Chapter 329
Chapter 329
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 329
Chapter Title: S6. Turbulent Waves -2
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The vanguard guy clearly wasn't thrilled about Woo Chae-rin joining our table. The way he glared at me wasn't exactly friendly.
"...Very well. For the sake of Lady Zhuge's honor, I'll let it slide."
Let it slide? Who the hell decides who sits where? It's up to her.
"Thank you, Young Master Huang Bo. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to chat with my friends."
"......Hmph."
At Woo Chae-rin's gentle dismissal, whatever-his-name Huang Bo shot me one last dirty look before slinking back to his group. I returned the favor with a bored stare at his back. The nerve of eyeing up someone who's already taken.
If the Goddess of Pure Love Yuna had seen that, his hair would've been blasted off with a Subtract.
Once he was gone, Oh Hye-in and I spoke up at the same time.
"Chae-rin unnie, if that creep keeps harassing you, want me to sort him out?"
"Doc, if that punk keeps hitting on you, should I take care of it?"
"...I'm fine, Hye-in. It's okay, Creator... or Main Administrator? I don't even know what to call you."
"Mima's fine. Call me whatever you like."
It was just a shorthand for Mad Mage, but those two letters had basically become my name by now.
"What happened?"
"I don't know the details myself. I was just doing my usual work when a massive burst of light dumped me into this world. I figured something must've gone wrong with the goddess... sub-admin's safety."
"You didn't get any backstory or objectives for this world either?"
"Nope. It would've been nice if they shared that info, but I don't know much about these Chinese-style stories, so I've been struggling to adapt. Suddenly, I became Lady Zhuge of the Zhuge Clan."
She didn't even seem to know the basics of wuxia.
Woo Chae-rin's arrival had made things even more complicated. Now three sessions had merged—not two. And she knew nothing about her objectives either.
Was Abraham's case a special exception?
No, that seemed unlikely. Woo Chae-rin had spawned as a Zhuge Clan member. Once they assigned her that role to an NPC, they would've implanted the relevant info too.
Or maybe the opposite. Maybe she had the backstory and goals, but couldn't recall them. That needed checking.
"Alright, Doc, give me your hand. Time to read some internal data."
"......"
Woo Chae-rin hesitated a moment before rolling up her sleeve and offering her smooth arm. Oh Hye-in and she had bonded over long chats while wearing the Mujak mask, but since she and I had no prior connection, things felt awkward.
Oh Hye-in nudged her from the side.
"No mana, right, President?"
"That's where you come in. You're my mana battery now, Oh Hye-in."
"Got it."
Thud. Oh Hye-in placed her hand on my nape and channeled pure energy. Nice—mana at last. I carefully converted and shaped it, then scanned Woo Chae-rin's data.
The awkwardness didn't last. Woo Chae-rin quickly grew fascinated by my mana control, her eyes lighting up with a researcher's curiosity as she started feeding back questions.
"...How do you guide the mana like that? No machinery involved, yet it moves so precisely, like it's measured with a ruler. And now, it feels like you're breaking down information with mana—"
"I'll explain later. Stay quiet for now."
Digging deeper, I saw add-on info layered over her core data—not her originals. Zhuge Chae-rin, third daughter of the Zhuge Clan, brilliant and kind-hearted.
Bits of info on minor righteous faction figures. Suspicious tags attached to them.
And...
[Access Denied Until Act 2 Begins].
"......?"
It blocked me cold. Rock-solid encryption bounced my mana right back. The warning message was intriguing. Act 2?
Like Stellaria of Raging Stars, divided into acts?
I probed further, trying to crack the encryption and glimpse the restricted data.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
That raging Huang Bo punk drew his massive sword and charged over, looking like a wild boar on fire—fierce as hell.
"You bastard! How dare you touch Lady Zhuge's wrist! Get your filthy hands off her now!"
"Well, well."
Woo Chae-rin shot him a sharp glare.
"Young Master Huang Bo, stay out of it. This is between friends."
"Lady Zhuge, so pure and elegant—there's no way she'd let some other man touch her wrist. You must've used vile sorcery to bewitch her!"
"...Sigh, don't be irrational, Young Master Huang Bo. I'm perfectly rational right now. If anyone's bewitched, it's more likely you—"
"Just leave it to me! I'll thrash this scum and save you, milady!"
Picture-perfect cliché. I stood calmly, eyeing Huang Whatever and scanning the surroundings. He wasn't the key here.
The righteous faction crew was just watching. No one stepped in to stop his reckless aggression. This screamed 'corrupt and rotten righteous sect' archetype.
So, not sure if the righteous side were allies. Might need to contact the demonic cult folks after all...
First things first. I cleared my throat and raised my voice.
"Let me tell you something, Huang Whatever. I'm an engineer skilled in formations and mechanisms. Lady Zhuge and I go way back. I'm just sharing some prime inner energy techniques with her—what's the problem?"
"Hmph! Why should I believe a word you say?"
"Then what's your proof that you're right? It's laughable. If Lady Zhuge really were under sorcery, you'd beg a renowned exorcist for help. Hey, there's even a shaman from the Wudang Sect right next to you."
"Your silver tongue proves you're a fiend!"
This little shit.
My blood boiled for the first time in ages. Cliché or not, talking to someone who won't listen is no fun.
The watching righteous bigshots showed no sign of intervening either. I'd raised my voice hoping for a righteous hero among them, but no such luck.
Fine then... time to hit the panic button.
"You're no better than a tantrum-throwing kid. Draw your sword, Huang Whatever. One exchange, and I'll teach you humility."
"Finally showing your true colors! Lady Zhuge, watch over me! I'll punish this villain with my Thunderclap Swordsmanship! Take this! First Form—"
Bang—!!
I drew my pistol, aimed at his thigh, and pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed like sweet harmony. The righteous martial artists at nearby tables jumped to their feet, while Huang Whatever clutched his leg and rolled on the floor.
"Aaaagh—!!"
"That's my first form: Humility. I've got twenty-nine rounds left in the mag—that means I can teach you manners up to the 30th form."
"Sorcery! It's sorcery!"
"Lead bullets at 1,200 feet per second do have a magical ring to them. Judging by your yap, you need a second form: Obedience!"
Even a master of mental gymnastics would get the message after six lead facials.
Click. I racked the slide and aimed again. The murmurs grew louder as they panicked over whether to intervene.
Oh Hye-in whispered worriedly.
"...This okay, President? The righteous guys outnumber us. I can't take them all. Escaping here's harder than level 3 mala tang spice."
"Just watch. I'm drawing them out."
"Huh? Who?"
The Alliance Leader.
That's what I'd gleaned analyzing Woo Chae-rin's data. This story mirrored Yuna's past, so it included the twelve child sacrifices as key figures.
In the previous floor, they were mindless puppets. Here, they had more life.
The Martial Alliance Leader and Huang Whatever were among the child sacrifices. They had those tags.
They'd drag me into the main story somehow. So I'd pulled aggro hard. Staying as powerless human A would've made it tough to insert myself.
And the response came quick.
A man with a strikingly righteous, upright face pushed through the righteous crowd, blocking Huang Whatever protectively.
"I don't know your sect, but I apologize on his behalf."
Woo Chae-rin whispered beside me.
"That's the Alliance Leader, Administrator."
I must've raised my voice enough for him to hear. He continued.
"Indeed. I'm Duguo Mo, leading the Righteous Alliance, humble as it is. Your hidden weapon seems unbeatable, but for the sake of righteous spirit, please forgive Young Master Huang Bo."
"Sure, take him. Lady Zhuge and I share a deep bond, so I have no intention of troubling her associates further."
"Thank you for your generosity. Move Young Master Huang Bo."
Two warriors hauled Huang Whatever away. Once he was out of sight, the Leader invited me to eat.
"The Zhuge Clan is a pillar of the Righteous Alliance. If you're friends with Lady Zhuge, we're in the same boat. Eat comfortably."
"Yes, that was the plan."
I holstered the pistol and sat back down. The Leader retreated too, starting his meal with his group. That was enough for now.
One, I'd bragged about formations and mechanisms during the spat with Huang Whatever.
Two, flashed a sleek, anachronistic hidden weapon: the pistol.
Three, from here on: geek out with Woo Chae-rin on engineering to flex more.
The main stage was the Heavenly Demon Mausoleum. Per genre rules, it'd be a trap-filled deathtrap. That's why they'd want Woo Chae-rin along.
But then, a guy shows up at the inn—already buddies with her—and pitches his skills?
If I were the Leader, I'd scout him on the spot.
"I apologize again for the disturbance. Young Master Huang Bo's affections ran deep, leading to his mistake. I'll reprimand him sternly. Here, fine liquor as compensation—"
"Your personal attention to such a trifle warms my heart, Leader. Your repeated apologies melt away any grudge. If it's alright, allow me to pour you a cup—"
"Whoa, can I have some too, President?"
"No way."
Just as planned.
The Righteous Alliance Leader offered to team up. Generous pay for helping explore the Heavenly Demon Mausoleum.
He boasted that brave righteous warriors would handle any evil sect or demonic cult threats—totally safe. That's when I nailed the story's goal.
"The 'Golden Key' in the mausoleum's depths. A key to salvation. We must claim that treasure."
Main quest confirmed: Heavenly Demon Mausoleum delve.
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The righteous, evil sects, and demonic cult all eyed the Heavenly Demon Mausoleum—and its hidden 'Golden Key' deep inside. They didn't specify its power. Just vague talk of erasing pain and salvation.
Great, hooked into the main story. But I needed combat power soon. Lingering mana-less raised risks and difficulty.
And conveniently... we had specialists who could bypass mana suppression right here.
"So, President, you're saying I use the transformation device to make mana stones...?"
"And I build a suit with an embedded mana engine, right?"
"Exactly. Don't worry about controls. I'll handle the math. Just focus on efficiency."
And voilà—temporary Suit Mk.1. I etched mana circuits into my robe's lining and slapped a mana engine on the back.
Vrrr—!
Engine hummed, mana surging through my body. Too rough for spells, but perfect for physical boosts. I could smash average foes easy.
One issue left.
Woo Chae-rin got righteous faction intel. Oh Hye-in handled evil sects. But demonic cult? Nada. What they wanted, who they were—we needed info.
Info brokers like the Hao Clan yielded zilch beyond "they appeared outta nowhere."
So, risky direct contact. They seemed too shady for pure villains. Plus, they might have our NPCs too.
"Evil sect informant said Shura Blood Ghost Rakshasa White Heavenly Demon's on the inn's top floor. Top demonic cult brass..."
"So Shura Blood Ghost, Rakshasa, and White Heavenly Demon are all staying up there?"
"No, one person. Shura Blood Ghost Rakshasa White Heavenly Demon."
"Nine-syllable alias?"
Piled-on titles screamed show-off. Flattery might loosen their tongue.
I bribed the inn staff and sent a fan letter with a meeting request. If no dice, I'd sneak in—but they accepted eagerly.
Top floor. A seductive woman's voice from beyond the paper screen.
"You wish an audience with me...? Intriguing. Word is you're tied to the Zhuge lady, traveling with evil sect rogues. Ignoring righteous-evil divides, now sniffing around the demonic cult?"
"Yes, exactly."
"You've piqued my interest too. Open the doors. I graciously grant you a glimpse of Shura Blood Ghost Rakshasa White Heavenly Demon."
Arrogant as hell.
Better than Huang Whatever, though. That guy needed bullets; this type spills if you play to their ego.
I licked my lips, revving up flattery mode, when attendants slid the screen open... revealing Shura Blood Ghost Rakshasa White Heavenly Demon.
She lounged half-naked, lazily puffing a long pipe with a drowsy expression... until our eyes met. She froze like she'd seen Medusa.
I froze too, hands rubbing eagerly for flattery takeoff.
"...Daddy?"
"...Aisha?"
Our daughter, left at the Magic Tower, had somehow climbed faster than me.