Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Quill Mishap and Calculated Moves
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"Ah."
Is the habit of twirling a pen something that sticks to the soul rather than the body? Lost in thought for a moment, I ended up spinning the quill without realizing it. And now look at this mess.
Being a feather quill, it was too light to spin properly and just splattered ink everywhere.
"Young master, shall I fetch a change of clothes?"
Luna glided over at my absentminded mutter, pulling out her own handkerchief, but I shook my head as if to stop her.
"Why bother."
There's magic for that.
Old ink stains get treated like dye after enough time passes, so even Clean spells won't budge them. But fresh splatters like this? They vanish without a trace.
'Sounds like a detergent ad slogan.'
Maybe it's because my sense of floating has dulled quite a bit. Memories of my time as Kang Suho are bubbling up more clearly today.
When that happens, the rule is to dive into work.
I tucked the codex I'd pulled from my sub-space back away and reread my notes on Verbutt.
[Verbutt the Agria—Third Selector of the Evil God Cult]
Key Traits: [Acting (A)] [Domination (B)] [Greed (B)]
Hidden Traits: [Brainwashing (A)] [Heartlessness (C)]
Third Selector.
Third means there are at least two more.
And Selector.
'What exactly are they selecting?'
Since it showed up after I dealt with the fake Gadia using the doppelganger potion, it's probably something tied to Gadia—or rather, to people.
Nothing like this appeared in the original story, but Gadia wasn't the type to spill her entire past anyway, and as for the narrator...
—Apple cinnamon sticks are delicious.
"Leaf, apple cinnamon sticks are tasty, right? Want more whipped cream?"
With Leaf's Writing trait being lower-ranked than Dmitri's, I can't rely on the original anymore.
'If only Pyian weren't a half-blood, I would've found some way to get him into the academy.'
What a shame. It would've been a huge help in tracking Gadia's movements and digging into the Evil God Cult alongside Verbutt.
'No, wait. Even if not as a student...'
If I can just win Gadia over properly...
I glanced at Kane, who looked like he was meditating with his eyes closed.
Considering Verbutt's traits—Acting, Domination, and even the hidden Brainwashing—it wasn't hard to picture how he'd operate inside the academy.
If my hunch was right, Gadia would end up increasingly isolated, even after I exposed the fake.
'In that case.'
I tapped my fingers on the desk, then quickly pulled out fresh parchment, scribbled a few lines, sealed it with wax, and looked up to call Zero.
"Send this to the academy."
Time to meet Gadia.
And while I'm at it, better to forcibly clear Pyian's path to a solid position sooner rather than later.
I pulled out another sheet of parchment and started writing to Pyian.
"Kane."
"Speak."
I called Kane softly, and he slowly opened his eyes. I beckoned him over, but his ass must be glued to that seat—he just sat there and moved his mouth.
"Starting today, you're going to help Pyian out a bit."
That's how factions work.
If they grow too fast, the established powers try to crush them before they get big.
So I'd instructed to grow quietly under the surface, as much as possible, and stay low until reaching a size that's awkward to touch.
'But juggling side gigs while building a faction is impossible.'
Might as well push hard and fast. Most backroom forces are built on money, info, and violence.
I've got the money covered. Pyian handles info. We can stack those solidly.
That leaves violence.
'Kane the all-purpose powerhouse.'
Feels a bit sleazy assigning this, but it's not like they're innocent. These are forces so rotten I don't even want to think about their deeds...
'And if we push a little extra, we might unify the capital's underworld in record time. That kind of achievement isn't bad.'
"You're helping Pyian out."
"For how long."
"Until I say we're good."
Kane nodded once at my playful grin, picked up the wax-sealed parchment, and headed out.
'Come to think of it.'
Even as an extra gunning for the black幕 role, I need the basics.
I wrote my name, Kang Suho, in hanja and called Luna.
"Commission a signet ring for me."
A personal seal with my name—even in another world.
"Outer ring circular, inner hexagon. Letters in bold block style. Untraceable. This is for use with my name only, not the Kruger family."
Luna took the paper, stared at it, then beamed.
"I'll tell them to make it the best."
"Take the badge too. Just in case, go with Rachel and Leaf. I've got Aegis."
Since it's not an official family seal, and to avoid backtracking later, we need to hide identities from the commission onward.
Luna nodded and left.
Kane to Pyian, Zero to Gadia—now with Luna, Leaf, and Rachel gone too, I'm alone in this huge lodging.
You don't miss people until they're gone, they say.
Or in this case, you notice the emptiness.
It's too damn quiet all around. Eerily so.
*Tap, tap-tap, tap, tap.*
Whoa, startled me.
I have to keep my Trait-seeing ability secret, but teaching them Hangul complicated things.
So I was reorganizing Traits back into English when the knock came. I shrugged, stood, and headed over.
My jokingly set rhythm.
Good thing this high-end inn has security spells on the doors—no one gets in without unlocking from inside.
But it means we always need someone to open up. Annoying.
"I'm back. Where are the seniors and juniors, if I may ask?"
"Out on errands."
Zero grinned at my words and shed his robe.
"Delivered the letter to Miss Gadia's maid, Lije."
"Good."
She should show tomorrow, then. I wrote that I'd assign Kane as her guard if she didn't, so no way she'll skip.
"This body has returned."
"Faster than expected."
Rachel came in shortly after, arms full.
Fruit chunks in bowls, meat skewers, some snack that's not quite rice cake or bread.
Luna and Leaf followed, doffing their robes.
—Administrator, we're back.
"They said adding all the magic effects to the seal will take about a week."
"Good work."
I took the mixed fruit bowl from Rachel, spearing pieces with a bamboo stick, and spoke up.
I'd just been thinking how quiet it was alone, and now it's bustling.
"Here, Kane, try this."
And Kane's back from Pyian already.
"Already?"
"I handled what I needed to."
Fair enough, but I figured he'd stick with Pyian for a while.
"Nothing else to report?"
The parchment to Pyian said Kane would serve as bodyguard and my blade for clashes with rivals for the time being.
I expected at least a week, until Pyian climbed to a safer spot.
Ah, wait—commuting?
"Dunno, nothing specific."
I smirked at Kane tearing into some chewy, sauce-glazed bread-like thing baked over the hearth.
"You. You half-assed it, didn't you?"
"Who knows."
"Who knows my ass."
Kane must've stirred something up. Pyian won't crash in on me today, but tomorrow for sure.
"Hey! You hogging all the hearth-roasted stuff?"
"Just share, no need to fight."
"Junior, want some of mine?"
—I'll share mine with the Administrator.
I just burst out laughing at the lot bickering over one snack.
* * *
That armor artifact I sold at the auction—Drubona wore it out last time.
I remember because my casual actions don't often boomerang back unrelated like that.
And the artifacts I'd set aside on a whim.
Ones that unseal things, or the continental monkey's paw—instant miracle artifacts. Shape-shifters that randomize appearances.
Plus others, like the one I dubbed "Nightfall" that lets targets slip all laws for a moment.
'And then.'
Shahad von Taitria.
The cult's puppet.
An imperial I'd spotted while hunting the doppelganger potion user.
'Publicly, I've been dealing with Dmitri and Drubona to get lines to the imperial family.'
So for now, to keep up the act, I can't draw attention.
Plus.
'He definitely had a Sealed trait.'
Should I use it?
If my math's right, seals on traits are still seals—my unsealer artifacts, or even the conditional wish-granting monkey paw, instant miracles, should crack it.
Never saw Shahad in the original or game.
Not like those no-comm, dead-end parties met everyone.
Figures not showing up outnumber those who do by multiples.
'Even so.'
His trait had a death curse clear as day.
"Short-lived" usually means dying before 30, right?
That's, what, 10 years tops?
Not like I have no options. Debilitating an imperial without draining my forces much—and owing me one—is pure profit.
Only if this Shahad guy gets the hint.
From that mess at the ball, though? Imperial spoiled by frailty and yes-men—arrogant, self-centered lone wolf vibes more likely.
'Still, investigating costs nothing.'
Hand that to Pyian.
"Ah, lost again. This guy's living in his own world, huh?"
While I pondered, things quieted—then Rachel scattered something, flailing.
Wooden square and triangle models up close.
'No way—cabin, inn, mansion models like that...'
Villas, apartments, hotels swapped for continental Buruma-bul buildings flying around.
"Golden key rule now. Kane, always send to deserted island or whatever! No, screw it—what do I lack? Why does 'deserted island' mean I can't do shit?"
"Makes sense. Rachel, anyone to clean up? Let's tidy quick."
Rachel lost again.
How many handicaps did she slap on for this game?
No mana outside body. No spells. Pure martial artist. And sucks at gambling games.
I guessed that much, but watching her get skinned by Kane, Luna, Zero, Leaf thanks to her own rules—high-roller taste?
Then a knock.
"No killing intent. No attack artifacts."
Rachel, mid-rant at Kane, glanced over. Zero stood.
"Oh, then it must be Miss Gadia?"
Or Pyian.
Zero eased the door open. Bright hair showed.
Silver-blue and cream-white.
I eyed Gadia and Pyian standing awkwardly at the door.
Perfect timing—they met right there.
"Good. Was gonna introduce you two anyway."
Gadia's frost veil lips twitched at my grin. Pyian trembled, face screaming 'what now?'
"Come in."
"......"
Pyian eyed Gadia, then entered. She crossed arms, peering past veil at Zero and Kane.
Tricky. They'll run together eventually anyway.
Separate, and the cult snaps them up.
"Zero, Kane—you two go play outside."
"Not kids."
"With Senior Kane... is that okay?"
I shoved pocket money at them for snacks and shooed. Only then did Gadia melt her veil and step in.
"Princess treatment, huh."
"Not wrong."
I waved Rachel off with a laugh at her whisper. She grumbled, cleaning Buruma-bul with Leaf.
Luna boiled water for tea.
At the round table, Gadia, Pyian, and I sat triangle-style, eyeing each other.
"Why'd you call."
Gadia didn't hide her irritation. I grinned wide.
"Sis. How about sending that maid Roze back home and hiring a new one?"
I palm-pointed at Pyian. He jolted.
"M-Me?"
"What's the scheme."
Flustered Pyian, baffled Gadia.
I spoke slowly, watching them.