Chapter 2
Chapter 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Old Serpent's Gambit
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A tunnel, like a dark cavern, coughed up a black shadow as if spitting out phlegm.
*Thud, tumble tumble.*
The face of the horned, middle-aged man, once filled with anticipation, hardened as he identified the species of the black-haired man sprawled on the floor.
“A human? And I can’t sense any mana?”
An old man with white hair and white eyebrows, standing beside him, spoke in a bitter tone.
“If he has no mana… he must be from another dimension. As you know, Summoner Elim, there is no mana in the other dimensions.”
The rough-featured, one-horned man, Elim, squeezed his eyes shut and muttered.
“…You mean to tell me that with a summoning ticket I used to aim for a Talent of 7-stars or higher, I pulled a piece of 1-star trash?”
Was it so hard to believe that the summoning ticket he had spent an astronomical fortune on had become a worthless scrap of paper overnight?
As Elim pressed a hand to his forehead and scowled, the old mage, Harman, examined the kind-faced man through a Grimoire of Identification.
‘Impossible! This one… he’s not a 1-star.’
Swallowing dryly, the mage Harman confirmed the information about the man displayed in the grimoire.
Name: Lee Si-woo 『Black Ticket』
Affiliation: Extra-dimensional System *(Mana-less Affiliation)
Race: Human
The Ticket seeks out and summons those with outstanding qualities from all dimensional systems.
The Ticket itself was a summoning medium designed to find and ‘collect’ exceptional individuals from across dimensions so vast that the word itself was an understatement.
However, the races of the extra-dimensional system were all incompetent, unable to handle mana.
Thus, they were rated not as 1-star but as starless beings, and were naturally not chosen by the Tickets.
But that wasn’t to say it was completely impossible for them to be chosen.
It was extremely rare, but it did happen.
A being from another dimension who possessed something so extraordinary that it overcame the limitation of being unable to wield mana.
‘But… an extra-dimensional being as the holder of a Black Ticket? I’ve never heard or seen of such a case. This… is an irregularity that would be unfamiliar not just to summoners, but, I daresay, even to the gods themselves…’
A 9-star Talent, the holder of a Black Ticket.
Here in the Main Dimension, the final destination for all Talents collected by Tickets from countless dimensions, there were only five such beings, hence they were called the ‘Five Divine Seeds.’
In other words, they were beings so incomprehensible they were called the seeds of five gods.
As his thoughts reached that point, a glint appeared in Harman’s eyes.
‘This man, he must possess a Soul Treasure. And a ridiculously powerful one at that, enough to receive a Black Ticket despite being from another dimension. Perhaps… it could even be a mythical-grade treasure I’ve only heard of in tales…’
A Soul Treasure.
An ultimate treasure that Talents, on extremely rare occasions, held within their souls.
A treasure that could completely change the life of anyone who obtained it.
And that wasn't all.
If it was the Soul Treasure of one of the Five Divine Seeds—no, one of the Six Divine Seeds now—a 9-star Talent, it had to be a world-altering treasure that should only exist in mythology.
In that instant, countless thoughts raced through Harman’s mind.
‘This is my chance.’
Under normal circumstances, how could someone like Harman dare to covet a Talent belonging to a summoner who served the gods?
But now, as if the heavens themselves had lent a hand, the situation had taken a strange turn.
Summoner Elim was so mentally shaken by the fact that the Talent he had summoned was from another dimension that he wasn't even in the right state of mind to check the Grimoire of Identification.
In such a situation, to be presented with an opportunity to swallow a Talent possessing a Soul Treasure whole?
It was nothing for a fox to turn into a wolf.
‘…How can one steal a person’s innate quality as if it were an object? Thus, I could never dare to covet a normal Talent. But a Soul Treasure is different. Heh heh, I thought I’d spend the rest of my life cleaning up after a summoner just because I’m human… but to think a heavenly fortune would find me in my final years?’
Harman wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and carefully opened his mouth.
“Summoner, a purple ticket. It’s a 1-star.”
The end of Harman’s voice trembled slightly.
This was a life-or-death gamble.
If Elim decided to check the grimoire himself, it would all be over.
But perhaps because pulling a dud with a high-level summoning ticket, while not common, was not unheard of?
Contrary to Harman’s anxious heart, Elim was filled not with suspicion but with despair as he sighed.
“Ah…”
Elim turned away, his face dark.
As he was about to leave without a word, Harman asked in a timid tone.
“Um… Summoner. What should be done with this one?”
“…A 1-star Talent’s body would be useless as an alchemical ingredient even if you ground it up. Just throw him into ‘the Pit.’”
The sight of Lee Si-woo seemed to only fuel his anger over the lost ticket, as Elim left the room with footsteps laced with fury.
A moment later, Harman cautiously straightened his back and approached Lee Si-woo with a sinister smile.
Lee Si-woo looked up at Harman blankly, like a newborn chick.
What was surprising was the man’s composure; despite surely understanding their language through the Ticket’s blessing, he hadn't asked a single question.
‘Hmm, this one… as expected of a Black Ticket holder, he has a completely different feel from other extra-dimensional beings. Well, no matter how much, as long as he wasn’t born with mana, he’s no different from an insect in the palm of my hand… but I shouldn’t let my guard down. Tsk, it’s a shame I can’t move right away.’
Making a move now would be premature and could arouse suspicion. So, for now, he would throw the man into the Pit and wait for an opportunity.
Of course, the Pit was a dangerous place, so it would be a huge problem if the man died.
Therefore, he had to make arrangements.
‘Three magical devices should be enough for him to survive in the Pit. I’d like to give him an artifact, but… Elim might notice, so I’ll have to be satisfied with this.’
After confirming several times that Elim had completely left the area, Harman took out three black orbs from his robes and spoke.
“As you heard, the summoner wishes for you to be sent to the Pit. But that place is treacherous, where one cannot see an inch ahead. So, if you find yourself in danger, throw these orbs. They will at least save your life. Now, hold out your hand. I must perform the imprinting ritual with your blood.”
Harman abruptly grabbed Lee Si-woo’s hand and pricked the base of his index finger with a needle.
Harman glanced at Lee Si-woo, who didn’t even flinch, and let out a faint snort.
When he dropped a bead of blood onto each of the three black orbs, the golden letters densely engraved on their surfaces glowed mysteriously.
After completing the imprinting ritual, Harman stuffed the magical devices into Lee Si-woo’s pocket and said.
“I assure you, no being in the Pit can withstand the power of these devices. Moreover, now that the imprinting is done, their flames will not harm you. So, as long as you use these, you should be safe for a while.”
Lee Si-woo, who had remained silent until now, asked in a calm voice.
“What kind of place is the Pit?”
Harman was struck by a strange sense of unease.
In Lee Si-woo’s eyes, as clear as black glass beads, he could find no confusion, no bewilderment, not even a trace of fear.
‘It’s good that he’s not crying and panicking… but for him to be this composed is, in its own way, unsettling.’
Bothered by his demeanor, as tranquil as a deep sleep, Harman replied in an indifferent tone.
“It’s a place where useless things like you are thrown.”
“If I am useless, why did you summon me?”
“Everyone wants to win the lottery, but most end up with a losing ticket. Does that answer your question?”
“You’re saying I’m a losing ticket.”
“Mm.”
Lee Si-woo stared at Harman and asked.
“Am I going to die?”
Harman nodded his head.
“You will. That is, if I don’t help you.”
“That’s strange. Why would you want to help someone as useless as me?”
The smile vanished from Harman’s lips as he tapped his thigh with his index finger.
He realized he had unknowingly been drawn into this cunning man’s pace and was giving him answers.
But rather than feeling displeased, he was relieved. The craftier Lee Si-woo was, the higher his chances of survival in the Pit.
Of course, no matter how brilliant he was, for now, he was nothing more than an insect squirming at his feet.
Harman spoke with a seemingly good-natured smile.
“Because I am human, just like you. Therefore, this is the proper and right thing to do.”
Seeing Harman’s face, trying its best to look kind as if to boast of his pure goodwill, Lee Si-woo almost snorted in spite of himself.
It felt like watching an old serpent playing the fox.
‘At his age, the lack of wrinkles around his eyes means he doesn’t smile often, so this must be a forced one. The way his leg can’t stay still even while he’s trying to be kind shows he dislikes troublesome things and isn’t used to being nice. An old man like that… acting this way…’
He wanted to dig for more information, but he stopped.
He could see from Harman’s expression that his patience was wearing thin.
Lee Si-woo anxiously bit his dry lower lip.
He kept asking questions, even though he knew he might be getting on Harman’s nerves.
He needed to get even a little more information, but he also had to know.
He had to know the true intentions of this old man who was so readily offering him kindness.
‘I have a bad feeling about this.’
There was no such thing as kindness without reason in this world. Besides, judging from the one-horned man’s reaction earlier, his own value must be pathetic.
For this old man to act this way, there could only be one reason.
He possessed something the old man wanted, and it was valuable enough to endure such a great inconvenience.
Lee Si-woo bowed respectfully and expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Harman asked in a passing tone.
“Ah, and if you have any important valuables or belongings, you should entrust them to me. The Pit you’re heading to has poor security, so I’ll keep them safe and return them when we meet again.”
The words seemed reasonable enough, so Lee Si-woo checked his belongings. But it was strange.
Not only was the expensive watch he always wore gone, but his wallet, car keys, and all his other possessions had vanished.
Just one thing.
Except for his smartphone.
‘Everything else is gone, so why is only my phone left? Hmm, but… the timing of this old man’s offer is a bit suspicious…’
Having made his calculations, Lee Si-woo said without a change in his expression.
“Oh dear… all of my belongings have disappeared.”
Harman narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Lee Si-woo from head to toe.
‘He doesn’t seem to be lying… but then again, a treasure on the level of a mythical Soul Treasure probably wouldn’t remain in a physical form. It’s more plausible that it’s imprinted on his soul or hasn’t awakened yet. Hmm, I want to search him myself just in case… but it’s forbidden to arouse unnecessary suspicion over something with a low probability.’
Harman fought the urge to search Lee Si-woo’s pockets himself.
Lee Si-woo’s demeanor was far from ordinary, and he didn’t want to create a troublesome situation by making him suspicious for no reason.
“That would be right. All belongings except for your clothes are supposed to be destroyed when you cross through the black portal.”
Then it was even stranger.
Why had his smartphone not disappeared and remained as it was?
Contrary to his complex thoughts, Lee Si-woo nodded with a naive expression, like a country boy fresh in the city.
“Ah, so that’s why my things… phew, this is a problem. I had a lot of important things.”
“Don’t dwell on what’s already gone. More importantly, remember this. The moment those three orbs I gave you are used up, it’s the end for you. So endure, and hold on. Until I come to save you.”
As if moved by Harman’s consideration, Lee Si-woo’s eyes trembled as he reached out and took Harman’s hands in his own.
“Thank you. I’m still flustered and haven’t quite grasped the situation, but I’m not unaware that you are showing excessive kindness to a stranger like me. I will… never forget this favor.”
Harman’s eyebrow twitched, as if he found Lee Si-woo’s touch unpleasant, but he forced a warm expression and said.
“Mm, but don’t worry too much. It won’t take more than a week at the longest.”
The corner of Lee Si-woo’s eye twitched minutely. He had noticed that the man found contact with him unpleasant.
As if he were forcing himself to pet a disgusting insect.
But that only made him more certain.
The old man was too busy acting kind to notice his little trick.
Lee Si-woo’s fingertips carefully reached the end of Harman’s wrist.
*Thump. Thump.*
Harman’s pulse reached Lee Si-woo’s senses.
As if deeply moved, Lee Si-woo looked up at Harman with moist eyes and said.
“You will save me, won’t you?”
It was an expression that shattered the composure he had maintained until now, revealing his raw, vulnerable face.
Seeing that desperate face, Harman suppressed a rising sneer.
That calmness and composure had been grating on his nerves, but seeing the man’s true colors, he thought, ‘Of course, that’s how it is.’
“You speak of the obvious. I am not so fickle as to go back on my word.”
An irregular pulse.
Catching the characteristic heartbeat of a liar, Lee Si-woo soothed his sand-dry lips with his tongue and said.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“That’s enough. That will be all… go.”
Harman waved his hand, and a blue portal that appeared from thin air engulfed Lee Si-woo.
As he sank into the blue portal, Lee Si-woo thought to himself.
‘One week until this man comes for me. If I can’t find another way by then… I’ll die.’
But just then, a brilliant light burst forth from the pocket holding his smartphone and enveloped Lee Si-woo.
Seeing this, Harman shouted.
“What’s that…? Wait!”
Harman hastily tried to cancel the portal magic, but Lee Si-woo was already gone.
Alone in the empty space, Harman, filled with anger and greed, ground his teeth and muttered.
“So he was lying about having no belongings? Cunning little rat… Tsk, whatever. What can he possibly do in just a week?”
And yet, perhaps because he couldn’t shake off a lingering sense of unease?
Harman quickly left the place.
He had to go through a few procedures if he wanted to get a leave of absence and head to the Pit as soon as possible.