abcnovels
Chapter 65
Chapter 65
Chapter 65 – Trap(2)
Kang Hyeon. Shin Seong-a. An Yu-seong.
Now that the three of them were together, they could easily conquer D-rank dungeons.
“Ah, it’s been a while since I leveled up, hasn’t it?”
As a result, there was a relative decrease in difficulty.
Just as Kang Hyeon was worried that his growth might have slowed down too much, he finally leveled up.
?Name: Kang Hyeon
?Title: Tutorial Graduate and 3 others
?Level: 60 new!
?Detailed Stats:
Strength 29 (+4)(+2) new!
Agility 28 (+3)
Stamina 30 (+3)(+8) new!
Magic Power 30 (+3)(+4)
Additional Stats: –
?Unique Ability: Resurrection
?Abilities: Intermediate Swordsmanship(D), Lower-grade Shield Technique(E), Lowest-grade Crossbow Technique(F), Intermediate Body Technique(D), Lowest-grade Blunt Weapon Technique(F), Magic Detection(D), Poison Resistance(E)
?Skills: Roar of the Enraged Lion(C), Advanced Bodily Regeneration(A), Bisection(D), Giant’s Strength(B), Magic Explosion(D), Wayne’s Secret Technique(C), Entria’s OuterShell(C)
Kang Hyeon smiled contentedly as he checked his status window.
“I leveled up, and even gained a stat point.”
One level up.
In addition, his stamina stat also increased by one, separate from the level up.
“It’s been a while since my stats increased without leveling up.”
Initially, he raised his stats through intense exercise.
After that, he used ‘Wayne’s Secret Technique’ to push his body to the limit to raise his stats.
Even that method was becoming less effective, but now his stats had increased just in time.
“My Body Technique and Entria’s OuterShell ranks also went up…”
As Kang Hyeon was examining his stat window, his eyes widened.
“This went up too?”
At last, Kang Hyeon’s main skill.
The rank of ‘Wayne’s Secret Technique’ had increased.
Wayne’s Secret Technique(C)
Ability: When activated, all stats except magic power increase by 60%. The body gradually breaks down over time.
Description: Wayne, a madman who lived only for battle and dedicated his life to combat. Pursuing ever more intense battles throughout his life, Wayne finally succeeded in drawing out extreme power at the cost of destroying his own body.
At first glance, it seems no different from before. However, the most important figure had changed.
50% ? 60%
One might think it’s just a 10% change, but that’s not the case.
Calculating it, the total stat increase is now a whopping 9 points more than before.
The burden on the body might increase proportionally, but it had been a long time since he cared about such things.
“Good work, everyone.”
“You too, Kang Hyeon.”
“Now we should head back. Tell Han Jae-mun to send the van.”
“Alright.”
While waiting for the guild’s van with Shin Seong-a and An Yu-seong, it happened.
-Woong woong woong
A sudden phone call.
Checking his smartphone, an unknown number appeared on the screen.
“Hello?”
-Is this Kang Hyeon?
“Yes. Who is this?”
-This is Seon Yeon-ho.
Kang Hyeon tilted his head at the unfamiliar name.
-You don’t remember, I see.
“Pardon?”
-I’m from the Ability User Union. I once proposed recruitment to you, Kang Hyeon.
“Ah! I remember now. It’s been a while.”
Kang Hyeon recalled the man who had proposed recruitment to him a few months ago. And the business card he had shoved into a corner of his rarely-used Bentley 2.
He vaguely remembered it.
“I forgot. I lost your business card back then. Haha!”
It was a blatant lie.
“So, what’s the matter?”
-I’d like to meet with you, Kang Hyeon.
“For what reason?”
-It’s related to Union Leader Choi Dong-woo. The details are confidential, so I’d like to discuss it in person.
Kang Hyeon pondered upon hearing Seon Yeon-ho’s words.
“Related to Choi Dong-woo… Do we need to meet right now?”
-If possible, I’d like to meet today.
“Hmm…”
-If it’s alright with you, I can send a car to your current location right away. It’s dinner time, so how about we talk over a meal?
Normally, this would be an offer he’d refuse outright. But since it was related to Choi Dong-woo, it was hard to ignore.
“Alright.”
-Thank you. Is there any particular meal you’d prefer?
“Well, I’m in the mood for beef…”
-We’ll provide the best.
Kang Hyeon struggled to suppress the corners of his mouth from rising involuntarily.
-If you could tell me your current location, we’ll come to pick you up right away.
“I’m in front of the Crumbling Wall D-rank dungeon.”
-Ah, as it happens, one of our employees is nearby. They’ll arrive within 5 minutes.
“Okay.”
After ending the call, Kang Hyeon put on a rather serious expression.
“Looks like I’ve got some business as a guild leader.”
“Isn’t it just that you wanted to eat beef?”
“No, I’m just worried about Choi Dong-woo…”
Kang Hyeon turned his head away from Shin Seong-a’s doubtful gaze.
He then saw An Yu-seong looking at him disapprovingly with arms crossed.
“Kang Hyeon.”
“What?”
“Why do you look so cheap even when you’re making money?”
“What the hell?!”
“It’s true, isn’t it?”
“Even if it’s true, I don’t want to hear that from a diamond spoon kid like you.”
And so, Kang Hyeon desperately explained the woes of being from a poor background for a while.
“Mr. Kang Hyeon. We’re here to pick you up.”
At that moment, an unfamiliar man and woman approached Kang Hyeon.
“Ability User Union?”
“Yes. We’re here to escort you to Director Seon Yeon-ho.”
“Director… Is that a high position?”
The rank was unfamiliar to Kang Hyeon, who didn’t have much social experience.
“If we had to compare, it’s right below Union Leader Choi Dong-woo.”
“Is that so? He’s more of a big shot than I thought. Anyway, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
As he got into their car, Kang Hyeon waved his hand.
“Go home and rest first. I’ll be back after taking care of some business.”
“Understood.”
“Kang Hyeon. Be careful.”
“Huh? Sure!”
The car carrying Kang Hyeun drove away quickly. Shin Seong-a couldn’t take her eyes off it until it completely disappeared from view.
“Is something wrong?”
“Pardon?”
“You seem more serious than usual, Older sister. Though you’re always serious.”
“It’s nothing. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“I have an inexplicable feeling of unease.”
An Yu-seong smiled at Shin Seong-a’s words about feeling uneasy.
“Older sister, you have pretty good intuition, huh?”
“What?”
“Nothing. Phew I’m tired. Let’s go.”
An Yu-seong changed the subject while stretching.
Just then, as the guild van arrived, Shin Seong-a had no choice but to get in the vehicle.
But for some reason, her unease wouldn’t subside.
***
Ippotranslation
***
“The restaurant is in quite a remote location, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Given the importance of what we need to discuss.”
Surprisingly, there are many quiet places on the outskirts of Seoul, away from the city center.
The place Seon Yeon-ho guided him to was a quiet Korean beef restaurant located in such an area.
“The meat here is superb. I always use this place for important meetings, so you can look forward to it.”
Seon Yeon-ho smiled comfortably.
“By the way, Seon Yeon-ho. Can I ask you one thing?”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
“I heard you hold quite a high position in the Ability User Union. Is that true?”
Seon Yeon-ho looked a bit flustered at Kang Hyeon’s sudden question.
“It’s awkward to say it myself, but… Yes, that’s right. I always work as one of Choi Dong-woo’s closest aides.”
“But I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in battle.”
“Ah, that’s because I’m in an office position.”
“Office position?”
“Yes. I’m an ability user too, but I’m uncomfortable with the idea of taking lives. My current level is only 3.”
“I see…”
Kang Hyeon nodded at Seon Yeon-ho’s answer.
“So, what did you want to see me about?”
“How about we talk over the meal now that the meat has arrived? You must be hungry after just coming out of the dungeon.”
Just then, a white plate was placed on the table. On it, bright red beef cuts were neatly arranged by part.
“That sounds good.”
The biggest advantage of beef, in Kang Hyeon’s opinion, is speed. Unlike pork, which needs to be cooked for a long time, beef can be eaten raw or just slightly cooked according to preference.
“Slurp!”
With each movement of his jaw muscles, fifty thousand won disappeared.
“Are you enjoying the meat?”
“Yes. It’s the best I’ve had recently.”
“I’m really glad to hear that.”
“Aren’t you eating, Seon Yeon-ho?”
“I am eating too. Haha.”
Unlike the smiling lips, Seon Yeon-ho’s eyes shone sharply.
‘It should be about time for a reaction.’
The water Kang Hyeon was drinking, the chopsticks, even the dishes – poison had been applied to everything.
It shouldn’t have an immediately fatal effect. It would be troublesome if Kang Hyeon noticed the poison and ran away.
‘Slowly… I’ll kill you very slowly.’
The nerves in the body would be cut off one by one, and by the time he realized something was wrong, it would already be too late.
‘You’ll die gasping for breath, unable to breathe properly, with your whole body paralyzed.’
Just then, the reaction Seon Yeon-ho had been waiting for came.
-Crash!
Kang Hyeon, who had been drinking his beverage, dropped the cup he was holding onto the floor.
“Huh..? What’s wrong with this?”
Kang Hyeon’s hand trembled.
“Seon Yeon-ho..?”
“It’s nothing personal. You’re just an obstacle to humanity’s survival.”
“What… What the hell… Shit…”
Kang Hyeon, trembling all over, stood up staggering.
-Thud
But he seemed to lose strength quickly and collapsed back onto the table.
“Die quietly for the sake of humanity.”
Seeing this, Seon Yeon-ho stood up from his seat. His hand, slowly approaching Kang Hyeon, turned purple.
“As a final courtesy, I’ll send you off without pain.”
Seon Yeon-ho’s transformed hand was like a sword. The sharply gathered fingertips shot towards Kang Hyeon’s neck.
***
Ippotranslation
***
The moment he first entered the meat restaurant.
Kang Hyeon noticed something was off.
‘Why are they all ability users?’
The employee at the counter.
The serving staff.
The chef in the kitchen.
Even the customers at other tables.
But even stranger than this was Seon Yeon-ho’s lie.
‘He says his level is 3?’
At level 3, in many cases, one could be weaker than an average person.
This is because the innate difference in magical power varies greatly.
‘He looks at least level 50, what kind of trick is this?’
The Seon Yeon-ho before him had the strongest magical power among them all.
‘I’ll play along for now.’
He hadn’t seen anyone else who could sense magical power yet. So Seon Yeon-ho must be lying nonchalantly.
“The meat is delicious, isn’t it? Chomp chomp.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
However, even after a long time, nothing happened.
The restaurant operated normally, and the customers who came first even paid and left calmly.
‘Am I being oversensitive..?’
Suddenly, Kang Hyeon’s magical power started to act up.
‘What’s wrong with this?’
Kang Hyeon’s magical power always moves to regenerate his body. This accelerates when he’s injured.
‘There’s no wound, no pain. So why is my magical power going wild?’
As doubts kept piling up, Kang Hyeon sensed something strange.
‘Wait… Why is my hand so slow?’
From his body to his sensory organs.
Everything was gradually slowing down.
‘I thought it was fatigue from just coming out of the dungeon… But you’re pulling this kind of trick?’
His head felt fuzzy.
-Sizzle
Only the sound of meat grilling on the hot plate filled his head.
‘My breathing cycle is unknowingly getting shorter too. What the hell did this bastard do?’
If he didn’t have ‘Advanced Bodily Regeneration’ and ‘Poison Resistance’, he probably would have been rolling on the floor long ago.
‘Is this ordered by Choi Dong-woo? Why? Or is it the government? Now they’re after me?’
No matter how much he thought about it, it was hard to guess the background.
‘I guess I’ll have to beat him up first and then ask.’
Kang Hyeon picked up the glass of drink and slowly released his grip.
-Crash
At the same time, he heard Seon Yeon-ho getting up from his seat and approaching.
“As a final courtesy, I’ll send you off without pain.”
Seeing a powerful magical transformation occur and an arm swinging towards him,
-Grab!
Kang Hyeon quickly caught Seon Yeon-ho’s hand.
“You’re uncomfortable with the idea of taking lives?”
“What..?!”
“Stop spouting bullshit!”