Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Zahard's Lightning
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The world of Lost City was an extremely advanced one.
However, in inverse proportion to technological progress, capitalism bereft of morality had long bred the ills of materialism.
In simple terms, it meant there was nothing money couldn't buy.
For example, if you offered up cash and lifespan, you could get an artificial Mana Circuit implanted without any enlightenment.
Even a total layman who didn't know the first thing about magic could plug in a data chip and cast basic common spells with ease.
Virtual sex through VR, DNA mods, cyberware implants for superhuman strength—these were too commonplace to mention.
And that wasn't all.
Lately, rumors swirled of artificially breeding posthumans into psychics by hyper-activating brain chemistry.
Money really could buy anything in this world.
But if you asked whether they'd conquered everything? Not quite.
Just as Earth in 2024 hadn't overcome baldness (if you missed the window), Lost City's tech had its limits too.
Most emblematic were the secret magics of the great seven families.
Glorious legacies from the era of Light and Roses! The eternal pride of the Purists!
Of course, not without whispers of doubt.
Some said even these secret magics weren't what they used to be.
Indeed, shady data chips of dubious origin—like "For sale: Leaked secret magic"—traded hands on the dark web these days.
But closer inspection revealed most were scams. Even the real ones held only a handful of the lowest-tier spells.
Leaked, maybe. Reproduced? No.
Thus, the value of secret magics remained intact.
And one had fallen into Jin's hands.
His reaction?
Whoa. Zahard.
Whoa. Lightning.
End of story.
Any Purist stumbling upon the scene would've lost their minds.
This was a secret magic.
Se-cret ma-gic!
History this, tradition that.
Power blah blah, value yadda yadda.
They'd have ranted red-eyed through the night about Zahard's greatness.
Meanwhile, Jin—yawning nonstop—might've rubbed his sleepy eyes and said:
"Hey, mister. Complaining won't make it work.
It's not XP grinding; it's building proficiency, it says.
I'm bummed too. Why didn't the guide explain this?"
He'd done exactly that.
The guide Jin skimmed had a note at the end about new constellations (hidden perks) acquired in-game.
Unlike regular perks that grew via XP, hiddens developed through proficiency points.
Detailed over three full paragraphs.
The guide itself was fine, of course. Only Jin hadn't—couldn't—finish reading it.
Too caught up to reflect that far, he'd just thought quietly to himself:
The author doesn't know everything, huh.
In the end, Zahard's secret magic became homework for Jin—something to build up steadily.
Maybe for the best.
With XP demands ramping up per star unlocked, hand-learning secret magic on top would've broken his back.
Whew, dodged a bullet.
...Still a mess?
Feeling lighter, Jin turned inward to contemplate himself.
He saw Mana Circuits near-perfectly formed.
And his heart.
At its core—the start and end of all paths—sat a small purple orb.
The power gifted by Zahard's secret magic.
A light prod sparked zap!—feisty as a maltese with an attitude.
"Ow..."
Jin winced at the stinging pain.
Same result every try.
Taming this would take time.
Tsk tsk. Tonguing the roof of his mouth, he noticed sunlight fully flooding the factory.
Come to think of it, he'd lingered too long in this dump.
Time to go. Stretching, he rose.
Ever hear bad news comes in threes?
Jin didn't want to believe it.
But facts were facts.
First: 2 million credits gone.
Searched high and low—no trace.
Not like the money grew legs and ran.
Definitely vanished somehow.
Best guess: While the monk who took the cash fused into a monster and got fried by Rocan's spell, the bills burned up too. Paper barbecue theory.
From today, Jin declared black mages his sworn enemies.
But that wasn't priority now.
"...Where'd everyone go?"
Not just money. People vanished too.
The spot where homeless folks dangled like ornaments? Empty as a lie.
Crackling mana on his skin confirmed: Rocan took them.
But why not me?
Clueless, but alone for sure. Jin bolted from the factory.
Then froze at the unfamiliar vista.
Open sky, endless road.
Sparse cars whizzing by.
...Highway?
He'd expected some backwater lot or dockside.
Blinking hard.
Rocan said he was nabbed from Area 43—smelled off then, but this...?
No cars parked nearby either.
Money lost, people gone.
Now lost on location too.
Hence:
"Hey, a little help...!"
Thumb up, a truck whooshed past.
"...Shit."
Fake smile gone, irritation spat.
How many times now?
Not one slowed even a bit.
They floored it as you neared.
"What now."
Jin sighed deep.
How to stop these stingy bastards?
Drop trou? Flash Excalibur?
Probably lucky they don't ram him.
Sigh deepened.
But not the end.
Grrrowl—
Grrrowl—
Then hunger hit. Panic rising—gonna be bad. Decision time.
First, strip!
Hunger beat shame.
Not pants—shirt.
Ditching thick flight jacket and tee, he waved wildly at an approaching car.
"Fuck! Stop—!!"
Thus, his sculpted torso advertised itself.
From afar, pure spectacle—
Screeech!
Shockingly, brakes slammed, tires screeching to a halt.
"Oh!"
Jin gawked as the window whirred down, revealing the driver.
Woman with shades hooked low.
Eyeing him bare, she spoke.
"...Hop in."
Her name: Natasha.
A trucker owning a 3.5-ton mid-size rig, she fit the part—exhaling smoke out the half-open window.
Glancing at the passenger seat:
"Eat slow. You'll choke."
"'Kay... *chomp*."
Affirmative mangled by cheeseburger mouthful—
Jin dove back in, heedless of manners.
Burger to fries.
Fries to nuggets.
Hands and mouth in frenzy.
Yesterday and today? At least three skipped meals.
Felt like his body sucked up nutrients greedily.
Sensation only an Irregular constantly reinforcing himself would know.
Whatever.
He finished what looked like a glutton's doom to others.
But not stuffed.
Natasha's buy: Single set meal.
Licking fry dust off fingers regretfully, Jin finally eyed her.
"...You skipping?"
"Yeah. Never dreamed I'd pick up a bottomless pit."
"Ahem. Thanks anyway. Saved my life."
Sheepish, Jin turned away.
Glanced in rearview: Torso still bare.
"Ugh. Sorry."
Realizing he'd prioritized food over clothes, he fumbled for his tee—
"Dinner and now eye candy too?"
Natasha turned.
"Forgot why I stopped?"
"Just ten minutes...?"
"Kidding. Put it on. Seen plenty."
Deep dimples in a bright grin, she tapped ash out the window.
Back to smoking, facing forward. Natural segue:
"Why all bloody?"
"Hm? Oh."
Head through tee neckhole, Jin eyed the splattered stains. Bitter smile.
Explains no stops.
"Just... shitty world for trash like us."
"Amen."
Jin spoke; Natasha nodded lightly.
That was it. No prying questions or follow-ups.
Just a hollow-cheeked drag.
Vrooom—
Truck cut the highway.
Straight path smooth; scenery slipped in slowly.
Before he knew.
In an instant.
Stale thoughts reared:
Who am I? What's this world?
Can I go back?
Mopey crap.
Pushed by black palms.
Seemed black waves crashed afar.
Whirr—
Shaky hand lowered window; arm out.
Eyes shut, focused on wind-whipped fingers.
I'm alive.
I'm here.
I'm alive.
I'm here.
I'm...
Chanted till waves faded.
Cold sweat beading, breaths steadying, elbow on sill. Natasha, watching silent, spoke.
"Downtown local, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Perfect. Passing through anyway. Drop at Downtown?"
Jin's face lit up.
"For real? Sweet."
"Grateful? Abs again?"
"Here! Bonus round!"
Abs to pecs.
What a show.
Mini striptease done, shame hit; Jin dressed hastily.
"Damn it..."
Glanced at her:
"Where you headed, anyway?"
Shrug.
"Area 48. Got wrapping up to do."
"Wrapping?"
"Hauling goods, see."
Thumb back at cargo hold. Jin nodded.
Wait.
"Hard brake when I hopped in. What if stuff broke?"
"Nah, it's fine—"
VROOOOM!!
Roaring engine swallowed her words.
"...What."
Jin frowned, checking side mirror—
Bang!!
Familiar gunshot; mirror shattered.
Followed by enraged yells:
"You bitch!!! Pull over!!"
"Save the boss!!"
"You're dead today, whore!!"
Jin's face twisted.
What the—
What'd I hitch with?
Simultaneously, the status window blanked his view.