It was a blinding pain.
"Agh."
Unable to endure it, I collapsed to the floor.
The pain throbbed for about another minute before subsiding. I turned my head and looked at the Book of Truth. With two strokes, I had managed to learn of Pernin Jesus's recent circumstances, but unfortunately, I couldn't reach his current location.
[Pernin Jesus changed his name to 'Agus Benhamin' and is in hiding after undergoing plastic surgery.]
* * *
Sunday, the day before the semester began.
I visited the Seoul Magic Tower. It was to have a magic inscription engraved on my obsidian bracelet.
Tower society was full of vulgar materialists drenched in the mundane world, so I put on the suit I'd bought at the casino and headed out so I wouldn't be ignored.
"Mr. Kim Hajin. You're confirmed."
The security mercenary checked my name against the reservation list and let me in.
Inside the Tower, where classical melodies flowed gently, there were many others who had come with reservations besides me. As I looked around, a male magician approached me.
"Mr. Kim Hajin?"
"Ah, yes."
"Hello. I am Jin Yohan, a 4-star magician. You made a reservation regarding a magic inscription, correct?"
For a 4-star specializing in artifacts, he could be considered top-tier among those accessible to ordinary people. I nodded in satisfaction.
Jin Yohan gave me a quick once-over and spoke with a smile.
"Follow me. Let's go to my office."
Jin Yohan's office was on the 33rd floor.
As soon as I sat in the consultation chair, his secretary brought out coffee. Jin Yohan took a sip and got to the main point.
"What kind of magic inscription would you like engraved?"
"Physical ability enhancement. Or do you have something like physical defense magic?"
"Ah. Yes, we have those."
Jin Yohan projected a hologram into the air.
"First, this one. Haste……."
Haste. Strength Reinforcement. Barrier. Blood Circulation, and so on.
Most of them were mediocre magic inscriptions.
"Not those. One that can operate with more mana."
Usually, artifacts are engraved with magic inscriptions that consume little mana. Because no matter how much mana is inherent in the artifact itself, it can only support a spell on the level of 'Haste.'
However, this obsidian bracelet doesn't need such restrictions. I need something that requires a great deal of mana—so that even if I can only use it once a week, that one use's performance will be killer.
For example, something like 'Body Fortification' or 'Instant Awakening.'
"……."
The magician looked at me with a subtle expression, then nodded.
"It is possible, but it will be extremely expensive."
…….Thirty minutes later.
I came out having only made a reservation.
It seemed I'd have to wait a bit longer for the magic inscription.
Until the Master of Bokma cleared the Suwon Demon Lair.
* * *
The nearly month-long summer break had ended. The other cadets had been busy with overseas trips and whatnot, but I had spent my time doing nothing but combining childcare and training.
"The photos you took in Japan came out really well."
"Ah~ I wanted to go to Spain. But they said the portal contract suddenly expired."
The cadets who had returned to Cube seemed to have enjoyed their vacations in their own ways; they all looked bright.
You didn't even need to see their faces to know. Most had been absorbed in overseas travel, and some cadets had taken photos of themselves training and uploaded them.
[Enduring a difficult day, looking forward to a better tomorrow.]
For reference, this was a caption Shin Jonghak had personally posted on social media. The uploaded photo was an even more spectacular sight. Drenched in sweat, Shin Jonghak took a staged shot with his head leaning against his spear. Thanks to his handsome features, even that looked like a painting.
Anyway, like this, I was checking the social media statuses of key figures from time to time. Besides Shin Jonghak, Kim Suho and Yu Yeonha had infrequent social media activity, Rachel had the British royal family manage hers by proxy, and Chae Nayun had stopped uploading since the casino incident.
[…….It's complicated.
#FirstTimeLikeThis #ClancyEyalet #Confused #Annoyed #CubeCadet]
A short sentence recorded alongside a dark scenery photo of Clancy Eyalet, and long hashtags.
This was Chae Nayun's last post.
Like typical high schoolers, it seemed like she'd written it for attention over nothing much, but the reaction was explosive.
===
3,982 likes
Uyunha [Don't think about it too hard.]
orange2574 [What ㅠㅠ What happened?]
jonghak2 [Contact me.]
aeoaeo [Unnie, why haven't you been uploading lately?]
===
"…….That's a lot of likes."
Chae Nayun had a lot of followers to begin with, befitting a celebrity. Looking at it made me feel like I was the only outcast, so I just opened the stock chart. Let's observe the stock price of the Master of Bokma. Soon this graph would break through the ceiling.
Five more minutes passed like that, and at exactly 8 AM, Kim Suhyeok entered the classroom.
As soon as he arrived, he banged on the podium to draw the cadets' attention.
"Alright. Starting today, it's the second semester. As you know, there will be major changes in the second semester. Not only will the rankings change, but new cadets will transfer in. Some of you probably saw the transfer ceremony yesterday yourselves."
Transfer ceremony.
Now, from ten magic academies across the country, magicians who wanted to become heroes would transfer to Cube. Twenty per class, two hundred total. Among them, I had already familiarized myself with the notable magicians.
"And those transfer students will participate in classes starting today. Let them in."
The instructor clapped. The cadets clapped along. Then the front door creaked open. Beyond that door, twenty magicians draped in black robes entered.
At first, I watched without much thought.
Let's see.
One, two, three……. In an instant, my eyes snapped wide open.
"…….What the hell."
Among those twenty was someone who shouldn't be here.
His skin was bleached white, and his hair was dyed dark, but it was definitely him.
That face was definitely Tomer.
Tomer had a record of growing up in Korea since the age of ten and entering the Gangwon-do Magic Academy. He had become disillusioned with mage society and dropped out after four years, but simply having enrolled guaranteed his status. If you added the help of some Jains currently in Cube executive positions, he was certainly the perfect talent to infiltrate Cube.
"Everyone, go in and sit down."
At Kim Suhyeok's words, the magicians went to the empty seats and sat.
"Then I will now announce the ranking changes."
Tomer sat in a middle seat.
I checked my smartwatch to see if a message had arrived on my laptop, just in case.
[Tomer— He is a significant character, but his appearance and strength were too abrupt. Intended to create connections with key characters from early on.]
"…….Tch."
Doing pointless things.
"Rank 1, Kim Suho!"
Kim Suhyeok began announcing the changed rankings. His voice continued only until rank 10; from there, a poster on the classroom wall took over.
===
Rank 1 Kim Suho.
Rank 2 Shin Jonghak.
Rank 3 Rachel.
Rank 4 Chae Nayun.
Rank 5 Shen Yuan.
Rank 6 Yu Yeonha.
···
Rank 11 Yi Yeonghan.
···
Rank 17 Kim Horak.
···
···
Rank 334 Kim Hajin.
===
Rank 334. A figure that had climbed a whopping 600 steps. Hmm. A suitable mid-rank.
I was inwardly satisfied.
* * *
The first class after the start of the semester was outdoor training. For building camaraderie, so-called 'Dangerous Mountain Trek.'
"This mountain does not have dangerous monsters lurking in it. However."
The instructor in charge, Kim Suhyeok, held up his index finger with a frightening face.
"Instead, terrifying traps are lurking. These are thorough recreations of traps used by the Jains, and if you're careless, you could end up hospitalized, so be extremely careful."
After that, Kim Suhyeok divided 120 people into ten groups of twelve.
So the ten groups began their mountain hike from different entrances.
"Alright. Everyone, enter!"
Chae Nayun was in Group 3 among them. Kim Suho was also included in her Group 3.
"Oh. Chae Nayun."
"What."
Chae Nayun and Kim Suho led two magicians and eight cadets, stepping toward the mountain entrance.
They hadn't walked far, but goosebumps were already rising on their arms. The chilly wind was one thing, but suddenly everything darkened. For reference, the current time was 10:30 AM.
That alone was scary and eerie enough, but as the instructor said, the traps were considerable. Flames suddenly erupted from underground, and branches stretched out like tentacles, binding them; even ghosts appeared and threw the group into utter chaos.
"…….Ah, I almost had a heart attack."
At the appearance of a horribly hideous female ghost, all the cadets collapsed onto the ground. Had they prepared a summer horror special or something? Chae Nayun sighed, patting her chest.
"Ugh. Hey, this is really scary."
Even Kim Suho was wiping cold sweat and muttering.
Chae Nayun, watching him from afar, was suddenly reminded of something. What had been nagging at her mind and complicating her thoughts lately…….
"Hey."
"Hm, huh? What."
Kim Suho tilted his head.
Chae Nayun glanced around. The other cadets were all recovering from their shock and weren't paying attention to them.
So she mustered her courage, trying to act as nonchalant as possible, and stammered out words that didn't fit the situation.
"Just… we're friends, right?"
"What? Why are you asking something like that? You on meds?"
"…….Shut up and just answer."
"Ah, of course."
Chae Nayun smiled bitterly at Kim Suho's immediate answer. Kim Suho indeed thought of her as a friend. Maybe this was the normal reaction.
But that man, Kim Hajin, had declared that he wouldn't treat her as a friend. Unlike Kim Suho, it was a declaration that he would take a more proactive stance.
"But why ask that all of a sudden?"
"It's nothing. Well, it's just……."
It was then. Suddenly, the bushes to the right rustled, and a familiar face popped out.
Speak of the devil.
It was Group 6, led by Kim Hajin.
Kim Hajin was in Group 6 along with Rank 41 Simon Delrick and Rank 20 Yi Jiyoon. Group 6, having met by chance, naturally merged with Kim Suho's Group 3 to rest for a moment.
"…….Illusion Barrier?"
Group 6's hike had been smooth with only a few beasts appearing early on, but they had unwittingly fallen into the snare of an 'Illusion Barrier.'
"Yeah. We wandered for about an hour? But then he suddenly told everyone to get out with a frustrated face."
Simon Delrick pointed at a man leaning against a tree stump. Chae Nayun also glanced that way. Kim Hajin. He was focused on his smartwatch.
"At first I wondered what he was doing, but he found the exit in a brilliant way."
Chae Nayun quickly lost interest and nodded silently.
"Ah, right. Have you guys decided on your Team Play members this time?"
Simon Delrick asked again. As he said, Team Play would begin soon. Nothing had been announced yet, but Team Play was a joint training exercise passed down through Cube's generations.
"No."
Chae Nayun shook her head. Team Play was conducted with some fairness. Thus Chae Nayun couldn't be on the same team as Kim Suho, Yu Yeonha, Shin Jonghak, and the like. Usually, team composition was something like 'single-digit ranker, two-digit ranker, two three-digit rankers, low-ranked magician,' or 'two two-digit rankers, two three-digit rankers, high-ranked magician,' etc. (Of course, specific rank differences were taken into account appropriately.)
"I'm thinking of taking Kim Hajin."
Yi Jiyoon, who had been modestly quiet until then, suddenly cut in. It was so unexpected that Chae Nayun's body flinched.
Kim Suho pitched in with a smile.
"Hajin? Sounds good."
"Kim Suho, you're close with him too?"
Yi Jiyoon asked with a smiling face.
"Uh… yeah."
It was an ambiguous question, but Kim Suho nodded for now. Then Yi Jiyoon's face brightened.
"As expected, Suho is such a social butterfly~"
It was fox-like eloquence that made people feel good. Chae Nayun felt slightly uncomfortable.
"But why Kim Hajin? His rumors aren't very good."
Simon Delrick asked with a slightly jealous tone. Unlike Kim Hajin, whose rumors were pretty bad, Yi Jiyoon was quite popular. For starters, her face was the very picture of pure, fragile beauty, and her talent placed her at the top among supporters.
"Jiyoon, everyone must want you."
She could fire mana arrows loaded with special buffs. Their effects were outstanding as well, so most of the top guilds in the country already had their eyes on her.
"Kim Hajin is the best among the three-digit ranked cadets, isn't he? He's smart too. And from what I saw when he fought Kim Horak during the midterms, his combat skills were outstanding."
Lee Jiyoon cast an inscrutable gaze toward Kim Hajin, who was standing some distance away. Kim Hajin merely scratched his cheek, whether he had heard the praise or not. Lee Jiyoon turned her head again to look at Chae Nayun.
"Nayun, what do you think?"
"...Huh?"
Lee Jiyoon and Chae Nayun were typical SNS friends. The kind of light friends who only exchanged likes and comments on social media.
Chae Nayun brushed her hair back and answered offhandedly.
"Well, if you want to do it together, just do it. Why ask something like that?"
Chae Nayun had said that much, but hearing it now, it did seem to be true.
Kim Hajin was an outstanding resource to be called 300th rank. No, to begin with, Kim Hajin wasn't someone with the skill to be stuck at 334th place. Both Yoo Yeonha and Chae Nayun had nearly reached the level of certainty regarding that.
"Really? Then I should ask him today."
"...But."
As Lee Jiyoon took a charging stance, Chae Nayun quickly added.
"He's a way pickier guy than he looks, you know? So, it might not work out either."
"...Huh?"
"I mean... Lee Jiyoon, you might get hurt, that's what I mean. He's an extremely cold-hearted guy."
"Right. The rumors about him aren't good either."
Simon Delick chimed in. He excitedly gossiped about bad rumors regarding Kim Hajin. That he went to Seoul every weekend to enjoy lewd entertainment, or that he regularly received payments from criminal organizations, or that he had several women sponsoring him... They were groundless rumors that had snowballed.
"...Do you believe that kind of bullshit rumor?"
"Hey Delick. Did you see it yourself?"
In the end, Chae Nayun and Kim Suho, unable to endure it any longer, cut in simultaneously. The flustered Delick's pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck.
"Uh, no?"
Chae Nayun silently glared at Delick, then rose from her seat.
Kim Suho changed the atmosphere by clapping his hands.
"Alright. Let's start hiking again. We'll be late."
* * *
The night after all classes had ended.
Yoo Yeonha finished preparing for the video call. Her face was completely covered, and her voice was thoroughly modulated.
"Ahem."
Today was the day of her first meeting with Nakhwa, the information guild she had personally organized. She cleared her throat just in case something went wrong.
—Ring, ring.
Soon, the video call began. The three team leaders of Nakhwa greeted her with bare faces.
"Greetings."
—It is an honor, Master.
The dignified responses of the team leaders satisfied Yoo Yeonha greatly.
All members of Nakhwa were people Yoo Yeonha had personally evaluated and selected. Even if their specs on paper weren't outstanding, if they had potential, she snatched them up without hesitation.
The founding members gathered in this way totaled twenty-one.
Yoo Yeonha divided those twenty-one into three departments.
Team 1 was 'Spies', who acquired the plans and information of competing guilds.
Team 2 was 'Scouts', who reported the existence and location of new dungeons or monsters of intermediate grade and above.
And the final Team 3 was 'Shadows', who would handle Yoo Yeonha's personal affairs.
"Team 1's highest priority is identifying the plans of competing guilds such as 'Creator's Grace', 'Silent Moon', etc. And Team 2 is..."
She continued speaking in a rigid tone that made it impossible to even distinguish her gender. Afterward, the heads of Team 1 and Team 2 each recalled their missions and disconnected on their own.
What remained was Team 3. An elite team Yoo Yeonha had picked with particular care.
They were Yoo Yeonha's 'Shadow Hand' (暗首), who would operate thoroughly in the dark—from light covert activities such as background checks and tailing, to kidnapping, threats, and if there were no other method, even murder.
"I command you to dig up the past of the five targets above. However, acts that catch the targets' attention or harm the targets are strictly forbidden."
Yoo.