Chapter 298
Chapter 298
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 298
Chapter Title: Short Break
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“Shinhwa!?”
Seeing Heo Sang-hyun’s face made all the tension drain out of me.
I staggered as if I might collapse, and he rushed over to catch me and help me stand.
“Oh no! Are you okay?”
“Ahh—Sang-hyun, sorry, but could you make some breakfast?”
With a smile, I pointed at the two people who had followed me.
“Theirs too. If you haven’t eaten yet, make enough for four...”
Before I could even finish, Heo Sang-hyun hurriedly replied.
“I’ll get it ready right away. In the meantime, Shinhwa, you should wash up first.”
Then he widened those big eyes of his—wow, they looked like they might pop out. Anyway, Heo Sang-hyun glanced at Jang Hyun-deok and Park Kwang-rim.
“Hyun-deok, you look exhausted. Why don’t you come sit on the sofa? And you are...?”
“Park Kwang-rim. I’m a broker... no, a detective who does business with Kim Shinhwa.”
“Nice to meet you. Any foods you don’t eat?”
“I eat everything. But right now, I don’t think I could eat much.”
“You’ve been through a lot. This way, please.”
Heo Sang-hyun smoothly took charge of the situation and guided us.
“Screeeee!”
Thud thud crash!
The sound of Red and Ddol charging over.
“Kids, behave!”
Heo Sang-hyun’s stern voice.
“Screeeee...”
Grrrrr.
Thank goodness—or whatever you call it—he’d somehow gotten perfect control over those two troublemakers.
Creak—
Achilles, who was the most well-behaved of the three, peeked around cautiously with a little squeak...
[Madness: Cynophobia]
“Then Sang-hyun, I’ll leave the rest to you!”
I bolted up the stairs at almost a running speed. I wobbled a few times, but escape came first.
“Have a good wash.”
From the living room, three animal(?) friends groaned as they looked up at me.
Ugh... Sorry, kids.
Some trash bastard had planted a horrific curse in my head, so I couldn’t play with you right now.
“Hmm...”
I turned back for a moment to look at the living room.
Jang Hyun-deok, dazed expression as he clutched a tiny shoe.
Park Kwang-rim was in better shape, blinking like he’d just woken up, wearing an awkward look.
‘Physically they seem fine, but mentally... both are messed up.’
First things first: food.
Fill our stomachs and rest, and they’ll get a little better.
* * *
Breakfast was ready incredibly fast.
“Brunch, you know.”
That’s what Heo Sang-hyun said.
It was probably a menu that could be whipped up quickly, but Park Kwang-rim, seeing our dining table for the first time, let out an impressed “Whoa.”
Fresh avocado, tomato, and light lettuce boasted vibrant, natural colors in the center of the table.
It wasn’t just chopped veggies thrown together.
The tangy yogurt dressing prepared with the salad was enough to revive deadened taste buds, and before we knew it, we were shoveling salad nonstop.
And next to that fresh, delicious salad towered a mountain of soufflé pancakes.
The thick, puffed-up pancakes steamed with an appetizing aroma.
Their fluffy texture was more like pudding than pancakes, and Park Kwang-rim inhaled them with the look of a girl in love, watching them melt in his mouth.
It already seemed like more than enough, but Heo Sang-hyun brought out an elegant dish.
“What’s this? A... jeon? No, pizza?”
Park Kwang-rim’s question.
What the heck was it?
Tomato, spinach. And something like bacon fried with eggs.
“Uh—Italian egg pancake?”
This was usually Jang Hyun-deok’s territory, but since he was keeping quiet, I had to speak up.
“Spinach frittata. Italian-style omelet.”
It looked like a Korean jeon, but when I went to eat it, it had more thickness than expected. Softer and fluffier—more like steamed egg? Now I get why it’s called an omelet.
The mild, nutty egg base even had cheese powder sprinkled on. Delicious.
“Here, Hyun-deok. For you.”
Heo Sang-hyun sliced a big piece of frittata onto Jang Hyun-deok’s plate.
Jang Hyun-deok, who had been poking at his food with a dejected expression, finally couldn’t resist and started busily moving his hands and mouth, his face on the verge of tears.
“It’s really good. Thank you.”
That’s what Jang Hyun-deok said as he kept eating.
* * *
The meal ended, but the gloomy atmosphere didn’t lift easily.
But fortunately?
It didn’t last long.
“Screeeee!”
Grrrrr!
Creak creak creak—
Red and Ddol sensed something off with Jang Hyun-deok. And Achilles charged in too.
“Ah, kids! Hold on a sec.”
Thanks to them, Jang Hyun-deok stumbled, fell over, got tangled with the animals, and suddenly burst out laughing—pahhaha...
It felt a bit over the top in expressing emotions, but in the end, I left him alone.
‘Better than saying something useless.’
Ignoring the sounds from the living room, I approached Park Kwang-rim, who was still sipping coffee at the table.
“How’s the coffee?”
“Really good. Living with such a wonderful family... You must be happy.”
“Hmm. Technically, I’m freeloading at Sang-hyun’s place.”
<Legally> speaking.
The yokai-like landlord had played house owner, and now I’d taken that spot—but it had always been Heo Sang-hyun’s house.
“Ahh—I see.”
Park Kwang-rim nodded with an “aha, got it” expression.
I don’t know what he thought he understood, but he looked like he’d jumped to some weird misunderstanding.
“What are you going to do now, Kwang-rim?”
“What do you mean?”
“You got paid. What’s your plan?”
I settled the promised amount with Park Kwang-rim.
One hundred billion won.
Money’s value was lower here than in reality, but considering what I’d given him so far...
It should be enough to end his unstable life and bring over his family from abroad.
“Ummm...”
Park Kwang-rim made a strange noise, buying time.
About time for realistic thoughts to kick in.
“Sorry to throw the same question back, but what about you, Kim Shinhwa?”
“Me? Well—”
Jang Hyun-deok’s voice came from the living room. “Hahaha—stop it, kids!” or something.
“Gonna keep doing what I’ve been doing.”
“What’s the plan?”
Park Kwang-rim looked at me seriously.
Tempting words to lure him naturally popped into my head, but I brushed them aside and told him.
“First, smash the bastard I want to smash. Fix what needs fixing, find what needs finding. Hmm...”
Smash the [Source of Life], repair the seal on the [Great Source], find the [Racrex Grimoire].
“Anyway, it’s not about making money.”
Park Kwang-rim stared at me with ambiguous emotions, dragging out the moment.
“I talked with that director last night. Did you?”
A question that suddenly popped from Park Kwang-rim’s mouth.
“What’d that bastard say?”
“He said I’m a very special existence. Different from others. He whispered it kindly with a smile. Impossible not to believe. So sweet and alluring.”
Park Kwang-rim looked at me with unshaken eyes.
“He said the one who’ll make me special is none other than Kim Shinhwa.”
“You believe that crap?”
Park Kwang-rim shook his head, but his eyes shone too clearly.
“No. But I know you’re incredible. Even those surreal beings acknowledge you.”
He said that, then asked me again.
“Where to next? If you need me there, take me with you.”
A look of pure trust, no doubt or fear.
I covered my mouth with my left hand, thinking.
“......”
Too long. I gave up with a sigh.
“Haa. Fine. I get what you’re saying.”
I said that and stood up.
“First off, Kwang-rim, sorry, but I haven’t slept in two days straight.”
“Yes.”
“I need at least a little rest to think straight and plan. Then I’ll answer what you just said. Okay?”
“Understood. We’ll talk later.”
“Yeah. Kinda embarrassing to invite a guest and then go sleep. Tell Sang-hyun if you need anything.”
Park Kwang-rim smiled and nodded.
No more worrying about him betraying me.
He says he’s special now, but that just means—he’s become an NPC who moves for me.
One who won’t betray me, who’ll follow even if it costs him.
And more such NPCs keep increasing.
Should I be happy? Human resources I can use as I wish... keep growing.
They approach me with their wishes, but in the end, they’ll throw away even their lives for me.
But I...
Felt an inexplicable chill and repulsion at the situation.
* * *
“What now? You really going to Busan?”
The fox’s voice.
A dream starting abruptly, as usual.
I could never remember what we’d talked about right before this. But I could answer that question right away.
“Yeah.”
I nodded, but the fox grumbled like she was still dissatisfied.
“It’s obviously a trap, right?”
Fair point.
“Sure, it’s a trap. You think I’m not going?”
Take a hit and just sit still?
Plus, he declared he’d destroy the world in a week.
“No, I mean, you’re just going? Got a plan?”
“L-Level up more? H-How ‘bout th-that?”
Before I could speak, a stuttering, lisping voice cut in awkwardly.
I scratched my head and looked toward the voice.
“ Why’s she here again?”
A Kim Shinhwa wearing a massive buffalo bone mask.
The clone who’d taken the blood phobia shock for me before, gone completely mad and addicted to blood.
“You permitted it last time?”
“Me?”
“Don’t you remember?”
Kinda? Maybe not.
I don’t remember well.
“Dunno. How am I supposed to remember everything from dreams.”
“H-How ‘bout it? Level up. Y’know? Not Busan yet. Go somewhere for fast level grinding, train, get stronger.”
The fox pointed at the buffalo-masked clone, arms crossed like, good idea, right?
“No, if we start that, they’ll interfere for sure. Besides, levels don’t mean much anymore. You saw the fight earlier?”
I’d already transcended the concept of levels.
Even higher-level characters I’d raised before wouldn’t match me now.
And yet, the fight with the [Source of Life]—
‘What was it... Not really a fight.’
The crow watching from the side sighed and spoke.
“Shinhwa’s right. Personal prowess has limits to how far it can go.”
I nodded.
“Exactly. This game was rigged for those bastards from the start.”
No matter how much I level up, as long as I’m human—
No way to beat them.
“Th-Then what?”
“Told you earlier. Prep well and go to Busan.”
“B-But it’s a trap!”
“That’s the point.”
I answered that way, but the fox groaned “Augh—” in annoyance.
“Spit it out properly. ‘Key hint, guys.’ That all?”
“Jeez. Which clone’s this impatient?”
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
“Both of you, stop. Shinhwa, sorry, but explain?”
Since it’s a game called [Cthulhu World], quests have basic strategies.
But when abyssal beings appear in earnest, it changes.
To depict their absoluteness and cosmic horror’s despair, they often set it impossible to clear.
In short, you can’t win abyssal beings head-on.
I explained that to my clones.
“But there are ways to damage them or foil their plans.”
“You said no way, now there is—wtf kind of explanation?”
“Shinhwa means no on the normal route.”
“Th-Then?”
The [Source of Life] said I pleased him and gave me a week.
Classic development.
Yeah, a week’s enough.
“Use exploits, obviously.”