Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.30
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That moment.
"...Wh-what?"
I rubbed my eyes.
And checked again.
'T-Ten... a hundred thousand?'
What the hell? Am I hallucinating from lack of sleep?
I pointed with my finger, counting each digit one by one.
"One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred... Real hundred thousand?!"
"What's wrong?"
I didn't even know whose voice was asking from beside me.
I was just dumbfounded.
"...This bastard—no, this sponsor, no matter how I look at it, it seems like you added an extra zero? You okay?"
I looked up at the sky.
Which direction should I even talk to?
"Thanks for now."
The gallery was in an atmosphere of total confusion.
Usually, the one who fired it off would show up bragging about why, but no one did.
Meanwhile, Tulip and Kang Harin were looking at me like I'd spotted some weirdo.
I felt like making excuses. Wait, not excuses—it's the truth.
"No, I said the car was too expensive so I wasn't gonna buy it, and they sponsored me to buy one? Even threw in an extra 5,000 Gold."
"Whaaat?"
"For real?"
"Hold on. Just in case. Am I hallucinating?"
I checked the sponsorship history again.
The amount was the same.
"It's real... They're crazy..."
"Good for you!"
"Buy it quick!"
The two shot me sparkling looks.
From the circumstances, anyone could see it was for buying the car.
But whatever.
"Am I crazy? Buying a car for that Gold would make me the sucker."
At that moment, a gallery user who seemed to be the culprit behind the 120,000 Gold sponsorship appeared in Constellation Gallery.
Title: Waaah! Sponsored so you'd buy the car!Author: PinkuPpozzak
The Gold I gave ya got saved up instead of used!
What the hell is that?
Is that the high-nic the gallery users were talking about before?
I don't know. No time for that now.
"We're doing what we planned."
"Huh?"
"Save what you can. It's not like we have no options right now."
Kang Harin fidgeted her lips.
"Why."
"Well... but they gave it to use, so we should... Won't they give more next time?"
Valid point.
But no guarantees.
"Cars are consumables. Especially in this situation. They'll break easy, can't splurge."
"...I agree with Uncle."
Tulip added, looking into the air.
"Raising stats ain't cheap, and who knows what we'll need later."
"You get it. Harin, pump Vitality first, and start practicing your skills now so you get used to handling them."
Kang Harin was also staring into space.
What are they doing? Checking the shop?
"Thermoforming. Use that to make a car key."
"A key...?"
"Yeah. Buying a car is ridiculously expensive, but there are abandoned ones everywhere. Problem is no key, but key's all we need."
The area was littered with wrecked cars.
Some had shattered windows, others spray-painted sloppily.
But some were still intact.
"Look up Tico car key in the shop and make one just like it."
Of course, same model key won't work on every car.
But since it's a shop item, it'll be different.
'Harin's not just a simple craftsman; it's a Constellation skill, so it'll work.'
Kang Harin nodded and looked into the air.
A moment later, her gaze returned to me.
"Why. Impossible?"
"No. I think I can! But... need metal..."
I picked a beat-up nearby car and ripped off the door panel.
"This work?"
"Ah... that's unnecessarily big..."
Grave of Ten Thousand Demons, summon.
Shaaak—
The door panel sliced like paper.
I cut it to size and handed it back.
"That good?"
"Yes!"
"Hold that and use 'Thermoforming,' or seriously think about wanting to use it."
Kang Harin gripped the metal piece tightly.
Chiiik—
The metal softened and melted smoothly.
It flowed like liquid, then quickly shaped into something precise.
And finally.
"It's done!"
"Oh, looks legit?"
"Wow, sis! So cool!"
Kang Harin looked proud.
"Good, now just find a Tico."
I scanned the area immediately.
And realized.
No Tico.
"Wait, no Tico?"
Tulip and Kang Harin looked around too.
"Now that you mention it, no Ticos around?"
"Ah, shit... Am I an idiot?"
I should've just made a key for one of the visible cars from the start.
Obsessed with Tico and told her to make that—I was the moron.
"Make a key for that car over there."
Kang Harin glanced at the car, then back at me.
"Thing is... can't tell just by looking... Need to see the shape in the shop... Don't know the model name..."
"I don't know what that is either."
A brief silence fell.
"Ugh, search the shop. Find that one."
Title: PinkuPpo showed up!Author: PinkuPpozzak
Frustrating as hell!
Line 'em up single file and smack 'em for being slow!
Just use the Gold I sponsored!
A little later, we finally found an identical car.
Kang Harin checked its key, then gripped the one she'd made. But.
"...Huh? It won't work."
"What's wrong?"
"The transformation... won't happen."
"How so?"
"Like... no strength in my hand at all... Feels blocked even when I try to use the ability..."
Kang Harin spread her hand with a troubled face.
The key stayed perfectly in Tico shape, unmoving.
My eyes slowly closed.
My head throbbed.
'Out of Magic Power?'
No way to know for sure.
Maybe not Magic Power, but cooldown.
God, please no cooldown.
"Fucking hell..."
"Pardon?"
"Not you, the situation. What, can't transform even a tiny booger-sized piece already?"
Of course, car key's valuable.
But transforming a palm-sized scrap and ability's blocked?
Ridiculous.
"Harin, your skill isn't once-a-day only, right?"
"I don't really know..."
Hope it's Magic Power, not cooldown.
"How much Gold you got left? Raise Intelligence one point at least and try again."
"...Can't."
"Huh?"
"Only 350 Gold left..."
I couldn't believe my ears.
How many monsters had I killed?
"Why so little?"
"You said raise Vitality first... So I did, all of it..."
"Ah...... Then maybe can't transform with just crafting or repair skills? No tools?"
"Think strong fire would do it, but no fire..."
Kang Harin looked guilty.
Ah, who to blame.
I told her to pump Vitality first.
"Chin up. Not your fault."
"......"
"Find a Tico and done."
"...Can we find one?"
"No choice. Your ability's blocked."
Then Tulip shot her hand up.
"Uncle! Just shoot 'em!"
"......?"
"No Intelligence means 500 Gold, so three Archers and done?"
My eyes lit up.
"You little genius, Tulip!"
"Learned from you, Uncle. Lure hunting."
"Nah, I'm thick-headed, you're the genius."
Kang Harin looked deflated beside us.
"Shoulders back. What crime you commit? Why mope? You're helping plenty."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Convinced you'll help more going forward."
Only then did Harin's face relax.
And soon after, Constellation Gallery got even noisier.
Look at these guys?
Ignoring me even after yesterday?
These the same ones sucking up till dawn?
Time to crack some skulls.
"Grave of Ten Thousand Demons, summon."