Chapter 23

Secrets can sometimes become weaknesses, but at times, they can also be what binds us most strongly to others.

Everyone at the academy regularly used the simulation room.

But who would have ever imagined there was a hidden dungeon inside?

The intense experience of surviving such a bizarre and terrifying place seemed to have brought those who participated in the dungeon closer together.

After all, even the top-ranking students of the academy were still teenagers, prone to yearning for secret and mysterious things.

It’s undeniable that this incident has deepened the bonds between the main players.

Well done, Joo Yidam, planning this far ahead.

Of course, it doesn’t end here.

There will be more hardships and trials waiting ahead.

One day, they’ll need to be close enough to risk their lives for one another.

So then—

“Everyone, you all went through a lot today because of me, so, um…”

“For now, let’s unwind a bit.”

“Cheers.”

“Cheers~!!!”

We rented a luxurious party room.

When I asked Ira Sol, our financier, she arranged it effortlessly.

It might sound a bit exploitative, but this was exactly the kind of situation Ira Sol herself wanted.

Opportunities to put the academy’s top students in her debt didn’t come often.

Anyway.

“So, this dungeon clear reward is… this card key?”

“Judging by its appearance, it doesn’t seem compatible with modern devices. Looks pretty old-fashioned.”

“A reward we don’t even know how to use… Interesting.”

In the world of hunters, receiving a reward after clearing a dungeon was standard practice.

Usually, rewards were blessings or items, and I had already received the artifact ‘Promised Ruin’ from the lab director.

So, this mysterious card key before us was completely unexpected.

“I didn’t think there’d be an additional reward.”

Given how different the dungeon’s content had already been from the norm, it wasn’t too surprising that extra rewards were added.

In any case, I decided to take it as a good thing.

‘Promised Ruin’ was a powerful artifact, something I planned to hand over discreetly later.

No one else knew it existed.

After all, it’s better to have something mysterious like this as a reward than to come out alive only to feel disappointed at having received nothing.

As expected, the card key sparked heated debates and guesses among us.

The one most intrigued was Gwak Dohyeong.

“If you guys are okay with it, can I take this to my lab for further investigation?”

“Wouldn’t your company people find out it came from a dungeon?”

“I have a private lab. My staff there are trustworthy, so we don’t have to worry about secrecy.”

Gwak Dohyeong picked up the small card key and said:

“This thing is clearly compatible with devices from decades ago. It matches the time period of the dungeon we were in. I think I’m the quickest one here to figure out its use, so I’ll look into it. Of course, I’ll share whatever I find with you all.”

“Wow, impressive!”

“Dohyeong, you’re amazing!”

Jin Mugyeol and Kim Lara’s praise made Gwak Dohyeong beam with pride.

As time passed, the atmosphere in the party room became more heated.

It was reminiscent of Korean men getting lost in endless military talk.

There was so much to say about the bizarre dungeon we had encountered in the simulation room.

Even Seoyeon spoke passionately about how brave she had been and how cleverly she had uncovered the lab director’s true identity.

To be honest, her story really was impressive.

Unexpected bonds seemed to be forming, too.

When Team 2 faced the monster that burst out of the panic room, Kim Jinsu had protected Kim Lara, who had fainted after blocking the first attack.

Since then, the two had been seen talking much more often.

As the party room’s energy reached its peak, I quietly pulled Kang Han aside.

When we arrived at the hallway, Kang Han, whose wrist I had been gripping, asked,

“What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing much.”

I took out “Promised Ruin.”

Originally, it was a pair of rings, but I handed him only one.

Kang Han, holding the ring with a confused expression, asked,

“What’s this?”

“Well, I kind of picked it up somewhere.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not anything suspicious or dangerous, so just wear it. I’m going to check every day, okay? If I find out you’re not wearing it even once… just you wait.”

I lowered my voice, making the threat clear.

He had no choice but to comply, despite not knowing what was going on.

Good, that settles it.

With this, even if the cultists of the dark god inject “malice” into Kang Han, the curse will be transferred to me instead.

I’d have to prepare myself for the consequences, but it was still better than letting Kang Han become their plaything.

Just as I felt some relief, he said,

“Wait… Hey, hold on.”

I saw where he had put the ring and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Then, I pinched his ring finger and demanded,

“Why are you wearing it there? Are you joking?”

“W-What?”

“Take it off right now! Planning on getting married or something?”

“What are you even talking about…”

Sigh.

Forget it.

I drove my point home.

“If anyone asks where you got that ring, just say it’s a fashion accessory. Stick to that story, got it?”

“Uh… but are rings even used as fashion accessories?”

“Good grief.”

What am I going to do with this hopeless guy?

I looked over his outfit again.

The plain and standard academy uniform—utterly unremarkable.

Of course, it wasn’t impossible to add a touch of flair to it.

Jin Mugyeol was a prime example, always showing up in some kind of modified version that made you wonder how he managed it, yet it always looked fitting.

But our awkward, introverted protagonist?

Him pulling that off?

Yeah, no.

Then again, he had probably spent his whole life trying to control his inner madness, leaving no room to care about his outward appearance.

Still, if he suddenly starts wearing a ring, people are bound to find it odd.

Alright, decision made.

“Hey, Kang Han. After this, let’s go get your hair cut.”

Hide the tree in the forest, and hide an accessory like this within a proper style.

First step: get rid of that ridiculous fringe.

“Kang Han has a good face for sure. Just a bit worse than mine? Or maybe way worse? Or…”

“Just insult me already.”

“Why’ve you been covering your face all this time? Such a waste of good looks. Were you, like, going through an edgy phase or something?”

“Seriously, just insult me.”

“Han-ah, when you become a famous hunter and start doing commercials, don’t pretend you don’t know us, okay? You know my name is Kim Lara, right? Remember it!”

The news that Kang Han was getting a haircut brought the entire group along.

They probably saw it as the second round of the afterparty.

Thanks to that, the hair salon became lively, but the owner, cheerful as ever, told us to make ourselves at home and even offered us snacks.

Judging by how they glanced at our academy uniforms, it seemed our reputation had preceded us.

Anyway, Kang Han, with his bangs clipped up, was surrounded by several people, enduring what could only be described as a “conversation torture.”

Yes, it was torture.

Like a rain doll peeking out of white fabric, Kang Han sat there blankly staring at his reflection in the mirror.

“Honestly, I think short hair would suit him best.”

“No way, I think this catalog’s style #3 is the way to go.”

“Hey, let the men decide this. I know guy’s hairstyles better than anyone. If anyone’s giving advice, it’s me.”

“Wow… you’re hilarious, you know that?”

“Can we not fight here of all places?”

While Jin Mugyeol and Wi Seoyeon bickered and almost grabbed each other’s hair, I picked up the catalog lying nearby and turned to the salon owner.

“This one looks good. Number 7. Let’s go with that.”

“Alright, understood!”

Two hours later, the results were in.

Kang Han walked out with an incredibly awkward expression, his forehead fully exposed due to his now much shorter hair.

His wandering eyes spoke volumes—embarrassment in its purest form.

I had asked the stylist for what’s commonly called a sports cut or an Ivy League cut.

But with Kang Han’s naturally well-shaped head and distinct facial features, just tidying up his hair and adding a couple of highlights completely transformed his appearance.

If I had to summarize:

Now he finally looked like a protagonist.

“Wow.”

“Not bad.”

“Hey! Turns out we’ve had our company’s next promotional model right here all along!”

Even the guys, normally stingy with compliments, crowded around Kang Han, showering him with praise.

Wi Seoyeon and Kim Lara didn’t make a big show of it, but their expressions gave it away—this was a success.

Even Ira Sol, our benefactor, walked back in after taking a call outside, leaned in, and whispered to me,

“There’s a reason you’ve had your eye on Kang Han all along, huh? You recognized a hidden gem early on, didn’t you?”

“What?”

When I asked her to clarify, Ira Sol tilted her head innocently.

“You two aren’t dating?”

Her follow-up question hit me like a truck.

“…What?”

“Oh, you’re not?”

“What in the world gave you that idea?”

“You’ve been searching for mental stabilization artifacts every time we went hunting. You even asked me to hold onto any I found instead of selling them right away.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Not to mention, during training, you two always find opportunities to slip away together.”

“That’s…”

“And then at the party room today, suddenly Kang Han had a ring he didn’t have before. Right after that, you kept wearing fingerless gloves. Trying to hide something? Or am I mistaken? If I am, of course, I owe you an apology. But…”

Ira Sol’s slyly curved smile and glinting eyes said otherwise. She didn’t seem the least bit sorry.

A cold sweat trickled down my back.

‘Do others see it that way too?’

Apparently, I’d been living life all wrong.

The hair salon suddenly felt oppressively hot.

I scrambled to change the subject.

“Uh, anyway, what took you so long on that call? Work again?”

“Sort of.”

The playful tone vanished from Ira Sol’s expression.

“It’s related to that matter. I just received the additional information you requested.”

Her voice dropped slightly.

“The exact ‘initiation’ date for the cultists.”

My eyes widened.

We already knew the dark god worshipers had begun targeting berserkers worldwide, particularly Kang Han, who was gaining recognition as a promising talent.

But we hadn’t uncovered the specifics of their terror plans. Until now.

Ira Sol spoke.

“The Inter-Academy Exchange Event. That’s when they’ll strike. It’s almost certain to be a large-scale attack.”

“…I see.”

Two months.

That’s all the time left until the injection of “malice” into Kang Han.

And the subsequent transference of that curse to me, dragging me into corruption.

Two short months.

[To be continued…]