episode_0030

To conclude, it was a failure.

A thought that suddenly occurred to me while I was reproducing the lucky coin and acquiring the enchantment.

The plan to ‘mass-produce this and sell it, wouldn’t it make money!?’ was ultimately scrapped.

As our understanding of the act of enchantment grew, we began to realize the true nature of these ‘lucky coins’.

A vessel of power in the form of an object.

This wasn’t some grand object like a ‘holy relic’ they were talking about.

You could say it’s like ‘hot iron’.

It was only temporarily affected by my power that it took on the same properties, but those properties were extremely unstable.

If I didn’t continuously inject power into it, it would cool down in real time and disappear quickly.

Selling this kind of stuff is no different from a second-hand goods dealer scammer who says, “”It was fine when I sold it. No refunds. “”

Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that the lucky coin business was not a realistically feasible business idea.

‘A holy relic or something – why are you making me expect so much?’

It was quite disappointing. My dream of copying money was blown away right before my eyes.

The only consolation was that there was some income.

I looked at the coin in my hand.

Imbuing the coin with the power of purification was ultimately unsuccessful, but mana was different.

The coin was clearly imbued with the properties of mana.

I have succeeded in making the technology called Enchant completely mine.

Of course, it’s only at the level of barely taking baby steps –

‘Where is that?’

I was simply satisfied with the fact that my magical abilities had expanded.

“Did you think that would be possible?”

After hearing my story, Pien criticized me, saying that I was ridiculous.

“Dreaming is free, right?”

“Free?”

Now Pien was sitting next to my bed, wiping the blood off my face with a warm towel.

Pien thrust a red-stained towel at me and told me to look at it.

“Enchant is a technique that takes some of your own power and gives it to an object. It’s like your mental power and physical strength are like bread dough falling off! How burdensome it is to do this kind of ignorant method-”

“Still, I adjusted it in my own way. If it felt really dangerous, I was going to stop.”

“What’s really dangerous? Death? Fainting? Exhaustion? Stop talking nonsense and just say it. I won’t overdo it next time.”

I know what Pien is trying to say.

I’m not stupid either. After all, this magical training is all about preserving your own body, so what’s the point if it harms your health?

This time, the circumstances were a bit special.

I felt confident that if I went all the way, I would gain something.

“Don’t be like that. I’ll give you this.”

I handed over my monumental first enchantment result to Pien.

“Oh my. What am I supposed to do with this? You’re not going to call this an artifact, are you? It’s just a coin with mana on it. It’s perfect for hammering nails without a hammer.”

“This is my first enchantment result. Later, when I become famous as an enchantment craftsman, won’t it get a premium?”

“What are you talking about?”

Pien laughed and took the coin.

A little later.

“Okay.”

After finishing cleaning her face, Pien turned away from me.

“Thank you, Pien. As expected, Pien is the only one who worries about me.”

“What are you talking about? I never worried about you.”

Huh. Pien woke up in bed snoring.

“So. What do you want to do now?”

“Huh?”

“Thank you. So what should I do now?”

“…Should I hug you?”

Bam. A towel flew into my face.

I guess that wasn’t the correct answer.

“…Did you eat breakfast?”

“You’re talking so well after causing such a fuss in the morning breeze. Did you eat breakfast? No? Of course I didn’t. Thank you for asking.”

“Then, may I dare to have the honor of buying breakfast for Pien?”

“Ugh. What should I do with that mouth?”

As he said that, Pien left the room.

He left a message telling me to get ready to leave quickly.

I guess that was the right answer.

I started preparing to go out right away.

I was expected to be tired after practicing all night, but thanks to Pien’s power, I was so energetic that it didn’t take me too long to get ready to leave.

“Did you get everything?”

Finally, he placed a coin on the blood-soaked blanket and left the room.

At that moment, almost simultaneously with me, a woman came out of the room next door.

“…”

“…”

Our eyes met because the timing was perfect.

I was completely captivated by the woman’s face.

On the face of a woman whose left side was swollen, as if she had been burned.

…and the discomfort felt from women.

***

A sturdy, long body that looks like it has been trained, and dark red hair-

And, she was an impressive woman with an ugly scar on her face.

Salana.

She didn’t like having someone staring at her face.

It was because of the ugly scar that had eaten away the entire left side of his face.

It wasn’t hard to guess. What kind of person would enjoy staring at their own shame?

“…”

So Salana was dumbfounded.

The moment he came out of the room, he saw the man in the next room staring blankly at him.

‘What the heck is this kid?’

If it had been the usual Salana, it would have already passed him by hitting his shoulder.

And after a while, the man must have realized that his shoulder was dislocated.

But Salana decided to endure it.

She unconsciously touched her face.

I don’t know what happened, but her skin condition has improved somewhat over the past night.

Is it that the efforts we’ve put in so far have finally, for the first time, come to fruition?

How long has it been?

This horrible scar didn’t crack and burst during the night.

Waking up to a fluffy pillow, not a soggy one soaked in water.

It was fun to wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and get dressed.

Now she felt good.

I can easily overlook that level of rudeness.

“What’s on my face?”

Salana said in a cheerful tone.

It was the appearance of a high-level adventurer, her public identity.

“Huh? Ah! Sorry, I’m sorry- I didn’t realize it.”

The man seemed startled when he came to his senses and apologized to Salana.

Occasionally, there were those who openly watched and showed their contempt.

Those guys had to have their fingers broken to get that kind of reaction –

At least the man didn’t seem like the type who needed such shock therapy.

“Haha. I get it. As you can see, I’m so beautiful. There must be one or two men who are just staring at me blankly.”

Salana spoke in a more relaxed tone.

“I am Salana. I work as an adventurer. My rank is high.”

“Ah! My name is Risir. By the way, you’re a high-level adventurer…? You’re an amazing person-”

As far as Risir knew, the average level of high-level adventurers was 5th level.

Salana looked to be in her twenties – reaching the fifth rank at the age of twenties was no easy feat, even for nobles who enjoyed the full support of their families.

“I agree with that part. At this age, with this beauty, a high-level adventurer. That’s why I’m letting you go. You’re just staring at me blankly.”

“Ah…! I apologize again.”

“Hey. Do you have anything to apologize for? You were just looking at me while I was so beautiful? Anyway, Risir. It was nice meeting you – and let’s meet again when we get the chance.”

Salana turned away from Risir and tried to leave.

“Ah, wait a minute! Mr. Salana!”

“…”

Salana crumpled her expression inwardly.

What the heck-

Why are you being so annoying?

Annoyingly.

She answered with a cheerful smile.

“What? Are you trying to ask me out on a date?”

“Ah- It’s certainly an attractive offer, but-”

Of course, it wasn’t a date request.

Should I say that there is already a pre-arranged arrangement?

Risir did not forget the presence of Pien, who was waiting for him outside the inn.

However, the reason I called Salana was because of the strangeness I felt from her.

It was like Todina’s time.

Risir felt the potential for ‘purification’ from Salana.

I was confident that the strength I possessed would be of help to her.

Risir thought on such grounds.

‘He was definitely a high-level adventurer.’

If you help someone who is a high-level adventurer and build a good relationship with them, they will surely come back to you as a great help in the future.

In addition to that-

While Risir was working on his strength yesterday, he realized one thing.

The fact that his power has grown by leaps and bounds.

In fact, it might be more appropriate to say that I confirmed it rather than realized it.

He already had a vague idea that he had experienced two stages of growth.

Even the exact time and reason.

The first one was right after the Rona incident –

The second was right after the Toddina incident.

Risir deduced one fact from him.

I don’t know what the principle is, but-

Purification directly leads to an increase in magical power.

That was the reason I caught Salana.

Meeting her was an opportunity.

“What? Speak.”

“…”

Risir was troubled.

How should I bring up the subject?

Every time this happens, I feel like it was no small feat.

You notice the other person’s problems with a power that you yourself are not aware of.

He offers help with a power he himself is not fully aware of.

How can I convince the other party of this process?

‘Lucky coin- it’s not.’

It was different from the time of Toddina.

In Toddina’s case, the problem was apparent, and the person in question was in need of help.

Just casually handing over a lucky coin got the conversation started.

Salana is different.

‘I know that scar on your face is a problem, but-‘

She doesn’t show her problem and doesn’t need help with it.

If someone suddenly hands you a lucky coin, saying it might help with the scars on your face –

What comes back may not be a thank you, but a challenge to a duel.

“Haha. What? Did I hear wrong? If you have nothing to do, I should go now?”

I don’t know.

It’s a do or die situation.

“Ms. Salana!? I-I hope you don’t think it’s strange and listen to me. Do you have any underlying illness?”

“Coronary disease? Is this what you mean?”

Salana rubbed her face.

“If I could help you cure that chronic disease – would you believe me?”

“…”

In an instant, Salana’s atmosphere changed.

Lisir’s fur stood on end as he sensed the subtle change.

It’s a high-level adventurer-

It was too sharp to be the atmosphere created by a 5th-level ability user.

“What is it? Tell me.”

Although she was speaking with a smiling expression, Salana was actually serious inside.

It wasn’t just rude lookists who were drawn to her scars.

It’s been dirty so far.

Those who approach me, claiming to know how to cure the scars on my face.

Without exception, they were charlatans or scammers who preyed on the wealth of high-level adventurers.

They all paid a price.

To the Black Snake, the master of the Black Hand Assassins Guild.

A sinister aura settled on the tips of Salana’s fingers, who was carrying a backpack on her back.

Colorless. Odorless. Formless.

There are no symptoms or signs, only the results.

It was a poison that only those who had mastered the art of assassination could handle.

If Salana had the will to touch the man in front of her, he would die tonight of unknown causes.

“First, should we move our location?”

Salana and Risir left the back door of the inn and entered a deserted alley.

***

“I know this is really rude, but would it be okay if I touched Salana-san’s face for a second?”

It was the first thing Risir said after pondering the whole time he was moving.

Here, Salana once fell into a dilemma.

‘Should I just kill him?”

It was a look of such agony.

Risir, who was wondering how to interpret that look, nodded and placed his hand on Salana’s face.

“Excuse me.”

“…”

There was a slight crack in the mask of ‘the sassy upper-level adventurer’ that Salana had created.

Another man’s hand touched a part of her body that she was reluctant to touch herself.

Salana looked at Risir with dreary eyes.

Now that it’s come to this, let’s hear it out.

What are you talking about?

All the charlatans and scammers that Salana has met so far have tried to deceive and delude the ignorant Salana with plausible words.

Through that experience, Salana came to one realization.

3 minutes.

If the speech went on for more than three minutes, it wasn’t worth listening to.

Therefore, the time given to Risir was also 3 minutes.

Risir nodded his head.

Soon his closed mouth opens.

Salana entered the countdown.

I wanted to personally observe how the foolish conman in front of me was using his remaining three minutes of life.

“Okay. Would you like to check it?”

“?”

***

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■Salana

Level: 61

Race: Human

Series: Assassin

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***