Chapter 39: 39 Assembling the Gang

“This is an urgent matter,” I called to the other two.

From the same rooftop where we had recently confronted each other for the mention of a Devil, the same group of people gathered: Kim Suho, Chae Nayun, and me. “There is a Devil here in Cube,” I told them, delivering the weighty news.

Their reactions varied.

Kim Suho glanced at me with suspicion. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but it was only natural for him to be suspicious given the gravity of my words. This was no time for jokes or pranks. Suho might be gullible, but he was far from stupid. My mention of a 'Devil' being here in Cube was as good as reopening the individual suspicions that one among us three might be the Devil.

Thankfully, Suho chose to hear me out first before taking any action.

Sorry, Suho… Still, I was determined to stick with my lie about my Akatrina origins.

I barely glanced at Nayun, and to my surprise, she was giving me a calmer reaction than I had expected.

“Tell me more about it,” she softly urged, fully aware of how serious the situation was.

“First,” I looked at Nayun and then turned to Suho, “you have to hear it from Suho…” I uttered. This was necessary to gain Nayun’s trust. I added to Suho, trying my best to convince him. "I apologize, Suho, but she needs to know about this. Tell her about Akatrina. This is a grave threat, and that is why we must join hands and stop doubting each other." How rich was that, coming from me? Heh. I let out a depreciative laugh at the thought.

“Sigh…” Suho let out a painful sigh, clearly reluctant to reveal his, and our, origins. “I am a Transmigrator. I come from a world called Akatrina. For some reason, after dying at the hands of the Devil Morax, I awakened in this world as Kim Suho…”

“I am the same…” I added, feeling the weight of my words. “That is how we know the term ‘Devil’ and how the two of us quickly came to an understanding during our last confrontation on this very rooftop.”

I watched Nayun closely, hoping that this admission would bridge the gap of mistrust among us. We had to work together to face this impending threat.

***

“Transmigrator?” Chae Nayun repeated, her brow furrowing slightly. The term was not so unfamiliar that she didn’t understand what Suho meant. Transmigrators were a recurring theme in novels—people who came from another world to live in this one. In essence, they were aliens. However, transmigrators were more than just that; they were souls who possessed the bodies of others. If Nayun looked at this more deeply, she realized that the Devils had a similar method.

A trace of disgust crept over her features as she considered this unsettling connection.

“Kim Hajin is the same… He is also not from here…” Suho continued, his voice steady.

Nayun’s eyes trembled at his words. Her gaze landed on Hyon, who was steadily retreating from her. Wise move, Nayun thought, because she might truly lash out at him in her anger. Her temper had a way of flaring up in tense situations.

“And why will I believe you?” she challenged, her voice firm. Doubt clung to her, but she was also aware of the weight of their revelations.

***

This was the most delicate part of my confession. I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes moving forward.

“It is because Hajin’s help is necessary to catch the Devil hiding here in Cube. Hajin has two gifts. Currently, he is hiding his first gift—it is Observation and Reading, and it has the power to see through the essence of things, people, and the world.”

“And how do you know that?” This time, it was Suho who asked, his voice tinged with anger. I could sense his irritation growing.

Of course, he would be angry. I had just forced him to reveal his origins, and while he complied, it was only because of the gravity of the threat we faced. If this Devil threat turned out to be a hoax, Suho’s trust in me would plummet. But he wasn’t the only one who would confess today.

“You see,” I said, maintaining eye contact with Nayun, my primary target in this conversation. “I know the future.”

And just like that, I confessed my lie.

“Second Gifts sound ridiculous, don’t they? The thing is… I have two, so it doesn’t really matter that Hajin also has two. My first gift—oh, I’m sure you will love it… Nayun…”

I theatrically raised both hands, presenting myself like a performer unveiling a grand act. I twisted the conversation to my advantage, concocting yet another lie on top of the existing ones.

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“My first Gift… is clairvoyance…” The inspiration came from my earlier exchange with Yoo Sihyuk. With this fabrication, I could finally weave my story seamlessly into this world. Convincing Hajin to help us find the Devil hiding in Cube would be much easier.

Now was not the time for them to learn my true nature, which is why I had to take this route.

A thought struck me about Story Points, simply known as SP. The more Hajin became significant to the story, the more SP he would gain. It was a reward system meant to motivate Hajin to move and develop the plot. I aimed to do the same. By increasing my own ‘significance’ in the story, I could build trust with my so-called comrades as we faced life-and-death situations.

I felt a flicker of optimism. Maybe one day I could say, “Hey, I actually lied about Akatrina and my clairvoyance. Let’s be friends!” But no, that was terrible. I needed to think of a better script, though it was along those lines. Seriously, though, what was happening? The changes were getting out of hand.

The Co-Author. I had no idea if he was responsible for the shifts occurring in this world. All I knew was that he didn’t seem intent on bringing about the end of the world. Recruiting Kim Hajin to our cause could only help. I was lost in my thoughts until Nayun’s voice pulled me back to the present.

“Prove it. Can you see the future? Clairvoyance? Bullshit! Tell me then… Tell me about the future!”

Chae Nayun provoked me, and I seized the opportunity. I could unleash devastating truths about her, revealing how Hajin would kill her brother in the future, how her desire for love would lead to pain, and all her suffering before her regression.

But I couldn’t do that. It would be playing dirty.

The thought crossed my mind, but I dismissed it.

My gaze landed on Suho. I decided to throw him under the bus. “He is boning for Yun Seung-Ah, someone about ten years older than him. He will become the team leader of the Creator’s Sacred Grace. He’ll be the kind of guy who prioritizes hoes before bros…” I confessed Suho’s future in one breath.

As a Regressor, Nayun knew this future all too well.

“S-stop that…” Nayun coughed awkwardly, pressing one hand on her stomach, trying to stifle a laugh. “You are s-scarring Suho, please stop… pfft…” She was on the verge of laughing hysterically, and it was only her sheer willpower keeping her composed.

The dreadful, tense atmosphere began to ease, except for Suho, who had gone pale at my revelation and likely at being targeted by me. I felt a twinge of guilt for violating him like that, but I also believed this was the best way to catch a Regressor off-guard. If I attacked Nayun’s psychological wounds, I would play the Devil both metaphorically and literally.

“I believe you,” Nayun declared. “So, clairvoyant… can you tell me more about Hajin?”

Now, it was Suho who looked confused. The roles had flipped—after their recent confrontation where I revealed I was from Akatrina, Nayun had been the confused one. Yet, despite the turmoil, I believed Suho would still join us in our quest to eliminate the Devil hiding within Cube. That was simply his character.

“What can I tell you about Hajin? Hmmm…” I pondered, feigning deep thought. “He is the Tragic Hero who, at his sacrifice, the world has forgotten him…” Of course, his tragedy wasn’t nearly as profound as Nayun’s.

“I guess that’s enough confirmation for me…” she replied softly.

I hoped my preparations were enough to assemble the whole gang made up of protagonists. Well, not that I was calling myself one.

***

At this point in time, Kim Hajin was having an easier life, unlike in the novel. By now, he should have been experiencing harsh bullying, thanks to Jonghak’s incitement, but a slight mishap back in the Noble Society had turned things around. Instead of becoming a target, he had become a celebrity figure, surrounded by positive buzz and rampant rumors.

Fame, it seemed, had its perks. With Hyon Hyung’s Video Featurette drawing attention to his accomplishments, Hajin found himself thrust into the spotlight. He had accumulated a wealth of Story Points (SP), and the possibilities for his future no longer felt bleak. He had transitioned from being an extra to a high-profile support character, with the respect and attention that came with it.

Honestly, he didn’t like the attention. It made him feel exposed, like a bug under a microscope. But what use was feeling shame if he could reap the benefits? He was learning to embrace his new reality, even if he preferred to stay in the shadows.

As he walked past a few mingling cadets and settled into his usual seat, his gaze landed on Rachel. The blonde princess of England, typically so vivacious, sat silently, seemingly lost in thought. It was unusual for her to ignore him, but he brushed it off as he tried to focus on the day ahead.

“Hey guys, the exam results are out for Phenomenon Realm Analysis!” Yi Yeonghan announced, striding in with an armful of large scrolls.

Cube maintained its traditional custom, posting the results of every exam publicly on large posters. Hajin turned his attention to the front of the room, where the latest results were displayed for all to see.

As expected, Hyon Hyung’s name stood out among the top scorers. Hajin felt a twinge of sympathy for his friend; it seemed that Hyon had somehow managed to get detention again. “It’s a miracle he hasn’t dropped out yet,” he mused, shaking his head.

His gaze shifted upward, where he spotted Nayun’s not-so-bad score—a pleasant surprise considering her usual lack of focus. Kim Suho and Yoo Yeonha had performed better than average as well.

But the real kicker was at the very top of the poster, where his own name proudly claimed the number one spot. Hajin felt a rush of conflicting emotions. Rank 1. Kim Hajin. It was a thrill and a burden all at once.

Right below him was Rachel Elizabeth Louise, sitting in the second spot.

~Snap!

The sound echoed through the air, drawing Hajin’s attention. He glanced back and saw two halves of a pen roll across the table. Next to them sat Rachel, staring at the exam results with wide eyes and a slack mouth, as though she couldn’t quite comprehend what she was seeing.

Was it really that shocking that someone had outperformed her? He couldn’t help but smirk at the thought. How would she react if she found out that he had managed to beat her score through some underhanded tactics?

When their eyes met again, this time Rachel didn’t look away. Her usual amiable demeanor had vanished, replaced by something much more intense. She was pouting, her jaw clenched, and for the first time, Hajin felt a flicker of fear. This was not the kind-hearted girl he was used to. If looks could kill, he had no doubt that he’d already be fleeing the scene.

Gulp…