Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: First Resolution #5
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The place we arrived at was an apartment complex not far away.
I wondered if this was the housing for agents, but it didn't seem like it. They just looked like ordinary people. It seemed they provided civilian apartments like this one by one.
Entering the unit number they gave me, I found only basic appliances and furniture. It was clean, probably well-maintained for agents.
I unpacked my bags first.
What about clothes?
They'd provide uniforms if requested. For casual clothes to wear around here, I'd have to buy them myself. They would reimburse me if I filed a claim.
My life had changed in an instant, but I didn't feel any inconvenience.
No, on the contrary, everything was so perfect that it felt like I'd arrived in heaven.
And that made sense...
Because until just recently, I'd been surviving in Seoul after everything had been destroyed. After living in a place like that, coming here made this simple lodging feel incredibly precious.
Come to think of it, I hadn't seen Mom and Dad amid all the chaos. They were practically dead during the Giant incident, so I couldn't see them. We'd been separated for a very long time.
Once I settled in as an agent, I'd go find them then. I wanted to see them anyway, but right now we were dealing with vampires. It was better to get information and countermeasures from the Management Bureau first and resolve it before going.
"Hoo."
Whatever the case, this apartment was now my home.
"I'll treasure it."
With that thought, I lay down in the living room.
"By the way."
I wondered where the regression point had updated to.
It was always something I was curious about.
There was no way to check without dying.
I didn't want to die just to find out... Should I try it once? I'd died plenty of times before without any penalties. But the problem was that my regressions might suddenly stop.
I didn't know if I had unlimited lives, so I couldn't just die recklessly. Thinking about dying just to check the regression point— even I thought I was completely insane.
"Descendant of the Singing Star..."
That was the Giant's official name.
So, was the regression point when that message window appeared?
Well, it wasn't important right now.
It was time to do the thing I'd been putting off.
"Status window status window status window."
I immediately opened the status window.
[●Status Window]
Name: Kim Geunhong
Age: 24
.
.
.
Loop: 2
Death Count: 11
[●Loop-by-Loop Death Count List]
[●Collected Endings]
[●Functions]
[●Resolution List]
[...]
"Huh."
A lot had been added.
The Death Count going over 10 was shocking enough, but I'd never seen these Functions and Resolution List tabs before.
"It said functions would unlock."
Was that it?
The Resolution List was probably just a list of what I'd resolved.
There was likely only one entry for the Giant.
Thinking about it made the window switch.
[...]
[Descendant of the Singing Star]
"As expected, only one."
Was it because that was the only thing I'd resolved?
Strictly speaking, I'd only run from the vampires. The Fake Management Bureau got burned once and I decided to avoid drawing their aggro entirely. And with the hospital, I'd just escaped.
[Descendant of the Singing Star]
I was curious about its identity, but nothing more appeared. If I'd resolved it humanely, it would have been nice to get some info.
"Or maybe the status window functions aren't fully unlocked yet."
Now that I knew this function existed, there might be more. I'd look into it gradually.
"Hmm."
Come to think of it.
In this current state, I hadn't had any contact with the Fake Management Bureau. After dying from the brain extraction and Sejeongge, I'd cut off all ties. Except for calling out Section Chief Lee Do-hyung at the hospital, there was no connection.
"Connection."
Thinking about connections brought Sal-hyung and the Sister to mind.
"Black Stone."
I didn't have the Black Stone necklace right now.
I had to deliver Dr. Kim Seonghan's ring to that Arab lady to get it. I'd acquire it soon.
With that, I might be able to build a good relationship with Sal-hyung again. I had to grab rare items like this.
Sal-hyung was dispatched to the Itaewon temple in Korea anyway, so I could find him somehow.
But would it be weird for me, an agent, to go looking recklessly?
Thinking about it, during the Giant incident, the Management Bureau, Islam, and the Holy See had formed an alliance, but it seemed more like they'd been forced into it.
They might not be friendly now, so it was better to approach cautiously.
"Alright."
I needed to know these things anyway.
Tomorrow at work, I'd look into Islam and the Holy See too.
"Sister... I know where she is for now."
Working at a Christian shop as a clerk meant there was something there. She was a half-vampire tracking the Pureblood, so it might be good to visit when fighting vampires.
"..."
In this loop, I hadn't met Sal-hyung or the Sister yet.
That felt too regrettable.
"Functions."
Let's check the Functions tab.
[●Functions]
This seemed like the main one to me.
"It gave me 5,000 points."
Focusing for a moment made the window switch.
[...]
[●Held Points: 5,000]
[●Acquire Ability]
"Oh, as expected!"
The 5,000 points were there properly— what?!
"Acquire Ability?!"
I could acquire abilities?!
[●Spend 3,000 points to acquire a new ability.]
The moment I was startled, the window switched...!
"Crazy!"
Was this a system where I earned points to gain abilities?
These bastards, giving it to me now?!
Looking around while thinking that, there were no specific explanations. No details on what abilities or how they worked. It seemed I just spent points to acquire one, but was it random like a gacha?
If so, they should've given it to me with the 10-pull starting from the vampires!
"But why so expensive?"
3,000 points per ability? I got 5,000 for resolving the Giant— wasn't that too high?
"..."
I needed to figure out the point awarding criteria too. Maybe the Giant was such trash that it only gave 5,000.
Whatever the case, I'd learned the status window had some insane functions.
Abilities?
I'd definitely acquire an amazing one. I'd get an overwhelmingly powerful ability and smash that crazy vampire bitch. I'd beat her until she was utterly miserable. I'd return everything she'd done to me tenfold. It was from long ago, but my hatred hadn't diluted at all.
As a bonus, I'd get some revenge on the Fake Management Bureau and wreck the hospital too.
Dr. Kim Seonghan, please wait.
I'll definitely save you.
"Let's go!"
If I had points, I had to use them.
It seemed random, so I'd pray for something good.
"Allahu Akbar! Idol of Allah! Please grant me your light!"
Praying to the Islamic god, I could almost see Sal-hyung giving a thumbs up.
Focusing while seeing that vision.
A flash!
[...][...][...]
[...][...][...]
[...][...][...]
Like a random box, several slots appeared.
Did this mean pick one?
For things like this, I usually went for the center one... Thinking that, simultaneously.
Ding!
[You have acquired a new ability.]
[You can now detect new phenomena.]
"Detection?"
The moment I finished reading the description.
[You have unlocked your first ability.]
[Additional status window functions have been unlocked.]
[You can now use the Point Shop.]
"There's more!"
[●Status Window]
Name: Kim Geunhong
Age: 24
.
.
.
Loop: 2
Death Count: 11
[●Loop-by-Loop Death Count List]
[●Collected Endings]
[●Functions]
[●Resolution List]
[●Held Abilities]
[●Point Shop]
[...]
"Wow!"
Insane, insane!
Now they were even giving a Point Shop?
Staring at the expanded status window, I felt immense satisfaction. It was like finally getting a way to upgrade my specs right after starting a game.
Lalala, excited, I immediately entered the Point Shop.
.
.
.
[-Purchasable Items]
[●2,000 Points]
[-Reduces Death Count by (1).]
[●2,000 Points]
[-#$%#$%$ value decreases.]
.
.
.
As if the euphoria from moments ago had been a lie.
"What is this?"
My body turned ice-cold in an instant.
Then, an unknown, alien anxiety began filling my heart.
That anxiety filled my heart completely, spreading to my guts and then my whole body. I felt a chill as if my fingertips were freezing.
There were only two things for sale in the shop.
Reducing the Death Count.
And something unknowable.
Reducing some value I couldn't read.
"..."
What... the hell?
Death Count.
Was this actually important?
I checked my Death Count again.
[Death Count: 11]
Eleven times.
I'd died eleven times so far.
"Does it mean... I have to spend points to lower this value? Is it that important?"
I had no idea.
What even were points, and why did the shop sell stuff like this?
A chill seeped into my bones.
"Was dying... not allowed?"
In general terms.
People obviously shouldn't die.
No one could come back to life, and once life ends, it's over. No one can defy that.
But I'd come back to life countless times with this regression ability and overcome all sorts of things.
Simple regression.
No penalties— was that not the case?
"Ah, no."
It could be speculation.
Maybe it was just something to lower a value.
Death penalties? That would be weird... No.
"From the beginning."
Why did I have this bizarre status window?
Why did I have the regression ability?
Doubts filled my head. At this moment, I had a very strong feeling that I shouldn't die anymore. There must be some reason. There had to be, that's why they let you lower the Death Count with points...
"Then... what does this mean?"
The one below it.
"What value is it reducing...?"
[#$%#$%$ value decreases.]
I stared at it blankly.
But the status window gave no answer.
It just stayed like that.
In the midst of unresolved questions, I realized I was alone. There was no one else in this apartment. No. This wasn't just about being physically alone.
I couldn't discuss this with anyone.