NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 62: Another Administrator (3)
Chapter 62: Another Administrator (3)
The public area.
An area on every floor that was generated for the purposes of challengers to network.
A place that allowed challengers to get in contact with foreign challengers that they could normally never meet.
‘Being able to network with more challengers… That’s good, right?’
This was the chance to get noticed by all the administrators who’d never run into us in trials.
Lee Sungjin thought that just that would be worth coming to the public area.
‘That’s not all the benefits there are but…’
Using his questions with his contracted administrator, he was able to figure out a bunch of uses for the public area.
Attending auctions, sports battling, gambling, etc…
There were a bunch of facilities that everyone could benefit from.
So Sungjin canceled his plans to return to Earth and opted to come here instead.
But…
Was it because he was summoned vacant alley near the main area where everyone else was?
“Aren’t these bastards all Korean hunters?”
Something strange was going on.
“Yeah. These fuckers are all Korean. And isn’t that one an A rank hunter?”
“Damn, I thought Korea was supposed to be a hunter stronghold or something. I guess even they couldn't do anything about the tower.”
“They were talking like they were so much better than China and now look at them. Fuckin’ slimy ass turds…”
「 Mana cost is increased by 100% due to innate ability ‘Weakening Light’s effect. 」
「 All stats decrease by 20% due to innate ability ‘Territorize’s effect. 」
「 Parts of your body become paralyzed due to innate ability ‘Eye of Fear’s effect. 」
The other challengers who were summoned in the alley used all kinds of debuffs to restrict Lee Sungjin’s movements.
‘What the fuck…?’
He was certain that something bad was about to happen.
In an area with just 6 people, three of them suddenly activated their innate abilities.
Lee Sungjin remembered reading something about having to walk a little bit before reaching the area with all the people in the public area.
Hence, no one would know if a murder occurred here.
“…W-Wait a minute. What do you think you’re doing?”
Startled, Lee Sungjin interrogated the three challengers but…
“Who knows…? What do you think we’re doing? Why don't you think hard about it?”
“There’s no way someone from the hunter stronghold of the world wouldn't know, right?”
“Haha, of course. He’s Korean.”
The three only mocked him.
‘Ah, I think I’m fucked…’
It was true.
Lee Sungjin was an A-rank hunter before he came into the tower.
With all the experience he had dealing with other hunters, he knew what was about to go down.
‘They’re doing this here…? Not even in a trial…?’
They must be trying to kill or neutralize us before taking what they want from us.
The woman standing behind Lee Sungjin started speaking.
“I-It sounds like you’re Chinese from your language but… do you think you can handle it? If we expose you in the community right now it won't go over well.”
Lee Sungjin realized that was also an option just then, but that didn't seem to change their minds.
“And how effective do you think that will be? And even if you can get this news out of the tower, why would anyone believe you over us?”
As if they didn't mind murder as long as it wouldn't cause problems in the outside world.
“Well, that doesn't mean we’ll kill you all.”
“…?”
“If you drop all your equipment and do as we say, we’ll let at least one of you live.”
“…”
Lee Sungjin couldn't help but grimace at their crude tone.
Not only that…
「 Administrator ‘Black Devil’ is keenly observing this situation. 」
「 Administrator ‘Glutton’ tells you to take your hands off their contractor. 」
「 Administrator ‘Black Devil’ laughs and says sucks to suck. 」
「 Administrator ‘Glutton’ warns their contractor to back off. 」
Lee Sungjin’s administrator ‘Glutton’ told the Chinese challenger’s administrator off, to no avail.
‘What should I do…?’
He couldn't figure out a good way to diffuse the situation.
The woman standing behind him took a couple of steps back in fear as well.
“Shall we continue this conversation after you disarm yourselves?”
As the challenger smirked—
“How about we don't?”
The man in the black robe who was standing silently the whole time finally spoke up.
“…What?”
“I said I don't think we should.”
“…Do you know what you’re saying right now?”
“Obviously. I’m saying that we don't have to sit here and listen to your dumbass threats.”
“…Ha, hahaha. That’s funny.”
But his face didn't look very amused.
The aggravated challenger eyed the other two challengers and continued in a cold voice.
“I wonder if you’ll still think that even after you die.”
The worst possible situation seemed inevitable, and Lee Sungjin tensed up.
‘I guess I have to fight…!?’
But something unexpected happened.
Taaang…!
「 Activating the power ‘Sword Ki Master.’ 」
「 Activating the skill ‘Instant Acceleration.’ 」
Sliiit—!
“…Huh?”
The agitated challenger’s head was flying through the air in a blink of an eye.
By none other than the man in the black robe.
***
Reaper Scans
***
Honestly, I had had high expectations for the public area.
It was finally an opportunity to meet other challengers in a non-trial environment…
And that could lead to some proper interactions.
But…
‘More of these people… I’m so sick of it.’
The little expectations I had were completely shattered as soon as I entered.
I couldn't even imagine that challengers from other countries would try to loot items from us.
Disappointment aside, I just didn't like these people.
Threatening people to get what they want…
One of my main skills, ‘Wind’s Blessing,’ was on cooldown but…
「 Activating the skill ‘Forceful Breakthrough.’ 」
「 Activating the skill ‘Mana Resistance.’ 」
They weren’t even otherworldly challengers.
These small fries were a joke at this point.
「 Mana cost increase by 100% has been canceled. 」
「 Stats decrease by 20% has been canceled. 」
「 The paralysis effect has been canceled. 」
‘Easy.’
I cleansed the debuffs off and I felt like myself again.
「 Activating the power ‘Sword Ki Master.’ 」
Slaaaat—!
After decapitating the one standing in the front…
I pushed myself a little faster to run to the other two.
“W-What the fu…! Lightning spe—!”
Ssssggt…!
I sliced in half the guy who was about to activate a skill and…
“E-Eeek! D-don’t ki…!”
Thud…! fr(e)ewebn(o)vel
I kicked the other one who threw away his weapon and conceded.
He flew backward and wallowed in the pain as if a bone had broken.
“Aghhhh…!”
Judging from his face, a broken rib must have punctured one of his organs.
Seeing the tears drop from his bloodshot eyes disgusted me.
He was laughing right before he was about to commit murder but…
Did he not think that he had this coming?
“Ghughhhh. P-Please… G-Give me a cha…”
But I obviously didn't and walked over to give him his finishing blow.
Tup.
“…”
Was it because I barely felt anything now?
「 Achievement ‘Fight Fire With Fire’ unlocked. 」
「 Strength increased by 1. 」
It left a bitter taste in my mouth that I was so desensitized to death.
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ is satisfied with their contractor’s audacity. 」
Of course, the Iron-blooded Monarch seemed to like that.
「 You have absorbed the soul of the player ‘Hyun Moojin’. 」
「 You have absorbed the soul of the player ‘Lee Chunjin’. 」
「 You have absorbed the soul of the player ‘Nam Jinhyun’. 」
「 Proficiency increased by 6.4% 」
They must not have been that strong if it didn't raise my proficiency by that much…
But just their equipment should make this worth it.
‘Anyway, I wanted to see how powerful the Sword Ki was but…’
They weren’t strong enough to serve as a gauge.
‘Well, I’ll get another chance sometime soon.’
Whether it’s back on Earth or here.
I turned around, putting my regrets aside.
Then…
“W-Would you happen to be a ranker…?”
One of the people who was threatened with me was staring.
Like he didn't believe how quickly this situation resolved itself.
“A ranker… well, I guess you could call me that.”
I was always in the top 10 during the trial evaluations, so I figured I qualified to be one.
“I-I see. It’s an honor to meet you. Thank you for your assistance.”
After the man thanked me, the woman followed suit.
“S-Sorry. I should have helped but… it ended faster than I expected…”
I didn't do it for them.
“It’s nothing.”
I didn't have a savior complex and I wasn’t here to save anyone.
They just happened next to me when I was threatened and defended myself.
“You can go now.”
“Yes? B-But as thanks…”
“It’s fine. You can just go.”
“Ah, okay…”
The female challenger seemed like she wanted to do something in return but…
I honestly didn't really want anything from her.
Besides, I doubt it would have been anything that helpful.
As I was about to walk over to the corpses on the floor—
“E-Excuse me…”
A small voice behind me caught my attention.
“Are you still here?”
I stared at the male challenger who hadn’t moved yet.
‘What? I told him I didn't need anything.’
The suspicious challenger opened his mouth.
“Ah, well, I just wanted to give…”
“I said it was fine. Don't worry about it.”
“T-Then how about this?”
“…?”
“Can you let me have the corpses?”
“What…”
He didn't even lift a finger when I was tearing through them.
I frowned at the bullshit he called a proposition.
“Sorry, I don't think…”
“In return, I’ll give you a power through my administrator.”
“Sounds good.”
The male challenger widened his eyes in surprise.
“Oh? R-Really?”
I was serious.
I didn't care about other things, but a power was something else.
A power for three measly corpses?
I was definitely not on the losing end of this deal.
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ admires your quick change of heart. 」
The Iron-blooded Monarch admired this, but this was how humans are.
“I’ll take the power as long as you tell me what it does. I’ll decide what to do after that.”
「 Administrator ‘Glutton’ smiles at your wit. 」
「 Administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’ watches this situation with interest. 」
「 Administrator ‘Black Devil’ is sick of your good fortune. 」
‘What?’
The continuous wall of messages shocked me for a second.
This was more attention than I expected.
But the more eyes I had on me, the more I could get out of it.
I pushed down any emotion that I felt and started speaking monotonously.
“What do you say?”
The challenger nodded his head without hesitation and…
“Okay. To explain this power…”
My eyes widened as I heard his explanation.
I realized I had won a pretty good power as soon as I had walked into the public area.
——
Translator's notes - Or ask me for clarification on our channel in discord!
Mc changing his stance faster than udyr
——
Read latest chapters at f(r)eewebnov𝒆l Only