Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Nya-mi Effect and Cleanup
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"Actually... I might have to close the shop."
The words coming from Nya-mi's mouth were shocking.
We'd just been eating such delicious pizza moments ago, and now she was talking about shutting down?
"What? Shutting down? Business is booming like this—why?"
When Erika asked, Nya-mi flopped her droopy cat ears and let out a deep sigh.
"We get plenty of customers... but I can't bake any more pizzas. I can't get the 'flame stones' to put in the oven."
"Flame stones? Can't you use regular firewood?"
"Nope. Our shop's oven uses flame stones instead of normal firewood. That's what keeps the heat steady and brings out the true pizza flavor... If we used regular wood or mixed it in, the temperature would fluctuate, the dough wouldn't bake right or it'd burn. The customers would complain about the taste changing."
[Flame Stone].
One of the minerals mined from the mines, infused with fire-attribute mana, used as fuel.
It emits intense heat when mana is injected or struck, so in this world, it's widely used for heating or cooking fuel.
"We had a regular trading company before, but a few days ago, the supply suddenly stopped. I checked around everywhere else, and they all say they don't have any. If they do, they're charging five times the price..."
"Five times? Good grief. Flame stones aren't that rare, are they? They pop up occasionally on mine levels 2 or 3, and there's no way the supply chain is short."
Erika tilted her head, and Nya-mi lowered her voice, glancing around cautiously.
"Well... I heard these guys called the Red Scorpions have a total monopoly on flame stone distribution and won't let go."
"Red Scorpions? First time hearing that name. Weren't the back alleys of Lumina Mining Village run by the Viper gang before?"
Nya-mi nodded at Erika's question.
"Right! The Viper guys used to squeeze protection money out of the miners, but they never completely blocked market goods. They'd take their cut but let people do business. But a few days ago, word is the entire Viper organization just vanished. From the leader to the enforcers, all carted off..."
"Uh...?"
A name I hadn't heard in ages slipped out of my mouth like an idiot.
"So these Red Scorpions or whatever filled the vacuum?"
"Yeah! Once the Vipers disappeared, these guys popped up out of nowhere and started acting even more vicious. They threaten the miners into selling flame stones dirt cheap, then jack up the prices sky-high for village merchants. If you don't play along, they threaten to smash your shop..."
"Good grief, they've been replaced by even worse scum than the Viper crew."
Erika's lament made my chest twinge uncomfortably.
They say a power vacuum calls in new predators.
The butterfly effect from me crushing the Vipers had rolled all the way here.
"Unforgivable! How dare those jerks bully Nya-mi!"
"Sis...?"
"Don't worry, Nya-mi. I'll take care of it!"
Erika shot to her feet.
"Sit down, Erika. Calm yourself."
"But Lee Jun! We can't just let those bastards get away with it! Nya-mi's shop is about to close!"
"Who's letting them? I'll handle it, so you sit and rest."
"You, Lee Jun?"
"Yeah. You've had a long day hunting—you must be exhausted, and you probably haven't fully recovered yet."
"Oh..."
"Plus, this is partly my fault anyway. I should clean it up."
"Your fault, Lee Jun?"
"Forgot my nickname?"
"Nickname? Oh..."
Erika finally pieced it together.
Viper was a named mid-boss from the early original story, ruling the village back alleys.
He even picked a fight with me, nearly killed me, but I turned the tables and sent him packing.
After beating the piss out of Viper, the miners started calling me the Viper Killer.
Not intentional, but since I dropped the turd, I should clean it up.
"Still, going alone could be dangerous... At least take some others."
"It's fine. From what you said, these Red Scorpions were nobodies until the Vipers vanished. So they must be weaker than the Viper crew."
Of course, I only beat them by flipping an unwinnable fight with a motorcycle helmet and bear spray.
But I'm incomparably stronger now than back then.
Hell, I could take ten or twenty Vipers easy.
"Be careful, Lee Jun."
"Don't worry, I'll be right back. Nya-mi, whoops, sorry. Is it okay to call you that?"
Erika kept going Nya-mi this and Nya-mi that, so I slipped and called her Nya-mi too.
"Y-yeah, since you're Erika sis's boyfriend, you're basically my friend too. It's fine."
"Good. So where's their hideout?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah? I heard it's around the back alley warehouses... You're really going? They're scary dudes! Lots of them!"
"It's cool. I'll wrap it up quick, so hang with Erika and have some dessert."
The back alleys at night.
Streetlights are sparse, it's pitch dark, and the rotting stench makes you think even a sane person might snap here.
'Red Scorpions.'
What a tacky name.
Viper, then Scorpion—next up spider or centipede?
The spot Nya-mi mentioned was the abandoned warehouse district on the village outskirts.
Former ore storage, now deserted—perfect for plotting crimes away from prying eyes.
Arriving at the warehouse, three or four shady-looking thugs were chatting at the entrance.
"Who the hell's this guy?"
"Hey! No civilians allowed. Scram!"
One spat on the ground threateningly.
"Deaf or something? Didn't you hear?"
I ignored them and approached; the guy pulled a dagger from his coat, brandishing it.
'What a pain.'
Thwack!
I slammed a fist into his solar plexus.
He stood there blankly, not even realizing he'd been hit, then foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
"Gurgle..."
Crash.
"What the?"
"Gal!"
This guy's named Gal too?
Wasn't the pockmarked punk who messed with me before also called Gal?
No pockmarks on this face, so different guy.
He ran after Viper got crushed; gotta beat him someday too. Wonder when I'll see him again.
Once Gal went down, the others stood, threatening me.
"You bastard!"
"Who the hell are you!"
"Dunno. Dark Knight here to take out the bad guys?"
"What're you babbling, you psycho? Everyone, grab your tools!"
They cursed while tense, drawing weapons.
"You guys the Red Scorpions?"
"Yeah, punk! You know who you're messing with?!"
"Honestly, I don't care what crap you pull here."
"What?"
"But my girlfriend's favorite pizza joint can't do business because of you."
"Y-you psycho... What?!"
They all charged at once.
Simultaneous, sure, but without drilled coordination, it's just individuals rushing in.
Whoosh.
I tilted my head to dodge the flying club.
Crack!
Then kicked his shin straight on.
"Aaaagh! My leg!"
"Leg's the least of your worries."
Temple kick follow-up.
Done.
Next, I twisted aside from the axe swing, grabbed his wrist, and snapped it.
"Gah!?"
Smack!
Uppercut to the jaw as he screamed and dropped the axe.
The impact was so hard his heels lifted off the ground; he spun mid-air a couple times before crashing back.
Wonder if he's dead—checked with [Royal Physician], but he's fine.
Not bad how these punks charged with spirit, but dropping two took mere seconds.
The last one's trembling.
Not from watching the others—he was at the back from the start, half-assing it.
"Hey, you disloyal punk. Those two jumped right in when Gal got hit, but you're just spectating?"
"W-what are you... Jack and Ain went down in an instant..."
"Figured it out? What now?"
Thwack!
No business with underlings.
Chatting briefly was just for fun; talking more's pointless.
Bang!
I kicked the warehouse door open.
Beyond the splintered door, dozens of thugs were boozing it up.
Startled from their midnight party, they turned toward the entrance.
All eyes on me—like ugly meerkats.
Ignoring the stares, I checked inside: sacks piled high, reddish glow leaking through the leather even from outside.
'Those must all be flame stones.'
Hoarding that much and not releasing? Total assholes.
"W-who the hell are you!"
A massive bald bear of a man from the back stood abruptly, demanding.
Must be the boss.
"Pizza delivery, assholes."
"What?"
"Can't get pizza 'cause of you, so delivery's late. Came to pick it up myself."
"Delivery? What nonsense. Psycho. Hey! Dunk this guy!"
At the boss's order, dozens surged forward.
Planning to overwhelm with numbers.
Tough luck—doesn't work on me.
'Time to loosen up a bit.'
I grinned and leaped into the mob.
Thud! Crunch! Crack!
"Agh! My nose!"
"Guhh!"
"Kaaagh!"
"S-spare me!"
"This guy's a monster!"
Unilateral beatdown.
In under a few minutes, the warehouse filled with groans.
Worked off some built-up stress without realizing.
Only me standing unscathed, and the boss shivering in the corner.
"Now, shall we chat?"
As I approached, he backed into the wall.
Why's this bear-sized guy such a coward?
"D-don't come closer! D-do you know who I am? Who’s backing me?!"
"Nope. Don't care."
"The Shadow Merchant Guild's behind us! Touch me, and they'll come after you!"
Shadow Merchant Guild... What's that?
Another unheard-of element.
This comic's endless serialization means tons of unseen stuff.
They're just opportunists post-Viper; either nobodies or backers who don't give a damn.
I grabbed his collar and hoisted him up.
"Gek, kheh."
"We'll deal with that later. Hand over the flame stones first."
"They're there! Take 'em! All of it!"
"No more funny business. Behave in this neighborhood. Return all the flame stones."
"Got it."
"And if I hear one more weird rumor around here, I'll chop your wrists off. Keep your underlings in line."
"I'll remember! Big bro!"
"Big bro my ass, punk."
Released the collar.
Thud!
Kicked his gut.
"Kuhhgh. Why...?"
Tearful eyes looking up.
Ugly thug face like that creeps me out.
"Your crew got wrecked, thought I'd skip the ringleader? Hilarious."
Smack!
"Gack!"
Extra hard gut kick for good measure; he clutched it, groaning.
Not seriously hurt—just enough to suffer a while.
Not just him; everyone tuned to recover in a few days' bedrest.
From Viper's precedent, better to leave controllable punks than wipe 'em out.
New ones would just fill the void.
These guys weren't bad; they even blocked worse outsiders from the village...
That's how it'll be.
Picked the best-looking flame stone sack and slung it over my shoulder.
'They'll figure out the rest—distribute or return.'
One last warning.
"I'm out. Clean up the neighborhood like I said."
"Urgh... Yes, sir!"
Oh, almost forgot.
"And find a guy named Gal around here. Pockmarked face."
Then left the warehouse.
Butterfly effect resolved.
Back at the [Hearth-Baking Cat], Nya-mi and Erika waited out front. Their faces lit up seeing me.
"Lee Jun! You're not hurt?"
"Of course not."
Despite my answer, Erika inspected me thoroughly, sighing in relief only after confirming no wounds.
"Thank goodness."
"Talked 'em down. Promised to go straight. Flame stone prices'll stabilize."
"Really?"
Nya-mi asked.
As if.
"Yeah. And this—they gave it as an apology. Picked the best one."
I dropped the sack from my shoulder; Nya-mi, who'd been eyeing it, rushed over.
Peeking inside, her eyes sparkled like coins.
"Nyaang! This'll last a month easy! Thanks so much, Lee Jun bro!"
Hoity change—getting friendlier?
Favorability up too.
Highest starting at 17 so far.
Probably boosted by being Erika's boyfriend.
"Tell the boss no more fuel worries."
"Yeah! Thanks a ton! Next visit, I'll treat you! No, I'll tell Dad—free for life!"
"Ooh, lifetime free? Nice."
[Hearth-Baking Cat] lifetime free pass acquired.
Jackpot.
Nya-mi went inside; soon a massive furball—er, the boss—waddled out.
Beside him, suspiciously stacked wife followed.
"You really took care of those guys?"
"Yes. No big deal."
"Haha... Impressive young man. You're our shop's savior. Thanks to you, our family's saved."
The boss reared up on hind legs, offering a paw.
Beastkin handshake?
Grasped it—fluffy fur, squishy pads felt nice.
"No need. I did it for myself."
"Come anytime. Always welcome. Best ingredients for you."
My mess, but wrapped up warmly. Nice.
With Nya-mi and the boss couple seeing us off, Erika and I left.
Come to think of it, the wife never said a word. Quiet type, huh.