*CRISTOPHER’S POV*

“Mm? What do you mean?”-I ask Hajin who’s looking inside the chest.

“The thing inside is mine, right?”-He asks while turning towards me.

{Why woul- Oh…}

“Don’t’ tell me…”

“Well…”

“Let me see!”-I go quickly over to him and grab the thing inside the chest. “You’re such a lucky motherfucker…”-I mutter unconsciously

[Arachne’s thread]

[Punished by a god, Arachne was transformed into a monster, a monstrous spider forced to spin her spiderweb forever.]

[Utility, Equipment]

[This thread is connected to Arachne’s spinneret from its creation, the user is able to extend the thread as he wishes to a limit of 3 kilometers. The thread is almost invisible to normal sight, and can be controlled with the will of the user.]

“How the hell did you got this from this freakish low-level dungeon!? This is so unjust! I haven’t obtained anything good so far apart from a goddamned necklace!”-I shout in complete defeat.

“Well… I’m lucky… Inhumanly lucky…”-He answers while averting his eyes. “And come on! You have the bracelet, the gauntlets, and that earring! Those are good items.”

“Dude! I had to fight a freaking flock of more than a thousand Ice Wings to get those! I mean… They couldn’t kill me, but still! This was a trip around the park for fuck’s sake! *sigh…* You know what. Forget it. It’s yours. You killed the boss. And I won’t make good use of it. Attach it to some knife and you have a good throwing weapon…”

“That’s what I was actually thinking about… Though, how strong would it be…”-He mutters while looking at the seemingly small thread that can elongate 3 kilometers.

“Look… It’s Arachne, right? That’s on a mythical level. It sure won’t be a nylon thread. You probably won’t find a better one out there no matter how hard you look for it. And it probably has a few things that are left unsaid in the description…”-I said to him. “Now let’s go. I want to drink some beer before going back to Cube.”

“Beer?”-He asks.

“Sure. Outside of Cube and Korea, we’re basically adults. That means. Booze is allowed to us cadets. Let’s go! I want to see if I can find Brahma or Heineken here. Skol also works for me.”-I said while going towards the place we came from.

“What are those?”-He asks while following me.

“You’re such an ignorant… You’ll see…”

***

After a few beers in Manaus, where I could actually find both Brahma and Heineken, we took the portal back to Seoul, and from there back to Cube.

“Oh, man I missed the taste!”-I shout while stretching myself while on the way towards the dorms.

“What taste… It’s beer… It tastes awful if it’s not for getting buzzed…”-He said while walking beside me.

“*sigh…* Ignorant being ignorant… Stay like that dude… Not everyone can taste a good beer.”-I said to him while shrugging.

“Whatever you say. When will be our next hunt?”

“The fuck do you mean?”

“We’re not going to another dungeon?”

“No. You can go by yourself. This was a one-time thing. I’m not going to go with you every time. It’s not for being an asshole, but you need to test your limits on your own. Though with that said, don’t go and die somewhere by yourself…”

“You know. You sometimes act like someone that actually cares, but then you go and turn into someone that doesn’t give a fuck about anyone else… It’s hard to keep up with you.”-He says while frowning at me.

“I’m helping you in my own way. I also have my own things to do.”

“The heck would you need to do here? You’re not from this world.”-He said while frowning.

“That’s my problem. Don’t worry. It’s nothing related to the plot, and even then, I would tell you if it was something that you need to know.”-I said to him.

“… See? You’re an asshole sometimes while talking to people. Olivia is right in that.”-He says.

“Sure, and what do you want me to do with that info? It’s not useful at all. Let’s stop here. We won’t get anywhere. Just know that you need to keep going some more dungeons. You have such goddamn luck with you, make use of it.”-I said while we both got inside the dorms.

“Sure, whatever you say man…”

***

The rest of the day was basically me doing nothing in my room, except for maybe texting with Rachel, who wanted to know when we could spar. I told her that anti-personnel training was out of the question, so we ended up agreeing to spar in the forest close to the dorms at 8:00 PM both Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Same days as combat training. I don’t know if she would be too tired to spar or not, but that’s something for her to care about.

What I wanted to know actually, was her affinity to Natural Energy, the only reason I proposed to spar more than once.

So, after a complete night of sleep, it was finally Sunday, which means, the day I would be starting the kids training back at the orphanage. Though I’ll probably take a few things for them to eat there, and some chocolate to drink.

With that said, I started my day, taking a shower, dressing, and going out of my room, and out of Cube.

***

“Hi!! How are you!?”-Asked an always bubbly Fran while opening the door for me to go in.

“Good, what about you and the kids? How’s everything around here?”

“Great! The kids are really excited! I got surprised when you texted me this morning, but they sure got excited. You should see Antonio’s face. He went mad with excitement, running here and there saying how he’ll become a hero and whatnot.”-Said Fran before looking at the bags in my hand. “What are those!?”

“Well, didn’t want to get here empty-handed, you know? Let’s go take it to the kitchen.”-I said to her while walking towards the kitchen.

“You didn’t have to do that!”-She said while slightly frowning with worry.

“I know. But I wanted to. So, you better not reject them. Also, there’s some chocolate in there, you can pay me back by making a little bit while I train the kids.”-I said to her after putting the bags over the kitchen main isle. “Well, where are the ones wanting to train?”-I ask her.

“*sigh…* Fine… At least stay for dinner. And they’re out in the back garden, waiting for you.”-She said while going towards the bags, to start organizing things.

“Good! And I’ll see. You know, Cube cadets are really busy people.”-I said while smirking at her before leaving to the back garden.

In the list to kids for training, I got little Antonio, Anne, Josh, Laura, and even Gabriel, who I thought wouldn’t be one to try these kinds of things with how shy he was. The rest of the kids also wanted to train, but after I said how it would be a really harsh training and that they would probably end passed out on the floor from sheer exhaustion, only those five stayed.

For the rest though, I prepare a few exercises, just to include them and not letting them out of the fun.

The first thing I taught them was meditation. How to control their mana. It wouldn’t be easier. But it had to be done. So that took 2 hours of our day. After that, it was complete physical training. Saitama style, albeit toned down for kids.

At the end of the day, the five kids were passed out in the garden. Thankfully, mana really helped them recover easier. Which means that they could still get up for dinner.

After everything was done and I was ready to get out, Fran called out to me.

“Thanks, really, the kids were really excited when I told them you’ll train them. Though, being honest, I didn’t think it would be this soon…”-She said while standing out of the orphanage’s door.

“The heck are you saying? There’s no need to thank me. This place was where I grew up, even if I don’t remember… And also… It was fun, teaching the kids. Really, I got a few good laughs with Anne competing with Antonio.”

“… It’s good then… See you next Sunday then?”

“Sure. And thanks for the chocolate and the dinner. It was good.”

“Haha! I’m glad you liked it!! Then! I’ll be waiting with more of it next Sunday!!”-She said while beaming that smile of hers and waving her hand at me while I was walking out.

***

It was finally Monday, and to be honest, classes were as boring as usual when it was just theory. At first, a few things were interesting, but with time, it just got into a boring routine… This means, that I’m basically dreaming with my eyes open all through the classes or doing sketches in my notebook. Though… Nothing fancy, I’m really bad at drawing…

“Exams are next week, starting with the written exams. The combat exams will be on the following week. But remember what I’ve always said, written exams are just as important as combat exams.”-Suddenly said the teacher, almost when it was time to finish classes.

{Huh? Already? Well, it’s good that it starts next week.}-I thought while looking at the talking teacher.

“Hey…”-Hajin suddenly whispered, trying that only I could hear him, since Rachel was beside him, a seat away actually.

“‘Supp?”-I whisper back.

“What do you expect to do while in the exams?”

“Mm? What do you mean?”

“I mean… Do you intend to win? Looking at what you did inside that dungeon you could probably one-shot any cadet.”

{Now, that’s a nice question. I thought about it, and while I do intend to win, I’m not going to do something too spectacular… After all, Chameleon Troup’s Boss will be noticing Hajin there.}

“Yes, but I don’t intend to do anything spectacular. I’ll win though. What about you?”-I answer him

“What do you mean?”

“Do you intend to win?”

“Are you crazy? As if I could just decide whether to win or not.”

“Mm…Well, I think you’ll do okay.”

“What are you even saying?”

“Hey, classes ended.”-I said to Hajin while pointing towards the now leaving professor. “Let’s go.”

“*sigh…* Sure…”

We both stood up to leave. A funny thing is that once classes ended, Chae Nayun’s seat actually got crowded with Kim Suho and Shin Jonghak still thinking she was the next target of the Djinn attacks.

“What’s wrong with you guys. I can move just fine by myself.”-She had to make them back off as they were even trying to help her stand up.

{Lunatics…}-I thought after glancing at them, before going on my way towards the back door with Hajin.

Though I still could hear what they were talking about.

“Kim Suho, you should leave.”

“…Why?”

“Can’t you see Nayun is uncomfortable having you around?”

“Cristopher, wait!”-Olivia suddenly called for me once we were out of the classroom.

“Mm? What do you want?”-I ask her when she got close.

“Well… I wanted to talk to you in private… Can we go somewhere right now?”-She asks me. “It’s about this Thursday…”

“Mm… Sure, no problem. Sorry man, I’ll be leaving.”-I said to Hajin.

“Yeah, I’ll go to train either way.”-He answered.

“Nice, let’s go.”-I said while urging Olivia, who also gave her farewells to Hajin while we started going away.

“…”-Not before seeing Yoo Yeonha stopping in front of us. I merely glanced at her with a slight frown before going my way, but it seems Hajin had something to talk to her.

“Where are you going?”-He asked.

“…To the dorms”-She answered a little hesitatingly

“I see.”- He finished the talk there and Yoo Yeonha went her way after a slight nod.

{It seems we’re finally taking that asshole out of the picture.}-I thought to myself while walking.

“Hey…”-Olivia suddenly nudged at me.

“Mm? What?”

“Do Hajin and Yoo Yeonha have something going on between them?”-She asks with a serious face.

“Pffft!!!”-I try hard not to laugh.

“Wh-What!?”

“Why would you even think that? Pfft! It’s just hilarious…”

“Well, you saw what happened there right? It was like a couple that had a fight…”-She said averting her eyes.

“No. They don’t. It’s just that she was a little bitchy to us a few days ago. Nothing more. I don’t even know why would he ask her that.”

“Oh… Okay… And what do you mean with she being bitchy to you two?”

“Nothing. It doesn’t matter at all.”

“Sure, if you say so…”

“I’m liking how you’re so quiet these days you know? Keep the good work.”-I said while giving her my thumbs up.

“Y-you! You can’t keep quiet right!? You always have to pick a fight!”-She suddenly retorts.

“Of course I can’t. It’s funny to see your reactions haha.”-I laugh a little while walking.

***

After a while, we made it to Hero Park and chose to sit on a bench.

“So. What did you want to talk about?”-I start.

“Well… You know that our bet is this Thursday, right?”

“Yes. I remember. So?”

“I wanted to know… If you’ll keep your word and train me.”

“Of course. I won’t go back on my words. I’ll train you if you can make it.”-I answer her while looking up at the sky. “The question is, will you be able to win?”-I ask while turning to look at her.

“…”-She just stares at the floor. “Yes. I will. I need to.”-She said with the same determination she always has when pestering me.

“You know. It sometimes scares me. That face you make.”-I said.

“Mm? Why? What face? Are you messing with me?”-She turns to look at me.

“That determined face you make. It makes me remember all the pestering I’ve been suffering from you.”

“Wh-What!? What pestering!? I was not bothering you. It was you that was a bother! If you only answer when someone talked to you, I wouldn’t have to ask you constantly!”

“Couldn’t you just stop? I mean… If someone doesn’t want to answer your questions. You should stop. With some exceptions, but I’m pretty sure that wasn’t one of them.”

“…”-She stayed quiet once again while looking at me for a little while before turning to look at the floor.

I didn’t push her this time. I just waited. First, to let the bastard make his move. Second, because I’m sure I don’t need to talk.

After a little while, she finally decided to talk.

“I had to…”-She started, before staying quiet for a little more. “I need to get stronger. There’s something I have to do, and I won’t be able to if I’m not stronger…”

“Can’t you just not do it?”-I simply ask her. Looking at the sky.

“No! I have to!”-She shouts while turning at me. Her eyes getting slightly red, right before turning to look down again. “I have to do it…”-She muttered.

“*sigh…* Revenge won’t get you anywhere…”-I mutter unconsciously.

“Huh!?”-She quickly turns her head towards me. “H-How-”

“It’s written all over your face.”-I keep going while interrupting her, now that I’ve said it, very well let it out. “I’ve known it since the first time you asked me to help you.”

“….”-She just stares at me. “You knew… And even then, you didn’t want to help me?”

“Are you deaf? I just told you. Revenge won’t lead you anywhere. And even if that was my thought. I at least had enough patience to let you ramble on. Someone else? I would just break a bone the second day. So, consider yourself lucky.”

“…”-She looks down. “But, why? You didn’t have to… I knew that… It was just me being stubborn. I just wanted to hold onto whatever stick I could to raise myself…”-She mutters.

“Because you remind me of myself.”-I said while looking at her.

“What? What do you mean?”

“You don’t need to know. Just know, that I took pity on you. I don’t know what happened. And honestly? I don’t care. But… I’ll at least give you the chance.”-I said to her.

“The chance?”

“Yes. The chance. Prove me that I didn’t do wrong to let you ramble on and on. Win the bet. And I’ll know that it was the right choice not to kick you out of my way since day two. Got it?”

“…”-She turned to look at the floor, not answering. Just nodding.

“Great. Also… Well, whatever you choose to do. That’s your problem. But as advice. Sometimes… Following the white rabbit down the hole would leave you trapped. Without exits, and surely with no Wonderland.”

“The heck does that even mean?”-She asks without even looking at me.

“It means what it means. Take the advice, or leave it. That’s your choice to make. I’ll leave now. I have something to do. I’ll see you this Thursday at the usual hour.”-I said while standing up and going away.

She just stayed there. Sitting. Looking at me without saying anything. Not like there’s something else to say.

{Well… Now it’s time to wait for the bastards’ season to start, so I better get ready for the hunt.}

***

I was close to the second-year dorms. I don’t know exactly at what time Yoo Yeonha would be attacked, neither when Hajin would receive the text message. So, I just waited here, close to where Yun Hyun will bring Yoo Yeonha, sitting on a bench close while listening to some music and waiting for Hajin to text me. We agreed that he’ll send me a text whenever it was time to move, so I’ll just wait.

After a couple of hours, a text finally came.

[Kim Hajin: He got Yoo Yeonha. We have to move.]

“Finally…”

[Cristopher: Great. Where?]

[Kim Hajin: Second-year dorms. He must have the penthouse. Since they only have one building per gender, there’s only one choice.]

[Cristopher: Got it. I’m moving.]

[Kim Hajin: I’m close already. I’ll be sniping him.]

[Cristopher: With your gun?]

[Kim Hajin: Nope. Have a new toy. You’ll see.]

[Cristopher: Nice.]

“Now… Let’s go.”-I said while moving towards the dorms. This time I won’t need to hide my identity. After all, it’ll be a tag team, and it’s our duty as Cube’s cadets to destroy the Djinns.

***

*YOO YEONHA’S POV*

I was currently detained inside the penthouse for the second year… Yun Hyun’s room… He attacked me when we were cramming for next week’s theory tests, once I mentioned that there was a cadet that thought he was the culprit, and he missed his wording, leading me to discover that said cadet was right.

Even with my power, I couldn’t stop him… As it was also true that, although It wasn’t mental magic… It was something like charm magic… And even if my strength could stop it for a little while, I couldn’t fight for long… Being quickly subdued by him…

The face of both students who ended up being right ended up appearing in my mind. But now it was too late to regret it. I was going to die… Or something even worse…

“Oh, this is him? The quick-witted one who said I was a Djinn?”-Yun Hyun said in front of me while looking at my smartwatch. “Looks like I’ll need to kill him later… Anyway, what’s this? 9? That’s all you sent to ask for help? Who would understand something so cryptic?”

Right before being kidnaped, I managed to send a text to one of the only two persons that know the truth apart of me…

{Thinking about it now… It’s kind of stupid… Just a 9… That’s not even a secret code… It’s just…}-I thought to myself, in hopeful desperation…

“Of course, even if he understood what you meant, he wouldn’t be able to come in here. There’s a barrier around this place, you see.”- He said while dropping my smartwatch on the floor and stepping on it. Crushing it.

I could only glare at him. Not even able to speak…

“Ah, amazing. Those eyes are amazing. It’s okay, Yeonha. Soon, you’ll come to like me too.”-He said with ecstasy in his face, with his body trembling, making one of the more disgusting expressions I’ve ever seen.

*tap, tap*

He slowly came closer. I tried to move, to break free. But I wasn’t only tied to a chair, some spell also prevented me from moving. I was totally trapped.

“You have beautiful skin.”-The disgusting bastard said while touching the skin on my thigh. I couldn’t help but tremble in disgusts as his hand left a faint handprint on my skin, tearing up at the thought of that snake-like sensation that went up through my body with his touch.

“Once is enough. You won’t be able to escape afterward. Lilith-nim allowed it for today too. That’s right, Lilith-nim wants you too.”-Said the bastard, making even more tears flow from my eyes, in fear and disgust of what was to come…

{Please… Please… Someone…}-I thought, again and again, desperately calling for someone that wouldn’t come.

“Yeonha, weren’t you lonely? I know that feeling too.”-The bastard started to talk once again. This time putting his hand around my neck, letting an ecstatic magic power slowly entered and corrode my mind. “It’s easier if you give up.”-His hand started going up, caressing my face, with even more magic power going inside my mind, corroding my will and making my body submit to the pleasure it was causing me…

“Mmm~”-An aroused moan escaped from my mouth for the first time.

*CLANG*

But it was suddenly silenced by the sound of the window’s shattering.

“…What?”-Yun Hyun stopped. Soon falling on his knees. All I could see with my barely opened eyes was a sudden beam of light piercing him on the leg.

[Serves you right for not listening to me and suspecting me.]

A sudden voice resonated inside the room. It made me open my eyes wide, looking all around me, but I couldn’t find where it came from.

[Don’t think about recovering from that wound. I refined that bullet to be a bit more efficient. Unless you undergo surgery to take it out…]

{…}

The familiar voice resounded once again, this time direct towards Yun Hyun, who was desperately trying to recover himself using his Devil’s powers. Albeit unsuccessfully.

“Shut it!”-Yun Hyun roared while standing up. Red magic power suddenly covering him all around. “Where are you! Show yourself!”-He shouted while throwing magic power around, as if hitting an invisible enemy, one that wasn’t there.

[You can try all you want, but you won’t be able to reach me. I’m far, far away, you see.]

“You… litt-”-Yun Hyun tried to retort. But a new beam of light came from the previously shattered window and pierced his shoulder. “You! You!!!”-Rage consumed him as if there wasn’t any pain.

“Show yourself! Show yourself you son of a bitch!”-He kept shouting, the pain slowly taking over the rage, making him mix a few cries amidst the shouts.

It was then were new beams of lights made themselves visible through the window. Piercing the Djinn with a few more bullets.

{How… How can mere bullets do this…?}-I thought, deeply curious at the once impossible scene that was playing in front of me…

[So, this is why people enjoy sniping.]

His voice resonated again in the room, still not knowing where it came from, while a new bullet was shot through Yun Hyun’s chest, making him fall on his back.

He turned and tried to crawl using his hands, but new bullets came and pierced his knees and shoulders, immobilizing him.

“This…”-He muttered, with clear terror in his face, before trying to get for cover.

A clever move. If bullets were coming from the windows, what’s best than looking for something to cover oneself? Only… The senseless sniper didn’t let him, since a new bullet came like a shooting star and pierced his chest once again, making the Djinn’s eyes go wide in terror.

[So durable… Oy, Yoo Yeonha, I’m about to use up all of the bullets you gave me. If you have a conscience, provide me with better ones.]

{I… Thanks… Thanks… Thanks…}-Only one thought kept repeating in my head…

Seeing how I was being protected from afar, with my enemy down in a pitiful state on the floor, drowsiness slowly started to creep in my mind.

[If you’re tired, just sleep. Someone is already there to take care of everything.]

That last statement made my slowly closing eyes tried to open again.

“What…?”-I slowly asked, curious about what he meant with that. “Also… Where are you talking… from?”

[Above you. The ceiling’s speaker, I hacked into it.]

“Oh…”

*BANG!*

The door to the penthouse suddenly opened.

“Man. This is such a nice place. I want a penthouse too.”-A sudden voice entered the room. I also recognized that insolent’s voice…

{So… I’m finally safe…}-That was the last thought I had.

***

*CRISTOPHER’S POV*

“She fell asleep.”-I said to Hajin who should be hearing me.

[That’s fine. Finish fast. I already alerted Kim Suho. He should be on his way.]

“And you did it because?”

[I thought you wouldn’t want to pick Yeonha and get her into the treatment center.]

“Well done there. I didn’t want to do that.”-I said to him while walking towards my prey.

*tap, tap, tap, tap*

“Hiii!!! Get away from me you son of a bitch!!!”-Yun Hyun shouted while trying to hit me with his magic power.

“Fuck off.”-I said while blue flames went out of my body and burned his magic power. “Now is your time to die.”

“AARRGGGHHH!!!”-He screamed while being covered in flames. Which was actually stupid, since I only burned his magic power, not his body.

[What is that?]

“Spirit Fire. You see. I wanted to test something. And this guy here is the perfect guinea pig.”

[It seems weak… He’s still alive.]

“That’s a special fire. It only burns what I want it to. It’s perfect to use it in places when you have to be careful, though, its power is heavily limited for the moments. So, it’s not good to burn physical beings.”

[Then?]

“I want to try and burn his Devil’s power from him.”-Just as I was talking, the ghostly blue fire surrounding him started to spin around him again and again.

“AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH”-A monstrous cry, similar to the one made by the transformed Ice Wing Queen and the transformed Fire Lizardman Champion, suddenly went out of his mouth.

“Well… It has some effect…”-I said while frowning.

[What’s wrong?]

“I can’t say it is useless… But at this rate… It’s just not rentable. That power has good resistance towards the spirit attribute. Though I don’t know if it is something from Lilith, or from the Devils themselves. Test time’s over.”-I said while taking back the Spirit Fire. “You’re sentenced to die.”-I said while throwing a fireball towards him, turning the weakened Djinn to ashes.

[Get out. They’re almost there.]

“Yeah, so? Don’t you know that would be more SP for you?”

[No. I don’t want to be targeted by Lilith’s minions.]

“Yeah, as if they would be able to enter this place. This was just some horny asshole. Either way. See you soon.”

[Sure. *blip*]

I heard the sound of disconnection from the speaker while starting to make my way out of the room. Just in time to see Kim Suho entering with his company. Chae Nayun, Yi Yeonghan, Shin Jonghak, and Kim Horak.

“You! What are you doing here!?”-Chae Nayun shouted at me while Shin Jonghak frowned and prepared his spear to go at me.

“Doing the job you lot should have done when we told you the culprit’s name.”-I merely asked while looking at Shin Jonghak, waiting to see if he would try anything funny. Only for Kim Suho to cut in between us.

“Where’s Yoo Yeonha?”-He asked while frowning.

“There.”-I pointed towards the chair where she was tied with my thumb. “She’s mostly fine. Probably just tired, you better take her to the infirmary.”

“And Yun Hyun?”-He asked again after glancing at Yeonha.

“Dead. What else?”-I said while shrugging.

“…”-Everyone opened their eyes wide.

“You… Killed him?”-Chae Nayun asked. “By yourself?”

“That’s not your problem. Now, let me get the hell out of here. There’s something I need to do.”-I said while passing by Kim Suho and everyone.

“You’re not going anywhere until I have the info I want.”-Only to be stopped by Shin Jonghak’s spear.

“You have exactly three seconds to take that shit out of my face.”-I glared at him. Already tired from the shitty attitude he always has. Even while reading the novel I always hated this wannabe hero.

“*snort* As if trash lik-”-He started. But I didn’t let him finish. A mana-charged punch to the stomach’s pit was enough to do the job.

You see. While I don’t have really high physicals stats right now, I do have an insane amount of magic power, which I perfectly know how to use. And even without it. My stats are at least higher than these guys, even if by two or so points.

*thud*

An unconscious Shin Jonghak fell on the floor. Freezing everyone on the spot.

“Now. Everyone else wants to point their shit at me? No? Great. I’m leaving. Take this crap to the infirmary along with Yoo Yeonha. Don’t worry though, he just fainted.”-I said while walking out of the place.