Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Tax Troubles and Pro Debut
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* * *
“You’ve got a tax issue.”
“What... did you say?”
“Taxes. You didn’t know?”
I’d come to Seoul City Hall to request certification as a space mercenary, but instead of a combat evaluation, I was facing a different kind of scrutiny.
“Let’s see here. Your back taxes total 8.744 billion 432 million 321 won... Wait, what is this? Are you a corporate tycoon? You’ve got a massive amount overdue....”
The man in the typical blue-uniform of a Seoul City Hall official rubbed his eyes as he stared at the numbers on the screen, clearly doubting his own vision.
I wasn’t doubting my eyes—I was doubting my ears.
“8.7 billion...?”
The insane figure made my mind go blank. I’d spent ages unable to do anything just to pay off 1.3 billion in in-game spending. I’d finally fully restored my abilities and set my sights on becoming a space mercenary to fund more power-ups, and now this? Taxes?
‘Ah, no, of course. Right. Taxes... they exist.’
Back in Ardenia, I’d been on the collecting end, so I fully acknowledged the necessity of taxes. They’re essential for society to function—taking from its members is only natural.
The problem? I’d never paid taxes myself.
The only “taxes” I paid were things like VAT on purchases or withholdings on royalties and donations—nothing where I directly handed over money.
‘Wait, were there extra taxes on the 34th Earth I had to pay separately? I heard there were, but those were for the rich....’
That thought brought me up short.
‘Ah, damn it.’
Then it hit me.
‘I’m rich.’
My income had long surpassed normal levels. Hitting tens of billions in annual earnings and calling myself average would be the height of absurdity.
‘Ah.’
My head spun.
‘But still... I’ve got less than a million won in my account, and they want 8.7 billion?’
The official explained to me as I panicked.
“You know space mercenaries operate beyond the 34th Earth, in greater space, right? It’s such a free status—you could just bolt to another civilization—so we can’t process your certification until all taxes are cleared. You seem like a high-rank ability user from requesting this, so pay up and reapply.”
“......”
I was trying to become a mercenary to make money, but to do that, I needed to pay 8.7 billion first.
It was impossible to tell if this was a joke or reality.
“Excuse me?”
I barely gathered my thoughts while staring at the official’s expression, which screamed “time to go,” and managed to ask.
“This seems off. I never received any tax notices until now.”
The official tilted his head at my words.
“No way. Huh, now that you mention it, these are overdue from last year.... No word at all? The National Tax Service isn’t that lenient.”
“Could you check?”
“Fine, fine. Hold on.”
He inserted both hands into the portable terminal and closed his eyes. After a short wait.
“Huh?”
His eyes snapped open.
“Huuuh?”
“What’s wrong?”
“What is this? Your tax credits exceed the amount owed. There are ratios for these things—how is this possible? First time seeing this. And it’s not pocket change; it’s billions....”
He kept double-checking in disbelief, his face growing more dumbfounded with each verification.
Finally, he muttered.
“This is insane....”
* * *
I left City Hall after completing my space mercenary request. I let out a deep sigh.
“Man, that scared the hell out of me.”
8.7 billion. My spine chilled. Even in this mighty body, cold sweat beaded up. I touched my arm—goosebumps everywhere.
8.7 billion.
More terrifying than any foe.
“Good thing I got those tax credits....”
Tax credits deduct a certain percentage or amount from the calculated tax liability after applying rates to taxable income. Basically, discounts on your taxes.
Common ones include wage income credits, child credits, pension account credits. Special ones exist for donations, medical, insurance, etc.
Of course, unless I donated every won I earned, 8.7 billion in credits was impossible.
“Praise the great and mighty Game Master... long live!”
“Yeah, long live!”
“Long live the mighty Game Master!”
My absentminded mutter drew responses from here and there.
“You kids these days! No gratitude!”
“Don’t even realize how blessed you are!”
“The 34th Earth is paradise, paradise!”
“......”
I flushed at the boomer rants from guys who didn’t look much older and hurried away.
Still, I couldn’t help praising him—it saved my skin.
Game tax credits.
A perk impossible on other planets or civilizations. Only possible on the 34th Earth, literally ruled by a gaming god.
I could still picture the official’s stunned face.
“But still, a full credit wiping out all taxes? You didn’t buy a car or airship?”
Of course not. I was still a pedestrian.
“You must’ve bought a house at least?”
I lived in a government-run room tower.
“You’ve gotta eat and buy clothes!”
Sorry, but it’d been over a year since I last ate out on Earth. Clothes? Even longer.
“You really poured... tens of billions... all into games...?”
Spot on.
With all spending funneled into games, I qualified for near-100% credits. My tax bill wasn’t zero, but close enough.
“Oh yeah, this suit fits great.”
I checked my reflection in a window. A tall man in a sleek dark gray luxury suit that hugged his frame perfectly.
Not bought by me, of course—the CEO of Nemesis, Bae Sarang, had gifted it, and I’d been wearing it ever since.
Practically a one-outfit guy, but it spared me embarrassment in official settings.
“Sorry, but this area is staff only...”
“I’m a fighter.”
“Oh... oh! Han Jaeyeon! What, you’re just now arriving?”
“I’m right on time.”
“Usually people warm up early... Anyway, come on in!”
I entered the building amid the staffer’s nagging.
“Down! He’s down! Truly heavenly might! Unstoppable!”
“Wooooah!”
“Hit harder!”
“Don’t lose! Tinkbell! Show your fairy pride!”
The hot atmosphere was Fight Hall in Songpa-gu.
That’s right.
Today was my pro fighter debut.
“Go change.”
“Yes.”
“Weapon’s sword or fists, right?”
“Yes.”
“The association covers injuries in matches, but there are accidental deaths. Note that intentional killing leads to heavy civil and criminal liability.”
“Yes.”
I answered casually. I wouldn’t die. The opponent dying worried me a bit... Becoming a pro fighter with combat abilities on the 34th Earth wasn’t ordinary.
Minimum: Perfection stage.
Sword Master baseline.
No matter how strong my body, Perfection experts didn’t drop easily.
‘Finally leaving amateur leagues behind.’
Facing hobbyist ability users like Assistant Manager Kim or Clerk Yang in pro matches filled me with emotion.
“Blue corner! Owner of a unique record? The Emperor, famous from his movie professor hopeful appearance! Fighter Han Jaeyeon!”
Boos rained as I stepped into the ring, layered with spells and barriers.
“Booo~! Stick to acting, actor! What’s this pro debut crap!”
“Wrong opponent today!”
“Prepare to get smashed!”
“Groomed body vs. real combat body—worlds apart!”
They clearly hated me.
Then.
Click.
All lights vanished, plunging the arena into darkness.
“Red corner~! Bronze-rank superstar! The wall of despair for debuting fighters! Our Madonna, loved by all! Shock Breasts! Olya~! Grant!”
A spotlight hit the ring with the intro.
There stood a tall, bikini-clad beauty with a voluptuous figure.
“Wooooah!”
“Olya! Olya! Olya!”
“Shock Breasts!”
“Came to see you today!!”
“Ah, don’t schedule Olya so late—waiting sucks!!”
I couldn’t help but lose my composure watching the cheering crowd.
‘What kind of nickname is Shock Breasts? They don’t look that shockingly big.’
Unfazed, she waved leisurely to her fans.
‘Hold on.’
Something felt off.
As always, gaming dominated 34th Earth culture. Movies, dramas, fights, music—no past glories.
Fighting was hardcore niche.
Upper ranks might differ, but a Bronze-rank star with this fanbase? Weird.
‘Did she tank her rank on purpose?’
If so, no pushover.
“The moment we’ve all waited for! Let the match~ begin!”
Olya stepped forward at the announcer’s chipper call.
“Oh my. Just carrying that sword?”
“Let’s try fists first.”
“Hehe. Hitting a woman with fists? Worst kind.”
“Better manners than slicing with a blade.”
I advanced. Her: sparkling blonde, white, bikini, voluptuous. Me: over 190cm, muscle-bound giant. In another civilization, the world would condemn me.
‘But this is the 34th Earth.’
In high-rank ability user world, looks meant nothing. A hunched granny could shred thousands—no big deal.
“Let’s start light.”
Whumm!
Olya’s body glowed blue.
‘Heaven-Tilting Seven Colors...!’
Infamous technique mastered by the world’s richest man, President Bae Jaeseok. Converts all things to vibrations; at mastery, one strike triggers earthquakes, storms—bio-force with magic-like utility!
Thwump!
A massive shockwave slammed me. I staggered back, dizzy.
“You blocked it? Impressive?”
I tensed every muscle, ignoring her surprise.
‘No internal energy yet.’
Boom!
I charged. Willing to take hits, testing pure physical power.
“Ha! Charging a Seven Colors master barehanded!?”
Her high-pitched cry as she rushed too. Distance zero.
Crunch.
I planted my foot. Poured 800+ world-shaking strength into a punch.
She blocked with her right arm.
Then.
Kuuu....
Shockwave burst circularly. Low rumble swept the arena.
“Uh... huh?”
Olya’s confident face paled.
“N-No, wait. Wh-What...? One hit?”
Red aura flared from her body. Not attack. Seven Colors red: converts external shocks to stored vibrations.
But she couldn’t store it.
What was 800 stat strength?
Proper delivery could uproot buildings.
Not 900 mountain-uprooting, but transcendent beyond doubt.
Flash!
“Kyaaaaah!”
Her chest glowed crimson!
Bang!
Her bikini top exploded.
“There it is! Shock Breasts!”
“Woooah!”
“Rookie’s nuts...! One punch?!”
Fans cheered despite their favorite collapsing!
Expecting boos, I could only deadpan.
“So Shock Breasts meant literal shock impact....”
Seven Colors handled vibrations; bio-evolution created shock-storing organs.
Usually abdomen... but hers were in her breasts.
Overload?
Excess shock ejects from chest.
Thud.
While I gaped, Olya collapsed. Announcer boomed.
“5! 4! 3! 2! 1! Match over! Massive upset! Incredible! Debuting Emperor Han Jaeyeon downs Olya in one hit! Unreal punch power!”
“......”
I stared blankly at the hyped announcer, past him to Olya, unconscious.
Wrong judgment or not... I’d hit her with ‘real’ intent. All physical power in that strike.
Down in one, unscathed. Organ overload, not fatal.
No weakling.
‘Without skills or class buffs, she’d match Hayes.’
Who was Hayes? Stella’s wielder, knight tournament champ.
Chrome Kingdom’s strongest knight, Duel Knight.
Now Sword Master, revered continent-wide.
And her equal rolled wrecked on the floor.
“Gah! This is why I watch live!”
“Still, too quick~. Wanted more Shock Breasts action.”
“It’s not just the pop—the buildup’s the flavor! Tsk tsk! Not even time for a chicken leg.”
“Pfft, over! Let’s go.”
Crowd surged out. Olya lay exposed, still down.
“This is... pro fighting?”
Absurdity killed my laughter.
As a kid, I’d dreamed of pro fighting for years. Born fighter, few outlets in modern society.
But here? Disappointment.
“Pro fighter, my ass....”
Pathetic.
So I never expected it.
“Hey! Han Jaeyeon, we saw that, right?”
Olya, the one who’d crumpled.
“Help with my training?”
Private approach.
“Pay won’t disappoint!”
Totally changed attitude, outfit, expression.
Olya beamed.