Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Money is King
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Clang-!
I pushed open the door to the blacksmith shop.
A blast of scorching heat and the sharp tang of metal greeted me.
"Welcome... huh? You again?"
The dwarf owner, mid-swing with his hammer, spotted me and furrowed his brow.
He looked thrilled to see me.
"What, should I fetch you some water now that a customer's here?"
"Water? If you're here to haggle again, get lost. I'm swamped."
The dwarf waved me off dismissively.
He was still salty about the 500 Lumina I'd knocked off the black iron hexagonal rod last time.
Petty old fart.
I flashed a grin and slammed the heavy coin pouch from my belt onto the counter with a thud.
The dwarf's eyes went wide.
"Wh-what's all this?"
"Money. What else?"
I untied the pouch, and gold and silver coins spilled out.
The shop seemed to brighten with their gleaming shine.
"Well, I'll be..."
The dwarf stroked his chin beard, eyeing me up and down.
"You're that newbie, right? Just the other day you were whining for a 500-Lumina discount on that black iron rod."
"You never know what life's gonna throw at you."
"Impressive. Rob a bank? Find a treasure vault? Or...?"
"Nah, just busted my ass working."
"Damn impressive. Raking in this much in such a short time? Fifty years as a smith, and you're the first freak like you I've seen. So, what'll it be? I can guess from the stack."
"That one there."
I pointed to the vicious weapon hanging on the wall.
Blood-Calling Morningstar (B-Grade)
Description: Each spike carries a bleeding curse. Even a graze tears the flesh open, and the blood won't stop flowing.
The dwarf whistled and took the morningstar down from the wall.
A massive iron ball on a dark red handle.
Every embedded spike gleamed with a deadly blue sheen.
"Here you go."
"Come on, cash on the barrelhead—cut me a deal. 630,000? Loyalty discount."
"Loyalty? In this business? If you come back alive, that's loyalty. You buying or not?"
"Sheesh, tough crowd. Fine, fine."
The dwarf snorted and pocketed the coins.
Dwarves and their fat wallets. No wonder they go bald.
I cursed him out in my head and took the morningstar.
Heavier than the hexagonal rod, but with my Strength over 30, it felt like a feather.
The leather-wrapped grip fit perfectly in my palm.
Clank.
The chain rattled as it collided.
The grip molded to my hand like it was made for me. Worlds apart from the rod's heft.
"Nice."
I channeled mana into it, and red vapors rose from the spikes.
Bleeding curse.
A brutal option that makes blood gush from the slightest touch.
Now I was ready to harvest some turtle shell.
I took a deep breath and headed for the mine entrance.
* * *
Floors 1 through 3 were a stroll in the park now.
Every swing of the morningstar sent monsters flying like leaves in the wind.
"Outta the way!"
Thwack!
The charging stone golem's leg shattered with a dull thud. Way more destructive than the rod.
No blood or flesh, so the bleed curse went unused.
Straight down to floor 4.
A mix of swamp and sheer cliffs.
Thick, humid poison hung in the air near the ground.
"Keeek!"
Mega venom lizards rained from the ceiling.
Man-sized bodies, paralysis toxin on their tongues.
Tough hides that resisted slashes.
But equal before a bludgeon.
"Not today!"
Clank!
I swung the handle, and the chain-whipped mace smashed into a lizard's side.
Splat!
"Kyaaak!"
Holes punched through its flank.
Blood fountained from them.
"Oh ho."
Effect was spot on.
The lizard staggered, eyes glazing over as it collapsed.
Armor penetration like this. Tough hide means nothing when your blood runs dry.
Another charged fearlessly.
This time, short chain for close quarters.
As it opened its mouth to spit venom, I uppercut its jaw with the handle.
Splat!
Mouth slammed shut, venom exploding inside.
While it writhed, I shin-kicked its leg, toppled it, and crushed its skull with the mace.
Splorch!
Clean.
"Hahaha! Come on, you fucks!"
I spun the mace like a windmill, pumped up.
Splat! Thud! Crunch!
Lizard heads exploded, bellies ruptured.
Blood stench filled the air.
Skeleton warriors clattered forward next.
Rusted swords and shields.
"No blood in you lot."
Like the golem, bones meant no bleed.
But morningstar's a bludgeon. Nothing beats it for smashing bones.
Coat the mace in mana.
Boom! Crunch!
Skeletons shattered into bone dust before they could reach me.
Mid-battle, they swarmed too thick.
No time to swing—no room as one burrowed into my chest.
"Fuck, persistent bastards!"
No angle for the weapon.
Time to brawl.
Crack!
Mana-charged headbutt cracked its skull.
"Back off, you bony shit!"
Grabbed its neck bone, tripped it, and stomped its head with my work boot.
Crunch.
Onrusher got a fist to the solar plexus; backstabber, an elbow drop.
Sometimes brawling beats weapons.
Ding-!
"...?"
I snorted at the skill name.
Brawl?
What a shitty name.
Couldn't it be 'Martial Arts' or 'Close-Quarters Combat'?
Clubbing, now Brawl. My skills sound so cheap.
Not bad specs, though.
"Whatever, as long as it works."
Battle over, I looted.
Mega venom sacs, skeleton bone fragments, their rusty gear.
Scrap value at least.
One bag filled quick.
Pulling out a spare, I grumbled.
"Such a pain."
Four inventory slots was a curse.
Hauling all this loot sucked.
Too few slots killed efficiency.
'Once I grab the purification herb, maybe dip to reality for a bit.'
Level up or bringing something from reality might expand it.
Or achievement rewards like expansion vouchers.
Not sure, but after this job, time for resupply.
Then, a glinting ore on the wall caught my eye.
"Huh?"
Faint white glow.
Not mithril or adamantite, but pricey-looking.
"Platinum, nice."
Lucky break.
More expensive than gold here.
What, unbelievable? In reality, platinum's cheaper now, but historically gold was pricier.
Noted in the original manhwa.
Clink! Clink!
Pickaxe out, I mined vigorously.
Rock was tough, but Strength 31 plus mana coating broke it.
Bag nearly burst, but I crammed it in.
Money's heavy, but the good kind.
Mined roadside ores too.
Decent hauls, but underwhelming.
No mithril jackpot?
That floor 3 score was luck.
100-floor dungeon, only floor 4-5—no tripping over legendaries.
No greed.
These add up to real cash.
Soon, at the tunnel to floor 5.
Air shifted here.
Floor 5: Sprawling jungle-cave maze.
Stalactites like teeth overhead; floor blanketed in moss and vines, hard to tread.
The path to floor 6 I'd cleared was a main road—low mob density, well-trodden.
But today's detour wasn't easy street.
"Underground lake..."
East side, a humid side path.
Rough terrain, mob-heavy no-go zone for most miners.
"Let's do this."
Slinging the morningstar over my shoulder, I pushed through vines.
Mud squelched underfoot.
Grrr.
Eyes gleamed from the dark.
Over 2 meters tall, bulging muscles.
Cockroach regen—even severed limbs regrow fast. Gross.
"Perfect timing."
Ideal sandbag for the new toy.
"Groooar!"
Troll charged with a club swing.
Brainless rush, relying on regen, no dodging.
'Dumb fuck.'
Hastening its doom.
Whirr!
Long chain wrapped its thigh.
"Dig in!"
Twisted my wrist, yanked—the spikes pierced thick hide.
Pierce!
"Kraaak!"
Troll halted, screaming.
Black blood gushed.
Normally, that wound heals instantly.
But...
Sizzle.
Wound burned red, blood unrelenting.
Bleed curse ate its regen alive.
"Money's the best."
Regen-brat panicking hilarious.
It fumbled to staunch, futile.
"Think that'll work?"
I leaped, smashed the crown of its skull.
Crunch!
Skull caved; massive body slammed ground.
Twitched to rise, but bled out too much.
"Bye."
Final neck chop.
Troll blood's alchemy fodder, but stinks and no container.
Snagged gem-decorated leather belt; skinned hide for the bag.
Path worsened inward.
Slipped on wet moss multiple times.
Without Earth's Blessing, stamina would've tanked.
Shh shh.
Underfoot this time.
3-meter behemoth burst from soil.
Legs writhing—pure disgust.
"Fuck, eye cancer."
Spewed venom, charged.
Too tight for morningstar swing.
What then?
Dodged venom instinctively, stomped its back with my boot.
Thud!
"Kieeek!"
Centipede twisted, tail trying to coil my leg.
"No chance."
Mana-charged hand ripped its shell; slammed it down.
Slam, slam.
Thud! Thud!
Finished with handle to the head.
Yellow goo exploded.
"Disgusting."
Shell's armor-grade; bagged with venom sac.
How far in? Air changed—briny, fresh water scent.
"Almost."
Pushed through brush; view opened.
Vast cavern.
Glowing stones like Milky Way overhead, daylight bright.
Below, dark blue waves lapped a massive lake.
Underground lake.
Manhwa made it seem meh; real deal awed.
"Whoa..."
Scale insane. Far shore distant.
Clear water showed bottom, but deeps black.
And center: Tiny rock island.
Single white flower blooming, radiating pure light against darkness.
Medicine to save Lisa.
"Found it."
Finally.
That one flower saves the kid, clears my quest.
Crept to shore cautiously.
Water mirror-still.
But I knew: Calm before storm.
Step, step.
Foot hit water's edge.
Rumble...
Ground shook; center bubbled huge.
Splash-!!!
Waters parted; colossal shadow rose.
House-sized shell.
Glittering crystal clusters atop.
Floor 5 guardian, physics-proof wall of tears.
Slowly extended head, glared.
Amber eyes glowed.
"Pffooo-!"
Snorted; waves rippled surface.
Overwhelming presence.
Last time, teeth bounced off—I fled.
Clank.
Today? Different.
Uncoiled chain; spiked ball scraped floor menacingly.
"Hey, big guy."
Grin twisted up.
"I'm here to peel your shell, you fuck."