Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Fluke of the Backpedaling Cow
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Like a cow backpedaling and accidentally snagging a mouse. Or maybe a side effect of sizing up the culprit through a genius's eyes.
[Senior, that friend you mentioned last time? Turns out he's an incredible inspector. Total opposite personality from me.]
It was definitely a stroke of luck to some degree, but that made the unsettled wrap-up feel even stickier. Then Wednesday rolled around.
In an atmosphere more subdued than usual, the first to seek me out was Baek Sa-young.
"Saturday morning around nine okay? It's near Ganghwa Island, so about an hour tops."
"Sounds good. I'll meet you in front of the dorm."
"Cool. If you're late, we're leaving without you, so don't be."
The misunderstanding lingered, but the awkward vibe had mostly cleared up, making it much easier to deal with her.
"H-Ha-yul. You protected Reina, huh? Should've given me a heads-up at least."
Next came Cheol-su, his regret plain as day. Then Lee Min-ha.
Finally, Professor Cha Myung-hwan, right before his lecture.
"Tsk tsk. Why drag out someone with barely enough time to study."
Dealing with the growing number of people who'd started showing up bit by bit kept me busy from morning.
Only after class started did I get some time to myself.
I set aside Heavenly Silent Temple training for now and stared at my next target's back of the head.
"Assassination Squad founding date: 1098. Memo memo."
Cheon Seo-yoon wasn't dozing off today for once—she was actually into the lesson.
Was it Han Su-hyuk's visit that finally ignited her late-blooming thirst for knowledge? Too early to say.
She'd nod off again in no time, after all, like always.
Anyway, the Baek Sa-young business was more or less wrapped up, so now it was time to think about nurturing Cheon Seo-yoon's growth. The direction was already set.
"Smooth manifestation of Neural Force."
Cheon Seo-yoon was at the prime age to hone her Neural Force when she bolted from the Cheon Family and missed her window.
Now she couldn't even manifest it if she wanted to.
But she'd acquired a new trait as a springboard for a comeback, and if left alone, she'd get the hang of it on her own after midterms next semester.
This wasn't the original story anymore, though—incidents were popping up like clockwork. I couldn't just sit back.
So I needed to accelerate her Neural Force proficiency to match the ramped-up difficulty...
Easier said than done.
The root of Neural Force is a calm mind. The stillness amid motion to control wild energy.
Her personality was the polar opposite of mine, making advice tricky. Plus, we weren't close enough for a serious heart-to-heart...
Our bad blood started with the necklace and eased up after the Roberto incident. Still, I wasn't in a position to straight-up advise her.
"Tough one."
I pondered hard, staring at innocent Cheon Seo-yoon's back of the head.
That's when our eyes met—her yawning and stretching.
"Yawn... Hm?"
"..."
A brief awkward stare-down, then she mouthed what? with a pouty frown.
Yep...
Still too soon.
Especially today—she looked extra prickly.
Show goodwill, and she'd take it as malice and do the opposite.
I shook my head the moment I confirmed it, and she didn't like that, mouthing even bigger.
What're you glaring at? it seemed to say.
But that exaggerated, attention-grabbing gesture...
"Tsk tsk, just as I thought. Daydreaming again, are we?"
Professor Cha Myung-hwan's bark was unavoidable.
"Huh? No, that's not it. That jerk... I mean, Park Ha-yul..."
"What's Park Ha-yul done? Why poke at someone quietly listening?"
"No, he's glaring at me..."
Cheon Seo-yoon shot me an indignant look, but I quietly turned back to my textbook.
* * *
I headed straight to the dorm after class.
[A package has arrived.]
The antiques I'd ordered over the weekend had shipped.
I eagerly picked up the parcels and set them on my desk.
I unpacked the double-wrapped boxes with mana, lining up the items, and started with the least intimidating brush, activating Appraisal.
[Nameless Poet's Fountain Pen]
[Description: A high-end fountain pen used by an unknown poet in a small village in western France.]
Purchase price around 1.5 million won.
About a century old, excellently preserved for its history, but no special effects. Pure display antique.
But.
What if I reinforced it with SP to add an effect? What would its value be?
"Hmm."
I pondered what effect would boost its value most.
Considering a fountain pen's function, something like "Master Calligrapher" or at least "Handwriting Correction" would fit.
"Who uses fountain pens these days anyway."
They're more accessory than writing tool now.
Even with master calligraphy, limited use means it's just a shiny paperweight.
So target the niche crowd who buck the trend: those with money to burn or frequent signers in high positions. Cater to their psychology.
That is.
[Adding 'Subtle Dignity' effect to 'Nameless Poet's Fountain Pen.']
[Your commanding presence rises slightly when seen by others.]
[Calculating required SP.]
[Calculation complete.]
[Required SP: 5]
[SReinforce?]
Slight effect, but minimized SP cost.
Not bad, so I started the reinforcement.
[Nameless Poet's Fountain Pen]
[Grade: Common (Low)]
[Description: A high-end fountain pen used by an unknown poet in a small village in western France.]
[Effects]
-Subtle Dignity (Boosts outward prestige)
Let's see...
I tucked the pen into my uniform jacket pocket and stood before the mirror.
Somehow more dignified and solemn than before. A total transformation...
...Not quite.
Honestly, hard to tell.
My upgraded original mug already oozed class anyway.
I paced in front of the mirror a while before eyeing the other antiques.
The pendant necklace with a pinky-nail-sized jade—added skin texture improvement for beauty plus utility.
The priciest one, the Vajra Twin-Headed Serpent leather coat...
['Adding size adjustment function to 'Vajra Twin-Headed Serpent Leather Coat.']
[Reinforcing...]
[!]
[Reinforcement process triggers rare luck.]
Huh?
[Some traits of the Vajra Twin-Headed Serpent are added as effects.]
[Vajra Twin-Headed Serpent Leather Coat]
[Grade: Rare (Low)]
[Description: Coat made from the leather of a demonic beast with two heads, wielding both fire and ice attributes. Durable enough to block light blades without damage.]
[Effects]
-Size Adjustment (Shrinks or expands to fit owner.)
-Temperature Maintenance (Blocks temperature effects, keeps comfortable always.)
"Using luck like this?"
I gawked, stroking the glossy black leather coat.
It was a stat in my status window, but so niche I'd treated it as nonexistent. Who knew it'd proc like this.
"But why hasn't it triggered once until now?"
I glared at the empty air, full of gripe.
[Your Luck stat is below average.]
Facts hit hard—no retort.
...
Anyway, perfect timing for this(?) item.
Effects perfect for Demonic Space.
So, exclude the coat; sell the other two antiques.
No—now they're lifestyle armaments with effects.
I booted up my laptop to log into Demon Hunt Net.
My trait made official channels iffy, so dark web sales it was.
Messages piled up upon login.
[Bro, let's link up soon.]
[Bro??]
[Not hitting dungeons lately?]
[Getting worried, hit me back when you see this.]
It was Cheon Seo-yoon.
She really was nosy and loyal like that.
Hard to grasp after just a day of connection.
Impossible to understand from my side.
Ah.
A decent idea flashed.
What if I approached as nickname 'Doomed' like the Special Task Force? Might work.
But I dropped it quick.
No long-term value.
No identity perks, and stacking non-magic characters just ups exposure risk.
Better not get greedy and regret later.
"Still got time."
I shelved Cheon Seo-yoon worries and focused on auction listings.
Fountain pen starting bid 10 million won, pendant 20 million.
Tenfold markup each.
Armaments or not, generous pricing.
* * *
Time flew to Saturday 9 AM, my appointment with Baek Sa-young.
Coat on, at the dorm gate—she waved in tracksuit, then puzzled.
"What? Why so dressed up? Hot, right? I'm sweating like this."
"Well..."
Yours is clothes. Mine's armament.
"Let's head out."
She led; I followed, twin-serpent leather billowing.
Portal to near Ganghwa, then ferry to Seokmo Island.
"Okay, photo op first."
"Kim's not here for pics, what's up."
Crowds thronged for the holiday...
Demonic Space entrance: Seokmo Island must-see, Bomun Temple.
Specifically, before the famed Eyebrow Rock Stone Buddha Statue.
Hence, couldn't enter right away.
"Here."
"Huh? Oh, thanks."
I pulled a prepped drink from sub-space pouch for her.
Sipped while squatting awhile.
An hour later, lunch rush thinned tourists.
I tapped her shoulder.
"Gone. Let's go."
"Cool."
We dashed to the statue.
"How do we get in?"
"Eye contact with the Buddha."
"That's it? Easy."
I played dumb, gripping her collar.
Eye contact was secondary.
Demonic Space reacted to special blood in her veins.
Vestige of her vanished clan.
"I'll jump once."
She kicked off to match eye level; I timed my leap.
That instant.
Whoosh—
Body floated, vision blacked out.
* * *