Chapter 36
The Capital was a giant city in the Mirror World where most humans gathered. The Human Union, or Union for short, was a coalition of several clans that maintained public order in the city. However, where there was light, there was also darkness.
The Cecil Hotel was like an opposing force to the Union. The hotel building was a copy of the giant hotel on 640 Main Street in Los Angeles, and was located in the southern region of the Capital.
Although it used to be a regular hotel, the human High Ranker who was shrouded in mystery, the General Manager, turned it into a den of villains. The hotel began to accept deserters, murderers, vagrants, swindlers, and traitors of humanity put on the wanted list by the Union, as guests and protected them.
The Black Humans naturally flocked to the southern Capital, turning the region into a slum. Public order in the east, west, and the north was well under the Union’s control, but the south was a lawless zone due to the Cecil Hotel’s influence.
There was only one rule in the Cecil Hotel: no killing on hotel grounds. Those who broke this rule were designated as enemies. If they broke this ironclad rule, the doorman, janitor, manager, receptionist, and all employees of the hotel would track them down to kill them. Black Humans wanted rooms in the Cecil Hotel because of their thorough business policy. After all, they could rest safely in the hotel regardless of their crime.
However, there were cases of those who committed murder in the hotel and managed to escape the building. Because of that, the Cecil Hotel also managed an execution chamber known as the Executionary Corps. Its members were famous for their tenacity, chasing their targets to kill them no matter how long it took.
Even the toughest Black Humans were afraid of the Cecil Hotel’s executioners. They were so dedicated to their duty that the hotel guests would rather turn themselves in to the Union instead of being chased by the executioners.
Chaya Singh Rai was one of the famous executioners. The assassin’s age, origin, and sex were unknown, but they had risen to become the Chief of Execution.
***
You’re telling me this boy is the Chief of Execution? Seong-Hwi thought as he stared at the boy waiting for his answer.
His eyes were more those of a warrior than a stealthy assassin.
A Gurkha warrior? The Gurkha is an elite unit native to Nepal. Then he must be from District 9.
Seong-Hwi had killed a large group composed of El Salvadorans from District 10, Nepalese from District 9, and Koreans from District 8 to acquire the trait, Hundred-Man Killer.
Did he travel alone? Seong-Hwi wondered.
As Seong-Hwi stayed quiet, Chaya insisted, “I need a Teleport Rock! Fight me! I swear in the name of Gurkha that I will not kill you!”
Seong-Hwi chuckled and said, “You’re here to take my Teleport Rock, but won’t kill me? Hilarious. The Gurkha you speak of must love making jokes.”
Chaya’s face reddened in embarrassment.
He’s prideful yet can be embarrassed, huh? He’s an interesting guy.
Seong-Hwi continued, “Well, fine. If you want a battle, I’ll give you one.” He pulled out his Shaco Knife from his back and said, “If it’s a battle you want and not bloodshed, we should make some rules. I will use a knife like you. We will fight purely with physical combat techniques, no skills.”
“Very well! I see you are a warrior too!”
Chaya gripped his kukri knife tightly and charged at Seong-Hwi once he agreed to the battle.
He’s fast. His Dexterity must be at least F(80). His Sense stat is quite high, too.
Seong-Hwi sidestepped slightly to dodge Chaya’s slash aimed at his thigh, which was difficult to block with a knife.
But the gap in our abilities is clear!
Seong-Hwi side-kicked Chaya as soon as he dodged, which Chaya blocked by crossing his arms.
“Kurgh!”
He’s so strong! Chaya thought, gritting his teeth as his arms grew numb from the impact. But I’ll win!
“Haaah!” Chaya roared like a beast as he ran in circles around Seong-Hwi.
Gusts blew from the speed at which Chaya ran, creating afterimages behind him and making it look like there were a dozen of him. Just then, Chaya dug his feet into the ground behind Seong-Hwi and charged at him from behind, light gleaming from the kukri knife’s edge.
“Not good enough!” Seong-Hwi shouted, pivoting with his left foot and deflecting Chaya’s kukri knife with his Shaco Knife.
He then fluidly punched Chaya’s stomach with his left fist.
“Kurgh!” Chaya grunted, stumbling backward as he clenched his stomach.
“That’s a poor use of your speed. If you wanted to confuse me, you shouldn’t have gone for a back attack. It’s too obvious.”
Chaya gritted his teeth and thought, He reacted to my speed! How is he both fast and strong?!
The man was different from the others he had fought in the Dark Forest. They had all surrendered to him from just that one technique.
“If you won’t come to me, I’ll come to you!” Seong-Hwi shouted as he dashed, running in circles around Chaya the same way.
However, he was far faster. The distance between afterimages was shorter, making it look like there were thirty of him.
Where is he?! Chaya focused his senses. He said a back attack is too obvious. Will he attack head-on? From the right? Or the left?
Just then, Chaya senses a sharp aura from behind him.
It was a bluff! He said a back attack is too obvious on purpose to lower my guard against back attacks! Is he so accustomed to battle to the point that he can play mind games during battle?
Chaya quickly turned backward the same way Seong-Hwi had, confronting the sharp aura.
“Huh?”
However, the man wasn’t there. He had only deflected a brass-colored knife that had flown at him from behind.
It can’t be—
An intense pain in his flank cut off his thoughts.
“Kurgh!”
It was a feint!
Seong-Hwi had used his weapon as bait to make Chaya think his previous words had been a bluff, taking advantage of the blind spot made when he turned around. Such a tactic was impossible without impeccable calculation and decisiveness.
At least three of my ribs are broken!
Chaya guarded against the barrage of punches and used the enemy’s strength to jump backward.
“Huff, huff!” Chaya panted heavily as he stared at the man.
The man caught his brass knife as it fell to the ground and smiled leisurely. He asked, “Is the battle over?”
“Kurgh!” Chaya grunted and examined his condition.
He had difficulty breathing due to his fractured ribs, and his arms were trembling from blocking the barrage of hammer-like fists.
I... can’t win!
The man’s strength, speed, and battle experience far surpassed his.
[Remaining Teleport Rocks: 3]
[Time Remaining: 00:15:23]
Chaya gritted his teeth as he stared at the Akasha Message. There wasn’t enough time to search for a different Teleport Rock. He was left with no other choice.
Shan! For you... I’ll do whatever it takes!
Chaya’s expression calmed. Seong-Hwi stared at him with great interest.
“I’m... sorry,” Chaya apologized suddenly.
Seong-Hwi asked, “For what?”
“I am... no longer a proud Gurkha warrior. I am just a cowardly murderer!”
[Activating Unique Skill: Concealing Cloak.]
Chaya broke the rules of their battle and used a skill. It was no longer a duel but simply killing. Chaya disappeared, from his kukri knife to the rest of his body, as if being engulfed by the surroundings. He became undetectable by the six senses in the blink of an eye.
“I’m shocked,” Seong-Hwi whispered, impressed by Chaya’s skill.
Although his Sense stat was the lowest among his basic stats, it was still E-rank. It was impressive how a skill that was surely F-rank could nearly fool him.
It works similarly to the Hermit’s Robe.
Not only did Chaya disappear, but Seong-Hwi’s senses were also confused, just like how the Hermit’s Robe, one of the symbols of No.9 The Hermit, functioned.
But it works better than the Hermit’s Robe.
It was only natural. Regardless of Seong-Hwi’s extraordinary talent and his possession of Destiny Force, the Hermit’s Robe was but one of the many symbols he had in his arsenal. Its effect would naturally fall behind Chaya’s Concealing Cloak since that was his unique skill.
But my advantage lies in versatility.
Seong-Hwi had only suggested they fight without using skills to put a handicap on himself. Chaya’s slim chances of victory were extinguished the moment he used a skill.
[Activating Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]
[Observer’s Earring, one of the symbols of No.9 The Hermit]
A golden hoop earring appeared on Seong-Hwi’s right earlobe and changed his field of view from first to third-person.
There he is.
Seong-Hwi felt a presence in a tree right above him. He couldn’t see Chaya but knew he was waiting for the right moment to strike.
I could stay like this until the Demon Knight appears, but... I’d rather not.
Seong-Hwi turned around, exposing his back completely to Chaya.
An opening! Chaya thought.
As Seong-Hwi planned, Chaya did not let the chance slip past and jumped down from the tree.
[Activating Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]
[Ace of Pentacles]
However, Chaya’s eyes widened as his attack was blocked by a golden plate with a pentacle engraved on it. The golden plate slowly disappeared and revealed the man pulling back the string of a black bow, aiming at Chaya.
Oh, no!
Chaya quickly jumped to the left. He was sure the man couldn’t hit him since he was invisible.
Huh?
Just then, the man locked eyes with Chaya, smiling. He let the arrow loose, and it pierced Chaya’s left shoulder.
“Gaaah!”
[Canceling Concealing Cloak.]
Chaya, clenching his left shoulder, appeared.
“Kurgh!” he grunted in excruciating pain, but jumped back on his feet regardless, pointing his kukri knife at Seong-Hwi. “Huff! Huff! Even your skills... are versatile!”
Chaya did not know what had just happened, but the man had seen through his Concealing Cloak, created a golden plate, and even summoned a bow.
But even so, I can’t afford to lose!
Chaya circulated his mana to re-activate his skill when Seong-Hwi asked, “I’m curious. Why did you establish a stealth skill when you’re a classic warrior?”
From what Seong-Hwi had seen, Chaya did not seem like the kind of person who would aim for one’s back like an assassin.
“On top of that, you proudly introduced yourself as a proud Gurkha warrior, but switched to surprise attacks.”
Chaya’s expression hardened, and he replied, “I’m... sorry, but I have something far more important to me than my pride as a warrior!”
Chaya disappeared again.
There is no time! I have to risk my life! he shouted inwardly as he charged at Seong-Hwi. Even if I die... You must live, Shan! If I die with him, the Teleport Rock in his pocket will be—huh?
Just then, the man pulled out a white rock from his pocket. The white pillar of light it emitted proved it was a Teleport Rock.
He has... two Teleport Rocks?
There was still one more pillar of light emitting from his pocket. The man had two Teleport Rocks from the beginning. The man threw the Teleport Rock at Chaya.
“Urgh!”
Chaya appeared again as he caught the Teleport Rock with his bloody left hand, staring at it in disbelief.
“Good choice. Have you given up on using your left hand because your left shoulder is injured?” Seong-Hwi asked.
Chaya looked away from the Teleport Rock and at Seong-Hwi, asking, “Why?”
“Oh, that? You can have it. I have more.”
Seong-Hwi had been using the Teleport Rocks as bait to hunt newbies and earn Karma.
I would’ve also killed Chaya Singh Rai to earn Karma for my battle against the Death Knight, but... It’s more beneficial to me to leave him alive.
If Chaya was indeed the Cecil Hotel’s Chief of Execution, his growth potential was guaranteed. On top of that, he was far from the rumors of him being a merciless assassin.
Guys like him never forget a debt.
Chaya stared shakingly at the Teleport Rock. He fought through the pain to kneel and bow his head to the ground.
“Thank you... very much! I swear to repay this debt one day!”
Seong-Hwi smiled and walked away, saying, “Let’s meet in the Mirror World if our paths ever cross.”
Relationships were meant to be made along the way, and it was human nature to expect one’s investments to be repaid severalfold.
He is a benefit to humankind.
***
“Huff! Huff!” Chaya panted heavily as he ran through the forest, still staring at the Teleport Rock in his left hand in disbelief.
It’s real! A real Teleport Rock!
He had thought it was too late because there had been only nine Teleport Rocks when they reached the fifth zone.
Who was that man?
The man was extraordinary. He was like an insurmountable wall, like the Gurkha warriors he looked up to when he was little. The man had abundant battle experience, extraordinary strength, and powerful yet versatile skills.
On top of that... I had no idea what was on his mind.
Chaya still did not understand why the man had given him a Teleport Rock.
Was it because he only needed one? Just because of that, he gave me one despite my breaking the rules we agreed upon? Regardless, a debt is a debt! I will repay it one day! Of course, that’s only if I can reach the Mirror World.
The running Chaya stopped in his tracks and looked around. He was in the middle of a dense thicket. He slashed the thicket with the kukri knife in his right hand as he walked forward.
“Shan! I’m here!” Chaya shouted.
“Over here!” a voice said.
Chaya walked toward the voice as he felt around the air. He then felt a small shoulder. A brown-skinned, cute little girl with black hair in a braided ponytail and black eyes appeared from out of nowhere.
“Chan! Your arm!” the girl shouted, wide-eyed as she noticed Chaya’s bloody left arm.
“I got a Teleport Rock,” Chaya said as he handed the girl the bloody Teleport Rock. “Use it now! Others will see the light and gather!”
“I can’t! You should use it, Chan!”
The little girl shook her head, trying to return the Teleport Rock to Chaya. However, Chaya grabbed the girl’s arm, not accepting the Teleport Rock.
“Just do as I say, Shaya Singh Rai!”
Shaya was Chaya’s little sister. They had been Lost at the same time despite the extremely low probability.
“No! It’s my fault we were late. I held us back! You would have already reached the Mirror World if it hadn’t been for me!”
Chaya tightly hugged Shaya as she shook her head in tears and replied, “That’s not true. You’re the reason I managed to get this far. Go on ahead. I’ll be right behind you.”
“But... there are only three Teleport Rocks left. If I use this, there will only be two—”
Chaya looked into Shaya’s eyes and said, “No, there are still two for me to get. You trust me, don’t you? A proud Gurkha warrior never lies.”
Shaya asked, “Are you sure? You’ll be right behind me... right?”
“Of course, I will be. Go on ahead, Shan. Now! Before anyone comes!”
Shaya nodded as Chaya urged her and said, “To the Mirror World.”
The Teleport Rock exuded a bright white light and expanded to turn into a rectangular pillar. The light from the pillar grew stronger.
Chaya stared at his little sister, possibly for the last time, and said, “Listen carefully, Shan. Stay right where you are until I get there. Don’t follow any strangers. I don’t know what kind of place the Mirror World is, but I’m sure it’s better than here. Also... if by a small chance, I don’t come, believe in yourself and live in my stead, Shan!”
“What? No! Chan! N—”
The white light engulfed Shaya, and she disappeared, the surroundings growing dark and silent again. Chaya stared in silence at where his little sister had been.
I did it. I saved Shan.
[Remaining Teleport Rocks: 2]
[Time Remaining: 00:03:04]
There were only two Teleport Rocks left—no, one left, excluding the one that man had.
Is it... impossible?
The past thirty days flashed before his eyes. Chaya had left the District 9 safe zone with his little sister to protect her from the clutches of Tenzin Gurung. He thankfully obtained a kukri knife as his Destiny Weapon, so he had no issue hunting Black Dogs.
He obtained Karma to grow stronger and even created a unique skill with his sole wish to hide his little sister from enemies. He had fulfilled his ultimate goal of sending his little sister to the Mirror World. The problem now was himself.
Chaya clenched his kukri knife and shook his head to chase away negative thoughts.
I won’t give up until the very end! There’s still one more!
The Gurkha always emerged victorious against impossible odds. He would obtain the last Teleport Rock and reunite with Shaya.