It has been more than 372 days since Kim Hajin’s disappearance and I have been enjoying life since then.
"This is the best..."
I lie flatly on the beach while wearing my usual ensemble of Savant. I have been working pretty hard for the past year and every day feels like I don’t have enough time in the world to do what I want and to finish what I intend to do.
"Finally, some rest time for myself..."
The beach is fairly empty. It is not even a commercial beach so it is understandable. This beach after all is an abandoned spot on the world map just like many others since Outcall.
"Hey, Tomer... What do you think? We can build a fort around here as a meeting spot. Isn't that nice? This will be a dope hideout."
"Ugh... I don't know! Why are you asking me!? I don't know about this stuff! Why am I even your secretary!? Pushing me on a job that I don't want... The meeting just finished… You should attend your own damn meeting, you slacker."
Tomer is meant to become a villain character in the TRH manuscript who will change sides at a crucial moment to aid the protagonist. It is the same for the TNE manuscript. Now… I am not so sure. With my existence, and all the things I have done, I have pretty much overwritten Tomer’s opportunities.
I purposefully recruited her to make her change sides just like in the manuscripts, except this time, she will not be able to experience her fortuitous opportunity of having to go to China and be 'invited' to a special place which is sad.
Tomer doesn't really have a choice either considering all of Djinn-kind being hunted down all thanks to my hand to the changes in the plot.
"Hey! Hey! I worked hard to sneak you on Cube. I already explained it to you..." For what I plan to accomplish without Hajin’s presence, I desperately need a secretary. Moreover, I will feel bad if Tomer really dies because of DDT.
Tomer is near my age, thus she can also attend Cube as per my manipulation. Moreover, she already has a perfect background story to go with being a student at a magic academy.
"Sorry... I am just being anxious..." She reasons. “But your excuses are getting weaker and weaker…”
"I understand. After all, this is the first time you have heard my goals. Even my comrades from Sinful don't know my real reason as to why I am gathering all of the surviving Djinns..."
I continue lying on the sands of the beach, and the mask continues to cover my face despite Tomer knowing who is under it. But. I am Savant now, so I can be more daring with my choice of words.
In this persona, I can be more unhinged.
"The time when I was recruiting you about 300 days ago, I claim that I desire to protect the Djinn kind because I believe that as a human being, there is still goodness in their hearts."
"..."
"I am lying. That is merely sophistry. It is the very same sophistry that I used to tell my comrades."
Silence.
The crashing of the water waves on the sand resounds, and I remain plainly lying on the sand. I stare at the blue-white sky. Beyond there must be worlds abound undiscovered by mankind.
Tomer expresses her curiosity. "Is this the reason why you brought me here? Alone? To tell me this? Why?"
"I needed a representative, and for an organization to thrive, they must have a vision, mission, and goals. That is why you must learn my intent. I want you to represent the Djinns under me… I lead you a lot, but I can never represent you… For one, I am not even a fucking Djinn… A leader and a representative are two different things…”
"What if I betray you?" Tomer suggests in disgust.
"Heh~" I snicker. "You should know... The Djinns cannot betray me. If they are brave enough, then they are free to try."
To the Djinns that I am able to convert, they will never dare go against me considering that only through me that they are able to free their minds from their Devil’s corruption. Not to mention, I can also hide them from Djinn Hunters.
"Yeah, I am sorry." Tomer sits beside me. She is still in her Cadet uniform, and because of me suddenly jumping on her and bringing her here, she doesn't have a change of clothes. “But you should attend your meetings…” She whispers softly.
I glance at her from the side. A healthy young Latina woman. "Hey, do you want to be my girlfriend?"
"Ugh... That’s very random… I know you are depressed but no..."
"Fine, you aren't my type anyway..."
I turn my gaze and continue looking at the sky. I feel like I have been transformed in the past year. It is more difficult than I thought to set up a wild goal for yourself and try accomplishing it as fast as you can.
It has been 372 days and I am still counting. Kim Hajin better make sure he saves Yeonha or he is dead.
Tomer addresses me with a dull tone. "So if your words back then are mere sophistry, then what is your real intention of rescuing and gathering Djinns?"
"World Domination."
"Wha—!?" Tomer exclaims in surprise. "Are you joking? That is not even funny!"
"..."
I am serious.
"You are serious," Tomer finally realizes.
Once the Chameleon Troupe is back, I will have the whole world come crashing down at them. That will be such an epic spectacle.
"Why?" She asks.
And I answer. "World Peace."
It is a contradictory yet childish thought resembling the motivations of a lot of villains I read in novels or watch on shows.
Yep, having the world at my beck on call to take revenge is just an added bonus.
"Oh, Rachel is asking you to join her to a dinner... Her birthday is nearing..."
"Reject it like I always do."
"But... she says everyone from Sinful will be coming too..." Tomer is a kind of honorary member of Sinful so she knows about the more intricate part of the Devil Hunter's Club, except the manuscripts.
The manuscripts, knowledge of the future, and an alternate timeline are our most guarded secret that binds Sinful together. Hmmm…
"What is the main agenda.. er… of this dinner meeting possibly? Except... the birthday..." I probe. I will rather use my time integrating the forces I manage to gather with difficulty. If the meeting is less important than my 'mission' then I will reject their invitation.
"The Tower of Miracle finally explodes. Rachel-ssi says they are going to decide on what to do with Creator's Sacred Grace Guild… and the others are pestering me that you should attend the meetings for once… Chae Nayun-ssi is especially vocal about this… Also, the birthday..."
Yeah, that's dirty, using her birthday as an excuse to force my hand! Ugh... Not bad, Rachel, you are improving!
"Ah~ I guess it is that time of the day..." I mean Nayun’s period and the Tower of Miracle exploding… Lol… “So… Tower went boom-boom, huh?" But really, I cannot think of a way to avoid Rachel this time. Why am I even so insistent about this? Hmmm... Rachel's birthday is five week's time, so I still have time.
I ponder on a reply for a few long minutes. "Tell them my stance. I will help Essence of the Strait swallow Creator's Sacred Grace, and also push Yun Seung-Ah to the Hero Association. I recall... Kim Suho’s personal project is with the Hero Association, right?"
"Yes, he is doing pretty well lately thanks to the information network Kim Hosup has established. With Rachel-ssi’s own intelligence unit, we have become quite formidable on that front."
Kim Hosup, one of the two friends I managed to earn after waking up in this life has also become Sinful's honorary member and unlike Tomer who is a professional errand girl, Hosup specializes in information gathering. I hope Hosup is doing well… I kind of left him with the business ventures that I left unattended.
It is Chae Nayun who has recruited him, something I don't dare do. My fears have gotten the better of me since I lost Evandel.
Ugh... I feel disgusted again.
A lot truly has happened.
After Kim Hajin’s disappearance: Kim Suho drops out from Cube and joins the Hero Association as an Agent, I choose to shift course to an Academic Course about History and Literature plus sttuff, and Rachel has secretly given up her name temporarily and is now attending Cube under an alias in an attempt to avoid possible harassment from Lancaster considering the flow of events.
Also, Rachel has also done some incognito stuff which is surprising, gaining uncontested control of England some time ago. Even to this day, I feel amazed at how much she has changed.
Lastly, Chae Nayun continues to get in touch with various businesses using her grandfather's name as a hammer to power through success. Thankfully, she can just hire business experts as supervisors. With Cube AI's analysis ability, it is more than appropriate for her to make the most correct business decisions.
Tomer voices her dissatisfaction with getting sand in her shoes. "Let's go. You already told me what you want to say."
"Just a few more minutes."
Finally, a ship comes across the horizon.
"Hey, isn't that Alberta? What is that ship doing here!? Wait... No way, you are really planning to build a fort here?" Tomer is confused, flabbergasted, and then enlightened.
"Yep, Alberta should have the construction materials with the ship. I will leave you to deal with it. I am going back to Cube. I will pick you up when you are done."
I teleport through and leave Tomer on her own.
When I open my eyes, I find myself in my own room within Under Cube. I see the almond seed of Evandel in a cuboid glass. I have been thinking about what to do with it, and even now, I cannot come to a decision.
I recall Rachel who is similarly in pain as her best friend is in a coma. This level of friendship between Rachel and Yeonha is something I never have seen before whether it is the manuscript or the novel I know.
There is no time to mourn. I push open the door thinking of how to spend my day meaningfully. "Hmmm... I feel like I am forgetting something... aah~ Shin Jonghak... I wonder where that guy is now."
Just like Kim Hajin, Shin Jonghak has disappeared except that only happened half a year ago.
"Wherever that guy is, I hope he is okay too," then with a snicker, I pray silently. "And I hope he steps on a poo!"
It has been more than 372 days since Kim Hajin’s disappearance and I have been enjoying life since then.
"This is the best..."
I lie flatly on the beach while wearing my usual ensemble of Savant. I have been working pretty hard for the past year and every day feels like I don’t have enough time in the world to do what I want and to finish what I intend to do.
"Finally, some rest time for myself..."
The beach is fairly empty. It is not even a commercial beach so it is understandable. This beach after all is an abandoned spot on the world map just like many others since Outcall.
"Hey, Tomer... What do you think? We can build a fort around here as a meeting spot. Isn't that nice? This will be a dope hideout."
"Ugh... I don't know! Why are you asking me!? I don't know about this stuff! Why am I even your secretary!? Pushing me on a job that I don't want... The meeting just finished… You should attend your own damn meeting, you slacker."
Tomer is meant to become a villain character in the TRH manuscript who will change sides at a crucial moment to aid the protagonist. It is the same for the TNE manuscript. Now… I am not so sure. With my existence, and all the things I have done, I have pretty much overwritten Tomer’s opportunities.
I purposefully recruited her to make her change sides just like in the manuscripts, except this time, she will not be able to experience her fortuitous opportunity of having to go to China and be 'invited' to a special place which is sad.
Tomer doesn't really have a choice either considering all of Djinn-kind being hunted down all thanks to my hand to the changes in the plot.
"Hey! Hey! I worked hard to sneak you on Cube. I already explained it to you..." For what I plan to accomplish without Hajin’s presence, I desperately need a secretary. Moreover, I will feel bad if Tomer really dies because of DDT.
Tomer is near my age, thus she can also attend Cube as per my manipulation. Moreover, she already has a perfect background story to go with being a student at a magic academy.
"Sorry... I am just being anxious..." She reasons. “But your excuses are getting weaker and weaker…”
"I understand. After all, this is the first time you have heard my goals. Even my comrades from Sinful don't know my real reason as to why I am gathering all of the surviving Djinns..."
I continue lying on the sands of the beach, and the mask continues to cover my face despite Tomer knowing who is under it. But. I am Savant now, so I can be more daring with my choice of words.
In this persona, I can be more unhinged.
"The time when I was recruiting you about 300 days ago, I claim that I desire to protect the Djinn kind because I believe that as a human being, there is still goodness in their hearts."
"..."
"I am lying. That is merely sophistry. It is the very same sophistry that I used to tell my comrades."
Silence.
The crashing of the water waves on the sand resounds, and I remain plainly lying on the sand. I stare at the blue-white sky. Beyond there must be worlds abound undiscovered by mankind.
Tomer expresses her curiosity. "Is this the reason why you brought me here? Alone? To tell me this? Why?"
"I needed a representative, and for an organization to thrive, they must have a vision, mission, and goals. That is why you must learn my intent. I want you to represent the Djinns under me… I lead you a lot, but I can never represent you… For one, I am not even a fucking Djinn… A leader and a representative are two different things…”
"What if I betray you?" Tomer suggests in disgust.
"Heh~" I snicker. "You should know... The Djinns cannot betray me. If they are brave enough, then they are free to try."
To the Djinns that I am able to convert, they will never dare go against me considering that only through me that they are able to free their minds from their Devil’s corruption. Not to mention, I can also hide them from Djinn Hunters.
"Yeah, I am sorry." Tomer sits beside me. She is still in her Cadet uniform, and because of me suddenly jumping on her and bringing her here, she doesn't have a change of clothes. “But you should attend your meetings…” She whispers softly.
I glance at her from the side. A healthy young Latina woman. "Hey, do you want to be my girlfriend?"
"Ugh... That’s very random… I know you are depressed but no..."
"Fine, you aren't my type anyway..."
I turn my gaze and continue looking at the sky. I feel like I have been transformed in the past year. It is more difficult than I thought to set up a wild goal for yourself and try accomplishing it as fast as you can.
It has been 372 days and I am still counting. Kim Hajin better make sure he saves Yeonha or he is dead.
Tomer addresses me with a dull tone. "So if your words back then are mere sophistry, then what is your real intention of rescuing and gathering Djinns?"
"World Domination."
"Wha—!?" Tomer exclaims in surprise. "Are you joking? That is not even funny!"
"..."
I am serious.
"You are serious," Tomer finally realizes.
Once the Chameleon Troupe is back, I will have the whole world come crashing down at them. That will be such an epic spectacle.
"Why?" She asks.
And I answer. "World Peace."
It is a contradictory yet childish thought resembling the motivations of a lot of villains I read in novels or watch on shows.
Yep, having the world at my beck on call to take revenge is just an added bonus.
"Oh, Rachel is asking you to join her to a dinner... Her birthday is nearing..."
"Reject it like I always do."
"But... she says everyone from Sinful will be coming too..." Tomer is a kind of honorary member of Sinful so she knows about the more intricate part of the Devil Hunter's Club, except the manuscripts.
The manuscripts, knowledge of the future, and an alternate timeline are our most guarded secret that binds Sinful together. Hmmm…
"What is the main agenda.. er… of this dinner meeting possibly? Except... the birthday..." I probe. I will rather use my time integrating the forces I manage to gather with difficulty. If the meeting is less important than my 'mission' then I will reject their invitation.
"The Tower of Miracle finally explodes. Rachel-ssi says they are going to decide on what to do with Creator's Sacred Grace Guild… and the others are pestering me that you should attend the meetings for once… Chae Nayun-ssi is especially vocal about this… Also, the birthday..."
Yeah, that's dirty, using her birthday as an excuse to force my hand! Ugh... Not bad, Rachel, you are improving!
"Ah~ I guess it is that time of the day..." I mean Nayun’s period and the Tower of Miracle exploding… Lol… “So… Tower went boom-boom, huh?" But really, I cannot think of a way to avoid Rachel this time. Why am I even so insistent about this? Hmmm... Rachel's birthday is five week's time, so I still have time.
I ponder on a reply for a few long minutes. "Tell them my stance. I will help Essence of the Strait swallow Creator's Sacred Grace, and also push Yun Seung-Ah to the Hero Association. I recall... Kim Suho’s personal project is with the Hero Association, right?"
"Yes, he is doing pretty well lately thanks to the information network Kim Hosup has established. With Rachel-ssi’s own intelligence unit, we have become quite formidable on that front."
Kim Hosup, one of the two friends I managed to earn after waking up in this life has also become Sinful's honorary member and unlike Tomer who is a professional errand girl, Hosup specializes in information gathering. I hope Hosup is doing well… I kind of left him with the business ventures that I left unattended.
It is Chae Nayun who has recruited him, something I don't dare do. My fears have gotten the better of me since I lost Evandel.
Ugh... I feel disgusted again.
A lot truly has happened.
After Kim Hajin’s disappearance: Kim Suho drops out from Cube and joins the Hero Association as an Agent, I choose to shift course to an Academic Course about History and Literature plus sttuff, and Rachel has secretly given up her name temporarily and is now attending Cube under an alias in an attempt to avoid possible harassment from Lancaster considering the flow of events.
Also, Rachel has also done some incognito stuff which is surprising, gaining uncontested control of England some time ago. Even to this day, I feel amazed at how much she has changed.
Lastly, Chae Nayun continues to get in touch with various businesses using her grandfather's name as a hammer to power through success. Thankfully, she can just hire business experts as supervisors. With Cube AI's analysis ability, it is more than appropriate for her to make the most correct business decisions.
Tomer voices her dissatisfaction with getting sand in her shoes. "Let's go. You already told me what you want to say."
"Just a few more minutes."
Finally, a ship comes across the horizon.
"Hey, isn't that Alberta? What is that ship doing here!? Wait... No way, you are really planning to build a fort here?" Tomer is confused, flabbergasted, and then enlightened.
"Yep, Alberta should have the construction materials with the ship. I will leave you to deal with it. I am going back to Cube. I will pick you up when you are done."
I teleport through and leave Tomer on her own.
When I open my eyes, I find myself in my own room within Under Cube. I see the almond seed of Evandel in a cuboid glass. I have been thinking about what to do with it, and even now, I cannot come to a decision.
I recall Rachel who is similarly in pain as her best friend is in a coma. This level of friendship between Rachel and Yeonha is something I never have seen before whether it is the manuscript or the novel I know.
There is no time to mourn. I push open the door thinking of how to spend my day meaningfully. "Hmmm... I feel like I am forgetting something... aah~ Shin Jonghak... I wonder where that guy is now."
Just like Kim Hajin, Shin Jonghak has disappeared except that only happened half a year ago.
"Wherever that guy is, I hope he is okay too," then with a snicker, I pray silently. "And I hope he steps on a poo!"
