I Became a Disaster-Class Newbie by Stealing Abilities - Chapter 6

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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 6. Sewage System (2)
[Joo-sang]
[Star Rank: 4 Stars]
[Occupation: None]
[Unique Ability: Plunder]
[Traits: None]
[Strength 75 / Vitality 80 / Agility 90 / Mana 264 / Magic Resistance 52]
[Skill: ‘Stellarion-type’]
‘Just as I thought!’
Joo-sang clenched his fist upon confirming his Star Rank.
Over ninety percent of Awakened begin at 1 Star.
Even the rare geniuses blessed with extraordinary talent rarely broke past 3 Stars.
But to start at 4 Stars from the beginning—
The System had recognized him as an Irregularity.
‘There’s still a long road ahead, but this is insane.’
The 14-Star Knight Commanders were hailed as armies unto themselves, as were the Imperial Arch-Mages.
Beyond them lay what people called gods—beings from Mythology itself.
Those who transcended 15 Stars belonged to a realm so far beyond the early stages that it was utterly unattainable, a heaven beyond heaven.
Yet someday, he too would reach that domain.
He’d already done it once.
So he could do it again.
Not vain fantasy, but knowledge born of experience.
Joo-sang surrendered to the thrumming of his own heartbeat, fierce and exhilarated.
Before long, he arrived at his destination.
A work site plastered with restricted access warnings.
Workers in official credentials moved about busily.
[Sewage Purification Treatment Facility Cleaning Operation]
[Description: Purification of the Sewage System, which has begun to transform into a Labyrinth beyond its normal cleaning cycle. A boss-class Harmful Species is estimated to have appeared on the third basement level.]
[Compensation: 5,000,000 Won (additional performance bonus based on contribution)]
“Why’s the pay for sewer cleaning so generous? Did something difficult crawl out?”
“Sounds like quite a few people have gone missing. I heard even the professional cleaning teams failed.”
“Professional my ass. A bunch of incompetent fools without skill or experience went in and got themselves killed.”
Groups ranging from as few as five or six to as many as fifteen or more.
The numbers were substantial, but no famous guilds or skilled practitioners were visible.
The incident clearly hadn’t spread word yet.
If only people knew what manner of absurd creature lurked in this place….
The main strike forces of Korea’s Five Great Guilds and imperial knights would have come themselves.
‘But if I warn them it’s dangerous, they won’t believe me anyway.’
Regrettably, he couldn’t save everyone.
Each had chosen to come here of their own will, and so each would have to bear the consequences alone.
‘Might as well make proper preparations.’
Before entering, there was one thing he needed to do first.
Joo-sang made his way toward a merchant stall.
Let’s see.
Someone had to be selling goods somewhere around here….
He stopped before an old man with a white beard and a face scarred all over.
“I’d like to look at blades and potions. And some herbs, if you have them.”
“Even cheap swords run a hundred. Herbs and potions start at fifty.”
Joo-sang examined the wares quickly.
Then he laid out his selections.
“Hoh. Not bad judgment for a youngster. But Ifrassia Petals, a Lucid Dream Potion, and Yeonseaek Herb Roots—that combination doesn’t look like it’s for dealing with the creatures in the sewers.”
“I have my reasons.”
“Not interested in prying. Make my money, that’s all that matters to me anyway.”
“Actually, I was wondering—would you consider extending credit? I’ll pay you back triple once the job’s done.”
Credit from a stranger he’d just met.
He’d be lucky not to get cursed out for it.
“Hmm.”
The old man stared at Joo-sang intently.
Then, unexpectedly, he spoke.
“Fine. But forget the money.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve met a young person with tastes like mine. This time I’ll do it for free, but from now on you must pay without fail.”
“I’m grateful for your kindness.”
Ju-sang bowed his head.
Then he descended into the Sewage System below ground.
A moment later, a man who had been using Concealment revealed himself.
“If I may ask… what are you thinking, sir?”
“What do you mean?”
“The sword and the herbs. Aren’t both the sort of things that those at this place’s level couldn’t handle? Particularly that Dagger — I recall you saying you were only keeping it for appearances’ sake and wouldn’t sell it.”
“And?”
“He’s clearly going into a dangerous place from which recovery is impossible. I don’t understand why you’d give him something so precious.”
“You still have far to go. One sees only what one knows. Only what one knows.”
The old man brushed dust from his clothes and rose from his seat.
-I’ll give you one S-rank item and five billion. In return, don’t ask what we intend to do or what’s inside the Labyrinth. Just make me a Labyrinth that mediocre adventurers can’t conquer.
A week had already passed since he’d received a certain commission and redesigned this Sewage System into a Labyrinth.
He’d even contracted some renowned cleanup crews from the vicinity to test it, but the trials only reinforced the fact that the Labyrinth was flawless.
The commission was a success.
Once today ended, it would all be finished — all he had to do was return.
And yet, in the midst of all that…
he’d encountered an unexpected gem.
‘It was worth coming all this way. So the prophecy was real after all.’
In forty years of running his business, he’d only met two people with such discernment.
One of them had been the current Emperor.
And the other was this young person.
“Forgive my presumption, but I have no confidence that even my subordinate will return from inside without a scratch.”
“Hah. If that’s the case, shall we make a wager? If you win, I’ll grant you any wish you have.”
“Do you mean that sincerely, sir?”
“I don’t speak twice, so don’t worry.”
Certainly, it was a bet that shouldn’t even be possible to make.
It was like betting on the probability of the sun rising in the west.
And yet, why was it…
that a sense honed over long years trembled with anticipation?
That young person would definitely come back alive.
* * *
Thud.
As Ju-sang descended the stairs underground, a musty stench assaulted his nose.
Large equipment lay in ruins, and water dripped steadily from holes in the ceiling.
It looked as though a typhoon had swept through.
‘They really did rampage something fierce.’
Corpses of Harmful Species were scattered throughout.
Most of them bore a resemblance to insects.
The difference was simply that they exceeded one meter in size.
Still, true to their nature as sword-feeders, they possessed enough skill to have dealt with creatures of the underground first level.
For the time being, it would be safe.
Now that some ease had returned, Ju-sang turned over the meeting from moments before in his mind.
Edward Felix.
The old man’s true identity was the leader of Northern Europe’s largest contract organization, one that moved through the shadows.
‘I wonder if I passed the first impression test.’
Felix had seemed quite satisfied with the combination Ju-sang had chosen.
Since he’d deliberately reflected the man’s tastes, of course he’d be delighted.
In particular, that remark about repaying three times over — it was an expression the old man had used frequently in his younger days.
‘I’ll build this up slowly, get close to him first, then milk him for everything he’s worth.’
The leader of the world’s contract organizations had become my patron?
This was unbearable.
Lost in pleasant fantasies, Ju-sang quickened his pace.
How long had he been walking?
In the distance, he spotted six men and women gathered together.
“Huh? Look! Someone’s coming!”
“Oh! So we’re finally done just sitting around here.”
Signs of a camp they’d set up.
A sleeping bag, a campfire. And a stew that had just begun to boil.
A group that had arrived at least a few days ago.
“I’m Kailen. I discovered a shortcut down to the third level of the Sewage System, but it requires a minimum party size. We’ve been one person short and were just about to give up. Ha.”
A handsome man with black hair opened his mouth.
Before him stood an enormous stone gate, firmly sealed shut.
[Gate of Choice]
Right.
I knew it.
Using this passage cuts the journey through the Sewage System from days to just a few hours.
The problem is….
There’s no actual party size restriction to enter here.
In other words, the shortage of members was just an excuse.
They were waiting for suitable prey.
‘Always thinking about how to skin people for profit.’
I was struck anew by the truth of this place—a world within Emperor where everything was fiction.
You couldn’t trust anyone carelessly, and one moment of inattention meant becoming someone’s meal.
I would have to survive among these predators from here on.
My eyes scanned rapidly across the six-person team’s equipment.
The six of them were sharing gear from various classes.
‘They must have killed quite a lot getting here.’
A friendly, warm smile.
An outstretched hand for a handshake.
This wasn’t their first time doing this.
Originally, I’d planned to quietly break records on my own and enjoy myself.
The plan had changed.
And just then.
Ding!
The status window flashed.
[Plunder Condition: Pose as a novice and survive as the last person standing.]
[Reward: You may randomly Plunder one item from the target’s Unique Ability, Trait, Stat, or Memory Item. (However, the more vicious and creative the method, the higher the grade of the reward.)]
When hostile parties approached, these conditional Plunder conditions often appeared.
Early on, they were a fairly useful source for acquiring abilities.
‘Posing as a newbie—I’m confident about that.’
Deceiving and toying with opponents was a veteran’s basic virtue.
I could already see how to play these people through this Gate.
* * *
Meanwhile.
The six-person team was also slowly assessing me.
-The dagger makes him look like an assassin type, but will he be okay? Ideally, we’d want a support or ranged dealer—easier prey.
-Don’t worry. Judging by how he acts, he’s a complete novice. Probably some idiot lured in by the five million won reward.
The way I eagerly accepted the stew and water from these strangers.
No one with even basic knowledge of dungeons would do something like that.
-Besides, what’s there to worry about? Our captain knows this Labyrinth inside and out.
Kailen.
Despite how he introduced himself, he was actually an Earthling who entered through the Gate of Possession.
He’d experienced the entrance to this Labyrinth before. He’d even passed through the Gate of Choice.
No matter how much a single piece of prey thrashed, there would be no variables.
The seven of us approached the gate.
Boom-boom-boom!
With a violent roar, the firmly sealed gates swung open left and right.
Immediately, a sight like stepping into another world spread before us.
Raging torches burned fiercely.
The floor was made of stone.
On either side stood enormous chess pieces divided into white and black.
“It looks dangerous on the surface, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. And even if it is a bit risky, the rewards are generous enough that it’s worth taking on, wouldn’t you say?”
Kailen reassured me so I wouldn’t be tempted to flee.
[Please select a difficulty level.]
[Rewards and danger will be calculated differently based on difficulty.]
It was time to choose the difficulty, but the six were too busy discussing how to easily hunt down their new prey.
Some argued they should just kill me outright since there was nothing to worry about.
The debate was deadlocked—one faction insisting they should use the Gate’s mechanics to handle things safely, just in case.
Then, at precisely that moment.
[You have selected the highest difficulty level (Stage 5)!]
The status window flashed, tinged crimson.
Standing before it was Jusang, his expression radiating something like ‘Did I do well?’
“You said the reward was what mattered, didn’t you? This way, everyone will get a proper cut!”
He spoke with the utmost innocence.
His tone carried not a shred of malice.

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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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