Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 082
Chapter Title: New Function (1)
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“It was an act of God this time.”
“I know. It was unavoidable. The Woo family dog took matters into his own hands, after all. We’ve tripled the security at the mansion for now. Luckily, we got connected with a security firm run by special forces veterans.”
No more incidents like this one, Kwon Seong-hyun said with a smile.
Yeonwoo watched him and thought.
‘He definitely sought them out on purpose.’
He’d even bet his remaining spiritual power on it. Though he didn’t have much left at the moment.
Come to think of it, when would this recover?
‘Should I go pray somewhere?’
Maybe stay at a sacred site and build up some merit. Sure, he could get by without it, but going from having it to not felt so empty.
With this guy next to him, though—who’d probably protest even if Yeonwoo boosted his lifespan to argue against discharge—that wouldn’t be easy.
‘No, wait.’
He realized there was an excellent battery right beside him!
Sure, calling him a battery was a stretch—he was too tall and handsome, and his occasional impulsive actions were a problem.
“……Why are you looking at me like that? Even if you give me those pitiful eyes, I’m not signing off on your discharge.”
The doctors handle the approvals, right? No, more importantly.
“Kwon Seong-hyun-ssi. Mind stepping out for a bit?”
“Why?”
“Nothing major. Just need to check something.”
Kwon Seong-hyun looked puzzled but followed Yeonwoo’s request obediently.
‘Definitely……’
It had slowed. And maybe it was his imagination, but his headache worsened, and his stomach felt empty. Classic depletion symptoms.
“You can come back in now.”
“What were you checking?”
The walking tonic asked.
“I confirmed my resolve to listen carefully to Kwon Seong-hyun-ssi.”
“Why the sudden noble…… No, I like that mindset.”
“Well……”
Explaining he’d realized sticking close was good for his health pricked at his conscience a bit too much.
“So no more talk of discharge, got it?”
Kwon Seong-hyun pressed for confirmation once more.
“Discharge? I’m against that too.”
A heavy voice laced with the scent of blood cut in.
Woo Do-gyeom strode in, dressed in a tailored suit topped with a long black coat, his polished shoes gleaming under the lights.
“A few rat pups slipped away, so I recommend staying put. If you hate it here, my place is fine too.”
“You show up uninvited. We hadn’t seen hide nor hair of you, so what’s this sudden visit?”
Before Yeonwoo could respond, a sharp retort flew out.
“Should I just toss away the valuable info you risked your life to give me while collapsing? The info from the benefactor who saved my kids—and me? Seems the pampered young master still doesn’t get it.”
“There’s such a thing as basic decency toward people, you know?”
“I’d be more pissed if someone didn’t make good use of info I sacrificed for. Anyway, doesn’t hooking you up with the best hospital and doctors settle it?”
“As expected from a money-obsessed fool who still thinks material things are everything.”
Their worldviews clashed starkly.
‘They’re way too different.’
From their first meeting, they’d been like water and oil—no compromise in sight.
But something nagged at Yeonwoo as he listened.
No. He hadn’t really sacrificed his body that much……
It was just bad timing piling up, making things not go as planned.
“Anyway, I’m against discharge.”
“Hate to agree with you, but I have no choice there.”
Both men turned to Yeonwoo.
The air grew ominous—they looked ready to tie him to the bed if he pushed for discharge now.
“……What’s this about rat pups slipping away?”
“Oh. The curse target you ID’d? Turns out it was my brother. Not that surprising.”
“My condolences……?”
“No need. I knew that trash would stab me in the back someday—just didn’t expect my kids to be the target. I kept him breathing, and this is how he repays me.”
For a split second, Woo Do-gyeom’s eyes flashed murderously.
He smoothed into a sly smile right after, but the lingering killing intent didn’t fade easily.
“But……family, right?”
“That’s too shameful to call family.”
Woo Do-gyeom shrugged.
His brother Woo Do-hun truly wasn’t worth considering family.
Born the eldest but utterly useless, all expectations naturally fell on the second son, Woo Do-gyeom.
“A lump of inferiority and desire with no talent—hard to call that human, right?”
Woo Do-hun’s resentment toward his little brother had festered deeper over the years.
The problem was how it manifested—badly.
Violence, gambling, unlicensed and drunk driving. Without the family covering it up, he’d have a constellation of charges.
If the previous chairman hadn’t shipped him overseas out of exasperation, he’d have made headlines already.
“A drug-addled brain plotting to murder my nephews? I handled it mercifully.”
Abroad, Woo Do-hun dove deeper into depravity.
Nothing beats drugs for a rich wastrel killing time.
The more Woo Do-gyeom rose, the madder Woo Do-hun got.
[What’s wrong with trying to kill your bastard kids? Huh? You stole mine, so I take one of yours. Your precious brats. Those creepy thieves of yours!]
At Woo Do-hun’s place, after Yeonwoo vomited blood.
Woo Do-hun, resuscitated via CPR, drooled and spat that out.
His pupils were shot from drugs, body limp.
[That’s why I tried to kill them! Almost succeeded! Blood from kin makes curses stronger! I even drew their blood! But why didn’t they die? Why? Why? WHY?!]
Woo Do-hun’s mad ravings were pathetic.
So very him—too scared to confront Woo Do-gyeom directly, slinking in the shadows like vermin.
“You didn’t……kill him, did you?”
Woo Do-gyeom shook his head at Yeonwoo’s question.
“Think I’d give him an easy out?”
“Then?”
“Just dumped him in a nice facility. Merciful, no?”
A druggie’s hell without drugs.
But Woo Do-gyeom didn’t care.
Death isn’t punishment.
Woo Do-hun would live, writhing in worldly agony.
Good triumphs, evil punished.
That balances the scales.
The opposite held true too.
Though……
‘First time with a benefactor, so who knows.’
A touch of dilemma, but it’d work out.
Hiding that thought, Woo Do-gyeom smiled.
***
“……Well, if Woo Do-gyeom-ssi says so.”
Yeonwoo couldn’t grasp it through his family lens, but the world had all kinds.
No place for a third party to butt in.
“Rats handled, but a few playmates fled overseas. Tails on them—they’ll be dealt with soon. Can’t have our precious benefactor hurt, so please hold off on discharge.”
Woo Do-gyeom’s version of concern, apparently.
“Anyway, truly grateful. Nearly lost all my kids, but you saved them.”
“Ah. How are the kids? The curse should be gone by now.”
“Thanks to you, they’re fine. They’re here, actually. Want to thank you. Oh, haven’t properly thanked you myself.”
Woo Do-gyeom rubbed his chin.
Then blurted.
“Want any land?”
“……Pardon?”
“Got plenty. Gift for you. Taxes? Don’t worry. Or maybe buildings over land? Easier than building new. Let’s see……”
As Woo Do-gyeom muttered like he’d hand over plots and towers,
[Truth]
“……?”
Why here?
“Stocks instead? Nah, hand over a subsidiary. One in my buildings—perfect.”
[Truth]
“……”
Absurd as it sounded, the system window was clear.
Woo Do-gyeom meant every word—dead serious.
And……
‘Poker Face effect?’
Right before passing out, post-quest alert.
Vision blurry, but the reward moment sharp.
‘Poker Face blocked my Intent Discernment before. New matching stat canceled it out.’
Likely, Poker Face was a special stat.
One that repelled Yeonwoo’s Intent Discernment.
“Odd.”
Woo Do-gyeom muttered suddenly.
“Something happen? Can’t read your face anymore.”
“Really? Nothing special……”
“Something definitely did.”
It had.
Big time.
Poker Face was S+ rank, for sure.
‘Want to check, but……’
Too embarrassing to cough up blood in front of them.
Human dignity demanded privacy.
‘Wait. Wasn’t there one more?’
Right before collapsing.
Confirmed extra stat.
As eyes closed, something else popped up.
[New function available.]
That sparkling line over Woo Do-gyeom’s head at quest completion.
‘Damn, dying to know.’
Prioritizing, Yeonwoo shifted focus.
“……More importantly, didn’t the kids come?”
“Waiting outside.”
“Call them in quick. Hate to keep them waiting.”
“Surprising. Soft on kids? Come to think, you helped because of them.”
Woo Do-gyeom nodded at the door. A silent black-suited man opened it.
Yeonwoo’s eyes widened.
Not just their curse-free, adorably cute faces.
Not even the boy and girl’s identical cherubic looks staring bright-eyed.
No—the boy clutched a squished Child Spirit in both hands.
[Eeeek…… Yeonwoooo……]
“Save me, Yeonwoo! These kids are demons!”
Demons? They looked angelic.
And the “demon” screamer……
‘A ghost calling the living demons. End times for sure……’
Pure ghost through and through.
[I’d crush these runts if not for this body! Eeeeng!]
Just shed the sparrow form, then.
Explains why he stuck to Kwon Seong-hyun—no sightings.
Divine kids had him pinned.
‘Well, he possessed the body, letting Kwon Seong-hyun come.’
Quid pro quo—Yeonwoo decided to free him.
“Kids, don’t grip the sparrow so tight……”
He started to say.
“Pretty oppa!”
“Pretty big bro!”
……If the kids hadn’t suddenly lunged for hugs.