Chapter 29

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 29

Chapter Title: There Are No Bad Wolves in the World

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"Ugh..."

How long was I out?

I'd been asleep almost nonstop since coming back from Shibuya. No exaggeration—probably around thirty hours.

Kya-ah—woong.

"Huh?"

The moment I opened my eyes, there it was: not a rice cake ball soaked in booze, but a fluffy white one just like it—Nokdu.

"You can come out even without me summoning you, huh?"

Nokdu licked my face with its tiny tongue, then burrowed straight into my arms and curled up into a ball. Maybe it was those oddly aggrieved features, but even when it was comfy, its face somehow looked sad.

Carry-rung...

I scratched around its neck, and it let out a pleased rumble.

"Oh."

'Right, this thing existed.'

An item permanently lodged in my inventory. It was supposed to let me hear my summon's thoughts...

Gyarr-rung...

I wouldn't hurt Nokdu's feelings by listening in, would I?

With a twinge of apprehension, I replied to the status window.

'Yes.'

'Happy.'

"Huh?"

Kya-woong?

A childish voice pierced my ears. Startled, I looked down at Nokdu, but it was just a fluffy little bundle staring up at me with bright, sparkling eyes.

'What's up? What's wrong, sis? Why the face?'

No doubt about it—this was Nokdu's inner voice.

'Sis?'

Oof.

Every time Nokdu called me that, a sharp pang hit my chest.

'Such a crybaby...'

I lifted my head, widened my eyes, then looked back down at Nokdu.

This little one had come to find me not just in the previous timeline, but in this one too. It was so lovable, so precious. If only I remembered the past timeline fully, I'd be even happier to see it.

"You've had it rough with a lousy owner like me."

'Good, you know it.'

'Whoa!'

I thought it was Nokdu replying at first.

Ego's voice had popped up out of nowhere, startling me so bad my body jolted.

'No Nokdu skills unlocked yet, right?'

'Yeah. Probably 'cause we haven't bonded much.'

'Hmm...'

Ego pondered deeply for a moment.

'Whether you grind dungeons or play all day, just spend time together.'

'Got it.'

Maybe hit a low-rank dungeon with Nokdu. Checking Hunter Net, there was an open C-rank in Guro.

I stowed my phone back in my inventory and tried to get up from the bedding...

"Ack."

Dizziness hit, and I plopped right back down.

The price for sleeping without eating was steep...

I usually avoided delivery food at home, but this was an exception. I ordered something random on my phone, then collapsed back onto the blanket.

"You can enter now."

I pushed through the massive gate of the Guro C-rank dungeon, greeted by ashen skies, ashen factories, and gray smoke billowing from their chimneys.

'The whole world's grayscale.'

Inside this dungeon, I felt like the only one with color. Confirming no monsters nearby, I stroked the wooden bead.

"Nokdu, come out."

No sooner had I called its name than green light flashed up. It zipped through the air before landing at my feet.

'Playtime? We here to play?'

Nokdu panted as it gazed up at me. Its excited, childlike voice made me chuckle.

'Still just puppy-like for now. Wonder when it'll mature.'

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠used my authority on Nokdu. Purple text swirled around its wagging tail.

'Three S-rank skills? Total summon powerhouse—like Se-bin for summons.'

"Nokdu. We're not here to play today. It's training time."

'Huh? Sis, you can hear me?'

Amazed that we could communicate, Nokdu tilted its head.

'Oh, right. It doesn't know about the Telepathy Phone.'

I nodded at Nokdu, and its tail wagged even harder.

'Got it! I won't let you down, sis!'

So proud. Absolutely precious.

With light steps, I strode deeper into the dungeon.

Clank.

Then, a massive copier burst from the nearest factory.

Guess the machines in this factory zone are the monsters.

Gr-r-r.

Nokdu bared its sharp fangs, battle-ready. I hooked my finger on Ego's trigger, just in case.

Kyeng!!

Nokdu leaped at the copier first.

Kwa-grak.

It bit into the paper output slot, landed lightly, then charged again.

'Nokdu's bare-handed... it okay?'

'Of course. Looks like a baby, but it's S-rank. Don't forget.'

Ego eased my worry. I watched silently, flinching with each move.

Ar-r-r...!

Crack!

This time, Nokdu body-slammed the copier's body. It toppled without resistance, scraping across the ground.

Pa-sa-sa-sak.

A4 sheets spewed wildly from the copier. They floated into the air, hovering like they could fly.

'Wait, those aren't normal paper?'

The scattered sheets rained down, edges sharpening like blades.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Shit. Nokdu, dodge!!"

Ah—woong?

Bang!

I pulled Ego's trigger, deploying a shield toward Nokdu.

"Nokdu! You okay?"

Paa-at.

Then, an absurd sight unfolded before me.

Nokdu was flying. Or rather, bounding through the air. Green trails followed its path, vibrating the air each time.

Pa-ba-bak.

The razor-sharp sheets couldn't graze it, thudding harmlessly into the ground.

A-woo—!

Boom!!

Nokdu kicked off the air, rocketing toward the copier even faster, smashing it to bits.

'Show-off!'

As Nokdu boasted proudly, I just stared blankly at the status windows flickering before me.

The text faded, and my eyes met Nokdu's as it stood in midair, staring at me.

"Nokdu!"

Its face clearly awaited praise. I scooped it up and yelled while gazing into its sparkling eyes.

"You did great, Nokdu!"

Kya-woo—!

I lavished scratches on its chin and forehead. Nokdu stuck out its tongue, reveling in every touch.

Slipping from my arms, it leaped high into the air, leaving faint green afterimages.

'Did I do good? Was I cool?'

"You bet! Our Nokdu's super cool!"

Cleaner and better than my own movement skill. Buoyed by the praise, Nokdu dashed toward the gate at full speed.

Bang! Bang!

It slammed and bit through monsters in seconds. My drawing Ego felt almost silly in comparison.

Kiiing! Kiiang!

"Found the gate?"

The iron door I'd opened earlier floated in the factory district's center.

"Nokdu, you got this one too, right?"

'Trust me!'

With Nokdu's confident words, I touched the gate.

Ku-gu-gu-gung.

From the monsters so far, probably everyday factory stuff turned monsters.

The ground trembled slightly, then a massive shadow loomed over us.

"Nokdu, dodge!"

Boom!!

We rolled aside just as a huge hydraulic press crashed down before the gate. The impact sank the floor a meter deep.

Sara-rak.

Wires slithered out beside the press.

Kyeng!

Nokdu chomped a wire and yanked it apart. Rubber chunks tumbled as it switched targets.

Pak!

Kyak!

"Nokdu!"

A wire snagged Nokdu, dragging it toward the press.

'That's insane!'

Bang!!

I fired Ego at the wire.

Kwa-gwa-gwang!!

"Oops."

Misjudged the power—the sonic bullet shattered the wire and the entire press.

Tang-grang.

Metal scraps flew. Nokdu dodged them and returned to me.

'Sis saved me! Sis is the best!'

Even in that peril, Nokdu beamed innocently.

'Just keep growing strong like this.'

Thanks to the Telepathy Phone, we could talk, and I unlocked a movement skill... Not a bad haul.

Holding Nokdu, I backed through the gate with my shoulder, exiting the dungeon.

Kiiik.

Out of the container box, night had fallen pitch black.

'Sis, sleepy...'

"Yeah, go rest. Good job."

Tok.

Nokdu bumped its wet nose against my lips, then returned to the bracelet.

So darn cute...

"Huh?"

'One Who Steps on Karma' popped up out of nowhere. Not a sudden order, no progress update—just abrupt.

'Karmic debt detected?'

This mission tied directly to my memories and mistakes from the previous timeline.

To recover them, I'd have to go.

'Yes.'

As I answered the status window, a sucking sensation pulled me somewhere, and my vision flickered briefly.