Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Let's Do One Job Together
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pop!
The familiar ceiling came into view.
No damp swamp stench, no ear-splitting banshee shrieks.
Just the dry scent of dust and a faint whiff of fabric softener.
"Hoo..."
The tension drained away completely.
Stage 1-2 cleared.
Hellish business trip over—sweet return to my home sweet home.
The gear I'd worn in the dungeon had crumbled into data fragments and vanished, leaving only me and Yuriel in our original forms.
A quick glance back revealed Yuriel bundled up in the blanket like a silkworm cocoon.
"......"
Had she finally gotten used to this?
She wasn't screaming or freaking out with "I'll gouge out my eyes!" like she had at first.
Still, her ears twitching outside the blanket showed she was gauging my mood, same as always.
I could feel her peeking at me through the gaps in her fingers.
'Look at this one.'
I chuckled and turned away.
Stretching boldly, I stood before the full-length mirror.
"Hmm."
The man in the mirror looked pretty decent.
The reward I'd chosen this time: [Power Up (Magic)].
Flexing my arms, my muscles writhed and split into sharp definition.
'Definitely more solid...'
But something felt lacking.
No dramatic overhaul like when my frame itself transformed during that Unique-grade upgrade.
Just like I'd hit the gym for a pump session.
To really stand out, it needed to be Unique-grade at least.
Then.
Thump, thump, thump.
A small vibration came from behind my back.
Not a sound—more like a wave rippling through the air.
This damn heightened sense was overly sharp for trivial things.
I didn't need to look; it felt like I had eyes on the back of my head.
Yuriel's gaze roamed my back, slid over my glutes... I could tell exactly where it lingered now.
'Staring openly, huh.'
Her breathing grew subtly ragged.
The gulp of her swallow hit my ears like ASMR.
Was this the look of a slave eyeing her master, or a curious pubescent girl checking out a guy? Hard to tell.
"Hey."
"Eek! S-sorry!"
I called out casually, and she jolted, diving under the blanket.
Her reaction speed was impeccable.
Grrrrumble.
Suddenly, a thunderous rumble shattered the silence, echoing through the room.
It came from Yuriel's stomach.
Her ears poking out from the blanket turned beet red.
"Hungry?"
"...Sorry."
A muffled voice seeped from under the covers.
"What's there to be sorry for? I'm starving too."
After burning that much energy, it was only natural.
But the grime took priority over hunger.
Feeling like I'd rolled in swamp filth, I craved a shower immediately.
I grabbed a jerky packet from the desk and popped a piece in my mouth.
The MSG and salty meat flavor spread, making me feel alive again.
"I'll shower. Set the table."
"...Pardon?"
Yuriel poked her head out from the blanket.
"Pull everything from the fridge. Put water on for cup ramen too. You can do that, right?"
"Ah...!"
Her eyes sparkled.
Food.
Shame be damned—clearly, the word "food" had taken over her brain.
"Understood! As you command!"
She kicked off the blanket and sprang up.
Then marched toward the kitchen with dignified strides.
Stark naked.
Her pale back, slim hips, and long legs exposed without a shred of modesty.
Her natural ease left me flustered instead.
Creeeak.
Opening the fridge door and bending over to rummage through side dishes.
Hey, miss?
"......"
I paused with my hand on the bathroom doorknob.
Was she an idiot, or just pure?
"Hey! Dummy!"
"Kyaa?!"
My shout made her spin around in shock.
Clutching a kimchi container and ssamjang jar like treasures.
Blinking in confusion.
"You got exhibitionist tendencies?"
"Pardon...? Exhi... bition...?"
"You gotta wear clothes! What're you doing naked?!"
Only then did Yuriel look down at herself.
Nothing.
Just the fridge's chill prickling her bare skin.
"Kyaaack!"
She screamed, nearly dropping the kimchi jar.
Flailing around, hunting for the shirt on the floor. What a sight.
"S-sorry! I lost my mind...! I got carried away thinking about food...!"
She awkwardly thrust her hips out while yanking on the shirt, hopping around.
Yet she never let go of that kimchi jar. That determination.
Couldn't make this stuff up.
"Ha..."
A chuckle escaped me.
I shook my head and opened the bathroom door.
"Get dressed properly. You'll catch a cold."
Thud—
Even after closing the door, the laughter wouldn't stop.
Where was the ruthless sniper unleashing Unique skills? Only this kimchi-clutching naked fool remained.
I glanced at my reflection.
The corners of my mouth were curved up.
The dungeon's killer instinct gone, replaced by a more human expression.
"Well, it's not boring, at least."
An elf slave.
Keeping one around wasn't half bad.
In a Gangnam officetel.
Droplets plipped onto the marble floor.
Lee Seo-ah stood before the full-length mirror after her shower.
Wiping the steam with her palm revealed a body so flawless it bordered on unreal.
"......"
She slowly ran her hands over her arms and legs.
Just moments ago, her arm had throbbed from a corpse soldier's blow, and her whole body ached from hours tumbling in mud.
Yet the reflection showed no bruises, no scratches.
The disconnect felt especially alien and eerie today.
'I'm... alive. Back.'
She swept back her wet hair, biting her lip.
A metallic tang of blood spread in her mouth.
That alone proved this moment was real.
"Haa..."
She slipped on a robe and slumped onto the bed.
Grabbing her smartphone from the nightstand unleashed a waterfall of notifications.
[Manager Kim: President, aren't we doing sales anymore? Complaints about refunds are starting.]
[Landlord: Bodyline president. Busy lately? Rent's not in. Store lights off—business closed?]
[XX Bank: Lee Seo-ah, loan interest due. Insufficient balance...]
Reality might be a hell deeper than the dungeon.
'300 million...'
Even for her, that sum was a gut punch.
She'd scraped it together with all her cash and credit loans.
No regrets.
Without it, she'd be an nameless corpse in Stage 1-1.
But the bills piling up in the real world were tightening around her throat.
Money drained just by breathing.
Studio and officetel rent.
Plus deposit loan interest and new credit interest.
And employee salaries.
With all liquid cash burned, the future looked bleak.
'Need to... make money.'
Haa.
A hollow laugh escaped.
Thrashing to survive the dungeon, now scrambling not to lose her livelihood over cash.
Worst case.
How'd it come to this?
Her hand reached into empty air absentmindedly.
"Ironclad Defense..."
Han Yujin's face surfaced—the one who'd tossed her the card so offhandedly.
- If the tank sucks, DPS can't go all out.
Cold words, but acknowledgment.
From baggage to tank, now a worthwhile teammate.
'That guy...'
Overwhelming power. Intel that mocked the system.
Maybe he could pull her from this real-world mire.
Ding!
A text shattered the silence.
Unsaved number.
[Lee Seo-ah. Let's meet tomorrow. Let's do one job together.]
"...!"
No sender listed.
But she knew. That dry, to-the-point style.
Han Yujin for sure.
Thump, thump.
Her heart raced.
Not the suffocation from debt reminders or employee gripes.
A strange elation bubbling from deep within.
'A job...? With me?'
A real-world meetup.
He needed her.
That alone lightened her cliff-edge heart like magic.
Feeling her lips curve unconsciously, Lee Seo-ah typed back.
[Yes! I can. Where? What time works?]
She hit send and bolted from the bed.
Drifting to the dressing room like mesmerized.
Swish, click.
Opening the closet, holding up outfits.
Her hands busied picking tomorrow's look.
The mirror showed excitement replacing defeat, a vibrant glow spreading.
Seoul, South Korea.
In a secret underground space of a massive building.
The air hung heavy before an executive meeting of Korea's largest Abyss survivor clan, The Shelter.
Bang—!
A black-suited man shattered the silence with a slamming fist.
"Where's Dae-hyun?! No one from his party?!"
One executive scanned the room with bloodshot eyes, bellowing.
But no one met his gaze.
Others across the table just frowned somberly, heads bowed.
"I'm asking! Where the hell are those bastard party members?!"
"...Obvious, isn't it."
A man trimming his nails in the corner replied indifferently.
Crisp white suit—actor Kim Sung-hyun.
"What...?"
"Told you. Don't act above your station. Farm safe, why rush into that place."
Kim Sung-hyun clicked his tongue, shaking his head.
The man's face twisted viciously.
No sympathy for a comrade's death—just mocking barbs that hit his sore spot.
"You bastard... Hey, Kim Sung-hyun. That's executive talk?"
"Did I lie? Executives farm slow, build strength, manage members. Not challenge mode. Why go there?"
"Manage? Bullshit. Then don't embarrass us outside. Whining about Shelter's image."
"...What?"
Kim Sung-hyun's relaxed face hardened instantly.
The fiasco buying that Leader's Qualification card.
He'd silenced witnesses, but rumors lingered.
"Why bring that up?! I said I'd handle it!"
Kim Sung-hyun snapped irritably.
As voices rose and tension thickened—
Creeeak—
The heavy iron door opened, flooding the room with chill air.
The clamor died like doused flames.
Step, step.
Four men and women entered.
Shelter's elite party, auras fierce.
Leading them: a middle-aged man.
Shelter's founder and leader, Seol Baek-ho.
"You're here."
"Welcome, President."
Executives rose in unison, bowing.
Seol Baek-ho sat at the head, lacing fingers on the table.
His armor bore fresh monster bloodstains from the dungeon.
Proof his body, gear, and stains synced perfectly with the Abyss.
Everyone swallowed dryly.
"I heard about Dae-hyun's party."
Seol Baek-ho's deep, gravelly voice filled the room.
"How long since an executive party wiped?"
"...Two months."
"Right. Upper stages are that volatile."
Heavy silence fell.
Even veterans died on a whim.
That was the Abyss.
The meeting proceeded briskly.
Resource reports per stage, death stats, newbie management.
Many items discussed, but mood stayed grim.
Seol Baek-ho closed his folder, scanning the room.
"Enough reports. Real agenda's separate."
He took a tablet from a party member, tossing it center-table.
Screen played full: US government's Awakener unit footage.
"Seen it?"
Eyes locked on.
"World's changing. Abyss isn't a hidden disaster anymore—it's a resource, power to manage."
Seol Baek-ho's eyes gleamed.
"Shelter steps from shadows now."
"You mean..."
"Talks with political elders done. Soon, official launch: Korea's sole state-backed 'Abyss Survivor Management Agency'."
"...!"
Executives' eyes widened.
From clan to state power-backed giant.
A monopoly declaration on all Korea Abyss interests.
"Tighten rat control. No loose variables."
Seol Baek-ho clenched his fist.
"Remember: Korea's one Abyss agency. Survivor registry law soon—prep operations."
"Understood!"
Roaring response filled the room.
Amid ambition-glinting eyes, Kim Sung-hyun smirked slyly.
'State-backed, huh.'
Then thorns like that guy must be pruned early.
Han Yujin's insolent gaze resurfaced.
'Wait a bit. I'll show you my reach.'