Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Feeding the Mimic
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"Treasure chest?"
At my words, the imp tilted its head.
The moment it spotted the treasure chest sitting smack in the middle of the forest path, the imp burst out laughing.
"Keehee! Master, there's no need to even bother looking at that thing."
"Why not?"
"Obviously! It's not hidden anywhere, no traps around, just a lone treasure chest? That's a mimic, plain and simple."
The imp lifted its chin, as if to say, Don't you even know that?
There had been a mocking edge before, but now it was straight-up condescending.
"So no need to check it out. Just leave it behind and move on. Now that I've sorted out your little problem, Master, may I be excused?"
"No."
"Then... huh?"
The imp blinked, shrugging as it wrapped up its explanation.
Its face said, Anything else you need?
I pointed at the treasure chest again.
"Go open that treasure chest."
"Haaah. Master, as I was saying..."
"I know it's a mimic. That's exactly why I'm ordering you. Just go open it."
The imp froze mid-exaggerated sigh.
Its casual attitude vanished in an instant, replaced by clear tension.
"M-Master? Why? I told you, it's a mimic!"
"I know. Go get eaten."
Was it playing dumb, or just plain stupid?
I had no choice but to spell it out.
"Mimics eat living things, and when they're stuffed, they cough up treasure, right? But we don't have anything good to feed it right now. So you're standing in."
"...!?"
"Got it? Hurry up and open it."
Sweat poured down the imp's forehead in streams.
After glancing left and right for a good long while, it plastered on a forced grin.
"Master, that's totally unnecessary. I'll lure over some fresh meat for you."
"Why waste time on that hassle? We've got you right here."
"M-Master! Just hear me out once...!"
"No thanks. Why are you so damn chatty all of a sudden?"
Contract demons had to obey their summoner's orders without question. That was the rule.
But this one kept pushing back, probably because I hadn't laid down the law yet.
I locked eyes with the imp and barked the words clearly, syllable by syllable.
"As your contractor, I order you. Go open the treasure chest and let the mimic eat you. This is an absolute command. No take-backs."
"W-Wait! Kkhh!"
The imp writhed in agony as it tried to resist.
Moments later, it dragged itself toward the chest with the look of a man on death row.
Right before opening it, the imp squeezed its eyes shut and muttered under its breath.
"Please just be a treasure chest! Treasure chest! Not a mimic, please...!"
"Kyaaaaack!"
"Gwaaaak!"
Crunch crunch slurp kwaduk.
Prayers unanswered, it was a mimic through and through.
The lid cracked wide with rows of teeth, chomping down on the imp whole.
Not a scrap left behind—the mimic swallowed it clean.
Then it gaped its mouth wide.
"Geuk!"
Burp.
The mimic snapped shut.
No treasure forthcoming, we exchanged glances and muttered.
"It closed right back up."
"Still not full enough?"
"Can you summon again?"
"Twice more available, so let's feed it some more."
Short discussion over, I summoned the imp again.
Purple smoke billowed, and out popped the same imp.
It stared at me with terror in its eyes.
"M-Master! You just called me—what's the occasion this time?"
"Mimic didn't spit out the treasure yet. Guess it wasn't full."
"...!"
"Go get eaten again."
As the imp's face drained of color and it opened its mouth to plead, I repeated myself.
"That's an order. Get eaten. No take-backs."
"Wait! Just wait! Hear me out!"
The imp spasmed but shuffled toward the mimic anyway.
And the result? Same as before.
"Please! I'm a bottom-tier demon! I taste awful, so please...!"
"Kyaaaaack!"
"Kwaaaak!"
Crunch slurp gulp.
Into the mimic's gut it went.
Still no sign of the mouth opening.
I summoned the imp one more time.
"Imp, the mimic still..."
"Master! I get it now—your grand purpose!"
The imp dropped to its knees before the smoke even cleared.
Tears streamed from its eyes, face overflowing with emotion.
"This is all a trial from you to cure my arrogance! Through this hardship, I've awakened to my reverence for you and my true place!"
"..."
"Master, I repent my wrongs and pledge my undying loyalty! From now on, I'll be your true limb—forgive my hubris!"
It was like a knight swearing fealty, the kind of oath that could move anyone.
I opened my mouth.
"Imp."
"Yes, Master!"
"Cut the bullshit. No more weird speeches—go get eaten. One more should do it."
"...!"
The imp's tears cut off like a faucet.
I repeated myself with a straight face for the third time.
"Go get eaten. Order given. No take-backs."
"M-Master! You bastard! No, fuck, seriously...!"
"Kyaaaaack!"
"Fuuuuck kyaaaack!"
Kwach crunch slurp.
Nice and crunchy.
Should've just done it from the start.
If it had, I might've even heard out whatever scheme it had.
Clunk.
"It opened!"
After scarfing down three imps in a row, the mimic finally went limp and yawned its mouth wide.
We rushed over and peered into the gaping maw.
No sign of where the imps had gone—no hole in sight.
Just a dry, cushion-like tongue... and a single book resting on top.
"A book? The treasure's a book?"
"Come on, if it's gonna cough something up, make it gear at least."
The group muttered in disappointment, having hoped for something flashier.
But I caught on quick and snatched the book.
In World Rebuild, there was only one kind of book worth calling treasure.
Skillbook: Double Enhancement
[Double Enhancement]
"Skillbook!"
Sure enough, right on the money.
The only book that counted as treasure was one stuffed full of a skill: a skillbook.
"Huh? Skillbook? You mean that's a skillbook!?"
"W-what skill is it? Spill!"
At the words "skillbook," Min Jae-yoon and Park Sang-gu's eyes lit up.
And for good reason—in World Rebuild, there were two ways to pick up skills.
Unlock job-related ones automatically at certain levels... or snag them from skillbooks.
The first was a given, but the second? Pure lottery.
'Skills from books add straight to your arsenal, no strings attached. Even ones unrelated to your class.'
Basically a gacha pull.
I held back the two charging at me and read the item description aloud.
"...!"
My eyes went wide as I took in the skill.
Honestly, I'd figured a black mage like me wouldn't need anything short of a grimoire.
Had even thought it'd be smarter to pass a good skill to someone else, rack up some favors.
But this? Way beyond expectations.
I have to learn this one.
A mage's worth boiled down to firepower.
This skill straight-up doubled it.
Sure, it hiked stamina drain and usage limits by double too.
For most classes, that'd be a fair trade-off.
'But black mages are different. We refill on the spot.'
For me? Basically no downside.
Double the cost? Win the fight, recover in seconds.
Thoughts settled, I explained the skill to Min Jae-yoon.
"Double Enhancement! That's insanely good."
"Yeah. Whether I learn it or you do, it's a game-changer."
"Nah, Jong-min-hyung should take it. I'm good."
I blinked in surprise at how readily Min Jae-yoon backed off.
It'd be huge for a healer like him too.
He could've argued it synergized perfectly, saved lives, claimed dibs fair and square.
Reading my mind, he cracked a wry smile.
"You come off cold, Jong-min, but you've got a soft spot."
"Huh?"
"Straight talk: you cracked that mimic solo. Three imps deep. Without you, we'd have walked right past."
"..."
True enough.
But people just give up that easy on a skillbook?
As if sensing my look, Min Jae-yoon shook his head again.
"I'm not some ungrateful punk. I know my slice of the pie. If it maxed out my efficiency, maybe—but it doesn't."
"Wouldn't double a heal skill pump out max value?"
"Sure, but in this world? Attack trumps heal. Strike first and end it—that's optimal. Patching up after? Second best."
So take it, he insisted, shoving the skillbook my way again.
Not out of politeness— he meant it.
"...Thanks."
"Told you, no thanks needed. It's yours from the jump— just take it."
Min Jae-yoon's attitude warmed me a bit. I nodded.
Might as well learn it right now, since he handed it over.
That's when Park Sang-gu piped up from the side.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"You gonna ask me?"
"..."
Me, Min Jae-yoon, even Yoon Ho-chan—we all stared at Park Sang-gu.
Silence stretched tens of seconds before we yelled in unison.
"Sang-gu-hyung, you serious right now?"
"Where'd you pawn your conscience for that nonsense?"
"Listen, Park Sang-gu. Want me talking down to you from now on?"
"..."
Blasted from all sides, Park Sang-gu shrank back like a kicked dog.
Where does this punk get off claiming a share he doesn't even have?