Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Sad Clown (1)
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《Sad Clown》 - (1)
01.
Counted among the strongest stage bosses and boasting stats beyond all norms, Selverion's every sense far surpassed anything a mere human could possess.
And after spending the last two weeks living in her body firsthand, I'd come to realize that among those senses, her hearing was by far the most extraordinarily developed.
She could pick up whispers from a great distance as if they were right beside her, even distinguish the patterns in approaching footsteps. Her hearing went beyond anything imaginable.
So it probably wasn't all that strange that I could hear the guttural roar suddenly erupting from right next to me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Passive: Piercing Frost activated.] "Huh...?"
After sneaking into the apartment complex through a gap in the guards' watch and strolling around for about ten minutes, I heard a bellow laced with curses echoing from nearby.
"A fight...?"
Barring drunkenness or an actual brawl, there were hardly any situations where someone would hurl curses in broad daylight, so I tilted my head and headed toward the source of the noise.
— Tonight... just get through tonight...
— Be ready...
"......"
As I drew closer, I began to hear unintelligible mutterings. The voice wasn't particularly quiet, yet oddly, the people around showed no reaction—they just kept going about their business.
"That's..."
And then, upon reaching the source, my eyes caught a ripple in the space there. Something like a translucent human figure was jigging across the brick pavement, as if tap-dancing.
At the same time, a blue holographic screen materialized in front of me.
I tilted my head briefly, wondering why the passive had triggered so suddenly. But of course, Selverion's passives never activated without reason.
The moment Piercing Frost kicked in, the translucent figure's form sharpened into focus until it fully revealed itself.
Well, less "revealed" and more "I pierced its disguise." The true nature of that hazy shape in my vision was a tall man wielding a massive scythe.
A towering height over 2.3 meters, evoking instinctive revulsion with his excessively long, spindly arms and legs.
A neatly tailored suit, a gentlemanly hat perched primly on his head. And a face painted stark white, with a grotesque mouth torn open to his ears.
"Ah."
The instant I confirmed its clear identity, I stopped dead in my tracks. There, plain as day before my eyes, stood the reason I'd come to this safe zone in Gwangjin-gu—my target.
October's stage boss: the Sad Clown, Ferolun.
He loomed right in front of me.
— Kim Hyo-won...
Ferolun clutched his enormous reaper's scythe like a cherished toy, mumbling incoherently. Perfectly invisible as he was, he now appeared crystal clear to me, leaving me inwardly startled.
Normally, Ferolun's invisibility was utterly scentless and shadowless, with no sound betrayed. Yet even before the passive activated, I'd heard his voice plain as day and glimpsed his form faintly.
Must be thanks to Selverion's freakishly high stats. Makes sense—if she couldn't do what even Scientists or Beasts could, that'd be the real nonsense.
"......"
I stepped into the path of Ferolun, lost in his own world of mutterings. Thanks to Piercing Frost, I could now see past his physical form to his detailed stats.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 👤 Name: Sad Clown, Ferolun 🎪 Position: Stage Boss 📊 Level: 3500 🌑 Attribute: Darkness ⚠️ Status Ailment: Curse of Laughter 🏛️ Affiliation: Fate Circus 'Level 3500, darkness attribute...'
The info matched the in-game Ferolun to the letter. Having confirmed every detail, I stared straight at his face.
True to his lore of being cursed to always smile, even as he muttered nonstop, Ferolun's lips stayed curved upward. It made his true feelings impossible to read—he'd probably crush anyone at poker.
— ...What the hell is this guy?
Finally, Ferolun noticed me. He couldn't fathom that I'd pierced his invisibility, so he scratched his chin, eyeing me like some zoo animal.
"...Lucky you found me quicker than expected."
I had no taste for lecherous stares, so I spoke up, making it clear I'd seen through his invisibility.
"Even invisible, aren't you shouting a bit loud?"
Had he not bellowed like that for no reason, I wouldn't have pinpointed his location—and Selverion's stats for piercing stealth would have gone unused.
"Ferolun."
"Wha...?"
Calling his name sealed it; his body froze solid. His face stayed smiling from the curse, but inside, he must have gone pale as a ghost.
No one was supposed to see through his identity like that.
"Wh-what, what, what are you...?"
He stammered, backing away in panic. I addressed him casually.
"...I came to talk. Got a few questions."
To bystanders, it'd look like a masked weirdo girl chattering to thin air. Not keen on being labeled crazy, I'd sought him out to lure him somewhere quiet fast.
"Mind sparing some time... ...?!"
But before I could finish, Ferolun threw his head back and swung his massive scythe at me with full force.
Like anyone who saw through him had to die on the spot. No questions asked—he just attacked.
"I was even gonna ask nicely for your time... Sigh..."
Had his true personality eroded him already?
Even movie villains gave heroes time to transform. But he couldn't wait for one polite sentence. I sighed deeply at the sight.
"Die."
No interest in talk—he swung wildly, hell-bent on killing the one who'd pierced his stealth.
His sudden assault met my calmly raised left arm, palm coated in ice to block the scythe.
Clang!
The scythe clashed against the ice on my palm with a sharp ring.
"Wh-what?!"
Not a Holy Shield Knight's shield or Ironclad's armor—just a little girl's palm stopped his strike. Ferolun's grin twitched downward.
Panicking, he poured strength into the scythe to push me back, but I held firm. Instead, he was the one shoved away.
"Fuck. What the hell are you?"
Realizing brute force failed, he leaped back. For a stage boss, getting blocked by one person hit hard—sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Scientist? No, Beast?!"
But he gave no chance for words. Guessing wildly at my class, he swung again.
This time, a precise strike at my carotid. Faster than before—too quick for any normal player to react. Unfortunately for him, I wasn't some average player.
I was December's stage boss, Frost of Ruin Selverion. I tracked it with my eyes and sidestepped effortlessly.
"......"
"Urk?!"
I twisted aside, dodging the scythe lightly. Then, icing my fist, I smashed it into his face.
"Gaaargh!!"
Struck hard in his clownish makeup, Ferolun screamed from the unfamiliar pain, tumbling across the ground.
...As a stage boss, he was probably still drunk on his own power. A little shock therapy seemed in order.
"...Hear a person out to the end."
I glared at him, still attacking heedless of my words. He lay rigid, coughing dryly in place.
"F-fuck, h-how?! You, you just hit me?!"
Even the weakest stage boss was unbeatable solo. Yet not only had I seen through him, I'd overpowered him and punched his face into the dirt.
Too much to process at once, by the look of him.
"Huh? Invisi, invisibility?!"
...Worse, the sole way to break Ferolun's stealth was landing a hit on him. My face-smash did the trick—his form became visible to all, exposed raw to the citizens around.
— Kyaaah!! People fighting!!
— Monster!!
— W-wait, isn't that Ferolun?!
— Fuck?! Ferolun, it's Ferolun!!
— Everyone, run!!
"......"
The citizens screamed and fled at the sight. He rose slowly, flashing a rage-filled smile.
"Fuck, what are you? Scientist? Beast? Thief? How'd you see me? How'd you hit me? And ice magic?!"
"......"
"You little player, know who I am? I'm stage boss Ferolun. You piss me off, you think you can handle it?!"
"Little player...?"
Still reeling, he leaned on his scythe like a cane, issuing empty threats. I let out a scoff.
"Why would I be a player...?"
With that, I approached slowly, releasing the Phantasmal Tiara's effect. My true form returned—Selverion's original features.
Black sleeveless dress, red chains fluttering behind, and the black tiara settling quietly on my head.
"Wha...?"
Ferolun's body locked up completely at the sight. He dropped his scythe, lips flapping silently like a dumbstruck fool.
"Y-you, y-you..."
"......"
"Se, se, se, Selve, Selveri..."
Like he'd seen what he shouldn't, he crumpled to the ground. My name slipped numbly from his lips.
"Selverion......"
"That's right."
Reaching him, I nodded curtly. Then, spreading a blue magic circle toward him, I flashed a smile.
"Wanna keep messing around? I don't need limbs to talk—but what do you think?"
But my smile held no warmth.
Murderous ice blades rose from the magic circle, aimed at Ferolun. Frost spread across the ground, creeping up his legs and knees.
"Fuck."
Ferolun spat another curse.
...But this time, it carried not anger, but fear.