Jeon Muyeong split ways with Sung Gukeon and Jo Euishin.
He was well aware of the locations of several magic circles set up by the Fomorian demons around the area.
‘There are fewer magicians inland than I thought. Since they’re known as demons of the deep sea, are they secure in defending themselves using the water?’
This was also expected.
Although he was disappointed, Jeon Muyeong thoroughly examined the locations of the magic circles on the land just as they discussed in advance.
After accomplishing his mission, he took advantage of his spare time to carry out additional work.
He moved busily as he stifled his presence, measuring the energy waves around the land bridge and examining the guests’ identities under their masks.
‘It’s time for me to enter now. As the last guest, just as we discussed.’
Most of the other drivers stayed in the limousines, but some others like Jeon Muyeong headed to the castle to also attend the party.
Jeon Muyeong naturally walked with them.
Pretending to admire the bridge and the castle’s prowess, Jeon Muyeong slowed his steps several times and tried to move back.
However, he could hardly succeed in staying behind the other drivers.
This is because there were partygoers who moved more leisurely and slowly than him.
‘There’s a particular slow-moving fellow. How annoying.’
When Jeon Muyeong slowed his footsteps, the person would stop walking too and would only continue once Jeon Muyeong walks first.
No matter how he thought of it, it seemed like an action that showed alertness to him.
‘Don’t tell me I got caught sneaking in…?!’
Nothing has happened yet, and it’s only after they arrived in the country did they make a specific plan for infiltration.
Jeon Muyeong thought it was unlikely, but he decided to assume the worst-case scenario.
He masked his nervousness, and Jeon Muyeong looked back at the party-goer standing behind him.
“Why do you keep stopping? Why don’t you hurry up and go ahead? I’m getting kinda annoyed.”
The party-goer’s voice sounded nervous.
The masked person said that they were “getting kinda annoyed” but they already seemed to be furious.
Jeon Muyeong can see energy waves rising over his mask, and he knows that the person is no ordinary bet.
Though, what shocked him the most was something other than the powerful energy wave.
‘…He spoke in Korean!’
The Korean Peninsula, where the first otherworld collisions occurred, went through a period called the Dark Age.
However, it was also the first place to face the dawn of the player world, led by the great hero Iron Arm Song Manseok.
As such, Korea has produced many outstanding players, and a total of four Korean players have become team masters of some of the world’s top ten professional player teams.
Red Lion, Lake of Eternity, Black Forest, and Hydrangea Fragrance.
Other than that, there are Korean players in key executive positions in major groups like the Air Society and the White Tempest.
As a result, some of the player-related terms were Korean in origin, and many foreign players came to Korea to study.
It’s not uncommon for famous players to speak fluent Korean.
However, this is a secret party hosted by the Fomorian demons.
In such a place, Jeon Muyeong couldn’t be sure of the intention of the person for him to speak in Korean, so he hesitated to answer.
“Ah, do you not speak Korean? Well, I don’t want to be considerate of you so I’ll continue speaking it.”
The person seemed to be just plain rude.
After much consideration, Jeon Muyeong responded in English.
“Please go ahead first.”
“Don’t want to.”
The other person seemed to understand English, but they firmly answered in Korean.
They continued speaking in an irritated voice.
“The main character is always the last to enter, right? I don’t want to yield.”
The person spoke with quite an odd logic, which made Jeon Muyeong speechless.
‘It’s something a Eungwang High-Class Zero student would say.’
It was such a strange thing to say that he can only imagine a Class Zero student saying it.
The logic was similar to the one used by Geum Chansol and Wang Chansol of Class Zero when they interrupted a student representative meeting, but Jeon Muyeong is unaware of that fact.
In order to avoid being involved with this strange person, Jeon Muyeong decided to change his course of action.
“Well then, I’ll be going in first.”
As if he had already stayed behind enough, Jeon Muyeong quickly went into the castle.
Seeing that, the person wearing the mouse mask looked satisfied.
***
A white lump was seen through the shattered pieces of glass.
To be exact, it was a lump of white gloves.
Before observing it closely, the blue-masked demon standing on the stage moved his hands.
Fwaaa! Hwik!
A blue wind arose from his quick hand movements.
The wind blew the pieces of glass and the remnants out of the window at once.
His quick response prevented the participants from crowding around the window.
The atmosphere quickly subsided as if he had poured cold water over a burn.
‘I don’t know who it is, but I think it’s a warning.’
Is it Phantom Thief Neon?
Somehow, the action didn’t seem like something he would do.
If he was the one who broke the window, the situation wouldn’t have simply ended like this.
Phantom Thief Neon is someone who will take the risk and make a grand appearance, complete with a cheesy colorful effect and even background music.
‘Is there another person we don’t know who’s getting involved?’
I recalled the gloved hands that guided the guests into the party, and the white gloves brutally clumped and thrown powerfully enough to break the window.
It’s still the beginning of the party, so this seemed like more of a warning to spoil the fun.
Perhaps he’s also got a bad ominous feeling, the blue-masked demon seemed to look upset,
But, as if nothing happened, he smiled.
“…The game we’ll be playing is starting…now!”
When the masked demon clapped his hands once, all the gloved hands in the party hall produced an almost explosive-like sound all throughout the hall, along with energy waves.
The participants cheered at the various lights visible.
The white-gloved hands, which had finished emitting the energy waves, changed colors according to the same light they produced.
The change was extremely noticeable, but it wasn’t only the gloves that changed in color.
The badges that were distributed earlier changed too.
“Now, everyone, please move to your designated area according to the color of your badge.”
Amber lanterns of assorted colors were installed throughout the hall.
Some were inside, and some were in front of other corridors.
Under each lantern, a glass box was situated, perhaps containing the prize of this game that the demon mentioned earlier.
Seeing the prize, exclaims of surprise resonated from the party-goers.
‘A fancy color diamond, and SSR-rank item card… The prizes are better than I expected. Did they raise the level because of what happened earlier today?’
The participants who deserved the invitation to come to this event wouldn’t be easily swayed by such prizes.
Still, everyone was amazed and praised the organizers’ sincere gifts.
Thanks to the level of the prizes, the atmosphere seemed to be revived.
“I hope you enjoy the game we prepared. Good luck!”
The blue-masked demon glanced at the broken window covered up with a velvet curtain before coming down the stage.
He probably wants to find out the cause himself.
‘The invitation said it’s up to the guest if we want to join the games, but I should participate to blend in I guess.’
I looked around, comparing the colors of the pumpkin badges and the lanterns.
I think it would be best to participate in the game.
Fortunately, Sung Gukeon and I had the same color badge.
“Well then, let’s go. They’re giving a present to the winners. I think those cuff links would look great on you.”
Sung Gukeon pointed to the chessboard-patterned cuff links set under a red pumpkin lamp
The first game we played was a dice game, but unfortunately, both Sung Gukeon and I lost.
Neither of us felt disappointed since we didn’t covet the prize, rather we did it for the sake of participation.
When Sung Gukeon and I finished the game, the color of our badges had changed.
“Shall we go then? Let’s play the games until we get the color blue.”
Sung Gukeon said so, glancing at the platform/stage.
The demon who stood there earlier was wearing a blue mask, and now that he was away, blue lanterns were installed around it.
‘There are lamps with the host’s color on them. There’s a good chance there’s something.’
Our badge was now color green.
It didn’t change to blue right away.
While we searched for the green pumpkin lamp, cheers suddenly erupted from the area under the red lamp.
‘The possibility of winning that was less than one percent though, but there’s already a winner.’
That person must have incredible luck.
“The next one is a card game. Oh, it seems to have item cards at stake.”
Majority of the participants, including us, walked around and enjoyed the games.
There were a lot of activities to do, and there were also comfortable sofas set up throughout the castle so that the guests could relax for a while.
Some people gave up on playing the games at all to relax, and they were guided to a table on the balcony.
They enjoyed dinner or tea time leisurely while gazing at the beautiful night view.
“Finally. It changed to blue. It’s the color of the demon on stage earlier.”
Our badges were shining in blue.
I couldn’t see around the blue lantern properly since there were blue curtains obstructing my view, so I couldn’t tell what game we would be playing.
‘I hope it’s a clue.’
When Sung Gukeon and I passed through the blue curtains…
I had a strange feeling.
It’s a little difficult to tell the difference because of the soft carpet, but it seems like the floor over here was particularly sturdy.
‘There’s something on the floor. Is it related to the game…?’
Sung Gukeon seemed to also get a strange feeling as his footsteps slowed by a beat.
When suddenly…
Wooong! Bang!
The blue curtain was lifted and energy waves exploded over us.
Near the high ceiling of the call, a pumpkin wearing a crown appeared and circled around Sung Gukeon.
‘I think I heard something, but it was buried by the sound of the energy waves exploding.’
I wanted to raise it to Sung Gukeon, but I couldn’t since I was paying attention to the thing that was circling him.
A blue-gloved hand hurriedly clapped and congratulated him.
“Congratulations! We have a winner!”
Sung Gukeon was handed a crown with an alexandrite stone on it.
Sung Gukeon received the crown and put it on his head, but he didn’t seem to be happy.
It’s unnecessarily attracting attention.
When the applause died down, the demon wearing a blue mask approached us.
‘…Is the window incident settled already? I think he’s looking this way.’
He was looking at Sung Gukeon to be exact.
He spoke in a mixed tone of joy and disappointment.
“Unfortunately, you don’t have the blood of a Celtic at all.”
How are we supposed to react to that?
Before Sung Gukeon could reply, the demon laughed and spoke again.
“Hahaha! Please don’t misunderstand. It’s not a bad thing. I’m just here to suggest something.”
The blue-masked demon spoke in a hushed voice.
“I want you to destroy one of the treasures of Tuatha Dé Danann.”
