Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 1. Cube (1)
Chapter 2. Cube (2)
Chapter 3. Cube (3)
Chapter 4. Synchronization (1)
Chapter 5. Synchronization (2)
Chapter 6. Synchronization (3)
Chapter 7. Combat Training (1)
Chapter 8. Combat Training (2)
Chapter 9. Within Everyday Life (1)
Chapter 10. Within Everyday Life (2)
Chapter 11. Change (1)
Chapter 12. Change (2)
Chapter 13. Change (3)
Chapter 14. For Growth (1)
Chapter 15. For Growth (2)
Chapter 16. For Growth (3)
Chapter 17. For Growth (4)
Chapter 18. Connections (1)
Chapter 19. Connections (2)
Chapter 20. Connections (3)
Chapter 21. Second Incident (1)
Chapter 22. Second Incident (2)
Chapter 23. Second Incident (3)
Chapter 24. Mock Dungeon Trial (1)
Chapter 25. Mock Dungeon Trial (2)
Chapter 26. Mock Dungeon Trial (3)
Chapter 27. Mock Dungeon Trial (4)
Chapter 28. The Djinn And Gari Mountain (1)
Chapter 29. The Djinn And Gari Mountain (2)
Chapter 30. The Djinn And Gari Mountain (3)
Chapter 31. Same Bed, Different Dreams (1)
Chapter 32. Same Bed, Different Dreams (2)
Chapter 33. Exam Period (1)
Chapter 34. Exam Period (2)
Chapter 35. Exam Period (3)
Chapter 36. Exam Period (4)
Chapter 37. Intruders (1)
Chapter 38. Intruders (2)
Chapter 39. Intruders (3)
Chapter 40. Intruders (4)
Chapter 41. Sudden Encounter (1)
Chapter 42. Sudden Encounter (2)
Chapter 43. Sudden Encounter (3)
Chapter 44. Sudden Encounter (4)
Chapter 45. After The Trouble (1)
Chapter 46. After The Trouble (2)
Chapter 47. After The Trouble (3)
Chapter 48. Tit For Tat (1)
Chapter 49. Tit For Tat (2)
Chapter 50. Tit For Tat (3)
Chapter 51. Change Of Heart (1)
Chapter 52. Change Of Heart (2)
Chapter 53. Vestige (1)
Chapter 54. Vestige (2)
Chapter 55. Bet (1)
Chapter 56. Bet (2)
Chapter 57. Bet (3)
Chapter 58. Change
Chapter 59. Final Exam (1)
Chapter 60. Final Exam (2)
Chapter 61. Final Exam (3)
Chapter 62. Final Exam (4)
Chapter 63. Final Exam (5)
Chapter 64. Final Exam (6)
Chapter 65. Hatching (1)
Chapter 66. Hatching (2)
Chapter 67. Guild (1)
Chapter 68. Guild (2)
Chapter 69. Break (1)
Chapter 70. Break (2)
Chapter 71. Break (3)
Chapter 72. White Crystal (1)
Chapter 73. White Crystal (2)
Chapter 74. White Crystal (3)
Chapter 75. Short Break (1)
Chapter 76. Short Break (2)
Chapter 77. Attraction (1)
Chapter 78. Attraction (2)
Chapter 79. Attraction (3)
Chapter 80. Teamwork (1)
Chapter 81. Teamwork (2)
Chapter 82. Teamwork (3)
Chapter 83. Scout (1)
Chapter 84. Scout (2)
Chapter 85. Scout (3)
Chapter 86. Words Without Legs (1)
Chapter 87. Words Without Legs (2)
Chapter 88. Words Without Legs (3)
Chapter 89. Fake And Real (1)
Chapter 90. Fake And Real (2)
Chapter 91. Fake And Real (3)
Chapter 92. Worry (1)
Chapter 93. Worry (2)
Chapter 94. Initiation (1)
Chapter 95. Initiation (2)
Chapter 96. Initiation (3)
Chapter 97. Initiation (4)
Chapter 98. Past
Chapter 99. Ghost (1)
Chapter 100. Ghost (2)
Chapter 101. Ghost (3)
Chapter 102. Ghost (4)
Chapter 103. Ghost (5)
Chapter 104. Ghost (6)
Chapter 105. Ghost (7)
Chapter 106. Return
Chapter 107. Rest
Chapter 108. Action (1)
Chapter 109. Action (2)
Chapter 110. Action (3)
Chapter 111. Action (4)
Chapter 112. Truth (1)
Chapter 113. Truth (2)
Chapter 114. Truth (3)
Chapter 115. The First Encounter (1)
Chapter 116. The First Encounter (2)
Chapter 117. The First Encounter (3)
Chapter 118. What Must Be Done (1)
Chapter 119. What Must Be Done (2)
Chapter 120. What Must Be Done (3)
Chapter 121. What Must Be Done (4)
Chapter 122. What Must Be Done (5)
Chapter 123. Chae Jinyoon (1)
Chapter 124. Chae Jinyoon (2)
Chapter 125. Chae Jinyoon (3)
Chapter 126. Chae Jinyoon (4)
Chapter 127. Funeral (1)
Chapter 128. Funeral (2)
Chapter 129. Funeral (3)
Chapter 130. Crossroad (1)
Chapter 131. Crossroad (2)
Chapter 132. Crossroad (3)
Chapter 133. Crossroad (4)
Chapter 134. Farewell (1)
Chapter 135. Farewell (2)
Chapter 136. Farewell (3)
Chapter 137. Farewell (4)
Chapter 138. Final Incident (1)
Chapter 139. Final Incident (2)
Chapter 140. Final Incident (3)
Chapter 141. Truth (1)
Chapter 142. Truth (2)
Chapter 143. Truth (3)
Chapter 144. Chameleon Troupe (1)
Chapter 145. Chameleon Troupe (2)
Chapter 146. Chameleon Troupe (3)
Chapter 147. 3 Years (1)
Chapter 148. 3 Years (2)
Chapter 149. 3 Years (3)
Chapter 150. 3 Years (4)
Chapter 151. 3 Years (5)
Chapter 152. 3 Years (6)
Chapter 153. 3 Years (7)
Chapter 154. Entrance Ticket (1)
Chapter 155. Entrance Ticket (2)
Chapter 156. Tutorial (1)
Chapter 157. Tutorial (2)
Chapter 158. Tutorial (3)
Chapter 159. The First City (1)
Chapter 160. The First City (2)
Chapter 161. The First City (3)
Chapter 162. The First City (4)
Chapter 163. Waiting Room
Chapter 164. Jungle (1)
Chapter 165. Jungle (2)
Chapter 166. Jungle (3)
Chapter 167. Change (1)
Chapter 168. Change (2)
Chapter 169. Prestige (1)
Chapter 170. Prestige (2)
Chapter 171. Vacation (1)
Chapter 172. Skill (1)
Chapter 173. Skill (2)
Chapter 174. Skill (3)
Chapter 175. Skill (4)
Chapter 176. Killing Jin Sahyuk (1)
Chapter 177. Killing Jin Sahyuk (2)
Chapter 178. Killing Jin Sahyuk (3)
Chapter 179. Killing Jin Sahyuk (4)
Chapter 180. The Story Inside The Box (1)
Chapter 181. The Story Inside The Box (2)
Chapter 182. The Story Inside The Box (3)
Chapter 183. Imprinting
Chapter 184. Materialized Demon Realm (1)
Chapter 185. The Materialized Demon Realm (2)
Chapter 186. Materialized Demon Realm (3)
Chapter 187. Sign (1)
Chapter 188. Sign (2)
Chapter 189. Sign (3)
Chapter 190. Ranker (1)
Chapter 191. Ranker (2)
Chapter 192. Ranker (3)
Chapter 193. Hierarchy (1)
Chapter 194. Hierarchy (2)
Chapter 195. Hierarchy (3)
Chapter 196. A Not-So Restful Rest Day (1)
Chapter 197. A Not-So Restful Rest Day (2)
Chapter 198. A Not-So Restful Rest Day (3)
Chapter 199. Damned Long Story (1)
Chapter 200. Damned Long Story (2)
Chapter 201. Damned Long Story (3)
Chapter 202. Omen Of Reunion (1)
Chapter 203. Omen Of Reunion (2)
Chapter 204. Omen Of Reunion (3)
Chapter 205. Omen Of Reunion (4)
Chapter 206. A Strange Battle (1)
Chapter 207. A Strange Battle (2)
Chapter 208. A Strange Battle (3)
Chapter 209. A Strange Battle (4)
Chapter 210. List Of Calamities (1)
Chapter 211. List Of Calamities (2)
Chapter 212. List Of Calamities (2)
Chapter 213. Quick Climb (1)
Chapter 214. Quick Climb (2)
Chapter 215. Reason For Meeting (1)
Chapter 216. Reason For Meeting (2)
Chapter 217. Reason For Meeting (3)
Chapter 218. Process Of Fate (1)
Chapter 219. Process Of Fate (2)
Chapter 220. Process Of Fate (3)
Chapter 221. 20F (1)
Chapter 222. 20F (2)
Chapter 223. 20F (3)
Chapter 224. Preparation Period (1)
Chapter 225. Preparation Period (2)
Chapter 226. Mystery Shuffle (1)
Chapter 227. Mystery Shuffle (2)
Chapter 228. Mystery Shuffle (3)
Chapter 229. Tower Of Wish (1)
Chapter 230. Tower Of Wish (2)
Chapter 231. Tower Of Wish (3)
Chapter 232. Individual Motion (1)
Chapter 233. Individual Motion (2)
Chapter 234. Individual Motion (3)
Chapter 235. Third Phase (1)
Chapter 236. The First Death
Chapter 237. Third Phase (2)
Chapter 238. Third Phase (3)
Chapter 239. Black Lotus (1)
Chapter 240. Black Lotus (2)
Chapter 241. Black Lotus (3)
Chapter 242. Sudden Change (1)
Chapter 243. Sudden Change (2)
Chapter 244. Sudden Change (3)
Chapter 245. The End Of The Tower (1)
Chapter 246. The End Of The Tower (2)
Chapter 247. The End Of The Tower (4)
Chapter 248. The End Of The Tower (4)
Chapter 249. The End Of The Tower (5)
Chapter 250. A New Beginning (1)
Chapter 251. A New Beginning (2)
Chapter 252. A New Beginning (3)
Chapter 253. The Unknown Future (1)
Chapter 254. Unknown Future (2)
Chapter 255. Same Goal, Different Paths (1)
Chapter 256. Same Goal, Different Paths (2)
Chapter 257. Orden’S Territory (1)
Chapter 258. A New Episode (1)
Chapter 259. A New Episode (2)
Chapter 260. A New Episode (3)
Chapter 261. A New Episode (4)
Chapter 262. The Omen Of Assembly (1)
Chapter 263. The Omen Of Assembly (2)
Chapter 264. The Omen Of Assembly (3)
Chapter 265. Assembly (1)
Chapter 266. Assembly (2)
Chapter 267. Assembly (3)
Chapter 268. Assembly (4)
Chapter 269. Gathering (1)
Chapter 270. Gathering (2)
Chapter 271. The Meaning Of The Emotion (1)
Chapter 272. The Meaning Of The Emotions (2)
Chapter 273. Vow (1)
Chapter 274. Vow (2)
Chapter 275. Vow (3)
Chapter 276. The Mountain Sage (1)
Chapter 277. The Mountain Sage (2)
Chapter 278. Commence (1)
Chapter 279. Commence (2)
Chapter 280. Commence (3)
Chapter 281. Commence (4)
Chapter 282. Great Change (1)
Chapter 283. Great Change (2)
Chapter 284. Clouds Of War (1)
Chapter 285. Clouds Of War (2)
Chapter 286. Clouds Of War (3)
Chapter 287. Clouds Of War (4)
Chapter 288. Society Of Dead Humanoid Monsters (1)
Chapter 289. Society Of Dead Humanoid Monsters (2)
Chapter 290. Society Of Dead Humanoid Monsters (3)
Chapter 291. Looking Back (1)
Chapter 292. Looking Back (2)
Chapter 293. Looking Back (3)
Chapter 294. Orden Annihilation Operation (1)
Chapter 295. Orden Annihilation Operation (2)
Chapter 296. Orden Annihilation Operation (3)
Chapter 297. Orden Annihilation Operation (3)
Chapter 298. Orden Annihilation Operation (5)
Chapter 299. Orden Annihilation Operation (6)
Chapter 300. Orden
Chapter 301. After The War (1)
Chapter 302. After The War (2)
Chapter 303. After The War (3)
Chapter 304. Lawless Zone (1)
Chapter 305. Lawless Zone (2)
Chapter 306. Lawless Zone (3)
Chapter 307. The Stories That Become Bridges (1)
Chapter 308. The Stories That Become Bridges (2)
Chapter 309. The Stories That Become Bridges (3)
Chapter 310. The Stories That Become Bridges (4)
Chapter 311. Virtual Reality Containing The Truth (1)
Chapter 312. Virtual Reality Containing The Truth (2), (3)
Chapter 313. The Virtual Reality Containing Truth (4)
Chapter 314. Virtual Reality Containing The Truth (5)
Chapter 315. Demon Realm Gate (1)
Chapter 316. Demon Realm Gate (2)
Chapter 317. Demon Realm Gate (3)
Chapter 318. A New Path (1)
Chapter 319. A New Path (2)
Chapter 320. A New Path (3)
Chapter 321. A New Path (4)
Chapter 322. Break-Even Point (1)
Chapter 323. Break-Even Point (2)
Chapter 324. Break-Even Point (3)
Chapter 325. Transnational Peace Conference (1)
Chapter 326. Transnational Peace Conference (2)
Chapter 327. Transnational Peace Conference (3)
Chapter 328. Transnational Peace Conference (4)
Chapter 329. Ten Days (1)
Chapter 330. Ten Days (2)
Chapter 331. Ten Days (3)
Chapter 332. One Step (1)
Chapter 333. One Step (2)
Chapter 334. One Step (3)
Chapter 335. The Stories Of Characters (1)
Chapter 336. The Stories Of The Characters (2)
Chapter 337. The Stories Of Characters (3)
Chapter 338. The Stories Of Characters (4)
Chapter 339. The Stories Of Characters (5)
Chapter 340. The Stories Of The Characters (6)
Chapter 341. Final Banquet (1)
Chapter 342. Final Banquet (2)
Chapter 343. Final Banquet (3)
Chapter 344. Meeting (1)
Chapter 345. Meeting (2)
Chapter 346. Meeting (3)
Chapter 347. Meeting (4)
Chapter 348. Meeting (5)
Chapter 349. Pieces (1)
Chapter 350. Pieces (2)
Chapter 351. Pieces (3)
Chapter 352. Pieces (4)
Chapter 353. Final Name (1)
Chapter 354. The Final Name (2)
Chapter 355. Final Name (3)
Chapter 356. Final Name (4)
Chapter 357. Final Name (5)
Chapter 358. Final Name (6)
Chapter 359. Final Name (7)
Chapter 360. Final Name (8)
Chapter 361. Final Name (9)
Chapter 362. Ending (1)
Chapter 363. Ending (2)
Chapter 364. Ending (3)
Chapter 365. Decision
Chapter 366. A Story That Shouldn’T Have Existed (1)
Chapter 367. The Story That Should Not Have Existed (2)
Chapter 368. The Story That Should Not Have Existed (3)
Chapter 369. The Story That Should Not Have Existed (4)
Chapter 370. The Story That Shouldn’T Have Existed (5)
Chapter 371. The Story That Shouldn’T Have Existed (6)
Chapter 372. The Story That Shouldn’T Have Existed (7)
Chapter 373. The Story That Shouldn’T Have Existed (8)
Chapter 374. The Story That Shouldn’T Have Existed (9)
Chapter 375. The Story That Shouldn’T Have Existed (10)
Chapter 376. Epilogue (1), My Story
Chapter 377. Epilogue (2), Their Story (Part 1)
Chapter 378. Epilogue (2), Their Story [Part 2] [Complete]
Categories Genre: Action, Adventure, All, Completed, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 379
Estimated words: 1205169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6026(@200wpm)___ 4821(@250wpm)___ 4017(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 1205169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6026(@200wpm)___ 4821(@250wpm)___ 4017(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 379 Page No. 378 Page No. 377 Page No. 376 Page No. 375 Page No. 374 Page No. 373 Page No. 372 Page No. 371 Page No. 370 Page No. 369 Chapter 131. Crossroad (2)
In a mansion lit by a dim lamp, a man was sitting on a chair reading a newspaper.
Objectively speaking, he was handsome. He had sharp, well-defined facial features that shone beautifully under the light, and his somewhat displeased expression gave him a heavy atmosphere.
“Haa….”
Soon, he dropped his head with a troubled sigh.
At that moment, the door on the opposite side of the room shot open, and a girl wearing a leather jacket stomped in.
“What, did something happen?”
Murmuring mockingly, she sat down next to him and sneered.
“Did you blow all your money on gambling again?”
“…Yeah. Anyways, Sahyuk, now there’s only a little scar on your forehead. It’s barely noticeable.”
The man retorted calmly at the girl’s mocking tone. The girl reacted angrily.
“What?”
“You know, where that kid’s coin hit you? I remember you furiously trying to wash it off.”
The memory of that day flashed by the girl’s eyes.
Although three months had passed since then, fury and humiliation surged within her whenever she thought about it. As disgrace was something she never experienced before, it remained in her mind vividly.
“Don’t make me remember it.”
The girl, Jin Sahyuk, gritted her teeth and admonished the man. However, it seemed the man had no plans to listen to her warning.
“You should have never let it happen. Like I always say, you shouldn’t overestimate yourself.”
Tak. The man put down the newspaper in his hands. Jin Sahyuk glared at the man without paying attention to the crumpling sound of the newspaper.
“Sahyuk, don’t misunderstand. You’re still a rookie, someone I can kill with a flick of a finger.”
Hearing this, Jin Sahyuk’s eyebrows twitched. She forced herself to twist up the corners of her lips and spoke fearlessly.
“Then try it.”
The man’s eyes flickered coldly.
Jin Sahyuk repeated.
“Try killing me.”
“…Hm.”
“Try it.”
As expected, she was reckless.
Without a choice, the man closed his eyes and backed off with a smile.
“Sorry, I was a bit on edge today.”
Hearing his surrender, Jin Sahyuk seemed to have been appeased somewhat, but she soon brought up the topic again.
“…I can win if I fight him again.”
“That’s what you think.”
“I was just underestimating him.”
“So you lost to a single coin?”
“….”
Jin Sahyuk shut her mouth. She couldn’t think of any way to refute him.
Three months ago, that bearded man had used only a single coin to push her back and leave a deep mark on her forehead. She still found it hard to believe that a coin could have such destructive power. The mark she received didn’t go away for a month, making her too embarrassed to even go outside.
“Bell-ssi.”
“Hm?”
At that moment, a woman came into the room with food.
“Are you not feeling well today?”
“…Ah.”
The woman called the man Bell.
Bell grinned in response.
“I’m just mad at myself. An important matter went awry, but I only just found out. It seems I stayed in Pandemonium for too long.”
He tapped on the newspaper in front of him. The woman stared at the content of the newspaper and murmured.
“Chae Jinyoon’s death… what’s this?”
“Just a little something-something. He was supposed to be alive, but someone killed him.”
“….”
Jin Sahyuk stared at Bell, then shot up as she pushed her long hair behind her.
“I’m leaving.”
“Where are you going?”
“To the arena.”
“…Pft.”
Bell laughed.
“What, you got a problem with that?”
“No.”
“If you do, then let me fight those guys.”
Ever since she suffered defeat at the hands of that bearded man, Jin Sahyuk has been throwing tantrums about wanting to go fight the two men.
Kim Suho and Kim Hajin.
It seemed she wanted to pay back the humiliation she suffered. However, Bell had no intention of giving her permission. As far as he was concerned, Kim Suho and Kim Hajin were two crucial pieces needed to perfect Jin Sahyuk in the future.
Although he only had Kim Suho in mind at first, another one ended up appearing by pure chance.
“Like I said, I don’t have a problem with it. Go to the arena and have fun. But it won’t be any of my business if you meet Satan’s Servants and get beaten up.”
Satan’s Servants.
They were the rank 1 organization in Pandemonium. All 33 members of their organization were contracted to the infamous devil ‘Satan’. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Pandemonium’s laws and rules were maintained by their overwhelming strength.
“….”
Jin Sahyuk left the mansion silently.
The world outside was filled with the smell of alcohol and blood and sights of pleasure and entertainment.
Jin Sahyuk walked to the center of Pandemonium.
As she walked, she reminded herself of what happened.
Although it angered her whenever she thought about it, it was something she needed to do to not forget.
KWANG.
The power behind the coin.
KOONG.
The lightning-like force of the coin.
Without a doubt, he was a powerful opponent.
Just like Kim Suho, someone worthy of staying in her mind had appeared.
Wondering how strong he would get in the future, Jin Sahyuk put her hands over her face and shuddered.
“Ah… hahaa…”
I want to fight.
No, I want to kill.
I want to tear his limbs apart and kill him.
Her body shook from a powerful urge.
**
A peaceful afternoon one week before the start of school.
Essential Armory’s employee personally came to my apartment with a black envelope and a box.
“Hm.”
The box should have the armor I asked for, but I wasn’t sure what the envelope was about.
Once I brought the packages inside, I first opened the envelope.
Inside was a black card.
[Essential Armory Special VIP card]
There was a letter to go along with it.
[If there’s anything you need, you can ask the armory directly without going through me. It’s the same card that I use so there shouldn’t be a limit.
P.S. The card can be used for other businesses owned by Essence of the Strait.]
Yoo Yeonha’s handwriting was a work of art.
“…Now isn’t this abuse of power?”
I smiled bitterly. Even after suffering from an arrogation scandal, she had only gotten bolder. Did I help her too early?
But well, I couldn’t complain about such a nice gift.
I put the card in my wallet and opened the box. As I expected, it had the armor I asked for.
===
[Magic Crystal Armor] [Masterpiece]
[Charged Mana 2000/2000]
—Physical Body Reinforcement
*Increases stamina, vitality, and speed by 0.3 points.
—Intermediate-rank Durability Reinforcement
—Damage Absorption
*Absorbs damage equivalent to charged mana.
—Multirole
*Installed with a body scanner. Can be worn by non-human beings.
===
This wasn’t a wearable armor. It was a high-tech armor that projected armor to fit the body. Armors that weren’t partial artifacts couldn’t compare to it whatsoever. Still, it wasn’t perfectly to my liking.
I added a setting.
[The stat increase is tripled when equipped by a non-human target.]
The SP cost was 150. The word ‘non-human’ was perfect for bringing down the cost.
I summoned Fenrir who was sleeping in my chest.
“Graawr.”
When a tiger-sized wolf suddenly appeared out of thin air, Hayang raised her tail and ran away.
“Ah! It’s my wolf. Hehe.”
On the other hand, Evandel smiled brightly and approached the wolf.
“Grrr, grrr.”
The wolf blissfully enjoyed Evandel’s small and soft hands.
“Fenrir, try wearing this.”
I placed the circular armor on the wolf’s chest and infused magic power into it. Immediately, an armor shot up, covering the wolf’s chest and back. He seemed to be satisfied with it, as he growled happily.
It was then.
Woong.
My smartwatch suddenly rang.
It wasn’t just once.
Woong. Woong.
My wrist kept shaking from the repeated buzzing.
[You obtain 144 SP.]
[Magic power of rage and obsession has formed a spell in a distant place. You have been selected as a ‘target’.]
[However, a miraculous luck strikes!]
[A mysterious power reverses the spell!]
[An unknown person’s Gift, ‘Targeting’, has been changed to benefit Kim Hajin!]
[Narrow Escape from Death (4/9) – A special stat, accumulation of luck, becomes partly unlocked!]
“…Huh?”
Why did my SP go up, and what was with this ‘Target’?
Did I come up with a Gift like this?
Although I wasn’t sure what was going on, I couldn’t complain about my accumulation of luck going up.
“…Ah, is it him?”
Then, I suddenly remembered.
The guy named Heuk Jeon from Dark Moon Society who tried to kill me and Rachel during the final exam.
It seemed he tried to cast some curse on me.
“…I’ll tell Boss about it later.”
**
March 13th.
“It’s really over…”
Time flew by, and tonight was Chae Nayun’s final night on Baekdu Mountain.
As she opened her bag to pack her belongings, Chae Nayun looked around the room she stayed in for two months. Although she didn’t bring much with her, there were many precious items in this room.
“….”
They were the photos lined up on the shelf next to her bed.
On one photo, Chae Nayun and Chae Jinyoon were smiling together brightly.
Chae Nayun held up the frame carrying the photo and lightly caressed it.
Then, she suddenly felt something surge within her.
“…This time, I thought you’d stay with me forever.”
Murmuring with a trembling voice, she held the frame in her embrace.
Reality still felt like a dream.
She thought multiple times that her older brother would be waiting for her in his hospital bed when she ended her training and came home.
“Sorry, Oppa.”
She regretted it every night and faulted herself every night.
She couldn’t help but think that he would still be alive if she refused to go to Baekdu Mountain and stayed with him.
“…Sorry.”
Even after all this time, she couldn’t help but cry.
Chae Nayun quickly wiped the tears off her face.
“Wait just a little bit, Oppa.”
Then, she put the frame in her bag.
“I’ll get your revenge.”
She muttered with a strong determination.
**
Two days before Cube’s 2nd year began, I came back to Cube to pick up my belongings.
“Here you go, Cadet Kim Hajin.”
“Thank you.”
I received my stuff from the dorm manager. I surprisingly had a lot on me: VR gaming set, shirts, coats, jeans, slacks, etc.
With a big box in my arms, I walked to the Portal.
“Eh? Hajin-ssi?”
Then suddenly, I heard a familiar voice.
Looking up, I saw Rachel.
“Rachel-ssi?”
…After meeting coincidentally, we stopped by the park we often trained in.
The grass still had signs of Rachel trying to call elementals. Rachel smiled bashfully and hopped to that spot.
“I got hit with lots of bullets here… I can’t believe that was three months ago.”
“I feel the same way.”
I put the box down on the ground.
Only then did Rachel look at me with curious eyes.
“What is that box for?”
“Oh, um….”
I smiled bitterly even at her light question.
I scratched the back of my neck as I muttered.
“I’m going to drop out of Cube.”
“…Eh?”
Rachel widened her eyes.
“W-Why?”
“Well, I’m more comfortable becoming a mercenary.”
“Mer… mercenary?”
Rachel muttered in shock.
“I’ll stay here for the first semester. Ah, well, I guess I’m leaving in the middle. But I should be here until the midterms.”
There was a reason I had to stay in Cube.
The final main story element in Cube. I needed to stay here and watch ‘that incident’ unfold.
“Then, um, Hajin-ssi… about the English Royal Court guild….”
“I won’t be able to go. Sorry.”
“….”
Rachel made a sad face. I never said I’d go to the English Royal Court guild. What was she imagining?
“But who knows? We might work together with something like a mercenary partnership.”
“Yes?”
Mercenary partnership. Simply put, it was a way to get more manpower for conquering Dungeons or Towers.
“Ah… Hajin-ssi is always welcome… but because a partnership is done with the entire mercenary group….”
However, because the number of mercenaries groups that were stronger than a guild could be counted on two hands, even small guilds rarely formed mercenary partnerships.
I could understand why Rachel was hesitant, as the English Royal Court guild was the number one guild in England.
Of course, the name of the mercenary group I was in would change everything.
Jeronimo.
This seemingly lame name was always the one choosing guilds.
“You can worry about that when the time comes.”
“Ah, yes, you’re right.”
Rachel smiled bitterly and scratched her cheek. I stared at her for a moment, then took out the cadet handgun I kept in my pocket.
“Since it’s been a while, should I help you train?”
“Yes? Ah, kuhum.”
She coughed proudly.
“Yes, let’s do it. I’ll show you how much I improved.”
**
March 15th.
Springtime arrived with the falling of cherry blossoms.
Currently, I was standing in front of my new classroom. I wasn’t particularly nervous. In fact, I was quite apathetic to the whole thing.
The name of the class was Sacred Flame. Rachel, Yoo Yeonha, and Yi Yeonghan were in my class.
Chae Nayun should be in Kim Suho’s class, and Shin Jonghak should be in a class by himself.
I opened the classroom door.
There were three familiar faces. Well, since one was sleeping, I couldn’t see his face.
The sleeping one was Yi Yeonghan. Yoo Yeonha was already surrounded by many cadets. Without Chae Nayun or Kim Suho in her class, Yoo Yeonha would reign as its queen.
“Hm?”
When Yoo Yeonha met my eyes, she smiled and waved her hand. It seemed she didn’t mind interacting with me openly now that my ranking was near the top 100.
Along with a greeting, Yoo Yeonha moved her mouth silently.
—Nayun is asking why you aren’t replying.
“….”
I gave her a little smile and sat down at the back of the class.
“Good morning.”
Rachel, who was also sitting in the back, greeted me.
“Good morning.”
I returned her greeting with a smile.
When it became 8:00 exactly, the door shot open, and the instructor walked in.
“It’s great to see you, ladies and gentlemen.”
The enthusiastic instructor released his magic power into the air.
Yi. Yeong. Jin.
His red magic power displayed his name clearly.
“I am Sacred Flame class’ chief instructor, Yi Yeongjin.”
I carefully listened to the male instructor’s excited introduction.
“From second year and onwards, classes will be held a bit differently. I’m sure you all know about it, but I’ll give a brief explanation.”
Cherry blossoms fluttered through the opened windows, and an aromatic scent flowed in.
“Other than the morning class, end-of-the-day class, and the two ‘common classes’, all cadets will be trained according to the schedule they formed.”
I didn’t have many days left in Cube.
There were plenty of painful, sad, and complicated matters, but when I thought back to Cube in the future, I was sure I would be able to say I had fun.
“Our common class is joint stamina training. You will need to get into groups of four for this training.”
Two months.
After this short yet long period, I would disappear from Cube.
Total Chapters in book: 379
Estimated words: 1205169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6026(@200wpm)___ 4821(@250wpm)___ 4017(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 1205169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6026(@200wpm)___ 4821(@250wpm)___ 4017(@300wpm)
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