Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: A Message in Korean
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A square in a small, European-style town.
In front of a fountain adorned with a charming statue, a centipede, a spider, and an elf were warily eyeing one another.
"Hrmmm…"
The spider, Anetium, looked down at the centipede, whose eye level was much lower than hers, with a meaningful gaze.
The size difference was so significant that they looked like a Golden Retriever and a Pomeranian facing off.
"So, you're Lord Ogong?"
Annoyed by Anetium's awkward tone, which hovered somewhere between formal and informal speech, Ogong spoke sullenly.
"Go?"
"Yo."
Although she hastily completed the formal ending, Anetium's attitude was clearly testing him, leaving Ogong at a loss for words.
"..."
Was it because his body had shrunk, his disgustingly numerous legs had been reduced to a mere six, and his eyes had somehow become rounder?
Anetium, repeatedly looking down at her strangely cute *former* boss, Ogong, let out another hum.
"Hrmmmmm."
How could Ogong not recognize the subtle arrogance laced in that hum?
But Ogong, who had always looked down on other creatures from above, couldn't easily punish this impudent creature.
Already confused by the unfamiliar environment, he felt intimidated by Anetium, who boasted an overwhelmingly large body compared to his own pea-sized form.
No matter how intelligent they were, their true nature was that of monsters. For them, living in a world of survival of the fittest, only the present mattered; who had been their superior in the past was entirely irrelevant.
Anetium said in a boastful tone.
"Well, you may have been the boss out there, but in here, I'm clearly your senior. If you don't know something, don't hesitate to ask me."
"Rok?"
"Yo."
Old habits die hard.
Ogong flared up at the informal speech, and Anetium flinched, repeatedly correcting herself.
The elf, Will, who had been watching their war of nerves, spoke cautiously.
"Um..."
Will the elf was in a similar situation. Outside, he had boasted the proportions of a supermodel and peak beauty, but here, he had become a mere five-year-old child.
Anetium shot a glare at the little Will for speaking up.
"Who gave a newbie like you permission to wag your tongue while your elders are talking? You wanna die??"
In response to Anetium's attempt to assert her seniority, Will replied with a feigned sense of injustice.
"...If we're going by that logic, I'm also Lord Ogong's senior..."
"Ahem, this lady here is already feeling peckish, and some knife-ear dares... Hey, you punk, even if he's this small, he's still this senior's former boss. And a mere elf dares to challenge that? You want to get eaten?"
At the mention of being eaten, Will cowered like a child scared of thunder and shook his head.
Seeing his desirable reaction, Anetium said triumphantly.
"Watch how you act."
Ogong let out a groan at Anetium's attitude, which subtly established herself as number one and him as number two.
He was on the verge of a panic attack.
He had certainly made a deal with Lee Si-woo, and he had indeed survived.
But where in the world was this place, and why had he become so cute?
Having lost his hundreds of reliable legs and his massive body, Ogong fell into despair and let his head hang low.
"Bbi-i!"
Just then, a white squirrel came dashing furiously toward the fountain.
Seeing the squirrel, which seemed quite angry as it tapped the ground with its tiny paws, Ogong grumbled.
"What is this little thing? Hmm, is it edible?"
In contrast to Ogong's disdainful attitude, Anetium was horrified and made a fuss.
"Eek! Wait! I get it. I'll stop slacking off and get to work, so please don't. Huh? You can let it slide just once, right?"
"Bbi! Bbi-bbi-bbi-bbi!"
Annoyed by the white squirrel chirping nonstop like a fire alarm, Ogong snapped.
"Anetium, how dare you treat me with such disrespect, yet grovel before a mere squirrel? I am most displeased."
"That's because that thing is an unbelievable tattletale!"
No sooner had Anetium finished speaking than the white squirrel darted off somewhere like an arrow.
Seeing this, Anetium muttered in dismay.
"I'm screwed."
Before Ogong and Will, who still hadn't grasped the situation, could even tilt their heads in confusion, a boy in a faceless mask emerged from the dark shadows between the buildings.
At the Butler's appearance, Anetium shot her front legs up above her head and then took off for her life.
"Oh my, look at the time! Phew, I'd better get to work!"
In the spot where Anetium had disappeared while spouting nonsense, only Ogong, Will, and the Butler remained.
The Butler extended a hand toward Ogong and said.
"Paw."
"...Paw?"
"Good boy. Paw. Oh, right. You're a centipede, aren't you? Then, head."
The hand shaking like a rattle. Belatedly realizing what that gesture, urging a certain action, meant, Ogong was enraged.
"You... Are you treating me like a dog? You... you despicable bastard who deserves to be chewed to pieces!"
As if to protect his pride as the former leader of the Monster tribe, Ogong thrashed about violently, belying his small-dog-sized body.
The Butler mercilessly stomped on the neck of Ogong, who was trying to bite his ankle with his angry maw, and said.
"Bbi-bbi, the tool."
"Bbi-i!"
The white squirrel, Bbi-bbi, looking absolutely thrilled, came rushing over with something wrapped in its tail.
The Butler picked up the leather whip wedged in Bbi-bbi's swaying tail and spoke with a sinister laugh.
"It's time for a fun lesson."
***
Thanks to Martin and Rei's consideration, Lee Si-woo had managed to get some light sleep, and upon waking, he immediately logged into Barathrum.
He would have preferred to enter secretly if possible, but circumstances didn't allow for it, so he just came in.
Seeing Martin's strange attitude after witnessing the white portal, he had also judged that it would be more advantageous to be open about it rather than trying to hide it clumsily at this point.
"Welcome, my Lord."
Si-woo immediately asked the Butler, who greeted him with a polite demeanor.
"Before that, I have something to ask. What happens to my smartphone in the real world when I enter this place?"
"It enters an invisible mode, becoming impossible to find or touch."
He had thought as much but couldn't be certain, so Lee Si-woo finally let go of his worries and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I knew it. That's a relief."
The Butler, noticing Si-woo's inner turmoil, said.
"You need not worry. As long as you are here, no being, whether from the outside or inside, can harm you, my Lord. Not even if that being is a god."
"...Not even a god?"
"Yes. Therefore, you can consider Barathrum one of the most secure safe houses in this world. Provided... the energy allows for it."
"So energy is crucial. Ah, speaking of which, a new family member should have arrived. Was there any trouble?"
The Butler replied with a low chuckle.
"There was a slight disturbance, but you need not concern yourself. Educating the subordinates is my responsibility as the Butler."
"Still, that centipede must have been a handful."
"It was not a handful, and even if it were, a butler who cannot handle such a matter properly is not qualified to serve you, my Lord."
Judging by his voice and build, he was just a boy, but he spoke like a loyal vassal who had served him for decades.
Si-woo let out a dry laugh and muttered.
"...You're something else."
"And congratulations on completing the quest. Now, if you select Mana's Blessing as your 2-star Talent, you will finally be able to handle mana."
Si-woo had been able to complete the quest because 24 hours had passed before he entered this place.
"Yes. I logged in with that in mind."
"You are aware that once a Talent is set, it cannot be changed for 24 hours, correct?"
"I'm well aware."
"Well then, shall we visit the Hall first?"
"Let's."
Following the Butler's suggestion, Si-woo stopped by the Hall, which resembled the Tower of Babel, to check the statuses of the new Cells he had acquired.
「Will」 ★★
Level: 19
Race: Elf
Talent: [1] Beauty [2] Mana's Blessing (Shared)
Technique: None
「Ogong」 ★★★
Level: 41
Race: Baekgak-amun
Talent: [1] Enhanced Bite Force [2] Tenacious Life [3] Antennae
Technique: None
After setting Mana's Blessing as his 2-star Talent, Lee Si-woo licked his lips.
"My biggest prize was Ogong... It's a bit disappointing that I didn't get anything useful from him."
"No, you've gained well. Thanks to his high level, he's fantastic at manual labor. My Lord, have you not felt it? How much better your physical condition has become?"
"Huh? Hmm, now that you mention it..."
Just as the Butler said, his body felt as light as a feather and was brimming with strength. Soon, having an inkling, Si-woo tensed his entire body.
*Srrk.*
Si-woo's entire body turned a copper color. It was the Mineral Body phenomenon, where his flesh became mineralized.
"This is..."
"Yes. Thanks to the diligence of the newly arrived centipede, the copper mine has been completely excavated in an instant. Please check your stats."
「Lee Si-woo」 ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Level: 20
Race: Human
Talent: [1] Danger Sense (Anetium) [2] Mana's Blessing (Will)
Technique: None
Unique Ability: Mineral Body (Copper)
"A Unique Ability section has appeared... and it's highlighted in bold."
"The status screen opens new options when certain conditions are met, but among them, the Unique Ability section is extremely difficult to unlock. That's because it's an option that only opens for those who have acquired a 'first-ever' ability that no one else has obtained yet."
"So, because Mineral Body is an ability originating from Barathrum, no one in this world has it. That's why I unlocked the Unique Ability option."
"Precisely. In this wide world, there are surely other abilities with effects similar to Mineral Body, but the type that enhances physical abilities through Barathrum is unique to Mineral Body."
"I see. By the way... I don't know how much the Mineral Body ability raised my level, but to be only level 20 after gaining mana... It's a bit disappointing."
"It cannot be helped. Although you can now handle mana, your internal mana reserves are still shallow, making it difficult for you to utilize it properly."
Realizing that his current level was entirely due to the Mineral Body ability, Si-woo frowned.
"What do you think, Butler? Since my level is similar to Will's, could I take on a regular elf, not a boss-level one?"
The Butler warned in a firm voice.
"My Lord, you must not be deceived by numbers. The level is merely a quantification of your enhanced physical abilities from the Mineral Body effect and your mana ability; it does not represent your combat power."
Si-woo nodded his head in understanding.
Just as the Butler said, it was absurd for Si-woo, who lacked proper combat skills, to think he could compete with the seasoned veterans of the Pit just because his level had risen slightly.
"Then I suppose I must go to the Library to fill in what I'm lacking."
At Si-woo's decision, the Butler bowed his head respectfully and replied.
"A wise decision. I will escort you."
***
After leaving Barathrum, Lee Si-woo pressed his thumb against his throbbing temples.
Having read the elf Will's book in the Library, Si-woo had acquired all of his knowledge.
Thanks to this, he had not only instantly understood elven ecology and culture but also learned how to wield Mana's Blessing. However, as a side effect of consuming his brain's capacity, he was suffering from a headache.
'My remaining brain capacity is about 55%? At this rate, I can read three more books at most. Phew... Since it's so tight, I'll have to be extremely careful about which books I read.'
The Library was an incredibly useful feature, but it had the drawback of not being able to filter the knowledge acquired.
Useless information that Si-woo didn't want, such as Will's personal life, was included in the book without any filter.
'Will, that crazy bastard. He got kicked out of his hometown for fooling around with over ten married women. A Casanova elf? Ha, they say people are the same everywhere... As long as they're intelligent beings, even different races aren't so different from us.'
Just as Si-woo, who had unintentionally learned not only the hobbies but also the bedroom preferences of ten married elf women, let out an empty laugh, Martin suddenly appeared beside him and asked.
"You suddenly disappeared, I was worried... Where did you go? I've been looking for you."
Si-woo replied with an awkward smile.
"I'm sorry."
Martin didn't hide his disappointment at Si-woo's attitude, which rendered his concern meaningless with a single word of apology.
"...Really? That's a little hurtful. I thought I did my best for you... Was I not even worth an answer to such a trivial question?"
"You're right. You did your best to protect me, Mr. Martin. I'm grateful for that. That's why I also pushed myself to repay my debt to you. You know what I had to do to get inside the Elder's barrier."
Martin gave a bitter smile.
Recalling Si-woo's insane feat of killing Ogong alone and successfully negotiating with another tribe, he didn't dare press the issue further.
Martin said with a pitiful expression.
"You're right. We're all alive thanks to you. It's just... I'm a little hurt. We're comrades who risked our lives for each other. But I didn't ask anything sensitive, just where you went, and you immediately shut me down with an apology..."
"Whether the question is trivial or sensitive is for me to judge, not you, Mr. Martin. Of course, I understand you feel hurt. And I'm sorry for that. But Mr. Martin, while we may be comrades, we've only known each other for a day. We look out for each other due to our circumstances, not because we trust each other with our lives. Don't you agree?"
At Si-woo's clear boundary-setting, Martin didn't hide his gloomy expression and said.
"...Alright, sorry for bothering you. Get some rest."
Martin turned away with a pitiful face, as if to broadcast that his feelings were hurt.
Just then, Martin's expression hardened, becoming as cold as frost.
It was a ghostly change of expression, like a Bian Lian performer.
'How... can I feel mana from him? What... what in the world does he have, that an incompetent guy from another dimension could change so much overnight?'
Even as he walked away with the most dejected gait he could muster, Martin's mind was racing.
He had even tried to guilt-trip him to dig out his secret, but he had to give up in the face of Si-woo's impenetrable attitude.
Was it because of his uncontrollable curiosity and greed?
Martin unknowingly clenched his fists.
Si-woo watched Martin's back with a deep, unreadable gaze.
Rei, who had been quietly watching them from nearby, approached.
Si-woo let out a small laugh.
"Do you also have something to ask me, Ms. Rei?"
Rei whispered as she passed by him.
"Be careful of Martin."
Si-woo raised an eyebrow at Rei's action, disappearing after leaving only those words.
Her straightforward attitude, just tossing out a piece of advice and leaving, was unexpected.
Si-woo, who was left alone mulling over Rei's words, suddenly stiffened.
'Hm?'
A tentacle came into Si-woo's view, tightly wrapping around one side of the hemispherical World Tree barrier.
*Wriggle, wriggle.*
Hundreds of tentacles squirmed like a swarm of earthworms, beginning to leave a strange mark on one side of the barrier.
Soon, realizing the marks were a form of writing, Si-woo's eyes widened.
He didn't know the principle behind it, but in this world, he could understand languages he was seeing and hearing for the first time, so communication was naturally not an issue.
However, the characters the tentacle was writing now could be recognized at a glance even without such an ability.
That was because no Korean didn't know Hangul.
'This is...'
[I have no intention of harming you, hyung. So if you're in danger, come out anytime. I'll protect you.]
Recalling once again how the tentacle that had wrapped around his arm yesterday hadn't harmed him, Si-woo muttered with a blank expression.
"Interesting. Yes, very... interesting."