Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Jackpot
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“Ah. You're back.”
[Daddy!!!]
Back at the lodging after dinner. The moment I opened the door, Levatein's welcoming cry rang out, and I scooped up the charging little dragon as she ran toward me.
“Levatein. Did you eat well?”
[Yeah!!]
“Mommy didn't bully you?”
[Uh, yeah.]
“Levatein? Why are you stuttering?!”
[Mommy ate a lot though.]
“I didn't bully her!!”
“I know.”
I headed to the terrace with Levatein, who was beaming innocently. The originally separate lodgings had Raphael returning on the second day, so now we were sharing.
Levatein had whined about missing her daddy or something.
What could I do if my daughter missed me? We had to share. Definitely not because I was lonely and permitted it.
This is that feeling, right? Doesn't matter if it's there, but feels empty without it. What do you call it? Like the lettuce when you're eating meat?
Of course, I'm talking about Raphael. My daughter has to be here, obviously.
I stroked Levatein as she nuzzled happily against my chest. Her giggling smile was too adorable.
“What'd you eat?”
“What else? Fish.”
“Tasty without me?”
“Super tasty. The flesh was so springy, but melted in your mouth─”
Was I wrong to expect an apple? Ignoring the idiot making an ecstatic face, I looked down at Levatein, who peeked her head out from my arms and gazed up.
[It was yummy!!]
“How much?”
[This much!!]
Levatein spread her arms wide and shook them wildly, making big circles. It stung a bit that they both enjoyed it so much without me.
But what could I do? Holding Levatein, I passed by Raphael, who was doing her nails on the sofa, and headed to the terrace.
She's been doing this maintenance she never bothered with lately. Just lie down and nap like usual.
“Not annoying?”
“It's gotten too long.”
“Do it regularly.”
“Isn't this regular? Well, every moment is special with me around, huh.”
Yep. Classic Raphael. Ignoring the angel smugly pleased with herself, I sat on the terrace chair.
The sunset view came into sight. It was so pretty I couldn't help but stare.
[Wow.]
Seeing such a beautiful landscape, my mind inevitably wandered.
Even as I gazed quietly, my thoughts drifted elsewhere. Was it okay to just play like this? What if Kim Tae-hyun caused trouble at Yang Min-ji's guild?
Of course, it wasn't in the original story. This was something I intervened and created.
I'd never written or even thought about what the Dawn Guild did during summer break. Dawn doesn't properly appear until much later anyway.
Should I tell Yang Min-ji now and crash the place? What if he runs into villains?
My thoughts weren't sorting out. All sorts of worries were unfolding when suddenly, a voice replayed in a corner of my mind.
─You seem deep in thought on vacation, so I called out.
─If you're here to play, focus on playing!!
─What do you think? Pretty, right?
The underwater scene and the view before me overlapped. My lips curved up unwittingly.
“Guess it doesn't matter.”
Even if he met villains, the guild folks would handle it. It's a place full of monsters anyway.
He wouldn't get stronger from some minor gains there compared to what I've snatched.
"I'll focus on playing."
My mood suddenly lightened. Thoughts cleared in an instant, and my task was set.
Turning back, my eyes met Raphael's. She smiled immediately. I smiled back.
A thank-you smile.
No matter what, saying thanks to that damn blonde felt a bit embarrassing.
“What's up? You never go out at night.”
“To absorb nature's essence.”
“What's that?”
“No need to know. You wouldn't get it even if I explained.”
“Yeah. Must be a reason.”
“Exactly. That's it.”
I awkwardly lowered the hand I'd held up defensively, expecting Raphael to pounce. Nice that she hasn't been lunging lately. The lowered hand naturally went to Levatein.
Both hands make it less likely to drop. Drowsy and nodding off in my arms, Levatein walked the beach with us.
Two hands to hold her securely. With the sleepy Levatein dozing in my arms, we strolled along the beach.
“Let's go where there are no people. Somewhere footprints are scarce.”
“It's night, aren't there hardly any?!”
“Tourist spots are different.”
Maldives' night sea shines like stars, so it's crowded even at night. Sure, I'd love to keep watching, but right now, we needed a spot with absolutely no one.
The reason? Obviously one. Nature means only one thing.
“But can we rest a bit? I've been saying we should relax since day one, but you keep doing weird stuff. You know we're here to have fun, right?”
“Rest is just an extension of work. You rest to work.”
“I've never worked, so I wouldn't know.”
“Brag.”
[Me too nyang.]
Am I the only slave here? Jealous. Dying of envy. Isn't this the sorrow of the family head?
A bit different, but similar. Swallowing tears quietly as I walked, Raphael bounced ahead excitedly, skipping like a child.
Arms outstretched, spinning round and round.
“You'll fall.”
“You'll pick me up.”
“That's not the point.”
Getting picked up doesn't mean it won't hurt. She's always hyper, indoors or out.
“Is it? Well, what can I do. The evening sea breeze feels so nice. Wanna spin with me, Seong-hoon?”
“No.”
“Aww.”
Of course, the evening sea did feel nice. The breeze was perfectly temperate, the scent great.
Surroundings pretty too. But I didn't want to spin like that.
Ignoring Raphael spinning gleefully alone and the cat, now in human form, joining in—idiot duo—and kept walking until we reached a sparsely peopled area.
[Chilly nyang.]
“Lights fade and you get scared right away. But don't worry, Lachesis. Ghosts get solved with angel punch!!”
“Angel punch has wide range.”
“Of course. It can take down humans too!!”
“Isn't that just for me? Why avoid my eyes? Answer. It's really just me?!”
No? Probably not. It can't be. With Raphael's strength, she could flatten anyone.
Yeah. Self-justifying while watching the whistling, pretending-not-to-hear angel.
I opened [Inventory] and pulled out [Death Reaper]. I'd tossed it in without thinking, so I pondered what to do.
Contract first. If not, force submission. Can't fight if it's stuck in the scythe anyway.
A pure white scythe dropped from thin air. I'd planned to just toss it and chat, but─
Fwooooosh─!!!
The scythe rose with a gale. Sudden wind scattered sand everywhere.
Wind surged, supporting the scythe. Floating mid-air, pure white blade. Winds constantly swirling around it.
I felt it instantly.
“Fucking cool.”
I have to contract this!!
“What's with that weird face.”
Got one.
Drool-worthy. In this situation? I'd planned to drop it on the ground and talk, but it's floating like a legendary holy sword, asserting its presence.
Look at that elegant form. Gotta have it.
[Thinking something weird again nyang.]
“Leave him. Probably thinking it's some game hidden item!! Must get it!! or whatever.”
“Stop mind-reading.”
Ignoring the idiot beside me going “Ahem! Spot on!”. Before the spirit spoke, I cut in first.
“Hey. Spirit.”
「......」
No reply. But the surging wind meant it was listening.
“Listen well. We're the victims. You guys always struck first. Self-defense. Legally recognized too?”
No lies. Ancient spirits and this wind spirit rampaged first. I just subdued them.
A bit personal motive, but ultimately, I did nothing wrong.
Shouldn't they award me instead? That's the nuance. But.
The glare back stung.
[Why does that human lie every time he opens his mouth nyang?]
“Right? None of his contracts were by his own skill.”
[That was a lie too nyang.]
“Benia and Lily are thanks to me.”
[Beat the ancient spirit with lies too nyang.]
“Enough, Lachesis. Reality is harsher. Wanna guess what'll come out of Seong-hoon's mouth next? 'The weak have their ways of fighting' or 'The fooled one's at fault. I'm innocent. If guilty, it's of being too awesome?'”
[You're a genius nyang?!]
“Call me Lee Seong-hoon, authority on psychology, and I'll thank you.”
“.......”
Damn. Too spot-on to argue. But?
People raise voices when speechless. They benefit from my scams but won't shut up.
“You little─”
As I geared up to show Wrathful Lee Seong-hoon (real), instill awe so they'd never ignore me again─
A voice from the scythe.
「Excuse me....」
Voice like an ant crawling. Not the dignified, firm tone from day one, but terrified.
So soft you had to strain to hear.
Me and Raphael blinked in surprise at the scythe.
Voice again.
「I've heard everything from the devil. I was rude.」
“Huh?”
「Sorry. I didn't know. That you command devils and dragons.」
“Huuuh?”
「Making devils repent, taming dragons in bloody battle!!」
What the hell? Couldn't follow. Raphael and Lachesis had question marks popping over their heads too.
「Please contract with me!! Ah!! I'll draw the contract magic circle!!」
Then the scythe moved on its own. What? Staring at it drawing the circle, Raphael spoke up beside me.
“Ah. I sense demonic energy from that spirit.”
“Demonic? From a spirit why?”
“Why do you think?”
“What.”
Asking since I didn't know, but soon figured it out. Seeing it bobbing fearfully while drawing the circle, impossible not to.
“Looks like Lily beat it like a dog.”
Violence that subdues even solemn spirits. What happened in my [Inventory] this past week?
Didn't want to know. Felt like I shouldn't.
“Raphael.”
“Yes.”
“This okay?”
“Picked your nose without touching? Seems fine. Plus, looks like she brainwashed it with praise for you.”
Is it? Profitable? Thinking about it, yeah.
I'd worried how to tame the spirit. This level─
““Jackpot.””
Raphael and I said in unison.