Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Jin-un's Engraving
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Swish, swish—.
Soo-hyuk dressed again, straightening his clothes.
He had checked his status thoroughly. By now, the pattern for the procedure was fully etched in Jin-un's mind.
Now there was just one issue left.
"The problem is the price."
It was the exorbitant fee.
"With canvas as fine as yours, rascal, it's going to cost a pretty penny."
"How much?"
"A million at the max. Could even go higher."
"A million...?"
Soo-hyuk's eyes went wide.
It was even pricier than he had anticipated. That meant the effects would be top-notch, but scraping together that many points right now was impossible.
It wasn't a small sum even for his past life self. Back then, he could have gritted his teeth and paid it off thinking of it as a gift to his future self.
Soo-hyuk checked his available points.
230,000 points.
He had amassed a hefty amount in a short time, thanks to the missions cleared during the fourth-floor trial.
Revenue from the videos uploaded to the Players channel would roll in soon enough, but...
'Still nowhere near enough.'
Jin-un noticed Soo-hyuk's troubled expression.
"What's wrong? Short on points?"
"...Yeah."
"Figured as much. How much you got?"
"230,000. Factoring in the trial fee, I've only got about 220,000 to spare."
"That so?"
Jin-un scratched his chin, deep in thought.
A moment later.
"I don't usually do this, but..."
He seemed to have made up his mind and spoke up.
"We can do installments."
A sigh escaped at the sight of points drained in one go.
200,000 points, gone.
Gathering them had been a grind, but spending them? Instant.
"Points never stick around..."
Leveling up Selfish Sacrifice next would take 320,000 points. And to get the full benefits of Jin-un's procedure, he'd need a steady stream going forward.
No matter how much trickled in, it all leaked right back out.
Now that he'd learned his lesson once, it was time to refill the coffers.
'Who knew handling this skill would be so damn expensive.'
Crackle—.
Soo-hyuk sparked lightning at his fingertips and muttered in disbelief.
'Well, it was always like that, even back then.'
It wasn't just Selfish Sacrifice.
Thinking back, from Jin-un's procedure to the holy sword and all those stamina-boosted items—everything devoured points.
Of course.
The returns more than justified the cost. Way more.
"You know that the thing that killed him was Lightning itself, right?"
Jin-un had nailed it.
Leveling Selfish Sacrifice, getting Jin-un's procedure, even broadcasting to earn points.
All desperate struggles to master the Lightning skill.
Crackle—.
Gazing at the lightning blooming from his fingertips.
Soo-hyuk glared at it like it had murdered him once before.
'Let's see who wins this round.'
Thud—.
That was when Jin-un returned.
"Bored, huh? Messing around solo like that."
In his hands: a long needle and a flask filled with a pitch-black, ink-like liquid.
He shook them proudly.
"Dunno if you know, but this is all the rage with you young punks. Etching weird-ass designs all over their bodies."
Jin-un's procedure was a technique that directly engraved formations onto a player's body.
Like a tattoo, the intricate pattern carved deep within granted mystical properties to the flesh, depending on its shape and materials.
That was Jin-un's craft.
"It's called a tattoo."
"Tattoo?"
"Yeah. Drawing pictures on your skin."
The word seemed foreign to him, and Jin-un looked puzzled.
"What kinda procedure is that?"
"Nah, just for style. Like clothes or jewelry."
"That? Carving formations into your body for style? Man, I can't fathom you young folks' tastes."
No clue why, but Jin-un clearly wasn't a fan of skin tattoos.
His reasoning? "Ruins the aesthetics." Yet his own procedures looked damn near identical.
Of course, being on the back meant most folks could hide it easy.
Grumbling irritably, Jin-un positioned himself behind Soo-hyuk.
"You one of 'em too?"
"Huh?"
"Getting this just to look cool?"
Soo-hyuk couldn't help but chuckle at the question.
It was a joke. They'd already hashed out why the procedure was necessary up front.
This old man's humor never landed.
Time to match his level.
"Yeah. So make it pretty, if you can."
Jin-un grinned wolfishly.
"You got it."
And right then—
Stab—.
A sharp prick in his back made Soo-hyuk's pupils dilate.
"Just like you asked."
Two days had passed since Soo-hyuk left the dorm.
It had taken longer than expected. Unhyang had ordered heaps of coffee and desserts on the company card since morning, all while staring at the door.
"He's not coming."
"Yeah."
Munch—.
A hand snatched another candy.
Unhyang's gaze sharpened.
"Why're you still hanging around?"
Cheongryang, munching on Unhyang's snacks, shot back with an infuriating smirk.
"Free eats on the company dime here."
"Not heading back?"
"Nah. No orders to return yet. Hey, let's order more. This is good."
Unhyang's face twisted at Cheongryang's breezy reply. But what could she do? Cheongryang cheekily ordered another round of candies and mooncakes.
In the old days, Unhyang would've smacked her on the back and shooed her off.
But Cheongryang had visited their sect—reluctantly, at Unhyang's own request. Out of basic decency, she'd hold her tongue for a bit.
"Mmm, tastes better 'cause it's free?"
Ignoring Cheongryang's obnoxious chomping on the fresh mooncake, Unhyang turned back to the door.
'The break seems fine, at least...'
Fortunately, viewers hadn't kicked up much fuss over the sudden hiatus.
They'd just aired the Jung Yu-han ambush, and Soo-hyuk's skill-focused streams weren't daily obligations anyway.
Still.
No word from Soo-hyuk at all was worrying.
'Hope nothing's wrong.'
Day two already. No reply to messages sent via Kit either.
What could keep him from his Kit for two full days? Not hours—a couple days?
John Tail claimed the talks went smooth, but you never knew.
Maybe Blue Zone had stirred trouble again.
Slide—.
The dorm door opened then.
The well-oiled hinges swung smoothly, and Unhyang shot to her feet.
Maybe Soo-hyuk?
But...
"...Huh?"
Cheongryang's hand, reaching for another candy, froze midair.
Unexpected visitors.
Murim players, swords at their waists, strode in.
Four men and one woman.
Unhyang and Cheongryang's eyes locked on the woman at the front.
Black cloth shrouded her skin below the chin, over a form-fitting thin white training robe.
"...Muhwi."
Unhyang murmured her name, scanning the men behind her.
'Five total.'
Decent skills, but nothing threatening.
She could read their intent. Unhyang stayed seated, eyeing Muhwi as she approached.
"Been well?"
Muhwi offered a fist salute toward Unhyang.
Unhyang jerked her chin at the men lurking behind.
"Who's the entourage?"
"Pay them no mind. Just decorations."
"Yeah. Fits."
One of the men twitched, as if stung by the dismissal.
"See? Instant reaction."
"They're still green."
"Muhwi's crew? Gotta train 'em better."
"Appreciate the advice."
The men shifted uneasily at Muhwi's unflappable politeness. She turned her gaze to Cheongryang next.
"Senior brother faring well?"
"Senior brother? That's ancient history."
"To me, you'll always be senior."
"You're not my junior anymore. So scram."
Cheongryang's tone brooked no argument. But Muhwi's business was with Unhyang from the start.
She took a step closer.
"Will you come with us?"
"One more step."
A chopstick gleamed in Unhyang's grip.
"You know."
"..."
Muhwi halted at the vibe.
Unhyang's smile didn't reach her eyes—pure killing intent wafted off her. The chopstick was no weapon, but in her hand? Different story.
Permitted distance: right here.
No matter.
She wasn't here to throw down—just talk.
"His Excellency sends word."
No need to ask who. Muhwi served one master. And the only one seeking Unhyang? Obvious.
"He won't wait forever."
"How long?"
"Couldn't say. My apologies."
"Muhwi."
"Yes."
"I'm not going back."
Muhwi shook her head at Unhyang's flat refusal.
This wasn't Unhyang's call.
"You know that's not an option."
Even the bold Unhyang had no comeback this time.
True.
It wasn't just her fate hanging—countless others rode on his whims.
That was the gig: number two in the massive Murim guild.
Speechless, Unhyang clamped her lips shut. Her business done, Muhwi bowed.
"Very well. We'll await you."
In the center of Jin-un's workshop.
Shirtless, Soo-hyuk had been rooted to the spot for over two days.
Sweat poured off him like rain. Whenever focus wavered, he bit his lip bloody to stay sharp—crimson trickled down his chin.
He endured the agony, channeling every ounce to ensure the engraving took root properly.
Sizzle—.
On his back, Jin-un's procedure marched on.
Jin-un hadn't eaten or slept either, across those endless hours.
And after all that? A tiny circle, barely half an inch across.
'Hot.'
Soo-hyuk felt scorching heat radiating through the tattoo-like formation now etched into his back.
Whatever materials he used—it differed wildly from his past-life engraving.
Couldn't see it, but his body felt it crystal clear.
The work neared its end.
Sure enough.
"All done."
Jin-un, finishing the formation on Soo-hyuk's back, wiped forehead sweat with his hand-knuckle.
And in the next instant—
Stab—.
Dead center.
One final dot sealed it.