Chapter 311
Chapter 311
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 311
Chapter Title: 70. Prestigious Family (3)
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―We're going to space on those guys' money?
It was the first time since their reunion that Song Ji-seon showed curiosity toward her son's words.
She had started to wonder just what exactly her son was up to in this ominous city.
"Yes. We're legally collecting taxes now, but before that, we were getting defense fees."
―Defense fees? Compensation for using your combat power?
As expected of a former businesswoman, Song Ji-seon caught on quickly, making it much easier for Yeong-woo to explain.
"Well... something like that. I prefer the term 'life insurance fee,' though. At one point, all the First Swords in this city were in competition with each other."
―Hoo. Even without us, they must've been busy fighting among themselves to pick a leader.
"Yes. And through that process, they selected someone like you—ideal for handling off-spec mutants."
When Yeong-woo subtly elevated Song Ji-seon to 'off-spec mutant' status, she fell silent inside her helmet.
―…….
But Yeong-woo was certain.
His mother was feeling quite smug right now.
―Then those ones... are they on-spec mutants?
Soon after, Song Ji-seon pointed toward the First Swords coming into view ahead and the mutants behind them.
Yeong-woo nodded in response.
"Mostly, yeah. That's your standard mutant."
Standard mutants.
Yet they were powerful enough that even the so-called strongest in their regions—the First Swords—couldn't handle them on their own and had to flee.
And among them, the uniquely overpowering 'off-spec' existence: Song Ji-seon.
―Hmm.
Song Ji-seon let out a satisfied hum, then quietly raised her greatsword.
Swish.
―Humans can't be killed?
"Yes. Think of it as our travel funds dropping 5% per person. Don't kill any of them, even by accident."
This was with an eye toward any potential revote in the future, though Yeong-woo kept that part to himself.
―I have no reason to kill them on purpose. But if they get caught in my attacks by chance, that's unavoidable.
"...What did you say?"
As Yeong-woo twitched his brow, Song Ji-seon hoisted her ice greatsword high.
Whoosh.
Seeing this, Yeong-woo immediately shouted toward the First Swords.
"Everyone, run! You'll all die...!"
He had forgotten that his mother was a heavyweight who had run a major corporation until just recently.
Already irked from losing a power struggle with her son, she had no patience for such 'trivial' concerns.
―Those punks each hold 5% of the shares? Either your math is wrong, or the ride we're taking is a piece-of-shit junker.
"No, fuck! It was just a rough estimate!"
As Yeong-woo's eyes bulged, Song Ji-seon's body became enveloped in a bluish glow.
Fwaaaah!
She was reverting to her massive ice dragon form.
"Ah, seriously!"
Even Yeong-woo had no choice but to hurriedly pull back this time, and the First Swords—who belatedly realized a massive incident was unfolding in Gwangjin District—scrambled to turn tail.
In the direction of the mutants that had been chasing them, no less.
"What, what is that?!"
"What the hell...?"
The mass of light bursting from Song Ji-seon had already shot up over 100 meters into the sky.
So even the First Swords unaware of the full context instinctively knew that the mutants they'd been stuck with were safer than whatever that enormous thing was.
"Yeong-woo! What the hell did you do this time?"
One of the First Swords even astutely pinpointed Jeong Yeong-woo's wrongdoing and yelled as much, but a scream that tore at their eardrums engulfed Gwangjin District, burying everything.
―If you don't want to die, get out of the way!
At the thunderous warning, the First Swords—who had been facing off against the mutants blocking their retreat—wore dazed expressions for a moment.
"Out of the way?"
"...Which way is out of the way?"
Song Ji-seon had told them to move to 'her side' of out of the way, but her body was so massive that from the First Swords' perspective, they couldn't tell which direction that even was.
And in that interval, Song Ji-seon—having reformed her ice dragon body—gaped her enormous maw wide.
―Get ooout of the waaaay!
As she unleashed a frontal breath blast haphazardly, massive ice shards shot through the gaps between the lucky First Swords who had picked the right 'out of the way.'
Kwaaaaaah!
Meanwhile, the ones who had dodged in the wrong direction...
"Uh?"
"W-Wait!"
No sooner had they sensed the absurd range of the attack than they were swept up in the breath.
Of course, the mutants from various regions—who had been pursuing the First Swords to the death—were no exception.
―Huh?
―No way, a d-drag... dragon?
―What the fuck is that guy?
Even the 7th-day mutants, sent here with overwhelming power settings, were newcomers to this world today.
So they couldn't help but feel bewildered at the sight of another mutant whose body height exceeded 100 meters.
And soon.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwak!
The cluster of mutants—who had been staring in disbelief—were also swept into Song Ji-seon's breath.
―These are my 'peers'? Pathetic.
As Song Ji-seon proudly overlooked the now-cleared area from the result of a single breath, a dark trail suddenly streaked long in front of her.
Taat!
It was none other than Yeong-woo, clutching the slime core and rushing desperately to the scene.
"Are you fucking insane? I told you not to touch people!"
Thankfully, none of the First Swords caught in the breath had died.
Thanks to their evasion maneuvers, they had avoided full-body exposure.
Still, most had limbs disintegrated or their lower bodies shattered entirely, leaving Yeong-woo breathless with excitement.
"S-Sorry..."
As Yeong-woo approached Lee Han-wook—the Dongjak First Sword, who looked closest to death among the victims—Han-wook made a terrified face even on his deathbed and let out an incomprehensible scream.
"U-Uh! Uuuh!"
"Stay still! I'm here to save you!"
A single slime core wasn't enough for rapid treatment, so Yeong-woo had no choice but to pull out 'Unfair Trade' as well.
Splash!
「Unfair Trade」 - Unique One-Handed Sword
【Inflicting wounds on enemies increases the wearer's recovery power.】
「Slime Core」 - Mutant Bracelet
【Regeneration dramatically enhanced.】
He shoved Unfair Trade into Han-wook's remaining hand, then made him stab Yeong-woo's own shoulder.
Puk!
"Uh?"
"This'll heal you right up."
Just as Yeong-woo guaranteed, Han-wook's body began regenerating at incredible speed. Once Yeong-woo judged he had crossed the line back from death, he took the two items and headed to the next person.
"Jeong... Yeong-woo! You fucking bastard!"
Coincidentally, the next was Dongdaemun First Sword Jang Jeong-ho.
"Shut up. I'll save you. Never thought I'd be in the lifesaving business."
Yeong-woo handed Unfair Trade to Jeong-ho as well, had him stab his shoulder, and healed him that way.
"This is what a discount sword does."
As Yeong-woo eyed the patient's leg rapidly regrowing, Jeong-ho spat through gritted teeth.
"What the hell was that? Who'd you bring this time?"
Naturally, 'that' referred to the ice dragon Song Ji-seon, and Yeong-woo knew this remark could hurt in the next election but had to answer anyway.
"My mom."
Now, Yeong-woo, Jeong-gu, and Ji-seon were all 'family,' weren't they?
"Your mom? That's your mom?"
Sure enough, Jeong-ho pointed at Song Ji-seon as if telling him to look with his eyes wide open.
Yeong-woo quietly pressed his arm down and warned him.
"Don't provoke her needlessly. Unless you want to die."
"......"
Song Ji-seon was one of the only beings Yeong-woo couldn't subdue in an instant. Among Earth natives, anyway.
So if she really tried to kill one of the First Swords, Yeong-woo wouldn't be able to stop her in time.
Finally, Yeong-woo had acquired a proper headache.
"Sorry about that. But it'll get better from here. As atonement, I'll return the orbs from this place to their respective regions."
At that, Lee Han-wook—who had been lying far off—jolted in shock and let out a strangled scream.
"No, 'from here on'? What does that mean? You don't mean that thing is...!"
Then he clamped his mouth shut with his one arm, still raw with new flesh.
He had realized the ice dragon Song Ji-seon was looking down at him.
―How are you still alive? Guess they're not completely useless after all.
She then raised her head and upper body high, gazing down at Metal Seoul from hundreds of meters in the sky.
She was enjoying this vast, elevated view.
―One mutant dropping per district? Then the ones we haven't heard from have handled theirs on their own.
Song Ji-seon was learning this world at an astonishing pace.
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she turned her head toward a place very far from Seoul.
Whoosh.
―What about the others?
"Yes? Who exactly?"
―What's happening overseas? Do you know? What's the point if you're just a thug in this country.
"Ah."
As expected of the head of global conglomerate Jin-hyeon Group.
Yeong-woo thought his mother could've survived plenty well even if she'd reset as a human instead of a mutant.
"Overseas is a shitshow too."
―Really?
Song Ji-seon sounded surprised.
That her son—who only had brute strength going for him—somehow knew the overseas situation as well.
―Have you been overseas? Fought there? Competed with alien species?
As Song Ji-seon narrowed her massive eyes and asked, Yeong-woo wiped his nose and shrugged.
"You think a guy aiming for space hasn't set foot overseas?"
Yeong-woo wanted to brag about his hundreds of millions in overseas bonds, but that would've required too much explanation, so he held back.
Besides, he hadn't fully conquered the whole world yet.
"Of course I haven't been to every country, but I'm pretty sure. I'm the strongest on this planet."
When Yeong-woo made this claim, Song Ji-seon gave him a skeptical look.
―The world is broader than you think.
"That's exactly what I want to say to you."
Just as Yeong-woo and Ji-seon were about to start bickering again.
Piiiing!
A sharp signal tone rang out from the edge of the sky.
―What now? Who's coming next?
Song Ji-seon gaped her maw again, preparing another skyward breath, and in that moment, Yeong-woo caught sight of a beam of light shooting up from the west.
Something in the west was communicating with beyond the sky.
"Uh, west! That's it over there!"
―What? What's over there?
"The Victory Monument!"
As Yeong-woo recalled the significant structure to the west, a system message appeared in everyone's view across Seoul.
「Promotion Examiners will arrive in 1 hour.」
「Prepare return gifts.」
"Wha? Fuck, this?"
Yeong-woo's head throbbed with déjà vu as his eyes widened, and Song Ji-seon closed her gaping maw toward the sky.
―What's got you like that?
She apparently couldn't see the system message.
So Yeong-woo stomped his feet and yelled.
"Planet examiners are coming! In 1 hour!"
―What? Examiners?
Song Ji-seon was finally getting to see a part of the 'universe' she'd longed for.
The problem was...
"We have to prepare return gifts within 1 hour! The ones who receive that stuff are high-status bigshots!"
Like Togo's shareholders had been.
The system had personally notified him at their first meeting, hadn't it?
Prepare return gifts for the VIPs.
―What the fuck. Important guests are coming, and you're only now worrying about return gifts?
Song Ji-seon snorted blue steam in disdain, and Yeong-woo snapped his head up as if struck by inspiration.
Snap!
"Mom!"
―......?
"What should we give as return gifts?"
―H-How the hell should I know, you hopeless idiot.
At the sudden 'mom,' Song Ji-seon forgot to even get angry and staggered back.
Yeong-woo glanced at the VIP timer that had appeared in his view and continued.
"You were the owner of Grand Jin-hyeon Group. A master of global hospitality, right? So, if you were me, what would you gift a planet examiner?"
―...What the hell is this kid saying.
Wasn't this kid the real master of hospitality?
Song Ji-seon felt an inexplicable pressure closing in.
Her son had called her a hospitality genius, after all—staying silent would just look ridiculous.
―W-Well... What exactly do those guys want?
In the end, with no choice, Song Ji-seon took on her son's homework, and Yeong-woo grinned wickedly as he hopped onto Neoguri.
"Then I'll head to Gangnam for a bit, so think it over! I'm kinda busy today!"
―What?
By the time Song Ji-seon realized she'd been had, Metal Seoul's mayor Jeong Yeong-woo had already left Gwangjin District's outskirts.
Kwa-kwit, kwa-kwit......
―That fucking bastard dared outsource to me?