Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Thugs and Captives
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"Detect."
Four above, two below. No change.
These idiots don't even know there's an intruder in their own fortress.
Pathetic. Utterly pathetic.
They don't deserve to live. And I was curious—what the hell were they doing, just sitting there without a twitch?
I headed underground.
Moving silently. Just beyond that shelf, and I'd see those two.
What the hell are you doing down here without moving a muscle? Show me. Let me see what you're up to.
Rustle rustle, munch munch, smack smack.
Food... Just food?
No, scratch that. Eating is important, after all. Yeah. Sure. I get it.
But aren't you eating to survive? Are you so engrossed in your meal that you're oblivious like that?
Just die... Wait a second.
Something's off. Their appearance is weird. They don't look like typical gangsters.
The gangsters from before had clean clothes. Neat hair. They seemed almost civilized.
But these guys are different. They look filthy. What gives?
I'll put them to sleep first. Seems like there's a story here.
Normally, I'd just kill them, but I'll spare them for now.
I pulled out the duct tape and covered their eyes and mouths, wrapped their hands, bound their bodies, and taped their legs too.
Stay put here. I'll hear your story later.
I went back upstairs. Second floor. Scanning with Detect, the four were still there unchanged.
What could it be? What the hell are they doing that four of them are huddled together without moving since earlier?
I climbed to the second floor and quietly opened the door. Then I knew.
I didn't even need to look. The sounds. The voices. That was enough to understand.
"Fuck. Ah, it's coming. Cumming again. Shit!"
"Hah. Hah. Fucking awesome. Hah."
So busy with their construction work they didn't even notice me coming... Not gangsters, just fucking street punks.
Two punks were having sex with two women.
Calling it sex is too generous—the women's reactions said otherwise. Rape fits better.
The two punks were thrusting away enthusiastically at the women, whose eyes were blindfolded and arms bound.
"Ah, wanna go again but I'm not getting hard. Fucking sucks."
"Hah. Shit. Once we're done, haa. Switch with the guys downstairs, fuck."
The guys downstairs? Those two from earlier? Did I get it wrong? Are they on the same side?
I put just the two punks to sleep.
The women, who had faces like the dead, suddenly showed expression when the thudding sounds rang out.
"You two women there."
Even though they couldn't see, they turned their heads toward my voice.
They were naked, but I felt nothing. Probably because I'd just seen what they'd been through.
"Tell me your skills."
"...Pardon?"
"Y-Yes...?"
"Speak quickly before I change my mind and kill everyone."
"I... I have Growth..."
"M-Me, Fireball!"
"Growth? What's that?"
"It grows things. Plants or animals..."
Ah, right. There was a skill like that. Cost 200,000 coins, I think. Why the hell pick something like that?
Fireball... Sigh. Yeah, that's a 100,000-coin skill. Haven't you played too many games?
I think I saw something like that at university. Dorm? International dorm maybe?
Verifying them now would be a hassle... and there are still two more punk assholes left.
"I'll explain the situation as I see it, correct me if I'm wrong. These two are gangsters, you're captured women, and these bastards come and fuck you whenever they're bored. Right?"
"Yes...!"
"Yes... sob..."
"There should be two more. Know where they went?"
"Basement!"
"To the basement... for a shift change."
"Shift change?"
"We have our group captured in the basement... They take turns guarding..."
"Your group?"
"Yes. Two... there are two of them."
What? Only two downstairs. More group members? Wait. So those two downstairs are the captured ones?
Then what are these punks?
"I'm heading to the basement now. Tell me your names and the names of the captured ones."
"I'm Park Yoo-jin... this is Yoon Ji-won, and the men are Choi Min-jun and Cha Dong-hyun."
The chubbier girl was Park Yoo-jin, the busty one Yoon Ji-won.
"Want to let you go, but stay put for now. It'll be safe."
I draped the long padded coats the men had discarded over the women.
No interest in doing anything, but their exposed parts were distracting.
I pulled out more duct tape and wrapped up the two punks. Whew, doing this so much, I'm a pro now. Master taper.
With things sorted here, I headed back to the basement.
Ah... It'd be so simple to just kill them all. What the hell am I doing?
For the sake of tracking the gangsters... no, punks' whereabouts, I tell myself, but clearly, I'm doing something pointless.
Ha. Why am I even bothering?
The two men slept soundly. Wake-up time was nearing, so I peeled the tape off their mouths and waited.
"Ugh."
"Ah."
"Shut up or die screaming. Keep your mouths closed for now."
At my words, they clamped their mouths shut, not even breathing loudly.
Seeing that, I had a rough idea. These were the group members the girls upstairs mentioned.
"I'm taking you to the girls upstairs. Cooperate nicely. Resist, and you die. Got it? Answer."
"Yes."
"Yes. Thank you."
Thank you? What the fuck? Thankful for what?
I taped their mouths again and removed the tape from their eyes.
Looking at me, relief and suspicion flickered in their eyes simultaneously.
Relieved I'm not a gangster? Suspicious because they don't know what I am?
"Get up."
I'd untaped their legs, so they staggered to their feet.
"Move. Stairs to the second floor that way—lead."
They headed where I pointed.
Smart enough—they spotted the stairs and climbed. I followed behind, thinking.
Is this the right thing? Won't this just cause trouble later?
Dunno. Felt like doing it. And I was curious what they'd do.
Up on the second floor, they stopped, unsure where to go.
"Straight ahead."
A bit further, they spotted the women on the bed and rushed over.
"Stop. Don't move unnecessarily."
Not idiots—they obeyed.
Of course. They have brains; they know the situation favors me absolutely. Best to obey now.
"I can kill you anytime. So please, don't do anything—just stay still. I'll let you live. No need to doubt; just comply. Won't say it again—remember."
I taped the women's mouths and freed their eyes.
Tears flowed as they saw the men.
I turned away and muttered softly.
"Detect."
Four here plus the two punks I tied up. Six total. No more. Still, better confirm.
"The two gangsters downstairs—you capture them?"
The two men nodded.
They must've realized the guy under my foot was their guard. Their attitudes turned cooperative.
"Checking skills one by one. Bear the discomfort till done."
I looked around. Growth? Anything good?
Spotted a cactus. Lucky it's a mart. This work?
"You, Growth."
The woman nodded. Park Yoo-jin, right?
"Peeling the tape—use your skill on this."
I placed the cactus in front of her and removed the tape.
"Haa. Haa. Right now?"
"Yeah."
"Growth."
The cactus grew. Good. Pass.
"Next, you. Fireball. Peel tape, use skill in front of you. Turn your head, you and your friends die."
I went behind her and peeled the tape.
"Where do I shoot?"
"Anywhere ahead. Farther the better."
"Fireball."
A fireball formed in front of her and flew off.
Hit the wall and scattered.
Knew it. Slow and useless. Could dodge even head-on. Hell, put to sleep before it forms faster.
"Sigh. Growth makes sense, but why Fireball?"
"W-Well... Magic means Fireball..."
"Enough."
I went behind the guys.
"Both sit."
They sat obediently.
"Peeling mouths—you too. No turning heads. Answer only what I ask."
Peeled one guy's tape.
"Skill?"
"M-Me... Metalization."
"Metalization? Exists? Effect?"
"Turns body metal-like."
"Do it."
"Metalization."
Human body, but felt alien.
"Stay."
Clang clang.
Tapped shoulder—sounded like striking metal.
But... not that hard? Aluminum? Low proficiency?
"You—can use this skill blindfolded?"
"Yes..."
Hm... Good info. Self-buffs ignore blindfolds.
"Last one. Same."
Peeled his tape.
"Invisibility."
"Ah, you too? Invisibility?"
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. Ages?"
"All twenty-two."
"Leader?"
They just eyed each other. Sigh.
"Fine. You. Name?"
"Choi Min-jun."
"Good, Min-jun. Answer. You captured the two downstairs gangsters? How?"
"Beat 'em to death."
"What till now?"
"Freed ourselves, waited for chance... Suddenly fewer guards."
Ah, because I reduced numbers? Lucky. Beat to death? Tough. Ah, with Metalization?
"Original group size?"
"Four like this."
"Always?"
"N-No... More before. Around ten..."
"Kept dwindling till four left?"
"Yes..."
"Got it."
I pondered. No threat now. Issue if they max skills for second ones... Dunno.
May not max, may not gather coins.
May not survive that long.
"Listen up. Got something to say."
They all looked at me.