The Novel's Extra: Scrapped

The Cube Monster Incident became a hot topic across the world.

Djinns being involved in the incident was swept under wraps, with the excuse being 'we are currently investigating the matter'.

Despite this, because a Serpent Dragon and several other monsters managed to kill 30 cadets, Cube faced massive Backlash on a global scale.

"Which will result in Cube finally tightening up its security! Exactly as planned!"

'Yoo Ah-Ra' seated in my living room raised her glass of (hopefully) red wine

"And thanks to a bit of string pulling on my part, Cube classes are going on hold for a couple weeks. Which means it's time for you to come meet the boss."

The Djinn woman had thrown away her disguise, her eyes wide open, her hair tied in a professional ponytail and she dressed as something between a halloween vampire and a noir detective.

"Now, do you remember the characteristics I told you about? Look strong, agitated and have a strong inclination to violence. Don't worry too much about acting bloodthirsty in front of others. Your existence is still a secret to most members."

She downed the rest of the red liquid before standing up and stretching.

"Ready?" She smiled sweetly.

'If I didn't know she was rotten to the core, I might've actually joined her side. I know that all Djinn are filth.' 

"Ready." I adjusted my gloves and tucked my blades under my coat.

I checked my watch and looked into my reflection on the black screen, forming a relaxed but slightly annoyed expression.

I looked up and saw the woman snap her fingers, ripping at the fabric of space and opening a swirling black and pink whirlpool of magic.

The amount of swirling threads and winding patterns hurt my head to comprehend.

'I'm not at a level where I can understand, never mind recreate, long range travel.'

I shook it off and blinked the stars into existence, seeing into the future.

I then dashed into the portal, the headache subsided as I arrived in a luxurious looking room. I scanned the surroundings before ending the vision.

'No sign of ambush… but there weren't any windows, I'll ask once I get in.'

I walked through the portal, for real this time.

Threads of mana weave and bend, cut and extend forming a magic circle hidden deep within the confines of the spell, the headache from seeing them persisted for a moment before I stepped onto a red carpet.

Golden light shone down on a corridor as countless chandeliers hung from the ceiling. 

A pungent, sweet scent wafted through the air with a faint metallic undertone.

The floor beneath the carpet was pure black marble, similar to the walls and the ceiling above.

"Welcome, my dearest Mole. To the Evil Society's home of operations."

The woman began walking across the corridor. I followed.

"What do you think? Hardly anyone is here in the corridor since we're still in operating hours. They're all in separate rooms at the moment."

"It smells like a perfume shop mixed with a slaughterhouse. You need windows to vent this place." I spoke with agitation, the place did stink after all.

"Heheheh, we'd be crushed to death in a moment's notice." 'Yoo Ah-Ra' laughed before clapping.

'Crushed..! We're underground. Is the only way in via a portal?'

"Oh right, you need to address me as something when we're here! My name is Ori, call me anything other than that while we're here and I'll have your head on a platter." She spoke warmly.

"Got it, Ori-nim." I felt a chill down my spine so I added an honorific just in case.

"Now, before we go down this corridor I need to brief you on a few things. 1. Do not make a sound until we are inside the boss's room. 2. Try your best once you're inside. 3. If you show any expression, you'll lose."

I nodded but internally ran scenarios in my head.

The corridor ahead was similar to the room we were in, black marble walls, chandeliers and a red carpet on the floor.

As we walked through the corridor I heard many voices from behind closed doors. Some made me sick while others made me boil with rage, all while having to keep a straight face.

—Ewww, the body is all icky~

—Huhu, let's just keep using it. We can warm it up with fire and feel the burn.

Two women spoke from a door to my right. We walked past.

—Ahhh, that village was so worthless. Every single penniless f*ck. 

—There wasn't a single pretty face.

Two men spoke from a door to my right. We ignored them.

I paid them no mind but was startled by a door particularly close to the boss's office.

—What do you mean they disappeared? Our assassins don't just up and leave! Maybe it was your incompetent employees that gave me the wrong information! Lancaster took my EYE because you couldn't DO YOUR JOB!!! 

The voice made Ori grin like a madwoman as she knocked on the boss's door.

'This is it. The leader of the Evil Society. The one I'll be taking orders from until I can figure out how to shred this place apart.'

"Boss, I brought the Mole like you asked." She yelled.

The door slid open as an inky black shadow fell out.

Except, it wasn't a shadow. It was the mangled corpse of a man, his body quickly evaporating.

There wasn't a single thread of mana on the Djinn. His mouth was agape as if in the middle of a scream, his eyes wide open with fear.

'He kills his own Djinn!' 

"Again!? Boss! Control yourself!" Ori yelled into the room and then walked in.

I followed behind and instantly regretted it. The pungent smell of perfume came from this very room.

The room was much like a throne room, a massive chair of gore above a set of stairs. The head of a dragon decorating the chandelier. Dim purple lights were the only source of light.

"I couldn't help it. He wasn't cut out for the job." A relaxed voice bounced off the walls and entered the room. The voice sounded smooth and velvety while simultaneously being filled to the brim with a liquid.

Hearing it was pure suffering and seeing it was even worse.

All the threads in the room were dying off in the presence of the creature sitting on the throne.

I didn't dare raise my head as I felt it hard to breathe even being in its presence.

Ori kneeled and so did I, ignoring how the threads on the floor crawled towards the thing on the chair.

I took shallow breaths and prayed as the distinct feeling of something evil creeped into my mind.

A hollow and evil laughter, overlapping and scratching at my psyche. Magical knowledge and a fierce, twisted malice forced its way in.

I distinctly felt it push against my thoughts, making them weak and quiet. I kept a silent count in my head to counteract it.

"Hohoho, so this is what you've brought me this time!" The threads on the floor shook at his voice.

"Of course, he's quite the specimen, Boss. I think he'll pass your test."

'Test? I'm struggling to keep my thoughts straight with this thing pushing into my head- sh*t- 12, 13, 14.'

"Then rise!" The voice commanded and I immediately rose to my feet.

"Look at me!"

I turned to face it-

A mass of threads whirling around a completely obscured figure. I wasn't able to see a single feature peeking through the overwhelming amount of threads.

'I feel sick'

It was like an iron maiden made out of countless black squirming maggots, each of which prying into a pore on the maiden.

The moment my eyes took in even a single shape formed by thread, information was forced into my head. Hundreds of incomprehensible whispers scratched around at the contours of my mind.

I wanted to move, look away, or even just place my hand on the handle of my blade…but I couldn't. This creature's very presence stopped me from doing anything he didn't order.

All I could do was grit my teeth and bear the pain.

"Hmph… pass. But he's only allowed to see rank one personnel and above unless necessary."

The voice spoke as Ori curtsied and dragged my dazed figure out of the room.

"That was one hell of a glare. I was almost turned o-"

The moment we entered the bright corridor once again I doubled over and let out a gag. Nothing came out of my mouth.

Ori patted my back with her disgusting paw.

"...let's go back for today. I'll introduce you to the rank one personnel when you need it."

I nodded and covered my mouth.

I needed time to recover, think and comprehend. I can't even think straight with the things brushing around in my skull.

I also needed to plan for how to… eugh.

My mind refused to recall the creature atop the throne. I gagged again due the smell coming from the room behind me.

Ori slung my arm over her shoulder and began guiding us back to the portal area.

"...why is the boss… like that?" I managed to get out.

Ori looked at me with a contemplative expression.

"Let's just say…Lee Sang-Il is Belial's favourite."

Whatever force of this universe permitted the creation of such a creature could only be described as–

–Pure Evil.