"KYAAAAAAAH!!"
"What's going on?!"
"Did something happen?!"
The piercing scream shattered the quiet like glass. In an instant, the once-orderly auditorium dissolved into chaos.
Students shot to their feet. Murmurs turned to frantic voices as hundreds of eyes darted around, searching for the source of the disturbance.
On the stage, academy officials exchanged panicked glances, their dignified expressions cracking as they struggled to make sense of the sudden commotion.
But the woman's scream didn't stop. It echoed again and again, sharp enough to rattle the air.
And me?
I knew exactly what was happening.
The first episode of the webtoon.
The magical power outburst incident at the entrance ceremony.
This was it—the pivotal event that would propel the protagonist, a mere commoner, into the spotlight. The moment where the story truly began.
My heart pounded as I shot to my feet.
Where is he?
Edmund.
The protagonist of this entire tale. He had to be somewhere in this crowd.
I scanned the sea of unfamiliar faces, weaving between frantic students as my eyes darted from one row to the next.
Come on… where are you—
"Found him."
Far across the auditorium, a single head of black hair stood out like an ink blot in a field of gold and brown.
Edmund.
Without hesitation, I snatched up the bag I'd kept ready and pushed through the crowd, my steps quick and deliberate.
The distance was greater than I expected. Each second felt like it stretched into an eternity.
I need to reach him.
I have to reach him before it starts.
"It" is about to begin.
My breath came sharp and fast as I cut through the panicked students, keeping my eyes locked on the boy with black hair.
Finally—finally—I made it to his side.
Safe. Just in time.
Or so I thought.
The air behind us suddenly swelled with a violent, unseen force.
A massive surge of mana erupted from the back of the auditorium, so dense it made the very space warp and shimmer.
"Magical power outburst! Evacuate the students—now!" someone shouted, their voice cracking with urgency.
But it was already too late.
The wave of mana struck before anyone could move.
My body jerked as if pulled by an invisible hook.
The world tilted. The light around me twisted and blurred, colors smearing into black.
And then—
Nothing.
Only darkness.
---
"Ugh…"
A wave of nausea hit me like a hammer, twisting my stomach into knots.
This was worse than anything I'd imagined.
I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head, desperately trying to steady myself. The webtoon had simply described this moment as dizziness, so I expected a little lightheadedness, maybe a brief wobble.
Not… this.
It felt like someone had hung me upside down and rattled my skull like a drum. My insides were spinning, my balance shot to pieces.
Slowly—painfully slowly—the nausea began to fade, and my vision cleared.
Cold, gray stone stretched beneath my palms.
I looked up.
Massive stone walls loomed on all sides, their surfaces rough and ancient, like the interior of a giant labyrinth. There was no ceiling I could see—only an endless dark above us.
"What… where is this place?" someone whispered, their voice cracking.
"What's happening?!" another cried, panic breaking through.
All around me, the students who had fallen with me clutched their heads or staggered to their feet, their faces pale with confusion and fear.
The air itself felt heavy, almost oppressive, like the walls were leaning in to swallow us whole.
And then—
"Everyone, please remain calm!"
A steady voice cut through the chaos.
I turned toward the source and wasn't surprised.
Edmund.
Of course it was him.
The so-called hero stood tall despite the disorienting fall, his sharp eyes sweeping the group with calm authority. His voice carried an unwavering steadiness that immediately drew everyone's attention.
"As long as we keep our heads, we can figure this out together," he said, his tone firm but reassuring. "Panic won't help anyone."
Even now, even here, his righteous, dependable personality shone through—exactly like in the webtoon.
This was classic protagonist behavior.
"What should we do first?" someone asked, their voice trembling.
Edmund didn't hesitate.
"Check for injuries," he ordered. "Before anything else, make sure no one is seriously hurt. Help anyone who needs it."
The students quickly moved to follow his lead, their fear giving way—at least partially—to action.
I watched them scatter, half-expecting heroic music to start playing in the background.
Typical Edmund.
Even trapped in a giant stone maze, he was already taking charge, just like the shining main character he was meant to be.
And me?
I stayed quiet, keeping my head down while my thoughts raced.
Meanwhile, something Edmund hadn't accounted for was already in motion.
Among nobles, hierarchy is everything.
Even if someone is weaker or less capable, the moment their rank is higher, the others will bow their heads.
And these were young heirs—kids who hadn't yet shed their inherited arrogance.
But Ed?
He didn't look like a noble at all.
In the Empire, not a single noble family carried black hair. His very appearance marked him as an outsider. It was only a matter of time before someone decided to challenge him.
Sure enough—
"…Why should we listen to you?"
A voice rang out, sharp and dripping with disdain.
"Yeah. Who are you supposed to be?"
The speaker stepped forward with a confident swagger, his brows drawn together in a permanent scowl.
"My name is Rondel Ashborn," he declared proudly, his chin lifting. "Second son of the distinguished House Ashborn."
There it was. The troublemaker makes his move.
Ed met his gaze calmly, saying nothing, while Rondel tilted his head, clearly expecting a reaction.
I almost smirked.
Everything's playing out exactly like the webtoon. Not a single deviation.
And right on cue—
"Wh-what is that?!"
A sudden, panicked shout cut through the tense silence.
—Woooooo…
A low, haunting moan rolled across the hall as a shadowy figure materialized behind us.
A creature, pitch-black from head to toe, floated into view like a nightmare dragged into reality.
The air grew cold. Students froze in place as the thing drifted forward, its eyes glowing faintly, sweeping over us like a wolf picking the weakest prey.
A Specter.
A wraith said to feast on dreams.
Around me, panic rippled through the crowd—gasps, frantic whispers, the scuffle of retreating feet.
But then, as if to prove himself, someone strode boldly toward the creature.
"Tch. Just a mere magical beast? Watch and learn. [Fireball]!"
It was Rondel, of course. The same loudmouth who'd challenged Ed moments ago.
He raised his hand, mana flaring around his fingers.
And… nothing.
"Wh—what…? Why isn't it working?!"
Rondel's eyes went wide as the spell fizzled before it could even form.
Of course it failed.
This wasn't an ordinary space.
The Specter glided closer, its eerie glow reflecting in Rondel's panicked eyes.
Exactly as the webtoon had shown.
Not a single step out of place