[Sung Yujin]
[Level: 18]
[Strength: 14 Stamina: 12 Agility: 12 Intelligence: 2 Vitality: 15]
[Available Points: 4]
This was my current Point and stat information.
I had been raising my stats solely through exercise, without using any Points.
At least my Strength has improved somewhat... but considering I've been exercising consistently for nearly a month, the progress is disappointingly slow.
Initially, I was thrilled to discover that my stats could increase without using Points. But as time passed, I realized that using Points to raise stats was dozens of times more efficient.
Still, I prioritized other things over stats first.
In the world of Vampire Detectives, I figured these stats would be more than enough to get by.
What really caught my attention was my unique trait: Youngcheon Style.
[Youngcheon Style Lv. 5]
[You can now use Youngcheon Style.]
My mastery of Youngcheon Style had advanced. I was confident that, unless I let my guard down, I wouldn't lose in pure close combat to any Hunter ranked E or lower.
If I could, I'd level it up even further.
[Use 80 Points to increase Youngcheon Style?]
[Insufficient Points.]
It had cost 30 Points to reach Level 5, but the next level required more than double that amount.
At this rate, I'd need to spend at least a month in the Game World just to scrape together enough Points.
Points are calculated and awarded based on my actions in the Game World. Doing nothing earns few points, while any action, however small, yields more.
But it's not like rampaging wildly guarantees a massive payout... I can't quite grasp the mechanics. This is a headache.
Ultimately, what I need to do is actively participate in the Game World. Or, as the name suggests, simply enjoy the game.
Four points... Time for a random draw! Let's gooooo!
Red socks. One additional inventory slot. Clown mask. Water balloon.
I was satisfied.
"This is a pretty good haul. Expanding my inventory is always a win."
[Current Inventory:]
1. Human corpse 2. Human corpse
3. Human Corpse
4. -
***
I clicked my tongue as I checked my inventory.
Three gangster corpses. Nearly two months had passed in the Game World, and I'd completely forgotten to dispose of them. I'd been too busy enjoying myself, swinging my dick at the ladies, to remember.
"There wasn't a good place to dump them anyway... I'll have to get rid of them if I get the chance this time."
Upon entering the Vampire Detective world, I immediately surveyed my surroundings. It was the motel where I'd spent the day rolling around with Hera.
As expected, nothing had changed. I pulled out my smartphone and checked the news articles.
-Secret Meeting Between National Assemblyman and Japanese Upper House Member Four Months Ago! What Was Discussed?!
-National Assemblyman Kim Piljung: "I did meet with a member of the Japanese Upper House, but the conversation wasn't about economics it was about the upcoming Olympics."
- National Assemblyman's Treasonous Acts. At a Time Like This?!
- Traitorous Assemblyman Kim Piljung and the Traitorous Corporations He Collaborated With. The Profits They Pocketed Exceed 70 Billion Won.
- The Prosecution: "The Investigation Is Underway. We Will Disclose the Details Once Significant Progress Has Been Made." Is the Investigation Truly Proceeding Properly?
- Protests Demanding the Resignation of National Traitor Kim Piljung! Gwanghwamun Protests for the Republic of Korea!
"They're finally breaking the story now."
Han Seongun, the reporter who broke this information, likely squeezed every last drop of profit from it before releasing it.
This wasn't surprising. I had known this would come out eventually. The media would dissect and chew on this scandal for at least three days.
What truly caught my attention were the stories buried beneath the traitorous news:
- Seoul's Growing Unease: Over 30 Murders Reported This Month Alone.
-Stabbing incident at dawn in the park.
-Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunshots heard in the night. What's the truth behind them?
"Seoul's really gone to hell lately. Even Madam sighed about the growing number of Vampire Hunters in the city."
Madam Kim Miok and I are quite close. We meet up often for some fun, so it's no surprise we're tight.
Now that we're close, she slips me all sorts of intel, mostly warnings to be careful.
Was crashing that high-speed bus into the headquarters entrance a bit much? No matter how I look at it, it seems like that's what drew Vampire Hunters from all over the country to Seoul.
As the news articles show, Seoul's public safety is crumbling. If even ordinary citizens can feel it, you can imagine how bad it is in the underworld.
"More than three rooms have closed down recently because of this."
The grim situation had forced temporary closures. Fortunately, I'd visited all the affected establishments before.
"Let's see... I've been to most of the Top 10% rooms in Gangnam. Maybe I'll try a room in Incheon this time."
Gangnam was considered the pinnacle of the industry, but I'd heard Incheon had its own merits.
"But before that... I need to make some money."
Approximately 3 billion won.
That's how much I'd spent on entertainment expenses in the Game World.
When funds ran low, I'd sell information or extort money through blackmail, but those methods were reaching their limits. I had barely any immediately usable intelligence left.
Vrrr.
My smartphone vibrated. A message had arrived on the Taker-exclusive messenger app.
"Huh? It's Moon Ji-Hyeok. I gave him information about that marriage scammer two weeks ago, and he's already contacting me again?"
This was unexpected. I thought Moon Ji-Hyeok wouldn't reach out again until at least next month.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: Taker.
Taker: What?
Moon Ji-Hyeok: Do you know that vampires actually exist?
"Ah-ha."
I chuckled.
At this point, Moon Ji-Hyeok was indeed juggling his duties as a detective, leveraging his vampire's enhanced physique, while simultaneously scrambling to gather information about vampires.
Later, while chasing a hit-and-run suspect through the countryside, he'll stumble upon a hidden vampire. It's from that vampire that he'll obtain crucial information, marking the true beginning of the drama's plot.
In other words, it wasn't time yet. If Moon Ji-Hyeok already knew about vampires, he wouldn't have any reason to send me this message.
Taker: Are you testing me? Everyone who needs to know about vampires already does.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: Are vampires famous in the underworld?
Taker: Not exactly famous. Vampires who are sane move cautiously.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: I want to buy information about vampires.
Taker: About vampire organizations? I know a few hideouts.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: There are vampire organizations too?
Taker: South America and Africa are practically vampire territory. In Europe, Vampire Hunters have a slight edge. North America is almost entirely Vampire Hunter territory.
Taker: Why do you need this information?
Taker: Did you turn into a vampire or something?
Moon Ji-Hyeok: No. I just encountered vampires while working.
I chuckled. Moon Ji-Hyeok's reply had been delayed by about five seconds.
"Knowing the original story really is a game-changer. It's like Moon Ji-Hyeok is right in the palm of my hand."
Taker: What specific information about vampires are you looking for?
Moon Ji-Hyeok: Vampire characteristics and weaknesses. Information about vampires in Korea. And detailed information about Vampire Hunters.
"Hmm..."
I pondered.
The information Moon Ji-Hyeok wanted was exactly what I already knew. My dilemma was deciding how much to reveal to him.
"Seoul has a lot of Vampire Hunters, so I need to teach you enough to avoid getting caught by them."
Taker: 1.5 million won. Deposit the money, and I'll share the information I have.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: Deposited.
Taker: The biggest weakness of vampires is that they're weak during the day and strong at night.
But even during the day, if they're in a place completely shielded from sunlight, they become as vibrant as they are at night.
Conversely, even at night, if they're exposed to artificial sunlight, their physical abilities weaken, though not as much as during the day.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: Are there any other weaknesses?
Taker: Yes. They're extremely vulnerable to silver. Silver weapons are a major weakness for vampires, and even True Ancestors are no exception.
If a silver bullet hits their arm, they might have to cut it off.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: True Ancestor... what's that?
Taker: They're vampires with supernatural powers who can turn humans into vampires. Information about True Ancestors is pretty rare, so I don't know much myself.
Taker: Oh, and vampires don't reflect in Mercury Mirrors. With just a Mercury Mirror, you can easily distinguish between ordinary people and vampires.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: What about vampires operating in South Korea?
Taker: I don't know the exact number, but I heard there are over 3,000. Most of them live in hiding.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: For that price, this information is a bit disappointing. What about Vampire Hunters?
I chuckled at Moon Ji-Hyeok's grumbling.
1.5 million won is expensive? I'm practically giving him a protagonist's special discount, selling this information for just 1.5 million won.
"Well, I guess detective salaries are pretty meager."
Taker: "The reason it's so expensive is because of the information about the Vampire Hunters. It's not something just anyone can get."
Moon Ji-Hyeok: "Alright, tell me."
Taker: "The Vampire Hunters' organization is called the Black Cross Society, and their headquarters are in Apgujeong."
Taker: "You know about the recent Ghost Bus accident, right? The building that bus crashed into was the Korean Black Cross Society headquarters. Rumor has it, it was a vampire attack."
Taker: "Because of that, Vampire Hunters from all over the country have converged on Seoul. They're hunting vampires like they're lice."
Moon Ji-Hyeok: "How dangerous are the Vampire Hunters?"
Taker: "They don't bother ordinary people. But they'll kill vampires without hesitation."
Taker: I heard the Takers are armed with silver weapons and undergo training even more rigorous than special forces to fight vampires.
Taker: Plus, Vampire Hunters are allied with the Korean government. The National Intelligence Service probably works with them too.
Taker: Vampires are monsters from a human perspective, so they cooperate to kill them.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: Is that all?
Taker: That's all I know about Korea. I don't know much about foreign affairs, but should I tell you what I do know?
Moon Ji-Hyeok: No, that's enough.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: But have you ever heard rumors about vampires who become human?
Taker: Oh, that? I've heard of it, but I don't know the details. A True Ancestor might know more.
Moon Ji-Hyeok: Got it. Let's trade again sometime.
Taker: Yeah, thanks as always.
Huff.
I turned off my smartphone. Thanks to this, Moon Ji-Hyeok had obtained information about the Vampire Hunter faster than in the original timeline.
Since I had also told him about the Mercury Mirror, he would likely act with extreme caution.
"Moon Ji-Hyeok needs to stay alive at least until the Life Orb appears. That way, I can conveniently snatch it."
I stood up.
"Time to make some money."
If selling information was no longer profitable, I could simply exploit the original story's details to earn money.
Leaving the motel, I approached a black sedan parked in the parking lot. I had stolen one of the cars from the airport's long-term parking area, of course covering my face with a neck warmer mask during the theft.
I made sure not to be caught on the dashcam of any other parked cars, and even if I were, there would be no clues to identify me.
[Hacking successful.]
[You have 3 minutes to hack the K19 car.]
The car was a K19, a domestic model I actually liked.
I'd learned from a previous experiment that if you turned on the power while hacking, it would remain on even after the hacking time expired.
The same applied to cars. Once the engine was started, it wouldn't shut off even after the hacking time ran out. All I needed to do was trick the system into thinking the key was still inserted.
"Feels just like playing a game, doesn't it?"
Settling into the driver's seat, I started the car without even touching the steering wheel, relying solely on hacking. Hacking was incredibly convenient no complicated procedures, just moving the car with my thoughts.
Still, when exiting the parking lot, I gripped the wheel and drove manually.
No license, but driving's a piece of cake.
Just watch out for traffic ahead, behind, and to the sides, and pay attention to the traffic lights. It wasn't too difficult.
Occasionally, drivers behind or beside me would act up, but I'd just flip them off with sincere enthusiasm and ignore them completely.
I should get my license soon. Driving's surprisingly fun.
Thump!
As I turned into an alley, I lightly bumped into a utility pole I hadn't noticed.
"...Well, it's not my car anyway."
I decided to stay positive.
"Let's go to the airport again tomorrow."