Chapter 3
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: It Was There, But Now It's Gone (3)
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I left the clearing and headed into the city.
Choi Jihoon.
My mind was currently consumed with thoughts of how to exploit Choi Jihoon.
Choi Jihoon, the third-generation heir of the Soosung Group.
As Id seen, he was a complete ass.
An arrogant bastard who thinks the world revolves around him.
Just you wait. Ill turn you into my personal item vending machine.
Just as I was smiling wickedly to myself,
Excuse me.
someone suddenly called out to me.
Yes?
It was two women.
Um. You have blood on your face
One of them offered me a handkerchief.
Ah.
Only then did I remember the cut on my cheek.
I guess I forgot about it since it didn't really hurt.
I smiled sheepishly and took the handkerchief.
Ah, thank you. When did I get hurt?
Getting blood on someone else's handkerchief isn't exactly polite, but refusing their kindness would be even ruder.
I said playfully as I wiped away the blood.
Oh my.
The woman's eyes widened, and her face flushed.
As I dabbed at the blood with the handkerchief, I sized up the two women.
Both were stunningly beautiful.
If I had met women like this in my original world, I probably would have lost my mind.
Thank you. To offer a handkerchief to a complete stranger
But not anymore.
There were two reasons for this.
If you're so grateful, how about you give me your number?
The first reason.
As you can tell from the fact that these beauties approached me first, the Kang Seoyul of this world is ridiculously handsome.
In other words, I was the one holding all the cards, not them.
I'm sorry, I have a girlfriend.
Tsk.
And another thing.
As evidenced by the World Tree rooted in the Korean peninsula,
the Republic of Korea in this world was a nation founded by elves as its ancestors.
I think the idea was inspired by Koreans being known as the people of the bow.
Thanks to that, Korea also held the title of the number one nation in Asia for beauty.
Honestly. Do you really think a guy like that is in your league?
What about me?
So, what I'm trying to say is,
You're just an average girl, barely in the top 50% of Korea.
You bitch, hitting me with the hard facts. I'd be considered pretty if I went international, you know?
Yes, yes. I'm sure you would be~
that women of this level of beauty were a dime a dozen in Korea.
You could just turn your head and see the likes of Kim Tae-hee and Song Hye-kyo walking around.
So, what's your Charm stat? How high does it have to be to get a face like that?
Well, I wouldn't know.
I folded the handkerchief neatly and handed it back to the woman.
Tsk. Fine. If you don't want to tell me, just say so.
The woman pouted as she took the handkerchief.
She is pretty cute, though.
But it's not like I have time to think about dating right now.
Well, I should get going. I have an appointment.
I gave a small wave, turned, and walked away.
He really is handsome.
I know. Even in Korea, the land of beauty, I don't think I've ever seen a guy like that.
Hearing their compliments from behind, a smile naturally formed on my face.
It's not a bad feeling.
My mood, which had been soured by Choi Jihoon, improved a little.
* * *
I took a bus through the city,
and arrived at a nearby department store.
My destination was the equipment shop inside.
A quick search on my phone showed it was the biggest and closest one.
The purpose was to browse and research equipment.
I needed to see the weapons for myself before deciding what I would use.
Ding-
Fourth floor.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened.
Welcome~
A woman greeted me with a bright smile.
Are you looking for anything in particular?
No, I'd just like to look around first. Could you possibly show me?
Yes, of course. This way, please.
The entire fourth floor of this department store was an equipment shop.
First, I'll guide you through our selection of swords.
Okay.
Following the employee, I saw shelves in the distance filled with swords.
Come to think of it, that sword from before seemed pretty good.
It was light enough that I could lift it easily, even with my pathetic strength.
I wonder how much a sword like that costs.
For someone with your build, I'd recommend a rapier or a longsword from this section. Ah, and as for the prices and abilities of the weapons, you can check them directly with your Status Window. We've enabled viewing for all items.
I'd love to, but my body isn't yet capable of seeing the Status Window, so I have no idea what's what.
I scanned the weapons with a blank expression.
Then, this way
After that, we toured the rest of the shop.
Honestly, they all looked more or less the same, so I couldn't tell which ones were any good.
Is this the sorrow of someone without a Status Window?
It seems you haven't found any equipment to your liking.
The employee said with a wry smile.
Huh? Ah.
Was it because of my blank expression?
She must have thought I was disappointed.
I'm not disappointed.
It's just that I can't see the Status Window.
If you don't mind, sir, would you like me to show you some higher-tier equipment?
Huh? Ah, yes. I'd love that.
I have no intention of buying anything, nor do I have the money, but if she's willing to provide such service, then I'm grateful.
Then, this way.
I'm not sure how far I followed the employee,
Oh.
but we arrived at a place that looked like a giant vault.
As the woman placed her palm on the vault's panel, it slowly began to open.
Is this okay? Showing me a place like this.
Yes, of course it is. This area is open for viewing to anyone upon request.
I see.
I thought this was one of those perks of being handsome, but I guess not.
How awkward.
Actually, this place is more like a museum. There aren't any items here that customers can equip.
Are the equip requirements really that insane?
No, it's just that the conditions are biologically impossible.
The woman raised her hand and pointed to a sword.
A sword that looked magnificent at a single glance.
For example, this sword. It has an equip requirement that reads, Dwarf race only.
Ah~
I see.
So that's why she called it a museum.
So the other items are the same?
Yes. We have items for the Elf race, the Dwarf race, and over there, items for the Beastkin race.
I see.
As I mentioned before, the lore of this world is a bit unique.
What's so peculiar is,
despite the World Tree standing proudly in the center of Korea, there are no elves.
Despite dwarven legacies scattered throughout China, there are no dwarves.
Despite the heart of a Dragon Lord being designated a national treasure in the United States, there are no dragons.
Currently, the only intelligent life remaining in this world is human.
What do you think?
Yes, it's incredible.
Ahem. It is, isn't it?
The other intelligent races, including elves, lived in this world about 10,000 years ago.
Now, 10,000 years later,
their existence has become the stuff of legends.
They left behind countless artifacts as the only proof they ever existed.
I could probably just loot this place later.
Pardon? What did you say?
Ah, it was nothing.
Of course, this setting isn't without reason. As the novel progresses, the other races reveal themselves one by one before the protagonist.
Claiming they had reasons for hiding themselves.
Wow. This is seriously amazing.
Right? Right?
It's filled with spectacular equipment you'd only expect to see in a game or a comic.
As I was admiring the equipment,
Huh?
suddenly, a magnificent sword hanging precariously on a shelf caught my eye.
I couldn't tell if it had fallen from above or if the stand it was on had tilted.
The sword was in such a precarious state that it looked like it would fall at the slightest breeze.
When I got closer to check, I saw that unlike the other pieces of equipment, its protective glass case was shattered and scattered on the floor.
I reached out for the sword.
Something about it bothered me, and I intended to put it back in its proper place.
Oh, and also
The employee who had been explaining things in front of me turned and was about to say something.
The equipment here is Ah! Hey, you!
Suddenly, her eyes went wide.
Th-that! If you touch it!
Huh?
Zzzzzzzzt-!
The moment my hand touched the sword, fierce sparks erupted from the point of contact.
Ugh!
Kyaaaaah!
Then I remembered.
There was a rule in the story that you shouldn't carelessly touch equipment with racial restrictions.
There was no direct description in the novel, but it was said to cause a rejection reaction.
What an idiot. How could I forget that!
I quickly pulled my hand away from the sword.
Fortunately, the sparks died down quickly.
Kyaaaaa huh?
The screaming employee looked back and forth between me and the sword with wide, round eyes.
A-are you okay?
Ah, yes. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.
Oh, huh?
I grimaced, reflecting on my thoughtless action.
It seemed there was no backlash, maybe because I let go so quickly.
But that was just hindsight.
The fact that I did something stupid remained.
Anyway, I'm truly sorry. Especially after you went to the trouble of guiding me here.
I bowed my head deeply.
N-no. It was due to our own mismanagement. I should be the one apologizing.
The employee still seemed dazed.
She must have been very startled.
W-well, I'll be leaving for today.
Ah, y-yes. O-okay.
I gave a bitter smile and turned to leave.
* * *
After Kang Seoyul left.
The employee, now alone, stood there blankly for a while.
That's strange. During my training, they definitely told me never to touch this sword.
The sword Kang Seoyul had touched.
Looking at the Vampire Lord's Fang, she recalled her training days.
If you touch it even slightly, the backlash will turn you to ash. They warned me to be extremely careful... That's definitely what they said.
The employee stared blankly at the sword for a long time.
Was my senior just trying to scare me?
* * *
April 11th.
For the past two days, I'd spent my time researching this world to see if anything had changed from what I knew.
As a result, I confirmed that while there were things I didn't know because they weren't described in the novel, none of the established settings had changed.
And tomorrow is finally the day of my Awakening.
The day I'll finally be able to see that damn Status Window I've been hearing about until my ears bled for the past three days.
It's also the day I'll fight my first enemy.
Seeing it up close, it's even more breathtaking.
That's why today, I came to the place where tomorrow's incident will occur.
I decided to scout the World Tree Park in advance.
This is the place.
The World Tree Park, with its fancy caf terraces and a giant fountain.
Tomorrow, at this time, in this very place, a terrorist attack will occur.
To Awaken, I need to be here when it happens.
It'll be fine, right?
I've never even been in a proper fight before, so the thought of suddenly having to fight a terrorist made a wave of anxiety wash over me.
If the incident unfolds as it did in the novel, there shouldn't be any major crisis.
His abilities won't work on me, after all.
I calmed myself by repeating that thought.
Just as I was lost in thought,
Excuse me. Have you perhaps seen this person?
a beautiful voice, so clear it felt like it was purifying my ears, reached me.
I turned my head and body toward the source of the voice.
Whoa.
A goddess was standing there.
Blonde hair that shone even more brilliantly in the sunlight.
Perfect features that no words could describe.
As I said before, the Koreans of this world are, on the whole, beautiful.
But this woman stood out, even among them.
So this is what it means to be an attention-stealer.
Excuse me?
Ah, yes. I'm sorry. What did you say?
Yes. Have you seen this person?
She was holding a photograph in her hand.
A picture of a slender man dressed entirely in black.
I'd never seen him before in my life.
No, I haven't.
Ah. I see.
She looked disappointed.
Even that expression was picture-perfect.
As I was spacing out,
Jia-nim. He's not over here either.
a man who looked to be in his late thirties approached us.
Wait, did he just say Jia?
We don't know for sure yet. Let's search a little more.
That face, and the name Jia.
There's no doubt.
It's Shin Jia.
A main supporting character in this novel, a kind woman who always helps the protagonist.
Among her many character traits is that shes described as a face genius.
It's even said that if Kang Seoyul is the standard for men, Shin Jia is the standard for women.
With a face like that, she certainly deserves the title.
But why is she here now?
As far as I know, Shin Jia and the protagonist don't meet until after they enroll in the academy.
No, wait. This day was never recorded in the novel to begin with.
It's not that strange for her to be here.
Just as I came to that conclusion,
Kyaaaaaaaaah!
a woman's piercing scream suddenly echoed from the distance.
!
A chilly wind blew.
Goosebumps instantly covered my entire body.
Shin Jia's head and mine snapped in that direction at the same time.
Run!
Kyaaak!
From that direction, people were running like mad, their faces filled with terror.
Booooom-!
At the same time, a powerful explosion roared, shaking the ground.
R-run!
It's a terrorist attack!
The area instantly descended into chaos.
Terrorism.
That's what all the fleeing people were shouting.
The attack was supposed to be tomorrow, so why
Jia-nim.
Yes. I know.
Shin Jia's eyes grew cold.
Pialle Allo. Today, I will definitely
She glared in the direction of the rising smoke, her eyes filled with frost.
Please contact the guards and the main house immediately.
Yes, I understand.
I'll go on ahead.
Yes. Please be careful.
With that, the two of them disappeared from my sight.
Pialle Allo.
I know that name.
Why today?
The first enemy to appear in chapter one of the novel, the very person who causes the incident that triggers the protagonist's Awakening.
The incident has been moved up by a day.