Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Chapter 15.
Sizzle-!
Fortunately, at Gunter’s insistence, the Stigma was etched onto his left collarbone.
The position was still not ideal, but it was much better than it could have been….
‘Damn, that was close.’
Gunter took off his top and examined the etched Stigma.
It was a pattern of a black snake coiling around crimson lips.
Unlike the Stigma of the Knight King, which was noble and imposing, the Pillar Servant’s Stigma exuded a strange, alluring aura.
[Stigma Activation: The Seducer]
-
Charm +7 Agility +7
[Charm 50 -> Charm 57]
[Agility 25 -> Agility 32]
[Your Agility has dramatically improved. Your reflexes sharpen, and your body becomes lighter. Your sense of balance and evasion abilities increase noticeably.]
Soon after, dizziness washed over him.
His vision blurred, and his entire body felt as if it were floating.
Vwoooom-
A short video unfolded before his eyes.
.
.
.
A man blessed with a fatal beauty, said to be a masterpiece sculpted by the gods.
He was born the son of a woman who commanded the highest prices in the Red Light District.
What was surprising, however, was that he did not follow his influential father but remained in the Red Light District.
People mocked him.
“Pillar Servant.”
“Debauched wretch.”
“A parasitic child.”
Yet, behind his languid smile,
ambition and cold calculation lay in wait.
He wove together every whisper from the bedside.
The invisible net thus created enveloped the entire world—
and finally, an unseen ruler was born.
.
.
.
Gunter left a brief impression.
‘…A very capable host.’
[Red Street Pillar scratches his head, saying it’s more embarrassing than he thought]
[Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King scolds him, saying it’s because you’ve lived a shameful life]
[Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King easily blocks a punch]
Regardless, seeing the life the Pillar Servant had lived made Gunter a little uneasy.
‘…So what skill is it going to give me?’
[Red Street Pillar smiles confidently]
[Power flows from the activated Stigma]
[You have acquired a new skill]
-
Serpent's Nest Lv.1
* * *
[Skill: Serpent's Nest]
Grade: Ancient
Type: Passive / Detection Skill
Description: If the user remains in one spot for more than 5 seconds, all biological traces within a 10-meter radius are detected.
The probability of detecting hidden targets also increases significantly.
I was silent for a moment after reading the full description.
‘…….’
[Red Street Pillar emphatically informs you that refunds are not possible]
I shook my head.
Refunds?
I quite liked it.
It was just unexpected.
‘Honestly, I thought it would be something related to infiltration, escape, stealth, or charm.’
But detection?
And it’s Ancient grade.
Normal, Magic, Rare, Ancient, Epic, Legendary, Mythic, Primordial.
The fourth tier in the Forgotten God’s grading system.
A skill of a grade that is almost impossible to obtain in Act 1.
‘And it’s passive.’
Considering the security level of the Border City, a skill like this wouldn’t hurt to have.
It would certainly be helpful in the entrance exam.
I nodded with satisfaction.
‘Then it’s the Saintess’s turn now.’
[‘125’ Karma is offered to the Addict Saintess]
[The Addict Saintess raises both arms and hops excitedly]
[Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King sighs, asking her to please maintain some dignity]
Charrrr-
The sound of coins brushing past my ears.
In fact, I could roughly guess what Stigma and skill she would bestow.
It would surely be related to healing.
That’s what the advice she’d given me so far suggested.
[The Addict Saintess shakes her head]
‘……?’
It was only then that I realized I had misjudged her.
.
.
.
[Stigma Activation: Healer and Killer]
-
Engraved with the 20 Forbidden Formulas!
I flinched at the string of powerful names.
‘Healer and Killer? Forbidden Formulas?’
And then, her past explained it.
.
.
.
Everyone loved her, the herbalist’s daughter.
A kind girl who healed the sick, her skirt stained with herbs.
People affectionately called her ‘Saintess’ and followed her.
That nickname brought about tragedy.
“Heresy.”
“Find the false Saintess.”
Only she, who had gone deep into the mountains to gather herbs, survived.
From the ashes burned by the fanatics, she turned to forbidden alchemy for revenge.
Studying all sorts of herbs and chemical reactions, she mastered how to manipulate the human body.
Deadly poisons, hallucinations, awakenings, addictions….
The fanatics now sought her instead of their god.
As years passed, people called her this.
The Addict Saintess.
Whether they sought salvation or ruin,
everyone sought her.
‘…….’
Immediately after the memory playback ended.
I gazed silently at the flask and beaker symbol etched onto my chest (containing an endlessly boiling, ominous liquid).
[The Addict Saintess laughs awkwardly]
[Power flows from the activated Stigma]
[You have acquired a new skill]
-
Overdose Lv.1
[Skill: Overdose]
Grade: Ancient
Type: Active / Enhancement Skill
Description: For one hour, the effects of the drug are doubled, and side effects are halved.
However, continuously taking drugs during that time may lead to unexpected results.
‘Uh, well.’
Unlike with the Pillar Servant, I couldn’t immediately find words to say.
[Red Street Pillar defends her, saying she’s still kind]
[Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King asks if that’s considered defending]
[The Addict Saintess fidgets with her hands, hiding the flask and beaker behind her back]
[She adds that she’s sorry if you don’t like the Stigma and skill]
I shook my head.
I was just surprised by how unexpected it was.
In terms of performance, I was satisfied.
‘I figured doping would be essential from now on anyway.’
[The Addict Saintess smiles, relieved]
…Anyway, I obtained the Stigmas and skills of two gods for 250 Karma.
As I was organizing their uses in my mind,
Ding-
The continuous ringing of bells jolted me back to reality.
‘Is it already six o’clock?’
Only then did the scenery outside the window catch my eye.
Amidst buildings lined up like haphazardly stacked cigarette packs,
the sky, narrowed to a line, was slowly brightening to a deep blue.
I stared blankly at the thin dawn light.
So many things had intruded amidst the hazy glow.
Familiar faces likely sleeping somewhere in this city.
Terrible enemies I would soon have to face.
And colleagues I had yet to meet.
“Today… is really long.”
[Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King encourages you, saying they remember the blood and sweat you shed today]
[Red Street Pillar suggests we properly enjoy the city’s nights starting tomorrow]
[The Addict Saintess makes a gesture of patting your head, saying you worked hard]
I lay spread-eagled on the wide bed.
‘Sleep well, everyone.’
[The three gods wave their hands]
It took less than a second to fall asleep.
* * *
The midday sun illuminated the dust particles in the Border City’s sky.
“Ughh….”
I stretched quietly as I left the hotel.
Thanks to a deep sleep, my condition was excellent.
‘I need to be diligent, so this is good.’
This morning, a document envelope had arrived under the door.
==================
[Request]
Recovery and Disposal of Transported Goods
Client: K.R
Target: Gunter Sirhe
Content:
After valuable goods belonging to a merchant guild were stolen by unidentified armed assailants, there are indications they are being funneled to an illegal auction house.
Before the goods are transported to the auction house, recapture them along the designated route and ensure their safe recovery.
Request Reward: 100 Gold Coins
Additional Reward: To be paid based on the degree of recovery.
(Omitted)
※ Precautions ※
This mission will not be undertaken alone.
The back of the request form specifies the time and location; meet your collaborator and proceed with the operation.
In case of unexpected situations, the collaborator’s judgment takes precedence.
However, the collaborator is a non-combatant and will not participate in combat.
※ If recovery of the goods is impossible, destroy them immediately. ※
==================
As you might guess, this was a ‘test’ from Night Crow disguised as a request.
[Red Street Pillar scoffs, saying it’s not that big of a deal]
Yes, as he said, on the surface, it doesn’t seem difficult.
It looks like a simple task of retrieving stolen goods from a petty gang.
But the reality was different.
First, these stolen valuables.
They are not just objects.
The items are, in fact, humans.
They are sacrifices procured by the Rutian Theocracy through the city’s smuggling organizations.
‘If I can’t save them, they will be offered to the Evil God.’
A contract between a god and a human always requires a ‘price.’
And the Rutian bastards prefer to pay that price through human sacrifice.
They torture, tear apart, and offer innocent people as sacrifices to borrow the Evil God’s power.
More, more ‘quality’ sacrifices.
That’s why they are strengthening their influence in the Border City.
‘Night Crow is in a position to stop this.’
In other words, this mission is not a simple recovery.
It is a brutal test that requires dealing with numerous members of the smuggling organization, as well as the Paladins and priests of the Theocracy escorting the sacrifices, all at once.
‘…Who can I blame.’
In fact, if I had played by the book, I would have been given a much easier test.
But thanks to attracting the attention of ‘that unit’ at Haven last night, the content has changed drastically.
‘High risk, high return.’
The examiners were sent from Night Crow’s most radical and extreme force.
If I pass this test brilliantly, I will join them.
I can gain promotions, rewards, and colleagues much faster than with ordinary units.
‘…There are sufficient reasons to take the risk.’
The promised time stated in the document is 9 PM tonight.
There are about 9 hours left.
My plan for upgrading my specs in the meantime… was already set.
‘Shall I go to the shop first?’
[The Addict Saintess looks forward to the herbalist’s shop]
‘Not the herbalist’s shop.’
[The Addict Saintess pouts sadly]
I patted my full backpack and muttered.
“I’m going to the Shop of the Gods.”
Dying dozens of times and starting from scratch is enough.
Now that I know the number of deaths is the basis for rewards, I shouldn’t die carelessly.
‘Is it finally time to use the knowledge of a veteran player?’
It was time to go get the items that would let me breeze through this difficult test.
.
.
.
Ting-!
[Location: Shop of the Gods]
An otherworldly shop run by the subordinates of Divine Ranks.
All transactions are made through bartering; human currency is meaningless.