Chapter 18 - No Matter How This World Is.
No Matter How This World Is.
Translator : Elizabeth
Everyone has a grand plan. At that time, the plan in the head is generally perfect so it doesn't feel like it will fail. Until getting hit in the back of the head, that is. Actually, the feeling of being perfect is the most dangerous, but most don't know that. They tend to pass it off as a mistake after things go wrong, but there is a high probability it could have been prepared for originally. Therefore, I tend to find cases of failure somehow and prepare supplementary measures. If the number of failures decreases. Efficiency. Because the sense of efficacy in work revives. I like that series of processes. So I am a very efficient person. Until just now, that was the case.
Kaboooooom!!!!
Crazy bastard. My grand plan was hit hard in the back of the head.
The broker was much more radical than expected.
Even the sandstorm couldn't stop him. Just a few seconds. The guy pierced through the storm in an instant and reached the earthen wall, appearing while blowing away the wall entirely with a roar.
Flash-
As the earthen wall disappears, a ray of moonlight shines.
And what was seen was a man looking to be in his late 30s.
Attire like a battlefield mercenary.
Appearance of having gone through hell and high water with sunglasses pushed up and mouth covered with a muffler.
At a glance, not an easy opponent.
This guy is the one who gave me trouble.
Broker.
Truly strong to the point of feeling wronged.
Result of two days. Strongest technique.
To think the result, the sandstorm, would be pierced this easily.
What becomes of me who trained diligently.
But was there a need to break the earthen wall, which wasn't even that hard, so loudly? Somehow feels like he hit something else too….
Slide.
He turns his head towards me.
If I move, now that the earthen wall is just broken is the opportunity.
I had already anticipated just in case.
That maybe the broker might pierce the sandstorm and approach me. Though it was late because he was faster than expected.
Anyway Plan 2.
Immediately store the ground under feet to dig a tunnel, and when the guy chases, collapse it with Air Explosion-
Ding!
[The Unhideable Remnant Curse activates.]
[Upon encountering a pursuer, the NPC's memories are transferred.]
“Eh?…….”
Flinch.
Met eyes with the broker.
Should have moved immediately, but the timing was late.
The 1 second just now was the only golden time to break through the situation, but I hesitated.
No, it was just strange. Because unknown memories suddenly forcibly infiltrated my head.
Broker.
He is a Nightmare Climber.
Encountered me on Nightmare Floor 5.
The time was when 30 goblins were attacking me.
The me of that time was in a state of being quite terrified, even before slapping my own cheek.
Slash slash slash!!
In that instant. The goblins' heads flew off.
It was hard to even grasp what technique was used.
When realizing, 30 goblins were rolling on the ground. The broker who appeared there saved me without a shred of hesitation.
[Are you okay?]
After that, he offered exactly one word.
Naturally, I was wary of him.
Hesitated and ran away without being able to say anything, and he just watched the back figure silently.
Then encountered again on Floor 7.
At that time, summoned while restrained and a Champion Goblin grabbed my waist.
The point when the goblin was scanning my body.
When I was trembling because I was flustered.
Thuck!!
A short sword pierced the goblin's heart and appeared.
The Champion Goblin fell to the side, and the appearance of the broker looking down at me appeared instead.
Looking around, all goblins in the cave were already sprawling as corpses.
While looking up at him for a moment without knowing the reason in a situation where I couldn't move being tied up.
Click.
He released the restraints and spoke.
It was the same one word as last time.
[Are you okay?]
Indifferent tone.
For some reason, a feeling of being a bit reliable.
I met eyes with him quite a bit. Somehow eyes that seemed to be careful of me.
But you never know what will happen in the future.
I must be wary of even favor and kindness.
Because if betrayed once, that's the end.
The safest thing is not making relationships.
Eventually I ran away this time too, and likewise he just watched the back figure silently.
Such memories dug into the brain in an instant.
Tremble tremble.
Crazy….
This person is too strong.
Was he an S-Rank Hunter as expected?
Even what I just saw doesn't seem to be full power, can I really run away from this?
He slices the goblin horde I handled with difficulty that easily?
Furthermore.
Glare.
The broker's face frowned deeply.
What is he thinking to be that angry.
Well, having his hideout blown away entirely while trying to catch one kid, it wouldn't be unreasonable to burst in anger.
Right, I'm screwed.
Let's run away.
Reality where the longer the agony, the more disadvantageous. Even if late, must move right now.
But as if the guy would let me go.
“Ught!!….”
Flop!~
The guy was one step faster.
Whether reading my presence, the guy suppressed me first right before I moved.
It was weaker force than expected, but my body couldn't even resist that and fell backwards, and he pressed my shoulder gently and fixed it.
Coming up to here, I am finished.
Meaningless to struggle.
Because I am the inescapable weakest.
Haa.
Really hate something like this.
Do I have to self-destruct again like that time.
But I kinda hate that too.
I'm fine because my body recovers, but the problem is I don't really want to kill this guy.
Probably because of the memory just now.
Even though it's fake, he saved me twice.
The me there didn't need to fight at all, and only heard the words 'Are you okay' twice.
Must mean he wasn't just a psycho.
People, you know.
If they receive help, they tend to care.
Especially if helped with a life-threatening problem, it's hard to forget even if you want to.
It is such a strong memory.
Don't really want to kill this guy.
Because the appearance of silently saving me was quite cool.
Also quite a precious talent.
Besides, if I kill him, I can't receive the money right?
Hmm. This hesitation. Not very good at the moment of decisive battle. This was a scary curse.
Wait.
But why isn't the message popping up?
By now isn't it the timing for the message 'Captured by a hostile target…' to pop up?
If this doesn't pop up, I can't even self-destruct?
Why, why isn't it popping up?
“……….”
Snapped out of it and faced the guy.
For some reason he is just looking at me quietly.
The hand pressing the shoulder was heavy but not rough, and the hand touching the ground next to the face didn't look like it would do anything to me in particular.
Clearly a suppressing action but surprisingly mild feeling. Surely is he being considerate so I don't get hurt.
But the deeply frowned expression.
Eyes saying he really doesn't like it. Think I know. Must be a style preferring intact things over damaged ones. Must dislike that the fully caught prey is covered in wounds.
As you can see, even though I stay still without resisting, still feeling angry. Just what does he intend to do to scan me from top to bottom with such eyes.
But….
Feeling somewhat different from the Champion Goblin time.
Strangely didn't feel repulsion.
Perhaps… have I changed strangely?
Have I gotten used to this kind of thing?
Can't be.
Whoosh!!-
“Eh?… W-what…….”
Suddenly mouth and eyes became empty.
The mask and eyepatch I wore to cover my face were held in the guy's hand.
Too fast so didn't even know they were taken off.
Uh oh… this is really dangerous.
How I hid it until now.
Whether knowing that or not, the guy examined my face with the momentum to engrave it in his eyes.
Seem like trying to read my eyes too.
Quite troubling. Like this I have no choice but to dispose of the guy, but Humiliation Curse is still inactive.
The easiest move, self-destruct, is blocked. Furthermore, the guy is in a situation of only observing me since earlier.
Just why?
Full of confusion. Awkward air. Lengthening silence.
Just examining each other without words. As that got a bit long, became somewhat stifling.
In this incomprehensible situation, eventually, unable to find the answer, I broke the silence first.
“Excuse me… why are you only watching? Isn't there something you want to do to me?”
Humiliation Curse should pop up for it to be normal.
No sign of doing anything to me right away.
Just what is the reason.
Why do you keep only examining me. That's somewhat stifling.
Crumple. Hearing the question, the guy's expression distorted as if chewing on shit.
Is my question unsatisfactory?
Still, curious is curious.
Asked again.
“Capturing me and like, that… isn't there something you want to do? Why are you still staying still? Strange… can't be. Everyone was like that….”
“……….”
Did the Humiliation Curse disappear?
If not that, it must mean this guy is not hostile to me. Can that be?
That really makes no sense.
Even threw a dagger, and suppressed like this.
Clear and obvious hostile person.
Then Humiliation Curse should pop up for it to be normal.
Just why?
Flash.
Momentarily a plausible assumption brushed past the brain.
Ah, don't tell me….
“By, by chance are you impotent?….”
“……….”
Ha-
A nasal sound as if dumbfounded.
Soon, his expression was gradually dyed with anger.
Hmm… Impotent remark might have been a bit too much. Exposed a tremendous weakness.
This surely I would have been angry too. Look at that. Expression like he'll kill me. Disgust. Anger. As expected it was the answer. Still fortunate, won't be humiliated right. Honestly if I suffer that kind of thing, feel like I'll lose a bit of my mental masculinity. Of course, absolutely won't happen though.
Anyway. Now that I know the cause, time to settle it. Resolved for death once again. Now how to escape. But colorlessly to that resolve, the situation flowed a bit strangely.
Slide.
The hand pressing me gently was taken off. Wondering what, looked and the broker was standing up from the seat with a heavy expression.
Suddenly incomprehensible behavior. Why stepping back suddenly after catching.
Wasn't he extremely angry just now?
Was resolving for death slowly.
What kind of scheme is this again.
Looked up at him feeling doubt. Did he notice my gaze.
He opened his mouth for the first time, enduring something by pressing it down firmly with a still annoyed look.
“Don't… treat your body lightly like that. No matter how this world is…….”
“Huh?….”
There is a line to keep.
Saying that, he muttered quietly as if audible or not. Because it was a thick and deep voice, heard it clearly. Rather than anger, somehow a feeling mixed with self-mockery.
What is this guy. Why posing out of the blue. What meaning is he saying it with. A little cool though.
What does that mean in the current situation?
We were fighting well.
“Go. You won.”
“……???”
Thud! Suddenly a large bag was summoned in mid-air and fell. Seems he has Inventory ability too, but suddenly what bag?
“It won't be insufficient. So never jump into this kind of work again.”
Stomp stomp. He finished his one-sided words and turned around and moved. In a situation where I couldn't know the reason, I raised my upper body and looked at that back figure blankly. "Eh…." Suddenly head isn't turning. Why releasing after catching? Just what intention.
Dropping one bag and suddenly turning back and exiting, what kind of case is this.
Really intending to let me go like this?
Really?
“What… is this real life…….”
Really what strategy is it?
Does he have greater resourcefulness than me? Behavior impossible to grasp at all.
Thanks to that, I couldn't attack the guy either.
He's a guy who saw my face, like this….
Ah, don't know. Completely got swept up.
Ziiiip.
Quickly snapped out of it and opened the bag.
Cannot know the reason for the guy's eccentricity, but first grasp the situation and deal with it-
“Gasp!?…….”
Money bundles in the bag revealed their appearance.
Don't know how many 50,000 won bundles.
Bundles of money looking well over 1 billion at a glance. So heavy that even lifting the bag with this body seems not easy. Even me who doesn't budge at most things, lost my soul for about a minute.
“Did my head… become wrong or something?”
Looked at the broker once again.
He was disappearing leisurely showing his back far away. Having caught me, why giving money and disappearing as if defeated is….
As expected cannot understand.
Clearly a smart guy.
Crazy development likely to appear only in dreams.
My current situation felt like that.
“Hmm….”
Me.
Became rich.