Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Boots of the Free Thief
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Worn boots that resembled military footwear.
An item with a rather ordinary appearance, its sole decoration a single small feather-shaped pattern.
But Lee Soo-hyuk recognized it at a glance.
There was no way he wouldn't know what it was.
"Whose turn is it for item distribution this time? Su-hun's?"
"Hey! It's my turn this time!"
"Whoa, you got lucky. Here."
"Uwaaaah-!"
The face of the guy who received that item and excitedly dashed around the dungeon everywhere was vivid.
And the sight of him collapsed with a head-sized hole punched through his chest.
It was so clear, so distinct—even closing his eyes couldn't erase it.
Crunch-.
His molars ground together with enough force to make a sound.
‘How dare they.’
Tsssk-.
Lightning leaked from the fist clenched tightly under the table.
Rage boiled up.
The dead comrades' belongings in Blue Zone's hands.
Their items toyed with in those bastards' grasp, reduced to mere prizes in some spectacle.
John Tail continued.
"Item: Boots of the Free Thief. Any interest in—"
"I am."
Lee Soo-hyuk cut him off without waiting.
"Very much so."
He had zero intention of letting Min-jae's belonging go to just anyone.
It boosted the user's movement speed and allowed a single mid-air jump.
The perfect match for Min-jae, who was fast on his feet to begin with.
He would retrieve it no matter what. If it somehow ended up back in Blue Zone's hands, he wouldn't be able to stand it.
No.
He couldn't stand it now.
"R-Really?"
The reaction came hotter than expected.
John Tail, flustered, chugged a big gulp of coffee before continuing.
"That's great. This content requires your input, after all..."
"Content?"
"Yes. Given your streaming style, a former comrade claiming a Blue Eyes relic makes for compelling viewing."
So that was it.
He'd forgotten amid the anger for a moment.
The man across from him was Baehae Entertainment's team leader. The guy who planned and managed streamers' broadcasts.
To him, this was just another piece of content.
‘Doesn't sit right... but it's his job.’
His gaze fell on his reflection shimmering atop the coffee.
‘No, it's my job now too.’
Ridiculous to view it separately.
Baehae Entertainment was his partner. John Tail sharing this was for the streaming gig, after all.
A contest auctioning off a friend's belonging.
His current job? Turn it into content.
But.
‘Maybe...’
After a brief deliberation, Lee Soo-hyuk nodded.
"Let's do it."
"Perfect."
John Tail said as much, but he didn't seem thrilled.
As if the answer was a given.
Of course.
He didn't know Lee Soo-hyuk's history with Blue Eyes.
"We'll announce it to viewers post-collab. Oh, Unhyang will handle contest details separately."
"Baehae covers that too?"
"Naturally. Streamer convenience is our role."
Convenient.
He'd been about to scout the contest's location and format himself.
"Just say the word. Anything else?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
"What?"
Swoosh-.
Lee Soo-hyuk gestured between the mask over his face and the melted-ice coffee.
"Custom order these. And get me food."
Under a blue sky, by a cabin.
Ye-ryeong had unfolded a camp chair and was streaming again.
"Ah-."
Her eyes had sparkled at the kit moments ago. Now, a sigh escaped.
Soon enough.
"It's over..."
Whip, whip-.
She whipped her head around, checking her surroundings.
Worried Kim Si-woo might catch her.
But as expected.
The busy guy for once didn't notice her kit fiddling.
"Good."
Not caught.
If so, he'd have nagged about streams again.
Fist clenched, she pocketed the kit.
Then rose.
Crack-.
She traversed the frozen white forest.
Clack, clack-.
Hard clunks from her shoes on ice. The blue world of minutes ago was now an ice-tree forest.
"Total chaos."
Longer than expected.
Given past ordeals, the melt would take time.
An unwanted winter loomed.
How far did she walk?
Craaack-.
Deep in the frozen woods.
Hundreds of players encased in ice.
"Done?"
Her question ignored the frozen ones.
Amid white ice.
The sole unfrozen figure turned: Kim Si-woo.
"Done ages ago."
"Then?"
"Pondering. Kill or spare."
Frozen didn't mean dead. Death came later.
Frostbite inside or shatter on breakout.
Si-woo held their fates.
"What's to ponder? Kill 'em. Sender's obvious."
"That's why—it's not obvious."
"How so?"
"If Kim Il-su sent them, these morons? Nah."
"Ah..."
Ye-ryeong nodded; it tracked.
"Fair point."
None other than Kim Il-su.
Ex-Blue Eyes player. He knew their strength.
"Dregs like this swarmed 20 years back."
Two decades gone.
They hadn't slacked. Steady progress, slow or fast.
Today's attackers? Yawn-level, even then.
Plus.
"And with you here, mob rushes from scrubs are futile."
Si-woo was present.
Mass combat: his wheelhouse.
With mana back then? Outcome might've flipped.
"Quick thinker."
"You think."
Grind, grrr-.
Floor ice rose.
Myriad hidden weapons formed, sharp auras locked on targets.
Then.
Boom! Boom! Boom!-
Ice shards pierced frozen heads.
"Hey!"
"What?"
"Sudden murder spree?"
Red blood stained the white ice grove. Vital strikes—heart, brain—in a blink. Ye-ryeong shrugged.
"Spare 'em, they confirm we're alive."
Si-woo looked away.
She always shamed his hesitations.
"Steel your heart. Softness is your flaw."
"...Right."
One hand ruffled his hair; resolve set.
"Sorry. Every damn time."
"You're killing this noona, punk."
"Noona who."
"Birthday month—"
"Drop it."
Ding ding-.
Old routine. Si-woo fished out his pocketed kit.
"My turn this time. You next."
"Huh? Next? More hassle?"
"Check it."
"...?"
Si-woo's face was grim.
She took the kit, scanned.
Her expression turned murderous.
"That fucking—"
Whoosh!-
Crack, craaack-.
Mana flared; nearby ice shattered, shards flying.
Si-woo, unfazed, batted debris aside.
"Right? Infuriating?"
"Who wouldn't rage? Insane!"
"Gotta snag it?"
"Duh!"
Brisk reply, then realization.
"Huh?"
Glancing back: Si-woo's smirk.
Expected.
Trapped.
"Sweet. Fetch it."
"Why me?"
"Obvious?"
Poor opener.
Ye-ryeong rued her impulse, eyes rolling.
"Sure, but... you going's better?"
"Want to."
Not hassle this time.
Si-woo reclaimed the kit, eyed the screen.
Crisp photo, text below.
These boots: Min-jae's. Their comrade's.
"See? Bait. To drag us out."
Blue Eyes relic.
Valuable to Blue Zone too—proof of lineage.
Kim Il-su's auction motive? One.
Lure survivors.
"He sniffed it. We might be alive somewhere."
"Why me?"
"You know. Stealth? I'm trash. Your and Min-jae's gig forever."
Glance-.
Si-woo surveyed the scene.
Blizzard-white woods. His battles' signature.
Ye-ryeong's? Polar opposite.
Stealthy. Silent.
Hidden weapons, infiltration: her forte.
"Wondered why."
"Huh?"
"You jumped to ice these fools. To pawn it off on me."
Si-woo grinned.
Pinchable cheeks, that smugness.
No rebuttal.
"Quiet takedown. Got it?"
"Now?"
"Nah."
Si-woo shook his head.
"Risky. Eyes might be watching."
"Think I can't evade?"
"Love the fire, but careful."
"So?"
Frustrated prompt; Si-woo decided.
"Steal post-winner. Safer."