Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Settlement
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⚔ STATUS UPDATE ⚔ 💪 Stamina Lv.7 → Lv.9
▷ Explosive increase in Strength[++] ▷ Explosive increase in Cardiopulmonary Endurance[++] ▷ Explosive increase in Muscular Endurance[++] ▷ Explosive increase in Agility[++] ▷ Explosive increase in Toughness[++] ▷ Explosive increase in Balance[++] ▷ Explosive increase in Flexibility[++] Skill level increases with repeated purchases
[Price: 510 million won]
"Guhk."
For a moment, it felt like my muscles were compressing, and pain hit me, but fortunately, it eased up quickly.
[Remaining Funds: 1.30225 billion won] My fingers, which I couldn't control before, suddenly got the hang of it after just two slips that cost me 400 million.
Squeeze.
I clenched my fist hard, and I could feel a condensed power that was incomparable to before.
"Hoo—."
Just one more, and it'd hit level 10.
My gamer instincts kept egging me on to level up, but looking at the money made me instantly humble.
If I screwed this up, not only would Ji-ah and Ji-woo go hungry, but I'd starve too, so I needed to distribute it properly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Insignificant Strike Lv.1 → Subtle Strike Lv.3] Momentary striking power slightly → subtly increased Skill level increases with repeated purchases [Price: 160 million won]
⚔ STATUS UPDATE ⚔ 🎯 Combat Sense Lv.6 → Lv.9
▷ Explosive rise in Visual Acuity[++] ▷ Explosive rise in Hearing[++] ▷ Explosive rise in Spatial Awareness[++] ▷ Explosive rise in Balance Sense[++] ▷ Explosive rise in Concentration[++] Skill level increases with repeated purchases
[Price: 510 million won]
"Feels like my sense of reality is getting crushed."
I pumped up the vaguely named Strike twice more, and as Subtle Strike's name changed to Strike, the money vanished.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Subtle Strike Lv.3 → Strike Lv.5] Momentary strike subtly → strongly increased Skill level increases with repeated purchases [Price: 640 million won]
[Remaining Funds: 392.25 million won] In an instant, the money that had exceeded 1.7 billion shriveled up like a deflated balloon.
The fortune vanished like a butterfly, but a stronger me remained.
The product of my past efforts and freebies.
My life had been turned upside down—twisted even—but I had no regrets about the path I'd walked.
It was the road I'd taken, and even if I had to turn back, the cookie crumbs would guide me.
That was the story.
"My baby."
"Yeah!"
"Send me off."
"Come back safe."
"Ongya."
Baeksul waved her cute little paw to see me off.
The white fluff ball's wave was the signal, and the ground and sky flipped.
Ding! Selection... ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ When I came to, I was lying with wild grass and flowers as my pillow. No wonder my head didn't hurt—the mature little flowers had squished themselves instead, muttering complaints.
I'd definitely been standing when I left, but before me was a clear sky and trees towering endlessly toward it.
A cool pine breeze, brimming with freshness and dressed in flowers, rushed in as if proud of its beauty.
"What the hell. Where is this now?"
I got up, brushed the grass off me, and looked around. It was all grass clumps and trees.
Clearly deep in a forest.
The only thing resembling a path was traces of animals passing by. Trees all around were scratched with sharp claws.
With no info on what to do, I cautiously pushed through the tall grass ahead.
How far did I go?
In the middle of the forest, I found a path where trees had been artificially cut and grass trampled by many people.
It stretched straight, so I had to decide left or right, but both sides were just dense trees.
Ding! Gulp, gulp.
"Ahh, that's good."
Munch, munch.
—Rustle
Unable to decide where to go, I sat on a broad rock tearing into a chocolate bar when a rustling in the grass hit my sensitive ears.
"Who's there?"
I said it myself but didn't expect a reply.
Might be a dangerous wild animal? I heightened all my senses.
Rustle. Rustle.
The sound got closer, and a bear's face popped out from the grass clump.
"Uong?"
"Bear?"
Compared to my house fluffball, it was decently big, but for a bear, it was tiny.
Nothing's small next to Baeksul, but still, too small for a bear.
A baby bear about up to my calf.
Looking closely, the sniffing bear's eyes were on the chocolate bar.
"Want some of this?"
"Uoong."
"Your name's Uong?"
"Uong."
"Here."
Munch munch.
"But can bears eat chocolate bars?"
"Ung ung."
"Speak after you finish."
Small or not, it was a bear—it wolfed down the bar in one bite, chewed hard, and licked its tiny teeth.
"More?"
"Uong."
No wariness at all—it plopped on my lap and ate from my hand.
When did it even see me? Pretty brazen little guy.
I fed it other animal-friendly snacks while talking, but no real conversation.
The baby's cries were just emotional outbursts, not language.
While feeding it till its belly was full and resting, I sensed presences from afar.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
Rough metallic clashing noises approached.
"About time they showed."
Knights in heavy armor with two wooden-wheeled wagons—like something from the Middle Ages—spotted me and marched over in unison.
"Whoa, whoa."
The coachman halted the wagons in a cloud of dust before me, and a middle-aged man with stylish goat mustache stepped out.
His eyes widened at the bear in my arms, then again at me.
"Hoh. I thought you were a skilled hunter for catching a Bowder cub, but you're a lady in unusual attire."
The middle-aged mustache greeted me, his sticky gaze scanning my body.
"Who are you?"
"...Ahem. A commoner, then?"
He switched tones at my words.
"Came to catch lab rat pups. Good price for it. Hand over the Bowder cub."
"Uoong!"
Sensing hostility from the sneering middle-aged man, the baby bear squirmed in my arms.
"Good boy."
I slowly stroked it calm, and it finally relaxed.
"Who are you, and what for the rat pup?"
"You don't know me, a Royal Academy professor? Tsk tsk, that's why commoners are no good."
"Answer, asshole."
"You follow me too. I'll make you feel pretty every night."
"Sounds good."
I set the baby bear on the rock and stepped down.
Clank.
Shing shing shing!
The moment I drew my gun, the heavy knights behind drew swords.
Well-trained knights.
"What's that? A staff?"
"This connected to Sekai? No wonder—minions of those Sword Demon white brats."
Familiar feeling—they were the knights from when I yanked the prince's hair.
Armor crests matched. Confirmed.
"Your prince got 9th circle baldness, huh?"
"...You?!"
"Yep. I pulled those."
Aim at people, heart calm as ever.
After living normally so long, pointing a gun at someone without emotion meant my head was busted or something was really wrong.
"Can't you just go? Don't wanna hurt you."
"Bind that wench! She's a lunatic protecting a beast. Might be a witch—interrogate her. Don't kill."
"Fucking racist."
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥 [Massive Damage]
Huge recoil, large-caliber Magnum roared out.
Aimed for thigh, but his crotch exploded baseball-sized, blood and flesh spraying.
Not a movie pinhole—real mangled lower gut, collapsed without a scream.
《A portion of Sin Sense is erased》 "Sorry. Thought I was bad at throwing, but shooting's worse too."
Expecting knights to charge as goat mustache fell, they just held defensive positions.
"You lot not coming?"
One knight stepped forward as I finished.
"Joseph."
"I'm a baby beast advocate, Gomdori."
"...Subordinates came clueless. Young trainees, so end it with me."
"You got numbers, what's this now?"
"Don't wanna throw trainee sprouts at a high mage who casts powerful spells without incantation."
Hiss, hiss.
"Hoo—. Fine. Just go."
Knights who'd been watching finally rushed to the crotchless goat mustache.
Spraying liquid from a glass vial.
"Take that as permission and go."
"Hold it."
Joseph froze turning away.
"Hand over everything."
"...A thief?"
"Don't want fireball in your dick? Shut up and empty everything."
"That was... a Firebolt?"
"Jeez, too many questions. My custom 44-caliber Magnum Firebolt."
Joseph puzzled but handed over a leather pouch.
"What's this?"
"Salary pouch. Not much, but decent."
Inside: gold coins, mixed silver and copper.
"Armor and swords too."
"Hey, we're knights!"
"Kidnappers bitching? Want me to blast all you rookies' dicks or strip?"
Knights cleaning up tossed swords down.
"That's right. Gotta keep the smart ones if you don't wanna get cut."
"You'll regret this."
Clang!
Joseph's thrown sword hit a rock, clear ring, then he lunged.
Crack!
My usual wooden dummy back-turn jaw hook.
Not full power, but helmet sturdy—staggered a bit.
Hup.
Breath paused, power to fist,
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [[Strike!]] Strike!
Baaaam!!!
—Boom!
Heavy-armored Joseph flew back into the wagon.
"Stone Bullet, dumbass. Don't pull cheap third-rate triggers."
Dust cleared; Joseph in wagon wreckage.
"Thought I'd let you go saying 'see you later'? Watched too much drama, punk."
Rookie knights sped up seeing me.
Watched while lighting a new cig lost to Joseph.
"Hoo—. Strip quick."
Exhaling smoke watching knights, wagon debris shifted—something emerged.
"Thanks for the help."
"Grateful for the grace. I am Lily of the high-blowing winds."
One before me was shockingly built—muscular all over, over 2 meters tall.
"Hyper-muscled ogre orc?"
"He's not an orc."
Answering was a kid, elementary age.
"He's of the Luum tribe."
"Who're you?"
"Lily."
"Uh... yeah. Chocolate bar?"
Kid had hair tied with vine-like band, red dye on cheeks.
Peeling bar for her, she took it cautiously.
"Not hungry? It's food."
"Black."
"Choco... Hm. Honey-made, try it."
Lily licked, eyes widened.
"Mister eat too."
Handed her one, she offered huge palm—no suspicion.
Bar looked pinky-sized on it.
"What's your name, mister?"
"Room."
"Cool name. I'm Ga-eul."
"Gaa-euul? Strange ring. Beastkin?"
"Human."
Short chat revealed Room wasn't caught weak—threatened to save Lily.
"Captured, he'd be slave or test subject. Thanks again."
"Repay grace."
"No biggie."
"And..."
Lily glanced at Joseph's wreck, bowed sadly.
"Sorry. Caused a killing."
"Huh? Didn't kill anyone."
Room moved fast, pulled Joseph out.
Thud.
"Not breathing. Dead."
Lily's face saddest ever at tossed body.
"Kidnapper—good riddance?"
"..."
Tears welled in her round eyes.
Kid crying made me sad too—hard to watch.
"Sigh."
Close to Joseph—no breath indeed.
—Kwang!
"Kyaa! Wh-what!"
Punched heart area; Lily blocked shocked.
"Wait."
"Can't treat dead like that!"
Huuuup.
"Resurrection!!" ⟨ Resurrection ⟩
—Kwang!
Cough!!
"See?"
"...?"
"Beastkin archmage, huh."