The masquerade party took place at a Paris castle constructed by a wealthy magnate. I positioned myself on a hill overlooking the castle. If possible, I hoped everything would proceed according to the original storyline.

5 P.M.

The sun had yet to set, but the party was already underway. Luxurious cars arrived, and people in flamboyant dresses and masks entered. I checked Kim Suho and Yoo Yeonha’s location by hacking their smartwatches.

5:30 P.M.

Two people exited a limousine. Yun Seung-Ah and Jain wore masks resembling a fox and a tiger. They followed the chauffeur into the castle.

Finally, Kim Suho and Yoo Yeonha arrived. The formal wear accentuated their perfect figures, and they stood out even with their faces hidden.

“Hmm.”

I couldn’t help but feel that my face was too bare. I should also wear a mask if I needed to interfere and conceal my identity.

Although I didn’t prepare a mask, I could just use aether to form one since it could transform into any equipment.

I thought about a design and recalled the movie Black Panther. Although it resembled more of a helmet, I transformed aether into it and put it on. Then it adjusted itself to fit around my head snugly.

6 P.M.

The air became chilly as the sun set. The castle looked even more beautiful under the glow of the setting sun. I carefully observed the interior. I could see and hear everything as if I was inside. This came from the synergy between [Thousand-Mile Eyes] and [Observation and Reading].

— I don’t know how to dance.

— So what, you’re going to just stand there after coming all this way?

— Well, I guess I’m a quick learner.

Kim Suho followed Yoo Yeonha’s lead as they danced to a classical piece. Meanwhile, I discovered a strange movement of magic power on the other side of the castle from a magic portal.

“I knew it wouldn’t be so easy.”

Only djinns could make artificial portals. They had to be beloved by their contracted devil to have enough magic power for a magic portal. An alert popped up on my laptop.

[Homer’s Ring – Mythical grade artifact. It didn’t make sense that only a few people would aim for it just because it hadn’t fully awakened.]

[Modified setting – The djinn group, Evil Society, will interfere in the story.]

The situation became complicated. I looked for Jain and spotted her infiltrating the underground vault. She had already taken out the security guards.

— Let’s see…

Jain’s gift made iris scanners, fingerprint scanners, and password locks all useless. She easily opened the vault and stole a blue diamond and a ring. Then she placed them into her magic pouch and returned to the masquerade party.

So far, everything happened according to the original story. The only difference was Evil Society. It would all be over if Jain safely escaped. However…

— Yoren, where are you going?

Yun Seung-Ah appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Jain’s arm. Jain momentarily flinched, but quickly pretended to be Yoren.

— I went to the bathroom.

— I have something to discuss with you. Follow me.

Yun Seung-Ah grabbed Jain’s wrist. The exit was right in front of her, but Jain obediently followed.

***

“Um, vice-leader?”

Jain followed her to an empty room on the second floor. The worn room only had a single bed and some dimly lit lanterns. Clearly, the place harbored secret love affairs.

“W-Why here?”

“You know why.”

Acting coquettishly, Yun Seung-Ah pushed him onto the bed. While Yoren stared at her, she closed the door and pulled her hair up in a ponytail. The real Yoren would have been thrilled.

“I, um…”

Yun Seung-Ah mounted Jain in a somewhat lewd position. Then she slowly took off Jain’s mask and lowered her face to his.

“Yoren…”

Yun Seung-Ah’s breath caressed Jain’s face, but Jain felt the slight killing intent.

“You won’t trick me a second time.”

Yun Seung-Ah shoved her hand under the bedsheet.

Shiiing—

A well-sharpened sword glistened in the dim light. Jain quickly pushed Yun Seung-Ah off.

“Vice-leader, what are you—”

Yun Seung-Ah’s sword struck before she could finish. Jain used an emergency dagger to block the attack. The weight and size of the weapons vastly differed, but the density of magic power enveloping them was equal.

BOOM!

The surroundings shook from the fierce collision.

“You’re making a mistake, vice-leader… Uk!”

Yun Seung-Ah lunged towards Jain with a kick as Jain continued to feign ignorance. She pounced after Jain like a ferocious beast once the kick sent Jain flying. Although Jain bought some time running around, Yun Seung-Ah was more tenacious and nimble.

“Ak!”

Eventually, Yun Seung-Ah stood over Jain and prepared to strike when a whip suddenly flew in and restrained her sword.

“A lover’s quarrel shouldn’t be so noisy.”

Yun Seung-Ah and Jain turned in the direction of the elegant voice. A girl wearing a cat mask had entered before they noticed. It was Yoo Yeonha.

“I am a hero cadet from Cube.”

She went upstairs to find a bathroom, but heard metal clashing. She would have normally ignored it, but she grew tired of Kim Suho’s clumsy dancing and wanted to improve her image as a Korean cadet in a foreign country.

“I’ll make sure there’s no bloodshed if you put your weapon down.”

Yoo Yeonha added strength to her whip as she leisurely spoke. Her whip snatched onto Yun Seung-Ah’s sword, but Yun Seung-Ah ignited her magic power and scorched Yoo Yeonha’s whip into cinders.

“… Oh.”

Yoo Yeonha took a few steps back in shock.

“Uh…”

I, I got too cocky just because I was in France. I should have known that Korea isn’t the only country with powerful individuals.

Yoo Yeonha felt her lips dry. She hoped the woman’s sinister sword qi wouldn’t aim for her and quickly bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

“I will be on my way now. Please do continue what you were doing.”

Yoo Yeonha stealthily backed away before making a run for it.

“DIE!”

The fight continued. Yun Seung-Ah’s sword repeatedly struck down. Lightning crackled, and flames ignited each time. The roaring attracted everyone’s attention, and security guards rushed to the room.

“Don’t just watch! Help! Uwaak!”

Jain tried her best to withstand Yun Seung-Ah’s demon-like attacks with her short dagger. However, she felt more cornered as time passed. Finally, Jain became desperate enough to ask the spectators for help. However, the security guards could never dream of interfering in such a fierce battle.

“Uk!”

Finally, Jain’s dagger broke in half. As Yun Seung-Ah prepared her final strike, someone stole a security guard’s sword.

A single streak of light shot through the air and cut between Jain and Yun Seung-Ah. Kim Suho blocked Yun Seung-Ah’s flame sword with a mere security guard’s sword.

“Who are you? Back off before I cut you down.”

Kim Suho didn’t budge at Yun Seung-Ah’s warning. He wanted to become a hero to protect others. Her threat couldn’t shake his conviction so easily.

“I refuse.”

“… Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

They couldn’t recognize each other because of the masks.

“I don’t know why you want to kill him, but…”

“Move!”

“Uuk!”

The current Yun Seung-Ah didn’t know mercy. She kicked Kim Suho’s solar plexus without hesitation as he fell to one knee.

“Ah, hey! You stop right there!”

Thanks to Kim Suho, Jain found an opening and jumped out the window.

“See you later, crazy bitch… Eh?”

However, her attempt failed. From beneath the window, a thick darkness rose and swallowed her. Then it spat her back into the room.

“…”

The furious Yun Seung-Ah, the injured Kim Suho, and Yoo Yeonha all held their breath as the figure of a man emerged from the darkness.

***

“Damn it.”

Chae Nayun compared her surroundings to the map on her smartwatch. After every few steps, she stopped to check her watch before continuing. Eventually, she saw a familiar sign.

[Goût Céleste]

“What!? This is where I ate lunch!”

She raged after arriving in the same place.

“I can’t believe this.”

She fumed at her smartwatch. The problem lay with the map if a user got lost after referring to it.

“What company made this! Damn it…”

She flipped over her smartwatch and saw the word Daehyun on the back. It was her father’s company.

“…”

Chae Nayun called Yoo Yeonha once again.

“Why isn’t she picking up!”

***

“So this is the item containing ancient wisdom…”

The djinn who appeared from the darkness held up a ring that faintly glowed red from the setting sun. It was the ring Jain had placed in her magic pouch.

“When did you take… Ak!”

Jain muttered despondently after checking her magic pouch. Yun Seung-Ah ran up to her and grabbed her by her hair before pointing her sword at the djinn.

“Put that down.”

“Haha.”

The djinn smiled magnanimously. Yun Seung-Ah grew slightly nervous at its inhuman appearance with reddish-black skin and red eyes. A djinn strayed further from human appearance the more a devil consumed it. From his appearance, Yun Seung-Ah could estimate his strength.

“This item isn’t something that suits humans like you.”

A few days ago, Evil Society confirmed the item’s location and potential through an informant. Homer’s Ring was a cradle of wisdom that amplified all abilities involving magic power. They didn’t expect someone else to steal it, but all was well since it ended up in their hands.

“Now then.”

When the djinn was about to put away the ring in satisfaction…

Whish—

A streak of light broke through the window and snatched it away.

“W-What!?”

The djinn screamed and turned to where the ring flew. He caught sight of someone on a faraway hill holding onto a wire-like object. Kim Hajin smiled from behind his beast-like mask.