Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Collection (3)
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Beep beep beeep!―
The moment I stepped into the artifact shop, a blaring alarm echoed everywhere.
-Ah. Lee Seongmin. If you don't kill anyone, there might be room for leniency later.
"Room for leniency?"
-Meaning you might not be branded an immediate subjugation target. Depending on the situation, there could be room for negotiation or cooperation.
I had no idea what Lee Seojun meant by leniency.
"I wasn't planning to kill them anyway."
-Really?
"Gotta cripple 'em to squeeze out more cash."
While we chatted briefly, I spotted what looked like security guards rushing over.
"Don't move! Surrender quietly, and we'll spare your life!"
"Cute warning."
Why smash the outer wall if I planned to surrender in the first place?
I figured it was just that—a cute little warning—and kicked off the ground toward the guards.
"He's coming! Block him!"
"Wall of Earth!"
Koom!―
One of the guards thrust out both hands, and a rocky barrier rose up in front of him.
'Not magic...'
A Skill Stone, probably.
He'd used it instantly, so it had to be.
I smashed the rising rock wall without a second thought.
Kwaaang!!―
The barrier shattered into pieces under my raw physical strength, scattering like shotgun pellets.
Of course, the guards behind it couldn't dodge the fragments and took direct hits.
'Dead?'
They were twitching under the rubble chunks.
Judging them fine, I swept up the nearby artifacts first.
-Artifacts are usually pricey compact jewelry. Head to the third floor, and you'll find Skill Stones.
"Third floor it is, then."
I finished grabbing the first-floor jewelry artifacts, then leaped straight up, smashing through the ceiling to the third floor.
Kwang!―
'Huh?'
Great, I'd reached the third floor—but some guys were stuffing Skill Stones into their bags and locked eyes with me.
-Whoa. While Lee Seongmin's causing a ruckus, they're looting Skill Stones.
"Utter scumbags."
I picked up a shard from the floor and tossed it lightly at them.
Light by my standards, so it shot toward them at a speed they couldn't dodge.
Peuk!―
"Gaaah! M-my leg!"
"Y-you bastard!"
The fragment pulverized one leg each.
With them neutralized, I sauntered over and pocketed the nearby Skill Stones.
"You look like a hero. Stealing ain't right."
"Shut up, you villain scum!"
"Still got some fight in you."
I stripped the writhing pair of their gear and Skill Stones.
"Hands off my equipment!"
"Shut it. Wonder if a smack'll quiet you down."
"......"
Smart enough to clam up, at least.
Having looted their gear and stones, I hurled them out the smashed outer wall from before.
'Third floor, but they won't die.'
Then I grabbed every Skill Stone on the third floor.
At least 200-300, and I felt pretty satisfied.
"Great value."
One villain gig, nearly 300 Skill Stones.
Buying them legit with pocket change would've been a nightmare.
-Just what you've grabbed so far is worth billions.
"Eh, not that impressive when you put it like that."
Chump change if I really tried earning it.
Anyway, Skill Stones done—time to hit the second floor for the rest of the artifacts.
"Stop right there!"
A bunch of people poured in through the broken wall, shouting.
I eyed the newcomers; their aura was leagues above the last batch.
-Hero Association folks. Multiple A-Rank heroes.
"About time they showed."
The Hero Association crew grimaced at me.
"What the hell is that monster... Kim Ji-min. Who is he?"
"Never seen this villain before. Foreigner, that's all I know."
The sword-and-shield guy nodded like that was enough.
Instead of charging, he tried talking first—probably to gather intel.
"What's your name?"
Name, huh...
I recalled the alias Lee Seojun mentioned.
"Destroyer."
"Destroyer? Must be Villain Alliance."
"Think what you want."
I crooked a finger, beckoning them.
"You'll regret that!"
The man thrust his shield forward like a cannon and charged.
A blue aura even wrapped around him protectively.
"Power of the Bison!"
Plus what seemed like a Skill Stone boost.
Probably enough to flip a dump truck easy.
But.
Kwaaaang!!―
I blocked his charge casually with my left hand.
"......!?"
He gawked as I didn't budge a millimeter, but I'd already cocked back my right for a moderate swing.
Kwaaang!!―
My fist crumpled his shield, sending him flying back.
His allies loosed arrows and chanted spells.
"Thunderbolt to annihilate the foe! Become a single ray of light, strike the enemy, and obliterate him!"
I swatted the arrows like flies and eyed the chanting hero. Lightning crackled at his fingertips.
Paat!―
The bolt zipped toward me, exploding on impact with amplified power.
Pachichik!!―
'Electrocution magic, huh.'
Lee Seojun freaked as the lightning hit me.
-Lee Seongmin! You okay?
"Just testing it."
My body had magic resistance.
Weak spells couldn't harm me—this lightning was no exception.
'Time to wrap this up.'
I wasn't here to play with them.
Thinking of the artifacts still on floors 1-2 and the basement, I charged the Hero Association goons.
"He's coming! Dodge—"
"Too slow."
Wuduk!―
Faster than he could evade, I snapped his arm, then swept his leg.
Kwang!―
"Grahhh!"
The heroes put up a fight, but it was pointless.
Base stats were worlds apart. In under ten seconds, they were limbless heaps on the first floor.
"Not bad, actually."
-They had skill?
"Lasted about ten seconds."
I wasn't at full power—maybe half strength.
Ten seconds against that? Decent.
I headed straight to the second floor.
"Weapons and armor lined up."
-All artifacts. Worth grabbing.
Not top-tier for me, but whatever.
I stuffed the second-floor artifacts into my bag. Then I sensed more presences outside.
"They just won't quit."
-It's a Hero Association shop. This time, probably some real heavy hitters.
Ttak―
Sure enough, a blond middle-aged man and a pale-skinned woman appeared on the second floor.
-Seo Do-kyung and Im Yeo-sol. Both S-Rank heroes.
"......Seo Do-kyung?"
Im Yeo-sol was new, but not Seo Do-kyung.
Racking my brain on the familiar name, Lee Seojun chimed in.
-Seo Ji-ho's dad.
Seo Ji-ho—the guy who ranked second at Hero Officer Academy entrance and paid me 30 points.
"He knows me."
Seo Do-kyung gripped his ornate spear and spoke.
'Founder of the Lightning Spear Technique, was it?'
Intriguing.
But my goal was artifacts.
'Busy moving stuff downstairs—separating the good ones.'
No time to toy with S-Ranks Seo Do-kyung and Im Yeo-sol.
"No time. Gotta end this quick."
"Think you can?"
Pachik!―
Yellow lightning sparked around Seo Do-kyung.
A translucent figure materialized behind Im Yeo-sol.
-Ghost Spirit Art. Immune to physical attacks, but that guy's a sneaky physical hitter.
Her Ghost Spirit Art was a three-meter black-armored figure wielding a massive nodachi. Probably slashed with that.
'Immune to physical, huh...'
We'll see.
"Surrender quietly, Destroyer!"
Seo Do-kyung lunged with his spear.
I sidestepped easily and swung, but he retreated and thrust again.
'Hm.'
Exploiting the spear's reach perfectly.
'Grab it and done.'
I caught the thrusting blade.
Kwaduk―
My fingers pierced and gripped it. Seo Do-kyung yanked back in shock.
"Should've dropped the weapon."
He did—then threw a punch that didn't connect.
"Hm?"
A small thunder orb lingered where his fist passed.
As I glanced, he punched it again.
"Piercing Thunder!"
Kwaaang!―
The lingering orb merged with his fist's lightning, unleashing a hefty bolt.
I blocked with my hand, but it pierced through, surging into me.
'Nice attack.'
Then Im Yeo-sol's Ghost Spirit smashed down with its nodachi—aiming for the stun window.
Too bad I was fine.
Kwang!―
I batted the blade aside, then wound up like when I first breached the wall.
"Let's test that physical immunity."
Kukwaaaang!―
My powered punch warped space itself.
The Ghost Spirit vanished in an instant.
"Urk."
Im Yeo-sol spewed blood and staggered from the backlash.
"You bastard!"
Seo Do-kyung charged to help, but.
Kwang!― Kkwa-kwang!―
Fist met fist—he had no edge.
Arms, shoulders, legs shattered, he collapsed. Fight over.