Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Downstream Life (5)
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1.
In Necropolis, height is synonymous with status.
The insane population density had cleaved living spaces into vertical castes.
Quality of life varied wildly depending on whether your home was underground, on the first floor, or the second.
That was why house prices doubled with every single step up the stairs.
The number of people under your feet was the yardstick that determined your rank.
At the pinnacle of that hierarchy sat the "Hang Houses."
Not the chaotic sprawl of the ground level like a silo crammed with bean sprouts, but buildings carved into the cliffsides and clinging like barnacles.
Putting up something like that, complete with a private elevator, naturally cost an astronomical fortune.
They were the penthouses that only the absolute elite of this city could claim.
"Hmm, nice."
I stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of one such magnificent Hang House, gazing down at Necropolis's nightscape.
A ribbon of green smog snaking through the streets, flickers of light leaking from the rifts.
Pitiful glows from the day's mayflies burning their lives just to survive.
The space that had felt like hell when I was trapped inside now looked like mere decoration from this dizzying height above the surface.
"What are you thinking?"
A voice sweet as honey.
A sharp chin rested on the crown of my head.
Breasts of unbelievable softness cradled my neck and shoulders like a pillow.
I pondered for a moment before answering.
"I was thinking people look like ants."
"An interesting take."
A faint chuckle echoed from above my head.
The warmth pulled away.
I turned to see the tallest woman I'd ever laid eyes on standing there.
The owner of this penthouse. Director of Twilight Resource Development. A mage.
Ceres Cassian.
Now, why was I here?
'Let me buy your corpse. But there are too many eyes here.'
'Pardon?'
'Your corpse is "special," isn't it? Come to my workshop. I'll pay top dollar.'
She'd approached me in front of the columbarium and invited me to her workshop.
Truth be told, I had no desire to sell the corpse in a situation where I couldn't predict what snowball effect it might trigger.
I didn't want to accept the invitation either.
But mistaking this for a simple "invitation" would've been a grave error.
The woman was a corporate director.
In this reeking world, a director at a massive corporation that legally bought corpses in bulk.
My options boiled down to "go quietly while she was asking nicely" or "go as a corpse," didn't they?
'Honored by the invitation!'
'Oh my, so spirited.'
I'd accepted without protest.
Absolutely.
I swear.
It had nothing to do with Ceres being tall and stunning, with breasts the size of my head....
I wasn't curious about what it would feel like to sleep with a woman pushing 250cm tall.
Anyway, that's not what I expected.
"The inspection's done. A 1st Rank Mage's corpse. You're a kid walking around with an absurd treasure."
"That valuable?"
"Valuable enough that I don't want the other directors getting their hands on it."
"Ah, so direct deal it is."
"Put simply, office politics."
I immediately laid on the flattery.
"Even someone as exalted as you, Lady Ceres, has her troubles."
"Quite the smooth talker, aren't you?"
It was an unexpected invitation.
But my gut told me that if I played it right, it could open all sorts of doors.
"One regret, though... the magic circuits are too damaged."
Tch.
Like that line from a used goods seller: 'No scratches in the photo, but some wear from daily use.'
Clever.
"I could knock a bit off the price."
Ceres's eyes widened, then she burst into laughter.
"No need for that. But before I pay... mind telling me where you got this corpse?"
Her tone was perfectly casual and even.
But I felt adrenaline surging through my veins.
Here it came.
The first fork in the road.
A question that would probably shape my future with high odds.
If it were me finding a treasure goblin, I'd be yelling, 'Where the fuck did you get this gold, you bastard!'
If the answer didn't satisfy, out come the pliers for nails, toenails, teeth: 'Tough nut, huh? Still not talking?'
"It's my sister's. I don't know the full details, but one day our family was attacked. She got injured in the fight."
"Family? You..."
"Yes. Eldest son of the Montraven Count family."
No point in half-assed lies after being dragged this far.
Better to bet that Ceres had no ties to the attackers and lay out the truth than get my nails yanked.
I gave her the rough rundown and asked,
"Any idea who might've been behind the attack?"
She tapped her cheek thoughtfully with a fingertip.
"Hmm? I don't deal much with Aden. Last time I was there was three years ago. Never heard of the Montraven Counts either. Must've been some fallen house."
Wait, was our family that obscure?
Total dogshit nobodies, huh.
"Anyway, intriguing story. And this stays between us. In return..."
"Of course. I'll take this deal to my grave. Those bastard directors will never know about your windfall, Lady Ceres."
"Such a good conversationalist. Guess I should throw in a little bonus."
Ceres flashed a grin and finally reached for her wallet.
Only then did she order silence.
My instincts told me one slip in that exchange, and the wallet would've stayed shut.
"So, what do you want as a reward?"
Here it came.
The second fork.
I had a hunch about this one.
Ceres had been friendly from the start.
Her touches were subtly natural.
A teasing breeze, ambiguous but there...
This was the turbulent air between man and woman before "something" happened.
"A glass of wine with you, Lady Ceres? Just the two of us, cozy."
Her eyes widened again.
"Oh? Look at this bold one."
Her words said one thing, but there wasn't a hint of displeasure.
I didn't miss the subtle lust glazing her sultry eyes.
Nailed it again.
This was the way to the best reward.
I knew full well how generous a woman could become with a man who'd satisfied her.
I'd run those Gangnam hostess bars clean during my 11th playthrough.
And...
I couldn't help my curiosity.
240cm tall, yet a sultry beauty.
Were we even the same species?
When would I get another shot like this?
"If wine doesn't appeal right now, how about a shower first?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, sure...?"
"This way."
I grabbed her wrist and headed for the shower.
After a fun time teasing each other with suds in the shower.
"Shall we turn off the lights for a bit?"
"Why waste it? I want to etch your beautiful body into my eyes, Lady Ceres."
That night.
We were a pair of utter beasts.
2.
Once the frenzy subsided, the bedroom felt even more humid.
Ceres smoothed her sweat-damp hair and lit a cigarette.
I lit it for her on cue, and she exhaled with practiced ease.
"Whew, that was a rare treat. Way better than my husband."
"Pardon?"
Wait, what?
"Way better than my husband."
Husband? She was married?
My heart sank.
You should've mentioned that sooner!
If I'd known she was married, it'd be double dopamine from the forbidden thrill!
"Don't panic. My husband won't come after you in a rage. He's already dead."
"Ah, right..."
"I hadn't planned to go this far, but... you made me happy."
Giggling at my crestfallen look, Ceres headed to a massive painting on one wall of the bedroom.
She nudged it aside, revealing a vault so huge no thief would dare touch it.
"Been a while since I had fun. Here's extra for your sister's corpse, plus a service tip."
After punching in the combination, she pulled out a single gleaming gold coin.
One such coin was worth 100,000 bios.
For someone of her station giving it as a casual handout, it seemed paltry.
But.
"No, this is too precious...!"
A subtle, mystical golden aura, like fairy dust had been sprinkled on it.
This was no ordinary coin.
This coin's true nature was...
The ark city's reserve currency.
The reason the ark city, surrounded by mutants and monsters, could remain self-sufficient.
The reason mages escaped the chains of lifespan and aging.
The reason fixers were endlessly thrown into monster hunts.
The one and only currency valid for trade with the "World."
Universal Currency.
"Heh, I loaded you up good."
I swallowed hard.
Universal Currency traded at around 10 million bios.
An amount 90% of Necropolis citizens could never earn in a lifetime.
"......"
Conflict stirred.
Part of me wanted to wag my tail and beg to be her kept man. Woof woof woof!
But I couldn't forget.
This was playing with fire.
And the gap between us was like the difference between a basement slum and a Hang House hundreds of meters up.
To the widowed mage Ceres, I was just a dog good at licking butter.
"Heading out now?"
See?
She was starting to hint it was time to scram.
"Ah, yes. Gotta work tomorrow."
"Where at?"
"Oh, BigDick Agency."
"BigDick Agency... Got it. I'll send some requests your way."
Today's harvest would have to be this deep impression I'd left.
"I'll walk you to the elevator."
We passed through a long gallery lined with artwork to the entrance where the elevator waited.
Pulling the lever opened the latticed brass doors.
"Looking forward to seeing you again."
"Me too. I am."
I stepped into the elevator, hit the button, and turned back.
Polished marble floors gleamed under lights that showcased priceless art.
Opulence, silence, crisp air.
Things absent from the depths below.
I wanted them.
Suddenly, I didn't want to go back.
"I want to keep living in a place like this."
The truth slipped out.
"You know that, right?"
Ceres paused, then smiled enigmatically.
"I didn't approach you at the columbarium because of your sister."
"Pardon?"
"I saw 'you' first."
"What does that..."
-Clunk.
The brass lattice doors shut, separating us.
"Find the ugliest arrogance within you."
Her lips moved.
"Go even madder. More, more, more than now. Let your madness devour you. Even if the world points fingers, cling to your stubbornness."
The elevator descended.
I descended.
Ceres receded into the distance.
"Do that, and..."
But her final whisper, like a breath in my ear.
"You can become like me."
Rang clear in my mind.
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::: Challenge (NEW!) :::
- First intimate encounter with a female mage. +2pt
- Sell your body. +1pt
- Obtain Universal Currency. +1pt
======