episode_0016

In the world of Infinite Horizon, there exists an evil organization called “Abyss.”

If you were to ask what exactly Abyss does, the answer would be simple:

They are followers of the Demon King.

Long ago, even before the phenomenon of “Erosion” began plaguing the world of Infinite Horizon, there was once a being named Leviathan who declared himself the Demon King and plunged the world into terror.

Of course, as is typical in any fantasy setting, heroes from across the world united in the face of crisis and… well, after much struggle, Leviathan was eventually vanquished.

Abyss is an evil faction composed of Leviathan’s followers.

Their goal? The return of the Demon King Leviathan.

In an era where cars zip around and everyone casually uses smartphones, the idea of a Demon King’s return might sound laughable—but they are no mere ragtag group of fools.

They exist everywhere, lurking in the shadows, and will commit any atrocity if it brings them closer to their goal.

Even if those acts are socially unacceptable or morally abhorrent.

And the girl standing before me now, Rachel, is an agent Abyss has infiltrated into Providence Academy.

“My name is Park Jeong-hyun.”

“Park Jeong-hyun… A fitting name for one who swims in the abyss alongside me.”

Logically, an undercover agent of a shadowy organization would benefit from keeping a low profile, blending seamlessly into school life.

One might wonder—why would she flaunt her eccentricity so boldly, practically advertising herself as a villain?

There’s an old saying:

If you want to hide a tree, hide it in a forest.

Think about it.

If one day, a major incident orchestrated by a dark faction erupts at Providence, plunging students and professors into mutual suspicion—

Would anyone suspect Rachel?

The girl who constantly shouts things like, “Fufu, I am the Dark Flame Master, chosen by the shadows!”

They’d probably dismiss her immediately: “Pfft, if she’s the real mastermind, I’ll eat my own hand.”

Abyss had ordered Rachel to play this role—

The act of a chuunibyou girl who spouts nonsense all the time.

And in truth, their strategy worked flawlessly.

Until the latter half of Infinite Horizon’s story, no one ever suspected Rachel of being Abyss’s spy.

Hell, even I, who played the game, never imagined she was the hidden villain. That says it all.

“You seem but a novice who has only just glimpsed the abyss. Rejoice! For this Dark Flame Master shall graciously bestow upon you her wisdom.”

In short—

It’s all an act.

Her lines, expressions, tone, gestures—everything from head to toe.

“Do not stare too long into the abyss, lest the abyss stare back into you… Fufu.”

Every time she does something this cringeworthy, Rachel must be screaming inside from sheer embarrassment.

The fact that not even a hint of shame leaks into her expression or voice is proof of just how skilled she is at acting.

But Rachel isn’t just good at acting.

Infiltration? Negotiation? Assassination? Combat? Performance?

She excels at everything.

She’s a true prodigy, capable of anything—it’s just that her assigned role as a chuunibyou girl makes her seem ridiculous.

Even I nearly lost my mind just borrowing a magical girl persona for a short while, but Rachel has to maintain this act all the time…

Yeah, she’s pitiful.

“That’s some useful advice. Ah, can I drop the formalities?”

“Ahem… Normally, I would not permit it, but today, in light of your assistance, I shall grant you this special privilege.”

Of course, she wasn’t always this multi-talented.

When Rachel was just seven years old—

Abyss attacked her peaceful family.

Their reason? Rachel was deemed a suitable vessel for the Demon King’s return.

After being kidnapped, the Demon King’s mark was carved into her body, and she was threatened—if she disobeyed Abyss, her family would suffer.

A weak, helpless child like Rachel had no choice but to comply.

“You may speak freely to this peerless, all-capable Dark Flame Master!”

As a candidate to become the Demon King’s vessel—and as Abyss’s special agent—Rachel underwent brutal training to hone her talents.

In short, she’s trapped in Abyss, forced to cooperate with them to protect her family.

When you think about it, she’s a tragic figure.

Her family held hostage by the very people she should despise, forced to work alongside them—

“…What is that ambiguous reaction? Do you not appreciate the grace of this Dark Flame Master?”

I looked at her with pity, and she pouted slightly before snapping back.

“Of course not. I’m so grateful I could cry.”

“Ehem. As you should be.”

This infiltration of Providence is her first mission.

According to Infinite Horizon’s story, Rachel—under Abyss’s orders—will personally kill her closest friends during major events like midterms and finals.

They say it’s to hollow her out, to turn her into an emotionless doll fit to become the Demon King’s vessel.

I don’t know the details.

Because I died before that plot point was fully revealed.

If I’d known, maybe I would’ve held on a little longer.

“So what should I call you? Rachel? Or Dark Flame Master?”

“Rachel is but a temporary alias for my wanderings in this world. You may address me as such.”

In other words, her first murder will happen during the upcoming midterms.

After that first kill, Rachel’s heart will begin to crumble rapidly.

A thought suddenly crossed my mind—

What if I stopped her before she commits that murder?

What if I used my knowledge to free her family from Abyss’s grasp?

Could I change the fate that’s been written for her as a villain?

Just as the unstoppable calamity of “Erosion” befell me in my past life, Rachel has been struck by the calamity known as Abyss.

I feel a strange kinship with her—and I want to give her a chance.

A chance to carve out her own future, the way she wants.

Just as I resolved to eradicate the Erosion, I want to give her the means to fight back against Abyss.

Rachel, always so full of pretense—

I want to see, just once, her true, unfiltered self.

“…Since we’ve met like this, want to exchange contacts?”

“Ha! To dare seek this noble one’s exalted number—you’ve got nerve. But very well. Today, my mood is favorable, so I shall bestow it upon you.”

Of course, this might cause unexpected changes to Infinite Horizon’s story… but so what?

The moment I arrived in this world, it ceased to be the Infinite Horizon I knew.

The story has already begun to change.

The best I can do is shape the future in a way that brings happiness to me and those around me.

“Then I’ll go first—010…”

“W-Wait! I haven’t even turned on my phone yet!”

Besides, Abyss is a recurring antagonist in Infinite Horizon.

If I can pull a talent like Rachel away from them, it’ll deal a major blow to their plans.

I watched silently as Rachel scribbled down my number.

Her posture was as confident as ever, yet there was something fragile about her.

“Alright. See you at school later. Be careful on your way back.”

“You’re the one who should be careful. Lest the endless darkness of midnight devour you. Kukuku.”

I waved goodbye to Rachel as she spouted one last ridiculous line.

Dawn had barely broken.

At an hour when no one else was awake, I stepped outside and made my way to the training hall in the main building.

The vast, empty training grounds should’ve felt eerie, but I was used to this kind of atmosphere.

Hmm… The most effective equipment was… Ah, here it is.

My eyes scanned the room before landing on a particular machine, and I immediately headed toward it.

The Mana-Draining Treadmill.

Outwardly, it looked like an ordinary treadmill, but it had a special function—

It continuously drained the user’s mana.

Designed to push the user’s physical limits while their mana bottomed out, this machine was exceptionally effective for building mana efficiency and stamina.

Hmm… This level should be enough.

Thanks to my past life and borrowed personas, I have ample combat experience—what I need now is a body capable of utilizing it.

I need to focus on building my foundational physical abilities.

—Vrrrm!

The treadmill whirred to life, and my feet naturally began moving.

Along with it, my mana was steadily being siphoned away.

The more my mana drained, the faster I ran—the harder my heart pounded.

If someone saw me now, they might assume I’d resolved to turn over a new leaf for the semester—but that’s not it.

I’m not training at the crack of dawn out of some newfound determination.

I’m just doing what I’ve always done.

The biggest reason I, someone born with weak mana, reached the rank of A-Class Hunter wasn’t talent.

Nor was it connections.

It was simply waking up earlier, going to bed later.

When others rested, I pushed my body further.

When others settled, I looked up at the sky and kept striving.

Little by little, that diligence piled up—until it forged the person I once was.

“Hah… Hah…”

Lost in thought, I realized I’d been running for 20 minutes.

With my mana nearly depleted, my stamina was draining faster than usual.

My heart felt like it would explode any second.

I wanted to step off the machine immediately—but I shook my head.

Just one more minute.

One more minute.

In that trance-like state, as if my soul were being sucked away, I kept moving to honor my promise to myself.

And when that minute finally passed—

“…Ugh, I’m gonna die.”

Slowing the treadmill, I stepped onto the ground with trembling legs.

The world spun as if I were drunk—proof that my body had been pushed to its limits.

Gasping for air, I collapsed onto the floor.

My throat burned.

I wanted to drag myself to the water fountain, but I didn’t even have the strength to crawl.

As I lay there, panting—

Someone handed me a water bottle.

“Ah, thanks.”

I grabbed it and gulped down the contents—then froze.

Wait.

Wasn’t I the only one in the training hall?

A chill ran down my spine.

Don’t tell me… a ghost?

Ugh, no way.

I can handle anything but ghosts.

Swallowing the water in my mouth, I slowly turned my head—

“……”

Yong-hee—no, Erin—was staring at me silently.

Without a word.