Report
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
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Chapter 17: One-on-One (2)
"A 'gift' from an 'anonymous observer.'"
Every word seemed suspicious, but for now, the focus was on the object.
[You have 1 gift available to claim.]
"Claim."
As soon as the word left my lips, a small cluster of light floated up before me.
The faint, whitish glow began to grow, gradually taking on a defined, angular shape.
Flash!
The light solidified into a white box, the size of a palm, with an envelope perched on top like a hat.
"Whoa! Hyung! What's that?"
"Looks like a random box."
The foul-mouthed man reached out to touch it, but his hand passed through the box, sinking into thin air.
"Tsk, no luck," He clicked his tongue and withdrew his hand, sheepishly glancing around.
"But why is it just for you…?"
Before I could answer his timid complaint, Jieun replied on my behalf.
"Because this mission was all Eunho's doing. He strategized, lured out the bugs, and even fought that guy earlier."
"Come on! I was part of the mission too!"
The man beat his chest in indignation, but Jieun merely shrugged, unimpressed.
"Sure, you were. All you did was stand there spraying stuff, though."
"What? And all you did was sit and slice bugs!"
"Which is why I'm not sulking like someone else here."
"Dammit! Who's sulking?!"
Despite his gruff language, he sulked, lips pouting. Jieun couldn't hide her amusement, a smirk tugging at her lips as she teased him further.
"Not sulking? Really?"
"Just… envious! That’s all!"
Isn’t that the same thing?
His face flushed under the attention as he pulled his hat down low and muttered, "Just saying… If he keeps getting stronger, what's next? Blowing up buildings? Slaying giant monsters with one hit? Anyone else think that?"
His wild imagination made me click my tongue. But why were they all nodding in agreement?
"True, Eunho could probably…."
"Absolutely! If it's Hyung, he could totally pull it off!"
Good grief. These people….
"Sorry to disappoint, but that's not happening."
Though the foul-mouthed man didn’t argue further, he lingered nearby, obviously curious about what was inside the box.
"They said this is a gift, not a mission reward."
"A gift?"
"Who's it from? And man, this system has everything, Hyung!"
My thoughts exactly. I was growing increasingly curious about this mysterious system.
If only I had some free time to investigate.
"No idea who sent it. Just says it's from an anonymous observer."
"What's an observer, Hyung?"
"Someone watching us from up there, probably."
As I gestured upwards, everyone simultaneously tilted their heads back.
Instead of a familiar sky, a giant eye loomed over us.
Facing that massive eye felt like being stark naked, parading down a crowded street.
It was unsettling enough to make me wonder if we should start watching what we say.
"Well, open it, Hyung!"
Like a dog waiting for its treat, the envelope and box floated before me, quivering in anticipation.
Curious, I touched the envelope first. It unfolded like an instructional video, unfurling in all directions to reveal its contents.
My name, written neatly inside. ──── ──── Recipient: Lee Eunho
Sender: Unknown
Message: None ──── ──── "Not much to go on."
Well, it was from an 'anonymous observer,' after all.
Figuring out who sent it could wait. For now, the priority was what was inside.
Cautiously, I reached for the lid of the box.
"Ow!"
"Eunho! What happened?!"
A sharp jolt coursed through my fingertips, making me reflexively withdraw my hand.
"Just static electricity. I'm fine."
Jieun looked more startled than I was. I reassured her with a smile before opening the box again.
Inside, the first thing that caught my eye was—
Snap! Crackle! Sizzle!
Sparks leapt about like they were trying to escape the small box. And inside was…
"A vial?"
A bottle, about 10 cm tall, shaped like a plump fruit.
"Hyung, is that some kind of fatigue recovery potion?"
"Looks similar to the one from the store."
The store’s watered-down fatigue recovery potion wasn’t very effective but cost a hefty 300 welfare points.
But this one…
Zzt! Crackle!
Even getting close to the box made my fingertips tingle with tiny shocks.
Clenching my teeth, I reached in and picked up the bottle.
As I did, a translucent screen appeared with a chime.
▣ Lightning Oil
Oil distilled from a lightning-struck tree.
Apply to weapons to unleash high-voltage currents upon striking an enemy.
Warning: Contact alone may cause electric shocks. Handle with care.
Uses remaining: 10
"High-voltage currents, huh…."
Inside the transparent bottle, a viscous liquid sloshed. Its hue was somewhere between yellow and blue, glimmering as though it didn’t need light to shine.
It fizzed and crackled with static energy, almost alive.
"What the heck? This looks way more intense than anything in the shop."
"Hyung, this is an incredible item!"
"Could it be… magic or something?"
I looked up to see everyone’s eyes glued to me, or rather, to the strange, sparkling vial in my hand.
"Wow! Let’s open it and try it out!"
"Well, I’d have to open it to apply it to a weapon…."
Even amid the excitement, Jieun remained the only one with a concerned expression.
"By the way, Eunho, this isn’t dangerous, right? It feels like electricity is running through it."
"Ugh! You’re right, hyung! Isn’t it hurting you?"
"Ah… it does seem dangerous. Just touching it could conduct current."
"What? Then how are we supposed to apply it?"
Jieun's wide, rabbit-like eyes turned toward me. I shrugged and slipped out of the group.
I would’ve preferred to head somewhere more secluded, but who knows when the next mission might begin.
“Summon.”
The familiar weight of the sword hilt settled in my hand.
I could feel Jieun and Jaehyuk’s worried gazes as well.
"Eunho! What if you get electrocuted?"
"I just need to stop the electricity from flowing."
"Ah! Should I go look for some rubber gloves?"
Rubber gloves.
Not a bad idea, but if the current is strong, they wouldn’t hold up.
Besides, there’s something better nearby.
“Petrification.”
An insulator that doesn’t conduct electricity or heat.
"!!"
"Oh! So stone doesn’t conduct electricity!"
Pop!
The bottle opened, releasing a fresh, cool scent.
The liquid, a vivid yellow and blue electric oil, sparked incessantly.
Snap! Crackle! Sizzle!
I thrust my petrified, reinforced hand into the sparking container.
And then…
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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‘Got it!’
The thick liquid obediently followed.
I spread it evenly over the blackened blade I had placed on the ground.
A cheerful notification chimed in my ears.
— Ding!
[The 'Blade Tipped Sword' has been upgraded to the 'Electric Blade Tipped Sword'!]
[Temporary skill 'Electric Discharge' has been created!]
[1 use has been charged.]
[1 use has been charged.]
[1 use has been charged.]
…
Sizzle!
The sword had evolved.
"I can’t wait to see it, hyung!"
"I’m so excited! When you stab something, sparks will fly everywhere, right?"
"Wow! Now it’s not just a taser; it’s an electric shock sword, sis!"
The two of them were more excited than I was, chatting animatedly.
I thought I should calm them down and opened my mouth.
"Don’t get too excited. It only works ten times, and without petrification, it’ll…"
[Attention, survivors in the Seoul Station area.]
An announcement echoed across the station, overriding everything else.
More important than anything.
[The next mission will begin shortly, at 1 PM.]
“What?!”
“How much time has even passed since the last one?”
A man in a uniform, just lighting a cigarette, grimaced and dropped it.
Another man, rushing toward the station holding his daughter who had been pestering to use the bathroom, hurriedly scooped her up.
"If it’s 1 PM…"
"Shit! That’s now!"
PM 12:59.
The “shortly” in the announcement was a lie.
The mission start notice immediately followed.
[Mission Start.]
[Safe zones have been generated.]
— Flash!
The map filled my vision, revealing a long, rectangular shape made of several connected pieces.
A train.
Which meant that was…
"The platform! Everyone, run!"
[You have 5 minutes. Survivors outside the safe zone will be eliminated.]
"Five minutes?!"
"That’s too tight!"
Unlike previous missions, this one started abruptly.
Despite the grumbling about the impossibly short time limit, the system had never cared about our struggles.
"Less complaining, more running! If you don’t want to die!"
"Yes, hyung!"
— Thud!
Fourteen people sprinted across Seoul Station Plaza, racing into the station.
To an outsider, it might look like they were rushing to catch a train, but…
"Fuck! Four minutes left!"
"Aaaaah!"
"Daaaad! I need the bathroom!"
"Sorry, Yura! If we stop, we’ll both die!"
It was a race for survival.
Every stride carried a grim determination to avoid being erased.
Some slipped in their haste, but no one looked back.
Thud-!
"E-Eunho, thank y—"
"Save the thanks for later."
The others who had been running for their lives were already out of sight.
I pulled Lee Yeji to her feet and scanned the map.
'Where is it? Which way is fastest?'
"Hyung! We need to go down!"
"Three, four… Here! Everyone, this way!"
I led Yeji, Jaehyuk, and Jieun toward the platform.
We passed the endlessly long escalator, finally arriving at the open KTX doors.
"This train! The last car on the right!"
Of the train’s 18 cars, the map indicated car 18, flashing green as the safe zone.
There was just over a minute left.
While I had an acceleration skill, it was clear the others wouldn’t make it in time unless I hurried.
I was about to rush toward the train when…
"E-Eunho?! That’s the wrong way!"
Jieun frantically looked around, shouting.
"What? The wrong way?"
"If you look at the map, it seems we need to go left…"
"The last car on the right, car 18, is correct!"
Jieun’s strange remarks and Jaehyuk’s puzzled expression only added to the confusion.
「00:57」
"One minute left!"
Jieun, with her odd observations.
Jaehyuk and Lee Yeji, tilting their heads in doubt.
My map, which clearly indicated the right.
That could only mean one thing.
"Jieun, your safe zone—is it the last car on the left?"
"Yes? The very first car, car 1!"
Everyone had different safe zones.
In other words, this mission was a free-for-all.
Realizing the same thing, everyone looked up simultaneously and said:
"Be careful!"
"You too, Eunho!"
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!w
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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