Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: I'll Commit Suicide
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The Tailor Yun halted his breathing technique.
It seemed the pursuers had arrived, judging by the commotion.
Yun rose from the basement floor and clicked his tongue.
'Faster than I expected. My essence is still insufficient.'
The pursuit was fiercer than anticipated.
It was astonishing.
But it wasn't the market faction that surprised him.
A short while ago.
Yun and his group had the misfortune of being spotted by climbers while hunting.
'To think two of us would die to mere outsider climbers.'
That was why.
They'd rushed the kidnapping, figuring it was inevitable once discovered.
In the end, it had been a blessing in disguise.
Yun and the other three had grown even stronger.
Thanks to brewing high-quality [Elixir] from their fallen comrade's corpse.
"We'll consume more [Elixir] on these lower floors, raise our realms, and return to the Tailor Realm."
This was all to block the climbers' ascent.
To breach the Irregular of the 5th tier.
If luck held, they'd devour the rest of the group too.
"...If I grow stronger than Doryeo, I could become sect leader or establish my own branch in the Tailor Realm."
"As a fellow specialist, allow me one word."
Jeong-uk descended into the basement, frowning.
"Our jargon confuses normal folk. Mind your words."
...Hum!
Jeong-uk's pendant hummed lowly.
As if warning against complacency.
***
The basement where he'd blocked the escape route.
The middle-aged man sitting cross-legged stood up.
"One of us? You mean you're the same seed as us. I can smell the thick bloodlust. How many have you devoured so far?"
"Pardon? Why would I keep count of that?"
What the hell?
I was left dumbfounded.
'I told him to speak plainly, so why's he acting buddy-buddy?'
What was the Tailor Realm? What even was [Elixir]?
After asking that, he gave that response?
"You're right! I've never bothered counting either!"
Watching the middle-aged man guffaw, I caught on.
'Ah, this guy's the type you don't chat with.'
You know the kind. The obnoxious ones you just placate with "yes, yes."
The problem? This one's a wanted murderer.
A ranking number one I'd rather not see at my shop.
'Still, the name Doryeo rings a bell.'
We'd even chatted about him in the Tower Climbing Gallery.
6th tier dangerous seed or something.
So this guy's from the 6th tier too.
Makes sense.
He was wearing that white robe, after all.
"We'll make fine prey for each other."
Flutter...!
The middle-aged man shook his sleeves and gripped talismans in both hands.
I already had my blade ready.
"I am Yun. Declare your name, climber! I'll name the [Elixir] I brew from you after you!"
"My name? Naltu."
"[Naltu Elixir]! It'll be a fine tonic!"
Who tells their real name to a weirdo like this?
Especially one who seems to stuff humans into dumplings.
I charged with Orc No.1.
-Clang!
Yun blocked with a staff.
After clashing blades a few times, our faces changed.
Mine in shock, his frozen stiff.
"Hey! You bastard! Why do you have [Inventory]?!"
"Such mighty strength!"
His nonsensical reply came with hurled talismans.
Two ignited before me on their own.
My hair whipped up suddenly.
'Wind magic?'
First time seeing it, but my senses let me dodge.
"Beginner wind talisman or something?"
"How dare you compare that inferior art to talisman arts!"
What even were talisman arts?
I didn't ask this time.
Probably some talisman crafting technique.
[Skill Enhancement Success!]
[Forbidden Alchemy Occultism(+2) → Forbidden Al...]
"You're next!"
Testing close range confirmed it.
This guy's a mage.
He could fight up close, but not against me.
"Coming into this confined space was your mistake!"
That was why.
Yun began hurling talismans without restraint.
"Tch."
Dodging in the tight room wasn't easy.
I tilted my head while evading and brought the pendant to my ear.
"Huh? Senior Brother, this guy's not that tough?"
"What?"
"You said not to drop my guard, so I feel silly now? Hm. Got it. How much can the options pull?"
The pendant wouldn't answer, of course.
But system messages appeared.
All stats further increased.
Not even further, but still.
Even without sending out clones,
better than bare-handed against a drake.
Let's see, then.
'Judging by the boosted stats...'
I trusted my intuition and muttered.
"Not an enhancement-type [Deficiency], so around level 28?"
"...Guh!"
"Nailed it? How'd you level that high?"
Was there a special way to level?
My curiosity piqued, and Yun cheered.
"Relic! A relic! You trapped your senior brother's soul in that trinket!"
"Me?"
My senior brother had passed on?
Relic must mean some rare item.
Yun boldly drew one talisman.
"Indeed. A Tailor with a relic deserves my ultimate Soul Unity Talisman."
"Then use it from the start."
"Sharp observation. Think I hadn't considered it?"
All talismans in Yun's hands ignited.
"I activated it half a breath ago."
-Crack!
A barrier-like field enveloped me.
I tried swinging Orc No.1 to break free.
But Yun formed seals faster than any ninja.
'Trapped.'
I'd anticipated a sneak attack, but restraint?
What now?
Yun exhaled like a victor.
"The Soul Unity Talisman is crafted with a talisman master's life's resolve."
"What's a talisman master? Talisman users?"
"...Thus, I hesitated to use it, but you're strong enough to fell Walter, so a honed subjugation squad. I prepared it long ago."
Ignoring me, huh.
It was sturdy, though.
Breaking it with a blade would take effort.
Before that, though.
Something to ask.
"You said the Soul Unity Talisman requires mortal resolve for one sheet?"
I pulled a paper scrap from my sleeve.
"Then what's this? There was an extra identical one."
"Wha...?! M-my Soul Unity Talisman?!"
He frantically checked his bosom, then gnashed his teeth.
"You filthy thief! When did you steal it?!"
"During close quarters earlier. With [Stealing]."
Sensing mixes all five senses.
I can feel with touch too.
Mana on contact is easy to detect.
"Picked the one with the most mana."
[Skill Enhancement Success!]
[Stealing(+1) → Stealing(+2)]
Wow.
[Stealing] was a gem.
Talisman users' worst nightmare?
"And you act like it's your ace with an extra? Always lying through your teeth."
"Says the thief? Pointless now! You're trapped in my barrier!"
Yun formed seals with both hands and shouted.
"[Soul-Stealing Unity Talisman]! Claim Naltu's soul!"
Why me, Naltu?
Oh, right. That's me.
Shhh...!
The barrier wasn't just tough.
It turned red, draining my mana.
'Not just mana? It's taking stamina too.'
If it drains it all, probably exploits the soul too.
Hm.
Exploitation reminds me of something.
"Let's see, like this?"
I bit Orc No.1 in my mouth.
Then formed a seal with my free right hand.
"[Soul-Stealing Unity Talisman]. Activate!"
-Fwoosh!
-Crack!
The stolen talisman burned, spawning a new barrier.
Isolating the triumphant Yun.
"Oh, it worked."
Blood-iron stench.
The fishy odor from skills I couldn't learn.
I'd worried since it didn't smell like me, but it really worked.
...Thud!
I hadn't used the soul-drain yet.
But Yun collapsed on his ass.
As if his soul had fled.
"...You used another's soul talisman as your own? With one-handed seal?"
"Huh? Hey, don't sit! Keep going."
No skill acquisition message yet.
Item option preventing it?
Or not learned fully?
'Give me a hint. You used my [Inventory] too.'
Who sneaks into the gallery without me knowing.
Pfft.
Anyway, Yun needed to demo more.
Would whipping make him comply?
I tried my way first.
I didn't want to use this.
Requires removing Senior Brother's pendant.
Necklace skill overlaps equip slot.
Shhh...!
Effect was solid, though.
My stamina and mana recharged.
Couldn't steal soul, but who cares.
No use for souls, not my taste.
"No!! Stop!!"
Yun wailed like I was stealing his soul.
"Soul Unity Talisman! Heed me!"
Oh, demo time?
Good kid.
'Now, [Faceless Totem] or [Bloodstain Cleave] to escape this barrier, and done.'
I had no intent to kill.
Tower law would handle disposal.
Need him alive for clues.
But.
Hard luck is everywhere.
...Tremble.
Yun, trying to take my soul, shuddered.
Like seeing a ghost.
And gaped wide, chanting something.
"...Sacrifice?"
Crackle-!!
Then, Yun's arm turned to an ice statue.
In the blink of an eye, as they say.
I dropped Orc No.1 in shock.
"What the hell!"
"Gaaahhhhh?!"
Last struggle?
Ice Vein Fist! Ice Vein Fist!
Defending himself was a mistake.
"Huh? Huh? Hey! You're committing suicide, right?!"
I thought he'd gather yin energy for a palm strike,
but it spread from arm to head.
"I won't take your soul! Stop the extreme choice!"
Pay for crimes alive!
I crossed the barrier with [Faceless Totem].
Activated [Sword Soul Liberation].
Need to shatter my barrier quick...
"Ack?! Why's it so damn tough!"
Chopping down, but.
Orc No.1's teeth chipped instead.
Makes sense.
I'd overused Sword Soul Liberation lately.
No.
"Yun! How do I dispel this?! I made the barrier too sturdy; can't break it!"
"Agagagaga."
Yun didn't reply.
If screams counted.
Human ice sculpture your dream job?
"Protecting comrades to this extent...!"
Who knew a kidnapper had such loyalty.
Not some gangster or pirate glorification comic.
'Senior Brother. What now?'
Grabbed the pendant—damn gold necklace.
The one from the High-End Goblin Lord.
Shouldn't have swapped gear.
Maybe that's why.
Hunter wisdom swapped for goblin stupidity.
'No choice. Force it.'
Greenskin will surging through me!
Orc No.1 and Goblin Crown.
Two races granting me courage.
[Sword Soul Liberation] active.
DPS skill to convert this mana to attack.
"Jjaro ssoni! I'll review later!"
Only [Bloodstain Cleave].
I raised my blade high.
Live long and see weird shit.
This ominous skill saving a life.
Even if the target's a villain, does it matter?
Yun has the right to face the noose.
Like a butcher saving a man!
-Slash!
My conviction straight slash cleaved the barrier.
"?"
So.
A bit too easily.
Snipped clean, anticlimactically.
'Wait.'
Expected resistance, overcommitted.
Blade's path: Yun's head!
My talent perfectly calculated the kill angle.
...Crackle!
Boomcrash-!!
Pre-exploding talismans sliced clean before contact.
"...Gasp."
I froze mid-swing.
Yun self-destructed his talismans?
The basement was devastated.
Except where I stood.
'Explosion vanished centered on [Bloodstain Cleave].'
I cautiously turned.
Magic severed along the [Bloodstain Cleave] path.
Like the Red Sea parted by Moses.
Bizarru's ultimate technique?
I tested Orc No.1 on barrier remnants.
-Sizzle.
It melted like butter!
The shield unyielding to endless hacks.
Cut this easily?
'My barrier and a level 28 mage's self-destruct magic, all one-shot.'
I let out a hollow laugh.
Made sense.
"Jjaro ssoni. What did you make?"
Damn.
No wonder folks chase physical DPS.
Snap out of admiration, I realized.
"Oh crap! Yun?!"
Dead?
Not by me, I hope?
Accidental death would sour the taste.
Pulled one of eight stolen talismans.
Yun's beginner wind one.
Infused mana, tore it—no wind.
"Ugh, talismans don't do elemental magic?"
[Noble Body, Baseborn Role] was brutally strict.
Fine.
Buy scrolls if needed.
Waited for smoke to clear.
Praying Yun's head stayed singular.
My wish granted.
"Phew."
Smoke cleared to reveal an ice statue.
'Couldn't stop the suicide after all.'
Bitter taste.
Sheathed blade, opened status.
Wondering if [Bloodstain Cleave] could slice the ice.
Recalling Bukseok's ice armor too.
Untouchable by my strikes, but cleaved easily by it.
"Hm?"
Wait.
Cold?
I eyed the forgotten skill in status corner.
[Calamity of Extreme Cold].
[Calamity of Extreme Cold(UR)]
Why activated?
As I looked, it slyly grayed out, strikethrough on name.
"...Let's see. So."
Yun touched my soul and got 'freeze tag' from that guy?
"Uh... Does this count as suicide?"
"Climber! Are you alright?!"
Guard captain burst in as I pondered.
Sure enough.
He gawked at the ice statue.
"Th-this...!"
"Ah, hold on. This looks misleading."
"Talismans and robe! A Tailor indeed!"
"Huh."
Guard captain nodded gratefully.
"Truly thankful. Without you, I'd be dead."
"R-really?"
"Yes. Eaten with my men."
Eaten?
"My god! Such a fiend!"
"?"
"Good you didn't let him escape. Lucky."
"Uh? Yeah."
Not intentional, but it worked out.
And honestly.
This was suicide.
Did I kill him? His talismans did.
+ Level Increased!
+ Level Increased!
+ Level Increased!
I really hate this tower.
Scowled, dismissed messages.
One skill name caught my eye.
'[Forbidden Pill Refining Occultism]?'
Name changed to SR.
Fine.
Figure it out later.
'Now to snag a magic sensei.'
Thirst for knowledge unusually strong.
Since ignorance kills against mages.
Didn't expect so many mage fights.
Post a recruitment in the gallery.
Respec from Jjaro ssoni first.
'Hope there's a shaman or nice daoist tower noob.'
I dragged my weary body topside.
And days later.
"Welcome! Bounty reward: 3300 gold!"
"?"
Received 300 million.
Why?