The lackey seemed clearly displeased with the idea of Woo Chaerin joining us. His glare at me was anything but friendly.
"...Fine. For Lady Jegal’s sake, I’ll overlook this."
Overlook? Who asked for his permission? Who Chaerin decides to sit with is her choice, not his.
"Thank you, Huangbo Sohyeop. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have matters to discuss with my friends."
"...Hmph."
With that, Woo Chaerin’s soft dismissal sent Huangbo grumbling back to his group, though he kept throwing me dirty looks as he left. I returned the favor with an unimpressed glare of my own. Eyeing someone who’s clearly spoken for—if Yuna, the goddess of pure devotion, had seen this, that guy’s head would’ve been metaphorically shaved clean off.
As soon as he was out of earshot, both Oh Hye-in and I spoke at the same time.
"Chaerin-unni, should I teach him a lesson if he keeps bothering you?"
"Doctor, want me to deal with him if he keeps trying to approach?"
"...It’s fine, Hye-in. And it’s fine, uh... Creator? Or Administrator? Honestly, I’m not sure what to call you."
"‘Mima’ works. Or whatever else you feel like calling me."
“Mima,” short for "Mad Wizard," had become more of a name than just a title.
"So, what’s going on here?"
"I don’t fully understand either. I was working as usual when a blinding light consumed everything, and then I fell into this world. I assume it’s tied to something happening to the Goddess... or the Sub-Administrator."
"And you don’t have any backstory or objective ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) info about this world?"
"Nope. I wish I did. I’ve been struggling to adapt here since I’m unfamiliar with these Chinese-style settings. My surname even got changed to Jegal suddenly."
It seemed Woo Chaerin didn’t know the first thing about martial arts stories either.
Her presence made things even more complicated. Not two, but three sessions seemed to have been mashed together. And, like Oh Hye-in, Chaerin had no information about the floor’s objective.
Was Abraham’s case a one-off?
Probably not. Chaerin had been spawned as a member of the Jegal family. If she had been assigned a role as an NPC, she should have received the necessary information to fulfill that role.
Alternatively, it could be that the backstory or objective wasn’t missing but simply inaccessible. That was worth investigating.
"Doctor, give me your hand. I need to read your inner data."
"...?"
After a moment’s hesitation, Woo Chaerin rolled up her sleeve and extended her smooth arm. She seemed somewhat awkward, as we didn’t have much of a rapport compared to her familiarity with Oh Hye-in, who had spent considerable time chatting with her in Stellar Explosion.
Next to me, Hye-in jabbed my shoulder and asked, "Didn’t you say you don’t have magic, Boss?"
"That’s where you come in. From now on, you’re my magic battery."
"Okay."
Hye-in placed her hand on the back of my neck, channeling Pure Energy into me. Nice—finally some magic. Carefully, I converted and manipulated the magic to start reading Chaerin’s data.
Chaerin’s initial hesitation faded quickly, replaced by the curious gaze of a researcher. Her eyes gleamed as she observed my control.
"...How are you guiding magic so precisely without any devices? It’s almost as if it’s measured down to the millimeter. And right now, are you breaking down information with magic—?"
"I’ll explain later. Quiet now."
As I delved deeper, I bypassed her core data and uncovered the supplemental information attached later. She had been assigned the identity of Jegal Chaerin, the third daughter of the Jegal family, known for her outstanding intellect and kind heart.
I also found minor details about other characters within the Orthodox faction. Many of them carried suspicious tags.
And then—
[ACCESS FORBIDDEN UNTIL ACT 2 BEGINS].
"...?"
I hit a wall. The data was as solid as concrete, completely encrypted, and repelled my magic. The warning message was ominous. Act 2?
Was this like Stellar Explosion , with distinct narrative acts?
I prepared to dig deeper, trying to break through the encryption to access the restricted information, when—
THUD! THUD!
The enraged Huangbo lackey stomped toward us, unsheathing his broadsword. His fury was like that of a wild boar on fire, a savage and reckless charge.
"You scoundrel! How dare you lay your filthy hands on Lady Jegal’s wrist?! Remove them immediately!"
"Oh, for heaven’s sake."
Chaerin’s expression sharpened, and she warned him sternly, "Huangbo Sohyeop, stay out of this. This is a matter between trusted friends."
"Impossible! A virtuous lady like Lady Jegal would never allow another man to touch her so casually. You must have bewitched her with some vile sorcery!"
"...Huangbo Sohyeop, stop being irrational. I am perfectly rational right now. If anyone should be checked for enchantment, it’s you—"
"Fear not, my lady! I shall vanquish this villain and free you from his spell!"
This was the stuff of cliché illustrations. I sighed, rising from my seat to look Huangbo up and down, as well as the crowd watching this unfold. Huangbo wasn’t the real issue here.
The Orthodox faction members were just standing by, watching. None of them intervened to stop Huangbo from bullying others. This felt like the archetype of a “corrupt and rotten Orthodox faction.”
That raised doubts about whether the Orthodox faction was truly the protagonist’s side. Perhaps I should seek out someone from the Demonic faction instead...
Clearing my throat, I raised my voice.
"Listen here, Huangbo Sohyeop. I am an engineer well-versed in formations and mechanisms, and I’ve been close friends with Lady Jegal since childhood. I was merely demonstrating a superior technique to her. What exactly is the problem here?"
"Hah! Why should I believe anything you say?"
"And what evidence do you have to support your judgment? If Lady Jegal were truly under a spell, shouldn’t you be seeking help from a Taoist master instead of making baseless accusations? There’s even a Taoist from the Wudang Sect sitting right over there."
"A long tongue like yours only confirms your villainy!"
This son of a—
My patience was wearing thin. Even if this situation was a trope, dealing with someone who wouldn’t listen was frustrating.
Seeing that none of the observing Orthodox members intended to step in, I decided to up the ante.
"You’re acting like a spoiled child. Very well, draw your sword, Huangbo Sohyeop. I’ll teach you some humility in one move."
"Ha! So you reveal your true nature at last! Lady Jegal, watch closely as I punish this fiend with my Thunderbolt Blade Technique! Prepare yourself for the first form—"
BANG!
I drew my pistol and fired at his thigh, the shot ringing out like thunder. The force sent Huangbo tumbling to the ground, clutching his leg in agony.
"AAARGH!"
"This is my first form: Humility. I still have 29 bullets left in the chamber, meaning I can teach you proper manners all the way up to the 30th form."
"Magic! It’s sorcery! Sorcery!"
"Indeed, a bullet traveling at 1,200 feet per second has a certain magical resonance, doesn’t it? Judging by your mouth, you might need the second form: Obedience."
Even the most stubborn fool would understand after six rounds of lead therapy.
As I reloaded and aimed at him again, the murmurs in the room grew louder. The Orthodox faction members hesitated, unsure whether to intervene. Beside me, Hye-in whispered worriedly.
"Boss, are you sure this is okay? There’s a lot of them. I can’t take on that many, and running away is gonna be as tough as eating a level-3 spicy hotpot."
"Relax. I’m drawing someone out."
"Who?"
The leader.
Analyzing the information I’d extracted from Chaerin, I realized something crucial: this story was a reflection of Yuna’s past, and it revolved around twelve sacrificial children.
In the previous floor, they were lifeless puppets. Here, they were more vibrant. Both the leader of the Orthodox faction and Huangbo were tagged as part of those sacrificial children.
These characters would inevitably draw me into the main story. I had to provoke them to make that happen—staying passive as a powerless human wouldn’t get me anywhere.
Sure enough, my bait worked.
A man with a virtuous and commanding presence stepped forward, parting the crowd to shield Huangbo.
"I don’t know which sect you hail from, but I offer my apologies."
Beside me, Chaerin whispered, "That’s the faction leader, Administrator."
The man, apparently hearing her, continued, "Yes, I am Dokgo Mo, leader of the Orthodox Alliance. Your skill with hidden weapons has already determined the outcome here. However, I ask for your forgiveness in the name of the Orthodox faction’s dignity."
"Fine. Take him away. I have no intention of causing more trouble for Lady Jegal or her faction."
"Thank you for your generosity. Remove him."
Two warriors dragged Huangbo away. Once he was out of sight, the leader turned to me and offered a proposition.
"Lady Jegal’s family is a pillar of the Orthodox Alliance. If you’re close to her, then we’re allies. Please, join us for the exploration of Cheonma Chong. I’ll ensure you’re generously compensated."
Finally, the main quest was revealed:
"Deep within Cheonma Chong lies the ‘Golden Key,’ a treasure capable of saving lives. We must secure it at all costs."
_____________________
Both the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions were after Cheonma Chong. Specifically, the "Golden Key" rumored to be hidden deep within it. While no one could precisely explain its power, there was plenty of vague talk about erasing pain and salvation.
Joining the main storyline was a step forward, but now I needed combat power. Remaining in a state where I couldn’t use magic only heightened the risk and difficulty.
Fortunately, we had the perfect specialists gathered here—those capable of bypassing magic restrictions through technology.
"So, Boss, you want me to use my transformation device to make a magic stone...?"
"And I’m supposed to create a suit with a built-in magic engine?"
"Exactly. Don’t worry about operational difficulty or calculations—I’ll handle all that. Just focus on efficiency."
And so, we cobbled together the Prototype Suit Mk. 1. We etched magic circuits into the lining of my robe and mounted a magic engine on the back.
Vrrrmmmm—
With the engine humming, magic coursed through my body. While it was too coarse for using spells, it easily enhanced my physical capabilities. With this, I could take down most adversaries.
Now, there was just one issue left.
Chaerin could gather information on the Orthodox faction, and Hye-in had access to Unorthodox sources. However, we knew next to nothing about the Demonic faction—their purpose, their goals, or even their nature. It was crucial to obtain information about them.
We purchased intelligence from organizations like Hao Clan, but all we got were useless tidbits about how they "suddenly appeared." Nothing substantial.
Thus, I decided to take a risk and establish direct contact. They seemed suspicious, but I couldn’t jump to conclusions, especially since one of our NPCs might be aligned with them.
"Hye-in, what did the Unorthodox informant say?"
"They mentioned someone called Sura Blood Ghost Rakshasa Baekcheonma is staying on the top floor of this inn. Apparently, they're a high-ranking figure in the Demonic faction."
"Wait... so this Rakshasa Baekcheonma and Sura Blood Ghost are all staying here together?"
"No, it’s one person. Sura Blood Ghost Rakshasa Baekcheonma is their full title."
"A title with nine syllables?"
The ridiculous string of names suggested someone with a flair for the dramatic. If that were the case, flattery and stroking their ego might be an effective way to extract information.
I paid the inn staff a hefty sum and sent a fan letter along with a formal request for an audience with this Sura-whatever-their-name-was. If that failed, I was prepared to sneak in, but to my surprise, they readily agreed to meet.
Reaching the top floor, I stood before a sliding paper door. From beyond it, a sultry woman’s voice drifted out.
"So, you wished to meet me... How amusing. From what I hear, you are acquainted with the Jegal family’s daughter and travel with the Unorthodox’s Strange Hero. You care little for the divide between Orthodox and Unorthodox factions, and now, you seem interested in the Demonic faction as well?"
"Yes, that’s correct."
"I, too, find you intriguing. Open the door. I shall graciously allow you to gaze upon the visage of Sura Blood Ghost Rakshasa Baekcheonma."
Her tone was dripping with arrogance.
Still, it was preferable to dealing with someone like Huangbo. That guy needed bullets to communicate, while this one might just need some entertaining flattery.
Licking my lips in preparation for some elaborate speech, I readied myself as the sliding door creaked open, revealing...
A woman lounging in a nearly indecent outfit, reclining lazily while smoking from a long pipe. She looked up, her gaze meeting mine—and then she froze, as if she’d turned to stone.
I, too, froze in the middle of my ingratiating posture, hands half-clasped in a groveling gesture.
"...Dad?"
"...Aisha?"
It was my daughter—the one I’d left behind in the Tower of Magic—who had somehow climbed the Tower faster than me.