Chapter 182

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 182

Chapter Title: Flying Above the Jumpers

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…

Such messages scrolled rapidly across Kang Seol's vision.

The higher his adventure score climbed, the more frequently these kinds of things seemed to pop up.

'If my identity gets out, this'll be a nonstop headache.'

Whenever someone struck it rich, folks came crawling out of the woodwork begging for loans. It was the way of the world.

No doubt a truckload of people would show up with risky, low-reward quests that were all danger and no payoff.

"Huh? Whoa, did you see that?"

"The message?"

"Yeah, never seen one like this before. What is it…?"

"Beats me?"

Kang Seol brushed past a group of Transients whispering on the roadside.

'Doesn't look like it's just showing up for me... Is it popping for every Transient in the city?'

Even if it was, there was no easy way for the Transients or locals hanging around the city to pinpoint him specifically. As long as he stayed cautious, he could slip through quietly enough.

Among the messages streaming up, Kang Seol first checked the one about the title that had grabbed his attention.

The "Rich Bastard" title he'd gotten at 1 million points had a similar perk.

Making it to 10 million in the same category meant getting something comparable wasn't surprising.

But the efficiency was on a whole different level this time.

'Low chance for +2 points per adventure? So... linked adventures could net up to +4 extra stat points?'

A title that could double the base stat points from rewards.

Considering how stat points were one of the key ways to boost a Transient alongside raw stats, this new title's value was insane.

'This is why you gotta stay ahead.'

The Eternal World he'd been dragged into had gotten even more cutthroat with Transients in the mix.

It was rigged so winners got even more, letting frontrunners pull further ahead.

Luckily, Kang Seol was at the very front of that lead pack. Once his stat point gains picked up speed, he could hold that position.

'Alright... First stop, the Association.'

The Association's community boards were where raw info flowed nonstop.

Kang Seol arrived at the Association and gauged the vibe.

Everyone looked hyped up about something.

'What's going on?'

The community terminals were usually fixed stations, but in more advanced cities like this, you could use portable ones while wandering the halls.

Timbrian went with the latter.

Which made for a buzzing community scene.

'My info's spreading faster than I thought.'

Kang Seol was grateful to the other Transients who weren't buying the rumors.

If his details leaked unintentionally, it'd cramp his style big time.

The rest was just unverified scraps, so Kang Seol ignored the board.

'Gotta bail Nevenia quick.'

Get tangled in civil war, and he'd stagnate while eating dirt.

And another issue.

'Foreigners incoming soon.'

He figured plenty had dropped in other regions. Korea dropping solo felt off.

Half right, half wrong.

Pandea's Transient survival rate wasn't great.

Regions where locals and Transients slaughtered each other, backward spots dumping Transients to die, freakishly hard adventure zones—plenty.

Result: living Transients were way under 1/20th original numbers.

Korea's wide turf and decent difficulty preserved more survivors.

Anyway, Kang Seol mostly soloed, so not his big worry. He switched community functions.

Sure enough, letters from Han So-mi and Jo Kyung-taek.

'...What's this?'

Kang Seol read Jo Kyung-taek's letter through.

- Some close buds from back then went dark. The crew you saved in Ilia. Suspect... the Timbrian noble lady who hired us. We got an invite to House Gatip as thanks for the job. I skipped for other stuff, but they visited multiple times after. Then poof, vanished like smoke.

'Hmm... Shady.'

He checked the next one.

"...Damn."

No further contact from Jo Kyung-taek.

Kang Seol eyed Han So-mi's latest.

Swipe...

No time.

As a bare-minimum precaution, Kang Seol dashed off an express letter to someone and bounced.

"What?!"

"Yesterday, asked if a man matching this description visited."

"You... you know what this place is, running around like this?!"

The Gatip gate guard puffed up like he owned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the joint.

"Heard this guy was buddies with Lady Gatip. Said he'd visit yesterday too."

"So? Why should I tell you jack?"

"……."

"Daring to waltz into House Gatip's estate, a pillar of Timbrian..."

Kang Seol bored holes into the swaggering guard's eyes.

"Wh-what the... hell..."

"You will talk."

"You little shit... you..."

Then, a woman emerged from the mansion—the Gatip lady Jo Kyung-taek mentioned.

"Enough, Sir Joraz."

"L-Lady Seris. But this punk..."

"I'll handle it. Pardon me... are you perhaps using the name Snowman, sir?"

Kang Seol's aura chilled.

Not openly hostile, but her knowing his alias felt ominous.

"You know me?"

"Heard from my stepbrother. Brags about you nonstop. Never thought I'd meet you like this."

Jo Kyung-taek, no doubt.

Guy always boasted about their connection.

"Here for that stepbrother."

"Can't keep a guest outside. Sir Joraz, step aside."

"Bu-but..."

"...Now."

"Y-yes! Right away."

Joraz grudgingly opened the gate for Kang Seol.

"Was just having tea. Cookies are my own bake—please try them and share your thoughts."

"...Sure."

Her relaxed demeanor would've eased Kang Seol somewhat if not for the Jo Kyung-taek angle.

Thud...

Thud...

The mansion interior was ordinary.

Spotless, nothing else to say.

But Kang Seol sensed something.

The air inside hung oppressively heavy.

He wasn't the only one picking up on it.

- Found it!

Ur cackled sinisterly from the shadow space.

- To sense this much shadow essence at once... Shadows are hoarded somewhere here. You'll reunite soon with that wolf who adored you.

Ur said.

- Claim this place's shadows.

Kang Seol nodded subtly, scanning the interior.

"Sorry for the abrupt visit—hope my poor hospitality doesn't offend."

"No such thing. More importantly..."

"Yes?"

Sniff...

Kang Seol inhaled deeply.

Specifically, the scent wafting since arrival—from her, not the mansion.

'No, not the house. Her. This smell...'

He pulled a crumpled letter from his pocket and sniffed it.

'Matches. Same scent.'

Contents memorized ages ago. Owner: Malacus, shadow hunter he'd downed awakening his ultimate technique first time.

Letter found on that suspicious corpse.

- Hello, I'm Malacus. Blind. Forgive messy writing. From minor Timbrian noble house...

'Come to think... Malacus was Timbrian too.'

- Black rose tattoo on hand. Androgynous voice, short stature. Chemical stench. All noted. Scent on the letter.

A message popped as Kang Seol linked Seris Gatip to Malacus's grim fate.

'...Something's here.'

Seris Gatip sat on the parlor sofa and asked.

"Everything alright?"

Kang Seol smiled.

"Nothing at all."

Shh...

Invisible crows scattered from his shadow throughout the mansion.