Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Saturation State
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"……."
There wasn't even room to stand.
Literally.
The shopping bags from the department store delivery and the cardboard boxes from couriers had completely overrun the cramped studio apartment floor.
From the front door to right in front of the bed, the piles of stuff stacked like Tetris blocks meant you'd have to do acrobatics just to use the bathroom.
"M-Master… I… I've changed."
A timid voice crept out from beyond the mountain of clothes.
I leaned back in my chair and nodded.
"Come out."
With a rustling sound, she cautiously emerged from behind the tower of paper boxes.
"Oh."
A short exclamation slipped out before I could stop it.
A flowing ivory chiffon dress.
The cinched waistline and hem that hit just above the knees perfectly complemented her slender frame.
Every time her silver hair swayed over her shoulders, the skirt fluttered lightly.
If not for the dingy bachelor pad background, it could've passed for a scene from a fantasy movie.
"H-How does it look…? Is it… too weird?"
Yuriel awkwardly clutched the hem of her skirt, twisting her body.
It was a far cry from her usual attitude when she just wore baggy shirts.
Excitement at wearing pretty clothes mingled with anxiety over whether she'd please her master in those big eyes of hers.
"Eh, not bad."
I answered nonchalantly on purpose.
Too much praise might make her cocky.
"They say clothes make the woman. Finally shedding that grubby slave vibe. Now you actually look like an elf."
"Eh… like an elf…? But I am an elf."
"Go look in the mirror. It's a compliment."
She shuffled hesitantly to the full-length mirror.
The moment she faced her reflection, her mouth fell open wide.
All traces of past abuse and starvation were gone.
Her skin, now starting to fill out, glowed like white jade, and the luxurious fabric enhanced her mystical aura.
Yuriel touched her cheek in the mirror with trembling fingers.
"I-Is this… really… me?"
"What, you think it's a ghost?"
I pointed to the next shopping bag.
"Next one. Try that on this time."
"Yes! Right away!"
Now fully excited, she snatched the bag and scurried to the corner.
A moment later.
"Ta-da! How's this one?"
This time, blue jeans with a white oversized hoodie.
The casual outfit suited her surprisingly well.
Her fingers peeking out from the baggy sleeves were kinda cu— ahem.
Get a grip. She's just Glutton #1 who eats a ton.
I cleared my throat and turned away.
"Yeah, that's good too. Pass."
"Hehe… Thank you, Master! These are the softest, nicest clothes I've ever worn in my life!"
Yuriel put the hood on and off like a kid, beaming.
If she had a tail, it'd be spinning like a helicopter for sure.
But then.
A problem arose.
"Alright, enough trying on. Let's clean up and eat."
"Yes! I'll take care of it!"
It was the moment Yuriel moved with overflowing enthusiasm.
Thud. Crash—
She turned and bumped into a stack of instant noodle boxes, causing the precariously balanced box of my clothes on top to topple like dominoes.
"Kyaa!"
Yuriel lost her balance and staggered.
Of all directions, she was falling toward the chair I was sitting in.
"Ugh!"
She tumbled right into my lap.
A warm, soft sensation pressed against me through the hoodie.
A faint shampoo scent tickled my nose.
"M-M-M-Master! I-I've committed a mortal sin!"
Yuriel, scared out of her wits, pushed against my chest to get up.
But every spot she tried to plant her foot was buried in boxes and bags.
Thud crash!
"Ow…."
She slipped again, burying her face between my thighs.
It was a total mess.
In this tiny room overflowing with stuff and just two people, moving was impossible.
"Hey… where are you rubbing your face?"
I sighed and grabbed the back of her hoodie, lifting her up by the scruff.
"S-Sorry…. I'm so clumsy… the space is too tight, I…."
Yuriel looked on the verge of tears, flustered.
It wasn't her fault.
This matchbox apartment just couldn't handle how much our lives had expanded.
I surveyed the room.
Bags dominating the bed, desk, and floor.
An elf crouched in the midst, peeking at me nervously.
This won't do.
If I were broke, fine.
But my account had over 460 million won sitting idle.
And more was coming.
So why squeeze into this hole with an elf, living like paupers?
No privacy, and it messed with conditioning for dungeon runs.
I'd woken up to her soccer kicks in my sleep more than once.
Oh, and she has terrible sleeping habits, FYI.
Time for a decision.
I stood from the chair, kicked aside the blocking cardboard boxes, and opened the window.
Ventilating the stuffy air, I turned to Yuriel.
"Yuriel."
"Y-Yes. If you're punishing me, I'll gladly—"
"Pack your bags."
"……Pardon?"
Her eyes went wide.
I grinned and opened the real estate app on my smartphone.
"We're moving. Somewhere spacious, where no one bothers us."
"M-Moving…?"
"Yeah. I'll even give you your own room, so roll around in there all you want."
"M-My own room…? Just for me…?"
Yuriel's mouth gaped open.
Her brain seemed to short-circuit from the unimaginable luxury.
Staring at the [Gangnam Luxury Apartment / Immediate Move-In] listing, I felt certain.
Time to set up a base camp worthy of our level.
Just gotta watch out for scams. Better contact Lee Seo-ah first…
At the same time.
A private lounge bar in Gangnam.
A secret social spot run exclusively for full members of [The Shelter] clan—no outsiders allowed.
Fwooo—
Sweet fruit-scented white vapor dispersed into the air.
A man lounging sideways on the sofa exhaled from his vape, smirking slyly.
Flashy irezumi tattoos covering his neck, piercings in his ears and eyebrow.
The kind of guy who screamed "underworld vet." Jang Kyung-su.
"Big Brother. The kids I mentioned are waiting outside."
He reported to the man opposite him, Kim Sung-hyun, in a fawning tone.
"Picked only the prime rich brats from the newbies. Made sure to snag 'em for you before they jumped ship elsewhere."
Kim Sung-hyun swirled his whiskey glass and asked indifferently.
"Yeah? Any worthwhile ones?"
"You bet. Even the youngest daughter of a top distribution corp. Told her, 'Joining The Shelter full membership ain't the endgame. Ride the right lines, and veteran seniors might toss you some scraps.' Her eyes lit up like stars."
Jang Kyung-su cackled obsequiously.
Kim Sung-hyun chuckled and beckoned with a finger.
"Bring 'em in. Let's see their faces."
"Yes, sir! Kids! Come on in! Big Brother's waiting!"
At Jang Kyung-su's call, a hesitant group of young men and women entered the lounge.
All decked in luxury brands, reeking of money.
But tension etched their faces.
The man before them was Kim Sung-hyun, one of the clan's top execs.
No amount of cash makes it easy to stand tall when your life's on the line.
"H-Hello! Park Min-woo here, newly promoted to full member!"
The lead guy bowed 90 degrees.
Kim Sung-hyun sat with legs crossed, greeting them with a relaxed smile.
"Nice to meet you. Kim Sung-hyun. Heard a lot about you from Kyung-su. All from impressive families, huh."
"Y-You're too kind!"
"Let's get along. Abyss is like that—cocky loners die fast. But with seniors like us guiding you, it's a different story."
Kim Sung-hyun puffed up with classic boomer talk.
The newbies hung on his words with awe. Boot camp vibes and power flex.
But then.
Kim Sung-hyun's gaze stopped at Park Min-woo's waist.
……?
A dagger in a fancy leather sheath.
It radiated an unusual aura at a glance.
As a Abyss mage with six months under his belt, he couldn't miss the ominous mana leaking from the hilt.
"What's that?"
Kim Sung-hyun nodded toward the dagger.
"Pardon? Oh, this?"
Park Min-woo pulled it out proudly.
A sharp blade shrouded in eerie black.
[Vicious Poison Dagger (Magic)]
Kim Sung-hyun's eyes narrowed.
Magic grade. How'd a guy fresh off 1-1 or 1-2 snag this?
"You. Already got blood on your hands?"
At his mocking tone, Park Min-woo grinned smugly.
"Nah! Bought a Soulless item. Already soul-registered it. Ready for next summon!"
"……What? Bought it?"
Kim Sung-hyun's face hardened instantly.
Park Min-woo, oblivious, kept blabbing excitedly.
"Yeah, got lucky! Bought it from Lee Seo-ah. Haggling started at 5k, but she needed cash bad—handed it right over. Total steal."
"……Lee Seo-ah?"
"Yeah. Met her at the associate member seminar ten days ago…."
The whiskey glass creaked in Kim Sung-hyun's grip.
Lee Seo-ah.
That annoying bitch.
Han Yujin's goddamn sidekick, good enough to chew up and spit out.
Obvious.
She didn't source that item.
She got it from him.
She ain't got the chops yet.
"……Hah."
A hollow laugh escaped Kim Sung-hyun.
"You."
He glared coldly at Park Min-woo.
"When you traded, was there some sharp-eyed guy with her?"
"Huh? How'd you know, senior? Yeah! Some fierce-looking dude right beside her. Honestly, he seemed like the real seller."
Confirmed.
Kim Sung-hyun swallowed his rising rage, forcing a smile.
"Got it… Nice score. Newbie intros are done. Go handle your business."
The second they left, Kim Sung-hyun hurled his whiskey glass at the wall.
"That fucking bastard…!"
"B-Big Brother? What's wrong?"
Jang Kyung-su flinched, gauging his mood.
"Kyung-su."
"Yes, Big Brother."
"Han Yujin. I smell that fucker."
Kim Sung-hyun growled through gritted teeth.
"Wanna crush him right now… but damn, timing sucks."
The Shelter was about to get official government recognition soon.
Couldn't stir shit outside during this key moment.
One weird rumor could topple their empire.
Had to stay quiet as mice.
"If we're hitting him, gotta do it from inside… Hmph."
Kim Sung-hyun suddenly smirked.
"Actually, perfect? Inside means no one knows… can erase him clean."
He licked his lips and beckoned Jang Kyung-su.
"First, dig where that bastard's playing."
"How? Private eye?"
"Nah. Not here—inside. Issue a clan-wide APB. Ask our guys which stage he's in. Pin his location. Gotta be 2nd stage somewhere."
"Can we pinpoint? Dungeons are huge. Could be different stages."
Kim Sung-hyun grinned wickedly.
"Plenty of time. Spread word: big reward from me for intel. Once we locate…."
He ground the shattered glass under his heel.
"I'll stomp him legally in the dungeon. Real brutal."
"Ugh… so cramped. Too cramped!"
I'd retreated to the chair, dodging the floor with no space to step.
Texted Lee Seo-ah, but couldn't move immediately.
Meant facing next summon in this chaos.
"Sigh. Money's the root of all, huh."
Thought life was getting cushy.
Nope.
460 million wasn't enough for a proper Gangnam apartment purchase—or even deposit.
I know, okay!
I rolled my stiff neck and stared at the monitor.
Moving mattered, money mattered, but survival topped it.
Eat, sleep, grind cash, shop—next summon was breathing down my neck.
I rushed into the deep web.
Stage 1-3 clear condition was absurd.
Click.
Checked the 1-3 board—titles screaming doom everywhere.
[Must-read for 1-3 goers. Trolls ruin everything.]
[LFG Leader. 1-3+ qual'd (cards) only]
Knew it.
I scowled and clicked the top-viewed guide.
Scrolled to bottom. Red-highlighted warning slammed me.
‘Community of Fate’
- Matched with 8 players total.
- Warning! Fail to escape with ALL alive in time limit = wipe. (One death = game over ^^)
- What happens on fail? Dunno. We cleared w/o deaths. Curious? Let one die & see lol.
"……Hah."
I swore aloud.
Nearly kicked the chair over.
Even the damn typo ruined my mood perfectly.
"What else? Total party kill."
I'd seen it.
What happens to survivors when a matched player dies.
Fuck. Luck-based trash game.
Joint liability.
Word I hated most.
Until now, just handle myself.
Even party—manage mine, ditch annoyances.
Now system yanking collar for forced teamwork.
Worst, 8-man match….
This time, pray harder than reroll.
Oh gods, no psychos please.
Trolls manageable—tie 'em up.
Issue: psychos who won't communicate, or Hailon assassins gunning for me.
Can't act, can't kill recklessly.
Fuck, rage-inducing.
Not a babysitter for strangers' lives.
I pressed my throbbing temple.
The red warning on screen mocked me.
This stage.
Humans scarier than monsters. Real hell brewing.
Nah, even then, no way an alien slips into 8-man group, right?