Chapter 39
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: What is the Golden King's Ability?
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That evening.
After my shower and dinner as usual, what came next was 180 degrees different from normal.
"...Um, Hero. This feels kind of burdensome."
I sat on the bed, gazing at the four members of the Hero Party surrounding me.
The reason was that today, to consume the elixir given by 7-channel's Yoo Hyun-min, the entire Hero Party was watching over me.
All night long.
Requesting 1:1 chat with friend 'Golden King'.
"Consuming an elixir always requires caution. Especially one from another world—who knows what might happen."
"But this elixir seems safe even for regular people, doesn't it?"
In response to Elisicia, Rubyel, sitting beside her, raised an eyebrow.
"What nonsense are you spouting? What if something goes wrong with you? Your life isn't just yours anymore."
Rubyel spoke as if I were responsible for the lives of many.
'I'm not that important.'
Of course, I was well aware of the importance of my [Modern Item Purchase] ability.
But I couldn't shake the feeling that it was more about my 'ability' than me personally.
'And I'm not even sure if Modern Item Purchase is really my ability.'
Would people think a gallery popping up in front of them was their own power?
The answer was no—they'd see it as something granted by another entity, not their own ability.
My Modern Item Purchase felt much the same.
'If I didn't have Modern Item Purchase, I probably wouldn't even be traveling with the Hero Party.'
But realizing these were pointless thoughts, I pulled Raistal's heart from the gallery inventory.
'Chew it like jelly, right?'
With that thought, under the watchful gaze of their four pairs of eyes, I chewed and swallowed Raistal's heart.
As Yoo Hyun-min had said, it was as soft as jelly, with no taste at all.
'The lack of flavor feels weird somehow.'
In any case, I easily consumed the entire heart.
Since it was an elixir, I waited for changes to occur, and soon felt the inside of the tent gradually warming up.
"Castaway. How do you feel?"
"Hmm. It feels a bit hotter."
"It's not the air that's hot—it's your body heating up."
To prove her point, Elisicia placed her hand on my forearm.
Her hand felt surprisingly cool by comparison.
"Ah... yeah, my body's definitely getting hot."
Elisicia nodded and immediately asked Rubyel,
"Rubyel, can you check how the elixir's energy is moving?"
"Yeah. Unlike regular elixirs, it's spreading evenly throughout your body. It's amazing how it's distributing itself without any guidance."
I looked at Rubyel, who openly called it amazing, and asked about it.
"How does it usually work?"
"It stays in your body. If you don't guide and absorb it, it just gets digested, only benefiting your organs."
"And mine?"
"The elixir is spreading to every part of your body on its own. It was said to have body reinforcement effects, right? Probably because of that."
Rubyel didn't give a firm answer, as she wasn't entirely sure either.
Considering it was an elixir from another world, it would be odd if she could figure it out immediately.
"No special issues, then?"
"Not yet. And even if something does happen, don't worry. With all of us here, we could revive you even if you died."
Rubyel claimed that the Hero Party gathered here could even resurrect the dead.
In the meantime, my body grew so hot and humid that sweat began pouring out on its own.
"It's feeling pretty hot now."
"The elixir's effects must be kicking in. Anything else?"
"I feel really sleepy for some reason."
"Really? Maybe your body can't handle the elixir's energy. No helping it—get some rest."
I hesitated at Rubyel's suggestion to sleep, wondering if it was okay to just follow.
Considering the Hero Party had said they'd watch over me all night, I felt like I should stay awake too.
"It feels bad if I'm the only one sleeping."
"What are you talking about? We've been resting well thanks to you. Staying up one night is nothing."
As Rubyel said, over the past few days, with my items and Rover standing guard, everyone had gotten plenty of rest.
In contrast, I'd been tossing and turning a bit due to Elisicia and Rubyel sharing my bed, so fatigue had built up.
'Plus walking from morning till evening every day.'
It was impossible not to be tired.
And with the elixir's energy added on top, my eyes began to droop.
"Sleep well."
"...Okay."
With those final words, I lost consciousness.
"..."
I slowly regained consciousness and quietly opened my eyes.
Whether due to the elixir or not, my entire body overflowed with an unprecedented vitality I'd never felt before.
'And incredibly refreshed too.'
It was to the point where I wondered if I'd ever woken up feeling this refreshed in my life.
In any case, as I sat up, my body felt so light I wondered if it was really mine.
'Why is my body this light?'
No joke—I felt like I could run 100 meters in under 10 seconds right now.
Or rather, since it was said to grant the physical abilities of an E-rank hunter, it might not be an exaggeration.
"You're awake?"
Elisicia's voice came from beside me.
Turning my head, I saw the entire Hero Party, including her, gathered and watching me.
"How's your body?"
"Ah... it's incredibly light. And refreshed somehow."
At my response, Elisicia nodded.
"Looks like the elixir took effect properly. Good work."
"It was nothing."
Just sleeping and waking up.
While I thought that, Rubyel provided more explanation.
"While you were asleep, waste matter was expelled from all over your body. That might be why it feels so light."
"Waste matter?"
"Yeah. Look at the bed."
Glancing down at the bed I'd slept on, it was covered in white stains like heavy sweat marks.
Judging by the traces, a lot had been expelled—but I wondered if my body had really accumulated that much.
"By the way, it smelled pretty bad too, but Aila purified it."
"Purified?"
Purification was the holy spell that cleansed the Hero Party instead of bathing.
"Ah. That's why there was no smell."
"And while you were asleep, I tested your skin—it didn't even get nicked by a light cut from a knife."
"While I was asleep?"
"I was curious, so I tested right away. It did get slightly cut when I sawed at it like filing, though."
I checked my body but found no wounds anywhere.
"Of course Aila healed it, so you won't find any. If anything, think of it as wearing decent leather armor."
Raistal's heart was said to grant 'steel skin' to hunters who consumed it.
As a regular person, I didn't get steel skin, but something lesser—like leather armor.
'Maybe 2-3 more would get me to steel skin.'
Regardless of the question, the elixir's effects were satisfying.
Now, even walking all day probably wouldn't tire me out like before.
"Anyway, you're up, so let's eat breakfast."
"Breakfast? Is there something you want?"
"If we're being greedy, something we haven't had yet? Oh, how about food from your homeland?"
"My homeland?"
"Yeah. Something you used to eat often."
...Ramen maybe?
But instant ramen didn't feel right for the Hero Party that had watched over me all night.
"Ah."
Then I thought of a good option and entered Modern Item Purchase to find one food item.
-60-Year Traditional Seoul Chicken Gomtang: 10 points
'This should be tasty for the Hero Party too.'
I bought five servings of chicken gomtang and took them out one by one from the inventory.
"Huh? What's this food?"
"It's called chicken gomtang. You simmer chicken thoroughly, add the meat to the broth, and eat it with rice."
"Your homeland eats this?"
"Not often, but sometimes."
The Hero Party scooped up the broth first with spoons, their faces full of curiosity.
"Wow, the chicken flavor really comes through—it's so savory. I thought it'd be bread and soup, naturally."
Having only had pizza and burgers so far, they'd assumed bread and soup.
'Come to think of it, it's been mostly Western food.'
I'd been picking foods I thought they'd find familiar, ending up with mostly bread-based ones.
In any case, I tried the broth myself—it was clean, warm, and full of umami, quite satisfying.
'And the Hero Party seems to love it.'
They devoured so much that each finished four bowls before we could set off.
"Oh, by the way, what's an android?"
"A robot. Rover is a dog-shaped one I have. An android is a human-shaped robot."
"Human-shaped robot? Ah~ You're giving that to the 7-channel guy?"
"Yeah. He said he needs it since he's surviving alone."
As Rubyel and I talked, Elisicia asked,
"But Castaway, will that android understand our language?"
Language?
"...Rover understands, so the android should too, right?"
"It might be because you're special."
"Me?"
"Yes. You're conversing with us so naturally right now."
...Huh?
Thinking about it, I was chatting effortlessly with the Hero Party from another world.
I'd assumed the gallery video call being shareable and understandable was because my gallery was special.
'Looking back, on the first day, I could hear people's conversations too.'
If it was just me and my gallery that were special, Elisicia's concern might come true.
'Still, androids learn languages fast, right?'
In any case, by lunchtime, I messaged Golden King from my friends list.
Opponent has declined 1:1 chat.
Friend 'Golden King' has requested 1:1 video call.
"..."
I wondered if he had some illness that required seeing faces to believe anything.
I accepted the video call, and as yesterday, Golden King appeared looking down at me.
"Finally contacted me. Got the item ready?"
"Yes. Let's trade right away."
"I'm looking forward to it. By the way, this next to me is the android you'll receive."
The android Golden King showed was inside a rectangular, transparent box like a coffin.
Just from the appearance, it was a short-haired android with a refined, elegant aura.
'Kinda gives off a classy girl vibe.'
Undeniably prettier than most celebrities, so 7-channel's Yoo Hyun-min would probably like it.
Trade completed.
"So this is the stone that grants superpowers, huh."
"You'll definitely get a good ability."
"With my potential, that's a given."
Without the slightest hesitation, Golden King immediately swallowed the awakening stone.
The stone melted like smoke the moment it touched his tongue, so swallowing was easy.
'The question is what ability he'll get.'
Though it wasn't my ability, I hoped it'd be a good one for him.
'Infinite bullets would be a jackpot.'
For reference, the awakening stone I gave was mid-grade.
At worst, no F-rank—it was guaranteed at least E.
"Got a C-rank ability. It's called [One Strike Block]."
And Golden King revealed an ability that was either a jackpot or a dud.