Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: New Specialization (2)
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...Hold on a second.
Specialization's a specialization, I've got a passive skill, fine, whatever.
But it's not just stats, right?
"Achievements."
...Oh!
The achievements have gone up to five now!
Numbers two through five are blinking!
Corrupted Bodies...
Bodies of evil?
No, more like...
Bodies tainted by evil...
Yeah, that fits better.
...Bodies tainted by evil, huh.
Hmm...
Anyway, nice!
I've racked up a decent number of achievements!
I tapped number two.
...?!
Tat... Tattoo?!
What tattoo?!
I shot to my feet and checked my body all over.
Nothing?
Tattoo? What the hell tattoo?!
Ugh, I hate tattoos!
That's when something like wispy smoke started rising from the back of my right hand.
A pattern emerged from the smoke.
A burning flower?
That's what it looked like at first glance.
A bizarre tattoo of overlapping circular rings slowly formed on the back of my right hand.
Not just the back of the hand.
It extended past my wrist and partway up my forearm.
"......Fuck."
I said I hate tattoos.
Who the hell decided to do this to my body?
I rubbed at it, but it wouldn't come off.
I went into the bathroom, slathered on body wash, and scrubbed like mad with a body scrubber towel, but nothing.
...It's a real tattoo.
I crouched down with a soapy shower mitt, grinding away at the back of my hand until I finally gave up.
"...Ah, fuck."
I buried my head between my knees and let out a heavy sigh.
"...Whew."
...Fuck it, it's already there. What can I do?
Tomorrow, people are gonna flip when they see my hand.
Waking up one morning with this flashy tattoo right on the back of my hand.
"Ugh... fuck."
I rinsed my hand roughly with water and went back to my bedding.
Fuck, the back of my hand is bright red from all the rubbing.
"Status."
Eh?
Not status.
I meant achievements. Slipped my mind.
This sudden tattoo has me all rattled.
?!
Another new skill.
Passive, huh.
...Soul Tattoo?
I tapped it.
...Immune to evil?
...Huh?
Oh, right. The Human Beasts transmit it through bites.
Immunity means I won't turn into one even if bitten.
...Hmm...
Is that good?
If I think I'm about to get bit, I can just use Acceleration and bolt anyway.
Did I really need to get a fucking tattoo on my hand for that...
Ugh, tattoo...
...Anyway, got it.
"Achievements."
Hmm.
Three onward are blinking.
Three... Yeah, I've killed over a hundred.
Alright, number three.
......What the actual fuck...
I blinked slowly at the message.
I didn't even have the energy to curse anymore.
What the hell now.
Where's this tattoo gonna show up.
Smoke billowed from the back of my left hand.
Of course.
They wrecked my right, so naturally the left gets wrecked too.
I pressed a hand to my forehead and sighed.
I've hated tattoo thugs since I was a kid.
Always peeking at the ones hidden under uniforms or gym clothes, bragging about their "bros" and shit, extorting kids and acting tough until I beat the crap out of them.
Wasn't one of those punks outside the convenience store a tattoo guy too?
Tattoos are so great, huh.
Couldn't it have been somewhere less visible, like the thigh or chest?
Why the back of the hand, of all places? So hard to hide.
Ugh, fuck.
I held up my left hand.
Identical to the right.
Just perfectly mirrored, left-right symmetric.
"...Haa..."
...Don't get pissed.
Don't lose my temper.
"Hoo..."
I took deep breaths to calm myself.
Ugh. Let's grab something to drink at least.
I opened the fridge and...
...it's pretty stocked.
Hot bars, chocolate, cola, soda, even beer—packed full. Snacks, I guess?
Who stocked this?
Probably Su-hyun, but Ye-eun and So-eun have been in and out of the rooftop too.
...Hmm...
Anyway, the girls did it.
Thanks.
I didn't bring jack from the mart.
Beer?
...Yeah, like I'd sleep after chugging booze in this mood.
I grabbed a cola and cracked it open.
Hiss—
Oh, that sound!
Gulp gulp.
"Kah-!"
Ah, refreshing.
That stinging in my throat—pure carbonation bliss.
"Haa..."
Cola in hand, I headed back to my bedding.
Tattoo? It's there now. Can't be helped.
"Status."
The status window confirmed it—the skill had changed.
[Passive - Soul Tattoo Lv. 2]
Yeah.
Level 2.
I tapped it.
.....Hmm....
Illness immunity?
Like, no catching colds or whatever?
Injury recovery is pretty...
Not bad.
Illnesses and injuries.
And minor ones at that.
Means as the level goes up, it'll get better effects, probably.
Leveling the tattoo might actually be...
...Almost convinced myself it's fine.
No.
I fucking hate tattoos.
I pressed my forehead and muttered.
"...Achievements."
Alright.
Two left now.
Four... five...
...Okay. Five first.
?!
...Maintenance Gloves?
I jumped to my feet.
Looked around. Nothing.
Waited a bit. Still nothing.
...What?
Gloves should appear on my hands or something, right?
That's what gloves are.
...Ah.
"Inventory."
...Oh!
Maintenance Gloves appeared!
I immediately tapped the Maintenance Gloves.
Faint white smoke rose from my hand, and a pair of dark brown gloves materialized.
Super soft, rich brown leather gloves.
They covered just the back of the hand and palm, with openings for the fingers—nice and supple leather.
What're these?
I slipped them on.
Feels good.
They clung perfectly to my hands, like they were custom-made from precise measurements.
There's even a button at the wrist—click, locked. They fit snug and comfortable as hell.
...But what do these gloves even do?
I rubbed my hands together.
...They don't rub off!
Not even a budge!
Oh, nice.
With these, no dropping whatever I'm holding!
I stood and drew my sword.
Shing—
Whoa, the grip!
This is insane!
But...
Smoke's rising from the sword.
...What is this?
The smoke slowly dissipated.
...Ooh...
The shine...!
The sword gleamed brilliantly!
Like it just came fresh from the forge!
Even the faint bloodstains were completely gone!
"...Ooh."
The polish is no joke.
I glanced at the blade under the light—it reflected the bulb in a dazzling sheen.
It's not just clean.
It feels sharper too.
I spotted a snack bag crumpled in the corner.
Grabbed it and held it over the sword.
Blade up, dropped the bag.
Swish—
"...!"
...The plastic bag...
Super tough plastic, but it sliced clean through like nothing and fluttered to the floor.
No sound at all.
Just that swish feeling.
Sharper than a razor blade.
"...Fuck."
...Maintenance Gloves.
Gloves that keep any weapon you're holding in perfect condition.
...Got an insanely OP item.
I stared at the sword, chest swelling with emotion.
The tattoos on my hands? Completely forgotten.