The team stood in front of a tall, dark gate deep inside the dungeon.
"We're now entering the real test," said the instructor.
Behind him, two guards opened the heavy gate.
Clank... Clank...
The ground shook.
Cold wind blew from inside. It smelled of old blood and wet stone.
"This is a low-rank dungeon," the instructor said. "But the monsters are real. If you are too slow, you will get hurt."
So Hyun nodded.
His hand touched the hilt of his sword.
> Level: 7
Attributes: +10 Strength, +5 Agility from last two level-ups
New Skill: Enemy Scan (active), Quick Step (passive – slight speed boost)
Arin held her staff tighter.
Seo Mira looked calm but serious.
Do Jun adjusted his tool belt.
"Move as a team," the instructor said. "And trust each other."
Then he left.
The gate behind them closed.
Now, it was just the four of them.
"Stay close," So Hyun said.
They stepped into the dungeon hallway.
The walls were covered in moss.
Suddenly—
Skreee!
Three goblins jumped from the shadows.
One had a rusty sword. One had a bone shield. One was fast.
"Enemy Scan!" So Hyun whispered.
> Goblin Warrior (Level 6)
Goblin Shieldbearer (Level 6)
Goblin Runner (Level 5)
"Take the runner first!" So Hyun shouted.
Seo Mira launched a fireball—BOOM!—and hit the fast one.
Do Jun threw a sticky trap under the goblin warrior's feet.
So Hyun dashed forward using Quick Step and slashed the shield goblin from behind.
Arin stayed behind, ready to heal.
In less than a minute, it was over.
Three goblins—dead.
So Hyun breathed deeply.
The team looked at him.
"…That was good," Seo Mira said.
Arin smiled brightly. "You led us well."
So Hyun nodded.
He whispered
> "I can lead. I can fight.
I'm not the old Jin Haru anymore."
The team walked deeper into the dungeon.
The light crystals on the wall faded.
Now it was darker. Colder.
Water dripped from the ceiling.
"Careful," So Hyun whispered.
Suddenly, his Enemy Scan activated.
> Monsters Detected
Hobgoblin (Level 8) – High strength
Goblin Mage (Level 7) – Uses weak magic
Goblin (Level 6) – Normal
"There's a hobgoblin ahead," So Hyun said. "We need a plan."
Seo Mira nodded. "I'll take the goblin mage."
"I'll support," said Do Jun.
"I'll heal you all," said Arin.
So Hyun took a deep breath. "I'll take the hobgoblin."
They moved together.
The hobgoblin stood tall—almost 2 meters. Its muscles were huge. It roared and charged.
BOOM!
Its club slammed the ground. Dust flew everywhere.
So Hyun jumped back, using Quick Step.
He dodged left, then right—fast and sharp.
Then—he dashed forward and slashed the monster's side.
Slash!
The hobgoblin roared in pain.
Behind him, Seo Mira shot fire at the goblin mage.
Boom!
The small mage screamed and burned.
Arin healed So Hyun from afar. Her light glowed softly.
Do Jun threw a flash bomb. Bang! The hobgoblin covered its eyes.
So Hyun didn't stop.
He ran in and stabbed the hobgoblin's chest.
Stab!
The beast dropped its club.
> Monster Defeated!
+EXP
Level Up!
So Hyun breathed hard.
His sword dripped green blood.
Everyone looked tired—but alive.
"That was a hobgoblin," said Seo Mira. "And you faced it head-on."
"You're not like the Jin Haru I knew," Do Jun said quietly.
So Hyun didn't answer.
But in his heart, he thought:
> "Good. Let them forget the old me. I'm someone new now."
The team took a short break in a safe room.
There was no monster here.
Just silence.
So Hyun sat near the wall, checking his stats.
> Level: 8
Stats Gained: +5 Strength, +5 Agility
Skill Upgrade: Quick Step (Lv.2) – Faster movement
Points Available: 5
He smiled.
"Getting stronger feels... good," he whispered.
Seo Mira looked at him.
"You move like a trained fighter," she said. "That's not normal."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"You were lazy and weak before. You even failed a magic test."
So Hyun paused. Then he gave a small smile.
"I had a reason to change."
Seo Mira narrowed her red eyes. "Hmph."
But she didn't say more.
Arin sat beside him. "I think it's great. You saved us back there."
"Thanks," So Hyun said.
Arin's blue eyes sparkled. Her pink hair glowed in the torchlight.
Seo Mira clicked her tongue.
"Tch. Don't fall for him so easily."
Arin blushed. "I'm not—!"
Do Jun laughed. "Let's focus. We still have one last path."
They stood up.
"Let's finish this dungeon," So Hyun said.
But inside, he felt a small fear.
> "If she keeps watching me... will she find out who I really am?"
The team walked down the last path of the dungeon.
The air was heavy.
"This is the boss room," Do Jun said.
So Hyun nodded. He used Enemy Scan.
> Monster Detected
Goblin Chief (Level 10) – Fast and strong
Weakness: Eyes
"We only fight one boss," So Hyun said. "It's a Goblin Chief."
"Good," Seo Mira said. "Let's crush it."
They opened the door.
CREAK—!
The goblin chief stood tall, wearing bone armor. Red eyes glowed.
GRAAAHH!!
It rushed forward, fast like wind.
So Hyun used Quick Step.
He jumped aside, then rolled behind the boss.
He aimed for the eye—
Slash!
But the goblin blocked with its blade.
Seo Mira attacked with fire.
BOOM!
The boss screamed, its armor burning.
Do Jun threw a net bomb. The monster got tangled.
"Now!" So Hyun shouted.
He ran up and stabbed the eye—
STAB!
Green blood splashed out.
RAAAAH—!!
Arin healed Seo Mira, who was hit by a bone spear.
So Hyun kept stabbing—again and again.
The goblin chief roared and fell.
Thud!
> Boss Defeated!
+EXP
Level Up!
Everyone was breathing hard.
But they smiled.
"We won," Arin said softly.
"That was great teamwork," Do Jun added.
Seo Mira looked at So Hyun.
"You're still hiding something… but I'll watch you."
So Hyun just smiled.
> "Let her watch," he thought. "I'll just keep getting stronger."
The team left the dungeon gate.
Sunlight hit their faces.
"We really did it," Arin said, smiling. "We finished our first mission."
Back at the academy, students watched as they returned.
Some whispered.
"Isn't that Jin Haru?"
"Didn't he fail last time?"
"He looks... different."
So Hyun walked ahead, ignoring them.
Inside the school, a teacher greeted them.
"You passed the dungeon test," the teacher said. "Well done."
"Thank you, sir," So Hyun replied.
The teacher looked surprised.
Jin Haru never said thank you before.
Arin and Seo Mira followed So Hyun to the dorm area.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Arin said with a shy smile.
Seo Mira crossed her arms. "Don't think this means I like you."
"I know," So Hyun said.
When he entered his room, he sat on the bed and opened his system.
> Level: 9
Stat Points Gained: +5
Skills: Enemy Scan, Quick Step (Lv.2)
New Passive Skill: Battle Sense – Increases focus during fights.
He looked at the mirror.
The face of Jin Haru stared back.
But the eyes were So Hyun's now.
> "I'm not the villain anymore," he said.
"This time... I write my own story."