Mystical Fantasy : Not the Destiny Heroine

Jinhyuk's body slammed into the cold pavement. The world around him still spun, his breathing ragged, but… he hadn't completely lost consciousness.

"Ugh…"

"Jinhyuk-ssi?!"

Han-na's voice echoed from far away, slowly growing clearer. She knelt beside him, her frail body struggling to support Jinhyuk's trembling shoulders.

"What… is happening to me…"

The throbbing inside his body remained, like small explosions that hadn't stopped yet. But the pain was nothing compared to the pressure radiating from the figure now standing before them.

Footsteps echoed on the asphalt.

Someone—or something—emerged from the thin mist that had begun to settle. A man cloaked in a long black robe trimmed with deep crimson. His face was partially hidden beneath his hood's shadow, but the aura emanating from him made the air feel unnaturally still.

"Hand it over," he said, his voice deep and commanding.

Jinhyuk blinked. "W-What? That item? The one from the museum was already confiscated by the police."

"I'm not talking about that," the man said. "I'm talking about the ring. On your right hand."

Jinhyuk turned his head slowly. The black ring—still attached to his middle finger since that strange night—shimmered faintly in the dark. A subtle glow pulsed from it.

"You… want this ring?"

"You know exactly why I'm here," the man said as he took a step forward. "Or are you just pretending?"

"I don't even know who you people are."

Silence.

Then, a soft chuckle.

"Don't know? You stole it. And now you deny it?"

He lifted his chin slightly. His face became slightly visible—pale and lifeless.

"Stealing again? Why am I always being accused of theft these days," Jinhyuk muttered bitterly.

He looked at his hand again, feeling foolish. He had never really considered the ring's purpose or origin—only assumed it was a gift from some mysterious figure trying to help him fix his miserable life. But Ryuga, and the man in black before… had only made things worse.

"So you won't give it up…" the man whispered. "…then I'll take it myself."

Suddenly, light footsteps echoed from behind the cloaked man. A second figure appeared—slim, smaller in frame, with sleek black-silver hair, wearing a matching uniform, paired with dark leather gloves. They moved gracefully, almost like gliding.

"Enough talking, Jeor," the newcomer said coldly. "The target is uncooperative. I'm not wasting more time. I'll just cut his hand off."

In the blink of an eye, the person vanished.

Han-na didn't have time to react. But Jinhyuk saw it—a blur shooting forward like lightning, and a cold gleam reflecting off a thin dagger aimed directly at his right wrist.

"Jinhyuk-ssi—!!"

SRAKK—!

Something was pierced. But it wasn't Jinhyuk.

Han-na had jumped in without hesitation. Her thin body shielded Jinhyuk's side, and the dagger stabbed into her back with a sickening sound.

"Ahk…!"

"Han-na-ssi!"

She had been stabbed—not fatally—but the bleeding was profuse.

The attacker then kicked her aside. Her body was flung, but Jinhyuk caught her before she could hit the ground hard. Her back was bleeding, clothes torn, breath shallow.

"Han-na-ssi… Why would you—!"

But she didn't answer. Her eyes were starting to close.

Her consciousness fading.

"No… no… HAN-NA-SSI!!"

Jinhyuk trembled. Rage surged within him, but his body remained weak. Every muscle felt paralyzed.

The slim attacker looked down at Han-na, expression unreadable, then raised the silver dagger again without hesitation.

"Interesting. I rarely see such heroic acts. Foolish woman."

The second strike was ready. The figure leapt again, aiming to finish them both off.

They shot forward like an arrow. The dagger ready to slice through Jinhyuk—

—But then—

WHUUUMMM!!

A white light exploded, forming an invisible shield around Jinhyuk.

CRACK!

The dagger bounced off like hitting solid steel. The attacker was flung back lightly, landing with a frustrated shake of the head.

"Bast—"

Before they could finish, four figures appeared on the roof of a nearby building—wearing black-gray uniforms marked with a white circle on the chest. One of them, a short-haired blonde woman, still had her hand raised, magical energy flickering from her fingers—the one who'd saved Jinhyuk.

They moved with practiced precision. Light steps. Sharp gazes. Their presence was nothing like ordinary civilians.

The slim attacker narrowed their eyes. "Hmph… those annoying insects again…"

A heavy voice came from the shadowed alley.

"Brave of you to show yourselves before us," said a burly man with a massive sword strapped to his back—one of the original attackers, standing behind the first black-robed man.

"Your words are as big as your sword. But tonight, your chance of survival is no bigger than that," replied one of the four rescuers.

The slim one looked eager to attack, but their companion held them back.

"Too many eyes here," said the cloaked man coolly. "We will not fight tonight."

"But they're right here!" shouted the slim one. "And the ring—!"

A sharp glare silenced them. The cloaked man raised one hand, gripping a strange black horn hanging at his waist.

"We cannot engage them now. Retreat."

"Ugh. Lucky bastards," muttered the slim attacker in frustration.

"We'll finish this another time," added the burly man.

Their bodies began to shimmer—then vanished. No teleport light. No spell circles. They simply disappeared.

One of the four rescuers tried to pursue.

A dual-sword wielder dashed forward, eyes blazing, weapons raised.

"I won't let you escape again—!"

But the targets had vanished before his blades even met the air. He landed with a frustrated grunt.

"Damn it… gone again…"

The four then turned back. Their eyes locked onto Jinhyuk and Han-na, still lying on the ground.

The blonde woman knelt beside Jinhyuk, placing her hand on his chest. A soft white light enveloped his body, slowly easing the internal pressure. It felt like invisible chains were being broken inside him.

"Your body is too frail. You possess great energy, but it's untamed," she said gently. "You must get stronger. What you carry… is dangerous."

Jinhyuk bit his lip, then turned to Han-na.

"Can you—"

Before he could finish, the woman had already placed her hands over Han-na's wound. A healing glow spread across her back. Not fully healed, but the bleeding stopped. The wound began closing.

"Take her to a hospital immediately," she said firmly. "She's lost a lot of blood. If you're lucky, she can still be saved."

"Wait… Who are you people? What just happened? Why are they after me? Is it… all because of this ring?!"

One of the older men in their group chuckled lightly. "Who knows. Let's just say you're lucky to have an indirect connection with our master."

"Master?"

But they gave no further answer. One by one, the four vanished into the rooftops and alleyways.

Silence.

---

Jinhyuk looked at his right hand. Something inside him now felt calmer… but the strange aura still lingered.

"Lucky, huh…" he muttered bitterly.

His eyes fell to Han-na. Her face was still pale. Breathing stable, but her body limp. Her shirt torn in the back, faint traces of blood still staining the fabric.

"What kind of world is this… Am I even still in the same world…" he whispered, almost trembling.

He didn't know who attacked him. Who saved him. Or why this item had suddenly become a target. But one thing was certain—the world he stood in was no longer the one he knew.

Without another thought, Jinhyuk carried Han-na on his back. He moved quickly through the alleys, past street lamps that were beginning to flicker out one by one.

He knew… tonight wasn't over.

And the answers… had yet to be found.

---