Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Northward
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Do Ji-eun appeared to be deep in panic.
Drool spilling from her mouth, she thrashed wildly to escape my grasp.
"Th-there's no law like this! For stealing just a little... Please spare me. I beg you. Waaah!"
Then, this grown woman started sobbing as she wet herself.
She thought I was going to kill her.
I'd only told her to pay for her crimes—I had no intention of killing her.
'Is it because I killed all those thieves last time?'
Do Ji-eun was different from the thieves who'd eyed my supplies.
They were outsiders, enemies from beyond our walls. She was already inside.
Besides, killing her would end things right there.
She needed to stay alive and work more.
"Move, and your head flies."
I meant for her to stay still.
But her hysterics only worsened.
Thud.
I simply knocked Do Ji-eun over.
I pinned her down beneath me.
With fluid motion, I took full mount position.
Knees pressing her arms.
Whoosh.
I swung the axe.
Before Do Ji-eun could even grasp the situation.
Crack—
I cleanly severed her wrist.
Blood gushed out.
"If you don't want to die, use your skill now."
Do Ji-eun had frozen in place.
I clamped her mouth shut as she tried to scream.
"Auntie."
"Yes."
Soo-jung Auntie, with help from the others, staunched Do Ji-eun's bleeding.
The blood stopped flowing quickly.
'I thought her skill was totally useless.'
Do Ji-eun's ability was body modification.
At first, I'd thought it similar to President Park's skill, but no.
Do Ji-eun could alter her own body.
Like tightening up flabby arms a bit.
Or plumping her lips slightly thicker.
Bigger changes, or anything involving bones, took a long time.
So I'd dismissed her skill as trash.
The only real use seemed to be something like this—constricting a wound to stop bleeding fast.
"Do Ji-eun, think carefully. Yi Hyun spared your life."
Soo-jung Auntie gave her a stern talking-to.
Painkillers.
Then she locked eyes with her and activated her Fundamental Skill.
"Yi Hyun knows everything. You can't hide your true feelings from him."
Ho-seop brought water and a towel.
Do Ji-eun seemed somewhat calmed as she sat up.
"Everyone, reflect on yourselves. Examine the mindset you're approaching this with."
Soo-jung Auntie's voice grew louder.
She cast her skill on Do Ji-eun while delivering a speech at the same time.
My magic resistance deflected her speech.
The people surrounding us, however, hung on her every word as if entranced.
"I can see your laziness and arrogance. Did we come here to play?"
Emotions began to churn among the crowd.
My core party members, higher level, felt less effect.
"Things are getting comfortable for you all now, aren't they? While you've been slacking, he's been walking the thorny path alone."
Soo-jung Auntie wasn't letting this opportunity slip.
"This is betrayal! You've driven a stake through the heart of the man who sheltered you."
A bit exaggerated, but she was adding color to the groundwork I'd laid.
"But! Even so, Yi Hyun has shown mercy. He's given this woman—and all of us—another chance."
Astonishingly, a wave of remorse rippled through the crowd.
The fear from watching me handle Do Ji-eun didn't end as mere fear.
"Remember the blood-soaked figure who saved us."
Auntie turned from the crowd back to Do Ji-eun.
"Do Ji-eun, stand up and give thanks. He's given you a new chance—purify your heart and repay the grace."
Do Ji-eun's emotions shifted too.
Her rage and fear ebbed away.
"Your kleptomania has been cured. He personally cut away that rotten branch. Start over. Devote yourself. Prove your worth to him."
The air filled with guilt and shame.
"The same goes for all of you. Yi Hyun is always watching. I hope today you all deeply repent your sins."
Do Ji-eun rose with assistance.
She approached me and bowed at the waist.
Then she prostrated herself at my feet.
"I'm sorry... Sob. Thank you for the chance."
A thin voice leaked out.
I just nodded.
We wrapped up at the church and returned home.
The people accepted Park Yun-seong's innocence at my word.
The couple, Im Sang-sik and Kim Ha-na, quickly apologized to him first.
Then the three of them came to me together, causing a fuss as they apologized.
Oh, I'd brought Do Ji-eun home with the party too.
"Seol-hee, use your skill on Do Ji-eun."
"Yes."
Seol-hee's Fundamental Skill was 'Radiant Purification.'
It identified and burned away impurities. Jang Ho-seop called it 'cleansing and cure.'
Seol-hee's skill had wide applications.
We'd used it to dispel colds or mild poisoning.
She'd even treated goblin bites.
No special goblin venom—just viral or bacterial infections purified.
Ho-seop and I had been bitten before too, but we'd overcome it naturally.
"No issues. Still, antibiotics would be good... I'll keep an eye on you."
I'd brought Do Ji-eun for infection risk, like tetanus.
From my axe cutting her wrist.
Seol-hee used her skill and said it was fine.
As her level rose, the scope of what she could detect and purify would expand.
Multi-stage purifications would speed up too.
"Thank you. Yes, thank... Ah."
Do Ji-eun repeatedly thanked Seol-hee.
I handed her a medkit personally.
She froze upon seeing me approach.
"I... Sob. I'm sorry. Thank you. I'll live right and work hard from now on... Hic."
Tears burst from her eyes again as she looked at me.
Irritated by the sound, I scowled.
Do Ji-eun hurriedly wiped her tears, bowed several more times, and returned to the church.
'No need to kill her after all.'
Had I sensed any hostility toward me, she would've died.
Even minus a hand, there was none.
In a way, Soo-jung Auntie had saved her.
"I thought for sure you'd just kill Do Ji-eun, bro."
Night had deepened.
Bedtime, but we had business, so I kept the party back.
Jang Ho-seop spoke first.
"Why? Do I look like someone who kills indiscriminately?"
"Huh? No..."
Ho-seop shut his mouth at my response.
Then asked again.
"You hate anyone touching your stuff. Betrayal too..."
"No one likes that."
"No, that's not what I meant."
I knew.
What Jang Ho-seop was getting at.
And he seemed to guess too before asking.
"It was a fight between dogs I raised—they didn't bare teeth at me directly."
"Ah... Yeah."
"Still had to discipline them."
That was the gist.
Soo-jung Auntie had picked up on it and used her skill.
"Hit 'em twice and someone's bound to snap... Ow! Mom, seriously! That hurts!"
Ho-seop muttered softly.
Soo-jung Auntie smacked his back and looked at me.
"Anyway, it all worked out. Seems like the people got a real wake-up call."
I nodded at her words.
I'd checked their emotions—deemed it about right.
'A touch of fear and dread.'
Success in building tension.
Plus, I had justification.
Punishing Do Ji-eun had clear reason.
So it wasn't just fear binding them.
They feared without true anxiety.
Combined with tiered rewards, it'd prevent complacency.
"Um... Yi Hyun."
While the party discussed the punishment's severity over Do Ji-eun's hand.
Seol-hee called me cautiously.
Asking if she could go check on the baby.
"Ah, go ahead. We'll talk among ourselves now."
"Yes, thank you."
I sensed a bit of fear from her toward me.
But positive feelings dominated.
'Not just Seol-hee.'
The rest of the party watched me carefully too.
"No, I meant maybe just a finger would've been enough. That way they'd farm harder..."
Since new people joined, I'd noticed them loosening up.
"Ho-seop."
"Yup? Oh, not saying you were wrong, bro."
"I'll handle it."
"Yup."
They were managers.
If they corrupted or went rogue, it was over.
Might have to hit reset.
So my discipline targeted everyone but me.
This time, I caught two birds with one stone.
"Next topic."
The party fell silent, focusing on me.
I explained calling them late.
"New post on the plaza. Author: Prosecutor Kang Hye-seon."
"What? For real? What's it say?"
Jang Ho-seop's eyes lit up.
I sighed involuntarily.
"Sigh... Hold on. I'll read it exactly."
I accessed the plaza and checked the post again.
I closed my eyes, accessed the plaza, and read verbatim what appeared.
"1st with eight exclamation marks, Jang Ho-seop. 2nd with eight exclamation marks, Jang Ho-seop. 3rd..."
"Ah, no. Bro! Hold up. Why are you reading that..."
Jang Ho-seop raised his voice but clamped it shut.
Probably subdued by Soo-jung Auntie.
"Sharing Survivor Status, Kang Hye-seon."
"You're unbelievable... Aren't you embarrassed?!"
"Senior, why am I feeling embarrassed too..."
"Heh heh heh. Looks like this Kang Hye-seon person's using the plaza more appropriately?"
If I hadn't removed Ho-seop as admin midway, hmm.
Quick, good call.
"Now the post content."
I opened Prosecutor Kang Hye-seon's post.
Names of the people she led continued.
I skipped appropriately.
The end read like this.
"We are expanding our activity area while conducting rescues. Please don't lose hope."
No comments yet.
Two days passed.
Out on the streets again at dawn today.
Heading north, we'd encountered people occasionally.
Most approached with ill intent and negative emotions—I stepped up and killed them all.
The rest fled or kept their distance when we appeared.
"Bro. Any new comments?"
"Yeah."
Break time.
Jang Ho-seop bugged me again today.
I told him the new comments on Prosecutor Kang Hye-seon's post.
From someone whose friend was in her group.
Relieved they were alive.
"Whoa. Maybe more level 20s than we thought."
Her post now had seven comments.
Reason Ho-seop mentioned level 20: plaza access needed a level 2 Spirit Stone.
We'd learned Spirit Stone level-ups tied to owner's level.
Owner level 10 allowed one Spirit Stone level-up.
To raise mine to 4, I'd need level 40.
Using the plaza meant the group had at least one level 20+.
"Heh heh... So when you lifting my block?"
"Block? Oh... The admin thing?"
Ho-seop grinned as he spoke.
Saying he'd repented enough, cut him slack.
"You'd find it annoying too... I figured a week tops."
Now my party had personal Spirit Stones.
Using them while traveling and for church folks.
"Once you're fired, you're done. Why lift it."
"What? Permanent ban? That's too harsh, milord."
He wanted admin rights even with his own stone.
Reaching 20 took longer than expected.
Few orcs encountered so far.
Our party's levels stagnated; others rose.
With numbers, their pace wasn't super fast.
"Nah. Hit 20 yourself."
"But hitting it doesn't guarantee..."
"Exactly. Go find more Spirit Stones instead."
"Aww..."
"You're dead."
Truth was, it was annoying.
I'd considered reinstating him, but nah.
"Let's move."
"Yup..."
Downcast, Jang Ho-seop stood.
Chided the others who'd come along needlessly.
Promised rewards for Spirit Stones.
Thus, we pushed on till afternoon without returning.
Now rotating teams daily.
We'd come quite far.
Out of dense alleys, crossed main roads.
"Oh, my..."
Finally, the women's university building we'd aimed for came into view.
"Bro."
"Yeah."
"Those are all monster bones, right?"
We faced bone piles stacked everywhere.
Monster bone mounds, stripped completely clean of flesh.