Two hours later, Yuta and Jia were gathering their final supplies before heading to the Market of Mysteries—a place Yuta had been waiting a very long time to visit.
"Wednesday, July 14, 675"—the scheduled opening time of the Market of Mysteries. The date itself made Yuta want to laugh; the timing was bizarre. It listed the day as Monday, July 15, even though the 13th was a Monday, meaning the 15th would actually be a Wednesday.
To him, it was absurd and nonsensical. He couldn't tell if the master of the Market of Mysteries was insane or simply trying to trick people into looking for contradictions in the schedule. If it was the latter, they had certainly succeeded. Yet, he didn't dwell on it; his own world was crazy enough as it was.
In the midst of such madness, something like this seemed almost normal. After all, even a madman views a sane person as crazy if they act in a way he finds strange.
They got into the car, having first ensured they left no trace of their presence—a precaution against anyone who might be tailing them. The risk of being robbed was high for students of the Forsalkin Academy; in fact, 45% of students living in areas far from the academy were killed or robbed by Demonic Path masters, mercenaries, or gang members. It was exactly what Director Soliver meant when he said the world outside the academy was unforgiving.
However, that wasn't the only reason for their caution. Ultimately, one never knew who might turn out to be an enemy; anything could happen over the coming five months.
As they headed toward the Market of Mysteries, Yuta glanced at Jia, who was gazing out the window, lost in thought. He touched her shoulder, triggering the same electric shock sensation they had experienced before.
Yuta was momentarily stunned, yet a faint smile played on his lips for some reason—a reaction shared by Jia. He had assumed those painful shocks had ceased two hours ago, but it seemed they were merely temporary.
She shot him an annoyed look, causing him to sigh in frustration. However, his expression turned serious as he gazed at her and spoke words whose true intent she couldn't quite grasp.
"Jia, I want to ask you something: do you know the reason you lost to Stefan Tilmore back in Yoher Spek City?"
Jia didn't say a word; she simply glared at him, still irked by that humiliating, one-sided defeat. She detested the taste of losing—especially to someone she hadn't managed to beat head-on, and to another whose fate remained a mystery, though observing Yuta convinced her he had died long ago.
She finally spoke in a calm yet slightly irritated tone, looking right at him: "Because I was incredibly weak—he was vastly stronger than me, and I couldn't use my trump card. Isn't that the reason? It doesn't require deep analysis; weakness was the real cause."
Yuta closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead impatiently; Jia's explanation struck him as both superficial and annoying. He fixed a cold, steady gaze on her for a few seconds, leaving her puzzled.
Without giving her a chance to speak, he turned to the left and said, "The power gap was only a secondary reason for your defeat, Jia. The real reason you lost was your arrogance." "You are acting incredibly foolishly."
"If you were acting maturely, you would have left the moment you sensed danger. Furthermore, had you taken proper care of your body, you could have utilized the 'Wing of Blessing' at that critical moment."
"If you weren't so stubborn about proving your worth, you would have called for help. Fighting a stronger opponent all by yourself is nothing but foolishness."
"Do you understand me, Jia? You need to evolve—not just in terms of raw power, but in your mindset and the way you live."
"A strong person who fails to develop themselves is merely hollow; it is like a house without a foundation. A true warrior builds a foundation through experience and maturity, learning from mistakes and using them as stepping stones to grow stronger and move forward, rather than treating them as events that simply come and go."
Yuta let out a deep sigh as he finished speaking, turning his gaze back to the road—navigating at such high speeds required his full attention.
He ignored Jia's stunned expression; she was too shocked to utter a single word in response, even though she knew his words were true.
She *had* felt an unsettling sensation—a feeling that something was wrong. She could have teleported away, but she didn't. She could have stalled for time and quietly called for backup before anyone spotted her.
Instead, she had chosen to accept the challenge head-on without waiting for her partner—a pattern of behavior she had also displayed on Jeju Island and in Yusebikers City. She wanted to prove she could handle everything alone, which is why she had distanced herself from everyone, even separating from Yuta.
Her training regimen had become brutally intense—so much so that she neglected to eat enough to replenish her energy, leaving her body dangerously weak. She had always believed she was strong—that she needed no one.
Yet, she realized she had been a fool; there were others far stronger than her—vastly so, even in terms of raw power—such as Wing, Baraka, Beatrice, Tom, Gowther, Yuta, and Seok. She had suffered a humiliating defeat in her very first battle.
Winning a battle isn't the only thing that matters; what truly counts is what one learns from the experience. That was a question she hadn't considered: *How have I grown? What level am I truly at?*
A weary sigh escaped her lips as she gazed out the window, then turned her eyes toward Yuta, who was skillfully driving the car.
She spoke with a hint of surprise, having noticed a wound on his neck—a mark that looked eerily familiar to her. "Strange... how did you get injured on your neck? Is there someone stronger than you, Mr. Yuta Casiral?" Jia's tone held a subtle note of mockery, prompting Yuta to shoot her a look that suggested he wanted to throw her right out of the moving vehicle.
He spoke with a mocking tone, slowing the car as a herd of deer crossed the road. "It's not a matter of strength, but of intelligence; some fools think they are the only ones responsible for the consequences of their actions."
Jia looked at him in bewilderment for a few seconds, sensing—especially from the way he was looking at her—that he was referring to her. He continued speaking immediately:
"You know that I was an experiment conducted by the Scorpion Organization, but you don't know that my body and soul were split into two equal halves. I am designated as Experiment No. 000002546 from Group D."
"As for the other half... it is still being monitored by the Black Scorpion, and
"White—who was responsible for the Scorpion Organization's attack on Jijwa Island—and the 'Crimson Scorpion'—who was watching us that day—wanted to check on the status of their experiment, Subject 000002546 from the 'D' series."
Jia narrowed her eyes as she listened to Yuta. His words were strange, and his decision to tell her this was even stranger. After all, he was the very tool that could make the Scorpion Organization—the most dangerous group in the fictional world—even more powerful than it already was.
Killing him or handing him over to the Empire would have been the best choice; after all, the Empire's credibility far outweighed Yuta's—his reputation was notoriously bad.
Jia spoke as she rolled up the car window, sensing they were about to arrive. "From what I heard you say, your 'other half' studies at the Versalkin Academy, yet she is unknown to the Academy."
"Even so, why didn't you bring her along? And why me? Wouldn't it be better to protect your other half? After all, you share the damage she takes—if she dies, you die too. I imagine she's a beautiful girl, just like you... and a vile, filthy, wretched piece of scum, just like you."
Yuta stared at her with an unreadable expression—was he laughing? Was he stunned? Or did he simply feel the situation turning bizarre?
He pulled the car over in a vast, empty space—an open area the size of three medium-sized soccer fields—leaving her puzzled.
Yuta spoke, snapping her out of her reverie: "When the time comes, you'll find out whether I invited her or not. That said, I hope you stick to your opinion that my other half is a vile, filthy, wretched piece of scum. It'll be a funny situation for me when you finally find out who my other half actually is." "Hahahaha..."
He stepped out of the car confidently and headed toward an empty open space. Jia followed him; although she didn't understand why they had stopped there, she felt a sense that they had truly arrived.
Yuta stopped twenty-four paces from where the car was parked. With a faint smile, he looked at her and said, "I forgot to tell you—we'll likely be staying for just one day. Sorry, my cute, mischievous Jia."
Jia looked annoyed at being called "cute and mischievous." On top of that, this was the second time he had lied to her since the holiday began; she had already heard two lies. Furthermore, there was no denying that he had things to attend to before the summer festival started.
She nodded in agreement; after all, she wanted to leave the Market of Mysteries as soon as possible, and two days felt like an eternity to her. Yet, she was also curious about what he wanted from this market and what its true nature was.
What shocked her even more was seeing Yuta knock on thin air—yet she heard a strange sound, like someone shattering reality with a clenched fist.
A rectangular fissure, resembling an opening gateway, appeared. Through it, an eye stared coldly at them, and a low voice spoke: "The password to enter the Market of Mysteries, sir?"
A faint smile played on Yuta's lips, while Jia looked bewildered. Yuta leaned close to the opening and whispered, "The password is <>."
He pulled back, and the fissure closed. Jia stared at him in confusion, having heard nothing. Yuta took a step forward, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye for a few seconds...
...before it opened. A door-shaped fissure appeared in space, revealing a void of pure whiteness behind it—a sight that only deepened Jia's bewilderment. Yuta tapped it so rapidly that no spark was produced, yet Jia felt a faint twinge of pain in her head.
As they stepped through—the door sealing shut instantly behind them without leaving a trace—Yuta spoke: "This is the Market of Mysteries. Everything here is mysterious, and so it shall remain. It has a password known to no one—past, present, or future. There are things in this world that are mysterious and will stay that way forever... Hahahaha! As the saying goes, some doors must always remain closed."
Jia made no comment on Yuta's words; she had grasped why it was called the Market of Mysteries. Everything about the place—from the manner of entry to its very nature—was shrouded in enigma.
As Yuta and Jia wandered through the market, they found it eerily silent and filled with a colorless mist—or rather, a mist of a hue she couldn't quite comprehend. Despite this, she pressed on.
They soon encountered a man dressed in noble attire—a blend of black and dark gray—wearing a light brown hat. He was accompanied by two young women clad in dresses of a greenish-gray shade.
He regarded them with a smile so subtle it initially made Jia sense danger; however, Yuta's calm, satisfied expression reassured her that there was no threat.
The man spoke in a composed, aristocratic tone: "How do you fare, Lord Emperor and Lord of the Path—the Revered Ruler of the Great Creation, Yuto? It is a pleasure to welcome you to my humble realm."
The Market Master's words were exceedingly courteous, yet Jia's gaze upon hearing them... The atmosphere was heavy with an air of nobility.
The fact that Yuta's true name was Yuto—and that he was a Ruler, a master of the Ruler's Path—made her doubt herself; she had heard of him through the "Solterk Pheromone" rumors. Yet, he hadn't spoken to her directly; did he view her as a mere subordinate? She remained silent, sensing that bringing up such a topic might be even more humiliating than his silence toward her.
She turned her attention back to the head of the Mystery Market, who was regarding Yuta with an inscrutable gaze. Yuta broke the silence, mirroring the market head's own manner of speaking: "I am well, Master Stefan Telmore. And Lady Chloe Telmore and Madeleine Telmore—you both look as lovely as ever. I wish you enduring beauty."
A look of slight, bashful embarrassment crossed their faces. They turned toward Jia with gentle smiles and led her off to tour the Mystery Market, leaving Yuta and Stefan Telmore standing there, looking at one another.
After a few seconds, Stefan Telmore spoke in a calm tone as he walked away, with Yuta following close behind: "What could the Great Creator Yuto—the Emperor—possibly want from me? A surprise indeed."
Yuta continued to regard him with an enigmatic look for a few moments before speaking in a cold tone, a silvery glow shimmering in his eyes: "Master Stefan Telmore, I know you are aware that I am extremely weak—operating at only 3% of my power. Nevertheless, I require a few things. They would be simple matters for a distinguished figure like the Great Story Merchant, Stefan Telmore—wouldn't you agree?"
Stefan Telmore said nothing, feigning deafness to the revelation that Yuta was using only 3% of his power; after all, there were monsters standing behind him, and To him, killing him would have been nothing short of madness.
He stood before a pitch-black door—towering at the height of two grown men—and entered immediately without a word; Yuta followed right behind him.
He sat at his desk, and Yuta took a nearby chair. He conjured some coffee out of thin air—literally, not metaphorically—and handed a cup to Yuta while keeping one for himself. Yuta accepted it immediately, saying nothing more.
Stefan Tilmore gazed at him for a few moments while sipping his tea, then spoke with a hint of cheerfulness: "Congratulations, Honorable Great Creator Yuto—to both you and her. May it flourish right before your eyes."
Yuta remained silent for a few seconds, placing his teacup back on its saucer with a faint smile. He spoke calmly, looking up at the ceiling: "Thank you, Honorable Great Story-Merchant Stefan Tilmore. However, it is still a bit early for such matters—hahahahaha."
"That said, it is work time, so it is best to set family matters aside. Besides, I am not here just to buy; I am here to sell something wonderful to you, Honorable Great Story-Merchant Stefan Tilmore."
A look of curiosity appeared on the face of the Honorable Great Story-Merchant as he regarded Yuta, who wore a faint smile—one that held a touch of mischief and an ambiguous intent, neither clearly good nor bad.
Yuta produced three books, leaving the Honorable Great Story-Merchant somewhat puzzled as he looked at the smiling Yuta.
He read the titles aloud in a tone of bewilderment: "*Lord of Mysteries*, *Shadow Slaves*, and *Reverend Insanity*... Are you joking?" "I haven't read these novels yet. If this is a gift—since I'm a reader who hasn't gotten around to them—then thank you. But if you intend to sell them, then no; I must decline."
Yuta finished his tea in silence, knowing that the Great Story Merchant, the Honorable Stefan Tilmore, understood he had no intention of selling them.
Tilmore spoke in a calm tone, hinting at an unspoken request: "No, it is simply a gift for a fellow story lover and merchant. I love stories myself—I love knowing their plots. Isn't it wonderful for one reader to talk to another?"
The Great Story Merchant, Stefan Tilmore, placed the three novels into his desk drawer and spoke casually while looking at Yuta: "Wouldn't it be amazing to step inside one of these three novels? You seem to have read them cover to cover and know every detail..."
Yuta looked at him for a few seconds before speaking calmly: "Stop your rosy daydreaming. You know you cannot deviate from the path set by the Ruler. How could you possibly enter a story like *I Am Inside My Novel* or the even greater *I Am the Great Outcast*?"
The Great Story Merchant, Stefan Tilmore, looked on in astonishment for a moment before calmly changing the subject: "What do you wish to request or sell, Great Creator Yuto?"
Yuta pondered his needs for a few seconds. Although he had originally planned what to buy, his actual requirements shifted as events unfolded; he had intended to purchase the 'Gu of Origin' and the 'Heaven-Stealing Gu'—extinct Gu—but he had already acquired them after killing Edward Brezik on Jeju Island and stealing his leveling-up system.
"I need an Awakening Gem, an Evolution Gem, and..." "The Sword of Aclopis and the Fruit of Nefaritas from the Challenge World; four doses of Narrative Chaos from the River of Narrative Chaos; a Narrative Time Training Scroll; and an Origin Dao Training Scroll."
"As for what I'm selling: there are 34 billion souls from various Narrative Ranks—ranging from main and supporting characters to extras. The point is, they are incredibly powerful. There are also 44 Level-Up Systems—items that won't serve my plans. What do you think, Esteemed Great Story Merchant Stefan Tilmore? Does this trade appeal to you?"
Esteemed Great Story Merchant Stefan Tilmore didn't say a word; he simply stared at Yuta for several seconds. The items Yuta requested were difficult to obtain—training scrolls for the Origin Dao and Narrative Time paths were nearly impossible to acquire easily.
He let out a deep sigh. Incurring the enmity of the 'Path Ruler' Yuta wasn't a wise move, yet selling those specific items wasn't ideal either. After all, obtaining the souls of novel protagonists was an incredibly difficult feat.
Due to plot armor, narrative convenience, and occasional authorial contrivance, acquiring such souls was usually impossible until the story's end. By then, the protagonist would be immensely powerful—virtually undefeatable according to the laws of their own world's plot, which they were bound to follow.
[Author's Note:
Mentioning the novels *3 Mysteries*, *Shadow Slaves*, and *Reverend Insanity* is not intended as an insult. The reason for Yuta's response will become clear as future events unfold. I hope you enjoy the read.]