Standing at the door, Jo Seo-ah fired off a barrage of questions.

“So, for this assignment—”

“Oh, about that,” Lee Jae-sang began to answer without hesitation, as if he had set the assignment himself.

Meanwhile, Shin Hae-ryeong was taken aback.

It wasn’t just that he answered so confidently; it was the content of his answers that surprised her.

‘…These are theories from before the changes in magical studies.’

Having read countless books since childhood, she was well-versed in the evolution of magical theories. Lee Jae-sang’s responses were filled with outdated knowledge, knowledge that was only relevant in this era.

He hadn’t prepared in advance, yet he answered so effortlessly.

Suddenly, Lee Jae-sang seemed like a genius to her.

“Wow, you’re amazing, Professor! You’re the best! So, I’ll just—huh?”

As she was about to leave, Shin Hae-ryeong noticed someone behind Lee Jae-sang.

“Who’s that? A new student?”

Since Lee Jae-sang didn’t block the door, Jo Seo-ah easily stepped inside, carefully navigating around the piles of books and papers to approach Shin Hae-ryeong.

“What year are you?”

Shin Hae-ryeong was flustered. She hadn’t expected to meet someone as sociable as Liz, let alone someone even more so.

‘No, Liz is just thoughtless…’

She corrected herself, realizing that even among adults, there were people with such high social skills.

“She’s not a college student.”

“Really?”

“Yes, she’s a high school student here for a college experience.”

Intrigued by Lee Jae-sang’s words, Jo Seo-ah’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“So, that’s a school uniform? Oh, there’s a name tag. Shin Hae-ryeong? Which school?”

Shin Hae-ryeong hesitated before she could say “Shinhwa High,” the only magic-specialized high school in Korea, which hadn’t been established yet in this era.

“Just… from far away.”

“Wow, impressive! I was too busy goofing off in high school. Are you planning to come to Eunsung University?”

“Not yet…”

She trailed off, as her sights were set on Korea University, the top choice for someone aiming high.

“Well, people say Korea University is better, but Eunsung is great too.”

Jo Seo-ah glanced at Lee Jae-sang and whispered to Shin Hae-ryeong.

“…That professor is really good. Highly recommended.”

With that, she approached Lee Jae-sang.

“Alright, I’ll see you later in class, Professor!”

“Sure.”

Jo Seo-ah waved to Shin Hae-ryeong as she left the office, and the lively atmosphere quickly faded into silence.

“…She’s quite the bright person.”

“Isn’t she?”

Both of them wore bittersweet expressions, knowing the fate that awaited Jo Seo-ah.

“Professor, I think I know what this memory is based on.”

“Do you?”

Shin Hae-ryeong spoke with certainty.

“Yes. This must be… the Eunsung University demonization incident.”

The magic book she had seen earlier, the calendar she had just checked—everything pointed to this hypothesis.

“I think so too.”

“Then, is she the center of this dream?”

“I don’t think so. There was no unusual mana sensation.”

Shin Hae-ryeong agreed. Even the magic book Jo Seo-ah had been holding didn’t give off any strange vibes.

“We’ve learned a lot, but we still don’t know enough.”

They had only taken a few steps from the starting point.

“For now, this is enough.”

Lee Jae-sang returned to his desk and picked up a sheet of paper.

“Let’s follow Jo Seo-ah’s actions. That should lead us to the core of the dream.”

Agreeing that Jo Seo-ah was likely at the center of the dream theme magic activated from her magic book, Shin Hae-ryeong nodded.

“How much do you know about Jo Seo-ah’s actions?”

“I know what’s in the memoirs.”

The incident was significant enough that Shin Hae-seong had detailed its course in his memoirs. While she couldn’t pinpoint every location Jo Seo-ah visited, she could grasp the major events.

“Then… we need to be careful not to change anything too much.”

Dream themes are based on memories, but the content can change depending on the actions of those trapped in the dream. If they couldn’t find the core of the dream and things changed too drastically, it could become an uncontrollable situation.

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Alright. I’ll be as careful as I can.”

With a calm expression, Shin Hae-ryeong began to move with Lee Jae-sang.

***

Lee Jae-sang stopped in front of a lecture hall, checking his wristwatch. It had been three o’clock earlier, but now it was two.

‘It should be almost four now, right?’

The collapse of time perception was a common occurrence within dream themes. Fortunately, he could infer the time based on the actions of others.

“…Are you sure about this?”

Shin Hae-ryeong asked with a worried expression.

“About what?”

“The class.”

Jo Seo-ah had been bustling around and had entered this lecture hall. It wasn’t hard to figure out whose class it was, thanks to the lecture schedule they had checked in the office.

“Hmm? I’m good at teaching, aren’t I?”

“That’s true, but…”

Shin Hae-ryeong knew better than anyone how exceptional Lee Jae-sang’s classes were. From the first class to now, there had rarely been a time when his lectures weren’t impressive. But the situation was different now.

“You’re saying the level of knowledge is different, right?”

Shin Hae-ryeong nodded. As far as she knew, they were 13 years in the past. Like any field of study, magical studies had evolved significantly over time. The content of the lectures would be entirely different. What might be considered incorrect knowledge now could have been the accepted truth at this point in time. Even minor changes in the dream theme might not matter, but she worried that even small changes could alter Jo Seo-ah’s actions.

“Don’t worry.”

Lee Jae-sang spoke with confidence.

“I’ll handle it.”

Shin Hae-ryeong looked up at him. Though he wore Min Hae-jun’s face, the expression of the Lee Jae-sang she trusted was still there.

“Alright. What should I do?”

“Hmm…”

After a moment of thought, Lee Jae-sang replied.

“Just sneak in and sit at the back. Take a break.”

“…Is that okay?”

Shin Hae-ryeong asked, still concerned. If Jo Seo-ah’s actions changed and a butterfly effect occurred, what then? But Lee Jae-sang reassured her.

“As long as you don’t do anything to affect Jo Seo-ah’s actions, it should be fine. Besides.”

He smiled again as he continued.

“With you here, it can’t go exactly the same anyway.”

“That’s… true.”

“Don’t worry. If any variables arise, I’ll handle them. And as long as the exploration schedule isn’t canceled, we’re good.”

Shin Hae-ryeong didn’t fully understand what Lee Jae-sang meant, but she decided to trust him.

“If you say so, Professor.”

With that, she entered the lecture hall through the back door. A few glances turned her way, but no one paid her much attention. Except for one person.

“Hae-ryeong, over here!”

Jo Seo-ah, sitting in the back row, waved her over. After a brief hesitation, Shin Hae-ryeong decided that since she’d already been spotted, it wouldn’t cause any major changes, and she took the seat next to her. It was the only available spot anyway.

“Are you here to experience a lecture too?”

“…Yes.”

“Good choice. The professor’s lectures are worth attending. It might be hard to understand, but try to follow along.”

Jo Seo-ah pushed her book over. Shin Hae-ryeong glanced down at it. The lecture topic was illusion theme magic. While it might be difficult for a typical high school student, Shin Hae-ryeong was already familiar with it, thanks to her advanced studies.

“Hmm. It’s tough, right? I was the same. When I first took this class, I didn’t understand a thing.”

“Uh… yes. It’s confusing.”

Shin Hae-ryeong decided not to reveal her knowledge.

The class proceeded smoothly, with explanations and questions. Lee Jae-sang delivered the best lecture he could. Contrary to the stereotype of boring college lectures, no one in the room seemed bored. Even the usually chatty Jo Seo-ah was focused, her hands busy taking notes, her eyes fixed on Lee Jae-sang.

‘He’s amazing.’

Shin Hae-ryeong was deeply impressed by Lee Jae-sang’s ability to captivate everyone. But that wasn’t the only surprising thing.

‘No one realizes he’s not Professor Min Hae-jun.’

He conducted the class as if he truly were Min Hae-jun, seamlessly incorporating habits that Min Hae-jun might have had.

“Let’s take a short break.”

The class paused at just the right moment, when attention might have started to wane. Even the timing of the break was perfect.

‘Does he have experience as a professor?’

Shin Hae-ryeong wondered, puzzled by the high quality of Lee Jae-sang’s teaching, which surpassed that of a typical school teacher.

“What do you think? Isn’t he incredible?”

Glancing to her side, she saw Jo Seo-ah smiling.

“Yes, he is.”

“Eunsung University is worth considering, right?”

“Yes, it seems so.”

“Really?”

Jo Seo-ah laughed, surprised that Shin Hae-ryeong had seriously considered her playful question.

“Yes. I should seriously think about it.”

It wasn’t just a polite response. Her curiosity about the school where Min Hae-jun had been was growing. For someone who wanted to follow in his footsteps, it was a natural thought.

“Hey, who’s this? A new face? Are you a junior?”

A small crowd of students soon gathered around Jo Seo-ah and Shin Hae-ryeong.

“She’s not a freshman. She’s here for a college experience day. See? She’s wearing a school uniform!”

Jo Seo-ah answered with a bright smile.

“College experience day? Oh, right, I’ve heard about those.”

The reason Lee Jae-sang introduced Shin Hae-ryeong as part of a college experience day without hesitation was because he was already familiar with the concept. Shin Hae-ryeong, however, was unaware of this.

“Shinhwa? Is there a Shinhwa High School?”

“It’s a bit far. Out in the countryside.”

“You came all the way here? That’s impressive. Are you thinking of attending our school?”

“I’m still considering it.”

Shin Hae-ryeong felt drained, as if surrounded by dozens of Kimi Nas and Lizs.

“You should definitely come here. Professor Min Hae-jun’s classes are worth their weight in gold!”

“Oh, I mentioned that earlier!”

The students welcomed Shin Hae-ryeong with the same enthusiasm as Jo Seo-ah. Whether it was the school culture or just these students being particularly friendly, Shin Hae-ryeong couldn’t tell. She just hoped the break would end soon so they would return to their seats. But the college students, like children with a new toy, showed no signs of leaving.

‘It’s not just because of me.’

Though the conversation seemed to revolve around Shin Hae-ryeong, it was clear that Jo Seo-ah was the real center of attention. She was the glue that held the conversation together, the oil that kept it running smoothly. To Shin Hae-ryeong, Jo Seo-ah was undeniably charming.

‘…If only I could have met her, I would have liked to become friends.’

It was a bittersweet thought, considering Jo Seo-ah was no longer alive.

“Let’s get started again.”

After some time, the students who had gathered around Jo Seo-ah and Shin Hae-ryeong returned to their seats. As the class resumed, they quickly became engrossed in the lecture, as if nothing had happened. Only then did Shin Hae-ryeong notice the intensity in their eyes. It wasn’t just because Lee Jae-sang’s lectures were exceptional.

It was passion.

Even Shin Hae-ryeong was impressed by their dedication.

‘They really are students from a prestigious university.’

She hoped that one day she could graduate high school properly and attend college herself.

“So, about this part…”

The lecture continued smoothly. Despite the complexity of the subject, Lee Jae-sang seemed flawless. It looked like the class would end without any issues.

Just as she thought that, a hand shot up.

“Professor, I have a question!”

It was Jo Seo-ah, her face full of curiosity, looking intently at Lee Jae-sang. The other students merely chuckled, as if used to this.

“Yes, go ahead.”

“You mentioned that the nature of illusion-themed magic makes it difficult to inscribe on mana stones.”

“That’s correct.”

Lee Jae-sang confirmed, drawing from his extensive knowledge.

“Is there any possibility of inscribing it? I think if the mana stone’s quality is high enough, and it can hold an abundance of mana…”

Shin Hae-ryeong knew the answer to this question. But she doubted Lee Jae-sang would answer it. The knowledge was less than two years old.

She expected him to say something like, “That question requires further verification at this stage.”

That was the right thing to do, she thought. It was Jo Seo-ah’s question, after all. A response based on future knowledge could alter the course of dream-themed studies.

But then…

‘…Professor?’

For some reason, Lee Jae-sang wore an enigmatic expression.