Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: A Satisfying Dream
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Rain was falling in a fine drizzle on a night with no forecast for it.
A bolt of lightning struck down like a dagger, its blinding white flash illuminating the man standing by the window.
In that instant, a chilling underside was revealed.
Eyes bloodshot with excitement, lips twisted in a sneer.
Rumble.
The laughter he let out, leaning into the thunder, was as grotesque as a demon's, utterly sinister.
But this was merely the raw face hidden behind a mask no one could see, his intimate truth.
"...Um, Mr. Roberto?"
A shy woman's voice calling for him made it vanish like a mirage.
Roberto turned around, once more the epitome of a refined gentleman, and chided the female student clutching the hem of her red dress.
"It's lovely. Enough to make the heavens jealous."
"R-Really? I feel so awkward. I was worried I'd tarnish your work..."
"No, nothing of the sort. I think it captures Miss Hye-jin's unique charm perfectly. That shy smile of yours is like a bellflower blooming in a rocky crevice."
"Ah..."
Roberto extended his hand to the female student, whose cheeks flushed pink.
Mindful she might step on the hem, he led her careful steps to the prepared chair and seated her.
"Pardon me."
A single word was enough as he brushed back her hair.
Though it was just the artist's touch checking her state, the female student couldn't contain her pounding heart and bit her lips tightly.
"This should make for a fine piece. If we add music that fits the mood..."
His hand hovered near her face before moving to the turntable on the table.
As the sharp needle spun along the LP, majestic music filled the room.
Paganini, 24 Caprices.
Amid the violin melody surging like a storm, Roberto whispered.
"You mentioned a sickly younger sibling? You'll dream a dream you won't want to wake from."
And shortly after.
Caprice No. 9's duet of high and low tones like tolling bells, Caprice No. 13's variations evoking the devil's laughter...
Scratch-scratch-scratch-scratch.
His pencil-wielding hand danced to the lingering notes.
Lines resembling the model etched onto the canvas, and as those lines formed a single shape, the studio was soon enveloped in thick, crimson smoke.
It was the hallucinogenic Roberto magic descending.
Rumble—
Outside the window, a downpour raged with flashing lightning and thunder.
Inside, Roberto's eyes gleamed even brighter, the room filled with the female student's sobs and gasps, her eyes half-lidded as if truly dreaming.
Meanwhile, the performance raced toward its finale.
The long-awaited Caprice No. 24.
Just as its dazzling arpeggio, flawless as a finale, was about to resound.
Thud.
Roberto set down his brush.
The magic that had permeated the space, the madness that rippled through, all faded in an instant.
All that remained was the female student slumped in a daze and the grotesquely distorted portrait of the red woman she had inspired.
"Was it a satisfying dream?"
Roberto asked with a face colder and more indifferent than before.
The female student's head, sprawled on the floor, nodded up and down. A single tear trickled from beneath her vacant eyes.
"You made the right choice. A present dream is better than an unattainable reality..."
With that, an irreversible contract was sealed.
The female student chose eternal subjugation over burying herself in unattainable illusions—in exchange for her dying sibling's revival.
Soon, a massive castle rose behind the portrait of the red woman.
As the gates opened and swallowed it whole, the canvas returned to blank as if nothing had happened.
"There's one thing you must do for me tonight."
Roberto called for Kim Hye-jin with a peculiar smile.
* * *
Rain was falling in a fine drizzle on a late spring night.
"Ah, I'm starving."
I headed straight to the drawer upon returning to the dorm from the hunting ground.
All I had were a few cups of instant ramen, but beggars can't be choosers.
I'd barely eaten all day, my stomach practically glued to my back, so I grabbed one at random.
I boiled water quick, poured it in, and sat at the table.
After waiting three minutes that felt like thirty, I popped the lid, steam rising invitingly.
I shoved in the noodles first and chewed slurpingly.
Slurping down the hot broth too, I finally felt alive.
I inhaled more noodles like sucking them up and checked my phone.
Not that I expected any messages—it was just habit.
"Already?"
But what, it wasn't KakaoBank or anything...
It had only been two hours since we parted, and here was the settlement notification.
[280 million won deposited after fees.]
[Good work, Terminally Ill sir. I'll treat you like VIP for life, so hit me up anytime you need the hunting ground. -Poison Stench-]
Well...
Talk about handling business so cleanly it shatters any gangster stereotypes.
Slurp slurp.
I kept chewing, grinning ear to ear.
I had to scrape together funds for the succession battle down the line, but earning money always feels good, regardless.
"Wonder how much is in there."
While at it, I opened the banking app to check my balance.
Soon, the familiar yellow screen showed the numbers.
What the—how much?
One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... 400 million?
[Balance: 429,500,000 won]
I thought I'd misread, but then a memory flashed.
"The insurance payout."
At the auction, the Lorelei Necklace's winning bid—they'd compensate double that, and sure enough, 400 million had come in.
I gazed proudly at the balance...
"No. Can't end it like this."
My thoughts flipped, and I shook my head.
It wasn't enough for the effort and merit I'd put in.
If I hadn't been the buyer of that necklace, whoever it was...
Would be dead.
Even if it was Cheon Seo-yun, they'd have been gravely injured, life-threatening.
But 200 million?
Isn't that stingy for a life-saving fee?
To the Cheon Family, the club, evaluations, hunting ground.
I'd been too busy to press, but I couldn't back down now.
"Gotta squeeze at least another 200 million."
That was when I steeled my resolve over the instant ramen.
Bzzz.
My phone buzzed suddenly.
[Hyung-nim. Made it back safe? Let's meet again sometime. ...And stay healthy.]
Cheon Seo-yun via Demon Hunt Net messenger.
Her unusually polite tone tempted a reply, but I let it sit.
We probably wouldn't meet again anyway.
"More importantly..."
A postponed task came to mind, so I finished eating quick and opened my sub-space pouch.
I carefully reached in and pulled out the unidentified object—the star's flower bud.
[Flower Bud Embracing the Star's ???.]
[Grade: ???]
[Description: Placenta of ?? containing star essence. Can bloom by absorbing specific person's ?? and ???.]
An item(?) absent from my memories, brimming with pure demonic power, unknown settings.
And something evil hates...
['Greed' says if you back off now, no bloodshed will...
]
Why wasn't it showing?
"No."
I cut off the guy's message cold.
Focusing back on the bud, I cautiously touched it and activated Appraisal.
Suuuuck.
Far more mana drained than expected, revealing full info.
[Flower Bud Embracing the Star Fairy.]
[Description: Placenta of a fairy containing star essence. Absorb blood to bloom. Final form varies by emotions absorbed during growth. Other details veiled.]
But what the hell is this.
Not an armament or elixir... a fairy?
I know divine beasts, but fairy? Not Tinkerbell or something.
If anything, this thing feels like Greed's kin...
['Greed' says how dare you...]
"Quiet."
Nothing to lose, so I went for it.
Feeling an odd premonition, I manifested the Loyalty Guard dagger.
Tempted to slice my Greed-infused right hand, but manners first—I cut my left instead.
Drip drip.
I let the flowing blood drop.
The pink-tinged bud absorbed the red droplets.
[The flower bud absorbs your blood.]
[Beginning preparations for blooming.]
[Feed blood once a day until fully colored.]
[Expected 40 to 60 days minimum.]
[Place in sunny spot, maintain indoor temp at 20°C. If chilly, turn on lamp and nurture.]
[Speak positive words like 'pretty' and 'I love you'.]
...
What, this detailed? But it's life, so I couldn't ignore.
I cradled the bud like a sacred relic, moved to the desk, and set it under the stand light.
It was getting chilly evening...
['Greed' says it's beyond absurd, downright infuriating.]
...Really?
His sarcasm irked me, but I couldn't deny it.
Still, gotta finish what I started.
I cleared my throat and murmured softly.
"Hey, you're pretty."
* * *
Meanwhile, Joo Ah-rin, fresh from a shower, was drying her hair.
As black silk-like strands fluttered, the pleasant shampoo scent cleared her cluttered mind.
Knock knock knock.
A knock at this late hour?
Who could it be?
Puzzled, she peeked out—familiar face.
"Fancy some late-night grub after ages?"
Cheon Seo-yun grinned, waving a chicken bag.
"Not tonight..."
Too tired to accept, but then she spotted another bag in Cheon Seo-yun's hand.
A cluster of beers, misty with condensation straight from the fridge.
"You've been cooped up in the dorm all day. If it doesn't hit the spot, no biggie..."
"No. Come in."
Joo Ah-rin switched gears fast. She flung the door wide, stepping aside invitingly—not just words.
"Then, pardon the intrusion."
Cheon Seo-yun slipped in, heading to the table.
Thus, a modest chicken-and-beer spread was laid.
Starving Cheon Seo-yun tore into the chicken, while Joo Ah-rin savored the beer she'd been craving—perfect timing, since hers had run out.
"But didn't you hate beer?"
"Just the crisp taste, that's all."
"Ah..."
Obstacle cleared smoothly, luckily.
But what good fortune lit her up?
Cheon Seo-yun looked different from yesterday too. Unable to hold back curiosity, Joo Ah-rin probed gently.
"You feeling better now? You look great."
Cheon Seo-yun's chicken leg-holding hand paused briefly.
She seemed to ponder, chugged her beer, then nodded and spoke.
"Ahh, not fully. Maybe 70%? Slurp. Truth is, I went out somewhere today."
"Where?"
"Hunting ground."
"Wait, hun—hunting ground?"
"Yeah, Suri Mountain Hunting Ground."
"Hey, are you insane?!"
Joo Ah-rin yelped in shock, and Cheon Seo-yun waved frantically.
"Hear me out first. I met this hyung-nim there, see..."