Surviving in my Own Unpublished Failed Novel

"Germs... and Cell stuff. It's fascinating!"

It has been a day since the students came back from being missing after they were sucked inside a new type of dungeon that's from the micro-universe.

The Obelisk Organization branch, the ones assigned to research, specifically towards discovering the mysteries behind the catastrophe that plunged the world forty years ago, already managed to take the normal-looking gray rock from the part of the East Border of Olympia which separates the country from Nereia.

The researcher and scholar, standing by the window, looking at the spacious white room from below where the normal-looking gray rock that he labeled as MSD-1 or Micro-Strayed Dungeon One was placed inside a glass capsule.

The Affiliated, trusted players from the Obelisk Organization already raided the said Micro-Strayed Dungeon, the observation also showed the average time of dungeon regeneration was a quick 6 hours compared to what was known to them, which means that the MSD-1 could be raided four times a day.

The players from the Obelisk Organization received various rewards and Monster Cores, but the strange thing about the MSD-1 was that it didn't have something that's known as the 'Heart' of the Dungeon called Dungeon Core.

The absence of the Dungeon Core was also one of the reasons that Sir Emmanuel Lyncoster valued this discovery, maybe more than a trillion.

"Send the money to those students, 250 million each as per their request, do it confidentially to avoid greed from other people's eyes."

The students or discoverer of the Micro-Strayed Dungeon came to an agreement with Sir Emmanuel Lyncoster that they'd try to raid, and observe first the dungeon.

A woman with slightly long hair, brown eyes under her gray eyeglasses, and a somehow curvy body wearing a black formal suit befitting of being a secretary spoke with concern.

"Sir, what should we do? Those students lied about something."

Upon the observation of the Mana Energy Flow of the MSD-1, Sir Emmanuel Lyncoster discovered that the dense Mana Energy Flow, along with the MSD-1 vanished. He saw with his own eyes that the affiliated players, as well as the MSD-1, disappeared, it's the same case with the device that closely observes the Mana Energy Flow which was supposed to be dense due to a dungeon's existence.

It contradicts the report from the Obelisk Space Station (OSS) floating in the atmosphere of the planet where a crew designated to monitor the Orion Obelisk Humanity Satellite Dungeon Detector (OOHSDD) because, in the report, it was said that the night the Mana Energy Flow vanished for a few minutes... it was the day before the students came back which means that the days prior to the vanishing of MSD-1 during that time, the students weren't really sucked inside of the MSD-1.

"It's alright, just let them go. I don't know what they're hiding, but what's important right now is to focus on this matter in front of us."

Although Sir Emmanuel Lyncoster was curious about the students' secrets, especially when the Legendary Artifact, Orb of Truth, showed them that the students were obviously telling the truth.

"Perhaps they know that we'd know about this matter. But looking at their expressions when we talked about money... I believe that they won't pose a threat that would backfire on humanity if left unchecked. Those students probably wanted to enjoy their lives at some point in time."

The secretary only listened before she tapped on the tablet she was holding, sending the money to the students who stumbled upon a great discovery.

"By the way, request a virtual meeting. I'd announce what has transpired recently."

Sir Emmanuel said casually as his hands clasped together on his lower back, looking at the next batch of affiliated players who would raid the Vein of Immunosar (E+) from the window.

...

"We're f*cking rich! Whooo!"

Amelie jumped on Russell's couch while Freya and Amery were sitting on it. Russell was in the kitchen, preparing their simple lunch when he heard Amelie's cheerful voice, it was accompanied by the sound of a notification from his smartwatch.

[You have received 250 billion Obel from the Account Number: XXXX-XXXX-0033]

After a few minutes of preparing, Russell went to the living room just beside his bedroom, as a few plates of rice, tempura, and bacon were laid on the rectangular table.

He saw his younger sister with tears and Amery was in a state of blankness, silently remembering the orphanage that raised her after her parents died from the mysterious, purple-eyed assailant that spared her life for unknown reasons.

"O-Oppa..."

Russell approached his younger sister and extended his arms to hug her to which Freya responded.

"Sob... Sob..."

She couldn't maintain her tears of joy as she said in a soft voice while still digging her head into her older brother's chest.

"O-Oppa... let's ask Mom and Dad to resign..."

Russell smiled as he had the same thoughts, with so much money, they'd be able to live a comfortable life, but after remembering the events that would occur, money won't solve everything in this kind of world.

Even wealthy people like Elizabeth and Rumia who had trillions of personal assets wouldn't be able to become stronger just by having their money because they couldn't have their growth rate increased anymore as Treasure Herbs of the same type that were very rare could only be consumed once. And if by any chance there were different Treasure Herbs, it was not guaranteed that they would be effective due to various or hidden factors, and they were not the only people who needed such a thing, thus competition for acquiring Treasure Herbs that increases one's growth rate even by a minimal amount were fierce and sometimes leads to making enemies.

Russell reined in his thoughts before he calmly said, rubbing Freya's back.

"Let's eat for now, okay... We'll talk about it after."

Freya nodded before she retracted her head from her older brother's chest.

...

After a few minutes of wolfing down their lunch, Russell initiated the conversation, particularly about their parents.

"Freya, I think we should help them, but not ask them to resign because I know that you know Mom and Dad felt indebted to Old Cal... We are, too..."

It was an old man called Old Cal who saw the value of their parents, when they were living in that place, who somehow helped them become financially stable, letting Russell and Freya be able to enroll in the Obelisk Academy.

Old Cal was an owner of a small blacksmithing company, and Melina Moon has a profession called Transmuter, while Arche Moon has a normal Blacksmith profession.

Melina and Arche were doing their job together. As a Transmuter, Melina made raw ores or blacksmithing materials to shape a weapon or armor that would be hammered by Arche. It means that Arche didn't need to heat and shape a weapon or armor for a long time as Melina could just transform it to the desired shape.

"Oppa... hmm... okay, let's help them together soon."

Freya said as she thought of it for a few seconds.

Upon seeing the sudden pause of conversation between the siblings, Amelie interjected.

"Russell, what about our investment in the Crescent Weaponry Company?"

Russell was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Amelie's voice.

'It's less than a week since the attack will take place.'

He deliberated for a moment before answering Amelie.

"I'll add investment to the stocks."

"Me, too! Count me in then!"

Amery just watched Russell, Amelie, and Freya who soon also interjected do something on a laptop. It was something she had no idea about.

...

"It's 75 billion overall."

'If it's not from Thorn of Rose transaction, we'd surely be tracked by authorities.'

Russell lampooned inwardly, but he somehow felt grateful for the Thorn of Rose's privacy that was considered deadly if intruded.

"Sigh... Russell, can I sleep here for a moment? I'm glad we were excused for a few days. Well, I can't blame them, they thought we needed a mental break for some time."

Yesterday, after sealing the initial deal with Sir Emmanuel Lyncoster, they were told to rest for a few days first before returning to class.

Freya's eyes constricted with Amelie's words, but she still felt awkward and repulsed with Amelie the night before they returned.

'What's with these two?'

Russell thought as his glance darted around between his younger sister and Amelie.

'I guess it's girls' business. Better not to pry into it.'

...

[Breaking News!]

The Crescent Weaponry Company has been attacked last night by a group of armed players!

The new weapons to be soon released have all been stolen!

Its ranks range from A- to S+ with worth at least 250 trillion Obel!

The number of casualties hasn't been confirmed yet.

...

[Breaking News!]

Crescent Weaponry Company's stocks have reached an all-time low as investors started to pull out their money!

...

[Breaking News!]

The Terrorist Organization of Players calling themselves Black Sky Disorder has claimed responsibility for the attack!

After a few hours of the attack, it's been confirmed that a total of 243 had died as a fight ensued inside the weapon facility.

...

A few days had passed since their return to the Obelisk Academy, and after their classes ended, Russell return to his dorm along with his always-women visitors — who, for some reason — don't want their very dorm rooms to be a place to be flocked in.

"Russell, what happened to our money?"

Amelie asked as she, Russell, and Freya bought stocks worth 75 billion. She didn't expect that such an incident would happen a few days after their return.

Russell pondered for a little, he didn't know what reactions he should have because in the first place he wasn't like someone with a hero complex who knew some fragments of the future and then tried to stop it.

'I am anything, but that.'

He said inwardly, though he felt some sympathy for unknown people who died from the attack he knew that was coming, as long as his family and companions weren't affected even in the slightest way, he won't make a move.

'It's not like I can fight them myself. They aren't even based in the Orion Continent.'

The Black Sky Disorder was the organization that was the opposite of the Obelisk Organization, which also comprised of players with high ranks but wanted more power and chaos as their Constellations were leaning on the evil side.

"...Hmm. Our money has a sudden increase of hundreds of percent... and I already pulled it out in case someone from the company would notice it, though it was from the Thorn of Rose, it's better to leave quickly than to get suspected."

He said as he looked at Amelie, sitting cross-legged on his couch, while Amery was sitting, at the same time, sleeping on the couch with a pillow on her head, probably because of her satiated hunger. Freya — who summoned Estelle — was cleaning the dishes.

"Then... how much did we make?"

Amelie asked with anticipation, and after a few seconds, Russell sighed before he replied.

"Roughly 550 billion including our initial investment."

"Th-that's a lot!"

Amelie blurted out which causes a mild reaction from the sleeping Amery.

After observing Amelie's reaction, Russell asked something he became curious about.

"Amelie... how do you feel about the people that died?"

She looked at Russell and saw that he was waiting for a genuine answer, prompting her to wear a serious expression... She deliberated before she said in a casual, womanly voice.

"To be honest, I don't care about them. Although I told you before that I don't want to be a natural evil because of my Dark Tears that already took many lives, it doesn't mean that I should care about everybody that I don't even know. As long as what I treasure the most isn't being swept through it, it doesn't matter to me."

'I see... she has the same perspective as me.'

Freya — who was washing the dishes with Estelle — somewhat heard the conversation between the two, then as if a light was turned on in her head, an idea about what to do about their sudden prosperity surfaced in her mind.

...

Room 1 of the Rigel Building, Samantha's Dorm.

Sitting on her bed after she ate alone this time, she communicated with a being inside her.

<Why aren't you being quiet when in front of him?>

Samantha Hall asked in her head, it's been some time since Russell and the others came back to the class, and she noticed that the Constellation inside of her, at least that's what she presumed, was being quiet in front of a man with deep black hair, deep blue eyes, and average features.

<Hey, are you awake? I'm asking why you're being quiet when you're in front of Russell.>

Samantha noticed this behavior because whenever she'd interact with people, the dignified, womanly voice in her head always made remarks about the person she interacts with, but it was different recently. During the first time she met Russell on the Obelisk Tracking Field, the voice in her head wasn't awake, but rather in slumber, and it was not like she was chasing Russell.

<Hmm... I've just confirmed something.>

The dignified, womanly voice replied.

<Confirmed what?>

Samantha asked curiously as she swept a glance in her dorm room.

<What should I say... that he's not right in the head.>

Samantha's mind turned blank with the answer she just heard.

---+

---+

---+

Author's Note:

Dear Readers,

If you are reading up to this point, thank you for reaching the hundred chapter!

Anyway, a few chapters left before the end of Volume 1: The Familiar yet Different World.

Interactions between the main characters of the original novel; Samantha, Elizabeth, Rumia, Jiho, and Leon will be highlighted soon.

For now, I focused on the development of Amelie and Amery as everyone has their role in the story, especially in the long run.

Again, thank you!