Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Survive
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Bbi-bbi's sudden appearance and commotion left Lee Si-woo flustered.
'Wait, how did this little guy get out? Could it be that Bbi-bbi can also come through the Gate of Expedition? Huh, but was that even possible? This one wasn't something I devoured; it existed in Barathrum from the beginning, didn't it?'
Regardless of Si-woo's confusion, Bbi-bbi wailed and clung to his pant leg.
Its cries were so sorrowful that anyone watching might have mistaken it for a devoted wife who had found her runaway husband.
Rios spoke with a troubled expression.
"Ahem, I'm not sure what that squirrel is, but it seems to be something like your familiar... am I right?"
At Rios's words, Lee Si-woo firmly shook his head.
"No, this little one is not my familiar."
At Si-woo's words, Bbi-bbi's expression froze as if struck by lightning, and it collapsed to the floor.
Like a village woman biting the hem of her skirt, Bbi-bbi put its white tail in its mouth, its eyes welling with tears. The sight was utterly pathetic.
The sight was so endearingly pitiful that even Rios, who didn't particularly care for familiars or beasts, shot Si-woo a reproachful glare.
Lee Si-woo gave a wry smile and stroked Bbi-bbi's head with his index finger.
"He's my friend. So what can I do? It seems he doesn't like Beli... I'll have to pass on receiving the familiar."
At Si-woo's words, Bbi-bbi's face lit up, and it swiftly scurried up his arm to sit on his shoulder.
Si-woo stroked Bbi-bbi's tail with his index finger as it wrapped its arms around his neck and nuzzled his cheek.
On the other hand, when Si-woo said he wouldn't take the familiar, Rios had a hard time suppressing his smile.
Familiars were money pits, so much so that even 4th-Circle mages found them too burdensome to keep as mounts.
But he had been uncomfortable with the idea of giving one to Si-woo, especially since he'd have to cover its maintenance costs. And now he didn't have to?
It was a moment of immense savings.
"Ah, but I would appreciate it if you could show more sincerity on the welfare side instead. I mean, it'll be cheaper than a familiar anyway. Right?"
At Si-woo's intention to not suffer even a rat's dropping worth of loss, Rios's face contorted mercilessly.
* * *
After parting with Rios, Lee Si-woo poked the belly of the affectionate Bbi-bbi on his shoulder with his index finger.
Seemingly pleased with having driven off the wolf, Bbi-bbi's tail was spinning like helicopter blades.
While it was nice that Bbi-bbi had come out of Barathrum, Si-woo, who was disappointed about losing the familiar Beli, smacked his lips and said.
"You little rascal. Do you have any idea how much I lost today because of you? Tsk, a familiar is such a useful creature... I swear, I can't live with you."
At Si-woo's words, Bbi-bbi let out a rough snort, then somersaulted to the floor.
It then placed its arms on its hips in a Superman pose, radiating an intent that screamed, 'I'll show you how amazing I am!'
Bbi-i!
With a powerful cry, Bbi-bbi did a somersault, and its form changed.
A membrane similar to a bat's wing now connected its front and hind legs.
It was the form of a flying squirrel, something Si-woo had often seen in documentaries.
"Huh, look at this little guy."
Bbi-bbi struck a 'ta-da!' pose, showing off its wings, then began to fly, gliding from one wall to the other.
Spreading its arms and legs wide, its flight resembled that of a glider.
Bbi-it!
As if to say that wasn't all, Bbi-bbi let out a sharp cry and vanished completely from sight.
It had even entered stealth mode.
In other words, it had started flying while invisible.
As Bbi-bbi's form became completely unseen, with only the sound of it cutting through the air remaining, Si-woo's expression grew peculiar.
At first, he'd watched for its cuteness, but the more he saw, the more he realized this little one had quite a few tricks.
"Bbi-bbi. By any chance... can you get bigger?"
With the sound of a whoosh, Bbi-bbi appeared in mid-air and landed stylishly like a ninja, then arrogantly tilted its chin up.
Bbi-bbi's expression seemed to say, 'That's a piece of cake,' and Si-woo let out a dry laugh.
'It seems... I got a pheasant instead of a chicken.'
Afterward, Bbi-bbi showed off a few more useful forms, such as turning into a ground squirrel and digging tunnels like a mole, or changing into the shape of a red squirrel and brandishing its entirely non-threatening teeth and claws.
After confirming Bbi-bbi's abilities, Lee Si-woo grinned.
He was now certain that Bbi-bbi would be far more useful than the wolf, Beli.
Soon after, Si-woo persuaded the pouting Bbi-bbi to return to Barathrum and headed for the parking lot.
His business was finished. He intended to go back and rest.
* * *
A woman with a cute impression and long, brown hair stood leaning against a limousine.
Unlike the baggy robes of other mages, she wore a fitted yellow robe that accentuated her figure. She seemed to be waiting for someone, nervously biting her thumbnail.
A moment later, a man with black hair, who wore a dress shirt and slacks as if they were a second skin, entered the parking lot. A smile like a sunflower bloomed on her face.
"Sir Si-woo!"
Seeing Laila greet him so cheerfully, Lee Si-woo asked with a hesitant expression.
"Huh, don't tell me you've been waiting here ever since I went into the meeting?"
"Yes. I know how busy you are, Sir Si-woo, and it would be a nuisance to disturb you again later. I wanted to wrap things up today if possible..."
"Even so. Waiting for several hours... I don't feel right about it. Ah, and the matter you requested has been taken care of. The Dongbanhoe will soon announce welfare policies for job support, a medical foundation, and environmental improvements for the slums."
"Oh, thank you. I know it wasn't an easy task..."
Grateful that Si-woo had helped her with such an unreasonable request, Laila unknowingly grasped both of his hands and looked up at him.
Si-woo, who had been gazing at her moist eyes with a blank expression, gently removed her hands and spoke.
"It's fine. Seeing my own kind suffer also makes me feel..."
Si-woo, who was about to say 'uncomfortable,' suddenly questioned himself.
Was he really uncomfortable?
No, in truth, he hadn't cared at all.
Even when his master, Autoreu, had taken him to the slums, he had been too busy looking away to feel sorry for their difficult lives and filthy environment.
That's why, until Laila had made her request, Si-woo had never once thought about improving the treatment of humans.
But why did he act this time?
Perhaps it was because, after overcoming the recent major crisis, he had absurdly found himself with some leeway.
He had always been that kind of person.
When he didn't have a single coin in his wallet, he was trash who would rob and steal from others to fill his own stomach, but when his wallet was overflowing, he would readily make a hefty donation.
Yes, when things were tough, he would commit all sorts of vile acts, but when he had room to spare, he enjoyed indulging in hypocrisy. That was the detestable man he was.
'What a foolish act. What's the point of painting white over a canvas already filled with black... it's meaningless.'
With a bitter expression, as if he had bitten into an unripe persimmon, Si-woo continued.
"That's enough. Let's stop with the gloomy talk. In any case, the matter has been resolved, so you can make your move after confirming the Dongbanhoe's welfare policies. It was nice seeing you today. If you have time later, we can grab a meal..."
As Si-woo tried to end the conversation with the typical empty promise of 'let's eat sometime,' Laila grabbed his hand again.
"Um... I'd feel too bad just letting you go like this. Could you perhaps spare that time now? I'll treat you to a delicious meal. Uh... if you'd like a fancy dinner, I know a good place. Or if you like home-cooked meals... I'm, I'm a really good cook. I'd love to show off my skills."
Laila bowed her head to hide her blushing nose as she spoke, but Si-woo replied in a gentle yet businesslike tone.
"No. I appreciate the thought, but another appointment has come up. Unfortunately, we'll have to postpone today's meal. Today isn't the only day, is it?"
At Si-woo's rejection, Laila felt her heart drop.
Why?
Looking at his polite, plaster-like smile, she got the distinct feeling that he was firmly drawing a line between them.
In the end, her hard-won courage withered, and Laila spoke in a fading voice.
"If you have an appointment, then it can't be helped. I'll see you next time. Still... thank you for your precious time today."
"Not at all. I've received a lot of help from my friend Roben, so it's only natural I'd make this much time. I'll see you next time."
As Si-woo departed in his limousine so coolly it felt heartless, Laila stared blankly until it disappeared from sight.
How long had she been standing there? From the shadows of the parking lot, a middle-aged gentleman with an attractive mustache emerged, flipping a coin with his thumb.
It was Karis, the godfather of the Roben siblings and the ruler of the slums.
Approaching the dejected Laila, Karis tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and said.
"You should take better care of your skin. You have a few blemishes."
"...Sir Karis."
"And your makeup is too light. You should try some bold eyeliner. Perhaps a makeup concept that's not flashy, but assertive. Your attire... well, you're a mage, so it can't be helped, but it would be better to find something more stylish."
Unable to bear it any longer, Laila snapped.
"Sir Karis, please stop. I'm not approaching Sir Si-woo with ulterior motives."
"No ulterior motives, but you do have feelings for him. Am I wrong?"
"...I have no intention of forcing anything with Sir Si-woo."
"I never told you to force it. Nor should you. He is now, in name and in reality, a big shot in Granada, and a man who possesses a 'poisonous heart.' Provoking him recklessly would only bring us immense losses. You must approach him with caution."
"And you, who know that, are saying such things to me?"
Karis whispered in her ear.
"Still, one never knows, does one? Your pure affection might just move him."
"......"
"He accomplished in less than a year what I failed to do despite decades of effort. From welfare to a medical foundation... the things I've only dreamed of, he handled them as easily as sweeping trash off the floor. Laila. Lee Si-woo is a far greater man than you can imagine."
Karis chuckled softly.
His brown skin, characteristic of a South American, twitched with his smile.
Goosebumps rose on Laila's skin.
It was strange.
Lee Si-woo's smile was warm like a winter bonfire, whereas Karis's smile was as chilling as a midwinter wind.
But why?
For a fleeting moment, their smiles seemed to overlap.
"I am greatly indebted to Sir Si-woo, and he has helped me in many ways. This time, too, he agreed to transfer my brother and me to the Senior Magic Tower. That's why I developed feelings for him. I have no interest in his background or abilities..."
Karis's light snort cut her off.
"Well, were you really not interested at all? Heh heh, are you saying you truly didn't consider his abilities?"
Karis tapped Laila's shoulder with his index finger as he leisurely passed behind her.
Laila flinched, a chill running down her spine as if a ghost were tracing it.
"Nice clothes, a nice car, a nice house. You can have those things even now as a mage. But what about the gazes of other races? They still despise you, look down on you. Because that's how this place is. But what if you were by Si-woo's side? Heh heh, just for the reason of being his woman, no one would dare show it on the outside, regardless of what they think on the inside. Because that's how this world is."
Karis's sticky voice repeatedly bored into her ears.
"The world you've dreamed of and longed for will be in your hands if you have him. So, Laila. Try a little harder. No, cultivate your love more. Yes, I don't doubt your purity. Your affection is genuine, and your feelings for him are innocent. But... let's add just two more things to that."
Karis twisted the corner of his mouth.
"Desire and obsession. Only then will the chances of someone as lacking as you possessing him increase, even if only by a little."
Having said his piece, Karis began to leave the parking lot, but Laila urgently spoke up.
"Wait. Sir Karis. I have something to ask. You've been purchasing hundreds of magical artifacts from the Magic Tower every month using my brother's and my names. What are you using so many artifacts for? And to spend such a large budget on them? If you used that money elsewhere, the situation in the slums would be much..."
Karis placed an index finger to his lips and made a 'shh' sound.
"Laila. You only need to worry about Lee Si-woo. You don't need to worry about anything else. Nothing at all..."
With those meaningful words, Karis left the parking lot.
Left alone, Laila wrapped her arms around her shoulders and squeezed her eyes shut.
As always, she couldn't picture the future.
A pitch-black future. A shadowed reality.
And in its midst, only Lee Si-woo was shining.
* * *
Returning to his luxury officetel within the Magic Tower, Lee Si-woo quickly washed up and had a calorie bar for his meal.
In this world, there were energy bars with highly concentrated calories created by magic, ranging from as little as ten thousand to as much as a million calories.
After dutifully consuming a hundred-thousand-calorie energy bar, Si-woo also took a hydration pill.
The hydration pill, containing 100 liters of compressed water, would slowly dissolve in his stomach at the same rate as the energy bar. In theory, he could survive for over 100 days without drinking a single drop of water.
'Well, if I use my Mineralization ability, it'll be gone in a day, but I should still be grateful. If this were an Earth-made calorie bar, I wouldn't even dream of using Mineralization.'
Having finished his meal and a short rest, just as Si-woo was about to enter Barathrum, a blue portal opened with an ear-piercing noise.
A hand of white mist emerged from it and dropped two letters in front of Si-woo.
It was a Star Ascension quest from the White Hand.
'A quest? It's been a while. But... two at once? Huh, this is a first.'
[5-Star Quest]
※Survive the White Calamity that will occur in 3 days.
[6-Star Quest]
※Survive from ???.
Faced with his first survival quest since the Pit, Lee Si-woo's eyes wavered.
'Three days from now... isn't that the one-month and fifteen-day mark foretold by the Death-Ground Fortune? Tsk, I thought things were going too smoothly... Was I not out of the death ground yet, but still wandering within it?'
According to the quests, he had only three days left.
He had to make thorough preparations within that time.