The Cursed Extra: Bloodline of Sacrifice-Chapter 173: The Ones Among Us

(POV: Caspian)

Caspian shifted in his seat, testing the cold bite of the chains around his wrists.

They didn’t budge.

"Okay... then would you mind loosening these a bit?" Caspian said, lifting his hands slightly.

"Also... I’m curious. The other two — tell me about them?"

Kismet didn’t hesitate.

With a simple flick of his fingers, the chains loosened — enough for Caspian to move.

"Sure."

Kismet leaned back in his chair, arms resting on the sides.

"They’re dead."

Caspian blinked.

"Dead? How?"

Kismet’s expression stayed flat, almost bored.

"Outlings killed them."

The word hung in the air like a faint echo.

"They hunt the strong ones first," Kismet continued.

"The ones who might become a threat... they let them grow a little, test their limits, then remove them before they become a real problem."

Caspian frowned slightly.

Does he know the future...? Did he read the novel too?

No... He doesn’t sound like it. He talks like someone who’s lived through it.

"Outlings?" Caspian asked, voice even.

Kismet’s eyes didn’t blink.

"The ones who came from another world. The ones trying to take this one."

He leaned forward slightly.

"You can call them demons if that makes it easier. It’s close enough." freewebnoveℓ.com

Caspian felt something cold stir in his stomach.

"They... look like us?"

Kismet gave a soft snort.

"Of course."

His voice dropped, low and matter-of-fact.

"More than five percent of rulers. Kings. Queens. High-ranking council members. Even some academy board members..."

He let the words settle.

"...Outlings."

Caspian stared at him, forcing himself not to look away.

"And no one knows?"

Kismet shrugged.

"Some do. Most pretend not to."

"If nothing changes... this world will belong to them in ten years."

The room stayed quiet.

Caspian felt a strange knot tighten in his chest — not fear.

Something else.

"The academy...?"

Kismet leaned back again, eyes sharp.

"You ever wondered why, during your entrance exam — and your first year — the biggest challenge wasn’t monsters or beasts... but each other?"

Caspian swallowed once.

"Why you’re pushed to fight one another... compete... break each other down..."

Kismet gave a slight tilt of his head.

"They’re watching. Recording. Studying."

His voice dropped.

"Finding out who the future stars are. Who needs to be... removed."

The realization settled over Caspian like a slow, creeping shadow.

"You remember the reward they offered after the knockout matches?"

Kismet’s voice came quiet but clear.

Caspian met his gaze.

"Yeah. The A-Rank portal mission."

Kismet gave a slow nod.

"Blue Portal... first-year students... A-Rank."

The words lingered for a moment before Kismet spoke again.

"Doesn’t that sound strange to you?, you are fighting among yourselves and your reward is to fight a beast and monsters,"

Caspian blinked once.

"It’s a reward."

"No," Kismet said flatly. "It’s a clean-up."

Caspian frowned slightly.

"You think it’s normal for first-year students to be pushed into A-Rank missions?" Kismet asked.

"Have you checked how many top-ranked students from academies... actually come back from those?"

Caspian’s breath slowed.

"Most of the time..." Kismet continued, "they don’t."

A pause.

Kismet leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees.

"The ones who show real promise? The ones who rise too fast? They’re sent straight into those portals... and conveniently... they never come back."

His voice stayed calm, low. Like stating the weather.

"You won’t notice it until you look back after your second or third mission. But by then... it’s too late."

Caspian stayed silent, watching him.

"They monitor you. They learn your fighting style. Your limits. And when they’re sure... they send you to the wolves."

Kismet’s expression didn’t change.

"And if anyone notices... anyone asks too many questions?"

"They get silenced. One way or another."

The room felt colder now — not from fear, but from understanding.

"The Outlings..." Kismet said, leaning back again, "...they’re not strong enough yet. Not by power. They’re adapting, slowly. Right now, they’re around S-Rank level... maybe a few higher. But that’s not their game."

He met Caspian’s eyes, steady and unreadable.

"They don’t win with strength. They win with people."

He raised a finger slightly.

"They offer exactly what you want — money... fame... desire... and when you take it?"

He dropped his hand again.

"You’re their pawn. Willingly or not."

Caspian felt his jaw tighten slightly.

"So they control kings... nobles... guild heads... students?"

Kismet nodded once.

"And they’re coming after you?" Caspian asked.

A faint smirk played at the corner of Kismet’s mouth.

"They’ve been trying."

He leaned forward again.

"They made sure I’d be marked. Labeled a criminal. Sent to a hellhole prison. They even made sure someone inside would finish the job for them."

Kismet gave a soft shrug.

"Except I went there myself. On my terms."

Caspian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Why?"

"Because I needed people," Kismet said simply.

"People like me. Framed. Discarded. The ones nobody would question if they disappeared."

He leaned back, folding his arms loosely.

"And now?"

He gave a faint smile — thin, sharp.

"I came back with a team. Strong ones. Ones the world called criminals."

Caspian absorbed the words quietly.

"And the best part?"

Kismet’s voice dropped, laced with dry humor.

"The ones hunting us... the ones who think they’re saving the world?"

"They’re our own Special Forces."

"One more thing you should know," Kismet said, voice low.

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He stood now, casting a faint shadow across the dim room.

"You think our Special Forces... the same ones who wipe out SS-rank portals... can’t clear the Ruined Continent?"

Caspian watched him carefully, saying nothing.

"You think it’s coincidence? That they’ve let a beast-infested wasteland survive on the same world they control?"

Kismet’s lip curled slightly, not a smile — something sharper.

"They leave it there... because that’s the Outlings’ home base. Their breeding ground. Their passage into this world."

The words felt heavier than any chain Caspian had worn.

"That’s why I burned half their nests on my way out."

Caspian’s eyes narrowed.

"You... destroyed the Ruined Kingdom’s strongholds?"

Kismet gave a small nod.

"Not sure if I got all of them. The place is... massive."

He turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder toward the faint outline of the window.

"Imagine your Australia... that’s the scale of the Ruined Continent in this world."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then — with a flick of his wrist — Kismet reached into his coat and pulled something out.

A small, silver locket. Faint engravings lined its edge — nothing flashy, nothing ornate. But it hummed faintly with an unfamiliar mana.

He tossed it lightly toward Caspian.

"Keep this on you."

Caspian caught it instinctively.

"If you’re ever in a situation... one you’re sure you won’t walk out of — it’ll glow black. All you need to do is break it."

Kismet turned fully, adjusting the cuffs of his coat.

"Might just save your life. Consider it a parting gift... from your senior."

He walked toward the door, his steps unhurried.

"You can get back to the academy on your own, right?"

Caspian nodded slowly.

"Good." Kismet gave a faint nod. "Then... I’ll be seeing you."

He reached for the door.

"Wait."

Caspian’s voice stopped him.

Kismet turned, eyebrows raised slightly.

From his own void space, Caspian pulled out a small, black-covered notebook.

"Take this."

Kismet caught it with one hand, flipping it open briefly. His eyes scanned the neat rows of writing before flicking back to Caspian.

"And this is?"

"Details. Of future events... ones that will happen in this world."

For the first time, Kismet’s eyes sharpened — not with suspicion, but interest.

"Future... huh."

He flipped another page.

"You planning to explain?"

Caspian gave a faint grin.

"I was hoping you’d stay for a chat."

...

[Two Hours Later]

The soft crackle of fire filled the room now — faint, steady.

Kismet leaned back in the chair again, hands folded.

"So... you’ve got a power linked to sacrifice....,hmmmp... your power are screwed and same goes for your life here,"

"Haha, sorry! sorry!,"

Caspian nodded.

"Yours not anything better."

Kismet smirked slightly, setting the notebook down.

"I knew you weren’t normal... but this?" He shook his head lightly...

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