Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Reaping the Rewards
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As a result,
I returned to my lodgings.
On the way, while slipping away from the man guarding the gate entrance, my mana hit rock bottom and my ability fizzled out—an accident waiting to happen—but luckily, no one noticed.
This was the first time I'd pushed my body this hard since possessing it.
I could feel the exhaustion settling in deep.
Tomorrow's probably going to be hell with all the muscle pain.
Part of me wanted nothing more than to crash right then and there, but I still had work to do.
I needed to sort through the gathered materials, review the battle before my heightened senses faded, and tally up my gains...
First things first, I pulled up my status window.
Taking down that C-rank boss monster had bumped my experience by a whopping 32%.
An absurd leap.
I could even feel the shift in my mana reserves.
If I'd destroyed the gate's core inside, I probably would've gained even more mana.
Soloing it might've shot me straight to D-rank.
But if I'd tried that, the liberated wraiths in the fog would've torn me apart on the spot.
It wasn't a proper clear to begin with, so I wasn't too bummed.
My goal had been a sneaky workaround—scooping out the prize and bailing.
I checked the reward now adorning my left ring finger.
An item crafted by the queen of a fallen kingdom for her mute consort. The wearer can synchronize minds with another upon physical contact.
In a game, I'd have dismissed this relic as a dud without hesitation.
Way too niche.
A swap item for hyper-specific scenarios, like communicating inside a gate.
I only regretted it for a second. Once I slipped it on, I tested it out right away, struck by the unfamiliar sensation.
On the way back, after grabbing some cat food, I lured over a stray and petted it. Faint emotions trickled back—fullness, contentment, fragments of feelings too raw to put into words.
Unlike the game, where it was limited to special cases, it worked in everyday life too.
And that's when I realized something else.
'It syncs with my Illusion ability.'
How to leverage that was still a mystery.
Only way forward was trial and error.
Still, one thing was clear: it offered real potential to grow my ability.
Not the pendant I'd hoped for, but a relic that suited me far better.
Mulling over applications, I started unpacking my bag.
Time to sort the alchemy materials.
I set aside the ones that wouldn't keep for separate sale, then did basic preservation on the rest—drying what needed drying, sealing what needed sealing. By the time I finished what I could manage, quite a bit of time had passed.
About time.
Endlessly refreshing online finally brought up the article I'd been waiting for.
With trembling hands, I clicked the freshly posted headline.
It hadn't been entirely smooth. A teammate had nearly died. Interviews gushing about good luck barely registered.
The only thing that mattered: no one died.
"...Haha."
This moment felt more precious than toppling the boss or claiming the relic.
It wasn't just smug satisfaction from doing good or saving someone.
You couldn't save them in the game.
No matter how overpowered your starting ability, this event was too early.
No clout to sway a guild, no combat power to help.
The odds were brutal—practically rigged—and if it triggered, death was certain.
In all my no-death clear runs, across parties with 72% recruitment rates for prime talent, I'd just watched her fade away pointlessly.
I'd never been thrilled about possessing this game world.
My real life sucked, sure, but trading it for a death-trap reality wasn't appealing.
I hustled to survive.
With no connections or cash, it was desperate thrashing to adapt and carve out a spot.
Using info to build my own secure niche and live easy.
That modest dream.
But the rush of accomplishment flooding me now dredged up feelings I'd buried.
The thrill when a crisis with no clear path,
after wracking my brains with piled-up experience and intel,
yields a conclusion that hits dead-on amid the uncertainty.
Joy.
This reality played like a game.
An ideal one, with infinite freedom.
No scripted limits cramping your style.
Act as you wish, see results instantly.
This raid drove that home.
The nagging worry in the back of my mind dissolved.
I hadn't strayed off the proper route.
I was just conquering a new path that hadn't existed before.
"Oh! Seohyeon, you're back with us. How's the body holding up? According to Aram, he treated you in time, so no lasting damage."
Half-rising in the hospital bed, I tested my right arm.
A bit sluggish, but it moved fine.
Any discomfort would fade with time.
"Phew... You pulled off something huge this time. I had the mages primed to smash their pots the second your barrier cracked. Nearly a total disaster."
"... ."
"Told the press plenty, so no weird rumors. Guild master's worried sick too. He ordered you to lay low and recover—no rushing into S-rank stuff. Take it as a vacation for now—"
"Uncle."
"Yeah?"
"Find one person for me. Black hair, blue eyes. The guy who tried to barge in right before we entered the gate. High chance he has some mental interference ability."
"S-Seohyeon?"
"At least B-rank? But we'd know any psyker that strong... Association secret agent?"
Was she joking?
No, her tone was dead serious.
I was midway through calming her when Jin Seohyeon's eyes locked on mine.
"Uncle."
Those bright amber eyes burned with clear emotion.
Her name came to mind instantly.
"Please."
Desperation.
"......I'll do what I can."
The next day, I took it easy.
Muscle pain hit exactly as expected—brutal.
'Maybe hit the gym...'
My stamina was a joke on a good day.
And with more physical demands ahead, no shortage there.
Mulling it seriously, I grabbed my bag and headed out.
Today: sell the alchemy materials that spoil too fast to preserve.
Nearly half my haul—decent volume.
Mostly common stuff, but top quality. Plus some rare ones mixed in. Worth a tidy profit, right?
Light steps carried me to the alchemy consortium I'd scouted.
Didn't take long to walk out.
"Those damn alchemy consortium bastards."
A collective of individual alchemists.
The moment I pulled out my goods, their first words made me doubt my ears.
'That's just a weed. Easy mix-up since they look alike. Want us to dispose of it? First-timer discount—on the house.'
About my premium common materials.
Delivered so smoothly, I almost nodded like an idiot, second-guessing myself.
Instead, I brought out a rare one.
They named it and its traits, couldn't deny it anymore.
'What a mess. Gates dumped tons yesterday and today. Price halved already. Sell now—more gates half-cleared, it'll tank further.'
I let out a hollow laugh.
Couldn't verify, so I asked the offer. Clerk whipped out a calculator.
'Spoils easy, needs chem treatment. Current rate minus 7% processing, 10% handling, cash fee... 340,000 won. Cash now?'
Turning a million-won haul into a third.
Alchemy. Magic.
Astonished by their skill, I nearly rewarded them by craving 'Park Sugwang'.
But unless trading private alchemists, the official alchemy material spot was the consortium.
Haggled like a pro, squeezed out a bit more.
From 'we'll hack off all limbs' to 'just one, out of kindness'.
"Those damn alchemy consortium bastards... ."
Moving hit me harder than ever.
Need my own space pronto, use 'em myself.
How long till I'm done bleeding cash every sale?
Resolve to make money hardened. Around then, pondering a real part-time gig,
a message pinged from the Hunter Association.