Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: 1-2. To Escape from Fate
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Four hours later.
I was lying face down.
The floor beneath the inn's table was soaked with water.
If I said it was my tears, would you believe me?
Over the past four hours, as I opened 41 boxes—worth a total of 4.1 billion won—I felt every aspect of life.
Joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, love, hatred—all of it.
This gambling box contained every emotion melted together.
I fell from heaven to hell over and over.
And I realized something.
The me before opening those 41 boxes could never be the same as the me after.
I felt life. I saw life.
And I failed. It was all for nothing.
A utter, devastating failure. I couldn't find any meaning in it.
Is this rock bottom...?
My hands and feet no longer trembled.
This was the end—an end where even prayer wouldn't come.
"What a memorable day. The day your death was sealed. Congratulations."
A clean voice laced with contempt drilled into my ears. Right. There was someone else in this room besides me.
I'd forgotten everything while screaming as I opened those 41 boxes.
She must have seen me wallowing like a pig in the filthy mud of hope.
I looked up, and there was Sui-El.
Her eyes weren't looking at a person—they were looking at nuclear waste.
I'm done for.
I blew 5.1 billion and got nothing but duds. That vaunted intuition of mine betrayed me completely.
Beside me, Sui-El mocked me by imitating what I'd said a few hours ago.
"This is nothing compared to the crazy things I've done."
"Uwaaaaaah!"
I couldn't hold back and screamed, and Sui-El laughed at me.
"You still have some shame left in you?"
I couldn't give up like this.
No way.
I grabbed onto Sui-El and clung desperately.
"Lend me the money! I'll pay it back!"
"You're about to die—how? You trash!"
"You said the odds of rare items go up with each failure. It'd be a waste to quit now!"
"Sure, the description says it increases slightly. But with just 51? It wouldn't have gone up even 0.1%."
I had no rebuttal. I'd barely stood up, but dizziness hit me, and I collapsed again.
Should I have just quietly listened to Sui-El?
No. That would've been hopeless too.
This wasn't the time for regrets.
Think of something. Anything.
But no matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn't make money out of thin air.
Soon, Sui-El said we should leave the summoning room, and I numbly agreed.
As I nodded and stood, something fell from inside my clothes to the floor.
Wait.
"What's this?"
It was a sub-space pouch. As I wondered why I'd brought it, the dead Wind Walker suddenly came to mind.
The memory chip from the Wind Walker had been so impressive that I'd forgotten about this pouch.
I'd planned to bring it today to sell safe items to a fence since I was out. Of course, I didn't know what was inside, but there was a safe place to check.
You couldn't just open something like that at home without knowing the contents. What if a dead monster's corpse spilled out?
The house would be a mess.
The stench of a dead monster's body lingers forever once it seeps in.
"That's right!"
It was a sub-space pouch from a Hunter like the Wind Walker.
There had to be something valuable inside.
I dumped it all out at once, and the contents poured forth.
"Wait! What is this?"
Sui-El gasped in surprise at the sudden event. But then she muttered "Oh my god" and trailed off.
I was the same.
An enormous amount of magic stones had spilled out.
"Where'd you get these?"
I answered Sui-El's question honestly. It was nearly impossible to lie to an angel. And I didn't want to lie to Sui-El, who'd shown me some pity.
"So, these are the belongings of the dead Wind Walker?"
"Yes."
"I get that Hunters or hyenas take stuff from the dead. But you should give it to the family first, right?"
"I checked."
The Wind Walker was an orphan.
That left handing it over to his family, but that wasn't necessary.
Honestly, doing that much would just get me called an idiot.
When I explained, Sui-El looked like she had no choice.
"If it were family communal items, it'd be different, but it's all magic stones...Finders keepers, hard to argue with that...."
Sui-El wasn't the uptight type of angel.
From her attitude, she was deciding to look the other way.
In the meantime, I used the magic stone measurer to check the total.
"Impressive...."
Converted to cash, it was a whopping 20.1 billion won.
"Kyaa!"
The surprised Sui-El let out an exclamation. Her eyes teared up a bit.
"Good for you. Now you can make up for all your screw-ups."
Sui-El seemed to want me to buy magic items obediently.
But no way.
Even if I covered myself head to toe in C-grade magic items with that money, I couldn't overcome my fate.
The only answer was the lucky boxes.
This wasn't relying on a miracle.
It was the best choice.
Hoping to survive the 99% death chance with C-grade items would be relying on a bigger miracle.
I immediately explained this to Sui-El.
"That's sophistry!"
Sui-El flew into a rage. Still, I held firm with my iron will and didn't back down.
It wasn't gambling addiction.
This was the only way.
When I refused to yield, Sui-El finally threw up her hands.
"Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! I give up! Go die somewhere!"
"I'm sorry."
After apologizing, I pointed to one of the system windows with my finger.
"What?"
Sui-El looked where I pointed.
-You've opened 50. We're giving you a special opportunity. Bet all your money to buy a compressed box. For example, 100 billion gets you a box compressed from 100, with higher drop rates for top magic items.
A compressed box....
The ultimate gambling machine.
No wonder even rich people end up suicidal.
"You're insane. Yoo Je-a, you're insane."
"I know. That's what I've heard most over the last ten years."
I pushed all the piled magic stones toward Sui-El.
Sui-El looked too exhausted to even get angry.
Like someone who just wanted it all to end quickly, she mechanically absorbed the magic stones and converted them to power.
On the right side of the game-like interface, 20.1 billion was newly entered.
The price for 201 lucky boxes.
I bet it all in one go.
I was bold, but every part of my body trembled.
Before hitting purchase, I checked the Han River temperature on my phone app.
4 degrees.
A nicely chilling temperature.
Somehow, it felt like a beautifully cold day.
Though I couldn't see outside without a window.
"Here goes, Sui-El."
I bought the compressed 201 boxes.
-You've purchased a compressed box. Total of 201 equivalents. Rare magic item drop rate slightly increased.
201, and it's only "slightly."
The more I thought about it, the more vicious the game seemed.
-The attending angel is starting the transfer process.
Wooooong.
The mechanical sound came again, and the magic circle began to glow.
When all the processes finished, a pitch-black box I'd never seen before appeared before my eyes. Sui-El sneered at it.
"Huh? It's pitch black. Just like someone's life."
Still, I had to follow the path I believed in.
"Alright...."
Like a swordsman facing death, I opened the box with resolve.
The compressed 201.
Ding-a-ling!
The sound effect was unusually loud. Light burst forth, and an item appeared.
Suddenly, fanfare exploded.
The sound was so huge the whole room reverberated.
-An astonishing miracle of probability has occurred! Even the most apathetic would gasp at this feat. You've obtained an S-grade magic item.
What? Did I really do it?
Chills ran down my spine.
-From this miraculous luck, you've gained a new title. You can now use the Lucky Guy title. Effect: Luck +10.
My vision cleared. Ahead, Sui-El looked confused too. We both stared blankly, then spotted the massive sword at our feet.
What an overwhelming presence. Just looking at it made breathing hard.
When I tried to pick it up, a window popped up.
-Appraise?
I hit yes, and a loading screen appeared.
Soon, the item's detailed specs showed.
*Hero Her's Two-Handed Sword (S-Grade)
The two-handed sword used by the great hero Her. The blade still bears stains from the demon king's blood. As the finest sword, only peak warriors can wield it.
Attack +198
Evasion +41
HP +40
Strength +35
Agility +15
Charm +55
Special: Lightning Strike / Evil Removal / Valkyrie Summon
Grade Limit: Hunters 1st grade or higher only.
As expected of S-grade, the specs were insane.
Beside me, Sui-El trembled.
"In the world, an S-grade! And this sword!"
"You know it?"
"There's only one in Korea. It came from a lucky box—worth 1.2 trillion won. That's this sword, Hero Her's Two-Handed Sword."
No way, that one.
"Not just any item—this one! Yoo Je-a, how much luck do you have?"
Sui-El couldn't compose herself, but I was calm.
S-grade, definitely amazing. Even legendary.
But if I couldn't use it, what good was it?
It required 1st-grade Hunter or higher. Plus, my intuition said even an S-grade magic item wouldn't dodge the 99% death chance. I needed something more.
So I asked Sui-El about handling it.
"Sell it. Plenty of archangels want Hero Her's Two-Handed Sword. They just couldn't get one."
Archangels cherish their kin dearly.
Like how people treasure monsters they raise in mobile games—but on a whole other level.
To angels, Hunter kin are limbs to enact their will. They guide them meticulously over time and provide top gear.
Plus, this was competitive with other angels.
Wealthy archangels armed their elite kin with the best weapons, no matter the cost. And such a sword could be loaned out in the family as needed.
"Can it sell fast?"
"Of course. Angels have their own network. Post it there, and archangels will bid right away."
"But it's over 1 trillion, right? Will it sell that easy?"
"Don't worry. You're set on selling this two-handed sword?"
Sui-El was acting like it was her own business.
I didn't know the price, but it'd be around 1 trillion at least. She expected me to perfect my gear with that huge sum.
But Sui-El.
Even that wouldn't escape death.
I didn't feel "this is it" from the S-grade item.
"Ooh! The archangels are bidding fiercely."
I couldn't see, but Sui-El was excited.
In the end, Hero Her's Two-Handed Sword sold for 1.5 trillion won.
My god.
I'd written a new legend in the lucky box world.
The amount deposited instantly, showing on my window.
The more I looked, the harder it was to believe.
Top right of the item purchase window: 1,500,000,000,000 won.
So many zeros I couldn't even grasp it.
With that, how many lucky boxes? Hahaha.
As I laughed inwardly, a terrifying thought hit me.
"Wait...."
Money for 15,000 lucky boxes.
And lucky boxes had no stacking limit.
"Sui-El."
"Hm?"
"What's the most lucky boxes ever stacked?"
"Oh, that? 300 billion. 300 boxes stacked. Total madman. Paid the price horribly in the end. No Hunter earns that well to blow 300 billion on gacha boxes."
No idiots, but crazies exist.
Sui-El, oblivious to the scary idea in my head, giggled happily.
"First time seeing this much money as an angel. Hohoho. Now you can arm up perfectly."
Dreamy Sui-El.
I made a harsh declaration to her.
"Sui-El."
"Yeah? Anything. Hohoho."
"Buy lucky boxes. 15,000. Stack them all."
"Huh?"
I watched the innocent angel before me go pale white and freeze.
Her brain hit its shock limit and shut down.
Like a statue, she did nothing.
No blinking, no breathing.
"I'll hit purchase first. Prepare the transfer."
I kept tapping up on the window to set 15,000.
I'd worried about a limit, but thankfully none.
"Y-Y-Y-Y-Yoo Je-a!"
Sui-El finally snapped out and shook violently. Then exploded.
"You trash! What are you doing?! Kyaaaaah!"
Her high-pitched scream tore through the summoning room like she couldn't endure it.
A physical gust of wind raged.
Still, I looked at Sui-El calmly.
"What?! What?! Do you know what you're doing? 1.5 trillion! 1.5 TRILLION! You're gambling it all—in one go?!"
"That's the best method. Nothing more."
"Every failed gambler thought their dice roll was best! I warn you strongly—stop this madness!"
I knew convincing Sui-El was impossible this time.
She'd shown amazing understanding as a generous angel, but not on this.
So I'd rely on the system.
She had to respond to the summoning if I wanted.
"Sorry."
With that one word, I hit confirm on the purchase window.
-You've purchased 15,000 lucky boxes. All stacked. Attending angel starting transfer process.
"Nooo!"
Sui-El wailed at the 1.5 trillion vaporizing, but she couldn't break the rules.
Once the system announced transfer, the angel accessory had to comply.
"Madman! Madman! The craziest in the world! Waaaaaah! Michaela-nim!"
Sui-El sobbed as she proceeded. Finally, a black box appeared before us.
"Pitch black. Just like our lives."
Self-abandoned Sui-El slumped down. Her soul seemed to have flown to the stars.
Still, I had to follow my path.
Even stacking 15,000, the dud chance was still higher.
If so, I'd accept it calmly.
If no real game-changer appeared, I couldn't change fate anyway.
"Alright...."
Like a swordsman facing death, I opened the box with resolve.
Diiing....
But the sound effect was off.
Normally, a crisp ding! and contents appear. But it dragged, then ring! ring! ring! endlessly.
Like a computer crashing.
The box interior was empty too.
A dud should at least drop rotten fish.
Even Sui-El, embodying Munch's scream, looked puzzled.
"Sui-El."
"Don't call me. I don't know either."
We peered into the open box. Nothing inside.
"Can this happen?"
"No, absolutely not. The system doesn't have empty boxes. At worst, a chicken bone."
A crash?
A bug?
Then the system voice.
-System crashed. Initiating recovery.
Moments later.
-Item not appeared detected. Sending random unclassified item recently arrived at system.
Sui-El jumped.
"My god, a real crash. The archangels' system crashed."
Nothing's perfect, huh.
Even archangels didn't predict 15,000 stacked. It halted, item vanished.
System detected and would send an off-spec new item to avoid another crash.
Wooooong.
The magic circle lit up. Something was coming.
"Sui-El."
"Got it! At this point, curiosity wins—I'll do it properly."
Sui-El controlled the magic circle.
-Attending angel starting transfer process.
Flash!
Light burst, new item arrived.
The room's air changed instantly.
The circle shorted, unable to handle the load.
Crackle!
Sparks flew from part of it, and it stopped working.
Still, the system message came.
-An unprecedented miracle has occurred! You've obtained an SS-grade magic item.
What? What is this?
-From this unprecedented miracle, new title acquired. You can now use 'Serendipity King' title. Effect: Luck +30.
What the hell?
The blinding light faded, vision returned. Sui-El looked dazed too. We stared blankly, then saw the huge round shield at our feet.
What is this?
Just a shield, yet it felt transcendent. Space seemed warped around it. Just looking made breathing hard.
-Appraise?
Yes, loading screen.
Appraisal done, specs appeared.
*Shield of Solar Deity Oz (SS-Grade)
Shield used by Galas's great deity Oz. Gifted by his lover, sea deity Bashnyarife. Unclear why it left Oz's side.
Attack +99
Defense +341
HP +120
Strength +75
Agility +75
Intelligence +75
Wisdom +75
Vitality +75
Charm +75
Special: Reflect / Return / Solar Burst / Eye of Truth / Magic Null / Summon Null
Traits: Fire Resist +30% / Cold Resist +30% / Acid Resist +30% / Exceptional Durability / Immune to Petrify Magic / Immune to Sleep Magic / Undiscovered Options
"What... is this absurd shield...."
Even I, a magic item novice, knew this was beyond norms.
SS-grade?
No idea how to react.
Ahead, Sui-El babbled nonsense on the verge of fainting.
"What is it, I don't know, scary. Mutter mutter."
She wouldn't recover soon.
I gave up on her and examined the shield. Nodding instinctively.
Not because SS-grade.
I realized this shield, unlike any item, had the power to change even fate.
Yes, this could do it.