Chapter 85

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 85: Stubborn (4)

「In the end, it seems my life’s conclusion is a bad ending.」

Said Kim Taejoon, raising the return button with a bewildered expression.

In reality, tragedy was inevitable from the moment his name was put forward as a candidate for elimination after the first screening vote.

Even if he had killed the two Strongest Swords here and gone to find his family, there wouldn’t have been a happy ending waiting for him.

However, it wasn’t the worst-case scenario just yet.

“You still don’t know the ending. It’s only the third day of the reset, and you’re still alive.”

Said Yeongwoo, causing Kim Taejoon to give a bitter smile.

「You speak so easily. It’s easy for you because it’s someone else’s problem.」

Kim Taejoon replied, as if urging to quickly finish the task, he clapped his hand where the exit icon was displayed.

In response, Yeongwoo bowed deeply to Kim Taejoon.

“If there’s good news, I’ll be sure to deliver it.”

Good news.

At least to Yeongwoo, it had an ambiguous meaning.

The promise to inform Kim Taejoon when he found his family, and…

‘Somewhere out there, isn’t there an item to turn friends back into humans? Somewhere in this universe.’

Of course, it was only Yeongwoo’s wishful thinking.

That’s why he couldn’t voice it out of fear of false hope.

“Please take care, chairman.”

Eventually, Yeongwoo shook hands with Kim Taejoon.

Thunk!

Suddenly, a blue light flashed, and Kim Taejoon’s imposing figure began to fade.

Sssss!

Kim Taejoon, the chairman of VC Soft and the third-day mutant of Gwanak-gu, was being incorporated into Yeongwoo’s friend.

「Ah…!」

Then, Youngtae’s body also became faint following Kim Taejoon.

His summoning time had also expired.

「Let’s definitely meet again.」

Youngtae said, his voice filled with regret, and then…

Sshreek.

They disappeared without a trace.

“Ah… this is really…”

Jo Sangik looked at the spot where Kim Taejoon and Youngtae had been with eyes full of emotion.

There are no words to express it, but it was because they were the same person.

He, too, had come to regard mutants as humans.

However, the time for sentimentalism was brief, as a golden sphere appeared on the ground, indicating the disposal of the mutants.

Pfft!

「The mutant has been defeated.」

「Select a reward to complete the process.」

Followed by the appearing guidance message.

For Yeongwoo, this was the fifth time facing the sphere.

So, choosing to spread Karma again would mean achieving the ‘Golden Flood’ achievement.

Swish.

As Yeongwoo silently looked at Jo Sangik, he gave a typical bureaucratic smile and stepped back.

“As agreed, the choice is yours, Mr. Yeongwoo.”

Of course, there was no clear agreement between the two on the binary choice.

Therefore, it was just a natural agreement through the battle with Kim Taejoon.

Jo Sangik voluntarily conceded.

“Thank you.”

Yeongwoo also bowed to Jo Sangik, then raised his hand towards the spinning golden sphere in the air.

Thump.

As the sphere spun faster, it revealed the disposal reward.

<

>

「Rock Guardian」 – Mutation Gem

【Slot: Reduces all physical damage】

<

>

[3 million Karma]

Or

[Grant 30,000 Karma to all residents in the area]

‘Finally.’

Yeongwoo ended up facing the binary choice even in Seoul after all the twists and turns.

[Golden Flood]

|Call for golden rain in five or more areas. (4/5)

After briefly reviewing his achievement history, Yeongwoo focused on the spinning golden sphere and spoke.

“Deputy Minister.”

“Yes.”

“Has there ever been golden rain in Seoul?”

“Golden…? I didn’t catch that properly. Could you repeat it?”

Judging from Jo Sangik’s reaction, he seemed to be hearing about golden rain for the first time, let alone seeing it.

While he knew there was an option to spread Karma, he didn’t know in what form it would be spread.

“Well, then you can take a look now. This is the method you were curious about earlier, how I became the Strongest Sword of Gyeongbuk.”

With that, Yeongwoo ended the binary choice.

[Grant 30,000 Karma to all residents in the area]

Then, the sphere began to vibrate and suddenly soared into the sky.

Swoosh!

The sphere moved so fast, leaving a golden trail behind, that from below, it seemed as if a long golden streak was drawn across the skies of Gwanak-gu.

“Wow…”

Jo Sangik’s mouth hung open in disbelief at the unexpected performance.

Until now, whenever he had chosen the ‘Exclusive 3 Million Karma,’ the sphere had simply melted away into the air.

‘So, this was the right choice.’

Jo Sangik swallowed hard, watching the sphere soar even into the far corners of his vision.

And then, with a bang!

“Huh.”

His pupils were immediately tinted with gold.

The sphere exploding as it reached the sky’s edge filled the entire sky with a golden hue.

“Wow…!”

52-year-old Jo Sangik exclaimed like a child.

It was perhaps inevitable for him to witness a scene so beautiful for the first time since the reset.

Moreover, it was just beginning.

From the point of the sphere’s explosion, a wide expanse of golden rain began to fall towards the ground.

Ssshhhh…!

The sound of the golden droplets falling was like rain, and the sight was indeed reminiscent of actual rainfall.

“Golden… Golden rain. So this was what it meant.”

Jo Sangik finally understood what Yeongwoo had pronounced earlier.

And the fact that there had never been golden rain in Seoul.

If there had been even a single instance of golden rain in any area, it would have undoubtedly been discussed at the Strongest Sword assembly.

And that meant…

‘…Ah.’

Everyone in the adjacent areas must be witnessing the golden rain falling over Gwanak-gu.

So, undoubtedly, it would be a topic of discussion at the Strongest Sword assembly scheduled for 3 p.m. today.

For a moment, a shadow appeared on Jo Sangik’s face, but the events that followed took away his attention.

《Gyeongbuk First Sword ‘Jeong Yeongwoo07’ gave up his monopoly on 3 million karma and gifted 30,000 karma to all Gwanak residents.》

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

《Prepare for the distribution of 30,000 Karma commemorative coins shortly.》

“Commemorative coins?”

As Jo Sangik muttered in astonishment, Yeongwoo turned to him and said,

“Grab them quickly since they appear in an instant.”

“What’s that supposed to…”

Before Jo Sangik could finish his sentence, a clinking sound came from above his head.

And then…

Pfft!

Three coins, truly shining with a golden hue, appeared in mid-air.

“Huh.”

Though still inexperienced, Jo Sangik was a Strongest Sword with a total stat of thousands.

So, even though surprised, catching three suddenly dropped coins was quite an easy task for him.

Thunk!

Snatching the coins with lightning speed, Jo Sangik spread his hand to reveal the face of Jeong Yeongwoo07 engraved on the coins.

“No… How is this possible?”

“Well, if mutants and Strongest Swords are possible, why not this?”

After a quick glance at the commemorative coins in his hand, Yeongwoo tossed them into the air behind him.

Swoosh!

Instantly, from across the street where the Negwig was parked, another golden object shot out like a bullet.

Thunk!

It was none other than a relic-grade slave golden goblin.

“…”

Seeing the goblin take the coins, Jo Sangik didn’t even feel the need to question what it was.

Now, Yeongwoo seemed almost otherworldly to him.

And, to a large extent, it wasn’t far from the truth.

Pfft!

[Quest Complete – “Strong Tiger’s Early Appearance”]

[eward Given]

|5 million Karma

As Yeongwoo had expected, the quest system, which deemed mutants as targets with a total stat of over 3,000, completed the mission handed down by the dogo.

And, as promised.

Zoom!

“Huh?”

A sound came from the sky.

Zzziiiiing!

A tiny bolt suddenly jolted with terrifying force.

“Whoa.”

“What the…”

Thinking it was another attack, both Strongest Swords panicked.

But, as the unidentified bolt stopped near them, they realized there was no need for alarm.

“What… What is this?”

Unable to resist, Jo Sangik threw the question at Yeongwoo.

In response, Yeongwoo approached the problematic bolt.

Zzzzzz…

Now emitting a soft buzzing sound, the object, spinning at about 1.5 meters above ground level, was…

‘…A card?’

It was a rectangular card about the size of a palm.

So, it was a credit card from the human world.

Yeongwoo briefly looked at where the object had come from across the sky before picking up the mysterious card.

Tap!

Then, the number 5,000,000 appeared faintly on the card made of black metal.

“…5 million.”

“5 million? What does that mean?”

“It’s Karma.”

This card was a completion reward for a quest given by the extraterrestrial weapon supply company Dogo.

Perhaps even this remarkable flying card was a form of product placement.

Yeongwoo quickly scanned his surroundings and tucked the card into his pocket.

Having dealt with the mutants in the area, merchants would likely appear soon.

Therefore, after checking the merchandise, he planned to decide how to use the 5 million.

“Now, what’s left…”

As Yeongwoo murmured, Jo Sangik’s eyes widened.

“What else could there be…?”

From dealing with mutants to summoning ‘friends’ and even performing at the level of golden rain from the sky.

They had even seen a card coming from beyond the sky.

What else could there be?

“There’s one thing left, the most important thing. But, there won’t be any more surprises.”

Saying this, Yeongwoo shifted his gaze to the flashing alarm message in front of him.

[Achievement Unlocked: Golden Flood]

|Achievement Grade: Legendary

|Achievement Rank: First

「The recommended achievement list has been updated.」

「There is 1 unclaimed achievement reward.」

Finally, Yeongwoo had achieved the main achievement that had led him to traverse various areas.

The so-called Golden Rain Route.

The first reward was the ‘Golden Flash,’ a sensory deprivation ability, and the second reward was the ‘Golden Punishment,’ which was almost equivalent to asymmetric warfare and inflicting severe pain.

Then, what about the third?

Looking at the golden equipment on his arm, Yeongwoo spoke.

“Claim reward.”

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]