Chapter 82 - Chapter 84

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 84

Chapter Title: Clue

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Lee Sera, who had been sneaking around the corpses under stealth, shook her head at me.

No stat fragments had dropped at all.

That confirmed it for sure.

'The drop rate must be ridiculously low.'

It wouldn't be easy to get even one from around a hundred corpses.

Twenty-one of them were my kills, so they should have gotten a 10x drop bonus, but even then nothing appeared. The odds had to be insanely slim.

'Good job.'

'Yeah!'

While Lee Sera went off to one side to wash her hands, I called over Han So-hee and handed [Giant Slayer] back to her.

"Hmm?"

She sensed something different about her weapon and examined it closely. A faint energy, absent before, now lingered on the blade, flowing along its edge.

"This is…?"

"Like it?"

"A weapon gaining a story of its own… How did you do it?"

I grinned.

"Put a little effort into it. The edge is chipped and beat-up, but running it through a [Fresh Core] will make it good as new. Keep it quiet from the others."

Han So-hee, usually so poised and impassive, gazed at me with a touched expression. Deep affection swirled in her eyes.

"…Thank you. I keep receiving from you. When we get back to the lodging, carve out some time for me."

"Haha, I'll try."

That meant all three objectives for coming here were complete.

Stat fragments, whispering silverweed, weapon option infusion…

One more thing left, but that could come later.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?!"

Shin Seo-yeon growled low. The harpy, who had been inching toward the Saintess step by sneaky step, flinched.

She had some brains, at least—trying to cozy up near the Saintess, Lee Sera, or Han So-hee.

But the party drill sergeant wouldn't allow it.

"Come here before I roast you crisp?"

She scurried back to Shin Seo-yeon's side, trembling as she kneaded her shoulders.

"When did you learn something like that?"

"Oh, this? I taught her."

Shin Seo-yeon said so, and the harpy behind her nodded eagerly in agreement. Still no clue what they were saying, but she was buttering up hard with enthusiastic responses.

Real social pro.

"Ahh, that hits the spot. So, Dickhead, how'd you tame this thing? A monster following you around—fucking wild."

"I agree! As expected of Min-jun…!"

"You never cease to amaze me."

Led by the Saintess, the other women lit up with excitement. Lee Sera poked the harpy's side.

"Oppa, can I have her?"

"No way, shorty. She's mine."

Right, neither of you.

I spoke to the group eagerly slurping down their kimchi soup.

"Quiet down. Everyone up—we're heading to the Rest Area."

"Alrighty. Where to next?"

The sun was setting by now. The red glow of the sunset dyed the whole world crimson.

It was a spectacular sight.

If not for this brutal Trial system, it would've been perfect to sit on those cliff rocks, gaze endlessly at nature's grandeur, and quietly savor the beauty.

But knowing fatigue would hit at sundown, I hurried the group up to a rocky ledge where we could complete the Trial.

"Ah! We finally made it!"

"At last, farewell to this place."

The women rejoiced at the alert in front of them.

"Come on, let's go. It's 5:44 now, so meet at exactly 7:00."

"Why? Can't we just meet right away?"

"You all want to wash up, right? Handle that in your own lodgings, then we meet."

But even after I said that, the group didn't move to the next Rest Area. Wondering why, I looked over to see Shin Seo-yeon with narrowed eyes.

"Be honest."

"?"

"You're planning to hog something solo again, aren't you."

"...."

"See? He was gonna do something without us and eat it up alone!"

Lee Sera's eyes widened as she shot back.

"For real? Oppa, that's too much!"

Han So-hee crossed her arms and huffed shortly.

"…Disappointing. Aren't we a team? Even if you monopolize it, you could at least let us watch. Though I'm sure you have your reasons."

Only our kind Saintess hurriedly spoke up.

"N-No, everyone, stop. Like So-hee said, Min-jun must have his reasons."

I scratched my head.

I'd figured it might get found out eventually, but not this soon.

'Gotta hand it to the Crimson Flame Witch—she's sharp.'

Or maybe not; Shin Seo-yeon had watched me for 15 years too, so she might've pieced it together faster than expected.

My poker face was solid, but with everything exposed, no point denying it. I laid out the truth.

"We could finish the Trial here and be done, or climb higher for more rewards."

"!!"

"Whoa."

"How is that possible?"

"Intriguing."

"Fuck, basically a hidden piece, right."

Nod.

Shin Seo-yeon nailed it.

Hidden piece.

"How the hell did you know?"

I'd learned it from survivors here, of course. But I went with a more general explanation—no revealing the regression.

"Quests contain clues for clearing Trials, including hidden pieces."

The women started manipulating the air. Checking the Trial background again.

The women blinked, then looked at each other.

"Climber of the cliff… reach the end, your toil rewarded. That must be it."

"Seems right. Mentions divine legacy later—practically confirmed."

Their eyes sparkled.

"Divine legacy! You tried to hog something this epic solo? Hey, Dickhead! For real?! Look me in the eye!"

The Crimson Flame Witch grabbed my collar and shook me wildly.

I raised my hands to calm her.

"We can all go. But there's risk, so…"

"Risk?"

"Yeah. I don't know what's ahead either. That's why I told you to go on. No matter how good the reward, safety first."

The Saintess covered her mouth, eyes shining with emotion.

"See? Min-jun thinks things through…! He was looking out for us. I trusted him!"

Sparkle sparkle. Our innocent Saintess. She really heals me. Han So-hee nodded like that cleared it up, Lee Sera seemed unbothered.

Only Shin Seo-yeon kept shaking my collar.

"Bullshit. What about you? Dangerous or not, we go together! That's what teammates do!"

…Fair enough.

I couldn't baby my women forever like greenhouse flowers.

"Sigh, fine. We all go."

"Hmph. Should've said that sooner."

She finally released my collar with a satisfied smile. I checked the time.

'Let's see. About two hours till nightfall.'

Tight, maybe, but no issue. I could fly now.

"So where to? Just climb randomly?"

"No, you wait here. Even together, gotta scout first."

"Sound judgment."

Han So-hee agreed readily. I beckoned the harpy. Her face lit up; she bolted from Shin Seo-yeon to me.

I raised my arms. The harpy, senses sharpened by Shin Seo-yeon, spread her wings, flew over, and extended her legs.

Grip.

'Hope she can handle the flight.'

My worries proved baseless; grabbing her legs lifted me effortlessly into the air.

"Whoa!"

The women gawked.

"Dickhead, my turn!"

"Oppa, me too, me too!"

The instinct to soar freely like a bird—universal in humans.

The Saintess and Han So-hee didn't say it outright, but shot envious looks.

"Next time. Gotta check if it's safe first. Wait here, So-hee. Keep things smooth."

"Got it. Go worry-free."

Thus, gripping the harpy's legs, I ascended the cliff.

Swooooosh!

My form shot toward the summit. Scenery rushed past from above.

Who could've predicted climbing this cliff so easily?

'Taking a while.'

Despite top speed, the cliff seemed endless.

Up and up, nothing but rock. Cold winds chilled my skin.

I checked my position.

'Those who got the hidden piece were impressive.'

They had flight or wall-run skills to make it easier…

Still, scaling this height? Respect.

Even I, with stats nearing 400, would've taken ages clawing up.

'Hm? Finally?'

After endless ascent, we reached the summit.

High.

Five times the Trial's requirement. Snow blanketed the peak.

'No dangers for now…'

No monsters, no presence. Not even a tree.

Just one building standing abruptly atop the mountain.

'That's it. The spot for the hidden piece.'

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