Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Demonic Space Canvas
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[Main Quest #1]
[Objective: Rescue Joo Ah-rin (Contribution 60% or higher)]
[Reward: 20 days added to remaining time, 35 SP provided]
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The moment I saw it, I unleashed a torrent of curses.
"Fuck. Seriously."
I'd been hit in the back of the head more than once or twice, so I was confident nothing could surprise me anymore, but this was too much.
A deadline pulled forward by a whole week.
It was so absurd that sweat instantly beaded on my lower back.
But I shook my head vigorously and steadied my nerves.
Preparation wasn't fully complete, which was a flaw, but at least I'd caught it in time, so I had to move now.
I'd handle the rest with improvisation.
I grabbed the star flower seed and asked Cheol-su.
"You can do location tracking too, right?"
-Yeah. But Hae-ul, isn't this a pretty big deal? Maybe report it first...
"No, you don't need to worry about that. I'll handle everything else. Just text me the location as soon as you find it. And...
I thought of Cheon Seo-yoon and Baek Sa-young.
According to the original story, contacting both would be the proper response.
But the "contribution 60% or higher" line bothered me.
If all three of us went in and something went wrong, the quest could fail.
So, exclude Baek Sa-young...
"Just text Cheon Seo-yoon."
I decided to call only Cheon Seo-yoon and bolted out of the dorm.
Roberto's location info arrived promptly.
[Dodam's club hall. Roberto is still inside the main building.]
Luckily, it wasn't far.
The outside was a chaotic downpour, but I made it there in one sprint.
Soaked like a drowned rat, I flung open the door and scanned the surroundings.
Soon enough, I spotted traces of him.
A canvas taking up one wall of the hall, blank as a sheet...
But its hidden nature was Roberto's Demonic Space.
He must have dragged her inside there.
A space where he could face anyone, his own world where he reigned supreme.
"It's about time she arrives."
I had something to pass along, so I waited for Cheon Seo-yoon, who would burst in soon.
Not long after, the door sounded like it would shatter, followed by pounding footsteps drawing near.
Our eyes met.
"...Why the hell are you here?"
Her sharp tone slipped out amid her panting breaths.
I met Cheon Seo-yoon's suspicious gaze head-on and shook my head.
"Wrong address. I came running as soon as I got the text too."
"You got one too? Then who...
I pointed to the canvas and explained the situation.
Roberto's true identity was a demon of bewitchment, and the place Joo Ah-rin was kidnapped to was right inside that Demonic Space Canvas.
I didn't omit that the space itself was a rare armament functioning as a weapon, a field buffing his abilities.
"So how do we get in?"
With time of the essence, Cheon Seo-yoon didn't question the source or veracity of the info.
"Take this first."
"What is it?"
I handed over what we'd essentially obtained together.
"The seed of a star-like flower. It'll help against the bewitchment."
"This little thing?"
I nodded silently.
In truth, it ignited emotions heightened by the bewitchment, but it was definitely the key to snapping her out of it.
"If it flashes with light, it means it's a false space, so don't turn away."
"...Just tell me how to get in."
Despite her curt reply, Cheon Seo-yoon didn't refuse. She took the seed and gripped it tightly in her hand.
* * *
Her hazy consciousness flickered back to life, like a lamp suddenly switched on.
Joo Ah-rin reached for her throbbing head...
"Urk."
But quickly realized she couldn't.
She was seated in a chair, bound tightly with rough ropes.
Why am I...? The question dissolved as her interrupted memories resurfaced.
Running through the pouring rain to meet Kim Hye-jin. The unease from her unusual demeanor, then Roberto's demonic hand lunging out...
She remembered being ambushed and helplessly taken down in an instant, and now she was in this state.
Unsure of the details, but she'd clearly been dragged somewhere and imprisoned.
Fully alert now, Joo Ah-rin tried to summon Hae-rin first, drawing up her mana.
"...?"
But something was off.
The vital energy that should respond immediately lay dormant, utterly still...
"This can't be."
Panicking, Joo Ah-rin adjusted her posture. As she focused again and pictured Hae-rin—
"You're awake already?"
A voice rose suddenly from behind.
A hand followed, gripping her shoulder, making Joo Ah-rin tremble.
"But what to do. Looks like you won't be using mana for a while."
Roberto spun into view, mockingly shaking a vial in his hand.
"...You think you'll get away with this?"
Joo Ah-rin grit her teeth and yelled, shaking violently.
But Roberto remained utterly relaxed.
With a casual wave, red demonic energy slithered down over Joo Ah-rin's head.
As master of the Demonic Space, his abilities were amplified—even a light gesture induced hallucinations.
"Ah."
It didn't lead straight to a dream, but Joo Ah-rin's strength drained, and she swayed.
Roberto smiled in satisfaction and murmured softly.
"Listen well, Miss Joo Ah-rin. The show will start soon. Lots of executives are curious about the creation process of my masterpiece."
His tone was polite, but laced with vicious greed.
"Rest well. I'll wake you when it's time."
Red demonic energy rippled once more, and Joo Ah-rin finally slumped forward, unconscious.
Soft jazz filled the room.
Savoring it, Roberto closed his eyes and paced for a moment before snapping his fingers.
The door behind opened, and Kim Hye-jin stepped out, holding a crystal orb with built-in recording.
"Set them up everywhere, front, back, left, right—no gaps."
Roberto issued the simple order, then sat opposite where Joo Ah-rin's face was clearly visible.
He swirled his wine glass, double-checking the composition, colors, and props for the masterpiece he would birth with his own hands.
Everything was proceeding smoothly as planned.
Until a low rumble shook the castle.
Grrrrumble.
Roberto's leisurely swaying head snapped around.
* * *
I now stood in a Demonic Space field thick with reeds.
Whiiiish.
The blowing wind felt utterly natural, no dissonance at all.
The only oddity was the towering castle in the not-too-distant distance, evoking some medieval era.
"Did we split up on entry?"
I realized I'd separated from Cheon Seo-yoon but decided not to search.
The space wasn't that big anyway. Considering the upcoming battle, moving separately was better.
I held back from rash action and recalled the original story.
Cheon Seo-yoon and Baek Sa-young storm the castle in one go, break through the enemies' lair, and confront Roberto.
In the Demonic Space, Roberto's abilities are amplified several times over.
Even eye contact brings precursors of bewitchment, plunging you into dreams.
Cheon Seo-yoon returns to her happy childhood, that blissful time, while Baek Sa-young...
Well.
Even I, the webtoon author, don't know exactly.
It's just foreshadowing to carry the mid-to-late story, speculated to tie into her birth secret.
Yoo So-young hid it without revealing, so it was omitted from the manuscript too.
Plus, it's depicted as something she shakes off quickly, so she probably wasn't affected much.
Thanks to her upright mind and the Martial God Body's demonic energy resistance.
Anyway, while Baek Sa-young struggles alone, Cheon Seo-yoon escapes her dream and awakens a new trait.
The battle resumes.
Roberto's amplified, but he's no martial fighter—if bewitchment fails, his power's worthless.
In the end, they defeat him and rescue Joo Ah-rin.
That's the original flow I know.
But things have changed.
No Baek Sa-young, so I have to take her role, but I can't fight like her.
I'm no Martial God Body, no paragon of virtue.
Thus, only Cheon Seo-yoon will face Roberto directly.
I'll be thorough support.
Preparing my strongest single blow, packing in all abilities...
32-stroke 1-star grade, Wind Control Technique: Concealment
[Manifestation Accuracy 79%]
I blocked my mana presence and approached the castle walls.
The castle followed classic medieval style.
A narrow moat surrounded the high walls on all sides, leaving the gate as the only normal entry.
No plans to go openly, so I extended my right hand.
I fired heavenly silken thread at one of the sky-piercing spires, wrapping it tight.
It contracted rapidly, launching me up in one go.
I settled in position and began enhancements.
[I will grant your eyes the 'X-ray Vision' setting.]
[Calculating required SP.]
[This will take a moment.]
[Calculation complete.]
[Required SP: 200]
Necessary for scouting inside, but damn... expensive.
No choice but to commit.
I added multiple restrictions.
"Don't apply to people, limit use time to 30 minutes. Set reuse cooldown to 2 hours."
[Calculating required SP.]
[This will take a moment.]
[Calculation complete.]
[Required SP: 40]
Down significantly, but not satisfied yet—I added one more condition.
"Can't use during combat."
[Calculation complete.]
[Required SP: 20]
The cost dropped again.
Good enough. I initiated the enhancement.
Fwaaat—
Blue paint briefly spread across my vision, then faded.
I tested by widening my eyes.
Focusing intently, the inside of the walls soon came into clear view.
Oh ho.
Exaggerating a bit, it was vivid as if I'd entered and wandered around.
Satisfactory performance, so I quickly scanned the entire castle.
Soon, the main building's second floor, the grand central hall.
Colorful drapes fluttering, the chilling aura of knight statues lined up below filling the space densely...
"Found them."
Roberto and Kim Hye-jin in a red dress.
And Joo Ah-rin slumped in a chair, bound.
Her chest rose and fell regularly—thankfully no major issues, just passed out.
But no time for full relief.
The crystal orbs being placed around her signaled bewitchment would activate soon.
"It's about time for my party member to show."
I waited for the teammate who was taking her sweet time.
Kwaaaang.
Suddenly, a powerful sonic boom echoed from the gate.
Roberto, feigning elegance with his wine glass, snapped his head around—and I followed suit.
There, a short-haired swordswoman charged, gripping a mana blade swollen to half the wall's height.