Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Reading the Room
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"Then I'll see you later."
"Sure, head on in. Oh, right—I almost forgot to tell you about that."
"?"
As I rose from my seat and headed for the door, Barkus called out to me.
"You'd better watch your step. Word about you is spreading all over the streets. Know what I mean?"
The old man lifted an eyebrow, his face turning deadly serious.
"You've been marked as a person of interest. I'm not saying your skills aren't the real deal, but don't underestimate the guard captain who protects this city. He's nothing like that mustache-twirling Bronte clown—he's the genuine article."
"You know him well, I take it."
"Hmph, know him? Back when I was still above board, he was just a green recruit with promise. ...Though he's a monster now."
The old man's face grew solemn as he lit a cigarette.
"Anyway, be careful out there."
"Thanks for the heads-up."
"Don't get the wrong idea. I just don't want to lose a guy who gets the job done. You're the best out of all these outsiders—what can I do? Now get going."
Barkus clearly thought highly of me. The way he looked out for me said it all.
Clank. After wrapping up the deal and stepping outside, a few people were waiting for me on the harbor street—the survivors who'd made it out of the gauntlet with me earlier.
"Here, take this."
"It's our way of thanking you for saving our lives."
The sixteen survivors each offered me something. I waved them off, insisting it was fine.
"But still, you saved us..."
"Really, it's okay. If you want to repay the favor, just survive somehow. Come find me once you've grown strong and made it big. I'll accept then."
Their faces softened with warmth, as if they'd never experienced such kindness in this brutal world.
They bowed deeply in gratitude once more, then dispersed one by one.
Piiiieek—
I started walking along the harbor too, but a horn blared from afar, drawing my eyes to the sea.
The sun was dipping below the horizon, the floodgates slowly closing. The red glow lingered brightly for a final farewell before fading into darkness.
In short, night was falling.
I fiddled with the new map in my pocket.
'Noble district, huh...'
Information from here on was scarce. Only one person had scouted that far: Death God Isera. She was the key to all this intel.
But in this round, Isera had no clue about what her first-round self had done. She was just prancing around in her head full of flowers.
'First things first—rendezvous with the group.'
Thud! After watching the gates seal shut completely, I headed toward the ancient sewers where the others were waiting.
That's when it happened, as I turned into an alley.
'Hm?'
Five men who looked like they belonged to the Black Anchor Merchant Company blocked my path.
"What is this?"
"......"
They ignored my question, glancing instead at something behind me.
Clack, clack.
Footsteps approached from behind, belonging to a sharply dressed figure. Slender build, but the chilling aura screamed anything but ordinary.
Smoke curled from between pursed lips, and beyond it, I could see her info.
2.5 times an ordinary soldier's stats.
Impressive. But beyond the power, the name rang a bell.
'...So this is one of Haran's three executives, huh?'
Short bob cut.
Thick lips and a prominent nose that evoked a foreigner.
Cold eyes slicing through the dark. A scar crossing her lips.
Her appearance screamed far from ordinary. A woman was a bit unexpected, though.
"Outsider, you seem to know who I am."
"Why are you here?"
"Heard you've been lounging around our turf, eating and sleeping like you own the place. Without us sweeping up after you, you'd be dodging thieves left and right."
"......"
"Hey, ignorance is bliss, right? Can't blame you for not knowing—unless you're a god. But we don't clean up for free, either."
Boiled down: If I wanted to farm their area, pay up. A "info fee" toll. An intriguing offer.
"And if I say no?"
"......"
Truth be told, I could play nice with her. She was, after all, part of the Black Anchor Merchant Company that ran Haran.
Generous payment might even get her to handle my cleanup.
'But coming at me like this after sowing discord and putting hits on me? No thanks.'
It soured my mood, and there was no guarantee she wouldn't pull the same stunt again. You couldn't trust her type.
"...So you're picking a fight with me? You'll regret it."
"Regret what?"
Above all, I had no reason to deal with some executive lackey.
Because the info I wanted came solely from Barkus. Intel from his days as supreme commander—that's what I needed.
So the only one whose favor I had to curry was that old man.
"And strictly speaking, the one who'll regret this is you."
Inope dropped her cigarette, grinding it underfoot as her eyes gleamed.
"...This outsider's got some guts."
A chill ran down my spine from her killing intent. Those razor-sharp eyes had drowned plenty of men. Her underlings shifted.
I counted the enemies front and back.
'Let's see... eleven total.'
Inope was tough, but it was laughable. Fresh off a deadly game of hide-and-seek with a thousand soldiers, this felt trivial.
'Still, can't screw up with the high ground right in front of me.'
Barkus had just handed me his trust and the map. Touching his men might sour things.
'So I need to dodge this fight...'
I smirked at Inope and her gang closing in, loosening up. The solution was simple.
"If you're so pissed, go complain to Barkus together."
"......"
"Or ask those eyes watching us nearby—they can vouch for you."
They froze, scanning around. Instant effect. A testament to Barkus's towering presence here.
I grinned at the terrified bunch.
"What'll it be? If that's the gripe, let's hash it out with Barkus."
Their faces crumpled. They knew their actions weren't above board.
Grind. Inope gnashed her teeth.
"You little shit..."
She wanted me dead, but this was right next to Black Anchor turf. And Barkus's potential watchers had her spooked.
After agonizing, she stepped closer, eyes darkening, growling low for my ears only.
"You're lucky, outsider. But watch your back from now on. You never know when a knife might find you in the dead of night."
"Whoa, are you threatening to kill me right now?"
I bellowed it loud. Inope flinched, clamping a hand over my mouth, stammering in panic. Her face twisted in embarrassment as she hissed.
"You wanna die for real?"
"Didn't you just say you'd kill me?"
"...Shut up."
She spun on her heel and bolted with her crew. What a clown.
'Whoops, no time for this. The others are waiting.'
Inope must've feared Barkus bad—she never showed up in the dead of night.
From 7 PM to 11 PM, we took shifts sleeping and rose to prep: washing up, gearing out.
I finished my prep and stepped out for some air, only to find the Saintess already sitting outside, gazing at the moon.
"......"
She sat alone, staring at the moon.
But something was off.
Her face looked downcast.
"Ha-na?"
"Y-yes? Oh, Min-jun."
"Everything okay?"
"Oh, no, nothing's wrong. Really."
But shadows clouded her face. I knew the one reason my Saintess would look this glum.
"It's tough, isn't it?"
"Pardon?"
I plopped down beside her.
"Stealing and all that. It wears on you."
"I'm really fine..."
"For real?"
I stared her down until she gave an awkward smile, fidgeting with her fingers.
"...Truth is, I don't like it much."
Yeah, figured.
Infinitely gentle and kind Saintess. If Earth hadn't gone to hell, she'd have been used and abused till the day she died—such a tragic soul.
That's what I figured was eating at her.
'Just like in Round 1.'
Theft, robbery, murder... The trials demanded brutality, and she agonized over each one, crumbling mentally.
Eventually, her psyche rotted beyond even Recovery Authority's reach. To shield her, Sea God Guild—no, all humanity—banded together so she'd only see the good stuff.
At least in the rest areas.
But here's the fun part:
'Right now, the Saintess looks happier than in Round 1—by a mile.'
I puzzled over the difference at first, then it hit me.
'In Round 1, her torment came from all the good people around her.'
Birds of a feather flock together. But it doesn't always breed positivity.
Take a trial where you must kill to pass: Everyone wailing "What do we do?!" for moral reasons.
Our ultra-kind Saintess, already too soft, forced to kill in that atmosphere?
Her mind not shattering would've been the miracle.
These days, though, she seemed way happier than Round 1.
Makes sense—our party was a pack of weirdos, right?
— "Sis, why apologize? This area's gonna vanish later anyway. These stolen goods would thank us for putting 'em to good use before they do."
— "Yeah, but they don't wanna vanish."
— "Enough obvious bullshit—keep looting. Time's ticking."
— "......"
Watching us commit crimes like it was nothing, guilt-free, she got swept up: 'R-Really? Is it okay?' That was the vibe lately.
Same now.
"Whew, but I have to adapt. Everyone's busting their asses—I can't just whine."
The unmotivated Saintess clenched her fist with resolve.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I'll change. I won't be dead weight like in the first trial, waiting for others... No! Today, I'll loot the most!"
"......"
No pep talk needed—she was suddenly fired up, burning with determination.
'...Seo-yeon's changed a ton this round, but so has our Saintess.'
People really are products of their environment.
But over twenty years of Earth's civilized norms wouldn't vanish overnight.
True to her kind nature, she'd agonize again soon. So I smiled warmly.
"If it ever gets too much, tell me. Don't suffer alone. Get it?"
"Psh, no worries! A quick heal fixes that!"
She cast recovery on herself.
Having seen her limits before, I grabbed her side and pulled her into a hug. She melted into me, eyes widening.
"It means throw a tantrum at me sometimes."
"Oh..."
[Song Ha-na's favorability toward you has greatly increased.]
Finally getting it, she beamed happily.
"I'm so glad I met you, Min-jun."
I smiled back.
"Yeah. Here, help me out."
I groped her ass, sliding her pants down. She yelped in surprise, glancing at the door like a cat before hunting prey, then knelt quietly, burying her face in my crotch.
Slurp, slurp.
She lavished my cock with lips and tongue.
'Feels good. The goddess worshipped by all... too revered for anyone to touch. Who'd have thought she'd be sucking me off.'
Her shy, amateur technique only made it hotter.
I checked her soaked panties and spanked her ass with a sharp smack.
"Hop on."
"Huh? N-Now? The others'll be out soon."
"Quickly. I wanna fuck you right now."
"Eek. Don't use such vulgar words. You can't."
"Fine, I'll just leave it like this then?"
I wagged my stiff cock. She giggled softly and straddled me, positioning herself.
"Make it fast, okay? And no going hard!"
No hard pounding and cum quick? Tough ask.
Still, heartwarming. The old Saintess couldn't assert herself; now she voiced her wants.
"Here it goes."
I nodded, lost in thought.
'Still, better prep a mental safety net. Can't repeat past mistakes.'