The Novel's Extra

The moment Rachel raised her hand, all eyes in the room focused on her. Even her own subordinates seemed bewildered.

No one expected such a move from her.

[Rachel, spokesman for the British Royal Guild.]

[Do you have any results to submit?]

The Hall asked. She lowered her hand and took a deep breath.

"Yes."

When she nodded, the room buzzed.

The guilds that didn't have a good relationship with England mocked her, but they couldn't hide their anxiety. After all, the possibility that she might actually know the right answer still existed.

She was a genius who took first place in Cube Theory, which had gathered many talents.

"I kept it on a file."

The Hall answered Rachel.

[Then, please send it over.]

She did as instructed.

"Mercenary Xtra wrote this answer." Rachel said, refusing to claim credits for this achievement. She couldn't even do it in the first place. Without being able to understand it, she wouldn't be able to deceive anyone.

"... Mercenary?"

Most of the people in the room grew suspicious. Fermin also looked a little perplexed.

He was admittedly a very talented mercenary, but he could still help them even with theoretical issues?

"Aren't you depending too much on him?"

France's Shu Fon sounded dissatisfied, but she did not respond.

He was right, though. Rachel felt ashamed of herself for getting help every time.

However, the situation in England was too dire for her to refuse his help simply to avoid embarrassment. Although it was a bold attitude, she couldn't help it.

[Alright.]

[Let us check Xtra's theory.]

The Hall remained silent for a while. The room grew quiet as well, waiting for its verdict. No one thought his answer would be right, but they were still anxious. Yoo Yeonha even had her eyes wide open.

After spending two days and two nights researching, E.S couldn't catch even the smallest clue about it. However, if they put in a little more effort, they might just find something. They couldn't miss that chance now.

Soon enough, the Hall answered, its words betraying the expectations of the majority gathered in the conference room.

[It's perfect.]

[I didn't expect to get such a perfect answer in the interim inspection.]

"What?!"

"What does-"

"What? No, wait! Hall man!"

Some of the guilds' representatives shouted while some could only stand blankly. The rest looked relieved, even though they were greatly surprised.

In fact, the guilds still holding onto the theory at that point didn't exceed ten.

Since they couldn't answer this test properly anyway, it would be much more beneficial for them if England, the lowest-ranked country, could bag in the achievement instead of their more prominent adversaries.

[Was this written by Xtra alone, without anyone's help?]

Rachel nodded.

[Then, all the points will be given to him. In addition, the British Royal Guild will be given the right to choose and enter the second exam first.]

[Moreover, if the British Royal Guild wishes, it can deliver similar benefits to its alliance guild, Switzerland's Reisleufer.]

The guilds, aware of those preemptive rights' immense importance, especially the French's Shu Fon, tried to argue that it was unfair, but Rachel's next question silenced them all.

"Is it possible to delay the entrance of desired guilds instead?"

[Of course.]

[However, you won't be able to give any benefits to your ally, the Reisleufer, by doing so.]

“…”

France and China's spokespersons lowered their gazes.

"Do you have anything to say?" She asked.

Raising their heads reluctantly, they smiled softly.

Liu Wei, the Vice-captain of the Chinese Empire, spoke first.

"Vice-captain Shu Fon incited us first. We, the Chinese Empire, have always respected the English Royal Guild."

"W-What? You said they were an eyesore!"

"No, when did I? Do you have any proof? I told you I'm a fan of Vice-captain Rachel, but you kept insulting her right in front of me."

"What? If you're a hero, act like a hero..."

As the two allied guilds quarreled, the Hall interrupted them.

[Today's meeting will end here.]

[Because of the British Royal Guild's success, their accommodation will be upgraded.]

[And Xtra's answer will be distributed in the form of a thesis on the Internet. Naturally, its copyrights will belong to him.]

[Except for the Royal British Guild, the second test will begin in 144 hours.]

[Please enjoy your free time until then.]

* * *

Rachel did get the right to enter the second exam first, but she couldn't celebrate the huge achievements she earned by solving the first test. That was all on Xtra, after all.

Unless he entered the Hall, the British Royal Guild would still only be 19th.

"... What kind of person can even think of solving it this way?" Fermin asked in amazement. His paper was, as the Hall said, perfect.

Rachel nodded in agreement.

"I'm curious too."

She currently wore round glasses called the [Glasses of Calculation and Thinking], which she obtained by intimidating Shu Fon and Liu Wei.

They automatically calculated any operation the wearer would look at while reading a thesis, helped interpret sentences and words, and understand answers.

"Maybe he asked for a third party's advice? Looking back, Xtra was riding some kind of helicopter, which I think is his talent."

“…”

Rachel looked around her. Even she speculated he had outside help. Experts were stationed in Pandemonium, which wasn't that far away. It would eliminate the need for him to go all the way to Korea.

Those crazy scientists had become pathologically obsessed with a particular theory and eventually became djinns.

"Hmm..."

Just as she was about to say something, she remembered Kim Hajin, who crushed her in Cube Theory before. She couldn't help but connect Xtra's eyes with him since they resembled him.

The possibility was far too low, but like chance or fate, she felt as if certain pieces in this puzzle finally fitted in for a moment, then it faded away right after.

"The more I read this, the more flawless it is."

Fermin flicked her finger at the paper-printed thesis, admiring it.

There were three faultless key points in Xtra's answer. He found the 'connection' between the three dungeons, the 'condition' under which that connection was established, and even suggested a ’direction' in which this theory could be applied.

"Didn't the Hall say this will be publicized on the Internet? The world must be in chaos right now."

Rachel nodded and took off her glasses.

Xtra's answer was certainly great, but it was time to focus on the second test.

"Let's get going."

"... Yes."

Fermin nodded with a slightly anxious expression. She was still keeping Lancaster's reverberation she sensed a secret. Even if she told them, they wouldn't be able to resolve it anyway.

Glancing at Rachel, she carefully spoke to her.

"On another note, what about the alliance, Vice-captain?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, wouldn't they have something they want from us..."

"They decided to enter four days later than us."

Rachel decided to enter the second test while maintaining the alliance with Reisleufer. However, in this study, they had no help from them, so she adjusted for them to enter three days late instead.

Fermin sighed, relieved.

"I wanted to ask Xtra's opinion if possible, but he's not here."

"I feel the same way."

The two of them looked at the clock with strained eyes, then got up and went out of their dorm.

"You came!"

"We were waiting for you."

The British Royal Guild members were already waiting for them. They could feel the spies sent from other guilds moving about.

"Shall we go?"

"It looks like there are a lot of rats around us. Let them watch us."

Basking in their attention, they walked down the hallway. Thanks to their great victory in the first test, their gait was full of confidence.

The second test site was quite far away, arriving only after 20 minutes of following the Hall's instructions.

[Exam Room]

It was a pretty shabby testing ground with only one nameplate hanging above the small door.

The Hall borrowed the smartwatches' function just as it puzzled them.

— Congratulations on gaining the right to preempt the 'Second Trial.' Upon entering the [Exam Room], decide which field you'd like to tackle.

The Hall's mechanical sounds felt somewhat eerie.

"Ugh, that scared me."

"I thought it was a ghost."

Rachel and her subordinates opened the door and went inside.

A strange space greeted them.

It was pure white and had no boundaries. Huge doors lined up in a row to either of their flanks, stretching out as far as they could see.

— The second test is Memory Chain. There are a total of 40 doors here. Select one, realize the clear conditions for the stage behind it, and clear it.

— As part of the perks you earned during the first exam, we will close the fields for the bottom 70%.

Thump- Thump- Thump-

30 of the 40 doors disappeared.

The remaining ten apparently belonged in the top 30%.

"Which one should we choose?"

"We'll follow the Vice-captain's choice."

Rachel pondered as she looked at their nameplates.

[Hardened Memory], [Fragments of Life], [Young Heart]...

One of them stood out in particular due to its strangely poetic name.

[Hometown Inside a Dream]

That sentence seemed to call her.

Rachel walked over to it as if possessed.

"Hometown Inside a Dream?"

She nodded at Fermin's question. After a brief moment, the door in front of them opened.

— Then, [Hometown Inside a Dream] was selected.

— Please enter one by one.

Rachel looked behind her before leading them in.

Taking one step into it, she immediately began to feel odd. Her spine was upright, and her irises seemed to have expanded. Bright light engulfed her, stroking and squeezing her body.

She blinked.

“…”

An entirely different world greeted her.

She didn't know where this place was. She was just in the middle of a street with people buzzing around. Gigantic malls towered on either side of her, and street vendors sold food beside the road stretching in front of her.

"Where are we...?"

Rachel surveyed her surroundings, finding clothing stores, restaurants, and cosmetic shops. She then turned around, finally realizing her subordinates were nowhere to be found. Even the door she passed through had disappeared.

A shiver ran through her body.

"... Phew. Let me calm down." She quickly regained her composure, thinking this was also part of the test. Fortunately, the language used in this world was no different. Everyone spoke in Korean.

Walking around and exploring her surroundings, a strange pillar came into her sight.

[Line 4 424]

[Myeong-dong]

[Exit 8 EXIT]

"... Myeong-dong?"

'Am I in Myeong-dong?'

That couldn't be. She frequented that place.

It was a mystifying mecca that sold all kinds of magic materials and tools. People often said that one could use up all their money in that street within an hour, even if they brought 1 billion won.

"What the hell..." Rachel mumbled, still unfazed. People kept glancing at her, some of them even questioning how she was dressed.

Ignoring them all, she walked away.

Growl-

After thirty minutes, she finally felt hungry. Was it because of the smell of hotdogs and squid?

Sizzling—

Rachel glanced at the hotteok vendor and rummaged through her pockets, but it was of no use.

She didn't have any money.

"... I'm so hungry."

'What the hell am I supposed to do here? You just dropped me here without any guidelines...'

The Hall didn't even tell them this stage's "clear conditions" and instead told them to find it themselves. If so, then even this moment had to be part of the test.

Standing still, she began observing the passers-by.

"What's that?"

They were all walking with a square machine. Rachel didn't know exactly what it was, but taking a closer look at it, she noticed a screen inside it, which they tapped on.

A smartphone!

But why were grown-ups using such tech? They were only normally for babies who couldn't handle watches yet.

Growl—

Her stomach growled again. Her starvation was becoming painful.

"Ugh..."

She sat on the floor with a groan. At the same time, she felt something strange.

She had just finished her meal two hours ago, which meant she shouldn't be this hungry. More importantly, no matter how much she looked into it, there seemed to be no mana in the air.

Closing her eyes and focusing on her breathing made everything seem clearer.

She exhaled, inhaled, breathed normally, and applied intricate breathing techniques. No matter what she did, her mana didn't refill back up. No, more precisely, it didn't flow into her body.

Only then did the seriousness of the situation sink in.

A near 0% mana concentration in the atmosphere meant, for a modern human like Rachel, a tragedy close to a catastrophe.

* * *

I hid in the grass and looked into the Hall's entrance. I had made up my mind to go in, but I felt really nervous.

Rachel, along with Kim Suho, Yoo Yeonha, Chae Nayun, Lee Younghan, Shin Jonghak... All the main characters in the novel I ran away from had to be in there.

Tilling!

My smartwatch received a message.

[The British Royal Guild's second test has begun.]

[As its member, you can join them any time you want.]

[The members' status windows are displayed below. The more serious the situation, the lower their percentage.]

[Rachel: 47%]

[Fermin: 49%]

[Marcus : 67% ]

[Dale: 53%]

The Hall informed me that the second test had begun.

"Shit."

I didn't know what kind of test it was.

However, Hosup reported that Lancaster was also here. I couldn't just leave Rachel alone.

Creeping closer to the Hall's entrance, I constantly glanced to either side of me. Ensuring nobody was around, I opened the door cautiously.

"What?!"

However, as soon as I stepped inside, a clear and bright sound greeted me.

I tried to run away, but someone was already pointing at me.

"Hey, he's here!"

"Wait, wait. I haven't tied it all up yet, Aileen-"

A short woman in her mid-30s flew towards me, bouncing around.

Aileen.

She looked like a little girl due to her long gray hair tied in two pigtails. Behind her sullenly stood Jin Seyeon, who held a rubber band she was supposed to tie Aileen's hair up with.

I sighed. If the gatekeepers were these two, coming into this place unnoticed was already impossible in the first place.

"You're Xtra, aren't you?!" Aileen asked, standing right in front of my nose.

“…”

I looked at them alternately, then nodded. Jin Seyeon's eyes showed a slight hint of interest.

"Yes. I'm Xtra." I answered bluntly, preparing myself for anything they might do.

Smiling broadly, Aileen replied, "Then take off that gas mask first."

She used her spell on me with no hesitation. My hand rested on my gas mask by itself.

I was quite disconcerted. I should have expected she'd act like this from the beginning.

I was the one who set her up, after all.