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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Crimson Flame Witch and Reaper
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Humanity's one hundred heroes.
S-Rank players.
Their divine might cleaves the heavens and shakes the earth.
With a single strike, they obliterate small mountains or split the seas apart.
That's the title granted to such monsters: S-Rank.
Of course, a tiny handful like the Saintess can't unleash that kind of power, but that's the general rule.
In that sense, there was a bit of excitement building.
"But what's with this pint-sized hobbit?"
"...Pint-sized hobbit?"
The S-Rank mage, Crimson Flame Witch.
The S-Rank assassin, Reaper.
The two glared at each other with open hostility. For the record, S-Ranks rarely fight one another. They know any clash would just lead to massive losses.
Even if they do square off, they clear out a private spot first, and most times, the results never leak out.
'Wonder what kind of fight they'll put on.'
So yeah, there was some anticipation.
The kind where you know a brawl could sour the party vibe, but you can't help looking forward to it anyway.
"Hey, quit blocking the way and step aside, shorty. Before I fix that kid-height of yours for good."
The first shot came from the Crimson Flame Witch.
And the Reaper fired right back without missing a beat.
"Nah, pass, granny."
"What...?"
"Oppa, who's this granny? She's ugly as hell."
That was it. The end.
"Who're you calling ugly right now?! You little brat! Are you freaking insane?!"
"Hey, hey, calm down."
Shin Seo-yeon exploded in rage, ready to kill, and I barely talked her down.
"Does this look calm to you? And what's with 'granny'?"
"She's just talking."
Then the Reaper raised her hand, pointing at Song Ha-na and the Saintess one by one.
"Cool big sis. Big-boobs big sis."
Her finger swung toward Shin Seo-yeon.
"Ugly granny."
Crackle.
I wedged myself between the Reaper and Shin Seo-yeon again. Shin Seo-yeon was screaming bloody murder, vowing to burn the Reaper alive.
"Calm down. She's gonna be partying up with us from here on out."
"Hah? Says who? Why drag around some flat-chested, heightless freak we can't even tell is a guy or girl! Like she'd be useful!"
The Reaper's forehead vein popped right up, and she shot back instantly.
"Ugh, what a temper. This granny's got a real short fuse. Oppa says one word, and she nitpicks it all. Oppa, you know girls like this clean out your wallet on dates and turn you into an ATM in no time flat, right?"
Oof.
"Bet bedtime's all her having fun while you're suffering."
"Hey! Yeah, how would you know? Huh? You know how good I am to Min-jun?!"
"Oppa, marry a girl like this, and you're slaughtered. Ever hear of 'pong pong'? Pong! Pong!"
Tremble tremble.
The girl had no fear.
She picked the most provocative words on purpose, jabbing away, and on women—especially short-fused ones like Shin Seo-yeon—it hit like a truck.
"Fuck, I'm gonna kill her!"
"Whoa, one fact-bomb and you flip out? Granny's got some serious inferiority complex."
-Main street torched
Battle of the century erupts
Finally, fireballs flew, and the main street started getting wrecked. People who'd been slinking closer toward the lodging screamed and bolted far away again.
The epic showdown between the Reaper and Crimson Flame Witch peaked not from blades or spells, but from nonstop trash talk—until one side blew up.
Of course, letting it go further wasn't smart, so I yelled at Shin Seo-yeon hurling fireballs and the Reaper dodging like mad.
"Hey, stop it. Can't we call it quits now?"
"No way! Not until I char that cocky little shit!"
"Granny, busted trying to turn Oppa into an ATM. And your bedroom game's lame? Caught red-handed."
Boom! Boom! Kra-kaboom!
Eh, whatever. Pretty sure no one in the rest area who saw this will ever mess with us again.
Now, how to calm these two down?
As I pondered, their shared trait hit me.
"I'm treating for a proper dinner starting now. Keep fighting, and I'll leave you behind. Oh, and the food there's amazing. Right, Ha-na?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah! Pricey as heck, but the vibe's great and it tastes divine!"
They froze.
"For real...?"
"Oppa, what's on the menu there?"
Hmm, second rest area... what was it again?
I rubbed my chin, then shrugged.
"Doesn't matter if it's tuna or steak—you'd devour anything."
"Tuna? Steak?"
"Keep fighting, and we'll go eat without you."
I started walking, and like the fight never happened, they scurried after me.
The quick-on-the-uptake Saintess slipped ahead, leaving the two to flank me, still shooting glares.
"Right this way. Five guests confirmed. Please follow me."
Even inside the restaurant, their petty war raged on.
"Hey, shorty. You even know how to eat at a place like this?"
"What, gonna teach me, you old-timer?"
Into the restaurant, at the round table, still bickering.
Had to sit between them in the Saintess's spot.
"We'll serve your food now."
But once the dishes hit the table, like magic, they quit.
'Figured as much.'
Appetizers alone ran 38 to 49 points. Mains were 200 to 300 at least.
Stuff other players couldn't afford even if they emptied their pockets.
What could you do?
Shin Seo-yeon and the Reaper shoveled food like there was no tomorrow.
'Not everything expensive tastes good, but at this price, the baseline's solid.'
Plus, they hadn't had real food since the trial zones.
Shin Seo-yeon, stuffed and catching the Saintess's eye, shot her a betrayed look.
"Sis, you two ate stuff this good without me last time?"
"Ahaha, sorry."
Of course, that other place was different. Different vibe, different waitstaff, different menu—but all delicious.
I watched the crew dig in with a satisfied smile.
"Seo-yeon, tasty?"
"You kidding?"
"Ha-na? Sera?"
Song Ha-na savored each bite with elegant poise.
"Perfectly to my taste."
Her pleased smile said it matched even a rich girl's palate—no flattery.
Chomp chomp.
The Reaper just ate without a word. Paused only when the Saintess wiped sauce from her mouth.
"Hungry? Order more."
"For real?"
"Dickhead's the best!"
Honestly, blowing points here felt wasteful.
Saving on food for better gear or smarter spends might be ideal.
But I'm human too.
Chasing the future wars with wanting to enjoy the now,
and especially, I wanted to treat those under my wing right—at least when it came to eating.
If we're surviving the selection process not just to live, but to live happily even a little,
we gotta learn to savor those small joys starting now.
'Course, I can afford this 'cause I've raked in the cash.'
If I were scraping for tomorrow's meals, no way.
Spending matches earnings.
'Anyway, rare feast—let's enjoy it.'
And tighten the leash on these kids while I'm at it.
"But no more fighting between you two. I'll cover all meals from now on. Disobey, and I'll ditch you starting then."
The two eyed each other—more like glared. How long? I called the waiter, grabbed the menu, and slapped it between them—right on my side of the table.
Seeing those insane prices, they beamed innocently and shook hands like nothing happened.
"Let's get along from now on."
"Yeah!"
And just like that, no more fighting.
At least not where I could see. Even out of sight, if they wanted free eats like this, they'd keep it from total meltdown.
Heading out after the meal, the Saintess blinked wide-eyed at me.
"Huh? Nothing else today?"
"?"
She waved the [Summoner's Letter Envelope] I'd given her. Ah. I nodded.
"Challenges don't always pop in the same spot."
Different per rest area. This one's not the restaurant, apparently.
"Got it."
"Let's head back."
Out into the street.
The sun that lit the world was gone, darkness blanketing everything in solemn quiet.
A few buildings glowed, but most loomed gray and unlit.
Like a rural night street.
'Yeah, this place is basically countryside right now.'
Rest areas evolve.
Further along, streets widen, buildings multiply and grow tall. Food prices climb, facilities expand.
Later, it'll light up like Seoul's bar district at night.
But not yet. The whole rest area drowned in dark, and second rest area's shadows hid real danger.
Streets empty. Everyone holed up in lodgings.
'No one's dumb enough to jump us, huh.'
Shin Seo-yeon's rampage worked. Song Ha-na, who'd been vigilant, relaxed.
"Back to the lodging then?"
"Pretty much. Why, bummed?"
"Not bummed, just... after days together, being alone in the room felt weird."
Ah, I get it.
After constant trial-zone companionship, holing up solo in a cramped motel stirs up thoughts.
'Feels great at first! Then the loneliness creeps in.'
Only hits with trustworthy company, though.
After betrayal-and-death-filled trials, most won't step outside.
Nearly half who reached second rest area would stay bunkered for that reason.
They'd creep out only at departure time, hit shops, then bail.
"Can't sleep, got time—come crash at Dickhead's place. Yeah?"
"Might be a bother."
Song Ha-na glanced at me over Shin Seo-yeon's pitch.
"Hey, it's cool. You in too, sis?"
"M-Me? Uh, if Min-jun's okay..."
"The shrimp... no need to ask."
The Reaper was already clinging to my back, kicking her feet. I shot back, exasperated.
"Not asking the owner?"
"Psh, skip the details."
"..."
[Player Shin Seo-yeon requests entry to your lodging. Permit?]
Ended up herding the crew back to my place. No clue what girls would do gathered in a guy's room late night, but I let them in without thinking...
"Huh?"
The women stepping into my lodging gawked, then unloaded complaints in unison.
"What the hell! Why's your room huge?!"
Oh yeah. I'd upgraded it.
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