Chapter 18

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 18

Chapter Title: Pointy-Ears and the Auction House

-----------------------------------------------------------------

'Still... she wouldn't just snatch it away by force,' I thought for a good ten seconds.

"Let's just learn it."

I pulled my hand back from the doorknob.

This isn't a game. I can't assume the world works the same way.

710 million won.

My entire fortune—and my debt.

The result of swallowing my pride to get it.

Showing it off outside? That's insane. Better play it safe.

She's a B-rank hunter.

No matter how much she promised 'just to check,' who wouldn't lose their mind over a legendary skillbook right in front of them?

If things go south, she might try to take it.

Seeing is wanting.

Human greed knows no bounds—and the same goes for pointy-ears.

I'm not selling it anyway.

No reason to show it off and invite trouble.

This is a 'growth-type' skill that can't be priced.

It'll definitely be a huge help for an F-rank like me.

Ellicia wasn't looking for a history book anyway.

With my rationalization complete, I opened the book.

Flip, flip—.

With a crisp sound, letters poured out as light.

A power born from the texture of ancient paper.

Whoosh—.

The book crumbled like sand.

Instead of scattering, the particles burrowed into my pale palm.

"Ugh...!"

My head felt like it was splitting open.

The sensation of branding letters into my brain cells with a hot iron.

An overwhelming heat surged up my spine, too much for my small body to handle.

"Haa... haa..."

My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor.

Cold sweat plastered my bangs to my forehead.

But the pain was brief.

Soon, a refreshing clarity—like standing in the heart of a forest—flooded my lungs.

Nothing remained in my hands.

The 710-million-won book had become part of my soul.

"...It's done."

I clenched and unclenched my fist.

A faint flow of mana tingled at my fingertips.

Now it's mine.

A power no one can take or steal.

With this ability, any guild would treat me like VIP royalty.

I pictured myself hogging treasure chests in dungeons.

I forcibly pulled down my twitching lips.

Stay calm. Don't feel sorry. I bought and paid for it myself.

After a few deep breaths, I could finally grip the doorknob.

Ellicia shot up from her chair like a coiled spring.

"Why were you so late? Did something happen?"

Her green eyes quickly scanned me from head to toe.

Her gaze narrowed upon seeing my empty hands.

"...The box?"

Her voice trembled faintly.

I shrugged nonchalantly, feigning calm.

"I opened it."

"And? What was inside? Our kingdom's history book, right? Show me quick! I'll appraise it right now!"

She looked ready to pounce.

I instinctively stepped back and held out my tiny, empty palm.

"Not a history book. Nothing like that."

My meaning was clear.

"Nothing? What do you mean?"

"It was a consumable."

"...What?"

Ellicia's face froze in a daze.

She blinked as if she couldn't comprehend.

I kindly—and cruelly—explained again.

Lying about it being empty would've pricked my conscience.

At least the cover and a few letters would help Ellicia, who was collecting 'history.'

The cake was delicious, after all.

This was my pure goodwill.

"There was a book, but it was a skillbook. So I learned it. Just now."

"A s-skil...lbook...?"

The blood drained from her face.

She turned ashen white and slumped into the chair.

"Impossible... It can't be... That emblem was definitely from the royal library... It should've been a history book with high probability..."

"Too bad. The shell was a book, but the filling was a skill."

"The emblem! What did it say? Give me any hint!"

"It was in Elvish, and the cover looked like tree bark with a squirrel drawing."

"Squirrel...?"

Her head snapped up.

A intense shock flashed in her unfocused green eyes.

"No way... Ratatosk?"

"Huh? You know it?"

Did I screw up?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"...Ahh."

Ellicia let out a deep sigh of lament.

Her trembling hands covered her face.

"Ratatosk... Messenger of the World Tree... The eyes and ears of the kingdom..."

Her shoulders shook.

Despair? Anger?

No.

It was something deeper and more profound.

Shouldn't have said anything.

Regret washed over me.

She slowly lifted her head and looked up at me.

Her teary eyes quivered pitifully.

"You... learned that?"

"Yeah. I bought it with my own money...?"

"Ahh..."

She staggered to her feet and blocked my path.

Then she grabbed both my hands tightly.

"I beg you! Give it back!"

"Huh? I already learned it."

"I know! But there must be a way! Mana extraction or... No, even if I have to split your soul...!"

This crazy pointy-ears bitch.

Good thing I learned it before coming out.

What noble elf? Ellicia's eyes were unhinged.

"You crazy auntie! Trying to kill me?!"

I yanked my hands free in horror.

Skill extraction was as good as turning a hunter into a cripple—or killing them.

It was expensive and had abysmal success rates.

"N-No, not killing you. I just... need that power..."

"Doesn't matter if you need it. It's soulbound now."

I drew a firm line.

Ellicia bit her lip until it bled.

Her face looked ready to burst into tears any second.

"Money, then. How much? 10 billion? 100 billion? I'll devote my life to repay it. Please... give me that power."

"No amount of money changes it. You can't sell a used skill. Been a hunter long enough to know that, right?"

"Then..."

Her eyes changed.

From pleading to obsession.

From despair to madness.

"You become mine."

"...Pardon?"

A chill ran down my spine.

What third-rate horror movie line was that?

"Hey, I'm not an object, okay? And no slave contracts."

"Not a slave! A comrade... No, I'll serve you as my lord!"

"No thanks. We're done here."

I turned to leave, done with this mess.

That look in her eyes.

Different from the murderous intent at the auction house.

Like a dog eyeing a bone.

Or a fanatic beholding their god.

Linger here any longer, and I might actually get kidnapped.

She's nuts. What goodwill? Should've ignored and bolted.

"Move. I'm busy."

I shoved past Ellicia and quickened my pace.

I heard her shouting something behind me, but I ignored it.

Running was the best play right now.

The whole way home, my nape prickled.

A sticky, licking gaze from someone.

But every time I looked back, it was just weary commuters heading home.

Just my imagination?

I knew elves had top-tier stealth skills.

But no way she'd follow me.

An elf... surely not.

Noble long-lived race.

Honorable and faithful.

Too proud to stalk.

Though suggesting soul-splitting says otherwise.

I shook off the unease and hurried on.

The night air was chilly.

The sun had fully set, blanketing the streets in darkness.

"Hoo..."

Fatigue hit me all at once.

What a day.

Burned 710 million, barked like a dog, got a skill, suffered a crazy elf.

I just wanted to get home and crash.

Jin Su-bin's place.

Now feeling like 'our home,' cozy and familiar.

At the officetel entrance, the guard greeted me.

"Oh, little miss is back?"

"...Hello."

I nodded curtly and headed to the elevator.

Who're you calling little miss?

Grumbling, I hit the 15th floor button.

Bzzz—.

My pocket smartphone vibrated.

[Jin Su-bin (Sis): Seo-ah nim ㅠㅠ Sorry. Sudden emergency, gotta pull an all-nighter. Go to bed first. Handle dinner yourself.]

"Ah..."

The steam went out of me.

I'd planned to order chicken for a party after a day ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like this.

Food alone tastes like nothing.

A twinge of disappointment, but also relief.

Time to experiment with my new skill.

Perfect. Summon Ratatosk and test it out.

Ding.

15th floor.

The hallway was silent.

Sensor lights flicked on one by one, lighting my path.

I flipped up the door lock cover and punched in the code.

Beep, beep, beep, beep.

Click.

The door opened.

"I'm ho...me..."

I stopped mid-greeting.

No one's home, duh.

The empty living room echoed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with silence.

As I bent to take off my shoes—

Thud—!

Something jammed into the closing door gap.

"...?!"

I whipped around in terror.

White boots.

And a shadow forcing its way through.

"Who...!"

Before I could scream—

The intruder shoved the door open and barged in.

"Eek!"

I stumbled back, slamming into the shoe cabinet.

Bang!

The front door slammed shut.

Sensor lights went off, then detected the intruder and flicked back on.

Under the orange glow, the face revealed.

"...Ellicia?"

It was her.

The crazy elf I'd ditched at the Hunter Market.

But the vibe was off.

Her neat platinum hair was disheveled, lips parched.

Most of all, her eyes.

Dazed and unfocused, yet fixated solely on me. Chilling.

"How... did you get here...?"

"Don't underestimate an elf's tracking."

She took a step forward.

The narrow entryway felt suffocating.

170-something cm tall frame.

"Wha...! You're actually insane?!"

Her gaze looking down at my 149 cm self was overwhelming.

"Get out! I'm calling the cops!"

I fumbled for my phone with shaking hands.

But Ellicia snatched my slender wrist and pinned me to the wall.

Thud!

Cold wall hit my back.

The classic 'kabedon.'

But none of the rom-com flutters.

Just a deranged stalker in my face.

"That won't do."

"Eek!"

"Don't run."

Her face closed in until her nose nearly touched mine.

A scent wafted over.

Thicker forest aroma than at the market.

Layered underneath, the metallic tang of a hunter.

"I told you. I need to confirm."

"I confirmed! I said I used the skillbook! Told you about the cover...!"

"No. Whether that power is truly inside you."

"I came out empty-handed because I used it!"

"I won't back off until I see it myself."

Her hand slid down to my chest.

"Don't touch me!"

"Stay still. It'll be quick."

"Ugh...!"

My chest burned hot.

Unpleasant heat seeped through my clothes from her palm.

"I can hear your heartbeat. And inside it... I feel Ratatosk's presence."

She closed her eyes in ecstasy.

"Yes. The energy of my homeland is here."

She looked like a junkie high on drugs.

"This is... our kingdom's legacy..."

"It's a skillbook, I told you!"

"Don't you get it? You're living history now. The very thing I've been searching for."

"Let... go...!"

You little shit!

Even if we're both girls, groping my chest was creepy as hell.

I kicked her shin with all the strength of a nursing baby.

Thwack!

"Ack!"

Ellicia winced and stepped back.

Even an F-rank kick landed, somehow.

Call the cops...! Gotta call!

I bolted for the living room.

But she was faster.

She grabbed my waist and yanked me back.

"Ugh! Let go! Help! Rapist in the hou—!"

"Calm down! I'm not trying to hurt you! Please!"

"Is that how you beg? Breaking into someone's home!"

"I had no choice. If I let you go, I'd never see you again."

Her voice was wet with tears.

I froze.

She was crying.

The haughty, proud elf, shedding fat tears like a child.

"I've waited... ever since I fell to this world..."

She sank to her knees slowly.

"No, my whole life."

Right at my feet.

Kneeling on the cold entryway tiles, looking up at me.

"Ratatosk isn't an ordinary summon. It's the only key to finding the World Tree's seed."

"World Tree... seed?"

"Yes. My people's desperate wish. The hope to continue our fallen homeland's legacy."

She reached into empty air.

Space rippled, summoning a long, sharp sword.

She gripped it.

Inventory...

If not a skill, at least worth billions.

No wonder a B-rank hunter's broke!

But that wasn't important now.

She turned the hilt toward me, offering it with both hands.

A knighting ceremony.

Or oath of loyalty.

"I, Ellicia von Etelvice, holy knight of the World Tree Order and last guardian of Silvar, do swear."

Her green eyes shone with resolve.

"If you are Ratatosk's master, I shall be your sword. I pledge my loyalty until the World Tree grows."

"..."

"Contract with me. My lord."

A suffocating silence fell.

The entryway sensor light went out.

In the darkness, only her eyes gleamed clearly.

A B-rank hunter.

Walking mid-sized corp.

An elf holy knight, no less.

Kneeling and swearing fealty to a puny F-rank noob like me.

What the...

Brain freeze.

But one thing was clear.

She's dead serious.

And if I say 'No' now, this won't end peacefully.

Her sticky obsession was terrifying.

"...Haa."

What was I supposed to do?

The front door felt scarier than ever today.

Jin Su-bin would faint if she knew.

Bringing a strange woman home. An armed elf, at that.

We're screwed.

But refusing? That sword she offered looked too tempting.

Her lord...

Is she for real?

Am I that shallow?

An elf's oath is heavy.

Knowing that...

"Come in first. Take off your shoes."

I nodded tentatively.

Joy lit Ellicia's face.

That smile was eerily beautiful.

(To be continued)