Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Receipt
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─Grrr.
A low growl rumbled from the monster.
─Hiss, hiss.
"Hoo─"
Even as I blew cigarette smoke right in its face, it didn't blink, just kept glaring at me.
Its eyes scanned me like it was sizing up whether I was prey or not.
"B-Be careful!"
The voice of the woman lying collapsed behind me rang out, and at the same moment, a fist came crashing down from the sky.
Boom─!!
A heavy fist slammed into my palm.
"What, all bulk and no power? Skin and bones."
"Gruk?"
It was a massive body I had to crane my neck way back to even look at.
Even a 20-centimeter height difference makes the taller person look huge to the shorter one.
Let alone over a meter—my neck was practically breaking.
But this brute packed a soft punch.
Crunch! Crack!
"Gruaaagh!"
Its wrist was so thick, even with my hand spread wide, I could barely grip half of it.
Snap, crackle!
My fingers dug into its wrist, crushing bone.
Veins bulged grotesquely across its head.
Impressive fangs jutted from between its thick lips.
Realizing it was in trouble, it swung its free arm down at me.
Thud!
Crunch!
"Graaak! Graaaak!!"
I yanked it toward me, and it toppled over.
Even its neck was thick.
Snap!
I twisted, and it broke clean.
"Buddy, next life, skip the toast and chug protein shakes."
I shook the monster gripped in my hand, its broken neck lolling limply.
It had stuck out its tongue and died instantly.
Even a monster couldn't survive a crushed neck, it seemed.
Useful info.
In any game, information comes first.
"Hoo─ Um, excuse me, are you okay?"
"Kyaaah!!"
As I approached the fallen woman, she shrieked in terror.
"What's her deal?"
At that moment, presences approached rapidly from afar.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
People leaped in almost flying, landing around me all at once.
All wore black uniforms.
The purple-haired woman at the front scanned the area, assessing the situation, then turned to me.
"Looks like you handled it."
"No big deal."
"You! Watch your mouth!"
"It's a chick, you prick."
The purple-hair stayed calm, but her entourage lost it.
She raised a hand, and they finally shut up.
"This is Silver Wings territory. Thanks for protecting one of our guild's citizens."
Her cool gaze showed no reaction to my tone.
Her icy demeanor made her age hard to guess—maybe mid-to-late twenties?
"I'm Yoo Bitna of Silver Wings. What's your affiliation?"
"Affiliation? Don't got one."
She introduced herself before even asking—that alone screamed sharp personality.
"Freelance hunter?"
"Freelance hunter? What's that?"
"·····?"
For the first time, the unflappable purple-hair looked puzzled.
"I live over there. Just moved in, so I don't know that stuff."
Their eyes followed my hand to the rooftop room.
Then back to me, full of doubt.
Apparently not the answer they wanted. Felt like I needed an alibi, even if I had to lie.
Sorry, Grandpa Dennis.
I half-imagined the old man flexing and scolding me for lying.
"Lived in the sticks with no TV or internet. So I don't know what hunters are."
"How rural can it get····."
"Mountain hollow—no electricity even."
Finally, she nodded slightly, convinced.
"So you took down an ogre without even awakening?"
"Ogre? This guy?"
I shoved the tongue-lolling monster forward; everyone but Yoo Bitna flinched back a step.
Asking leading questions was pulling info bit by bit.
Ogre, huh. Games lumped 'em vaguely; up close, it was gross as hell.
"Not an adult, but yeah, ogre."
Its head in my grip was just a bit smaller than my lower half.
Head that size was insane—and it wasn't even full-grown? Shocking.
"What's awakening? And why's this thing here?"
"Unbelievable. You really took it down knowing nothing····."
The mumbling purple-hair stepped closer, pulling something from her pocket.
"Proper intro: Yoo Bitna, Silver Wings vice-captain. Want more answers? Head to the academy."
"Academy? Send me to school at my age?"
"You look young enough it's worrying. Hunter Academy's adults only."
The card she handed had her name and title.
"Your name?"
"Han Ga-eul."
"Right, Han Ga-eul. Perfect timing—today's academy entrance ceremony. In these chaotic times, talent like yours rotting here is a global loss. If you want in, I'll handle the school."
"Hmm."
"Go now, won't be late. Mention my name if issues arise."
Golden ticket, huh?
I nodded; her underlings shot dirty looks.
"Manage your eyeballs before I gouge 'em."
"Eek!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I arrived at the spot Yoo Bitna mentioned and saw a massive building.
A huge plaque hung at the entrance.
Symbol of Wisdom.
Guess it symbolized wisdom, literally.
Getting here, one thing stood out: it was exactly like Earth. Infrastructure aside, everything was copied.
That eerie déjà vu hit again.
"Hoo─"
I stubbed out my cigarette and stepped forward; a few people dashed urgently inside.
Late like me, probably.
Chasing them into the building, a guard blocked me.
"Student ID, please."
"Huh? Don't have one."
"Not a freshman?"
"I am—Yoo Bitna sent me."
"Yoo Bitna?"
The guard pondered briefly, then his eyes widened.
"Silver Wings' vice-captain Yoo Bitna?"
"Yeah. Purple ponytail."
"Gasp. P-Pur····. One moment."
Soon, another man dashed out instead of the guard who'd gone to the side building.
"Sorry. We got the call."
The guard handed over a bracelet-like device.
Looked like he dumped it on the newbie.
Still, Yoo Bitna handled things clean. We talked, I came straight here, and cleanup's done.
"Got personal ID?"
"Yeah, probably."
"Slip on the bracelet and tap twice."
I did; a hologram popped up.
Initializing device sync "Place your ID on the device."
I did; a scanning light swept over it, then an OK sign appeared.
Worried my old world's ID wouldn't work—glad it did.
Class 1-J: Han Ga-eul Year Ranking: ??? Sync complete "Oh, neat."
Way more advanced than my old world.
Visually, infrastructure matched Earth, but this tech? Wild.
"All set. Head to the gym."
"Yep. Thanks."
Inside the building, a whole new world unfolded.
Money poured in—felt like a built civilization.
Strolling slowly, I saw students pouring out of a huge structure.
Entrance ceremony ending, heading to the gym, probably.
I blended in, followed inside; a teacher-like figure was yelling.
"Class J, this way!"
I stood where he pointed, waited; the noisy gym gradually quieted.
A man stepped forward before the hushed students.
"I'm Senior Instructor Jeon Dong-gun! Wisdom Academy runs on survival of the fittest! No complaints about unequal treatment!"
No murmurs—like it was obvious.
In my country, protests would've erupted. Weirder by the minute.
The instructor scanned us, nodded satisfied.
"Awakening ceremony starts now. As you know, awakening brings one hidden talent to the surface."
As he finished, gym doors opened; instructors flooded in.
Carrying something cloth-wrapped, guarded by others.
"Awakening happens once. Get greedy, your mind breaks. I say this 'cause every year, some freshman screws up."
Students couldn't tear eyes from the cloth-covered item.
"Class A, one by one!"
A tense student stepped up; an instructor unveiled the cloth.
A plain-looking sword.
All that fuss for that?
"Hey?"
Amid restarting murmurs, someone spoke to me.
Platinum blonde—girl who could've passed for a pretty boy.
"Who're you."
"Huh? Haha, I'm Noah, same class."
"Noah? What country?"
"UK."
Far traveler.
"Why come here, skipping your local schools?"
"Huh?"
Noah looked baffled.
"Wisdom has the Sword of Awakening, duh."
"That?"
I pointed; she nodded.
Noah was a goldmine info source.
Sensing my ignorance without asking, she chattered nonstop.
Despite academies worldwide, Wisdom's fame? The sword.
Awoke one dormant Gift effortlessly. Insane item.
"BRB."
Waiting my turn, I learned tons from Noah.
Dorms by grades—pure eat-or-be-eaten, as instructor said.
─Ooh!
Noah's reveal sparked uproar. Top-tier for freshmen, judging by cheers.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ○ Strength: C- ○ Agility: C+ ○ Intelligence: C- ○ Vitality: C+ ○ Mana: C- ◎ ???: B+ Class: Attacker Perfectly balanced.
Noah scratched her head sheepishly at the reactions, returned.
"Whatcha get?"
"Haha, sword-related Gift."
"Tough break."
"Thanks. Oh, continuing earlier..."
Per Noah: two factions—Guardians defending land, Climbers tackling towers.
Lunatic world overrun by monsters.
"Class J, last one!"
Parachute perk? Dead last.
"Do great!"
Noah struck a fighting pose.
No clue on depths, but seemed sweet.
Up on stage, senior instructor warned.
"One shot at awakening. Post-awakening, stats public. Agree?"
"Yep."
One-time deal, but full stat reveal? Brutal.
I nodded; an instructor handed the Sword of Awakening carefully.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Gandharva's latent power awakens] 《Guardian of the East, Pure-Eyed Medicinal God Gandharva rejoices》 Unknown info flooded my mind in chunks, then unraveled like thread.
"Done? Place hand here."
Eyes open, senior instructor handed a glass orb.
Touch it, cadets' info displays for all.
"As agreed, public. Means recognize limits, strive harder—no fear needed."
Pretty words for 'stat shaming.'
Builds growth drive via public flaws.
No future reveals, but still barbaric.
Others' stats similar. Elites only, 'cept me.
Even starts equal—effort decides.
"Status open."
Hand on orb, echoed their chant; hologram appeared.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ○ Strength: F- ○ Agility: F- ○ Intelligence: F- ○ Vitality: F- ○ Magic Power: F- Class: Supporter The gym fell silent amid the chaos.
Moments later, murmurs rose.
"Whoa, what is that? How'd she get into Wisdom?"
"What a loser."
"Haha, Wisdom hit rock bottom. Looks-based admissions now?"
"She's gorgeous, though."
"Still, supporter with those stats?"
Pitying Noah amid the din.
Instructor frozen, staring at my sheet.
─Static, crackle.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ──── 📜 HEAVENLY PEACH RECEIPT 📜 Position: Saintess Class: Demon Enchantress ● Vajra Guardian's Heavenly Power: S++
● Vajra Guardian's Diamond Power: S++ ● Garuda King's Yang Power: S++ ● Earth King's Regeneration Power: S++ ● Gandharva's Medicinal Power: B++ ● Asura's Violent Power: S++ ● Asura's Dominance Power: S++ ● Vital Energy: B- ● Spirit Energy: B- ◈ Contracted Deity: Mara Papiyas
◈ Contracted Deity: Siddhartha Gautama
◈ Contracted Spirit: Aparsec
◈ Contracted King: Benevolent King Vajra Guardian
◈ Contracted King: Earth King Mahoraga
◈ Contracted King: Medicinal King Gandharva
◈ Contracted King: Wind King Garuda
◈ Contracted King: War King Asura
"·····?"
Static noise, then suddenly—a receipt printed.