The room belonging to No. 1 was still blanketed by darkness.
As though a smouldering fire was started, the cold air was now filled with a subtlety unlike its usual lifelessness.
The man who had been kicked down next to the wall, with a shoe print in the centre of his pants, narrowed his eyes. His gaze filled with aggression.
It wasn’t a stretch to assume that the Devil had never expected that he would one day fall to a prop that he had given away himself.
Asteroid B-612’s Rose could only be used thrice.
Zong Jiu had used it once at First High School after the Devil personally gave it to him. This was the second time.
Zong Jiu had a cold expression on his face. He deviated from his path towards the door and instead went deeper into No. 1’s room.
His reason for refusing the Devil was simple. It was because the other had gotten hard, while he, indifferent to sex, had not.
To put it bluntly, Zong Jiu’s impression of the Devil had been renewed after the other got hard just from kissing.
As he walked, he neatened the clothes draping off him and buttoned the shirt up button by button, then slowly wiped his left thumb over his lips.
He spread his fingers. A crimson hue moistened them.
It was blood.
Zong Jiu wasn’t injured, whether on the inside or outside.
Thus it was obvious whose blood stained his lips.
The Magician ignored the fiery gaze following behind him, almost tangible with the intent to press him against a wall. He walked towards the built-in elevator that was in all S-rank trainee rooms without a turn of his head.
That was because a thought had suddenly hit him. If he went out from the door into the hallway, it was possible that his dishevelled appearance would be seen by other trainees who had left the ball or not attended it at all.
No. 1 had stolen him away under everyone’s eyes and even departed with such a misleading statement that was bound to provoke food for thought. If he came out like this now, wouldn’t he just be validating the speculation that No. 9 had sold his body to No. 1 for benefits.
The Devil might be able to afford ruining his image, but the Magician wasn’t.
Three minutes was not too long or short. But it was definitely enough time to leave this place.
Ibcu Ale abbx j aegc jcv kjixfv jgbecv atf mbgcfg ab aegc lcab atf bqfc-mbcmfqa ilnlcu gbbw.
Ktfgf kjr j ijguf yijmx yfv bc atf ifoa bo atf ilnlcu gbbw. Ktf rtffar jcv qliibkr kfgf jii qlamt yijmx. Obbxlcu ja atf fnfc regojmf, la rffwfv atja atf bkcfg gjgfis abbx jc lcafgfra lc la.
What was surprising was not the bed but the item set next to the pillow.
There laid an extremely familiar rabbit doll.
The rabbit doll was covered in dirty grey smog from the fire. Half of its droopy ears were burnt off, revealing scorched black cotton wool inside, curled into a ball.
The surface of the doll was truly unattractive. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it ugly.
However, the owner of the room still placed it on the bed, the most relaxing and closest position in the room.
The rabbit was precisely the one that the Magician had given to the little Devil in the Judgement Day instance. The little Devil liked it a lot at first. He would hug it close every day, never letting it leave his side when he ate, slept, or bathed.
Zong Jiu stared at the rabbit doll for a moment before walking into the elevator without a single backward glance.
Ever since returning from the Judgement Day instance, the Masquerade Ball was the Magician’s and the Devil’s first encounter in a whole month.
Even after meeting, they had tacitly avoided the topic and battled it out on the dance floor, kissing each other in this room where one couldn’t even see the fingers on an outstretched hand. In essence, no matter what they did, it was as though they had forgotten what happened in the S-rank instance. There was not a single mention or allusion to it.
However, on rare occasions, Zong Jiu would also think of the boy holding the rabbit doll, looking up at him and sweetly calling him “gege“. He would remember the beautiful eyes which were a brown so dark they were almost black when they were not yet irrigated with malice.
Not only the “gege” but also the “please be good to him.” The final obstinacy when the little Devil raised his head and said “I don’t need you to save me” before submerging in the churning lava.
The Devil wasn’t hiding his name. He didn’t have a name at all.
There was nothing more to it. From beginning to end, Zong Jiu had always been facing the Devil.
The white-haired young man stood in the middle of the elevator, frowning, eyes cast down, hiding the dim light in his eyes.
Maybe they had come to realise this in the Judgement Day instance: they weren’t willing to kill each other. They understood each other best and were the most alike. They were, like the other, the loneliest of people.
They were clearly destined to be enemies, yet they were like two spaceships wandering in a sea of stars. After many years of solitude in unending radio-silence, they became each other’s only answer.
—
The Masquerade Ball last night was too eventful. At the end of the ball in the morning, the trainees reluctantly left and gathered at the rooftop bar, the topic never straying from the ball.
The first highlight was naturally the identity of the mysterious instructor.
This shouldn’t have been anything to sniff at, but due to No. 1’s renown, many of the lower-ranked trainees did not have much feeling about it, calmly accepting the news.
That was because they were too far removed from the upper echelons. A trainee who had to struggle every day to survive the next instance wouldn’t have the time to pay attention to anything else, nor was it possible for them to encounter that major celebrity.
On the contrary, it was the higher-ranked trainees who collectively sounded the alarm bell.
Originally, whether No. 1 was the instructor or not had nothing to do with the vast majority of the trainees, but now Zhuge An had joined forces with half of the S-ranks. They had a significant organisational strength in their control that shouldn’t be underestimated and had secretly planted many clues in wait for the day that the identity of the instructor came to light.
The Devil’s camp was clear-cut.
He manipulated the remaining half of the S-ranks, and now he had even exposed his identity, revealing his attitude towards the Universal Wish Ticket.
It boiled down to whether it would end in mutual destruction. If he really obtained the Universal Wish Ticket, the consequences would be unimaginable.
At this moment, Zhuge An used Zong Jiu as a walking mascot.
His speech at Famine Mountain Village had moved a lot of people. Although Zong Jiu himself didn’t think much of it, his speech was not only spread through the forums but also orally transmitted to everyone within earshot at Famine Mountain Village, laying down a great foundation for him.
It should also not be forgotten that the Magician had successfully risen from the E-ranks to become No. 9. He had become a brand new idol who everyone looked up to. A walking mascot like that was very persuasive.
It was a given that the second highlight on the tip of everyone’s tongues was the ambiguous relationship the Magician at the No. 9 position had with No. 1.
The trainees didn’t dare to talk too much about it at the banquet hall, but gossip spread like wildfire after the ball ended.
The previous rumours plaguing the Magician reared their heads again.
Some said that owing to his beautiful and unattainable appearance, after being publicly recognised by No. 1 in Las Vegas, he took advantage of the opportunity to climb into the bed of the other and obtain his support in later instances.
That was the most widely circulated rumour. Firstly due to the unusual atmosphere between No. 1 and No. 9, and secondly because many B-rank trainees had noted the attention he had received from the Devil in the collective instance.
The rumour spread and even spawned many new versions. It was said that it was due to the Magician’s excessive promiscuity with other S-rank trainees that the instructor gave him a low rating for the Mental Asylum. Later on, after enjoying the taste, the evaluation was raised again, and since then the Magician had never gotten anything lower than S-rank from the instructor.
It was also said that the Magician was not only in cahoots with No. 1. No. 2 once made a statement that any enemy of the Magician was an enemy of the Night Clan. The villainous advisor No. 3 was also willingly supporting him from behind. Even No. 7 the Messiah and No. 8 the Black Warlock were welcomed guests of the Magician.
Whether it was believable was one thing. Gossip about illicit romances always spread the fastest and was even able to command respect.
In the Thriller Trainee competition, getting involved with the instructor was equivalent to getting involved with the system. With such a strong backing, let alone that the instructor was now revealed to be No. 1, there was definitely no issue for him to smoothly enter the top hundred.
All else aside, if others had known that climbing into No. 1’s bed was a viable option, god knows how many trainees would have signed up for the task.
The jealousy of the masses added fuel to the gossip.
Unfortunately, these rumours didn’t spread for long before disappearing completely. It appeared that the person who started them had been secretly dealt with, so others who were trying to stir up trouble all zipped their lips and didn’t dare say anything more.
Except for those in the bottom rungs who could only rely on malicious speculation to gain psychological comfort, high-ranking trainees actually had a comprehensive understanding of the Magician’s strength and believed that he deserved the title.
Overshadowed, the last piece of news was less eye-catching.
Compared to the scandal between No. 1 and No. 9, the news that No. 10 the Yin-Yang Master had a hobby for cross-dressing paled into insignificance.
Actually, the fearsome thing was not that he had been found cross-dressing but that many had seen the twin-ponytailed sailor-uniformed girl take out the blue amulet from a pocket. The visual impact of that scene was so huge that several had exclaimed in surprise.
It was a pity that Tsuchimikado was obviously unable to get past the mental hurdle where others could.
He felt that he had experienced social suicide and had even lost the mood to game. He was unresponsive to all communication and holed under his blankets in his room, contemplating life.
The system had already notified all trainees that the new rules for the next instance would be announced a day after the Masquerade Ball was held.
For this reason, Tsuchimikado even used his S-rank authority to request leave in advance, following No. 1’s example and applying for the right to abstain from appearing at the venue for the meeting.
Soon, the next morning arrived.
All bright and early in the morning, the icy mechanical voice of the system resounded across the trainee dormitories.
[All trainees are requested to arrive at the broadcasting studio before 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. Special rules for the next instance would be announced at 9:00 a.m. sharp.]
The room belonging to No. 1 was still blanketed by darkness.
As though a smouldering fire was started, the cold air was now filled with a subtlety unlike its usual lifelessness.
The man who had been kicked down next to the wall, with a shoe print in the centre of his pants, narrowed his eyes. His gaze filled with aggression.
It wasn’t a stretch to assume that the Devil had never expected that he would one day fall to a prop that he had given away himself.
Asteroid B-612’s Rose could only be used thrice.
Zong Jiu had used it once at First High School after the Devil personally gave it to him. This was the second time.
Zong Jiu had a cold expression on his face. He deviated from his path towards the door and instead went deeper into No. 1’s room.
His reason for refusing the Devil was simple. It was because the other had gotten hard, while he, indifferent to sex, had not.
To put it bluntly, Zong Jiu’s impression of the Devil had been renewed after the other got hard just from kissing.
As he walked, he neatened the clothes draping off him and buttoned the shirt up button by button, then slowly wiped his left thumb over his lips.
He spread his fingers. A crimson hue moistened them.
It was blood.
Zong Jiu wasn’t injured, whether on the inside or outside.
Thus it was obvious whose blood stained his lips.
The Magician ignored the fiery gaze following behind him, almost tangible with the intent to press him against a wall. He walked towards the built-in elevator that was in all S-rank trainee rooms without a turn of his head.
That was because a thought had suddenly hit him. If he went out from the door into the hallway, it was possible that his dishevelled appearance would be seen by other trainees who had left the ball or not attended it at all.
No. 1 had stolen him away under everyone’s eyes and even departed with such a misleading statement that was bound to provoke food for thought. If he came out like this now, wouldn’t he just be validating the speculation that No. 9 had sold his body to No. 1 for benefits.
The Devil might be able to afford ruining his image, but the Magician wasn’t.
Three minutes was not too long or short. But it was definitely enough time to leave this place.
Ibcu Ale abbx j aegc jcv kjixfv jgbecv atf mbgcfg ab aegc lcab atf bqfc-mbcmfqa ilnlcu gbbw.
Ktfgf kjr j ijguf yijmx yfv bc atf ifoa bo atf ilnlcu gbbw. Ktf rtffar jcv qliibkr kfgf jii qlamt yijmx. Obbxlcu ja atf fnfc regojmf, la rffwfv atja atf bkcfg gjgfis abbx jc lcafgfra lc la.
What was surprising was not the bed but the item set next to the pillow.
There laid an extremely familiar rabbit doll.
The rabbit doll was covered in dirty grey smog from the fire. Half of its droopy ears were burnt off, revealing scorched black cotton wool inside, curled into a ball.
The surface of the doll was truly unattractive. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it ugly.
However, the owner of the room still placed it on the bed, the most relaxing and closest position in the room.
The rabbit was precisely the one that the Magician had given to the little Devil in the Judgement Day instance. The little Devil liked it a lot at first. He would hug it close every day, never letting it leave his side when he ate, slept, or bathed.
Zong Jiu stared at the rabbit doll for a moment before walking into the elevator without a single backward glance.
Ever since returning from the Judgement Day instance, the Masquerade Ball was the Magician’s and the Devil’s first encounter in a whole month.
Even after meeting, they had tacitly avoided the topic and battled it out on the dance floor, kissing each other in this room where one couldn’t even see the fingers on an outstretched hand. In essence, no matter what they did, it was as though they had forgotten what happened in the S-rank instance. There was not a single mention or allusion to it.
However, on rare occasions, Zong Jiu would also think of the boy holding the rabbit doll, looking up at him and sweetly calling him “gege“. He would remember the beautiful eyes which were a brown so dark they were almost black when they were not yet irrigated with malice.
Not only the “gege” but also the “please be good to him.” The final obstinacy when the little Devil raised his head and said “I don’t need you to save me” before submerging in the churning lava.
The Devil wasn’t hiding his name. He didn’t have a name at all.
There was nothing more to it. From beginning to end, Zong Jiu had always been facing the Devil.
The white-haired young man stood in the middle of the elevator, frowning, eyes cast down, hiding the dim light in his eyes.
Maybe they had come to realise this in the Judgement Day instance: they weren’t willing to kill each other. They understood each other best and were the most alike. They were, like the other, the loneliest of people.
They were clearly destined to be enemies, yet they were like two spaceships wandering in a sea of stars. After many years of solitude in unending radio-silence, they became each other’s only answer.
—
The Masquerade Ball last night was too eventful. At the end of the ball in the morning, the trainees reluctantly left and gathered at the rooftop bar, the topic never straying from the ball.
The first highlight was naturally the identity of the mysterious instructor.
This shouldn’t have been anything to sniff at, but due to No. 1’s renown, many of the lower-ranked trainees did not have much feeling about it, calmly accepting the news.
That was because they were too far removed from the upper echelons. A trainee who had to struggle every day to survive the next instance wouldn’t have the time to pay attention to anything else, nor was it possible for them to encounter that major celebrity.
On the contrary, it was the higher-ranked trainees who collectively sounded the alarm bell.
Originally, whether No. 1 was the instructor or not had nothing to do with the vast majority of the trainees, but now Zhuge An had joined forces with half of the S-ranks. They had a significant organisational strength in their control that shouldn’t be underestimated and had secretly planted many clues in wait for the day that the identity of the instructor came to light.
The Devil’s camp was clear-cut.
He manipulated the remaining half of the S-ranks, and now he had even exposed his identity, revealing his attitude towards the Universal Wish Ticket.
It boiled down to whether it would end in mutual destruction. If he really obtained the Universal Wish Ticket, the consequences would be unimaginable.
At this moment, Zhuge An used Zong Jiu as a walking mascot.
His speech at Famine Mountain Village had moved a lot of people. Although Zong Jiu himself didn’t think much of it, his speech was not only spread through the forums but also orally transmitted to everyone within earshot at Famine Mountain Village, laying down a great foundation for him.
It should also not be forgotten that the Magician had successfully risen from the E-ranks to become No. 9. He had become a brand new idol who everyone looked up to. A walking mascot like that was very persuasive.
It was a given that the second highlight on the tip of everyone’s tongues was the ambiguous relationship the Magician at the No. 9 position had with No. 1.
The trainees didn’t dare to talk too much about it at the banquet hall, but gossip spread like wildfire after the ball ended.
The previous rumours plaguing the Magician reared their heads again.
Some said that owing to his beautiful and unattainable appearance, after being publicly recognised by No. 1 in Las Vegas, he took advantage of the opportunity to climb into the bed of the other and obtain his support in later instances.
That was the most widely circulated rumour. Firstly due to the unusual atmosphere between No. 1 and No. 9, and secondly because many B-rank trainees had noted the attention he had received from the Devil in the collective instance.
The rumour spread and even spawned many new versions. It was said that it was due to the Magician’s excessive promiscuity with other S-rank trainees that the instructor gave him a low rating for the Mental Asylum. Later on, after enjoying the taste, the evaluation was raised again, and since then the Magician had never gotten anything lower than S-rank from the instructor.
It was also said that the Magician was not only in cahoots with No. 1. No. 2 once made a statement that any enemy of the Magician was an enemy of the Night Clan. The villainous advisor No. 3 was also willingly supporting him from behind. Even No. 7 the Messiah and No. 8 the Black Warlock were welcomed guests of the Magician.
Whether it was believable was one thing. Gossip about illicit romances always spread the fastest and was even able to command respect.
In the Thriller Trainee competition, getting involved with the instructor was equivalent to getting involved with the system. With such a strong backing, let alone that the instructor was now revealed to be No. 1, there was definitely no issue for him to smoothly enter the top hundred.
All else aside, if others had known that climbing into No. 1’s bed was a viable option, god knows how many trainees would have signed up for the task.
The jealousy of the masses added fuel to the gossip.
Unfortunately, these rumours didn’t spread for long before disappearing completely. It appeared that the person who started them had been secretly dealt with, so others who were trying to stir up trouble all zipped their lips and didn’t dare say anything more.
Except for those in the bottom rungs who could only rely on malicious speculation to gain psychological comfort, high-ranking trainees actually had a comprehensive understanding of the Magician’s strength and believed that he deserved the title.
Overshadowed, the last piece of news was less eye-catching.
Compared to the scandal between No. 1 and No. 9, the news that No. 10 the Yin-Yang Master had a hobby for cross-dressing paled into insignificance.
Actually, the fearsome thing was not that he had been found cross-dressing but that many had seen the twin-ponytailed sailor-uniformed girl take out the blue amulet from a pocket. The visual impact of that scene was so huge that several had exclaimed in surprise.
It was a pity that Tsuchimikado was obviously unable to get past the mental hurdle where others could.
He felt that he had experienced social suicide and had even lost the mood to game. He was unresponsive to all communication and holed under his blankets in his room, contemplating life.
The system had already notified all trainees that the new rules for the next instance would be announced a day after the Masquerade Ball was held.
For this reason, Tsuchimikado even used his S-rank authority to request leave in advance, following No. 1’s example and applying for the right to abstain from appearing at the venue for the meeting.
Soon, the next morning arrived.
All bright and early in the morning, the icy mechanical voice of the system resounded across the trainee dormitories.
[All trainees are requested to arrive at the broadcasting studio before 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. Special rules for the next instance would be announced at 9:00 a.m. sharp.]
