Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Damn Purple Hair
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In life, good fortune and misfortune come hand in hand.
That's what they say, anyway.
And what that means is, I'm screwed right now.
"Luuuucy!!!"
"That's not a name you get to call me so casually."
"No, this is ridiculous!! I can call Purple Hair whatever I want— Sorry! Lady Lucy! Lucy Violet! You're the worst!!"
The blade pointed right at me made me flinch for a second, but then I got pissed and just let it rip.
A whoosh of air sliced past my ear, sending chills down my spine.
Her eyes are way too sharp. Cut it out. I'm fragile, you know.
"Die. You're a lifeform that shouldn't exist."
"What are you, the protagonist in some historical drama?!"
No matter how much I yelled, nothing changed. I kept dodging her sword swings with runes and sheer luck.
How the hell did it come to this? Simple reason.
Isia won. I was so thrilled I yelled it out, and then Isia grabbed me by the collar from behind—nearly got myself killed. The only one who tried to stop her was Shin Ga-yeon out of everyone around. Kinda hurtful.
Then Lucy showed up. I propped my feet on the seat in front of me and muttered, 'Hand it over.' Cold sweat pouring, couldn't even meet her eyes.
Oh yeah, Lee Si-woo had been watching from afar, saw the Incantation Disruption and teleported over.
His face was priceless. Absolutely. After getting schooled by that smug jerk and hearing crap like 'Can't open it right now,' I was loving it.
But that was it. That should've been the end of it.
I used up all my luck for the day right there.
"Die, you rat!!"
"Luuuucy!!!"
The guy I fought was ranked around 700th. Should've recognized him from the purple hair. He was a retainer planted by Lucy from the Violet family.
I mean, I knew she had retainers, but no description of what they looked like, obviously. Just vague stuff like 'he' or 'her retainer.' And why the hell is his rank so ambiguously in the 700s?!
He knew all my techniques and weapons, made him a nightmare to fight. Can't even trust the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Lucy and I? Straight-up enemies.
"Damn Purple Hair!!"
"You haven't learned a thing."
The sharp whistle of slicing air came from behind. Me and this guy started playing tag around the arena.
They say people bring out three times their strength in a crisis. It's true!!
"Seong-hoon! What the hell are you doing?! Lose that and don't bother coming home tonight!!"
"Shut up!! Who are you, my wife?! Don't talk to me like I'm some drunk husband stumbling in late!!"
"If you lose, Lachesis is gonna pee on your head while you sleep!!"
Raphael hoisted Lachesis up into the air. Damn cat looked all majestic up there.
Don't give me that lazy nyaaan~. Someone here's fighting for his life.
"Master of the Verdant Heart."
"Whoa, hold up. Hey, aren't we still playing tag? Magic's cheating, right? You hiding your identity? Weren't you disguised as 700th rank just to help out in a pinch?"
"Die."
Damn. Am I speaking Korean or some other language? Communication breakdown.
No choice. I pulled a bunch of runes from my Inventory.
"Ugh, screw it."
Whatever. Let's do this.
I gripped the scythe in one hand, runes in the other, and dove into the fight.
＊＊＊
"Hohohohoho!!"
"Shut up."
"Hohohohohohoho!!"
"I said shut it."
I furrowed my brow at the nonstop noblewoman cackle. My whole body ached. Throbbed like hell.
Even after healing, everything still pulsed. That's why I was still sprawled on the ground.
"Hohoho!!"
Ugh, so damn loud. Tempted to chuck a rune at her.
But one hit and she'd turn me into a kid again. Pass.
"You're gonna get yours someday. Pretending to help, then stabbing me in the back?"
"Oh dear. Maybe you trusted the wrong person?"
"Yeah, that's some classic Seong-hoon line. How's it feel to be on the receiving end? Mirror Heal is OP. I'd be speechless if it were me~"
That's why I'm not saying shit. Damn it.
"You fought well, though. Why so mad if you won?"
I waved off Sophia's words.
"This ain't a win. A perfect victory would've been not taking a single hit and telling that guy earlier, 'Lucy Violet's trash. A moron who lost to Isia.' That'd be perfect."
Lucy, who'd been laughing annoyingly, tried to stomp me after hearing that, so I rolled away.
No, but seriously, it was a brutal win. Five of my precious steel pipes shattered. First time using them against a person since Park Shin-woo.
And after winning, I basically collapsed—no chance for any trash talk. Can you even call this a win?
"Never saw Incantation Disruption coming. When did you grow so much?"
Lucy glared as I rolled away, then flashed a pleased smile. I grinned back smugly.
"You're just weak. I'd have won even without it. 'Cause no one but me trained you."
I smiled, and so did she. She hid it behind her fan this time, but sensing danger, I rolled before she stomped.
Close call. Would've been bad if that landed. The ground where her foot hit was caved in.
Not sure if that's the right word, but it was legit dented.
Would've flattened my face flat.
"I knew you'd win!!"
"Yeah, thanks. Uh-huh..."
I half-assed a reply to Shin Ga-yeon, who sparkled like a puppy, and hopped up. Time for the one who went to meet Lee Si-woo to come back.
She did good, though. Deserves some praise. As I thought that, Raphael yanked my sleeve.
"Seong-hoon. Seong-hoon."
"What."
"Something weird's coming from over there. My instincts are screaming. It's scary."
"Hm?"
Following her pale hand, I saw it. Something rippling black.
Too far to hear footsteps, but they rang crystal clear.
Not step-step or thud-thud.
Boom. Boom.
"?"
As I stared with a question mark over my head, the ground shook harder. An aura sharpened, becoming visible.
I instinctively opened my [Inventory].
"Leeee Seong-hoooon!!"
"Wait, why's she that pissed?"
"No idea. Maybe she got dumped? Angry Isia's terrifying. I'm out."
"Dumped? What dump? My magic isn't wind attribute!!"
"That kind of dump?"
No? I glanced at vanishing Lucy, wrapped myself in the Reaper's Robe. Raphael slipped inside naturally.
Shin Ga-yeon eyed her curiously—first time seeing her—but no time to react.
Looked seriously mad, so run, but I wanted the reason first. Waited till her voice came clear.
"Where do you think you're going? Dad told me everything. You bet on me?"
"Bet? It was a fair match—"
"So all that cheering, helping me full throttle, saying I'd win... all of it?"
Whoa. Scary. Freaking terrifying. Dark mana leaking everywhere—nearly pissed myself. I forced a casual smile.
"Nah, you know how it is. Treasures are tempting!"
"Die!!"
Whoa, almost pissed for real. A dark pillar erupted right under me, but Sophia canceled it with magic. Saved.
Unlike before, that one felt lethal.
Was she really trying to kill me? Then why the tears in her eyes, puffed cheeks?
"You should run."
I nodded frantically, hid in the robe—then peeked out.
"Please. Maid Nos. 2 and 3."
"Aren't I No. 4? Lachesis is 3, right?"
"Oh yeah? Then No. 4. Do me a solid. Calm her down."
"Where you going?"
"Home!! See ya tomorrow!!"
Ignored the 'Get back here!!' and dove in. Calmed my pounding heart, followed the navigation's directions.
"No explosion sounds, right?"
"Nope."
Good. It'll be fine. Fine. Lachesis led us somewhere new.
Not our usual laxly guarded 1000th-rank dorm. This was 700th-rank dorm. Right in front.
I stepped out. Kept Raphael hidden inside to avoid detection.
Walked slowly to the counter-like desk.
"Yes? What can I do for you?"
Just 200 ranks up, and the treatment's this different? Kinda heartbreaking.
I chatted with the smiling receptionist—not even a dorm supervisor. Receptionist.
"I just hit 762nd in the rankings."
"Ah~ Want to move dorms?"
She beamed like she genuinely congratulated me. What? This place was worlds apart from my old rundown apartment vibe.
Who's the bastard who made this setting?
"Yeah. Can I move in today?"
The receptionist tapped her computer, flashed a sales smile.
"Of course. A few rooms left—you can move right in. Register now? You can bring luggage tomorrow."
I nodded. She handed over a keycard with a smile. Room 713.
Nice. 7th floor. Solid height.
Said bye to the receptionist, headed up. A face popped out of thin air.
Blonde girl.
"Whoa! Whoa! What was our old place? If 200 ranks up gets this, what's No. 1's like?!"
"Think palace. With a personal chef."
"For real?! Seong-hoon, let's aim for No. 1."
I pressed down the sparkling blonde head. Yeah, right.
Lifted my hand, and a black cat popped from above. She sparkled too, scanning around.
"Right? Sudden upgrade feels so weird."
Room's gotta be huge. Gotta check bathroom count first. Rich houses have two, they say. Ignored their chatter and walked.
713. Opened the door with the keycard naturally.
"Whoaaaaa!!"
Raphael beat me inside, screaming. Followed and saw a perfectly furnished room.
Not the old shabby homey setup.
Like it was prepped for guests. Multiple rooms too.
"Multiple rooms!!"
Lachesis in human form now, and the damn blonde both yapping excitedly with sparkling eyes.
Dude, solo dorm—why two bathrooms?
Then it hit me. Why multiple rooms?
"Sweet. Tonight, we game. Holiday tomorrow anyway!! Seong-hoon!! Let's grab games!! We can ship luggage right away!!"
Excited Raphael clung to my arm. Damn, chattering like a cicada—loud as hell.
Bed's super fluffy. Just bring my old one. Buy new gaming setup.
Too noisy, so mumbled replies. Better get luggage quick, so headed out to old dorm.
Phone buzzed.
Who? Tilted head, checked screen.
[Bad Guy]
Ignore sender like that. Saw the new message.
"Ah."
Screw my life.