Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Finally Pulled It Off!
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Finally pulled it off!
"Did you really have to wring an apology out of him too?"
On the way home, Michael asked with a look of utter disbelief. Guess he saw the whole thing from behind.
No way. I mean, come on—he tried to swing at me without even asking what happened first. I wasn't planning to do anything, but the more I thought about it, the madder I got. What am I supposed to do about that?
"He probably wasn't thinking straight. Just lost his temper and lashed out."
Yeah, exactly that. My blondie gets it. But saying it like that makes me sound like I've got anger issues.
I control my anger just fine. Especially around strong people.
For some reason, it rubbed me the wrong way, so I pressed down on the blond hair's head. It went down smooth, no resistance.
Hasn't been resisting lately.
"Why?!"
"Just felt like it. Anyway, in society, if you mess up, you apologize. It's not a forgiving world out there."
And sure enough, I got that apology afterward, complete with Serena's forehead vein bulging like it was about to burst. But that's not my problem.
Kim Tae-hyun can straighten her out himself. Better not get involved until then. Summer break's coming up anyway—I'm hightailing it to the beach.
What're you gonna do if you get mad? Follow me or something.
"Ah."
That thought crossed my mind mid-stride. Summer break reminded me of something I'd been wondering.
"Michael."
"Yes."
"What're you doing over break?"
"No idea. Since we don't have to go to school, I figured I'd actually take a real vacation. But I don't know what to do with myself."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I've hardly ever rested before, so... maybe read some books?"
Spending summer break just reading books? It's like looking at my past self—holed up at home, devouring novels all day.
Something about it felt kinda pitiful, so I decided to make an offer. Michael knows about Leviathan anyway, and she's Raphael's sister—
"If you want, come to the beach with us—"
"Seong-hoon."
Before I could finish, Raphael grabbed my hand and yanked it. I turned around, wondering what was up, and there she was, looking anxious.
Our eyes met, and she shook her head furiously. Clear 'no' vibes, mouthing 'family trip' without saying it out loud.
I glanced at Raphael, then at Michael, who closed his eyes and spoke up.
"I'm good. Don't wanna tag along and get dragged into trouble. You're like the eye of the storm, you know."
"Eye of the storm?"
"You attract incidents wherever you go. You don't realize?"
Nope. I get it all too well. Sorry to be the eye of the storm.
I don't wanna be the eye of the storm either. Save me.
"Yes!"
The second Michael said no, Raphael bolted forward with glee.
You could feel the excitement in her steps, but is it okay to act like that right in front of him?
Muttering stuff like 'family trip,' and Michael's not real family or something? Who knows.
As long as she's happy.
Watching Raphael skip ahead happily, a voice came from beside me.
"Thanks for the invite."
No problem.
"Huh? How do you even eat that?!"
"Ah!!"
I ignored the noisy chatter from across the room. Sipping the drink Lily brought me, I sank into the sofa, lost in deep thought.
The reason was simple. Financial straits.
Five mouths to feed at home, but only two bringing in income. No earners, just spenders—it's a miracle we make it through the month.
And this month, we've gotta hit the Maldives too.
"This is insane."
So I brainstormed options. Plan 1: Borrow from the maids.
Just those two words. Sent it to Maids 1, 2, and 4. The replies were something else.
Maid No.1, ready to lend without even asking what for.
Maid No.2, snapping a pic of her entire fortune without asking amount or purpose.
Even Maid No.4, depositing first and thinking later. Staring at these trees that give without hesitation, a pang of conscience hit me.
Back in the day, I'd have taken it no question. 'You're my maids—this is the least you can do,' I'd say, stripping them bare.
"Sigh."
I hit reject on the incoming cash and brushed off Sophia and Isia with excuses.
Even if they're maids, borrowing money I can't repay—especially for vacation funds—felt wrong, so I stopped.
My conscience is starting to kick in.
"So what now for cash?"
No choice but Plan 2. I shot up from my seat and headed toward the household members glued to their game.
"My loyal subjects."
They turned at my voice. Except the blond one. Look over here, you.
"Hold on! This is a crucial part!! But you're just gonna say something useless anyway."
Useless? This is about our household's survival.
"What is it?"
Raphael finally turned around and asked. I stood tall before them and declared.
"We're making money."
Yeah, that's it. We'll earn that. How? Through our household's sixth member.
I opened my [Inventory] and dumped out items. Every damn thing spilled out.
From cutlery to plastic chairs, dining tables, plates, sun beds, books, stationery—you name it.
As they poured out, I declared proudly.
"We're selling these!!"
"Just sell 'em."
"Gotta pick the sellable ones."
Who's buying stationery?
"So, we're looking for sellable antiques here?"
Not antiques, but yeah, spot on.
"Seong-hoon, you've got tons of good stuff. Just the rings and pendants alone could set you for life."
"Crazy? Why sell those?"
"I mean sell stuff like them."
No way. Can't sell combat-related items. Already weak enough—can't get weaker.
Even non-combat stuff was sellable everywhere. The moment Benia's mana soaked into the [Inventory], everything was on another level.
Take this sun bed right here—infused with mana from a dragon's lair, reinforced.
Fatigue recovery built right in.
"Fatigue recovery on a bed!! How could it not sell?!"
"Wow. Totally useless."
I wagged my finger at Raphael's 'who'd buy that?' face.
You have no idea.
"This sun bed's real perk is something else."
I lay down on it as I spoke. Instant comfort washed over me, fatigue melting away.
But that's not the sun bed's true power.
As I settled in, the cat hopped up lightly, curled beside me.
My cute blond daughter's little one clambered up with grunts, snuggling into my arms.
This is the sun bed's true effect. Could any doting dad or animal lover worldwide resist?
With Leviathan in my arms, I shot Raphael that meaningful look, but...
"Wow."
Her response was merciless.
"Totally useless."
That's harsh.
And so it began. What began, you ask?
"How about this? This pencil won't erase once you write with it."
"Inferior to a ballpoint pen."
"Okay, this plate keeps hot food warm!"
"This chair is comfy to sit in."
"Chairs are supposed to be comfy."
Item hunting. No matter how hard I looked, nothing was sellable. Everything seemed convenient at first—like stuff from a country of 1.2 billion—but ultimately useless.
Wrinkle-proof books, desks that hurt like hell if you bump the corner, game consoles where sticks don't drift...
I pulled out everything under the sun. But the responses?
"Useless."
"..."
At this point, I'd emptied everything. Like swallowing regurgitated food, the [Inventory] sucked it all back in.
"Nothing... sellable...?"
Plan 2's a bust. Nothing to sell. Plan 3: Hunt monsters outside Justitia.
Risks my life—no thanks.
Plan 4: Stocks. I know what moons—profit off that.
Takes too long—scrapped.
Finally, Plan 5. I quietly eyed the black cat grooming herself, yawning lazily.
She noticed my gaze and backed away warily.
"Raphael."
"Yes?"
"Cat agility is the world's best, right?"
"Obviously."
"How much for a talking cat?"
"First time I've seen one here, so whatever the price they're asking?"
"Yeah?"
I approached Lachesis slowly. I'd come up with four plans, all shot down.
At times like this, doesn't the pet sacrifice for the family?
"Won't hurt. Just... sell for a bit. I'll buy you back with the cash."
Lachesis tore through the house like crazy. Up on the bookshelf, total chaos.
"Lachesis!! Don't you know the cow sacrifices for the herd?!"
"If you eat, you pay your way!!"
You saying that?
"What?"
Nothing. Ignoring Raphael's glare, I called to Lachesis, but she wouldn't come down.
What now? Can't do a thing like this.
"Come down~~"
I eyed Raphael, grinning like she was enjoying the show. This girl... she's totally hyped for the beach, isn't she?
Says it's fine, even a sewer trip. But her excitement was obvious.
She was singing 'family trip' songs just earlier.
Easy to imagine her face if we skip Maldives. Her spitting image daughter's would be even clearer. So I wanna scrape cash somehow, but Lachesis like this? No dice.
Simple: sell, contract back. Easy peasy. Why refuse?
"Maldives cash doesn't fall from the sky—"
Right then, my phone buzzed like it was waiting.
Wondering what, I picked it up—Raphael rested her chin on my shoulder. So natural it threw me off.
"What're you doing."
"Wanna see too."
Too lazy to tell her off, I let it slide.
Unlocked the screen—
"Whoa."
Falls from the sky after all.
The moment my plan finally pulled it off.