Chapter 89
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Black Magic Lessons
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The next day arrived after having sex with Sohee.
I hadn't planned it that way, but my eyes opened sooner than expected. When I stepped outside, Ha Dongseok and his men were packing their gear.
"What are you guys doing?"
"Ah, Jaehwan-ssi. We're heading back to our old base for a bit to grab the stuff we left behind."
"So you're planning to live here then? Like I said before, if you want to stay, even as my subordinates, you'll have to pay up."
Ha Dongseok nodded with a casual smile, as if it were a given.
"That's exactly why we're staying. With the crisis coming in a week, we figured your base is the safest bet."
Even if Ha Dongseok and his crew returned to their original spot, they'd still have to deal with the power and water cutoff in a week. As far as I knew, they didn't have anyone with the Technician trait there.
Trying to find a Technician now and build it up like my base would be tough. They'd have to hand over every coin they earned to me, so they couldn't afford to train one easily.
Instead, paying 200 coins per person to crash here was a way better deal.
"And perfect timing. We got coins from clearing Main Quest 1 yesterday. Here, take these."
Each of them got 600 coins, and with Ha Dongseok making nine in total, that was 5,400 coins.
I held up my palm to stop Ha Dongseok as he approached with the coins.
"No need. Use the quest reward coins to strengthen your skills."
When I ordered them to keep the coins instead of taking them, his men cheered excitedly.
"We're finally gonna strengthen our skills!"
"I thought we had to hand them over for sure, but this feels amazing."
"Gonna pump 'em straight to level 4!"
Ha Dongseok grinned at his men before bowing to me in thanks.
Sure, taking their coins would've been nice, but these guys were going to run auto-hunts for me going forward.
For maximum efficiency, they needed to get stronger. This was a worthwhile investment.
Besides, the exact 600 coins from Main Quest 1 were clearly meant for people who hid during the Zombie Wave without fighting—folks whose skills were still level 1.
Skill upgrades cost current level times 100 coins, so 600 got you exactly to level 4.
It wouldn't make them insanely strong, but it would boost morale.
5,400 coins? I could farm that solo in no time.
Just call it an investment.
With that, Ha Dongseok and his crew finished packing, hopped in their car, and headed out.
I'd given Ha Dongseok a phone made via Equipment Crafting, telling him to call if anything happened on the way back.
Watching them leave my base, I stretched and loosened up.
"Ugh... gotta grind zombies hard today too..."
Normally, I'd have washed up quick and headed out to hunt since I was up early.
But today, I had something else to handle first.
After breathing in the morning air to wake up fully, I headed back to my room.
Inside, Yejin and Lee Seoyoon were tangled up on the bed, dead asleep.
Yejin staying up late waiting for me made sense—she was still out later than me. But Lee Seoyoon sleeping this soundly was surprising.
Didn't she say she'd slept through the day yesterday too?
How rough must her life have been before meeting me for her fatigue to run that deep?
I poked Lee Seoyoon's cheek with my finger as she slept.
"Hey, wake up."
"Mm... uh, what? Ah! Master."
She scrunched her face waking up, then jolted upright when she saw it was me poking her.
"Once you're up, wash up, get ready, and come to the 7th floor. Got it?"
After she nodded, I headed out and went up to the 7th floor.
I had no intention of telling anyone else about teaching Lee Seoyoon black magic yet.
I'd have to explain it to her, of course, but no need to spread it around.
This was my unique power, and keeping black magic a total secret from others was key.
With countless enemies ahead, the difference between them knowing I could use black magic and not knowing was night and day.
They didn't know what it could do, but as an unknown force, they'd come at me overprepared to kill me.
If they were clueless, they'd half-ass their prep and fight on my terms.
That rat bastard was the perfect example. He wasn't dumb, but he underestimated me.
If he'd known about my black magic, he wouldn't have dared attack.
He thought a mob with guns and enhanced ammo could overwhelm me as an individual.
Hiding black magic's existence was crucial to prevent counters.
Lost in thought about how to teach it to Lee Seoyoon, I ran into Sohee in the hallway on the way up.
She was dressed for zombie hunting, greatsword in hand, about to head out.
Though thanks to last night, she couldn't quite close her legs.
"Zombie hunting already?"
"Yeah. Gotta bag some zombies quick and pay you back those coins."
"But... is down there okay? You sure you can go out today?"
I pointed at her crotch, and she sighed like she knew what I meant.
"No choice. I'll grit through it while hunting. Can't just skip a day 'cause it hurts."
I almost said she could rest if it hurt, but her determination was clear, so I let her be.
Just told her to call on the phone I gave her if things got dicey.
She nodded and waddled down the stairs, legs spread.
I wondered if she'd be okay like that, but with her Frenzy skill granting zombie immunity in combat, as long as she didn't get bitten fatally, she'd be fine. Small relief.
After parting with Sohee, I reached the 7th floor, picked a room, sat on the floor, and waited a bit until I heard Lee Seoyoon coming up.
"Over here. Come on in."
"Ah, yes. Master."
She entered the room.
She still hid half her scarred face with her hair, which was kinda pitiful.
Yejin's skills couldn't heal it, so nothing to be done.
Even black magic had limits—no healing. She'd carry that scar for life.
No wonder she talked about revenge.
Though calling her my disciple felt weirdly off, even if I'd said it.
Never imagined teaching black magic to anyone in my life.
Back in that other world, being treated as a black magician meant no need for more like me.
Better to be a regular mage accepted by others.
"Alright, starting today, I'm teaching you the power I wield. But you absolutely cannot tell anyone else. Ever. Total secret."
"Even the people living here? Even Yejin-unnie?"
"Yes. Just you and me."
Lee Seoyoon looked shocked at keeping it from Yejin too—she must've assumed I'd tell her.
Yejin could've handled knowing, but the fewer who know a secret, the safer it stays.
"Now, before we start the lesson, what do you think this is?"
I floated a wisp of demonic energy on my palm and held it before her eyes.
"I-I don't know. There's this weird black stuff rippling on your palm... What is it?"
"This is demonic energy."
"Demonic energy?"
"Yeah. It's the power needed for the black magic I'm teaching you starting today."
Lee Seoyoon, listening intently, gasped at "black magic."
"Black magic? That exists?"
"It does. What I use is black magic. Killing that taker yesterday? Not a skill—that was my black magic. It's not from the system traits. That's its edge: a power no one else has."
"A power no one else has..."
She stared at the rippling demonic energy in my hand, eyes entranced.
"Then let's begin the real lesson."