Chapter 48: Heart of the Fog

During the past few days, I managed to earn quite a few points.

It was the result of providing many services to them.

However, the most significant contribution among them was the newly created Mirror Bug.

Before establishing the base, I communicated countless times with Cassian’s bear doll to find the right direction.

In the end, I completed the path and the map.

At that time, it was the only way, so I tried it.

Looking back now, it felt quite refreshing.

To communicate and understand each other’s locations in this thick fog—it was an essential ability.

Others must have felt the same way.

In the hazy fragments of my past life memories, there was a similar device.

It was a radio used on the battlefield.

‘How could I resist the scent of profit from this idea?’

This functionality wasn’t something that would vanish after this lesson; it was sure to be useful in the future too.

Initially, the doll I envisioned was a tiny bug the size of a fingernail.

It was just a simple insect capable of transmitting someone else’s voice—a form that was easy to make.

It didn’t take long to craft, making it easy to sell.

However, to communicate through this fog that even obscured magic, there had to be a will of shadow, as the bear doll had.

This meant I had to tear apart my shadow tree again.

But just giving it such a basic function felt insufficient.

I felt sorry for the shadows that would bloom within it, and it didn’t satisfy me.

So, I began modifying the doll’s form bit by bit.

‘Does it really need to convey information only through sound?’

The thought suddenly crossed my mind.

Seeing something with one’s eyes would undoubtedly be more convenient and easier to understand.

‘So how could information be seen?’

As I searched for the optimal material, I discovered the mirror.

A mirror imbued with magic could reflect clear images.

I thought, ‘What if I attach this mirror to the bug, allowing it to write and display information?’

If this was used, even maps could be synchronized, making it much easier to track each other’s locations.

After numerous revisions, what was created was the palm-sized Mirror Bug.

The creature flew through the air, displaying a mirror in front of the owner for easy viewing.

The records they left were transmitted through my shadow tree to other stars.

Then, those records were shown directly on the screen.

Even though I made it, I couldn’t help but admire its neat design.

There was nothing more effective than this for exploring the fog.

I was confident about that.

And indeed, it was met with great enthusiasm.

Around fifty Mirror Bugs were handed over to people.

I didn’t sell them; instead, I rented them out in exchange for points.

One hundred points per bug.

It was the cost of releasing these precious, sentient creations into such a dangerous environment.

My shadow tree trembled inside me.

It was completely dried out, torn apart to create the Mirror Bugs.

Recovering it would take a long time.

The bugs had only faint sentience.

This was partly because my tree hadn’t fully recovered and partly because I had to skip certain steps in the process.

It was unavoidable; I simply didn’t have enough time.

Still, they were functional enough to transmit information through the mirror.

Later, I planned to reinforce them with new bodies.

I fiddled with a Mirror Bug in my hand.

Meanwhile, I was pleased with the points I was earning.

I was finally able to surpass the interest and repay my debt entirely.

It filled my heart with contentment.

So, I never imagined things would turn out like this.

With a bitter smile, I gazed at the clearing in the center of the base.

Every remaining student had gathered there.

All of them.

Grouped together, they unleashed their magical energy toward one another.

This created a palpable tension in the air.

***

Ten hours after establishing the base, the entire region had been scouted.

There was no treasure in the fog.

Even the places where treasure might have been hidden were thoroughly searched.

People dug dozens of meters deep into the ground at the center of the map but found nothing.

The incident happened just thirty minutes ago.

Five members of Jun’s group disappeared without a trace.

All the Mirror Bugs they had taken were destroyed.

The shock of losing their bodies caused the stars that had formed on my shadow tree to vanish as well.

They simply ceased to exist.

The sense of loss still filled my chest.

“Three people were away at that time, and the most suspicious among them is that man over there—the swordsman,” Jun said.

Goro sneered at this.

“Swordsman, huh? Are you itching to die? And who exactly left their position? We were all here the entire time.”

Jun smirked and gestured with his chin.

At the end of his gaze was a woman hanging from the bear doll.

It was Cassian.

She ignored the attention focused on her and continued to play with the bear doll.

I crossed my arms, watching her.

I had noticed her disappearance too.

At that time, I confirmed that she had left the bear doll’s side.

This made my suspicions about her more certain.

In a way, it was because of me that everyone had gathered here.

The moment I sensed the Mirror Bugs breaking, I informed everyone immediately.

Things escalated from there, leading us to this point.

Sensing that friction was about to erupt among them, I hide inside the turtle.

I had already collected and stored all the fences within its shell.

The turtle carried its shell with ease, letting out a contented cry.

Goro flexed his bulky muscles, laughing heartily.

“Why would she bother messing with insignificant people like you?”

“We wouldn’t know that, would we? I’m just making a reasonable suspicion.”

The two stared each other down, pouring their magic into the air.

Despite his slightly lacking skills, Jun confronted Goro fiercely, his determination admirable.

‘Was this what it meant to have the dignity of a leader?’

The Great Family group watched their confrontation from a distance.

Soon, Goro’s gaze shifted toward them.

“And why are we the only ones being suspected? Some of their people were missing as well.”

“Are you referring to us?”

Hong Ryeong slightly raised his eyes.

He smiled gently, shaking his head.

“An ambush, you say? We don’t engage in such dishonorable acts. Perhaps they were taken down by monsters. After all, they were quite weak, weren’t they?”

Hong Ryeong looked at Jun as he spoke.

Despite the smile on his lips, his eyes were icy cold.

“Even if we did ambush them, would it really be an issue? Who knows, one of them might have been holding the treasure.”

When Hong Ryeong said this, the atmosphere grew heavy.

It was a thought everyone had but dared not voice.

The suspicion that someone had already found the treasure and was hiding it to tame it.

As such, everyone’s eyes turned toward one another, burning with fiery suspicion.

“In that case, the ambusher might have the treasure. Why don’t you hand them over? I’ll check for myself.”

Jun’s eyes burned red as he spoke, his body radiating anger and magic.

Those behind him began exuding even more powerful magic.

The Great Family and the swordsmen across from them responded in kind, smiling as their magic flared.

‘I didn’t expect it to come to this.’

I clicked my tongue, muttering under my breath.

There was nothing I could do now.

Their minds were already filled with thoughts of killing one another.

Sipping my tea, I watched the clearing.

The tension between them escalated, their voices growing louder.

Magic clashed in mid-air, sparking violently.

Then, someone unleashed a spell.

A student was cleaved in half and fell, their body disintegrating into the air—eliminated.

Seeing this, the others began firing spells at one another.

A myriad of magic lit up the space between them.

At the same time, the magical constructs forming the base began to vanish.

Cassian’s circle was no exception.

It shrank rapidly, threatening to slash through the other mages within.

Jun struck the circle forcefully, but he was flung backward, unable to withstand its power.

Several people behind him were cut down before the circle was finally destroyed.

Then, the fog rolled in.

It had grown so dense that it was nearly impossible to see myself clearly anymore.

I layered defensive spells to block the fog’s advance.

Using the turtle’s vision, I scanned the mist but heard nothing.

I didn’t count how much time passed after that.

I simply sipped my tea and waited.

Eventually, I felt someone approach the turtle.

Through the shadow tree, I sensed a star glowing brightly.

I moved the turtle toward the source.

At the end, I saw a single bear doll and a small circle floating around it.

She stood there, sword in hand, smiling.

I carefully stepped out of the turtle and into the circle.

I glanced around, but aside from her, no one else was present.

Shrinking the turtle, I placed it into my dimensional pouch and approached her.

“Are you alright?”

I cautiously asked.

She, covered in blood, nodded her head.

“Of course.”

She swung her sword, the blood on it dripping to the ground.

Striding toward me, she smiled bitterly and spoke.

“I’m not sure what to call you, but I’d appreciate it if you could finish this without too much pain.”

She looked at me with wide eyes, then suddenly lunged with her sword.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

The pain wasn’t as intense as I expected.

Looking down, I saw the blade piercing deep into my chest.

If the sword were pulled out now, I’d surely be eliminated.

“Did you know I wasn’t the true owner of this body?”

She asked.

I shook my head slightly and spat out the blood pooling in my mouth.

“I only… suspected it.

But now… I’m sure.”

“Is that so? Well then, see you next time.”

She smiled as she pulled out the sword.

The gentle force sent me collapsing to the ground.

My body grew heavier as my eyes closed and I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the infirmary.

The murmur of voices from others filled the room.

The infirmary was bustling with people.

I must have collapsed in the previous battle and woken up here.

Sitting up, I saw Cassian sprawled on the floor.

When she noticed me, she sprang to her feet and clung to me with a desperate expression.

“Mister, where’s my bear?”

“I’ll return it to you once the sixth floor is cleared.”

I shook my head as I spoke.

She collapsed back down, looking despondent.

People began to gather around her, likely those who had fallen at her hands in the fog.

But it wasn’t her.

“Do you remember anything from before you came here?”

I asked her.

She roughly folded her fingers as she answered.

“Hmm. The lecture began, the fog rolled in, and when I came to, here I was.”

She gave a bitter smile.

As I thought.

The last time I faced her, she had become the treasure itself—the heart of the fog.

Honestly, I hadn’t suspected her at first.

It was only after meeting her repeatedly that I noticed something was off.

Her tea-drinking habits, her tone of conversation—subtle differences from her usual behavior.

She must not have fully absorbed her memories.

Even that damned bear doll confused me.

It clung to her even after the true owner had changed.

For a while, I thought it might just be my imagination.

But the events that unfolded proved otherwise.

I became certain the heart had consumed her.

I hadn’t expected the treasure to possess such intelligence.

And her last words were ominous.

“See you next time.”

Somehow, I had a feeling those words would come true.

The lecture ended like that.