Chapter 224
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: The Sin of Sloth
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Exiting the dungeon, Jeong Hoon spotted Yeo Sun-woo's face.
"Are you alright?!"
He rushed anxiously toward Jeong Hoon.
Jeong Hoon nodded.
"Yes. Fortunately, we're unscathed."
It had been an anticlimactic fight.
He had even summoned Fenrir and Michael, preparing for the worst, but in the end, it was safe to say Jeong Hoon and his mother had handled it alone.
As a result, Fenrir and Michael wore looks of disappointment right up until they were sent back.
'I'll have to give them more chances next time.'
The easy disposal of Kaneda Shun and the other incarnations was largely due to his mother's elevated prowess.
Her arrows had pierced through their contract-enhanced bodies in a single shot.
"I didn't do anything," Yeo Min-ji said.
Yeo Sun-woo tilted his head.
"Hmm? They seemed like pretty skilled opponents."
"Yes, they had an imposing presence, but they just dropped like flies to her arrows."
"Huh...."
Jeong Hoon chuckled softly.
"We got lucky. Without my mother, it would've been a tough battle."
That was the truth.
The decisive reason Yeo Min-ji hadn't intervened was her mother's marksmanship.
The Shot of Genesis had sealed their abilities.
Without it, close combat would have been inevitable.
"So, all the guys inside are dead?"
"Yes."
"...I see."
Yeo Sun-woo fell silent for a moment, watching Jeong Hoon nod nonchalantly.
They had killed people, not monsters.
Yet there was no visible change in his emotions.
'He acts like he's done this plenty of times before.'
There was no other way to stay this composed.
'All incarnations must die. Those who've tangled with the Transcendents will lead Earth's destruction.'
That was the reason for his ruthless hand.
Jeong Hoon rejected them utterly, though Yeo Sun-woo didn't know why he was so certain.
And Yeo Sun-woo had no choice but to side with him.
'Whatever the case, their targets were human.'
If Jeong Hoon hadn't killed them, he and his daughter would have lost their lives instead.
Supporting his choice was only natural.
Back home, Jeong Hoon headed straight to his room.
Open the box! Open the box!
Alone now, Mukho urged him impatiently, as if he'd been waiting.
'I'm curious too. Wonder what's inside.'
Anima felt the same.
The box from the inventory was of a quality unlike any he'd seen before.
And not in a good wayit was utterly ominous.
A murky aura seeped from it, so foul that touching it might invite all sorts of curses.
Box of the Seven Deadly Sins
-Type: Box
-Rank: ?
-Contains one of the Seven Deadly Sins at random.
-Filled with malevolent energy.
-Opening carelessly may inflict a fatal curse.
As expected, a dangerous box if opened recklessly.
"It's useless against me."
Jeong Hoon's Curse Removal had upgraded to Legendary upon reaching 4th job advancement.
It had even maxed out in level in the Emperor's space.
It should handle the Seven Deadly Sins box's curse just fine.
Would you like to open the box?
Once chosen, it cannot be undone. Proceed with caution.
The warning confirmed its peril.
Jeong Hoon's lips twitched.
"Open."
The box creaked open, spilling black light.
You have acquired Seven Deadly Sin: Sloth.
You are cursed.
You are cursed.
You are cursed.
He obtained the Seven Deadly Sin, only for curses to pour down endlessly.
Your health is rapidly decreasing!
Your health is rapidly decreasing!
Your health is rapidly decreasing!
His health plummeted wildly, vision spinning.
Jeong Hoon hurriedly used Curse Removal.
Using Curse Removal.
Even one use didn't lift them all.
He had to cast it repeatedly, eleven times in total, before escaping every curse.
"Whew... that was close."
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
It was his first time seeing a Seven Deadly Sins box, but he figured Legendary Curse Removal could handle it.
His level was maxed, after all.
Yet dispelling them all took considerable effort.
If Curse Removal hadn't reached Legendary...
'I don't even want to imagine.'
Time to check the reward.
"Hmm, it looks peculiar."
The item called Seven Deadly Sin: Sloth resembled a sea urchin.
A black orb bristling with countless spines.
Would you like to awaken the 'Seven Deadly Sin'?
A message hovered above it.
'Awaken?'
Like Mukho or Anima, did it possess a will?
After brief thought, Jeong Hoon chose to awaken it.
The 'Seven Deadly Sin' awakens.
Currently, '1' of the '7' Sins have been gathered.
Thus, the Seven Deadly Sin cannot fully awaken.
The incompletely awakened sin looked like a snail.
A single larva slimed around inside its urchin-like shell.
'Is this one of the Seven Deadly Sins...?'
Seven Deadly Sin
-Type: Sloth
-Level: ?? (Grows by absorbing stats)
-Rank: Rare
Detailed Stats
-Strength: 50
-Agility: 50
-Vitality: 50
-Defense: 50
-Wisdom: 50
-Mana: 50
-Mental Strength: 50
It was a pet like Fenrir or Michael, summonable and controllable.
"Pretty pathetic...."
For something requiring Curse Removal to obtain, its stats were downright rotten.
The silver lining was its growth potential, though the method was unclear.
"Well, I'll figure it out gradually."
Jeong Hoon reached toward Sloth.
It obligingly retracted its protruding spines, making it touchable despite the roughness.
"Kiiing."
It couldn't speak, emitting a beastly cry.
A snail making such a sound defied the image.
Regardless, Fenrir had a new underling.
Jeong Hoon summoned Fenrir in small form.
"Yes, Master."
"Fenrir, you've got a new subordinate."
"A subordinate?"
Fenrir tilted his head and turned to Sloth.
His eyes wavered.
He seemed to recognize it.
"Do you know what it is?"
"...Yes. It's a demonic beast."
"Demonic beast?"
"Yes. A cub, but definitely a demonic beast."
Demonic beasts.
They were hostile to divine beasts.
Distinct from monsters, they were a race commanded by demons.
And the Seven Deadly Sins were leaders among such demonic beasts.
He didn't know why Mandora had this box, but he'd acquired a leader-type demonic beast.
Its small size was due to lacking sins, no doubt.
To max it out, he'd need to collect the rest.
"Anyway, it's your subordinate, so take good care of it."
"Subordinate...."
Fenrir's face soured.
He detested demonic beasts, after all.
"Nng...."
Sloth, intimidated, tried burrowing into Jeong Hoon's arms.
"Don't scare it."
"...Understood."
Fenrir nodded but kept glaring.
He wouldn't accept it easily.
"Alright, head back."
Jeong Hoon dismissed him.
"Kiiing...."
Sloth hid in its shell, reluctant to go.
"Hmm, guess I'll keep it summoned for now."
No telling what Fenrir might do if sent back.
He needed to learn more about this demonic beast first.
'I never saw it before regression.'
Pre-regression, Seven Deadly Sins had never appeared.
That only piqued his curiosity more.
Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Seoul had devolved into lawless chaos.
New World's realization granted sudden power.
It threw the world into turmoil, followed by a brief adaptation period.
With no means to control them, power became the law.
"Urk!"
A man in his early thirties tumbled forward, struck by a blunt weapon from behind.
"Jackpot! Nabbed a passing 89-level user!"
The mid-to-late teens student who swung grinned wickedly.
Three friends who looked like his buddies surrounded the fallen man.
They were around level 150.
Kids who'd secretly leveled up in capsule rooms behind their parents' backs, now playing bully at school with their transferred powers.
"Let's see how many points he's got."
Stealing a user's points was simple.
Inflict critical damage to drop health below 10, then forcibly loot points and items.
A post-realization system, so few knew.
"Tch, just 220 points?"
"Ha, damn. Level 89 and only 220 points?"
"Bum-ass. Loot his other items."
They rifled his inventory, taking anything useful.
"Let's bounce before anyone sees."
They chucked the bleeding, unconscious man deeper into the alley and turned to leave.
That's when it happened.
"Wow. Already some punks committing crimes out here?"
Someone approached them.
A young East Asian man in his early twenties, using the nickname Against Heaven.
"Who the hell are you?"
One student drew his sword.
"Level 160? Not bad."
"Oho! Higher than us?"
"Kukuku, but what now? We're four."
Low level or not, four level 150 users.
4 vs 1numbers guaranteed victory.
In that instant, Against Heaven vanished.
"Urk!"
The sword-drawer screamed, crashing into the wall.
"Sun-soo!"
"You crazy bastard!"
As shock spread, he appeared before another.
"Your turn now."
"Urk!"
That one slammed into the wall with a scream.
The remaining two followed suit.
All four down in about 40 seconds.
"Tch."
Jeong Hoon clicked his tongue, approaching the fallen man.
It was 7:50 AM.
His attire suggested he was on his way to work.
Jeong Hoon extended a hand.
Using Supreme Healing.
Supreme Healing took effect, and he slowly opened his eyes, sitting up.
"Wh-where...?"
"They were about to rob you."
Jeong Hoon nodded toward them.
The students lay embedded in the wall, unconscious.
"Ah, I see."
Only then did the man realize he'd been knocked out by a blow to the back of his head.
Yet it felt fine now.
No pain at all.
"I've healed your wounds, so no worries."
"Th-thank you. How can I repay this kindness...?"
He bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
Without Jeong Hoon, it would've been dire.
"No need. Get going."
"Y-yes!"
He fled in a hurry.
"Kiiing!"
Sloth wriggled from Jeong Hoon's arms, slowly crawling toward a student.
Its pace was yawn-inducingly slow.
Still, Jeong Hoon watched intently.
Sloth reached the student's foot.
Absorbing stats.
'Huh?'
Jeong Hoon's eyes widened.
With the message, Sloth's stats began ticking up bit by bit.
"So that's how it works."