Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Sewer Hideout
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Kim Ria transformed into her wolf form and began tracking Yoo Sora's scent.
Sniff sniff.
Jo Younggi asked her,
"Think you can find her?"
"Yeah. Sora uses this unique lotion, so her scent sticks in my memory."
"Lotion? Did that woman smell like lotion?"
"No wonder you didn't notice... with how little attention you pay to women...."
Kim Ria shook her head and went back to scanning the ground.
She roamed the streets of Gyeongseong, sniffing like a dog, until she stopped in front of a manhole cover right by the auction house.
"What is it?"
"Why'd you stop?"
"Sora's scent is coming from inside here."
"......Can I trust you?"
"Of course!"
Jo Younggi crouched down and peered into the manhole.
"I don't see anything."
"If you could see down there, it'd be a miracle. It's pitch black—how could you?"
"......Kim Yeonhui!"
Kim Yeonhui emerged from behind a tree. She'd been keeping her distance in case any pursuers were on their tail.
"What?"
"I'm too big to fit in there. You go with Kim Ria and find Yoo Sora."
"......Isn't this a stinky, filthy place?"
"Probably."
Jo Younggi hooked his fingers into the manhole cover and heaved it open with all his might.
Creeeak. Screeech!
Thud.
He pointed into the open hole.
"Be careful. If a fight breaks out, run like hell."
"Got it. But seriously, I can't see a thing."
"......Kim Ria, you know how to use the fire spirit, right?"
Kim Ria grinned ear to ear like a clown.
"You bet! Got a lighter? Could you light it for a sec?"
"Yeah. Here."
Jo Younggi flicked on the lighter.
She waved her hand over the small flame and murmured an incantation.
The tiny fire grew bit by bit, morphing into a butterfly that fluttered to her side.
"It's low-grade, but it'll work fine as a flashlight."
"Guess your level's still pretty low."
"......It's thirty, okay."
"Level up some more once this is over."
"Ah.... Yeah...."
Kim Ria muttered under her breath.
-Old fart.
Jo Younggi scowled.
"What was that?"
"Oh, nothing. We'll head in then—guard this place well."
"Got it. One more time: if it gets dangerous, just bail."
"......Okay."
The fire butterfly flew into the darkness, illuminating the underground.
A sewer with trickling water. The stench was overpowering, but Kim Yeonhui and Kim Ria pinched their noses and descended.
Luckily, there were steps, so they made it down safely.
"Ugh.... This smell's gonna rot my nose."
Unlike the complaining Kim Yeonhui, Kim Ria kept sniffing around.
"Yeonhui, this way, I think."
"......Your nose is supposed to be amazing—doesn't this stink bother you?"
"It does?"
"No."
Kim Ria forced a smile and nodded.
"Then let's hurry."
They followed the sewer tunnel. Soon, voices echoed from ahead—like a cave.
Kim Ria pressed a finger to Kim Yeonhui's lips, shushing her with a hiss.
"......"
Kim Yeonhui pressed against the wall and listened.
-How long do we have to stay here?
-Bro Cheonjae will come rescue us. Just hang in there till then.
-We should go out and fight too! We can't just hide!
-No way. Bro Jeongwoo gave strict orders: protect Sora until Bro Cheonjae gets here....
Kim Yeonhui brushed Kim Ria's finger aside and bellowed,
"Hey! Yoo Sora!"
Hey!! Hey!!! Hey!!!!
Her voice echoed forward.
Silence fell for a moment, then a reply came from the other side.
"Who's there?"
It was a timid woman's voice, nothing like Kim Yeonhui's booming one.
Kim Yeonhui and Kim Ria sprinted toward the sound.
"We're here! We brought Kim Cheonjae!"
* * * * *
I headed to the Gyeongseong Museum, carrying the wooden plank that seemed like an ancient relic.
The same place I'd come to retrieve Cheok Jun-kyung's body before, leaving in massive disappointment after failing.
'Well....'
What you can get here changes with your level.
That's why newbies to pros keep coming back.
My main goal was the auction house, but....
I entered the museum and made for the Greek mythology section. Of course, there weren't many summons I could actually take with me.
Most had level restrictions over ninety, and few were efficient anyway.
"......Heracles."
Strolling through the Greek myth exhibits, I couldn't help but gasp at the entrance.
A massively muscled man, built like a heavyweight bodybuilder, struck an awesome pose.
The Nemean Lion pelt draped over his head, olive wood club in his left hand.
What a tempting beast.
'Level's too low, so I'll pass for today....'
I moved past the Heracles statue deeper in. Nothing I passed was viable as a medium.
They were all god-tier or equivalent—untouchable.
"Revive."
#
[Available Summons: None]
#
As expected, the ones up front weren't even registering with my abilities.
I skipped them boldly and picked up the pace toward the back.
At the museum's end waited a statue of the ugliest of Olympus's Twelve Gods.
'......What an absolute uggo.'
Face like a potato carved from stone.
The lowest-level-restricted statue among the twelve Olympians.
No abilities beyond crafting, high level limit, and a population cost that made it a waste— the exact summon material nobody bothered with.
[God of Blacksmiths, Vulcanus]
I sighed nonstop staring at it. That sloppy build, rags barely covering his lower half.
Revived, it'd probably waddle over clanking—gave me the creeps.
'......Better take it than give it away.'
Even if I ditch it later.
I placed my hand on the statue and whispered,
"Revive."
['Myth' grade summon detected]
[Population cost: 20 for this 'Myth' grade summon.]
[Recruit 'Vulcanus'?]
"......Yeah."
Crack.
Boom!
Light flashed, and the Vulcanus statue cracked and stirred.
The stone encasing it crumbled away.
An ugly man's face emerged.
Not quite a giant, but way bigger than human.
He stretched and yawned, looking stiff.
"Yawwwwwn-"
※ New Recruit: Vulcanus (Ugly)
Level: 65
HP: 100/100
MP: 100/100
Stamina: 10 Attack: 20
Defense: 99 Speed: 5
▶Hammer of Passion (MP Cost: 100)
-Finishes forging in a single strike, no matter the metal volume.
▶Miracle of the Lame (MP Cost: 100)
-Craft any item, given the materials.
Vulcanus grabbed the hammer beside him, slung it over his shoulder, and said to me,
"You revived me?"
"Yeah."
He dropped to his knees and bowed low.
"Thanks!!!"
Thanks, gratitude, my savior, better than the gods.
He poured out overwhelming thanks nonstop.
Bobbing his head, he beamed and continued,
"Out of all these Olympians, you chose me. Wise choice."
"......"
Something was lost in translation.
But if it made him happy, whatever.
I tossed him the ancient relic plank as a bonus.
He caught the spinning plank and asked,
"What's this?"
"You figure it out from now on."
"......Looks like divine wood. Not of this world."
Divine wood.
In this game, that usually meant the world trees—one per continent on the four-continent map.
Why'd he say "divine wood" instead of "world tree"?
"......Divine wood for sure?"
"Positive. Why give it to me?"
"To check. See if it's truly ancient relic material."
"Ancient relic? Heh heh...."
I tilted my head.
"Why the laugh?"
"Too fresh to call ancient. Still full of life force."
"Huh? Not old?"
"Nope. Maybe ten thousand years at most."
Only ten thousand years.
Ten thousand years ago was the Stone Age— what was this guy on about?
"Isn't ten thousand years ancient?"
"......By your standards, sure."
"Then don't use your standards—use mine!"
"Well—"
"Whatever. Shut up and carry that wood. Follow me."
I snapped without thinking.
Vulcanus—why was he grating on me after just a few words?
His ugly mug? No, shouldn't think that, but emotions were slipping.
['God of Blacksmiths Vulcanus' looks at you unkindly.]
'Whatever....'
* * * * *
Done at the museum, I returned to the inn.
Vulcanus, tall enough his head nearly brushed the ceiling, squatted in the corner whittling the wood.
Scriiiich. Scriiiich.
The plank I'd hammered with all my strength without a dent was shaving off under his nails.
"......Vulcanus. How long to craft?"
He alternated touching the plank and dragon fang, estimating.
"This frame. Carving the wood: one day. Smelting the bone: one day. Assembly's quick—no time counted."
"Two days.... Sure?"
"Yep. But can't use these materials during smelting."
"......Got it."
No dragon fang for two days.
Meaning no skeleton combos or stat buffs.
Whole group's stats down 40%.
'......Risky.'
Dragon fang made the story easy so far.
Without buffs, I'd be naked against monsters.
'And time's tight.'
Ma Jeongwoo rose from bed, stretching.
Crackles from his neck and back.
"Cheonjae, no word from Sora yet?"
"Nah. They split up in town, so she'll turn up soon—"
Bang!
Jo Younggi kicked the door open. Kim Yeonhui and Kim Ria behind him.
Yoo Sora trailed in last.
Everyone looked beat, reeking to high heaven.
Yoo Sora cried out,
"Ch-Cheonjae!"
I pinched my nose and said,
"Sora, what happened?"
"Well...."
She glanced at Jeongwoo, then continued.
"In the fourth round, things got crazy.... Lost Jeongwoo.... Hid in the sewer with Li Kurona...."
Sewer?