My summer break consisted of hellish training. I decided to invest in equipment, but that didn’t mean I gave up on my body. I formed a workout routine from posts on Hero Community, and put my perseverance stat to use.

A week quickly went by. My physical growth felt stunted, but aether finished awakening.

[Aether - Awakened] [Mystic – Formless] [Evolving] A corporeal, yet formless weapon. Will adhere to and strengthen its master or a weapon. A mystical elemental’s power has awakened a portion of its potential.

Master Selection: Will not adhere to another being once its master is chosen. — Physical Body Reinforcement: Will increase all variable stats by 0.7 points. — Weapon Reinforcement: Will adhere to its master’s weapon and strengthen the attack power. Aether itself can form a weapon. (Current weapon-form aether rank – high rank) — Detail Materialization: Aether can manifest various colors and textures (cannot be too complex). — Evolving Weapon: All of the above functions will evolve along with its owner. Other functions may develop depending on the state of aether’s awakening.

To summarize, my variable stat boost increased from 0.6 to 0.7, and it awakened a new function called detail materialization.

I liked this new function because aether could only appear as white or blue. Its weapon form was too noticeable, but detail materialization would now fix that.

An ordinary knife, hammer, or gun? It couldn’t be too complex, so maybe a gun wouldn't work.

“Would it?”

It didn’t hurt to try. I thought about forming a gun as aether squirmed around. Something went wrong and it ended up looking like a croissant.

“So it doesn’t work.”

Next, I easily formed a knife with aether. It had a 35 cm blade with a black plastic handle. I grabbed it and felt its texture. It felt no different from an ordinary knife. The keyword here was ordinary.

“Evandel, Uncle is heading out for a bit.”

“Un.”

“I’ll bring back yummy food, so don’t play with that for too long. If you get sleepy, just sleep.”

Evandel molded her magic power around like clay. Her instinct as a witch told her to make ghosts. I felt glad that she played well by herself.

“Un.”

“Make cute animals, okay?”

Please don’t make humans.

“I know, I know.”

Evandel covered her ears and shook her head. She didn’t want me bothering her. It felt like she already started resembling Rachel. I stroked her head and left.

Cube felt empty because of summer break. Only a few rooms had their lights on. I enjoyed the scenery and entered a nearby forest. I stopped and held my aether knife in the middle of the forest. Then I quietly murmured.

“Scan.”

The number 31 flashed on the blade before disappearing. It didn’t look any different, but aether’s output should be 31% stronger.

“…”

I stared at a large boulder about 200 meters away.

“Huup!”

I threw the knife at it. The streak of light went through without stopping and split the boulder in half. The knife continued flying until it returned to my hand at a thought.

“Oho.”

Detail materialization enhanced aether’s power to a considerable extent.

“Not bad.”

The extraordinary appearance of weapon artifacts always befitted their power. However, the weapon in my hand was different. It looked like an ordinary knife even though it could penetrate a boulder. I didn’t know if it could break a qi reinforcement, but an ordinary appearance induced carelessness that could lead to a lethal blow.

***

The traveling club gathered under the blazing sun at noon. We planned to meet at the Seoul portal station. Chae Nayun, Kim Suho, and Yoo Yeonha had already arrived.

“God, it’s so hot. When are they coming?”

Chae Nayun grumbled as she fanned herself with her hand. Yoo Yeonha muttered from next to her.

“Who told you to wear the cadet uniform?”

“…”

Chae Nayun wore her cadet uniform instead of a 3 million jacket with temperature control because she thought Kim Suho would do the same. Instead, Kim Suho wore a white shirt with black slacks. It suited him so well she couldn’t even get angry.

“Oh look, here comes another cadet uniform.”

Yoo Yeonha pointed into the distance. Chae Nayun turned and spotted Kim Hajin. He also wore a cadet uniform with a black jacket on top.

“How is he not burning in that thing?”

Kim Hajin felt great contrary to what Chae Nayun thought. He wore the cloth armor from Rachel, which contained temperature control. Kim Hajin walked up to them.

“Hey, Hajin.”

Kim Suho waved at him.

“Yeah.”

Kim Hajin nodded. Chae Nayun smirked as she looked between them. They acted so awkwardly. Suddenly, Oh Hanhyun yelled and clapped.

“Now that Hajin is here, let’s go!”

***

We arrived in London after checking in our passports at the station. The scenery looked crowded, yet beautiful.

“As you all know, we will be going to Clancy Islet today.”

Clancy Islet served as a gathering place for the European upper class. It was well known for gambling, shopping, fine dining, and entertainment like America’s Las Vegas.

“Hmm, good, very good.”

Chae Nayun sounded excited as she clenched her fists.

“We have free time, right?”

“Yes, until 7:00 P.M. There’s a big event at Clancy Islet tonight. They happily said yes when I contacted them.”

Like Oh Hanhyun said, a big event would occur tonight. It would draw all sorts of unwanted flies. No, they were too strong to be called flies. Perhaps they should be called beasts.

“Alright, let’s go.”

We walked along the Thames River for about 10 minutes and spotted an island floating in the sky. It looked about 4 square kilometers in size and floated around 700 meters in the air.

Clancy Islet, the floating island, had been created with the English government’s buoyancy stone. This island generated close to 30% of England’s tourism revenue.

“Wow, it’s been so long. I must have been 11 when I last visited.”

Chae Nayun looked nostalgic, but her face quickly darkened. Her older brother must’ve been with her last time.

“It’s my first time here. Are you going to guide us?”

Kim Suho asked. Chae Nayun cheered up and replied, “Of course!”

Everyone continued chattering as I listened half-heartedly.

“Hajin, have you been here before?”

Kim Suho suddenly asked me.

“No.”

“Oh, then the two of us are newbies.”

“I guess we are.”

We arrived at Clancy Islet’s entrance as I chatted with Kim Suho. A portal on the Thames River led to the island and stricter security surrounded it.

“Here’s my cadet ID and an invitation from Jamie Kim.”

Oh Hanhyun approached one of the guards in front of the entrance.

“Wait here.”

The guard left to confirm the invitation letters and quickly returned to let us in. Of course, we went through baggage inspection and a body scanner to make sure we didn’t carry any weapons.

“How strict.”

Clancy Islet offered everything in regards to money: casinos, dueling arenas, auction houses, academic seminars, lectures, corporate keynotes, etc. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say Clancy Islet was why England remained the second most powerful country in Europe.

“We can go to the casino, right?”

Chae Nayun asked because she couldn’t wait.

“Yes, Cube cadets are treated like adults here.”

Being a Cube cadet allowed minors to do things they normally couldn’t. Furthermore, the country would take responsibility if a problem arose. Of course, that didn’t mean we could commit crimes.

“Nice!”

Chae Nayun clenched her fists. However, her excitement would disappear in just three hours. She brought 300 million won today, which was half the amount she had saved up from allowances. She should’ve budgeted 15% for gambling and the rest for shopping, but she would blow it all. Even as the original author, I couldn’t fathom whether it was more absurd to have 300 million won in allowances or to lose it all in three hours.

“Huu.”

I tried to stay calm, but I also felt nervous. Casinos were like gold mines to me. I didn’t plan on going overboard, but I didn’t intend on leaving empty-handed either. I planned to make as much as I could before tonight’s incident.

“Let’s go in.”

We walked into the portal.

The scenery changed in the blink of an eye.

A giant fountain, a flamboyant casino hotel, an auction house, a fancy restaurant, and fleeting clouds. It looked like paradise on earth.

“Casino! Who wants to go to the casino!”

Chae Nayun shouted excitedly. Yoo Yeonha and Kim Suho tagged along with no other choice. I also planned on going to the casino, but I didn’t follow them.

“Hajin, where are you gonna go? Kim Suho asked me.

“I’m tired, so I’ll rest in my hotel room and grab lunch after.”

***

I headed straight to the casino after I dropped off my bag. My first time at a casino felt more amazing than I imagined.

“Ooh.”

The sound of spinning slot machines resounded in a large area without mirrors or clocks. Various languages went back and forth.

What should I do? The slot machine? Or one of the tables? Ah, I have to get some chips first.

First, I headed to the currency exchange with 10 million won in cash.

“Can I see your ID?”

The cashier spoke in fluent Korean with a bright smile. I gave her my cadet ID and she converted my money into chips without batting an eye. I casually asked her.

“How long have you been working here?”

The cashier, or rather Jain disguised as the cashier, replied with a smile.

“It’s been six years.”

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes.”

I took my chips and left.

***

Do I go for a slot machine jackpot? Or do I empty a dealer?

“Ah, so close!”

Chae Nayun’s voice rang out as I contemplated.

“You lost by an inch.”

Chae Nayun sat at a seven-card stud table. The casino had many different poker tables, but only three of the seven-card stud variant. She only knew how to play seven-card stud.

“Man, I almost had it…”

“You were close, haha.”

The man next to her comforted her.

Close my ass. Anyone could spot a pushover like Chae Nayun. All four people at the table with her worked together to scam her. She lost 10 million won from the last pot and stood up.

“I’m leaving.”

“Haha, see ya. I feel bad taking money from a kid. Here, I’ll give you 25% back.”

The leader of the four provoked her. Bert, the scammer, was a tall Caucasian man who rarely lost in my novel.

“What? It’s only pocket change. I can make it back whenever I want.”

Chae Nayun sat back down as her competitive spirit burned. Bert bared his teeth and handed a stack of chips to Chae Nayun.

“Come on, don’t be like that. Here, just take this and go. I’m just being nice, young lady.”

“Screw that, let’s go again.”

Chae Nayun fell into their trap just like that. She won the next two pots and earned 3 million won, then lost 8 million on the third. She earned 2 million on the fourth, then lost 20 million on the fifth and sixth.

“Ah, so close.”

Bert lost on purpose on the eighth. Chae Nayun laughed, not knowing he only pretended.

“Please, I was obviously going to win that one,” Chae Nayun overconfidently replied.

“Maybe?”

Bert was a scammer, but he didn’t cheat. Casino cards were specially made artifacts that no hero could see through (except for me) or tamper with.

Bert only read the faint changes in Chae Nayun’s expressions to read her hands. She didn’t stand a chance since players held more cards in seven-card stud.

“Sigh. I fold.”

The rounds continued until the eleventh. Chae Nayun folded with two pairs. Bert had one pair, and his teammate held a high queen.

“I fold too.”

However, Bert folded to provoke Chae Nayun. Then he asked his teammate with a crafty smile.

“Hey, can I see your hand? I’m curious what you had.”

“Haha, it wasn’t my pot to win.”

Chae Nayun’s face turned red when his teammate revealed a high queen.

“Aw, come on!”

No one could stop Chae Nayun now. She would lose all her money in two hours and hole up in her hotel room crying. Of course, I didn’t care about Chae Nayun’s grievances. However, I was interested in Bert the scammer. I slowly approached their table and tapped on her shoulder.

“Hey, stand up. I’ll play.”

“W-What, when did you get here?”

The scammers’ faces stiffened when I tried to replace Chae Nayun. They quickly acted.

“Ah, I got a phone call. I’ll stop here.”

One member stood up and pretended to pick up a call. Bert spoke with a smile.

“Looks like there’s an open seat.”

“Can I join?”

I sat down, pretending not to know what he was doing. Bert welcomed me with a big smile.

“Of course.”

“Hey, are you sure you have the money? The minimum bet is 100,000 won,” Chae Nayun worriedly asked me.

“I’m fine, just play.”

The game resumed as the dealer dealt us three cards each. Everyone checked their hands and picked one to reveal.

“Hmm?”

However, I left my cards exactly where the dealer placed them. I didn’t bother checking them at all.

“Hey, aren’t you going to look at your hand?”

One of Bert’s team members asked. I smiled and nodded at the bald man with an intimidating face.

“No, I’m not.”

I could see what was on them without flipping them over. Two queens of hearts and a three of spades.

“You know the rules, kid?”

“What, you think I would be here if I didn’t?”

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. I sang as I flipped over the three of spades. Veins bulged on the man’s temples.

“What’s your problem?”

“What’s yours?”

“What?”

“Hey.”

Bert quickly cut in.

“Haha, can’t you see what he’s wearing? That’s a Cube cadet uniform. Let’s be respectful, yeah?”

Bert looked a bit stiff himself. Even the almighty Bert didn’t expect someone to not look at their hand.

Technique in gambling only went so far. Luck reigned as king.

***

“Reporting. Six djinns from Evil Society, three heroes from the association, and some random scammer. Oh, and there’s one person from the Vast Expanse. It looks like he’s here to sightsee.”

Jain reported her findings. All sorts of people flocked to this huge event. She only reported what she had confirmed, but more undoubtedly lurked in the shadows.

“Oh right, also Kim Hajin who Boss likes.”

Jain ended her report with Kim Hajin.

— Standby for now. Also, I do not like Kim Hajin.

“Really? I didn’t know.”

Jain ignored the latter part of Boss’ sentence.

“By the way, Kim Hajin saw my face. Do you think he noticed?”

— He needs to concentrate magic power into his eyes to see through your gift. There’s no reason he would use magic power while looking at an ordinary person.

“I guess so. I didn’t feel any magic power either.”