NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 2 - In the Slums (2)
Chapter 2 – In the Slums (2)
“Failure means death…?”
Han Aejeong was one of the notable villains in this slum.
She was a common antagonist who received illegally diverted monster corpses, forced kidnapped children to butcher them, and sold the byproducts overseas.
‘However, that was only in the early stages.’
If you failed to kill her in childhood or didn’t get involved with her,
She would later transform into a Mein and evolve into a fairly significant villain who obstructs the protagonist’s path.
‘She was a troublesome woman. As a human, she wasn’t much to look at, but…’
Her talent as a Mein was exceptional, gaining a unique ability specialized in massacres, causing numerous casualties and leaving a strong impression on gamers.
Therefore, regardless of which protagonist I chose, eliminating her first was a sort of routine course of action for me.
‘But I’m not a protagonist, am I?’
Unless I had that level of ability,
Even if she wasn’t much to look at, she wasn’t someone who could be easily killed.
In other words, an unknown extra kid of barely 8 years old couldn’t kill her within 30 days—she wasn’t that easy of a target.
“Damn it, say something that makes sense…”
Of course, there was hope.
“Status window!”
The moment I called out, thinking it should be available by now,
Ding!
A blue window unfolded.
▼
[Name: Not set]
Strength: 2
Agility: 2
Vitality: 4
Mental: 6
Psychic: 0
Potential: 0
◈Unique Ability(1/1)
NEW!
Tenacious Vitality(E) → Terrible Adaptability(D-)
◈Traits(0/1)
-X-
◈Constitution and Qualities
Extremely Untalented(A+)
Face of Plausibility(C)/[Locked]
▲
“…What? Why is it like this?”
It wasn’t that I was seeing this format for the first time.
It was a layout I’d seen countless times while playing Ernel Saga.
What surprised me was none other than
‘Extremely poor talent…? Why is this here?’
Ernel Saga was a game thoroughly based on talent and potential.
The reason is simple: the lower your potential, the more limited the number of unique abilities and characteristics you can obtain.
No matter how high your other stats or how good your skills are, if your potential and constitution are poor, you’re treated like trash.
This is evident not only outside the game but also in the internal storyline.
In the early stages, when playing as Gu Mihyang, one of the protagonists,
Her rival, Yu Hana, was twice as superior to Gu Mihyang in terms of abilities.
However, due to her poor constitution as a ‘Hardworking Mediocrity,’ she could barely increase her potential stats and couldn’t even come close in terms of growth rate.
Well, it’s not like she dies because of it, so is there really a need to be so frustrated? Why make such a fuss? One might say.
‘If you’re weak, you die, damn it…’
The story of Ernel Saga is quite gloomy.
More precisely, from the moment the seal of calamity was broken,
It was a world where extras obviously died, and even frequently appearing supporting characters died in countless numbers.
‘In fact, Yu Hana couldn’t withstand the villains’ attack and died on the spot…’
As I recall, not a single limb was intact, all broken,
Meeting a miserable end.
But if even a ‘Hardworking Mediocrity’ is shocking, being so bad that it’s actually a rare case of extremely poor talent…
‘This is screenshot-worthy for a forum post, isn’t it?’
Even in this situation, I smirked while having useless thoughts and examined the evolved ability.
──────────────────
【Poor Adaptability (D-)】
A unique ability symbolizing tenacious vitality.
:Evolves with the owner’s survival as the top priority in specific situations or conditions.
──────────────────
‘Did this turn out as intended?’
Fortunately, it evolved into the ability I had in mind. If even this hadn’t worked out, there really would have been no hope.
‘Adaptability…’
Literally a unique ability that activates prioritizing the owner’s survival when faced with life-threatening danger.
‘One of the top-tier garbage abilities.’
Unless you enjoy extremely perverted gameplay, it’s an ability no one would choose.
It’s so bad that the standard practice is to have it erased through an ability eraser as soon as you see it.
Well, of course, I can’t do much with just this either.
“Let’s look further. There are still things I haven’t seen, and maybe there’s a way…?”
Then I noticed something flashing pink in the corner of my vision.
“Face is plausibility?”
I was already planning to examine this constitution I’d never seen before,
But why is only this one pink…
As if entranced by something, I pressed the button.
──────────────────
【Face with Plausibility (C)】
A special privilege granted to you by the Observer who created the
: Applies high enhancement to all of the owner’s appearance and looks.
: Maintains the owner’s body and mind in their original state as much as possible.
: All effects above are amplified according to the owner’s external growth.
[Currently locked! Press again to unlock and receive [Additional Privileges]~]
──────────────────
“This is…”
This was quite surprising.
Of course, abilities or traits that enhance appearance exist in this world too.
They’re commonly seen in demon-type enemies,
but abilities that enhance both body and mind are rare.
‘Full of Personal Feelings, that refers to the button I pressed during character creation, right?’
I didn’t think much of it, but it turns out that was a special privilege.
‘…’
After pondering for a moment, I pressed it again.
The suddenly changed tone, the additional message, and the differently colored window—I could tell intuitively.
‘I don’t know who it is, but it’s someone who has goodwill toward me.’
Of course, it might not be the case, but I didn’t have many options.
No matter how I looked at it, there was no hope in this state.
[Applying additional privileges.]
[Unreleased features are being implemented in the currently installed basic system.]
[Convenience and selectivity increase in most areas.]
[Other Observers strongly oppose this.]
[Other Observers…!)#&*#!*!]
‘…’
Is this really okay?
After about a minute, several new icons appeared above the status window.
[Additional system has been applied. As of now, player ‘Yu Siwoo’ is under the influence of Observer ‘Message Yang’.]
“Message Yang?”
What kind of old-fashioned name is that?
Wait, more importantly, Yu Siwoo? Who’s that?
Ding!
While I was bewildered, a notification sound rang.
──────────────────
The Observer pities your situation.
Please check the special privileges prepared for your pathetic self.
Reward: 10 Gacha Tickets
──────────────────
…
I hesitated at the suddenly changed tone, but I ignored it and examined the newly appeared functions.
‘An inventory function that can summon possessions, Observation that can examine others’ status, and Dimensional Shop?’
When I pressed the part labeled [Dimensional Shop]
-One-time limited discount applied!-
-10+1 gacha pulls being distributed!-
-Watch an ad for additional rewards!-
-Various benefits…-
Dizzying phrases and sounds spread out, showing a layout very commonly seen in K-mobile games.
‘Come to think of it, didn’t they say they were aiming for mobile adaptation?’
Was this the unreleased feature?
Although the structure was no different from mass-produced games, its functions were absolutely not to be ignored.
Various useful potions and weapons, elixirs, and
‘They even sell traits.’
Unique abilities weren’t visible, but seeing some areas locked with padlocks, it seemed possible to obtain them later.
Literally a shop that had everything.
‘The downside is that almost nothing is sold at fixed prices…’
Most items had to be obtained through gacha pulls.
“The forced quest is still in effect.”
The conditions hadn’t changed at all. Literally just additional functions and revisions.
But with this, it was possible.
‘I have hope now.’
Hope to clear this damn quest,
Enter Ernel Academy, see the ending, and return home!
Taking a deep breath, I clicked on
The
After looking at the colorfully divided themes by category
I clicked on the
With a pop! sound, a red hologram roulette appeared before my eyes.
It must be visible only to me, as passing residents paid no attention to it.
[Limited to your first 10 draws, you will definitely receive a Unique Ability Enhancement Voucher (D-grade)!]
[Test your luck~Bababam!!!]
‘Unique Ability Enhancement Voucher!’
It’s an item that was very difficult to obtain even in the original work, and they’re giving it guaranteed.
‘With this!’
I put in all the gacha vouchers I received as quest rewards
Whirrrrrr~
I swallowed as I watched the screen to the sound of spinning.
[Congratulations on your first 10-pull!]
[You are now designated as VIP Level 1!]
[The higher the level, the greater the probability of acquiring higher-grade items!]
I ignored whatever was being said and examined the 10 items that appeared in the results window.
‘One Unique Ability Enhancement Voucher (D-grade), one basic potion, one antidote, one disposable explosive window (E), one disposable master key (E), two magic scrolls, and the rest is just junk…’
I didn’t need anything else, but getting the enhancement voucher was huge.
I raised my head and clicked on the
Afterward, I thought carefully and formulated my plan going forward.
‘I need to get kidnapped on purpose.’
I don’t know exactly where Han Aejeong is.
I didn’t pay attention since she would come out on her own when I caused trouble.
‘Right now, I look like a dirty local kid. Perfect origin to be exploited.’
I’ll get kidnapped to the slaughterhouse she controls and watch for an opportunity to kill her.
‘First, I’ll use this…’
I reverently lifted the two enhancement vouchers and inserted them into my status window.
[Using 2 Unique Ability Enhancement Vouchers (D-grade or below).]
Thinking coldly, these items seemed like they were deliberately given to me by someone, but I didn’t care about that.
‘I won’t be picky about means and methods. And I will survive.’
[Applying to Miserable Adaptability (D-).]
[System has been revised for increased convenience.]
[Please select two out of six options.]
Originally, options would only be added randomly without any choices, but I guess this is another improvement.
“The special privilege is worth it.”
Feeling grateful to someone I’d never met, I examined the additional options.
Among them was what I wanted.
“…! Found it.”
With this combination, I could proceed as I intended.
‘Of course, easier said than done.’
But the possibility was sufficient.
After all, it was a method jokingly mentioned in the community.
[Miserable Adaptability (D-) is being enhanced.]
[Additional options are being added.]
──────────────────
【Miserable Adaptability (D+)】
A unique ability symbolizing tenacious vitality.
: Evolves with the owner’s survival as the top priority in specific situations and conditions!
: Converts part of the buffs applied to oneself into stats and adapts them.
: When a certain threshold is reached, can also be converted into traits (effects are minimal)
: All additional effects are greatly enhanced when entering combat or feeling strong threats to life.
──────────────────
I examined my enhanced abilities. I quietly closed the window.
‘Now I need to find that old man…’
An old man who provides or sells information to various business owners in this slum, including Han Aejeong.
Though that’s just how he appears on the surface,
He was always in the same place in the original work, so he should be there if I go now.
‘I need to confirm through that old man.’
Whether this world truly follows the rules of the game and whether what are called ‘bugs’ can be exploited or not.
‘I will definitely survive.’
I reaffirmed my determination and hurried on my way.