Chapter 20: I Seem to Have Joined Evil Forces
After escaping from the grand hall, I patted my chest with lingering fear. “Wow, that was terrifying!”
Yuhui appeared beside me and helped me up, saying, “Yes, as expected of a succubus of Archdemon rank. Her aura alone could intimidate everyone present.”
“You scared me to death! I almost got sliced.”
Although the principal stopped there mostly on purpose, she couldn’t harm me due to our contract. Even acting like she was about to attack me must have incurred a considerable punishment.
Even though I used my first ability, now that I think about it, I probably wouldn’t have gotten hurt even if I hadn’t.
“Lord Juncheng, I noticed your reaction speed seemed to increase significantly just now. Before I could even react, you had already moved. Did you use some special ability?”
“Yes, it’s a new ability replacing Charm, you could call it ‘Thought Acceleration.’ Since my only strength lies in my stamina, I thought about how to utilize this spiritual power more effectively, which led to the conclusion of speeding up my thought process.”
That was the first time I used it, and it felt like the entire world was put on slow motion.
A second was extended more than ten times, everyone turned into slow-motion figures, and the blade energy rushing towards me also slowed considerably, allowing me to react ‘in time’ and leap backward.
However, even though my thinking speed accelerated, my body didn’t. This is quite awkward.
In other words, this ability isn’t that overpowered, and its impact on reality is minimal. At best, it can give me time to react or think of counter-measures.
The most infuriating part is that if the opponent’s attack speed is fast enough and I can’t dodge, using Thought Acceleration would allow me to watch the attack slowly inflict damage… I could observe exactly how I died at close range…
This is why I also gave this ability a nickname: ‘Stretch Out Death By One Second.’
Well, all in all, it’s about extending the time of death, allowing me to reflect on my life before I die.
Unfortunately, even if I had last words, I couldn’t write them down (laughs).
However, if my spiritual power grows stronger, perhaps in the future, I might reach the point of stopping the entire world. If I could find a way to move myself then, there would be so much more I could do.
Just now, I not only noticed details I hadn’t before but also became aware of the old butler, Steve, behind me, and heard Teacher Lily’s muttering. A lot of information poured into my head simultaneously, yet I didn’t feel confused.
When I left the dream, Nana’s ‘gift’ must have referred to this spiritual power.
After signing the contract, I received a portion of her spiritual power, and my own spiritual power achieved a significant leap.
I’m suddenly curious about what effects my other two abilities will produce, as they are also closely related to the strength of spiritual power.
I’m sure the effects won’t be too bad.
I should find an opportunity to test them.
“So, next, I should go to the Black Street to get acquainted with the organization… Ah, blast it, my ‘guide’ is still inside.”
“Looking for me?”
Classmate Li Nai stood beside me with a smile, eating a chocolate bar.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at her, asking, “Where did you pop out from?”
“Hmm? Oh my, is my presence that weak? I just followed you, Mr. Transparent, out. The principal became so cute, if I stayed inside, I would have been in trouble~”
“That’s true. Then what about Xuan’er?”
“Still inside! Someone has to stay and bear the principal’s wrath~ Hahaha~”
“Of course! Friends are meant to be sold out!”
“This is my first time learning that ‘friend’ can be defined this way…”
“Being your friend is truly unlucky!”
“Oh, don’t mind such trivial things~ Let me show you around our Class 6~ It’s been a while since we had newcomers. Two newcomers, and it’s suddenly much livelier!”
“Two?”
I looked back at Yuhui and asked, “Yuhui, did you join the organization too?”
Yuhui nodded and replied, “Yes, I joined the organization before you woke up. I owed someone a favor while looking for you in the Black Street, so to repay that favor, I decided to join the organization.”
“I see.”
I wasn’t that surprised. Even I joined, so it made sense for Yuhui to join if it meant staying by my side.
But even though the Charm Magic Circle is gone, the color of her title is still the same blue as before, with something mixed in.
Could it be true that, as Nana said, no one will ever leave?
“But you didn’t have to join. Even if you refused, I would have protected you and gotten you out.”
“Well, since I’ve already joined, it’s too late to go back. Besides, for me, this is an opportunity.”
It’s not just about me. Perhaps with this chance, I can find a way to help Lianbing… I still hope she can return to normal.
Yuhui never opposes my decisions, unlike at the beginning when she completely ignored my personal opinions and only focused on my safety.
This also means she has come to trust me completely.
At this moment, Li Nai, having finished her chocolate bar, licked her thumb and index finger and said energetically, “Alright! Let’s head out! Oh, right, I need to give you the Black Street access permission first. Come here, Mr. Transparent, let me pat your shoulder.”
“No need. I have already granted Lord Juncheng the permission.”
“Huh? Ugh, stop it, Bai-xue mei, give me a chance to show off~”
“You can just call me Nana~ Hey, fine, then let’s go. There’s an entrance to the Black Street in this mansion’s garden.”
“Um, is it alright to leave Xuan’er and Teacher Lili inside?”
“It’s fine! At most, they’ll be subjected to ‘this’ and then ‘that’ and then ‘the other thing,’ they’re quite used to it~”
Hearing that makes me even more uneasy!
But we really couldn’t help, so we left with a sense of guilt.
After leaving the mansion with Li Nai, we walked along the garden path. Just as we were about to exit, we found old butler Steve waiting for us at the exit.
Can this guy also teleport!
“I am here to relay a message from the leader. The leader asked me to tell you that ‘if you have any questions for me, call out my full name before you fall asleep.’ That’s all.”
“Understood. SF Light Novel”
This must be the method they agreed upon to meet in dreams.
After delivering the message, the old butler gave a salute and returned to the mansion.
Yuhui and Li Nai didn’t ask any further questions. We stepped through the garden exit together, and just like when we first entered the Black Street, the scene turned dark before changing.
Li Nai led the way, introducing us as we went. “The Black Street is the main base of the organization. It connects to every corner of the city, and there are also some special ‘fixed points’ that can take us to even farther places, though they are not usually used.”
“Those wearing ordinary clothes in the Black Street are actors from the ‘Troupe,’ and those in black suits are members of various departments. It’s easy to distinguish, right?”
“Black suits, huh? Do I have to wear a black suit too?”
“You don’t have to. Because the Investigation Department sometimes needs to conduct undercover investigations, there are no strict requirements for clothing.”
“Undercover investigations?”
“Yes, I often do this kind of work, like infiltration, or being a spy, or exploring new hidden worlds~”
“Uh, is it really okay to do that kind of work?”
It’s clearly dangerous work, so why does she look so happy?
Li Nai smiled carelessly and said, “Hahahaha~ Mr. Transparent, are you worried about me? It’s fine, I’m a zombie! I’ve already died once, so I can’t die again~ But if I get my head blown off, I’ll die, hahahaha~”
“That’s not the point… How should I put it, you’re quite ‘free.'”
To put it nicely, it’s unrestrained; to put it bluntly, she’s a bit dim.
“As people age, they become freer~”
“Does that mean you’re very old?”
“Oh, how rude! I only died five years ago, I’m still a fresh corpse!”
“Fresh corpse…”
“Mhm, mhm, see? I haven’t even developed rigor mortis yet? My skin is still smooth and tender~”
“Hehehe…”
Seeing her cup her cheeks with both hands and widen her eyes in a cute pose, I could only smile without saying anything.
As we walked through the Black Street, many people greeted Li Nai. It seems she’s quite famous here.
Li Nai acted like a tour guide, introducing us to places, though mostly meaningless things like “The char siu at this shop is really delicious!”
After walking for a while, Yuhui suddenly asked, “Doesn’t the organization have any other title? Just calling it ‘the organization’ is too vague.”
“Ah, that. Yes, it does!”
“Huh? It really does? Could it be called the Mafia?”
Or perhaps the Men in Black?
“Heh, Mafia is pretty good, but no. It’s called ‘Black Fable,’ which is ‘soblefoble’ in English, short for SF. This is a unique term for our Northeast Asian branch. You could also say it’s a symbol. The organization’s internal badge is also engraved with SF. You’ll be issued one later.”
“Quite stylish…”
“Of course! Our organization even has a motto! And that is…”
As Li Nai’s voice gradually rose, the pedestrians on the Black Street stopped their steps and focused their attention on us.
Uh oh, what is this?
The question was immediately answered.
“An eye for an eye!” xN
The Extras raised their hands and shouted, their voices echoing throughout the street.
“A life for a life!” xN
Then, people in black suits and black sunglasses, emerging from various buildings, shouted.
“A dark for a dark!” xN
Finally, Li Nai, who was in front of me, turned around, waved her hand grandly with an arrogant air, and declared dominantly, “Evil to counter evil!”
Everyone had a… smile on their face, I mean, an evil kind of smile.
Even I was affected, my lips involuntarily curling up, though it was a wry smile…
…This is completely unreasonable…
I suddenly felt like I’d stumbled into a den of thieves.
Damn it, am I really not joining Evil Forces?!
