[Updating in progress… 79%]

It was currently 9 A.M. on Saturday. My laptop still remained unusable. It only went up to 79% after I anxiously waited an entire day for the new amazing features.

I stared at the update until my smartwatch rang.

[Brokerage account for Kim Hajin has opened.]

“Oh, it’s done!”

I was concerned about this too. It would’ve been easy as an adult, but I was still a minor. Like my previous world, a minor couldn’t open a brokerage account without a guardian. It would’ve been impossible if I wasn’t a Cube cadet.

I quickly went to work now that I had an account. First, I transferred money over to my new brokerage account using my smartwatch. One million won from the previous monster hunt and 2 million won I already had for a total of 3 million. It was pocket change compared to many other traders, but it was enough to start. I opened the stock trading program. The guild stock market operated on weekends to differentiate from the normal market.

[Guild — Packhorse Master]

The exchange also listed the Packhorse Master guild. Each of their stocks cost worth 170 won. I simply bought however much I could since I wasn’t knowledgeable about complicated things like short selling, short buying, or price fluctuations.

[17,647 stocks of Packhorse Master guild purchased.]

It didn’t take long, so I looked up a stock-related forum before leaving. [Gathering of people who enjoy the stock exchange.] This was the biggest forum for stock-related topics with 930,000 members. I searched up Packhorse Master.

[List of new guilds.] [Guilds newly listed] [Guild market is hard nowadays ㅜㅜ None of the new guilds look promising…]

None of the posts specifically discussed Packhorse Master.

“Well, what did I expect from an online forum?”

I clicked my tongue and turned off the smartwatch. Information equaled money in this world, so one had to pay for the proper websites. Expert brokers didn’t spare a glance at free forums. Information guilds possessed their own intranets where one could buy information and those who wished to stay anonymous could use something like the Violet Banquet.

“Oh, right.”

Speaking of secrecy, a group called the Chameleon Troupe lurked in the shadows. They first appeared halfway through the story and were the most powerful gang in my novel. Their members would play important roles later in the novel. Just like how a chameleon changed its colors to hide, the Chameleon Troupe was a secretive group whose identities always remained hidden. Currently, one seat in the Chameleon Troupe should be empty. This seat would remain open for another year or two and would play an important role later. I knew who the Chameleon Troupe’s leader was and where she operated. I should be the only one with this information other than their members.

The Chameleon Troupe was a gang of criminals, but they also rejected djinns. Djinns were the absolute evil in this world. If I could become a Chameleon Troupe member… that was unrealistic. If I could just befriend their leader, they might even support me. Just when I was thinking…

“Uk!”

An intense pain suddenly came over my upper left arm as though a hot knife was carving my skin. Blood spurted out into my eyes. I quickly pulled up my sleeve and saw a strange scar on my upper arm.

“The hell…”

It was incomprehensible. I clenched my teeth and put my hand over the mark gushing with blood. A tsunami of information flooded my brain at the same time.

[This stigma containing magic power is one of the Creator’s authorities.] [One streak of stigma will be inscribed each time your total acquired SP reaches a certain level along with your fame.] [You may freely use the magic power stored inside the stigma, which will slowly regenerate over 24 hours.]

“Ah.”

An indescribable pain throbbed throughout my head and arm. I read the laptop screen despite my paralysis.

[Update List] ▷Book of Truth has been added to the gift, [Observation and Reading].

***

The weekend sky was clear and blue. The early spring weather felt chilly, but still held some warmth. I was unable to enjoy this beautiful day as I was summoned to Seoul’s Association Tower for subjugating the djinn. Really, couldn’t they just deliver it?

The conferment ceremony took place at a garden in Association Tower. Many people had already gathered by the time I arrived. However, the ceremony seemed nowhere close to starting. Kim Suho, Chae Nayun, and I were forced into a rehearsal to receive our commendations from a dignitary, but the dignitary himself was late and we were forced to wait. It felt like sitting on needles with Chae Nayun next to me.

“Yaaawn.”

“Happy?”

I yawned once because I was bored. Chae Nayun looked for an excuse to pick a fight. 

I briefly retorted, “What.”

“You’ve had a smirk for a while now.”

“…”

It was unfair that she could look so pretty while making such remarks. I planned to stay silent, but suddenly recalled why I was here.

“You didn’t forget, did you?”

“Forget what?” she asked.

Each of her words stung like a thorn. I spoke as I stared at her.

“That I saved you.”

“…”

She still looked angry, but shut her mouth.

“That’s that and this is…”

“Stop, both of you.” 

Chae Nayun tried to strike back, but Kim Suho cut in.

“W-What?”

“Chae Nayun, switch seats with me.”

For the record, our seats were ordered: Kim Suho, Chae Nayun, then me.

“And if I refuse?”

“Hurry.”

“No, why? I don’t want to.”

Seeing them all touchy didn’t feel too good. Thankfully, their scuffle ended as Kim Suho sat next to me. He looked at me and coughed.

“Thank you for back then.”

"What?"

I wanted to be left alone, so why was he still talking to me?

“Back at the museum, we wouldn’t have won if it wasn’t for you.”

“No, you would’ve won even without me.”

If I wasn’t there, Kim Suho might have awakened an even greater power. Main characters were always like that.

“No.”

Kim Suho turned back after a single word. An extraordinary magic power suddenly undulated. The dignitary finally arrived.

“H-He’s here. Everyone get ready!”

Today’s commendation conferrer was the master rank hero known as the Wolf of Valhalla. His shoulder-length hair slightly curved up and he had a well-trimmed beard uncommon for an Eastern man. His regality was more than just an invisible feeling. As though a wind blew, each of his steps caused a tiny tremor of magic power. His raw power had reached a realm where even he couldn’t fully control it.

“Huu.”

The master rank hero, Yoo Sihyuk, looked around with wolf-like eyes and murmured, “These fuckers telling me what to do.”

It was so quiet that only I could hear it with my gift. With arrogance and apathy, Yoo Sihyuk pushed back the guests flocking towards him.

He walked up to the podium overbearingly as his attendant ran up and handed him a paper that listed the order of the ceremony. Yoo Sihyuk clicked his tongue and glanced at the paper before throwing it away. His attendant ran off with the discarded paper.

— Now, the conferment ceremony will begin.

The host announced the start of the ceremony.

— The commendation will be conferred by rank 37 master rank hero, Sir Yoo Sihyuk.

Kim Suho, Chae Nayun, and I walked up to the podium as we rehearsed. Yoo Sihyuk smirked when he saw Kim Suho.

“Are you Kim Suho?”

“Yes.”

“Mmm. I can see why those guys want you.”

Intense interest reflected in his eyes. Yoo Sihyuk advised Kim Suho with unusual kindness.

“Don’t join the association. It might be better to join the Vast Expanse and become a hunter. Being a hero is nothing but a baggage of responsibility and no fun.”

“Still, a hero fits my personality best.” 

Kim Suho refused with a smile. 

The corner of Yoo Sihyuk’s mouth twisted up. 

“You’re a boring guy. Fine… And you, it’s been a while, eh?”

This time, it was Chae Nayun. She made a bitter expression when they made eye contact.

“It’s been a while.”

“Your father told me to take care of you, but I don’t plan on doing that.”

“I… Master—”

“I’m not your master. A bow user like you thinks you can call me master? Do you want to die?”

Chae Nayun pouted at his reproach. I struggled to hold in my laughter at her pathetic state.

“And who are you?”

“I am cadet Kim Hajin.”

“Oh… Okay.”

That was it for me. A completely different treatment from Kim Suho and Chae Nayun.

It seemed indifference really was more painful than hatred.