Chapter 74
The fight ended rather anticlimactically.
"Ah, no! Those mercenaries were so hard to find...!"
That's because the Adventurers the Otherworlder brought were only A-Class at best.
Well, normally "only" wouldn't be the right way to describe A-Class...
But it was too much to expect two A-Class Adventurers to take me down. Especially when the Otherworlder who brought them was barely B-Class at best.
As a result, the Adventurers were now lying as cold corpses before me. I kept one Otherworlder alive to extract information.
I showed no mercy to those who targeted my life.
'...That gave me quite a shock.'
Of course, they hadn't just charged in recklessly without a plan. Life is precious after all.
They had at least one trump card prepared.
And their trump card turned out to be Holy Water.
'To think they'd throw Holy Water right from the start...'
For me, Holy Water was like Yang-nam's sword.
During Rage Mode A, it was a blessed friend that let me skip the pain.
But during normal times, it was a debuff item that weakened my power.
They probably threw Holy Water at me counting on that effect.
But what they overlooked was that Holy Water's effects weren't that dramatic.
Unless drunk directly, just getting it on your skin?
It only weakens you a bit. Doesn't really affect movement.
And that small difference wasn't enough to bridge the gap between them and me. That's why they died.
Anyway, with the battle over, it was time for interrogation.
Without a word, I stabbed the Otherworlder's thigh.
Shunk-!
"Urgh...!"
Their expression contorted sharply. Even with Synchronization Rate set to minimum, it doesn't completely eliminate pain.
I spoke while watching them:
"So... shall we have a little chat? Earlier you mentioned something about a bounty - what was that about?"
"Ugh... kuh, there's money on your head... sir."
I stabbed first to make sure they'd talk, but they opened up faster than expected.
Even using awkward honorifics.
According to them.
Yesterday when they checked the Adventurer's Guild board, they saw a bounty posted for my head.
Seems the Knights, unable to move themselves, put up money to get others to catch me.
After hearing that much, curiosity made me ask.
"You came all this way for money? With just these two?"
"I-I'm sorry. The bounty was so large I got blinded for a moment..."
"How much was it?"
"About 5 million gold..."
"5 million?! That much?"
My mouth fell open for a moment. 5 million gold was an enormous sum.
You could stay at an inn for years and still have money left over.
It was just as significant in Otherworlder currency. According to Chae-rin, the exchange rate was roughly 10 won per gold.
In other words, my head was now worth about 50 million won to them.
'Damn...'
Realizing this, I cursed internally.
No wonder they got dollar signs in their eyes and tried to attack me. I frowned.
Of all times, this had to happen right after I got back home...
Well, it had been two months since my identity was exposed because of Dantalian. It was actually surprising there hadn't been any repercussions until now.
While I was lost in thought, the Otherworlder I had captured spoke up.
"Um... by the way, could you maybe let me live? I have so many items on me... dying would be really bad..."
Hearing that made me scowl hard.
It was a reminder of my contempt for Otherworlders that I hadn't felt in a while. What? After targeting my life you're worried about losing items?
Come to think of it, this one hadn't shown a hint of sadness even when the Adventurers they brought died.
Even without close bonds, their attitude toward human life was twisted.
Well, to them this is just a game, so why would they care who dies?
I could clearly feel how to them, I was just an NPC, not a human.
Thanks to that, I could dispose of them without hesitation.
Since they had their Synchronization Rate lowered, they wouldn't feel much pain anyway, so I could even have some fun tormenting them.
"Arghhhh...!"
After they disappeared into particles of light, only the items they dropped remained.
It was quite an expensive-looking hammer. I clicked my tongue looking at it.
'Would've been nice if they dropped Holy Water instead...'
I had asked them about the Holy Water too.
How they got such a rare item in this Holy Water drought.
But their answer was disappointing. They'd just bought one out of curiosity long ago and finally used it now.
"Tch."
So once again I failed to get the Holy Water I so desperately wanted.
Should've at least tried to scoop up the spilled Holy Water from the ground.
'Wonder when that bastard Dantalian is gonna die...'
At least once he's gone, the Holy Water supply should open up again.
While I was lost in various thoughts.
Suddenly, a familiar person came running from the forest.
"Yor, we've got trouble! Big trouble...!"
It was Yoo Chae-rin. She spotted me and rushed over urgently.
"Right now there's a bounty on your...oh?"
But she froze when she saw the two cold corpses lying on either side.
I spoke casually to her:
"The 5 million gold bounty? Yeah, I know."
Not how I wanted to find out, but still.
*
It didn't take long to calm down the startled Chae-rin.
Probably because I, the actual target, was so nonchalant about it.
'Feels like I've become a One P*ece character...'
I could even make silly thoughts like that.
5 million berries would make me small fry. Still got a long way to go.
I'd been prepared for something like this since childhood, when I had to flee the Empire with a wanted poster and all.
This much was within expectations.
Though I wasn't completely without concern.
"What are you going to do now?"
Chae-rin asked after we'd cleaned up the bodies.
"Well... just stay put for now."
Honestly, nothing really changes for me.
Live normally, deal with intruders when they come.
I'd already made most preparations. Found an escape shelter, dug secret passages in the cave.
At most I could maybe set some traps around the house...
It was frustrating but couldn't be helped. Not like I could just run off to the Deep Layer.
Still, I was confident. Confident I could handle most anyone who came at me without much trouble.
Though there was one worry...
'We're really running low on Holy Water...'
It wasn't just about Rage Mode being painful.
What if someone attacks the day after Rage Mode A hits?
Or if pursuers follow the scent of blood?
That could really spell trouble. Having spare Holy Water was essential for avoiding such situations.
Sure, Holy Water weakens me when I drink it, but at least I stay clear-headed.
But thanks to that bastard Dantalian, I can't get any.
"Sigh..."
I let out a sigh and told Chae-rin.
"If you see any Holy Water in the market, grab it no matter what. Don't worry about the price."
"Ah, I would if I could but there's just none to be found..."
With those words, she headed back out of the forest.
...And very fortunately, an opportunity to get Holy Water came to me not long after.
In quite an unexpected way, at that.
A few days later, another uninvited guest arrived at my cave.
"Hey, finally found you."
Though this was quite an unusual visitor.
She was tall for a woman, probably around 170cm, with very long purple hair.
Her slender frame belied a somewhat fierce expression that gave her an intimidating air.
Overall quite a striking woman.
But these were just secondary physical characteristics.
The most unusual thing was that she came alone.
She was even an Otherworlder, with her stream running beside her.
I immediately activated Player's Eye to check the chat.
[Wow it's Yor!]
[Wow 50 million won!]
[Han-byeol why fight when you'll probably get exposed anyway?]
[Leave her be, she's gotten cocky from all the simps lately]
[Ugh these talented people I swear]
[Noona ;-; please be careful ;-;]
[Our noona will definitely win! Noona hurry and take down that demon's minion!]
[God I wanna punch these arrogant jerks ;-;;-;]
She must be quite a popular streamer, given the chat's intensity.
Her purpose was clear from her being here.
Since I had to greet my guest, I gripped my spear and said.
"Are you after my head too? Seems like a pretty small party for that though."
"Ha, getting lectured by an NPC. Worry about yourself. I came plenty prepared."
She drew her weapon - two massive curved swords.
Getting ready to charge, she grinned and continued.
"Let's see... Holy Water works great on Manifestors, right? Better be ready. I've got plenty of Holy Water."
At those words, I smiled just as brightly.
"Oh really?"