Heo Chae-ah had a weak side—indecisive and unable to refuse requests easily.

However, she also had the wit and courage to counter Choi Pyeondeuk’s scheme aimed at exploiting that nature by posting a photo of herself drinking whiskey on the Eun Gwang High general bulletin board.

‘Back then, he must have realized that mere teacher authority couldn’t control Heo Chae-ah. So, he probably prepared another scheme afterward.’

The student council election, during which the whiskey photo incident occurred, was held when Heo Chae-ah was in her second year, and the demon realm scenario happened about a year later.

In that time, Choi Pyeondeuk’s influence had grown, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he found a weakness, but Yeom Jun-yeol and Ma Jinseung seemed completely unaware.

Cheon Dong-ha spoke with a clearly troubled expression.

“...I thought Yi-shin would know since he watched the replay with me.”

Still, even retracing Cheon Dong-ha’s actions didn’t bring it to mind clearly.

Something about the conversation felt off, as if there was a misunderstanding about the replay’s ‘watch together’ option.

“At that time, I watched the seniors’ replay, but I couldn’t share their thoughts or minds. Especially, I couldn’t see what they saw through Gwangrim or skills.”

“I see. Then it makes sense you wouldn’t know. Plus, since you were watching Jun-yeol’s and Jinseung’s too, and things moved very fast compared to your senses, you probably didn’t notice.”

Cheon Dong-ha’s face darkened.

It seemed hard for him to say what came next, but he spoke with difficulty.

“Remember when we became third-years in the replay, the Jiikhoe was disbanded?”

“Yes.”

Yeom Jun-yeol nodded calmly, but Ma Jinseung instantly wore a sad expression.

He was said to cry even in front of Sung Si-wan and hadn’t properly gotten over those feelings yet.

“At that time, Choi Pyeondeuk became the advisor to Jiikhoe, replacing the deceased teacher Kim Sinrok. Disbanding Jiikhoe and introducing a replacement system was very easy. That’s how the dorm supervisor system was reinstated.”

By the time the grieving students regained composure, the dorm supervisor system was already reorganized.

Not only that, but everything from facility management to dormitory regulations, rules for residents, cleaning companies—everything had been changed according to Choi Pyeondeuk’s setup.

Among the teachers, despite the chaos, Choi Pyeondeuk earned credit as an administrative expert who perfectly reorganized the system for dorm students, but considering his deeds, the impression was unsettling.

“He increased the budget for the dormitory and upgraded facilities, but played tricks during the process.”

“Tricks?”

“He changed the name of the Jiikhoe building to the dormitory building, demolished all facilities used by Jiikhoe, and repurposed them. Thanks to that, the facilities available to general dorm students increased.”

“Yeah, I know that. Even students dissatisfied with the dorm supervisor system liked that.”

Although not the student council president then, Yeom Jun-yeol, who belonged to the student council, seemed to remember that well.

“Some recording devices originally installed weren’t dismantled.”

Jiikhoe operated very transparently.

Their meeting rooms and archives were open to students, and all meetings and activities were recorded and publicly available.

So it was natural for recording devices to be in the facilities used by Jiikhoe.

“Wait, I recall some of Jiikhoe’s facilities were converted into showers or changing rooms...”

“Wow, he even did that?”

Yeom Jun-yeol was shocked, and Yong Jegun’s eyes glowed ominously with a slight squint.

I also realized how things had unfolded.

Ma Jinseung blinked, still not grasping it fully.

“A few days before the school trip started, there was a complaint about dorm facilities, right? Is that related?”

“Yes, it was an ordinary complaint, but it was strange that the disciplinary committee got involved. The note saying ‘must see with own eyes’ also bothered me.”

It wasn’t odd that the dorm supervisor didn’t trust the disciplinary committee and passed it to Cheon Dong-ha, but it seemed Cheon Dong-ha himself felt uneasy.

I felt pathetic, unable to match Cheon Dong-ha’s sharpness and attentiveness.

Recalling the memory, I spoke.

“Cheon Dong-ha senior used Gwangrim alone in the disciplinary committee building and sighed briefly. Then he ordered a full dorm inspection.”

“That’s right. You remember well. I confirmed there were recording devices with my Gwangrim. If we didn’t move quietly, they could broadcast the footage. We planned to catch evidence and deal with it at once.”

As Yeom Jun-yeol said, Cheon Dong-ha often surveyed the whole school with his eyes to protect students when he had free Gwangrim time.

There was a reason he hadn’t found this earlier.

I knew well since I also used the same power.

Cheon Dong-ha answered Yeom Jun-yeol’s question with an embarrassed look.

“I only looked at the school to check student safety. So I consciously avoided private spaces like restrooms or showers. That’s why discovery was delayed.”

“Still, it’s strange that the dorm residents didn’t notice until then. Dain was a dorm resident, right?”

If it were Andain, no matter how thoroughly hidden, she would have noticed immediately.

Though not a dorm resident, Joo Suhyuk, Cheon Dong-ha, and Yeom Jun-yeol would be the same.

And Cheongho, who was a dorm resident in his youth, probably would have found out quickly too.

But Cheongho used facilities in the total club building more than dorm facilities, so their paths didn’t overlap much.

“Among the newly installed devices, there was one that sounded an alarm if the psychic wave concentration increased. The lamp installed there looked very similar to the lenses of recording devices, making it hard to distinguish.”

“But still...”

“Since the dorm supervisor system was introduced, the Jiikhoe building’s simulators were upgraded and divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. They targeted facilities used by students less confident in using psychic powers.”

The outline of the story began to emerge.

Choi Pyeondeuk had taken over the dormitory and exploited the weaknesses of relatively insensitive and weaker students.

“The first to discover the recording device was probably Chae-ah. The anonymous tip handwriting resembles hers, and the timing fits. Back then, Chae-ah forced herself to develop offensive psychic skills, but only in the second semester of her third year did she develop insight skills. So she likely discovered it late.”

I knew that well too.

In many games, leveling up beyond a limit requires clearing specific stories.

Heo Chae-ah had been unable to fight in the First Christmas scenario and hid in the library, which left a grudge. Since then, only her offensive skill limit was lifted.

Even though she raised it, she wasn’t very strong, so specializing as a supporter was better, but insight skills were unlocked late.

Because Heo Chae-ah’s Gwangrim specialized in labyrinth-type otherworlds, she focused more on operating Gwangrim than using psychic waves elsewhere, so it wasn’t much of a concern.

Cheon Dong-ha continued to share his opinion.

“Chae-ah is a dorm resident. Not only because of the replay contents but also, she wouldn’t want to leave memories of being filmed, watched, and threatened.”

Some grow stronger through trials, but others suffer lifelong from wounds left behind.

Yeom Jun-yeol didn’t add anything, and Ma Jinseung, realizing the meaning of their conversation late, opened his mouth wide in shock.

“Kyunggu, as student council president, took many attacks and hardships. After training with Yi-shin preparing for the Korea-Japan-China exchange, he’s steadily grown. Is it right to make them suffer just to get scarce information? They’ll see longer nightmares than us.”

I understood Cheon Dong-ha’s feelings.

Gwak Kyunggu and Heo Chae-ah would experience not only what was in their replays but also the world after they left.

They would face ridiculous rumors that Yeom Jun-yeol was shot for going berserk, and that Cheon Dong-ha and Ma Jinseung died in the chaos, and encounter the conflict between players and government centered on Yeom Bang-yeol.

“And experiencing the replay itself ties them to heavy secrets. We must think carefully.”

They knew Gwak Kyunggu and Heo Chae-ah well.

I had watched them through the screen, but those three had spent three years together at school, so they knew them better than I did.

I said nothing and waited, while Yong Jegun grinned and looked at Yeom Jun-yeol.

It was obvious he was expecting what concerns and decisions Yeom Jun-yeol would make in this situation.

“I still want to give Kyunggu the choice whether or not to do the replay.”

Yeom Jun-yeol’s mind hadn’t changed.

Though he seemed to think carefully, his voice held conviction.

“Kyunggu might refuse the replay out of annoyance, but he won’t say he can’t do it because it’s hard. If Kyunggu were that weak, he wouldn’t have endured such painful training with Suhyuk, whom he could never beat.”

If Yeom Jun-yeol were to pick the closest classmate, it would be Gwak Kyunggu without hesitation.

Next would probably be Cheon Dong-ha, but despite respecting Cheon Dong-ha’s opinion, Yeom Jun-yeol came to this conclusion.

Cheon Dong-ha nodded without objection.

Ma Jinseung, who had been quietly listening, also agreed with a “I see!”

“Yeah, but the problem lies with Chae-ah.”

“If I were to name the person closest to Chae-ah, it would be the current head of the library club... but it’s hard to talk to them.”

For Heo Chae-ah, unlike Gwak Kyunggu, it was difficult to hear the opinion of someone close.

She hadn’t been directly involved in important incidents, and among those who knew secrets, no one was close enough to her.

At that moment, Yong Jegun, who had been squinting, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

Ma Jinseung was the first to notice, gasping sharply.

“You know, I know. Since first year, you and Chae-ah have been pretty close, and you’re someone who could reveal details about the replay. That person knows some of Yi-shin’s secrets too.”

“Was there such a person... ah.”

Cheon Dong-ha sighed shortly, as if recalling who it was.

Yeom Jun-yeol seemed to realize too but just looked expressionlessly at Yong Jegun with no other reaction.

I also went through the third-year roster in my mind, crossing out names one by one, then narrowed down who it was and furrowed my brows.

Ma Jinseung, unsure of who was meant, muttered “Who is it?” while thinking hard alone.

Yong Jegun smiled broadly and said.

“Gye Idam. You were in the same class in first year and got close, and in the special class during second and third years, you were quite close. Right?”

...I knew we had been in the same class all three years, but that close?

Maybe not best friends, but certainly closer than Yeom Jun-yeol, Cheon Dong-ha, or Ma Jinseung.

Even Yeom Jun-yeol and Cheon Dong-ha, who were in the special class during second and third years, didn’t deny their closeness.

Yong Jegun then fixed his wide eyes on me and asked.

“What will you do, Yi-shin?”

In the end, I held the reins.