessed by an evil spirit…”

“Ah… yeah. That’s right.”

She remembered my face after just one brief meeting?

Well, for Minahye, it must’ve been an unforgettable experience.

“I’m really grateful for that time. I was almost frozen to death.”

“Don’t mention it. It was only natural for me to help.”

It was half my fault you got possessed in the first place.

Leaving you like that would’ve made me trash of the trash.

“Hehe! Saying helping people is natural… You really are similar.”

Minahye tucked her hair behind her ear and laughed.

It was the textbook smile of a healing-type, busty childhood friend heroine.

“I’ve been wanting to thank you properly, but I only got the chance now. Ah, I was so surprised. I never thought you’d join Cheonjihae too, let alone as the top trainee.”

“Right? Funny coincidence.”

Actually, we met because I tried to steal an important item from her before the exam.

So it was inevitable we’d meet again like this.

“I’d heard stories and thought you were amazing, but you really are something. I’ve heard a lot of rumors too.”

“Probably the one about making a girl cry…”

“Ah! I don’t mind! There must’ve been a reason. Someone who saved my life wouldn’t do that without cause.”

Minahye checked her watch and turned back to me.

“Well, it’s almost time for class, so I’ll get going. If it’s okay, I’d like to meet you separately sometime.”

“Sorry, I have a prior commitment.”

“You didn’t even hear the time…”

“It’s an all-day thing.”

“Ah… I see. Well, can’t be helped. Next time, then.”

Minahye bid me farewell with a hint of disappointment and left.

Next to her was the protagonist, her childhood friend Kim Suho.

‘Phew! Dodged a bullet.’

I actually had no plans afterward.

I just made up a convenient excuse to refuse.

‘I can’t get more entangled with the protagonist in this situation.’

Sorry, but I won’t be meeting Minahye separately.

If I accidentally cause a butterfly effect by influencing the protagonist and main characters, the story could go off the rails.

‘It’s not like I’m just a regular employee now.’

I’m Cheonjihae’s top trainee.

And currently the center of attention.

No matter what I do, I’ll have an impact.

I already stole the protagonist’s protective talisman.

If things go any worse, who knows how the butterfly effect will play out?

‘More variables would be trouble. I’ll avoid the protagonist as much as possible.’

Just as I resolved to focus on class—

SCREEEEEECH!

A warning siren blared through the lecture hall.

[Emergency broadcast! A powerful urban legend has invaded Cheonjihae! Repeat. A powerful urban legend has invaded Cheonjihae! Trainees, please respond swiftly according to the situation!]

News of an urban legend invading Cheonjihae, the nation’s top organization.

The sudden crisis caused chaos among the trainees.

“W-what? An urban legend in Cheonjihae? How is that possible?”

One trainee’s muttering was spot-on.

It was like a demon waltzing into a church and drinking holy water at a company dinner.

The shock was doubled because no one expected something like this.

“T-the door won’t open!”

“What? So we’re trapped?”

“Where’s the instructor? Other exorcists?”

“Calm down! Nothing’s even happened yet!”

Everyone rushed to the doors or windows, but none would budge.

That’s when a monster appeared in midair.

[Kekekekekeke!]

A ghost with disheveled hair, a hooked nose, and long nails.

Its most distinctive feature was its shaman-like attire.

“A S-saetani! It’s a Saetani!”

One trainee shouted.

Saetani.

Originally a ghost bound to shamans, it broke free and cultivated spiritual power, becoming a malevolent spirit.

Some say its true nature is entirely different…

But in this game, it’s a powerful, evil ghost that can even wield a shaman’s power.

“Why is that thing here?!”

“Did an exorcist miss one, and it grew stronger?”

“We need to escape…!”

The Saetani lightly pointed at one trainee.

The next moment, the trainee was lifted into the air.

“Ghk! Kgh…!”

As if grabbed by an invisible force, the trainee clutched their throat, struggling—

—SPLAT!

Their head exploded.

“KYAAAAAH!”

“What?! What just happened?!”

“Holy shit! Someone just died in Cheonjihae?!”

A powerful evil spirit appearing before them.

A fellow trainee’s head bursting like a watermelon.

It was more than enough to send the trainees into panic.

‘Hmm… Now that I think about it, there was an event like this.’

Meanwhile, I just watched the scene blankly.

Because it was all fake.

‘If I remember right, this was a mock exam prepared by Cheonjihae to evaluate the trainees.’

That evil spirit is actually a safely controlled familiar under a professional exorcist’s command.

The trainee whose head exploded was just an illusion.

The locked doors and windows were obviously Cheonjihae’s doing.

‘Well, a monster appearing in a classroom is a classic trope.’

Something about testing the trainees’ combat readiness and uncovering hidden talents.

In fact, a few seemingly ordinary trainees would stand out because of this test.

“Haaap!”

Like our protagonist, Kang Suho, who immediately drew his sword.

“Bring it on, evil spirit! You won’t harm anyone else!”

Kang Suho bravely confronted the evil spirit.

The very picture of a textbook protagonist.

‘Yes! This is it! A game protagonist should be like this!’

His childhood friend Minahye supported him from the side.

“I’ve got your back, Suho-yah!”

“Thanks!”

Minahye’s main skills were healing and buffs.

No wonder she’s the protagonist’s greatest ally early on.

Suho, now buffed, moved even faster, swinging his sword.

‘He seems stronger than in the original?’

Looking closer, Suho was wielding a high-quality sword.

That sword must’ve boosted his stats.

In the original, he’d have been using a wooden training sword at this point.

‘Since Minahye couldn’t give him the talisman, she probably gifted him that instead.’

A bit excessive, but Minahye did nearly die from an evil spirit.

It’s not unreasonable for her to worry more about her childhood friend.

‘Tch. Is this another butterfly effect I caused?’

Still, if it’s like this, I’m all for it.

If he’s stronger, he’ll clear this easily.

“Haaam~”

Sitting at my desk, I yawned while watching.

Suho would just put on a WWE show and wrap this up.

‘This test is how Suho impresses the instructors. I can’t interfere.’

It’s a pretty important early-game event.

The sight of righteous Suho fighting the evil spirit inspires other trainees.

“Wait. Maybe it’s not that strong?”

“L-let’s help! We should fight together!”

A few trainees belatedly joined the battle.

They formed ranks around Suho and faced the evil spirit.

Truly the beginning of a protagonist’s narrative.

‘Mhm! Mhm! What a glorious sight.’

Go on, future exorcists of justice. Clean this up quickly.

This jaded adult will just sit back and watch.

The evil spirit was flailing, so the test was probably ending soon.

The anomaly happened then.

“Ah!”

A fireball shot by a trainee helping Suho.

It was headed straight for Kang Suho.

‘Huh?’

It wasn’t intentional.

The trainee who fired it looked just as shocked that Suho had stepped into its path.

‘This didn’t happen in the original.’

My eyes landed on the sword Suho was holding.

A weapon that boosts the user’s stats.

Did his increased speed cause this accident?

‘Original Suho could’ve tanked that, but…’

The problem is that I have the defensive talisman the original Suho should’ve had.

With lower defense, who knows how this’ll play out?

‘If he gets injured, the story could derail…!’

No time to overthink.

I activated an instant-death spell.

“Die.”

The fireball heading for Suho vanished.

The trainee who’d cast it tilted their head in confusion.

The battle continued without further incidents.

Finally, the evil spirit disappeared.

“We won!”

“Holy shit! We survived!”

“We actually beat it? Are we amazing or what?”

The trainees hugged and cheered.

“Suho-ssi! You were incredible! How’d you think to fight like that?”

“You saved us! Thank you!”

“Ah, it was nothing. My body just moved on its own…”

Suho, surrounded by admirers, looked flustered.

Minahye watched him fondly from the side.

‘Good. The story’s progressing smoothly.’

I nodded in satisfaction.

Our precious protagonist and story are safe.

But not everyone was smiling.

A few frowned and directed their displeasure at me.

“But how could the top trainee just sit and watch? You’re supposed to be the strongest here.”

“Guess he was confident he could survive alone.”

“Wow, what a selfish asshole. I don’t even want to talk to him.”

“Leave him. Didn’t you hear about Yoo Yeon-hwa? It’s best not to get involved with people like that.”

…Huh? It turned out like this?

Meanwhile.

Cheonjihae instructors monitoring the lecture hall were holding a serious discussion.

“It’s as we suspected, right?”

“Yes. It’s confirmed.”

One instructor pointed at Nam Do-hyung on the screen.

“The top trainee realized this was a show we prepared. This is the first time in Cheonjihae’s history.”