Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Surprise Appearance on the Saintess Broadcast
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The truck was packed floor to ceiling with boxes. Nine hundred won each meant two thousand boxes came out to 1.8 million won for the day.
Was I seriously going to drive around delivering them one by one?
No way.
I barely even sat in the driver's seat.
Driving the truck myself was way too inefficient.
Waiting at traffic lights, finding parking, holding out for elevators... Even as an Awakened, that kind of thing would max me out at around five hundred deliveries.
But my legs could break the sound barrier.
I could even suppress the shockwaves with my will.
The truck was just a mobile warehouse. Delivering on foot was way faster.
I parked the truck smack in the center of the delivery zone and flung open the back doors.
"Let's get started."
The world froze again.
I grabbed a box. Address: OO Apartments, Building 105, Room 1301.
About twelve hundred meters from here.
Thud-!
Not even the wind could keep up with my speed.
Elevator? No need. Stairs were faster.
Time to climb to the thirteenth floor: 0.01 seconds.
I gently set the package down in front of the door, snapped a proof-of-delivery photo, and was back at the truck in under five seconds total.
Taking the picture was the most boring, time-consuming part.
One second felt like a full minute.
"Alright, next."
Tat-tat-tat-!
My body didn't even leave an afterimage.
Passersby just felt a strong gust of wind.
The terminal's chime sounded like slot machines hitting jackpot to me.
Fuel cost: zero won.
Pure manpower at 100%, with almost no fatigue.
"Hahaha! Money's duplicating itself!"
Whistling a tune in the molasses-slow time, I headed to the next zone: the ultra-luxury residential complex in Gangnam, The Palace.
The Palace. Penthouse, no less.
This was a place with strict access controls for civilians, but delivery guys were exempt.
Of course, there were annoying procedures, but no one could stop me moving at light speed.
I zipped up to the top floor in an instant.
Maybe I ran too hard without breathing.
Let me catch my breath.
Hoo.
Okay. Time to...
"Kyaaack!!"
A scream rang out.
Normally, you'd run or call the cops, but I didn't stop.
Why? This was Rocket Fresh delivery.
Miss the 7 a.m. deadline, and you eat a penalty.
Penalty meant wasted money. Unacceptable.
I bounded up the stairs to the penthouse floor where the scream came from.
And there, in the hallway, an unbelievable scene unfolded.
"Heh heh heh... So this is the famous Saintess's love nest?"
Five thugs in black masks had taken over the hallway.
And in front of them sat a woman in glamorous pajamas, trembling on the floor.
Huh? That woman.
Han Yoo-jung.
Vice Guild Master of Sanctuary Guild—one of Korea's top three guilds—and a famous internet streamer as a healer and sub-dealer.
The owner of the channel Saintess TV.
First time seeing her in person, but she looked way better than on cam.
Oh right. Not the time to stand around gawking.
The apparent leader of the thugs licked the dagger in his hand as he approached Han Yoo-jung.
"Korea's top healer? With mana suppression cuffs on, you're just a little girl. We're gonna make your stream extra special today."
Tears streamed from Han Yoo-jung's eyes.
Bluish cuffs gleamed on her wrists, and behind her lay a pile of unconscious bodyguards.
The camera nearby was broadcasting it all live.
These psychos... Do they think they only live once?
"N-no, stay back... Please...!"
"Shut up! Behave!"
The leader raised his hand to slap her cheek.
That's when I checked the shipping label.
[The Palace 5501. Recipient: Han Yoo-jung.]
[Item: Limited Edition Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Figure.]
Nothing less efficient than overthinking.
I just needed to drop the package and go.
And to do that, this guy needed to move.
I accelerated.
This wasn't the same as the Swiftness I used dashing through the city.
That required fine control, stamina, and mana.
But Super Acceleration? Different story.
No need to hold back against trash like this.
Just before the leader's palm met her cheek, I wedged in at light speed.
Crackackack!
After blasting the leader away, I switched right back to Swiftness to deliver the package safely.
I placed the box gently on Han Yoo-jung's lap.
On the way out, a line of annoying villains stood in my path.
Ah. Just. Get out of the way.
I swatted their cheeks with the back of my hand, like shooing flies.
Of course, that was just my perspective.
Krunch.
In slow motion, their jawbones shattered, teeth flying like popcorn kernels.
Might as well smack the other four on the napes while I was at it.
Like flicking their foreheads.
Flick, flick, flick, flick.
Then I rang the doorbell on my way out.
Ding-dong-
Time resumed.
Bam-bam-bam-bam-!!!
"Gaaack?!"
"Urk?!"
"Kek!"
Impacts echoed through the hallway in unison.
The leader, mid-slap, slammed into the wall like he'd been hit by a cannonball. His four goons faceplanted simultaneously.
Situation over in a flash.
Silence.
Han Yoo-jung reached to clutch her cheek, then froze, staring blankly at the scene.
No wonder—the villains terrorizing her moments ago were rags in 0.1 seconds flat.
And standing before her:
A delivery guy in a blue vest and cap.
Me.
"......Huh?"
Han Yoo-jung let out a dumb noise.
I held out the terminal, deadpan.
"Package for you. Han Yoo-jung, right?"
"Uh... yeah? W-what... is this...?"
"Need ID confirmation. Sign here."
"S-sign...?"
"Hallway's a mess. Kinda awkward snapping a pic."
She just blinked, brain offline.
Man, this was frustrating. Every minute counted as money.
I shoved the stylus into her trembling hand and made her scribble on the terminal.
"Signature confirmed. Have a good day."
I pointed at the box on her lap.
She was still sitting there like an idiot, so I had to note the delivery.
"Handled with extra care since it said fragile. Five stars appreciated."
With that, I bolted.
Elevator? No time. Window's open.
Whoosh-
I leaped out the hallway window from the 55th floor.
Not straight down—I kicked off the wall repeatedly to brake.
Faster than stairs, actually.
I'll remember that.
Han Yoo-jung—and the villains on the floor—probably thought it was a dream.
Even I thought I was fast today.
But the box on her lap—Limited Edition Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Figure—was real.
[Hey. What the hell are you doing out there? Check the internet.]
I didn't even read Yoo Na-yeon's text.
Sending KakaoTalk during work hours? Ignore.
I grinned at the settlement amount.
[Deposit: 1,880,000 won]
"1.8 million won this morning. Life's all about efficiency."
A smile spread across my face as I checked the deposit log.
Beautiful.
From 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.—four hours flat.
Half a convenience store clerk's monthly wage in less than half a day.
"This is how you use ability."
I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling with a satisfied grin.
Others awaken, register with the Hunter Association, form parties, risk life in dungeons.
All inefficient.
Party wait times, travel to dungeons, two-week payout delays after stones...
And the biggest issue: risk.
Dungeons can kill you.
Delivery? Confirmed the second you scan complete. And safe.
How clean, risk-free, perfect reward system.
"Rest up today, hit it tomorrow."
I rolled around, pulling up my phone to browse communities.
Ones I ditched as inefficient ten years ago? With money and time, enjoy freely.
"Play now for max efficiency tomorrow."
Yoo Na-yeon's message suggested the ogre incident yesterday and Saintess thing today had the gallery buzzing.
"......?"
I tilted my head.
Now they're copying my work uniform?
Fashion's a mystery.