It seemed that the mock Dungeon had ran into several problems.
The first problem was that many of the internal cameras had stopped working.
The second was a systematic error. A problem had occurred with the distribution of people in charge of monitoring the situation and as a result, the instructors had discovered the broken cameras too late.
The third problem was that real monsters had trespass into the dungeon instead of mana puppets.
And the final problem was of a cadets creation, making a large scene to the media about how his brother died because Cube couldn't provide proper security.
As a result, the mock dungeon was canceled, everyone's grades were postponed and we weren't allowed to share our perspectives online.
"Wow, really? A natural born Magma Golem?"
"Yeah, I heard it was intermediate ranked. Some cadet even died."
"No way… So what happened? Who killed it?"
"It was Chae Nayun and Sven…"
The cadets gathered outside the dungeon chatted loudly, while the instructors checked people off to make sure there were no more casualties, their faces dropping with each account.
"Suho, how'd your run go?" I greeted him with a small wave.
Suho was riddled with cuts and covered in dust as if a corpse crawled out of a grave.
"...It was no joke. I almost died from exhaustion."
At that moment a hand rammed into my back as well as Suho's, while he looked unfazed I almost had the wind knocked out of me.
"I can see it on your face, you look like a grandpa."
I looked back at the assaulter in surprise.
Chase Nayun.
Is this how you repay me after giving you that mana recovery potion?
"Really?" Kim Suho touched his face, a little worried.
"Oh, and Minori, I'll transfer some money into your account for the mana potion. How much was it, 10,000 won?" Chase Nayun smiled proudly as she took out her watch.
It was half of that.
"Yeah. That's fine by me." I felt a ping on my wrist.
"Now we're even!" She pointed fiercely.
So she hates owing people…
"Of course." I spoke with smiles in my eyes.
I felt many stares at that moment so I turned away and walked, to get out of the public eye. My instincts told me particularly dangerous people were staring as well so I avoided them the moment I could.
I glance over.
Sven, Shin Jonghak, Yoo Yeonha and Kim Hajin. Sven, judging by how badly he hides his emotions, he has a crush… so does Shin Jonghak. Yoo Yeonha has one on Jonghak, so she's jealous. As for Hajin… I don't know why he looks so worried.
My decision seemed to be correct as my spot was quickly occupied by Shin Jonghak.
…
11 P.M
After returning from the dungeon I headed to the dormitories, heading into the elevator and clicking the 75th floor.
"Hold the door." A figure slightly shorter than myself walked into the elevator before clicking the button and leaned up against the wall.
Kim Hajin.
The doors closed and the elevator slowly ascended, playing mind dulling music.
"..." He kept glancing at me from time to time, looking cautious.
Seeing this, I decided to talk.
"I saw it."
"What?" He flinched slightly.
"I saw how you stunned the Magma Golem with a water attribute bullet. The power you showed was nowhere near what a gun is possible of doing… without the help of an authority." I glowered at him, watching his mana fluctuations.
An Authority is separate from a Gift, being a power higher than them. Hardly anyone has them so it's not widely known. Which is why I had decided to test him on his reaction.
His eyelids twitched as his hand shook.
"...So that's what it was. Is it a gun related Authority?"
"...You can think what you'd like."
I chuckled softly.
"..."
"..."
The two of us remained silent in the elevator. He then spoke up.
"...Hey. You aren't a Djinn yet, right?"
"What?" I blurted out when I heard those words.
What? Does he know about the Djinn inside the school? What is he getting at? Does he want something? Yet?
At his words a thousand questions went through my head, each one drawing blanks. His plain and nervous face suddenly looked a lot less readable.
"You heard me." He answered, a lot more confident.
"...No. No I'm not." I took my hands out of my pockets.
"Good." He simply nodded.
More thoughts raced through my mind the more I thought the less conclusions I reached. I narrowed my eyes and activated [Starlight Seer], shadows clouded my vision as I looked upon Kim Hajin.
His figure was abnormal. In the way it seemed to be normal, shaded in darkness but if one observed closer, many parts of him glinted in the darkness. His eyes were pale like the moon and a strange tattoo on his wrist.
When I looked deeper I was warned by my instinct, subtly, as if telling me to back away before I saw too much. So I did exactly that and snapped out of it.
His eyes were highlighted and there was a strange tattoo on his wrist… how strange.
The doors of the elevator swung open as Hajin stepped onto his floor. Without turning back he spoke.
"Be sure what you're doing is worth it."
"Haa, Just what is up with you…" I muttered under my breath with a tired smirk.
I watched him as the elevator doors shut.
"...I seriously can't think of anything." I rubbed my temples as I felt an oncoming headache.
Worth it? Of course it's worth it… I get to keep myself out of trouble while building myself up in exchange for being a mole of the Evil Society… It's not like I'm a mindless killer…
I'm just doing my job… my forced job with no pay and a pervert boss… my job where the benefit comes only after selling my soul…
Should I really just report her in exchange for witness protection? They'll just come through a portal and kill me if I do that…
I've well and truly screwed myself over by following Noona that day… a single misstep…
I slid down the elevator wall and pulled out the rune coin, twirling it around my fingers with a blank expression.
I think… I think for the first time in a long time. I well and truly hate someone with my very soul…
My mana bubbled like magma and crackled like lightning for a split moment, dyeing the elevator in molten hot cinders before being snuffed out by the ding of the elevator arriving at my floor.
I got up, dusting myself and walked out without a word.
…
My body was exhausted as I lay back on the martial arts club room couch, once again it was as empty as usual.
I had completed another move for heavenly berserker arts which was an armed attack for lunging with a sword.
Unknowingly a change had been made to the status window.
=======================
[Minori Nii]
⊳Variable Stats
[Strength 7.9]
[Stamina 5.2]
[Speed 9]
[Perception 9 (+6)]
[Vitality 6 (+6)]
[Magic Power 9.3 (Affinity: Flame, Lightning)]
⊳Invariable Stats
[Intelligence – 6.118]
[Perseverance – 2.63]
[Luck – Null]
[Charm – 6.118]
⊳Special Stats
[Magic Power control – 62%]
[Mental Power – 12%]
[Dread – 5%]
⊳Gift
「The Prophet and The Beast」[Spirit Attribute]
—The Prophet:
The ability to feel, defile and defy the future. All Dreams have meaning, especially yours.
–Starlight Seer:
Cover the world with shadow and stars, see the truth of past, present and future.
—The Beast
Generate fear in all that view your stride, have the will of a lord and the body of steel. Do not falter, trust in your senses, your instinct and your strength. Do not worry, you are still human.
-Wild Blood:
The law of the jungle, might makes right is engraved in your very body! Stride with the lust for Blood and the confidence of the very Wild around you!
⊳Arts
X
⊳Physique
[Blood Poison]
—Poison can only make you stronger. The stronger the poison the stronger your body becomes.
—Your blood contains and maintains the properties of poison.
—You can burn the poison in your body to increase your vitality.
—Overburning leads to sudden illness and iron deficiency.
—You become intoxicated when you drink blood.
=======================
I looked at my magic which now had an affinity, unlike before.
I raised my hand and channeled some raw magic into my palm.
A swirl of white mana gathered before turning dark gray, then it melted and gave way to a flickering flame, somehow it crackled like lightning simultaneously.
I redid the process but no more white mana was to be seen.
"...I have a strange hunch that it wasn't because of natural causes and instead my gift… how strange."
Cube told us cadets that an investigation from all ends would be launched to figure out who was the persecutor of such an event. Even bringing in police and the hero association albeit minimally.
Though my sources told me Cube would never do such a thing willingly.
[Noona: Can you really believe the Djinns in executive positions would want to restrict themselves? LOL! You really are such a noob! We're just screwing over those old fogies cuz they're more concerned about themselves. They never truly devoted themselves to our cause! So keep it up while I come up with another way to screw over those filthy freelancers!]
…Is… Is she really the branch leader in charge of Korea?
Assuming her ramblings are real this gives me reason to suspect that everyone around me may possibly turn into Djinns at any moment.
The more I know, the less I want to be on the losing side of history. And at this point, I'm not even sure who that is.
Turning my thoughts away from that topic I looked at the new special stat I had [Dread]...
What in the world is that supposed to mean? Dread? I don't feel particularly– is this what gave my mana flame and lightning affinity?
"..."
You know what? It's welcome aboard, no matter how awful it sounds.
But how would I raise this stat?
As I was brainstorming ideas on one of the martial arts club's couches, I lay back and sighed.
Only to receive another message.
[Kim Suho: Minori, did the student council reach out to you?] The message confused me a little.
[Me: No?]
[Kim Suho: Apparently the recent student disappearances are related to Djinn activity. If you see anything suspicious make sure to report it to me.]
[Me: You? Are you part of a special team?] I joked but inwardly I felt as though I knew someone who would know about it in great detail.
[Kim Suho: Something like that. Anyways, come train on wednesday, the fitness centre is opening back up.]
[Me: K] I typed back before switching to another watch.
—
[Me: What's up with the disappearances? Is that us?]
[Noona: Oh those? It's just some weakling trying to entertain my master for a bit. Don't worry, he'll die after a while, his soul isn't strong enough to last that long before going berserk. He's not from our faction so it's better this way.]
[Noona: But now that you've contacted me first, why don't we get dinner tonight! I'll make sure it's worth your while if you know what I mean~]
I left her on read before shutting off my watch.
"Too much has been happening lately, I'm going to lose my mind."
I exited the club room and made my way towards the portal gate, finished with my solitary morning training.