Chapter 27 Win-Win b 4}

“Not everyone is like you. Don’t you know how scary a vengeful person is?”

Ragna was now pretty worked up.

“Isn’t this Kang Hyung-woo like that? Because of you, he burned your parent’s factory down! I think that human Lee Chang-hoon is just the same!”

He wasn’t sure why she was getting all worked up over matters that didn’t concern her. However, Yoon-seok did realize how serious it was. Lee Chang-hoon’s skills were worthless. If he were honest, he was confident that he could take a few of him simultaneously.

However, Lee Chang-hoon was a decently strong monster in the eyes of the general public. What if, desperate that he lost his armor, he went back to Earth and murdered his family? It would end before the police were even called.

“You said someone cast a vote against him, right? Then we’ll be fine for now. Once nominated, the nominee isn’t able to use a ticket.”

He didn’t know about this. Only then did Yoon-seok settle down to listen to Ragna.

“As soon as he gets back to the waiting room, he’ll buy a ticket and tear them apart. Go kill him.”

She was talking as if it were a matter of course. Was murder normal in her world? Yoon-seok wondered, but perhaps he wasn’t aware that he had already adapted to the environment since leaving Earth.

He returned the grenade he took from her.

“As I said, I can steal equipment from a defeated challenger.”

“I know what you’re trying to say. It’ll be okay; this isn’t equipment.”

Yoon-seok nodded slowly with relief. With this grenade and her Unique Skills, the chances of her losing were low unless she was struck with bad luck. No ordinary challenger could survive her power when it almost killed him before he could move.

“When you return after things are finished, let me know what happened in the chat.”

“But I’m going up to the fifth floor now?”

“I guess you never checked the chat room. You can only go up if you win three times on the fourth floor.”

Yoon-seok, now a little embarrassed, avoided her gaze.

If he got to return, he made a promise to check the chat room while he trained.

“Oh, and before you tear up your ticket, you might want to buy some useful skills. I’ve heard that even kings can’t kill people recklessly in your world?”

Yoon-seok was grateful that Ragna took things seriously as if they were her own family. It was unexpected. No one would expect to know someone in an arena like this where two people were supposed to kill each other.

‘Then, is my relationship with the Heavenly Devil also a good one?’

She said see you again sometime. Yoon-seok realized that he was looking forward to that meeting. They would be able to talk and laugh with each other, which was true for Ragna. Yoon-seok, who was only ever focused on winning like a runaway train, felt warmth for the first time in his life.

“Don’t look at me like that. You didn’t do anything bad to me even when you could. And you even returned the grenade.”

“Bad things..? Oh...”

When Yoon-seok became flustered as he realized what Ragna was talking about, she grinned. Indeed, that thought never even cross his mind.

“Good for good, evil for evil. This is the ironclad rule of our family.”

“Since good and good met, then it’s a win-win. Anyway, thank you.”

As Yoon-seok lowered his head, Ragna asked what a “win-win” was. He explained the meaning of the word, and she replied, ‘Well, that’s right. Win-win,’ and laughed.

“You said there was a place for everyone to meet, right? If I decide to stay here, I’ll wait for you there.”

“..But I’m thinking of going back as soon as I can?”

“..”

“It means you want me to survive, right? Thank you. And it was nice meeting you.”

Ragna closed her eyes. Blaming his incapability of not being able to provide her a painless death, Yoon-seok pushed his sword into her forehead without saying a word.

「Victory.」

「128,000 AP will be given as a reward.」

「Unique Skill {Predation} is activated.」

「Acquire one of your opponent’s skills at random.」

「Acquired Unique Skill {Merchant of Death}.」

「Looting one of your opponent’s equipment at random.」

「Looted the Alchemist’s Lab Coat b Rank F}.」

「Absorb some of your opponent’s highest ability.」

「Absorb agility b 1,500/48,000}.」

「Go to the waiting room on the fourth floor.」

「Please prepare for the next duel.」

‘Win-win...’

Yoon-seok had this thought when he saw the word victory. Perhaps the world wasn’t only divided into winners and losers.

* * *

「Your purchase has arrived.」

「Please check the description of the new product.」

After purchasing the ticket, Yoon-seok continued to browse the store. If Lee Chang-hoon wanted to take revenge in real life, he needed skills strong enough to stop him. It was one problem to protect his parents, but as Ragna said, in a law-governed country like South Korea, he couldn’t just rip his head off in front of others. Even if he decided to remain in the Tower, Yoon-seok didn’t want to be labeled as a criminal on Earth.

*Invisibility {Rank F} – Hide from others’ senses and remain invisible. If you make a lot of noise or actively draw attention, the skill will be canceled. But, if the magic rank differs by three grades and above, it will be ruled as Absolute Hiding and undetected without enemy Detection Skills. Price: 5,000 AP

*Tracking b Rank F} – Detects all abnormal signals within a radius of 25 meters. Price: 2,000AP

*Tracing {Rank F} – Leaves a mark on the victim through touch. You can feel the direction of the subject with a trace for 24 hours. Wait 720 seconds to reuse. Price: 2,000AP

*Eyes of Truth b Rank E} – By looking into one’s eyes, you can tell whether the target’s words are true or false. If you have mastered the mental guarding techniques or if the rank of magic differs by more than 1 level, failure is possible. Wait 180 seconds to reuse. Price: 6,000AP

*Dismantlement {Rank F} – Dismantle a dead body completely by consuming its Mana. Wait 1200 seconds to reuse. Price: 5,000 AP

He used 20,000 AP to acquire these skills. He wouldn’t have bought these non-combat skills and wasted AP if it weren’t for Lee Chang-hoon..

He was trying to make up for his mistakes, so he didn’t want to think about the possibility of messing up just because he wanted to save AP.

‘It will help someday if you learn..’

Yoon-seok let go of his lingering feelings by repeating the proverb, “Blessing in disguise.” He also used up another 12,000 AP to raise his E-rank magic levels to b D}. He didn’t know if humans had mana, but even if he was an b F} with a three-level difference, it meant he wouldn’t get caught on Earth.

‘Although it won’t work on Lee Chang-hoon..well, that’s too bad.’

He still had a lot of unused AP left, but his preparations to return were complete. Yoon-seok bought a ticket from the quick list and tore it without hesitation.

「Return ticket Rank F was used.」「Returning to Earth.」

Four days in Earth time. It was Yoon-seok’s first return in twenty-three days.

* * *

Scattered liquor bottles and clothes. An unorganized place that looked like a mess.

‘Where am I?’

Ironically, that was the first thought he had as soon as he opened his eyes. Yoon-seok looked around blankly for a while before realizing that this was the hotel room he stayed in before being abducted. After he left, the place was naturally checked out, and another guest was already staying there.

Sshaaaaaaaaaa.

The sound of water came from the direction where he remembered the bathroom was. They seemed to be taking a shower, which was fortunate for Yoon-seok. The clothes on the floor belonged to a female guest, but they didn’t seem to have any company. If Yoon-seok came back while a man and a woman were making love..

‘..Makes me dizzy just thinking about it.’

Yoon-seok moved so he could get out of the hotel room quickly.

Tuk.

The door handle of the bathroom was spinning. Why didn’t the sound of the water stop? Did they leave something behind? He would never know as he quietly chanted: ‘Hidden.’

He could feel the magic respond to the skill and spread throughout his body. Magic couldn’t be used if it weren’t commanded by skills, but it was different to feel it with his body. However, maybe a little time was needed for invisibility to work; the woman made eye contact with Yoon-seok for half a second before screaming.

“Ahh! What! Huh..?

The woman, who got flustered after seeing Yoon-seok disappear without a trace, soon looked very frightened. As if she’d seen a ghost.

“Is it working?’

It wasn’t an immediate activation, but it did save him. Although the girl did make eye contact with him, it seemed like she couldn’t see him anymore.

‘It said complete invisibility, but this is crazy.’

Yoon-seok moved to an out of the way corner while admiring the skill. He hadn’t left for a simple reason. He’d leave her with an irrevocable trauma if he opened the door and walked out right now.

“..”

Hoping that she’d go back and wash up, Yoon-seok tried not to look over at her. The woman in her shower gown scanned the room with a suspicious expression, clearly looking for someone who was hiding. Then, still wary of her surroundings, she approached her carrier carefully and flicked open a baton she had stowed inside.historical

‘Wait, why does she have that?’

Seeing how the stick clicked into place when the button was pressed, it seemed like electricity was flowing through it. Who was she to be carrying that around..?

As he scanned through the alcohol and clothes on the floor, they all looked like expensive brands.

‘Do rich people carry that stuff around? I don’t think Hye-in does..wait, does she?’

Now that he thought about it, Kang Hye-in at least carried pepper spray in her bag after the incident. In that aspect, she might be a little unusual, but not completely weird..

“Come out while I’m still feeling nice. I know you’re here.”

He was stunned by the woman’s murmuring. Yoon-seok was relieved that the woman was looking elsewhere instead of facing him. It could just be a bluff.

Doesn’t everyone do that sometimes? When you murmur to yourself after feeling someone’s presence in an empty house. Maybe had to look around the hotel room to feel safe, as she soon put the baton back into her carrier.

Then she returned to the bathroom with her cleanser, which was her original intention.

Sshaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Patter! Patter!

‘Sorry for startling you.’

As soon as he heard the water restart, Yoon-seok apologized in his mind and left carefully through the front door.

Click

“..I knew someone was outside.”

Not knowing that she had her ear pressed against the bathroom door.