Chapter 223
Chapter 223
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: 74. Business Plan (2)
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The next day, a package arrived at the house. It contained thirty cheap folding umbrellas. Winter selected five of them and tied them prettily with ribbons.
"…I'll be off."
Yoo Ji-tae waved his hand.
Today was going to be a bit busy. The Apocalyptic Clock had announced the arrival of the second wave of Evil.
Unlike before, the analysis on the 'Gigantic Evil' had reached 20%. This time, it had pinpointed the arrival fifteen days in advance.
And with the analysis hitting 20%, the visualized image became a bit more concrete.
The form of the Second Night unfolded before Yoo Ji-tae's eyes. A massive something resembling a lump of muscle was repeatedly contracting and relaxing, spewing foul energy.
If this were a world without Yoo Ji-tae, it would undoubtedly pose a significant threat. But this world had a regressor who had lived through the seventh cycle. It wouldn't be a problem.
Still, he couldn't let his guard down. The 「Evil」 departing from that distant place could manipulate the very reality of the seventh cycle.
The key issue here was the 'principle of reality manipulation.'
It took this long for the 「Gigantic Evil」 to arrive. Yet beings like Hasetbyeol and Wei Lian were already altered.
Had its principle still not been uncovered?
The Apocalyptic Clock was right.
Wei Lian. The 30-man special forces. Hasetbyeol. After reality had been manipulated up to that point, the 「Evil Beyond the Horizon」 seemed to have realized it couldn't significantly impact Yoo Ji-tae and stopped attempting it altogether.
The Evil's analysis progress?
From the 'First Night'—where Clone 2 had slain Kal-Kaope—he had gathered about 5% of the fragments.
For now, this seemed to be the limit.
Thus, that day, Yoo Ji-tae informed Clone 1 of this intel. He also decided to head to the Federation to handle some business.
This enemy required even more caution.
Borrowed Power
The Mage Tower listed the three most troublesome traits among monster characteristics.
Borrowed Power, Immortality, and Creativity.
Creativity was why the 'humanoid chimera' posing as BM's son had been so dangerous. It constantly evolved, thought, and grew in unimaginable directions.
Immortality meant not dying.
But in truth, nothing that 'doesn't die' could exist.
Even Yoo Ji-tae himself would inevitably die someday, as per the natural order.
Yet when something that should die doesn't, there's an extraordinarily complex reason behind it. Even weak undead monsters were ticking time bombs hiding who-knows-what. Thus, the moment Immortality was confirmed, the Federation's 'Undead Monster Special Response Team' was dispatched.
For reference, the team leader was 'Mercenary King Christoph,' the fifth Transcendent of Kaliovan—the old man Yoo Ji-tae had ignored.
Finally, Borrowed Power.
This was an insanely tricky ability.
Borrowed Power meant borrowing the strength of another being.
But in the world's natural order and history, if something appears, there comes a time when it must vanish. Like the battle tribe 「Kal-Gulakwa」 that once ruled the 「Primeval Forest,」 a single dimension in ancient times. Things that were too dangerous and had to be eradicated.
Borrowed Power was the ability to draw strength from such long-extinct existences.
Not only dangerous, it wielded unfamiliar, bizarre powers.
Clone 1 wouldn't lose.
But protecting humanity couldn't go wrong.
For that reason, when Yoo Ji-tae stepped into the Federation after a long time...
Woooong...
His watch buzzed. It was a call from Lair Public Elementary School.
"Hello."
― Hello. Are you Winter's guardian, Mr. Yoo?
"Yes, Yoo Ji-tae speaking. Go ahead."
― Ah, yes. I'm Kanako Hikigaya, Winter's homeroom teacher. I happened to learn that Winter is privately selling umbrellas to her school friends. I'd like to discuss this issue with her guardian. Would it be possible for you to come to the school briefly?
"……."
She'd been caught red-handed.
Yoo Ji-tae turned on his heel.
Winter had a meeting with her homeroom teacher.
When asked why the child was selling umbrellas, Yoo Ji-tae couldn't come up with much of a response. 'She must've wanted to sell them.' But the teacher warned that private profiteering on school grounds wasn't allowed.
The meeting took place in the staff room. Curiously, the vice principal beside them was breaking out in cold sweats, tense at the teacher's words. The Yoo family name carried weight in Lair. Yet this young Japanese teacher brimmed with passion.
Yoo Ji-tae complied. The teacher was right, and Winter had indeed engaged in illegal vending. He apologized, and Winter bowed her head too.
On the way back to the dorm, holding Winter's hand.
"How many did you sell?"
Yoo Ji-tae asked.
"…Five."
"Twenty-five left."
"…Should I refund them?"
"Do that."
It was a petty, nasty tactic for a merchant, but Yoo Ji-tae wasn't a guardian guiding the child down the 'morally right path.' He believed Winter's happiness mattered more, even if it meant being a bit selfish. History showed that shady businessmen often succeeded anyway.
But upon returning home and checking, refunds weren't possible. He'd bought them in a bundle of thirty, and five were missing.
"…Why is this happening to me?"
Winter placed both hands on her head and lamented her cruel fate. '…Hng!' In the end, she was stuck with twenty-five umbrellas in stock.
That's business for you.
Yoo Ji-tae watched Winter sigh heavily at the piled umbrellas with an amused gaze.
Maybe tease her a bit.
"Winter."
"…Yes?"
"You have twelve days left to repay the money."
"…Ah."
The debtor's face darkened.
"You're gonna pay up, right?"
"…Yes."
"No delays."
"……."
Then Winter asked with a worried look.
"…What if I'm late?"
"Huh?"
"…What will you do if I'm late?"
"Hm."
Indeed. What to do?
Thinking it over, Yoo Ji-tae decided to tease her more.
What did Winter hate?
The Guardian.
"You'll have to wear the helmet until you pay."
"…Pardon?"
"That one."
Yoo Ji-tae pointed at the Guardian's head, who was watching TV in the living room. Suddenly singled out, the Guardian's eyes shrank to dots as it glanced over, looking baffled.
Winter grew serious. Wearing that weird helmet everywhere?
"…It's heavy."
"Still."
"…It's ugly."
"So you think good-looking ones should wander around? It's punishment time."
"……."
"Ugly, you say? About me? Little miss, even among Living Armors, I'm pretty popular."
"…Mister, stay quiet."
"……."
"…I'll pay."
With that, Winter solemnly wrote on cardboard with a marker, made a sign, and headed out of the dorm.
But by evening that day, she hadn't sold any. Returning genuinely downcast, Yoo Ji-tae decided to end the joke.
"Let's go together."
"…Huh?"
He dropped the creditor act.
The Guardian held the child's hand and picked up the bag of umbrellas. Though bewildered, Winter gripped his hand and toddled along the rainy street.
Their destination was Colosseo Lair. Rain had been pouring since two days ago, and cadets wrapping up a three-day training session were due out soon.
There, Yoo Ji-tae planned to hold up the sign with Winter and sell umbrellas to the crowd.
[Folding Umbrella 2,000 Won]
"…Will they sell?"
Winter asked uncertainly, having failed to sell any alone for hours.
"Who knows."
He had no guarantees. Even repeating cycles, he'd never hawked umbrellas as a street vendor in Lair.
"If not, helmet time."
"…Hng. Don't wanna."
But as training ended and cadets poured out—those without guardians or heading out to play—faced the sudden downpour.
And there stood Yoo Ji-tae and Winter selling umbrellas.
"Mister, three of these please."
"…Uh, uh, that's 6,000 won."
"Ah, right. Where do I pay?"
"…To me."
A cadet handed over bills. Winter's eyes widened round.
"Oh my. But she's so pretty…."
"For real. So cute…."
Amid the praise, Winter declared,
"…No refunds."
The cadets burst out laughing.
The first sale was a success.
Winter jingled the money at Yoo Ji-tae.
"Good job."
"…Good job."
"Thanks."
The cadets didn't recognize Yoo Ji-tae under his cap. When Colosseo Lair staff approached to crack down on illegal vending, he tipped his hat. 'Ah…. Hello…?' Recognizing him, they smiled awkwardly and backed off.
The unsold stock flew off in hours. Winter's hands stayed busy making change.
With the pouring rain, her mood soared. A smile lingered on her lips, refusing to fade.
"Like making money that much?"
"…Yes."
"Why."
"…Secret."
Kkhihi… The excited Winter grabbed his pant leg and bonked her forehead against his thigh. It was a gesture she'd been doing more with close ones lately.
Thus, over twenty umbrellas sold in a flash. Only one remained for Yoo Ji-tae and Winter.
But after the group training cadets had all left and Colosseo Lair's doors closed. In the dark rain, only the two remained.
"Head back?"
"…No?"
"Why. Almost sold out. It's late."
"…Yeah."
Winter shook her head.
"…Sell them all."
"One tomorrow's fine? No one's left."
"…Don't like it."
"Why."
"…Not neat."
Dragons were generally stubborn.
And Winter was a dragon.
Each held an umbrella. Pondering briefly, Yoo Ji-tae snapped his in half and tossed it in the trash.
"……?"
Suddenly soaked, he stood there. Startled, Winter stretched her arms to cover him with hers, but they were too short. Panicking, she used telekinesis to shield his head.
Already drenched, Yoo Ji-tae casually opened his wallet and asked,
"How much."
"…Huh?"
"Wanna buy one."
"……!"
His expression was as usual.
In modern terms, deadpan.
Flustered, Winter thought her stubbornness had angered him and hurriedly offered the last umbrella. Realizing why she was startled, he smiled faintly.
Then slipped two thousand won into her pocket.
"Thanks."
Finally grasping his intent, Winter's face bloomed into a radiant smile.
"…Thank you."
She folded the umbrella, tossed it in the trash too. 'What're you doing.' '…No umbrella left.' It was rare to see her smile so innocently.
Thus, on the way back, Yoo Ji-tae carried her in his arm crook.
They pressed closer than usual. The folding umbrella was small.
So they trudged through the rain back to the dorm.
Shwaaa…
He didn't like rain.
Shwaaaa…
But today's rain sounded pretty nice.