“It’s clean. I heard everything except the library was digested.”

Rude looked around as he climbed the stairs in the far corner of the 4th floor. The only passageway leading up to the library, the number of blood vessel monsters covering the walls decreased as he went up.

The digestion speed was slow in places where there was no human life force for the monsters to feed on due to the absence of people.

He thought the library was unscathed because it had relatively fewer people as the digestion occurred while all the students were attending classes, but it seemed someone was actually protecting it from the inside.

Rude opened the glass door of the school library. Not a single blood vessel shape was visible, and no foul odor was felt either. It was quite different from the chaos-ridden lower floor. As if nothing had happened at all.

[Judging by how they’re hiding so carefully, it must be quite a guy, the Lord of Chaos looks around.]

“Heh. But even my eyes that have experienced special effects in the temple mock battle cannot be fooled.”

The library reflected in his eyes was filled with red mana lying low on the floor.

[Not an ordinary strong one? the Lord of Chaos laughs as if it’s interesting.]

“A color possessor, really.”

Rude laughed hollowly. Those who reached a certain level of skill had their realized power mixed with color. The condition was at least S-rank or higher.

Currently, there were only five people, including Rude, who possessed color among the hunters in Korea.

“Catching this guy will stir up another storm in the hunter world.”

[This mana flow belongs to a magician’s workshop, the Lord of Chaos tattles.]

“Ah. A magician? Suddenly feels annoying. An unregistered color possessor setting up a workshop in a public institution? I only committed forgery of public documents at most.”

[Well, they seem like similar crimes. the Lord of Chaos looks at you.]

“…I only did it exactly once, okay? Huh?! Only once when registering as an awakener! Do you know how much of a law-abiding citizen I am?”

The Lord of Chaos roughly consoled Rude, who was inwardly whining about having to pay double taxes due to his current two identities.

“Anyway.”

Rude let out a deep sigh and raised his head again. He, who had taken out a black half-scissors from his inventory at some point and held it in one hand, made a chilling expression.

“Hey, the smell of mana reeks. Come out while we talk.”

There was no answer. The library was still quiet. As if irritated, Rude raised his eyebrows and soon stabbed the black half-scissors into the library floor.

With a thud, black force energy began to rise like fog from the small hole made in the floor. Rude stared straight at the center of the library.

“Hey young friend, act like a gentleman. Otherwise, this rank 1 will swallow your well-established workshop. You know who I am, right?”

There is a saying among hunters. The taboo when fighting a ranger is not entering the area the ranger is in charge of, and the taboo when fighting a magician is not entering the magician’s workshop.

Since a ranger’s assigned area and a magician’s workshop are optimized for their owners, entering there and directly engaging in a fight is nothing short of suicide.

No matter how high-ranked a hunter was, victory could not be guaranteed if they fought a magician in their properly completed workshop. However…

“Aha, you won’t come out? That one is also a color possessor and not worthy of listening to me? This guy treating rank 1 like some pathetic weakling now…”

[Trait :: ‘Natural Lucid Dream’ is activated!] [You will soon enter the dream. Be careful during the transition.]

“Then try and endure it. Youngster.”

Unlike ordinary hunters, Rude was an existence outside the norm.

Kwakwakwakwak-!! The black force energy violently rummaged through the inside of the library. Only then did the red mana that had been holding its breath inside the library rise and mix with the force energy.

Rude grinned as if enjoying it, his black eyes twinkling.

Since they were both color possessors and from the magician class where mental barriers were a must, he knew that even if they saw his skill with the naked eye, the impact would not be as much as on an ordinary person, so he intended to use his skills recklessly.

Perhaps because he could freely use his skills now. When he took out a gold half-scissors from his inventory and crossed it with the black half-scissors, the black force energy that had risen like fog swallowed the red mana with a slurp.

“I told you, right?”

Although the windows must have been closed, wind blew inside the library. Rude’s bangs fluttered. The huge force energy and mana were fighting for dominance.

“I’ll swallow your workshop.”

Soon, the black force energy that had swallowed the red mana stuck to the library walls and bookshelves like dust, forcibly peeling off the red mana.

The red mana burst out from every corner like powder dust scattering in the air, and the form of the library began to disappear like a mirage.

It was only when the dark appearance of the library was revealed and chairs started rolling on the floor that a voice was heard from above.

It was clearly the voice of the informant the official on the phone with Rude earlier had mentioned, still youthful.

“Zephar, I choose you!”

[Nari, it would be wise to be a bit cautious this time, the Lord of Chaos frowns.]

“What?”

Thud! Suddenly, Kang Ihyeon fell from the library ceiling. Kang Ihyeon, who had summoned a golden holy sword without a word, gripped the sword and rushed at Rude.

“Kuk…!”

Clang-! Rude, who moved almost reflexively, blocked Kang Ihyeon’s blade with the half-scissors.

‘It won’t be the real one, is this guy a summoner magician? Seems like quite a powerful summon, how did he hide being an awakener until now…! Where did he practice!’

The burning golden holy fire reflected in Rude’s eyes. The moment he thought he met eyes with Kang Ihyeon for a moment, Rude stood frozen in place with a feeling of his heart being squeezed.

It was a mental attack. Strong enough to affect even him for a moment, then the one in front of him was not human.

Seeing Rude paralyzed, Kang Ihyeon raised his sword. He looked like he would strike down at Rude at any moment.

“You think such petty tricks will work?”

Tsk, Rude, whose paralysis was released starting from his hand, immediately grabbed Kang Ihyeon by the collar and butted heads with him.

Blue and black eyes met. Kang Ihyeon immediately stopped his action upon seeing something squirming in Rude’s black eyes.

Rude also stared straight at something behind Kang Ihyeon’s blue eyes. The caster of magic who was controlling this monster with mana and hiding alone deep inside.

“Don’t be arrogant. You and I are on different levels.”

With those last words, Rude activated his trait as is.

[Avatar-exclusive Trait :: Fragment of the Primordial Dream] [Using the authority of Constellation ◼◼◼◼.] [Borrowing the skill of the Messenger.] [Messenger ◼◼◼◼ exclusive skill :: Chaos always originates from the human subconscious.]

Clang! The moment he spotted the red mana in the blue eyes, Kang Ihyeon’s figure disappeared like a mirage, and the library that had been pretending to be peaceful while cloaked in red mana revealed its true appearance.

The floor was filled with magic circles with evil intentions, and the bookshelves were all pushed to one side. And at the center of the magic circle…

“Blargh!!”

A male student wearing glasses and a pink cloud lap blanket over his head was lying face down on the floor, dry heaving.

It seemed to be due to directly receiving Rude’s mental attack. The male student, who had been gasping for breath for a while, soon got up on trembling legs.

“Wo-wow. What was that just now? I used my sure-kill move, but wow, you easily blocked it.”

A fairly tall male student stood in front of Rude. A student with black hair and sharp features. Red eyes that seemed to pierce through one’s soul.

On the green nameplate attached to the chest of his navy school uniform jacket, the name ‘Min Jaeyoon’ was engraved in Gungseo font.

“But, I discovered something interesting.”

Min Jaeyoon. This face, I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere… The moment Rude thought that, the student smirked and spat out a shocking statement.

“You’re not a guy, but a girl, right?”

And time stopped for a moment.

No, Rude thought it stopped. A silence where no one moved an inch, as if the pause button had been pressed on a video, swept over the library for a few seconds.

“…Wh-what are you talking about?”

[Nari, your voice cracked, the Lord of Chaos shakes his head.]

“Huh, what? Me?”

“Pardon?”

The student raised an eyebrow upon seeing Rude, who had panicked and responded out loud to the indirect message in front of a person.

[Is this how Shin Binnari’s secret life ends? the Lord of Chaos giggles.]

‘No, no, no way! This avatar is really incredible. You think just anyone can make something like this?’

It was Nari’s ultimate Oe skill, made by dissecting and modifying a high-level skill that not just any Illusion Master could use to their liking.

The technique of manifesting a person could only be done by Nari.

Rude gaped upon realizing that such an ultimate Oe skill… was in danger of being exposed to another person following Kang Ihyeon. The situation dawned on him.

‘Already at risk of being discovered by two people. One of them even guessed just by intuition without seeing the real appearance. So quickly! Making the work description meaningless!’

Rude, who wanted to scream in panic after crossing the wall of the 4th dimension but held it in, stared straight at the male student in front of him. The male student smiled leisurely and waved his hand, saying,

“Ah, ah, don’t be so surprised. Noona.”

“Noo…!!”

Noona!! Rude’s body stiffened. Min Jaeyoon grinned and spoke to Rude again. Despite being a few years younger than Rude, his brazen attitude was quite annoying.

“Zephar is accurate in such distinctions. So that’s how I knew.”

“……”

“Well, normally your magic wouldn’t have worked on rank 1, but fortunately, this is my workshop. And? Zephar is a real deal demon.”

“A-a real demon.”

Rude looked at the student with a very surprised expression. Seeing his expression, the male student named Min Jaeyoon giggled and took something out from inside his jacket.

Chararak, a red hardcover book with gold leaf gilding was in the student’s hand. The chains wrapped around the book and its shabby appearance made it clear that it was an extremely dangerous and old grimoire.

The title was written in Latin on the cover, but Rude could immediately tell what the name of that grimoire was. The grimoire of 72 demons sealed by Solomon. The Lesser Key of Solomon.

Min Jaeyoon grinned again. An annoying laughter leaked out.

“By the way, Zephar takes on the appearance of the person the opponent is most fond of, so I guess you’re quite fond of hunter Kang Ihyeon~?”

“You! You! You!”

[Calm down, calm down. Nari. the Lord of Chaos gestures.]

The Lord of Chaos pacified Rude, who looked like he would rush forward at any moment with his face turning red and blue, through an indirect message. Rude, who had calmed his anger for a moment, asked him,

“You, do you have something like complete immunity to evil-aligned mental attacks?”

“What? Nah, where would such a munchkin trait exist~ No way.”

“Did you register as an awakener?”

“Nope, I’m living in hiding.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Pardon?”

Rude raised the black half-scissors stuck in the ground. With an expression of not failing this time, an expression of absolutely not failing this time even though he had failed against Kang Ihyeon!

“Then die here!!”

“Uwaaak!”