I entered the final stages of crafting the Spirit Stone after two days.

I also engraved the spirits onto my

[Desert Eagle]

and the

[Black Lotus Bow]

. Then I infused the elasticity provided by the Spirit Stone into my clothing. I now possessed an armband, outer clothing, shoes, necklace, ring, etc. all crafted from the Spirit Stone. These accessories completely covered me and I worried that I might develop an allergy to the Spirit Stone. Anyways, I didn’t even use up all of the Spirit Stone. However, its size had reduced to a football.

“The rest will be…”

As expected, it would be best to give the rest to Rachel. I placed the Spirit Stone in my backpack and stood up. I should test everything out after spending so much time and effort making them.

I equipped all the items and warmed up. I did the usual stretches kids would do in the morning before school started. Then I stored the Desert Eagle inside stigma and stretched out my hand.

Fwaaaah…

A powerful current appeared where I aimed. The current twisted and turned before compressing into a cube.

I infused the fire attribute into the wind cube and flames appeared in mid-air without any catalyst. This flame purely burned by itself.

I spread the flame out of the cube in every direction and it devoured everything in its path. The wind cube turned into a huge ring surrounding the area.

Next, I infused the earth attribute and the ring turned into a sturdy wall that encircled the area.

“Not bad.”

Any passerby who saw this strange phenomenon might’ve thought the initial flame looked like a will-o-wisp[1] having some fun.

The Spirit Stone had endless combinations and possibilities. Unfortunately, I couldn’t materialize the spirits like Rachel because she operated on completely different fundamentals that I couldn’t replicate. I could only borrow the spirits’ powers while she communicated and built a relationship with them. In short, Rachel was a true elementalist while I became something more like a sorcerer.

Actually, it would be more efficient for Rachel to use the Spirit Stone instead of me.

“

Sigh…”

However, I could only sigh in resignation when I realized the time I wasted here.

I missed Evandel, but didn’t worry since she already grew up a bit. She must be having the time of her life with no one to nag her. I still missed her nonetheless.

I knew very well where my mood swing came from because I knew why this general assembly took place, what awaited at the end, and what I expected.

“Well… there’s no way, right?” I muttered and laughed in disbelief.

The system already made its decision and I could no longer return to my world. That wouldn’t and couldn’t change.

I clicked on my smartwatch gallery to look at Evandel’s pictures, but various pictures of Rachel caught my eye instead.

“There are 173 photos…”

I took a picture of her whenever I thought her pose looked nice and I also saved some from her fan sites. I had no idea why I collected these pictures. Perhaps out of pity if I had to describe it?

Rachel always made me feel remorse and sympathy. The Rachel in my story and the Rachel in this world seemed too pitiful. Her mannerisms, her convictions, and her past were all too much for her to bear.

However, pity wasn’t a positive emotion. It was nothing more than a parasite that leeched off one’s emotions. Emotions like pity or sympathy couldn’t be considered true remorse. One would only mistake this sympathy for remorse.

I always felt nervous when I saw Rachel because only she could make me feel an emotion I would never feel for anyone else in this world.

“Damn it…”

I cursed under my breath before plopping down on the ground. However, I found myself smiling when I recalled the stick game I played with Rachel.

Had six days already passed? My luck triggered during my bet with her and she screamed,

kyah

,

as she missed her footing. Then she fell and bumped her head on the ground.

“

Pfft! Heh… Ah…

Puwahahaha

!”

That funny sight made me burst into laughter in the middle of nowhere like a moron.

***

The General Assembly made the heroes nostalgic as they recalled their academy days. Currently, they sat in front of computers with pens in their hands and fervently studied. However, they couldn’t find any answers despite their best efforts. Most guilds already gave up and the rest headed to the store to access the computers with the General Assembly Net. They read through the numerous papers stored there.

[Hongok Dungeon] — A large dungeon that appeared in Hongcheon-Gun, Gangwon-Do, South Korea. The interior is covered in bright red brimstone and magma flows through the ground. The dungeon is inhabited by monsters below intermediate rank, grade 5 such as sulfur fish, fire manta ray, firenha, etc.

— The mana density at the entrance is around 2% and the mana depth has peaked at 4.6%. Being exposed to a high concentration of mana for a long period may cause not only breathing complications, but also mana rampage. Therefore, the dungeon has been closed off until…

Rachel purchased the above information with her contribution points, but still couldn’t find any leads despite scrutinizing every detail.

Hongok Dungeon, British Dungeon, and Parrishmare…

She couldn’t find anything in common between these three dungeons. Not only Rachel, but even the other guilds struggled. Almost half the guilds already gave up after forty hours.

“

Haaa…

”

Rachel sighed and looked at the clock.

[3:45 A.M.]

Only she remained at the research facility and she couldn’t leave empty-handed. She had nothing else to contribute to the alliance with Reislaufer except her brains. Her only value had been placing top of her class at Cube when it came to theory, so she had to show some results as soon as possible.

She spent an hour alone racking her brains before turning on her smartwatch out of frustration. She accessed the General Assembly Community Board to distract herself when the name

[Xtra]

under the

[English Royal Court Guild]

caught her attention.

She received a call from him at that exact moment.

[Xtra: Are you guys doing a theory class or something?]

Rachel flinched in surprise. She wondered if their thoughts aligned or something.

[Me: Pardon?]

[Me: Ah, yes. We’re currently doing a theory class.]

[Me: That aside, I’m glad you’re safe as expected. ?????]

[Xtra: Use this for your theory.]

[Me: ?︿??]

It took her more than thirty seconds to type the emoticon, but Xtra completely ignored it and went straight to the point by sending a file. The file size looked huge.

What’s this?

She wanted to take a look, but Xtra sent another message.

[Xtra: Also, I captured nine of the assailants that ambushed you. All of them are alive.]

“

Ah…

”

Rachel subconsciously sighed in relief. Then she thought she was being too soft. To think she would feel relief that the ones who ambushed them still lived. She hardened her expression and replied.

[Me: Thank you for your hard work.]

[Xtra: I’m just wondering… Do you know the names of these nine people?]

Xtra sent a picture of the nine assailants all tied up.

Rachel flinched again, but composed herself and wrote down their names for Xtra.

[Xtra: Alright, get some rest.]

Their conversation ended just like that, but Rachel still had one more thing to say.

[Me: But… You’re aware our bet isn’t over yet, right? (? ?_?)]

It was her only opportunity to meet Xtra face-to-face, but he didn’t reply. She stared at her smartwatch for a response before faking a cough in embarrassment.

“

Ehem…”

She should probably check the file first since she could live without the bet. Getting one-sidedly beat up hadn’t been fun anyways.

She opened the file without any expectations. It didn’t contain anything surprising and the first few pages explained theories that everyone else knew. However, she slowly grew amazed as she read more and processed the words.

The research facility doors suddenly burst open and Marcus barged in. Rachel jumped in surprise and turned off her smartwatch.

“Vice Leader! They asked us to gather in the meeting room!”

“Pardon?”

“Hurry up and come out! They say it’s an interim inspection!”

“Why all of a sudden—”

Rachel couldn’t finish as Marcus dragged her out. The sun already brightly shone outside as Marcus led her to the General Assembly Meeting Room.

A few guilds had already gathered such as The General and Lake Ford from the United States, the Chinese Empire and Golden Afterglow from China, etc.

Rachel entered the meeting room and sat at the round table.

“Hey, how long will the English Royal Court keep attending alone? That seat is getting cold.”

Someone sneered at her. Rachel glanced at Chiffon, vice leader of La Guild Lumiere from France. However, she didn’t react at all and didn’t let those words upset her.

“Those that are poor or lack brains are all the same. How can a mere mercenary have more contribution points than them?”

The Chinese Empire guild allied with La Guild Lumiere chimed in.

Rachel continued to completely ignore them.

“

Hahaha!

That sounds about right!”

“

Hohoho!

”

She didn’t even bother responding and quietly turned on her smartwatch.

[The Interim Inspection will now begin.]

[Please come up to the podium if any guilds have completely solved the problem or have made some progress.]

[Please keep in mind that this interim inspection will be broadcasted throughout the entire world via the internet.]

A crystal podium appeared in front of the round table. Rachel briefly pondered while staring at the dazzling podium, but couldn’t muster the courage to go up there.

She hesitated because she didn’t even understand the first few bits of that shocking theory from Xtra.

[It seems the English Royal Court guild is still alone.]

The General Assembly suddenly said.

“

Pfft! Pwahaha! Keheum!

”

The sound of sneering rang out across the room and Rachel blushed in embarrassment.

[I advise that you two make up already.]

The General Assembly seemed to be teasing her.

What a prankster…

[Hmm… Anyways.]

[It seems that no one is prepared. You may send me whatever files you have prepared if you wish to have your theory checked. I will see if it is correct or not.]

The General Assembly made quite an offer. They could have their files checked without risking embarrassment.

Rachel looked at her smartwatch and General Assembly’s text.

[Is there nobody?]

The General Assembly asked again.

Rachel tightly shut her eyes and hesitated.

[I am disappointed. Then we shall conclude the interim inspection today—]

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

She raised her hand just as the interim inspection came to an end.

***

Meanwhile, Rayton didn’t doubt his lord. He believed his lord would appear at the right moment and punish this bastard. Putting all that aside, the bastard tied him up so tightly he couldn’t even move a muscle.

Rayton wanted to at least see, so he squirmed as hard as he could and rubbed his blindfold on the ground. The ground kept grinding against his face, but that didn’t matter.

Rub… Rub… Rub…

Rayton finally undid his blindfold after rubbing his face on the ground more than a thousand times. The pitch-black view suddenly brightened and blinded him. He squinted and looked around.

He could see Xtra standing still, but that stubborn bastard always wore a gas mask. Rayton activated his prosthetic eye to film that bastard and send it to his lord, which would be a huge achievement.

However, why did that bastard keep standing still?

Rayton wondered when that bastard suddenly extended his hand and a fierce wind blew out.

It didn’t end there. The real surprise had just begun.

Fwaaaaa!

Flames raged upward like a reverse waterfall along with the wind. It gathered in the sky like a cloud before crashing down to the ground like a torrent.

The grand sight of flames melting the ground sent chills down Rayton’s spine.

What’s going on right now? What power is this? How can a mere mercenary…?

Rayton watched the entire spectacle and made sure to record every second.

“…!”

The bastard suddenly turned around and Rayton shut his eyes.

Step… Step…

He could hear footsteps approaching him and his heart raced.

Drrr!

Something shot up from the ground and covered the entire place. Only then did Xtra stop walking.

Rayton opened his eyes. The entire place had been surrounded by an unknown wall of earth.

“Lancaster won’t be coming.”

A deep chilling voice spoke out.

Rayton flinched when he saw Xtra staring down at him with that gas mask.

“How do I know? These are the messages between the executives of your lord.”

Xtra showed him the communication channel log that Kim Hoseop hacked from Lancaster. It took some time for the file to reach him through his private satellite, but he still received it even in Central Asia.

[What should we do about Rayton and the rest?]

[Leave them be. They’re just disposable rats anyways.]

[They might’ve spilled the beans about us.]

[Then kill them with your own hands if they come back alive.]

“

Ha!

You expect me to believe your fabricated lies?!”

Rayton screamed out when Xtra removed the rag stuffing his mouth. He vehemently accused Xtra with his saliva splattering all over the smartwatch.

However, Xtra simply shook his head.

“You don’t have to believe me since the only reason you’re still alive is thanks to Rachel.”

“What?”

“Your boss not only abandoned you, but also tasked someone with killing you. All of you desperately tried to kill Rachel, but she’s ironically the one who wants you alive.”

“This crazy bastard! How dare you spout such lies!”

Rayton wouldn’t even listen to Xtra’s words. Too much time had passed since he believed only what he wanted.

Xtra smirked and nodded.

“Sure, keep waiting here. Perhaps a week? Yeah, around a week. You’ll be safe for that amount of time within these walls. Those monsters won’t be able to get you.”

Rayton finally noticed that Xtra didn’t speak to just him. The old man looked left and right and saw his comrades intently listening to Xtra.

“These ropes binding you will loosen by themselves and Lancaster will probably think you’re all dead.”

Xtra briefly paused and recited all their names.

Jenny’s father, Rayton. Barbie’s mother, Daisy. Elise’s parents, Rian and Stan. Lucy’s husband, Zeron. Lily’s husband, Rio. Toby’s wife, Sonya. Ellie and Ryan’s son, Caleb. Dexter’s brother, Oscar…

“Rachel knows every one of you by name. She engraved your names to her heart and carried it with her every second she lived.”

“D-Don’t be fooled! Don’t be fooled, you bastards! Don’t listen to him! Shut your ears!”

Rayton urgently shouted. He could feel a sense of doubt rising within him despite shouting at the top of his lungs for his comrades to not believe those words.

Xtra didn’t bother to hush the old man and continued.

“You can pretend to die and cut all ties with Lancaster or return to him and repay this grace with your death. Or… you can go to Rachel and let bygones be bygones.”

Xtra turned around with his back facing them and formed a door through the earth wall.

“The choice is yours and yours alone.”

He left with those last words.

Silence filled the dark interior of the earth walls. Only a single person left, but it felt like the entire place had emptied.

The assailants couldn’t say anything to each other. They needed time to think about who deceived them. How had they been deceived? Had they even been deceived in the first place? Or are they still being deceived?

No one knew.

1. The exact word used by the author is Dokkaebi Fire (Goblin Fire). The Dokkaebi, or Goblin, is a different creature from the green-skinned goblins portrayed in mainstream culture. The Korean Dokkaebi is more of a magical creature that can use magic and likes to pull pranks. More info here: ?