Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.33
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The Crustler's pincer clamped shut with enough force to slice right through my waist.
I reflexively laid my sword horizontally.
Clang!
The shock raced up through my fingertips.
Fuck, the power was beyond imagination.
'The moment it pinches, it's a real severing blow.'
Fortunately, the pincer didn't close any further.
It was an adventure banking on the Grave of Ten Thousand Demons' description that its durability never depletes.
Good thing the description didn't lie.
I released the sword and ducked low.
As I slipped through the gap, the blade scattered into smoke.
Clang!
If the sword had vanished just a bit quicker, my neck would've been severed.
Still, it was doable.
The thing was tough, but even slower than a ghoul.
"Uncle! The gap! Crustaceans have weak spots where they bend open!"
Tulip shouted that while firing her arrows.
But they all bounced off the carapace.
"Don't shoot. It's useless, and arrows are a waste."
"Is this the time to worry about that?"
"Of course it is. I'll handle it, so stay put."
The attack target was the 'gap,' just as Tulip said.
But it wasn't that simple.
The damn thing didn't bend its arms easily.
'To make it bend, I need to move my position.'
To a spot where it had no choice but to bend its arm to attack me.
I shifted position, and it moved exactly as I wanted.
"Stupid fuck."
The instant it bent its arm toward me.
I kicked off the ground and circled outward.
Unlike the slow bastard, I'd maxed out my Agility stat.
So it was easier than expected.
'Tough or not, it's still just an early-zone monster.'
Confident of victory, I swung my sword with full force at the gaping joint.
Crunch!
The sword was blocked again.
"...!"
Fuck, unavoidable this time too.
If it was like Harin's, one-use only, it'd really be fucked. Please just break.
'Strike of Judgment.'
The skill activated, automatically guiding the sword toward the weak point.
It works! Or so I thought.
Crunch!
The strike piercing the gap was blocked again.
It meant even Strike of Judgment recognized only the gap as the sole weak point.
"Uncle! No good?"
"This fucker's the Gospel of Matthew."
"Huh?"
"Gotta knock till it opens."
Came to claim an achievement, now looking like I'd end up a corpse.
Staring at something tougher than Pimuk, I finally got what they meant by Incheon being a honey pot.
'Reverse difficulty is fucked.'
No info on the Constellation Gallery?
Strike of Judgment marked the gap as weak point, so whatever.
Any info would just say aim for the gap anyway.
I dodged the monster's slow attacks and checked the Constellation Gallery without much hope.
Then I spotted a post I never expected.
What the hell were these fuckers talking about?
Gambling den opened?
Last time with Pimuk, they mentioned gambling too.
'Gambling den, gambling den.'
Digging through posts and the gallery, I found what they meant by gambling den.
It was categorized separately—not a posting board, but a UI like a whole other gambling site.
These crazy fuckers opened a gambling den betting on me?
More importantly, the odds were even.
'Does that mean the win rates are about equal?'
Equal could mean it's winnable, but flip it around and it means it's that damn tough.
Fuck, fighting ghouls and archers felt like heaven.
The atmosphere was that everyone thought I couldn't win.
I had party bonuses, all stats maxed, even a reinforced frying pan—yet that vibe?
'Just keep dodging, stabbing the gap, repeat—eventually I win, right?'
Had the Constellations all caught collective brain damage?
Or after all their bullshit, they really saw humans as worthless shit? Or they'd seen me struggling already?
'Or... there's really something making them sure I can't win?'
That was when it happened.
What the hell was this? I could bet too?
Dodging the monster's slow attacks, I test-bet 1 gold on my victory for shits and giggles.
Betting history confirmed right away.
'It actually went through?'
A chance to make a fortune with one choice.
Odds even.
In other words, no clue which was favorite or underdog.
But one thing was certain.
If I didn't kill this monster now, I was dead.
Remaining gold meaningless, remaining life zero.
'In that case......'
I caught my breath and finalized the bet.
All-in, bitch-style.
Now I had no choice but to kill it.
'Fuck, hold up. Run away was an option?'
Crazy fuckers, you should've said that sooner!
I already bet my entire fortune on 'can win'!
What a fuuuuuuck!!
If I'd thought of running?
Bet on 'can't win' and bail cool.
Free gold no sweat.
But I'd already wagered everything on this game, no escape now.
"Give me my gold, you fucking bastard!!"
Dog bastards. Funny? Dog fucks.
But who to blame. My fault.
'Hoo... am I really a retard?'
Fixated on the attack that pierced Pimuk getting blocked, I overlooked the option to avoid the fight.
Mistaken it for something unavoidable like Pimuk for a moment.
'Reflecting now does shit.'
What I needed now wasn't reflection.
Kill that fucker first. Must!
Think positive.
Experience of toppling it without running would make me stronger.
'Fuck, pissed at myself—mental victory not landing.'
Now, even running to save my life would hurt worse than dying.
At least a few believed in me.
But their faith didn't help shit.
Belief didn't un-vanish my gold.
"Fuuuuuuck!"
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
I targeted the gap over and over, but it wouldn't break easily.
Still fine.
It was slow; it'd shatter eventually.
'My sword won't break.'
The one breaking is you.
So... cough up the money, you chewy fuck!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Stab once, stab twice.
Three, four, five times.
Over ten stabs and slashes at the same spot, but only tactile feedback—no penetration.
It wouldn't pierce.
"Fuuuuuuck! My gooooold!!"
Curses spewed from my mouth.
All possible upgrades done, and it wouldn't pierce? Bullshit!
Mana seemed bottomed out too.
At some point, Strike of Judgment stopped activating.
Time to change tactics.
"Kang Harin!"
"Yes?"
"Take this and make it a decent blunt weapon!"
I tossed the frying pan to her.
"But... no fire..."
"Hot forging, whatever! If mana short, up Intelligence! Try somehow!"
Left weapon crafting to her, kept stabbing and slashing the same spot.
Please, please! My gold! Bastard fuck!
How much time passed?
Finally, Kang Harin's voice rang out.
"It's done!"
I whipped my head around.
"Throw it!"
In that instant, light flashed in the air.
The blunt weapon Harin hurled with all her might was no longer a frying pan.
No blazing flames or rippling mana, but solid steel gleaming smoothly.
Snap!
I snatched the flying blunt weapon.
Heavy weight, perfect balance.
Like fresh from the forge, deep red glow on a battle warhammer.
"What the! Kang Harin!"
"Yes?"
Harin wore a worried face, like something went wrong again.
"You made it fucking perfect! This is the best!"
Kang Harin beamed.
Fuck, sorry, but not time to smile at praise.
My entire fortune rode on this fight!
Still, it was exactly what I wanted.
What I needed most right now.
A weapon to smash the fucking tough bastard.
And she made it perfectly.
'Time to recover principal—no, duplicate the gold.'
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