The Thug Hides the Villainess

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058 – Room Where You Can’t Leave Without Doing It #3

The current situation did not sit well with Jeon Som-i, the active adventurer.

That nemesis, Hanam-jin, had actually snatched the team leader position.

‘Is it fine for me to be slapped like this?’

While advancing along the narrow bridge on a cliff, she couldn’t help but feel a spark of resentment towards Jang Hyeon-ah, her high school classmate.

She almost wanted to push her over the edge down to the deep abyss below.

‘What’s this about a hotel dating?’

Earlier, a male student had asked Jang Hyeon-ah about the hotel date she had with Wang Ja-hyeon last week.

The problem was that Jang Hyeon-ah herself had taken leave saying she needed to visit her hometown last week.

And wasn’t she always the one who said, “Som-i, you and Ja-hyeon look great together. I really hope it works out for you.”?

‘She’s saying she cheers for me, but secretly flirting with our Ja-hyeon behind my back?’

Could it be possible?

Jang Hyeon-ah had declared back in high school, “I’m not interested in relationships at all.”

In fact, from Jeon Som-i’s perspective, Jang Hyeon-ah acted like she had no interest in boys throughout all three years of high school.

But what if the seemingly disinterested Jang Hyeon-ah was actually meeting with Wang Ja-hyeon behind the scenes?

What if all the support she had shown to Jeon Som-i until now was nothing but deceit and pretense?

‘They say a quiet cat gets into the cupboard first. Jang Hyeon-ah, you wicked girl! If it turns out you secretly dated Ja-hyeon, I won’t let it slide!’

Three years of friendship could easily shatter over a man she loves.

However, Jeon Som-i decided to leave a bit of room for hope.

There was a chance that Hanam-jin’s lie was just a baseless rumor.

So, Jeon Som-i spat out a few words infused with resentment towards Hanam-jin and subtle rivalry towards Jang Hyeon-ah.

“Hanam-jin, if you can’t find a treasure during your time as team leader this afternoon, how about you apologize by posting a picture of yourself on social media? It’ll blow up as a popular post in no time.”

It was a rare opportunity for revenge.

But her gaze was directed not at Hanam-jin but at Jang Hyeon-ah instead.

“And also apologize about the nonsense that my friend Hyeon-ah dated Ja-hyeon. Hyeon-ah hates meeting guys. Right, Hyeon-ah? You said you disliked guys because of your cheating dad.”

Now, Jeon Som-i couldn’t miss a single twitch of Jang Hyeon-ah’s facial muscles.

Jang Hyeon-ah’s lips moved as if she had a lot to say. With a frown, she seemed upset, probably because of the mention of ‘dad.’

“Som-i, why are we talking about my dad here?”

“Why? It’s not a secret. Everyone knows.”

Seeing Jang Hyeon-ah get riled up brought a subtle thrill to Jeon Som-i.

At that moment, Baek-Yeoul shouted.

“…Don’t you know the saying, ‘A kind word is worth a thousand debts’? If we achieve results, you should apologize to us! For stealing my lunch and cursing at me! Everything!”

Baek-Yeoul had many grievances bottled up inside.

She definitely wanted to get an apology for the bullying she endured during their exploration of the Great Labyrinth.

But that process wouldn’t be easy.

‘Who knows what kind of tricks these badger- and weasel-like girls are up to.’

Baek-Yeoul resolved to keep a close watch on her seniors to ensure they wouldn’t engage in any nefarious deeds.

If she successfully aided Hanam-jin in producing results, Baek-Yeoul’s name would become more recognizable too.

‘If I become famous, our family business, “Baekdang,” will get more promotion! Then our family circumstances will improve! And….’

Baek-Yeoul shot a glance at the back of Hanam-jin.

The way he appeared during the most difficult times of bullying matched that of a prince riding a white horse.

In reality, there was no white horse or even a common luxury item, but somehow, Hanam-jin felt more impressive compared to the scions she had seen, like Wang Ja-hyeon or Jeong-ui-seon.

‘Could he be the prince who came to save my life?’

Even though she had the worst experience of getting kicked in the butt during their first meeting, Baek-Yeoul could overlook that with her generous heart.

‘But why on earth does he like that Seoga-eul? She’s such a wicked girl. If we break it down, she’s far worse than these badger-like seniors! Really terrible!’

Baek-Yeoul knew over a hundred of Seoga-eul’s bad traits. They had been friends since elementary school, after all.

For instance, how she would always curse when getting tickled.

As she was thinking this, they reached a dead end.

Jang Hyeon-ah snickered.

“You were shouting so loudly, yet it’s just a dead end? Honestly, I knew it. I’ve been here a few times, and it’s always been a dud. Looks like we won’t be achieving results this afternoon.”

Jang Hyeon-ah’s expression, which had been slightly anxious as she bit her lip, brightened a bit. She seemed genuinely relieved.

But Hanam-jin, ignoring Jang Hyeon-ah’s mockery, slowly stretched his hand towards the dead-end wall. Suddenly, a massive tremor shook the Great Labyrinth, and the wall elevated to reveal a new space.

For a moment, everyone was left speechless at this astonishing event.

Jeon Som-i and Jang Hyeon-ah also gasped in awe at the sight unfolding before them.

“Flowers?”

“There’s grass too!”

It was a room filled with blooming flowers and grass.

Beautiful gemstones clung to the ceiling, casting vibrant colors like sunshine in the room.

Wasn’t this the kind of place a princess dreamed of living in when she was a child?

As such thoughts crossed their minds, Hanam-jin’s sharp gaze fixed onto something.

# # #

【This must be the princess’s room…!】
【No entry for unauthorized personnel…!】

Words were engraved on the dead-end wall.

As he reached out with a ringed hand, it whooshed open—the door swung wide.

It was a room filled with colorful flowers.

So this is how a fairy princess’s room looks.

Just a moment ago, the girls had been roaring like wild beasts, but now their mouths hung open as they hurriedly admired the scene.

At that moment, my hand reached toward a golden birdcage resting on the desk.

Inside the cage was a single feather adorned in rainbow colors.

A note was placed inside the cage.

【Happy 10th Birthday.】
【Once it flies away, you’ll never find it again, so don’t let it out.】
【To my beloved spring, from Father Balaga─】

「Name: Birdcage

A cage gifted by the Fairy King of the Great Labyrinth to his daughter.

Possession: 《Shrink Lv.3》 – Can reduce the size of an object like a magnifying glass.」

A cage that shrinks things?

Curious, I slipped my hand inside the cage.

What happened next was astonishing; my hand shrank to almost 1/10 its size.

I was so surprised that I pulled my hand back, and it returned to its original size.

“What?”

Feeling adventurous, I pushed my arm, shoulder, and body inside, and my body shrank, fitting snugly within the cage.

Baek-Yeoul’s eyes looking at me seemed enormously huge, almost terrifying.

Like some giant from “Attack on Titan.”

“Hanam-jjin! What are you doing in there?”

Pop!

As I jumped out of the cage, my body instantly grew larger.

Whatever it was, it was definitely an amusing item.

“Look, look! I found it! Hanam-jjin! Wow! It’s a cage! When you put something in here, it shrinks, right? Look at my hand! It’s totally miniature!”

Baek-Yeoul was overjoyed, clutching the cage close to her.

In contrast, Jeon Som-i and Jang Hyeon-ah’s faces were clouded with deep embarrassment. They looked at each other.

Being old friends, it seemed they could read each other’s thoughts without speaking.

「Name: Jeon Som-i

Possession: 《Slippery Lv.2》 – As slippery as the best loach.

Status: 《Sly》 – Thinking of glossing over everything as if nothing ever happened.」

「Name: Jang Hyeon-ah

Possession: 《Vibration Lv.3》 – Can produce vibrations as precise as construction machinery.

Status: 《Shameless》 – Feeling happy about planning to steal the junior’s achievement.」

So they’re not only intending to erase our achievements but also planning to snatch them?

Jang Hyeon-ah spoke.

“Hey, Baek-Yeoul. Hand that over to me. We’ll carry it.”

“What?”

Baek-Yeoul was taken aback.

She seemed to scan the room before clutching the cage even tighter.

“I… I don’t want to! You made me carry everything until now, and suddenly? I’m taking this! Until we leave! Because Hanam-jjin found it!”

“Hey! If a senior asks for it, just hand it over! Why the fuss?”

Whip.

“Ugh!”

As Jeon Som-i’s clumsy hand grabbed Baek-Yeoul’s hair, Baek-Yeoul couldn’t help but scream. Yet she struggled as if she would never let go of the cage.

“Ahh! I… I can’t give it! It’s ours!”

Baek-Yeoul and Jeon Som-i began to tussle.

Watching them, Jang Hyeon-ah clenched her fist tightly—the vibrating form looked very unstable.

Vibrating punch.
It would hurt immensely if it connected.
But Baek-Yeoul was undeterred.

“I can’t give it! Hanam-jjin found this! I won’t give it!!”

“Ahh! Jang Hyeon-ah! She bit me! Baek-Yeoul, you crazy girl!”

In every way, the situation was on the brink of explosion.

Jang Hyeon-ah stated firmly.

“It would be better if you just followed our lead. No matter how much you scream here, no one’s coming. Do you know how many awakeners go missing in the labyrinth every year?”

This was a threat.
If they didn’t want to go missing in the maze, they should comply with their demands.

With Jang Hyeon-ah’s determination apparent, I turned to Baek-Yeoul.

“Just give it to them. And come here.”

“But it’s yours!”

“Just hand it over for now.”

Baek-Yeoul looked deeply wronged, but eventually extended the cage towards Jeon Som-i.

Jeon Som-i accepted it, laughing triumphantly.

“Couldn’t you have done this earlier? Since it’s a rare item, if we put it up for auction, we’d get a good portion of the earnings, right? We could just submit it to the school treasure exhibition and win a bonus!”

“That was lucky.”

At that moment, with model girl Jeon Som-i and vibrating girl Jang Hyeon-ah celebrating, I left the room, dragging the sobbing Baek-Yeoul who cried, “But we found it!”

“Baek-Yeoul, do you know what happens if you trap two girls who don’t get along in a room together for a long time? You wouldn’t be able to explain it with words.”

Boom!

As I reached out, the closing door slammed shut in an instant.

Soon, through the cold stone door, a faint voice could be heard.

━Hey! What the heck are you doing? Open this!

━Som-i, can’t you open this?

Baek-Yeoul, startled by the sudden confinement, exclaimed.

“Are you really planning to keep us locked up?”

“They were the ones who threatened to make us go missing. We should keep them here for a few days to let them come to their senses. This is a dead end, so no one will come, and they won’t be able to move.”

The “smart watches” didn’t work inside the Great Labyrinth.

This place existed in another dimension altogether.

It wasn’t uncommon for scouting parties to spend several days in the maze, so if Jeon Som-i and Jang Hyeon-ah went missing for a few days, no one would find it suspicious.

Also, if anyone else attempted to come here, they wouldn’t be able to open the door without this “ring.”

It was truly the perfect prison.

Soon Baek-Yeoul, who had been trembling nervously, shouted as if she were in awe.

“…It’s the curse of solitude!”

“Curse of what?”

“My mom said! The curse of solitude originally came from a tradition of trapping fierce women together until only one survives! The last woman standing becomes a poisoner!”

What kind of tradition is that? What use is there in creating poisoners?

As questions swirled in my mind, Baek-Yeoul giggled.

“If we come back in a few days, they’ll probably be begging us to let them go! Serves them right!”

It didn’t even need to take that long.
I expected it might all settle by tonight.

After all, I knew better than anyone what happens when you confine girls who don’t get along together in a room.

They’d likely beg me to let them go, no matter what I have to do.