Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey

"I was just caught off guard last time. Take a good look."

"Yeah, I believe you."

"Hey!"

"What?"

"Look, it's been a long time since I used a dagger but I'm sure that it would be different this time."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, just you wait."

Evelyn spoke confidently.

...At that moment, I got the feeling that someone was looking at me. Somewhere... above.

I raised my head.

On top of a nearby building, I found a girl looking down at me.

"...."

Our eyes met. For some reason, I felt like I knew her. She looked just like how I imagined her to be.

"Huaaaap—!"

Evelyn charged forward with a strange shout. Startled, I turned my gaze, and by the time I looked back up, the girl was gone.

I felt a bit sorry for the girl who disappeared.

She was the antagonist of my novel, Her name was 'Ella.'

"Hey! Help me!"

I could hear Evelyn shouting.

"...The heck."

Evelyn managed to sever one of the golem's arms and a leg but was struggling against its relentless assault. Without hesitation, I dashed forward to her aid, my shadow trailing behind me as we rushed into battle once more.

As I approached, I saw the golem swinging its remaining arm towards Evelyn with brute force. With quick reflexes, I intercepted the blow, blocking the golem's attack with my own body.

The impact sent a shockwave through my body, but I gritted my teeth and pushed back against the golem's strength. With a burst of determination, I summoned all my energy and unleashed a powerful strike, shattering the golem's arm and forcing it to stagger backwards.

"Evelyn, now's your chance!" I called out, urging her to seize the opportunity.

With renewed determination, Evelyn seized the opening I created, launching a flurry of precise strikes at the golem's weakened joints. With each strike, she chipped away at its defences until finally, with a decisive blow, she severed the golem's head from its body.

As the golem collapsed to the ground, defeated, Evelyn let out a triumphant shout, her dagger raised high in victory. I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at her accomplishment, knowing that together, we had overcome yet another challenge.

As we caught our breath and surveyed the aftermath of the battle, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered from my encounter with the mysterious girl on the rooftop.

Why was she here? Shouldn't she be doing her mission by her organization by now?

Maybe it was a coincidence that I saw her here.

There was still some time left before she would appear in the plot.

But that time was coming fast, very fast.

***

"Kuuuu~ I'm so exhausted."

On the other hand, in Grace's guild analysis room, Maria stretched after two hours of wrestling with her computer.

Maria was currently working on analyzing a Dungeon's mana density based on the Dungeon's formation and inhabiting monsters. She needed to find the spots where the mana density would suddenly change, as well as the possible location of traps.

It was tiring work that required a full week's worth of time even with a team of office clerks.

"I just need to estimate one last variable. Plus, I'm smarter than them." Maria muttered under her breath as she continued to type on the keyboard.

Heroes were superior to ordinary people in every aspect. Maria believed it was because Heroes inherited superior genes. She was also a highly-regarded Hero when it came to analysis.

"What's this?"

Maria glanced at the paper, while she was typing on a computer, Out of curiosity Maria picked up that piece of paper.

On a standard printer paper, several calculations and sentences explaining the procedure were written down.

"Oh, he wrote this."

Maria said as she remembered the cadets who come here earlier, what was his name again? Ah, Lucas.

Yeah, she remembers that name.

She snorted as she began to read the paper closely.

It wasn't out of curiosity, but purely to feel a sense of superiority. In her mind, there was a countless number of cadets who thought they were special with only mediocre knowledge.

However, Maria face stiffened as she continued down the paper.

The calculations were clean and concise, and every deduction he made was flawless and persuasive. But what caught her attention was not just the accuracy of the calculations, but the depth of understanding displayed in Lucas's analysis. It was evident that he possessed a keen intellect and a genuine passion for the subject matter.

As Maria read through the paper, she couldn't help but feel impressed by Lucas's work. It was rare to encounter someone with such a natural talent for analysis, especially among cadets who were still early in their training.

"...The hell."

By the time she reached the end, she could only say those two words.

It was because the final conclusion and the critical step to reaching that conclusion were missing. It was an unpleasant feeling, kind of like being interrupted in the middle of singing the highlight of a song.

"Where's the rest?"

Maria flipped the paper over, even while knowing that there wouldn't be any more content on the back. She felt a twinge of frustration at the abrupt end of Lucas's analysis. It was like reaching the climax of a thrilling story only to have it cut off before the resolution.

Despite her annoyance, Maria couldn't deny the quality of Lucas's work. His calculations were sound, his logic impeccable, and his attention to detail impressive. It was clear that he had a sharp mind and a talent for analysis that surpassed many of his peers.

But without the final conclusion, his analysis felt incomplete, leaving Maria with a lingering sense of dissatisfaction. She wanted to know how Lucas would tie everything together, what insights he would offer, and what recommendations he would make based on his findings.

With a sigh, Maria set the paper down on her desk, her mind whirling with questions and thoughts. She couldn't help but wonder what had prompted Lucas to stop his analysis prematurely. Was it intentional, or had he simply run out of time or energy to complete it?

Whatever the reason, Maria couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Lucas's analysis than met the eye. She made a mental note to keep an eye on him.

With that in mind, Maria returned her focus to her own work, determined to unravel the mysteries of the Dungeon's mana density and ensure the safety of the Heroes who would venture into its depths. But in the back of her mind, she couldn't shake off the curiosity sparked by Lucas's incomplete analysis, a curiosity that would continue to nag at her until she found the answers she sought.

***

"Ah, I'm so exhausted."

I came back to the dorm around 9 P.M.

I thought about showering and with that thought I headed towards the showroom as I opened the door to my room.

"....."

Taking a deep breath, I submerged my body in the bathtub.

The water was cold but it helped to keep my mind clear.

Splash...

The water splashed as I relaxed my body into it.

"Hoo..."

I floated on the water, with only my neck and hand breaking the surface.

Closing my eyes, I let the soothing sensation of the water envelop me, washing away the tension and fatigue that had accumulated throughout the day. The rhythmic sound of my breathing mingled with the gentle lapping of the water, creating a calming melody that echoed in the quiet confines of the bathroom.

As I lay there, lost in thought, fragments of memories and unanswered questions floated to the surface of my mind like scattered puzzle pieces. The encounter with the mysterious girl on the rooftop, the incomplete analysis left behind by Lucas, the unsettling feeling of unease that lingered in the air—each piece seemed to hold a clue, a thread waiting to be unraveled.

But try as I might, I couldn't make sense of it all. The pieces refused to fit together, leaving me with more questions than answers. Who was the girl on the rooftop, and what was her connection to Ella, the antagonist of my novel? What secrets lay hidden within the Dungeon's mana density, and what dangers awaited those who dared to explore its depths?

With a frustrated sigh, I pushed aside my thoughts and focused on the present moment. The water around me was warm now, soothing my tired muscles and easing the knots of tension that had formed in my body. I allowed myself to sink deeper into the water, letting its gentle embrace wash away the worries and uncertainties that plagued my mind.

For now, all that mattered was the here and now—the comforting warmth of the water, the soft glow of the bathroom lights, and the peaceful stillness of the night. Closing my eyes, I surrendered myself to the tranquility of the moment, allowing myself to drift away on a sea of calm and serenity.

F