Chapter 201
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: Management Bureau
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"Long time no see."
I greeted her casually, and the goddess, who had been emanating a pure white light from the center of the room to emphasize her noble presence, glanced over and nodded.
If this were my first consultation with a goddess, I'd be tense as hell, but after going through several already, I was the picture of relaxation. It felt just like bumping into the usual clerk at the neighborhood office.
"By the way, no suit like last time? Honestly, the dolphin pants suit you, but you looked pretty hot in the suit and glasses too."
That was the kind of joke I could toss out.
"...Talk nonsense again and you'll get hit."
Apparently, I was the only one feeling friendly.
"Whoa, scary."
I sat in the seat she offered. Before I knew it, a sofa, a tea table, and steaming teacups had appeared between us.
"So, what's up?"
"Don't you know better than anyone?"
She seemed prickly. But her emotions weren't boiling over or anything. Her listless eyes just screamed overworked office drone.
The goddess let out a short sigh and spoke in a businesslike tone.
"Kang Min-jun. You used the [Summoner's Letter Envelope] to summon the weapon merchant from the final rest area. Purchased the ultimate gear available through normal routes. Defeated the mountain giant dragon that had evolved into an apocalyptic entity."
"......"
"Considering its final combat power, taking it down would require a concentrated assault from 712.31 million players who've reached the mid-to-late stages of the [Selection Process]."
The goddess sharpened her gaze.
"If you're a regressor, you know this, but the population in the mid-to-late [Selection Process] never exceeds 200 million. In summary, you cleared an impossible trial through abnormal play. Any errors in what I've said so far?"
None. As the Management Bureau, their calculations were probably spot on.
"...So, what's the verdict?"
The deed was done anyway. In this situation, I just needed to hear their decision. No point arguing.
I sat quietly, watching her, and she stared right into my eyes before sighing deeply.
"Clever one. Dodging the question, huh?"
"?"
I gave her a quizzical look, but she just stared back and furrowed her brow.
"Sigh, from your position, keeping your mouth shut avoids any losses, I suppose."
Her muttering made it clear what misunderstanding she had.
In short, the Management Bureau didn't know about my first run. Unable to gauge how much I'd disrupted things, they were probing to infer it.
"Keeping quiet won't solve everything."
"......"
Still, to avoid embarrassing her further, I finally spoke up.
"I'll trust the goddess and the Management Bureau's judgment. Even in the first run, you ran things fairly."
"...So you'll accept whatever decision we make?"
She looked slightly surprised. I nodded.
"I already made it to the end of the [Selection Process] in the first run. You were there too."
"......"
"Following procedure is actually better for me. That way, the future..."
"Won't veer off as much."
"Exactly."
Maintaining fairness like in the first run didn't derail my plans.
'Of course, it'd be nice if they bent a little in my favor.'
But nothing's all gain. Good comes with bad.
Better no unknown bad variables than letting the Management Bureau, overseers of the [Selection Process], stray from the future I know.
Yeah, that path was still right.
"Understood. So that's why you've cooperated without much complaint, no matter our decisions."
Her expression softened completely. The worries around her eyes vanished, like she'd resolved multiple headaches at once.
"Good. Then here's the Management Bureau's decision. As of now, the [Summoner's Letter Envelope] cannot summon shop owners from higher rest areas."
A restriction, as expected. Nothing surprising.
'Seo-yeon's [Primordial Flame] dodged the nerf safely.'
Perfect. Better the envelope gets hit.
Without it, no endgame plays possible.
But [Primordial Flame] is different.
Key DPS for the destruction dragon. Can't let that get nerfed.
This time, intelligence spiked to 20k, dodging scrutiny, but caution ahead.
'Keep sacrificing the envelope for max gains when possible. Yeah.'
While tempering their anger, of course. Too wild, and I'm marked.
"Do you accept?"
I nodded.
And with that, the mountain giant dragon issue wrapped up.
Honestly, unexpected. Even with excuses, it was absurd.
That thing was late-[Selection Process] fire dragon tier. I took it down in 30 seconds, and that's it?
"Hm."
With things settled, I finally noticed details I'd missed.
Different vibe from usual. Recalling her past speech, habits, I observed closely.
Less domineering, unusually soft stance for a manager.
'Thought she'd grill me hard, but it ended too easy.'
Ten years observing people to survive honed my senses for attitude shifts.
And today, she was off.
"What're you staring at?"
She noticed my gaze and asked.
In her natural tone, not businesslike.
"Something bothering our goddess?"
"...What're you talking about?"
"Am I wrong? No use pretending. I'm sharp on this stuff."
"......"
"What is it? Must involve me."
She cut me off.
"Nothing you need to know."
"Feels like it does. If it's about me, shouldn't you tell?"
"On what authority?"
Good question. I blurted,
"A citizen's rightful demand?"
"......"
It worked wonders. Her pretty face scrunched up as she cursed.
"Damn it."
Oh, it landed? Total shot in the dark.
"Sigh, something happened internally at the Management Bureau, headaches from cleanup. Nothing for you to worry about."
"Sure? Seems deeply tied to me."
No coincidence the mountain giant dragon's worst pattern flashed in my mind.
Vicious pattern learned by ~100 million challengers.
Never both phase 2 and 3 at once.
Odds of that BS combo?
First-run survivors faced only one phase, minimal evolutions, easy kill.
'That tiny chance hits simultaneously? For me?'
Me, with Luck ability, Arseia blessing, luck necklace—insane luck stats?
All that fortune, yet I get screwed? Bugged me post-kill.
But she snorted.
"Beyond that is internal Bureau business. Can't tell even a resident."
"......"
"But at least know this: as of today, the Bureau and I are closer to your side."
"What does that mean?"
"That's all. No more answers even if you push. Merchants from upper rest areas are banned, accept it."
Locking the barn after losing the horse, classic.
No point digging further, so I backed off.
"Reward?"
"Confiscate the 1,017 stats from raising and killing the mountain giant dragon?"
Last protest on double penalties worked; just envelope penalty this time. Decent outcome.
"Kinda miss the usual gifts though."
"......"
"Honestly, I look forward to what present I'll get each summons."
She furrowed her brows in disbelief. Damn, even her scowl's cute. She shook her head and handed something over.
"Here."
"What's this?"
"Consumable."
Odd-looking item. Like a yogurt pouch. Long tube to squeeze.
Label: cheerful hen with speech bubble, 『Eat and lay eggs like crazy! Our livestock love it!』
I checked the description. Speechless.
Egg-Laying Power Shot
Short cooldown! Overwhelming production! One sip shortens egg cycle! Laying speed surges on consumption! Feed your livestock now!
"......"
Whoever named it nailed the cringe. Fits, though—seems it'd boost egg output hard.
"...Safe for harpies?"
"Yes. One dose: 20 days of daily eggs for a harpy."
Oh, intriguing item.
"First time seeing this."
"Premium, obviously."
Premium gear. Unobtainable normally, usually via <Challenges>. Priceless depending. Big gift, really.
"Thanks. I'll use it well."
She glanced and nodded. Then curiosity struck.
"By the way."
"?"
"What's your name?"
Yeah, never asked.
"...What for? Get out."
"Huh?"
Was the consultation satisfactory? Customer satisfaction survey. Rate now to reflect...
"......"
Petty. We'll meet often; what's the harm in a name?
'Still, 5 stars. Got a gift.'
Thank you for the positive review. We'll strive harder. Thank you.
Consultation over, back at the lodging.
"This bathroom's mine first!"
"Then I'll take that one!"
The group dashed for bathrooms. Routine on rest area returns, so I shrugged it off.
Yeah, it should've been...
Crack!
As Shin Seo-yeon yanked the bathroom door, a weird sound echoed through the lodging.
"Uh...?"
The door came clean off.
Shin Seo-yeon stood dazed, holding it.
Yi Se-ra chasing her, Han So-hee going opposite, even the Saintess—all froze, staring blankly.
"Why... did it break...?"
"Auntie eat something bad? Bro said don't pick up scraps last time."
"I'm not you! No!"
Oh yeah, my strength surged this time. Bound to me, Shin Seo-yeon's boosted too.
'Good thing I caught it before anyone got hurt.'