Chapter 10 - The Fourth Member

The morning sun had barely risen when the siren rang out across the academy grounds.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

A message appeared on every student's device.

[New Squad Assignments – Report to the Training Center within 20 minutes.]

Ji Han stood by his window, brushing his hair back with one hand. His mind still echoed with the words he saw last night—the warning, the hidden message in his system.

But today, something new was happening.

Advanced training was beginning.

Which meant real missions, small squads, and less supervision.

And possibly… more danger.

The training center buzzed with noise as students gathered inside, forming lines and checking their devices.

Ji Han spotted Ha Neul and walked over.

"You okay?" Ha Neul asked him first, eyes calm but observant.

Ji Han gave a small nod. "Just tired."

Ha Neul didn't push for more. He never did.

They both stood quietly as names were being called.

A loud voice came from the speaker at the front.

"Squad 9. Lee Ji Han. Kang Ha Neul. Han Ji Won. And—"

A pause.

"Rae So Min."

Ji Han's brows lifted slightly. That last name—he had never heard it before.

Ha Neul tilted his head. "So Min?"

Even Ji Won, who came rushing in late with a half-eaten bun in his mouth, looked confused.

"Wait, who the hell is So Min?"

They didn't have to wait long.

A girl stepped forward from the side of the room.

She wore the same academy uniform, but something about her felt… different.

Her black hair was tied neatly behind her head, and her expression was unreadable—cold, sharp, and distant. Her steps were quiet, almost soundless, and her eyes flicked across each of them like she was studying a book.

"I'm Rae So Min," she said softly, bowing quickly.

Then she looked at Ji Han. Just for a second.

And in that second, Ji Han felt something strange.

Like she recognized him.

But how?

He'd never seen her before.

Later, they were gathered in a private training room, seated in a circle around a table. A large screen displayed their mission details.

Mission Type: Observation and Data Retrieval

Location: Outer Edge of Zone 2

Risk Level: Moderate

Target: Unknown activity near an old ruins site. Possible emotional energy leak.

Ji Won tapped the screen. "So we're going near a chaos border already? On our first squad mission?"

Ha Neul stayed quiet, eyes flicking to Ji Han. Ji Han simply nodded.

"I'm used to it," he said. "It's where I awakened."

Rae So Min looked at him again.

"You awakened near the Chaos border?" she asked, her voice calm but curious.

Ji Han paused. "Yes."

"...Interesting."

There was something about her tone. Not mocking, but not friendly either. Just… observant.

Ji Won crossed his arms. "You're not very chatty, are you?"

So Min didn't answer.

Instead, she turned to the mission board again. "I'll take rear defense. My system specializes in barriers and mental tracking. But I won't interfere unless needed."

Ji Han noticed it then—how she didn't try to blend with them. She kept a certain distance, physically and emotionally.

Like she was here for something else.

---

Hours later, they prepared to leave the academy walls.

Each squad member had their gear—light armor, emergency tools, and a communicator.

As they stepped into the transport zone, Ji Han glanced at So Min again.

There was something about her that didn't sit right.

Not dangerous… but secretive.

And deep down, a strange thought whispered in his mind.

She's watching you.

The area near the Chaos border was quiet.

The ruins stood like skeletons of an old world—broken buildings, half-buried signs, and dry wind passing through cracks in the ground.

Their mission was to scan for signs of corrupted emotional energy. Usually, it came from old places where trauma or strong emotions had left a mark.

Ha Neul handled the scanning device.

Ji Won led the way with fire magic and sword ready in his hands.

So Min stayed in the back, her eyes scanning the area with a small glowing orb floating near her shoulder.

Ji Han walked silently, his system tuned to any emotional spikes.

It was quiet… too quiet.

Until they reached the underground ruined subway entrance–dark, half buried by rubble.

The device beeped.

Ha Neul looked at it. "Something's here. Under the ground."

Ji Won hold his sword tightly, fingers glowing with red heat.

Then they saw something. There was a strange crack on the ground.

Below it—

A strange, glowing mark.

It pulsed softly. Blue and red. A mix of emotions.

Ji Han suddenly felt something he never felt before.