Chapter 208
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Black Noblewoman
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Equipment thief Park Jae-jung.
The last time in the Rest Area, he'd eyed our gear greedily only to get thoroughly thrashed in return, stripped of all his equipment. Now he'd come crawling back with a dozen cronies, vowing revenge.
Well, not a dozen anymore—upon closer inspection, his numbers had swelled to twenty in the meantime.
"Today, right here, I'll pay back the humiliation you gave me last time!"
I snorted and replied.
"You sure about that? Won't your guild master chew you out?"
Park Jae-jung belonged to the Black Wolf Guild. Its master, Lee Jong-cheol, had personally promised me he'd keep Park Jae-jung and his gang in check.
"Hmph, you think I give a damn about that old fart? I don't bow to outside pressure!"
But Lee Jong-cheol clearly had no control over Park Jae-jung. I'd half-expected as much, to be honest.
'Still, the kid's kinda cute.'
He looked late twenties, but his vibe screamed middle schooler. Not bowing to outside pressure? Please.
He even charged in bare-fisted, without a weapon. In some ways, he was as innocently reckless as Jang Yu-jin.
"No need for chit-chat. Shall we get started?"
"Hell yeah!"
And with that, the guy confidently lunged at me in front of the massive crowd.
Pababat!
"...Boring."
"Can't believe the punk had the balls."
"Tell me about it."
In the end, Park Jae-jung and his gang got stripped clean by me and fled.
No joke—I held back completely. When they swung, I'd take a hit and slap back across the cheek.
Slap!
"Ack!"
Then they'd flip through the air and sprawl on the ground, out for about ten seconds flat.
"But why'd you let 'em hit you?"
"Gotta let 'em land one, or they'll feel bad."
"Ah."
Lie, of course. Land one hit, and they might think twice next time. Too big a gap in strength, and it's no fun. If you're gonna keep letting them live and farm them, anyway.
"Eh, whatever. We made bank. Right, Cliffhanger?"
"Yep! Totally agree, Auntie!"
Shin Seo-yeon and Yi Sera chuckled as they stuffed twenty-one sets of gear into the duffel bag. More heads meant more loot, and the fun part? It was all better quality than last time.
'Stats were higher too.'
Looks like he'd farmed hard in the previous Trial zone.
"Just you wait! Next time, you won't get away!"
I waved cheerfully at the kids yelling their villain lines from afar. Still cute as ever.
With the fight wrapped up, the people who'd scattered earlier swarmed back to handle guild business, and the guild office bustled once more.
"So, where to now?"
"Challenge tasks. Gotta find out where they're held."
No point wandering the Rest Area otherwise—guild rewards and challenges aside. My lodging felt more like a rest spot anyway.
We'd just left the guild office, planning to hit nearby eateries one by one.
"Excuse me, are you alright?"
Flutter. Someone cut in front of me, offering a handkerchief.
I startled. Stunning beauty. A voluptuous, seductive tall woman in her late twenties gazed at me with worry etched on her face.
Femme fatale.
The kind of woman whose lethal charm could drag a man to ruin.
I'd flinched thinking she might be a charm-type mob at first glance.
Not all charm monsters look the part, but most flaunt sultry, alluring figures. It taps into primal male lust for feminine beauty.
Sure, there are flat, girlish succubi, but they're rare.
"Are you okay?"
Anyway, her breasts were huge like a married woman's, hips wide—body to die for.
Matching Saintess's foreigner-level chest, but at around 175cm tall, it felt more perfectly proportioned than just "big."
Especially that beauty mark under her left eye—the crowning touch.
A stylish beauty with soft curls swept to one side, eyeing me with concern.
"......"
But I stiffened soon after. A pitch-black outfit covered her entirely—a Western-style black dress.
"Damn, that's a fine lady."
"Lost family? She's in mourning clothes, unusually."
Onlookers passed, mesmerized.
Black mourning garb. Bewitching beauty. A worried face, but eyes hiding icy coldness beyond.
"Oh dear... you've got dirt on your face."
"I'm fine."
"You took some hard hits. I saw it all with my own eyes."
The black-clad woman wiped my cheek with her handkerchief. Glancing past her shoulder, I saw Han So-hee blocking Shin Seo-yeon and Yi Sera, nodding with a tense face.
She'd recognized her too.
"There, all better. Hehe."
Park Jae-jung's biological mother.
The S-Rank Poison Mage known as the Black Noblewoman, who'd mercilessly poisoned countless players, stood before me now.
Hiding her venomous fangs behind a bright smile. Shaking those massive tits all the while.
I'd figured we'd cross paths eventually.
The setup was rigged that way from the start. Still, it sent chills down my spine.
[Poison Arts: Toxicity strengthens with each absorbed poison. Freely manipulate poisons based on magic power.]
'Her poison at this stage is unbeatable.'
Mid-Trials, people start building elemental resistances, including poison.
Around then, poison training methods spread widely, and everyone knows to prep. It's a hassle, but thorough countermeasures make it manageable.
'Not now, though.'
No one senses the need yet, no stable training methods. Use poison here, and it's near-certain death.
'Especially the Black Noblewoman's.'
Regular monsters vomit blood or melt outright.
She soloed boss mobs few could—one of the rare few. Even Lee Jong-cheol, who killed her later, regretted it.
That was why I wanted her on board—for boss fights ahead, including the final Trial's Destruction Dragon.
"Must hurt a lot."
But we weren't allies yet, so her hand stroking my cheek felt burdensome. Even with [Hundred Poisons Immunity] from Haran.
"Oops, sorry. Must be weird, some older sis suddenly chatting you up. I'm Kang Eun-young."
"Kang Min-jun."
"Oh? Same surname. What's your clan?"
Casual interrogation. She bantered, but I saw her eyes sizing me up.
First face-to-face, but no surprise—she wasn't ordinary.
'Why approach like this all of a sudden?'
Unclear intent.
'Bounce?'
Best to bail when you can't read the opponent.
Dangerous woman, and if not killing her here, no need to play her game.
I gave vague answers and bowed slightly.
"Excuse us, but my party has business."
As I turned to go, Kang Eun-young grabbed my shoulder tight.
"Wait."
Her grip screamed, "Where do you think you're going?" Turning, fierce eyes locked on mine.
Gone in a flash, innocent again—but too late for my agility and ten years' experience.
"Mind if I ask something?"
"......"
Atmosphere said no leaving now. I faced her squarely and nodded.
"Go ahead."
"Why didn't you kill those bastards earlier?"
"Pardon?"
"Those scum. Infamous bunch. They rob gear by force. Even took mine twice."
She listed Park Jae-jung's gang's crimes in detail.
"......"
Chilling, honestly. Tears streaming, her sob story perfect—even a ten-year Selection vet like me couldn't spot the acting.
Without backstory, no way I'd peg her as his mom.
"When you took them down, Min-jun, I secretly hoped you'd avenge us all."
Blatantly spouting lies without shame.
'Testing me.'
Equipment thief and Black Noblewoman—mother-son duo.
Strictly, son causes trouble, mom cleans up.
She's notoriously doting; humiliate her boy, and revenge is guaranteed.
This act? Gauging my character. Deem me dangerous, and I'm dead.
Her hand stayed on my shoulder, ready to inject poison anytime.
Shoulder injection races to the heart—instant kill.
'Every word, every move—calculated. Sharp woman.'
Did she know? I knew her identity... and the one perched atop her head.
"They took your gear?"
"Yes. Sob sob..."
"Yet you're fine after two robberies."
"Huh? Oh, right. They just take gear, don't kill."
I shrugged.
"Same here."
"What?"
"They said hand over weapons peacefully, and they'd spare my life. Fought after, won, but they don't take lives. So, same deal."
Kang Eun-young blinked teary eyes, then narrowed them.
"Next time, they'll kill."
"Pardon?"
"They said they won't let you off next time. Doesn't that mean death?"
...Haha, this woman. Stretching for an excuse to kill me. I smiled amiably.
"Bit extreme."
"Realistic, I'd say."
"Anyway, I won't kill them next time either."
"Why?"
"They're entertaining, and it sticks debt on Black Wolf Guild. They promised no more incidents, but failed. Win-win for me."
"......"
Black Noblewoman's reaction suggested Lee Jong-cheol hid info on me.
He always cherry-picked truths for gain.
'Figures it'd hurt his guild if word got out.'
Talent drain, etc.
Her thorough nature meant she'd grilled him; he definitely stonewalled.
"Anyway, unless they cheap-shot, I'll treat it like sparring."
"...I see."
Keep taking it. Keep stripping their loot.
They'll bring their farmed gear—and mom's pricey stuff—right to me.
I just collect.
'No need to kill the golden goose.'
Bonus: Contact with Black Noblewoman achieved.
"Satisfied now?"
"Ah, yeah... sort of."
She released my shoulder.
"Shame. Thought you'd avenge us all."
"Haha, wrong guy for revenge. See ya."
I walked off with my party. Felt her glare on my back—no need to turn.
No suspicious moves.
"Who was that?"
"So-hee mentioned before. Park Jae-jung's from pharma circles."
"No way?"
Shin Seo-yeon gawked at Han So-hee, who nodded confirmation.
"Whoa, face rang a bell. Mourning clothes threw me off."
"Super pretty, right Sera?"
"Yeah, beats Auntie."
"Bull! I'm a hundred times hotter!"
"For real? Tits, ass, face—all smaller. You blind?"
"Wanna get hit?"
[Kang Eun-young's favorability toward you has slightly increased.]
Notification amid the banter. My excuse landed well.
'Dodged her trap, eased suspicion. No random poison on the street.'
First step solid.
Time to build favor, then plant deep seed in that big poison spider's ass.
"The hell?! Smallest tits and you critique mine?!"
"Last or second-last."
"Not second?!"
"Enough, let's check shops."
We hit stores, bought needs, scouted Challenge tasks.
Japan merger boomed population; city grew, shops plentiful and varied.
Took ages wandering.
"Not here either?"
"Nope."
"Seriously, too many shops."
"Whew, yeah. Flatty, excluding this, how many left?"
Yi Sera scanned the street.
"This side's done. Opposite now."
"Ugh."
Koreans owned this turf—done. Japanese zone left.
Tension blocked cross-use: Koreans can't shop Japanese side, vice versa.
"Dumb, right? Everyone loses. No armor shops for us, no weapons for them."
Yep. Our issue now.
'Any way around?'
Sera and I could sneak for tasks. But better share experience with all.
'Hmm, something...'
Ah, right.
"Let's peddle early."
"Peddle?"
"We got cash—why bother?"
"Yeah."
Too rich from Trials; Shin Seo-yeon and Yi Sera meh. Efficiency drop.
Just selling Park's gang loot netted 70k points quick.
No sweat for street hawking now.
"Still, good pocket money."
"...True."
Secondary, though. Real gain: fame, rep. Key to guild #1.
"C'mon, prep quick."
I rushed them; setup done.
Usual spot by lodging.
Unrolled mat, laid goods—crowd noticed, yelled.
"H-hey?"
"Yo! That party's here!"