Chapter 210
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: Real Job
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When meteors rained down on Earth, hurtling it toward destruction.
Chinatsu, who had been living in Fukuoka, ended up in the Selection Process alongside her family.
"Hina, Papa, do you think we'll be okay? Something about this Selection Process feels off to me."
"Don't worry, dear. Remember when we were young? Even raising two kids through all those tough times, we made it through. As long as we stick together, nothing's impossible."
And like so many other families, hers began falling one by one to the brutal Trials.
"Cough... At least you two, run...!"
"You two... take good care of each other...!"
Now, all that remained for her was her older sister, Hina. But even that sister had lost all hope.
"Aaaagh!"
"Sis!"
In the [Buried Altar], her sister had chemical reagents splashed across her face in a trap, blinding her in both eyes.
It was Chinatsu's mistake. She had triggered the trap herself, but Hina had tried to save her and lost her sight instead.
"Chinatsu... Chinatsu...?"
"I'm right here, Sis."
"I... I can't see anything."
"Don't worry. Once we get back to the Rest Area, we can get you treated."
They couldn't treat her.
"Sorry, but recovery magic can't fix this."
"The eyes have melted and fused completely... Even a healing potion won't work."
Still, they refused to give up, clinging to a sliver of hope as they sought out countless Japanese players and guilds. But each time, all they received was harsh reality and the sting of despair.
"...Chinatsu, I'm sorry. This is all because of me."
"Why are you apologizing, Sis? Come on."
Sniffle. There was nothing they could do. They'd vaguely known the Selection Process was like that, but in this moment, the truth sank in deeper than ever.
It was the fourth day of weeping together in a cramped room in the Rest Area.
"Maybe we should just end it here."
"Chinatsu, you have to keep living."
"No, I'm tired too."
"Then... how about we at least go feel the morning breeze one last time?"
And on the fifth day, having given up on everything, they stepped out for one final stroll to catch the cool morning wind.
"Sugoi! Look, her wounds are perfectly healed."
"Amazing. Is that her ability?"
"I saw earlier—her severed leg even regenerated."
"!!"
A severed leg regenerating?
Perfectly, at that?
"But of all people, a Korean."
"Tell me about it."
People shook their heads. But Chinatsu grabbed her sister's hand and ran.
Tatdat!
What did it matter that he was Korean? Who cared about that right now?
'If only Sis could see again!'
She could do anything. Anything at all! So amid the crowd showing only regret, Chinatsu gripped her sister's hand and strode forward boldly.
"Please! My sister lost both eyes in a previous Trial...!"
Just as the Saintess's volunteer healing session was wrapping up, two sisters from the Japanese side approached.
But before any response could be given, a barrage of criticism poured in from behind them.
"Hey! Asking a Korean for help? Have you no shame?!"
"You bitches have no pride?!"
Words like "bitch" and "slut" flew freely, wrinkling noses. But the younger sister didn't cower—instead, she snapped back fiercely.
"Shut up! What do you know?! You can afford to talk big because you're all healthy and whole!"
"This bitch?"
"Spouting off with that gaping mouth?!"
The younger sister flipped them off over her shoulder as she led her sister straight to the Saintess.
"Please. Heal my sister's eyes."
But neither the Saintess nor the girls' crew understood—their Japanese was beyond everyone. Still, the desperation in her plea made their intent clear.
Whoosh!
The Saintess cast Recovery without hesitation, and instantly, the woman's blinded eyes began regenerating.
"Wha... what?"
The cloth over her eyes slipped away with a soft rustle, the thick scab covering them vanishing cleanly. Her eyelids fluttered, slowly opening to reveal her eyes.
"Sis, can you see me?"
"Chinatsu...?"
"Yeah! It's me, Sis!"
The younger sister threw her arms around her. Huh...? The older sister, still dazed and processing, hugged back tentatively.
Aaah...!
As realization dawned that she could see again, she burst into tears like her sister and clung tightly.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Their joy was the same regardless of Korean or Japanese—they were just human.
The Saintess's fervent followers approached, congratulating her, and the teary-eyed younger sister grabbed a hand from the girls' crew.
"10 points is fine."
"Please take it!"
"No, 10 points! Ten points!"
But the sister insisted on handing over 1,000 points. No matter how much gesturing explained otherwise, she wouldn't back down.
The crew member glanced helplessly at me and the Saintess, but we both shook our heads in unison, as if by prior agreement.
10 points.
Honestly, pocket change. No, an insultingly small amount.
In the early Rest Area days, maybe—but now, it was chump change to us and everyone else.
Still, we wouldn't raise the price because money wasn't our priority anymore.
Taking less cash let us gain something far bigger.
"Sniff... Thank you."
"Thank you so much."
Unaware of the truth, the Japanese sisters bowed repeatedly in deep emotion.
Just seeing their happy faces as they walked off hand-in-hand showed they'd become the Saintess's devoted followers.
Once even Japanese were getting healed without issue, what happened next was inevitable.
"U-us too, please!"
"My daughter as well, if you would!"
As Japanese flocked to the Saintess, they started peeking at our stalls, lining up one by one.
Most had either been healed themselves or seen comrades healed, warming up to us.
Japanese buyers snapping up snacks, ramen, drinks, booze—their eyes lit up.
"Oishii!"
"Sugoi!"
A chorus of Japanese echoed down the street.
"I prefer ramen, but Korean ramen's delicious too."
"The snacks and drinks are so good. I love it."
The women showed a touch of cuteness, faces full of interest, while the men gawked wide-eyed and bellowed gruffly.
"Umai!"
"Th-this is actually good!"
"Damn, I should've bought more!"
"Let's get back in line! It's still short!"
"Yosh!"
What do you think happened when other Japanese saw that?
Koreans aside—if fellow countrymen bought food and lined up again?
"Sh-should we try it?"
"No harm in it."
Soon, Japanese dominated the street, while Koreans grumbled from the sidelines.
"Hey, take it to your side. You're blocking traffic."
Of course, the Japanese ignored them, too busy chatting among themselves.
"What should we get?"
"I wanna try those round ones."
You might say it's natural they don't understand since languages differ.
I scanned the street briefly before turning to Shin Seo-yeon.
"Gonna step away for a bit."
"Huh? Hey! Where do you think you're going in this chaos?!"
"Got business."
"Bullshit! There's perfectly good toilets—don't tell me you're pissing outside! You some kinda dog?!"
I cast Binding on Yi-se-ra and activated [Stealth]. Then I leaped into the sky, bounding through the air over the Japanese sector.
In the alley I reached, there were the two sisters from before—and Japanese men who'd cornered them in a dead end.
"What do these whores have that's so great? Giggling like that."
"You know it's because of bitches like you that our country's a joke, right? Or are you clueless?"
"No one else to turn to, so you go begging Koreans?"
'Knew it would come to this.'
The chill between Korea and Japan.
Grateful as we were for easing it, not every Japanese would approve.
Just like on Earth—some Japanese like Koreans, some don't care, some hate them. Same here in the Selection Process.
"Hah, so the great patriots show up in a mob to gang up on two women? Not embarrassed?"
"Chinatsu... What good does provoking them do?"
"Sis, they're planning to kill us anyway. Might as well talk shit."
Sound judgment. I agree.
'Interesting—their abilities are unique.'
The older sister has [Future Foresight], the younger [Tycoon]?
"These twin bitches got mouths on 'em."
"Hey, subdue 'em."
"Perfect timing—we were bored. Let's vent on these two sluts today, fuck."
Then they started dropping their pants. Twenty-two grotesque cocks flopping out—the sisters gritted their teeth.
"You bastards! You're really going this far?!"
"Regretting it now?"
"Heh heh heh, give up. Scream all you want—no one's coming. We've eaten plenty here already."
The sisters' faces filled with dismay.
They drew weapons, but against twenty-two? Two women alone couldn't take that gamble against such odds.
Which made it perfect.
"...So no one would even notice screams and deaths here, right?"
"Huh? Who's there?!"
I hopped down from the roof to the alley's rear. Dropping stealth, my Korean drew all twenty-two men's stares.
"Korean merchant?"
"Nah, trading's not my real job."
I flashed a friendly smile and clasped my hands together prayer-like.
"More like a scoundrel who charms and beds any woman, virgin or married. But men? Not my type. So, read the room and scram, yeah?"
"What the hell's this guy's blabbing?!"
"He won't fuck off?"
"Let's deal with him first."
The Japanese men advanced on me steadily.
Tch. I snorted and unclenched my prayer hands.
"Tried living right, confessed my sins, even gave a chance—but no one gets it."
What can you do?
If they don't understand words...
Time to make them feel it—with their bodies.
Women or men.