Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Tanuki's Loot
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Normally, dying comes with penalties and a forced logout.
24 hours unable to log back in.
Level drop.
Skill proficiency drop.
Even item drops from your inventory.
The losses aren't minor.
But during war, even if you die, you don't suffer those penalties.
You just turn into a ghost and spectate the battlefield.
"Ah, died again!"
"Hey, you too? Me too!"
"It's already the third day as a ghost. We just keep getting overrun by Demian!"
"We'd only heard rookies were strong, but damn, they really are."
Clusters of white, sheet-like figures gathered in the air.
All Kaum players.
"Can't even turn on streaming mode as a ghost. Tsk. Should I just log out?"
"What? You stream?"
"Yeah, was gonna film rookies, but the party's full now..."
They chatted idly, no longer caring about the war.
But that didn't last long.
"Fuck! My item!"
A late-joining bearded ghost shouted indignantly, drawing all eyes.
"Item?"
"You don't drop items in war even if you die."
The other ghosts just tilted their heads.
The bearded ghost pointed at items on the ground.
"Not those. The ones from killing soldiers!"
"Oh, you went down trying to snag those. That's why you shouldn't dive into soldiers recklessly..."
"Argh, it's not that. I could've grabbed and bolted. But then a damn tanuki popped out!"
"Tanuki?"
"Sudden tanuki, ruining the vibe."
"What bullshit. A tanuki popped out?"
It made no sense.
A tanuki appearing in the middle of a battlefield like this.
The other ghosts blinked blankly, thinking it nonsense.
The bearded ghost vented more desperately.
"No, for real. A tanuki seriously jumped out right in the battlefield."
"Can't see it."
"Soldiers are blocking the view now. It snatched the item right in front of me..."
"A tanuki? Even if you're pissed, making shit up is too much."
"Argh!"
"Honorary member of the tall tale club?"
The others just snorted.
Most didn't believe him.
Time passed meaninglessly like that.
Bwoooo!
Soon, a horn echoed across the battlefield.
"Oh, another squad."
"Squad leaders there too. Higher level than regular soldiers?"
"Bet they give more EXP and items. Damn Demian bastards. So jealous."
The real war was beginning.
Day 3.
As expected, both sides reinforced their squads.
Now squad leaders appeared alongside regular soldiers, their levels and gear a cut above.
Combat prowess no doubt formidable too.
But the EXP and items from killing them would be substantial.
So from now on, prioritize hunting them.
For faster growth.
'No need to overreach for enemy squad leaders, though.'
Why?
Kaum had squad leaders too.
Meaning thief hunting applied to allies as well.
"All units, advance!"
"Oooooh!"
Infantry Captain Kuman raised his sword and shouted.
His infantry followed, roaring.
"O!"
Luke joined in.
'Before you die, hand over those items first.'
Slipping into the soldiers unnoticed, Luke closed in with a sly grin.
This hunt: Infantry Captain Kuman.
Location risky, Scout might interrupt midway, but at Skill Lv. 2, no big worry.
Even if interrupted or distanced, the result window persists once popped.
So Luke trailed Kuman openly, activating Scout.
Faster Scout speed than before.
Wind Bracelet's help, but mostly Skill Lv. up.
'Nice, green helmet?'
Green text item name.
Advanced grade gear.
'Jackpot.'
Marsica set? Easily over 100k gold at auction.
Steal it.
Low odds? No issue.
Odds fluctuate with environment and eyes on you.
Keep spamming till high odds.
'Bingo!'
Faster than expected.
Steal Skill Lv. up? Or stats boosting odds.
Bonus level up.
Thievery success, Luke slipped away fast.
"Enemy squads approaching soon."
"Good, all units... Hm?"
"What is it, Captain?"
"No, where's my helmet?"
Ignoring the voices behind.
'Whew.'
Back at base, Luke took rear position again.
"Hey, adventurer. Here's today's supplies and pay!"
"Yeah, thanks."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Sat on supply blanket after grabbing rations.
The spirit beast from yesterday? Gone.
'Fled again?'
Makes sense.
Sticking around this deadly warzone? Unlikely.
'No biggie if it bails midway.'
Luke scanned the battlefield.
Reinforced squads.
Their leaders.
Stronger forces, but nothing changed.
Still tilting toward rookies.
Demian squads already at Kaum base.
'This one's toast soon.'
Expected.
Plan: Grab some enemy soldiers, retreat with allies.
Regret...
'Ah, item paradise again today.'
Staring at distant drops.
'Squad leaders mean good drops now.'
Handing them all to Demian? Infuriating.
'Ugh, jealous bastards!'
Jealousy, really.
Sighing, barley bread in mouth.
Poke poke!
Something nudged his leg.
"Hm?"
Looking down: Familiar animal shape.
The tanuki spirit.
"What, didn't you run?"
Shakes head.
Guess not.
Gazing down, spotted what it held.
"That's..."
An item.
Square shield from enemy soldier.
Offering it to Luke.
"For me?"
Nod!
"Suddenly?"
Nod nod!
Eager nod.
Really giving it.
"Heh, getting items from a tanuki... unreal."
Dazed, took the shield.
Then the spirit dug into its belly fur.
"Situation..."
Plop!
"...is..."
Plop plop!
"..."
Plop plop plop!
Pouring out.
All sorts of items.
Tumbling from its fur.
'Do, Doraemon pouch?!'
Unbelievable.
But piled items real.
'Wait, these from enemy soldiers...'
Trembling eyes.
Luke stared at the spirit, dumbfounded.
"You picked all these up from there?"
Nod.
"Holy shit."
Next day.
Day after too.
Tanuki's item shower nonstop.
Endless scavenging from battlefield.
Even with enemy reinforcements heightening danger, it persisted, bringing drops to Luke.
Among them, squad leader gear like Belt of the Prepared—perfect for Luke now.
'Always fumbling for items was annoying.'
Perfect timing for a belt.
'With this, quicker pots and throw daggers.'
Sell others at auction.
Ecstatic eyes on equipped belt, then turned to tanuki.
Munching bread in blanket.
All thanks to it.
'Ah, wish someone picked those up without claiming.'
Who'd guess it understood Day 2 grumble and scavenged?
"Heh heh heh, turns out you're my lucky charm!"
Hearing praise?
Tanuki rubbed paws shyly after scarfing bread.
"Kid, don't know the story, but thanks."
"......"
"Eat more. Got tons of barley bread. Dig in!"
"......!"
Gluttonous? Eyes sparkling, nodding.
'Sees me as its savior.'
Elsewise, no reason for this loyalty.
'Good deeds bring fortune, huh.'
Seemed true.
Luke stood.
War Day 5.
Demian already took 5 bases.
This'd be sixth.
No intent to stop, but check something first.
"Stay here munching, kid."
"......?"
"Gonna step out."
Then headed to frontlines where squads clashed.
Clang, clang!
Life-and-death chaos.
Players charged blindly, but NPC soldiers didn't.
"Die!"
"S-save... Gah!"
All fighting desperately.
'Hope for good drops?'
Luke eyed drops only.
"Poison shaman incoming—!"
Then.
NPCs already feared rookies, alerting fast.
Purple rain poured on battlefield.
Shwaaaa!
Stacking poison.
Continuous AoE damage.
The poison rain that once terrified Kaum.
"Gahhh, poisoned!"
"Priest! Where's the priest?!"
"Need antidote..."
Kaum side instant hell.
'Hm.'
Luke pulled antidotes.
All stolen from players and Kaum soldiers.
Gripped them, walked slowly into rain.
Robe soaking.
Body tinting purple.
As expected.
'Now, can Poison Essence absorb this poison?'
Luke eyed messages tensely.
Then purple aura flooding body gathered below navel.
Poison Essence effect.
Confirmed, Luke slowly raised his head in the downpour.
'Ah.'
Grinned wide.
'Perfect.'