Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Higher, and Higher
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“Wasn't it a bit much to show us such expensive ones from the start?”
Cheshire whispered from the side. The slave merchant frowned and replied curtly.
“Since you’re meeting a broker anyway, there’s no need to show you cheap ones.”
If I had come to the slave merchant first instead of anywhere else, he would have shown me cheap slaves costing less than 10,000 coins—the broker connection fee—and told me to choose from them, trying to avoid connecting me to a broker.
“Then I’ll go get the contract, so hurry up and choose, and both of you, please leave quickly.”
The slave merchant snapped irritably, then went off somewhere to get the contract.
“Hmm...”
There wasn't much time to deliberate. Time was steadily ticking away even now.
I wanted to ask for advice on which one to choose, but Cheshire took a step back, silently watching my choice, as if to say it was my responsibility no matter who I picked.
‘If we’re talking purely about combat strength, Cretone seems the strongest. Kesia... there’s no suitable situation for underwater combat, so she’s automatically out. Roe would definitely be helpful in many ways, but his attitude is terrible. The problem is that Fallen Angel...’
The Fallen Angel was waiting for my choice with her eyes closed, as if it didn't matter what happened.
She had an accepting attitude, ready to embrace anything.
The price was 58,000 coins. Thanks to the slaves killing zombies in real-time, the coins were continuously piling up.
It was a big expense, but it wasn't a crazy price I couldn't afford.
‘It's expensive... but coins will eventually be gathered again by hunting special zombies or named monsters. The question is whether she's worth investing that much in...’
I looked at the Fallen Angel once more.
From her slightly slumped shoulders, a sense of resignation was visible.
‘It might just be because her chest is so big it causes her shoulders to slump...’
Somehow, I felt she was hoping I wouldn't choose her, that she'd just be left to rot in this stuffy cage.
‘Didn't she say she gave up on life?’
When she introduced herself, she said she had no desire to live. And she was viewing her current state in a very bleak light.
Losing her wings and halo during her fall must have been the cause of her despair.
Right, it would be like thinking of Usain Bolt losing both his legs.
What would it feel like to lose the world's fastest legs overnight?
“Hey. Merhere.”
At my call, the Fallen Angel slightly opened her eyes and looked at me.
“What is it?”
“Do you really not want to live?”
I looked her straight in the eye. As if to say, don't lie.
She turned her head away, avoiding my gaze, as if she didn't want to answer. Then, she answered with difficulty, as if spitting out the words.
“Yeah... that's right.”
Her voice held none of the firmness from before.
She looked precarious, somehow.
Did Merhere really give up on her life? Or did she give up on trying because she thought nothing would work out?
“Is it because you fell to the ground? Or because you lost all your authority? What made you so negative?”
“There’s no reason for me to answer your questions. If you want to hear my answer, become my useless master... Well, I'm just a woman with no power or ability, just big tits.”
Merhere didn't spare any self-deprecating mockery.
She viewed her own value as infinitely low. Her tone suggested she thought she was useless without her wings and halo.
However, she still didn't perceive herself correctly.
A woman with no abilities, just big tits.
‘Account Creation Card.’
I’d have to try it to know, but if I used the Account Creation Card, wouldn't I be able to give her a class?
If it doesn't work... well, there's nothing I can do, but if the Account Creation Card gives her a class, Merhere becomes a capable woman with big tits.
‘Kran's Nerve Stabilizer.’
If she doesn't want to live, I just need to make her want to live one more day. I have a 30-day supply, so I just need to instill vitality into her life within that time.
And if I stick to her all day and make her feel the pleasure of physical desire, she might want to live a little longer.
“Um, I have a question about the slave...”
“I can't help you choose what to pick, but I'll answer other questions to the best of my knowledge.”
“Can the slaves here become Players too?”
“Well... of course? By the way, slaves need an item called an Account Creation Card to become Players. Well, even if they're not Players, most heteromorphic races are much stronger than ordinary humans. Still, if they're not official Players, they can't use skills.”
“I have one of those.”
“Really? Then there's no problem. No matter who you choose, I can make them a Player.”
At Cheshire's words, feeling assured, I pointed to Merhere.
“Okay. I've decided on you after all.”
“Hah... what a foolish choice. Why not choose that Minotaur subspecies instead? He could grab Valak's ankle by himself.”
“No. That hairy uncle is a bit... not my style.”
“Then that warrior named Cesi? As an Oceanian, she's unparalleled in the water. She's the best spear-woman.”
“No thanks. She looks a bit... stupid.”
“What? Then how about this smart Half-foot? He would have a lot of diverse experiences. He'd definitely be helpful for survival.”
“Stop. That's enough. I don't need any of them. I've already decided on you. There's no going back on my choice, so stop. I need your useless, big tits.”
“So in the end, it's my body you're after... what a shameless purpose.”
“Isn't it a primal human instinct?”
“You'll be disappointed... with me...”
Disappointed, my ass.
With tits like that, just holding her and falling asleep would relieve all the day's stress.
Kang Hee-seon's chest is also ample, but that's not enough. Once you've seen a body as absurd as that, it's hard to give up.
The bouncy, absurdly large breasts, the hips that seem to suck your soul out when you thrust into them, and on top of that, the beautiful appearance befitting a former angel and a tall height that seems like it could embrace me.
Merhere's body contains the dreams and hopes of all men.
Men, in the end, yearn for a mother's embrace, and Merhere's body is optimized for that desire.
“It's a foolish decision. I won't be much help on your journey, that's for sure. I have no wings... no halo... I'm nothing more than a meat shield... I'm sure... you'll be disappointed in me. You'll discard me... that's... too pathetic. Reconsider your choice...”
“Stop saying weird self-deprecating things and just follow me like a good slave without a word. Why do you have so many opinions?”
“...I understand. I will follow.”
As soon as the slave merchant brought the contract, I said.
“I'll take this one.”
“Then sign here.”
“Hold on a moment.”
I carefully read the slave transfer contract he brought.
I checked everything to see if there was anything strange written or any unfavorable conditions.
The black market usage guidelines said to do so.
After reading it, it seemed there were no problems.
“Um, do you check the contract too?”
“Huh? Well, it's not difficult. Give it here.”
Cheshire glanced over the contract once and handed it back to me.
“There's no problem. Just sign it.”
“Then I will accept the transfer of the slave, Merhere.”
The contract floated into the air and burned, and at the same time, the coins were sucked out.
‘It's a bit expensive, but they're all this race...’
Above all, while I can mass-produce slaves using the Slave Mark skill, for players who can't, this is an amazing place where they can purchase truly trustworthy companions and playthings.
In the future, when the black market opens to many players, it seems we'll be able to meet all sorts of combinations of Awakened.
“Are you going to take her like that? Or are you going to put clothes on her? I can give you simple clothing for 2,000 coins.”
“No, the price was 58,000... isn't there any service?”
“You're looking for service at a black market?”
Since I couldn't walk around with her naked, I paid an extra 2,000 coins and bought clothes.
“Try not to come to me with a guide attached as much as possible.”
With those words, the slave merchant went back down to the basement and closed the door.
Watching him, Cheshire laughed mockingly and shouted that he'd come again next time.
“Well then, shall we go to the central plaza?”
“Yes. Um, there's one more person now... is there an additional fee?”
“Well. It's fine if one more person joins. But from the third person, I'll charge a special fee. Fufu...”
Luckily. If Cheshire had asked for an additional fee, it would have been a bit tough. Since 70,000 coins were wiped out in an instant, I didn't have much leeway.
I let out a light sigh and looked up at Merhere, who was standing there blankly.
The 70,000-coin woman was staring blankly into the void with a poker face.
That alone was a picture. I really made a good purchase.
“Merhere. Are the clothes uncomfortable?”
“It doesn't matter. As long as I can wear something.”
The clothes the slave merchant gave me were a black tank top, brown cargo pants, military boots, a raincoat, and a gas mask.
The tank top was strangely tight, making her chest look like it was about to burst. I put the gas mask on her and casually reached out to her chest.
“Wow... it's soft...”
“Ah...”
How can I suppress this desire? I immediately started fondling Merhere's chest.
My hand stuck to it nicely, and I didn't want to take it off. I wanted to keep touching her chest like this.
“Kuku. You cute human. You should do the rest at home. We don't have time, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
Cheshire laughed, seeing me focused on her chest, and urged me to hurry.
I really want to go home quickly. Since the moment I bought Merhere, my lower half had been making its own demands, so I had to bend my waist slightly to avoid being noticed.
“Well then, let's go! The last course of the black market. The central plaza, the largest downtown area of the black market!”
Before moving, I grabbed Cheshire's hand and Merhere's hand at the same time.
With a feeling of being sucked in, we escaped the festival of sorrow and arrived at the central plaza of the black market.
“Here. This is the central... plaza... huh? What..?”
The central plaza had no visible ceiling. Just a dark sky.
Also, the floor was made of some kind of fur, and here and there, pillars of strange form and buildings of strange style were erected.
It has a somewhat downtown-like atmosphere...
But there was no one in the central plaza.
Not even a single ant was visible. And all the shop shutters were down. The pojangmchas were all closed too. The atmosphere felt strange.
And for some reason... the gazes of Kashnax and Indicron, who had been watching me, had become incredibly faint.
As their gazes gradually faded to the point where it was hard to feel them, a sense of anxiety washed over me.
“Um, why is there no one here? Did we come to the wrong place?”
“No. It's not that... this is... could it be... of all times... It's been quiet for almost 5 years!! Why!?”
Cheshire said with a trembling voice. Then she grabbed my wrist again.
“Run... we have to get out of here quickly!!”
“Huh? What's all of a sudden...?”
“I... I'll explain later...”
Just as Cheshire grabbed my wrist and was about to run.
⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING ⚠️ 3rd Warning Issued!!! Warning!!! Warning!!!
Quickly evacuate the central plaza!!!
Warning!!! Warning!!! Damn it!! We're running too now!!
*Click.*
A siren sound, close to a deafening noise, echoed throughout the central plaza, and a man's urgent voice shouted to get out of here.
*THUD!* *BOOM!!*
At the same time the warning sound stopped, a manhole cover burst open like an explosion and fell to the ground.
Cheshire muttered blankly, watching the flying manhole cover.
“Damn it... the security team is here.”
Soon, something crawled out from the opened manhole below.
It shook off the darkness clinging to its body and threw away the twisted gas mask it was wearing.
“Puhahaaaaaa.....”
The monster that crawled up took a deep breath.
Then, red smoke spewed out from the pipes attached to its back.
“Those guys... are the security team...?”
White hair, wounds oozing yellowish blood, and various patterns carved all over its body.
A black eyepatch covering its eyes and a repulsive mouth with torn lips that couldn't close.
Iron stakes embedded all over its body and iron chains wrapped tightly around it.
And hunting dogs of grotesque shape with leashes in hand.
“KIAAAH!!!!!”
“KIA! KIAAAH!!!!”
Monsters began to crawl up quickly from the manhole, roaring at each other and letting go of the leashes of the hunting dogs.
The hunting dogs, with not a single strand of fur, no eyes, ears, or nose, just a large, long snout and hook-like teeth, came running, whipping their tails.
“Run, run, run, run!!!”
Cheshire ran ahead at full speed, and I and Merhere followed closely behind.
“Aaah!!! Can't we kill those things?!!!”
“We can't kill them! No, killing them is meaningless!! They're infinitely spawning!! They keep coming out of the manholes!”
“Damn it!!! What about teleportation!?”
“Can't do it!! There's no entrance!! Just shut up and run!!!”
*BOOM!!* *BOOM!!!*
While running like crazy amidst the deafening sounds, I glanced back and saw an uncountable number of augmented underground security team members and the crazed hunting dogs they had unleashed, smashing through everything blocking their path to chase us.
A few buildings collapsed, and the pojangmchas on the side of the road burst apart, with materials flying through the air.
“Kia!”
*Thud!*
The security team bastards wrapped their iron chains tightly and threw them at us. It felt like I was going to die from the things they were throwing from all sides.
As debris from a collapsed building flew towards me, I quickly blocked it with my twisted carapace and had to keep running.
Monsters roared and ran from all sides.
Also, the hunting dogs they had unleashed kept chasing us, drooling.
“Shiiiit!!!!”
The pressure was so intense it felt like it would make me lose my mind, incomparable to zombies, not even worth comparing.
Even Merhere, who had been expressionless the whole time, was running with all her might at this very moment.
She was even running slightly ahead of me!
“Hey!!! Wait for me!!! Damn it!!!”
Soon, a hunting dog caught up from behind and lunged at me with its mouth wide open.
A putrid stench that was hard to describe wafted from its mouth.
It was a sticky, repulsive scent of death.
“KUAHHH!!!!!”
“Ruyue!!!”
*Sploosh!!!*
I instinctively shot out a tentacle to grab and kill it, but.
“Kua!!!”
It quickly twisted its head and bit off all the tentacles.
“Crazy..!!!”
Still, it seems it was deterred as it was pushed back, and at the same time, it was torn apart by the hunting dogs running from behind.
They made no distinction between friend and foe.
They just tore apart anything running in front of them.
“Here!! The entrance to the narrow alley!!! Quickly!!!”
Cheshire, who had already gone far ahead, stood in front of the gap between buildings and called me and Merhere.
Then Cheshire pulled out a machine gun-like device from thin air and aimed at our backs.
“Get in! And find the door in the alley!! If you find it, go home immediately!!”
“Yes!!”
The moment we entered the alley, Cheshire pressed the button on the machine device.
*Thoom!* *Pachachachat!*
Along with a deafening sound that felt like it would burst my eardrums, a blue beam shot out from the machine device.
At the same time, broken glass tubes were ejected like bullet casings, and Cheshire inserted a 2nd glass tube filled with blue liquid into the machine.
Just before fully entering the alley, I glanced back and saw that the area where the beam had been fired was completely wiped out, and the hunting dogs and underground security team chasing us were gone.
However, the following swarm quickly filled the empty space and rushed in again.
“Uwaa!! Die!!! Die!!!”
Cheshire let out a scream or a battle cry and fired the beam consecutively.
As soon as I saw that scene, the scenery changed in an instant as we fully entered the alley.
“Huff... huff...”
It was the alley I saw first when I came to the black market.
The place full of pipes spewing disgusting polluted water.
“Damn it... cough... crazy... fucking crazy...”
Now I have to find the door here.
There's only 1 hour and 10 minutes left.
Cheshire said that even if it took a long time to find the door with her, it would only take about 20 minutes.
But now that Cheshire is gone, it will probably take longer than that.
“A door... I need to find a door with a key.”
Merhere nodded as if she understood and walked forward to find the door.
If we separated here, we'd probably never find each other again, so I held her hand tightly to not let go.
“Damn it... there's no door...”
I wandered around for nearly 15 minutes, but I couldn't see a door with a key.
“KIAAAH!!!”
What's even worse is that we can hear the roars of the underground security team bastards coming from somewhere in the narrow alley.
“Wasn't it coming from the right before?”
“It... it was... but just now it came from the left...”
“They're not surrounding us, are they...?”
Why are my bad premonitions so accurate?
“They're coming, they're coming, they're coming!!!”
Soon, we could see bastards crawling out of the walls from all sides. Even the manholes in the alley burst open, and security team members poured out from inside.
I ran while holding Merhere's hand. I ran and ran.
Even if I felt like I was going to die from shortness of breath, I couldn't dare stop because I knew what kind of ordeal awaited me if I got caught by those bastards the moment I stopped.
“Th-there!! A door! A door!!!”
Then Merhere pointed to one direction with her finger.
There was a door there.
“Uwaa!!!”
With a shout of joy, we ran to the door at one end of the alley.
“Huh...?”
It was a white door.
And in the center of the door was a pattern drawn in what looked like blood.
“This is an arrow pattern pointing upwards.”
I couldn't react to Merhere's words and just stared at the text written below the pattern, my mouth agape.
The text written below the pattern. An unidentified word that, for some reason, I could read.
“Ground Floor...”
Behind us were the underground security team members trying to tear us to death, and in front of us was a door leading to the Ground Floor, which the usage guidelines said we must never enter.
“What should we do?”
“Uh...”
There was no time to hesitate.
Without a moment to think, the door to the Ground Floor opened.
“Uwaa!!!”
I and Merhere were sucked into it.