Do-Yoon stood on the balcony completely frozen.
The cold night wind brushed against his face softly, but right now he could barely even notice it.
His eyes stayed locked on the training ground below.
"…What is she doing here…?"
Far below the academy building—
Saphiens stood alone in the darkness.
The entire area was quiet except for the sound of flames moving through the air.
Bright yellow fire surrounded her body beautifully. The flames twisted around her silver hair, making her look almost unreal in the dark night.
Do-Yoon watched silently.
The yellow flames moved like living creatures.
One moment they floated calmly around her hands.
The next moment—
BOOM.
A giant pillar of fire exploded upward into the sky.
Do-Yoon's eyes widened instantly.
"…That's crazy…"
The heat reached even the balcony.
He could not look away.
Compared to her—
He felt like an ant.
No.
Even ants were probably stronger.
Saphiens calmly moved her hand again.
The flames obeyed her perfectly.
Not a single movement looked difficult for her.
Meanwhile—
Do-Yoon almost died earlier because a chair fell on him.
Life was unfair.
"…How is she this strong…"
For a moment, Do-Yoon actually forgot everything else and simply watched her train.
Honestly—
It looked cool.
Very cool.
The fire lit up the darkness around her while her silver hair glowed softly under the flames.
Do-Yoon felt strangely satisfied watching it.
Like watching a movie scene in real life.
Then suddenly—
Saphiens stopped moving.
Silence filled the area.
Slowly—
She raised her head.
And looked directly upward.
Toward him.
Do-Yoon froze completely.
"…Uh oh."
Their eyes met for one second.
Only one second.
But that was enough.
"NOPE."
Do-Yoon instantly slammed the balcony door shut at maximum speed.
BAM.
Then he sprinted toward the bed like his life depended on it.
He jumped onto the mattress dramatically and pulled the blanket over himself.
"…Maybe she didn't see me."
Silence.
"…She definitely saw me."
Do-Yoon slowly removed the blanket from his face again.
His heart was beating quickly now.
"…Why am I even hiding…"
Still—
For some reason—
Saphiens made him nervous.
Not because she looked evil.
But because she looked way too powerful.
Do-Yoon lay quietly on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
His thoughts slowly became serious again.
The entrance exam.
Mrantor.
The academy.
The Mirrors.
The monsters.
Everything in this world felt dangerous.
And he was still weak.
Very weak.
Even the students here looked stronger than him.
Do-Yoon sighed deeply.
"…I seriously need to become stronger."
Then suddenly—
Another problem hit him.
A terrible one.
Do-Yoon slowly looked down at his clothes.
Silence.
"…Right."
He only had one pair of clothes.
ONE.
The clothes he was currently wearing.
And after training the entire day with Mrantor—
The situation became horrible.
His shirt smelled terrible.
His pants looked dirty.
And honestly—
He himself felt dirty.
Do-Yoon grabbed his shirt carefully.
Then instantly made a disgusted face.
"…Yeah no."
He needed new clothes immediately.
Very immediately.
But there was one problem.
Money.
He had none.
Absolutely none.
Then suddenly—
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Wait."
Quests.
Drain mentioned quests before.
Mirrors could complete quests to earn rewards.
Including money.
Do-Yoon immediately sat up from the bed dramatically.
"…GENIUS."
He pointed at himself proudly.
Then after two seconds—
"…Actually that was pretty obvious."
Still—
He finally had a plan.
If he completed quests—
He could become stronger.
Earn money.
Buy clothes.
And maybe stop smelling like death.
"Amazing."
Without wasting time, Do-Yoon quickly prepared to leave the room.
But then—
He looked at himself in the mirror.
His clothes looked terrible.
Wrinkled.
Dirty.
Sweaty.
"…I look like a criminal."
Then suddenly—
While walking outside the academy later—
He found a random black mask lying near the street.
Do-Yoon picked it up carefully.
"…This is suspicious."
He looked around.
Nobody claimed it.
"…Free mask is free mask."
So naturally—
He wore it.
The mask covered the lower half of his face.
Now he looked slightly mysterious.
At least in his own imagination.
In reality—
He looked like a broke teenager trying to act cool.
Still—
Do-Yoon felt more confident immediately.
"…Nice."
The city remained lively even during the night.
Many Mirrors walked around proudly.
Some carried giant weapons.
Others wore beautiful armor.
A few looked so strong that Do-Yoon instinctively moved away from them.
"…This place is terrifying."
After walking for some time—
He finally found the Mirror Cemestors building again.
Luckily, finding it was much easier this time.
Maybe because he remembered the streets better now.
Or maybe because last time he was too distracted by everything.
Do-Yoon entered the building quietly.
Inside, many people moved around while talking about quests and monsters.
The atmosphere felt busy.
Dangerous.
Exciting.
Do-Yoon walked toward Drain's desk confidently.
Drain looked up calmly.
"…Yes?"
For a second—
He clearly did not recognize Do-Yoon because of the mask.
Do-Yoon secretly felt proud.
"My disguise works perfectly."
Drain adjusted his glasses slightly.
"You are a Mirror?"
Do-Yoon nodded.
"Yes."
"What kind of quest are you searching for?"
Do-Yoon answered immediately.
"One that gives money."
Drain stared at him silently.
"…Direct answer."
"I need clothes."
Drain looked at his dirty outfit.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Understandable."
He checked through several quest papers calmly.
After a short moment—
He placed one quest paper on the desk.
"A dungeon quest."
Do-Yoon blinked.
"…Dungeon?"
"The dungeon rank is Kaizu."
Do-Yoon tilted his head slightly.
"…Good or bad?"
"Second lowest rank."
Do-Yoon instantly relaxed slightly.
"Oh."
That sounded manageable.
Probably.
Hopefully.
Maybe.
Drain continued calmly.
"The boss monster is also ranked Kaizu."
"…Do I get money if I clear it?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm interested."
Drain gave a small sigh and pulled out a glowing blue stone from a drawer.
"This is the teleportation stone connected to the dungeon."
The stone glowed softly inside his hand.
Do-Yoon carefully grabbed it.
"…I just break this?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Immediately—
Do-Yoon remembered something important.
He was horrible at breaking stones.
Drain noticed his hesitation.
"…Do you need assistance?"
Instantly—
Do-Yoon's pride activated.
"…No."
Drain looked unconvinced.
Do-Yoon tightened his grip on the stone dramatically.
"…I can do this."
He used strength.
Nothing happened.
Silence.
Drain watched quietly.
"…Need help now?"
"…No."
Do-Yoon tried harder.
Still nothing.
People nearby slowly started looking at him now.
Embarrassment filled his soul.
"…Why are rocks stronger than me…"
Finally—
Using every bit of strength he had—
CRACK.
The stone shattered.
Blue light exploded everywhere instantly.
A teleportation circle appeared beneath Do-Yoon's feet.
"…WAIT."
WHOOSH.
The light swallowed him immediately.
Everything twisted around him violently.
For a moment—
Do-Yoon felt completely weightless.
Then suddenly—
The world became still again.
Cold air touched his skin.
Do-Yoon slowly opened his eyes.
Dark stone walls surrounded him.
The air smelled wet and heavy.
Strange sounds echoed from deep inside the dungeon.
The atmosphere instantly felt dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Do-Yoon swallowed slowly.
"…So this is a dungeon…"
The glowing entrance behind him slowly faded.
Ahead of him—
Only darkness remained.
Something moved somewhere deep inside the dungeon.
Do-Yoon slowly clenched his fists.
His heart beat faster.
Fear.
Excitement.
Nervousness.
Everything mixed together inside him.
Then slowly—
A grin appeared on his face.
"…It just now began."