Reader of the Novel’s Extra

It was chaos.

A plume of dark mana erupted from the floor, along with a secondary plume of fire. Explosives, no doubt primed and planned to burst through to whatever vault was underneath.

Lee saw everyone running around in panic... at least, the normal guests.

But the Djinn hidden in the crowd immediately started to unveil their true forms, flesh visibly distorting and blackening towards grotesque forms.

Hajin flicked his wrists, summoning his usual pair of dual pistols. Then he glanced at Lee and said, "I'm going to go stop them from stealing the item. Can you deal with this?"

"I don't know what item you're talking about, or what's going on. But." Lee pulled out his Dark Saber hilt and turned it on. "I'm down."

Mana flickered and then a beam of what looked like pure darkness wreathed in light appeared in Lee's right hand.

...He would have preferred using a spear in a situation like this, to be honest. But it was a good opportunity to test his new necklace.

The moment that Lee turned on his Dark Saber, a hush fell onto the crowd.

Hajin took the opportunity to toss a smokebomb and disappear, just like Batman would.

It was a coincidence, of course.

But...

"The Chameleon Troupe?!"

"You dare interfere in the Evil Society's business?!"

"So you're here for the ring as well, are you?!"

...It ended up being a round two of Lee's previous performance.

Lee didn't respond. Instead, he held up his hand and used [Mana Manipulation] to slowly dissolve the area around him, grinding it away to look like it was distorting.

"He's just one man!" A particularly brave Djinn, one with a magic sword. A 'real' light saber using the technology of mana engineering in this world. "And that must be a prop! It's just a ploy to buy time!"

Lee's response was to hold up his left hand and then use [Sword Control Art] to wrench the Djinn's magic sword away.

And then, Lee had two glowing blades. One a pure white, the magic sword he just stole, and his Dark Saber.

Silence.

Lee calmly took a few steps forward.

And then that same Djinn rushed forward. "You don't scare me! Our Master's new blessing will- GRK?!"

A pair of slashes. One white, one black.

And then the Djinn burst into ashes.

'Hm. They're weaker than I thought... or am I stronger than I thought?'

> No Second Strike (Rederived) activates!

> Mana Backlash is inflicted upon the opponent!

> Your opponent is empowered by vast mana!

> Mana Backlash is advanced into Mana Hemorrhage!

'Ah. Right.'

Lee had forgotten about that effect since he hadn't fought anyone that heavily relied on mana for a while. But...

'Aren't I just a Djinn's worst nightmare then?'

The main power behind a Djinn was the vast mana they gained from their demonic masters...

But for Lee, it was just gasoline waiting for him to spark.

"I-Impossible!" A djinn with a black scaled face and crimson eyes took a step back when he saw what Lee had done. "E-Even the Boss of the Chameleon Troupe couldn't erase a Djinn that simply!"

'...I beg to disagree with that sentiment, but... sure dude.'

Lee wanted to taunt a bit. To brag, troll, and banter.

But this was the perfect testing ground for his new accessory. So...

Lee didn't question it anymore.

The enemy had revealed themselves.

And Hajin DID say to buy time and deal with the situation.

Lee whipped the white magic saber at a nearby Djinn.

The Djinn panicked and dodged, flicking his own hand out at Lee to send out a burst of dark flames.

But the flames dissolved the moment they got close to Lee, as if scrubbed away by reality itself.

"N-No...! G-Get back!" The Djinn scrambled backwards in fear.

Lee flicked his wrist, sending the white magic saber swirling around to stab the Djinn's heart.

And like before, that Djinn also turned into ash.

Lee held up his hand, causing the white magic saber to return. Then he smiled, deliberately making the air turn black with his mana.

Screams echoed as the civilian guests ran away.

Some Djinns wanted to run too, but their comrades pulled them back. "You fool! You'll be killed anyway if you run! Come on, we need to kill him!"

But at the same time, the Heroes who had been stunned by Lee's appearance made a quick judgment call and focused on the Djinn.

And like that, the surroundings became a chaotic brawl.

===

> Update: A Certain Cadet's actions while donning the garb of the Cryptid Slenderman has increased Chameleon Troupe's infamy!

> Update: It is now taken as a fact that the Chameleon Troupe may not be purely human.

> Update: When assumed to be working in tandem with the Chameleon Troupe, enemy attacks have a 10% chance to fail and enemies have a 10% chance to be stunned upon the first encounter.

As Hajin jumped down the hole towards the vault in the basement, he glanced at the flurry of notifications and clicked his tongue. "That guy's as dramatic as ever."

Lee might be right about Hajin not having the temperament for battle because Lee DEFINITELY had that. The guy clearly enjoyed a good brawl... especially considering the panicked screams and sound of clashing weapons and magic above.

'Focus.'

Hajin could think about that later though.

For now...

"Hey! I stole that first!"

...Hajin had to deal with the situation in front of him.

Jain was standing in front of the broken down vault, back in her real appearance of a beautiful blonde Westerner.

...Though it was the first time Hajin saw the woman in person.

'Is Lee like not scared of Rachel getting jealous at all...?'

Hajin was sure that if Yeonha found out Hajin was working in a place with beautiful women like that, he would never hear the end of it.

But standing next to Jain was Yun Seung-Ah. The vice leader of Creator's Sacred Grace.

So far, that lined up. She was supposed to be here as part of the cast in the plot point regarding Belbet, a troublesome schemer who would later aid the Evil Society.

Hajin couldn't have that.

With how powered up the enemies were, and the co-author's note that the guy was planning to increase the strength of the enemy without regarding balance...

He was scared. No, scared wasn't the right word. More... anxious.

There were already enough variables at play. Hajin couldn't afford any more.

Even if Lee was overpowered and Evandel was 10000% the protagonist of a sequel story...

Hajin was concerned that if Lee or Rachel somehow got hurt, the sequel story would start with the rise of a grand villainess instead of a saintess.

And Hajin was NOT about to have to deal with a story he had ZERO knowledge of when he was already struggling in his own story.

All of that to say...

"Yellow. Back up arrived."

...It was time to bluff.

Jain paused. Then she looked at Hajin, confused before her eyes lit up in understanding. "Great! Then... GAH!"

Yun Seung-Ah grabbed Jain's hair and stared at Hajin. Pointing her sword at him, she said, "You. If you're with her, the Hero Association has some questions."

Hajin started to sweat. But he remained calm.

Yun Seung-Ah was strong. With [Flowering Lightning], an AOE stun ability, and the ability to instantly teleport anywhere within a 200 meter radius, it would be over if she decided to properly attack.

But there was a reason why she hadn't.

"Oh?"

A man with blackened skin and crimson eyes. Wearing a fancy Armani suit, he held up a glimmering ring and turned to look at Hajin. "Back up? You?"

Hajin could feel it.

That man... No. That Djinn was strong. Enough magic power that his skin felt like it was burning just by being in the vicinity.

Even so...

Hajin didn't hesitate.

Just like the superhero he was pretending to be, he calmly walked forward right at the Djinn.

The Djinn grinned and held out his hands. "Oho? You're approaching me? Instead of standing there and firing, you're actually approaching me to fight?"

Hajin's eye twitched at the reference. He thought about resisting. But then he let out a low voice and said, "I can't beat the shit out of you without getting close."

Jain gasped and then giggled. "Oh my GOD. That's like the cartoons that the kid watches! Are you seriously-"

A flash of darkness.

The Djinn slipping on Homer's Ring and using its abilities to control his already overflowing magic power.

But in response to that, there were six flashes of pure light.

> Your attacks are imbued with pure light!

> Your attacks have been enhanced with Starlight Affinity!

A pair of messages emerged in Hajin's eyes.

And at the same time...

> Great luck! Your attacks have struck at the exact timing of your opponent's magic power surge!

...The Djinn's eyes widened in surprise and fear before he cracked open, exploding into ash.

Without hesitation, Hajin reached out to pluck the ring, storing it in his Inventory.

Yun Seung-Ah froze, her eyes wide in surprise as she stared at Hajin. "...Can it be? Did someone manifest a Gift to actually be Batman?"

"..."

Hajin didn't bother dignifying that with a response.

Instead, he nodded at Jain.

Jain took the gap to instantly flee, escaping from Yun Seung-Ah's grasp.

"What? Wait!" Yun Seung-Ah spun around, sword drawn. "You-! Get back-!"

Jain spun around and stuck out her tongue. "Until next time~ And tell our ridiculous member that I'll loan him that ring then since I owe him one."

After that, Jain vanished.

Which left Yun Seung-Ah alone with Hajin.

Hajin froze.

Mostly because he hadn't thought that far ahead.

"You." Yun Seung-Ah raised her sword and pointed it at Hajin. "You're her associate. The Hero Association will bring you in for questioning. Do not resist-"

*CRACK*

Hajin froze.

Yun Seung-Ah froze as well.

Both of them quickly looked up at the source of the noise.

And then they saw it: A glowing red orb of crimson energy, back in the ball room.

"...No way." Hajin murmured. "You have GOT to be kidding me."

Yun Seung-Ah looked at Hajin. "What is the Chameleon Troupe up to this time?!"

Hajin didn't respond. Instead, he reached into his inventory and pulled out a grappling gun, quickly launching it to return to the ground level.

"WAIT! You-!"

To make sure Yun Seung-Ah didn't follow him, Hajin whipped his usual pocket sand at her face.

Just in time.

Lightning crackled as Yun Seung-Ah tried to use her ability to stop Hajin.

But because of the pocket sand...

*BOOM*

"GAH!?"

...It caused an explosion in her face, sending her scrambling back. Just enough time for Hajin to return to the ground floor.

And the moment he did...

> Update: The unique instance dungeon, Dracula's Manor, has unfolded!

> Update: The boss, [Dracula the Count of Wallachia] has descended!

> Update: Your surroundings have been swept into a unique spatial boundary!

...Everything changed.

The smell of iron filled the air.

The castle's stone walls and floors became a deep obsidian color, and the torches began to flicker emerald flames.

At the same time, bats started to screech, filling the air.

Hajin landed onto the ground next to Lee, who had returned to holding just his Dark Saber.

Lee slowly spoke up as he stared at the gathering mass of blood red mana above them. "...Hajin. Buddy. Dracula is not French."

Hajin quickly swapped out his pistols for [Musket of the Patriot] and hooked on a bayonet. Then he said, "I'm aware. But even then, we're kind of stuck unless we beat him."

"Right." Lee slowly said. "...Just letting you know then. That mana? It's changing form. It's turning into something else than mana."

"What?" Hajin quickly looked up at the crimson orb and used Observation. When he did...

> [Mass of Vampiric Energy]. Originally derived from mana, it has been transmuted into cursed life energy to fuel the powers of a child of the moon.

...He slowly realized with horror what the co-author meant when he said he was going to unilaterally increase the difficulty.

At that time, Yun Seung-Ah appeared on the ground floor, glaring at Hajin and Lee. "You-"

A bolt of crimson energy.

Yun Seung-Ah reflexively swung her sword and teleported away, causing her light brown ponytail to scatter behind her from the sudden movement.

And after that, a low chuckle echoed through the surroundings. "My, my. What a horrible night to have a curse."

Lee ripped off his white morph suit mask along with his tux, revealing his trained body. "Oh FUCK this. I am NOT fighting motherfucking Dracula in a suit."

Yun Seung-Ah noticed Lee and blinked. "...Cadet Lee Shin?"

Lee glanced over at Yun Seung-Ah and said, "Don't know who you are, Miss, but chat later, fight now!" After saying that, he whipped his Dark Saber at the crimson mass of energy.

It connected.

But then a form unfolded around it, revealing a handsome man with ivory skin, silver hair, and crimson eyes. Wearing a long black cape over a crimson tunic, he let out a fanged grin and said, "Interesting. You are quite powerful, young one. But." He clenched his hand, crushing the Dark Saber. "Not powerful enough."

"Oh come ON! I JUST built that!"

Hajin entered bullet time and fired his Musket right at Dracula's heart.

It hit.

It was undoubtedly going to hit.

But...

"Quite the powerful bullet. A pity it was not silver or blessed."

...Dracula just laughed, reforming around the bullet.

Hajin gave the guy a blank stare. Then he turned to Lee. "...Uh. I may not have thought this Paris trip through completely..."

"YOU THINK?!"

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