Chapter 104
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Status Window Manipulation
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"What's got you so excited? What's the big deal?"
Ha Dongseok had handed me a skill that turned out to be ridiculously useful, and I must've been grinning like an idiot without realizing it. Sohee, watching from the side, shot me a curious look and asked.
"Curious? Want to take a peek?"
"Huh? Can I? Sure, let me see... Wait, what? This is supposed to be good? Looks like total garbage to me."
I passed her the skill orb, and Sohee took it with wide-eyed curiosity. But her excitement quickly faded into disappointment.
She must've been expecting some powerhouse attack skill or something.
The Status Window Manipulation skill really was worthless for zombie hunting, no question.
Any Awakener stumbling on it would react just like Sohee. It wasn't that it helped kill zombies at all—plus, who the hell would ever need to show their status window to someone else anyway?
But I needed it. Desperately.
I didn't want anyone seeing my insane stats, my endless skills, or my mountain of coins compared to everyone else's.
And on top of that, my name had spread among the other Awakeners thanks to the Zombie Wave. I'd wiped out zombies so overwhelmingly during it that Kim Jaehwan's name wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
If someone glimpsed my status window, they'd spot the matching name in a heartbeat.
But with Status Window Manipulation, I could alter everything—including my name—and completely bury the fact that I was the ranking one during the wave.
A skill most people would toss without a second thought? For me, it was a godsend.
"Of course it's great. Mind checking if it works? I'll give it a test run."
I took the orb back from Sohee, absorbed it, and sure enough, Status Window Manipulation appeared in my skills.
Activating it immediately brought up my status window alongside a system prompt.
You can adjust desired stat values and skill levels, and hide traits and skills themselves.
Status Window Manipulation skill is automatically set to be invisible to others.
Showing off that I had Status Window Manipulation to others wouldn't make sense, so it hid itself automatically? Fair enough.
Though maybe someone with sky-high mental strength could see through it—uncover the manipulation itself.
Not that anyone had higher mental strength than my 19, anyway.
Time to mess with my status window.
I hid everything that screamed "overpowered," dialed my strength and mental strength down to below average, and slapped on a completely different name.
About five minutes later, I admired my handiwork with a satisfied grin. My status window looked totally revamped.
Anyone glancing at this would think "pathetic trash stats."
I shared it with Sohee and Ha Dongseok.
"Uh... Cha Wonseok? You changed your name too?"
"And the stats and skills are all different. It feels so off, I almost doubt it's you, Jaehwan."
"So, it looks totally weird?"
They both nodded at my question.
"Alright, like I said before—you two scour every dungeon around here today. Find 'em all, no exceptions. If you think you can clear one, go for it, but don't push it and die."
"Don't worry about us. I can't die and leave Mom behind."
"I'll prioritize survival, sir."
That wrapped up the main talk, but something else I wanted to test popped into mind.
"Oh, wait! Everyone, grab your weapons and come to me."
They looked puzzled by the sudden request but fetched their greatswords and came over anyway.
"What's with the weapons all of a sudden?"
"Got an experiment in mind. Hold them out for a sec."
I enchanted both their weapons with Mana Drain.
First time trying it on someone else's gear instead of mine.
With this, any demonic energy from zombies they kill would get sucked into the weapons themselves.
Think of it as the weapons auto-absorbing demonic energy on kills. No attack boosts or durability ups—just absorption.
Problem was, this black magic wasn't perfected yet. Absorbed energy would slowly dissipate over time.
With my own weapons, I'd absorb it right away through Mana Drain, so no loss. But I couldn't trail them to siphon theirs.
I'd minimized the dissipation as much as possible, but efficiency would still drop. Unavoidable.
That's why Seoyun needed to master black magic ASAP. She could collect the energy they gathered, preventing waste even without me around.
"Bring the guns from those guys running laps too. They're all using rifles, right?"
"Yes, sir. Everyone! Grab your rifles and assemble behind me!"
At Ha Dongseok's command, the jogging group rushed back with their guns.
"All of you, hold your rifles out and stay still."
I went around enchanting each one with Mana Drain. First time on ranged weapons—unsure if it'd absorb from zombie kills, but if it worked, I could keep it on them permanently.
"What the hell are you even doing?"
Sohee had been quietly watching me work, but she wrinkled her nose and asked.
"This? It's a secret."
No reason to spill about black magic to Sohee—who didn't know—or in front of everyone.
She stared at my face, then let out a dramatic sigh.
"Fine, don't tell me. Just clue me in eventually."
"Hmm... I'll think about it."
"Ugh, just say 'got it' for once!"
I finished enchanting the rest while chatting with her.
"Don't hunt too late today. Be back by 7."
"7? Got it."
"Understood, sir."
If they got carried away with zombies or dungeons, all that absorbed demonic energy could vanish.
First time enchanting others, so results were a gamble.
This was basically my test run for what Seoyun would handle later.
If efficiency sucked when they returned from hunting, she'd have to join hunts and absorb right after kills with enchanted weapons.
In other words, Seoyun needed to learn black magic fast... I'd stimulated her dantian last night to help, but did it work?
First time trying it myself, so I wasn't sure. But recalling her reactions, maybe.
Every time I prodded her dantian with demonic energy, she'd climax and lose it—but I felt her trying to control the energy bit by bit.
Anyway, time to check on Seoyun, then head out.
I headed back inside and up the stairs, only to lock eyes with Miyoung coming out the door.
"Oh, h-hi..."
"Hey. Morning, kid."
I was in a rush to see Seoyun, so I just greeted her and moved on—but she grabbed my sleeve, stopping me.
"Um, hey..."
"Yeah? Got something to say?"
"N-no, it's just..."
She'd started the conversation but now hemmed and hawed, leaving me clueless.
"This about the garden?"
"The garden? Oh, it's growing better than expected—probably my skill. Level it up more, and it'll speed up."
"Then just say that. But that's not it, right? Spit it out already."
Curious, I scanned her up and down—and spotted something off.
She'd approached in thin clothes, and her nipples poked obviously through the fabric. No bra.
Wait—Miyoung's inverted nipples were out? That clicked everything into place.
Last time she'd barged in on me and Yejin mid-sex, she'd worn something similar, hadn't she?
Situation clear, I lightly pinched the perky nipple bulging through her top.
"You here to get fucked right now? That's why you're braless with these hard?"
"Ahh... W-well..."
She winced a bit from the pinch but didn't pull away.
I leaned in close, whispering in her ear.
"Say what you want clearly. Then I'll give it to you."
She murmured softly.
"...Please..."
"What? Can't hear you."
"Fuck me rough... please!"
There it was—her true colors.
"Heard me banging another girl last night and got all hot?"
I squeezed her nipple harder. A moan escaped her lips.
"Ahhn! Y-yes! Hearing you fuck... I masturbated to it..."
"With Sohee right there?"
"...I went to another room so she wouldn't wake up."
Didn't want Sohee knowing her slutty side, huh.
But getting off just to sex sounds? Her libido was wilder than I thought.
"So you want it now?"
"...Yes."
"Later, then."
I released her nipple and stepped back.
She looked stunned—she'd expected me to go at her.
"I'll play rough tonight, so wait. You perverted bitch."
Even called her a perv, but her face barely changed. Just disappointment at no immediate fuck.
Miyoung might be even kinkier than I'd guessed.
Hardcore play later could be fun.
I parted ways with her and headed up to check on Seoyun.
Opening the door, I found her asleep with the dildo I'd given her still inside.
Following orders perfectly.
Up close, the demonic energy I'd injected as semen yesterday was mostly gone.
Or more precisely—some had settled into her dantian.
What? Results already?