Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Newbie
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"Fuck!!"
Philip cursed involuntarily.
"Fuck!!"
Grace had returned, seemingly wanting to bury the incident.
Her attitude had changed drastically after meeting Rachel and Un-ho.
'What the hell happened?'
Philip couldn't make sense of the situation at all.
Emptiness washed over him, mingled with an inexplicable surge of anger.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
Damon was as good as gone.
He knew proving the crime without a confession was next to impossible.
But he couldn't just say "Yes, understood" and back off.
"......"
No matter how he racked his brain, if Damon had been murdered and dumped somewhere, the culprit was Park Un-ho.
The guy had been suspicious from the start.
His movements before arriving here weren't clear...
And Philip knew he was interested in Grace while also coveting Carrie Major.
'Just let a bastard like that walk?'
He needed decisive evidence.
"R-right! The body! If we find the body, maybe Grace will come around?"
Disposing of a hulking corpse over 180 cm tall wasn't easy.
Even with an accomplice, it was hard to believe Rachel had killed Damon herself.
The size difference was too vast.
No one could imagine the petite Rachel taking down the massive Damon.
So she must have borrowed Park Un-ho's strength.
Philip had scoured the island, thinking the body might be buried, but found nothing.
The lake, then?
Not the best option.
Dumping it nearby risked it floating back to the island.
He'd considered loading it onto the yacht and dumping it far out, but...
No dice.
Humphrey always checked the fuel, so any usage was obvious.
'No way... did it just luckily drift somewhere else?'
Philip sought out Humphrey.
He planned to ask him to circle the lake.
"Take the yacht out?"
"I'd like to look around the area."
-Vrooom...
Philip scanned the surroundings from the yacht deck.
The cool breeze eased his tangled thoughts a bit.
Come to think of it, was there even a point to this?
Even if they found the body, if Park Un-ho denied it, it was all for nothing.
No autopsy to determine cause of death.
No DNA testing possible...
This was a fool's errand.
"Hoo..."
..........He had to admit it.
Jealousy?
He couldn't claim it played no part.
Philip couldn't shake the thought that Grace was covering for Park Un-ho.
It gnawed at him that his sister, Carrie Major, was getting close to that guy.
He wanted Park Un-ho gone from the island.
Damon was just a convenient excuse.
Even so...
'Handling Damon... like this... it just isn't right.'
"Philip. Something over there?"
Lost in thought, Philip followed Humphrey's gaze.
A person was draped over some wooden planks.
"A body?"
'Damon's body?'
Philip approached with bated breath.
But hope turned to disappointment.
Not Damon—a young man.
"H-he's alive!"
Humphrey shouted after stopping the yacht and checking him.
Even if it wasn't what they wanted...
They couldn't just leave a living person adrift.
Philip and Humphrey hauled the stranded man aboard.
After I showed Grace the truth.
Philip stopped harassing me over Damon.
'Did Grace chew him out?'
Either way, I was glad the nuisance was out of sight.
Kkamang's "amazing" meant no pushover.
At least high-grade, maybe top-tier corrupted being.
Big city?
I knew we were in America.
But I wasn't clear on nearby cities.
Met Grace practically right after arriving.
Still, "big city" brought one to mind naturally.
Guess I'd have to see it myself.
Big ones were rare.
Couldn't pass it up.
No need to rush, though.
Killing it now wouldn't instantly level skills, and points accumulated passively anyway.
As long as it wasn't going anywhere, I could head out at a good time.
Kkamang was so proactive because he got scraps too.
He'd tasted the sweet rewards.
Couldn't forget that.
"Un-ho, you there?"
Wrapped up messaging... and soon a visitor arrived.
Carrie.
"Come on in."
The striking beauty with rich brown hair and green eyes stepped inside.
Boring island life.
Carrie dropped by often.
Beauty visits always welcome.
Carrie sauntered in like it was her place and sprawled on the sofa.
Her smooth legs in hot pants drew my eye.
She noticed but played it cool.
I treated her to pizza and cola.
"Pizza!"
She lit up and shoved a slice in her mouth.
"Munch munch. Always blows my mind. Does Grace know?"
Delicious food.
Another reason Carrie came over.
I'd hooked her with grub.
"She knows about the ability... but not that I carry food."
"Makes sense... explains surviving solo with that power. But hogging this deliciousness feels a tad guilty. Hehe."
For someone feeling guilty, she sure packed it away.
Seemed just a prick.
"Un-ho, heard the news?"
"What news?"
Carrie brought the camp's petty gossip.
"Philip and Humphrey rescued someone. Picked up some guy floating in the lake..."
Guy? Interest vanished.
"...Got it."
"Philip seems set on adding him to our group. What do you think?"
"Does my take matter?"
"You're superpowered. Should have a say, right?"
As if Philip would listen.
Honestly, zero interest in camp admin anyway.
Stuffed with my pizza, Carrie patted her full belly and headed home.
The more she saw, the more amazed at his abilities.
First time he conjured food from thin air, she nearly fainted.
Explained his endless supplies.
A secret he shared only with trusted folks.
Thrilled to be one of them.
Of course, she'd keep it.
He was seriously capable.
And women are drawn to capable men.
Carrie was no exception.
Decent guys on the island? Zilch.
Some showed interest, but none measured up.
Then Un-ho showed up.
Age gap seemed a bit much, but...
Not a dealbreaker.
Not just powers—his solid, manly build was a turn-on.
She wore revealing outfits on visits on purpose.
His gaze sent thrills.
"Tempting..."
Carrie unconsciously licked her lips.
Too bad he was after Grace.
"Grace doesn't seem totally uninterested... but stealing a friend's guy? Not cool... though they're not official yet... maybe it's fine... ugh, tough call."
The next day.
"Welcome party?"
Peaceful twilight.
Carrie dropped by.
"You had one too."
"Who came?"
"Sigh. Told you yesterday. The guy Philip fished from the lake."
Right, now I remembered.
Had wiped it from my mind since it was a guy.
"Gotta go?"
No desire for some dude's welcome bash.
"C'mon, let's go have fun~"
Carrie clung to my arm, turning on the charm.
Her plush chest pressed against my forearm.
"Ahem... if you insist... guess I can't say no."
Ultimately caved to her temptation and went.
The massive campfire from my welcome blazed in the clearing.
Philip was there, a young guy beside him.
The guy's face... delicately handsome.
..........The type women lose their minds over.
"Moment of attention, please."
Philip struck a pose and addressed the crowd.
"You've all heard. The young man Humphrey and I rescued from the lake. Edward Morgan. I'd like to welcome him into our group. Any objections?"
"Majority vote, huh. They didn't do that before, did they?"
"Un-ho's superpowered. This guy's... normal."
Carrie explained beside me.
"........Normal?"
"Yeah. Didn't I mention?"
Superpowered but hiding it...
Anyone could see that was fishy.
I raised my hand.
All eyes turned to me.
Philip spotted my raised hand and scowled.