Mystical Fantasy : Not the Destiny Heroine

Sunlight poured over the skyscrapers towering above the heart of Seoul. One of those belonged to Arx Group, one of the most powerful tech and investment companies in East Asia. On the 89th floor, the executive suite looked more like a luxury lounge than a typical business office—white leather sofas, massive windows showing off the cityscape, and crystal chandeliers hanging from a high ceiling.

Daejin, a young man with a handsome face and the kind of sly smile often seen in business magazines, sat comfortably at the center of a U-shaped couch. On his left was a beautiful woman with silver hair—Mina. On his right, a dark-haired woman wearing elegant glasses—Mira. Neither of them were just secretaries or business partners. They were… part of Daejin's "private family."

Daejin's hand gently touched Mira's shoulder.

"Darling," Mina said while gazing at a tablet showing Daehwa University's statistics, "are you sure you want to handle the university business yourself? Wouldn't it be better if we took care of it for you?"

Daejin's smile widened. "I don't want to trouble you two all the time. Besides, it's just a minor issue."

"Even so," Mira said, twirling his tie between her fingers, "if it's just a small matter with President Hwang, you don't have to dirty your own hands."

Daejin looked at the two women with warmth—and calculation. His eyes drifted toward the glass table, where a photo frame rested. It showed a confident young woman with flashy clothes and a bold smile. That was Hwang Bo-ra, daughter of President Hwang… and the same girl who nearly ran over Jinhyuk that morning.

Mina glanced at the photo. "Is she going to be… our new sister? Hehe."

Daejin gave a teasing look at both of them. "Who knows. You wouldn't mind, would you?"

---

Back at Daehwa University.

Jinhyuk stood at the dorm gate, having just been shoved by Hwang Bo-ra. A small crowd had started to form around them. Some were filming with their phones, while others just watched with curiosity.

On the other side, the one who had pushed Jinhyuk—Bo-ra's younger brother, Hwang Minjae—still wore an arrogant smirk. He tilted his head, looking Jinhyuk up and down as if assessing a cheap item on clearance.

"Don't act all tough," he sneered. "You think a student like you has the right to talk back to us?"

But Jinhyuk didn't back down. Despite his body still aching and his head pounding slightly, he took half a step forward.

"And you think just because of your status, you can trample over other students here?" he replied, voice calm but laced with quiet pressure.

The crowd began whispering. Many knew Minjae and Bo-ra as the university president's children, but none had expected someone to talk back to them so directly.

Suddenly, a campus security guard showed up. A middle-aged man in a dark blue uniform with graying hair—Mr. Go. He quickly stepped between them.

"What's going on here?! Why all the noise at the dorm gates?!"

Bo-ra was the first to speak. "Security, this student just nearly caused an accident—and now he's yelling at us."

Minjae added, "He spoke rudely and blocked our way. Clearly a violation of campus conduct."

Mr. Go turned to Jinhyuk. "Is that true?"

Jinhyuk shook his head. "Mr. Go, I was just walking inside campus. They brought a private car into a restricted area and almost hit me. And now they're trying to shift the blame."

The crowd grew louder. Some agreed with Jinhyuk, while others looked unsure.

Mr. Go hesitated. He knew the rules clearly—no private vehicles in the dorm zone unless for administrative reasons. But these weren't just any students… they were the president's kids.

Minjae narrowed his eyes. "We'll report this directly to our father—the university president."

Mr. Go swallowed hard. "W-wait a minute… Let's talk this through…"

Jinhyuk looked Mr. Go in the eye. "Sir, I'm only asking for fairness. If campus rules don't apply to everyone equally, then what's the point of having them? Whether they're students or the children of campus officials—rules are still rules."

That line earned a few quiet nods among the students.

Minjae gave a cold smile. "Fine. Let's see who's right. You're lucky we're in a hurry." He grabbed Bo-ra's hand, and the two left the area.

The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only faint footsteps and scattered whispers in the background. Jinhyuk remained, unmoved.

Once the car was out of sight, Mr. Go patted Jinhyuk's shoulder. "You've got guts. But be careful—those kids… you know how it is."

Jinhyuk only gave a silent nod. Inside, he understood something clearly: social power could be terrifying, but nothing compared to the fear of death he had once faced.

For someone like Jinhyuk, who had been there, this situation didn't seem so daunting anymore—or at least, that's what he told himself.

Jinhyuk offered a faint smile. "I understand, sir. But sometimes, staying silent is even more dangerous."

Mr. Go nodded slowly. "That's true… But still, be careful. The world isn't always fair."

Jinhyuk gave a respectful bow. "Thank you, sir."

Then he walked away.

The afternoon passed quietly.

---

Evening approached.

The sun tilted west as Jinhyuk exited the Faculty of Psychology building, shoulders slightly slouched with his backpack. But his steps halted when a student from the administrative unit approached him.

"Ryu Jinhyuk-ssi, you're requested to come to the president's office in the administration building."

Jinhyuk's heart skipped. His instincts told him—this was about what happened that morning.

---

President's Office. 6th Floor, Administration Building.

The grand wooden doors opened, and Jinhyuk entered nervously. Inside were several people, including Hwang Minjae, Bo-ra, and University President Hwang Dojin himself—a middle-aged man in a sharp suit with piercing eyes.

This was a rare moment for a student like Jinhyuk to stand directly in front of the president. He bowed quickly. "Good afternoon, President…"

"Took you long enough," Bo-ra muttered with disdain. "We've been waiting forever. How rude."

You chose to wait, not me, Jinhyuk thought, but stayed silent.

President Dojin gave his children a sharp look, asserting his authority. They fell quiet.

He opened a file on the desk.

"Ryu Jinhyuk. Final semester student. Faculty of Psychology. How's your academic record?"

"Yes, sir. Things are going well. I've completed my int—" Jinhyuk began politely.

"Good," the president cut him off.

"But… I heard you were involved in a theft incident at the National Museum. Care to explain?"

"Sir, that… well… I've already been released, and there wasn't any—"

"Do you not care about the university's reputation?" the president interrupted again, eyes narrowing.

"Do you think this campus is a haven for criminals?"

"No, sir… That issue, I su—"

"Enough," he said firmly. "I won't dwell on your altercation with my children. They did break the rules by bringing a car into a restricted zone—though it happened because they didn't know the rules, and security was too afraid to stop them. What I'm concerned about now… is the university's image."

Silence.

Then the president turned to a staff member behind him. "Write down this student's name. Report him to the Student Ethics Board."

"If within seven days he doesn't repair his reputation—he will be expelled."

Jinhyuk panicked. "Sir! This is absurd. That theft case wasn't even in the media! How can I fix a reputation that might not even be damaged?"

The president sighed. "Correct. Thanks to the quick response of the museum and police, the news didn't go viral. It only made a brief appearance on social media. But… among students here, the rumors spread. And as an institution, we can't pretend nothing happened."

"Then… how am I supposed to fix my 'reputation'?" Jinhyuk pleaded.

"Figure it out yourself," the president replied curtly.

"Sir… this just feels wrong… it's unfair."

"Unfair? I've been generous giving you seven days. Do you think your case is trivial? Use the time wisely."

Then he signaled two security officers, who gently escorted Jinhyuk out.

Inside the office, Bo-ra leaned back with a satisfied smile. "Thank you, Father."

Minjae added, "You were amazing, Dad. You managed to punish him without even using this morning's incident as a reason."

But Bo-ra paused as her phone vibrated. The name "Daejin" appeared on the screen. Her smile deepened… and she left to take the call.

---

Outside the administration building, Jinhyuk walked away, heavy-hearted. His thoughts swirled. His blood boiled—but he knew… fighting the campus system was like punching a wall.

It felt like he was being pushed toward dropout—just in a more polished way.

Speechless, he let out a long breath… and walked away.

---

A few hours later, at the hospital where Han-na was staying.

Jinhyuk arrived carrying a small bag of simple food. He walked to room 203, gently opened the door—

But the room…

Was empty.

The bed was neatly made. The curtain pulled open. Han-na was gone.

Jinhyuk's face instantly changed. "Han-na-ssi… where did you go?"

A flood of thoughts surged through his mind.

Did she go back to work? In that condition…?

---