I Just Want to be a Throwaway Character - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: World 4

Sitting in the reception hall, Ji Wan watched the old man’s fawning tea-serving gestures. Inside, she was panicking like crazy, but on the outside, she exuded a majestic aura.

Ji Wan’s intention was just to give herself courage, but she had no idea that her appearance made the old man even more wary. His tone became even more respectful. “What position would an expert like you like to hold in our guild?”

“Whatever,” Ji Wan said softly, her tone unreadable.

“How about Elder? The treatment is second only to the Guild Leader,” the Vice-Leader said, trying to please her.

Ji Wan did not reply. The atmosphere fell silent. Cold sweat beaded on the old man’s forehead. Just as he thought Ji Wan was not going to accept, she let out a soft “Hmm.”

The position of Elder should grant her direct access to the heavily guarded dark energy core. Just like that, Ji Wan temporarily stayed on as an Elder of the Dark Guild.

By her second week of being an undercover agent for the Dark Guild, Ji Wan had to admit that if not for the danger, she’d think she was on vacation. The living conditions here were incredibly luxurious. But she didn’t dare to truly relax, as Little One had warned her that many eyes were watching her from the shadows.

Ji Wan often tried to get information about the location of the dark energy core, but only the Guild Leader knew its exact spot. Little One could only give Ji Wan a general location. However, the Dark Guild’s base was a complex maze underground, a labyrinthine mess of roads that made it difficult for Ji Wan to navigate. And even if she found it, she didn’t have the power to open the way.

In that moment, Ji Wan felt a sense of powerlessness.

As for the school, she had only asked for a month’s leave for “training.” Once that time was up, Lu Fanghan would surely realize she was missing. She couldn’t let her worry.

After waiting for so many days, the opportunity finally came. The Dark Guild’s Leader had finished his secluded training, and he had personally requested to meet Ji Wan.

He was a middle-aged man with an unexplainable, eerie appearance. He was extremely pale, with the unhealthy, fragile pallor of someone who had been sick for a long time. His eyes were shadowed and his entire vitality seemed to have been consumed by the dark elements surrounding him. He sat in a high chair, openly sizing up Ji Wan.

“So you’re the new expert?” Luo Ying looked at the young girl. This is the person my subordinates were so scared of they had to report to me during my training? He had initially thought they were just overreacting, but when he launched a probing attack of dark energy at Ji Wan, the energy was absorbed just like before.

Ji Wan remained standing still, allowing the ultimate boss to inspect her. She couldn’t make a rash move or show even a hint of fear, or everything would be over.

Seeing his energy being absorbed, a serious look appeared in Luo Ying’s eyes. He increased the concentration of dark elements around his body and sent them surging toward Ji Wan. But the result was the same as before.

As he watched the dark energy from his body flow into Ji Wan and be absorbed, Luo Ying didn’t feel fear or apprehension. Instead, a strange smile appeared on his face.

“Heaven is on my side! Heaven is on my side!” He suddenly laughed maniacally. His frail body couldn’t handle the strain, and he began to cough violently. He covered his mouth, blood trickling down the corner of his lips. But the look in his eyes as he stared at Ji Wan was filled with a wicked glow.

He excitedly walked toward Ji Wan, wanting to see how she did it.

Watching the Guild Leader approach so suddenly, Ji Wan frowned and took a step back, a hint of disgust in her expression. The Dark Guild’s Leader was clearly not a normal person at all.

Fortunately, Luo Ying realized his behavior was a bit excessive and stopped. But the greedy look in his eyes remained. Only a Chaos Body could absorb dark power.

“Beep, new character setting unlocked.” The abrupt electronic voice rang out. The next second, a detailed text poured into Ji Wan’s mind like a river.

It turned out that the reason she could only summon a small water ball was not because she was useless, but because she possessed another physique: the Chaos Body. As the name suggested, it was a dark body that could absorb all things. The reason it hadn’t been discovered until now was the lack of dark elements at the Magic Academy, which kept the dark magic in Ji Wan’s body in a primal state. It could only continuously absorb other energy from within her body to compensate.

Luckily, Ji Wan also had the Holy Water Body, which gave her the ability to heal herself. This was why she didn’t look withered and lifeless like those who practiced dark magic. However, the price was that even with a super powerful element, her own energy would be continuously absorbed. To those who practiced normal elemental magic, the Chaos Body was a curse, a death warrant.

But for the people of the Dark Guild, this was the pinnacle of power, an invincible fighting force. It was the ultimate secret that could destroy everything.

A look of surprise flashed in Ji Wan’s eyes, but she quickly recovered. She looked at Luo Ying and stated her purpose directly. “I want to see that thing underground.”

Ji Wan knew that the mind of someone who could become the Dark Guild Leader would never be simple. Only by getting straight to the point could she avoid suspicion.

Luo Ying did not speak, slowly regaining his composure. He sized up Ji Wan, a look of scrutiny in his eyes. If she was an undercover agent sent by the Magic City, that would be very dangerous. But a person with the Chaos Body, if their mind was not pure, would be slowly consumed until they lost their sanity.

No, no, everyone has desires, much less her. Luo Ying pondered. Should he trust this “expert” who had suddenly appeared and joined them?

“If you’re so suspicious, I’ll just leave,” Ji Wan said casually. Unbeknownst to him, her hands, hidden by her black robe, were already soaked with sweat.

Hearing her words, Luo Ying’s suspicion temporarily subsided. “Fine, I can take you. But you’d better not make any other moves, or I have ways to make you…”

Luo Ying didn’t finish his sentence. He just gave Ji Wan a strange smile, leaving the rest unsaid.

Ji Wan swallowed hard, her voice calm. “Heh, lead the way.”

Luo Ying gave her a meaningful, sidelong glance and walked past her. “Follow.”

Ji Wan followed closely, but she maintained an air of nonchalance, giving Luo Ying the impression that she was merely a person in relentless pursuit of dark power.

After walking through one labyrinthine path after another, Luo Ying stopped in front of a tall, ancient-looking stone gate. He chanted an incantation, and the heavy stone gate slowly opened.

It was pitch black inside. But the moment Ji Wan stepped in, a strange, shadowy light appeared. Ji Wan could clearly feel the dense dark energy. She frowned, feeling the pressure from this power. If it were allowed to erupt, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Little One, do we have a solution?” Ji Wan’s voice was low in her mind.

“Host, your original role was to be an important member of the Dark Guild. Your Chaos Body was cultivated here as a vessel. The plan was to transfer this massive energy into your body, but the price would be the rapid consumption of your lifespan. Originally, you were supposed to be the female lead’s greatest threat. But in the end, your jealousy and hatred grew too strong, causing you to lose your mind. This allowed the female lead’s team to find a weakness and kill you.”

“You mean, I was the final boss?” Ji Wan felt a little panicked. Why wasn’t this in the previous plot?

“Host, because now you are the protagonist, the possibility of that ending is very small, so I didn’t transmit that plot point to you,” System 111 explained. “Right now, the only solution seems to be for you to absorb the energy into your body and then slowly release it using your own power. This process would take at least three hours, which means there can be no outside interference. And the process will definitely not be easy.”

System 111’s voice took on a serious tone.

“Little One, is there a way to hold off the people of the Dark Guild?” Ji Wan asked.

“Host, I can at most help you shorten the time by two hours,” System 111 replied after some thought.

“Okay, we’ll play it by ear,” Ji Wan replied. She followed Luo Ying into the stone gate.

When she saw the dark magic circle at the very end, Ji Wan’s heart trembled. It was a pile of skeletons! The magic circle was surrounded by countless large and small corpses.

Luo Ying narrowed his eyes, observing Ji Wan’s expression. When he saw her expressionless face, he showed a satisfied smile. “These people are all sacrifices for this god-like grace,” Luo Ying said with a strange laugh and a hint of disdain.

Ji Wan suppressed the nausea in her chest. She couldn’t expose herself, or more innocent people would be dragged into this. This was the first time Ji Wan had seen such a cruel scene. It was a lie to say she wasn’t scared. But she had no other choice.

“How is it? Isn’t it magnificent?” Luo Ying’s ghostly face appeared in front of Ji Wan, his voice filled with a hint of madness.

Ji Wan didn’t speak. She just pretended to look at the scene nonchalantly. “This is your secret weapon? It seems too weak.” she said with a sneer.

“What? Do you have a better idea?” Luo Ying stared intently at Ji Wan’s disguised face.

“You can’t use this energy, can you?” Ji Wan asked, probing. The Dark Guild’s opportunity to use this energy was her. The reason they hadn’t used it all this time was simply because they couldn’t control it. She just felt sorry for the original host, who was a complete fool in this situation. She had the protagonist’s skill but a side character’s fate.

As expected, Luo Ying’s expression changed. Ji Wan had guessed correctly.

“What’s wrong? Is there a day when the Dark Guild’s Leader can’t control dark energy?” Ji Wan pushed his buttons while the iron was hot.

“Hmph. Ignorant and rude.” Luo Ying was visibly angry. He flung his sleeves and turned to leave. But just as he took a step, Ji Wan said firmly, “I can control that energy.”

Luo Ying’s departing foot froze. He quickly turned to face Ji Wan, a look of excitement in his eyes. But he controlled himself and threatened her in a sinister tone. “What makes you think that? Do you think the Chaos Body means anything? I could wave a finger, and you would be just like the trash on the floor.”

“Just because you can’t control it,” Ji Wan coldly replied, mimicking Lu Fanghan’s tone.

“Good, good, good.” Luo Ying repeated “good” three times in a row. Not only was he not angry, but a look of satisfied madness appeared in his eyes.

“I’ll give you three days. During this time, I will have people guard you. You had better not make any other moves.”

With that, Luo Ying turned and left.

After Little One confirmed he was completely gone, Ji Wan’s legs finally gave out. The look in that man’s eyes… was both strange and terrifying.

In that moment, Ji Wan found herself missing Lu Fanghan intensely. She wanted to hide behind her and be protected by her. But Ji Wan knew that this time, she couldn’t. She had to rely on herself.

After she recovered, a look of resolve flashed in her eyes. She walked toward the dark magic circle in the center. She had to absorb all the energy within three days and then release it in one hour.

Unbeknownst to Ji Wan, at the exact same time, the Imperial Mage team had also infiltrated the Dark Guild, and Lu Fanghan was among them.