Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Dungeon Survival
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Back in reality, I looked around and turned my neck to loosen up my muscles.
The body in the 'Baekhwan' world was that of a middle or high schooler, still in adolescence. Since it hadn't fully grown yet, my real body felt awkwardly unfamiliar.
'I stayed too long because I liked the situation in the Baekhwan world so much.'
The current Baekhwan world was paradise for me. It was the peaceful period when the protagonist Kyle from the early original story was growing up—a time when I could focus entirely on internal affairs without external interference.
'Open my eyes and have sex, eat and have sex, sleep and have sex... Paradise, pure paradise.'
I was the lord of Tevras. No one opposed me. Yuria had assassinated all the local lords who were rebellious toward me.
'That doesn't mean I can just slack off forever. I should start interfering with Kyle soon...'
I couldn't just let Kyle grow unchecked. If he got too strong, he'd be hard to use and might even become a hindrance.
I sat on the sofa and pulled out my smartphone to fiddle with it. I hadn't spent any points lately, so quite a lot had accumulated.
441 points.
An astonishing amount.
'The bond level achievement bonus points were plentiful.'
I had a lot of slaves, including dwarves. By hanging out with them moderately, reaching bond level 1 was easy.
On top of that, having wild sex every day with the maids in the mansion gave me a decent chunk of bonus points from them.
'And somehow, bond levels seem to rise faster than before. Maybe as my level goes up, bonds improve more easily.'
I couldn't be sure since I didn't know exactly how much bond EXP I was getting. It might just be my imagination.
'My current level is 44. When I hit 40 last time, my inventory and available Play Worlds both expanded by one.'
I had no intention of jumping into a Play World right away.
For the time being, I planned to focus on reality. The Baekhwan world suited me too well. I might lose my modern sensibilities and start living like a medieval noble even here.
'Points are the priority. Alright, where to spend them.'
Actually trying to spend them made me depressed.
Upgrading Yeongcheon Style to level 8 required a whopping 150 points.
'No need to rush Yeongcheon Style...'
Its proficiency was important, sure. But my master-figure, Jin Se-young, had told me to get used to using mana first rather than focusing on Yeongcheon Style for now.
'I think so too. Right now, I need to get familiar with handling mana over Yeongcheon Style.'
I skipped Yeongcheon Style and leveled up Shooting and Lightning traits. 50 points on Shooting and 120 on Lightning, bringing both to level 2.
'Level 3 takes 200 points? Well, Lightning is an insane ability, so I get it.'
Shooting needed 100 for level 3.
'Shooting is essential.'
Shooting affects lightning blasts or dagger throws. The trait is plenty useful in real combat.
'Remaining points: 271. Hmm...'
My eyes went to the Acceleration skill.
'This one's sneakily OP.'
If I suddenly speed up, opponents can't react. It's worth it as a trump card. Also handy for escaping.
'And it doesn't cost much.'
Acceleration hit level 10 after consuming a total of 40 points.
"Ooh."
Instant.
The name alone sounded badass.
I glanced around. Naturally, I wanted to test it right away.
'Acceleration only works if I move.'
So I activated Instant immediately. My mind instantly knew how to use it.
I swung my hand through the air as if slashing with a knife.
My hand moved insanely fast. The fastest I'd ever swung.
"......"
My mouth hung open. Instant's speed was impressive, but not the reason.
When Instant activated, time felt like it slowed down. Meaning Instant affected not just my body, but my perception too.
"Fucking sick."
I set my phone timer nearby and activated Instant.
This time, I stayed still.
Five seconds later, the stack dropped. Instant ended without me doing anything.
'Holy shit. Felt like 35 seconds to me.'
Time is relative, so nothing weird.
'Used right, this is insanely useful. If I'd known it was this broken, I'd have mastered it ages ago!'
The downside: moving while using Instant cancels it immediately.
'Downside, but upsides outweigh it—no biggie.'
I was playing it cool, but I was hyped. With this, I could probably land a hit on B-rank hunter Jin Se-young.
'Hold up. Acceleration Mastered and got nuts. Then this trash-looking Gill Breathing skill... might have potential too.'
Remaining points: 231. Enough for Gill Breathing.
Utterly useless no matter how I looked at it.
'I've got inventory. For long underwater stays, just grab an oxygen tank.'
Total 32 points.
Amount spent to max Gill Breathing at level 10.
"...Whoa."
Beyond my expectations.
I never dreamed that trash skill would evolve like this.
'No cooldown, but costs mana and vitality—meaning I can activate at will just by thinking.'
Gill Breathing, Underwater Living, and Water Strider were toggles. Underwater Recovery seemed passive since no cost.
'Not sure when I'll use it, but... Water Strider looks nuts.'
Walking on water. Probably running too.
'Kuh... Could found a church as a saint in some primitive Play World.'
I was making a fuss, but walking on water wasn't special. Mages could do it with spells. Even non-mages with great mana control—like some hunters—could.
'Even among A-ranks, few can. It's talent-based; even C-ranks sometimes pull it off if they control tiny mana amounts precisely. Not about quantity.'
'Remaining points: 199. Time for stats.'
'Vitality first.'
I'd felt vitality lacking in Baekhwan. Too many women; stamina couldn't keep up.
'A man's best stat is vitality. Pump it highest.'
Spent 50 points to raise Vitality by 5. 10 points per stat point felt excessive.
These were my upgrades. I was satisfied with the balanced spread. Honestly, Intelligence still felt unnecessary, but too low looked bad, so I raised it.
'Last 4 points? Gacha time!'
'...Not total duds.'
Spirit Jewel had appeared before. Not bad. And I had one pull left.
'Here we goooo! Gimme a skill!'
"Jackpotttt!"
I yelled and ran laps around the room. Couldn't contain my joy. I'd figured Random Gacha might have hypnosis items, but now?!
But reading the note, I frowned.
"Fails depending on mental strength...? Fuck. What's the benchmark?!"
Couldn't know without testing. No test subject came to mind.
'Try on Elrain? Nah. She's a mid-tier mage, high mental strength. Don't even need this; I can bang her anyway.'
If relying on items for Elrain, I'd have used aphrodisiacs long ago.
"Sigh."
Whatever. On hold for now.
I pulled a box from inventory. Labeled it 'Special Box'—for special items. Too risky to keep dangerous or valuables in the room, so store in this and inventory.
Inventory's the ultimate safe.
'Let's see. Rest today, university tomorrow... Damn. Long Play World stay messed up my real schedule. Write on calendar?'
I checked the calendar, then stepped onto the balcony for no reason.
A downpour raged. Staring blankly at the rain, I triggered Instant.
'Instant.'
My perception sped up; falling raindrops slowed relatively.
'Instant could dodge falling rain... Nah, too hard.'
Instant ended.
"Hm?"
I tilted my head.
Indoors, Instant lasted ~35 seconds subjectively. Now, ~40 seconds.
'Skill's Mastered, can't level more. If increased suddenly... stats.'
Difference before/after stat ups.
'Intelligence stat?'
Acceleration/Instant don't use mana/vitality. Unaffected by those stats. Intelligence influences skill efficiency.
'Intelligence is decent after all.'
Still miles behind Vitality, though.