In the dimly lit chamber of the Under Cube facility, I stand in front of a transparent vat containing the floating and cracking body of Yoo Yeonha. Aether, a stubborn blob of magic power, clings onto her, defying all attempts to remove it. I'm clad in my Cube Cadet uniform, a stark contrast to the eerie scene before me.
"Good news, Yeonha-ssi," I speak to the pseudo-corpse within the vat. "Nayun’s big bro just woke up and has recovered from the Devil’s Seed’s affliction. It appears we have a solution to this Devil’s Seed problem after all." My words hang in the air, directed more at the floating form than anyone else. She can't hear me, but it feels necessary to update her on the situation.
The Cube AI chimes in mentally, its synthetic voice resonating in my mind. "Subject: Yoo Yeonha is unresponsive."
"Yeah, I know," I reply, my gaze fixed on the cracked, ethereal shell that once housed the vibrant and sarcastic Yoo Yeonha.
Yoo Jinhyung materializes beside me, a sudden presence in the dimly lit chamber. He, the father of Yoo Yeonha, sports a stoic demeanor with black hair, black eyes, and a handsome appearance that contrasts with the surreal setting.
"What are you doing here?" he questions, his tone edged with a hint of suspicion.
"I built this vat where your dear daughter rests," I respond, meeting his gaze. "So it is that time of the day, huh?"
His eyes narrow as he looks at the transparent enclosure holding his daughter's fragile form. "A visit once a month... If you think giving such permission is charitable, then fuck off."
I raise an eyebrow at his hostility. "Good sir, you don’t have to be so hostile. We’ll cure her." My words hang in the air, a reassurance amid the tension that lingers in the confined space.
Yoo Jinhyung, the leader of the now number-one guild worldwide, stands before me, a contradiction to his prestigious position. Despite his authority, there's a palpable sense of dread in his eyes, and the scent of alcoholic indulgence hangs heavily around him.
"This is torture," he declares, the weight of his words filling the air.
I frown, but I keep my silence, allowing him to voice his anguish.
"If it were me, it would be nice if my dear Yeonha could now rest in peace," he continues, his voice heavy with a mixture of despair and resignation.
"Are you asking for her funeral?" I retort, my anger bubbling beneath the surface. "She’s not dead yet! Don’t kill her yet."
He looks at me, his gaze penetrating. "I don’t mind if it is just me, but her mother is hurting. Look, kid, look! My daughter has a hole in her chest, her skin has fissures as if she’s gonna die any moment! Tell me, is she even alive!?" His desperation echoes through the chamber, a plea for reassurance in the face of the deteriorating state of his daughter.
I stride toward Yoo Jinhyung, determined to convey a sense of reassurance amid the bleakness. "Of course, she is alive! I am the intellectual here, so you better listen to me!" I assert, hoping to instill confidence in the face of despair. As I approach him, I continue, "The fissures you see, that’s the effects of the Devil’s Seed fighting for cellular superiority in her body, and Yeonha’s cells fragmenting is Yeonha fighting the Devil’s Seed! Look, she hasn’t lost hope, so you better not lose hope!"
Yoo Jinhyung's gaze remains skeptical, his concern etched on his face. "And what if it fails? What if the Devil’s Seed takes over, wins, and then what will be left of my Yeonha?"
I turn away, my expression momentarily clouded with shame. "I am ashamed, but I feel the same… I am afraid… Now, I am about to lose another friend." Memories of Suho, trapped in another time, flood my mind. I left Rachel to monitor the situation through the PC I left in the abandoned factory, a sensitive matter that relies on her communication with Suho.
I can only rely on Rachel, a fellow core member of the organization, to monitor the communications with Suho. After all, it is quite a sensitive matter. My eyes return to the vat, my fist clenched with indignation.
Yoo Jinhyung walks towards the vat where his daughter's fragile form floats, a somber air enveloping him. His request is simple but carries the weight of a father's grief.
"Can you please leave me and Yeonha alone?" he asks, his hand reaching out to touch the glass of the vat.
I sigh, acknowledging his pain. "Sure," I respond, giving them the privacy they need. As I walk away, my thoughts echo with the realization that this is the least I can do for a grieving man.
In the recesses of my mind, I contemplate Yoo Jinhyung's presence within our operations. He has no direct affiliation with my organization, but his connection to old man Chae Joochul acts as a link between our worlds. Despite my sympathy for Yoo Jinhyung's plight, a layer of mistrust lingers. He is, after all, Chae Joochul’s lapdog, just like the rest of the Yoo clan. While the old man may appear as an ally, a healthy amount of paranoia prevents me from placing absolute trust in him.
I ascend to the surface level of Cube, the labyrinthine facility that has become my workplace. Absorbed in my thoughts, I mutter to myself, "I feel like I am forgetting something… Meh…" Dismissing the fleeting concern, I make my way to the cafeteria, a yearning for the familiar taste of its food lingering in my mind. As I approach an empty seat, a tray filled with sustenance, an unexpected disturbance shatters the peace.
"You bastard!" A high-pitched voice cuts through the ambient noise, and I turn to see a little girl, barely reaching my chest, shouting vehemently. Rice bits spill from her mouth as she brandishes her spoon in a display of unbridled fury.
"Uh oh…" The realization dawns on me. "Heya~! My step sister no. 2! Lyn, how are you!?" I address her by her fake name, attempting to diffuse the situation. Simultaneously, I activate my ability, casting a psychological invisibility cloak over both Aileen and myself. This skill allows me to blend seamlessly with the surroundings, lessening the commotion she is making.
Aileen stomps her way toward me, her anger palpable. "You are lucky we are in a public area, lest I would have dropped a building on you!"
"Relax, relax!" I urge, attempting to pacify the irate Aileen.
"So, can you fill me in with what you discovered?" she demands, her frustration evident.
I casually dismiss the tension. "It's a false alarm," I lie, the words slipping off my tongue effortlessly.
"What!?" Aileen reacts, disbelief etched on her face.
"Time travel? It's such a bullshit concept! It's impossible!" I continue to lie, maintaining a facade of certainty.
"R-really? No, lies! The Association—"
"Don't talk about the Association; we're in a public area!" I interject, shushing Aileen and glancing around cautiously. The need for discretion in discussing sensitive matters remains paramount.
I guide Aileen back to my lab, a space where we can freely discuss matters without the constraints of prying eyes. As before, the room is in a state of chaos, but it serves its purpose. I clear a spot, procuring a chair for both of us, and motion for Aileen to take a seat.
Aileen, however, finds herself unable to reach the chair due to its height. "Ugh…" she grumbles in frustration.
"Do you need help?" I offer, a hint of amusement in my voice.
"Fuck off!" Aileen retorts, utilizing her Spirit Speech to soar through the air and effortlessly land on the chair, bypassing the need for any assistance.
"What do you mean that the information I procured from the Association is a false alarm? The Association is now working with Djinns! It is definitely something heinous!" Aileen's frustration and concern are evident.
"Even if you go to the authorities or the UN, you won’t produce any results with just the documents you provided me alone," I assert, injecting a note of truth into the conversation. "As I said, time travel is such a bullshit concept that they might as well laugh at you first before they take it seriously." I continue, this time weaving a lie into the narrative. The lack of evidence in the documents Aileen provided would inevitably hinder any serious consideration.
Aileen looks at me with a sense of desperation. "What do I do? The djinns are bad news!" Her plea hangs in the air, seeking guidance in the face of an ominous threat.
"You can hide here within Cube for some time until the problems resolve themselves," I suggest to Aileen, attempting to offer a temporary solution.
"Resolve themselves? Do you hear yourself?" Aileen counters, her skepticism apparent.
"You have given your trust, so I will not disappoint you. However, you will have to wait for the results. You know me, I am the smart guy!" I assure her, buying time with my words. "As I collect evidence of the Hero Association’s wrongdoings, I will need you, Aileen-ssi, to lie low." I continue, hoping to appease her with my efforts. "Lie low for me, can you do that?"
Aileen sighs reluctantly. "Fine," she concedes. "Inform me immediately if you learn something new."
As I nod in agreement, my smartwatch pings with a message from Rachel. My eyes widen in shock as I read about the attack on the abandoned factory and the theft of my Interdimensional Router. "Fuuuuck!" I exclaim, frustration boiling over as I storm off.
Aileen, confused by my sudden outburst, calls after me, "Wait, Hyon! What happened?" She seems to be feeling a sense of deja vu at the moment.
In the dimly lit chamber of the Under Cube facility, I stand in front of a transparent vat containing the floating and cracking body of Yoo Yeonha. Aether, a stubborn blob of magic power, clings onto her, defying all attempts to remove it. I'm clad in my Cube Cadet uniform, a stark contrast to the eerie scene before me.
"Good news, Yeonha-ssi," I speak to the pseudo-corpse within the vat. "Nayun’s big bro just woke up and has recovered from the Devil’s Seed’s affliction. It appears we have a solution to this Devil’s Seed problem after all." My words hang in the air, directed more at the floating form than anyone else. She can't hear me, but it feels necessary to update her on the situation.
The Cube AI chimes in mentally, its synthetic voice resonating in my mind. "Subject: Yoo Yeonha is unresponsive."
"Yeah, I know," I reply, my gaze fixed on the cracked, ethereal shell that once housed the vibrant and sarcastic Yoo Yeonha.
Yoo Jinhyung materializes beside me, a sudden presence in the dimly lit chamber. He, the father of Yoo Yeonha, sports a stoic demeanor with black hair, black eyes, and a handsome appearance that contrasts with the surreal setting.
"What are you doing here?" he questions, his tone edged with a hint of suspicion.
"I built this vat where your dear daughter rests," I respond, meeting his gaze. "So it is that time of the day, huh?"
His eyes narrow as he looks at the transparent enclosure holding his daughter's fragile form. "A visit once a month... If you think giving such permission is charitable, then fuck off."
I raise an eyebrow at his hostility. "Good sir, you don’t have to be so hostile. We’ll cure her." My words hang in the air, a reassurance amid the tension that lingers in the confined space.
Yoo Jinhyung, the leader of the now number-one guild worldwide, stands before me, a contradiction to his prestigious position. Despite his authority, there's a palpable sense of dread in his eyes, and the scent of alcoholic indulgence hangs heavily around him.
"This is torture," he declares, the weight of his words filling the air.
I frown, but I keep my silence, allowing him to voice his anguish.
"If it were me, it would be nice if my dear Yeonha could now rest in peace," he continues, his voice heavy with a mixture of despair and resignation.
"Are you asking for her funeral?" I retort, my anger bubbling beneath the surface. "She’s not dead yet! Don’t kill her yet."
He looks at me, his gaze penetrating. "I don’t mind if it is just me, but her mother is hurting. Look, kid, look! My daughter has a hole in her chest, her skin has fissures as if she’s gonna die any moment! Tell me, is she even alive!?" His desperation echoes through the chamber, a plea for reassurance in the face of the deteriorating state of his daughter.
I stride toward Yoo Jinhyung, determined to convey a sense of reassurance amid the bleakness. "Of course, she is alive! I am the intellectual here, so you better listen to me!" I assert, hoping to instill confidence in the face of despair. As I approach him, I continue, "The fissures you see, that’s the effects of the Devil’s Seed fighting for cellular superiority in her body, and Yeonha’s cells fragmenting is Yeonha fighting the Devil’s Seed! Look, she hasn’t lost hope, so you better not lose hope!"
Yoo Jinhyung's gaze remains skeptical, his concern etched on his face. "And what if it fails? What if the Devil’s Seed takes over, wins, and then what will be left of my Yeonha?"
I turn away, my expression momentarily clouded with shame. "I am ashamed, but I feel the same… I am afraid… Now, I am about to lose another friend." Memories of Suho, trapped in another time, flood my mind. I left Rachel to monitor the situation through the PC I left in the abandoned factory, a sensitive matter that relies on her communication with Suho.
I can only rely on Rachel, a fellow core member of the organization, to monitor the communications with Suho. After all, it is quite a sensitive matter. My eyes return to the vat, my fist clenched with indignation.
Yoo Jinhyung walks towards the vat where his daughter's fragile form floats, a somber air enveloping him. His request is simple but carries the weight of a father's grief.
"Can you please leave me and Yeonha alone?" he asks, his hand reaching out to touch the glass of the vat.
I sigh, acknowledging his pain. "Sure," I respond, giving them the privacy they need. As I walk away, my thoughts echo with the realization that this is the least I can do for a grieving man.
In the recesses of my mind, I contemplate Yoo Jinhyung's presence within our operations. He has no direct affiliation with my organization, but his connection to old man Chae Joochul acts as a link between our worlds. Despite my sympathy for Yoo Jinhyung's plight, a layer of mistrust lingers. He is, after all, Chae Joochul’s lapdog, just like the rest of the Yoo clan. While the old man may appear as an ally, a healthy amount of paranoia prevents me from placing absolute trust in him.
I ascend to the surface level of Cube, the labyrinthine facility that has become my workplace. Absorbed in my thoughts, I mutter to myself, "I feel like I am forgetting something… Meh…" Dismissing the fleeting concern, I make my way to the cafeteria, a yearning for the familiar taste of its food lingering in my mind. As I approach an empty seat, a tray filled with sustenance, an unexpected disturbance shatters the peace.
"You bastard!" A high-pitched voice cuts through the ambient noise, and I turn to see a little girl, barely reaching my chest, shouting vehemently. Rice bits spill from her mouth as she brandishes her spoon in a display of unbridled fury.
"Uh oh…" The realization dawns on me. "Heya~! My step sister no. 2! Lyn, how are you!?" I address her by her fake name, attempting to diffuse the situation. Simultaneously, I activate my ability, casting a psychological invisibility cloak over both Aileen and myself. This skill allows me to blend seamlessly with the surroundings, lessening the commotion she is making.
Aileen stomps her way toward me, her anger palpable. "You are lucky we are in a public area, lest I would have dropped a building on you!"
"Relax, relax!" I urge, attempting to pacify the irate Aileen.
"So, can you fill me in with what you discovered?" she demands, her frustration evident.
I casually dismiss the tension. "It's a false alarm," I lie, the words slipping off my tongue effortlessly.
"What!?" Aileen reacts, disbelief etched on her face.
"Time travel? It's such a bullshit concept! It's impossible!" I continue to lie, maintaining a facade of certainty.
"R-really? No, lies! The Association—"
"Don't talk about the Association; we're in a public area!" I interject, shushing Aileen and glancing around cautiously. The need for discretion in discussing sensitive matters remains paramount.
I guide Aileen back to my lab, a space where we can freely discuss matters without the constraints of prying eyes. As before, the room is in a state of chaos, but it serves its purpose. I clear a spot, procuring a chair for both of us, and motion for Aileen to take a seat.
Aileen, however, finds herself unable to reach the chair due to its height. "Ugh…" she grumbles in frustration.
"Do you need help?" I offer, a hint of amusement in my voice.
"Fuck off!" Aileen retorts, utilizing her Spirit Speech to soar through the air and effortlessly land on the chair, bypassing the need for any assistance.
"What do you mean that the information I procured from the Association is a false alarm? The Association is now working with Djinns! It is definitely something heinous!" Aileen's frustration and concern are evident.
"Even if you go to the authorities or the UN, you won’t produce any results with just the documents you provided me alone," I assert, injecting a note of truth into the conversation. "As I said, time travel is such a bullshit concept that they might as well laugh at you first before they take it seriously." I continue, this time weaving a lie into the narrative. The lack of evidence in the documents Aileen provided would inevitably hinder any serious consideration.
Aileen looks at me with a sense of desperation. "What do I do? The djinns are bad news!" Her plea hangs in the air, seeking guidance in the face of an ominous threat.
"You can hide here within Cube for some time until the problems resolve themselves," I suggest to Aileen, attempting to offer a temporary solution.
"Resolve themselves? Do you hear yourself?" Aileen counters, her skepticism apparent.
"You have given your trust, so I will not disappoint you. However, you will have to wait for the results. You know me, I am the smart guy!" I assure her, buying time with my words. "As I collect evidence of the Hero Association’s wrongdoings, I will need you, Aileen-ssi, to lie low." I continue, hoping to appease her with my efforts. "Lie low for me, can you do that?"
Aileen sighs reluctantly. "Fine," she concedes. "Inform me immediately if you learn something new."
As I nod in agreement, my smartwatch pings with a message from Rachel. My eyes widen in shock as I read about the attack on the abandoned factory and the theft of my Interdimensional Router. "Fuuuuck!" I exclaim, frustration boiling over as I storm off.
Aileen, confused by my sudden outburst, calls after me, "Wait, Hyon! What happened?" She seems to be feeling a sense of deja vu at the moment.
