I Became a Disaster-Class Newbie by Stealing Abilities - Chapter 47

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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 47. The Namgung Clan
‘At this rate, I might actually die.’
There was no stopping Baek Seolgi now—she’d already surrendered half her reason to the moment.
The desire to be recognized and the madness of it had consumed both hemispheres of her mind entirely.
But.
That was precisely what made this an opportunity.
‘She’s lost her composure, too busy proving herself.’
Instead of employing efficient sword technique, she was pouring all her strength into flashy, overwhelming displays of power.
With that.
Ju-sang threw himself forward.
[Trait ‘Shield of Legion’ activates!]
He sheltered his body behind the absurdly overpowered shield that reduced skill-type damage by fifty percent.
There was truly only one thing he could rely on.
‘Seolgi. No more snacking for a while.’
Three meals a day of chicken breast and the Closed-Form Pill confirmed.
Crash!
Ju-sang batted away the incoming shards of ice and concentrated all his mana into his legs.
The power of the Seowon Divine Temple was absurdly strong, but her proficiency was still lacking.
The outer layer of the temple would be complete before the inner—that was the weakness to exploit.
So even one step further.
Tap-tap!
He had to drive deeper to have any chance at victory.
The distance closed in an instant.
[Skill ‘Shattering Gale’ activates!]
The air bone that launched enemies into the sky combined with….
…the spiral trajectory of the Binghua Mujik Sword.
Whoosh!
As the core of the Seowon Divine Temple neared completion, a hairline gap appeared.
The only moment a blind spot emerged.
Boom!
The unobstructed whirlwind struck hard beneath Baek Seolgi’s feet.
“Oof!”
Baek Seolgi tumbled through the air, lost her balance, and fell flat on her backside.
It had been close.
If the Seowon Divine Temple had been complete, or if her proficiency had advanced even slightly further….
…such fortune would never have worked.
“Are you hurt?”
Ju-sang extended his hand with ease.
As if amused by his granddaughter’s childish antics.
Her heart hammered frantically, but she didn’t let it show.
“Ah….”
Baek Seolgi’s lips parted slightly.
She was absorbed in analyzing why she’d lost.
“The Seowon Divine Temple…was the inner layer a weakness you already knew about?”
“Yes. I knew. I had some experience sparring with a childhood friend who used it, back then.”
“As expected, you’re remarkable. I can’t even imagine being able to win.”
“Don’t concern yourself. If you keep training, someday you’ll….”
“Right. Someday I’ll charge at you with everything I have inside a fully manifested Seowon Divine Temple. With the resolve to sacrifice all of myself. Then, wouldn’t I finally be able to reach you?”
What was she saying?
Had she planned to kill him or something?
Chills ran down his spine.
Having just received a murder threat to his face.
“Let’s stop here. If you ever reach that level….”
He lowered his voice.
His gaze grew heavy and weighted.
“I’m not sure I’d be able to subdue you without causing serious harm.”
A warning that might have sounded like a threat.
But Baek Seolgi seemed quite pleased by it.
“Maybe…I’ve finally earned a little recognition.”
How terrifying.
It’s honestly terrifying.
I almost wish it never appeared even in a dream.
Either way, the brief exchange had drawn to a close.
At virtually the same instant.
“…That was truly magnificent swordwork.”
Namgung Suho approached with a face full of admiration.
All that hard work had paid off.
The fish had finally taken the bait.
“I am honored that the great master of the illustrious Namgung Clan would praise me so.”
…….
At my flattery, Namgung Suho’s expression shifted—as if he’d been caught off guard.
He’d only ever received contempt and coldness in a hostile kingdom; he couldn’t have expected to hear such words.
“Ho.”
“So The Empire does harbor those who understand honor and integrity.”
“Indeed, possessing a character befitting one’s martial prowess is equally important, is it not?”
The escorts and attendants watching nearby brightened considerably.
This is what they call social grace.
“It seems you also find this Martial Arts Conference rather tedious. How about sharing some discourse on the sword with me?”
“Of course. And if I may be so bold, I would be grateful for the chance to observe the swordwork of the Namgung Clan as well.”
“Ha ha! I admire your boldness. Follow me to my quarters—I have some excellent Yeoa Hong we can enjoy while we talk.”
After drinking, he was probably planning to probe me about The Empire’s internal affairs.
‘Or he might even offer me a position if the moment seemed right.’
I mustn’t let my guard down.
Even if he acts like a sworn brother—at night, this place sends assassins with drawn blades.
‘The Emperor,’ after all.
* * *
Following Namgung Suho, I arrived at the Byeolgwan Pavilion.
True to its name as a distinguished guest’s quarters, the interior was extraordinarily luxurious.
“I’ll have refreshments laid out at the Jeongja Pavilion. Go wash up first, then come back. After that…”
Namgung Suho said something, but I only half-listened.
My real purpose here wasn’t Namgung Suho.
My gaze had fixed on one person.
‘That reputation about being among the most beautiful—it’s absolutely no exaggeration at all.’
Strikingly beautiful and innocent in appearance, with long black hair that reached the waist.
If anyone asked about gender, I’d say one hundred out of one hundred times: female.
Yet that youth was undoubtedly male.
Definitively so—enough that I’d be reluctant to bathe with him.
‘Not even a guard, but attending as a retainer…’
Was he deliberately concealing his gender?
Or had he simply not yet awakened to his potential?
Either way, I needed to create a point of contact during the Martial Arts Conference.
Who knew when we’d meet again otherwise.
Not long after, an elegant drinking gathering was arranged at the Jeongja Pavilion by the small lake.
One cup, two cups.
As the alcohol flowed, the intoxication deepened.
The atmosphere grew warmer, and conversation easier.
The moment was properly primed—now was the time for serious questions.
“Forgive my boldness, but might I inquire why the clan leader has come here?”
At my question, Namgung Suho gave a bitter smile.
“Among the auction items is a keepsake of my predecessor—my father. I’ve come to reclaim it. Even a tomb with no corpse needs something to contain, after all.”
Namgung Suho’s purpose was not revenge.
He was simply a son fulfilling his final duty to a lost father.
Sigh.
This complicated matters.
The Empire was undoubtedly looking for any pretext to make a move.
But if Namgung Suho’s aim was merely the auction, the Empire would surely employ other tactics.
Just then.
“Clan leader, you’ve drunk quite a bit. Is there any need to speak of our sect’s internal affairs to an outsider whose intentions remain unclear?”
An elderly man beside Namgung Suho opened his mouth.
His appearance and eyes were serpentine.
From his gaunt frame poured an uncommonly damp, oppressive energy.
“Senior, I’m simply in good spirits lately. Besides, if masters of this caliber were to join us, wouldn’t they be of great benefit to our Namgung Clan?”
“I’m not so sure. Hiding one’s true thoughts behind a smooth smile seems no different to me from the behavior of the Demonic Sects or the Empire’s people.”
He wasn’t being deliberately provocative—it wasn’t even a passive trait.
His tongue simply had no brakes whatsoever.
I suppose this was the old saying: each person sees only what their own eyes allow.
[Plunder Condition: Deceive Namgung Cheon, a spy the Empire planted to kindle the flames of war, and strip him of all the money he received from the Meltian Marquis.]
[Reward: You may randomly plunder one of his unique abilities, Trait Skills, or items.]
His role was to provide the pretext for igniting war.
So the filthiest one among them had been revealed.
‘Even if Namgung Suho doesn’t move, I have a Plan B. This is it.’
There was no particular reason to wade into a whale’s fight…
But this time, I ought to side with the Namgung Clan.
They seemed to have far more meat on their bones to tear into.
“Please, calm yourself and enjoy more of the drink and food. Don’t take Master Suho’s words too much to heart—he’s simply protective of the clan, that’s all. I offer his apologies in his stead.”
Namgung Suho rose from his seat.
Then he moved away to attend to the other members of the clan.
That left only Jusan and Namgung Cheon.
Now then, let me have some real fun.
Jusan’s hands moved faster.
The first thing he did was take the Droplet of Longing that he’d obtained from Varcan and transform it into vapor.
Using the distinctive cold of the Binghua Divine Sword to control the temperature, a faint mist began to form immediately.
As the delicate moisture beaded on Namgung Cheon’s retinas…
[It shows the target what he desires most.]
[Duration: 30 minutes.]
Good.
The setup was complete.
Jusan, dropping all pretense, opened his mouth toward Namgung Cheon.
“It seems you harbor considerable ill will toward me, Elder.”
“Ill will? What ill will could there be? I’m merely maintaining appropriate distance from an outsider.”
“What a pity. I was hoping a distinguished sect like the Namgung Clan might be able to appraise this divine elixir for me.”
“A divine elixir, you say?”
“Ah, would you perhaps take a look? I was warned most seriously not to sell it carelessly, saying it was truly precious, but honestly I can’t make heads or tails of what it is.”
Jusan produced six thick dates wrapped in tissue paper.
It was mockery brazen enough to invite a slap across the face…
But to Namgung Cheon, whose retinas had been moistened by the Droplet of Longing, something entirely different was visible.
“Is—is that a Jaso Dan!?”
Namgung Cheon’s breath caught.
The supreme divine elixir, spoken of as the treasure of Wudang.
By its distinctive luminous quality and aura, there was no doubt it was genuine.
And six of them, no less.
“Is it valuable?”
“Ahem! Well, not so much valuable as a decent divine elixir. Of course, such things are only useful to Martial World practitioners, so you’d struggle to get a fair price for them here in the Empire.”
Namgung Cheon quickly composed his expression.
‘He mentioned a precious elixir, and the Jaso Dan came to mind?’
Jusan stifled a chuckle.
In that instant, dates transformed into Jaso Dan.
He could see Namgung Cheon’s mind spinning at a feverish pace.
Greed was rising in his throat—it couldn’t help but rise.
At this price, the seller was dictating the value.
“A mere decent elixir seems a shame. I need money to acquire what’s necessary at the upcoming Auction.”
“I’ll offer enough to console you. Sell them to me. I guarantee you won’t find a better price anywhere.”
“When you say enough to console me, what sum might you have in mind?”
“You use the Won as currency here, yes? Then how about one billion Won each—six billion total?”
One billion per piece…
An absurdly discounted price.
Real Jaso Dan, six of them, would easily fetch one hundred eighty billion.
Well, if he paid the true market rate, the man wouldn’t take the bait. He’d have to offer a discount.
Of course, he’d need to sweat a little first.
“I fear I may have spoken out of turn. Let us return to enjoying the drinks, shall we? Allow me to pour you another cup.”
Overturns the entire board entirely.
The key is how she brushes her hands off as though she has no regrets.
“Hold on, hold on! Why rush like this? We’ve only just begun negotiating. In that case, let’s double it to twelve billion.”
“The combination of mapo tofu and red-braised pork belly really is quite nice. So this is what they mean by sweet-and-spicy contrast.”
“Twenty-four billion!”
The price still climbs considerably.
But we’re not there yet.
“And add two more bottles of Yeoa Hong!”
“Please. Say something. How much do you actually want?”
“At minimum, I’d need at least sixty billion.”
Our Jaso Dan commands quite a steep price, after all.
“S-sixty billion?”
Seeing him so startled, it’s clear the Meltian Marquis didn’t give him sixty billion.
Whatever amount he received, I plan to spend every last coin, so it doesn’t matter either way.
“That’s the bare minimum.”
“Ugh….”
Namgung Cheon’s brow furrowed as his scheme to drive down the price crumbled.
He paused to think for a moment….
“Fifty billion is the maximum I can offer.”
He revealed his hand.
More precisely, he produced twenty superior Mana Stones, each worth 2.5 billion.
“Compared to the opening price, that’s quite a jump. So you were planning to walk away with a five-hundred-billion-value elixir for a mere six billion?”
“That’s… I apologize. My greed got the better of me.”
“Ordinarily, I’d be so offended I’d call off the deal entirely, but given the connection between us and the Namgung Clan, I’ll overlook it this time—provided you assign one of your attendants to serve under me for the duration of this Martial Arts Conference.”
I slip in one more condition.
This was the real point all along.
All of this….
The third Great Disaster.
A setup to acquire “Heukbi.”
A wide-area damage dealer with masterful command of the Yin-Yang Art and exceptional talent for discerning omens and spiritual currents.
Excellent synergy with Eemi, our tank.
‘With proper growth, she’d even be capable of solo operations.’
Moreover, she’s the type who never forgets a kindness, making her loyalty exceptionally strong.
Among the Great Disasters, she’s first-tier talent—absolutely essential to recruit.
Namgung Cheon’s face turned ashen, but with his past crimes hanging over him, he had no comeback.
“…As long as it’s not a bodyguard, I think I can manage something on my end.”
“Thank you. Then let’s finalize the transaction.”
Apparently worried I might flip the table again, Namgung Cheon quickly tucked the Jaso Dan into his robes.
-Tch tch tch. What an absolute fool. Thanks to him, I’ve made an absurd profit.
Namgung Cheon silently mocked the marquis.
And.
The marquis’s gaze reflected a similar sentiment as he watched Namgung Cheon.
‘What a complete idiot this one is.’
Buying six Jaso Dan at this price.
Even Bong the Scammer might clutch his belly in envy.

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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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