Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Black Market (4)
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"..."
Song Bi-yeon glanced at the contract I'd summoned out of thin air, her expression suggesting she'd pieced something together.
"An ability that binds the target?"
"Something like that."
"Then it's truly impressive. Way better than this bracelet."
In truth, the power of [Contract] was superior to the bracelet I'd handed over to Song Bi-yeon.
The bracelet required inflicting pain to control someone, while the contract preemptively blocked any actions violating its terms.
'Though some might prefer the bracelet if they looked into it.'
Anyone who enjoyed inflicting pain on others would choose the bracelet, but that wasn't me.
"Take off the necklace first."
"Right. You heard that? Take off the necklace."
The man who'd dragged in Ha Chae-jeong and Ga Se-yeon used some artifact to remove the collars around their necks.
The moment her necklace came off, Ha Chae-jeong frantically rubbed her throat, her face showing pure relief, like she'd finally escaped hell.
"Finally free of this fucking thing."
Then she glared daggers at me.
"And you. Got a fetish for getting hard over crippled bitches?"
"No. You look uncomfortable again, so Ga Se-yeon, carry that woman."
At my words, Ga Se-yeon blankly alternated her gaze between me and Ha Chae-jeong before slowly shuffling over and hoisting her up.
Judging purely by her actions, anyone could see she didn't want to do it, but she said nothing.
That's strange. The Ga Se-yeon I know wasn't like that.
Lee Seojun muttered while eyeing Ga Se-yeon up and down.
With so many eyes around, I couldn't openly chat, so I brushed it off and turned to Song Bi-yeon.
"Anyway, thanks."
"Glad you like it. If new stock comes in, I'll call you over then too."
Song Bi-yeon said she'd show me any new slaves that arrived.
Honestly, I wasn't against it, but I worried I might end up filling my roster with dozens from this place.
'Nah, probably not.'
People with exceptional potential were rare to begin with.
Besides, Song Bi-yeon might just be using this as an excuse to keep meeting me.
So I saw no need to refuse. I nodded and gave a curt reply.
"Do that."
"Sure."
After that, we left the underground area. I bid Song Bi-yeon farewell.
"What the healer wanted will take at least a month."
Song Bi-yeon explained that acquiring skill stones with the [Potion of Youth] and [Elixir] I'd given her would take over a month.
"A month..."
"Could be faster if we're lucky. Oh, just to confirm—it's okay if I handle it my way, right?"
I nodded.
"As long as the results are good, do whatever."
Worst case, if she brought skill stones, she could drink the potions herself for all I cared.
'I can get as many as I want anyway.'
If I set my mind to it, I could produce hundreds or thousands.
"Music to my ears. I'll do my best then."
"Looking forward to it."
With that, I picked up Kim Young-ho waiting outside Song Bi-yeon's building and headed back to the warehouse.
"..."
Then it hit me—he'd sold me out for 500 million. I smacked the back of his head.
Crack!
"Sorry."
Kim Young-ho apologized immediately, without question or protest.
Sharp as ever; he probably guessed why I'd hit him.
"Don't do it again."
"Got it."
Kim Young-ho quickly replied, then glanced at Ha Chae-jeong and Ga Se-yeon who'd come with us.
"Who are these two?"
"People who'll work with me."
"Ah, I see. Impressive."
Kim Young-ho had already assessed their conditions.
Ha Chae-jeong was missing one hand and one foot; Ga Se-yeon's face and upper body were covered in burns.
Yet he called it impressive, so he'd likely realized I could heal them perfectly.
The guy had a knack for reading situations.
"Work? Yeah, spreading your legs counts as work, I guess."
Ha Chae-jeong sniped from the back seat right after Kim Young-ho spoke.
Kim Young-ho started to retort, but I raised a hand to stop him.
"She's not wrong, technically."
With my agreement, Ha Chae-jeong smirked triumphantly.
"...Perverted bastard."
I ignored her jab and asked about Ga Se-yeon.
"More importantly, an Innate Ability?"
I asked Lee Seojun outright, drawing stares from Ha Chae-jeong and Ga Se-yeon.
Ignoring them, I inquired about Ga Se-yeon's Innate Ability—nearly unbeatable in one-on-one fights—and Lee Seojun explained.
[State Save] and [State Grant]. If she gets cut by a blade, she can save that state and impose it on the enemy. An Innate Ability like that.
"...?"
I pondered Lee Seojun's words for a moment.
Imposing an injured state directly on an opponent sounded like the ultimate ability.
Works the same for poison or curses. She transfers it to the foe, stays fine herself, and they suffer the poison or curse.
I nodded silently, stunned by the absurd Innate Ability.
Depending on how it was used, it was every bit as dominant in one-on-ones as Lee Seojun said.
The downside is she can't use it many times. Probably some limitation.
Made sense—given its power, restrictions were inevitable.
The issue was Ga Se-yeon hadn't unlocked her Innate Ability yet, so no way to test it now.
'Whatever, it'll come out eventually.'
Ha Chae-jeong spoke up then.
"Why bring up Innate Abilities out of nowhere?"
"Curious about them."
"You're insane."
Ha Chae-jeong called me crazy, then revealed her own Innate Ability anyway.
"Mine's [Curse Coating]. Coats weapons with curses. Hit an enemy with it, and the curse transfers."
"Yeah?"
Lee Seojun nodded too.
Decent ability. Ask about the coating duration.
"How long does the coating last?"
Following Lee Seojun's suggestion, I asked. Ha Chae-jeong answered.
"About 10 minutes."
Low rank, probably. Coating likely takes time too. But with curse-related skill stones and growth, it'll be solid.
Honestly, with my help in growing them, anyone could pull their weight.
Still, an Innate Ability beat none, so I said nothing.
"We're here."
"Carry her to my room."
"Got it."
I pointed at Ha Chae-jeong. Kim Young-ho acknowledged and got out, heading to the back seat.
Ha Chae-jeong emerged in a princess carry and gawked at the massive warehouse-like building.
"Where the hell is this?"
"Your new workplace."
"Fuck."
Ha Chae-jeong paled, clearly imagining something grim.
I ignored her and led them to the room inside the warehouse.
"I'll head out then."
After settling Ha Chae-jeong, Kim Young-ho slipped out quietly.
Now it was just me, Ha Chae-jeong, and Ga Se-yeon. Their eyes locked onto me.
"So? What's next?"
Ha Chae-jeong, resigned now that she was here, asked point-blank.
The task was obvious, so we started there.
"Time to heal you."
"Heal? What kind?"
"Can't work with me if your limbs are wrecked."
I stopped there, unwrapping the bandages on Ha Chae-jeong's hand and activating healing.
'Revival Healing.'
Flash!
The healer's power from my eighth world.
Among them, Revival Healing restored even severed limbs to perfection.
"Wh-what the hell?"
Ha Chae-jeong's missing hand regrew like a lizard's tail, restoring her original hand.
I healed her leg next, and it regenerated swiftly, good as new.
"What are you? This is..."
"Guess you forgot Song Bi-yeon called me a healer."
"Didn't think it was this good."
Ha Chae-jeong's sharp edge dulled as she flexed her regenerated hand and foot repeatedly.
I turned to Ga Se-yeon next, catching her wide-eyed stare.
"You too."
I unwrapped the bandages on her face and upper body.
Burned, mangled skin emerged, but I healed it casually.
Flash!
My Revival Healing erased even burn scars flawlessly.
The charred skin peeled away, revealing her original porcelain complexion. Ga Se-yeon's true beauty emerged.
'As expected.'
Her high potential matched her looks.
Large eyes framed a delicate, innocent face.
"..."
Ga Se-yeon touched her smooth face repeatedly, staring blankly at me.
External wounds were fixed, but internal issues might linger, so I asked.
"Any other discomfort?"
Ha Chae-jeong jumped in eagerly.
"Discomfort? Yeah, my legs tingle a bit. Poison maybe? Mana veins feel damaged too. Oh, and my vision's a tad blurry. Can you fix that?"
"..."
I eyed Ha Chae-jeong's shameless demands.
But for future utility, fully healing her was smarter.
'Should've done this from the start.'
I pulled two [Elixirs] from my subspace and handed one to each.
"Drink."
"Potions?"
I nodded at Ha Chae-jeong's question. They drank without suspicion.
After all the healing, they figured it wasn't poison.
"Whoa..."
Ha Chae-jeong marveled at the bodily changes.
"Body feel fixed now?"
"Yeah, feels better than before I got hurt, honestly."
I nodded, and her wariness melted away.
"Right, you said we'd work together. What's first?"
I thought for a moment.
Nothing immediate for them right now.
To bolster my forces, I looked at Ha Chae-jeong.
"Wh-what? Why stare like that?"
"Thinking I'll make you both S-Rank."
Mentioning S-Rank startled her.
"S-Rank? You don't just make those."
I nodded firmly and told them.
"So strip first."