Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: Suspicious Signs
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- You've already become famous. Everywhere you go, just mentioning 'Kim Shin-hwa' gets an ecstatic reaction.
"Already to that extent? I'm thrilled."
- That'd be fine on its own, but now even the foreign management offices are starting to take interest.
"Whoa, exciting. So exciting."
- …….
My response left Park Kwang-rim silent for a moment before he spoke in an aggrieved tone.
- And it's not just 'Kim Shin-hwa'—they're starting to pay attention to me too.
"What are you scared of? You have permanent residency anyway, right?"
Park Kwang-rim's complaints were just whining. He knew from the start what this plan entailed and agreed to it.
The massive fees I pay him include hazard pay for those risks.
- Sure, but it's still uncomfortable. Hmm... Mr. Kim Shin-hwa. If I get my tail cut off, I'll be sad.
I'd be sad too if I lost a high-end NPC like Park Kwang-rim for nothing.
"I don't want that either. I'll figure something out. For now, head down to the Jeolla region."
- Ah, that sounds good. Hmm, by the way, Mr. Kim Shin-hwa?
"Yeah?"
- No, nothing.
"What's nothing?"
- No, it's just... your tone and speech feel different from before. Or maybe your voice sounds a bit off.
"What? My voice is different?"
- No, must be my imagination. Ah, let's hang up now.
"Hmm, alright. Call if anything comes up."
- Yes, yes. Oh, and I sent the fee precisely calculated, so no need to worry. I'll send the settlement sheet later.
"Ah, yeah, yeah. I trust you, I trust you. Let's make a ton of money and get rich together."
The call ended like that.
"Hmm, settlement sheet?"
Normally, the settlement sheet comes first, then payment. But he sent the money first and said the sheet would come later?
Just in case, I checked the deposit history, and sure enough, the exact amount I expected was there.
"Precise my ass."
My Intelligence stat pulls up from the depths of my memory how much he earned from the quest he completed the day before yesterday.
"He skimmed nearly double?"
I'll have to give him an earful later.
'Well, he's working enough to justify the fees he's already taken, so maybe let it slide for now?'
The more money I give Park Kwang-rim, the lower his betrayal probability drops. Though with this guy, it never hits zero.
"Hmm, there aren't many NPCs who move around so proactively and reliably like Park Kwang-rim."
I could find others if I looked, but ones that offer both performance and reliability usually demand complicated prerequisite quests.
Too much hassle to do those now. Tch.
The phone rang again.
- Hey, Destroyer.
"Ugh, why call me Destroyer?"
It was Yeom Geum-ja.
- That's the name that's most famous in our circles.
There was a brief sweet period midway, but the moment she realized I had no ties to Cheon-geum-dang, she switched back to this attitude.
"But you could call me by other names, right?"
- You... No, in our world, nicknames matter more than real names.
Yeom Geum-ja swallowed a curse as usual and spoke slowly.
- A strong nickname holds power in itself, and it can even share that power with the one calling it.
"So you're showing off that you're on the phone with the Destroyer right now?"
- You little shit! If you get it, play along instead of snarking!
"If you're done showing off, can I hang up now? I'm tired."
- No, that's not it. I have business.
"What is it? Like I said before, Cheon-geum-dang is not something I can handle."
Truth be told, I have a ticket, so I could take her. But why would I bother with that hassle?
- No! Damn it, hear me out first!
Yeom Geum-ja repeated "just!" a few times before continuing.
- Remember those magic stone bombs you gave me before.
"Ah, those?"
I'd handed out magic stone bombs to attack the Gourmet Expedition that took over Paju Samneung.
- Got any more? If the price is right, I want to buy some.
"Hmm~ Purchase, huh?"
- Yeah, purchase.
Yeom Geum-ja hadn't used all the bombs I'd given her. Guess she liked how the smuggled ones performed?
"Hmm, how many do you need?"
I reached out and levitated the defective magic stones left from earlier use.
Paga-gaga-gak—
The magic stones processed at incredible speed following my hand movements.
They turned into magic stone bombs in an instant.
- I'll decide quantity after seeing the price. But it'll be a lot.
"Even if I give you these, they're just high-performance grenades. Head to Incheon, and you can buy grenades for 30,000 won each."
- Not those. You can make better ones, right? Like what you're giving the Three Heads Association.
I'm not giving the Three Heads Association anything, those or otherwise.
No idea what rumors are flying around.
"Ma'am, I'm—"
Pabababap—
A strange noise made me glance away briefly.
The notebook and grimoire floating in the air.
Oops, still levitating them.
The notebook was even jotting down notes on its own. Set to record my thoughts and ideas, it was logging our entire conversation.
And what was being written now...
An unconscious design sketch that popped into my head from Yeom Geum-ja's words.
"Ma'am, hold on a sec."
I channeled mana according to the design I'd envisioned.
Kikikikik—
The magic stone bombs changed form again. Wings attached, explosion amplification runes added...
The completely altered magic stone bombs flew around me on their own.
At the same time, complex calculations filled the notebook.
'This should give an effective range over 500 meters. Could add limited guidance too.'
Could infuse elements or add stun for non-lethal options.
- Gotta keep waiting?
"Hmm... Ma'am, I need to think about pricing. Can I call you back later?"
- Whatever you're mulling over, sell to me! Not some other bastard! Got it?
"Ah, yes. Of course. Of course."
The call ended.
Hmm~ As Yeom Geum-ja's faction grows, they usually push into the Waste Alley district.
If Bong-il-cheon-pa starts nosing around there, the Three Heads' third head, the Black King, will get pissed.
And my notebook had recorded:
[The Blue Tiger Gang and Red Bean Gang are still fighting. The Black King sits back and profits. Left alone, both will get devoured by him. Inciting Bong-il-cheon-pa to clash with the Black King is a solid strategy.]
Recording my thoughts verbatim.
"Yeah, I agree. But stop wasting paper now—"
I swung my hand to put the notebook away.
Parararak—
Between the grimoire and notebook fluttering to the bookshelf—
"Wait, hold on. You, come here."
I pointed at one of the eight notebooks and pulled it over. The rest flew neatly to the shelf.
'Saw something weird?'
I levitated the notebook and flipped pages. Yeah, this.
[Sleep a bit.]
"……."
Not my handwriting.
Unfamiliar script squeezed between other lines.
As I examined it, new content appeared in the margins. My current thoughts, written verbatim.
[Is this some other personality slipping in? Didn't the blood phobia and multiple personalities get resolved? Sleep a bit. Ugh, what's this now. Damn, what's going on? Well, I haven't slept. 23 hours awake? Maybe unconsciously wrote it from fatigue? Need sleep? Or chat in dreams? Why haven't I slept while making that thing mimicking my form, sprul sku...?]
Sprul sku in Tibetan means puppet, imitation of a human form, or—
"Ah, damn it!"
Chorarararak—
I shoved the notebook and everything away.
"Ah, headache."
The phone rang again.
What? Why so many calls today?
This time, Tudor.
- Honey, whatcha doing?
"Chilling."
- Was gonna summarize over the phone if you were busy, but glad you're free.
Damn, shoulda said I was busy.
- Been a while since I saw your handsome, pretty face, so come over.
"When did you last see my face?"
- Hmm, your cool mask then. Anyway, I found what you asked for, so come see it yourself.
"Ah, already? Thought it'd be tough."
- Huh? Underestimating me?
"No, that's why I trusted you with it."
Seo Cheon-seul said another [Feast's Offering] was hiding in the [Round Room] evading the dog. I had a hunch where, but not a place to casually check.
So I commissioned Tudor for info on the spot.
- So, coming or not?
Haven't slept in 23 hours now, closing in on 24.
But somehow, sleeping now feels like...
I'd hear something I don't wanna.
I made the call despite the weird aversion.
"Getting ready now. Be right there."
Might be the wrong choice, but...
I ended the call and swung my hand to tidy the basement.
Pudududuk—warararak—
Leaving the spectacle of items flying to their places, I climbed the stairs.
Quiet living room.
Heo Sang-hyeon's presence from the kitchen.
And from the living room, crouching as he approached... Jang Hyeon-deok?
"Wizard, wizard."
"What?"
He looked deadly serious. He craned his neck toward the kitchen, then whispered low.
"Heo Sang-hyeon, you know."
"Yeah? What's with Sang-hyeon?"
"Shh, shh! Something's off about him."
Off?
I followed Jang Hyeon-deok's gaze to the kitchen.
Tak tak tak—
Chopping sounds. Seems like he's cooking. I extended my senses to check Heo Sang-hyeon. Nothing unusual.
Even checked the summon bond. All normal.
"What's off?"
Jang Hyeon-deok's no ordinary fool.
His strong medium constitution might be picking up something I miss.
"Doesn't seem like a living person."
"Ah—"
His medium senses caught it, but not news to me.
Must be shocking for Jang Hyeon-deok, though.
"You think I'm lying?"
"No, just startled."
"Gasp, you didn't know either!?"
"Yeah. Didn't."
"Ugh— I see. What do we do? Ghost? Possession maybe."
"Hmm, was heading out anyway. Grab some talismans."
"Heading out? Leaving me alone? Take me too!"
"Take you? No car."
Jang Hyeon-deok's buggy still busted.
"Just stay in your room. Here, like before?"
I pointed, attaching a glowing trail to him.
"What's this?"
"Guardian charm—? Anyway, no petty spirit approaches without your say. Good now?"
"But still..."
"Hold out in your room till I buy talismans."
"Ah, got it."
Jang Hyeon-deok crawling up the stairs practically.
"And watch the stairs more than ghosts..."
Before I finished, thudding from the stairs.
"Hmm. Sang-hyeon?"
From the kitchen, aproned Heo Sang-hyeon emerged, combing his slicked-back hair.
"Yes, found out."
"Well, hard to fully hide. He's got medium vibes."
"Partly that, but Aunt whispered around dinner last night."
Ah, got it. No wonder he sounded extra dumb. Lingering spirit influence sparking mild paranoia and suspicion.
"Can't leave her be anymore."
"Yes, she's hidden now—no finding her. Next time, exorcise fully."
Heo Sang-hyeon's aunt was Heo Woo's disciple here before. After she died, he inherited the mansion?
Hence her stronger power and grudge than other spirits.
"Added extra defense spell on Jang Hyeon-deok. Should hold unless pushed."
"I see."
"Better watch Jang Hyeon-deok for a bit yourself. No upstairs till I return."
Spelled it strong—could accidentally exorcise Heo Sang-hyeon.
"Understood."
"Hmm, off I go then."
"Take care."
Just before the front door.
Felt something off in the house—but fatigue? Didn't wanna dwell.
'No big deal.'
I walked out slowly.
Thud.
Behind me, the starving mansion's front door closed with a heavy sound.