NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48
I’ve managed to rack up quite a few points over the last while. It was all thanks to the many services I provided for them. But out of all the contributions, the biggest one was the new Mirror Bug I created this time.
Before I set up the base, I spent countless hours communicating with Kashian’s Bear Doll to get my bearings straight. In the end, that helped me complete the paths and maps.
At that moment, it was the only way to try, but looking back later, it felt pretty refreshing.
Being able to communicate and confirm locations with someone far away was the most essential ability in this thick Mist. Others must have felt the same way.
Even in the hazy memories of a past life, there was something similar to this. It was a radio used on the battlefield.
How could I resist the strong scent of money? This function was not going to vanish after just this lecture. It would definitely continue to be useful in the future.
Originally, I pictured the Doll as a tiny insect the size of a fingernail.
Just a small bug that could relay someone else’s voice, the simplest form to create. It took little time to make and was easy to sell right away.
However, to communicate through this Mist that even blocks magical powers, just as the Bear Doll did, there needed to be the will of the Shadow. That meant I had to rip apart my tree trunk again.
But I felt that just adding this minimal functionality wasn’t enough. I felt sorry for the shadows that would bloom in that body, and I wasn’t satisfied.
So, little by little, I altered the shape of the Doll.
Was there really a need to rely solely on sound?
A thought suddenly crossed my mind. It was surely more convenient to see with your eyes and easier to understand the information contained within. So how could the information be visualized?
In my search for the optimal material, I stumbled upon a mirror. A mirror imbued with magic could reflect a clear image.
I thought that if I hung this mirror on the bug, it could write and display writing. If I used this, syncing maps would undoubtedly make it easier to confirm each other’s locations.
After numerous revisions, I ended up creating a palm-sized Mirror Bug. It would fly through the air, floating the mirror right in front of its owner for easy viewing.
The records they left behind were transmitted to my Shadow Tree and displayed right on the screen.
Although I made it, it was a really neat Doll. Nothing could be more effective for exploring this Mist. I felt confident about that.
To prove that thought, it received an overwhelming response. About fifty Mirror Bugs flew off in people’s hands.
I didn’t sell them; I only rented them out to score points. A hundred points each. It was the cost for letting these precious beings with a sense of self out into such a dangerous environment.
My tree in my heart trembled. It was quite frail. It was the result of me ripping apart my body to implant the Mirror Bugs. To recover again would require a long period of nurturing.
The beings created this way had very weak selves. It was partly because my tree hadn’t completely recovered, and there were processes that had to be gone through that had been skipped.
It couldn’t be helped. There simply wasn’t enough time.
Still, they were able to convey information through the mirror. I’d need to bolster their bodies later. I fidgeted with one of the Mirror Bugs in my hand.
So, I was happy raking in points. I was close to paying off my debts, even surpassing the interest. My heart felt full.
And yet, I never thought things would turn out like this.
I chuckled wryly as I looked at the open field in the center of the base. All the surviving students were gathered there.
Grouped by teams, they were pouring their magic towards each other. Because of that, a palpable tension filled the air.
Ten hours after setting up the base, the entire area was illuminated. There were no treasures hidden in the Mist.
We had searched every space where treasures might be hidden. Even going as far as digging down dozens of meters in the land at the center of the map, no treasure was found.
The incident occurred just thirty minutes ago.
Five members of Jun’s group had vanished without a trace. Even the Mirror Bugs they took were all destroyed.
The shock of losing their bodies made the stars opened on my Shadow Tree disappear. They had died just like that. That sense of loss still filled my heart.
“The ones who were absent at that time were three, but the most suspicious is that person over there, the Swordsman.”
Jun said. Goro snorted in response.
“Swordsman? Are you really looking to get yourself killed? And who said anyone was absent? We were all right here.”
Jun smirked and gestured with his chin. At the end of it was a woman hanging onto a Bear Doll. It was Kashian. She was playing with the Bear Doll, seemingly unfazed by the stares directed her way.
I crossed my arms watching that scene. I was aware that she had vanished. I had confirmed it when she left the Bear Doll’s side at that time. This made my previous suspicions half true.
The reason they were gathered was partly because of me. The moment I felt the Mirror Bugs breaking, I immediately informed everyone. After that, things spiraled, leading us to this point.
As soon as I caught the signs of brewing friction among them, I hid inside my Turtle. The fences had already been stacked up and gathered into its shell. The Turtle happily let out a noise.
Goro grinned, pumping up his muscles.
“What would she want with small fry like you?”
“I don’t know, I’m just making a reasonable suspicion.”
The two exchanged looks, pouring their magic into each other. Despite his somewhat lacking skill, Jun was fiercely standing up to Goro. That bravado was extraordinary. Is that the demeanor of a leader?
The big clan stood back, watching their fight from a distance. Soon, Goro’s gaze fell on them.
“And why is it only us you suspect? There are a few who were absent from that side, too.”
“Are you referring to us?”
“An ambush? We don’t engage in such crude acts. Perhaps they were just taken by Monsters. They are such weaklings, after all.”
Hongryeong laughed while looking at Jun. But his eyes, unlike the smile on his lips, were chilling.
“Even if it were an ambush, would that be an issue? Who knows, maybe one of them was hiding treasures.”
As soon as Hongryeong mentioned this, the atmosphere turned heavy. Everyone was suspicious but the words had been unspoken until now.
It was a suggestion that maybe someone had been taming hidden treasures. With that, all eyes turned towards each other. A fierce suspicion flared up like fire in their gazes.
“Then, the ambusher could very well have a treasure? We should hand them all over. I’ll check them once.”
Jun’s eyes turned bright red as he spoke. Magic surged throughout his body in waves of anger. Those standing behind him began to release their magic more intensely. In response, the big clan and the Swordsman on the opposite side also smiled while unleashing their magic.
I never expected things to turn out like this. I clicked my tongue and muttered to myself. There was nothing I could do. Their heads were undoubtedly filled with thoughts of killing each other. I sipped my tea as I kept watch over the open field.
Their voices rose higher, magic collided, creating sparks in the air.
Then someone cast a spell. One student got cut in half and collapsed. They dissolved into the air just like that. Out of the game.
Those who witnessed this began shooting spells at each other. Various magics began weaving between them. Alongside that, all the magic that had been forming the base began to vanish.
Kashian’s circle was no exception. It quickly shrank, seeking to cut down the other Mages within it.
Jun struck it hard. But unable to withstand the force, he was knocked backward. After a few others were cut down behind him, the circle was finally destroyed.
Then the Mist closed in. It had thickened to the point where I could barely see myself anymore.
I stacked defensive spells, blocking the approach of the Mist. Peering through my Turtle’s eyes, but I could hear nothing.
I didn’t keep track of how much time passed afterward. I just kept sipping my tea while waiting, feeling someone approaching the Turtle. The stars through the Shadow Tree were shining brightly.
Slowly, I moved the Turtle toward that direction. At the end, I spotted a Bear Doll. A little ring floating around it, too. She was standing there, smiling with a sword in hand.
Stepping down from the Turtle, I carefully stepped inside the ring. Looking around, no one else appeared to be there aside from her. I shrank the Turtle, hiding it in my pocket, and approached her.
“Are you okay?”
I cautiously asked her. Drenched in blood, she nodded.
“Of course.”
She waved the sword. The blood that clung to it dripped onto the ground. She walked towards me with a wry smile.
“I don’t know what to call you, but I’d appreciate it if you could end it without causing me any pain.”
She stared at me with wide eyes. In the blink of an eye, she lunged at me with her sword.
The pain wasn’t too bad. Looking down, I saw the blade had pierced deep into my chest. If it pulled out like this, I would be out of the game too.
“Did you know I wasn’t the owner of this body?”
She asked. I shook my head slightly, spitting out the blood pooling in my mouth.
“I was only… suspecting, but now I’ve learned that it’s true.”
“Is that so? Then I guess I’ll see you next time.”
She smiled and pulled out the sword. With a gentle force, I collapsed to the ground. My body began to feel heavier. My vision faded as I lost consciousness.
And then I quietly awoke.
I found myself in the Infirmary. I could hear other people buzzing around and chatting. The place was crowded with quite a few people.
I must have just collapsed in that earlier battle and woke up here. As I lifted my body, I noticed Kashian sprawled out on the floor. She sat up abruptly when she saw me, grabbing me with a desperate look.
“Sir, where’s my Bear?”
“I’ll make sure to get it to you once the sixth floor is all sorted out.”
I shook my head in response. She collapsed again, this time with a look of despair. As people started to gather around her, those must have been the ones who died in her hands within the Mist.
But that wasn’t her.
“Do you remember anything before coming here?”
I asked her. She wrapped her fingers and said.
“Hmm. The lecture started, then the Mist rolled in, and when I came to, it was now.”
I smiled wryly. So it was as I thought. The last one I encountered was the Treasure. The Mist Heart.
In fact, I hadn’t suspected it from the beginning. Continuing to meet with her, I just vaguely realized something was off.
Her habit of sipping tea, the way she spoke, those actions showed a slight difference from the usual. It was probably because she hadn’t completely absorbed the memories.
Thanks to that Bear Doll of hers, I got confused a few times too. It had stuck so close, even though the owner had changed. So I thought maybe I was imagining it.
But ultimately it was only after the incident that I could be completely sure.
That her heart had devoured her. I never thought the Treasure would have that level of intelligence. Moreover, that last statement was eerily unsettling.
“See you next time.” Somehow I felt like I would indeed meet her again, just as she said.
The lecture ended like this.