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“Ah-reum, hey! You came early today?”

“Ah, yes! Hi.”

Eun-byeol happily greeted Ah-reum, whom she met at the Academy. They moved to the classroom to take the required course for Magic Hunters.

After sitting down in a decent spot at the front,

Ah-reum hesitantly opened her mouth.

“Um, Eun-byeol…”

“Yes? What’s up?”

“Uh, do you want to go to a dungeon today?”

“Ah, I was actually planning on that! By the way, what’s up? You’re the one suggesting it first.”

Eun-byeol gladly accepted Ah-reum’s suggestion.

Because she had planned to do that from the beginning.

As Eun-byeol continued with light questions, Ah-reum shyly responded.

“I’m trying to do my best…”

“Mm.”

Eun-byeol squinted her eyes and looked at her friend. She didn’t know what had gotten into Ah-reum, but it was a good change.

Ah-reum, who was easily scared, hated the very idea of going to a dungeon. Whenever she was forcibly taken to gain some experience, she always ran away.

Both she and Ah-reum, being support roles in dungeons, were the same, but the fact that they were so far apart kept bothering her.

To think that a friend who used to be like this would suggest going first!

It was something unimaginable if it was the old Ah-reum.

‘Did something happen?’

Eun-byeol smiled beautifully as she said,

“Let’s go after the lecture. I should send a message to Jae-woo in advance.”

“Okay!”

Ah-reum nodded with a bright smile like a blooming flower.

After focusing on the lecture,

the two women joined Jae-woo in front of the reserved E-rank dungeon.

There, Eun-byeol discovered something amazing again.

“Uh, by the way… how do you, um, exercise?”

“Mm? Exercise?”

“Uh… since it’s my first time, I don’t know what to start with…”

To think that Ah-reum would be asking Jae-woo about exercise!

‘Did the sun rise in the west today?’

Eun-byeol rubbed her eyes and unintentionally looked up at the sky.

Not that it would mean anything.

Even Ah-reum’s changes didn’t stop there.

Once they moved into the dungeon and combat began,

she stayed in a decent position instead of remotely distancing herself.

She sometimes leaned slightly forward and paused.

Her toes would twitch, trying to move forward, only to pull back again.

An unbelievable scene unfolded before her eyes.

‘What on earth happened in just a few days…?’

Eun-byeol felt she should concentrate on Jae-woo, yet she kept stealing glances at Ah-reum.

She shook her head vigorously to shake off her distracting thoughts.

After wrapping up the dungeon,

the three of them exchanged various talks before dispersing.

Returning home, Eun-byeol ran into her older brother, Ye Do-hyeong, in front of their house.

“Where are you going?”

As Eun-byeol asked casually, Do-hyeong stopped briefly and replied.

“Going for a shoot. We need some additional footage for a ramen commercial.”

“Oh, I see.”

“I’ll come home right after the shoot.”

“Do as you please.”

Eun-byeol said lightly. She didn’t ask with any particular meaning.

Do-hyeong shrugged and continued on his way.

Eun-byeol entered the house. A box of instant noodles was visible in one corner of the kitchen.

“Ugh, what’s so good about that spicy stuff?”

Eun-byeol frowned and headed to her room.

* * *

“This, like this…”

She diligently scribbled various things on several sheets of paper.

One by one, the magic formulas were taking shape.

“Exhale!”

Taking a moment to lift her head from the table, she relaxed her neck and shoulders.

The muted TV was playing a Momo-bin broadcast, catching her eye.

Since she was almost done, she should wrap this up and continue watching.

She looked back at the papers.

The traces of the new magic she was creating could be seen.

She needed a name. What should she call it?

Flame of Flavor?

Fire at the Tip of the Tongue?

The main goal isn’t fire or flames, but the pain in the tongue.

What could be a better name? Hmm…

Hell in the Mouth.

The Pain of a Burning Tongue.

Oh, the Pain of a Burning Tongue! That could work.

After a long time developing magic, she felt a bit excited herself.

Who would’ve thought she would be creating such impractical magic?

Maybe that’s why it felt even more enjoyable?

The magic itself was a trivial low-grade debuff, so she’d make it quickly.

But for the person on the receiving end, it wouldn’t feel trivial at all.

She’d reproduce the sensations her tongue had felt. Hehe…

“Sis—what are you doing right now?”

During her work, Si-yoon approached her, having come out for a short break.

“I’m developing a new magic.”

“A-new magic…?”

Surprised, she blinked her eyes rapidly.

Soon, Si-yoon’s eyes lit up as she asked,

“What kind of magic?”

“A magic that makes you feel pain on your tongue, with a Scoville index of over 20,000.”

“Ew….”

Si-yoon made a face full of horror.

As if she had experienced an incomplete magic already.

“Wh-why would you make something like that…?”

“If a hero brat appears in front of me, I want to make him suffer.”

“Ah, oh….”

She nodded with a dazed expression.

After a brief hesitation, she took a small step back and said,

“I-I’ll be going now!”

“Okay, good luck.”

Eun-byeol glanced at Si-yoon’s retreating figure.

Then she looked back at the papers on the table.

Although she claimed a Scoville index of 20,000 for a comparison,

The extent of her seriousness could vary.

If she used it strongly, even greater pain would be possible.

It’s better for that assassin guy not to show up in front of her.

“Hehe…”

Excited without realizing it, she noticed her wiggling toes and returned to her work.

* * *

Once back in her room, Si-yoon let out a small sigh.

She never would have imagined that her sister was planning something so terrifying.

Using something unknown like magic was bad enough, but creating something new too?

Just how far can her sister’s limits stretch?

No, that’s not the important part.

At this point, where objects like cups and laptops fly through the air regularly,

Her sister’s limits were not a major concern.

‘To intentionally create pain on someone’s tongue as if they had eaten pepperoncino…?’

It seems trivial when thought of as magic, but thinking about the pain to be experienced feels terrifying.

“I-I hope she won’t use it on me…”

N-No way… Her sister wouldn’t do that. Absolutely, she wouldn’t.

…Still, I should be careful the next time I mess around.

If I accidentally cross a line or we fight, that magic would end up on my tongue…

“Kugh…”

Imagining it was horrifying, Si-yoon twisted her expression.

She looked at the monitor on her desk.

The game on broadcast caught her eye.

A game that appeared simple but demanded memory and deduction.

It proceeds by finding hidden mines in a grid and opening other squares.

It was a 3D game inspired by a famous game.

‘Originally, I was thinking of having my sister try this…’

Due to the vivid memories of being teased in a platformer game,

She had intended to check how she’d do at a brain game.

“She’ll probably do well, right?”

It seemed she almost acted carelessly due to an impulsive judgment.

Si-yoon let out a deep sigh.

At that moment.

“Ah!”

An idea suddenly sparked in her mind.

Si-yoon lifted her head and stroked her chin as she thought.

‘My sister is a professor.’

Before the cataclysm, she was a student from the education department.

That means she was someone whose major was teaching others.

‘Should I ask her for tips on how to play games better?’

It had already been established that she occasionally enjoyed gaming.

So it wouldn’t be strange to ask her.

Pick one of those games she had previously failed at.

Learn some tips and then?

Debut it on a broadcast!

“Hehe…”

Imagining the surprised reactions of the viewers, Si-yoon let out a giggle.

Once she learned and actually broadcasted, she needed to think carefully about the timing.

But it should be a good plan.

“I wonder what goodies I have left in the room…”

As she sat down to resume streaming, Si-yoon painted a happy picture in her head.

* * *

The next evening.

Si-hyun and Si-yoon prepared to go out together.

Yesterday, Ji-a contacted her saying she finally wrapped up her busy work.

With the remark that she could finally breathe, a conversation followed about going to eat something delicious.

The three of them promised to dine out together after a long time.

After finishing the meal, they decided to go for drinks afterward.

Excited, Ji-a boasted,

[I’ll introduce you to my secret wine bar!]

That voice played vividly in Si-hyun’s head, making her chuckle softly.

“Ah!”

“Yes? What’s up?”

As they stepped out of the house and walked to use public transport,

suddenly Si-yoon made a loud noise.

She rummaged through the handbag slung over her shoulder.

Patting her pockets, she said,

“I think I left my phone at home… I’ll be back quickly since I’m still nearby!”

“Ah, got it.”

Si-hyun watched her sister retrace her steps and put her hands in her pockets.

She pulled out her smartphone and checked the time.

‘Plenty of time.’

Nodding lightly, she looked around.

She spotted a convenience store nearby and walked in.

She thought about passing the time and looking for something fresh to eat.

After picking out some items and sneakily storing them in her magic pouch,

having spent some money, she confidently sat down in a chair at the corner of the convenience store.

She sent a message to her sister that she was inside the convenience store.

To pass the time, she browsed the internet.

“Hmm…?”

[(Breaking News) S-rank Spearman Yu Byeong-jun goes missing in A-rank dungeon.]

[“Still unknown!” Guild is organizing a rescue team.]

It caused quite a ruckus.