Chapter 281.

Orden’s mansion looked very luxurious on the outside . I didn’t know how Orden learned to construct such a building, but I was impressed nonetheless .

—Can you make it?

A worried voice flowed out from the radio as I examined the mansion .

“Piece of Cake . ”

I activated the [Pinnacle-rank Instant Acceleration] attached to my suit .

“…!”

My body moved much faster than I expected, at a speed far beyond that of sound . I knew I couldn’t control this speed as it was .

So I activated [Bullet Time] .

Instantly, the world around me slowed down . I moved like the wind and made it inside the mansion in no time .

—…Successful infiltration confirmed .

‘Wow, that surprised me . That was some crazy speed . ’

I calmed myself down and looked around, taking in my surroundings . The walls became transparent and I could see the entire mansion at a glance .

The number of humans in this building was… 33 in total, including Park Hanho, a former member of the Temple of Justice, and his revived daughter .

Park Hanho was reading his daughter a book . It was a surprisingly peaceful and humanly scene, which was a strange thing to say considering both were still humans .

‘More importantly, where is the spy?’

I turned my head slowly, searching for the spy .

As I scanned the rooms one by one, I discovered a likely candidate in the guest room on the 5th floor .

It was a woman . Her eyes kept wandering nervously .

There was a machine used to send the Morse codes at the foot of her bed .

“I think I just found the spy . Please confirm . ”

I used [Pinnacle-rank Instant Acceleration] again .

Each floor was crawling with monsters, but I was confident they wouldn’t recognize me even as I pass by them, just as I was unaware of Kurukuru’s presence in the past .

Chwaaaa—

I arrived at the guest room on the 5th floor at the speed of light .

I appeared like the wind, quite literally .

“…Ah!”

The woman shook in surprise at my sudden entrance .

Her strawberry blonde hair and long arms and legs stood out .

She swallowed hard as she looked at me .

“… . ”

I waited for the confirmation in silence .

—Yes, she’s the one .

“…Hello . ”

At that moment, the woman spoke .

“My name is Rumi . ”

She seemed to have calmed down and even offered me her hand .

I examined the woman .

For whatever reason, I felt like I’d seen her before… .

—You may use the [Return Scroll] now .

But now was not the time to dwell on it .

“Do you have any belongings?”

Rumi nodded .

“I have them with me already . I brought my ‘Inventory’ from the Tower . ”

“If you say so . ”

I took out the [Return Scroll] .

Then, just as I was about to tear it in half…

“Hi~”

A cold, unfamiliar voice suddenly approached me like a blade .

I tore the scroll without even looking back .

Chwaaak—!

The sharp sound of paper tearing rang out .

“Huhu . Where do you think you’re going?”

However, the scroll failed to activate due to obstructive magic power .

I turned around with a sigh of annoyance .

A humanoid monster who looked like a giant peacock stood before my eyes .

“Good thing I decided to act on my hunch~♪ I knew you were a traitor~♪”

From her appearance and the tone of her voice, I could tell this monster was female .

I frowned .

“…Who are you?”

“Mm… That’s none of your business~”

The humanoid monster suddenly began to sing .

“Here is the inescapable mystery… . ”

Her voice was mesmerizing and her rhythm was perfect . Her song spread abnormal magic power into the surroundings .

The magic power melted the room and reshaped our surroundings into what looked like a concert hall .

Everything became dark and quiet .

The stage and the seats were separated, and a beam of orange spotlight shone over the center of the stage . I felt as if classical music would suddenly start playing . I looked around this strange space in a daze .

‘Where am I, and what kind of an ability is this?”

“…She’s one of Orden’s elite monsters . Her name is Doloren, and she can imbue her songs with magic power . It’s similar to Spirit Speech but different . We’re inside Doloren’s barrier right now,” Rumi explained quickly .

“Aha . ”

‘So that’s Doloren, one of the four monsters that’s new to the setting . Does she shed her feathers because she’s a bird? She’s different from what I saw on TV…’

“We… should’ve gotten out of here before she set up a barrier . It’s too late now . ”

Rumi’s voice was tinged with despair . She bit her lips so hard that they started to bleed . It seemed she had already given up .

I asked, “It’s just a barrier . Why are you so scared?”

“It’s not just a simple barrier . You can’t escape from Doloren’s barrier . And rather than a barrier, it’s more of a world of its own . ”

It was no surprise that Rumi knew about Doloren in detail; she was the spy, after all .

“There are only two audience members but that’s enough,” Doloren muttered as she climbed up the stage .

She stood on the podium like a conductor and looked down at us . Rumi turned white with fear, but I was confident I could breakthrough the current situation .

“But fundamentally it’s only a barrier, no?”

“…Pardon?”

I pulled Rumi into my arms and took out the [Mystic Key] .

===

[Mystic Key] [Magic Artifact]

—A mystical key .

○Evolving Item — EXP 「90000/100000」

○Lv . 8 Unlocking

※Was converted into an effective good through the 8-star card, [Card Conversion] .

===

I had upgraded the Mystic Key tremendously using [Item Experience Coupons] .

Even the most solid barriers should become powerless in front of it .

“The first number is Messiah by George Frideric Handel . Ahem… . ”

Doloren began warming up . She was completely at ease, probably because she had already concluded that we could never break out of her barrier .

I thrusted the key into the ground . Its tip sunk into the ground, and click— it was hooked . It had reached the core of the barrier .

Woooong… .

I forced Stigma’s magic power into the key . This would surely strengthen it .

I then turned the key to the right with all my strength .

Koong—!

It sounded as if someone had pushed down on all the lowest keys on the piano at once .

Doloren’s concert hall turned into gravel .

“…What? What’s going on? My concert, where did it go?”

She looked around in confusion .

“Let’s run . ”

“Excuse me? What are you— Kyak!”

I picked Rumi up and started running .

This was my third time using [Pinnacle-rank Instant Acceleration] today, yet I was just as fast as i was the first time . I could use this option without any limitation as long as I had the Orb of Regeneration with me .

**

Meanwhile, back at the underground fortress, everyone was already out of their tents, eagerly waiting for Black Lotus to return .

They all had witnessed Black Lotus’ triumph from the camera around his neck .

Their hearts sank when ‘Doloren’ appeared, as she was known to be as equally powerful as a Master-rank Hero . However, to their surprise, Black Lotus defeated her easily and escaped with the spy .

His performance was nothing less of perfection .

“I knew he was a good bet . ”

Aileen nodded with satisfaction . Today, she had witnessed the true strength of Black Lotus .

“Right . And I’m really curious how he broke that barrier . What do you think, Aileen? That barrier didn’t have any noticeable weakness in it . That monster looked confused, too . ”

Nicholas was overcome with excitement and curiosity .

“Hey Nayun, do you think he’d be willing to take a photo with me? I think I’ll be able to get, like, 300 million likes if I post it online . ”

That last remark was Yi Jiyoon’s .

Other Heroes also looked forward to meeting Black Lotus . They didn’t expect him to answer all their questions, but still they were thrilled to finally meet Black Lotus in person .

“Ah, he’s here!”

With her extraordinary eyesight, Jin Seyeon was the first to point to the other side of the tunnel . Everyone turned to where she pointed, and soon, two silhouettes appeared on the other side .

It was Black Lotus and the spy Rumi .

Rather than waiting for the two to come, the Heroes went to greet them . Aileen, as the commander in chief, stood in front of Black Lotus .

“Oi, it’s been a while . ” Aileen greeted .

Black Lotus remained silent . He handed Rumi over to Parma, who was known as the ‘Saint’ . Rumi had fainted after failing to withstand Black Lotus’ supersonic speed .

“…Hey, don’t you know me?”

Aileen frowned, thinking Black Lotus just ignored her .

Black Lotus’ answer was short .

“I do . ”

“Then why are you ignoring me like that?”

“It’s not my job to look after you . ”

“…”

Aileen’s face turned slightly red . Few muffled laughters broke out behind her .

“I never asked you to look after me! Be courteous, you!”

“… . ”

Black Lotus looked beyond Aileen . His gaze moved across Kim Suho, Nicholas, Yun Seung-Ah, Shin Jonghak, Jin Seyeon, then Chae Nayun . His gaze lingered on Chae Nayun for slightly longer . Having noticed it, Chae Nayun tilted her head in confusion .

“I’m leaving now, but be sure to tell me the information that the spy discovered . ”

Black Lotus turned around, but Aileen’s high-pitched voice stopped him .

“Do you have any other business to take care of?”

As an ally, Black Lotus was more dependable than anyone else . Seeing as Black Lotus and Orden were archenemies, Aileen wanted to keep Black Lotus on her side at least until they defeated Orden . Black Lotus could secure their rear, attack the front, and even assist other Heroes from the back .

He would be the perfect addition to the team .

“…”

However, Black Lotus neither looked back nor spoke .

An eagle suddenly flew in from a distance and landed on his shoulder .

“Hey! Answer me before you leave!”

Black Lotus answered Aileen in a nonchalant voice .

“Contact the Chameleon Troupe if you want to recruit me . ”

And that was all he had to say .

“Excuse me, before you leave, can you maybe take just one photo with m-… uup!”

Chae Nayun and Kim Suho managed to stop Yi Jiyoon before she could finish her sentence .

Immediately afterwards, Black Lotus turned into a handful of dust and disappeared into thin air .

Silence descended on the fortress .

The Heroes all stared at the spot where Black Lotus had just stood .

The man came and left quite literally like the wind . Black Lotus should have been the enemy of Heroes, yet a sense of gratitude filled their hearts .

Kim Suho and Shin Jonghak . Yi Jiyoon and Jin Seyeon . Chae Nayun and Yun Seung-Ah… .

Each member of the Task Force now had their own story of Black Lotus to tell .

And their stories would soon spread to the rest of the world in the form of rumors .

**

[World of Wish, 8F Crevon]

On a starry night in Crevon, Margrave Tomer was having teatime with a guest in the reception room of her mansion . The atmosphere was rather grave .

Staring at the dark clouds outside her window, Tomer muttered with a sigh .

“A lot has changed ever since the 30th floor crumbled down . ”

When Kim Suho cleared the final floor of the Tower, Crevon was under a state of emergency .

Cults heralded the end of Crevon one after the other . Some sought to overthrow the current regime .

However, this period of turmoil only served to bring Crevon together .

Araha, the fifth princess of Crevon, declared herself the king, finally unleashing all the ambition that she had tried so hard to keep hidden over the past years . She launched a series of innovative and radical policies to address the people’s concerns .

Araha also recruited a number of skilled Players and regularly sent them on expeditions to the 9th floor . Half of the 9th floor that was once crawling with mythical monsters was now cleared out, and that was clearly a triumph on her part .

“What do you think?”

Tomer asked the guest while sipping on tea .

Recent changes had put her in a rather tricky political situation .

“…I am worried . ”

The clinking sound of iron resounded throughout the room along with a low-pitched voice .

The guest, a giant man, stared down at the cup in front of him, which was barely the size of his thumb, before picking it up and placing it on his palm .

Tomer gave a small smile .

“So even you’re scared, Lü Bu?”

“…”

Lü Bu did not answer . He only grabbed his Square Sky Halberd with the hand that wasn’t holding the cup .

However, before long, he raised his head again and stared Tomer in the eye .

“I heard that Earth will also transform into the Demon Realm . ”

“…Yes, that was the prophecy . ”

The highest-ranking administrators of the Tower of Wish—Buddha, Jesus, and other saints—had already ascended to Heaven . They left behind a single prophecy before they left .

[Demonic energy shall invade the blue world . We hope you will all work together to overcome this ordeal . ]

“But… the prophecy only applies to the outside world,” Tomer muttered and glanced at Lü Bu, anticipating his response .

The outside world .

Tomer had begun to refer to Earth as the outside world .

She recalled her parents . Earth had left nothing but scars on Tomer’s family . This was the reason she did not want to leave Crevon . Tomer cherished the peaceful life she had here .

“Do you wish to descend as well, General Lü Bu?”

But others had very different opinions . Not only the administrators but also Lü Bu, Lancelot, and practically anyone who originated from Earth wanted to descend onto the outside world .

Lü Bu turned his head slowly and glared at Tomer .

“I’m merely following my lord . ”

“Right, and your lord is here in Crevon . Yet you worry about Earth . ”

“… . ”

Lü Bu clenched his teeth, which made his chin appear more threatening . Tomer stared back at him without being intimidated .

As the atmosphere between the two began to grow hostile… .

Guoooo… .

Suddenly, a strange vibration shook their surroundings .

Tomer and Lü Bu stopped and looked around in confusion .

It wasn’t long before a message window popped up in front of Tomer .

[There has been a huge change to the System . ]

Only Tomer could see this message because she was simultaneously an NPC and a Player .

Her eyes widened as she read it .

**

The sky was dark without a hint of light .

I returned to Pandemonium . After a quick shower, I headed straight to Boss’ office to give her a report of the mission .

“You’re back . ”

Boss greeted me with her usual nonchalant look .

“I already received the news that you succeeded . ”

“Did you get the reward?”

“Yes . The Chameleon Troupe is now officially pardoned . Though I’m not sure how long we can manage to stay off that list this time… . ”

With a chuckle, Boss got up from her seat and came up to me .

“You did well . ”

Boss stared at me . Then she leaned over and hung something around my neck . It was a necklace .

“This is better than the one I gave to you when you first joined . I got this from the Association in exchange for accepting their newest request . You earned it, so you keep it . ”

[Heimdallr’s Necklace] was its name . You could tell from its name how priceless this necklace was .

“This is… . ”

I was surprised that of all people Boss had chosen to give this to me . I knew from her official setting that she was an avid jewelry lover .

Grateful, I held the necklace up to examine it in detail .

It was then .

Guoooo… .

I felt a huge vibration echo off the walls .

At the same time, several windows popped up, blocking my view .

[Outline — the narration has caught up with the original story; the remake story will take over fully . ]

[Problem — the last arc before the hiatus was much too dull . ]

[Setting Change — a huge ‘system’ has been incorporated into the story to minimize the dullness . ]

[Original Author’s Privilege — Your eyes can now see other people’s life force, among other ‘stats’… . ]

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