Chapter 23

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 23

Chapter Title: Isera

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There was no pursuit.

Under the bluish glow, the thick dust settled, and a gradual silence descended upon the stone cavern.

"I'll heal you too, Min-jun."

"Thank you."

The pure white light stole away my fatigue the moment it settled on my body and vanished. I felt it every time, but this ability was truly cheat-like.

One use, and you're fully recovered...

However, contrary to what was stated, there were places it didn't completely heal.

'That subtle hunger and thirst always lingers afterward.'

It clearly said it restores the body to peak condition, but I was still hungry and thirsty.

At first, I couldn't understand the discrepancy, but now I think I get it.

It seems that faint hunger is actually the optimal state for intense physical activity.

'I often feel it, but our Earth-born values don't always align with this system's logic.'

The Selection Process was overly skewed toward survival and combat. That's why some said:

—The Elysia we're migrating to might be a world where fighting is the norm.

Trials rife with violence and cruelty.

The intent was obvious: prove your worth within them.

Of course, it could just be humanity's hasty misunderstanding.

Anyway, as I reached for my canteen to wet my throat, one suddenly appeared before me. I thought it was the Saintess, but no.

"...Drink."

Shin Seo-yeon was holding out her canteen, avoiding my gaze for some reason. I lifted the one already in my hand.

"I've got mine."

"......"

Her face crumpled. Shin Seo-yeon glared at me murderously, then spun around and stomped back to the Saintess, grumbling.

Her uncharacteristic behavior made me tilt my head. I set down my backpack and said,

"I'll step away for a bit. You two stay right here."

"Where to? Just do it here."

"Sorry, it's a big one."

"Damn it, go away. Get as far as possible. If I smell it, you're dead."

"Sure, sure."

As I waved casually and walked off, Shin Seo-yeon muttered behind me.

"Does that make sense? When I'm dying of exhaustion, he keeps running, but now he needs to shit, so we stop."

"Haha... Min-jun must've been desperate."

"Just crap in his pants. What if we stop here and get surrounded by skeletons?"

Hmm, she was grumbling loud enough on purpose, so I shot back,

"Seo-yeon, maybe I shouldn't bother looking out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for you anymore?"

Her complaints vanished like ghosts, replaced instantly by a nasal whine.

"Oppa! We'll sort the luggage! Take your time!"

...She's consistent, that's for sure.

I retraced our path, tossing and catching the tissue from the general store in the air.

'Around here?'

At a fork, I turned the corner, found a spot, and set aside inconvenient items for the task—like my weapon and the letter envelope—on the ground.

Then I dropped my pants and squatted.

'So far, so good.'

Truth be told, I planned to tackle the first trial alone. The biggest hurdle was standing watch while sleeping.

No matter how seasoned I was in the Selection Process, sleep left me vulnerable.

So when companions appeared, I felt relieved on one hand.

A being I could trust with my back in this hellhole.

'Reliable allies are powerful assets in themselves.'

But Earth's moral values we'd learned were useless here—and sometimes a hindrance—which gave me pause.

New arrivals from Earth would suffer through horrific experiences and growing pains, potentially disrupting my pace in the early trials when speed was key.

'But even the mentally frail Saintess has overcome the hurdles, so now we can catch our breath.'

The major issues were resolved.

'Some minor ones remain, though.'

Pretending to do my business, I suddenly sprang up and thrust my hand into the air.

Flail, flail!

A violent struggle gripped my hand. I tightened my grip and said,

"Drop the stealth. Unless you want your neck snapped."

A cute girl materialized, slinking into view.

Her young, pretty face was stunning enough to inspire envy and affection from many.

Her straight bangs and long black hair exuded both cuteness and sexy charm.

'They call this a hime cut?'

Recalling someone mentioning it, I glanced down.

The girl, neck in my grasp, desperately clawed at my wrist with both hands, gasping for air.

"Gasp... P-please... l-let..."

I loosened my grip slightly, letting her feet touch the ground. She gulped air desperately, tears welling up in relief.

Meanwhile, I pulled up my pants from around my calves and reclaimed the item she clutched with my free left hand.

It was the item I'd deliberately left on the ground with my weapon before squatting.

A [Transcendent-grade] item is bait no thief could resist approaching.

'Didn't expect her to bite so easily, though.'

Now, refreshed—let's interrogate.

I squeezed her neck again.

Gulp.

"Urk."

Her airway blocked, she clamped her thighs together, looking up at me with terrified eyes.

"Who are you?"

"Y-yes?"

"Don't get any funny ideas. The moment you do, I'll sever your legs."

Her hand crept toward the dagger at her waist but dropped obediently at my sincere threat.

"Name."

"I-Isera."

"...Isera?"

My brow furrowed instinctively. I activated [Full Appraisal] on her status window.

Name: Oh Ha-eun. But she claimed 'Isera'.

'Hiding your real name in the Selection Process is common.'

I'd used aliases myself. But that's not why I frowned.

'Isera.'

A familiar name. No wonder her [Unique Ability] and eye area looked so recognizable.

'Reaper Isera.'

A moniker earned for moving without a trace, like death's herald pronouncing doom.

A named figure rarely seen even in Rest Areas, always hooded, so I only remembered her eyes.

She barely spoke, was curt, flat-chested—I assumed male...

'She was a girl?'

Or maybe I misremembered.

But glancing at her status again, I shook my head.

Stealth skills abound, but fooling all five senses? I'd seen only one.

Most have weaknesses: sight, smell, sound...

'No weaknesses at all?'

That meant this Isera was the Isera I knew. My eyes darkened.

'But her originating from [Lair of Evil Spirits]? First I've heard.'

Double-checking memories, she wasn't among the survivor groups.

'...She's lying.'

Why lie? The answer was in her recent actions.

'Stealth types struggle early on.'

They guzzle stamina and mana, demanding heavy investment in Vitality and Intelligence—which tanks Strength and Agility, crippling attack power.

'Even backstabbing mobs won't one-shot them.'

Frail arms from desk jobs can't assassinate burly orcs. Daggers barely nick muscle.

'So stealth users ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠often become sidelined scouts hopping parties—or player-killing human hunters.'

But get caught once, and you're done.

Either way, sunlight's scarce for stealthies.

Yet Isera succeeded without going rogue—the sole exception. I'd never seen her bloodied hands.

Or so I thought...

'She claimed luck in growth, but this was the secret? Sneaky.'

Luring mobs in starter zones to farm kills and items off players.

Amusing. Why bother?

Survival rate under 1%. Use stealth, slit throats up close—far simpler.

I'd do it without hesitation, but recalling Isera's past, it clicked.

Once, an event rewarded those ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with zero kills.

'Seven total?'

Isera was one.

I thought ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it noble conviction then, but now? She simply couldn't kill.

'Serial killer tactics, but squeamish about blood. Fascinating personality.'

I looked down at the 150cm girl soon dubbed 'Reaper'.

Shivering like a fledgling newbie, despite her efforts to steady herself.

Humans weaken pathetically before death.

Especially a mere twenty-year-old girl.

Dribble, dribble.

Terror overrode her body; yellow liquid trickled between her legs. I kept gripping her neck regardless.

Dilemma.

'Kill her or not?'

Release her, and she'll grow to claim an S-Rank emblem.

Yes, Isera was one of humanity's top 100 heroes.

'Spare a murderer?'

"Sniff. P-please spare me. I beg you. I won't do it again."

I shook my head. Her pleading face paled.

'Murder? So what.'

Earth morals hold no sway here.

By the seventh trial, finding the kill-less is impossible.

Reframe: threat or asset?

"P-please."

"Hm."

"I'll do anything! Take everything I have! Just spare my life!"

I released the future Reaper's neck, tears streaming.

"Ah."

She collapsed, relief flooding her. Urine pooled wider, soaking her pants—but who cares after brushing death?

"Fine. I'll spare you."

"Th-thank you! Truly!"

"Today's events? Forgotten. Not the theft—the mob-luring."

Relief shattered; she looked up fearfully.

"Y-you knew...? How? I was invisible."

"How do you think I caught you?"

"......"

"Do whatever, just don't test your stealth on me—it fails. Don't provoke me into silencing you."

She'd get it. Simple reason for mercy:

'In my first run, Isera's abilities hugely benefited humanity.'

Her perfect stealth guided us through Fire Dragon nests, evading monster hordes.

We cleared breakthroughs easily thanks to her.

'Issue: she soloed them. I don't know her method.'

Killing her risks derailing futures.

'Can't recruit her now either.'

She topped my recruit list—flawless stealth.

But her growth path changed that.

'She needs massive stats, and early chaos with billions dying is stat fragment heaven.'

Her current stats screamed ~30 fragments devoured.

I prioritized achievements, titles, snowball farms—but she can't.

Hampering her stalls growth, forcing costly clears on trials she'd ease.

Potentially dooming S-Rank potentials or dragon-slay helpers.

'Too many changes. Not good.'

Isera was essential. She must thrive. That future must persist. Gripping her bangs, I said,

"Get strong. Meet me again weak, pissing yourself? You're dead. Got it?"

Nod, nod.

"Hand."

Trembling, she extended it. I pulled spare rations from inventory and placed them in her palm.

Topped with Frostplain Accessory Set.

"Huh...?"

"Magic resistance gear. Full set boosts all stats. Don't need 'em—take."

Then snatched the item from her pocket.

'[Stealth] evades even monster senses.'

Finding Vardo's remains was child's play for her.

"This is your life fee."

Business done, I stood. Tempted to give her a good pounding first, but conditions weren't right.

「No light... no hope...」

"Dickhead! Where'd you wander off to shit?!"

Kaboom!

Party safety aside, forcing it here risked twisting her personality and futures.

"Get strong. I won't forgive death before standing before me again. Survive, no matter what."

I stepped back three paces. She alternated glances between me and the items, then retreated hastily. Glaring tensely, she activated [Stealth] and vanished.

But her translucent form, peering curiously, remained vivid to me.

'[Full Appraisal] is busted.'

Strictly, resident privileges are. Who knew Mythic stealth was this visible?

Poking around.

As I hurried back, Isera trailed, circling curiously.

Not leaving, she stared suspiciously. Edging close, she stuck out her tongue mockingly.

Bleeeh!

Testing if I could really see her... Why invite punishment?

She could smile cutely like the Saintess.

Snap!

I grabbed her tongue.

"!!"

She flailed, eyes brimming, hands clasped in desperate plea.

"Gonna act up again?"

...Shake, shake.

I released her tongue and returned to the group.

For some reason, the 150cm kid started trailing me obediently.