Chapter 102

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 102

Chapter Title: The Plunder Skill

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Suddenly, a patch? Then I remembered that they'd mentioned patch notes would go up on Wednesdays.

What kind of changes were they rolling out?

With a flicker of curiosity, I checked the system window, and some intriguing details jumped out at me.

Honestly, I hadn't been expecting much until I read the details, but this was insane. A total game-changer.

Kill another person—another Awakener like me—and you could take their coins outright?

Ever since the zombie apocalypse kicked off, there'd been one big frustration: I couldn't just snatch coins from others whenever I wanted.

It wasn't impossible to take coins, but it always required their consent.

Like with Yejin, Sohee, and Hadongseok right now—they were handing over their coins willingly. Without their agreement, I couldn't touch them.

Since they had no qualms about giving them to me anyway, just asking was enough. No issues there.

The problem was everyone else. Strangers.

To be precise, it wasn't like I hadn't stripped coins from the people I'd killed so far.

I just hadn't bothered because it was a hassle.

Having to demand coins from every single Awakener I met? Ridiculous. And time-consuming to boot.

I had no idea how many coins they were carrying. Telling them to hand them over on sight, or worse, torturing the stubborn ones until they coughed them up? That would eat up way too much time.

Time better spent hunting zombies and farming coins efficiently.

Especially during that recent zombie wave—arguing with Awakeners would've been a waste when I could've been pulling aggro and wiping them out with black magic.

So, looting coins from other Awakeners? Only if I had spare time or if the target screamed "loaded with coins." Then it'd be loot first, kill second.

Like that Yeouido boss from the other day—he had to be swimming in coins. Definitely squeeze him dry before finishing him off.

But now, no more hassle. They'd turned it into a skill.

I hadn't even dreamed of this. Perfect.

No more guessing how many coins a kill might yield.

I pulled up my status window, and sure enough, there it was under skills, just as announced.

Level 1 gives 10% chance, up 10% each level, so max at 10, huh.

Most Awakeners would prioritize survival skills, treating Plunder as a bonus to level later.

Not me.

I needed other skills too, but I wasn't scraping by. No hardship here.

Maxing Plunder to 10 would cost 5,500 coins. Pocket change.

No hesitation—I upgraded it straight to level 10.

No more regretting missed coins from Awakener kills.

Hell, now I'm pissed they didn't add this sooner.

If they'd done it earlier, I wouldn't have had to turn Awakeners into zombies just for their coins!

Faces of everyone I'd killed since the apocalypse started flashing by...

Actually, nothing comes to mind.

The big ones stick out, but the small fry? Can't even picture them.

Whatever. They didn't leave an impression.

That rat bastard I couldn't kill myself does pop up, though.

Planned to zombify and finish him, but that sudden Taker got him—no body left.

Without him, I could've absorbed Hadongseok's whole crew. Such a shame.

One of the biggest groups I'd seen, and that guy riled them up against me. Had to smash them myself.

Water under the bridge.

"Mm... Oppa, you're awake? Oh, patch notes?"

Yejin, sleeping beside me, rubbed her eyes, read the system window, and jolted upright in surprise.

"Whoa, they added Plunder! It's really here? You have it too, right, Oppa?"

"Of course. Already maxed it to 10 while you were sleeping."

"Huh? Already? So... 100% coin plunder! How many coins do you even have to max it that fast?"

I met her admiring gaze and pressed a finger to my lips.

"Secret~"

She puffed her cheeks, pouting as she glared at me.

"Come on~ Can't you tell me? Just me, please~ I won't tell anyone~"

"Hmm... What to do~ It's a real secret."

"I already know your huge secret about using black magic. This is nothing, right?"

True, knowing I'm a Black Magician was massive. Coin count was minor by comparison.

She wasn't the type to blab, or she'd be in danger. She'd stay quiet.

"Fine. Since it's come to this, I'll show you. Just you."

"Show what?"

"My status window. The one no one's seen but me."

Her eyes went wide, then she grinned, zipping her lips with her finger.

Bouncing with excitement, I shared my status window with her.

Yejin felt like she could float away with joy.

All her efforts were finally paying off.

By working so hard to be helpful in Jaehwan's arms, it felt like he'd finally opened his heart to her.

Truth be told, she'd been a bit anxious lately when Seoyun showed up.

She'd prided herself on knowing Jaehwan better than anyone, but Seoyun knowing sides of him she didn't had shaken her.

Especially when he started teaching Seoyun something. Made her worry her own value was dropping.

If Seoyun matched her looks, Yejin wouldn't have slept from the anxiety.

Luckily, her killer figure was unmatched, easing her mind a little. Still, she wanted to know what ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he was teaching.

She knew she shouldn't pry, but threw a little tantrum anyway—and learned about the black magic.

She'd suspected he wielded magic-like power, but hearing it confirmed hit different.

It made her crave more of the Jaehwan hidden behind the veil.

Now he was even sharing his status window? The superiority of knowing him deeper than anyone brought a smile.

But seeing it? Total shock.

She'd glimpsed Sohee and Miyoung's windows before. Compared to them, Jaehwan's strength and mental power were absurd.

Even 50+ was superhuman, but two digits? Insane.

Plus the sheer number of skills, and tons of coins left after maxing Plunder.

Each detail was a bombshell.

And it only strengthened her resolve to stay by his side.

As she stroked her lower belly.