Stop?

Stoppp?!

“No—what the hell kind of bastard!”

First the Detention Bureau’s trolling, and now I’ve been stabbed in the back by the very axe I trusted.

Of course I had no idea that Hojin was the one who reported my account. All I knew was that my account had been permanently suspended, and that infuriated me.

I took a deep breath to regain my composure.

‘I will find that bastard who did this and punish him.’

But more than finding the person who reported me, I needed to delay my personal information being exposed.

After a moment’s thought, I reluctantly decided to ask Galbi for help. Now that the Busan Ranker was proven fake, apart from the Bureau, Galbi was the only one who officially knew my identity.

‘I didn’t want to ask, but...’

I still had some conscience— I knew how much trouble I’d put Galbi through. But what could I do? If my identity got exposed now, the damage would outweigh any benefit.

One bit of shamelessness on my part could have solved it easily. But...

[The phone you are calling is turned off.]

She’s not answering. Could she have blocked me...? Having nearly died thanks to me, I’d understand her cutting me off—but it was my first time ever being disowned, and I was stunned.

‘Galbi... we were good friends, weren’t we...?’

I suddenly felt nihilistic. What was the point of all my toil fighting Chaos Evil if I’m just abandoned by my friend?

Feeling deeply depressed, I lost all will and collapsed face-up on my bed.

‘I don’t know anymore. Whatever happens, happens.’

I still needed to confirm that the sixth Chaos Evil was truly gone, check whether Hojin’s ring had fallen off, and meet Tae-eon and Yeon-woo—but I had no motivation left.

Is this burnout?

I wallowed in thoughts of ‘me, burned out.’

‘If the show kicks me off... I might as well just join the Bureau already.’

My parents would handle it somehow. I never knew filial piety was so hard.

As I mumbled self-justifications, my phone rang from an unknown number starting with 010. I knew at once my identity had been exposed.

‘What a freaking mess.’

Everything was chaos. I didn’t even know where to begin fixing things when the call ended and a messenger alert vibrated in.

[Hey, I’m Galbi—call me.]

“Galbi?!”

My corpse-like body sprang upright.

✧

Galbi was wiping cold sweat from her brow as she stared at the black sedan parked before her house.

“Miss Galbi? The young master asked me to fetch you.”

She thought the world was secretly filming her. Last night was so hectic she hadn’t even thought it strange when Iro-i rampaged at the Bureau; he’d always been kind of a maniac.

Not because he was afraid of shit, but because shit is disgusting.

She assumed the Bureau let Iro-i roam free for the same reason. They wouldn’t want rumors of a minor involved.

At the time she was only worried how to reduce her sentence.

‘Damn. I shouldn’t have pulled out the Power Ping then.’

She’d acted without thinking. Returning home that day, she regretted it so much... After a confession of attempted murder and then theft, she thought her life was over.

But next day someone from the Bureau came out and said she’d earned a meritorious service award. She knew the church was a cult, but she didn’t know illegal experiments were going on underground.

Worse, her submitted beverage became the key evidence.

‘If I’d known, I’d’ve stolen a few more bottles.’

Anyway, instead of a criminal record, she gained a prestigious line on her resume. The Bureau’s meritorious award was like an honorary medal given only to those who did great service for the nation.

It was a red carpet to the Bureau—a path of flowers for her life. If she did well on college exams, becoming a Bureau profiler after graduation was within reach.

But she’d only now learned of an even bigger twist.

[Bukak High’s Iro-i: “I never said I was S-rank.”]

[Bukak High’s Iro-i revealed as B-rank Flame-type, controversy erupts.]

The Busan Ranker wasn’t S-rank after all. That alone was shocking, but there was a bigger bombshell.

[S-­rank savior appears at Salvation Church, I○i makes grand entrance] 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

[Who is the real I○i? Netizen detectives mobilize]

[Detention Bureau on real-GodRanker controversy: “We cannot reveal identities”]

The real S-rank had been there all along—together with Je Galbi, the award recipient. And Je Galbi was... herself. A name beginning and ending with I, fire attribute, and the only person with her that day was Iro-i.

“Ik! Aah!”

At the unbelievable truth, a scream tore from her throat. The friend she’d looked down on as foolish turned out to be S-rank? In that moment, all Iro-i’s words flashed through her mind.

‘I thought I was the one to be treated well.’

‘I’ll regret this later.’

‘Ahem. Flatter me and I’ll give you rice cakes in your sleep!’

None of it was bluff—they’d been real. And every time, she’d brushed him off as bullshit or outright ignored him.

“Damn it!”

Her precious award was about to become worthless paper. She should have treated him well... I’d been the idiot. I’d puffed myself up in front of a chrysalis—how ridiculous I must have seemed to Iro-i.

‘I want to die.’

But there was still time to make amends... maybe. She crept to her mother’s phone and stole it into her room. She had a reason for using a family phone—after the news ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ of her award, relatives from all sides called and drained her battery. Charging it was pointless; it would die again soon.

Kneeling neatly, she drew a deep breath and called Iro-i, in the most polite tone she could muster. But there was no answer.

‘Damn. Already cut off?’

People eager to connect with an S-rank lined up like mad, and here she’d kicked away a golden opportunity. Briefly regretting her folly, Galbi decided to grab at straws—hence the courage to send the message that led to the scene before her: a black luxury sedan.

“I will serve you.”

Even the driver opened the door himself.

“....”

Wiping sweat, Galbi approached hesitantly. Was she even allowed in such an expensive car? She glanced at the driver for permission; he nodded kindly. Then... a knock on her heart.

Clack! Clack!

Wiping dirt from her shoes before stepping in, she finally slid into the seat. The leather, both soft and snug, felt extraordinary. While she admired the interior, the sedan began a smooth departure, carrying Galbi away.

“Um, is this really taking me to... Iro-i?”

“Yes. He instructed me to escort you home respectfully.”

Damn.

Not only was she sweating coldly, her palms were now drenched. Rubbing her thighs in agitation, the driver spoke.

“Is it too warm? Shall I lower the temperature?”

“Uh, n-no! I-it’s fine.”

She’d flubbed her answer in panic. Blushing bright red, Galbi bowed her head, thinking:

‘Something is... off.’

No, it wasn’t off so much as unbelievable. At first Iro-i had offered to come to her house, and she’d refused vehemently. What right did she have to summon an S-rank? If he had business, she should move to him. But this...

This was an unexpected turn. Ever since the day she infiltrated the Salvation Church, everything had been one surprise after another. That Iro-i was the real Ranker was hard enough to believe— but this insane wealth...?

‘He—or rather, he—must be silver-spooned? Yet he didn’t seem aristocratic...?’

Living recklessly was more fitting for a child thrown from home, no. If she didn’t stop her mouth now, she’d regret it before the Lord Himself.

As Galbi hammered her lips shut, the sedan began climbing the uphill road.

“......?”

She arrived at Hannam-dong, famed as the wealthiest neighborhood in Korea—villas and mansions of conglomerate heads, high officials, and celebrities. Though born in Seoul, she’d never ventured so deep. Her jaw gaped open without her noticing.

‘Iro-i, who are you really...?!’

Her sweat began anew. Then the car slowed before a mansion.

‘Is this where I should get off?’

As Galbi reached for the door handle, the iron gates swung open, revealing the driveway. ...Had she arrived at Everland? Past gardens and a pool, the car finally halted at the doorstep. Waiting outside, Iro-i waved wildly and ran forward.

“Galbi!”

A man who seemed to be an attendant stepped forward to open the door. Galbi’s hand froze mid-air, reaching for the handle. But as she hesitated, Iro-i seized her hand and shook it up and down.

“Was the ride here comfortable? Since you brought me~”

Comfortable? This was the least comfortable moment ever. Over ten pairs of eyes watched her in silence. Polite as servants, they wore matching uniforms and kept their distance, never approaching closer. Even upside-down, they weren’t reversed—they were servants.

‘I feel like throwing up. I should have stopped by a convenience store for juice.’

Everyone was excited because it was the first time Iro-i had invited someone home, but Galbi misunderstood their respect as disdain. Mounting her courage, she offered a formal greeting.

“I... I trust you departed safely on my behalf?”