I Became a Disaster-Class Newbie by Stealing Abilities - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 29. The Celebration (2)
The Community.
Anyone who had operated within The Emperor to any degree had heard the name at least once.
About the strongest organization ever formed—some fifty stagnant masters gathered in one place.
Most operated in complete secrecy about their identities.
They were presumed to have crossed over into this world, but that was only a presumption.
No one knew the truth for certain.
Of course, not all of them were like that.
Groups like the Invaders existed, ones that actively publicized their names while achieving countless feats.
On the other hand.
There were those whose names had become infamous for all the wrong reasons.
The Ghoul.
This faction, whose name meant to devour corpses, embodied darkness itself.
Human trafficking. Murder. Plunder. Terror.
If it made them stronger.
If it turned a profit….
They wouldn’t hesitate at anything.
“While the leader handles business in Yeouido, let’s wrap up our work here too. You know what I mean? If we fail, we get cleaned up without mercy, got it?”
“Understood.”
“Yeah… right. No need to scare me with old news.”
Two men and one woman.
Three Ghoul members trailed behind the public officials.
Creak!
The door swung open, and the banquet hall revealed itself.
“Wow….”
“This is really all for us? This?”
“Incredible. Ha ha. All this fighting was worth the risk.”
Gasps of astonishment burst from everyone’s lips.
Roasted chicken crisp and golden, pork marinated in spices, soft white bread slathered thickly with butter, soup—the tables overflowed.
The beer wasn’t sour cheap swill like horse piss either, but fresh draft beer crowned with white foam.
The glasses had been chilled so well that beads of condensation covered their surfaces.
A feast they could never have dreamed of in Hanam or Gangdong.
“Please eat and drink first. We’ll distribute commendations after the meal is well underway.”
The attendant spoke the words everyone most wanted to hear.
That was when it began.
As if by prior arrangement, everyone rushed toward the spread before them.
* * *
Beyond the double-paned glass wall, several people were watching over the banquet hall.
“Tsk. Can’t even use utensils properly? What’s the difference between them and animals?”
“Don’t be so harsh. They say hundreds of people starve to death every day in the outskirts of Seoul.”
They were scouts from a major guild based in Gangnam.
“Is anyone here worth picking up?”
“Yeah. Just one decent prospect would make this worthwhile.”
Though it was supposed to be a gathering to commend their achievements….
There was more to the truth hidden beneath the surface.
It was actually a place to recruit promising prospects.
Their real aim was to scoop up the ones showing potential before they grew any bigger.
If they promised wealth and prestige to people who had been struggling day after day, most would come over in tears of gratitude, as if they’d found a savior.
“More pressing is the knight situation.”
One of the scouts glanced sideways toward a corner of the banquet hall.
There stood a man in his mid-thirties wearing a black suit.
With an air as sharp and lethal as a drawn blade.
A regular knight dispatched from the 5th Knight Order.
“It’s harder than usual to keep him satisfied. Bribes don’t work. Flattery doesn’t work.”
“I know. I’d honestly feel more at peace sleeping on top of a wasp’s nest.”
Size of guild meant nothing in the presence of a knight.
Step out of line even slightly, and your entire guild could be erased in a day.
Especially since he’d been talking all morning about assembling an expedition outside the walls, it was nothing short of nerve-wracking.
A promising recruit sent on a mission with less than ten percent survival rate?
The very thought was horrifying.
“The Joiner Clans, starving for prey, launched a coordinated assault on the wall—but thanks to your efforts, they were thwarted. They’ve grown even hungrier and weaker now. This is our chance to strangle Keruja and reclaim the lands south of Hanam!”
The knight circulated through the banquet hall, urging recruitment.
As he promised glory, honor, and reward, some began to waver.
But then.
“If you send an expedition beyond the wall now, whoever goes will die—all of them. The Joiner Clans didn’t attack because of food shortage.”
Someone directly contradicted the knight.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“If you’re spouting that nonsense just because of one minor achievement, you really aren’t thinking straight.”
“Another one bites the dust. Even our guild master wouldn’t be foolish enough to speak like that.”
Sighs rippled through the assembled Scouters.
Some were so startled they dropped their glasses.
“What do you mean by that?”
Just as expected, the knight’s brows drew downward in a sharp angle.
“The ecosystem beyond the wall has achieved perfect equilibrium over the past several decades. The Joiner Clans would need to multiply several times over before food suddenly became scarce.”
“Then what do you believe the reason is?”
At the knight’s question, everyone in the banquet hall held their breath.
Yes.
This was a test of sorts.
If the interruption stemmed from baseless delusion, the knight would sever his head on the spot.
Even a plausible answer could offend the knight’s pride.
Either way.
It was a gamble with no hope of breaking even.
And then.
“Fear.”
Ju Sang opened his mouth slowly.
“Fear?”
“When Joiner Clans are seized by extreme terror, the luster of their feathers changes. Their nails and talons grow four or five centimeters longer than usual, and their body weight decreases by roughly ten percent.”
“That’s classified information—how could you possibly—”
The knight inhaled sharply, but Ju Sang pressed on without hesitation.
“The problem is, they were all consumed by fear long before the battle even began.”
The source of that persistent unease finally revealed itself.
The Joiner Clans that breached the wall were in a different state than usual.
In other words.
“A force more powerful than them invaded their territory, and they had no choice but to cross the wall to survive. That’s my personal assessment.”
“A force more powerful than them, you say.”
The knight slowly sifted through the madness of the recent battle.
That devastation and frenzy.
That mindless, suicidal charge.
Intelligence reports indicated they still had not surrendered, despite losing a quarter of their number, and were searching for gaps in the wall.
Certainly.
There was merit to what he said.
“Have you ever ventured beyond the wall?”
“No, sir.”
“Yet you claim the Intelligence Division’s assessment is wrong?”
“I do.”
Not a tremor of doubt, even with his life on the line.
He truly believed what he was saying.
Just then.
“Wait! That’s him—the hero who slew the Fire Clan and Ice Extreme Clan and retook the Western Watchtower!”
A junior knight recognized Ju Sang’s face.
“Ah. So you’re the one who distinguished himself at the Western Watchtower.”
The knight’s tone softened noticeably.
He too had heard reports of a hero who had fought with great distinction there.
“My name is Ju Sang.”
“Indeed, having proven your worth in that fierce battle, you’ve earned the right to speak such words. Welcome to the 5th Knight Order—I am Paiton, a regular knight.”
“I merely lent a hand. My comrades bore the greater burden.”
“Hah! Humble as well, it seems. Tell me—do you have news of Knight Raymond? I heard he was assigned to the same post as you.”
Hmm.
‘I need to choose my words carefully here.’
Ju Sang’s expression grew somber.
She bit her lip hard, her eyes reddening.
“That is… after felling countless Joiner Clan members alone, he fell gloriously in battle.”
The truth about Baekgwi had to remain hidden.
A death in service of duty was far more honorable than falling to some cowardly assassination.
“He entrusted me with this blade, undeserving as I am. He said the will to protect the Empire must never waver, and asked me to see it through.”
Ju-sang withdrew Raymond’s sword.
There had been a window to retrieve it before returning from the watchtower.
“Yes… to the very end… a death befitting him.”
Paiton smiled bitterly.
It seemed the two shared a past connection.
What she felt between them ran deeper than mere mourning of a fallen comrade.
“I should return the sword to you.”
“No, no. If he entrusted it to you, then by all rights, you ought to wield it. Only promise me this—see that the sword of Sir Raymond, a knight of such distinction, is never put to shameful use.”
[The exclusive restriction binding the blade has been lifted by your close friend’s permission.]
Normally, only a knight could wield this sword.
But that was no longer the case.
Paiton, Raymond’s closest companion, had granted authorization for its use in his stead.
[Longsword – ‘Malkarim’]
[Acquisition Difficulty: A]
[Attack Power: 1,300]
[Durability: 4,922 / 6,000]
[Knight’s Oath: Upon use, dispels all Status Abnormalities of Grade A or lower, and raises one stat of your choice by +20 for five minutes. (Cooldown: 24 hours)]
Ju-sang slowly drew the blade named Malkarim.
Shing.
The silver blade scattered a soft, ethereal light.
Indeed.
‘Perfect.’
Befitting a knight’s blade, one of the Empire’s pillars—the balance, the weight distribution, the sharpness of the edge and durability all.
There was nothing to fault.
And the special effect was equally excellent.
The ability to dispel Grade A or lower Status Abnormalities and the +20 stat boost offered endless possibilities for application.
“I shall put it to righteous use.”
“Good. Yes, it should be so.”
Paiton patted Ju-sang’s shoulder twice.
“For now, I’ll carefully examine what you’ve told me. Until then, we’ll hold off on recruiting an expedition.”
“Thank you for heeding my humble opinion.”
“Then, continue enjoying the banquet. I’ll arrange another private meeting with you later.”
As Paiton and his aide departed, shock rippled through the crowd.
“Who in the world is that man?”
“Quickly! Find out who he is! We must hurry!”
“Yes, Branch Chief. This is a big catch. Or rather, I think we should prioritize recruitment first. Everyone else is after him too.”
The scouts moved as if aflame with urgency.
Communication Mana Stones flickered in constant brilliance.
It was only natural.
Paiton was the one man whom even massive bribes couldn’t sway, no matter how they maneuvered.
Yet he’d smiled so openly to Ju-sang.
Though she couldn’t hear the details from where she stood, one thing was certain—they were no casual acquaintances.
As everyone bustled about seeking information on this new figure,
Crash-crash-crash-crash-boom!
The entire banquet hall shook.
* * *
Billowing smoke.
Roaring flames.
How many had died?
Unknown.
But one thing was certain.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
“No! No! Please put it out! Bring water! Water!”
Hell had only just begun.
“I’ll take Paiton. Start with the scouts from the major guilds—kidnap them. We finish before reinforcements arrive, understood?”
“I know what I’m doing. I didn’t just pick up a blade yesterday. Don’t worry yourself.”
A sturdy man with thick, tousled hair stepped forward.
A Hand Axe and Kukri Knife combination.
The intent was clear—he wouldn’t bother with defense.
[Hyang Pyeong-jak activates the skill Butchery!]
Hyang Pyeong-jak’s target was the Imperial regulars.
He carved through the chaos left by the explosion.
“Gasp!”
“Argh!”
A torrent of blood poured forth.
He was terrifyingly strong.
His axe and blade flowed like water in dance, never pausing for an instant.
“Run! Get away!”
“Damn it, they’re Ghouls! Ghoul bastards are attacking!”
Those who recognized Hyang Pyeong-jak screamed and stumbled backward.
To stop a close-quarters dealer rated at Star Rank Seven, you needed a warrior of equal standing.
The problem was that security forces from each guild had been minimized out of respect for the Knight’s sensibilities.
Paiton, their only real asset, was pinned down by another Ghoul member—no help could be expected from him.
They had to run.
Every mind in the room held the same thought.
But the northern entrance, which they fled toward in panic, was equally dire.
A slender frame reaching one hundred seventy centimeters, black hair flowing down to her waist.
A beautiful woman in a white shirt and black jeans that suited her perfectly.
“Come out now. Don’t be shy.”
[Ha Yeon-su activates the skill Spirit Summoning!]
The Spirit Summoner—an occupation rated as extraordinarily rare.
“Kyaaow!”
“Shhhhh.”
Sylph, the spirit of wind, was merely lower-rank, but Salamander reached the intermediate tier.
It meant she was a Spirit Summoner counted among the top ten in all of Korea.
“It’s over. Completely over. They came prepared for this.”
“The fools came looking to pick scraps and wound up like this.”
As hope evaporated entirely, despair twisted every face in the room.
“If you’re going to blame someone, blame this place for existing.”
Ha Yeon-su tapped the backs of both her summoned spirits.
Whoosh!
Raging fire intertwined with wind.
A tiger given wings.
Terrible heat swept forward, burning everything in sight to ash.
And then.
[Moonlight Extinction—First Form activates!]
A shaft of moonlight descended.
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!
Ju-sang, bearing a Knight’s blade, blocked the inferno.

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