Surviving in my Own Unpublished Failed Novel

Russell Moon, together with his younger sister, Freya Moon inside a public Stream Bus, a few hours before Samantha contacted the former, just vanished from the Warp Gate from Obelisk City that's designated to Cassiopeia's capital, Alapeia.

The two siblings had a business that needed to be done before the year ended. It would be, in a sense, a send-off for someone; an ultimatum for them to move forward, but a tragedy for the subject.

Almost instantly, the two of them found themselves standing behind the Warp Gate as they came out of the public Stream Bus, which was another mode of transportation apart from the Air Train.

"This place sure is bustling."

Freya muttered, admiring the modern view of the noble kingdom.

"They're preparing for the year-end festival."

Russell said, taking his pace with his younger sister as they moved past the crowd.

After a few minutes, they found themselves inside a luxurious hotel room where they temporarily checked in since they would go back to their home before midnight struck.

Wearing a plain black shirt and blank pants as if he's mourning something, Russell looked at his younger sister as he speak regarding the later circumstances.

"I told you that I'll do it alone, but considering everything, I guess it's fine that you come along."

"I'm not a kid anymore, Oppa. If I may say, I feel like my mental state evolved because of Soul Placation.

"Knowing the circumstances of how many people died; through natural death to accidental and cold-blooded murder. I may not know everything in the world, but I'm increasingly aware of human nature."

Freya, sitting on a luxurious, long yellow couch with her hands spread like wings, spoke in a thoughtful manner.

From when she killed Algar, one of Arthur Wolfson's bodyguards, who was begging to live because he had a family to go back to, Freya's emotions became a rollercoaster for some time, but the resolve to move forward in a world where nothing was certain was definitely stronger — it's a decision who haunted her, but did not regret.

"Alright. You just need to stay on guard.

"To begin with, the security will certainly be times mightier than us. Probably around S Rank, so getting caught is tantamount to death.

"In addition, we only have one chance, at least this time. But we shall make use of it to the extreme."

Russell, sitting on a single couch across from his younger sister, reminded her.

Freya nodded to her older brother, whose expression was painted with seriousness.

After a few seconds, out of curiosity, she asked something unrelated.

"Ah, Oppa-! Didn't you say Rumia..."

On certain occasions, with Freya being aware that he was a reincarnator and aware of the novel he had written, Russell would tell her about certain events in the near future. But on this day, the event would be about Rumia's strange condition of lucid dreaming, which was taken further than what it originally meant.

"...Yes, she'll die. Although you should not worry about her."

"Yeah. Even though it seems cruel... the way you have written about it."

"Hey, don't talk about it. It feels awkward to have someone talk about what I wrote, especially since you're also an element in it.

"Sigh... Sometimes I think it's better to not tell you about these things."

"Hear, hear!"

Freya revealed a faint smile before countering her older brother's words.

"In a way, you, too are being swept up, coiled into strings of unknown.

"The more I think about it, the stranger it becomes, really. But considering the future you've told me, which I refused to read even if I can, it's probably just right to become something to overcome adversaries."

Russell didn't make a response, but rather, he recalled the culture of the country they were in at this moment and set up a plan to finally eliminate the remnant of their filthy past.

With that, he took out an artifact, something he bought through Thorn of Rose, meant for assassination.

***

The early evening seemed to come by as fast as how the sun, which was the sunlight's source, hid under the horizon.

Using the artifact, Mask of Night, and being under the peculiar Attribute: Nihility, Russell was more than just unnoticeable as if he was just someone who was overlapping in this reality.

Freya, on the other hand, was wearing an attire befitting of a noble and acting as a normal citizen of this country.

At this moment, in a grand plaza near the Royal Palace of Cassiopeia, the festival, which was bustling with people, was starting as numerous noble figures were watching with an expression of fun painted on their faces.

The two siblings were only a few meters apart, each having different roles for what was about to happen.

Sometime later, in an enclosed, wide arena near the Royal Palace, deafening shouts could be heard within.

"One ticket, please. First Class."

"One ticket for me, too. General class."

Russell was the one who bought the First class, while Freya was for the General class. It meant that their seats in this cruel part of the festival were differently arranged.

The arrangement of seats was divided into four categories: VIP Class, First Class, Middle Class, and General Class.

The VIP arrangements were seats just almost down near the arena, while the First Class, which was Russell's aim, was placed a few rows up from the VIP class.

Upon entering the gate, the two siblings, through telepathic communication, proceeded with their plan. For a moment, Russell went to the bathroom with his plain-looking Mask of Night on. His appearance wasn't strange because almost everyone was wearing a different mask due to the event this time.

Entering the restroom, Russell then used the function of the Mask of Night which he never used.

[The Mask of Night's Intrinsic Effect, Shadow Disguise, will be used!]

[Changing the user's facial features and physique...]

[Successfully changing the user's physical characteristics!]

He took out an ordinary mask from his Dimensional Inventory and wore it as the Mask of Night, if used for disguise seemed to become one with his face, before exiting the comfort room, he then went to his seat, waiting for the event to start.

As time went on, the announcement of the beginning of the event reverberated throughout the stadium.

***

"Let us celebrate the festival with the Battle of the Slaves-!"

Battle of the Slaves — similar to the history of Roman Gladiators, these slaves, who were meant to die as expendables were rather used for entertainment by this country.

'...Disgusting.'

Russell and Freya, even though were seats apart from each other, had a collective thought. Their past of being slaves under a certain Marquis of this country lingered in their minds.

Sometime later, as the nobles were enjoying the spectacle of a bloody battle, a signal for the siblings rang in their ears.

[Your Attribute: Nihility has concealed the surroundings!]

[Your Attribute: Nihility has concealed your presence!]

And there's a newly familiar message that they discovered upon raiding several Chaos Dungeons some time ago...

[Your Attribute: Nihility has allowed a certain target to see you!]

The certain target, who had enslaved them for almost ten years, Marquis Solas felt something cold near his heart — realizing it was blood.

As a somewhat strong player, it wasn't late for him to dodge what was coming, and as he turned around from the direction of the attack.

There... In his sharp blue eyes, was screened the image of his dead son, and a few seats away behind his supposedly dead son, a woman with a mask and deep black hair, was holding an artifact designed as a military rifle.

Russell Moon, who saw the image of Marquis Solas' dead son through the internet, imitated his physical features to haunt and remind the Marquis of what had transpired at that time.

Disguising himself, he waved his hand to the bewildered Marquis and a cold smile appeared on his face.

Being under the effects of Nihility, Russell's true image turned back to normal as he removed the Mask of Night, which seemed to be attached to his face as he used its Shadow Disguise. Freya, on the back, also did the same.

Marquis's eyes widened, remembering the faces of the kids that were related to the death of his son.

"Y-you bastard-!"

An explosive aura erupted from the VIP audience seats, the show was interrupted and everyone's intention landed on him. The crowd shifted their gaze in the direction where the Marquis was looking but found nothing strange.

Then, the audience, especially those near the Marquis, noticed the blood on his attire. But it's already too late as Freya fired the second Poison Conduit Bullet — a taboo weapon of assassination, aimed at Marquis's head.

Marquis Solas' head exploded as his eyes had a hint of horror and tears due to the image of his dead son.

***

Screams reverberated throughout the stadium as the dead body of the Marquis created a pool of blood. His body was turning green because of the mysterious poison from the bullet.

Some others recognized the cause, which alerted them as they scrutinized the surroundings from where it came from to find the culprit.

But alas, no suspicious individual was found.

"It's an easy death. Physically, at least."

The Moon siblings, under the concealment effects of Nihility, walked towards the dead body of the Marquis.

Summoning Estelle from within the Treasure Box with a Living Eye, her master, Freya Moon gave a command.

"Bring his soul to Verg-Or and hold him captive for now."

"Yes, Master."

The blindfolded Estelle pulled out the Marquis's Soul Body and brought it to the Nether Realm, in the City of Forgetfulness where Freya was designated as a ruler according to the effects of her Unique Skill: Death's Call, which, apart from making a contract with a familiar, technically called her to become a region's master.

The Soul Body of the Marquis was blankly staring at the dead body, unable to believe what had happened. His memories had yet to fade because he just died, but since there was no one interacting with him, he couldn't say or do anything.

But when Estelle's presence noticed him, the Marquis started to become lively as if he was still alive.

"Y-you... W-what are you!?

"You will pay for this-!"

Freya was smiling in a twisted way.

"No... But you will."

Looking at Estelle, the familiar dragged the Marquis away.

"Oho, so he's the one... I see."

Appearing out of nowhere, Amelie Rose Merveil interjected.

"Alright. Get us out of here."

Russell contacted her as a quick way out.

"Okay, let's go, Freya!"

With her Spade Warp and being concealed in real-time, the three of them vanished in the middle of the despairing crowd.

But before Russell went through, his gaze shifted to a familiar young boy.

It was another son of the Marquis, the one he hit at the back of the head during their school trip.

"Whether you grow worse than your father... No, considering the future, you should enjoy your childhood as if it's the end."

Russell whispered, only enough for himself to hear.

With that, they exited the place of the mysterious assassination.

***

In the Nether Realm, City of Forgetfulness.

Marquis Solas' expression was only painted with horror at the sight of the peculiar beings that could be considered abominations.

"Mister Verg-Or, it's been some time.

"Master has told me to hold this soul captive."

"W-what's this... W-where... But I'm dead right? I-is this hell?!"

Being apprehensive at Estelle's words, the Marquis could not help but blurt out whatever his mind disorderly processed.

Verg-Or, the three-eyed, well-built Nether Worker, made of mostly fiery bones, glanced at the soul.

After some time, a dark portal appeared, which the master of this place, Freya, along with Russell and Amelie, came out from.

Seeing this scene, the Marquis, although he couldn't grasp the situation, seethed as he ran toward Freya.

But before he could take a step, a fiery spear of bones pierced his chest, which also burned his entire being.

"A foolish being, attacking the master of this place."

Verg-Or, just a merchant of this world, spoke against the rudeness of the soul.

"Arghhh-!"

"What's the order, Miss Freya?"

Not minding the scream, Verg-Or asked in a polite manner.

Pondering for a moment, her words reverberated.

"Send him to Nether Torturers."

'Goodbye, a remnant of the past. Welcome, a new beginning for us.'

Freya inwardly murmured with a light heart.