I Awakened as a Dark History - Chapter 30

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 30
I watched the ambulances converge before the gate and collapsed onto the ground.
A paramedic quickly took Lee Ji-eum’s body from my arms.
Outside the Dungeon, dawn was just beginning to break, slow and pale.
‘Without the Antidote, even Synchronization would have been dangerous.’
The moment the guidance window told me that Demon King Synchronization was possible, I managed to execute it successfully.
As my form changed, my paralyzed body regained some movement.
And I immediately forced the Antidote into my mouth.
Thanks to that, I was able to kill the Basilisks and Lamias in this new form and return safely to my Dark Fairy shape.
If there had been no Antidote, I might not have been able to move so easily and save everyone.
“That’s all of them, right?”
At Lee Jae-cheon’s question, I barely managed to nod.
It was fortunate that he regained consciousness quickly thanks to the Potion’s effects.
While I was debating whether to stay unconscious, Lee Jae-cheon waking up allowed me to gather the team members.
I poured Potion into my teammates and called Song Hye-yum.
Then we escaped the Dungeon immediately. I clutched my chest, finally catching my breath as the situation unfolded at breakneck speed.
“Thank goodness everyone’s safe.”
If we’d waited any longer, one of the team members could have been in real danger.
Lee Jae-cheon nodded in agreement with my words, though he couldn’t quite hide a faint look of unease.
“But I honestly have no idea what happened. I passed out and woke up with nothing but ashes left. I don’t know how to explain this to the Hunter Association…”
He ran his hand roughly through his hair.
I spoke to him calmly.
“First priority is getting everyone conscious. The team members are being transported to the Emergency Room, right? We did use Potion…”
Fortunately, he seemed to regain his composure at my words, breathing steadily.
“Potion doesn’t handle everything completely, so they need to get proper medical attention at the hospital. The Antidote worked well, but there could still be Basilisk or Lamia poison lingering in their systems.”
Lee Jae-cheon pulled out his phone for a moment to check the time, then spoke.
“Since it’s Sunday, the Hunter-exclusive Hospital won’t be open, so we’ll have to go to a regular hospital.”
“And it’s dawn too.”
At this hour, the Emergency Room was our only option.
Lee Jae-cheon nodded in agreement with a small laugh.
He soon stopped laughing and opened his mouth.
“Oh, right. Item and Mana Stone distribution has to wait until the leader wakes up, so I’ll probably contact you through the Gamja Market app later.”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
I nodded.
“But we should settle the accounts here before we go.”
Lee Jae-cheon slowly checked the items we’d obtained and told me the tally.
Fourteen Carnivorous Flower Petals and seven roots, six Poison-fanged Leopard Horns, ten Ten-Thousand People Poison, three Harpy Owl Wings.
These were items the team had collected while exploring the Dungeon.
To that, we added a substantial amount from clearing the boss chamber.
Seven Lamia Scales, a Snake Altar Brazier and Stone Monument, Basilisk Fangs and Crown Scales, and Mana Stones.
Under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t have obtained Mana Stones due to time constraints, but because I burned all the Magical Beasts in the boss chamber, we were able to pick them up for free.
But Lee Jae-cheon, unaware of that situation, looked troubled.
“Especially these items from the boss chamber—we should verify them properly once the team members are all awake. There could be a dispute over ownership if another hunter was involved.”
There won’t be.
My inner thoughts were filled with certainty, but outwardly I just shrugged.
“By the way, aren’t you going to the hospital?”
“I’m fine thanks to the Potion.”
I was fine enough that I resolved to buy and stock Potions from now on.
I had some bruises scattered across my upper body, but they’d be hidden under my clothes and the pain wasn’t severe.
Besides, there was a more critical reason I couldn’t go to the hospital.
‘If I go to the hospital, they’ll register me under my real name.’
I absolutely had to avoid my true identity being revealed in this form.
‘I can’t let my dark history be discovered!’
I hid these thoughts and maintained a deliberately gruff attitude.
“Discuss the rest with my sister. I’m heading out now.”
“Sure, get home safely.”
I didn’t have the strength to take public transportation home.
I spread my wings and lifted my body into the air.
My upper body pulled slightly as the wings moved, but it was bearable.
From my elevated perspective, I could see the team members lying unconscious below.
I’d applied the Potion, but at this rate they’d need to rest at the Hospital for some time.
“……I hope you all make a full recovery.”
Lee Jae-cheon looked at me with surprise, then let out a short laugh.
“Thank you for your concern. I’d be happy if we had another chance to meet.”
I left the scene with a light heart.
The child who’d ridden in the ambulance waved his hand toward me, broad and eager.
I didn’t hold back my smile.
Yet even so, my Synchronization Rate crept upward at the edge of my awareness.
* * *
‘Is this the power of Synchronization?’
I marveled, pulling my shirt down again in front of the mirror.
After only a brief sleep and a meal, the bruises that had mottled my upper body had vanished without a trace.
“Well, I did drink a Potion too.”
Whether it was the Potion or Synchronization, I had nothing to say except that I was grateful not to be in pain.
I stretched my sluggish body out loosely and checked the Synchronization window.
[Characteristic: Dark History]
―Fairy―
A fairy born where the breath of a flower field touched.
―Dark Fairy―
A fairy who lost her flower field.
―Demon King―
A king molded by the Demon God’s own hands.
―Nine-tailed Fox―
Currently locked.
―■■―
Synchronization Rate 2%
The number at the very bottom of the Demon King entry in the open Synchronization window caught my eye.
Below a word I couldn’t decipher, my Synchronization Rate had climbed slightly.
“What is this that’s gone up?”
I lifted my finger and tried to press it, but there was no response.
It was clear I couldn’t access it.
‘Will this keep rising?’
What Dark History was leaking out, and why was my Synchronization Rate climbing?
I stared at the translucent guide window, then shook my head.
“Enough.”
Worrying ahead of time wouldn’t yield any solutions.
All I could do was keep this Dark History hidden, just as I had been.
I set aside the incomprehensible Dark History and tapped on the Demon King entry.
[Description]
A Demon King born on a night without moon or stars.
Strong and beautiful in its arrogance.
More akin to a beast than a man, it savors combat.
Strength and attack power increase by the percentage that Health drops.
[Current Synchronization Rate]
0%
[Stats]
Strength: 298
Mana: 192
Agility: 213
Health: 347
Resistance: 226
[Skill Configuration]
―Divine Flame―
Can burn anything it touches.
Can control the fire it creates.
―Night’s Protection―
Can be used when Synchronization Rate is 35% or higher.
Attack power and skill effect each increase by 40%.
If receiving any debuff effect, an additional 5% increase applies.
(Effects can stack.)
―Supernova―
Consumes 90% of Synchronization Rate to trigger a massive explosion.
Detonates from the user’s fists.
The caster cannot escape the blast’s effects; 50% of remaining health is sacrificed.
Even knowing this dark history, the unease wouldn’t fade.
I pressed my eyes shut and forced the turbulent thoughts down.
The skill’s structure wasn’t bad, at least.
As I struggled to muster some genuine excitement, my phone chimed.
Gamja~
An alert from the Gamja Market app.
I opened it immediately.
Lee Ji-eum, of course.

Healer, I apologize for the delayed contact.

I’ve been sorting through everything.

The Hunter Association report is complete, and we’ve finished tallying the items.
“Finished already?”
Wonder how much I’m getting this time.
A bright smile spread across my face at the prospect.

Truth is, I brought you in as the healer, but the actual dungeon clear went down with my sister, so I wasn’t sure how to split the rewards fairly.

In the end, we decided we failed to protect you and got help from my sister besides, so we’re proceeding with the original split we discussed.
Lee Ji-eum’s messages kept pouring in.
I typed a response to show I was reading.

Thank you.

We’re the ones who should thank you.
A cute emoticon bobbed its head repeatedly.

There was some debate over the items we got from the boss chamber.

The Hunter Association ruled that since we didn’t collect the rewards within the dungeon, it counted as forfeiture—so those items were credited as clearance rewards to our team.
Lucky, if you looked at it one way. Fair, if you looked at it another.

So your share of the rewards breaks down like this.

Carnivorous Flower Petals 5, roots 2, Poison-fanged Leopard Horns 2, Ten-Thousand People Poison 3, Harpy Owl Wing 1, Lamia Scales 3.
It was calculated precisely to my thirty percent cut. The fair allocation brought an automatic nod of approval.

For the remaining items, I need to check with you and my sister on what you’d prefer, which is why I’m messaging.
Simple items were divided by quantity, but the unique pieces were trickier to split evenly.

The Snake Altar Brazier, the Basilisk Fang, and the Basilisk Mana Stone are each Grade A.

And the Snake Altar Stone Monument and the Basilisk Crown Scale are both Grade S.

Dividing these cleanly into thirty-percent shares isn’t straightforward.
I typed back carefully, a whisper of dread in my heart.

Have you not decided how to split them?
Unlike me, who hesitated before sending, Lee Ji-eum answered instantly.

No.

We’re thinking of assigning you one Grade A item and one Grade S item.

So I texted the healer to choose for themselves.
“Phew!”
Admiration escaped me unbidden—it was that kind of judgment.
I’d been prepared to wait even if they converted it to cash and gave me exactly thirty percent.

This way, I’m getting thirty percent of the reward plus the finest item, just as promised, right?
Now it was my turn to flood the chat with gratitude emojis.
As I unleashed thanks and hearts, Lee Ji-eum laughed through the keyboard.

Talk it over with your sister, and let me know.

I’m attaching the item details below.

Ah, it’s not a precise appraisal—it’s just what the system shows. Double-check it yourself.
I opened the photo Lee Ji-eum had sent.
It was a screenshot of a memo—just a quick note he’d scribbled down and photographed.
[Basilisk Fang (A)]
A fang tipped with basilisk venom.
Infused with potent forces of ruin and curse.
[Basilisk Mana Stone (A)]
A Mana Stone harvested from a basilisk.
[Basilisk Crown Scale (S)]
A scale that symbolizes the serpent king.
When carried or equipped, it can instill fear and pressure in reptilian Magical Beasts.
Detailed stat enhancement possible through crafting.
The basilisk had proven itself a formidable Magical Beast.
You could tell just from how excellent the reward stats were.
I scrolled down to check the remaining two items as well.
[Snake Altar Brazier (A)]
A brazier for the god they revere.
Offerings to the serpent god can be made here.
[Snake Altar Stone Monument (S)]
Their ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒.
▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒.
(The text is corrupted. The system can’t read it. An appraisal is needed.)
Lee Ji-eum’s bracketed note caught my eye immediately.
“There are items the system can’t even identify?”
An item beyond the system’s ability to parse—curiosity and anticipation surged.
Since it was Grade S anyway, if I took it to the Hunter Association like I did with the Sea Serpent venom, wouldn’t they appraise it for me?
Still, the Basilisk Crown Scale seemed like something built around crafting, so I wasn’t eager to claim it.
‘I don’t even know where to get it processed, and it’d be hard to tailor to me. I have multiple stat distributions depending on my Synchronization.’
Since my stats and skills shifted with each Synchronization, it made more sense to buy weapons after scrutinizing their specific attributes.
Besides, I didn’t want to shoulder the financial burden either.
I didn’t overthink it—I sent my reply.

Then I’ll go with the Basilisk Mana Stone and the Snake Altar Stone Monument.

Understood!

We should meet in person to hand it over, shouldn’t we?

When works for you?
“Oh.”
The unexpected question plunged me into deeper thought than before.
After some effort, I picked a time and place obscure enough that I wouldn’t be identified, and sent it over—relief washed through me.
‘Oh, I have to go in to work tomorrow…’
The thought of dungeon runs over the weekend followed by weekday shifts suddenly crashed over me like a wave of exhaustion.
I closed my eyes and surrendered to the fatigue pulling me under.
‘I can’t believe I’ve become someone juggling two jobs.’

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————