I Became a Disaster-Class Newbie by Stealing Abilities - Chapter 50

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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 50. Auction (3)
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!
After absorbing the relentless strikes of the Changukmuwae Sword….
Boom-crash!
He returned it at 2.25 times the force.
A blade manifested that was incomparably more beautiful and brilliant than the sword Namgung Cheon had drawn.
Strike after strike chained together, conjuring a scene from the final winter.
As if the entire world had transformed into a vast, pristine snowfield.
[Mana decreases by 70%!]
He felt strength drain from his entire body, but that was fine.
He’d come to understand bone-deep just how absurdly broken this Ring was.
“Gack. Ugh—!”
His meridians twisted, and crimson blood gushed from Namgung Cheon’s mouth like a waterfall.
In a single stroke, the match was decided.
“I… I can’t believe it. How is this possible…?”
Namgung Cheon stammered, his eyes wide with terror.
The Changukmuwae Sword, honed over a lifetime.
Not missing a single day of training, he’d broken through the barrier at eight out of ten stars in the 10-Star Level.
This was the pinnacle any one person could reach in a single lifetime.
And yet.
He’d just witnessed a blade that far surpassed it.
In a remote backwater, not even in the martial realm proper.
Even the previous household lord of the Namgung Family, who’d been called one of the Ten Swordsmen, never achieved anything like this.
This was something beyond that.
The caliber this young man possessed.
How a stranger to the clan had learned the sacred techniques of the Namgung Family at all was maddening.
How he could reach a realm beyond even the Peak State at such an age—it was driving him mad with curiosity.
Meanwhile.
“Magnificent! Extraordinary! A Special Entity, no less! We absolutely must secure this specimen for the advancement of future science!”
Doctor exclaimed in wonder.
His two eyes gleamed bright and clear, devoid of any trace of fear.
Only burning curiosity and collector’s greed radiated from them.
‘This man has lost his mind too.’
Was he really planning to charge in after seeing Namgung Cheon in that state?
“Elizabeth, Beatrice! Emergency surgery prep, if you please! Full Operation Mode configuration!”
“Hehe! Surgery! Major surgery!”
“Pulse 180. Adrenaline 50,000pg/mL. Patient grade estimated SS.”
The two nurses immediately produced scalpels exceeding 1.5 meters in length and syringes respectively.
Strange Mana rippled through the air.
The liquid quivering inside the syringe in particular looked decidedly dangerous.
In combat against an unfamiliar enemy, the most crucial element was intelligence.
Determining what skill sets and abilities they possessed was the key.
‘Let me start with range.’
Jusan pulled Harad from subspace.
It was the longbow he’d obtained from the demon’s throat.
Whirring!
He fashioned an arrow using Mana.
Then fired it.
The black arrow shot forth in an instant, aimed at Doctor’s brow.
Boom!
But before it could close in, the nurse’s scalpel intercepted it.
Two shots. Three shots.
Crash! Crash! Boom! Crash!
There was no point firing more.
The subtle wave emanating from around the scalpel shattered them all to pieces.
Admittedly, this was disappointing.
It was because he hadn’t yet plundered any archery-related skills, leaving his proficiency lacking.
Still, he’d gathered some information.
The property Mana Field and the skill Silver Scales.
Both abilities excelled at blocking projectiles.
‘I thought he was an attacker, but he’s a defender.’
Unless, like me, he possessed an irregular ability like Plunder.
Typically, everyone chose a development path that maximized their own abilities and strengths.
Because it was efficient.
‘But that also makes him easier to read.’
Nothing was simpler to conquer than an opponent with no surprises.
Ju Sang turned his gaze toward the nurse holding the syringe.
This one wasn’t a dealer either.
The way the liquid inside continually changed color made it almost certain that she possessed the Property Transformation trait.
One of the core characteristics of a support-type fighter—strengthening or weakening others through various combinations.
Which meant the one called Doctor was the main damage dealer….
Coming with only a support and a tank suggested he was confident in his own strength.
This too needed verification.
“I thought you were a swordsman, but you use a bow too? And your aim keeps getting sharper. What exactly is this patient, Doctor?”
The pink-haired nurse’s eyes widened.
“This could be troublesome. I thought he was just some mutt who picked up whatever skills came his way… but it seems more accurate to call him an all-rounder.”
The yellow-haired nurse added her own comment.
“Excellent! This is what makes hunting an Irregular truly enjoyable! Now then, shall we begin the party?”
With those words.
[Doctor activates his unique ability: Madness Abandoned Hospital!]
The reason Doctor had been so confident was revealed.
Whoosh!
The scenery shifted.
The Underground Prison vanished, replaced by a five-story comprehensive hospital that appeared to have shut its doors decades ago.
‘Damn. So that’s why he only brought two nurses.’
A space-type ability, like that of a jester.
No—judging purely by the scale of the space, this one had the advantage.
‘That’s why he didn’t need to travel with many subordinates.’
Everything in this place would move as his limbs and appendages.
But it wasn’t all bad.
[Plunder condition: Deceive Doctor by creating a device that grants peace to the madness-consumed abandoned hospital.]
[Reward: You may randomly Plunder two of the following from the target: unique ability, skills, traits, stats, items, or memories.]
Clearly, this was a target ripe for stripping of his treasures.
Ju Sang’s gaze turned toward the auction items stacked around him.
He’d already narrowed down his prime candidates.
If he could acquire just a few of those before the ability fully manifested….
It would enable a truly fascinating move.
In particular, the Eighty Thousand Great Canon was his top priority.
‘I’d actually given up on it since it wasn’t listed in the catalog.’
What a stroke of luck.
Fortune seemed to be favoring him in many ways this time.
* * *
A space cut off from the outside world.
Inside the vast Operating Room stood Doctor, two nurses, and Namgung Cheon.
“Hah. Ha… that was close. Dangerous.”
Namgung Cheon wiped the blood trickling from his lips.
It was only because the field effect of the Madness Abandoned Hospital provided healing.
Otherwise, he might have fallen into Demonic Possession.
Then.
“Elder brother… please, give up now. It’s not too late yet. If you stop now… we can resolve this together.”
Namgung Suho, who had been bound, slowly parted his lips.
His eyes were filled with concern and pity for his elder brother.
But.
“What? Give up?”
Namgung Cheon struck Namgung Suho’s cheek without hesitation.
Crack!
“Shut your mouth! What would someone like you possibly understand? How dare you speak such nonsense! Of the late Family Head’s passing, of the Namgung Family’s crumbling fate… could you even begin to comprehend my resolve to struggle alone and prevent it?”
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Until his face was soaked in blood. Again and again.
Only when Doctor finally intervened did the long, brutal beating finally cease.
“Whew, how frightening. I understand your feelings, but please, collect yourself. If you go on like this, our precious hostage might actually end up dead, you know?”
“My apologies. I got too worked up.”
Namgung Cheon steadied his breathing.
“More importantly—shouldn’t we revise the plan? This fellow Jeong Ju-sang seems far stronger than expected. If we’re careless, the whole thing could fall apart.”
“Please don’t worry. My hospital is flawless!”
The opponent had skill, certainly, but not here. Not in this place.
Internal medicine, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, family medicine—the list went on.
All manner of Guardians operated under the guise of specialists, and the staff who assisted them were monsters to a man.
Inside this abandoned hospital, it was impossible to lose even if one wanted to.
But right then.
Tap-tap!
A microphone crackled to life.
—Ahem, this is an announcement from the hospital administration office. Due to rising labor costs, exchange rates, and raw material expenses, salaries will be withheld for the next three months. Additionally, certain departments have received orders from the director to return their performance bonuses.
Absurd words spilled from the speakers.
“What? What on earth is this?”
Doctor shot to his feet.
The Madness Abandoned Hospital was indeed an impregnable stronghold, but it meant Doctor was bound by the very concept he’d created.
The setting of a general hospital and its affiliated staff.
The binding force that emerged from it was outrageously powerful.
“It seems he stole something during the auction and is using it for mischief.”
The exact method was unclear, but it appeared he’d managed a form of hacking.
“Doctor. Every department is in uproar. People are losing their minds.”
“The thoracic and urology wings especially are going berserk. They’re demanding the decision be reversed before they even take off their coats.”
“So he comes at me like this. Indeed, he’s quite different from anyone I’ve faced before.”
If salary-sensitive Guardians staged a medical strike, the hospital would crumble from within.
It was the perfect way to get what you wanted without lifting a finger.
But then again.
That was all it was.
There was no need to reduce the entire hospital to rubble just to catch one rat.
A complete system reset would do the trick.
If he erased the very fact that this broadcast had aired from the memories of all employees, then the hacking and the false transmission would become meaningless interruptions.
“Beatrice. Please connect me to security.”
“Yes!”
Beatrice picked up the phone.
—Doctor. What’s the matter?
A metallic voice came through immediately.
It was a familiar voice, but the thought that even this line might have been hacked flickered through his mind.
“Monterion. What’s my favorite drink?”
—Pardon? My name is Padrian. And Doctor, you always order mint chocolate with a generous dollop of whipped cream. Two liters at a time.
It was confirmed.
No matter how clever he was, there was no way he could know such private details.
“Send the system security files to me. From now on, I’ll manage them myself.”
—Understood, Doctor.
Moments later, something appeared on the computer screen.
It was the security installation file of the abandoned hospital, marked with a red cross.
[Download file?]
But then.
Click!
The moment he clicked the file and the download finished.
[Ransomware infection detected.]
With a red status window, the entire screen began filling with skulls.
[To unlock, transfer 100 Bitcoin to the designated account.]
“R-ransomware? No. Where would there be Bitcoin in this world? Get this unlocked right now!”
Bang-bang!
Doctor pounded the keyboard frantically.
Of course, it was pointless.
[We also accept Ripple or Ethereum.]
[Stocks are fine too. SK Hynix, Hyundai Motors, Tesla welcome. Oh, we don’t accept Doge Coin.]
“Those things don’t even exist in this world!!!”
[Sigh, you don’t seem willing to negotiate. Well, I suppose we’ll have to move on.]
Dozens of skulls vanished, leaving only a single colossal one behind.
Its jawbone clattered, moving up and down in rapid succession.
Its eye sockets transformed into the shape of a grin.
What came next was nothing short of hell itself.
“Doctor! All the prisoners in the psychiatric ward have just been released!”
“The custodians are taking all the medications and medical equipment and leaving the hospital!”
Clang! Clang!
Locks disengaged one after another.
Hiss!
All manner of defensive systems were neutralized.
He tried to forcibly deactivate his unique ability, but with the hospital’s system control completely slipping from his grasp, there was nothing left to do.
And so.
A clear path opened all the way to the Operating Room where the Doctor waited.
* * *
[Peace has returned to the Madness Abandoned Hospital!]
[You have fulfilled the conditions for Plunder!]
[You have plundered ’40 Stat Points’ and ‘1,000 Points of Item Magical Attack Power’!]
Hmm?
Ju-sang’s eyes narrowed as he reviewed the rewards.
Though he’d executed Plunder several times before, this was the first time he’d ever stripped stat points and item attributes.
If an item possessed magical attack power of 1,500, he plundered 1,000 of it from its total.
By now, what had once been a fairly serviceable item with at least 1,000 attack power in his enemy’s arsenal had become nothing but scrap in an instant.
‘Sweet. Very sweet.’
Truth be told, his unique ability, the Madness Abandoned Hospital, was so unwieldy that possessing it had always been more of a burden than a blessing.
So this practical gain was far superior.
Both immediately bolstered his combat strength.
[Mana increases from 573 → 593!]
[Lord Stat increases from 80 → 100!]
[Cabbarado’s Short Sword gains ‘+1,000 Magical Attack Power’!]
The Mana gain was barely worth mentioning.
But he had his reasons for investing in the Lord Stat—the ability to command and lead multitudes.
“Well then, shall we go in?”
Ju-sang raised his hand.
“Raaaagh!”
“Pay us our wages!”
“Guarantee workers’ right to survival!”
Now was the time to drive out the unscrupulous hospital director who’d withheld wages from his staff.

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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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