Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: The Lucky Man I
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Shin Noah
1
As I covered in the previous episode, 'monopolizing opportunities' is impossible in this world.
To be more precise, you can do it if you try, but what kind of backlash will hit you later is unknown.
Like a high-carb dessert cake that's bad for your body.
"Hmm."
And I was pondering just like someone on a strict diet facing a delicious cake right in front of them.
A monkey's paw sat on the table.
'Just where does an opportunity end and non-opportunity begin?'
For example... yeah.
To form a connection with Dang Seo-rin as quickly as possible, I make a pilgrimage to Busan's famous eateries.
A premium food tour course made up entirely of Dang Seo-rin's favorite dishes.
This was information I'd gathered by running around on foot myself, over countless regressions.
Does the Luck Total Amount System treat even my regressor's knowledge like this as 'luck'?
'If so, it'd be a bit unfair. My regression ability itself should be treated as luck then.'
I chuckled.
From a little research, it seemed the Luck Total Amount System wasn't that harsh.
I'd earned my regressor's knowledge through sweat, time, and sometimes even my life.
It was a result of persistent effort, not luck falling from the sky.
So, even if I consumed something like the 'Ten Tribes' heart,' an elixir, there were no side effects. O Dok-seo had worried for nothing.
'Hmm. So what level is true luck?'
I couldn't help but get curious.
'Shall I test it?'
Perfect timing. 590th round. For me, who enjoys 'vacation rounds' every 5 or 10 rounds, this was ideal.
I'd regressed, finished my early-game schedule (securing the Saintess, recruiting No Do-ha, etc.).
And this time, I headed straight to Jeju Island.
Jeju's Tutorial Dungeon was already cleared. It had opened way before Busan Station, so that was natural.
Near the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong, I picked up the 'monkey's paw.' Next to the already bald Kuro sprawled out, I made my wish.
"Monkey's paw, monkey's paw. Grant my wish."
-…….
"First. Give me endless luck."
It twitched. The monkey's paw trembled. This must be the right way to wish.
"So, let me enjoy luck I absolutely couldn't have otherwise. Luck so improbable I'd think it's impossible."
-……!
"Second. Let any side effects of luck come find me exactly ten years from now."
-……! ……!
"Third. Even after I make all my wishes, don't turn my body bald until ten years later. That's misfortune too, right?"
-…….
At that moment, eerie laughter echoed from all directions.
-Ukkikikigi! Hee! Ukkiki! Hik!
Monkey laughter. No, like an AI imitating monkey laughter—strangely mechanical sounds.
With those sounds, the monkey's paw suddenly melted into powder.
"Oh."
In paraphrase, probably 'Your wish is granted.'
The powder was all absorbed into my forearm, but at a glance, there was no change in my body.
'So luck starts now.'
What events were waiting for me?
I stayed still at the Seongsan Ilchulbong summit for a bit. But no incidents occurred.
"Hmm."
Did the wish really go through?
Half-doubting, I returned to the mainland.
Even after settling the National Highway Management Corps organization and tackling various schedules for a while, no overwhelming event worthy of calling 'luck' happened.
Just as I thought maybe the Luck Total Amount System wasn't that powerful, so my wish fizzled—
Knock knock.
Someone opened the door to my office. I was staying temporarily at the National Highway Management Corps HQ since I hadn't cleared the Inunaki Tunnel yet this round.
"Who is it?"
-I heard the Korean Peninsula's greatest swordsman is here, so I came.
"Hmm?"
The voice of the knocker was one I'd never heard before.
This was quite surprising. To reiterate, this happened around the 590th round point. By then, I exaggerate not, but I'd met pretty much every human living in Busan at least once.
As Old Man Show said, in case there might be a '[Teleport]' ability user somewhere in the world, I actively networked with strangers as usual.
Yet a completely new voice?
And claiming to seek the Korean Peninsula's greatest swordsman. A highly unique character, and I hadn't met them yet?
"I don't know your business, but come in for now."
-Then excuse me.
The door opened.
How to describe it.
An astonishingly beautiful boy stood there.
"Uh...."
Anyone who's heard my tales so far would know: I don't casually judge others' appearances.
If I use 'beautiful' or 'pretty,' it means the other person has such irresistible charm about their looks that I couldn't hold back without extreme praise.
Like calling a mountain a mountain—you have to call beauty beautiful.
Only about such 'irresistible' faces, miracles nature bestows on humanity, do I describe.
Thus, the boy before me outshone any man I'd seen so far in complexion and had a self-luminous glow.
Gray hair. Not faded by age, but vibrant color. Proof the stranger was an Awakener.
His fashion was unique. Everyday hanbok? No, rags like hemp clothes from the Joseon era.
Outfit that applied a -30 debuff to appearance, yet it couldn't suppress the visitor's aura at all.
I was surprised again.
I'd never seen this person until the 590th round?
Even if I hadn't, with that face, it'd pop up on SG Net all the time?
"Ah, sorry. I stared at your face too much. My apologies."
"No matter."
His voice, too, was incredibly refreshing.
Only then did I notice the visitor's speech was extremely archaic.
I'd been too captivated by the voice's clarity to notice the content.
Hair color and looks totally different, but if there were a 'male version of Go Yo-ri,' it'd be this level.
'Weird. Speech I've heard somewhere before... where was it?'
It didn't come to mind.
The gray-haired beauty boy opened his mouth very politely.
"More importantly, are you the Korean Peninsula's greatest swordsman, the one who severed two Ten Tribes hearts at once, the great Undertaker?"
"Yes? Well, with help from other Awakeners, but yes, my moniker is Undertaker."
"Hmm. Right place."
The beauty boy tapped his waist. Even his finger pose was elegant.
A sword hilt hung at the hemp clothes' waist. Looked like a fake sword, not real.
"I too, though incompetent, walk the path of the martial artist. Hearing of Great Undertaker's fame, I boldly visit uninvited. Please, share one bout of swordplay with me."
"...Uh."
Huh.
Wait a sec.
'Self as 'this seat'? Martial artist? Aluminum fake sword?'
――A terrifying premonition assaulted my mind.
Like a swamp right in front of me, unable to use lightness skill, forced to wade in wearing sandals—a bizarre feeling surged.
But I, Undertaker, master of mental management. I suppressed the ominousness and calmly said,
"...Hmm. I can spar martial arts anytime, but may I ask your name?"
"Oh dear. I forgot self-introduction. As one ages, etiquette should flow naturally, yet I forget—still far from calling myself a Daoist. Ehhe."
Clap.
The boy, looking barely 18, blamed his age and performed a fist salute. The perfect, rigid salute from old Hong Kong movies.
"I am Sword Marquis. Noble of the fallen Syland Duchy far away, and leader of Mount Hua Sect."
"......"
"By great fortune, I recently attained great enlightenment and rejuvenated to youth. But I shan't rest in this realm—true martial artist's duty is relentless training! Thus I seek the strong of the eastern seas, and Undertaker, I request a lesson from you!"
"......"
I'm losing it.
2
Sword Marquis... so the self-proclaimed Sword Marquis, crazy wuxia fanatic beauty boy, was, first off, extremely powerful.
"Ehhehe! Indeed, the world is vast and the martial world full of experts! To think such a profound swordsman exists in this eastern frontier. I've learned a move!"
"Ah, yes......"
In our duel, I won. But for a 590th round regressor, victory is just the default given option.
The problem was the process to victory.
Sword Marquis crossed 101 exchanges with me.
Excluding me, who appears in the Dream-within-a-Dream Great Void as sword ghosts, he was at a level to claim world's best.
He possessed ability enough to hold one frontline against anomalies alone.
An outstanding force joining our side.
I should be thrilled.
Should be.
"Elder... you, hit pretty hard......"
"Eh! However old I am, how can I take lip from a junior ahead in realm? Don't shame this old man."
"Yes......"
"Hmm! I'll stay in Dongnae for a while. I've confirmed my realm still lacks to restore Mount Hua Sect's glory. Undertaker, until I can match you at least, I'll devote myself solely to training."
"......"
What is this.
Why so cringy?
Was this mad wuxia fanatic really like this back in the day? Sword skills this good too?
You expect me to believe this, anomaly?
"Huh."
"......?"
Right. Actually, all this was Go Yo-ri's illusion!
Kuh. To deploy Lunar Flower Mirror without me noticing! Go Yo-ri, scary kid...!
I tried torturing my cheeks with every means. But I didn't wake from the dream.
Damn.
"What's wrong since earlier? A young man shouldn't get into the habit of abusing his body."
I'm thousands of times older than you.
No, that's not the point.
"Um. Elder. You said you underwent bone transformation and marrow shedding, right?"
"Yes, but."
"As you know, the world is so chaotic these days, that transformation might be some anomaly's trick. Could I ask specifically how you encountered that opportunity...?"
"Ah. No matter. The subtlety of enlightenment must be shared among like-minded friends!"
Sword Marquis stroked his chin.
As if a long nonexistent beard grew there.
In short, that level of nonsense bordered on performance art.
"It was when I sat cross-legged on Yuldo Country's beach, pondering a koan."
Yeah. Fishing on Ulleungdo beach, right? Got it.
"But though not yet night, far on the horizon, the sky's color turned to Milky Way."
"......?"
"Yes. I suddenly intuited enlightenment's moment. Day and night's boundary is mere human division; in ceaseless flowing time, endless cycles of flash and dark—the world's affairs are thus. Marveling at night unfolding in day, day in night, proves I'm still trapped in prejudice. Thus, a martial artist with one sword either pushes his stubbornness or accelerates the day perfect truth unfolds—choose one. I realized day remains day with its beauty, night night shining Milky Way; even if instant, gazing at that instant is the individual privilege. Oh! Thus, prolonging this privilege isn't selfishness for me, but devotion to all lives living and dying in instants!"
Sorry to transcribe this long koan fully, but Sword Marquis really said it, so no choice.
Wanted to interrupt midway, but awkward. Sometimes I forget, but Korea's total food production hinged on the elder before me (not anymore).
Couldn't risk upsetting him by cutting in.
"So....... um, after that enlightenment......?"
"Awake, I'd rejuvenated. Ehhehe."
What? That's it?
That's just 'good luck' in one phrase—ah.
Ah!
'Good luck!'
Only then did I recall wishing to the monkey's paw on Jeju a year ago.
Yes.
Sword Marquis 'luckily' 'accidentally' attained enlightenment on the beach and underwent bone transformation.
Pure luck. An opportunity never once in the entire 590th round!
I glanced at Sword Marquis. The old kid or kid elder chuckled.
And.
As will be revealed henceforth, Sword Marquis's rejuvenation was merely the starting point of the 'luck' I'd experience in the 590th round.