Chapter 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: §Na Cho Mu§ Jackpot Awaits
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I stared in stunned amazement.
A quest had popped up.
📜 QUEST 📜
Squishy Threat
📍 Objective: Slay the slimes near the lake by Ularin territory.
🎁 Rewards: 300 gold, Strength +1
"Whoa, jackpot. So a commission from someone turns into a quest?"
I'd never heard of any hunters getting quests.
Not a single one.
If there were, they'd keep it hidden.
Which meant this game-like feature was uniquely mine.
"Wooooh!"
My chest swelled with pride.
Was I really the total loser who couldn't awaken when everyone else did?
I clapped slowly, then burst into laughter.
"So this is how my life turns around. Money's one thing, but how do they give stats?"
The head butler would handle the money.
But stats? How?
I shook my head.
It was a game system, so the stats would probably just get applied automatically.
'Wait, does that mean the money too? Double dipping?'
I smacked my lips.
I headed out to get to work right away.
No time to hesitate.
I had a goal now.
'Time to get strong fast. Strong enough to cuck the baron and claim Dani Madam for myself!'
The future was already unfolding before my eyes.
Dating Dani Madam.
Pinning her down for wild sex in the bedroom.
Then kids, grandkids, debating baby names!
'Wanna roll around all night, fuck yeah. Romance approved!'
I stepped out of the mansion.
But someone called out.
"Hey, adventurer!"
"Huh? Yeah?"
A burly guard suddenly approached.
He wore light armor, and his metal greaves clinked against the ground with every step.
I swallowed hard.
'What the hell? A mind-reading guard?'
Could he see my fantasies about the madam?
I was getting needlessly freaked out.
The guard rummaged in his pouch.
Whoa, what was this?
He pulled out a medal.
"Please keep this safe."
"Huh? What's this?"
"It's a pass granting free entry to this mansion."
I relaxed.
Oh, nothing serious. Got me worried for nothing.
I smiled easily.
"Ah, thanks."
"You're welcome. Good luck out there."
I hung the medal around my neck.
It was a simple gold coin-shaped thing. Would've been cooler with a wolf head design.
But the guard's gaze was odd.
'What?'
He was looking at me with pity.
I tilted my head and left the mansion.
I entered the territory.
The mansion sat on the highest hill in the territory.
I descended the hill path into the streets.
'So this is a medieval fantasy territory.'
It was emptier than I'd expected.
Nothing around.
No signs of life except for the occasional patrolling guards.
A bit farther on, I spotted farmers working the fields.
A few territory folk here and there, but sparse.
'What the? Feels emptier than some backwater village.'
Fewer people meant fewer women.
Which meant fewer chances for busty, glamorous country girls with pretty faces to fall for my repeated heroics.
This was a problem.
'Major issue. Tsk.'
I even worried I'd come to the wrong place.
But I shook my head, denying it.
"If you got no money, then take the hit!"
A shout echoed from somewhere.
I tilted my head and headed toward the noise.
At the mouth of an alley, a burly thug had a woman at his side.
He was lightly punching an elderly man's chest.
"Hey, old timer. This territory's mine soon enough, Belken's gonna own it."
"Ugh, don't do this. Why pick on an old man like me?"
"Heard you were an adventurer back in the day? Must be loaded."
"I got nothing. Lost it all trying to break free of fate's yoke!"
What was this old guy's deal?
Belken spat.
"Fine, maybe I'll take your head instead? Boost my rep. Make me a real adventurer!"
"Please, have mercy. I truly have nothing."
"Yeah, figures. So take the beating, fucker."
"Please, I beg you. Just let me pass!"
The old man trembled.
His frail frame shook like a leaf.
I sighed.
Seeing this thug reminded me of modern hunters flashing cash and acting big.
'Fucking hate that shit every time. Get drunk, beat their porters half to death, DUI and flip off the cops. Then in court, play the mental health card or social status bullshit.'
I got pissed for no good reason.
Not out of some sense of justice.
His actions were just that shitty.
Time to step in.
"That's enough."
"Huh? Who the fuck are you?"
Belken and his woman turned.
She sized me up and sneered.
"Oh em gee, what's with the scrawny bitch? Looks like a total micro-dick."
I got mad all of a sudden.
When the fuck did this bitch see my dick?
Not like I could whip it out to prove her wrong.
'Well, I could, but dudes are watching.'
I glared at her.
She had vibrant purple bobbed hair and shining violet eyes.
Her voluptuous figure was wrapped in surprisingly neat clothes.
Her plump thighs looked downright delicious, honey-thigh material.
'You're getting fucked for sure.'
Belken sneered.
"Easy, Kerry. Dudes like that's a virgin loser anyway."
Unbelievable. Fuck off, you couple.
Then Belken noticed the medal around my neck and clicked his tongue.
"What, you're that guy? The baron's new favorite."
"And?"
"Tch, listen up. I'm a bit of a big shot adventurer around here. Bow and scrape from now on. I'm your senior."
I snickered.
Self-proclaimed adventurer thug wannabe.
What was he on about?
His vibe was pure asshole hunter.
No such thing as seniority in the biz, but these idiots make hierarchies to bully anyway.
"You? An adventurer? You?"
"Watch it."
"Some punk shaking down an old man for a stare-down, and you're an adventurer? Any mutt can call themselves that, fucker."
"Wanna die?"
"Then tell me, was what you did right? Speak up."
Belken's face flushed red.
Kerry eyed me with sudden interest.
What, crushing on me already?
Belken clenched his fist and closed in.
"Let's see if that mouth's good for anything else."
Whoosh!
I dodged his punch.
Belken looked shocked.
So was I.
I grinned.
'Whoa, it worked? A normal guy with no stats couldn't have dodged.'
Awakening stat buffs made it possible.
Which meant I could handle a fight.
Belken swung again.
I ducked and hooked his jaw.
Crack!
"Urk!"
"Ho ho."
Belken staggered and fell.
He pounded the ground, got up, and flailed wildly.
The classic wild haymakers.
I sighed inwardly.
Stat-wise, he was probably stronger than me.
'His punches kick up wind.'
Mine didn't.
There was a clear stat gap.
But he couldn't fight for shit.
Me? I'd trained endlessly as a porter to not get picked on as a non-awakener.
'Only thing I never tried was romance!'
Not anymore.
I weaved continuously, dodging.
Belken threw a mistimed straight.
I slipped diagonally and nailed his nose bridge with a back straight.
Thwack!
"Gack!"
"Still going, thug?"
"I went easy. Daring to face Ice Fist me, fuck, if my crew was here!"
"Yeah, punks like you always roll in packs."
I talked big, but I was scared deep down.
This one guy was already a close call.
More of them? Dangerous for sure.
Belken staggered up with Kerry and backed off.
"Count yourself lucky today."
"Brain's rattled and you still move? Impressive."
I sighed in relief as they left.
One more reason to get strong fast.
That reminded me.
'The rental skill I got coming here? What's that?'
Thud!
Sudden cold grip on my arm.
I turned. The old man was clutching it.
I smiled awkwardly.
"Uh, sir? You okay?"
"Young man, you... from somewhere else?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. From the East."
"No way! Thought I was the only one!"
The old man cut in, amazed.
I tilted my head.
He didn't look Eastern at all.
Classic Western features.
'Dementia?'
Made sense after the near-death scare.
He mumbled incoherently.
Hard to make out.
Our eyes met.
His gaze softened.
"Young man, a favor. I don't have long."
"Yeah, you look it. Uh, no, live long though."
My true thoughts slipped out.
He didn't mind, turning away.
"Follow me. Got something for you."
"Huh? Wait."
I followed in a daze.
Probably some fruit candy or ginseng drops.
Not sure if they had that here.
His rundown shack appeared.
Inside, he hacked violently.
"Cough hack! Kergh!"
Blood everywhere.
I rushed over, shocked.
"Sir, you okay?!"
"Take this."
He handed something over.
A longsword, sheath rusted to hell.
I drew it. Blade badly rusted.
But oddly heavy.
And specs appeared.
⚔ ITEM ⚔
Sealed Almas
Rarity:Unique
Unique Activation:'Freezing Wave' - Unleashes a powerful wave of cold energy forward.
Unique Passive:'Turn to Dust' - Slain targets crumble to dust and scatter.
Unique Passive:'Unlocking' - ?
'Weird. Doesn't feel like a normal sword.'
The old man coughed heading to bed.
I helped him lie down and asked.
"Sir, why give this to me?"
"It's meant for you. Ahh, waited 50 years. A full 50!"
"Huh? Waited for what?"
"You'll finish what I couldn't. My final chapter."
He looked up at me gripping the sword.
Smiled warmly, nodding.
"Now, take my life."
"N-no! Sir, I can't."
What the hell was this old coot saying?
Asking me to murder?
But he was dead serious.
Like a master passing on martial arts.
"I don't have long. You can absorb someone's power."
"How do you...?!"
My heart nearly stopped.
That rental skill I'd gotten—it had that name.
How did he know?
Who was this guy?
But he wasn't spilling.
"Cough! Hack! Not much time. Please."
"I don't get it, but okay."
"Thank you. Use that privilege to become a god wisely."
My first murder ever.
But as a battle-hardened porter...
'Hunters often had to mercy-kill allies unavoidably.'
I thrust the sword into his neck.
Unpleasant sinking feeling, but I hoped he went peacefully.
"Rest easy."
I yanked the sword out with effort.
Expected blood spray.
Instead, per the sword's spec, his body turned to dust and vanished.
Thought that was it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Cain] defeated!
[Foreigner's Concept Book] absorbed!
"What the hell?!"
I was shocked again.
