Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Blackmail and the Saintess's Birthday
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"Go ahead and tell me. What secret is it?"
In response to Cha Jin-hyuk's question, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Cha Mu-hyuk ordered you to assassinate Chairman Cha Jin-su, didn't he? And you accepted."
The assassination of Chairman Cha Jin-su, the pinnacle of the Sun Group.
Cha Mu-hyuk, the eldest son of the Sun family, had grown greedy and wanted to kill his father, Cha Jin-su, to take over the Sun Group sooner.
'Who would have thought these two were involved in Chairman Cha Jin-su's death.'
In my previous life, the power struggle within the Sun Group after Chairman Cha Jin-su's death had led to everything crumbling.
'It was the price for their foolish greed despite lacking the ability.'
The Sun Guild had fallen first, and everything else followed.
"How foolish to leave such a story un-erased."
"Who would dare think someone would check their phone?"
"True, he lived off his own smugness."
Was it because I knew all the secrets?
Unlike at first, Cha Jin-hyuk no longer hid his true feelings.
"Will 1 billion be enough?"
"Yes. Exactly 1 billion. After that, we won't have any more dealings."
"You haven't copied the phone or anything like that, right?"
Cha Jin-hyuk's suspicion was natural.
I was handing over such a massive secret for a mere 1 billion.
"Greed brings great disaster."
"Understood. How about the money? Should I prepare cash and meet in person?"
"Cash isn't necessary. Bank transfer works, or even a check."
Cha Jin-hyuk sounded surprised as he asked back.
"Bank transfer or check?"
"Does that mean you're fine revealing who you are to me?"
"If we're meeting in person, don't you already have enough power to find out who I am? Plus, preparing 1 billion in cash takes time."
"Aren't you afraid of me? I could kill you to keep the secret."
"That's true, but you should know this: if you fail to kill me, the truth gets out."
I had no intention of dying anyway, but I continued to avoid any hassle.
"Besides, would you really bother with someone for a mere 1 billion? Failure would hit you hard. Think carefully."
My words must have gotten through.
"Hahaha! This is the first time I've heard such brazen blackmail."
Cha Jin-hyuk laughed heartily.
"What's your name?"
He was openly showing his fondness for me.
"Lee Han."
"Lee Han, how about working with me?"
It was clear he liked me.
"What's this sudden offer?"
"Join the Sun Guild."
Did I have a knack for winning over the Cha family?
Cha Mu-hyuk had tried to scout me too, and now Cha Jin-hyuk was doing the same.
"Not as a janitor, I hope?"
Though with Cha Mu-hyuk, it had been for janitor duty.
"I'm kidding."
"Hahaha! That's a funny joke. Of course, as a full guild member."
"What if I'm traitless? Why promise a guild spot?"
"Even if you're traitless, I think you'd be fine. Your voice sounds young, but your judgment is sharp. I feel like you'd be useful to me as a person."
Cha Jin-hyuk praised me, trying to bring me into his fold.
'He's better than I thought.'
His tolerance toward a blackmailer like me was amusing.
'He probably wants to keep me close to monitor me. And if I have skills, make use of them. With someone like this, the Sun Guild might not fall.'
"Sorry, but I'm not the type to work under someone."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. That's right."
Cha Jin-hyuk sounded slightly disappointed. Then, as if struck by an idea, his voice brightened.
"Ah! How about this?"
"What?"
"Be friends with me?"
What a ridiculous guy.
Becoming friends with his blackmailer now.
To be fair, Cha Jin-hyuk had just been threatened and used by Cha Mu-hyuk.
From our short conversation, he didn't seem like the kind of person I despised, like Cha Mu-hyuk.
"Let's talk about that when we meet."
I could decide after observing more.
If he proved useful in the war against the Demon Realm, I'd lend a hand. Otherwise, I'd just kill him.
"Understood. Though it's a bit sad to be rejected twice."
I ignored Cha Jin-hyuk's grumbling and asked.
"When will the money be ready?"
"How embarrassing. You come right in. Hahaha! I can prepare 1 billion by tomorrow. Check is really fine?"
Tomorrow was Jeong Sia's birthday.
A quick meet-up for the money shouldn't be a problem.
"Yes, it's fine. I'll send my number to yours, so contact me tomorrow."
"Yes. Lee Han, talk tomorrow then."
After ending the call with Cha Jin-hyuk, I immediately sent him my number.
A moment later, a text arrived.
-Anything else you need besides 1 billion? Since we're connected by fate, tell me if there's something.
Does this guy have no friends?
Or does he feel camaraderie from sharing a secret?
I couldn't understand why he was clinging so much.
-None.
I replied shortly and pocketed my phone.
With this, the [Tears of the Phoenix] would be mine unless something major happened.
'Tomorrow, celebrate Jeong Sia's birthday, then go level up again.'
Next goal: level 30.
By then, Kim Tae-hyun might have gathered teammates for the hidden dungeon.
'Time to head home.'
After wrapping up the day like that.
"Hello?"
I opened my eyes to the blaring phone ring.
"Lee Han! You're on Earth!"
It was Jeong Sia.
Glancing at the screen, it was 8 a.m.
A call at this hour. Was she summoning me now?
"You know today's my birthday, right?"
"Yeah. That's why I'm home."
I'd even delayed hunting to wait, to maintain our relationship.
"Then get ready roughly and come over. Let's eat."
"Now?"
"Yeah. I have something urgent to tell you!"
Jeong Sia's excited voice, the urgent news, and the immediate summons to her place.
It was obvious.
"You got a trait?"
She had awakened her trait.
"Tch! No fun."
"What trait?"
I pretended not to know, though I did.
"Don't freak out when you hear it."
It was probably [Pure White Saintess].
"No! I'll tell you when you come! You'll be shocked!"
She was amusing.
So pure, like a child.
"Got it. Heading over now."
I quickly washed up and took a taxi to the address she sent.
It wasn't far.
About 20 minutes?
Jeong Sia lived in a nice apartment. I bought a cake nearby and arrived at her door.
Ding dong!
She didn't even ask who it was.
The door flew open, revealing Jeong Sia smiling behind her glasses.
Her face practically said, 'I'm so happy.'
"Long time no see, Han!"
"Yeah. Big Sis. Here."
I handed her the cake.
"Thanks! I thought you wouldn't bring one, but you did?"
"It's nothing special. I promised, after all."
Her eyes filled with anticipation at my response.
"Then you remember our promise too?"
"Of course. We agreed to hunt together."
"Right. My trait will be super helpful for hunting."
"What trait is it that's got you so excited?"
"Huh? What could it be? You're dying of curiosity, right?"
I wasn't particularly, but I played along.
"Yeah. I'm really curious what amazing trait it is."
"Come in first, and I'll tell you."
She was dragging it out big time.
'Well, it's a legendary trait, so understandable. And healing-based too.'
I followed her inside, understanding Jeong Sia's excitement.
The white wallpaper and simple decor reflected her neat personality.
"Want something to drink?"
"Sure."
I sat on the sofa as she headed to the kitchen.
"Here. Carrot juice, good for the body."
Jeong Sia quickly brought a glass of brown liquid. Carrot juice...
First time in my life.
"Thanks."
Taking the glass, I decided to end this tedious back-and-forth.
"So, what trait? What's the rank?"
"Should I tell you now? Don't freak out?"
"I won't. Just tell me already."
My patience was wearing thin.
"Fine. Why the scary low voice? Listen well. My trait is [Pure White Saintess]! Legendary rank, healing type!"
"...I see."
As expected, Jeong Sia had inherited her previous life's trait.
Letting things flow naturally was best.
"Why that reaction? It's a legendary healer!"
"Uh, yeah. I'm shocked, Big Sis. I'm just not expressive. But what was the achievement?"
This was info even I didn't know, so I was curious.
"Achievement? Nothing much. Not deceiving anyone until 30."
Deception-free purity and clarity.
A fitting achievement for Pure White.
And she called that 'nothing much'.
Was it even possible to live to 30 without deceiving anyone?
'This achievement would have been hers no matter what I did.'
Probably no one else in the world could claim it.
A hermit in the mountains wouldn't catch a constellation's eye.
"So now you can deceive people?"
Jeong Sia's eyes widened like a rabbit's.
"How can you think that after hearing the achievement?"
From now on, I had to remember not everything she said might be absolute truth.
"What skills do you have?"
I asked about the [Pure White Saintess]'s skills next. Back then, a legendary healer meant her path diverged completely from my traitless one.
She walked a silk road; I trudged a dirt path.
I'd had no interest since our worlds differed then.
But if she died as in the original history and my skeletons targeted that moment, better to know in advance.
"Skills? Don't freak out! I have four!"
Jeong Sia excitedly spread four fingers in front of me.
"Four?"
Legendary indeed.
"Yeah. Simply put: single-target heal, group heal. And a skill to control mana for healing skills."
"Hmm, definitely impressive."
I didn't know about the others, but mana control was surprising.
While other healers used fixed mana costs, she could allocate efficiently and save mana.
"But you said four? What's the last one?"
"This last one's the real powerhouse."
She'd saved it to build suspense again.
How amazing could it be?
"What is it? Tell me quick."
"Don't freak out?"
"Yeah. Promise I won't."
"It's resurrection!"
Jeong Sia beamed triumphantly.
"Resurrection?"
"Yeah. I can bring back the dead."
"Uh..."
This was shocking. I'd never heard of a skill resurrecting the dead even in my previous life.
I asked again.
"Does it turn them into something like my skeletons?"
"No. Literal resurrection. Bringing dead people back to life."
I couldn't believe it.
Such a skill existed?
"You're sure?"
"Can you share your status window with me?"
I guess I'd only believe after seeing it myself.
"Sure."
I'd never share my own, but Jeong Sia shared hers without hesitation. ⚔ STATUS ⚔ 📛 Name: Jeong Sia ⭐ Level: 5 🔮 Trait: Pure White Saintess (Legendary) ⚡ Stats: Strength 7 | Agility 6 | Vitality 15 | Mana 21 🎁 Unique Skills: Great Heal, Group Heal, Heal Mastery, Resurrection I clicked on [Resurrection] in Jeong Sia's status window before me.
[Resurrection] Revives a corpse. However, the skill disappears after one use. A simple description, but extraordinary content.
'It's real.'
Just as Jeong Sia said.
'It disappears after one use, but the value is immense.'
Even more astonishing: no time limit like my [Skeleton Creation]'s one minute.
As long as there was a corpse, she could revive anyone, no matter how long dead.
And everyone has at least one person they'd want to bring back.
'She was probably killed because of this skill.'
Someone might have harmed her when she refused a request.
"Big Sis."
"This skill..."
I almost asked if she'd reveal [Resurrection] to others, but caught myself.
'No interfering.'
Having confirmed her troll potential, I needed to observe, not prevent her death.
"It's really good. Amazing."
"Right?"
"Yeah. Shall we try some home cooking now? I'm curious what you made, Big Sis."
I deliberately changed the subject.
"That's it?"
"I told you, Big Sis. I'm not expressive. This is me super shocked."
"Tch! No fun. Sit at the table. I'll serve."
Jeong Sia pouted and pointed to the white dining table.
I followed her to the kitchen and sat.
"Here! Try it! It's no joke."
Jeong Sia quickly served braised short ribs from a pot.
Braised ribs for breakfast?
"When did you wake up?"
"6 a.m.?"
Up at 6 on her birthday to cook for a guest?
"You don't like me that way, do you?"
This seemed like seeing me as a man, not just a little brother.
"I do."
"Huh? As a guy?"
This wasn't good.
"Of course not! I told you. No siblings, that's all."
Still, this was too much...
Even for a lonely personality. I asked again.
"Is there some reason I don't know?"
"Some reason you don't know?"
"Why you like me."
"Oh, that? Obviously."
What could it be?
"What?"
"Goblin King. You called me a naive goodie-two-shoes, but you were the same."
"Me, same as you?"
"Yeah. When I arrived, you were already planning to return the Goblin King's child to save people. Right?"
True.
But our reasons differed.
She acted from blind goodwill; I had a clear purpose. Some of them could aid greatly in the Demon Realm war.
"And then you protected me. You were fine, but hoped I wouldn't get hurt."
"...?"
This was...
An embarrassingly huge misunderstanding.