Chae Nayun gathers everyone in the [Control Room]. I follow as she instructs me to do. Within [Under Cube], except Yeonha, Hajin, and Jonghak, everyone is present.
I observe everyone, their moods are on the down and down. I want to cheer them up, be my usual clown, and dispel the negative atmosphere, but I cannot. Even my mood is rock bottom. We are outplayed by Yi Yeonjun. He is an unforeseen foe, we do not imagine him controlling the reins of the Chameleon Troupe.
The bastard is retired. That is how it should be. But it isn't.
"I will start with my report." I begin. "If it is the old Chameleon Troupe we know from the TNE manuscript, Savant would have succeeded, because Yi Byul, their Boss is a reasonable person. But now that it has come to light that Yi Yeonjun remains to be behind the Chameleon Troupe, a lot of things have changed. For example, Yi Yeonjun doesn't take well on Savant. He sets up an ambush on me, sending me four of Chameleon Troupe members."
I frown. Yi Yeonjun also has a penchant for theatrics like me. I recall the crucified Khalifa. The difference between the two of us though is that Yi Yeonjun is a genuine madman. "I killed three of them. I let one of them go on purpose and left him with a little something. I can go and rescue Hajin. I have the means. The I imbued on the Four of Diamonds has a time limit though so we have to make a decision fast."
"Can you bring me with you?" Suho is quite keen on attacking the Chameleon Troupe head-on.
I am pretty confident we will not lose against them in a hard-on confrontation. The main cast has become too strong this early in the story. Hell! The first sem has not ended yet! I know I have a hand in this, with Cube AI, and uniting the main casts, and I am proud of that.
"Too bad, Suho, I cannot. The skill can only bring me to the other side." I try thinking of a way to turn the tables against the Chameleon Troupe and put us in a more advantageous position. "However, I should be able to, with Hajin's help, create a ping location to tell you guys where we are... The others can follow us through a portal or normal transport."
"No. We will not be doing anything."
"Nayun," I call to her. "What is it that you are not telling us?"
Nayun reveals the [Orb of Solomon]. She quickly follows up with an explanation. "Hajin has allied with Yi Yeonjun. This Orb contains information that he received from Yi Yeonjun. I don't know why but Yi Yeonjun i strangely cooperative. I also don't know what he wants with Hajin. The only thing we know is that the two have something to gain from each other."
It is Rachel who has been silent the whole time who first inspects the [Orb of Solomon]. "How can he do something like that?" She grimaces, clearly disdainful of the information she receives from the Orb.
The next is Suho. "Why is he colluding with the enemy?"
Then this time, I take a gander on what information the Orb possesses. I similarly don't like what I am learning. Hajin will be going to the Transcendent Plane with the Chameleon Troupe to deal with the Devils involved with Yeonha and Nayun's brother. This pisses me off.
"So what? Are we supposed to suffer in silence, fiddle our thumbs, and wait for him to fix everything?"
There is a lot of loss of Hajin leaving so one-sidedly. How long will Hajin even be gone? I cannot imagine. But the loss is a lot! Besides losing the services of the future Godly Craftsman of this world with his SP and growing future abilities, we will also be losing access to the Little Blue Tower.
I walk out, incensed.
Nayun doesn't even stop me. I process the information I learn from the Orb. So what if Yi Yeonjun knows the future too? He is the villain! Surely, we can just trample him. The power must be getting on my head, and I sure sound egotistic, but I don't like this development at all. We should be walking side by side with everyone and paving our way forward together!
My ideal scenario is completely ruined. In TNE, Hajin has been alone. Despite being a member of the Chameleon Troupe, and developing comradeship with them, they start off with a give-and-take relationship. And now, his situation with the main cast has become so much better.
Before I know it, I arrive at the deepest part of [Under Cube]. I see Yeonha sleeping in a glass tube. She is on cryogenic sleep. Whatever Yi Byul has done to her has made Yeonha fall into indefinite sleep. I glance at the almond-looking seed on a table just adjacent to Yeonha.
It appears that Hajin is telling us everything, but there is also a lot he is not telling us. For example, why does the Chameleon Troupe target Evandel? I understand the rationale for them attacking Yeonha though on the basis that they want her to fall into indefinite sleep. They can use this as a bargaining chip with Hajin.
But what of Evandel?
The poor little child. She doesn't have to suffer like that. She has suffered enough from the dungeon for years. I have decided to trust Hajin. After all, he is the protagonist. But that does not mean I will remain a pushover. How dare they attack me, the Great Savant? How dare they attack [Under Cube] and take away Evandel's life like that?
I will be also making my move.
There has to be someone who will keep Chameleon Troupe in check. Before they go off to the other worlds, and head their merry way on the Transcendent Plane, I should leave them with an unforgettable memory.
I have prepared my ensemble. I wear the familiar clothes as if they are skin to me. Yi Yoenjun cannot see me from his [Book of Revelation] through Hajin's information. I must take advantage of that, and of course, continue to hide my connection with Hajin.
Because my Nerve Synchronization with my AI System has gone by quite a lot, I am able to unlock and use a lot of new technology from [Under Cube]. I stuff the storage of my [Witch King] with a lot of items, most of them are the kinds that explode.
***
"When are we leaving?" Hajin impatiently asks. The faster they get done with this, the faster the burden in his heart can be lightened.
Yi Yeonjun replies. "A few more days. I am waiting for Jain to get me some things. Artifacts that will be useful in our adventure. Hey, I just want to ask. Since we are in a cooperative relationship, can I ask a favor?"
"What is it?" Hajin sharply responds.
"Savant, can you deal with him? The guy is giving me hibby jibbies. At the very least, can you gather information from him?"
"That depends." Hajin won't actively take part in researching this Savant, but he will do at least the bare minimum.
There is a reason for Yi Yeonjun to be wary of Savant. It is because of Savant's message through Kaita. The words are exactly 'He just provoked Hell,' and in Yi Yeonjun's mind, he cannot see these words as being coincidental. Perhaps, the war between Heaven and Hell has already started, and he doesn't know it yet.
While musing about the possibilities that Savant carries, Kaita suddenly starts gasping for air.
That is when, from a solo corner, Kaita suddenly explodes into a bloody pop.
"Oh my, I am thinking of doing it as a gag, but it is actually so~ brutal! Really~ awesome!" Replacing Kaita from where he stands is a masked man with disgusting bloody red everywhere in his clothes and below him. "Hey, I know that magicians don't reveal their tricks, but I am in a boasting~ mood!"
The mask has a question mark on its face. "Do you want me to get inside you and make you explode? It is fun!" He stands exactly at the epicenter from where Kaita explodes. His words elicit a disgusted groan from Hajin. He doesn't know what Savant is up to.
"Yi Yeonjun, Kim Hajin, Jin Yohan, Cheok Jungyeon, Yi Byul, and Droon." Savant, the intruder, recites the names of everyone present.
From Savant's peculiar witch-looking hat, he takes out something enormously big for its size to even fit from the hat's mouth-looking decoration. When the 'thing' has been finally revealed, Hajin's alarm goes haywire.
"Toodles," Savant vanishes into thin air.
"It is a nuclear warhead reinforced with magic power!" Hajin runs off to the nuclear warhead to get his [Setting Intervention] within its range. Hyon knows perfectly where Hajin's [Setting Intervention] won't reach. The nuclear warhead sets off before even Hajin can take a step further. In Hajin's mind, he has been screaming. 'What the fuck!? Are you trying to kill all of us?'
The thing is... Hajin barely survives that by using every stroke of his Stigma.
Chae Nayun gathers everyone in the [Control Room]. I follow as she instructs me to do. Within [Under Cube], except Yeonha, Hajin, and Jonghak, everyone is present.
I observe everyone, their moods are on the down and down. I want to cheer them up, be my usual clown, and dispel the negative atmosphere, but I cannot. Even my mood is rock bottom. We are outplayed by Yi Yeonjun. He is an unforeseen foe, we do not imagine him controlling the reins of the Chameleon Troupe.
The bastard is retired. That is how it should be. But it isn't.
"I will start with my report." I begin. "If it is the old Chameleon Troupe we know from the TNE manuscript, Savant would have succeeded, because Yi Byul, their Boss is a reasonable person. But now that it has come to light that Yi Yeonjun remains to be behind the Chameleon Troupe, a lot of things have changed. For example, Yi Yeonjun doesn't take well on Savant. He sets up an ambush on me, sending me four of Chameleon Troupe members."
I frown. Yi Yeonjun also has a penchant for theatrics like me. I recall the crucified Khalifa. The difference between the two of us though is that Yi Yeonjun is a genuine madman. "I killed three of them. I let one of them go on purpose and left him with a little something. I can go and rescue Hajin. I have the means. The I imbued on the Four of Diamonds has a time limit though so we have to make a decision fast."
"Can you bring me with you?" Suho is quite keen on attacking the Chameleon Troupe head-on.
I am pretty confident we will not lose against them in a hard-on confrontation. The main cast has become too strong this early in the story. Hell! The first sem has not ended yet! I know I have a hand in this, with Cube AI, and uniting the main casts, and I am proud of that.
"Too bad, Suho, I cannot. The skill can only bring me to the other side." I try thinking of a way to turn the tables against the Chameleon Troupe and put us in a more advantageous position. "However, I should be able to, with Hajin's help, create a ping location to tell you guys where we are... The others can follow us through a portal or normal transport."
"No. We will not be doing anything."
"Nayun," I call to her. "What is it that you are not telling us?"
Nayun reveals the [Orb of Solomon]. She quickly follows up with an explanation. "Hajin has allied with Yi Yeonjun. This Orb contains information that he received from Yi Yeonjun. I don't know why but Yi Yeonjun i strangely cooperative. I also don't know what he wants with Hajin. The only thing we know is that the two have something to gain from each other."
It is Rachel who has been silent the whole time who first inspects the [Orb of Solomon]. "How can he do something like that?" She grimaces, clearly disdainful of the information she receives from the Orb.
The next is Suho. "Why is he colluding with the enemy?"
Then this time, I take a gander on what information the Orb possesses. I similarly don't like what I am learning. Hajin will be going to the Transcendent Plane with the Chameleon Troupe to deal with the Devils involved with Yeonha and Nayun's brother. This pisses me off.
"So what? Are we supposed to suffer in silence, fiddle our thumbs, and wait for him to fix everything?"
There is a lot of loss of Hajin leaving so one-sidedly. How long will Hajin even be gone? I cannot imagine. But the loss is a lot! Besides losing the services of the future Godly Craftsman of this world with his SP and growing future abilities, we will also be losing access to the Little Blue Tower.
I walk out, incensed.
Nayun doesn't even stop me. I process the information I learn from the Orb. So what if Yi Yeonjun knows the future too? He is the villain! Surely, we can just trample him. The power must be getting on my head, and I sure sound egotistic, but I don't like this development at all. We should be walking side by side with everyone and paving our way forward together!
My ideal scenario is completely ruined. In TNE, Hajin has been alone. Despite being a member of the Chameleon Troupe, and developing comradeship with them, they start off with a give-and-take relationship. And now, his situation with the main cast has become so much better.
Before I know it, I arrive at the deepest part of [Under Cube]. I see Yeonha sleeping in a glass tube. She is on cryogenic sleep. Whatever Yi Byul has done to her has made Yeonha fall into indefinite sleep. I glance at the almond-looking seed on a table just adjacent to Yeonha.
It appears that Hajin is telling us everything, but there is also a lot he is not telling us. For example, why does the Chameleon Troupe target Evandel? I understand the rationale for them attacking Yeonha though on the basis that they want her to fall into indefinite sleep. They can use this as a bargaining chip with Hajin.
But what of Evandel?
The poor little child. She doesn't have to suffer like that. She has suffered enough from the dungeon for years. I have decided to trust Hajin. After all, he is the protagonist. But that does not mean I will remain a pushover. How dare they attack me, the Great Savant? How dare they attack [Under Cube] and take away Evandel's life like that?
I will be also making my move.
There has to be someone who will keep Chameleon Troupe in check. Before they go off to the other worlds, and head their merry way on the Transcendent Plane, I should leave them with an unforgettable memory.
I have prepared my ensemble. I wear the familiar clothes as if they are skin to me. Yi Yoenjun cannot see me from his [Book of Revelation] through Hajin's information. I must take advantage of that, and of course, continue to hide my connection with Hajin.
Because my Nerve Synchronization with my AI System has gone by quite a lot, I am able to unlock and use a lot of new technology from [Under Cube]. I stuff the storage of my [Witch King] with a lot of items, most of them are the kinds that explode.
***
"When are we leaving?" Hajin impatiently asks. The faster they get done with this, the faster the burden in his heart can be lightened.
Yi Yeonjun replies. "A few more days. I am waiting for Jain to get me some things. Artifacts that will be useful in our adventure. Hey, I just want to ask. Since we are in a cooperative relationship, can I ask a favor?"
"What is it?" Hajin sharply responds.
"Savant, can you deal with him? The guy is giving me hibby jibbies. At the very least, can you gather information from him?"
"That depends." Hajin won't actively take part in researching this Savant, but he will do at least the bare minimum.
There is a reason for Yi Yeonjun to be wary of Savant. It is because of Savant's message through Kaita. The words are exactly 'He just provoked Hell,' and in Yi Yeonjun's mind, he cannot see these words as being coincidental. Perhaps, the war between Heaven and Hell has already started, and he doesn't know it yet.
While musing about the possibilities that Savant carries, Kaita suddenly starts gasping for air.
That is when, from a solo corner, Kaita suddenly explodes into a bloody pop.
"Oh my, I am thinking of doing it as a gag, but it is actually so~ brutal! Really~ awesome!" Replacing Kaita from where he stands is a masked man with disgusting bloody red everywhere in his clothes and below him. "Hey, I know that magicians don't reveal their tricks, but I am in a boasting~ mood!"
The mask has a question mark on its face. "Do you want me to get inside you and make you explode? It is fun!" He stands exactly at the epicenter from where Kaita explodes. His words elicit a disgusted groan from Hajin. He doesn't know what Savant is up to.
"Yi Yeonjun, Kim Hajin, Jin Yohan, Cheok Jungyeon, Yi Byul, and Droon." Savant, the intruder, recites the names of everyone present.
From Savant's peculiar witch-looking hat, he takes out something enormously big for its size to even fit from the hat's mouth-looking decoration. When the 'thing' has been finally revealed, Hajin's alarm goes haywire.
"Toodles," Savant vanishes into thin air.
"It is a nuclear warhead reinforced with magic power!" Hajin runs off to the nuclear warhead to get his [Setting Intervention] within its range. Hyon knows perfectly where Hajin's [Setting Intervention] won't reach. The nuclear warhead sets off before even Hajin can take a step further. In Hajin's mind, he has been screaming. 'What the fuck!? Are you trying to kill all of us?'
The thing is... Hajin barely survives that by using every stroke of his Stigma.
