Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Preliminaries Phase 1 Final Mission (3)
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Kang Serim's offer of cooperation was quite enticing.
There were four participants in this mission total, and only two needed to die.
That way, the remaining two could claim the keys.
In other words, teaming up with one other person wasn't a bad call.
"But I have a condition."
"What's that?"
"Your skill is famous enough already, so tell me about the artifact you've acquired."
Kang Serim's eyes narrowed.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then we fight."
"Is the nature of my artifact that important to you?"
"There are all kinds of artifacts out there, just like skills. Better to be cautious."
Just as there were all sorts of skills, there had to be all sorts of artifacts too.
If he was going to team up with someone as dangerous as Kang Serim, he figured he'd at least learn about her artifact.
"Especially since you already know what my skill is, right?"
"Heh. [Time Distortion], wasn't it?"
That was right.
After the second preliminaries mission ended, Kang Serim had questioned the TV Guy and learned everyone's names and skills.
Naturally, that included Dokgo Hyun's skill.
He'd only learned the name, but Kang Serim was sharp.
"How much do you know about my skill?"
"Just what's shown on the basic status window. Nothing specific."
"I see."
"You're a time manipulator, and you pushed me into a corner, so I don't have many options. Shame. [Infinite Magazine SMG Creation]."
Clank!
An SMG appeared in Kang Serim's hand.
Dokgo Hyun was a bit surprised to see it materialize instantly without any prep.
"You were gathering mana in your hand during our talk, weren't you?"
"Yeah. Makes instant creation possible."
"Thought so. You were planning to kill me if things went south. What do you mean no options?"
"[Time Distortion] means going back in time or jumping forward, right?"
"...Neither confirming nor denying. So?"
"No free will against a time user. Whatever I do, you've already 'seen' it ahead or 'relived' it."
It was a sharp deduction.
"From now on, I'll try to kill you, but I'll probably fail, huh?"
"You're aware, yet still going for it?"
"Yeah. No options against a time user."
Kang Serim spoke with surprising logic.
She had a solid grasp on time abilities.
If time users could manipulate past and future, the only choices were unconditional cooperation or hostility despite knowing failure was likely.
Dokgo Hyun grinned.
"More philosophical than I expected."
"Yeah. Die now."
Rat-tat-tat-tat!!!
Kang Serim's gunfire echoed.
The bullets, fired from close range, should have already struck Dokgo Hyun—but they didn't.
Because right before she pulled the trigger, Dokgo Hyun's skill activated first.
'[Time Stop].'
The gunfire rang out, but time froze solid before the bullets could reach him.
'Phew. Close call.'
While she prepped her skill, Dokgo Hyun had done the same.
This indoor gym was spacious but still indoors, meeting the '[Time Stop]' activation condition of 'usable only indoors.'
'About three seconds for me.'
Dokgo Hyun chained it with [Instant Acceleration].
Boom!!
Like an arrow in frozen time, the accelerated Dokgo Hyun stabbed at Kang Serim with the Venom Knife.
Stab!!
First, the heart.
Stab! Stab! Stab!
Shredded her gut.
Crack! Stab!
Broke the arm holding the SMG, then stabbed her elbow.
Slash!!
Finally, slit her throat.
"Hah!!"
Smack!!
A punch to the face from the other fist.
'Three seconds up.'
[Time Stop] lasted only three seconds, but chaining with [Instant Acceleration] made it far more versatile.
Splatter!!
Thud!!
Bleeding from multiple wounds, Kang Serim collapsed.
'Whoa! That's the kickback!'
Dokgo Hyun felt the recoil from [Time Stop], breath catching for a moment.
It guzzled mana and stamina, and releasing it hit like a heavy load on his body. If his stamina stat were low, his knees would've buckled.
"Gah, urk...?"
Kang Serim died in confusion.
She'd fired straight at him, yet missed every shot and ended up dead herself.
With the coins secured, Dokgo Hyun nudged Kang Serim's body with his foot.
No response.
'If the system says dead, she's dead for real.'
He scanned her corpse.
'Surprisingly fun opponent.'
She'd approached his [Time Distortion] skill thoughtfully.
Instead of rash surrender, she tried to kill him despite knowing it'd fail. He respected that.
'Anyway, no artifact?'
Nothing visible.
'Artifacts are one per person anyway.'
Truth be told, even if hers caught his eye, he wouldn't ditch the Venom Knife.
He was attached to it, and if it was something she'd die without using, it probably wasn't that great.
'Would've picked it up for inventory if possible. Oh well.'
Dokgo Hyun glanced toward the direction Jang Eun-seok had yelled from earlier.
As he moved that way, the half-key ownership message popped up.
"YES."
Jingle.
He got a plain-looking key.
'Time to choose.'
Find the exit first?
Or scout Jang Eun-seok and Musanhwa's positions for safety?
'Do both.'
Dokgo Hyun navigated the maze, left hand on the wall.
He occasionally used [Psychometry] to track traces of Jang Eun-seok or Musanhwa.
'Hm?'
He reached the spot where Jang Eun-seok and Musanhwa had talked.
'Whoa. [Psychometry] lets me glimpse their conversation a bit!'
Not fully, though—plenty of noise.
Continuing, he found Musanhwa's body.
'Here.'
Using [Psychometry] there, their talk came clearer.
The vibe was roughly this:
'Musanhwa seemed unwilling to fight, drawing Jang Eun-seok into talk. Then her attitude flipped...'
Jang Eun-seok yelled in a fit and killed her.
He swung some shockwave artifact rod, crushing her head in one blow.
Then Jang Eun-seok...
'Just stood there trembling?'
For about two minutes, he trembled in place.
Like someone drunk.
'What?'
In the memory, Jang Eun-seok acted bafflingly, grabbed the half-key, then left.
[Psychometry] ended there.
"Hm. Doesn't add up."
'Why provoke him to death? And why tremble like that?'
"Secure the exit first."
Dokgo Hyun soon reached the stage and found Jang Eun-seok there.
Jang Eun-seok looked shocked to see him.
"Ah!"
"Jang Eun-seok Player... right?"
"Y-you're Dokgo Hyun?! D-don't come closer!"
Jang Eun-seok yelled, gripping his shock rod.
"I-I don't wanna die! Not here!"
"Yeah, yeah. Got it. Move aside."
Dokgo Hyun already had the key.
No point killing for just 100 coins.
'Unless to steal an artifact.'
With that in mind, he asked:
"I know you killed Musanhwa."
"Uh...!"
"Got the full key already? Me too."
Meaning no reason to fight.
"Th-then wait! Gotta find the exit!"
"Sure, sure. One minute. Hurry. Won't attack."
"O-okay."
Jang Eun-seok rushed to the stage, back in under ten seconds.
"...Found it. Exit's behind here."
"Good. Move."
"Hey, wait."
Suddenly, Jang Eun-seok eyed him suspiciously.
"How'd you know I... killed Musanhwa?"
He asked like that fact mattered most.
Dokgo Hyun didn't want to reveal [Psychometry], so he bullshitted.
"Obvious. I was fighting Kang Serim. Found Musanhwa's body after. No bullet holes, so you did it."
"Hm. Makes sense."
Jang Eun-seok dropped the hostility.
He shed the shaky tension like it was an act and spoke straight.
"Fine. No more scared act. Truth is, I was half-expecting you."
"Me?"
"You or Kang Serim. Wanted to talk to whichever survived."
"Talk? About what?"
"About."
Jang Eun-seok chose his words carefully.
Seemed thoughtful, but also like stalling.
Dokgo Hyun sensed something off.
'He's different.'
Looks and voice same.
But speech and manner felt weirdly off.
Dokgo Hyun hid his suspicion.
But Jang Eun-seok sensed it.
Half-intended.
'Heh heh heh. Suspect more. While you do, I'll verify.'
As Jang Eun-seok faked pondering to seem shady, Dokgo Hyun spoke first.
"By the way."
"Hm?"
"You hurt?"
"Why? Do I look hurt?"
"Blood on your grip. From fighting?"
"Hm."
Sure enough, his palm was torn up.
But Jang Eun-seok stared at it like he barely felt pain.
A pro and con of [Mind Possession]: numb to the host body's pain.
"Curious how I got hurt?"
"Fine if you're okay. Back to it. You're acting shady, just stalling. What's this 'hero' talk?"
"Ah, no reason to tell you now."
"..."
"Pissing you off with back-and-forth? Heh heh. Kill me then."
"Pardon?"
"Just kill me. Come on!"
Jang Eun-seok spread his arms.
'Stalled enough.'
He knew Dokgo Hyun's real name and talked plenty.
No set time, but over five minutes boosted ultimate success.
If Jang Eun-seok died by Dokgo Hyun's hand now?
[Mind Possession] could take his body.
Dokgo Hyun hesitated.
"Super suspicious. Want me to kill you on purpose?"
Jang Eun-seok flinched.
"Why think that?"
"Rambled nonsense, got both keys and exit but linger. Taunting me to kill. Too fishy."
"Yeah? Then I'll go first."
Swoosh!
Jang Eun-seok charged Dokgo Hyun.
Shock rod in hand.
"Die, Dokgo Hyun!!"
"Pass."
Whoosh!