Hajin P.o.v
Thankfully, everything else remained unchanged. Kim Suho paired up with Chae Nayun and Yi Yeonghan paired up with the club president. After drawing lots, the members gathered in front of the portal.
Portals were cutting-edge technology utilizing magic science and engineering. With a height and width of 15 and 30 meters respectively, over 100 of these giant gates could be found throughout Korea. Traveling from Seoul to Busan took less than 3 hours.
"Cadet Kim Hajin. Confirmed."
The portal operator handed us a seal that would resonate with the portal and teleport us to Seoul.
'Let's go.'
In the blink of an eye, the surroundings changed into an unfamiliar place. The Seoul portal station looked quite futuristic. With just 2 steps, I had crossed the East Sea.
"It's 12 P.M. right now. We'll meet back here at 6." The club president said.
We were the only ones around since our portal connected to Cube. However, the portal next door connecting Seoul to Busan should be much more crowded. After all, they were both global cities.
"You can go wherever you want as a pair using public transportation. We won't require you to write a report today, but make sure you're back by 6. You'll be penalized if you're late."
The club president warned as we left in pairs. Most of the pair has already left, leaving only my partner and me at the portal since we are not really acquainted.
"My name is Tatsuya Shiki. Nice to meet you."
"Oh, it's nice to meet you too. I'm Kim Hajin as you've already known."
"Should we go take a look around, or do you have any places in mind?"
"No no, let's go with your idea. I don't have anything planned."
"Ok then, follow me."
"Sure."
I manage to strike up a small talk. Technically, Shiki did. As we walked around the city of Seoul, he and I bought some local street food and got to know each other a bit better.
At one point, I saw him looking at his status window. Normally, one cannot see another status window, but with my [Observation and Reading], I can.
Now that I think about it, I haven't completely found out anything about him at all. The co-author said nothing about him, and it cost a whopping 20.000 SP just to get his info.
'This could be my chance to learn more about him, at least his stats.' I took a little peek at the blue screen to his left.
'It looks like there's another small screen on top of his [status window]. A message maybe?. Forget about it. I should focus on the important, his gift and stats.'
I looked closer while trying not to be suspicious. His stats were partially blocked by the other screen, but the rest of it was laid bare.
I couldn't even believe what I had witnessed back then.
'What is this? His other stats are above average among Cube, some are even high. But his Magic power is unknown? He even has a special stat. What is a magic circuit? Is it some sort of mana pool?'
His gifts and skills? I have never even heard of it, not to mention writing about it.
[Magus]? [Magecraft]? I couldn't even comprehend what I was seeing. But the one that surprised me the most was...
[Understanding of multi-verse]
'He came from another world? Did he also come from my world? This is crazy. I'm getting crazy.'
"Hello? Are you there?"
I snapped back to reality. He seems concerned about me.
"Oh no, I'm fine." I am not.
"I was just thinking about something."
"Really? You zoned out quite a bit there, so I was worried. Good to know you're okay."
"Yeah, I'm fine, really." I almost freaked out.
I didn't expect him to be this monstrous. Compared to me, not even a mid-intermediate rank hero is on his level.
"Hey Shiki, do you want to go to the museum? There are a few things I want to look at." I tried to change the subject.
"Sure, lead the way."
"Follow me."
.
.
.
After switching buses three times, we finally arrived at the National Weapons Museum. Replicas of weapons excavated in Korea were displayed in this museum.
Today, an incident would occur here. We walked in.
"Daddy, what's that?"
"Oh, that's the Four Tiger Sword…"
Perhaps because it was a weekend, the museum was bustling with parents and children who hoped to become heroes.
But no matter the size of a crowd, there were bound to be people who stood out. Chae Nayun and Kim Suho were such examples, but I could only see Chae Nayun for now.
"…I want it."
Smacking her lips, she was eyeing a bow in a glass display.
But my target today wasn't Chae Nayun. Looking around, I began to look for someone. It didn't take long. The main character's tall and handsome features easily stood out.
Approaching him furtively, I scanned the weapon Kim Suho was looking at. Thankfully, it was a weapon I knew.
"Is this the famous Seven-Branched Sword?"
Hm? Ah…"
Kim Suho turned towards me. However, he was at a loss for words. I had a good idea why.
"Kim Hajin."
"Ah, right. Sorry, I didn't expect to meet you here, so I forgot. You're here as well. Hello Shiki."
"Hey there, Suho."
With a kind smile, he pointed to another section of the museum.
"Apparently, Napoleon's rifle is also here. Have you seen it?"
"Napoleon's rifle?" I asked.
"Yep. It was a reward from a dungeon in France."
According to my world setting, any weapon used by a legendary figure could become an artifact. I did want a rare weapon, but I wasn't interested in replicas.
"No, I don't think I'll have time."
"Then…"
Right when Kim Suho was about to say something…
* BOOM! *
A thunderous sound reverberated. Everyone grew silent. Koong. Koong. Koong. A thud repeatedly pulsed throughout the deathly silence. A giant creature's footsteps began to make crushing sounds. The atmosphere took a quick turn.
"Kyaaaak!"
"What is that!?"
Visitors began to scream and run.
"Stay here! Don't go out!"
Knowing that it would be dangerous outside, Kim Suho shouted.
Currently, the outside of the museum was being attacked by an intermediate rank monster and its subordinates.
Just a single intermediate rank monster posed little threat. A Hero would arrive in less than a minute, and 20 minutes would be enough to take care of the entire situation.
But that wasn't the only problem.
Djinn.
There was a Djinn here. Simply put, it was a double-pronged attack. After coming to the scene, Heroes went to the most dangerous area. Since the museum had security guards, it was less dangerous, comparatively, putting it on a lower priority. Taking advantage of this fact, the Djinn Association dispatched an assassin to target a child considered by the Hero Association to have a special gift.
Clang--
A sharp sound resounded. It was the sound of glasses shattering. The source of the sound wasn't far away. Turning towards the direction of the sound, Kim Suho shouted.
"Chae Nayun!"
Chae Nayun had broken a display case and was taking out the bow inside.
"Are you crazy!?"
"No, I'm perfectly sane."
Though it was only a replica, it was still an item on display. The museum's siren rang and its defense mechanism activated. In just three seconds, all exits closed down. People panicked even more, but thankfully, even an intermediate rank monster couldn't break through the barriers blocking the exits.
"This is better than stopping people one by one and warning them."
She then cleared her throat and shouted at the panicking citizens.
"Everyone! Stay still! It's safer here! We're Heroes too!"
"Hey, you…"
"Shut it. Don't just stand there, grab a weapon, too."
"What? Why should I?"
"Because it's the outside, that's dangerous"
Looking at us… No, at Kim Suho, Chae Nayun created a magic arrow on her bow.
"Look there."
She pointed with her eyes. A man wearing a black coat was standing there. Before Kim Suho could say anything, Chae Nayun fired her bow without a shred of hesitation.
"Hey, don't--"
Her magic arrow pierced the man's throat. Immediately, Kim Suho froze. He seemed dazed by Chae Nayun's sudden murder.
Any ordinary person would have died from her arrow. However, the man grabbed the arrow sticking out of his neck and pulled it out. Black magic power then rose up from his hand, burning the arrow to ash.
Tap, tap.
The man then turned around, facing the direction the arrow came from. His eyes burned red, as fierce hostility shot out of him.
"…"
Without a doubt, he was a Djinn.
Kim Suho's face paled. Just like Chae Nayun, he shattered a display case.
He took out the Seven-Branched Sword. Though it was a replica, its faithful reconstruction made it similar to a high-grade weapon. It should be strong enough to destroy a Djinn at this level.
"Oh, that's a nice weapon. I heard it splits into seven branches."
Chae Nayun approached with a smirk and stood by Kim Suho's side.
While this was happening, I was just standing leisurely. While observing the djinn, I again felt that faint disgust.
"This is getting exciting."
Tatsuya Shiki watched the situation unfold. A smile lingered on his face.
"What do you plan to do? Are you gonna join them?"
"Nothing for now. Kim Suho and Chae Nayun should be able to take care of it."
"Are you gonna help them, Shiki?"
"Nope. Since you said they can deal with it, I'll just sit here and watch as well. I'll do something if it goes south."
'That's reassuring. At least now I know he isn't a bad person.'
With relief in my mind, I switch my attention back to the two main characters in front of me.
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