Chapter 434
Chapter 434
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 434
Chapter Title: Level Up System
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‘But this isn’t the end.’
The highest stat was Libido.
‘Good. Libido went up.’
These were my current stats and points. I put off spending points for now. That wasn’t what mattered at the moment.
‘Penalty…? What the hell is this…?’
I checked it out in more detail.
There was no obligation to set a Penalty.
‘Ah, this is basically difficulty adjustment.’
Playful.
In other words, it could be called a game.
Some people can’t enjoy a game if it’s too boring. This Penalty setting raises the difficulty of Playful mode.
Assuming the Playful Life app has no limits, I’d get stronger over time. But once I got too strong, life would get boring, and that’s when this Penalty setting would shine.
‘You can set multiple Penalties too. Like dropping stats to normal human levels… restricting traits or skills… limiting inventory so you can’t use items from other worlds. Hell… you can even erase memories of the Playful world.’
The key point was that Penalty settings weren’t mandatory.
If I didn’t want to, I just wouldn’t.
But setting them gave more points and Bond EXP.
‘It’s all about how you use it in the end.’
I clicked my tongue.
‘Shooting was fine at Lv.2…. I’d rather have leveled up Mental Resistance.’
Shooting only needed 100 points to reach Lv.3, but Mental Resistance required 1,000 points per level.
A tenfold difference.
Such a waste.
Acting Lv.1
Grants basic acting proficiency.
‘……I should be happy about a new trait, but…’
It felt iffy.
I thought my acting was decent enough on my own. Picking up women naturally led to getting better at lying.
‘The more, the merrier. Can’t hurt to have it.’
‘Playful Reset! Don’t tell me it’s what I think it is?!’
I quickly looked up info on the Playful Reset Ticket. Detailed info was in the Random Gacha shop.
‘So with this, I can redo Playful worlds used in Quests.’
It was an insane item, no doubt. If the ending didn’t satisfy or the avatar settings sucked, you could restart. I could even play real regressor with it.
Changing an ending I’d already seen sounded fun, but…
‘I have zero desire to use it.’
Vampire Detective.
My foundation. I could bring modern weapons here freely. Drugs too. Plus, the current ‘Vampire Detective’ world was leaping into the future. Overt tech items might appear given time.
The other Playful worlds were progressing well too. No need to reset any. Thinking about redoing them made me nauseous.
‘Might never use this in my lifetime.’
There were infinite fictional worlds I could choose. No reason to obsess over one Playful world.
‘That’s everything from hitting Level 60.’
Now it was time to spend points.
I’d predetermined 1,000 points for upgrading Mental Resistance.
‘Of course. Considering the risks of Heavenly Demon Divine Art… and not just that, mental attacks could come from other Playful worlds too.’
Absolute Mind Lv. Master
The mind remains unshaken by any mental interference.
The Mental Resistance trait had changed.
Absolute Mind sounded great with that word attached.
‘Mental Resistance maxes at Lv.10 as Master, huh. Remaining 205 points…’
I raised Libido to 60 and added 5 to Mana.
Of the remaining 25 points, I used 20 to raise Intelligence by 2.
‘Remaining points for Random Gacha. Let’s go!’
The results were a total bust!
Just one Spirit Jewel and junk like tongs and a pig’s hind leg that anyone could get easily.
‘Sigh…. Thought I’d get lucky on this monumental Level 60 day. Nope.’
It was only 5 points anyway.
I ignored the gacha and scrolled through the list of new Playful worlds to start.
‘Truth is, I already picked which Playful world to enter ages ago.’
‘Level Up System.’
The name alone evoked games or webnovels.
And it was a webnovel.
‘Just an 19+ novel serialized on some site. I’ll snag the protagonist spot right from the start.’
For reference, the protagonist had hypnosis powers.
‘I know this novel. No need to go full overpowered.’
I set one Penalty first.
‘Piling on restrictions isn’t my style.’
This world was my choice for fun.
???
“Sung Junior Staff! What the hell are you spacing out for?! Can’t you see everyone’s busy?!”
A man grabbed my shoulder and shook it. I glared at him with a scowl. He looked late 20s, and looking down at me pissed me off.
“…Sung Junior Staff. What’s with that look? Wanna get punched?”
His name tag read Kang O-uk. Position: Assistant Manager.
“Let go.”
I shook off the bastard’s hand from my shoulder and looked around.
It was an office. About 10 people were working. No idea what they did, but I didn’t have time to slack.
‘If this is the original start point…’
I checked the time on my smartphone.
April 17, 2018. Tuesday. 3:14 PM.
The day the original began, and less than 3 hours until the protagonist got his hypnosis system.
I shot up from my chair.
“Sung Junior Staff. What did you just say?”
Kang O-uk grabbed my arm again. My face crumpled.
“Fuck. You gay? Why the hell are you grabbing my shoulder?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to me. Four female employees, all ugly as sin. Ruined my mood.
“Gay?! Sung Junior Staff, have you lost your mind? I’ve had enough of putting up with you!”
“That’s my line, asshole.”
Already antsy from checking the time, I swung a fist at Kang O-uk’s face.
Thwack!
Kang O-uk staggered. The punch landed clean, but no nosebleed. Thanks to my Penalty, all stats except Libido were at 1.
‘One punch not enough? Hit him more! Acceleration!’
Acceleration
Used. Maintains for 10 minutes. Remaining stacks: 4
I even used a skill as I swung. My fist was at least twice as fast now.
Thwack! Thwack thwack thwack!
“Guhhh… S-stop…!”
Kang O-uk’s nasal bone shattered, front teeth smashed. Blood poured from his broken nose. Legs gave out, and he collapsed.
If I’d had more time and my fists didn’t hurt, I’d have kept going.
“Kyaaaaah!”
“This crazy bastard!”
“Sung Junior Staff! What the hell are you doing?!”
The office erupted in chaos. Potbellied middle-aged men tried to block me. Scowling, I dodged them and bolted out.
“Sung Junior Staff! Don’t make this bigger! Get back here now!”
Some middle-aged guy’s voice boomed. No reason to stop. I ignored him and ran outside.
‘Definitely Seoul… damn. Something’s off from the Seoul I know.’
I hailed a taxi on the road. No wallet, but I got in the back. Money from inventory.
“Where to?”
“Kangchan-dong. How long from here?”
“Ah, there? About 50 minutes…”
“In a rush. Go fast, I’ll double it.”
“Whoa, double! Music to my ears!”
The driver floored it enthusiastically.
I was way more relaxed now. Didn’t know the location or distance earlier, but if I arrived in under an hour, no need to panic.
“Kangchan-dong.”
“Here’s double.”
“Heh… Hope all customers are like you.”
I looked up at Kangchan-dong and smirked. Just like the novel described: a filthy shantytown.
And there, my destination: Kangchan Tree.
Kangchan Tree.
The big tree in Kangchan-dong. Per the novel, at least 500 years old. Locals revered it as a sacred tree, but it was just a tree.
I sat on the rickety bench in front. Mouth tasted bitter. Took 20 minutes to climb here. This body was weak even for a normal person.
I browsed the internet while waiting.
5:50 PM.
As the sky turned deep blue, a tall, lanky guy with an average face showed up. Protagonist An Seung-jae.
He paused when he saw me, then went to the railing by the old tree.
The moment his back was to me, I shot the back of his head with the silencer-equipped pistol from the bench. Instant death. He crumpled and never got up.
“Heh. Don’t worry, I’ll use the power you were gonna get well.”
5:59 PM.
Time.
A golden flame approached from afar.
“You’re here!”
I spread my arms before the old tree, welcoming the flame.
The golden flame seeped into me. A beat later, my body slowly heated up. No pain. Felt good, like impurities burning away.
‘Still going?’
Taking longer than expected. Seemed quick in the novel.
‘Still?’
The sound I’d been waiting for rang out. Precisely, in my head. Eyes closed, but holographic text appeared.
I snapped my eyes open and shouted.
“Status window!”
Status window just like the original. Except my stats were lower than the original protagonist’s.
‘His Power, Vitality, and Agility started at 3.’
Probably the Penalty’s fault.
I thought about viewing Hypnosis info.
Hypnosis
Lv.1
Can implant simple suggestions in targets. Suggestions last 10 minutes. Higher Magic Power increases success rate and duration.
Proficiency: 0%
The power I wanted.
My plan: Grow Hypnosis as fast as possible, kill all men, turn women into my fucktoys.
Start with Three.
Successfully hypnotize three people!
Current successful Hypnoses: 0
All stats +1
“Just like the original.”
I left the body and looked at the stairs. A middle-aged man in a shabby suit was climbing, sweating bullets.
“Wh-what is it?”
He asked, flustered as I blocked him.
I used Hypnosis on him. The key was just thinking about using it.
“Sugela!”
Felt something drain from my body.
His eyes went blank.
“Backflip.”
I commanded the man.
“Yes.”
He immediately obeyed. Started backflipping down over 100 stairs.
Thuds and scrapes echoed. He backflipped diligently and died. Not sure if mid-roll or at the bottom.