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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Negotiation
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I know the Crimson Flame Witch better than anyone.
Of course. There's no one who knows her better than I do. Probably even better than her own parents.
"Seo-yeon, come here for a sec."
"Huh? What?"
"Over here for a moment."
I strode into the hallway out of sight from the balcony, and Shin Seo-yeon followed before stopping and staring at me with half-lidded eyes.
"What is it? This creepy feeling. What are you scheming?"
...Oops. In my knowledge of her, I'd forgotten she knows me pretty well too. I flashed an innocent smile to lower her guard.
"Nothing like that. But I've noticed the harpy's been extra nice to you."
"Yeah, right? She's a bit dim, but she's got good instincts and knows how to suck up."
Shin Seo-yeon let out a snort and crossed her arms as she stepped into the hallway with me. I lowered my voice to a whisper.
"So, I've got a special offer just for you."
"?"
"Wanna invest?"
"...What? Out of nowhere."
I beckoned her closer. Still suspicious but intrigued, she approached. I dropped my voice even lower.
"With the harpy. How about investing in raising her?"
"Ha? I already chipped in money."
"Yeah, the cash is covered. What I mean is... if she lays eggs, I'll give you 20% of the shares."
Shin Seo-yeon's eyes went wide. That's right. Now the interest is sparking.
The Crimson Flame Witch rolled her eyes before belatedly schooling her expression into feigned disinterest.
"Hmph. Who knows."
"Think about it. If we play it right, you'll get fat stacks periodically, like stock dividends."
"..."
But she huffed dismissively, her face unreadable. Her expressions really are Oscar-worthy. Of course, her toes were wiggling excitedly underneath.
"...Fine, whatever. How much?"
"100 points per visit to the Rest Area."
"And 20% shares?"
"Exactly."
Hm. Shin Seo-yeon pondered for a moment before shaking her head and turning away sharply.
"Nah. I'll pass."
"Huh?"
...She's passing?
What's gotten into her? No way she'd turn this down.
Is she different from the first timeline's Shin Seo-yeon?
The one who constantly failed investments, wore a perpetual scowl, hunted down scammers and burned them alive as a daily routine—rejecting an investment?
Sabak. Sabak.
But her footsteps were glacially slow. Practically one step, pause, one step, pause.
"Shin Seo-yeon?"
Curious, I called out, and like she'd been waiting, she whipped around with a grin, chin raised.
"Well... I'm not interested, but if you're begging that hard, I guess I have no choice. But I've got conditions."
"?"
"50%."
She splayed her right hand wide, flashing her teeth in a smirk.
"Give me 50% shares. The harpy's like my little sister. I'll be the one dragging her around, teaching her everything anyway. Least you can do is give me that much."
...There we go. As if the Crimson Flame Witch would pass on an investment. Like a sparrow flying past a mill. I waved her off.
"Forget it. I'll handle it all myself."
"W-Wait."
"I'll invest my own money and eat it all up. Feels cleaner that way."
I brushed past her toward the living room, but she grabbed me quick and yanked me back into the hallway.
"H-Hold on. 50% too much? F-Fine, 40%! I'm compromising at 40%!"
"I'll just do it solo..."
"Argh!"
Shin Seo-yeon tried desperately to haggle up her shares, but she's hopeless at negotiations.
Her only tactic is lighting up flames and growling, "Wanna die?"
Against someone she can't kill, she's a total pushover.
Plus, her impatience had her greedy eyes screaming she wouldn't sleep tonight without investing.
Finally, she threw up her hands.
"Fine! Your way! But 20% of profits. No take-backs!"
Oh, I figured she'd demand 20% of sales. She's undercutting herself?
[The deal has been made.]
"Here. 100 points."
The Crimson Flame Witch giggled as she headed to the balcony.
"Harpy! Come play with sis! Aww, our cute little thing...!"
I watched her with a satisfied smile.
Steady 100-point income from now on. Not bad.
Truth be told, I'd love to squeeze more, but Shin Seo-yeon's got 42 points left.
Draining her dry would raise suspicions, even from the Crimson Flame Witch.
This amount hits just right.
'Plus, with her own money on the line, she'll harass the harpy less.'
She might even spoil her with extra food to lay eggs faster. Shin Seo-yeon treats profitable allies surprisingly well.
'And hogging this solo would cause issues anyway.'
Whether she invested or not, I planned to split 1/5 per person from the start. We're living together, rubbing elbows—favor one, neglect another?
Instant drama.
And we'll all be teaching and caring for the harpy together. Benefits can't go to one alone.
Split evenly by headcount.
'She'll bitch about it then, but cross that bridge later.'
Whew. Harpy's food bill is settled.
Successfully offloading costs to the Crimson Flame Witch, I finally quelled the anxiety and obsession swirling in my head.
'...Honestly, now that things are going well, I could ditch that miser habit.'
It pops up habitually sometimes.
A lingering trauma. A neurosis from grinding 10 years in this hopeless hellhole.
Anyone who reached the final Trial had it.
The Reaper Yi Se-ra lost her sense of taste; Crimson Flame Witch Shin Seo-yeon spiraled into overspending.
Others suffered kleptomania, exhibitionism, masochism, alcoholism... all sorts.
'Mine's snapping at pointless spending, scrambling to recoup it.'
Failed investments? Fine. Splurging? Okay. But wasted money with zero value? I can't endure it.
Have to offset my own waste to feel right.
'Maybe a penalty for fully remembering the first timeline.'
I know I should change, but it's a stubborn habit.
Nothing lasts forever. Time will fix it eventually.
"I'll go wash up too. Harpy, bath with sis."
「Gyaang...!」
"Me too!"
While the three bathed in one bathroom, I headed to the empty one.
The hot water bliss?
I zoned out under the shower and emerged to find time flown—everyone washed, hair dried, chatting in a circle.
"Give me all the Intelligence stat fragments! I'll take 'em!"
"I need Agility or Stamina."
Holding stat fragments, they were trading usable ones from rewards.
"Huh? Dickhead's back?"
As I approached, the Saintess and Han So-hee scooted over, making space.
"What's your rank?"
"Me? 1st."
"Yeah, right, 1st... what?!"
My casual reply made Shin Seo-yeon, nodding along, pop her eyes wide. The other women stared up in unison, eyes bulging.
"Eh? 1-1st?"
"No way!"
"O-oppa, insane."
"You truly are..."
Fair enough. First out of 1.5 billion—impressive even to the clueless.
"Grade?!"
"S-Rank."
"Rewards!"
Curious, I explained S-Rank rewards kindly. Shin Seo-yeon yelled enviously.
"Fuck, that's a ton! They give that much?!"
"Hm, the S-Rank perk?"
"Nah. Probably 'cause it's 1st."
"Could be."
No special 1st-place bonus. Too bad.
"What grades did you get?"
I asked, though I could guess. They chimed B-Rank.
'...Yeah, explains the stat fragments rolling around.'
A weird feeling hit. Future S-Rank talents, who'd have hit at least A without me, stuck at B...
'Second Trial was just cliff practice. Low eval.'
They basically leeched off me.
Hidden pieces boosted scores some, but can't baby the party anymore.
'Gotta ensure S-Ranks next time.'
Can't miss these rewards.
Still, not a total loss. Tons of climbing XP gained.
No more flailing on cliffs later. They suffered hard early on.
"Dickhead, got leftover stat fragments? Cough up Intelligence ones."
"Already absorbed."
"Tch, shame."
...Anyway, Shin Seo-yeon's still clueless.
All-in Intelligence? Her stubbornness is something.
'Raid boss firepower will be nuts, though. Not bad.'
Boosts my Primordial Flame too. Positive.
"Stats the end? Hiding 1st-place extras?"
"We share lodging. What would I hide?"
"...Still don't trust ya."
Then she and Yi Se-ra rummaged under beds and everywhere.
Watching their pointless frenzy, that's when it hit.
[Successfully registered on the rankings.]
[Resident privilege: Additional rewards based on grade.]
Fragments materialized in the air, raining down. Shin Seo-yeon, digging drawers, yelped as they pelted her waist.
"Ack! What the—?!"
Unexpected.
Costume Random Box?
I counted the fragments scattered on the floor.
'One, two, three, four... seven.'
Seems resident privilege gives these per ranking spot.
Shin Seo-yeon rubbed her waist, picked one up, and eyed me jealously.
"Damn, so jealous. Wanna take 1st too."
She mistook it for 1st-place reward.
Yi Se-ra and the Saintess glanced at bunny-suited Han So-hee, eyes sparkling.
"Oppa, costumes for me too."
"I want one this time."
They pocketed one or two each slyly.
"..."
...Useless singly.
"Hand 'em over. Junk you can't use holding individually."
The Saintess relinquished hers reluctantly.
Aigoo, our Saintess is greedy too. Holding two, no less.
"Yi Se-ra? Flat chest means it'll bulge. Seo-yeon, move your ass before I make you."
Shin Seo-yeon, greediest, sat on three.
And her?
"Harpy, that's not food."
「Gyaang...?」
I collected all fragments, stood, and dressed fully. Han So-hee moved with me.
"Going somewhere?"
"Buy ingredients. Tired of vending machine junk, right?"
"Safe? Outside looked dicey."
"What happened?"
The women, including Shin Seo-yeon, looked puzzled. Only Han So-hee saw.
"Fine. Got a way."
"Way?"
"Yeah. Safe trip. Stay put."
I checked my watch. Just past midnight. Daily skill cooldown reset. Beckoned Yi Se-ra.
"You. Binding with me a bit."
"Got it. Your Stealth for sneaking. But tight? Lasted little when using Seo-yeon's power."
"Ah."
10-minute duration, but enough if no mishaps.
"Guard the place. Back soon."
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