“You!”

The boy, who tried to jump to his feet in anger, stumbled and fell back down as his legs gave out.

‘You’re being protected, so you’re not afraid! Well, that’s what you’re trying to say.’

But is that really the case? Not quite.

It’s true that the traps in Bongma-dong don’t even graze Na Rin, but it’s not because the other trainees are taking the hits or fending them off for her.

It’s because Na Rin is dodging them by a hair’s breadth, tilting her head this way and that.

“If you want to go back, do as you please. I’m going ahead.”

“What? Hey, stop right there!”

They’re not escorts, but baggage.

Na Rin secretly hoped all the examinees would turn back.

That way, she could demolish this Bongma-dong and get out faster on her own.

But for the examinees who were specially entrusted with Na Rin by the Jeonsi-yeol Boju, returning without Na Rin was unthinkable.

“Though a young child with no inner energy, I dare say she is an honored guest. Think of it as an escort mission and carry it out without fail.”

Carry it out without fail.

The words of the Jeonsi-yeol Boju disturbed the minds of the examinees.

The fear that they may never get another chance to take the Bongma-dong exam if they returned without Na Rin darkened their hearts.

Like a trapped mouse, their hearts grew anxious, cold sweat formed on their palms, and their fear grew even greater.

‘What if this was a real mission?’

The girl named Hwa Ryeon asked herself.

Would she abandon the one she was meant to protect, shamelessly turn back the way she came, and even complain that the situation was unfair?

“I… I will go.”

Even in the midst of fear, a courageous examinee followed Na Rin into the darkness with trembling steps.

The other examinees, whose hearts had not yet followed, looked at the face of the most senior examinee as if asking what to do.

His name was Tae Neung.

He was a veteran taking the Bongma-dong exam for the fourth time.

Tae Neung licked his dry lips and glared at Hwa Ryeon’s back as if she were insolent.

‘Impudent wench.’

That’s what he thought of Hwa Ryeon.

It wasn’t just about now.

Hwa Ryeon, who was usually quiet, would follow Tae Neung’s lead without question, but at crucial moments, she would overturn the situation according to her own judgment.

How infuriating it was every time.

“Elder Brother Tae Neung, what should we do?”

“Is it really okay to proceed?”

If only they would rely on him so readily.

Tae Neung clicked his tongue and spoke with feigned composure.

“Ahead lies a trench flowing with molten iron and stepping stones installed to cross it. At first glance, it seems like a task that only requires courage, but that’s not the case.”

“Then what?”

“Some stepping stones easily break, while others spin around in place. Suddenly, a rain of arrows may come piercing down. To be honest, I’ve nearly lost my life in this section more than once or twice.”

The other examinees’ hearts shrank even more at Tae Neung’s words.

Just crossing the stepping stones while avoiding the molten iron in the dark was a daunting task, but there were traps set up in the midst of it as well?

No matter how they thought about it, the Bongma-dong exam didn’t seem to be designed to be passed.

“I’m scared. How can you, elder brother, challenge such an exam so many times?”

“As a warrior, you can’t say you’re not afraid even when you know you’re heading into danger. There may be times when you have to carry out a mission knowing it leads to death. Thinking of those times, this level of hardship is nothing to be terrified of.”

“You’re truly amazing.”

Tae Neung’s heart swelled with pride.

The words that eloquently packaged the fact that he had failed the exam multiple times sounded so plausible even when pondered again that they were more than enough to deceive even himself.

As if he had become a leader, Tae Neung spoke in a solemn voice.

“But there’s no need for you to go through the same trial and error. Since I’m here with you, it’s no different from having the answer key to solve the problem. As long as you don’t act recklessly like Hwa Ryeon, you can learn a lot without getting hurt.”

“We will trust only you, Elder Brother Tae Neung.”

‘No one will be able to pass the next section without my help.’

Even if they cry and beg then, I won’t accept.

The image of Na Rin and Hwa Ryeon sobbing and asking for his help came to Tae Neung’s mind.

Strangely, the moment he imagined Hwa Ryeon’s tears, an unknown energy surged within him.

Tae Neung, who would say she was impudent and displeasing with his mouth, yet his eyes would follow Hwa Ryeon’s figure every time they trained.

‘It would be nice to show a magnanimous attitude and accept them.’

Then Hwa Ryeon would have no choice but to rely on me.

“Heh heh. Heh heh heh.”

The other examinees felt an unpleasant chill at the sight of Tae Neung’s sinister laughter.

At the same time.

Hwa Ryeon was also feeling a chill, but for a completely different reason.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

A trench with red-hot molten iron flowing across it.

No, to call it a trench was an understatement; it was practically a river.

Na Rin, upon seeing it, wasn’t surprised at all and instead asked, “Wow, how much is this worth?” Then, in an instant, she calculated the amount and value of the metal used to make the trench, as well as the cost of the fuel used to melt it, and clicked her tongue.

“This is a real waste. What are they doing for a mere low-level warrior exam? Don’t you think?”

While Hwa Ryeon stammered, not knowing how to respond, Na Rin hopped and skipped across the trench.

And from the other side of the trench, she was urging Hwa Ryeon as if asking what she was afraid of.

‘Does that child have no sense of fear?’

When crossing, she noticed that some of the stepping stones were spinning.

“If you’re not coming, I’m going ahead.”

“Wait, wait for me! I’ll be right there…”

Clack.

Hwa Ryeon carefully jumped onto the stepping stone.

When she saw Na Rin cross, she confirmed that there were no devices on the first stone, so she could be bold.

“Phew.”

The moment Hwa Ryeon let out a sigh of relief after barely making it across, Na Rin spoke.

“You shouldn’t stand there for long.”

Before Hwa Ryeon could understand what those words meant, an ominous sound came from beneath her feet.

Crack.

‘The stepping stone is cracking?’

“Quickly jump to the next one.”

Na Rin spoke as if it were nothing, but Hwa Ryeon couldn’t easily take a step forward.

The next stepping stone was the one that was spinning around.

‘If I lose my balance, I’ll fall into the molten iron and burn to death.’

It would be safer to turn back and return to the original spot, waiting for the next opportunity.

What was this exam that she had to risk her life for?

This thought of Hwa Ryeon’s was also the thought of many who failed the Bongma-dong exam.

Hwa Ryeon was being forced to make a choice.

Choose what kind of person you are.

“Sis!”

Na Rin’s voice shook Hwa Ryeon’s mind in a flash.

There was no time to hesitate.

The next moment, Hwa Ryeon unknowingly kicked off and leaped forward.

“Yah!”

Knowing that the stepping stone ahead was rotating, she twisted her body in the same direction.

Thus, Hwa Ryeon spun around on the stepping stone, standing on one foot.

“Now!”

At Na Rin’s signal, Hwa Ryeon’s body leaped forward once more.

Her wide-spread legs, as if flying through the sky, reached the next stepping stone.

From there, no signal was needed.

Hwa Ryeon had no hesitation in crossing the remaining two stepping stones.

By the time she finally reached the other side, Na Rin pointed behind Hwa Ryeon.

“…!”

A sense of elation, like a person who had been hiking while only looking ahead and then reached the summit to look down at the ground below.

Hwa Ryeon realized what she had accomplished and finally relaxed, collapsing to the ground.

The first stepping stone she had stepped on had completely crumbled and sunk into the molten iron.

‘The first successful candidate has emerged.’

Having crossed a big hurdle, the next challenge would be easier.

A single success experience creates the strength to challenge twice.

“Sis, what’s your name?”

At Na Rin’s question, Hwa Ryeon managed to answer in a drained voice.

“…Hwa Ryeon. I’m Hwa Ryeon.”

“I’m Ju Na Rin.”

Na Rin held out her hand as if to shake hands.

The moment Hwa Ryeon smiled brightly and grasped Na Rin’s hand.

“That’s, that’s cheating!”

Tae Neung’s voice rang out from across the trench.

“Cheating?”

“Yes! There’s no way two people could have crossed otherwise! This trench, this exam! Only one person who crosses first can pass, I tell you!”

What nonsense is he spouting?

Na Rin was puzzled for a moment, but Hwa Ryeon stepped forward to block the way.

It was as if she was truly protecting Na Rin like a guard.

“No, that’s not true.”

Hwa Ryeon continued in a confident manner.

“The one who crossed first was this child. She was light enough not to break the stepping stones. That’s why I was able to cross as well.”

Hearing Hwa Ryeon’s words, Na Rin could also understand the situation.

In other words, Tae Neung had come to this molten iron trench several times before and had seen the first stepping stone break each time.

Based on this, Tae Neung had judged that the purpose of this exam was to filter out the ‘one most courageous person.’

‘It doesn’t really seem like that’s the case, though.’

Tae Neung was the one who became uncomfortable with Hwa Ryeon’s logical answer.

He glanced sideways to gauge the attitude of the examinees who had been following him. He feared that distrust in him might have arisen.

‘If I back down here, I’ll have to take the next exam again.’

The thought of taking the Bongma-dong exam alone again while his peers were taking the intermediate warrior exam made him feel resentful and wronged.

‘That can’t happen. I must invalidate this exam no matter what.’

No matter what it takes.

“So you’re saying you did well now?”

“Pardon…?”

“Have you forgotten what the Boju said?”

Tae Neung pointed at Hwa Ryeon and Na Rin with a determined look and shouted in a strong tone.

“He said to think of it as an escort mission and carry it out without fail. But look at this situation now! Didn’t you single-handedly break the formation and block the path of your capable comrades? Hwa Ryeon, is this how you carry out a mission?”

“That’s! Urgh!”

Hwa Ryeon’s mouth clamped shut at Tae Neung’s relentless reprimand.

Anyone with a bit of insight could see that Tae Neung’s words didn’t make sense, but unfortunately, Hwa Ryeon didn’t have the eloquence to overturn them.

“Senior Brother is right!”

“How can she be so selfish and rash?”

“If this were a real battle, you would have gotten us all killed!”

Swayed by Tae Neung’s glib tongue, the other examinees gradually became persuaded by his words and began to criticize Hwa Ryeon with one mind and one voice.

“…”

Hwa Ryeon didn’t know that the first stepping stone would break when stepped on.

Of course not. Na Rin was the first one to step on the stepping stones.

Being called selfish for that reason was utterly unfair no matter how she thought about it, but looking only at the results, their words weren’t entirely wrong either.

Hwa Ryeon had abandoned her comrades who were given the same mission and crossed the trench alone.

That fact remained an unchanging truth.

“Apologize to your peers and give up the exam, even now.”

Hwa Ryeon was startled and looked up at Tae Neung’s words.

Give up the exam?