Chapter 156
Chapter 156
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: 37. Biological Father (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A complete orphan.
“…….”
Upon hearing those words, Choi Jong-seon inexplicably felt pity for Yeong-woo, but Kim Jeong-gu's stance was entirely different.
‘…This guy's completely insane, isn't he?’
Regardless of whether he was truly his biological father or not, thinking about killing his own dad whenever the mood struck wasn't normal by any stretch.
‘Did I commit some huge sin in a past life? How the hell does a bastard like this show up claiming to be my son?’
But he was also a top-grade survivor who had risen to First Sword after outcompeting tens of thousands in Dobong, all with a naturally 6th-grade body.
Which was why.
“…No other options, huh? Besides dying right now.”
He quickly accepted his current predicament.
“That's right. It's you, just as you said. And didn't you just try to stab me earlier? So even if I kill you now, Father, it'd be self-defense.”
“Ah.”
Kim Jeong-gu let out an awkward laugh.
Then he slapped the tops of his thighs with both palms and spoke in a hearty tone.
“Well, no helping it then. Three days? Let's give it a shot.”
A three-day challenge to avoid becoming a father.
As Jeong-gu pretended to accept cheerfully and stood up, brushing off his seat, Choi Jong-seon let out a deep sigh.
She was relieved not to witness this insane filial impiety right away, but the thought of heading to Seoul with these two lunatics gave her a headache.
‘…Is this really okay?’
Choi Jong-seon instinctively glanced down at her own child.
Still, Seoul had to be better than life in Gyeonggi, where challengers could appear at any moment, keeping her constantly on edge.
No one capable of taking down Jeong Yeong-woo would show up for a while, so at least safety was somewhat guaranteed, right?
-Kieee!
As the situation wrapped up, the golden goblin that had been with Choi Jong-seon leaped into the scene.
Ta-at!
It wasn't for anything else—it was to collect loot from the former Uijeongbu First Sword, Kwak Seong-won, who had been bisected and killed.
“Oh, right, we killed someone today.”
Seeing this, Yeong-woo pulled out the 'Serpent of Greed' to cross-check for any hidden gear.
And watching this, Kim Jeong-gu thought.
‘W-what the hell is this guy?’
He stuck out his tongue at the surprisingly procedural loot collection.
How many people had he killed to have a goblin picking up spoils for him?
-Kit!
Soon, Yeong-woo's relic-grade slave returned with the loot in hand and reported.
-Kit!
The first spoil stripped from the corpse was.
「Slime Fingerprint」 - Mutated Gloves
【Can stick to walls or ceilings.】
‘Huh……?’
Mutated gloves, Slime Fingerprint.
This was gear related to special movement, like the 'Climber' or 'Shrinking Earth' he'd gotten before.
「Climber」 - Mutated Pants
【Jump distance tripled.】
「Shrinking Earth」 - Unique Shoes
【Movement speed doubled when no nearby enemies.】
‘Not often, but these kinds of items pop up now and then. Wonder why?’
Effects like increased jump distance or sticking to walls/ceilings weren't much use in regular combat.
But in this world, no gear was made without reason.
Just like Ability Resistance, whose purpose had been a total mystery at first.
‘Am I really gonna have to climb somewhere?’
Having ventured into otherworldly dungeons once, Yeong-woo's imagination far exceeded that of an ordinary person.
The keyword 'climb' brought to mind not mountains, but massive otherworldly structures.
‘Anyway… the more the better. It'll come in handy someday.’
As Yeong-woo shifted to the next spoil, he saw the golden goblin holding out a single sword directly.
「Unfair Deal」 - Unique One-Handed Sword
【Injuring an enemy increases the wearer's recovery power.】
-Kikkit!
A tone as if it had found something amazing.
Yeong-woo agreed completely.
“Perfect custom gear for me.”
Yeong-woo's survival during fights relied on several mechanisms, but the standout was undoubtedly 'regeneration.'
「Slime Core」 - Mutated Bracelet
【Regeneration surges dramatically.】
An astonishing regeneration that let him recover even if his body was chopped to pieces, as long as his head wasn't crushed.
Layered on top were various damage reductions and resistances—that was Yeong-woo's current 'durability.'
Plus, he often had to self-harm to trigger bleeding states, so this spoil was all the more welcome.
Already a regeneration monster, and now recovery boosts on top? His lifeline would be unbreakable.
‘Recovery power… like an advanced form of regeneration? Anyway, he had some insane stuff. The synergy will be nuts.’
The downside? It was a sword, not an accessory.
‘Of course, I can ask the chairman for a weapon catalog.’
But deciding which one would require seeing tonight's dungeon first.
‘Next up.’
As Yeong-woo turned to the final spoil, a reddish leather belt came into view.
「Flame-Retardant Leather」 - Mutated Belt
【Fire Resistance 10%】
【--Empty Slot--】
‘Resistance and a slot. Solid enough.’
Yeong-woo nodded as the goblin tossed the spoils into the subspace pouch, then tilted his head.
“Hang on, is that really all?”
His gaze shifted back to the 'Serpent of Greed.'
Sure enough, the serpent stayed quiet, head pressed to his wrist, signaling no other loot nearby.
“Unique gear's nice, but… he's a First Sword. Just three items total?”
Maybe one piece got destroyed, but shouldn't there be at least one more mutated item?
Ruling Uijeongbu as top dog, he'd have monopolized all the mutants, right?
“…….”
Yeong-woo stopped thinking and walked straight to the Uijeongbu First Sword's corpse without delay.
Then.
Shaaak!
He swung his sword twice, shredding and stripping off the dead man's clothes.
“Oh my.”
“Eww…….”
The onlookers grimaced at the desecration of the lion's honor.
But they were surprised too.
A massive black Great Dane-shaped tattoo was etched on the dead Uijeongbu First Sword's thigh.
「Fierce Dog」 - Mutated Tattoo
【Strength +700.】
As expected, a tattoo item.
‘Strength +700… yeah, tattoos give higher stats even at the same grade.’
Tattoos couldn't be stolen or transferred.
Proof: neither the golden goblin nor Serpent of Greed had treated it as loot.
‘Kinda sucks to leave +700 Strength behind. But hey, learned something new.’
Yeong-woo tore his gaze from the corpse without regret.
Then.
“Business here is done. Time to head out.”
He said this to Choi Jong-seon, gesturing for her to come over.
Sshuk.
The four-horned steed carrying her pushed off the ground with its iron hooves and walked toward Yeong-woo.
“Where to now? Seoul?”
Fed up with the surreal, unfilial, horrific events, Choi Jong-seon gazed south, pouring her hopes into it.
Yeong-woo gave her the words she'd been waiting for.
“Yeah. Seoul now. Gangnam folks will set up a place for you and the baby. They'll even find someone to watch the kid while you fight mutants.”
By 'Gangnam folks,' he meant Taewon Group.
“…For real? No more crazy plot twists?”
“Promise.”
Yeong-woo smiled faintly, soothing Jong-seon.
Then he climbed onto the four-horned steed's front seat and took the reins.
“I've got a bit more to do, so I'll drop you off in Seoul first, ma'am.”
“G-great.”
End of suffering, start of happiness… or at least stability? As Choi Jong-seon watched with expectant eyes, Kim Jeong-gu, gauging their moods, cautiously spoke up.
“Then… I have to go to Gangnam too?”
Yeong-woo nodded down at him from atop the steed.
“Of course. You stick with me for three days.”
“Uh… but I don't have a ride?”
As Jeong-gu said, there was no space left on the four-horned steed for another adult male.
Sure, squeezing tight might fit one more barely… but Jeong-gu figured they wouldn't, so he asked.
And indeed.
“Yeah. No ride for you, Father…….”
Yeong-woo scratched his nose, scanning Jeong-gu up and down.
“Guess you'll have to run?”
* * *
‘…Insane bastard.’
‘You son of a bitch.’
Both Jong-seon and Jeong-gu assumed it was a joke.
They'd just met today, but telling your dad to run after you? Ridiculous.
But Yeong-woo was dead serious, so in the end.
Kwa-kwit, kwa-kwit!
Kim Jeong-gu had to sprint desperately after the iron horse galloping at high speed.
“You're keeping up fine? This pace'll get us to Gangnam quick.”
Yeong-woo glanced back and said this, so Jeong-gu nodded, sweat pouring down his face.
Dobong District, his own turf, was right below Uijeongbu— he wanted out of here ASAP.
“W-what?”
“…That's our First Sword.”
Sure enough, as Yeong-woo's group passed through Dobong's busy streets, locals outside spotted Jeong-gu and started murmuring.
It looked exactly like he was being dragged along on a leash—minus the actual leash around his neck.
‘Damn it, that kid's gonna sell me out everywhere.’
Meanwhile, Yeong-woo noted his wanted poster tracker was still intact.
If this saga-grade fountain pen wasn't lying, the panting middle-aged man behind him really was his biological father.
“Your uncle's really dead?”
At Yeong-woo's question, Kim Jeong-gu blanked on 'uncle' for a sec before furrowing his brow belatedly.
“You think I'd lie about that?”
The shift in tone from his usual made it seem true.
“What about other relatives?”
“…Only had the one older brother. He married and had kids, but… far as I know, they're all dead.”
Kim Jeong-gu's running feet visibly slowed.
Then.
Tsk.
He came to a complete stop in place.
His brother's death suddenly hit him—leaving him utterly alone in this world.
“…….”
Of course, according to the freak who dropped from the sky, Jeong-gu wasn't entirely without blood kin.
“F-Father? You okay?”
Brother gone, but he'd gained a son instead. A son who casually said ride for me, you run.
Clank!
Soon, Jeong-gu's illegitimate son Yeong-woo jumped down from the four-horned steed, looking apologetic.
“Sorry. My bad. Didn't know you really had an uncle.”
“…….”
Uncle.
To Jeong-gu, who still refused to accept Jeong Yeong-woo as his son, it grated.
Why the hell should my brother be this lunatic's uncle?
“My brother was a way better person than me, so from now on…….”
He couldn't finish with 'don't call him uncle so lightly.'
Because.
Shiiiiiing!
A beam of light suddenly shot down from the sky, and a black metal card materialized in midair.
“W-what the hell is this?”
Jeong-gu stumbled back in shock, but Yeong-woo snatched the card from the air and suddenly started stripping off his clothes.