Chapter 119
Chapter 119
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: A Man Who's Only Soft on Levatein
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"We're clearing out of this house."
My declaration drew the eyes of everyone in the household. The blonde sprawled in the living room, hugging a pillow while flipping through a magazine.
The little blonde next to her, bombarding her with endless questions like "Mommy, what's this?"
The black cat rolling around in the sunlight.
The devil in maid attire who looked up in surprise from cooking.
I stood in the middle of the living room, meeting the gazes of all four of them.
"You know final exams last three days, right?"
[I don't know!!]
「I am unaware.」
Of course you wouldn't. That's why I'm explaining now. The one who should know had an exclamation point popping up over her head.
You can't be like that.
Anyway, I laid it out for them under those stares. Finals were coming up soon. I hadn't done a single problem yet, but here we were.
Searches with Sophia for vampires, taekwondo practice with Shin Ga-yeon, crow magic research with Isia, hellish training, and so on.
Before I knew it, finals were just days away.
But leaving just Lily and Levatein here for three days felt wrong.
"You're putting Lily and Levatein in your Inventory? Wouldn't it be better for them to just stay home for three days? It'll be stuffy in there."
"Everything they need is inside. And I'll let Levatein out sometimes."
[Really??]
"Yeah."
Levatein came bounding over. She leaped into my arms as I raised them naturally.
At first, she'd seemed shocked at the idea of me being gone for three days, but now that she knew she was coming along, she was rubbing up against me all cute.
She knew exactly how adorable she was. Brat. I grinned and stroked the head of the clinging Levatein.
「And I...」
"You'll have to stay in the Inventory. I'll call if it's dangerous."
That was the plan—we'd empty the house.
"Should I pack the gaming console first? Three days is forever when you're bored."
"You won't have time for that."
Still, just in case, I tossed the console into my [Inventory].
「We must bring Levatein-sama's child-sized cushion flooring too.」
"It's just three days. Weapons don't get hurt anyway."
"Then you shouldn't have bought it. What are we supposed to do if you say weapons can't get hurt after going through the trouble? Your [Inventory] is full of dangerous stuff to begin with, Seong-hoon. Starting with that sleeping dragon."
She had a point. I pictured Levatein tumbling around in my [Inventory] and falling.
"...Let's pack it."
The cushions went in. Then the requests came flooding.
"The TV!"
"You think electricity grows on trees?!"
[Cat food!]
"You barely eat that stuff!!"
[Toys!!]
Fine, those go in.
「The dining table and sofa too, please. A bed would be nice as well.」
What a list. But since I had to pack it all anyway, in it went.
And then—
"The fridge!!"
"Everything'll spoil!!"
[Chicken.]
"We've got tons of food?!"
[Daddy. Fairy tale book!!]
Okay, that one's going in.
"You're only spoiling Levatein! Since earlier?!"
"Only say things that make sense."
Right? I asked, and Levatein nodded.
"Heh. How about this? You can't refuse."
"You think we're going on a trip?"
"Camping on the island, right?"
"We're going to take exams."
"Same difference."
In the end, I even packed what Raphael mentioned. And pretty much everything else they asked for after that.
"Huff. Huff. There, done? Everyone happy now?"
"That Inventory capacity is no joke."
Tell me about it. I caught my breath, thinking I could finally rest—but
"Huh?"
I wasn't the only one blurting out something dumb. Levatein, who'd headed to her kiddie cushions like always to play.
Raphael, who'd gone to lie on the bed.
Lachesis, drawn to her sunny spot at the table.
Lily, carrying over her food.
All of them let out dazed noises.
"Seong-hoon."
"Don't say it. I know."
"Are we idiots?"
Looks like it.
In the end, I ended up doing grueling manual labor that wasn't even in my stars. Our golden gorilla pitched in, but I wasn't slacking, so it wore me out.
I'd gotten ahead of myself drinking kimchi soup and finished the pre-departure chores days ago.
No idiot like this one.
Exhausted from the labor, I carried the sleeping Levatein to Raphael's room.
I tucked her in next to Raphael, who was clutching her pillow and kicking her feet, then flicked the lights on and off wildly at her "turn off the light before you go" request.
Back to my room. Lights on, of course, at the end.
The cat yawned lazily nearby, so I shoved her aside. She made some weird noise, but ignored.
Time for what I needed to do. I lay on the bed and opened [Menu]. Naturally via [Skills].
Prep time again. Sure, I'm strong now.
Embarrassing to say it myself, but what can you do? It's true.
With Raphael's blessing, Levatein draped over me as [Death Reaper], plus [Spell Eater] and [Reaper's Robe] equipped.
I could beat any villain rolling in from the original story at this point.
For originals like that progenitor I met last time who transcended the story, I'd need 「Soul Eater」 or Lily.
Both have risks, so no thanks.
Even using both, I couldn't take a Silvia-level progenitor or the seven demon contractors with archdukes.
Here's hoping they stay away.
"Silvia might show up once, though."
She said she'd come again, so maybe right after the barrier drops?
One more reason to hit the beach this summer.
"Sigh."
I let out a breath and opened [Skills]. The more cards up your sleeve, the better.
The less your opponent can predict, the more you cherish them.
Meaning no calling Lily at the first sign of trouble or evolving her into a mid-tier demon.
Lily's evolution is my ace. Raphael too, but I'm not sure she could beat a mid-tier demon.
Michael probably could. But I won't rush it trusting those two idiots and get backstabbed to death.
Demons are like that. Only evolve them when it's do-or-die or I trust they won't betray.
That's why I'm dumping points into [Skills] now.
To avoid risky spots. No soul-gobbling skills or summoning doomed demons.
I had it planned, so spending points was quick. First, [Instant Inscription] from 「Rune Magic (A)」.
Next, a technique from 「Scythe Mastery (S)」。 Some were baffling, but I picked the most useful-looking one.
[Recall]. Checking it out: pulls back a distant scythe.
Great for when your thrown scythe's stuck in flesh or dropped from a counter—brings it back.
Combat power drops to near zero without your scythe. Nothing better.
"Nice."
All skill points invested, techniques bought. Zero points left.
But like the ghost who died fat and happy, I'm content.
To test [Instant Inscription], I stood. Cat eyed me like "what're you doing?" Ignored.
Hand to the wall, infuse mana. Mana from my fingertips scattered into the wall, carving letters.
The word: shadow, in Korean. A normal person would see an unintelligible script. Perfectly inscribed.
"Wild."
Inscriptions on walls were cool, but my body doing it flawlessly on first try? Even cooler.
"Ahh... this is what they call 'skill cheat'."
[Dumbass cat.]
Shut it. Next, remote inscription? Reached for the opposite wall, gathered mana, focused—
Lettters carved. Exclamation over my head in shock, but no time—the two runes linked instantly.
Shadows burst out, weaving a net between them. Hammock achieved.
I poked it firmly.
"Elasticity solid."
Lay on it next. Jumped up—no snap.
"Mm. Comfy... what're you doing?"
[Nya. You gotta say something if you're making this!!]
"Hey, wait—!!"
Hammock. High up. Moving creature. Swaying. Catnip combo.
I tried to stop her, but Lachesis in human form was already leaping at me.
And then.
—Crack!!
With a nasty snap, the hammock cracked.
[Ah.]
As the cat yelped, I realized.
[Instant Inscription] loses a ton of power if it doesn't fit in Inventory once.
"Lachesis. Thanks for the tip."
[Ny, nya. Th-that...]
Floating midair, I grinned. Eyes met cat-eared girl's.
"You're dead."
NYAAAAAAAAAAAK!!!!!!!!!!!
The cat's shriek echoed through the room.
Exam day.
The ship carrying hundreds of Justitia first-years floated at sea. To prevent another 11th Island incident, top-ranking teachers boarded in force, plus safety bracelets issued.
Foolproof against accidents, but after this year's events, no complacency.
That's why she stood on deck.
On the deck all admired, the orange-haired dwarf who'd collapsed from mana exhaustion for weeks at a time.
Rosaline, magic hat pressed down, arms crossed, looked down at the gathered students.
"With me here, no accidents will happen."
Confident tone. She was a grand magus, after all. Confidence from skill.
"So hand over those survival kits you packed to the brim without worry!"
Exam announced ahead: three days fighting on 6th Island. Students packed survival gear, naturally.
Too bad—pre-announced meant only issued supplies allowed.
One tent per team. Hardtack and rations. Minimal water.
That was three days' food.
"This isn't just survival. It's basic hero prep for getting dungeon-trapped—"
Students wailed amid her booming voice.
Having their hard-packed gear confiscated? Expected groans.
Only the black-haired boy and blonde girl stood tall.
"None!!"
"What?"
"Didn't bring any? Figured you'd confiscate it anyway. Just give us the basics."
Bold. Totally bold, drawing all eyes. Her blonde companion?
"Oh. This all? Seong-hoon, hardtack sucks. What's this? No candy either!!"
Already munching supplies right there. The two boldly split hardtack and said,
"More?"