Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Where Do You Keep Bringing These Kids From?
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Where do you keep bringing these kids from?
Special Cleaning Company, Office.
Tools of all sorts were scattered messily, and the floor was littered with debris like shattered boxes.
The foreman called Kang Yu-jin aside to the smoking area as he returned to clock out.
“You don’t need to come to work starting tomorrow.”
He announced it while clamping a cigarette between his lips.
Sudden dismissal.
Kang Yu-jin was dumbfounded.
Lately, his skills had improved to the point where he handled jobs better than the other employees.
“What do you mean all of a sudden…?”
Kang Yu-jin, who rarely lost his temper, glared at him with fierce eyes.
“You’re a potential high-risk Awakener, aren’t you.”
“…….”
“A Necromancer doing corpse cleanup work? You planning something big like those Villains? I almost reported you to the police today.”
The foreman jutted out his chin as if to say he should be grateful, lecturing him in a condescending tone.
Every bitter thought imaginable flooded Kang Yu-jin’s mind.
“I’m not a Necromancer, but how did you know? Did you investigate me?”
“Heh, come on. You know the [Potential High-Risk Awakener Alert e] system went live today? Warnings get sent to neighbors and workplaces of people like you.”
“…….”
Kang Yu-jin’s face twisted in devastation.
His insides churned violently.
‘I thought the laws would improve soon, letting me become a Hero again…’
The situation had only gotten worse.
Kang Yu-jin couldn’t comprehend the societal system tormenting him.
“Understood.”
“Technically, you’re not eligible for severance, but I slipped a little something in for you. Take it.”
The foreman handed over an envelope of cash like he was doing him a huge favor.
Kang Yu-jin bowed his head deeply, muttered thanks, and trudged out of the office.
The company office was smack in the middle of an industrial complex full of factories.
A gray street rarely seeing people, with only the occasional truck rumbling by.
He walked with his head down, listless.
It was at least ten more minutes to the bus stop.
“Fuck. Why the hell do I have to put up with this? What did I do wrong…?”
Falling from a high place hurts more.
If he’d started from nothing, he might have endured it calmly.
But having been one step away from being a Hero, he couldn’t bear this crushing sense of loss.
Thud.
Just then, he bumped shoulders with someone.
“Ah, fuck, what the hell.”
Tattoos on both arms.
A gold chain around the neck.
The thug he’d collided with scowled and spat curses.
He had that stereotypical “tattooed pig soup” look.
Kang Yu-jin, already brimming with resentment toward society, exploded in rage as expected.
No matter how tough the guy was for an ordinary person, Kang Yu-jin was an Awakener.
“Did you just say ‘fuck’?”
Harsh words slipped out before he knew it.
“Yeah, you fuckin’ bastard. Watch where you’re going, you punk?”
The thug shoved Kang Yu-jin while barking at him.
The hulking brute was confident in a fight thanks to his natural build.
“Hey, do you know who I am? What’s with the informal talk and cursing?”
Kang Yu-jin was seething.
He wanted to tear the guy in front of him apart.
If only there was some justification to unleash violence…
“Hah? You shit-for-brains keep yapping. Know your place—didn’t your daddy teach you?”
Slap.
Kang Yu-jin’s face snapped to the side.
The thug had slapped him.
“Haha.”
Kang Yu-jin let out a mad chuckle.
The corner of his mouth curled up.
“W-What?”
The thug, seeing him laugh after the hit, stepped back slightly.
‘This should be enough to kill him.’
Even in this moment, Kang Yu-jin’s skill proficiency kept rising.
-------------<Skills>-------------
◈ Name
Seed of Evil
◈ Rank
771 F
◈ Description
Suffer and hate.
Gain power.
Additional Stats: 771
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***
Back at the hotel, Shin Noda bought some clothes for the Alpha and Omega twins, tidied up their hair, and made them look human.
Since they were artificial humans made from similar DNA samples, calling them twins worked fine.
With their white hair, red eyes, and Western features, they exuded a mystical aura.
Shin Noda took the twins to Seoul.
He couldn’t just dump the socially inexperienced pair at an orphanage.
Plus, Omega’s “Fragment of Chronos” skill was worth securing.
‘Even if I fail the Demon King raid, as long as I survive, I can go back in time and start over.’
Alpha’s skill, on the other hand, was useless.
“Reflection” sounded impressive, but it couldn’t block damage above a certain level.
At his current rank, even bullets would pierce right through.
“What about those kids?”
Once home, Shin Noda had to explain Alpha and Omega to Park Ha-yeon first.
“They’re my half-siblings! Looks like Dad went and messed around somewhere again.”
Laura pointed at Shin Noda as she said it.
He broke out in a cold sweat.
“That’s not it…”
Shin Noda spent a full thirty minutes spinning a detailed tale.
Of course, it was a blatant lie he’d just made up.
‘Family matters, so I can’t pry too much, but entrusting one kid to a high school boy is weird enough—now two more?’
Park Ha-yeon couldn’t buy it easily.
She couldn’t shake off her suspicions.
“So, when you went this time, the whole family gathered, your uncle from abroad left these twins with you temporarily, and they just happen to be Awakeners?”
Park Ha-yeon narrowed her eyes as she asked.
“Yeah, that’s it. Right, kids?”
Shin Noda lied without batting an eye.
“Yes!”
He’d already coached the kids.
Alpha and Omega owed Shin Noda a huge debt and followed him like a father.
“Sigh. If even the kids say so, I guess I have to believe it.”
Park Ha-yeon nodded reluctantly, a hint of dissatisfaction in her demeanor.
Shin Noda smiled.
‘No choice but to accept it. Harsh as it sounds, this is my house.’
He thought to himself.
Park Ha-yeon imagined the household with two more kids, her face puffing up in a pout.
At first, she’d welcomed Laura’s arrival because living under one roof with a grown guy felt awkward.
But as time passed, trust and affection built with Shin Noda, making her think just the two of them was better.
‘Laura kinda gets in the way sometimes.’
Shin Noda would occasionally lock the door and have secret talks with Laura.
She felt left out those times.
And the two went out together sometimes.
‘Where the heck do they go…?’
Park Ha-yeon harbored a small grudge against Shin Noda for not telling her, and jealousy toward the knowing Laura.
‘They’re not all Shin Noda’s kids, are they? So suspicious…’
She had no way of knowing the truth.
With the twins issue settled for now, Shin Noda prepared for the “yacht party.”
It was tomorrow night, but he needed a plan.
“Red Rakshasa” was S-rank strong and had a bunch of minions.
‘Come to think of it, the info broker probably doesn’t stay on the boat all day…’
Attacking when he came ashore might resolve things more easily.
But Shin Noda had no idea where the info broker lived.
Laura advised from the side.
“Buy his address from another info broker, or if that’s tough, just go for the frontal assault.”
Having lived for ages, Laura had a keen eye for people.
In her view, “Red Rakshasa” wouldn’t recklessly clash with “Dark Knight.”
“A joint attack from Red Rakshasa and his minions would be tough even for me. Who knows what hidden tricks they have.”
Laura shook her head at Shin Noda’s complaint and corrected herself.
“I think even if you kill the info broker right on the boat, Red Rakshasa won’t be able to do anything to you.”
“…….”
“Those types live by the law of the jungle—strong prey on weak. If you come out strong, they’ll think, ‘Wait, am I the weak one?’ and won’t act rashly.”
Shin Noda didn’t fully buy it, but he took the ancient dragon’s advice to heart.
“Got it.”
“And if things go south, you can always run. In my eyes, he’s your equal. Plus, you probably have more PvP experience.”
He absentmindedly stroked her head as she looked up at him, explaining point by point.
“Hey! What’re you doing!”
Laura jabbed his abdomen with her horn.
“Urk, reminded me of my little sister for a sec.”
Shin Noda groaned at the sharp pain.
Her horn packed a punch.
“Anyway, got it. It’s late today, so let’s hit it tomorrow night. I think I can escape if needed. Though I’d never get another shot after that.”
He said with a serious face.