Chapter 206
Chapter 206
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Falling Stocks Can't Ruin My Mood
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Falling stocks couldn't ruin my mood either. They were still dropping, but the graph had become relatively gradual.
This time, it was truly the moment for bottom-fishing.
"With things like this, I'm going all-in to become a major shareholder!"
I opened the stock app.
Then I browsed the shareholder forums.
[Grad Student Crying Over This]
Spike, thanks for letting me know it's at the daily low again ^^
I almost forgot.
113 hearts. 9 comments.
I checked the stock communities too.
Author: Ant Queen
[On the Contraction of the Stock Market]
Don't grieve over your plummeting stocks. You may already sense it, but this is a problem affecting the entire market.
It's a massive flow involving even gods and transcendents.
Capital invested in the stock market is flowing out. While this isn't the destruction of capital but merely its relocation, the result is the same for investors.
In a sense, it's like total war.
The 34th Earth is peaceful... but that's an extremely rare case even in the greater universe. A mid-tier (3) civilization occupying a portion of the universe. Lower-tier (1~2) civilizations under the protection of star realm gods. Even the minuscule number of upper-tier (4) civilizations are engaged in wars big and small, so within the interconnected greater universe, the 34th Earth is inevitably affected too.
A storm is raging.
The stock market is at the mercy of surplus capital, so this isn't the time to make money through investments. Either look far ahead for value investing, or hold onto your money and Geralt while waiting for the perfect bottom-buying timing—the day of the great bargain sale.
Recommendations: 2,155. Disrecommendations: 1,688
"Hmm."
I read the posts and then checked the stocks.
My heart ached seeing Nemesis's crash, but Nemesis wasn't the only one plummeting.
'Of course, Nemesis is dropping harder than most.'
I pondered a bit more before finally closing the stock app.
"Let's make more money first."
As long as I had cash in hand, I could buy stocks after they dropped further or use the money for something else—options would be open.
"Jaeyeon, reading martial arts manuals again?"
"Jaeyeon, let's work out. Workout! Upper body today?"
"Mr. Jaeyeon, time for a meal~!"
Surrounded by the tender care of the five dragons, I went about my work. I appeared on variety shows, exercised, and copied novels by hand. Sleep and rest were handled in Ardenia.
And then.
[Cola Bear: It's Hyunil. Got a mission.]
I ran the mission.
This one was in the domain of the Leonhardt Empire's ducal house—specifically, the shadow branch staying home. It involved exterminating mythic-grade monsters that had scattered everywhere under bombardment from battleships, and we handled it without issue.
The reward was 35 billion.
'Missions are the best after all.'
But after finishing the mission and returning, I resumed my entertainment career. Among ways to earn money in the same timeframe, running missions as a cosmic mercenary was tops, but missions didn't come along constantly.
Above all, I couldn't take on long-term missions.
'If I go to regions where Revenge Online isn't serviced... my account gets locked.'
Farming hunts was no problem. I could just hand my account to acquaintances on Earth. But having dozens of inventories—accessible anytime for game items—locked up was a hassle in many ways.
Doing long-term missions would also leave the Five Dragons active on the 34th Earth feeling neglected.
'Ruby's even talking about registering as a mercenary despite not being from the 34th Earth these days.'
If the money from being an entertainer was pathetically low, that'd be one thing, but it was quite lucrative, so running missions centered on the Leonhardt Empire was best.
And for that reason.
I added one more variety show.
"Alright! Great to see you again. Jaeyeon! Let's make this shoot a good one too!"
"Pleased to work with you."
The new program's name was Top Class.
It meticulously observed where, how, and what the people at the top of their fields did in their daily lives.
In other words, an observational variety show.
PD Na Taeseok explained.
"We'll start from waking up and sleeping. You're a transcendent, so you'll sense the hidden cameras plainly... but pretend they're not there."
"Ah, that won't work."
At my words, Taeseok wagged his tail and laughed.
"Heh. A lot of people say that. 'How can I pretend the cameras aren't there when they are'... "
"No, it's not that. I don't have sleep time..."
"......?"
Taeseok froze. Sensing he hadn't grasped my words, I calmly explained.
"There's no sleep in my schedule. Starting with sleeping and waking up would be dishonest."
"Well, sure, you don't sleep often."
"I don't have sleep time even occasionally."
I couldn't say I never sleep. I did sleep and rest in Ardenia, so that would be a lie.
But it was true there was no sleep time in my 34th Earth schedule.
Hearing this, Taeseok looked baffled.
"...No way. Even as a transcendent with superhuman stamina, you don't sleep at all? Maintaining that schedule long-term would build up mental and physical strain."
"Time's too precious."
"Uh, hmm. Well, let's film it for now."
He nodded and moved on.
From then on, Taeseok followed me through my entire schedule.
"Hello!"
"Wow! Mr. Jaeyeon! It's an honor to meet you!"
"To think I'd see a transcendent in the flesh..."
I joined a script reading for director Allen's latest work, Beyond the Void. The actors greeting me glanced past Taeseok behind me before doing a double-take.
All capable people themselves, they realized Taeseok wasn't a smart pet but a transcendent species.
"No way, PD Na Taeseok!?"
"Are you filming right now?"
"Come on, pretend I'm not here. Just think of me as your usual smart pet."
"No, it's obvious you're not—how are we supposed to think that?"
"PD Na Taeseok, why aren't you inviting actors to your shows anymore! Wake up! Wake up!"
Taeseok smoothly chatted with the actors. All these scenes would air based on his choices.
"Mr. Jaeyeon, next cue~"
"Please hold the product and strike a pose~"
I shot a commercial.
"Today's guest is someone of great renown, isn't he? Han Jaeyeon, who reached the triple transcendent realm in his twenties!"
I appeared on a variety show. Taeseok trailed me, filming every process—even moments when I got help from the Shadow Dragon Eudeokseuni in between.
"Good work."
"Don't talk to the camera."
After finishing the schedule, I returned to Star Dragon headquarters.
Normally, it'd be time for copying manuscripts, but I couldn't do that in front of the camera. With plenty of manuscripts stacked up anyway, I read martial arts manuals in the western annex prepared at Star Dragon. Black Dragon Heukyo sat beside me, kindly explaining them.
"Look at this. Cheonlagyeol and Gwanggeomjincheonkyeong both deal with the realm of speed, but the mental imagery forming their foundation is completely different."
She rested her chin on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.
Her insights into martial arts were rock-solid, unlike my forced ascent to the transcendent realm—every word became bone and flesh for me.
I absorbed her teachings, pouring martial arts into my dantian, which had become a vast sea—no, a great ocean.
When my head heated up from studying martial arts, Sapphire faced my forehead, resonating chakras. The bodily currents realigned according to lofty principles, embedding the poured-in martial arts into my mind.
After martial arts study came physical training.
"Come on! Gravity's focusing! More! More more more! Even more more!"
Red Dragon Ruby assisted with physical training. With her piggybacked on my back activating her vitality, unbelievable pressure crushed my entire body evenly.
That wasn't all.
With Ruby in contact, my body activated and heated up so easily. The exercise effects were maximized, of course.
Sizzle—!
Steam rose from my Extreme Will Body's flesh. After three straight hours of training like that, I was nearly delirious.
Then.
"Now, lie down."
White Dragon Snow massaged my body. Mysterious divine power from her hands guided my broken flesh in the [right direction].
After that?
"Come on! You're exhausted, right? Eat something first!"
Flower prepared meals. Medicinal foods and elixirs incomparable to Ardenia's mere voluminous grub!
The Five Dragons' support was beyond imagination—I could feel myself growing stronger day by day. This was worlds apart from ordinary transcendents who, even if lucky enough to reach the transcendent realm, struggled to grow further.
Earning massive sums every day.
And even growing stronger—fulfilling days.
[Cola Bear: It's Hyunil. Got a mission.]
I headed straight to the Mercenary Management Bureau upon receiving the message. As expected, Taeseok followed.
An ordinary PD couldn't possibly keep up on the galaxy railroad... but Na Taeseok PD wasn't ordinary—he was a transcendent species Prayana.
As always, we boarded the galaxy railroad with the elders, got our seats assigned, and instead of a separate one, Taeseok sat by mine before suddenly speaking.
"This is off the record... but did you get some dirt on F·D or something?"
"Dirt?"
His out-of-left-field question got a puzzled look from me, and Taeseok muttered blankly.
"No, that can't be. But then why—I still don't get it. What's going on here."
"They're all good people. Kind and all."
At my words, Taeseok's round eyes widened further.
"Kind? Those arrogant dragons... especially Space Stars F·D?"
He looked utterly perplexed.
Puzzled myself, I asked.
"Any bad rumors?"
"No, they don't go around doing evil deeds. Though they're called hellhounds—no, hell dragons."
"...That's bad enough."
Hell dragons? For those kind and beautiful Five Dragons—what malicious nickname was that?
"No, well. Transcendent species dragons are like that by nature."
"But PD Na Taeseok, you're a transcendent species Prayana too, aren't you?"
When I asked incredulously, Taeseok shook his head.
"Transcendent species, sure, but not a transcendent. Even among transcendent species, dragons and Prayana are in completely different situations."
In the greater universe existed a faction called Noblesse. True to the name, nobles—beings of transcendent bloodlines born with power leagues above lesser races.
'Dragons. Prayana. Candler. And the Stone Origin tribe I saw last time, like that.'
"Hmm. So dragons naturally become transcendents just by aging?"
Thinking about it, not all transcendent species became transcendents simply by aging. That was a trait of the top Noblesse, dragons.
But Taeseok shook his head.
"No. Prayana become transcendents with age too."
"Oh, really? Then—"
"But unlike dragons who become transcendents upon reaching adulthood, Prayana do so in old age. Right before death, even."
The Prayana race's nickname was [Superpowered Cats]. Born with immense psychic powers, they wielded insane levels of psychic force from childhood, slaying most monsters effortlessly.
"But... I've seen quite a few long-lived Prayana transcendents."
The most famous was [Choco], CEO of the 34th Earth's global food conglomerate [Nutel]. A Prayana transcendent over 600 years old.
Taeseok explained.
"Prayana basic lifespan is around 300 years. As it nears its end... the psychic power sealed in their bloodline fully unlocks. They become transcendents whether they like it or not... and usually live as one for a week at shortest, a month at longest, before passing."
"Then Choco...?"
"If they master their psychic power in that short time and stabilize at the transcendent realm, a second life as a transcendent opens up. Lifespan extends massively too. The problem is how rare that is."
"Ah."
Unlike dragons, who finished growing at 1,000 years and reached the transcendent realm with near-100% certainty, it was a very different path. Taeseok shrugged.
"Truth is, they're a cut below dragons. Unlike those who struggle to have kids, we have way more numbers, so we can at least hang on that front."
[The next stop is Dragonian Territory Golden Cross Planet. Passengers disembarking, please use the right-side doors.]
[This is a reminder. Arrival at Golden Cross Planet in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 51 seconds.]
At the sudden announcement, Taeseok said.
"Well, anyway, you'll see for yourself soon, Jaeyeon."
I nodded, thinking of the destination.
"Ah, yeah, I guess so."
"Yeah."
Taeseok nodded his small head.
"You'll see dragons' true forms."
A new mission was beginning.
