Surviving in my Own Unpublished Failed Novel

"Dungeon Terrorism..."

Anya Amasawa's serious words echoed in Han Jiho's ears. It was the term he would have never expected to hear.

Han Jiho composed himself, standing still, in front of Anya as he asked curiously and firmly.

"What do you mean by Dungeon Terrorism?"

Anya sighed for a moment, pondering a little about her next words.

"This is confidential information that I am informed of because of my status due to my father's honor and power. I have access to pieces of information that should or would not be made public.

"If you are curious about why I'm telling you this is because it's up to my judgment. Simple as that. Alright. Sigh...

"You are aware that Strayed Dungeons have something called Dungeon Cores... it's like a 'heart' of the Strayed Dungeons that Dungeon Towers don't have.

"If the Dungeon Core is destroyed, the Strayed Dungeon will cease to exist which means that monsters wouldn't be regenerated on that particular dungeon again.

"But... there's another function to Dungeon Cores, it's to cause a Monster Stampede if the Dungeon Core is manipulated by an individual with a certain profession like Black Mage, at least based on what I know.

"And if you're curious about how it's done, it's simple... I've read that a player needed for such acts must be a lot stronger than the Strayed Dungeon itself.

"Means that the player or should I say 'terrorist' will sneak inside the Strayed Dungeon, kill the monsters and Boss Monster, get ahold of the Dungeon Core, then do whatever ritual is needed instead of destroying or taking care of it for the monster to regenerate..."

Han Jiho's fists clenched as he digested the information that came out from Anya Amasawa's mouth. Then after a few seconds, while his breathing became heavy, he asked seriously, although he felt that it was the truth, he couldn't find any reason why a Monster Stampede swept through his innocent, secluded village, Sanctus Solaris."

"What's the credibility of the information you just said to me?"

Anya sighed at the distrustful tone of Han Jiho, but it was something she understands.

"Sigh... As I said, I have access to confidential information, but I understand why you're asking that... it's because even the Two Princesses seem to have no idea regarding your matters.

"Well, I don't have any idea, too. I just shared what I thought was related, and appropriate for you to hear."

Han Jiho realized his behavior as he reined in his thoughts.

"Right... I'm sorry.

"I'll take it in mind what you said to me."

Anya Amasawa just nodded as various thoughts surfaced in her mind speaking about Strayed Dungeons. It's the information she received via her connection with some of the players that were affiliated in their guild which was also part of the Obelisk Organization, Olympus Guild, who were part of the raiding team that routinely raids the Micro-Strayed Dungeon named Vein of Immunosar (E+).

'Come to think of it... the new type of Strayed Dungeon that was discovered by Russell and the others doesn't have a Dungeon Core... It's quick to regenerate, too. What a strange phenomenon.'

Just as her thoughts were hypothesizing something, she heard Han Jiho — who takes a seat at this moment — asked something unrelated.

"What are your thoughts about the news recently? You know, the Black Sky Disorder who claimed responsibility for the attack in a weapon company."

Anya looked at him before opening her mouth, this time, her tone was somewhat monotonous.

"I don't know.

"Anyway, it's your turn to seal the end of your deal.

"By the way, I'm only doing this because of your very existence that seemed to reflect my quiet behavior in public which I realized was actually pretty annoying... I wonder if people are avoiding me not because of my status, but rather of being quiet."

Anya said bluntly, prompting Han Jiho to slightly frown, which then caused her to softly chuckle. Without waiting for Han Jiho to respond, she continued with a casual tone.

"Hmm... If I remember correctly, you have a bad impression regarding the Student Council President. I'm feeling the same, he's a two-faced man... well, according to me."

'Or the numerous red eyes of various sizes surrounding me when I'm alone.'

She thought inwardly as she continued with her request, then after a minute or two, Han Jiho replied, seemingly finding the intent behind the request as ludicrous.

"Correct me if I'm wrong... so you want to investigate any possible hidden misconduct of the Student Council President just because you felt he's a two-faced man? And you want my help with it because I'm feeling the same towards him?"

Anya nodded in a casual manner as if she didn't find anything weird with her request. But inwardly she thought of the ulterior motives she has about slightly deepening the connection with Han Jiho.

'Don't look at me like I'm weird. Although you're good at articulating your words, you seem foreign to me... just like the Chancellor with a surname that felt like from an alien race.'

She said inwardly, but with a serious tone, although it may sound ridiculous or crazy to others' ears.

"Then how do you plan to begin? I'll keep my end of the deal."

Han Jiho cut off her thoughts, then after pondering for a few seconds, Anya replied with a somewhat elated tone.

"Let's start with Victoria-Russell rumors that are circulating."

...

Holding the Book of Changes in his hand, Russell just finished writing or adding the changes he noticed when compared to his original, but unpublished novel.

The added changes were about Azalea's connection with him, Victoria's early retirement of being a Student Council Secretary, and the Victoria-Russell rumors which caused him to frown while writing it down, seemingly wanting to stab Arthur to death with a pen.

"I have to adjust my schedule in meeting Maya."

He muttered as he put the Book of Changes back on his Dimensional Inventory. He didn't forget to recruit Maya to be his personal attendant in the Obelisk Academy, although he was given two weeks to make a choice, it was only about rendering him the privilege of choosing academy-recommended personnel. Even after the two-week duration passes, he could still bring a personal attendant of his choosing.

"Sigh... I just hope that the changes I brought would only cause minor aftershocks in the original story."

As days passes by, most of his thoughts were about getting stronger, protecting his parents and Freya, as well as his new companions for the future disasters that would befall mankind.

And with his suspicion of the System's behavior, and the characteristic of Chaos itself, he felt like raiding a Chaos Dungeon that he had accessed by using the True Key of Chaos would be tantamount to suicide even though the ranks of some Chaos Dungeons are now within the acceptable range, especially he's not going solo anymore because of his younger sister, Amery, and Amelie.

Reining in his thoughts, Russell stood by the window, looked around the Public Academy Grounds, then glanced to take a look at the bluish moon hanging above in the starry night sky.

Then a sound of notification, a sign of text message from his smartwatch sounded in his ears.

It was a report from Amelie.

...

"Russell, the Student Council President said he's interested in Junain's Blanket, and Ela's Needle. Then he plans to buy it on a certain date... like maybe after the midterm exams if it is still available during that time..."

Russell read the message as a scoff escaped from his mouth.

'He's suspecting Amelie, and he's not showing his desperation in getting the Ela's Needle.'

Russell took out Ela's Needle as he sat on his bed after looking at the bluish moon hanging above in the starry night sky, then he inspected its information.

...

[Ela's Needle]

The needle of manipulation that was made from Ela's Core, the Boss Monster dubbed as the Whisperer.

Rank: Unique

Classification: Artifact

Effects:

- Increases the possessor's Tenacity and Willpower by 10

- Increases the range of manipulation skills by four times.

- Increases the chances of manipulating the mind of the target by 15%

Additional Effect:

If the possessor of this artifact has a manipulation-related profession, all of the above-mentioned effects will be amplified by 100%.

...

Russell fidgeted with Ela's Needle for a few seconds before putting it again in his Dimensional Inventory.

"It's a good artifact considering the accepted known standards of artifacts, especially for someone like the Student Council President..."

He muttered before he send his response to Amelie's report along with a new mission he'd need a company with.

...

"Hello...? Aunty, it's me... how are you and the kids?"

Amery's voice this time was soft and warm, something that would melt the heart of a man who hears it.

At the other end of the call, an elderly woman's voice with an excited and also warm tone answered.

"A-Amery? I'm good, and the kids are doing well, too. How about you there?"

Amery smiled as she heard the warm voice of someone she calls Aunty, the one who raised her after her parents were murdered in cold blood years ago.

"I'm fine Aunty, by the way... the reason I call... Hmm... I hope you won't be mad at me."

Amery said, her breathing seems to turn slightly heavy.

"What are you saying? Did something happen?"

The tone of concern entered Amelie's ears at the other end of the call.

"Yes, Aunty. Something did happen... But it's good news for us... especially the kids..."

Without waiting for her Aunty to respond, she continued with her warm voice, but this time, a joyfulness could be heard from it.

"I made money recently... and Aunty... I want to say that I will drop out of the academy."

"Wh-what...? Amery? What do you mean by 'made money'? You're inside the academy, right? And why do you want to drop out of your studies? What about your future?"

Aunty composed herself, not arriving at any conclusion, but instead asked the necessary questions.

Amery smiled softly when she heard the words of her Aunty.

'My future...'

She said inwardly, feeling grateful for Aunty's selfless concern then after pondering for a moment, she said with an unwavering smile while she fidgeted on her smartwatch.

"Aunty, I've just sent the money to your account. Please, use it to raise the kids well, and stay healthy... okay."

Aunty checked the money in her bank account as her eyes widened in shock because of the staggering amount that probably would last for hundreds, if not thousands of years if it's spent frugally.

"2-200 billion..!? Amery! Where'd you get this money? Are you involved in some illegal schemes!?"

Aunty raised her voice from the other end of the call, but Amery only smiled at her Aunty's normal reaction before she breathed heavily, then said in a warm, but mixed serious tone.

"No, Aunty..."

Her Aunty was just about to interject as her adrenaline seemed to be having a rush when she heard Amery's next words, which instantly cut off her earlier suspicions.

"I swear on the blood of my mother and father."

It was the words that caused Aunty to be silent.

It was the words that cannot be taken likely as Aunty knew what Amery had experienced in the past.

It was the words of certainty that came from the deepness of the soul of Amery where her thoughts of revenge were on slumber.

Then with her silence as an act of response, Amelie continued with a firm voice this time.

"I want to drop out of the academy because of the opportunity I came across with where I can become stronger than just staying in the academy... and it might take years that I'll be away... so Aunty..."

At this moment, Aunty interjected.

"Sigh... alright... I'm deeply grateful to you, I know you're pursuing your goal, but always be careful, okay? And don't worry, I'll take care of the kids... you know you just secured their future. I'm sure they'd be grateful especially when they grow up."

Aunty said, but this time she was restraining herself from crying as her eyes seemed to become wet.

"Aunty, aunty! Is that sister Amery? When she'll come home?"

A soft voice of a little girl around seven or eight years old entered Amelie's ears on the other end of the call.

Amery smiled warmly, but her mood made a sudden shift as her tears flowed down from her eyes upon hearing the little girl's voice.

"A-Aya... Hi... Aunty will take care of you, okay? Be strong! See you soon, Aya, and Aunty!"

She seemed unable to contain her emotions, then after her Aunty replied, they bid their farewell to each other.

...

An average-looking man with deep black hair, purple eyes, and a slightly fitted build — hidden in the shadows from a distance — was looking at an elderly woman in her early-40, standing outside a certain orphanage while looking at the starry night sky.