Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Return (2)
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"Yes. He seemed like he couldn't grasp his place, so I severed his tendons and tossed him to the orcs. They were thrilled, like kids who just got a new toy. And while I was at it, I made all the summoners watch to tighten up discipline around the base. They all shut their mouths after that and just kept glancing at me nervously."
Im Ji-hye spoke in a flat, emotionless voice. Her eyes were serene.
'Hmm. She seems a little off her rocker.'
I checked Im Ji-hye's condition. Back in the day, she'd carry out my brutal orders without hesitation, but she never actually enjoyed the act itself.
Suddenly, I recalled something she'd said before. The first time Im Ji-hye met Han Yu-ra at the base, she'd analyzed the stress the leader was under.
'She said that people's occasional aggressive behavior is just a way to vent their inner anxieties.'
She'd seen right through the burdens and fears weighing on Han Yu-ra.
'Who would've thought Im Ji-hye herself would end up fitting that description.'
While I was away, Im Ji-hye must have been under immense pressure managing the base without its leader—and the anxiety that I might never return.
That extreme stress had probably pushed her to this state.
'But honestly, this is a pretty ideal situation right now.'
Truth be told, this slightly unhinged(?) version of Im Ji-hye was way easier to handle than before.
Especially considering how I'd spent the first few days coaxing the summoners with bullshit like, "It's better to become high-quality fertilizer on the lower floors than suffer on the upper ones."
Unnecessary emotional labor just wears you out.
It's like how a commander in war can't win if they're agonizing over every single soldier's death.
In that sense, Im Ji-hye's change could be seen as a positive development.
'The problem is if this lasts too long, she might break completely.'
I didn't want Im Ji-hye—who'd proven her worth as both a fucktoy and a colleague—to shatter so soon.
'Maybe Ariel can purify stress like that? Worst case, I could always dump a load on her face later.'
Of course, that was for later. Reverting Im Ji-hye right now would be a loss in every way.
"Anyway, you did well."
I stroked Im Ji-hye's head. At my touch, her blank expression melted away like snow, a small smile spreading across her face.
"Hee hee."
Im Ji-hye rubbed her head against my hand, purring happily like a contented cat.
'Since it's come to this, might as well let her stay like this for a few more days.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ji-hye. It's about time we take over the first floor. Gather all the summoners at the base and move them to the village."
"Understood. This is the perfect timing."
Im Ji-hye deftly relayed my orders to the summoners at the base. They panicked at the sudden command, but when she threatened them with her spirit, they had everything packed in five minutes flat.
'Nice. Seeing them move so efficiently really puts my mind at ease.'
"Kim Joo-hyuk. What the hell is this all of a sudden?"
Han Yu-ra, who'd dropped the formal speech since becoming my colleague, came over to complain.
"Can't you tell? We're relocating to a bigger place. We can't keep scraping by in this damn cave forever. With so many summoners dead, there should be plenty of space in the village. We claim the good spots."
"Okay, that makes sense. But that girl... she seems a bit off. You okay just leaving her like that?"
Han Yu-ra was worried about Im Ji-hye.
'She sees Im Ji-hye as a colleague now. That's a good change.'
"Don't worry. I'll handle it. You just follow along quietly. Isn't that easier for you anyway?"
"Well, yeah, but..."
Smack!
"Kyaa!? What the hell!"
Han Yu-ra jumped in surprise after getting spanked out of nowhere, frantically looking around to see if anyone saw. Skinship in public still embarrassed her, apparently, with all the people who knew her.
"Just say 'Yes, sir' nicely here."
"...Wow. What era do you think it is with that mindset?"
Han Yu-ra looked exasperated.
A fucktoy daring to talk back? Han Yu-ra was in for some extra training later.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We arrived at the village. The journey was smooth, except for one male summoner who'd lost his ankles trying to run.
The summoners still in the village eyed our large procession warily, but when they locked eyes with me at the front, they all tucked tail.
'Most of these guys look familiar.'
"Lord Joo-hyuk! You've returned!"
Piss-Pants performed a grand bow at the village gate. I barely held back a laugh. The summoners from Han Yu-ra's base stared at him like he was insane.
Objectively, he kind of was. This guy would dive into a pool of shit if I told him to.
"Excellent. I grant you one life reprieve."
"Thank you!"
"Gather the summoners in the square. And let me introduce—this woman here is..."
Im Ji-hye stared at Piss-Pants like he was some kind of idiot.
"Your wife, sir?"
"?"
"Oh, no way~ She's just a colleague."
In an instant, color bloomed on Im Ji-hye's blank face as she warmly greeted Piss-Pants.
Piss-Pants praised Im Ji-hye's inner beauty and character at machine-gun speed—never crossing into annoying territory—perfectly maxing out her affinity before heading off to his task at just the right moment.
'This guy's... actually insane?'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Village central square. From the podium Piss-Pants had whipped up out of nowhere, I declared to all the summoners.
"Some of you might already know, but I'm Kim Joo-hyuk. An innocent victim who nearly lost his life to the system's tyranny. All the videos you saw were fabricated."
Self-introductions should always be shameless. And I really was the victim.
"You all joined or stood by while they tried to take everything I'd built in the quests. So I've decided to hold everyone accountable."
A few summoners reacted violently.
"What the hell? I just stayed in the village!"
"Yeah! I didn't even join the quest!"
"Who are you to judge us? This is the Tower!"
Strangers to me. Their claims were probably true. But so what?
"Standing by is a crime too. You didn't protest the system's injustice. That's another crime. Normally, you'd atone with your lives, but I've decided to pardon you all in exchange for a modest sum of points."
"......"
"From today, you will each pay me a minimum of 2000 points per day."
The square fell silent at my words.
"2000 points? Crazy! How are we supposed to earn that in a day?!"
"No way!"
It used to be 667 per person.
Not anymore.
'Ah, pissing me off just thinking about it. I got screwed because no one told me triple chance applied to quest rewards.'
Since I felt shortchanged, I decided to spread the pain equally.
Misery shared is misery lessened, after all.
"Of course, not everyone has to scrape together 2000 points."
I called out Piss-Pants and a few summoners who'd joined the raid, as we'd discussed beforehand.
"You dared to try killing me. You failed, but that courage is commendable. From now on, as executives, you'll manage the soldiers and eliminate my enemies."
"Yes, sir!"
"I also need soldiers. Those who become soldiers will receive four benefits: 50% reduction in point tributes, priority equipment loans, village residency, and three meals a day. Not free, of course. In return, you must reach at least level 20 before the first floor trial ends."
Most summoners didn't grasp what I was saying. But the raid participants hung on my every word.
Good enough. I dismissed the summoners and stepped down from the podium.
I pulled Im Ji-hye aside separately.
"Ji-hye. I told Piss-Pants too, but some of them got random classes like healers or non-combat types. Look after them and help them level up."
"Got it. Anything else?"
"Yeah."
'Now most of the annoying stuff should be handled by Im Ji-hye.'
I was about to use time compression when I gave her one more order.
"Tomorrow night at 10, give me a brief report on the day's events."
"Sure thing."
I rented a room in the village with some points and activated time compression there.
▶▶▶ 30 Hours Later ▶▶▶ I checked the time.
Day 15, 10 PM.
Knock knock knock.
"Come in."
Im Ji-hye entered wearing glasses from who-knows-where and gave her report on the day's events.
"There are currently 176 summoners in the village. All 59 who participated in the Kim Joo-hyuk raid have volunteered as soldiers. Piss-Pants confirmed they've all leveled up and met their quotas. That leaves 117 summoners, and only 4 of them hit the 2000 points you specified."