Win-Win (4)
“Not everyone’s like you. Do you have any idea how vicious people with grudges can be?”
Was that polite speech or casual? He wasn’t sure, but Raguna was clearly worked up.
“That Kang Hyung-woo guy’s the same, right? He burned down your parents’ factory just because of you! And from what I’ve seen, this Lee Chang-hoon’s exactly the type who’d do it too!”
He had no idea why she was getting so fired up over something that wasn’t even her business. Still, Yun-seok recognized the gravity of the situation.
Lee Chang-hoon’s skills were nothing special. To be honest, Yun-seok was confident he could take on several at once. But from an ordinary person’s perspective, the guy was a full-blown monster. If he lost his armor, snapped, and went back to Earth for a mindless killing spree? The cops wouldn’t even arrive before it was all over.
“Who said he used a nomination right on that guy? Then you should be fine for today. You can’t use a ticket if you’ve been nominated.”
News to him. Yun-seok finally relaxed and listened calmly to Raguna’s words.
“The second you get back to the waiting room, buy a ticket and rip it. Then track him down and kill him, no questions asked.”
Just like that—kill him. She said it so casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Was murder no big deal in her world? The thought crossed Yun-seok’s mind, but maybe he, having strayed from the ordinary world himself, needed to adapt to that mindset.
For now, he handed back the Thunderclap Grenade he’d taken from her.
“Like I said earlier, I can steal gear from defeated challengers.”
“I get what you mean. But it’s fine—this isn’t equipment.”
Yun-seok nodded vigorously in relief. With the grenade and her unique skill, the odds of losing were slim unless luck was truly against her. No ordinary challenger could withstand that power—not even Yun-seok, who’d nearly died from it himself.
“When you’re done and back, let me know how it went in chat.”
“But I’m heading up to the 5th floor now?”
“You really don’t check the chat room, do you? You need three wins on the 4th floor to promote.”
Yun-seok averted his gaze, a bit embarrassed. He resolved to check the chat room regularly from now on, even while training to regain his beginner’s mindset.
“Oh, and before ripping the ticket, grab a few useful skills. You said your world’s king can’t just kill people on a whim, right?”
Yun-seok felt a fresh wave of gratitude at Raguna’s involvement, like it was her own affair. He was honestly surprised. He’d never imagined forging a real connection in this circular arena where everyone just killed or got killed.
‘Come to think of it, was my bond with Lady Cheonma a good one too?’
Cheonma had said they’d meet again someday. And Yun-seok realized he was looking forward to it. If they crossed paths once more, they’d share stories with smiles. Probably the same with Raguna.
For the first time, a warmth seeped into Yun-seok’s life, which had been barreling blindly toward victory like a runaway train.
“Don’t look at me like that. You could’ve done something bad to me, but you didn’t—and you even gave the grenade back.”
“Something bad……? Oh…….”
Raguna chuckled at Yun-seok’s flustered realization. He truly hadn’t entertained those kinds of thoughts at all.
“Good with good, evil with evil. That’s our family motto.”
“Then maybe this is a ‘win-win’ since good met good. Anyway, thank you.”
As Yun-seok bowed his head, Raguna asked what “win-win” meant. He explained, and she grinned. “Yeah, that fits. Win-win.”
“You said there’s a place where everyone can meet? If I decide to stay here, I’ll wait for you there.”
“……I’m planning to go back as soon as I can.”
“…….”
“Anyway, you mean you want me to survive, right? Thanks. And it was nice meeting you.”
Raguna closed her eyes. Blaming his own inexperience for not knowing a painless way to grant her peace, Yun-seok silently drove his sword hard into her forehead.
Reward: 128,000 AP granted.
Unique Skill Predation activated.
Randomly acquire one of the opponent's skills.
Acquired Unique Skill Death Merchant.
Randomly plunder one piece of the opponent's equipment.
Plundered Alchemist's Lab Coat (Rank F+).
Absorb a portion of the opponent's highest stat.
Absorbed Agility stat. (1,500/48,000)
Returning to 4th Floor Waiting Room.
Please prepare for your next duel.
‘Win-win, huh…….’
Staring at the stark word “Victory,” Yun-seok thought for the first time that maybe the world wasn’t just divided into winners and losers.
Your purchased items have arrived.
Please check your inventory.
Yun-seok bought a ticket first, then browsed the shop. If Lee Chang-hoon really planned revenge in the real world, he needed skills to counter it. Protecting his parents without drawing attention was tricky, and in a rule-of-law country like Korea, he couldn’t just snap the guy’s neck in public.
Even if he chose to stay in the Tower of Heaven, Yun-seok didn’t want to be branded a criminal on Earth.
He spent 20,000 AP to acquire the skills. They weren’t ones he’d ever buy otherwise, so it stung a bit…… But cleaning up his own mess meant he couldn’t skimp and risk failure.
‘They’ll come in handy someday…….’
Muttering the proverb about life’s uncertainties, Yun-seok let go of his regrets. He then burned another 12,000 AP to raise his E-rank mana to D-.
Even if ordinary people had mana, it’d be F- at best—three ranks below. No one on Earth would spot his stealth now.
‘Won’t work on Lee Chang-hoon…… But nothing to be done about that.’
Plenty of AP left, but preparations for return were complete. He bought a ticket from the convenience tab and ripped it without hesitation.
Return Ticket (Rank F) used.
Returning to Earth.
Four days on Earth time. For Yun-seok, a whopping 23 days since last time.
* * *
Scattered liquor bottles and clothes. Not a total mess, but cluttered enough.
‘Where am I?’
Ridiculously, that was his first thought upon opening his eyes. After a dazed scan, Yun-seok realized this was the hotel room he’d stayed in on his last day. Naturally checked out after he left, now occupied by someone else.
Whoosh……
Water running from what he recalled as the bathroom direction. Someone showering—lucky break for Yun-seok. The clothes on the floor suggested a woman, and no sign of companions.
If he’d popped in mid-tryst……
‘……Dizzying just thinking about it.’
Yun-seok moved to leave quickly. But then—
Click.
The bathroom doorknob turned. Water still running—what? Forgot something? No clue, but Yun-seok uttered his command first.
‘Stealth.’
Stealth (Rank F)
He felt mana respond, spreading around his body. Couldn’t manipulate it manually without the skill, but activation was visceral.
It took a moment to fully engage, though—the woman who met his eyes screamed.
“Kyaa! What the—?! Huh……?”
She panicked at his sudden vanishing act, then froze in terror. Like she’d seen a ghost.
‘Did it work……?’
Not instant, but crisis averted. She’d glimpsed him, yet now he was invisible to her.
‘Absolute Stealth judgment? No joke.’
Impressed anew, Yun-seok slipped to a shadowed corner. Simple reason: bolting out now would traumatize her.
“…….”
Hoping she’d return to her shower, he kept his eyes averted from her nudity. But she grabbed a bathrobe from beside the bathroom, slipped it on, and scanned the room warily—like hunting a hidden intruder.
After a cautious sweep, she crept to her suitcase and pulled out a telescoping baton with a shwick, extending it.
‘What? Why’s that in there?’
Pressing a button sparked electricity—stun baton. What kind of woman carried that……?
Glancing back at the floor, the bottles were all premium liquor, clothes designer labels.
‘Do all rich people pack heat like that? Hye-in didn’t seem to…… Or does she?’
Come to think of it, Kang Hye-in had carried pepper spray since that incident. Maybe this woman was overcautious, but not crazy……
“Come out now while I’m asking nicely. I know you’re there.”
Yun-seok flinched briefly at her mutter, but relaxed seeing her stare past him. Just a bluff. People did that—mumbling to empty houses after sensing a presence.
She poked around with the stun baton before stowing it, relieved. Then grabbed her toiletries and headed back in.
Whoosh! Splash! Splash!
‘Sorry for scaring you.’
Shower sounds resumed; Yun-seok apologized inwardly, eased the door open, and slipped out.
Click.
“……Knew someone was there.”
Oblivious that she’d pressed her ear to the door.