Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Man of 3 Billion
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He had a dream.
A small one-room apartment after finishing his part-time job. He roughly boiled some ramen, ate it, and took a shower.
He sat down at the computer. First, he launched Seronis, then opened the overseas community site.
Lately, posts on the community were rare. There were occasional newbies trickling in, but since it was essentially a site awaiting its death, they left quickly. Or deleted the game.
Still, Lee Soo-hyuk logged into the community every day. He barely posted anymore, but his 'Padrip Immunity' was a veteran of the community, of Seronis itself, stubbornly sticking to his Korean nickname even on this overseas site.
The reason he stopped posting was simple. The players he used to exchange info with had mostly achieved enlightenment and left. Naturally, Lee Soo-hyuk became a lurker, commenting more than posting.
Occasionally, when a promising newbie asked a question, he answered diligently—that was Padrip Immunity's current role in the community.
After skimming new posts, he checked Seronis's sole competitive content, the Hall of Fame.
‘This guy's gonna hit first place soon.’
The guy stuck at fifth for over half a year had finally climbed to second today. Must've broken through some wall. Improved his build, or maybe scrapped it for a new one.
‘Hm.’
Good for him.
‘Gotta claim first before this bastard does.’
Both were grinding desperately for first, but Lee Soo-hyuk could take it anytime.
His build was fully optimized. He could top the Hall of Fame whenever. He'd squeezed every drop to minimize clear time, but now, barring 'luck,' no meaningful improvements were left.
Just last dawn, he'd maxed his character's specs and cleared the path to the hidden boss. He was confident he could clear it in his sleep. Sure, consecutive crits or bad luck could one-shot him, but he'd prepped counters for those variables.
"Yeah, you're never taking first."
If it got overwritten by an unbreakable record, would the community explode with rage posts? Lee Soo-hyuk chuckled at the thought.
"Ah, fuck..."
He woke up.
Yuri covered his eyes with both hands, recalling the dream. Shouldn't have. Should've let him have first... Regret from his past life flooded in.
‘That bastard has no idea I'm his benefactor.’
Yuri sighed heavily as he got out of bed. The bed Elena bought a few days ago was big enough for two to roll around in, and unlike the one in Oldor, it didn't creak.
It wasn't just the bed. The barren room was now filled with furniture.
All courtesy of Elena. Even the pajamas he wore now. Yuri sat on the plush carpet after getting out of bed.
Despite the nightmare, he woke at his usual time. 5 a.m. He checked the still-dark window and drew the curtains.
Five days since arriving here. He'd initially resisted living with Elena, but it was surprisingly comfortable. Far better than living alone in Oldor.
Elena was rarely home, which helped. Every day, she rose at 8 a.m., ate breakfast, prepared, and left for Derusia Magic Tower before 10. Returned around 7.
While she was gone, Yuri handled housework. Cleaning and laundry were magic-handled, so he just cooked from the pantry ingredients.
‘Breakfast: reheat yesterday's stew, bacon and...’
He closed his eyes, thinking that.
Once in the morning, once at lunch, once before bed. Three circulation sessions daily—the surge of inner energy felt satisfying. No one to brag to, but it was his treasure.
And today, that treasure would grow further.
"I'm staying home today."
Elena at the table looked impeccably fresh, nothing like someone just woken. She dipped bread in stew and spoke.
"Namgung Jin's coming. Can't leave you alone—might repeat last time."
"After that humiliation, you think he'll act up again?"
"Who knows. Oh, no need to prep lunch or dinner."
Happiness spread across Elena's face as she ate the soaked bread. She'd occasionally tried cooking to improve before, but since Yuri arrived, she'd quit entirely.
"Why?"
"Going out."
"Me too?"
"Obviously. Buying stuff for you."
"We've got everything. What now?"
"Martial arts."
Elena replied calmly.
"Ruseun Auction House is open today. We'll use that apology money for your arts."
Yuri blinked mid-bite. Elena tilted her head at his look.
"What?"
"Buying my martial arts... with apology money?"
"Yeah. No idea how much Namgung Jin gives, but it'll be plenty. Should cover what you need. If short, I'll add from my savings."
"No..."
He couldn't continue. Great if true, but wasn't this too much?
"Even so, using it all..."
"What's 'even so'? It's your compensation. For you, obviously. Think I'd pocket it?"
"Didn't think that far."
"Already got entry passes from the Tower Lord. Told Ha-ryeong we're going. So, like it or not, Ruseun today."
Decision made, no input from Yuri. He blinked, then quietly set down his spoon.
"Can I call you sis? Or Lady Elena? Miss Elena?"
"W-what's with the creepy act?"
Words and face didn't match. Elena grabbed her rising lips, forcing a stern expression.
"And the Azure Heaven Pills... one each for us, last one... hm, what to do?"
"You take two, miss."
"U-uhm... Save one. Whoever needs it later. Good?"
"Of course."
"Drop the creepy tone."
She squirmed when openly flattered.
After breakfast, he fetched a book from the study.
[Basics of Magic]
[Easily and Quickly Mastering Common Spells 1, by Arsen Lucianel.]
He'd read it in the carriage but reviewed it again.
Unlike martial artists, mages didn't train mana circulation or heart methods. They understood worldly mana, borrowed it, and shaped spells. Repetition built affinity, naturally filling the soul as a vessel.
Then they could claim second-tier mage. Mana affinity was a mage's core talent.
"Arsen Lucianel. Met him?"
He asked, memorizing the common spell formulas.
"Once as a kid."
Unexpected answer to a casual question.
"Age thirteen? Obsessed with common spells to hit third tier, he visited Derusia Magic Tower. Got lots of advice."
Elena, reading on another sofa, glanced at Yuri.
"Why? Wanna meet him?"
"Not like we can just meet someone that big."
"True. Far as I know, not even at Lucianel Tower."
Mid-conversation, Ha-ryeong arrived. She eyed Yuri and Elena reading on their sofas, sighed deeply.
"You two have it good."
"Why start with shade?"
"Not shade—just observation. So, no body technique lesson today?"
Updated contract meant lessons from Ha-ryeong. She'd grumbled about a bodyguard teaching combat, but changed tune after seeing the advance pay.
"No need."
Elena answered.
"Heading out soon."
"You're a fun student, Yuri. Shame I miss it today."
No regret in her face.
"Learns fast?"
"As Orca said, talent for martial arts. Picks it up quicker than expected."
Elena's lips pouted hearing that. She'd hoped Yuri'd aim mage over warrior; talent for arts wasn't ideal.
"That mad about him learning martial arts over magic?"
"Who said mad?"
"Your face says so."
"What's wrong with my face?"
Elena hastily tucked her lip.
Around noon, Namgung Jin arrived but couldn't enter. In the garden where he'd knelt and banged his head repeatedly, he handed Elena a large bag.
"Sorry for last time..."
Five days passed, but he looked years older. Dark circles from sleeplessness, gaunt face. Elena glanced, sighed, took the bag.
"No need to dwell on Young Master Namgung's mistake. Rest easy."
"Nothing from the Tower Lord...?"
"No."
His face brightened then. He hesitated, eyes lingering on Elena.
"Other business?"
Her voice chilled at his gaze.
"None."
Namgung Jin swallowed a wistful sigh, shook his head.
*
"Ten billion cel? My god, my god!"
Ha-ryeong opposite in the carriage still gawked in disbelief. Not from clan vaults, so personal funds from Namgung Jin.
"As expected of Namgung Clan Fourth Young Master. So generous. Plus three Azure Heaven Pills? That's at least thirty billion cel."
Muttering, she turned to Yuri, clapped.
"Impressive. Yuri, the thirty-billion man. Countless rural youths head to Lutran dreaming big, but earning thirty billion in a day? You're the first."
"Stop teasing."
"Teasing? I'm genuinely impressed."
Elena hadn't expected ten billion cel in apology money either.
‘Thought one billion tops...’
Must've been insanely anxious over five days ago.
"Was thinking first-rate arts... but ten billion budget means reworking the list."
Ha-ryeong crossed arms, pondered.
"Heart method essential, lightness skill... not urgent, so skip? Weapon? Sword means sword art, saber means saber art."
"No weapons planned."
Yuri matched her surprise but hid it.
"Fists feel better than weapons. Waste to buy one."
"Hm, I'd recommend sword or spear."
"Why?"
"Age-old debate: sword king of weapons, spear king of weapons. Both have clear strengths, few weaknesses."
Ha-ryeong shrugged.
"Plenty related arts too. Means lots available."
"Fist techniques?"
"Tough to master. Trained fists still struggle vs blades. Weapons break and end it; fists break but worse injuries."
Ha-ryeong stated the obvious.
"Fighters pair fists with hardening arts, or fist arts with hardening. Iron Sand Palm's common. Punch heated sand repeatedly to toughen skin, turn hand into blade-worthy weapon."
Elena, listening quietly, glanced at her hand, then Yuri's.
"Sounds no upsides. Why not sword or spear? Can enchant with magic later."
"Not without advantages."
Ha-ryeong shook head.
"Mastered fighters are terrifying. As assassin... same tier, harder to kill than swordsman."
Her eyes darkened.
"Swordsmen train body too, but less than bare-knuckle death-dancers. At fourth tier, infuse qi with properties—fighter becomes weapon itself. Fist slashes like blade, shrugs off cuts."
Fourth tier.
No easy realm. Even Elena, talent acknowledged by Heavenly Thunder Orca Derusia, took ten years for fourth-tier mage.
‘How many years for me?’
Faster than Elena, surely, but exact time unclear.
Carriage stopped.
[Ruseun.]
Stepping out, Yuri was awed by the casino-like grandeur. Managed by Ascard Family, Lutran's true rulers.
Traded spirit herbs, artifacts, martial arts, spellbooks. VIP auctions featured transcendent arts, magic tomes.
Underground ones dealt tower or clan secrets, but risky and pricey. Today's buys: legal, no-backlash arts.
"The thirty-billion man enters."
Ha-ryeong muttered toward Ruseun's flashy entrance after exiting.
"Shut it."
Yuri's face twisted beside giggling Elena.