Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Leisure in Busyness (2)
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Early morning.
In front of a quiet residential street.
"Uncle!"
Sin Yeji, dressed in skinny jeans and a white t-shirt, came running out with a beaming smile.
Kim Gunja had given Choi Jinseung the day off and come to pick her up right in front of her house.
"You look happy."
Sin Yeji's eager steps faltered for a moment at Kim Gunja's words.
"D-Do I?"
"Yeah. It's written all over your forehead: 'I'm in a good mood.'"
Yeji scratched the bridge of her nose and mumbled softly.
"W-Well... it's my first time going somewhere like an amusement park, so I'm a little excited, I guess."
Her mention of it being her first time made Kim Gunja tilt his head.
'Don't most people go at least once, even on a school trip?'
He'd gone a few times himself, even though he'd only lived with his grandfather.
Just as he was about to ask about the oddity—
Sin Yeji spotted the puzzled look on his face and quickly changed the subject, as if afraid of the question.
"Whoa! Uncle, your left arm! Customized it again?"
"Huh? Oh, this."
Seeing the blue glow in Yeji's Demon Eye, Kim Gunja chuckled.
"Checking me out first thing? It's become a habit now, huh?"
Yeji flinched at his teasing tone and shot him a glare.
"It's just right there in front of me! I'm not checking you out! Don't make me sound like a pervert!"
"Sure, sure."
Though flustered by the teasing, Yeji's eyes stayed glued to his left arm.
The mana flow was different from before—something utterly alien.
"Hmm... this flow feels totally new. Not as domineering as the Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, and not as dark as black mana either. Actually, it's kind of the opposite...?"
As Yeji peered at it curiously, Kim Gunja laughed.
With her Demon Eye, there weren't many things that could pique her interest.
She could see through everything at a glance, leaving no room for curiosity.
But Kim Gunja kept showing up in forms even her Demon Eye struggled to analyze, making him endlessly fascinating from her perspective.
Seeing her eyes sparkle, Kim Gunja extended his left arm.
"Wanna touch it?"
"...It's not something weird, right?"
"Suit yourself if you don't."
As he shrugged and started to pull back—
"Ah...!"
Yeji impulsively grabbed his hand.
And then—
"Eek! W-What is that?!"
Yeji screamed at the sharp, tingling sensation.
"You saw it. Why ask?"
"No, what is it...? Did you customize it into an electric eel this time or something?"
It was Abel, the Holy Knight, who had suddenly devolved into an electric eel.
Yeji pondered the earlier sensation for a moment, then grabbed his hand again and shouted.
"Do it again."
This time, she was determined to analyze it properly.
He was about to say there was no need, but let her have her way.
Holy Lightning (1st Tier)
Sparks danced wildly.
Twitching slightly with each jolt but refusing to let go, Yeji's lips moved faintly.
"...So it's this kind of feeling...?"
The tingling at his fingertips widened Kim Gunja's pupils slightly.
Even with the Demon Eye, he hadn't expected her to replicate converting mana into lightning.
"Impressive...?"
At his genuine admiration, Yeji shook her head regretfully.
"What's impressive? It's just a crude imitation..."
She called it an imitation because of the holy power.
She could somehow convert mana to lightning, but not infuse it with the holy power dwelling in Kim Gunja's version.
The difference showed clearly in the color.
Yeji's lightning was blue, not the golden hue of his.
"Anyway, you're incomprehensible every time I see you. Monster."
"Sad that I can't even deny it."
"So, what's this power exactly?"
"Hop in first. I'll explain on the way."
Once Yeji was in the car, Kim Gunja gripped the wheel and began slowly explaining.
Customizing Holy Knight Abel's left arm had granted him two abilities.
Holy Lightning, like when he'd used it on his friends, could provide minor healing depending on control.
But its main purpose was offense.
It was essential for properly wielding Abel's spear art, Thunder Dragon Star Spear.
"Haven't tested it fully yet, but it's pretty lethal to undead or negative entities."
The image of the lich legion annihilated by the chaining golden lightning from Abel's spear was still vivid in his mind.
Listening, Yeji asked with a worried expression.
The core issue.
"But your unique traits are already known as swordsman and assassin, right?"
"Yeah."
"So you can't use it openly, and training won't be easy either."
She was right.
Swordsmanship, dagger skills, and shadow arts were already his signature moves.
Suddenly training spear arts?
It would raise suspicions.
"That's why I'm thinking of setting up a private training room..."
"Got the money?"
Kim Gunja gave a wry smile at her question.
He'd converted all his assets and support into mana stones, leaving just pocket change for living expenses.
No way he had funds left for a private training room right now.
"Guess I need to start saving from now on."
Even if Customizing Room points came slower, he had to.
He couldn't let a hard-earned power go to waste over something like that.
Watching him, Yeji gave a meaningful look.
"Hmm, I could use a private training room myself..."
"Huh?"
"No, not because of you or anything. I signed with Hero Guild, got plenty of money, but nowhere to spend it big. I don't like training around strangers anyway. And... I'll make it big enough that a couple close friends dropping by won't be an issue..."
Kim Gunja got her drift.
Instead of lending money, she'd build it herself—he could come anytime.
"You sure that's okay? I'd feel bad."
"It's not for you. I need it too."
He just smiled.
"Thanks. You're the best, Yeji."
"Hmm... Well, know you're grateful and do better. Stop pretending to be so busy all the time."
"Got it."
"Why'd you bring the sword, though? Heading to training after?"
Yeji eyed the Black Moon Sword in the back seat.
"Well, actually..."
Kim Gunja gave a rough rundown of the favor Pentagram had asked.
Then—
"Figures. Knew it..."
Yeji let out a soft sigh and turned to look out the window.
"...Huh?"
Seeing her mood drop suddenly, Kim Gunja just tilted his head.
Hong Sua had run into someone completely unexpected.
"Surprised. Never thought I'd meet Kim Gunja here of all places..."
An amusement park.
It didn't fit the image he'd shown so far at all.
Grasping the implication, Kim Gunja smiled.
"I'm human too, you know."
"Oh, sorry. Not like that..."
"It's fine. I'm always grateful to you, Hong Sua."
"It was nothing."
"Easy for some, tough for others."
His response confirmed it: he was no simple man, Hong Sua thought.
In a cafe at the amusement park.
Kim Gunja and Sin Yeji had bumped into Hong Sua and Im Taeyeon by chance.
They were there to scout an A-rank Hunter whose contract was ending soon; he was there to relieve stress.
Seeing a chance to ask about his cryptic words before, Hong Sua requested a quick private chat.
He agreed readily.
"I've been thinking about it nonstop. What you said back then."
"Wasn't that complicated."
As Hong Sua stared seriously, he smiled faintly.
"It's weird, isn't it?"
"Pardon?"
"Kids think if you say you like something, you do."
"...?"
"But adults overthink one word. Is it real? Are they using me? Sad, really."
Beating around the bush, he was affirming his words were sincere.
No tricks.
Pondering, Hong Sua spoke.
"So the reason you joined there was really...?"
"About half a year. A big stage will open up. When it does, I'd like your help, Hong Sua—for Infinite Guild. If our thoughts align, that is."
Her expression stiffened slightly.
His "thoughts" likely meant Hero Guild's downfall.
As she opened her mouth to reply—
Kim Gunja eyed a passing man outside, then stood.
"Sorry, something urgent came up."
"Ah, okay."
"Take your time. Refuse if you want. But I'd prefer you, Hong Sua. Can't think of anyone else who fits. Anyway..."
He signaled Yeji, who was watching from afar with Im Taeyeon.
Yeji jumped up.
Before leaving, she clenched her fist as if realizing something, cheering Im Taeyeon on.
"Uncle, you got this! Fighting!"
"Y-Yeah...? Uh, sure..."
Im Taeyeon stammered blankly as Yeji hurried after Kim Gunja.
Hong Sua approached him.
"Fighting what?"
"N-No idea? Me neither..."
He fumbled awkwardly.
"Anyway, let's go. Ha Jin-sang's celebration show's about to end."
"Okay."
Following her, Im Taeyeon sighed softly.
Tailing the man from a distance, Kim Gunja recalled Mongji's words.
—The Slayer's ritual for creating variant gates requires sacrifices who handle mana: Awakeners. That's why it wasn't frequent. Hard to procure them.
—But lately, with Demon Flower circulating, things changed. It's a hallucinogen like drugs; addicts accumulate mana forcibly. Non-Awakeners become viable sacrifices.
—With your skills, even the priest won't be an issue. Not too dangerous. Just brace for some unpleasant sights.
Mongji had spotted variant gate signs near the park, gave suspect coordinates, and how to spot Demon Flower addicts.
'Protruding veins like hemorrhoids, thick dark circles around the eyes...'
They looked like sick people at a glance, but closer inspection revealed purple tint over true dark circles.
A side effect of forced mana buildup.
His suspicions hardened as the man headed to a corner.
Slayer rituals and Demon Flower deals happened in dark, damp places due to the distinctive smell.
This fit perfectly.
'The haunted house...'
Not operating due to the hour, but approaching brought whiffs of makeup chemicals.
As if masking other odors.
The man slipped into the back, into a building hard to see from outside.
Kim Gunja turned to Yeji.
"Wait here."
"But I...?"
"It's fine. Be right back. Just block anyone else from getting too close, in case."
"...Okay."
"Thanks."
He didn't want to drag her into potential ugliness.
He could handle it solo.
Approaching the building, he peeked through a window.
Zombie and ghost props for the haunted house everywhere.
'Just a normal warehouse so far...'
Spotting stairs down while scanning for the man's trail.
'There.'
Checking around, he slipped over quietly.
Down the stairs: an iron door with an electronic lock.
'Hmm...'
A-rank Kim Gunja could smash it, but noise was the issue.
After a moment's thought, he gripped the lock with his left hand on a whim.
Holy Lightning (1st Tier)
Golden currents surged; white smoke billowed from the lock with a beep.
A gentle push, and it swung open easily.
'Surprisingly useful.'
Impressed by the lightning's versatility, he stepped inside.
A damp basement lit by reddish glow.
A nauseating stench hit him.
Sewer sludge and food waste mixed indistinguishably, but one smell stood out.
'Blood. Thick and heavy...'
His gaze shifted left.
A man with unfocused eyes slumped against the wall, twitching feebly.
Approaching right up to his nose, the man finally registered him.
"Y-You wha...?"
Kim Gunja caught him quietly and laid him down.
'Lightning's more versatile than I thought.'
Confirming the man was alive, he proceeded into the dark passage.