Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: A Calculated Gamble
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The bead Lee Si-woo had dropped on the ground flashed, its surface cracking before shattering into pieces.
A crimson flame erupted from within, unleashing a storm of heat that swept through the area.
It was a bolt from the blue. Caught completely off guard, the team members scattered in all directions, screaming as a blistering gust of heat washed over them, threatening to cook their skin. Kyle and Martin, like cats startled by a match, scrambled away from the spot.
Amidst the chaos, only one person remained calm.
Lee Si-woo.
‘The power is stronger than I thought. I was as careful as I could be to avoid hurting innocent people, but the team members were almost wiped out. It’s a shame. If it weren’t for the risk of collateral damage…’
His cold gaze flickered over Kyle for a moment.
Kyle was scooting backward on the floor, his face a mask of bewilderment.
He seemed unable to process the artifact's unimaginable power.
‘Well, whatever. At least I was able to confirm firsthand that I’m safe from the artifact’s flames.’
The fire and heat that spewed from the bead left Si-woo completely untouched, as if they were alive, relentlessly pounding against the stone ceiling and walls.
Just as the old magician had said, the artifact seemed to have some kind of magical protection for its user.
As the ceiling and walls began to melt, Kyle’s face turned white as a sheet.
Watching him, Lee Si-woo’s eyes grew particularly cold.
Si-woo had no intention of wasting such a precious artifact so pointlessly, but he didn’t regret using it.
‘It’s a waste, but it was a necessary investment. If I had tried to save it, I would have been pushed around by people like Kyle, and I wouldn't have been able to bluff about having a magician as my backer.’
Si-woo approached the collapsed Kyle.
“So? Contrary to your thoughts, Team Leader, it seems the bead wasn’t a fake, was it?”
Kyle, who had been staring blankly at the crimson flames roaring behind Si-woo, muttered in a dry voice.
“It was a real magician’s item…? No way.”
“I’m not foolish enough to tell a lie that would be so easily exposed.”
Kyle looked up at Si-woo with dazed eyes and spoke.
“Here, common sense becomes nonsense, and nonsense becomes reality. Especially for newbies. One day you’re living a normal life, the next you’re thrown into a cesspool like this. It’s not easy for most to keep their sanity… But you…”
Kyle had seen all sorts of people in the Pit, which was why newbies annoyed and unsettled him.
Most of them were a nuisance at best, and their penchant for spouting nonsense was practically a habit.
But Lee Si-woo was different, and Kyle had to admit it.
He had made a mistake.
However, unfortunately, the first thing to come out of Kyle’s mouth wasn’t an apology for his error.
“You… that artifact… Have you ever thought about how immensely useful it could have been here if you hadn’t just used it up like that? It could have saved a lot of people. Do you get it? It… you shouldn’t have used it like that!”
Instead of apologizing, Kyle yelled, but Si-woo wasn’t fazed.
He was used to it.
Dealing with people who, slaves to their petty pride, refused to admit their mistakes.
“It’s my artifact. So isn’t it my decision how to use it?”
At Si-woo’s indifferent tone, Kyle bit his lower lip, his eyes gleaming as he asked.
“The artifact… you had two more, right?”
As he spoke, Kyle's eyes glistened. A snake-like, sinister gaze. Seemingly troubled by it, Si-woo scratched his chin and replied.
“Yes. I do have more, but…”
“Hand them over. They would be a great help to our scouting team in finding the stairs. No, if need be, they could even shift the balance of power in this Pit. Yes, our tribe could overtake the Monster Tribe…”
“This is quite baffling, Team Leader, the way you talk as if they’re your own things. Especially when the one who’d be giving them away has no intention of doing so.”
“What?”
Lee Si-woo smiled faintly and said.
“Why should I give the beads to you?”
“…Si-woo, as I just said, with those, you could save a lot of people…”
“Saving people? Sure, that’s great. If I have the means, I’ll gladly help. Of course, I’d need to negotiate for proper compensation. But you know, I have a feeling that you, Team Leader, won’t be among those I’d be helping. Don’t you agree?”
A shadow of anxiety colored Kyle’s eyes.
“L-Lee Si-woo!”
Si-woo’s tone turned ice-cold.
“If the artifact had been a fake, you might have killed me. Am I wrong?”
“That’s…”
“You asked me why I used the artifact? Well. Before that, why don’t you think about why I *had* to use it? If you hadn’t cornered me. If I hadn’t felt threatened, wouldn’t the artifact still be in my hand?”
Was it because the truth hit too close to home?
Kyle’s eyes, shot with blood, glared at Si-woo as he roared.
“Damn it! Then what was I supposed to do? Huh? Was I supposed to be played by some reckless brat who fell out of the sky overnight and lead my team members to their deaths? To believe your few pathetic words! Was I supposed to gamble with people’s lives!”
The corner of Lee Si-woo’s mouth twisted.
It was a sneer that seemed to reveal his own warped nature.
“Cut the pathetic excuses. You could have handled it more wisely, you could have been more considerate of me. But what did you do? You let your damn preconceptions play you, treated me like an idiot, and even tried to kill me. And now you want me to hand over my artifacts? Hah, do I look that much of a fool to you?”
Provoked by Si-woo’s tirade, Kyle charged forward without thinking. But Si-woo didn’t even flinch.
Not only did he still have two more beads, but he also had an ace up his sleeve.
“Team Leader, calm down.”
With a lightning-fast movement, Martin blocked Kyle’s path, covering his face with his palm.
The strong grip pressing against his forehead and chin, threatening to crush them, made Kyle let out a pained groan.
“Urk… M-Martin.”
“See, what did I tell you? I said we should give him a chance. And now look at the mess you’ve made because you didn’t believe him. Tsk… yes, I understand how you feel, Team Leader. Losing your brother in that accident long ago because of a newbie’s mistake? I sympathize. But… this isn’t right.”
Martin shoved Kyle back and continued.
“Team Leader Kyle, that’s enough of your overstepping. In our tribe, the only one who can decide the life and death of a member is Boss Rei, and her alone.”
After saying that, Martin let out a soft sigh and turned to Lee Si-woo.
“Alright, newbie. You just said it yourself, right? If you’re given sufficient compensation through negotiation, you’re willing to hand over the beads. So, what do you want? From us.”
The corners of Lee Si-woo’s eyes curved into a smile. It was a gentle smile that could make anyone lower their guard.
But for some reason, Martin felt uneasy.
Perhaps it was because the power dynamic had been flipped in an instant.
Lee Si-woo spoke in a level voice.
“Well now. I think I’d like to hear it first. What exactly is it… that you can offer me.”
* * *
After a brief discussion with Lee Si-woo, Martin led the scouting team back and immediately requested a private meeting with their boss, Rei.
After hearing the full story, Rei let out a hollow laugh and muttered.
“A magician? Backing Lee Si-woo? And this magician is coming in a week?”
“Yes. He had an artifact, and I saw its ridiculous power with my own two eyes. There’s no room for doubt.”
“Hmm… but isn’t it strange? If this person is good enough to give him such a powerful weapon, why would they abandon him in the Pit? They could have just protected him themselves.”
At Rei’s suspicion, Martin shook his head with a bitter smile.
“There must be a story we don’t know. But what’s certain is that if they care about Si-woo enough to give him such an item, that magician will come here no matter what.”
“A magician coming to the Pit? Phew… Martin, what do you think? Is this an opportunity? Or is it a crisis that will crush the last remaining speck of hope?”
“Boss, you know magicians don’t treat ordinary people as human, right? So don’t even think about getting your hopes up. To be honest, it’s not strange that Team Leader Kyle was so on edge. What kind of newbie gets thrown into the Pit with a magician’s protection? It’s absurd.”
Rei crossed her arms and nodded slowly. But nothing came to mind.
Unless one was a magician, or at least a member of the surface world’s elite, they wouldn’t know about the existence of Soul Treasures.
After a moment of organizing her thoughts, she spoke.
“Ah, forget it. This is just making my head hurt. Alright, let’s handle the simple things one by one. So? What does Lee Si-woo want?”
At Rei’s question, Martin scratched his head, then pulled a memo from his pocket with a sigh.
“Well… it’s more than just one or two things. Take a look.”
Rei stared blankly at the list of demands written on the memo Martin handed her, then suddenly burst out laughing.
It was a boisterous laugh, almost a guffaw, as if she had lost all sense of reason.
“Wow, this Lee Si-woo. This kid is really something else. Exempt from all chores, simple labor, and combat. Participation possible if he wishes, of course. Three team members he can command privately? What’s this? He wants to be a team leader already?”
Rei snorted once and continued reading the memo.
“Well, fine, let’s say we can accept everything up to this point. Considering the item he holds, we can accommodate him to a certain extent. But…”
Rei’s sea-blue eyes flashed as she ruthlessly crumpled the memo.
“He wants access to any information he desires, and on top of that, he wants you, Martin, as his personal bodyguard? Wow, the information is one thing, but demanding you, our tribe’s ace? That’s completely crossing the line.”
Martin smacked his lips and cleaned his ear.
“That may be true, but you know it too, Boss. In this Pit, where we only have first or second-rate talents at best, an item like that artifact is basically a master key that can open any door.”
Rei, her eyelids heavy with worry and cluttered thoughts, slowly closed and opened them, then spoke with a faint sigh.
“Is that so? Fine, I’ll grant all his wishes. Whatever.”
“…Really?”
The corners of Rei’s lips twisted into a smirk.
“He said the magician is coming soon, right? Then what good would it do to get on his bad side? And as for the information, it’s not like we have any real secrets, so it’s no big loss. The only problem is giving you up to a newbie who hasn’t even been here a full day… Ugh, it’s only for a week. I’ll just put up with it.”
At her decisive and pride-swallowing choice, Martin chuckled.
How could it be easy for a woman to command the Pure Tribe?
Rei, who had been through thick and thin, was a leader with a reasonable amount of trust, a reasonable amount of loyalty, and a reasonable amount of skill.
That was why Martin followed her.
He knew better than anyone how difficult it was to possess the virtue of ‘reasonableness’ in this godforsaken place.
“Hehe, that’s true.”
Rei gently stroked her pink lips with her index finger and asked softly.
“So? What’s your assessment of him?”
“Come on, Boss. I’ve only been on one scouting mission with him. What kind of assessment could I possibly have?”
“Still, you must have a gut feeling. Tell me.”
“A gut feeling… it’s not good.”
“Not good? What isn’t?”
“Everything. I don’t know what that kid was up to back home, but he’s no pushover. I mean, whether it’s a lie or the truth, it’s a fact that he was chosen by a magician despite not being able to handle mana.”
“That’s why I didn’t refuse his request to have you by his side. You know what you have to do, right?”
Martin nodded his head and replied.
“Don’t worry, Boss. Whatever that kid is plotting… he won’t be able to escape my sight.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Receiving Rei’s gaze full of trust, Martin turned around.
His eyes, shadowed by the labyrinth, twisted sinisterly.
‘Still so naive after rolling around in the Pit for over five years, Boss. I guess that’s why I like you. But still, Boss. For God’s sake, use that head of yours. Why would a magician hand over a precious artifact to some useless species from another dimension? Huh?’
Martin licked his lips with a snake-like red tongue, smacking them in anticipation.
‘I don’t know for sure, but that guy must have something very valuable. Yes, something that even a magician would covet…’
Of course, just because his greed was stirred didn’t mean Martin had any intention of doing anything to Si-woo right away.
Si-woo not only had a magician as his backer but also possessed artifacts.
However, that didn’t mean he couldn’t test the waters, did it?
Whether Si-woo was a formidable person or had some means of escape, the reality was that he was just a weakling who couldn’t even handle mana.
‘Heh… this just got very interesting.’
Was it because desire had clouded his reason?
Martin failed to see it.
Rei, watching his back with a pitiful gaze.
She let out a faint sigh and squeezed her eyes shut.
‘Martin, there are things in this world that you must pretend not to know even if you know, and pretend not to see even if you see. Those who don’t know their place… can’t find a way to survive even in this nauseating trash can.’
* * *
After handing the memo with his demands to Martin, Si-woo walked to a deserted corner.
He scanned his surroundings once, then swallowed dryly and took out his smartphone.
The smartphone, having finished its feast, was vibrating faintly but continuously.
It felt like a baby bird pestering its mother who had just caught prey.
Lee Si-woo’s eyes gleamed eerily.
‘Bluffing and bravado might get me through a few crises for now, but over time, my weaknesses will inevitably be exposed. Not only that, but in my current state of having nothing, a precious object like an artifact is a double-edged sword. It can be a tool for self-defense, but it can also become an object of wicked greed.’
If a child were said to have a pistol, some people might be wary, but others would see it as an opportunity.
Therefore, he had to devise a plan as quickly as possible.
As things stood, it wouldn’t be strange if he lost his life anytime, anywhere.
‘In the end, the only thing I can trust and rely on right now is this mysterious smartphone, Barathrum. Phew… entrusting my fate to such a strange object isn’t my style, but… I have no choice.’
There was still one card left unturned.
What it was would determine everything.
Whether he would grasp victory, or a wretched defeat.
Finally, as Lee Si-woo touched the smartphone screen, a brilliant light engulfed him.