Chapter 66: According To Plan (5)
Ten minutes before Kim Su-yong's arrival.
"Clone, come out."
"Okay."
The clone emerged from my subspace ring at my command.
He dusted off his clothes casually and looked down at the Snitch.
"Why does this guy look like that?"
"Don't know. Must have felt pretty wronged before dying."
After saying that, I took out a painlessness potion from my subspace ring and handed it to my clone.
"We'll proceed as planned."
At my words, the clone nodded and downed the potion without hesitation.
Just like during the previous performance evaluation, I swung my sword carefully enough to avoid fatal wounds.
-Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
My clone, slashed all over his body, became covered in blood.
Then he collapsed with a thud.
"Somehow you seem even more perfect than last time?"
"Of course I should be. I'd be pretty upset if I wasn't improving after doping and training my ass off every day."
In reality, the reason I've gotten stronger isn't just because of the elixirs.
While they certainly played a part, the real reason I've gotten stronger is because I've been learning magic from Skaya and training every day while doping.
Thinking about it now, it feels like I haven't properly rested since transmigrating into this game world.
While I was lost in thought, I heard someone approaching from a distance.
"Hey. Hey. Kim Su-yong is coming. Get ready to act."
"Okay."
I put on a mask that looked identical to a demon's to greet Kim Su-yong.
At the same time, I covered my current clothes with a robe and used a low-level magic called voice modulation.
-Woong!
A complex-looking magic rune appeared.
Soon after, the modulation magic fully activated.
Okay. Now let's release some demonic energy.
-Whoosh!
I pushed demonic energy into the circuit.
The demonic energy burst through the circuit and was released from my body.
Dense demonic energy rippled around my body.
Hmm. This isn't enough.
Originally, after this episode ends, Kim Su-yong learns about Andrew.
Of course, he only learns that Andrew is the boss of the Cult and just his name.
He doesn't learn anything more than that.
However, because the assassin dies before telling everything, Kim Su-yong realizes what Andrew has done and becomes wary that Andrew isn't an ordinary person.
In other words, if things continue like this, I won't be able to make him wary unlike in the original story.
Although things have already diverged quite a bit from the original, there's no need to be different when we can follow the same path.
Before Kim Su-yong arrived, I increased the effect quality as much as possible.
The demonic energy rippling from my body grew even larger.
Thinking this still wasn't enough, I used color setting, and the already dense demonic energy began to darken further.
Demonic energy that seemed like darkness itself enveloped me.
At the same time, Kim Su-yong appeared.
[You've come, Kim Su-yong.]
***
Was the chill running down my spine due to the situation before my eyes?
Or was it because of the demonic energy that could only be described as darkness itself?
I'm not sure.
But one thing is certain: all of this is clearly because of the masked figure before me.
Kim Su-yong glared at the person who had called him, his face rigid.
"You, who exactly are you?"
[My name is Andrew. The boss of the Cult.]
The... the boss of the Cult?!
I don't know if what he's saying is true.
But judging by the demonic energy rippling around him, it's clearly not a lie.
It makes sense, since even Ashad, the executive of the Cult who appeared during the previous performance evaluation, didn't have demonic energy this dense or large.
-Gulp!
What should I do?
With my already exhausted stamina, it's difficult to face him.
No. Perhaps even if I were in perfect condition, could I have withstood him?
While Kim Su-yong's pupils trembled in the face of this sudden crisis, Andrew spoke in a solemn tone.
[Kim Su-yong, who came from another world. You are an existence that interferes with our Cult. So disappear from here.]
"Kuh!"
Just as Andrew released more demonic energy and was about to attack the exhausted Kim Su-yong.
"That's far enough."
As if she had been waiting for this exact moment, the Goddess Who Sees Fate appeared, emitting holy power.
The sunlight-like holy power clashed with the dark demonic energy.
-Crackle!
Sparks flew wildly in the air.
Andrew clicked his tongue at the sudden appearance of an interloper.
[Tsk! You whore.]
The Constellation flinched momentarily at his words.
But her years of experience showed as she immediately spoke as if nothing had happened.
"I will kill you here."
The Constellation said this while emitting even more holy power.
-Whoosh!
It's warm.
Although I've received buffs and healing from Rain before, I've never felt holy power this warm.
'This person is no ordinary being.'
After all, the demonic energy of the self-proclaimed boss of the Cult, Andrew, would be alarming to anyone.
Yet she's pushing back that demonic energy by emitting holy power.
[Kuh!]
He must not have expected to be pushed back, as even with his mask on, I could feel him frowning.
The demonic energy gradually began to be pushed back and then started to disappear.
At this rate, he would suffer considerable damage.
He eventually clicked his tongue loudly as if he had no choice.
[Tsk! If only I hadn't used up my power earlier...]
The Cult boss Andrew uttered this lame excuse.
He took out a scroll from his subspace ring and looked at Kim Su-yong.
[Someday, the world will be dyed with demonic energy. That's how the new world will be born. In such a new world, you, who are from another world, are an interfering existence. Therefore, from now on, the Cult considers you an enemy. It would be best for you to always be on guard, Kim Su-yong.]
With those words, he tore the scroll and disappeared from sight as if he had never been there.
Was it because the tension was released?
My legs gave out, and I sat down on the ground with a thud.
Just as I was about to thank the woman who had helped me earlier.
"Huh?"
She had already disappeared.
***
After returning to my room through the teleport scroll, I put the mask and robe into my subspace ring.
"Phew! The direction, the acting, everything was perfect."
Without a single lie, the performance I just gave could be said to be Andrew himself.
Not only that, but the production using effect quality and color setting felt like a goddess defeating a demon.
By the way, that goddess's acting skills are no joke either.
I knew she was somewhat promising based on her unusual concept, but I didn't expect her to play off me so perfectly.
The only downside was her flinching when I called her a whore, which is a point deduction, but that's within the acceptable range.
In reality, she probably hasn't been insulted like that before, so I think it's understandable.
While I was inwardly admiring the Constellation's acting.
-Slam!
The Constellation slammed the door open and strode up to me.
Then, like Cage, she stared at me blankly as if asking for praise.
No. How desperate for praise must she be to come so quickly?
What's with my praise that she's sweating profusely on her forehead?
Moreover, she's presenting the top of her head as if asking to be patted.
Alright, I can do that much.
"Yeah, your acting was awesome."
Just as I was about to pat her head while saying that.
"J-just a moment, this..."
She disappeared instantly from before my eyes, like a kid who had reached curfew.
Seems like her descent time was up.
And so, with a perfect final act, one episode of the game came to an end.
***
The next day.
"Ah, fuck, I don't want to get up."
I've always hated getting up in the morning, but I've never hated it as much as today.
Why am I having such a reality check when it hasn't even started yet?
If I were to describe my current mood, it's like winning 10 games in a row only to find out you're in bronze tier.
As I was denying reality and wrapping myself tightly in the blanket, Rishe knocked on the door.
-Knock. Knock.
"Young Master. It's time to prepare."
"Huh? Already? Is this a dream?"
In response to my question, Rishe opened the door and answered firmly.
"It's not a dream, Young Master."
"Ah. Fuck."
That can't be right?
I sat up, denying reality.
I pinched my cheek hard.
"Ouch."
That really hurts.
Given how well I can feel the pain, it seems this isn't a dream.
Finally, with a resigned heart, I headed to the bathroom in the mansion to shower before putting on makeup.
After a refreshing shower, I walked back to my room.
Soon, I arrived at the door.
I really don't want to open this door.
Surely Rishe is inside preparing makeup, and she'll have prepared clothes separately.
As I was trembling while holding the doorknob.
"Young Master. Everything is ready. You can come in."
"O-okay."
Rishe seemed to know I had arrived and told me to come in.
Hearing her words, I opened the door with a "whatever" attitude.
"Holy shit."
The makeup preparations, well, I expected that.
I was prepared for such elaborate preparations since I had worn makeup before.
However, the reason I involuntarily cursed just now was none other than.
"Do I really have to wear that dress?"
Yes. Right now, what's in front of me isn't just makeup, but a dress that would clearly reveal my figure to anyone who saw it.
Fuck. You want me to wear that?
As I was trembling with shame, Rishe nodded without hesitation and answered in an excited voice.
"Yes. To win the cross-dressing contest, that much is necessary. When you're a woman, Young Master, I hate to say this, but you're not the cute type. Since you're more of the sexy type like me, wearing a dress that reveals your figure will definitely help you win."
"..."
No. It's for winning, right? Not because of your own desires?
Somehow I'm suspicious, but putting that aside, honestly, the dress would probably suit me when cross-dressing.
As she said, when I became a woman, I had quite large breasts and decent hips.
Fuck. Thinking about it makes me feel pathetic.
Certainly, if I transform into a woman and wear that, winning the contest is a sure thing.
It's just... I feel too much self-loathing.
Honestly, it's just a cross-dressing contest, do I really need to wear that? I wonder.
Of course, there's no guarantee that no one will take it seriously, but it's still just an event-based contest.
Do I need to put my life on the line for such a contest?
"Anyway. Putting the clothes aside... I need to transform, right?"
"Yes. You need to transform to apply makeup."
I nodded at her words and took out the gender change ring.
Then, with hands trembling as if I had a tremor, I infused it with mana.
My field of vision gradually lowered.
My flat chest began to swell.
The important male part disappeared as if it had never existed.
Rishe watched as I transformed into a woman.
She was so fascinated by what was happening that her eyes sparkled as she watched.
About 10 seconds had passed since the transformation.
"Hmm. I think the transformation is complete, Rishe."
"Yes. You're beautiful every time I see you."
"Uh, y-yeah. That's a compliment, right?"
In response to my question, Rishe nodded her head three times in quick succession.
Why doesn't it feel like a compliment?
With that thought, I looked at the full-length mirror.
I am pretty. Fuck.
If I were to examine my expression reflected in the mirror now, I'd say I'm smiling incredulously with a stiff face, but I still looked pretty.
Which makes me feel even more self-loathing.
"Then I'll start with the makeup, Young Master."
"Y-yeah."
And so, having escaped the crisis of assassination, I now faced a new crisis called the cross-dressing contest.