Chapter 148 - Chapter 150

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 150

Chapter Title: New Ability

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'[Emergency Flight] is gone?'

The existing Emergency Flight ability had been deleted, and in its place was a completely different power.

Feeding mana stones like this causes the initial abilities to evolve. They transform into more advanced skills in that field.

That's why it's so crucial what ability you get at the start and which stats rise.

Those factors determine the pet's final growth path.

'That's why those who carry monsters for combat sometimes abandon their pets if the desired ability doesn't appear.'

In more sensitive cases, they dispose of them just because the stats aren't satisfactory.

The stingy ones sell them at the shop, while those who grow attached release them into the Trials regions.

...I've seen countless such abandoned companion monsters.

Monsters sitting blankly at the end of the Trials, waiting for their departed masters.

Clutching the items their masters gave them tightly, waiting endlessly until their day of deletion for owners who will never return. I still can't forget those creatures.

So once, I asked:

-Why throw them away? Why not just carry multiple ones?

-...It's because I don't have the money.

'They do cost a fortune.'

Look at this chubby-cheeked little guy grinning away.

"Gyaang!"

Having scarfed down over 140 mana stones right there on the spot, it kept peeking at my palm, wondering if there were more.

And that's not all. The food bill was no joke either.

Just before coming down earlier, I checked the fridge. All that meat I'd prepared for it to snack on when hungry was almost completely devoured.

With prices rising the further you go, raising multiple pets was impossible unless you were seriously wealthy.

"[Wind Sorcerer]... At least it dodged the chicken-farming tech tree completely."

"Gya...?"

"It's a thing. Don't worry, you're not it."

In any case, the ability evolving from [Common] to [Epic] was good news.

And out of all possible abilities, it had to be one as versatile as wind.

'Let's see, next up are the new abilities?'

Pets can usually acquire up to two abilities before evolution. I focused on the newly awakened harpy's power.

"Huh."

And let out a hollow laugh.

I remembered seeing this ability somewhere before.

"Weather prediction... So the second skill is a bust."

The law of the jungle. In the Selection Process, where fighting and surviving by any means is paramount, a non-combat ability like this was practically the worst.

Look at my own Luck? Useless anywhere that matters.

"Gyaang? What's up?"

I stroked Rang's head as it tilted its own in confusion.

"Yeah, your second skill is total trash. But don't worry. I won't abandon you."

"Kyaaang."

It might not have understood the words, but it picked up on the positive outcome and clung to me like a cicada, beaming as it kneaded my hair.

I let Rang play while readjusting my mindset.

'On the other hand, it might not be so bad.'

Combat power? Me and my party have plenty.

No—Shin Seo-yeon alone is more than enough.

Her [Primordial Flame], maxed into Intelligence just like in my first run, took down even the labyrinth monster everyone thought invincible in a mere 20 minutes.

'A pet geared toward utility like this might actually be better.'

These little things stack up to reduce variables and boost survival rates.

"Gyaang!"

The harpy playfully whipped up gusts of wind around me.

Pretty strong breeze. Strong enough to easily launch a person into the air. Smiling at the power, I stepped out of the training grounds.

'Huh?'

My vision flipped instantly, and a notification appeared.

This was my third summons, so I didn't panic. I lifted my head and directed my gaze to the being at the center of the room.

A goddess radiating pure white light stood there in a suit, busily staring into empty space.

Countless screens floated in the air, displaying tiny text with information, but unfortunately, I couldn't read it.

"Hey, Goddess. Long time no see. Or... not really."

At my greeting, she glanced at me briefly through her haughty-looking glasses before returning her eyes to the screens.

'Feels like she's drawing a line to avoid getting dragged into my mess. Just my imagination?'

Curious, I approached the busy goddess and shamelessly struck up a conversation.

"At least this time you summoned me while I was in the Rest Area. If you'd done this from the start, things would've been so much smoother for both of us."

"..."

"Goddess? You listening? Why summon someone and then just keep working?"

Only then did she furrow her brow and look at me.

Probably, I was the only Selection Process participant who could talk to her like this.

Maybe the only one she'd even met.

"Anyway, Goddess. Mind if I ask one thing?"

"...What?"

"Is it common for you to consult like this?"

"As if. You're a Resident, so you get special treatment. Refugees can't even have a face-to-face with me."

As expected. Just being able to meet the goddess was a Resident privilege.

With my curiosity sated and having successfully pulled her into conversation, I got to the point.

"So, why'd you call me this time?"

I had a guess, of course.

She let out a short sigh, looked me straight in the eye, and spoke businesslike.

"Kang Min-jun. Of the money you and your party earned on [Sacrifice Island], 78 million points can only be spent on lodging upgrades."

"..."

Meaning 78 million points were frozen.

"That's the Management Bureau's final decision."

In short, just as I'd feared, they'd patched the exploit we'd used.

Imposed restrictions.

I stared straight at the goddess. Her face was calm and cold, unlike usual.

'No negotiating with someone like this.'

As she'd said, the decision was already made.

She'd summoned me here just to 'notify' me of the fait accompli.

'...The clueless ones will throw tantrums about their money-making route being blocked.'

But you have to pick your battles.

Ranting at someone who'd come locked and loaded? That's begging to be killed.

In other words, now was the time to accept gracefully.

"Okay, got it."

Her expression turned surprised.

"Why look at me like that?"

"...You're accepting this easily?"

"You said it was decided. Arguing against a done deal is just abuse of power."

The decision was final. Best to move on smoothly without ruffling feathers.

Besides, they weren't just taking it—they were letting us spend it.

I could accept that compromise.

Especially since not all our funds were frozen.

"...Fine, whatever."

Pleased with my ready agreement, she cleared away the dozens of floating screens and generated a chair for me.

I stared blankly for a moment at the steaming tea conjured from thin air before taking it.

As expected of a god.

"Drink. It won't kill you."

A pleasant aroma tickled my nose. Seemed like good stuff. As I sipped, the goddess swapped her crisp suit for dolphin pants and a tank top in an instant, slouching in her chair.

Her hair casually tied back with a headband, as if the heavy stuff was done and now we could chat casually like old friends.

"One more thing. There's a patch coming."

"?"

"Shop owners will face purchase limits going forward."

In essence, capping the maximum per Trial. Blocking the scam we'd been running in Trial zones.

"Hah?"

"Factor that in from the next Trial. Telling you ahead so you don't complain later."

I was momentarily speechless.

"...That's harsh. Double penalty."

"Wasn't what you pulled in Haran harsh? You've cleared every Trial—you know how valuable that amount is."

"..."

True enough.

We'd gone overboard in Haran. The earnings there were unimaginable for mid-to-late Selection Process.

Like a level 1 clearing a level 99 dungeon for a jackpot.

Surprised they were only hitting us this hard, really.

But still.

"Lately, you're causing a stir up top. Better spend that money quick before they grab a bigger excuse."

"Hold on."

"?"

"I'll accept it, but double penalty at once is too much, no? Never heard of treatment this unfair even in my first run."

The Selection Process usually handled issues by 'locking the barn after losing the cow.'

Leave past gains untouched, but impose restrictions to prevent repeats.

But restricting past earnings too, and patching future routes?

"..."

The goddess fell silent for a moment.

Deeming my protest reasonable, she pondered, then stared at me.

"Fine. Cooperate fully, and I'll give you compensation."

"Compensation?"

She snapped her fingers.

Wondering what she'd give, I waited for the notification—only for an item to drop from the box instead. A small box the size of my palm.

"This is..."

'Insane. There's an item like this?'

Never seen it before. But instinct told me just how broken it was.

'Trials are hard because you never know what variables will pop up.'

I'd advanced smoothly so far because those variables never fazed me.

I already knew the future, so the dangers weren't dangers to me anymore.

'And this gives an item tailored to that Trial?'

Of course, no telling what item.

Way too vague.

Could be junk.

And for someone who already knew the future like me, maybe useless.

'But what if, just what if... it spits out something actually useful?'

Say, a Mythic weapon or Transcendent consumable?

I could breeze through Trials and rake in massive gains.

Might even uncover another exploit for huge profits.

In short, the potential was limitless.

"You're no fun."

"?"

"Thought you'd be shocked. No reaction even to that?"

I was plenty shocked inside, but apparently she saw me as unfazed.

"Didn't believe you at first when you said you'd regressed... But talking back to a goddess like this and securing your cut? Yeah, you rolled through that hell for 10 years alright."

"..."

"After a journey like that, a goddess probably just looks like another conquest."

Spot on.

Why I could act this bold? My guts bloated over 10 years.

"Honestly, I debated killing you several times."

"Wouldn't that break the rules?"

"I know. That's why it was just a thought."

Didn't even know such a rule existed—glad it did.

"Anyway, gotta ask for real. Why'd you regress?"

"Told you back then. Didn't wanna go to that otherworld alone."

"...That's really it? No other reason?"

Whatever she expected, it was the truth.

"Going alone? What's the fun in that? No friends from back home. The locals would look down on me as some solo transplant. I'd just get pushed around, eat alone, play alone, grind boring work to death... Not quite bullying, but nah."

I hated that.

Better to die.

So I regressed... and lately, life was great. Waking up grateful every day for coming back.

"But why the sudden quiet?"

"..."

"Hey, Goddess?"

What was this? The questioner had gone silent. Should I explain more?

'Not much else to say.'

I waved my hand in front of her face.

Chill.

Her eyes sharpened.

She looked seriously pissed. No idea why the mood flipped. She'd been hospitable enough to offer tea moments ago, but now it felt like walking on thin ice.

"...That enough for compensation?"

"Y-yeah."

"Spend the points by end of day or they vanish. Now go."

Before I could reply, she waved me off.

"..."

Ten years on top of women, shaking my hips, and I still can't read a woman's heart.

I must've said something to piss her off...

'Ah, whatever. Don't sweat it now.'

No time to agonize over a mere goddess's mood when I had urgent business.

'Gotta spend 78 million points by end of day, huh?'

Time to rack my brain for regret-free spending.

"Rating: 5."

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