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Author: Renegade

  • Gatekeeper Of The Boundless World Chapter 34

    The Martial Arts Group Headquarters.

    Basement.

    Shen Ye crouched next to the corpse, resting his chin on his hand, silently dazed.

    As he thought back to the strange tone of Qian Rushan’s voice on the phone when he had requested to take another look at the body, Shen Ye couldn’t help but feel that his behaviour might seem a little off.

    —For a teenager to enjoy spending time with corpses under the pretense of “searching for clues”…

    It did seem a bit odd.

    But there was no other choice.

    It was already evening.

    He had no idea how things were going on Xiao Mengyu’s side.

    He had to come and ask.

    “No one’s around,” the large skeleton whispered.

    Shen Ye nodded, his gaze falling on the assassin’s corpse.

    “Shall we chat again?” he asked.

    The corpse opened its eyes, taking a moment to process before replying, “What do you want to talk about?”

    Shen Ye asked, “Xiao Mengyu of the Luo family is a swordswoman. If she faces the ‘Skinner,’ what are her chances of winning?”

    “Xiao Mengyu? I’ve heard of her. She’s the Luo family’s prodigy of this generation,” the corpse murmured thoughtfully. “She’s exceptional at leveraging various situations to secure victory, with combat talent that’s truly remarkable.”

    “So she can win?” Shen Ye asked.

    “No, she’ll lose,” the corpse replied.

    “But you just said she’s extraordinary,” Shen Ye said, annoyed.

    “The ‘Skinner’ is a top-tier assassin. His identity is shrouded in mystery—no one knows where he came from. And anyone who has seen him fight with all his strength is dead. Not a single survivor,” the corpse explained.

    “Xiao Mengyu still can’t beat him?” Shen Ye pressed.

    “When the ‘Skinner’ first appeared, he killed a seasoned expert from a noble family, shocking the world. Despite relentless pursuit over the years, he’s managed to survive for decades without a scratch,” the corpse said.

    “The Xiao Mengyu you speak of is just a teenage girl. No matter how gifted she is, she’s still too young and far from being his match.”

    The corpse’s tone was serious.

    “He killed someone from a noble family and still managed to survive?” Shen Ye was skeptical.

    The corpse clarified, “To be precise, he was hired for a mission tied to internal conflicts within the family.

    “In situations like that, the family isn’t united, so they won’t fully commit to hunting him down—”

    “Even so, it’s still quite impressive.”

    “It is indeed impressive,” Shen Ye agreed.

    “By the way, the ‘Skinner’ has never failed a mission,” the corpse added.

    “One last question,” Shen Ye said.

    “Go ahead,” the corpse responded.

    “Do you have any other team members?”

    “No, just the ‘Skinner.’ We originally thought this was a simple mission… Who could have predicted it would turn out like this?” the corpse sighed.

    Yes.

    The original Shen Ye was already dead.

    Their mission should have long been completed. They should have left this city and collected their reward.

    But then I came.

    “If there’s nothing else, rest in peace,” Shen Ye said.

    The corpse closed its eyes.

    Shen Ye slowly stood up and turned to leave.

    Xiao Mengyu was in danger.

    He had initially planned to rely on her strength to uncover the truth, but instead, he had put her in harm’s way.

    Her brother had died trying to help him.

    Chen Haoyu was dead.

    The eyewitness was likely dead as well.

    How many more lives would it take?

    She was the only one still putting everything into this investigation.

    …She can’t die.

    But with my strength, how can I participate in a fight like this?

    No.

    Maybe I don’t need to fight.

    I just need to get her out.

    First, I have the door.

    Second, I still have the Ghostfire motorcycle.

    There’s hope.

    “Hey, this is dangerous. Don’t go throwing your life away. If you die, what will I do?” the large skeleton said quietly.

    “Shut up. Do you think you can avoid it?” Shen Ye retorted.

    Back at the dormitory.

    Shen Ye stored the Ghostfire motorcycle in his ring and strapped the Nightfall dagger to his back. Everything was ready.

    Suddenly, his phone rang.

    Qian Rushan’s voice came through the receiver:

    “Tonight, your entire floor will be sealed off. No one is allowed to leave. We’ll depart first thing in the morning.”

    “What? Sealed off completely?” Shen Ye exclaimed.

    “Yes, it’s for your safety. Get some rest. See you tomorrow,” Qian Rushan said.

    The call ended.

    Shen Ye fell into deep thought.

    Great. Now I can’t get out.

    What now?

    Am I supposed to watch Xiao Mengyu walk to her death?

    Suddenly, the phone rang again.

    It was an unfamiliar number.

    Shen Ye’s heart tightened as he quickly answered.

    A young girl’s unfamiliar voice spoke:

    “Is this Shen Ye?”

    “Yes, I am.”

    “My mom said that if I couldn’t reach her, I should find you and report it to the police with you.”

    “And you are?”

    “My mom is a nurse at the city hospital. She saw the ghost incident with you that day.”

    The eyewitness!

    That explained how she knew his phone number.

    —When he had gone to see Chen Haoyu, he had registered his contact information at the nurse’s station.

    “Where’s your mom?” Shen Ye asked immediately.

    The sound of sobbing came from the other end. “She told me to go to Maplewood Hotel on the west side of the city to meet her, but…”

    “But what?”

    “I can’t reach her now.”

    “Where are you?” Shen Ye asked urgently.

    After a moment of hesitation, she replied, “I’m at Star Fast Food on Changhong Street, across from the Maplewood Hotel.”

    “Okay. Don’t move. Wait for me—and report this to the police immediately,” Shen Ye instructed.

    “Okay.”

    The call ended.

    “It’s not worth it. Be careful of traps,” the large skeleton warned.

    “The corpse said the only one left is the ‘Skinner.’ Dead people don’t lie to me,” Shen Ye replied.

    “It’s so safe here. Why look for trouble?” the skeleton tried to dissuade him again.

    “Enough,” Shen Ye said calmly. “Someone’s trying to kill me. Don’t you get that?”

    “—Am I supposed to hide forever? To the point that I don’t even dare find out who’s trying to kill me?”

    The large skeleton remained silent.

    A resolute gleam flashed through Shen Ye’s eyes.

    The Mortal Martial Arts Group had given him everything they could.

    Until he proved himself more valuable, they wouldn’t go to great lengths for him, let alone actively pursue the assassins from the Assassin’s league.

    After all, assassins would rather die than reveal their secrets.

    If not for his unique necromantic talent derived from the Nightmare World, he wouldn’t have been able to uncover the truth either.

    In other words—

    If he wanted to seek the truth, he could only rely on himself!

    —Though having allies would be even better.

    Shen Ye softened his tone and said, “Help me check if there’s anyone outside.”

    “I sense two flames of life in the corridor. It’s clear someone is patrolling. If you go out, you’ll be spotted immediately,” the large skeleton responded.

    —The hallway wasn’t an option.

    Whether for safety or secrecy, it was best to make everyone believe he was still in his room at the Mortal Martial Arts building.

    Shen Ye gazed out the window.

    This was over a hundred stories above ground level.

    Although Qian Rushan had taken a significant number of people on some mission, plenty of personnel still remained stationed here.

    “There are no life signs outside the window, but if you plan to fly out on a hover bike, its noise will give you away instantly,” the large skeleton noted.

    “Seems like I can’t use the bike,” Shen Ye muttered to himself.

    “Exactly. You can’t fly, so just stay put in your room. That way, both of us stay safe,” the skeleton urged again, taking the opportunity to advise caution.

    Pacing back and forth in the room, Shen Ye suddenly murmured to himself, “Emergency escape route…”

    “What?” the large skeleton asked.

    Shen Ye ignored it and pressed an invisible point in the air.

    A door appeared out of nowhere.

    Opening the door revealed the secret battlefield tunnel within.

    “Dismiss.”

    The door disappeared.

    Shen Ye stretched out his hand again, tilting his fingers inward slightly as he pressed at the air.

    The door reappeared.

    This time, however, there was an angle between the door and the floor.

    The tunnel behind the door sloped upward, like an incline.

    “It worked,” Shen Ye said.

    “Worked? What worked?” The large skeleton sounded confused.

    Without answering, Shen Ye leapt onto the windowsill and observed the sky outside.

    Nightfall was approaching.

    It looked like rain was coming. Despite the strong winds, the thick clouds overhead remained unmoved.

    The dense cloud cover was a boon.

    At least the building was shrouded in mist, making it impossible for anyone to see what might appear outside.

    Shen Ye leaned forward and looked down.

    The city below looked like a miniature model, impossibly far away.

    —From this height to the ground?

    Clenching his teeth, Shen Ye allocated all seven available attribute points to agility.

    His agility now stood at 10.1.

    A strange sensation overcame him, as though he were light as a feather, capable of soaring with the wind—or like a fish darting effortlessly through the water.

    He shook his head slightly.

    This was merely an illusion caused by the sudden surge in agility.

    Still—

    He could now perform the “Phantom Step” technique from Moonlit Deer Steps!

    “You’re not planning to jump, are you?”

    The large skeleton exclaimed in alarm:

    “Let me tell you, no matter how high your agility is—even at 30—you’ll die from this height!”

    Staring at the distant ground, Shen Ye said, “No time to explain, Skeletal Shrimp. Let’s go!”

    “You—what the hell!” the skeleton shouted.

    Shen Ye had already leapt from the window.

    Wind howled past his ears as he plummeted.

    The speed of his fall increased rapidly.

    Then, at a critical moment—

    He extended his hand, his five fingers slightly curled inward, and commanded:

    “Door!”

    A door appeared at an angle.

    Shen Ye kicked it open and dashed up the sloped tunnel behind it.

    The incline provided enough resistance to slow his momentum significantly.

    At the end of the tunnel—

    “Door!”

    Another door materialized.

    Shen Ye crashed through it, further slowing his descent.

    He re-emerged in the air, continuing to fall.

    Raising his hand, he conjured another door.

    Once more, he rushed up the steep incline, each slope acting like the emergency escape ramps on mountain highways used to slow runaway trucks.

    After three consecutive runs, his speed had diminished greatly.

    Still descending, he opened new doors whenever his speed approached a dangerous threshold, using the ramps to counteract his momentum.

    Finally—

    Thud.

    Bending his knees slightly to absorb the remaining impact, Shen Ye landed in the greenery along the building’s side.

    He jumped out of the bushes and slipped into the shadow of a large tree across the street.

    Cold winds howled.

    Rain was imminent.

    —Thanks to the dark clouds and impending storm, no one noticed his actions.

    “You’re insane! I thought I was going to die in this barren world of yours!” the large skeleton roared in fury.

    “Stop complaining and bring out the hover bike. We’ve got work to do tonight,” Shen Ye replied, scanning his surroundings.

    Moments later, the bike unfolded before him.

    Reciting softly, Shen Ye said:

    “To kill within ten steps, leaving no trace for a thousand miles..”

    The bike roared to life.

    A trail of fire streaked through the night as it sped toward the city’s western outskirts.

  • About a Dating Sim Where Dating Is Impossible Chapter 79

    As the Prince Intended, the Gates Opened

    However, this did not mean that the prince’s wishes had been fulfilled. Through the open gates rode Murad, advancing slowly on horseback. Kneeling before him were the city’s elites—the very same people who had once stood face to face with the prince. The elites solemnly extended their arms, welcoming Murad with reverence.

    “We bow before our lord, our ruler, and our protector, the Sultan!”

    Murad looked down at them with a satisfied smile. The betrayal of Nemeapatre was inevitable. Dragases intent to establish a new ruling order in central Greece, keeping the native powers in check, had never been about coexistence. It was a demand for submission. The elites, unwilling to let their possessions be taken while fully conscious, chose to serve the Sultan instead.

    Murad, in turn, was a man who knew how to show magnanimity and generosity to those who served him—along with how to neutralize his rivals. If Dragases sought to subdue them through authority, Murad would make them willingly offer their loyalty through his tolerance.

    “I have heard of the hardships you endured under Dragases rule. Fear not. My army will not pillage Nemeapatre.”

    “We are endlessly grateful for the grace and mercy bestowed by the Sultan!”

    But Murad knew these words were meaningless. After all, wasn’t Dragases a meticulous man? No matter how quickly the Ottomans struck, Dragases would never allow critical supplies to fall into enemy hands. Replenishing supplies would inevitably mean demanding the city’s resources himself. Rather than forcing it, Murad had prepared the stage so the elites would offer everything willingly. His approach proved successful.

    The elites of Nemeapatre were deeply moved and bowed their heads sincerely before the Sultan.

    On the battlefield, all eyes were on Murad, gazing at him as their Sultan. From afar came the sounds of clashing swords, and Murad closed his eyes in satisfaction. Everything was prepared. The only task remaining was to seize Nemeapatre quickly and strike at the prince’s rear.

    “Command the unit leaders to advance. Put the slave soldiers at the forefront to prepare for any potential resistance, and raise the banners to inform the citizens that I have arrived.”

    The Ottoman soldiers followed the order without question. As thousands of soldiers marched in unison, it felt as if the earth itself trembled. Murad, momentarily lost in his reverie, opened his eyes and let out a faint laugh.

    “Today will finally be recorded as the day the world changes.”

    Watching his forces advance into the city, Murad resolved as such.

    Yet the plan envisioned by the prince now turned into a trap, tightening around its own origin.

    Three hundred members of the suicide squad were locked in fierce combat with enraged citizens. Though the citizens were poorly armed, their overwhelming numbers held advantage. Under the cover of night, with no clear distinction between friend and foe, the suicide squad struggled against the sudden ambush.

    “You filthy looters! Dragases is no different! All he cared about was his own safety!”

    The cries of anger said it all. Once, Dragases had deliberately incited the citizens’ discontent to open the gates and lure Murad inside, but now that strategy had backfired. The citizens acted as Dragases had anticipated—only the timing was off. The price for that error would be the annihilation of the suicide squad.

    On the day the prince left Nemeapatre, the citizens, realizing they had been abandoned, grew even more furious. Hadn’t he driven them so harshly, claiming it was to resist the Ottomans? Yet he had been the first to flee. It was only natural for revolt to break out across the city. Even amid this large-scale revolt, the suicide squad had managed to endure solely due to their superior armaments and minimal unity.

    But it was only a matter of time.

    The clash of blades, the sound of spears scraping against chainmail, and the cries of anguish filled the air. Agonized screams were drowned out by the furious shouts of repressed rage, and headless bodies spurted crimson fountains, heralding the imminent arrival of the conqueror. The pounding of hearts pierced by spears became the drumbeat of a ruthless military march.

    Watching the slain, the revolting citizens began to organize themselves, fear and frenzy compelling them to form ranks.

    The sight forced the lieutenant leading the suicide squad to grit his teeth in frustration.

    Has God truly forsaken the prince? Has He forsaken this land?

    The lieutenant was faced with a choice.

    Should they hold out until the Ottoman forces fully entered the city? Or should they initiate the fire attack earlier than planned? The lieutenant understood what was needed to win this desperate battle.

    As the leader of the suicide squad, the prince had personally explained the plan to him in detail. Though initially horrified, the lieutenant had eventually nodded, burdened by the responsibility of knowing that the success of the fire attack could decide the empire’s fate.

    The damage dealt needed to be catastrophic. But could they hold out until the right moment? The dilemma gnawed at him. The cries of fallen comrades hastened his decision. This was the torment of one who bore the burden of lives. Having resolved to die, the only concern now was the success or failure of the fire attack. But at this rate, the suicide squad would be wiped out before they could even attempt it.

    The lieutenant made his decision.

    “Commence the fire attack! Burn everything—everything!”

    “But, sir…”

    The soldier holding the torch hesitated. It was an unimaginably massive plan to burn down the entire city. It was impossible to estimate how many lives would be lost in the process. Understanding this hesitation, the lieutenant grabbed the torch from the soldier. Ignoring the startled cry of the soldier, the lieutenant approached the jar filled with Greek fire.

    “O Lord, I rise for my faith, and now I throw myself into hell for the sovereignty and freedom of my family.”

    Before the lieutenant could move the torch, flames had already begun to rise from the city. Other detachments, unable to hold out any longer, must have made the same decision. The lieutenant could not suppress the tears that welled up. How could the sight of sparks spreading far and wide from the flickering flames be so both beautiful and tragic? Soon, under the light of the flames, he saw citizens advancing and Ottoman banners marching beyond the barricade. Without hesitation, the lieutenant threw the torch into the jar.

    A pillar of fire erupted instantly.

    At last, the citizens faltered. And in that brief hesitation, the fire spread wildly, fanned by the wind, scattering sparks in all directions. These embers, which might have extinguished quickly if they were ordinary flames, became the citizens’ fatal mistake.

    “F-fire! My body’s on fire!”

    “Aaaaah! No! Aaaagh!”

    The Greek fire devoured its victims in an instant. Neither water nor the strongest wind could put it out. In fact, the more water was poured on, the fiercer the flames became. Horrified, the citizens began to flee. Early attempts to extinguish the fire failed entirely, and the most critical stage of the flammable strategy was overcome. Before long, the flames that started near the barricades spread to the nearby homes.

    Those who had followed the prince’s evacuation order early on survived. Those who refused met their end, screaming in unbearable heat. Amid this chaos, the Ottoman vanguard halted their advance.

    “W-what is this? How could the flames spread this fast?”

    The inferno consumed everything.

    When they turned to retreat, they found their path already devoured by the ravenous flames. Soldiers who had rushed forward for glory now found themselves trapped, one by one consumed by the fire. It made no distinction between the innocent and the combatants. The determined detachment, prepared to die, the citizens who had risen up against oppression, and the Ottomans dreaming of a new world—all of them were consumed by the flames.

    “Aaaaaah! Aaaaagh!”

    The wind carried screams and the massive sounds of collapsing buildings to the survivors, who stood frozen in horror. They saw the writhing figures still trapped in agony, their burned skin offering no break from the searing heat. Their bloodied, burnt throats swelled, silencing even their screams. The fallen disappeared into the blackened smoke that swallowed everything.

    “This… this is hell…”

    Someone muttered as they watched the black smoke writhe and slither like a living creature, hungrily consuming corpses. Murad, who had been smiling with delight at the victory within his grasp, now wore a contorted expression. He appeared both sorrowful and regretful, yet a faint sigh of relief escaped his lips.

    “…I see now. This entire city was a trap you set.”

    He had anticipated that they might use Greek fire. But to use the city walls as a cage and burn the entire city to the ground—who could have foreseen such a strategy? The cost was horrifying: countless soldiers, unaware of the trap, met a gruesome death.

    Yet it wasn’t just the soldiers who perished. The citizens, forced to sacrifice themselves for the plan’s success, and the soldiers of Dragases must have also met tragic ends in the flames. Truly brutal. Deeply heartbreaking and regretful.

    At this moment, Murat felt pity for Dragases.

    “Did you truly believe that this was the only way to protect what you hold dear? To throw away everything you vowed to safeguard, just to defend the empire?”

    To save his dying nation, Dragases had thrown tens of thousands of lives onto the scales without hesitation. The conviction—and madness—of a man willing to burn everything for his homeland sent shivers down Murad’s spine.

    “What is the worth of a thousand years? What is the worth of an empire?”

    Was the millennial empire truly worth sacrificing tens of thousands of citizens? To risk everything for a homeland ruled by an emperor who had repeatedly endangered his life? Murad could not comprehend how someone with the ability to soar high, if they only abandoned the title of a prince of the millennial empire, could remain so shackled by the glories of the past.

    “…I will set your soul, bound to the old era, free. I will end your stubbornness, trapped by the illusion of a thousand years. So, show me more. This cannot be the end. You, who were willing to burn tens of thousands to protect your nation, would not have staked everything on a single trap.”

    The determination of someone who dared to burn tens of thousands to save the millennial empire. Dragases would not have been foolish enough to risk everything on one city. Grinding his teeth, Murad resolved.

    “If the name of the millennial empire has bewitched you so thoroughly, then I will gladly destroy it myself.”

    Standing before the burning city, amid the screams of its people and the horrified stares of his soldiers, Murad made his vow again and again.

  • A doomsday-level returnee devours calamities Chapter 28

    “Korean…? You know how to write in Korean?”

    When Taeseong looked at her, she beamed brightly and nodded vigorously.

    ‘Was the message she wanted to convey a thank-you?’

    Since it was his first time encountering such a situation, Taeseong was quite flustered.

    “What on earth is she thankful for?”

    When she gestured toward his hand with her eyes, Taeseong extended his hand again.

    Village.
    For saving.
    Thank you.

    “Ah… Are you talking about that lunatic and the red mask in the forest?”

    Nod.

    “…How do you know how to write in Hangeul?”

    In the past.
    A Korean came here.
    He taught me.

    “A Korean?”

    Nod.

    Considering the proximity, it wasn’t impossible, though it did spark a bit of curiosity. A Korean teaching Korean to a ghost—what an intriguing thought.

    “Do you know his name?”

    “…”

    After a moment of hesitation, the woman began writing slowly.

    Taeseong read aloud the letters etched onto his palm one by one.

    “Hong… Gil… Dong…?”

    The woman nodded repeatedly.

    Hong Gil-dong.

    A name every Korean has likely heard at least once. A man of misfortune who couldn’t call his father “father” or his brother “brother.”

    One of the most famous outlaws in Joseon history—or perhaps in all of Korean history.

    Of course, the ‘Hong Gil-dong’ most Koreans know is a fictional character, an altruistic outlaw from a novel. Still, Taeseong also remembered the name.

    The fact that he heard it from a foreign ghost made it all the more bewildering.

    “A name I never expected to hear…”

    The real question was whether this individual was the same as the one he knew. Considering how much he had seen of the world’s hidden truths, dismissing it as a mere coincidence seemed unlikely.

    ‘If everything said about him is true… it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s still alive.’

    The Hong Gil-dong from the novel was depicted as a figure far beyond ordinary humans. A man with superhuman strength that could crush boulders with ease, control the wind, create multiple clones, and even master illusions, summoning, and exorcism.

    ‘He must’ve surpassed the bounds of humanity long ago. In terms of rankings, he’d at least be a Beta.’

    The towering woman, who had been silently observing the contemplative Taeseong, locked eyes with him as he spoke.

    “Come to think of it, what exactly are you? You seem different from the typical entities I know. Most malevolent spirits I’ve encountered have harbored blind malice toward humans. But you expressed gratitude to me. Why is that?”

    “…”

    With a faint, bittersweet smile, she stepped closer to Taeseong.

    Had there been even a hint of malice in her actions, he wouldn’t have hesitated to strike. Yet, he merely watched as she approached.

    “…!”

    A cold chill enveloped Taeseong’s body.

    Although Taeseong wasn’t small, her towering figure made him look like a child embraced by his mother.

    ‘What a curious sensation.’

    The touch was undoubtedly cold, unmistakably that of the dead. Yet, as time passed, warmth spread through his entire body.

    When Taeseong tilted his head upward, the woman lowered hers until their foreheads touched.

    It was then that he realized the intent behind her actions.

    Memories of the Eight-footed Ghost flowed into Taeseong’s mind.

    “God, please bring peace to everyone in our village today as well. We are always grateful to you.”

    After finishing her prayer, an old woman pulled rice and fruit from her bosom and placed them on the shrine’s altar.

    Once the old woman left, the massive woman stealthily peeked out, gathering up the fruit piece by piece.

    “Po. Po. Po.”

    A small, hidden space deeper within the forest.

    The master of the little shrine built for a nameless god was none other than the woman now present in Taeseong’s memories.

    Back then, she wasn’t the Eight-footed Ghost people spoke of today but a tiny girl.

    ‘So this was her original form.’

    The girl would sit in the same spot every day, watching the humans who came to visit.

    Initially, she was a mere lowly creature without intelligence.

    But as more humans came, she gradually gained the ability to think, eventually questioning their behavior.

    “Po. Po. Po…”

    Why do they pray so desperately?

    I have no power.

    I can’t grant their prayers.

    And yet, eventually, one thought took root in her heart.

    If I had power, I would fulfill their wishes.

    As the seasons changed, the girl’s form slowly transformed into that of the woman Taeseong now knew.

    The old, shabby shrine became tidy, and the altar overflowed with offerings.

    They say miracles happen when human prayers gather.

    The lowly spirit that once fed on men’s life force had been elevated to a ‘god’ thanks to the earnest prayers of the villagers who made this place their home.

    Their daily pleas for family peace and the village’s prosperity accumulated, bringing about a miracle.

    They created a god to grant their desires.

    The god of fertility and abundance: Hojokami.

    The name Eight-footed Ghost was merely a moniker from the ghost stories humans had spun. This was her true name.

    Though her origins were humble, as a god, she sincerely cherished the villagers.

    Man or woman, child or elder, regardless of gender or age—she treated them all as her children.

    “Po. Po. Po.”

    Still, her fondness for men remained. When a child came alone to the shrine, she would secretly share candies with him.

    Even the elders of the village claimed to have seen the tall woman during their youth.

    As time passed, the villagers revered her more, and her power grew stronger each day.

    They are my children.
    I am their mother.

    Thanks to her endless devotion, akin to a mother’s love, the village thrived for centuries, more prosperous than ever. It felt as though this peace would last forever.

    The little boy who once received her candies grew into a fine young man, married a good woman, had children, and passed away as an old man.

    When she had witnessed this cycle dozens of times…

    Her children stopped coming to her.

    As science advanced and civilization evolved, they naturally forgot her with the passage of time.

    “Po. Po. Po…”

    Standing before the empty shrine, she murmured with a bitter smile.

    When was the last time she saw a human?

    It must have been ten years ago when loneliness drove her to descend to the village.

    The shrine, abandoned for over a century, was thick with dust, and spiderwebs filled every corner.

    The altar, once overflowing with offerings, was now unrecognizable.

    Her once formidable power, which had kept even the most audacious of spirits at bay, had dwindled to the point of barely warding off minor specters.

    Had she been forgotten entirely, even this faint remnant of her strength would have vanished, leaving her as prey for other spirits, destined to disappear.

    However, thanks to her past ventures into the village, she had remained remembered—not as the god of prosperity, Hojokami, but as the “Eight-Foot Ghost” of local folklore, maintaining just enough power to survive.

    A guardian deity who had protected her village for centuries now lived in fear of mere spirits.

    By this point, it would be understandable if she resented the villagers who had forgotten her.

    But such thoughts never crossed her mind.

    To her, they were her children, and she was their mother.

    Her only regret was that she could no longer protect them.

    And so, tragedy came in its worst form.

    One day, an onmyoji appeared, dedicating the forest she lived in to a snake god as a sacrificial altar.

    A girl, driven mad by obsessive love, became a murderer who slaughtered the villagers.

    “Po! Po!”

    Oh, my children are dying.

    Stop it. Please, stop it.

    The grieving mother wept in anguish, but all she could do was use her frail body to resist until the end.

    Thus, the village slowly perished.

    “A guardian deity created through human prayers, huh…,” Taeseong murmured, astonished at the unexpected revelation.

    “So, you were the village’s protector?”

    “Po. Po. Po.”

    “A mother figure, then…”

    At that, Taeseong thought of his own mother.

    Had she felt such pain when he had vanished from her life?

    “That must have been hard.”

    Perhaps because she had shown him her memories, or maybe due to the emotions transferred through them, Taeseong vividly felt the Eight-Foot Ghost’s emotions.

    He understood her devotion to protecting this place, her love, and the torment she endured.

    “I was going to subdue you, you know,” he said matter-of-factly.

    “If you resisted, I planned to tear you apart.”

    “Po! Po! Po!?”

    “Don’t be alarmed; it was just my job.”

    “Po. Po. Po…”

    Her face, pale with shock, gradually softened into a relieved smile.

    “But don’t worry. I’ve changed my mind.”

    “…”

    “I’ll let this slide. You don’t seem like a being that harms humans.”

    “…”

    “You can stay here and live as you wish. Now that the vermin are gone, it should be somewhat livable again. That’s the only favor I’ll grant you, though. I can’t stop the other managers of this land from coming here, so if you sense danger, you’d better hide yourself.”

    But the Eight-Foot Ghost shook her head.

    “What? Do you want me to kill you?”

    She frantically shook her head and gestured for his hand.

    “…You want to follow me?”

    “Po! Po!”

    Taeseong looked at her with bewilderment.

    “…Why?”

    This village… no longer needs me.

    “…Neither do I.”

    There’s no reason for me to stay here.

    I want to follow you.

    I want to stay by your side.

    You are my savior.

    I wish to repay that debt.

    The Eight-Foot Ghost gazed at Taeseong with earnest eyes, her cheeks faintly tinged with red.

    In the ensuing silence, Taeseong seemed momentarily flustered.

    Finally, he spoke slowly.

    “…Just so you know, I don’t like women taller than me. Especially if they’re spirits.”

    That’s fine.

    I only wish to be by your side.

    “If you come with me, you won’t be able to roam freely like now. You’ll be confined to a containment facility, managed by the system forever. Are you really okay with that?”

    The Eight-Foot Ghost smiled and nodded.

    “Alright. If that’s what you want, I’ll allow it.”

    For Taeseong, it wasn’t a bad deal. Capturing a former deity would undoubtedly boost his record.

    ‘The higher-ups will probably reward me for this.’

    If he wanted to strengthen his position during negotiations with his superiors, he needed tangible achievements. Pleased with his plan, Taeseong smiled.

    ‘I’ll need deputy Lee Eunha’s help to handle this before other managers notice…’

    Just then, he sensed movement. Taeseong turned around.

    Voices echoed faintly from the distance.

    “Unidentified entity detected ahead.”

    “That must be the one who killed our guys.”

    “…I don’t get it. At most, it’s a Delta-class. Why so much trouble?”

    “There must be a reason. Don’t get cocky and finish it in one go.”

    “Spare me the lecture.”

    Before the last words faded, a man in a black suit leaped into the air.

    With a single bound, he closed the distance, swinging a massive sword at the Eight-Foot Ghost’s neck.

    The blade, easily over a meter long, moved as if it were a mere dagger in his hands.

    “…”

    As the blade neared her neck, Taeseong reacted a fraction of a second faster, kicking the attacker’s wrist to deflect the sword’s path.

    The man landed lightly and scanned Taeseong, his expression hardening.

    “Don’t tell me… you’re a manager from Joseon?”

    “Looks like you’ve got a head just for decoration.”

    “What?”

    Taeseong shot forward like a cannonball, leaving a deep footprint behind.

    “It’s not Joseon…”

    The man barely had time to comprehend the situation before Taeseong’s kick sent him flying, rolling across the ground.

    “It’s the Republic of Korea.”

  • The Regressed Extra Becomes a Genius

    The killing intent—who could it be?

    According to the original plot, there shouldn’t be anyone targeting Han Se-yeon just yet.

    That means this killing intent is directed at me.

    But who would possibly want to come after me?

    “…”

    No, wait. Thinking back, there is someone.

    Someone who would bear a grudge against me.

    And, it’s even a detail from the original story:

    Jang Han’s close friend.

    The Dark Mage, Baek Kang’s assault.

    “Why do you look so tense?”

    Han Se-yeon noticed my sudden change in expression and asked.

    “Just start driving. And act natural. I think someone’s tailing us.”

    “Tailing us?”

    Her reaction showed a hint of surprise.

    “Yes, and call the strongest person you can.”

    If it’s Baek Kang, he’s a Dark Mage with magical power on the borderline of B and A rank.

    Facing him alone would be too much for me right now.

    “…Alright.”

    Sensing the gravity of the situation, Han Se-yeon immediately believed me and pressed the accelerator, pulling out her phone to make a call.

    After finishing the call, she turned to me.

    “They’re on their way now. They’ll track the GPS of this car and head straight here.”

    “How long will it take?”

    “About 20 minutes.”

    Twenty minutes.

    That was the maximum time I had to endure an attack from him.

    “Who could it be? Is it someone from the underground arena, upset about losing money to us?”

    “It’s not that.”

    “…Then maybe a rival corporation of Hanseong Group?”

    Han Se-yeon muttered to herself with a serious expression.

    Ignoring her, I brought up a map on my phone and showed her a marked location.

    “Head here.”

    The coordinates I pointed out led to a desolate plain not far from here.

    “There? Wouldn’t heading toward a busy city be safer?”

    “No. We need to deal with whoever is tailing us.”

    Han Se-yeon’s face was filled with doubt at my response.

    “If we’re in an open plain like this, they’ll have nowhere to hide.”

    With that, I pulled a mana elixir from my bag and tucked it into my coat.

    A new villain was making their entrance.

    But running for my life wasn’t part of the plan.

    I’d use Hanseong Group’s resources to take down Baek Kang today.

    Baek Kang followed behind in his car, keeping track of Kim Jinwoo and Han Se-yeon as they traveled.

    After about ten minutes, they stopped in the middle of a vast, empty plain.

    He couldn’t understand why they would stop in such a remote location, but he didn’t mind.

    If anything, it made things more convenient for him.

    This place was perfect—isolated and away from prying eyes, an ideal setting to kill someone.

    “You’ve walked right into your own grave,” Baek Kang muttered with a sinister grin.

    Though the openness of the plain made it hard to continue tailing them, it didn’t matter anymore.

    The time for stealth was over.

    He was going to kill them here and now.

    Kim Jinwoo stepped out of the car, looked around, and called out loudly.

    “Stop hiding and come out.”

    Baek Kang paused for a moment, surprised.

    Had he known he was being followed?

    But how?

    He was certain he’d concealed his presence flawlessly.

    Although questions flooded his mind, he decided there was no point in hiding anymore.

    Baek Kang emerged from the shadows and revealed himself to Kim Jinwoo.

    Up close, Jinwoo didn’t seem all that impressive.

    His aura was faint, and his physique showed no signs of training.

    It was hard to believe someone like this had killed Jang Han, even if Jang Han had been in a weakened state.

    “Impressive. When did you realize you were being followed?”

    Baek Kang asked, his tone laced with curiosity.

    Kim Jinwoo didn’t answer.

    Instead, he pulled a small blue vial from his coat and drank it in one gulp.

    “Ugh… What’s with this awful taste?”

    Jinwoo grimaced and tossed the empty bottle behind him.

    And then it happened.

    In an instant, his entire aura changed.

    “What… is this?”

    Baek Kang’s eyes narrowed.

    How could someone’s presence transform so drastically in mere moments?

    Could it be the effect of that potion?

    No, Baek Kang was certain that no known potion could cause such a change.

    “Now it makes sense why Jang Han fell to you,” Baek Kang muttered.

    Even so, Jinwoo’s newfound aura wasn’t overwhelming.

    He was stronger than before, but still not a true threat.

    Baek Kang gathered his magic, summoning three blazing spears of fire that hovered menacingly in the air.

    “Die!”

    With his shout, the spears flew straight toward Jinwoo.

    Boom!

    The fiery spears exploded mid-air, intercepted by Jinwoo’s precisely controlled magical orbs.

    Baek Kang couldn’t help but silently admire the display of skill.

    “…Not bad.”

    The battle against Baek Kang raged on.

    He was undeniably powerful—calm, experienced, and adept at wielding magic.

    Thanks to the mana elixir, I had enough magical energy to keep up with him.

    But for now, all I could do was endure.

    The elixir’s effects would last five minutes.

    Four minutes had already passed.

    That left me with just one minute.

    If things continued like this, I would lose once the elixir’s effects wore off.

    It was time to end this.

    Thump!

    My heart pounded as a surge of energy erupted from deep within me.

    The power of the Heart of Nature had activated.

    And with it, the remaining mana from the elixir combined to fill my body with overwhelming magical energy.

    “What now?”

    Baek Kang’s wary eyes locked onto me.

    It seemed his heightened Dark Mage instincts had picked up on my transformation.

    But I didn’t care.

    I fortified my body with mana and launched myself forward, kicking off the ground with all my might.

    “Huh?!”

    Caught off guard by my sudden dash, Baek Kang frantically unleashed more flaming spears to block my approach.

    Boom! Boom! Boom!

    The fiery explosions erupted behind me as I pushed through, my enhanced speed outpacing his magic.

    “Urgh!”

    Baek Kang was visibly flustered by my rapid advance.

    In desperation, he conjured a spear of flame in his hand and swung it at me.

    Whoosh!

    But I ducked under his attack, closing the gap between us.

    With a concentrated mass of mana in my palm, I drove it toward his abdomen.

    Realizing the danger too late, Baek Kang tried to dodge—but he couldn’t escape.

    Boom!

    “Arghhh!”

    The explosion tore through his body, black blood spraying across my arm with an unpleasant, warm sensation.

    “Kuh…!”

    It had taken me four minutes to land my first solid hit.

    But the impact was enough to leave Baek Kang staggering.

    Ignoring the stinging pain in my own arm from the backlash, I unleashed a flurry of magical blasts at his vulnerable body.

    Bang! Bang! Boom!

    “Aaargh!”

    Baek Kang screamed as my relentless attacks battered him.

    Despite his efforts to defend himself, he couldn’t withstand the onslaught.

    As his guard began to falter, I saw my opening.

    Now was the time to end it.

    Drawing in all the mana I could muster, I compressed it into a single, devastating blow aimed at his head.

    Vrrrm—!

    A swirling vortex of magical energy.

    I extended my hand, aiming at the target’s head.

    It was at that moment.

    Ssss…

    Suddenly, the strength and magic within my body began to fade.

    “…!”

    Alarmed, I glanced down at my empty hand.

    The condensed spell I had just formed had disappeared without a trace.

    The effects of the Mana Elixir and the Heart of Nature had worn off, leaving me in a state of mana exhaustion.

    “…Tch.”

    Clicking my tongue, I bit my lip and stepped back from my opponent.

    Now, what could I do?

    Caught in the side effects of mana exhaustion from the elixir, there was nothing I could do.

    …Should I run away now?

    “Ugh, you… you bastard…”

    Baek Kang glared at me with his severely damaged body.

    Had he been human, he would have died long ago.

    However, the regenerative power unique to a demonic being was keeping him clinging to life, healing his body.

    If this continued, he would soon fully regenerate and attack me again.

    And then, it happened.

    From somewhere, an enormous surge of magical energy could be felt.

    A blinding flash of light followed.

    [B-Rank Villain, ‘Baek Kang,’ has been eliminated.]
    [A slight deviation in the storyline has been detected.]
    [Causality has increased by 0.6%.]

    “….”

    When I looked up, I saw a man who appeared to be in his fifties, with a thick beard, standing there with a massive sword over 2 meters long.

    Instinctively, I realized who he was.

    The Sword of the Hanseong Family.

    S-Rank Mage, Jang Suggi.

    “Are you alright?!”

    From a distance, Han Se-yeon came running toward me.

    “…Yes, I’m fine.”

    Hearing my response, Han Se-yeon sighed in relief.

    They’d arrived at the perfect time. A moment later, and things could’ve gotten dangerous.

    Han Se-yeon checked my condition before glancing toward the demon’s corpse.

    “That’s a demon, right?”

    “Yes, it is.”

    “Why would a demon target us…? Do you have any idea why?”

    “Not sure. I have no clue.”

    Han Se-yeon nodded at my answer.

    “Still, it’s a relief you seem unhurt. Though, from the looks of it, it seems like you had the upper hand anyway.”

    As she spoke, Han Se-yeon turned her gaze toward Jang Suggi.

    “Uncle Suggi, thank you for coming at such a late hour. Oh, and you know you have to keep tonight’s events a secret, right?”

    Jang Suggi chuckled at Han Se-yeon’s words.

    “Haha, alright. I’ll keep it a secret from the chairman.”

    “You better. I’ll seriously get mad if you break your promise.”

    “Yes, yes. Understood.”

    “….”

    I stared blankly at Han Se-yeon.

    To think she could casually issue such masked threats to Jang Suggi—a ruthless swordsman known as the Sword Demon (劍鬼).

    Once again, I was reminded that she was truly the merciless youngest daughter of the Hanseong family.

    After the eventful Wednesday passed, Thursday arrived.

    Even after experiencing a life-threatening battle yesterday, I went to school as usual.

    Thanks to a special potion given to me by Han Se-yeon, my physical condition was in peak form.

    Today also happened to be the day for the second round of dungeon exploration classes.

    Our group, including Lee Seo-jun, Shin Jihyuk, Yoon Hayoung, and Jung Jintae, swiftly cleared monsters in the dungeon, advancing faster than usual.

    “Wow, Hayoung, your skills have improved so much in just a few days. The detail in your spellcasting has really leveled up,” Jung Jintae remarked in admiration, watching Yoon Hayoung’s magic.

    Yoon Hayoung shrugged smugly.

    “Right? I’ve improved a lot, haven’t I? Turns out I was neglecting the basics all along.”

    “What did you do to improve so much?”

    “I started focusing on the fundamentals. Sun-woo helped me a lot.”

    Hearing Yoon Hayoung’s words, Lee Seo-jun grinned.

    “See? I was right. When I saw your spells during the last test, I noticed the lack of detail in your execution. I thought sparring with Kim Sun-woo would help you out.”

    “Yeah, you were spot on. Practicing with Sun-woo helped a lot.”

    Yoon Hayoung shot me a bright smile.

    Meanwhile, Jung Jintae looked confused and asked, “Wait, Kim Sun-woo? The same guy who’s last in our grade? He’s good at spell execution?”

    “Hey, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Sun-woo’s secretly a skilled fighter.”

    “…Skilled fighter? Are you forgetting the last test we saw?”

    “I remember, but in actual combat, he’s different.”

    Yoon Ha-young seemed lost in thought, probably recalling our previous sparring session.

    Noticing the conversation about me growing uncomfortable, Shin Jihyuk subtly changed the topic.

    “But, man, the monsters sure are getting denser on the second floor.”

    “Yeah, but that just gives us more chances to shine. I felt bad last time since Seo-jun did most of the work.”

    “Oh, right! Sun-woo, what’d you pick for tomorrow’s special elective?”

    Yoon Hayoung turned to me, her tone now noticeably friendlier.

    “Demon Safety Training, I think.”

    “Ah, too bad. I picked Alchemy.”

    “Huh? You chose Demon Safety Training? Me too.”

    Lee Seo-jun responded enthusiastically.

    “By the way, there’s an open spot in my group. Wanna join?”

    Join his group?

    …Ah, right. The special electives were group-based activities.

    Being in the same group as Lee Seo-jun was a good opportunity. Interacting with key characters always had its perks.

    Besides, his group tended to attract influential figures.

    “Sure.”

    When I agreed, Lee Seo-jun smiled warmly and nodded.

    Just then, Jung Jintae’s shout cut through the air.

    “Ow! Damn it, that stings!”

    We all turned to look at him.

    Jung Jin-tae’s face was red as if it had been burned. Tears welled up in his eyes from the pain.

    “Guys, watch out! There’s a barrier up ahead,” he warned.

    “A barrier?”

    Looking closely, I could see a faint shimmer in the air ahead.

    Before long, everyone turned their expectant eyes toward me.

    After the dungeon exploration class ended, the time was already past 7 PM.

    Our team finished in 2nd place, the same as last week.

    However, there were a few takeaways from today.

    First, the gap between our team’s clear time and Shin Young-joon’s 3rd place team had widened. Meanwhile, the gap between us and Yoo Ara’s 1st place team had narrowed slightly.

    This was largely thanks to Yoon Hayoung’s standout performance as monster numbers increased.

    Additionally, I managed to solve the barrier faster than anyone else.

    Given how much of a disappointment I was during week 1, I found today’s results quite satisfying.

    If our growth continued at this pace, it might even be possible to surpass Yoo Ah-ra’s team someday.

    “Phew.”

    As I lay on my dorm bed lost in thought, my phone buzzed with a message notification.

    [I discovered something shocking while investigating the demon stalking incident.]

    It was a message from Han Se-yeon.

    She must’ve been referring to what happened last night.

    Shocking, huh? What could it be?

    [What is it?]

    [The demon’s name was Baek Kang.]

    Oh? They even found out his name? As expected of the Hanseong family—world-class when it came to information gathering.

    While I was silently impressed, another message arrived.

    [Something seemed off, so I kept digging. I found records of him dealing with my brother.]

    “…What?”

    I stared at my phone in disbelief.

    Dealing?

    [Dealing?]

    [Yes, he’d been steadily trading with him for a while. And now, my brother is showing his true colors toward me.]

    “…What?”

    Flabbergasted, I blinked at the screen.

    Was she misunderstanding something?

    [Thank you. This is all thanks to you. I owe you one. Is there anything you need as a reward?]

    At that moment—

    Ding!

    [Character ‘Han Se-yeon’ has regained trust in you.]
    [1,000 points have been awarded as a reward.]

  • About a Dating Sim Where Dating Is Impossible Chapter 78

    Not Long After Murad Opened the Gates of Nemeapatre

    The prince stared at the Janissaries before him, lost in deep thought. It had been only a day since the standoff began. Too short a time to fully grasp the enemy’s intentions, but their actions—maintaining distance and firing arrows from afar—provided a clear enough answer. Biting his lip, the prince let out a sigh filled with frustration.

    “They’re blocking our retreat…”

    If they attempted to push forward and retreat by force, a decisive battle against the Janissaries would be inevitable. Conversely, if they turned back toward Nemeapatre, their rear would be endlessly harassed.

    Murad had laid out two choices before the prince and was pressuring him to decide: would he march back to Athens, or return to Nemeapatre to engage Murad in a decisive battle? Either way, the Morean forces would suffer losses. The prince was now forced to weigh his options, knowing full well that any decision would cost his army dearly.

    “So that’s what he’s been scheming—using his elite guard to tie us down.”

    The prince had never imagined that Murad would use even the Janissaries as bait. That shock had driven him to abandon Nemeapatre and decide to retreat just days ago. Now, he had to understand why Murad was making such a dramatic statement, using the Janissaries as sacrificial pawns to buy time.

    Logically, Murad, who needed to focus on the siege, had deliberately deployed his elite troops as an advance unit. What did that mean?

    Eventually, the prince’s thoughts led him to a conclusion. Though he couldn’t quite believe it, everything started to make sense. A hollow laugh escaped him, but his face quickly turned cold and tense as he clenched his fists tightly.

    It was clear now: Murad somehow knew that the gates of Nemeapatre would open. Once inside, he would seize Nemeapatre in a single stroke and use the time bought by the Janissaries to strike the Morean army from the rear.

    “Well, of course. If we’ve been using spies, there’s no way the Ottomans haven’t been doing the same.”

    With a self-deprecating sigh, the prince began to agonize over another possibility. Had their plan to use Greek Fire for a scorched-earth attack been discovered as well? It would be one thing if Murad knew about the gates opening and infiltrating the city.

    But if he also anticipated the timing of the fire attack, he could neutralize it and turn the Greek Fire against them, resulting in the worst-case scenario. The issue was that this concern was already out of his hands.

    Now, the Morean army had only one thing left: the uncertain success of the fire attack. If it succeeded, they would survive. If it failed, it would all end here.

    The prince once again placed the weight of his options on the scale. Should he return to Nemeapatre or continue the retreat? Either way, they would lose their influence over Central Greece. This was something he had anticipated ever since deciding to abandon Nemeapatre, so the loss of additional cities was not a new factor.

    The only weight he could add to the scale was the possibility of victory.

    If the fire attack succeeded, returning to Nemeapatre would be the best move. But the Janissaries would never allow it so easily. A chaotic, grueling battle was inevitable. This was far from the prince’s intention of minimizing soldier casualties.

    Even if the fire attack was a resounding success, Nemeapatre would be left scorched and barren. Facing an inevitable clash with the Janissaries without the resources to sustain his troops would be suicide—a gamble he wasn’t willing to take.

    And the prince had no intention of gambling.

    The moment the Janissaries had forcibly dragged him into this standoff and he realized his predictions were wrong, he knew he couldn’t match Murad. The overwhelming gap between the Morean and Ottoman forces was undeniable—something they would have to overcome one day, but for now, it was unbeatable.

    This was not merely a numerical disadvantage, nor was it a lack of equipment.

    What the Ottomans Have, but Morea Does Not

    It is the presence of exceptional subordinates and officers, armed with capabilities forged through vast experience.

    If the prince manages to take down one, the Ottomans’ subordinates and officers will take down five. If the prince holds one front, another collapses entirely. Even with Ivania’s aid, it’s futile. Even if they fall short of Ivania’s caliber, there are others nearly as capable who can easily overwhelm his own lieutenants, including Adrianos.

    The prince is cautious by nature. While he may gamble, it is only in those life-or-death moments where that gamble alone leads to survival. At his core, he is an exceedingly cautious man.

    He cannot afford to risk everything in pursuit of the best possibility, only to lose all possibilities entirely.

    The prince knows well what he is called—and he knows it is not far from the truth. The “last Hope” is called so because it truly is the last. If he falls, the final remaining strength the empire has painstakingly gathered will collapse entirely. This is not arrogance. It is simply the truth, as no one has yet emerged to replace him.

    Now that it has become clear that he cannot easily defeat Murad, it is far more rational to move toward achieving the strategy he originally envisioned. For this, the prince acted swiftly just before the war broke out. He is confident that his plans will bear fruit. The only thing required is time.

    He must endure.

    Who knows better than he that patience is the one and only answer that can save the empire and his fate, both on the edge of collapse? Endure. Endlessly endure. Only those who endure can grasp the best possible future. The prince repeatedly calmed and controlled himself.

    And yet, and yet…

    —Crack.

    Between clenched teeth, anger twisted and seeped out. His tightly trembling fists shook, and faint bloodshot veins emerged in his eyes. He had demanded sacrifices from innocent people—solely for the sake of victory. If this was all he could achieve, what had he demanded their sacrifices for? Even as waves of guilt and self-reproach surged over him, the prince once again forced himself to calm down.

    To break the overwhelming momentum of the Ottomans, to halt the relentless advance of the audacious Murad, and for the sake of a better future…

    After trembling for some time, the prince finally called for a messenger in a shaky voice. The ominous aura surrounding him left the messenger pale as he prostrated himself on the ground. Closing his eyes tightly, the prince steadied his heart.

    Endure.

    Endure!

    You must endure!

    Only after repeating this mantra of endurance dozens of times did the prince finally manage to speak.

    “…Retreat.”

  • About a Dating Sim Where Dating Is Impossible Chapter 77

    Breaking the Last Hope of the Millennial Empire

    Murad believed that to bring down the empire, he first had to defeat Constantine Dragases. Unlike Constantinople, which had been reduced to a mere city and its emperor trapped within its gates, Dragases had accomplishments and followers of his own.

    Indeed, the Christian forces in Greece, inspired by Dragases’s propaganda, had rekindled their will to resist. The threat this posed to the Ottomans could be gauged by looking at the Crusades.

    Although every Crusade had ultimately ended in failure, the mere fact that the Western world remained vigilant was enough to demonstrate their potential danger. The Crusades had failed not because they lacked strength, but because they failed to establish clear objectives, coordinate with local forces, and unite under a leader with sufficient reputation to rally their armies.

    However, if Dragases were to join a future Crusade, all these weaknesses would be addressed.

    Dragases’s actions following Murad’s decision to campaign in southern Greece were clear and deliberate. From the time of the Bulgarian campaign, Dragases had been watching Murad, swiftly mobilizing his forces when Murad’s attention was focused on Mustafa and the Bulgarian revolt. While others underestimated Murad, Dragases alone had prepared to confront the new Sultan. A man who so keenly observed Ottoman movements would surely know where to strike.

    Moreover, Dragases was not only the last defender of the millennial empire but also the final hope of the Christian forces in the Balkans. While the imperial schemes may have played a role in inciting the Bulgarian rebellion, the larger credit belonged to Dragases. His victories in prior wars against the Ottomans had undoubtedly stirred the dormant spirits of the Christians.

    Thus, in a standoff between the Ottomans and Christian forces, Dragases was the only figure capable of uniting the fragmented Christian factions of the Balkans, entangled as they were by conflicting interests and ethnic tensions.

    And if Dragases were to build his reputation further by defeating the Ottomans, who had already crushed multiple Crusades, what would follow?

    Dragases’s sharp judgment and decisiveness would become a dagger aimed at the heart of the Ottomans, leading the Crusaders. His growing fame would serve as a rallying point to unite Christians under one banner. Ultimately, Dragases’s participation in a Crusade would mark the emergence of the most threatening force the Ottomans could face.

    Murad briefly envisioned Dragases.

    A man who stood firm as the millennial empire teetered on the edge of collapse, defying the whispers of doom and pressing forward, step by step. Stubborn, self-righteous, and paranoid, yet the only royal figure with a steadfast belief in saving his homeland. A foolish yet tragic individual, blindly devoted to the values of responsibility and duty that had faded from the minds of other noblemen.

    This was why Dragases could be Murad’s nemesis.

    This was why Dragases was the only adversary who could genuinely threaten the future of the Ottomans.

    And Murad had no intention of leaving Dragases and his forces intact. As the creaking sound of the slowly opening city gates echoed, Murad stared at the scene before him and muttered to himself.

    “I trust that someone as smart as you has realized what it means to abandon Nemeapatre.”

    The outcome of the opening battle was critical. It wasn’t just about the soldiers’ morale; it was the first step that could shake the stability of a nation. Especially if a city that had resolved to hold its ground fell swiftly, the resulting panic would be immense. This was precisely what Murad aimed for.

    The fall of Nemeapatre would solidify the stance of central Greek cities, which had been wavering between the empire and the Ottomans. It would send a decisive message about where their loyalties should lie. Murad could already anticipate how the defection of these recently stabilized cities would impact Dragases and his plans.

    A Conqueror Who Fled Without Even Fighting a Proper Battle

    Central Greece would quickly turn into enemy territory. Trapped in the heart of hostile lands, Dragases would find himself entangled by the Janissaries, ultimately allowing a three-pronged attack to close in on him. The turning point was the collapse of the 6,000-strong Morean army—a pivotal moment that would signify the definitive end of the empire. Dragases would now be plunged into a long and agonizing dilemma.

    Should he return to Nemeapatre to prevent the cities of Central Greece from defecting? Or should he retreat all the way to Athens, prioritizing the risk of a disruption in his rear?

    If he chose the former, the Janissaries would not overly trouble Dragases’s army. After all, even if he returned, the battle awaiting him would not be an open-field skirmish or a defensive standoff but a siege. Meanwhile, the Janissaries could steadily advance and seize one rear city after another. In the end, Dragases would be forced into unfavourable battles, unable to protect what he had originally set out to defend.

    If he chose the latter, the role of the Janissaries would become crucial. Despite their strict discipline, the Janissaries were both an elite guard and light infantry. Rather than engaging the heavily armored Morean army in close combat, they would conduct guerrilla warfare—nighttime ambushes and hit-and-run tactics to exhaust the Morean forces.

    During this time, the cities of Central Greece would raise armies to prove their loyalty to the Sultan. Even if Dragases managed to defeat the Janissaries, his weary Morean troops, worn down by long marches and skirmishes, would face the Sultan’s loyal forces next.

    Murad knew well the pain of losing the Janissaries, the backbone of the Ottoman army. If Dragases were to truly defeat the Janissaries, it could slow the Ottomans expansionist ambitions in the future.

    But Dragases had already placed an equally costly piece on the board.

    No, perhaps it was even more valuable than the Janissaries—who, with the Balkans still under Ottoman control and the Devshirme system intact, could be replenished within a decade. Standing before the fully opened gates of Nemeapatre, Murad reaffirmed the correctness of his decision.

    “And you, Dragases, must also understand why the last hope is called the last hope.”

    Dragases had misjudged his own position, and the empire had misjudged him as well. Dragases had chosen to preserve the empire by avoiding civil war, and the empire, relying on this tendency, had gambled recklessly. This was the greatest and final mistake Dragases had made.

    “The last is called the last because once it falls, everything ends.”

    Dragases was both a knight and a king.

    As such, he was a figure who had to constantly expose himself to danger. Yet, at the same time, his death would end the game entirely.

    He was the final hope holding up the millennial empire.

  • Gatekeeper Of The Boundless World Chapter 33

    Qian Rushan added,

    “Tonight, stay in the building. Don’t go anywhere or leave the premises, not even half a step.”

    “I’ll personally take you to the examination site early tomorrow morning.”

    “With experts from the top three academies stationed there, arriving early won’t raise suspicion. They’ll just assume you’re preparing for the exam.”

    “This will ensure your safety to the greatest extent possible.”

    “Understood. I’ll stay put tonight. Thank you for your efforts, Manager Qian,” Shen Ye replied sincerely.

    Suddenly, the loud hum of a helicopter rotor echoed from outside.

    An assistant entered the room and respectfully said,

    “Manager, everything is ready for you.”

    “I have a few things to take care of. See you tomorrow.” Qian Rushan rubbed his face, as though trying to shake off his exhaustion.

    “See you tomorrow,” Shen Ye said.

    In another part of the city.

    West suburbs, Maple Grove Hotel.

    Xiao Mengyu stood across the street from the hotel with Zhao Yibing after getting out of the car.

    She gazed at the hotel with eyes as tranquil as deep ocean waters, holding an unreadable depth.

    Killing intent…

    It’s concealed incredibly well, almost invisible.

    Only through meticulous observation could one sense the threads of mad, terrifying malice weaving into faint tendrils of killing intent.

    This killing intent was tightly restrained, leaving the surrounding streets and the hotel’s exterior in an air of peace.

    The person inside, like a seasoned hunter, was patiently waiting for the prey to step into the trap.

    Xiao Mengyu parted her lips and spoke softly:

    “That online contact of yours supplied you with numerous pills and advanced nutritional supplements to boost your performance. They also paved the way for your early admission to a top high school—am I correct?”

    Zhao Yibing pursed her lips, staying silent with an expression tinged with anger.

    Xiao Mengyu gave her a glance.

    An inexplicable chill surged through Zhao Yibing’s heart, forcing her to steel herself before speaking reluctantly:

    “They said that as long as I lead my classmates to go after Shen Ye, smear his reputation, and hit him hard, I’d continue to get everything they promised.”

    —I brought this person here, but I have no idea if the mysterious figure behind the scenes will be angry about it.

    If they are angry—

    Will my guaranteed admission be revoked?

    Once I meet this person, I must clarify that I was forced by this girl!

    “Have you considered that Shen Ye being signed by the Martial Arts Corporation means your task has completely failed? Do you know what consequences await you?”

    Xiao Mengyu’s question was calm but sharp.

    “You kidnapped me. I’ll definitely report you to the police afterward!” Zhao Yibing retorted angrily.

    Xiao Mengyu fell silent.

    Forget it.

    This is just a naïve young girl.

    She’s never been exposed to the real world.

    To her, what she did to Shen Ye was simply a transaction to secure benefits, completely unaware that this deal was just bait hiding a deadly hook.

    And she bit it.

    “Zhao Yibing, I’ll give you two choices.”

    Xiao Mengyu’s voice was soft yet steady.

    “What scheme are you up to now?” Zhao Yibing asked, visibly frustrated.

    Xiao Mengyu said, “Option one: stay here or find a nearby hiding spot. Once everything is over, come out and testify to everything you know.”

    “Option two: pretend you never met me and go directly to see your online contact. I’ll also pretend not to know you.”

    “Make your choice, Zhao Yibing.”

    “—Your fate is in your own hands, and I will respect your decision.”

    Zhao Yibing didn’t hesitate for a moment and sprinted toward the hotel across the street.

    True to her word, Xiao Mengyu made no move to stop her, only watching quietly as she entered the hotel, made a phone call, and was escorted to the elevator.

    Five or six minutes later.

    Xiao Mengyu raised her hand, gently resting it on the hilt of her sword.

    With a metallic “clang,” the sword slid a few inches from its sheath.

    Across the street.

    Inside a hotel suite.

    “Bingbing—may I call you that? You’re the most beautiful and talented young woman I’ve ever met.”

    “I’m willing to sponsor your education, help you gain admission to a provincial-level high school, and even fund your academic journey.”

    The elegantly dressed man raised his wine glass with a charming smile, finishing the drink in one go.

    Zhao Yibing, still a bit uneasy, glanced between the bouquet of white roses on the table and the man’s mature, charismatic face. She twisted her fingers nervously and gave a slight bow.

    “Mr. Han, thank you for your kindness. I don’t know how I could ever repay you. As for Shen Ye’s matter—”

    “Don’t concern yourself with him,” the man said with a confident smile.

    “Really? I don’t have to oppose him anymore?” Zhao Yibing asked anxiously. “But he’s signed with the Martial Arts Corporation. I’m afraid he’ll retaliate against me in the future.”

    “Rest assured. As long as I’m here, he won’t be able to touch you.”

    The man’s voice carried a firm assurance that eased Zhao Yibing’s worries.

    “Mr. Han, did you mean it when you said you’d sponsor me?” she asked cautiously.

    The man’s smile grew warmer.

    She loves money.

    —That makes this much easier.

    “Bingbing, I absolutely meant it,” the man replied decisively.

    Just as he prepared to elaborate further, his right eyelid twitched.

    An overwhelming, chilling sword intent pierced through the walls, locking onto him.

    The sword was being prepared.

    If he did nothing and let it build—

    “Mr. Han, is something wrong?”

    Zhao Yibing asked, puzzled.

    “It’s nothing,” the man replied quickly, flashing a smile. “Give me your bank account details. I’ll transfer some money to you right now.”

    “Ah, that’s so generous of you. Thank you, Mr. Han!”

    She rummaged through her bag for her phone. Just as she found it, she shuddered involuntarily.

    The man clenched his fist discreetly.

    Damn it.

    This sword aura is too aggressive; even she’s affected.

    I need to speed this up, or this perfect encounter will be ruined.

    This is an unexpected challenge.

    —But nothing can extinguish my enthusiasm.

    I will complete this masterpiece!

    The man quickly pulled out his phone. While transferring the money, he spoke gently:

    “Bingbing, you’re not just talented—you also have a kind heart. I’ve decided to support you through high school and beyond.”

    “What do you mean?” Zhao Yibing asked.

    Ding!

    Her phone chimed with a notification.

    She stared at the string of digits on the screen, momentarily forgetting to breathe.

    The man’s eyes locked on hers.

    Her gaze, initially filled with unease, soon gave way to irrepressible longing.

    Seizing the moment, the man leaned closer, whispering in her ear:

    “I can nominate one student to take the entrance exams for the world’s top three high schools, Bingbing.”

    The top three high schools!

    Zhao Yibing’s mind spun, and she almost screamed in delight.

    That’s the ultimate honor!

    There, one could master truly advanced vocational skills!

    Once enrolled, she would rise above ordinary people, forever breaking free from mediocrity.

    “Mr. Han, are you serious?” she asked, her voice trembling.

    The man entered a lengthy password into his phone, casually explaining,

    “Years ago, during an archaeological expedition in the skies, I made a significant contribution.”

    “Kunlun gave me this password. It allows my chosen successor to take the joint entrance exams for the top three high schools.”

    “I’m giving this opportunity to you now.”

    “But… my abilities…” Zhao Yibing hesitated.

    “Don’t worry. With me here, I’ll help you improve,” the man reassured her.

    Suddenly, her phone buzzed again.

    She looked down.

    A document with thirteen verified seals appeared on her screen, confirming her eligibility to take the entrance exams for the top three high schools.

    —The more verified seals, the higher Kunlun’s acknowledgment.

    In other words—

    This couldn’t possibly be fake!

    Overwhelmed by joy, Zhao Yibing felt as if the world was spinning. She could barely keep herself upright.

    A pair of large, warm hands steadied her.

    “Mr. Han!”

    She exclaimed in exhilaration.

    “Are you happy, Bingbing?” the man asked with an understanding smile.

    “Yes!” Zhao Yibing nodded vigorously, tears of joy welling in her eyes as her smile widened uncontrollably.

    At that moment.

    The man moved his hand.

    Just as she reached the peak of her happiness—

    Before trouble descends, this romantic encounter must be brought to an end before the bud blooms, letting it fall and return to dust.

    The climax of the symphony lies here.

    He had to personally put an end to it, cutting it short!

    In an instant—

    Something seemed to happen.

    But the two of them remained motionless.

    The room showed no signs of change.

    Only the man—

    Holding his breath, his face a mixture of tension and unease, he gently raised an object with one hand while the other became a blur, swiftly pulling out an intricate web of steel wires from the void. His fingers danced like a pianist, rapidly stitching the wound.

    Seven or eight breaths passed.

    Finally, the man exhaled in relief.

    Before him stood the headless corpse of a young girl, motionless. Miraculously, not a drop of blood flowed from her neck, and the wound had been completely sutured into a smooth surface, as if her head had never existed.

    The man finally had a moment to gaze at what he held in his hand—

    The girl’s severed head.

    Even in death, her face retained an expression of joy, as though filled with hopes and dreams for the future, unaware of her demise.

    Her eyes glistened with still-warm tears of excitement.

    “Magnificent, Bingbing. Together, we’ve created a masterpiece of art.”

    The man’s cheeks flushed, his breath quickening, like a youth beholding their first love.

    Suddenly—

    The air in the room began to churn violently.

    The man’s expression changed, and he roared in anger:

    “No!”

    He shielded Zhao Yibing’s corpse, crashing through the wall as a flash of cold light sent him flying.

    Xiao Mengyu had appeared silently.

    Standing where the man had been, she held a long sword, casting a glance at Zhao Yibing’s body.

    “Don’t touch her. Take whatever you want, but don’t touch her!”

    The man’s desperate plea echoed, accompanied by an aura of madness and murderous intent.

    Xiao Mengyu’s expression turned stern, and she raised her sword.

    This was unexpected.

    She had thought the man wouldn’t act rashly under the restraint of her sword aura.

    But who could have foreseen such madness?

    In that moment, the ominous aura emanating from him was far beyond her understanding.

    Now was the time to truly cross swords.

    The next moment—

    A dense array of sharp steel wires suddenly materialized in the room.

    The man reappeared on the opposite side, his fingers twitching. The wires surged like crashing waves toward Xiao Mengyu.

    Meanwhile, Zhao Yibing’s corpse and head were gently lifted by a few wires and carefully placed in the corner with a tender, almost reverent touch.

    Xiao Mengyu suddenly dashed forward, slashing toward Zhao Yibing’s corpse.

    Clang, clang, clang—

    Sword and wires clashed, producing sounds like a torrential downpour. The scattered sword aura carved countless fine marks into the walls.

    “Enough! Don’t harm her!”

    The man bellowed in fury.

    “Unless you tell me who hired you, I’ll destroy this corpse entirely,” Xiao Mengyu retorted, her sword flicking, sending another blade of light.

    The man abandoned his attack, fully focused on shielding Zhao Yibing from harm, while hastily replying:

    “If you leave now, I’ll spare you out of respect for the Luo family. But if you dare to defile my art—”

    “I’ll kill you!”

    Xiao Mengyu cut him off, her voice cold. “You can try to kill me, but I want to know who your employer is!”

    “Dream on!”

    The man’s voice was filled with disdain.

    Hum—

    The long sword in Xiao Mengyu’s hand suddenly blurred.

    A colossal sword shadow emerged from the blade, radiating an oppressive, razor-sharp aura.

    Hum, hum, hum—

    The resounding sword hum drowned out all other sounds.

    The man’s pupils contracted sharply.

    Such swordsmanship—he could fend it off, but he couldn’t guarantee Zhao Yibing’s safety.

    “Bingbing!”

    The man’s gaze lingered on Zhao Yibing’s corpse, his eyes turning blood-red with sorrow.

    From his despair surged an unprecedented killing intent.

    Behind him, a strange, blood-colored doll materialized, floating eerily in the void.

    He was preparing to go all out.

    “Let’s make a deal,” Xiao Mengyu said suddenly.

    “A deal?” The man gritted his teeth, asking his final question before striking.

    Despite the thunderous hum of the sword, he could still hear her words clearly.

    “Tell me who hired you, and I’ll let you hunt me down. Succeed or fail, I promise not to use the Luo family’s power against you, nor will they seek revenge.”

    Xiao Mengyu continued calmly, “If you kill me, my corpse is yours to do with as you please.”

    The man froze.

    He stared at Xiao Mengyu’s unparalleled beauty, her sword in hand, radiating heroic spirit. Her eyes, as clear as autumn waters, held a lofty sword intent.

    The boiling killing intent in the room vanished entirely.

    “Are you serious?”

    The man’s voice wavered between nervousness and bashfulness.

    “Serious,” Xiao Mengyu replied.

    A smile slowly spread across the man’s face.

    “What a headache,” he said, squinting as if caught between embarrassment and a troubling predicament.

    But finally, he spoke with an almost joyful tone:

    “For you, I’ll betray my employer, breaking the ironclad rules of the Assassins’ Guild. I’ll be hunted by them for the rest of my life.”

    “Afraid?” Xiao Mengyu taunted.

    “Oh, dear girl, to have you, I’m willing to make such a sacrifice,” he said, his tone melodramatic. “I hope one day I can hold you close and shower you with fiery kisses as passionate as the equator.”

    “My sword will cut you into pieces,” Xiao Mengyu replied coolly.

    “Ah, another kind of beauty entirely. Just hearing your heavenly voice excites me—I wouldn’t refuse it unless you failed to deliver,” the man said, bowing elegantly.

    The deal was struck!

    Now, only one thing remained.

    The “Skinner” emitted the sound of countless wires rubbing together.

    The steel wires seemed alive, probing and testing Xiao Mengyu’s sword aura in the air, seeking an opening.

    Her sword suddenly trembled, releasing a piercing cry.

    Sharp sword aura and wires clashed, leaving deep marks on the ground, walls, and ceiling.

    The battle was imminent!

  • A Veteran Player Becomes a Troublemaker Chapter 10

    Of course, if they had hired a proper private tutor, she might have learned faster, but this much was still something.

    “You’ve worked hard.”

    Ian gestured for her to come closer and handed her a pouch of money.

    “Here’s the 50 shillings I promised.”

    The maid’s face lit up with a bright smile.

    The maid’s monthly salary was 80 shillings.

    Receiving more than half of her monthly pay in one go was more than enough to make her beam.

    “Oh, and this is a bonus.”

    But that wasn’t all.

    “A… a bonus?”

    “Take it.”

    Though surprised by the unexpected bonus, the maid’s actions were honest.

    She immediately held out both hands.

    Ian placed the money into her palms.

    Just as she was about to feel a little disappointed, thinking it might only be a single coin.

    “Gasp!”

    *Clink!*

    The moment she saw the coin, she was so shocked that she dropped it to the floor.

    She quickly picked it up, but the amount was still hard to believe.

    What Ian had given her was a 5-silver coin.

    It was more money than she would earn in six months of work.

    This was the first time she had ever held such a valuable coin in her own hands.

    “Y-young lord… this is too much…”

    She wondered if he had made a mistake, but—

    “5 silvers is a fair reward. Take it.”

    If they had hired a private tutor, it would have cost much more.

    In comparison, this was actually quite cheap.

    “You’re the eldest daughter, and you have five younger siblings at home, right? As the eldest, you should live with your head held high.”

    [Grien’s loyalty has increased by 3.]

    “Th-thank you! Thank you, young lord! Thank you so much!”

    The maid repeatedly expressed her gratitude.

    Watching her, Ian smiled with satisfaction.

    Of course, he could have given her less, but there was another reason for giving her that much.

    ‘When word of this spreads, people’s perception of me will change.’

    A fair reward for a fair effort.

    It would serve as a signal that Ian, who had only ever tormented and used people for his own gain, was changing.

    “You can go now. I need to speak with Sera alone.”

    “Yes, young lord.”

    After the maid left, only Sera and Ian remained.

    “Now that I can read and write, what do you want me to do?”

    “What you’ll be doing from now on is alchemy. Specifically, brewing potions.”

    “…Me?”

    “I’ve already purchased the books for it, so I’ll give them to you.”

    “Even if I can learn it, why are you entrusting this to me?”

    There were plenty of other people. Why not just hire an alchemist from the start?

    “Because it has to be you.”

    “But why me?”

    Though he spoke with certainty, Sera was still doubtful.

    ‘What about me does he trust?’

    She didn’t even know the first thing about alchemy.

    It would be stranger if she did, given that she had just learned to read.

    “To be precise, it’s your father’s knowledge that’s needed.”

    “Huh? My father?”

    Her eyes widened in surprise.

    She hadn’t expected her father to be brought up.

    “Didn’t you know? Your father worked as an alchemist in a neighboring country. He was quite famous, too.”

    Sera’s eyes grew even wider.

    “Y-you knew about my father?”

    “Of course.”

    To be honest, he didn’t know much.

    He only knew two things.

    First, her father was a famous alchemist in a neighboring country.

    Second, he had fled to the empire for some reason and settled here.

    That was all he knew. The details were a mystery.

    Still, the reason he brought up her father was simple.

    He remembered a useful tip: Sera’s loyalty could be quickly raised by talking about her father.

    ‘And it’s also a good excuse to get her more invested in her work!’

    Following in her father’s footsteps!

    What better motivation could there be?

    “W-what kind of person was my father?”

    “Huh?”

    He hadn’t expected her to ask that.

    ‘Ah, come to think of it, Sera didn’t know much about her father, did she?’

    Her father had passed away before she was old enough to remember him.

    Ian tried to recall what kind of person her father had been.

    But no matter how hard he thought, nothing came to mind.

    Of course.

    He simply didn’t know.

    ‘I think there was a video where a streamer summarized the story…’

    He tried hard to recall what the content was, but since it wasn’t in his memory at all…

    ‘I must have skipped it.’

    Ian was what people called a “skip addict.”

    If he had read the story properly, he might have known, but unfortunately, he wasn’t that type of player.

    He had watched quick guides and route breakdowns even after quitting the game, but he never paid attention to the story-related content.

    ‘If I had known this would happen, I would’ve read it properly.’

    He skipped even the main story, so there was no way he would have paid attention to the NPCs’ detailed backstories.

    ‘What can I do?’

    Ian shook his head and decided to dodge the question.

    “…That’s not something I should talk about.”

    “Why not?”

    Because I don’t know!

    …But he couldn’t say that now.

    He had been talking as if he knew all about her father, so if he admitted he didn’t know, what would she think?

    ‘She’d probably explode, thinking I’m messing with her, and her loyalty would plummet.’

    If talking about her father could raise her loyalty, the opposite was also true.

    ‘And if I lie, she could just ask her mother for the truth… Wait, her mother?’

    Yes, why hadn’t he thought of that?

    She had a mother.

    He could just have her ask her mother!

    “It’s not right for me to gossip about someone else’s family matters. I plan to have you start work tomorrow, so go home for today. If you’re really curious, isn’t there someone else you can ask?”

    I know, but it’s not my place to say, so ask your mother.

    Understanding it that way, she bowed her head and left.

    After leaving the lord’s estate and arriving home, Sera was greeted by her mother, Rimil, who was cooking in the kitchen.

    “Oh, you’re back early today?”

    When they first arrived here, Rimil had been full of worry and always wore a frown, but after a few days, her face had brightened. She had realized that Ian had no intention of harming her daughter.

    “Mom, I have something to ask you.”

    “What is it?”

    “I heard from the young lord. He said my father was a famous alchemist.”

    Rimil’s hands, which had been busy cooking, stopped.

    “…How did he know?”

    “He said he wants to make me an alchemist, and when I asked why, he said he needed my father’s knowledge.”

    Rimil’s expression turned serious.

    “Did he say how he knew?”

    “No, he just said he knew. He also said he didn’t want to gossip about our family matters.”

    “From what you’re saying, it sounds like he knows everything.”

    Rimil let out a deep sigh and slumped into a chair.

    Seeing her mother’s reaction, Sera realized there was something more to the story.

    “If he’s saying that much… was there something big about my father that I don’t know?”

    “….”

    “Mom, please tell me.”

    “….”

    A long silence followed.

    Rimil’s face clearly showed her struggle.

    Sera thought it would be better to wait for her mother to speak rather than keep pressing her, so she sat down across from her.

    After some time had passed, Rimil finally spoke.

    “Alright, you’ve grown enough now. It’s time you knew the truth.”

    Rimil realized that keeping her mouth shut wasn’t the solution.

    She decided to tell her daughter everything.

    “This might take a while. Are you okay with that?”

    “I have plenty of time.”

    With that, Rimil reluctantly began to speak.

    The Next Day

    Sitting at a table on the terrace, sipping tea, Ian frowned.

    ‘Black tea isn’t to my taste.’

    In novels, comics, and movies, people seemed to enjoy it, but black tea just didn’t suit Ian’s palate.

    Even though he was a troublemaker, he had tried to act refined and sophisticated, but it seemed like that effort had gone to waste.

    ‘Anyway…’

    As he pondered, Ian suddenly recalled the events of the previous day.

    ‘Did I bring up her father for no reason?’

    Maybe he should have gathered more information before saying anything.

    ‘No, I didn’t actually say much.’

    He hadn’t mentioned any specific details, only the information he was sure of.

    ‘So it should be fine.’

    …Or so he thought, but he couldn’t shake the unease.

    He was worried that his memory might be wrong.

    After all, it was a memory from years ago, so he couldn’t be entirely confident.

    Tap tap tap tap—!

    Seeing his leg shaking, everyone in the room held their breath and stayed silent.

    For Ian, it was an unconscious reaction to his anxiety, but the maids and butlers in the room were on edge.

    ‘He suddenly decided to drink tea, which he never does, and now he looks so upset…’

    ‘At least there’s no fork or knife, but even hot tea can be dangerous if he’s in a bad mood!’

    The servants’ perception of him hadn’t changed much.

    Unaware of their thoughts, Ian let out a deep sigh.

    ‘Ugh, I don’t know! What’s the point of worrying about it now?’

    In the end, he decided to go with the flow.

    “Young lord.”

    At that moment, the sound of a voice made his shaking leg stop.

    Ian’s gaze turned toward the source of the voice.

    Sera had come to see him.

    “Hmm, alright. I need to speak with her, so everyone else can leave.”

    The servants, looking relieved, quickly left the room without a word.

    “Sit down.”

    Ian pointed to a seat with his finger, and Sera sat down across from him.

    “Did you hear the story?”

    “Yes, just as you said. My father was an alchemist favoured by the king of a neighbouring country…”

    ‘Phew!’

    Ian let out a sigh of relief.

    Fortunately, his memory hadn’t been wrong.

    ‘I knew he was a famous alchemist, but I didn’t realize he was favoured by the king.’

    “Did you hear what happened?”

    “Yes.”

    Sera then recounted the story she had heard.

    Her father had cooked up a potion on the spot when the king was severely injured during a war. However, after drinking it, the king vomited blood and died, leading to accusations of poisoning.

    After that, her father fled to the empire with her mother, Rimil.

    ‘So that’s the story. Well, it seems like it worked out.’

    It had been the right decision to tell her to ask her mother instead of making something up.

    ‘Let’s not act recklessly from now on.’

    This time, it had worked out, but he vowed not to pretend to know things he didn’t.

    He made that promise to himself, over and over again.

     

  • A doomsday-level returnee devours calamities Chapter 27

    My neck was broken.

    But why am I still conscious?

    I thought deeply about it, but I couldn’t figure out the reason.

    After all, my body still wouldn’t move.

    ‘I’m definitely dead, but…….’

    I had never thought about the afterlife.

    I just assumed that everything would end with death, and yet, why am I left in this state?

    ‘What a shame. There are still so many men I haven’t met yet.’

    A woman in a red dress looked at Miyako, who was hanging from a tree branch.

    “Oh my, look at this interesting thing.”

    “…….”

    “How unsightly. You were already ugly, but now you look even worse. Oh my, just look at those flipped-up eyes. And that tongue sticking out! Pfft! You’re really hideous. It’s not easy to be this ugly, you know?”

    Her face was mostly covered by a fan, revealing only her eyes.

    But no one in this world would question her beauty.

    “Of all times, you had to meet me looking like this. Talk about bad luck. This just makes the comparison even worse, doesn’t it?”

    Though only her eyes were visible, sometimes one can tell a lot from a little.

    There was no need to peek beneath the fan to know that she was a breathtaking beauty.

    Even the subtle aura she exuded was enough to shift the entire atmosphere of the place.

    “But this is interesting. There aren’t many suicides who stay conscious like this… Did you really want to be beautiful that badly? Ah, I see, you wanted to be like me, didn’t you?”

    Miyako had always had a complex about her appearance.

    Whenever she saw beautiful women, she couldn’t help but feel hostile.

    But strangely, she didn’t feel such resentment toward the mysterious woman before her.

    Instead, what she felt was……

    ‘So, there really are women this beautiful in the world. I bet every man would line up for her. I’m so jealous. I envy her… I envy her so much it’s driving me crazy.’

    Jealousy.

    And awe.

    She didn’t understand why a dead person like herself was feeling such emotions or even thinking at all.

    But she decided not to dwell on it.

    She had always hated complicated things.

    “Honestly, I don’t get why humans are so obsessed with their shells. Once you strip them down, they’re all the same inside.”

    ‘Hah, as if she’s not human herself. But then again… does it even matter if she is or isn’t? A woman like her must have had men falling at her feet from the moment she was born. How could she possibly understand how miserable it is to be born ugly?’

    “Pfft. Hahaha! This is why humans are so amusing. So, you’re saying you feel wronged for being born ugly, right? Then I’ll give you a chance. A chance to be reborn as beautiful as me.”

    ‘R-Really?’

    “Of course! I mean it. But there’s a condition. Nothing in this world comes for free, you know?”

    ‘Tell me! Whatever it is, I’ll do it!’

    “Great! Then, kill a thousand people. Not one more, not one less. Kill exactly a thousand people, and I’ll make you just as beautiful as me.”

    ‘A thousand people… I can do that! I can kill that many easily!’

    “Hahaha! Good, good. Let’s see how well you do.”

    With a flick of the red-dressed woman’s finger, Miyako’s once-broken neck stretched and elongated until her body finally fell from the tree.

    Twitch.

    Slowly, Miyako stood up.

    The woman in the red dress handed her a red mask.

    “Here, cover that mouth of yours. It’s hideous.”

    Taking the mask, Miyako asked, “A thousand people. If I kill exactly a thousand, I can really be like you, right?”

    “Yes. That’s right. Why? You don’t believe me?”

    Miyako shook her head.

    After witnessing a miracle firsthand, there was no reason to doubt.

    “No, I’m just happy.”

    With those words, Miyako walked away.

    The red-dressed woman watched her go, lowering the fan that covered her face.

    “I keep telling them, it’s not about the shell.”

    As expected, her face was breathtakingly beautiful—enough to send shivers down one’s spine.

    Except for one part.

    From her nose down, instead of a human mouth, she had five grotesque, beast-like mouth filled with sharp, needle-like teeth.

    The horrifying, grotesque mouths moved like tendrils, slicing through the air.

    “……Mr. Tae-Seong! Taeseong! Are you alright?”

    “How long have I been like this?”

    “Huh? What are you talking about? We were just having a conversation. You spaced out all of a sudden, so I got worried.”

    ‘Time hasn’t changed at all.’

    To Taeseong, it felt like more than a year had passed.

    But in reality, not even a minute had gone by.

    And then he realized something new.

    ‘The old man who came to mind when I first held the sword… that wasn’t me.’

    It was the memory of someone he had killed.

    Taeseong was simply recalling the memories of those he had consumed.

    ‘Right. It did feel too foreign to be my own memory.’

    And now, he had a better understanding of what those mysterious crystals—those soul cores—actually were.

    ‘I still don’t know the exact difference between those who trigger my memories and those who don’t, but…….’

    This was already a significant discovery.

    On top of that, his physical abilities had improved drastically.

    It felt as though his entire body was brimming with power, like he had been reborn.

    To test it, he casually swung his hand at the wall beside him.

    It was a light movement, no more than a swat at a fly.

    CRACK!

    A deafening noise echoed as a handprint was left on the wall.

    Eunha stared wide-eyed, looking back and forth between the wall and Taeseong.

    “T-Taeseong…? What the hell was that?”

    “I was just… testing something.”

    “First with the Mangtae Harabeom, and now this… Taeseong, do you have some kind of ability to steal or absorb others’ powers?”

    Only Taeseong could see the soul cores.

    To others, his actions must have seemed bizarre and incomprehensible.

    Since he never bothered hiding it, Eunha’s sharp deductions didn’t surprise him.

    If anything, he was impressed by how close she had come to the truth with so little information.

    “……It’s probably something like that. Even I’m not entirely sure yet.”

    “So, you zoned out earlier because of that too?”

    He nodded silently.

    “That’s an insane ability… And to think you were only rated Epsilon? That doesn’t make sense.”

    Eunha pondered for a moment, then continued.

    “No way. There’s no way the higher-ups would overlook something like this.”

    “…….”

    “It’s probably best I don’t get too involved in this. But tell me, do Taesan or Harin know about your ability?”

    “They probably don’t.”

    Holding her forehead as if she had a headache, Eunha let out a sigh.

    More than anyone else, she had witnessed Taeseong’s abilities up close and knew for certain that he was far from being someone of mere ‘Epsilon’ rank.

    However, there had to be a reason why he was designated as such.

    Whatever that reason was, the higher-ups had judged him to be Epsilon, which meant—reading between the lines—that they wanted it that way.

    So far, getting involved in matters like this had never ended well…

    “I won’t report anything for now. But if the team leaders ask me directly, I’ll have no choice but to tell the truth. You understand what I mean, right?”

    “Yes.”

    Honestly, from Taeseong’s perspective, it didn’t matter much.

    “I think it’s better if I step aside for now. I’ll go check on Haeyoung, so take your time and finish what you need to.”

    “Yes.”

    Left alone, Taeseong finally identified the source of the uneasiness that had been gnawing at him throughout his conversation with Eunha.

    It was the memory of the red mask.

    1,000 people… I might have already killed even more than that. But… what was that?

    The woman in the red dress.

    It didn’t take a genius to realize she was the one who had given birth to the red mask as an entity.

    But the unsettling feeling Taeseong had wasn’t just because of that.

    She was definitely looking at me.

    It wasn’t just his imagination.

    In the red mask’s memories, the woman in the red dress had unmistakably locked eyes with him.

    Brushing it off as mere coincidence would be too naive—her gaze had been far too deliberate, too direct.

    Most of all, Taeseong himself was sure of it.

    That thing had been looking right at him.

    It would have been easier to dismiss it as a mistake, but no matter how hard he tried, the eerie sensation wouldn’t fade.

    Did she anticipate that someone would see the red mask’s memories? No… Is something like that even possible?

    The more he questioned it, the deeper his doubts grew.

    And just as he realized how pointless it was to question the possibility, his thoughts came to a halt.

    “Useless.”

    Possible? Was it possible for an ordinary human to use telekinesis, regrow severed limbs, and get caught in bizarre dimensional shifts?

    In a world where the absurd had become the norm, debating possibilities was nothing but a joke.

    Yeah, no need to overthink it.

    There was always only one answer.

    Get stronger.

    Mediocre strength only invites more enemies.

    Overwhelming power, on the other hand, turns everyone into allies.

    Having settled his thoughts, Taeseong moved to join his teammates.

    “You’ve sorted things out?”

    “Yes.”

    “That’s good. We’ve decided to stay here until the Japanese administrators arrive. They should be here by tomorrow at the latest, so moving carelessly might only make things worse.”

    “I agree.”

    “Good. Just rest for now. I’ll take care of everything here. Let’s regroup tomorrow.”

    “Understood.”

    Taeseong exited the basement with Gi-jun, while Eunha sealed the red mask in a sketchbook and helped Haeyoung to her room.

    Early dawn.

    Taeseong, awake from his sleep, glanced at Gi-jun, who was snoring loudly.

    “Hrrngh… Captain… I missed you so much…”

    Perhaps due to exhaustion from recent battles, Gi-jun was in a deep sleep.

    After watching him for a moment, Taeseong got up and stepped outside the inn.

    A narrow alley, barely wide enough for a single adult man to pass through.

    The path was bathed in a carpet of blue moonlight, and Taeseong walked along it slowly.

    “……”

    Step. Step.

    The dissonant chirping of insects among the dew-laden leaves.

    The dense forest beyond.

    And… a presence.

    “Stop hiding and come out.”

    From behind a large tree, a towering woman in a wide-brimmed hat peeked out shyly.

    “Po… po… po…”

    “You’ve been watching the inn for a while now. Seems like you have something to say. Is it because of the others that you didn’t come directly?”

    “Po… po… po.”

    “You were afraid they’d be scared of you?”

    “Po.”

    “Interesting.”

    It was late at night, and Taeseong had moved outside for one reason only.

    His still-sensitive body couldn’t quite ignore the presence of the Eight-Feet-Tall Ghost, who had been observing him from afar.

    “So, what do you want to say?”

    “…Po. Po.”

    The Eight-Feet-Tall Ghost waved her remaining arm.

    She was gesturing him over.

    Without hesitation, Taeseong approached.

    It wasn’t recklessness—just confidence in himself.

    As he reached her, she suddenly grabbed his hand.

    Then, with clumsy movements, she began to write something on his palm.

    “This is…”

    One letter. Then another.

    Though awkward, each stroke was filled with sincerity.

    T H A N K.

    Y O U.

  • The Regressed Extra Becomes a Genius Chapter 27

    Betting time had ended, and Han Se-yeon and I sat in the audience, waiting for the match to begin.

    It was a boring wait. Identifying the villains here in advance would have been useful, but with everyone wearing masks, there was no way to tell them apart.

    Meanwhile, Han Se-yeon’s expression hadn’t been good for a while.

    She kept glancing at me with a dissatisfied look, and it was starting to get on my nerves.

    “Got a problem?”

    “…No.”

    Han Se-yeon trailed off at the end of her sentence.

    It was obvious she had something to complain about.

    “What is it?”

    “…The money you bet. It’s your money now, but a few days ago, it was our company’s money. It’s just a shame to see it wasted like this.”

    “Come on, don’t worry. I never lose money.”

    “…Tsk.”

    Clicking her tongue, Han Se-yeon glanced at me and asked,

    “But did you bet knowing something?”

    “Of course I did.”

    “I mean, the odds are too high. A 6x return… that’s not just a simple underdog bet.”

    “A 6x return means 3 billion. That’s a good deal. Liang Liang is going to win.”

    “They say it’s his debut match today, and his opponent is a champion undefeated for three years.”

    I hadn’t expected today to be Liang Liang’s debut match either.

    All I knew was that after debuting in this underground arena, he would go undefeated for the next two years.

    ‘Lucky me. If Liang Liang’s debut had been delayed even a little, I wouldn’t have been able to place this bet.’

    Thinking about it again, it was an incredible stroke of luck.

    “Just watch and see what happens.”

    At that moment, the sound of the microphone echoed through the arena.

    [Thank you for waiting! Now, for the first match, Jang Hyuk-won versus Kim Tae-jin!]

    A small cheer erupted from the audience.

    With everyone wearing masks, the sight felt somewhat eerie.

    A moment later, the two competitors entered the arena, each holding a spear and a sword.

    [Let the match begin!]

    The two began an intense close-quarters battle, enhancing their bodies with magic.

    Unlike official magical sports tournaments, the underground arena had no safety systems in place.

    As a result, the fight was both dangerous and suffocatingly intense.

    Time passed.

    — “Argh!”

    Eventually, one of the fighters sustained a critical wound and collapsed to the ground.

    The deep gash on his body made the spectators grimace.

    “Ugh.”

    It was hard to watch, but the audience only grew more excited and entertained by the sight.

    True to its illegal nature, the organizers showed no intention of stopping the match despite the gruesome scene.

    — “I… I surrender!”

    Finally, the wounded man declared his surrender, deciding the match’s outcome in an instant.

    Those who had won money cheered, while those who had lost cursed and yelled at the fighter.

    — “Damn it! Kill him!”
    — “What are you waiting for? Finish him!”

    The victorious fighter looked down at his defeated opponent.

    For a moment, he seemed to consider the audience’s demands to kill him, but eventually, he shook his head and left the arena.

    [The first match ends with Jang Hyuk-won’s victory! The second match will begin in 20 minutes!]

    At the same time, in his hideout, the dark mage Baek Kang was resting.

    The door opened, and one of his subordinates entered.

    “Sir Baek Kang, Kim Jin-woo has been seen meeting with Han Se-yeon and attending the underground arena event.”

    “…Kim Jin-woo at the underground arena?”

    Baek Kang’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden report.

    Kim Jin-woo.

    The man who killed his close friend, Jang Han.

    Despite extensive investigation, little was known about him—where he lived, what he did, or his background.

    The only piece of information Baek Kang had was that Kim Jin-woo had some sort of deal with Han Se-yeon.

    That’s why he had ordered his subordinates to keep an eye on her.

    But he hadn’t expected much.

    He never imagined that someone like Kim Jin-woo could sustain a long-term business relationship with a powerful figure like Han Se-yeon.

    And now, after three days of surveillance, they had finally tracked down Kim Jin-woo’s whereabouts.

    “The underground arena…”

    Baek Kang knew the event was hosted by Ha-ryeong, an S-rank dark mage.

    And Ha-ryeong was not one to tolerate interference or any damage to his reputation.

    If he stormed into the event and killed Jin-woo, Ha-ryeong would undoubtedly have him executed.

    “When does the event end?”

    “We found out that it will conclude at 10:30 PM.”

    “…That gives us enough time.”

    Baek Kang’s blood boiled with anticipation.

    He didn’t know why Kim Jin-woo was at the underground arena, but now was the perfect chance to kill him.

    There was no need to rush.

    If he couldn’t kill him inside the event, he would strike when it ended.

    “Get the car ready.”

    Baek Kang hurriedly dressed and stepped outside.

    Time passed quickly.

    The second match ended, and now only the match between Yang Hong-ju and Liang Liang—the one I had bet 5.3 billion on—remained.

    As I absentmindedly waited, I overheard some people chatting nearby.

    “Heh, who was it that bet 5 billion on Yang Hong-ju’s opponent?”

    “I know, right? Everyone saw that and went all in on Yang Hong-ju.”

    “Same here. But with so many people betting on him, I doubt we’ll make much even if he wins.”

    “Well, easy money is still money.”

    “True. But Yang Hong-ju won’t lose… right?”

    “No way.”

    I looked up at the screen displaying the betting amounts.

    A whopping 2.8 billion had been placed on Yang Hong-ju, while only 530 million was on Liang Liang.

    By placing my bet on Liang Liang the moment betting opened, I had drawn in a flood of wagers on Yang Hong-ju.

    But the winner was already decided. Liang Liang would take the victory today.

    [Now for the third match, Yang Hong-ju versus Liang Liang!]

    At the announcer’s call, both fighters entered the arena.

    At first glance, their physical differences were striking.

    Yang Hong-ju was built like a tank, exuding raw strength, while Liang Liang looked scrawny and weak.

    ‘So Liang Liang was really this skinny back then.’

    Honestly, my visit to the underground arena wasn’t just to make money.

    I wanted to witness the combat skills of “Villain Liang Liang,“ who, two years from now, would become a core figure in the villain organization Zawon, playing a major role in the main storyline and developing a deep grudge with Lee Seo-jun.

    But for now, before his full growth, he still looked weak.

    — “This is over before it even starts.”
    — “Heh, who’s the fool that put 5 billion on him?”

    The spectators were already convinced of Yang Hong-ju’s victory.

    But the fight would end with Liang Liang’s win.

    After all, in the original story, Liang Liang was described as having never lost a single match in the underground arena.

    [Let the match begin!]

    At the announcer’s cry, Yang Hong-ju charged at Liang Liang, strengthening his body with magic.

    His movement resembled that of a raging bull. I couldn’t help but be impressed.

    To be honest, Yang Hong-ju was never mentioned in the original work.

    The only thing stated was that Liang Liang became famous by defeating the champion of the underground arena.

    But judging by his skills, it was clear there was a reason he’d held the champion title for three years.

    Just as I was admiring Yang Hong-ju’s movement, his shoulder crashed into Liang Liang’s body.

    — “Kuh-heok!”

    Liang Liang let out a cry of pain as his waist bent halfway.

    — “That’s it!”

    The crowd erupted in cheers.

    Not missing the opportunity, Yang Hong-ju grabbed Liang Liang and slammed him onto the floor without mercy.

    — “Kuaaaah!”

    Liang Liang screamed in agony.

    Watching him, I felt a slight sense of unease.

    ‘…Can he really win this?’

    Yang Hong-ju’s strength exceeded my expectations.

    It was hard to believe that Liang Liang had actually won in the original work.

    At this level, Yang Hong-ju had to be at least A-rank.

    I couldn’t understand why someone with such skill would choose underground fighting over becoming a professional mage.

    Puk! Puk! Puk!

    Yang Hong-ju relentlessly punched Liang Liang, who, due to the vast difference in physique, could do nothing but take the hits.

    After about ten seconds, Liang Liang collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

    Considering his frail body, this was an inevitable outcome.

    — “Waaaaah!”

    Yang Hong-ju roared triumphantly at the crowd, certain of his victory.

    The audience cheered wildly as well.

    Of course, his opponent was just a rookie having his first match today.

    With nothing special about him, it was natural to believe Yang Hong-ju had won.

    Even I was starting to think Yang Hong-ju had actually won.

    But then—

    Pook!

    — “Hhuek!”

    A small hole appeared in Yang Hong-ju’s chest, and blood trickled from his mouth.

    The once noisy arena fell silent in an instant.

    — “What… what just happened?”

    — “Wasn’t he knocked out?”

    Liang Liang staggered as he slowly stood up, his battered body trembling.

    Despite the severe damage, he forced himself upright with sheer willpower.

    He stretched out his hand and conjured another spell—lightning-charged spikes materialized in his grip.

    It was exactly as described in the original work.

    — “You coward…!”

    Yang Hong-ju tried to ready himself for another fight, but the wound in his chest was already too severe.

    With his strength failing him, all he could do was fall to his knees.

    Liang Liang launched another round of attacks.

    Unable to defend himself, Yang Hong-ju’s body was mercilessly torn apart.

    — “Kuhhhuek!”

    One after another, holes started to appear in Yang Hongju’s body.

    Though he soon lost consciousness, Liang Liang showed no intention of stopping.

    At this rate, Yang Hong-ju’s life was in danger.

    At that moment, five individuals wearing white masks stormed into the arena.

    They were agents of the event organizers, tasked with preventing such severe incidents.

    They swiftly restrained Liang Liang, and thus, the third match came to an end.

    “…Yang Hong-ju lost?”

    Ha-ryeong couldn’t believe his eyes.

    There was a large bet placed on Liang Liang, but he never imagined Yang Hong-ju would actually lose.

    More importantly, he was curious about the man in the rabbit mask who had confidently bet 5.3 billion on Liang Liang.

    ‘Did he know about Liang Liang beforehand?’

    Sometimes, there were cases where gamblers gathered information on new fighters before betting big.

    ‘…No.’

    Even though Liang Liang had won, to Ha-ryeong, he was nothing special compared to Yang Hong-ju.

    Knowing about Liang Liang’s abilities in advance wouldn’t have helped much, as his skills were far inferior.

    Liang Liang’s victory was purely because Yang Hongju had been careless.

    ‘Could it be just a coincidence?’

    But it didn’t sit right with him.

    The way the man placed a large bet on Liang Liang right at the start, luring others to bet on Yang Hong-ju…

    And how the biggest bet ever placed on Yang Hong-ju just happened to be on the day he lost…

    It was all too perfect, as if orchestrated.

    ‘Something’s off.’

    Ha-ryeong gazed down at the rabbit-masked man below the window.

    Despite winning a fortune, he showed no signs of excitement—just calmly leaving the arena, as if he had expected this outcome.

    Seeing that, Ha-ryeong was convinced.

    That man knew Liang Liang would win.

    But could he have even predicted Yang Hongju’s complacency?

    “Director Jung.”

    “Yes, sir.”

    A man in a white mask entered the room.

    “Find out who that man who won big today is.”

    “You… just what are you?”

    Inside a car outside the underground arena, Han Se-yeon asked in a tired voice while gripping the steering wheel.

    “Ah, thanks for your hard work today. Want a tip? I earned more than expected.”

    “…No, that’s not it. How did you know Liang Liang would win?”

    “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”

    “What is it?”

    “Instinct.”

    “…Seriously? You’re not going to tell me anything?”

    Han Se-yeon grumbled and started the car.

    I smirked and checked my bank account.

    [₩3,010,200,000]

    After deducting fees and other expenses, I had 3 billion won in my account.

    Since my account was created using the point shop, it couldn’t be traced, so no one would ever know I was involved in illegal gambling.

    I had expected to earn at most twice or three times my bet, but…

    I never imagined I’d end up with six times the amount.

    ‘What a jackpot.’

    And money wasn’t the only thing I gained today.

    There was an additional profit.

    I activated the Outsider’s Privilege.

    [Unique trait, ‘Outsider’s Privilege’ activated.]
    [Reviewing previous messages.]

    [Achievement unlocked: ‘Gambler of the Century’.]

    [Reward: 3,000 points acquired.]

    [Character ‘Han Se-yeon’ feels a strong curiosity about you.]

    [Interest level in you has increased.]

    [Character ‘Han Se-yeon’s interest level: Lv 1.]

    [Reward: 2,000 points acquired.]

    I had earned a total of 5,000 points from achievements and increased interest.

    My points were nearly depleted after purchasing the Killing Intent Detection trait recently, so having a surplus was quite satisfying.

    “Heh.”

    Feeling good, I laughed quietly.

    Then—

    Thump.

    A chilling sensation washed over me.

    ‘What is this…?’

    An ominous premonition gnawed at me.

    And in that moment, I instinctively knew the source.

    Killing intent.

    The Killing Intent Detection trait had detected someone’s murderous intent directed at me.