Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Not a Tsundere
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"What? You fucking retard?"
The guy's face turned beet red.
All eyes in the tavern turned to our table.
"This bastard must have a death wish!"
He reached for the dagger at his waist.
Whether he was some mercenary or whatever, his movements were sluggish.
To me, it looked like slow motion.
'Ha, how cute.'
It had only been a few hours since I'd gone toe-to-toe with that Abyss Serpent.
After messing around with that massive snake, these little eels didn't even get my blood pumping.
Before he could draw his dagger, I snatched his wrist.
Crack.
"Wha—what?!"
He panicked and tried to yank his arm free, but it didn't budge an inch.
Of course not.
With my current strength, these punks didn't even require any mana.
"Aaaagh!"
I barely squeezed, and he let out a scream.
Crunch, crackle.
I could hear his wrist bones shattering.
"I told you to fuck off. You should've listened."
"L-Let go! Hey! What are you waiting for? Get him!"
As he howled, his two buddies kicked back their chairs and stood up.
They were built like mountains, but their movements were dull as hell.
"Kill him!"
Charging at me with beer bottles in hand—what a sight.
"What a pain in the ass."
Bam!
I twisted the wrist of the guy I was holding and slammed him face-first into the floor.
He drooled from his mouth and passed out.
Thwack!
At the same time, I shot my foot out toward the solar plexus of the other one charging in.
"Gaaack!"
The kicked guy flew like a bowling pin and crashed into the tavern wall.
The last one standing froze at the sight.
"Wh-What the hell are you? How's a damn miner this strong...?"
"Not coming at me?"
"H-Hiiik!"
He chucked his beer bottle and bolted without even checking on his fallen buddies.
"Boring."
I looked down at the groaning heaps on the floor.
"Ruining my meal. Get lost."
At my words, the one with the broken arm and the one embedded in the wall freaked out, helped each other up, and scurried away.
I sat back down like nothing happened and sliced off a piece of my cold steak, popping it in my mouth.
Crunch.
Still delicious even cold.
Expensive meat really is different.
Luna was staring at me blankly from across the table.
Her eyes seemed twice their usual size.
"Are you insane...? Those guys looked like mercenaries. What if they come back for revenge?"
"They're the ones who picked a fight while I was eating. Their fault. Revenge? Tell them to come. I'll snap their fucking legs."
"Plus, they were twice your size... and you took them down with one hand?"
"It's all about technique. You learn how to use your strength mining ore."
I bullshitted her and grabbed some fries.
Luna shook her head at me.
"You're really... impossible to figure out."
"I'll take that as a compliment on my charm."
"Ha, whatever."
Luna let out a small laugh and downed the rest of her drink.
"Thanks. I feel a lot better now."
'Oh ho.'
It jumped by 10 all at once, breaking through 30 in a flash.
Women are drawn to strong men.
That's an eternal truth.
Sometimes you see beauties walking around with beastly-looking thugs on the street—same vibe.
Especially in a wild world like this.
"You saved my ass. Let me cover the bill."
"Nah. A man's gotta have his pride."
I called the manager over for the check.
It came to a pretty penny including Luna's share, but I was in a great mood anyway.
"Want me to walk you back?"
"No need. My inn's right around the corner. Plus, walking with you would start weird rumors again."
"Again?"
"Last time I got friendly with a miner, all sorts of bullshit rumors flew around."
Makes sense.
Luna's no ordinary beauty.
"Alright, be careful then. Don't run into any more creeps."
"Who do you think I am? Anyway, thanks for tonight, Mr. Lee Jun."
Luna flashed a small smile and turned away.
She'd switched from 'you' to 'Mr. Lee Jun'.
Whistling cheerfully, I headed back to my inn.
The next morning.
As soon as I woke up, I checked my inventory and bags.
I'd cleared up to the third floor yesterday, so they were stuffed.
First stop: the guild.
It was early, so it was quiet.
Luna wasn't in yet; some other staffer was at the counter.
I dumped the contents of my bag out.
Whoosh!
Silver ore, bloodstones, mana stones, and assorted monster parts filled the counter.
The staffer's eyes went wide.
"Wh-What's all this?"
"Appraise it for me."
"Silver ore... and bloodstones? Oh my god, even mithril ore?"
Shit, can't sell the mithril.
"Everything but the mithril. I'm keeping that."
I slipped the mithril ore back into my pocket.
Can't let something this rare go for peanuts.
I'll use it for gear later.
The staffer started appraising.
"High-grade bloodstones: 4. Low-grade: 12. Mid-grade mana stones: 1, low-grade: 5. Silver ore: 32..."
The calculator keys clicked merrily.
"Total: 28,000 Lumina."
"Nice."
Third floor loot is on another level.
One day's mining haul equals a regular miner's monthly wage.
And this wasn't the end.
Next, I hit the general store and alchemy shop to offload the monster parts.
Bat wings, steel mole claws, kobold hides.
And the star of the show: Abyss Serpent scales and fangs.
The alchemist nearly fainted at the serpent scales.
"Th-This! Isn't this from a variant beast? This rare material! Where on earth did you get it?"
"Found it on the third floor."
"Impossible... No way a beast like that appears on the third... But the condition is pristine. Fangs are intact too."
The alchemist drooled as he lunged forward.
"45,000 Lumina for the lot! That's my final offer!"
"Deal."
After settling everything, I had over 70,000 Lumina in hand.
My coin pouch felt like it was about to burst.
But carrying all this around was asking for trouble.
Pickpocket bait.
"Time for the bank."
The [Golden Gear Vault] in the center of Lumina Mine Village.
Run by gnomes, the usual fantasy banker race.
Famous for ironclad security.
I pushed open the door, and a stern-looking gnome clerk peered at me over his glasses.
"What can I do for you?"
"Opening an account. For deposits."
"Excellent choice, sir. The Golden Gear Vault boasts the continent's top security."
I opened the account, leaving myself about 5,000 Lumina and depositing the rest.
Got a hefty metal card instead of a passbook.
Just looking at it made me smile.
This could buy some decent gear, but it was too soon.
'Better to upgrade when my current stuff can't cut it anymore.'
I already had the Black Iron Hexagonal Rod and leather armor.
Splurging on mid-tier crap was a waste; better save for top-shelf items.
What I had my eye on was that morningstar at the forge: Bloodcaller Morningstar.
[Bloodcaller Morningstar (B-Grade)]
[Description: Each spike carries a bleeding curse. Even a graze tears wounds open, blood flowing endlessly.]
'650,000 Lumina, right.'
With that bleed effect, even high-defense Crystal Turtles wouldn't stand a chance.
"Now what?"
Money made, time to kill.
Suddenly, District 5's shantytown crossed my mind.
Little Lisa.
And old man Hans.
'Hope they're still kicking.'
I'd given them money, so they should manage, but seeing their state the other day left me uneasy.
With bodies like that, are they even eating properly?
"Ugh, seriously. What did I do wrong in my past life?"
In the end, I turned my steps that way.
Stopped by a restaurant en route: hearty meat stew, soft bread, some fruit.
A bit fancy for patient food, but hey, might as well go out in style.
District 5 shantytown.
Still reeking and filthy as ever.
I followed the familiar path and knocked on Hans's door.
Knock knock.
"Anyone home? Food delivery."
Rustling from inside, then a long pause before the door creaked open.
Someone peeked out cautiously.
"...Mr. Lee Jun?"
It was little Lisa, Hans's granddaughter.
Her color looked a tad better than the other day.
At least she wasn't crawling on the floor anymore—must've been too weak from lack of food and water back then.
"How's Grandpa?"
"Ah, yes! Come in."
Inside, Hans was sitting up in bed.
Seemed he'd regained his senses.
He widened his eyes at the sight of me.
"Y-You're..."
"How's the body holding up?"
"Thanks to you... I pulled through. Lisa told me everything. You rescued me and even paid for medicine."
The old man's voice trembled.
Tears welled in his eyes.
"Thank you. Truly. How can I ever repay this kindness...?"
"Forget it. Consider it payment for the mining tips you gave me on day one."
I set the food down on the table.
"Eat up. Gotta eat well to recover fast."
Lisa's stomach growled at the smell.
Hans swallowed hard too.
"Even this... I feel bad, but we'll gratefully accept."
The two tore into the bread, dipping it in stew like starved animals.
Watching them eat felt... weirdly good.
'Digging in good.'
They hadn't touched the money I'd given them yet.
Makes sense—no strength to go shopping in that state.
"Take it slow. You'll choke."
I poured water and handed it over.
Lisa chewed her bread slowly, gazing at me.
Her eyes sparkled brightly.
Favorability up again.
5 points for a meal—insane cost-performance.
"Mr. Lee Jun, you're such a good person."
"Good person my ass. I'm an asshole. Just brought leftovers."
"Liar. This is fresh-bought. Still warm."
Lisa grinned cheekily.
Sharp kid.
"Shut it. Bowls here when you're done. I'm out."
Sticking around would just get awkward.
As I turned to leave after a quick goodbye, Hans grabbed my hand.
"Wait, Lee Jun."
"What?"
"Once I'm better... I'll share a honey pot I know about. In the corner of the first floor..."
"No thanks. Focus on recovering, old timer. I know more honey pots than you."
I shook him off and stepped out.
Whatever it was, I doubted there was anything this old man knew that I didn't.
Heading out of the alley, I bumped into someone.
"Oh? Mr. Lee Jun?"
It was Erika.
Sword at her hip, medicine bag in hand.
"What brings you here?"
"Ah, just doing some volunteer work. Lots of sick folks around here..."
She wasn't just mining—she was volunteering too?
Not just pretty face; total angel.
Erika, you're wife material.
"And you?"
"Me? Just... checking on some acquaintances."
Erika's gaze drifted to Hans's place behind me.
"Wait... Did you just come from Grandpa Hans's?"
"Huh? You know the old man?"
"Yeah, I drop by sometimes to look after Lisa. But you going there..."
Erika's eyes wavered.
Surprise, admiration—something like that mixed in.
"No way. Mr. Lee Jun, you're... You seem cold on the outside, but your heart's so warm. Even for acquaintances, coming all the way to the slums yourself."
"Nah, just settling a debt..."
"Debt? What could they possibly owe you? It was pure kindness."
Erika looked at me with deep, respectful eyes.
Like gazing at a saint.
Too much pressure.
I'd just come because it bugged me.
'Whoa.'
Straight up 15 points.
Quantum leap from 25 to 40.
Status shifted from 'Acquaintance' to 'Trustworthy Person'.
"I see you in a new light, Mr. Lee Jun. Strong, capable, and kind-hearted too..."
'Not really kind.'
Misunderstanding, but no need to correct it.
Higher favorability benefits me.
"You're too kind. Keep up the good work volunteering. I'm busy, gotta go."
"Yes! See you next time! Promise!"
Erika waved me off.
'Play this right, and I might make faster progress than expected.'
Who knew small good deeds would pay off like this.
Guess living kindly has its perks.