Path of the Extra

Chapter 98: We Are All Liars Here [1]

Yelena sat next to Lumine, who had his eyes closed, sitting cross-legged on the dirt.

If someone were to observe closely, theyʼd notice the air around him subtly shifting, being drawn toward him.

He was absorbing the mana in the air.

ʼEven now, he still chooses to train…ʼ

Yelena smiled faintly, glancing at the other cadets. Nothing had really changed.

Except… for a few people who werenʼt here.

And the strangest part?

This entire time, she felt like someone had been watching her every move, making her skin crawl.

But when they all left... so did the gaze.

It was uncomfortable.

Why did they leave?

No one had noticed yet, but soon they would.

And where did they go?

So many things didnʼt make sense about this void dungeon trip.

Yelenaʼs eyes drifted toward Jasmine, now chatting with some of the cadets.

Why was she even here?

A guide only allowed to act after the second day, following the first group and then permitted to guide anyone else, speeding things up.

But why?

None of it added up.

It didnʼt matter now though, not with the trip getting canceled.

Yelena prided herself on her ability to read people, a skill she had developed since childhood as Lumineʼs best friend.

Lumine always saw the best in people, which often made him a target for those with bad intentions.

She felt like it was her responsibility to protect him.

She trusted Jasmine—Jasmine seemed like a good person.

But her brother?

Her thoughts clouded when it came to Azriel.

She couldnʼt decide whether he was good or bad. It hadnʼt even been a week, but in that time, Lumine and Azriel had grown close.

And yet... she couldnʼt bring herself to trust him.

Then, there was the silver-haired boy who caught her eye, walking casually.

Nol.

He was smiling as if nothing was wrong.

Just like Azriel, she didnʼt trust him either.

Something about him felt... off. It was different from Azriel, but there was an eerie similarity she couldnʼt pinpoint.

It had become a habit, silently observing Azriel.

She tried to figure out who he really was, but there was nothing explicitly wrong about him.

And Nol?

She barely knew him, having never spoken to him directly.

Lumine always had to play the middleman with anyone that approached the two of them.

Without him, Yelena probably wouldnʼt talk to anyone.

ʼHmm?ʼ

Her brow furrowed as she noticed Nol walking toward Instructor Alicia. Glancing at Lumine, still deep in his trance, Yelena quietly stood up, moving closer to them, unnoticed.

”…Instructor, I... I donʼt feel so well…”

Nolʼs voice was weak, his hand clutching his stomach as he swayed on his feet. Alicia furrowed her brows, concerned.

”Youʼre Cadet Nol, right?”

Nol nodded weakly, his face grim.

”I… Iʼd like to request to go back to the surface... I donʼt think I can handle this anymore…”

Aliciaʼs expression softened with concern as Nol grew paler.

”Unfortunately, I canʼt take you. Could you hold on until the second group arrives? It should only be a day or so, unless they split up, which seems unlikely.”

Nol shook his head, pain clear on his face.

”P-please, Instructor… I donʼt think I can wait that long…”

A troubled look crossed Aliciaʼs face. If she let Nol go, others might want to leave too.

And with everything going on…

”What if I escort him to the surface, Instructor?” a voice interrupted.

Both Alicia and Nol turned, their gazes landing on Jasmine. Her eyes flickered from Nol to Alicia, who looked taken aback.

”But…”

”Technically, my presence isnʼt required here, and the situation seems under control now. Itʼs fine if I take him to the surface, right?”

Yelena swallowed nervously.

Jasmineʼs voice, her expression—it wasnʼt a request.

Alicia hesitated, but seeing no other option, nodded reluctantly.

”Alright... but be careful.”

Jasmine nodded, stepping forward.

Nol, still pale, followed behind. But then Yelena noticed something—something small but impossible to miss.

ʼHuh…?ʼ

Just as Nol passed the distracted Alicia, his hand moved swiftly—so fast it was almost a blur.

He took something from her pocket. Yelenaʼs eyes widened slightly.

She watched Nol walk away, but then… he looked back.

Their eyes locked.

A smirk crept onto Nolʼs face, and he pressed a finger to his lips before his expression turned pained again.

Yelena blinked, watching as he and Jasmine approached the platform.

Then… they were swallowed by the small black hole.

*****

”Youʼd better start explaining whatʼs going on, Nol.”

Jasmine stood in front of Nol, her gaze sharp, as they faced the boss gate of the first floor.

It was still closed, meaning the second group hadnʼt arrived yet.

Nol smiled, casually playing with the device in his hands—the same one that Instructor Benson and Instructor Kevin had.

Jasmineʼs eyes narrowed as she watched him, her patience clearly thinning. With a sigh, Nol sat down cross-legged on the ground, his expression thoughtful.

”Where to begin…”

He scratched his head, furrowing his brows as if deciding where to start.

”Well... letʼs say thereʼs a little terrorist organization called Neo Genesis thatʼs trying to kill all of us. Master was assigned a mission by the headmistress… a few members of Neo Genesis managed to stay hidden in the void dungeon. Theyʼve been waiting in the tunnels leading down the cliff on the second floor.

Master anticipated that, so he climbed down ahead of time, acting clueless and scared since Instructor Benson was watching him.”

Nol paused, his tone casual despite the gravity of what he was saying. Jasmine remained silent, but her posture stiffened.

”Cadet Kanae, the one who died—that was because of one of Neo Genesisʼ abilities and her death was intended as a signal. Instructor Benson, one of the traitors, had to rethink his plans since Instructor Kevin decided to follow Master, who isnʼt a traitor, by the way. Meanwhile, Benson made sure the rest of Neo Genesis stayed hidden.

What Instructor Kevin didnʼt realize was that this sort of device”—Nol held up the small contraption—”had been slipped into his pocket. Same with Instructor Alicia. It allowed every Neo Genesis member on the same floor with such a device to track each others exact location.”

Nol took a deep breath, letting his words sink in before continuing.

”Master knew Benson and his men were tailing him, so he led them to a place to deal with them. By now, heʼs probably taken them out. We, on the other hand, should be getting ready for Phase Two of the plan.”

Nol smiled up at Jasmine, who was still processing everything he had just told her.

”Does that give you the gist of whatʼs happening, my lady?”

Jasmineʼs face went pale as the gravity of Nolʼs words sank in.

”You... are you telling me Azriel just led multiple members of a terrorist organization and Benson, whoʼs a Grade 3 Advanced—a fighter even Iʼd be cautious of—into some random place to fight on his own?”

Nol blinked, then a bright smile spread across his face, and he nodded enthusiastically.

”Exactly! As expected of you, my lady—your brilliance knows no limits!”

Veins bulged on Jasmineʼs forehead as she snapped, ”Clearly yours and Azrielʼs does! Have the two of you, along with Freya, lost your minds!?”

A wave of panic washed over her.

”We need to go back... Azriel canʼt handle Instructor Benson and those others all by himself!”

Nol looked at her, puzzled.

”Why not? Master has been planning this for a long time. Instructor Benson and his lackeysʼ deaths are inevitable—if it hasnʼt already happened. You should trust Master more.”

Knowledge is power.

Only those who possessed it and wielded it wisely would come out on top.

”Nol.”

Nol froze at the sudden change in her tone.

”...Y-yes?”

An awkward smile crept onto his face.

”You speak of trusting Azriel more, but shouldnʼt he be doing the same? Why didnʼt he tell me? Why didnʼt he ask for my help? I thought weʼd gotten closer since he returned. His death broke me and Mom. Dad...

he acted like he didnʼt even care, just kept working like always, being the indifferent king he is... acting like it didnʼt matter.”

Jasmine clenched her fists.

”When Azriel came back, everything finally started to heal again. Momʼs been trying to be better... and Dad... I realized heʼs just terrible at showing emotions. But thanks to Azriel, heʼs been trying again. Iʼve made peace with them, all thanks to him.

But then Azriel himself... why does he always keep a certain distance? Why doesnʼt he talk about his nightmares? Does he even care..?”

She looked into Nolʼs eyes. There were no tears.

She just looked... sad.

The smile on Nolʼs face faded, replaced by an unreadable expression as he listened quietly.

After a moment, he spoke.

”Master never wanted you to be in harmʼs way because of his plans. He still doesnʼt. You coming on this trip... that was something he didnʼt expect, just like the floor shifts that have happened. But that doesnʼt mean he doesnʼt trust you.”

Jasmineʼs confusion deepened as Nol continued.

”The moment you came here, Master knew Iʼd use it to our advantage. He could have stopped me from being here with you—I couldʼve picked Lumine instead. But he didnʼt. He knew Iʼd have to tell you most of whatʼs going on. And yet, he never approached me. He allowed it all to happen...

because he trusted both of us to handle it.”

”...”

”Right now, the second group is infiltrated by Neo Genesis members. Theyʼre going to kill all the cadets on the second floor. Weʼre here to stop them and take them down. Honestly, I couldʼve handled it myself... but I wouldnʼt miss the chance to fight side by side with the person Master cares for most in this world.”

”...Azriel cares most for me...?”

Nol smiled.

”Of course. Surely youʼve noticed. Knowing Master, he mustʼve told you in his own way.”

Jasmine furrowed her brows. Azriel telling her about Neo Genesis? About how much he cares?

Suddenly, her eyes widened.

She remembered that day—when Azriel fell asleep on her lap, muttering about doing something... stupid. And whether or not sheʼd hate him...

ʼHe warned me... before it even began.ʼ

She felt a strange surge of happiness. It was stupid, how happy she felt, but then—

A sudden shiver ran down her spine. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

ʼJust... how much did he predict?ʼ

Did he know every step that would be taken today?

She didnʼt know how to feel.

But she didnʼt have time to process it, because—

A crushing pressure forced her to her knees.

”!?”

She couldnʼt stand. Her body felt impossibly heavy. She managed to lift her head, barely, and saw Nol.

He was still seated, cross-legged, but he struggled to raise his head, a troubled smile on his face.

”...Heʼs here.”