Chapter 50.

The masquerade party was happening at a castle in Paris constructed by a rich magnate . I positioned myself on a hill that overlooked the castle . In terms of distance, I was probably about a kilometer away .

In any case, my job today was simple . I just had to make sure the story progressed as it should . If possible, I hoped that everything would go according to the original storyline without me having to interfere .

5 P . M .

The sun had yet to set, but the masquerade had already begun . Luxurious cars arrived at the castle one by one, and people adorned in flamboyant dresses and masks went inside .

I checked Kim Suho and Yoo Yeonha’s location by hacking into their smartwatches’ GPS system . They were getting near .

5:30 P . M .

Two people got off of a limousine . It was Yun Seung-Ah and Jain . They were wearing masks resembling a fox and a tiger . They walked into the castle, led by a chauffeur .

Not long afterwards, Kim Suho and Yoo Yeonha arrived . Fully adorned in party clothes, their perfect figures shone brilliantly even with their faces covered .

“…Hm . ”

Looking at all the masks, I couldn’t help but feel that my face was too empty . I had the feeling I should wear my own mask . After all, if I had to interfere in today’s events, I had to conceal my identity to ensure my safety .

Although I didn’t have a mask prepared, I could just use Aether to create one . Aether had the ability to transform into any equipment its user wished . Naturally, it was able to become a mask .

The question was its design .

I recalled a movie I saw on Earth . A mask from the movie Black Panther… though, it was really more of a helmet .

In any case, Aether transformed into the form I pictured in my head . I put on the Black Panther helmet, which then adjusted itself to fit snugly around my face .

6 P . M .

The air was becoming chilly as the sun began to set . The castle looked even more beautiful as it burned from the setting sun . I began to observe the castle’s interior more carefully .

Almost as if I was inside, I could see everything clearly and hear every conversation . This came from the synergy between 「Thousand-Mile Eyes」 and 「Observation and Reading」 .

—I don’t know how to dance .

—So what, you’re going to just stand around after coming all the way here?

—…Well, I guess I’m a quick learner .

Kim Suho followed Yoo Yeonha’s lead as they danced to a classical piece .

At the same time, I discovered a strange movement of magic power on the other side of the castle .

It was a Magic Portal .

“…I knew it wouldn’t be so easy . ”

Only Djinns could make such artificial portals . Even among Djinns, one had to be beloved by their contracted devil to have enough magic power to operate a Magic Portal .

An alert popped up on my laptop .

[Homer’s Ring – Mythical grade artifact . It doesn’t make sense that only a few people would aim for it just because it hasn’t fully awakened its power . ]

[Modified setting – The Djinn group, Evil Society, has identified its origin and will interfere in the story . ]

The situation was becoming more complex .

I turned my gaze back to Jain .

She was infiltrating the underground vault of the party’s host . The security guards surrounding the vault were already taken out .

—Let’s see…

Iris scanners, fingerprint scanners, and password locks were all useless in front of Jain’s Gift . She easily opened the door to the vault, and from the countless number of treasures, she put a blue diamond and a ring into her magic pouch . She then returned to the masquerade party .

Everything that happened so far was in the original story . The only difference was the arrival of Evil Society . If Jain could safely escape the masquerade party, I could go back, feeling relieved .

But…

—Yoren, where are you going?

Yun Seung-Ah appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Jain’s arm . Jain, who was about to leave the party, flinched momentarily, but soon returned to pretending to be Yoren .

—I went to the bathroom .

—Oh, well, I have something to talk to you about . Follow me .

Yun Seung-Ah grabbed Jain’s wrist . The exit was right in front of her, but for now, Jain followed Yun Seung-Ah obediently .

**

“…Um, vice-leader?”

Jain was led to an empty room on the second floor of the castle . Confused, she called Yun Seung-Ah’s name . The only thing in the somewhat worn room was a single bed and some dimly lit lanterns . Clearly, the place was made for a secret love affair .

“W-Why here?”

“You know why . ”

Acting coquettishly, Yun Seung-Ah pulled Yoren’s wrist and pushed him on the bed . While Yoren stared at her, she closed the door and pulled her hair up in a ponytail . If it was the real Yoren, he would have been thrilled .

“I, um…”

Yun Seung-Ah mounted Jain in a somewhat lewd position . Then, she slowly took off Jain’s mask and lowered her head to his revealed face .

“Yoren…”

Yun Seung-Ah’s breath caressed Jain’s face .

But, Jain could feel the slight killing intent hidden behind Yun Seung-Ah’s mask .

“You won’t trick me a second time . ”

Yun Seung-Ah shoved her hand under the bed sheet .

Shiiing—

A well-sharpened sword glistened in the dim light .

Hearing the chilling sound, Jain quickly pushed Yun Seung-Ah off .

“Vice-leader, what are you—”

Before she could finish, Yun Seung-Ah’s sword struck down . Jain used an emergency dagger she carried around to stop the attack .

Sword and dagger .

The weight and size of the two weapons were different, but the density of magic power enveloping them was equal .

BOOM!

The surroundings shook from the fierce collision .

“You’re making a mistake, vice-leader… Uk!”

Yun Seung-Ah’s foot hooked towards Jain who was continuing to feign ignorance . Jain was sent flying by the kick, and Yun Seung-Ah pounced after her like a ferocious beast . Although Jain bought time for herself by running around in all directions, Yun Seung-Ah was more tenacious and nimble than ever .

“Ak!”

Eventually, Yun Seung-Ah got on top of Jain and was about to strike down with her sword, when a whip suddenly flew in and restrained her sword .

“A lover’s quarrel shouldn’t be so noisy . ”

Yun Seung-Ah and Jain both turned their gaze to the direction of the elegant voice .

The door had opened before they noticed, and a girl wearing a cat mask was standing there .

It was Yoo Yeonha .

“I am a Hero cadet from Cube . ”

She had walked upstairs to find a bathroom, hearing the sound of clashing metal during the process .

She would have normally ignored it, but she had gotten tired of Kim Suho’s clumsy dancing and was tempted by the chance to improve her image as a cadet who showed Korean cadet’s excellence in a foreign country .

“If you put your weapon down, I’ll make sure there is no bloodshed . ”

Yoo Yeonha added strength to her whip as she spoke leisurely .

Her whip seemed to want to snatch Yun Seung-Ah’s sword, so Yun Seung-Ah ignited her magic power on her sword . Immediately, her magic power burned fiercely and scorched Yoo Yeonha’s whip to cinders .

The only thing left of Yoo Yeonha’s whip was black ash .

“…Oh . ”

In a daze, Yoo Yeonha took a few steps back .

“Uh…”

‘I, I got too cocky just because I was in France . I should have known, Korea isn’t the only country with powerful people . ’

Yoo Yeonha felt her lips dry up . Hoping the woman’s sinister sword qi wouldn’t aim for her, Yoo Yeonha bowed in a ninety-degree angle .

“I will be on my way now . Please do continue what you were doing . ”

With that, Yoo Yeonha backed away stealthily before making a dash for it .

“DIE!”

The fight then continued .

Enraged, Yun Seung-Ah’s sword struck down repeatedly . Each time her sword clashed with Jain’s dagger, lightning crackled and flames ignited .

The roaring sound called people together, spectators and security guards quickly rushing to the room .

“Don’t just watch and help! Uwaak!”

Jain tried her best to withstand Yun Seung-Ah’s demon-like attacks, but it was difficult to combat a sword with her short dagger . As time passed, she was driven to a corner . Jain became desperate enough to ask the spectators for help .

However, security guards couldn’t even dream of joining in such a fierce and ostentatious battle .

“Uk!”

In the end, Jain’s dagger was unable to endure, breaking in half . Just when Yun Seung-Ah was about to make her final strike, someone stole the sword hanging by a security guard’s waist .

Immediately afterward, a single streak of light shot through the air and cut in between Jain and Yun Seung-Ah . Kim Suho had used a security guard’s sword to block Yun Seung-Ah’s Flame Sword .

“Who are you? Back off before I cut you down . ”

Kim Suho didn’t budge even at Yun Seung-Ah’s solemn warning .

He wanted to become a Hero to protect people . His firm conviction couldn’t be shaken so easily .

“I refuse . ”

“…Don’t say I didn’t warn you . ”

Currently, Yun Seung-Ah was half-covered by her mask . It was the same for Kim Suho . As a result, they were unable to recognize each other .

“I don’t know the reason you want to kill him, but…”

“Move!”

“Uuk!”

The current Yun Seung-Ah didn’t know mercy . She kicked Kim Suho’s solar plexus without a shred of hesitation, and Kim Suho knelt down on one leg as he staggered from the shock .

“Ah, hey! You stop right there!”

But thanks to Kim Suho, Jain managed to find an opening to jump out the window .

“See you later, crazy bitch… Eh?”

However, her attempt to jump out the window stayed an attempt .

From beneath the window, a thick darkness gushed up at Jain .

The darkness swallowed Jain, who was about to escape, then spat her back out into the room .

“…”

The darkness dyed the room in black . Yun Seung-Ah who was furious, Kim Suho who was writhing in pain, and Yoo Yeonha who ran away sullenly all held their breath and stared at the darkness .

Then, from the darkness, a figure of a man emerged .

**

“…Damn it”

On the other hand, Chae Nayun was comparing her surroundings to the map on her smartwatch . After every couple of steps, she stopped to check her watch before continuing on her way . Eventually, she saw a familiar sign .

[Goût Céleste]

“What!? This is where I ate lunch!!”

She raged . After walking for hours, she had arrived in the same place she started from .

“I can’t believe this . ”

She stared at her smartwatch, fuming . If a user got lost after looking at a map, the problem lied with the map .

“What company made this!? Damn it…”

Chae Nayun’s anger fell on the smartwatch Cube provided . She flipped her smartwatch harshly and saw the word inscribed on the back .

‘Daehyun’ .

It was her father’s company .

“…”

Chae Nayun called Yoo Yeonha once again .

“Kuuuk… Why isn’t she picking up!?”

**

“So this is the item containing ancient wisdom…”

The Djinn who appeared from the darkness held up a ring . The setting sun gave the ring a faint red glow . It was the ring Jain had put in her magic pouch .

“Ah, when did you take… Ak!”

After checking her magic pouch, Jain muttered despondently . Yun Seung-Ah immediately ran up to Jain, grabbing her by her hair before pointing her sword at the Djinn .

“Put that down . ”

“Haha . ”

The Djinn made a magnanimous smile . Yun Seung-Ah became nervous . It was obvious at first glance that the Djinn was completely different than a human .

Reddish black skin and blood-red eyes . A Djinn’s appearance strayed further from a human’s the more one was engulfed by a devil . From his appearance, Yun Seung-Ah could estimate his strength .

“This item isn’t something that suits people like you . ”

A few days ago, Evil Society had confirmed this item’s location and potential through an informant .

Homer’s Ring – a cradle of wisdom that amplified all abilities involving magic power .

They didn’t expect someone else to steal the ring, but all was well since they managed to get their hands on it without much effort .

“Now then . ”

When the Djinn was about to put away the ring in satisfaction…

Whish—

A streak of light broke through the window and enveloped the ring . In the blink of an eye, the ring was snatched away, disappearing outside the window .

“W-What!?”

The Djinn screamed and turned to the direction the ring flew out .

Outside the window, on a faraway hill, he caught sight of someone who was holding onto a wire-like object .

Someone… wearing a mask of a beast .

That someone, Kim Hajin, put on a thin smile .

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