Chapter 88 – …of being gaslit

Back in Korea, 4 PM local time.

After chatting a bit more with Yeonha, Hajin realized that his wife had a point.

'What if I wasn't creating the world, but just transcribing it?'

It made sense, after all.

Hajin would be the first to admit that he wasn't the smartest. Especially now after meeting Lee, who was, without a doubt, the most intelligent person he had ever met.

And emphasis on 'intelligent' too instead of just pure smarts or knowledge.

That guy made intuitive leaps and connections that blindsided Hajin literally ALL the time.

But that aside...

'When I went on hiatus, it wasn't that I had a writer's block, but that my connection to seeing that world was cut off.'

...It made sense.

Hajin always fiddled with his writing. It came to him in bits and spurts, and he always went back to review and redo what he wrote. Almost like he was trying to transcribe a message instead of creating.

And if Yeonha was correct, that was what he was doing.

'Then the Co-Author didn't just bring me here to write the ending... he brought me here to save the world.'

That had to be it. And that also explained why things were off.

If the Co-Author was truly a god... then that guy must also be powerless to directly intervene.

That was why he brought Hajin as someone who COULD intervene. A sort of divine avatar-

'Is THAT why Lee thinks divine manifestation is possible?'

It all made sense now...

Yes.

That was definitely why Lee believed it was possible...

No, no.

Hajin shouldn't get too sidetracked.

If that was the case, then Hajin knew what was coming up next.

Jin Sahyuk was definitely a force to consider, but there must be something huge looming in the distance. Something that Hajin couldn't conceive, which was why he got writer's block. Or something strong enough to block his connection to seeing this world.

'In that case... we need all the advantages we can get.'

That was why the Co-Author kept prodding Hajin to use his SP.

There were going to be forces and events that couldn't be resolved with the 'setting' that Hajin had seen.

So-

"Lost in that world of yours again, Hajin?"

Yeonha's teasing voice snapped Hajin out of his thoughts.

He blinked and realized he was sitting at Yeonha's desk, paused mid-sentence of typing up notes on his laptop.

As for Yeonha, she had just walked back in the bedroom, carrying a cup of coffee and some snacks. "I figured that you would be hard at work, so I brought you refreshments." She set them down and smiled, "Am I not a wonderful wife?"

Yeonha was giving off clear 'praise me' vibes, so Hajin smiled and said, "Of course you are. I love you."

Yeonha froze. Then she melted and walked over to gently kiss Hajin's cheek. "...And I love you. Even if you did have delusions of grandeur until recently."

Hajin blushed and said, "H-Hey. If YOU were suddenly given a system with powers that seemed like that of a god's, wouldn't you?"

"I would have done a lot more than you have until now, that is for certain." Yeonha chuckled. "In fact, I do believe any of the ones in our friend group would have done more."

Hajin was quiet, thinking about Yeonha's response.

Rachel... would definitely have done a lot if she could use SP like him. Returned England to its former glory for sure.

Nayun would have absolutely healed Chae Jinyoon and made herself a god of archery... literally.

Yeonha... well, Hajin felt his wife would have absolutely become a god empress of the world. Or at least tried to be.

As for Lee...

"...It's a good thing Lee doesn't have it."

Yeonha paused. Then she gave a serious nod. "Yes. I think it is... Knowing him, he might have become God Emperor of Humanity by now- Actually." She thought about it. "...No. He would have just not used it unless someone tried to do something to Rachel or Eva. Our friend is the sort to be stubborn about not using unearned power."

"That's true."

Yeonha draped her arms over Hajin's shoulders and said, "What are you writing then, Hajin? Notes on future events?"

"Yeah." Hajin nodded and instinctively leaned back against Yeonha, enjoying her warmth against him. Then he said, "There's a lot to keep track of. Mostly Djinn attacks, but there's a few big events too. A new Tower is going to appear. Then a chimera king as well. There's also the events around Suho's past. But other than that..." Hajin pursed his lips and said, "...I don't know."

Yeonha read over everything and hummed. "...Is that king truly going to be so powerful?"

"Yeah." Hajin sighed. "It happens right after humanity is optimistic with the Tower of Wish. The problem is, the co-author mentioned that the antagonists are going to be stronger."

"I see." Yeonha looked determined. "...Then we should prepare as well. And that begins with you."

Hajin blinked. "Me?"

"That's right." Yeonha looked at Hajin and said, "You called yourself an extra before."

Hajin flinched. "That's... Yeah." He sighed. "...I thought I was an extra."

"You aren't an extra." Yeonha looked Hajin in the eye and said, "You are the man who convinced Yoo Yeonha to give her everything to him. The one she chose as her husband. And so." She gently kissed Hajin. "Let's make you strong, Hajin. Strong enough to be the main character of this story."

Hajin stared at Yeonha and then nodded. "Yeah. Let's do that-"

At that time, Hajin and Yeonha's phones both buzzed.

Hajin frowned and glanced at it.

Yeonha did too.

It was in the group chat with him, Yeonha, Rachel, Nayun, and Lee.

As for the message...

[Best Bro Lee]

> If anyone asks, I haven't been in America since I was 5.

...An ominous message unfolded.

Yeonha immediately pulled up the world news. And then she opened it on her smartwatch to play live footage from CNN in America.

===

A female news reporter in a red outfit stood in front of the broken entrance of the Smithsonian, holding a microphone to her face.

"We are live here at the Smithsonian Institution where the criminal syndicate Chameleon Troupe has just committed a raid upon the museum's vaults. It's reported that numerous historical artifacts have been stolen, including countless civil war era weaponry as well as famous movie memorabilia such as prototype Star Wars props... This just in. We have confirmation that the infamous Hope Diamond has been stolen as well, along with other valuable gemstones and mineral samples stored within the Smithsonian. Following is the disturbing footage of the culprits. Viewers be advised."

After that, the screen transitioned to show a terrifying sight.

A man- No, a distorted and glitching 'thing' floating in the lobby of the Smithsonian and surrounded by American Heroes as well as law enforcement.

Static echoed while all of their attempts to attack the thing scattered like mist.

And then the 'thing' stepped forward, revealing the Chameleon Troupe's logo etched on the floor in the lobby, completely unscathed despite everything else being eroded.

After that, it cut to a footage of a long hallway underground.

There, a lone woman with pale skin, long black hair, and a tattered white dress slowly walked down the hallway, dragging a bag that looked big enough to hold a human corpse... and one that was stuffed like it held a human corpse.

Shadowy hands and tendrils followed after her as she moved. And then she stopped and slowly turned to look directly at the camera, revealing an unnaturally pale face and crimson eyes.

After that...

It was literally Batman.

Batman was just running around and taking things off the wall, stuffing it into a bag.

===

Hajin slowly blinked. Then he stared at the message on his phone.

After that, he quietly sent a question to the Book of Truth.

'Is Lee Shin involved in the Smithsonian Incident?'

[Book of Truth]

> No. But Li Shuwen is.

"...I have questions. And I'm not sure I want answers anymore." Hajin sighed.

===

Roughly 24 hours later in Korea, back at the Yoo Estate.

Monday, April 7th. 11:00 AM.

Lee walked back inside the manor with a fancy lightsaber hilt hanging on his left side as well as a pitch-black necklace with a large dark blue diamond hanging from it. He was dressed casually, wearing just a plain black t-shirt and jeans. But the new additions made everything stand out that much more.

Rachel walked inside after Lee, also dressed casually. Wearing a white blouse and plain blue jeans, she looked like a normal teenaged girl out for a stroll. But the new additions she had made her completely stand out too. Around her neck, she also had a new necklace.

Almost as if to match Lee's, it was also a dark blue gem. But unlike Lee's, which was just a diamond, Rachel's emanated raw magical power, proving it was a mana crystal of extremely high quality.

Also like Lee, Rachel had a weapon hanging from her left side. But while Lee's looked like a futuristic gadget, Rachel's was prehistoric: a pure white rapier that looked carved from bone and almost seemed to pulse with an ominous dark blue light.

Then, between both of them and holding their hands, was Evandel. Wearing a white sundress and with her light brown hair in a fancy braid, she looked like a proper princess. Especially with the glittering tiara on her head which looked suspiciously like the one that used to be worn by actresses in Disneyland when they portrayed Cinderella. And she also had ruby slippers that looked suspiciously like the ones that Dorothy had in Wizard of Oz.

Hajin slowly looked at the guests.

Beside him, Yeonha looked as well.

Lee smiled and said, "Hey, Hajin. Hypothetically..." He flicked his wrist, making his pitch-black necklace pulse. Then a bag that looked large enough to store a person appeared in his hands. "...What would you say if I brought back a whole armory of historical firearms for you to play with?"

Evandel's eyes sparkled and she nodded. "Uncle Haji. Weapons. Pew Pew. But shhhhhh." Evandel placed a finger over her lips to shush and then winked.

Hajin sighed.

Yeonha, however, looked interested. "...Hypothetically, any artifacts recovered on foreign soils from criminal entities are found property. Hypothetically."

Evandel nodded sagely. "Hypoteticy."

After that, everyone laughed...

Except for Hajin who was wracking his mind on if there were any powerful Heroes in America that he had written in who could cause problems...

But then he remembered that he made Korea the powerhouse country of the world, so he relaxed.

...And then he remembered that he might not actually be the real author of the world and started to panic.

...Then he remembered that, at this rate, everything had hit the fan, so more weapons and power meant more survivability, so...

"...Tell me they're at least enchanted?"

"They aren't enchanted. They're better." Lee grinned and pulled out a musket.

Hajin instinctively used <Observation> on it.

===

[Musket of the Patriot - Pinnacle Historical Grade]

This item cannot be modified with Setting Intervention.

This item can only be fully utilized by Kim Hajin.

The musket that fired the first shot on April 19, 1775. The 'shot heard around the world' that marked the path towards the formation of the United States.

A bulwark of history, the Outcall Incident has drawn forth this historical artifact's latent powers.

<Weight of Authority>

"If they mean to have a war, let it begin here."

While held, when facing an opponent with authority over a domain, all of user's stats doubled.

<Weight of History>

"One day, history shall judge us."

While held, when facing an opponent with narrative weight, all of user's stats doubled.

<Weight of Liberty>

"Liberty must at all hazards be supported."

When used in combat, only one shot may be fired. However, the shot cannot be blocked by any means.

===

Hajin slowly blinked. Then he looked up at Lee.

Lee grinned. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"...I've decided."

"Huh? Decided what?"

"To stop questioning anything about you. Now hurry up and show me more."