Novel Bin
Chapter 103: What Are You Doing Here?
[Title: “Excuse me but where the fuck did my HP go lmaooo”]
Post: Gaderok you motherfucker lmfaoooo
How the hell does a level 59 deal that kind of damage lol
– : You got hit by Black Flame? Then yeah, it’s supposed to hurt. Facts.
– : “SWORD IS FIRE”... it already sounds painful as fuck from the name alone.
– : Real talk. That name’s got like, three different kinds of violence in it.
– : Three?
– : Oh.
– [OP]: Bro idgaf if I got hit or not, that shit was an instant cast
– : Instant cast? Oh...
– : Ohhh... damn.
– [OP]: NO SERIOUSLY, YOU DUMB FUCKS—IS THIS BALANCED?
GADEROK, THAT SON OF A BITCH—THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE SIXTH TIER DAMAGE??
– : Actually he’s back-end sixth tier 😭
– [OP]: Back-end, front-end, whatever—I have hella high magic resistance, even seventh tiers can’t burst me down like this
– : Gaderok’s legit just known for being gear-carried
– : Bro wears this super dainty black pearl earring on his right ear like some pretty boy
– : That’s the one. Artifact with sealed demonic power inside.
– [OP]: Wait what
– [OP]: How did I not see that
– : [Attached Image: BQD1C2810451DDCQQDW1844659625231[CCD]]
– [OP]: Oh thanks
– [OP]: ...wait why is this a lewd pic
– : Oops wrong upload
– [OP]: Anyway thanks lol
– : Yep, glhf~
– : Why is this thread actually kind of wholesome
– [OP]: Wait but hold up—artifact? Isn’t that different from relics?
– : In-game lore says:
If it’s got power on the level of “Strength,” it’s an artifact.
If it’s got something on the level of “Authority,” then it’s a relic.
***
Gaderok’s Black Flame.
Its infamy had spread through every shadow of the underworld.
Those who had encountered it—or merely heard the name—often questioned whether Gaderok was truly a black mage.
The nature and sheer force of that power veered dangerously close to the incomprehensible.
Once it ignited, it wouldn’t stop until its target was completely incinerated. And no one could extinguish it.
In the backstreets, Black Flame was synonymous with terror. And Gaderok—wielder of that terror—reigned as the sovereign of the underworld.
“...The flame went out?”
But now, that Black Flame—had been snuffed out.
Just like that. As if a candle had been blown out by the breeze.
The underworld rulers and their guards stared at Gaderok in mute disbelief.
“...”
Gaderok, too, stared somewhere blankly. Their eyes naturally followed the direction of his gaze.
Every person present turned to face the acting councilor.
“Are you all right, Brimport?”
“Huh? Ah...”
Brimport, still half-dazed and unsure whether he was dreaming, jolted and nodded frantically.
“Y-Yes! I’m fine!”
My life was in the hands of a brat like that?
...Fine. Let’s just call this whole thing a loss.
Up until the moment they’d arrived, Brimport had wallowed in despair over his situation.
But that Brimport was no more.
He immediately scooted his chair next to Lisir’s and took a seat right beside him.
A pitiful sight—unbefitting of someone once called an underworld ruler.
Under normal circumstances, a move like that would have drawn nothing but scorn and ridicule at a council like this.
That is, if this were the usual underworld meeting—centered around Gaderok and Gadum.
“...”
“...”
But now?
No one in the room mocked or sneered at Brimport.
“Th-Thank you for saving me, sir! I owe you my life!”
Because right beside him sat the one who had protected him.
“Don’t mention it.”
Lisir, who had extinguished the Black Flame and then carried on as if it were nothing—
His calm presence shook the rulers, who had lived shackled by the shadows cast by that fire.
This was no longer just “the underworld meeting without Gadum.”
No one was thinking, “Is it Gaderok’s era now?” anymore. Their bewilderment and silence lent legitimacy to a new ruler. Legitimacy strong enough to shift the momentum of the entire gathering.
No one looked at Lisir like some lost fledgling anymore.
Reading the flow of the room, Lisir recalled Clarna’s advice.
—When dealing with criminals, the most important thing is to dominate the field.
Now was the time to follow it.
Lisir opened his mouth.
“As someone mentioned earlier, the mood may be a little too unsettled to proceed with the meeting. But not to worry. As you can see, I’ve already handled the most urgent flame.”
In a rare move, Lisir adopted the refined tone of a noble—something he usually avoided. The elegant phrasing, wrapped in formal politeness, instantly made Gaderok’s earlier antics look ridiculous.
A few rulers exchanged glances and stifled quiet laughter at Gaderok’s expense.
“...”
But when Gaderok turned a glare their way, they quickly sobered, pretending nothing had happened.
Silently, he locked eyes with Lisir.
The room’s energy split cleanly in two.
Lisir clicked his tongue inwardly.
This... might be tougher than I thought.
His mission was to seize control of this meeting and push through an agenda that would pressure the underworld.
To do that, he needed a majority. Four votes total, including his and Brimport’s.
A moment ago, he’d dared to hope—maybe he could sway two more rulers besides Gaderok.
But judging by their current reactions, he couldn’t afford that optimism.
It was obvious they still feared Gaderok more than him.
They’re not going to support anything that threatens the underworld unless they fear me more than Gaderok. That’s just how it is.
Lisir began reviewing the key facts he’d memorized before the meeting, hoping to find another angle.
Dajong’s clearly eyeing Gaderok here... So my best bet might be the Saint and the Master.
The Saint and the Master.
Just thinking about them left a tight knot in Lisir’s gut.
He recalled Dogal’s detailed descriptions of the two:
– The Master isn’t someone to take lightly. Since rising as the new northern ruler, he’s unified the whole district into a single iron force. Even Gaderok never managed that level of control.
– Gadum tried repeatedly to build relations, since a big chunk of his business depended on the northern slave trade. But every time, the Master shut him down—harshly and immediately.
– Same goes for the Saint. She’s built her name by treating drug addicts and plague victims for free in the slums. Just from her title alone, you can tell she commands immense support. Honestly, even the Church’s actual Saint probably ranks below her there.
– And then there’s the backing from “Golden Barley,” one of the city’s top merchant groups. Their heiress, Karia, fell hard for the Saint after being healed by her personally.
– There are plenty of other elites who’ve been captivated by the Saint, too.
– Both the Master and the Saint are experts at handling people.
Even for someone like you, Lord Lisir, they won’t be easy to deal with.
They were clearly a different breed from the rest of the underworld bosses. More aligned with Lisir, who now represented the city council’s will to curb organized crime.
But that doesn’t mean they’ll side with me.
After all, they were still rooted in the underworld. Even if they weren’t as hostile as criminals, they likely didn’t welcome city council interference either.
I need a way to pressure the underworld efficiently... without provoking the Master and the Saint. Damn. That’s not easy.
Even after turning it over in his mind, no good solution came.
Lisir found himself quietly hoping—just for a moment... That the two wouldn’t arrive before he figured something out.
“The Master has arrived.”
But that hope was short-lived. The Master arrived right on time and revealed her presence.
Tension stiffened Lisir’s whole body as he turned to look toward the entrance of the parlor.
There stood a slender woman. Beneath a pure-white mask, crimson eyes blazed with presence.
“...”
“...”
The acting councilor. The Master of the North.
The two stared at each other for a long, ambiguous moment, locked in mutual appraisal.
“The Saint has arrived.”
Before the Master could even take her seat, another figure appeared.
From within a metal mask, androgynous sky-blue eyes gleamed with piercing clarity.
“...”
“...”
“...”
The acting councilor. The Master of the North. The Saint of the East.
For a long while, the three of them stared at each other in ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) a strange and unreadable silence.
What the hell are you doing here?
None of the others could interpret the weight behind those gazes.
Then...
The Master glanced between the round table and the Saint, then swiftly moved and claimed the seat to Lisir’s right.
The Saint naturally attempted to sit on Lisir’s left—
“?”
“...”
Only to meet eyes with Brimport, who was already occupying that seat. They locked eyes for a moment before the Saint let out a quiet sigh.
One way or another, all the seats at the round table were now filled.
“We’re all here. Let the meeting begin.”
The right to moderate the meeting traditionally belonged to Gadum, the summit’s chief sponsor. In his stead, Lisir—as acting proxy—now assumed that role.
Before beginning, Lisir took a moment to reaffirm his objective and glanced around the table.
“One, two, three, four... huh?”
It came without warning.
A perfect strategy suddenly bloomed in Lisir’s mind. One that could let him control the underworld and convince the rest.
***
What the hell did he just pull...?
Since the moment Lisir had extinguished the Black Flame, Gaderok’s expression hadn’t improved.
That fire had held symbolic meaning—not just for others, but especially for Gaderok himself.
Now, in its absence, a different fire had taken root inside him. One of growing unease.
He feared this meeting might no longer go the way he intended.
But that fear didn’t last long.
The council had barely begun when the acting councilor presented the first proposal—and it was laughable.
“Therefore, we intend to include the majority of backstreet zones into our patrol routes, so that the City Guard can more effectively protect and coordinate with your operations. Furthermore—”
Stripped of its sugarcoating and flowery wording, the proposal boiled down to this:
– From now on, the City Guard will oversee the backstreets.
So he’s still a fledgling after all.
Had the boy gotten cocky after putting out the Black Flame? Or was he simply overestimating Gadum’s authority backing him from the shadows?
Whatever it was, he’d just made an absurd mistake.
To propose control over the backstreets—at the underworld council—before the rulers of the underworld?
As for the Master and the Saint... they’re clearly going to reject this.
Gaderok’s greatest fear—that the Saint and Master might side with Lisir—vanished in that instant.
This confirms it. The Master and the Saint are not with the acting councilor.
He surveyed the round table.
By his count, he had three votes on his side. Two votes stood in opposition. And two—the Master and the Saint—remained neutral.
Brimport...
If he could just win Brimport back over, he’d have the majority.
“Then, those in favor of my proposal—please raise your hands.”
Having done the math, Gaderok leaned back in his chair with smug satisfaction.
All he had to do now was sit back and watch the fledgling crash and burn.
He turned his gaze toward Brimport.
“...”
At least he’s not that much of an idiot.
Brimport looked visibly troubled, glancing between Lisir, the Saint, and the Master.
It was the expression of a man thinking: Why propose something that might alienate the only allies we have left?
In that case, instead of killing Brimport...
Gaderok was already imagining how to move next once the councilor’s proposal failed.
Until—
“...!”
A sharp inhalation came from beside him. Gaderok snapped out of his scheming.
“...”
And stared in disbelief.
The Saint and the Master. Both of them had raised their hands.
“I-I’m in favor too!”
Brimport, who had only been watching the two, quickly followed.
“Motion approved.”
Just like that... The acting councilor’s ridiculous proposal passed.
***
Did that really just happen...?
Lisir sat there stunned, watching Gaderok’s reaction.
As expected, Gaderok looked confused.
That much had been within Lisir’s expectations.
“...”
But then, suddenly...Resolve hardened in Gaderok’s face.
He met eyes with Dajong—the southern ruler sitting beside him—and gave a subtle nod.
Wait.
An ominous feeling welled up in Lisir’s chest. And in the next instant, that anxiety became reality.
Gaderok slipped a hand into his inner coat, and a faint pulse of mana rippled outward.
He’d just sent a signal—to his men waiting in nearby buildings.
Lisir’s finely honed intuition sensed hostile presences rapidly closing in from all sides.
“Lord Lisir—something’s wrong!”
Dogal and the other guards immediately positioned themselves with their backs to the parlor entrance.
At the same time, armed men flooded in, sealing off the exits.
“Those are... Lord Lisir! They’re with Gaderok and Dajong!”
Gaderok and Dajong had already aligned. Their goal: to completely expel Gadum’s faction and seize the entire underworld.
A ruler caught in the middle, paralyzed by indecision, now stood and shouted in outrage—
“Gaderok! Dajong! What the hell are you—AAGGHHH!!”
His face ignited in black fire.
As the burning ruler thrashed on the ground, Gaderok rose from his seat, staring down at Lisir with mocking disdain.
“You little brat. In the end, you just had to make this mess worse. You do realize, all of this is your fault, right?”
“...”
“Well then—”
“Kyaaah!!”
A scream cut Gaderok off.
It came from one of Dajong’s own men—now flailing, engulfed in black fire.
“W-What the hell...! Poréan!”
“Lady Dajong!! Help me!! It’s burning!!!”
“Goddamn it, Gaderok!!! Stop this! What the hell are you doing!?”
Dajong reeled back, confronting Gaderok in a panic.
“...?”
Unexpected behavior. Utter confusion.
Gaderok now displayed two incompatible states at once.
“...What the hell is going on?”
“Are they turning on each other?”
Even the Saint and the Master wore expressions of open confusion.
But then—
“Oh, that’s right—”
“You were here, weren’t you?”
They turned their gazes to Lisir and gave small nods, as if understanding everything now.
“No—”
Lisir, just as baffled as the rest, opened his mouth to deny it. When a voice echoed inside his mind.
—Jjuinni!
It was Dangalleon—
The flamboyant demon sealed in the talking orb, who just yesterday had complained about being left out of Lisir’s inner world and demanded to move in.
Lisir, alarmed, asked:
Wait. Was this you?
—Who else but I, Dangalleon, would do such a thing for you, Jjuinni!?
How!?
—Do you see that disgusting vermin’s black pearl earring?
Yeah, what about it?
—It’s mine!
...
That answer skipped too many steps. But Lisir quickly understood what it meant.
He recalled the demon’s boastful title—something he’d heard many times.
The Burning Black Flame... wait, the fire Gaderok’s using—is that your power?
—It is power I created! Every Black Flame in this world belongs to me, Dangalleon!
Hah...
—It’s an outrage! That vile insect dares wield my power freely...! But now, Jjuinni—this is the moment!
Moment for what?
—I’ll burn more of their men with Black Flame! They’ll think it’s that bastard’s doing and fall into chaos. You’ll use the confusion to drive a wedge between them!
“...”
What kind of mind does one have to live with, For a plan like that to roll off the tongue as naturally as breathing?
Lisir was left speechless by the demon’s wicked brilliance.
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