Chapter 129
Chapter 129
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: A Monster in Vegas
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Munch, munch—.
"Hey, hyung. The room's whatever, but this view is killer. I feel like some rich American tycoon."
Young-jin said, eating a slice of pizza as he enjoyed the view from the window.
After leaving the dungeon, the two had made a swift escape, breaking through the police cordon.
There must have been an Awakened officer among them, as one chased Do-jae with incredible speed, but unfortunately for him, his pace wasn't even a tenth of Do-jae's.
"You're rich too, aren't you? If you can afford to rent a place like this, you're more than rich enough."
Do-jae said, his tone incredulous.
This was a five-star hotel in Las Vegas.
And they were in the second-best suite available.
If Young-jin, who could rent such a room without a second thought, wasn't rich, then who was?
"Come on, I'm just a Hunter. And it's not like it's my money, is it? I can't even spend it freely. I get an allowance, you know."
Young-jin said as he picked up another slice and ate it with relish.
Do-jae shook his head.
He had almost forgotten, but Young-jin was the youngest son of one of South Korea's top corporations.
He couldn't help but wonder just how large his allowance was for him to think so little of a top-tier suite in a five-star hotel.
"From now on, buy your own plane tickets."
"What? This is for work, so of course we should use the corporate card!"
"I don't care. Just use your own money."
Feeling a bit resentful of Young-jin for some reason, Do-jae snatched the last slice of pizza and ate it.
"Wow! You took it? I told you we should have bought another pie!"
"Then just buy another one. Go get it."
"Ah… so petty! Honestly, you ate five slices and I only had three. Shouldn't you be the one to go?"
"Who told you to eat so slowly?"
"Wow… you're a thug!"
Despite his words, Young-jin grumbled as he put on his coat.
Do-jae thought to himself that Young-jin was a good kid at heart, smiling as he waved him off.
"Be safe."
"Okay. I'll be right back."
"Oh, and if I'm not here, go ahead and eat without me."
"Where are you going?"
"Yeah. Don't wait up for me, just go to sleep."
"Hehehe… Roger!"
Young-jin left, a thrilled expression on his face.
Do-jae had a pretty good idea of what Young-jin was thinking, but he let him go without a word.
Back in Korea, Do-jae had always kept an eye on him and nagged him, but here, he wanted to give him some freedom.
"It's quiet."
With the boisterous Young-jin gone, the room fell silent in an instant.
Do-jae enjoyed the brief moment of peace before opening his quest window.
And there, at the very bottom, was a single line of text.
[Do you accept?]
It was finally time to meet another Ascetic.
Do-jae murmured softly.
"I accept."
Fwoosh—!
***
A village unfolded before his eyes.
Buildings of a style vastly different from human architecture rose from beneath the ground up to the sky.
The subterranean structures were connected by bridges, and along these bridges, countless beings moved about, living their lives.
And these beings were none other than Shademen.
Shademen of various colors went about their business, living their lives.
Though their appearance and way of life were different from humans, a sense of peace emanated from them.
"What do you think?"
At the sound of a voice, Do-jae turned around.
Standing right behind him was a Shademan, watching the same scene.
"Haydn?"
"Haha, do I look like him?"
"No, you're not..."
At first, he thought it was Haydn.
He looked exactly like the Haydn he had seen in Altein's room.
But upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't the Ascetic, Haydn.
Just as someone from Korea might find it difficult to distinguish between Caucasians or Black people...
Moreover, the being standing behind him wasn't even human, but a monster.
Given their already similar appearances, Do-jae's mistake was understandable.
Nevertheless, Do-jae could tell he wasn't Haydn, not by his appearance, but because the aura he exuded was completely different.
"A pleasure to meet you, Adversary. I am Ruiden. Haydn's twin brother."
The fourth Ascetic, the Shademan Ruiden.
He greeted him warmly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Lee Do-jae."
"Haha, no need for formalities. I have already acknowledged your stature."
Ruiden said with a gentle smile.
Of course, being of a different species, Do-jae couldn't tell if it was a smile, a frown, or some other expression, but he could still sense the goodwill in Ruiden's voice.
"This place… it's very peaceful..."
Do-jae said, turning his gaze back to the village.
Young Shademen playing and running across the bridges, female Shademen chatting idly, and sturdy Shademen repairing the subterranean buildings.
The scene resembled a tranquil countryside.
"This was my brother's and my favorite village. Most of the Shademen here were simple and down-to-earth compared to other places. Ah, not that the other villages were bad, of course."
Ruiden, too, spoke in the past tense as he looked down at the village.
Do-jae already knew this scene was not real, but an illusion.
He got a dreamlike feeling, similar to the past memory where he had spoken with Gellahan.
"I'm sorry about what happened to Haydn."
Do-jae brought up Haydn.
Altein had told him that after his second meeting with Gellahan, Haydn's stature had been severely damaged, and he had fallen deep into the rift of causality.
Thanks to him, they had been able to awaken Briareus and prevent greater damage, but even if they were gods, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the twin brother.
"Oh… are you worried? A human's stature worrying about a divine one… Is that a natural part of being human? In any case, don't mind it. Those who have attained a stature like ours do not feel emotions with their hearts."
"Well… I have no idea what you're talking about, but does that mean it's okay?"
"Hmm… Still, it is upsetting. Hahaha, you don't understand, do you?"
"...So, what trial will you give me?"
Do-jae ignored Ruiden's contradictory statements and asked.
He wasn't interested in this fabricated scenery, but in the new skill Ruiden would grant and the trial to obtain it.
"I see. I must give the Adversary a trial to judge his worth. #&ㄲ& made such a strange rule."
"Who?"
A name in Ruiden's words that he couldn't hear.
It might be a strange way to put it, but Do-jae felt as if the voice was shrouded in fog, making it impossible to hear.
"#&ㄲ&… Hmm, you can't understand? You must try harder, Adversary."
"Is it another Ascetic?"
"That's right. @*)*#()@ is #*($)... The day @*)*#@ does will soon be... )(@*(%&%&, won't it?"
"I don't know what you're saying."
This time, too, Ruiden's words were completely incomprehensible.
"It seems permission hasn't been granted yet. Then there's no helping it. I wanted to just give it to you, but it seems I can't."
"Nothing ever comes easy.
"Hahaha. I know. I wanted to take the easy route too. Well then, shall we begin?"
Crick, crack—.
Suddenly, a strange sound began to emanate from Do-jae's body.
"What did you do?"
"The time limit is one day. That's the best I can give you."
"My… my body is..."
Do-jae's body bulged and shifted, transforming into something else.
Before he could even see what it was, Do-jae was returned to his own world.
***
Crash—!
With a tremendous noise, the ceiling and floor collapsed.
Simultaneously, screams erupted from the rooms above and below.
"Aaaah!"
"Ugh! Fucking shit!"
Rumble—!
Through the huge holes above and below, he could see Americans staring at him.
They were looking at Do-jae with eyes full of fear.
*What the hell is going on?*
Do-jae looked around, sensing something was wrong.
Even with his head bowed, his line of sight was much higher than usual.
"H-Help me!"
"Oh… Noah! Come here!"
He saw a young couple shouting in his direction.
And in front of Do-jae, a blond child of about five or six was on the verge of tears.
Do-jae tried to apologize and pick up the child, but.
"Grrrrrr!"
A low, guttural growl.
And that growl had come from none other than Do-jae's own mouth.
*What, what's happening...*
Do-jae looked down at his hands.
Bluish-green skin, thick and blunt fingers.
And sharp claws.
These were not the hands of a human.
*W-Wait... this can't be!*
Do-jae panicked.
He reached out, trying to show them he wasn't dangerous and that they shouldn't be afraid, but his gesture only made things worse for the young couple.
"Aaaah! Oh, God...!"
"Noah, Kate! Run!"
The young man, his eyes filled with terror, grabbed the child, handed him to the woman, and picked up a broken chair leg from the floor.
Whoosh— Whoosh—!
"Stay back! You monster!"
The man swung the club with a trembling hand.
Realizing he couldn't stay here, Do-jae turned and leaped out the window.
Crash—!
Do-jae and Young-jin's room was on the eighth floor.
He had crashed down one level, so he was jumping from the seventh floor.
Thud—!
"Aaaaaah!"
"Holy shit!"
"Ugh! What the fuck!"
Landing among a crowd of tourists, Do-jae sent them into a panic.
The area instantly devolved into chaos as people scrambled to get away.
"Grrrrrr!"
He wanted to speak, but all that came out was the cry of a monster.
Realizing that trying to talk would only be counterproductive, Do-jae started to run, trying to flee the scene.
But things didn't go as planned.
"Everyone, get back!"
A familiar voice rang out, and a sword pierced Do-jae's thigh.
It was Young-jin, emerging from the casino.
*Young-jin, it's me!*
Do-jae backed away, trying to speak.
Green fluid oozed from the wound in his thigh where the sword had been pulled out.
"Grrrrrr!"
"I don't know where you came from, but die!"
Young-jin swung his sword again as he advanced.
Do-jae hastily tried to dodge, but unaccustomed to his much larger body, he stumbled and was slashed across the chest.
Splaash—!
*Damn it... getting stabbed by the sword I bought him...*
Figuring he couldn't let this continue, Do-jae tried to open his Subspace to summon his golems.
He thought that if Young-jin saw the golems moving on his command, he might realize who he was.
But he couldn't even open his Subspace, let alone summon the golems.
*Damn you, Ruiden!*
Do-jae cursed Ruiden inwardly as he got to his feet.
If there was a silver lining...
Perhaps because his body had completely transformed into a monster, the wound healed in an instant, and the pain vanished.
*He said one day, right? I have to hide this body somehow.*
Do-jae extended his arm to push away the advancing Young-jin.
Thwack—!
Scraaaape—.
"Guuh."
It was just a light push, but Young-jin went sliding far into the distance.
He had misjudged the length of his arms and his strength, using far too much force.
*Sorry, Young-jin!*
Fwoosh—!
Do-jae tensed his thighs and calves and jumped.
He intended to leap between buildings, moving through the air to avoid people as much as possible.
But even that failed.
Thump—.
Do-jae was slammed into the ground, pulled down by something.
A long, whip-like object was wrapped around his ankle.
"How dare you cause a ruckus on my day off!"
The man who had dragged Do-jae to the ground.
Dressed in a leather jacket and cowboy hat reminiscent of the Wild West, he was America's S-rank Hunter, Rick Kurt.