Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Became the Owner of the Slave Party (8)
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-Clop clop
Jin-su choked back his sobs as he fled the hellish scene. He'd set out on reconnaissance with his comrade, but now he was running alone. He'd lost the companion who was as dear to him as family.
"Min-ho hyung... sob, I'll survive for both of us!"
He never imagined that thing was a crocodile's tail... Jin-su tripped over something thicker than a log, unwittingly awakening a massive crocodile that had been asleep. What he'd mistaken for a large hill turned out to be the beast itself.
Startled, the two tried to flee, but the crocodile, freshly roused and irritated, let out a roar that pinned them in place.
'Ugh! What the hell is this... insane!'
'A croc...? This thing's fucking huge!'
Too late, they tried Stealth and Presence Block, but the skills were useless against the predator's piercing gaze. The overwhelming pressure rooted their feet to the ground. In an instant, they became its prey.
'Damn it, Jin-su. No choice. You at least get out alive.'
'What are you talking about!'
'Always wanted to say this... Guess it's now or never.'
'Don't! I don't know what you're planning, but don't!'
'Go on ahead.'
'...Hyuuung!'
As his life flashed before his eyes and death seemed inevitable, Min-ho hurled Jin-su away by force. It was an emergency escape device he'd lucked into during the first tutorial. Instead of using it to save himself, he gave it to his comrade.
-Shoooing
Thanks to that, Jin-su flew away from the spot and survived, while Min-ho, left alone, met his end at the approaching crocodile's jaws.
Yet for some reason, Min-ho wore a relieved expression.
The complete opposite of Jin-su's anguish.
"I see... So Min-ho..."
"The crocodile—that monster said it'd come! It said we'd just run on the final day! That crocodile's definitely coming that day!"
"Understood. We'll prepare for it."
We need to ramp up our hunting pace, even if it means cutting rest time, Siwoo added. But deep down, he doubted it was possible.
How do you hunt a crocodile bigger than a couple of village houses combined? Even taking down a 2-meter elite lizardman required four of them piling on. A beast that massive? Siwoo deemed it impossible.
And he wasn't alone—his comrades voiced their unease to him in hushed tones.
"Shouldn't we... ask that guy for help?"
"His personality sucks... but he's strong. With us backing him up, couldn't we take the croc?"
They meant enlisting the man who'd taken first place in the first tutorial. He'd massacred over ten thugs with a single punch, so his help might make it feasible.
But...
'Everyone's gotta save their own skin.'
The man's words echoed in Siwoo's ears.
As the fairy had said on day one, this world was fair. Everyone started from the same point and could grow strong with effort—man, woman, child, elder, anyone. So that guy's strength meant he'd put in incomparable effort.
And that's why he despised those who hadn't bothered to try yet begged for help. No reason to think he'd bend this time.
"No... We can get that strong too. Don't set limits beforehand. Aren't we way stronger than in the first tutorial already? We've got time left. With effort, it's doable."
We can do what he did. Siwoo asserted with conviction, then began crafting torches right there.
His anxious comrades' trembling eased. They saw the confidence in his eyes. Pulling out their gear, they prepared to hunt again.
"Hmph! He's right! What can't we do?!"
"Yeah! Just work harder! If effort's not enough, double it—triple it!"
"Let's do this together!"
The sun had set, and night blanketed the forest, but Siwoo's party plunged back in. With a clear goal, rest was a luxury they couldn't afford.
Getting stronger. Strength is everything. He proved his words with his power. But I've only chased ideals without protecting my comrades.
So get stronger. Strong enough to protect everyone. Protect them all and prove myself!
Siwoo clenched his fist, steeling his resolve.
-Fwoooosh
I hopped onto the fallen crocodile, spewing steam, and checked my status window. The experience from this beast bumped my stats by five points at once—befitting its size. It seemed to be this tutorial's boss, and soloing it guaranteed me first place again. What a steal.
For reference, how'd I kill this monster without internal energy?
'Ha! Art is an explosion!'
'Master! Amazing! Here's the next bomb!'
'Hahaha!'
I had bombs galore.
Ones I'd prepped for the Royal Road Hero Tale.
The orc horde went down easy with hero buffs, then I spent days training with Louise, so no chance to use the inventory bombs. I'd lamented wasting money, but today they shone.
Frost bombs pinned its legs, followed by a barrage that ended it. The croc thrashed in resistance befitting its kind, but modern magic-tech explosives proved too much.
I hadn't expected such effect... It was all bulk—no real defenses or the terror its looks suggested. Tutorial stage, maybe? Still playing nice.
"Whew... Satisfying, anyway."
I hopped off, whistling.
The fairy called it fair—stats reset, but skills intact, inventory accessible. A tutorial made for me.
One phrase fit here.
"Luck's on my side."
After that, days blurred into routine. Wake in the lodge, morning sex with Elise, forest dive for windhounds, stat ups, back for public bedtime sex. Fulfilling days.
Never skipped qi gathering midway. Steady Taiji Yin-Yang Divine Art built enough for one internal energy punch.
But efficiency sucked, no matter how I sliced it. Suited for sex-generated qi, meditation crawled. Needed to meet Wi Ji-hye soon to expand my dantian for refills or learn new arts.
So unlock wuxia in this tutorial—get strong enough.
Strong enough an internal punch leaves my arm unscathed?
With that thought, I hugged Elise and stepped outside. Right on cue, survival group execs rushed up, carrying bloodied Siwoo on their backs.
Hm? Not just Siwoo—everyone sported wounds and bled. Big trouble. Protagonist party retiring early?
Before I could ask, they dropped to their knees, pleading desperately.
"Please... We heard Gam Deok-bae has healing skills. Whatever you want, we'll do it—just save our leader...! Please... please..."
"We beg you. We can't lose our leader like this! Show mercy... just once!"
I'd figured someone would beg after public heals in the village. Never dreamed it'd be Siwoo's crew. Whatever—things were getting fun.
Skimped sleep to hunt harder for strength, overloaded, got injured in elite monster fight... This guy's the protagonist? Without me, he'd be dead. Did I butterfly-effect this? Pondering if Siwoo was really the protagonist, I used healing as excuse to take him alone to the lodge. Laid him on the floor and hit him with a partial heal. Soon, he stirred.
"Ugh... You... saved me?"
"Yeah. Heard the story. Pushed too hard prepping for the giant croc? Emergency fix done—in exchange for croc intel."
"Urk... Th-thank you..."
"But what's the point? You'll die soon anyway."
"Cough! Gahk... Is that true?! Cough, cough!"
True enough. Not full heal—just enough to wake him. Couldn't squander easy leverage.
"That waist wound's deep. Fixing it means skipping a day's hunt. Why would I waste that for you? Croc tomorrow, right? Better stay stronger for it."
"No... cough, urk... You're right... But! But..."
All lies, of course. Could full-heal in ten seconds. But why? Keep the bargaining chip. So I could do this.
"Still wanna live?"
"Urgh... I..."
"Simple fix. Become my slave. A talent like you would be handy."
"...S-slave?!"
"Yeah. Slave."
Siwoo as slave? Perfect. Shooed the execs to negotiate solo. Play this right, save a Submission Collar. Even righteous Siwoo won't choose death.
"Become my slave, full heal's the baseline, and I'll handle the croc too. Sounds like Elise and I could take it with minor scratches. Your call. No pressure."
"I... I...!"
Siwoo! Don't hesitate! Say you wanna live!
"Grrgh... sob, ugh... I'll be your slave..."
There we go.