Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Wait, Maldives
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"Hmmm."
"Ah!! Seong-hoon, you have to eat this!!"
"Hmmm."
"Hmmm."
"Argh!! You're killing me!! Die!! Seong-hoon!!!"
"Hmmmmargh!!!!"
Sure enough, just as our fateful cat predicted, an angel punch came flying. Well, technically a headbutt, but it nailed my jaw perfectly, and I went down.
The familiar ceiling of our living room came into view. Did Lachesis foresee the future or something? I could hear her voice going, 'Tsk tsk. I warned you, dummy nya.' Or maybe she just guessed.
"You keep going 'hmmm' like that?! What's the big dilemma?! This is a hidden boss!!!"
I rubbed my sore jaw and sat up. The first thing I saw was Levatein, perched between my legs, watching the show.
One day of sleep and he's back to full health, the little punk.
Not sure how he can cackle like that when Dad just got his ass kicked.
"The hidden boss? Just clear another path. I've got way bigger troubles right now."
"It's probably something stupid anyway. Like naming that crow you got last time. What's it this time? Kotodamatsukami?"
"How do you even know that? No, I haven't named it. My dilemma's on a whole other level."
Levatein tilted his head and looked up at me. I knew he'd say something like 'What's that?' so I ruffled his feathers wildly.
"It's grown-up stuff. Too early for kids."
"You're basically a kid too, Seong-hoon. A poor soul who can't escape being 15."
"You."
"I'm already a mature woman."
"Mature women these days don't hole up at home playing games all day."
"You've gotta rest when it's time to rest!!"
"All you do is rest!!"
"Resting is angel work too~ You wouldn't get it, Seong-hoon. So what is it? What's the dilemma? If it's pointless, you should've soloed that hidden boss and called me after."
I averted my eyes at that. Levatein, who'd been watching us go back and forth, ended up naturally scooped into my arms.
I always notice this, but when I pick him up, he just goes limp like it's habit. Habits are scary.
"Levatein."
"Wanna go to the sea?"
"Yeah."
"What's with that face? You look like a deadbeat dad about to buy his daughter some fried chicken after doing something shady."
I didn't answer and turned to Raphael instead. Same question to her ridiculous expression.
"Raphael. Wanna go to the sea?"
"Sure, I'd like to. What's this about? Don't tell me it's what I think."
Oh? Everyone wants to go. No need to ask the voiceless pet or the maid.
Only my opinion left. I shot up from my seat. Levatein laughed at the sudden rise in his viewpoint.
"I wanna go too!! Like, insanely!!"
Maldives? What's that? To me, the sea's just the bathroom sink. My flight experience ends at Jeju Island, but whatever!
Maldives vacation tickets? I wanna go insanely. Feel that beautiful sea with this body, lounge on a sunbed sipping drinks someone else brings me.
How can seawater be emerald green? I gotta dive in at least once.
I wanna leave Korea. That's why I agonized all night. How can I make it happen?
In official events, weak sauce me snagging MVP over guys like Kim Tae-hyun?
The method came surprisingly easy. But as a human, is this okay? A twinge of doubt, but humans can do anything with a good excuse.
"Levatein, you really wanna go, right!!"
"Raphael, you wanna go, right!!"
"Hell yeah!!"
"It's decided!!"
"Decided what?! No way, right?"
I ignored her and raised my hand high. I've always been trash. No point getting cold feet now.
Excuse is solid, will is overflowing.
All that's left is action.
"Let's go!!!"
"Where?!"
I grabbed Raphael's hand and dragged her out.
"You're dodging the hidden boss now, aren't you!!"
Not entirely wrong.
Justitia.
The world's top hero training academy in name and fact. The artificial island built for it is bigger than a whole city.
Why bring it up now? Obviously—
"This. This is illegal. You think it's okay to work someone like this? I'm reporting you to labor board!!"
"You did a few and you're whining? Hurry up!! If someone sees us, we're screwed!!"
"Who's gonna see?! It's night, can't even see shit!!"
"Still, 'never say never' for a reason."
"I hope someone does catch us. I want the world to know about Seong-hoon's atrocities."
Anyone overhearing would think I'm some evil boss. Eat free food, do some work.
I'm nice leaving her be usually; if it were anyone else, I'd have kicked 'em out or slaved 'em on a construction site all day.
"Argh—!!!"
Someone might hear. I ignored Raphael's screech and finished the job.
We're embedding [Explosion Runes] in Justitia's massive sports field. Ten each.
Reason's simple.
Can't win fair? Dig traps. Victory doesn't care about means.
"Winner makes the rules."
"Justice that vanishes when caught worth anything?"
"Not caught? Not a crime. You know it. Stole all that rebar early semester—no one came after me. Crime 101: check CCTV."
"Ooh... Teaching me real wisdom. Were you some small-time crook worldwide?? Breaking into empty houses?"
"Harsh words."
Last scoop, smoothed the dirt. First trap success.
"This is probably obstacle course."
"How do you know? It wasn't marked?!"
"Who do you think I am? I know."
Truth? No clue. Guessing from scenery. Descriptions fuzzy anyway.
Just plant a ton, hope they trigger. Next: scavenger hunt, cavalry battle, tug-of-war, relay.
Others like popping balloons, capture the flag—skip those. My life’s at risk.
"What if someone steps on these before sports day?"
Eh? I froze at her voice. Blonde in my sight.
"Didn't think that far, huh? You're stiff now! Panicking!! What now!! Won't help clean like last time!!"
"...Raphael."
"No helping!!"
"Suppose someone steps and gets zapped by lightning."
"??"
"Sky's fault or the idiot who got hit?"
"The one hit—gasp!!"
Got it? Innocent either way. Hurry and head back.
Set tons more traps. Explosion runes baseline. Shadow webs, trip runes.
Snag one? Game over. With these, first place guaranteed.
"Wait. Maldives. I'm coming."
"This for a trip? Just walk Justitia's coast—"
"Tch."
Totally different. Maldives sea vs. Justitia's—colors alone. Tourist spots earn it.
I shut up Raphael's nonsense and stood. Gotta leave before anyone comes.
Caught? Disaster. As I started walking, Raphael trotted after naturally.
"That's why they say criminals return to the scene."
"Coming for sports day."
"To check explosions, yeah."
True that? Famous sayings never wrong—heading to exit.
Justitia's building: entrance/exit same. Bound to meet incoming folks.
Meaning—
"Huh?"
Raphael's dumb noise, something stopped. Trucks. Several.
Tons of grass and gear behind.
Voices clear.
—Brought the magic detectors?
—Yeah, hurry. No time.
—Damn, big budget? Look at that grass. Kids'll love it.
—Yeah. Finish quick and go.
"...."
We stared long, then thought:
Life never goes your way.
"Cheating's why."
Bye, Maldives. MVP. Emerald sea.
How's life never gone my way?
All our hours of work? Bubbles. Why's that cheapskate splashing cash? What's the reason?
"Rosaline got dementia or something."
"Okay to trash the chairwoman like that?"
"Whatever. Chairwoman's a position begging for it."
Body trudging, spirit unbroken. Still scheming alternatives.
Raphael's buffs for sports day, obvious. Then—
"Plotting again."
"Not plotting. Family man's desperate struggle for peace."
"Touching. But I'm fine with local beach. Levatein'd love anywhere with us?"
"What's that pitying wife tone? Sports day's not started. Don't quit yet?"
I get it done. Man who pulls through sans traps.
"Just NEET in dorm over break. Not bad."
"Turning me into one? No."
"You were a NEET originally!!"
"You play without work. I played with work. Different!!"
"Playing's the—huh? Seong-hoon, there."
Mid-sentence, Raphael pointed. Looked: money on ground.
The cabbage leaf kind. Life's ups and downs, eh? Good with bad.
"Snack on the way?"
Agreed, bent down together. Why bend too?
Then—
Slash—!!!
Crisp sound echoed. Tree beside toppled with groan.
Sharp whoosh over head—goosebumps everywhere, looked aside. Raphael pale as ghost staring.
Behind—
"Haha. Dodged it."
Blue-haired thug uncle grinning.
"As expected. Our future son-in-law."
Incomprehensible words and all.