World Tree's Leaf (2)

Boom!—

"Whoa, unnie, it's collapsing!..."

"It's fine. It won't crumble from something like this. If it did, the whole neighborhood would sink just from an earthquake?"

Following the email's marked location led us to what looked like a surprisingly ordinary commercial building. Of course, figuring it had to be hidden since it was pinpointed on the map, I'd brought a tool along too.

One of the treasures I brought back from Earth. At first, I thought a staff meant some magic-related treasure, but it turned out to be just a simple navigation tool—kinda disappointing. Its performance was meh too, only detecting nearby passages. The upside? It ignores any concealment magic and always finds the path.

Anyway, scanning with the staff revealed a passage leading underground, blocked by a massive steel plate. There might be a proper way to open it, but...

Crunch!

Boom!—

"There, open."

That's for weaklings. Why bother hunting for a key when you can just knock?

"Ugh... s-seriously..."

"Terra? She's at home. Probably gaming right now. You don't bring a kid to a place like this carelessly."

Who knows what kinda mess she'd see. She insists she's not a hatchling, but to me, she just looks like a kid...

So emotionally, it felt off bringing her. Instead, last night I had her process every single gemstone in the house.

I'd photocopied the money in advance with Treasure Digitalization.

Thud, thud—

Descending the stairs revealed a corridor that reminded me of an office. But no one was milling about. Some kinda camouflage? So if it got busted, it'd look like a normal office? Eh, whatever. I've never decorated or disguised my own lair.

With that thought, I took one more step forward.

Clang!—

A gang member's dagger whipped out from the side, right in front of me. But what blocked it wasn't me—it was Ha-eun's sword.

"Ooh, nice counter."

"What do you mean 'nice'?! Why didn't you move?!"

"Knew you'd block it?"

Man, they really swung to kill. It was awkward, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but aimed dead at the temple. Of course, even if it hit me...

This much wouldn't even scratch my scales.

Thwap—

I grabbed the gang member's wrist. Then...

Slam!—

I flipped him over my shoulder and smashed him into the floor. No need to skimp on money anymore, right? Terra recharges me daily.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

...Though she'll have to work hard for it.

"Urk..."

"Alright~ pick one. Tell me where your boss is and stop getting hit, or keep eating punches while talking. What's it gonna be?"

"Agh! What kinda strength—"

Looks like he's not in the mood to talk yet.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Crackkk!

"Gaaah!"

"Whoa, whoa, any more and the arm pops off?"

"Th-third floor! Basement level three—"

Whack!—

I knocked out the spilling guy with a chop to the neck and scanned around. Still more hiding.

"Alright, you hiding ones, come out now. Be good and it won't hurt."

"..."

Hm, no takers?

Tang!—

I dashed down the corridor at high speed.

Crunch!—

Boom!—

What unfolded in the facility wasn't a fight... just one-sided violence. They couldn't keep up with my speed at all.

Boom boom boom!—

I fired off small missiles and turned at the presence I sensed behind me.

"W-wait a—!"

Thud!—

He tried to speak, but I grabbed the gang member's neck and slammed him into the wall regardless. Awakener, so his neck won't snap from this.

"U-uaaaah!"

Then, spotting another charging with his knife high, I stepped forward, lowered my stance, and...

Splat!—

"Urk!—"

I kicked him upward from below. He flew diagonally, smashing into the far wall. Scanning around, I spoke up.

"Phew~ let's see. One two three four... fifteen? Ehe~ all humans, no mana stones huh. Oh! Should I pick their pockets at least?"

"Unnie."

"What! They're bad guys anyway!"

"Eh, I already beat 'em all."

Boss room, huh. Not wrong. Clear it and snag the World Tree's Leaf—reward's stacked.

Ha... thinking about it makes me want it faster.

"It's fine, kids. Not boring at all. Collecting treasure's always fresh every day."

Descending the final stairs revealed an underground parking garage, totally different from above.

But.

"Hm, Ha-eun."

"Yes?"

"Didn't look like there was a parking lot from up top?"

"Uh... yeah, I think so...?"

"Then what's this? Connected to the next building?"

Going that far to hide? They really hated getting caught. And every car's a luxury model. How much is all this...?

Sell it all with Treasure Digitalization?

...Nah. If it's illegally obtained, could be trouble.

"I don't care about cars—"

Splat!—

"Hm?"

A heavy thud echoed from one corner of the garage. Looking over, a gaudy door stood out, mismatched for a parking lot.

Crash!—

"Urk... s-save—"

The door burst open, flinging out a bloodied gang member. A hulking man followed, cracking his knuckles with brass knucks on.

Thud!—

Thud!—

Splat!—

He grabbed the guy's collar and hammered punches relentlessly.

"You fucking punk! Talking back!"

Seeing the guy unconscious but still unsatisfied, he hurled him at a car.

Krunch!—

Gangster origins? More famous than I thought. Even viewers recognize him.

"Ha, who the hell are you? Who sent you to rob my shop?"

"Who? Uh, hm... hunters here to catch you? Streamer?"

"Pfft, total psychos they sent."

He approached, deeply inhaling a cig with his bloody hand.

"Haa... Guess you're one of the punks those idiots targeted. Two girls against this big bro? You sure?"

Ah, this vibe? And he has no clue who I am. Must be the type who causes chaos but slacks on intel.

Lots like that back home. Most got coup'd or assassinated tho.

"Both lookin' all dolled up. Shame if you get scarred."

Cracking his knuckles to intimidate, he closed in, looming a head taller, eyes burning with raw greed.

Fun. I love greed too.

"Scared stiff? Fair, seeing me."

He reached with a massive hand. Aimed at my chest, looks like. Lusting after this body? Or hugging a girl? Dunno.

But more than that...

"Pfft..."

"Huh?"

"Treasure."

My greed's bigger.

"...!"

Thwip—

Sensing danger, Lee Ho-jin backstepped fast. But my claws raked his cheek first, drawing thick blood.

"You bitch... was gonna go easy on that pretty face."

Hidden under his clothes, but I glimpsed it. That necklace. That's the World Tree's Leaf.

Finally.

"Pretty..."

"...Unnie?"

Whatever filthy thoughts he had about me? Irrelevant. Just impossible delusions.

What mattered was examining this treasure I'd finally met in this world up close. What light does it hold? What meaning? And... what insane power?

As those thoughts raced through my mind, the tiny leaf suddenly began to glow.

"Tch."

The wound on Lee Ho-jin's cheek healed at rapid speed.