I Stepped on Their Shadows and Skills Started Copying Like Crazy - Chapter 28

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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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28
Tower Control Headquarters, Team 2 Operations Office.
Lee Do-hyeon sat before a mountain of reports stacked high as a hill, pulled one open at random, but not a single sentence lodged itself in his mind.
They all said the same thing anyway—nothing but a list of meaningless speculation.
The VVIP investigation had hit a stalemate, both as Team 2 leader and as a man.
It was tedious, frustrating time.
Then his phone buzzed softly in his pocket.
[Captain Lee, do you have a moment? Something personal.]
‘Personal?’
The caller was a corrupt official from the Awakeners Commission.
Someone who traded favors with Lee Do-hyeon.
That he was reaching out this way meant he had some new job offer.
‘I don’t know if I have time for side work in this situation… but I suppose I should hear what it is.’
A chance to get some air, he thought.
Lee Do-hyeon stretched with a long groan, then rose from his desk.
“Going out for a cigarette. Don’t follow. I need to clear my head.”
“Yes, sir. We’ll see you shortly.”
Under the pretense of smoking, he shook off his subordinates and headed straight for his car, where he fished a lighter from the glove compartment.
Of course, the lighter was just an excuse.
The moment Lee Do-hyeon switched on his hidden phone, he opened the messenger app.
It was called Hush.
The servers were scattered across multiple countries, conversations were encrypted, and any deleted chat room left no trace whatsoever.
Exactly the kind of thing a man like Lee Do-hyeon needed.
‘He’s already here.’
The man who’d just called him personally had already left a message.
[Captain, I’ve got a decent job for you.]
[Let’s hear it.]
The reply came in real time, as if he’d been waiting.
[Background check on an Awakener. The payday is substantial.]
Lee Do-hyeon’s eyes sharpened at those words.
‘Substantial… he doesn’t usually talk like that.’
[So what’s my cut?]
[Thirty million won for you.]
Thirty million? For intel on a single Awakener, that was indeed a tidy side job.
But something smelled off.
‘He’s just handing over thirty million? He’s testing the waters with me.’
Lee Do-hyeon smiled with mild contempt and exhaled a stream of smoke.
[How much did you get paid if you’re only offering thirty to start? Let’s be honest. We’re not in a position to look elsewhere anyway, and we’ve worked together long enough. Let’s keep this clean.]
After a pause, the reply came a beat late, and he forwarded a screenshot of his exchange with the client.
The job was as described.
But the amount exceeded his expectations.
[Initial payment: 50 million won / Success fee: 50 million]
‘One hundred million?’
It was far too much for a background check on a single Awakener.
Normally something like this would run no more than twenty or thirty million.
Unless the target was a famous person difficult to approach.
[You were going to pocket thirty from a hundred-million-won job? I’m disappointed.]
[Which is why I’m being honest now. This is big. Let’s split it clean and even. You’ll do it, right?]
The VVIP case wasn’t moving forward anyway.
‘This one, I should take.’
He decided to set his gaze elsewhere for a moment.
[Now we’re talking. Fine. Let’s do it.]
The deal was done, and Lee Do-hyeon received the target’s information from his contact.
A name, contact number, and details that he’d recently sold some helmet through a consignment auction at Temda Farm.
‘Why would he pad the info with something about selling a helmet? Though I’ve got the name and number, so it shouldn’t be hard to… wait.’
The moment he read the name, Lee Do-hyeon froze.
‘Kim Si-hyeon…?’
It was a name he’d heard before.
‘Where… ? It’s definitely familiar. Oh, right.’
A few days ago, when he’d been conducting an inquiry at the Square near Tower, he’d run into a newly awakened Healer with that same name.
That image of him shuddering as if he didn’t even want to recall the situation then—it was still vivid in Lee Do-hyeon’s eyes.
‘It must be a coincidence of names.’
A sheer accident.
It had to be.
“Wait…”
Just as he was trying to dismiss it, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
‘What if it’s the same person…?’
The VVIP had emerged into the world a week ago, beginning with the Forced Summons Incident at the Tower.
Kim Si-hyeon was also one of the survivors from that incident.
But what if the person behind this investigation request—the one who’d put down such money—wasn’t just someone who happened to share the same name, but that Kim Si-hyeon himself?
It was too perfect to be mere coincidence.
To put it even slightly exaggerated, the entire world was searching for the VVIP.
Yet this request, with this sum of money.
‘…Something stinks. Someone suspects Kim Si-hyeon is the VVIP.’
This request must be a final confirmation procedure.
‘I need to check this out.’
Lee Do-hyeon hurried to wrap up the conversation.
[Then I’ll be on my way. I’ll contact you separately as the work progresses.]
‘I’d only been thinking of making some pocket money…’
But this was different.
What if—what if that Kim Si-hyeon really was the VVIP?
Then information that could command a sum that would make a hundred million won look like chump change had just rolled in wholesale.
The golden opportunity to monopolize information about the VVIP, who was shaking the entire Tower of South Korea—no, the whole world.
All that remained was the final confirmation.
* * *
Today I had a lunch appointment with my older brother—or more precisely, a daytime drinking date—so I’d stepped out of the house for once.
Something about it being his last drink before the second child was born.
It was supposed to be a pleasant outing with good company and good company planned, yet my steps toward the meeting place didn’t feel quite light.
‘Hmm, something’s been bugging me, you know?’
That voice phishing call from the so-called Midas representative yesterday was still nagging at me a bit.
‘…Did I scratch at it too hard? These days phishing scammers retaliate with food delivery pranks if you mess with them. Surely they wouldn’t actually harass me?’
This was annoying enough on its own, but then Tower Control Headquarters called just now too.
From Lee Do-hyeon, the team leader I’d met in person before.
He’d asked if I had any information that might help, even slightly, with finding Prosperous Left.
‘I’ve given out my contact info, but I never gave out my phone number separately—how did they get it? Is it because they’re a government agency?’
When he asked if I’d recently used the Temda Farm auction, I realized they knew even that much, and a chill ran down my spine.
Anyway, annoying things suddenly seem to be piling up.
What could go wrong, really.
‘It’s probably just my imagination.’
I shook off my idle worries in the pleasant breeze blowing through the gaps in the bus window.
My brother’s favorite restaurant, where I arrived ten minutes early.
Already seated, he greeted me with a big wave.
“Ah! Si-hyeon, over here.”
“Oh, big brother. You got here early.”
“Yeah. I threw some meat on already. This is my first meal of the day. Ha ha. Sit, sit.”
My brother picked up the tongs and busily flipped the meat over the grill.
The sizzle and savory aroma made my mouth water instantly.
Hmm? But wasn’t the meat color redder than usual?
“Uh? Is that beef?”
My brother grinned at that.
“Thought I’d treat myself a bit for once. I’m buying, so eat without worry.”
“Well, they say pure kindness only goes up to pork, and beef always comes with a price attached. I’m not sure I should be eating this.”
My brother smiled at my joking remark.
“Goodness, our Si-hyeon worries about everything. Look, it’s not that I want anything—it’s just repaying what I got from you. Eat up without concern.”
“Repay for what?”
“Thanks to you, I’ve been doing great lately. Sold the gear I got from that kidnapping day, upgraded my equipment from head to toe, and made it to floor nine because of that. I even put together a party to break through to floor ten?”
“Wow, already on floor nine? That’s like an unstoppable advance.”
And it really was.
A salaried man with floor ten within reach?
If things go right, he might just quit his job and focus on Tower climbing.
“I lacked follow-through, that’s all. Once the foundation is set, you’ll see me shine. Oh, that reminds me—when I told my wife about you, she said she’d have to invite you over for a proper meal soon.”
“Please don’t, sir. Your wife will be giving birth soon—she needs to rest. There’s no need to trouble yourselves with a guest.”
“Ha, I knew you’d say that. That’s exactly why I slipped out today anyway. Let me buy you a decent meal—don’t worry about it. There, it’s all cooked through now. Come on, dig in. Beef tastes terrible if you overcook it.”
Even as he spoke, Kim’s hands moved deftly, placing meat onto my plate.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
I didn’t hesitate—I took a piece right away.
The first bite went in without a grain of salt, just the meat itself.
The moment it touched my tongue, a subtle richness bloomed—the savory sweetness of beef fat.
It melted without chewing, the texture impossibly tender.
Ah, this is good.
Meat truly is the right choice.
And so the pleasant meal continued, filled with stories of Kim’s recent mountain climbs and tales of his second child who would arrive soon.
“Goodness, where’s my head? I’ve been talking about myself the whole time, haven’t I?”
“Not at all. It’s all been fascinating. Perfect entertainment with drinks.”
“Well, anyway, enough about this old man’s life—how are things with you lately? Is the Tower coming along?”
“Yes, well… I’m still getting used to it. It’s only been a week, after all.”
“Come on, don’t be so modest. When I saw you back during that kidnapping business, it seemed like you were born for this.”
“Ha, yes. It does seem manageable. I’ve been fortunate with the income too—looks like I’ll be moving soon. Nothing fancy, but somewhere better than where I am now.”
“Oh, moving? Ha, you’re making some real money then. Going places, aren’t you, Kim Si-hyeon! When? Tell me exactly. Next thing we know, it’ll be a housewarming.”
Kim’s voice grew louder with each drink.
Normally I despised noise, having come from an orphanage and a gosiwon where silence was precious—but this didn’t bother me at all.
It felt… warm, somehow.
Anyone buying expensive beef would sound pleasant even if they were screaming.
‘Still, I should be the one paying.’
Having received a meal, it’s only right I return the favor.
Beyond that, I owed Kim too much.
My life itself, my shadow, even the Dagger he’d half-forced as a gift.
With that in mind, I quietly rose from my seat.
“Sir, I’m just going to use the restroom for a moment—”
“Sit back down. What, you trying to sneak one past me?”
“…What?”
His gaze turned cold.
Kim’s eyes gleamed with sudden intensity, pinning me in place.
“Oh, you little schemer. You were going to slip off, pretend you’re in the bathroom, and pay the check when I wasn’t looking—did you think I wouldn’t catch that?”
Caught.
But don’t worry.
There’s still a move left in reserve.
“No? I was just going to loosen my belt after I got back and keep eating.”
“That’s rich. Do I not know you? When a proper adult treats, you just say ‘Thank you!’ and enjoy the meal. You’d need ten more years of work before you could buy me a meal, kid.”
“No, I wasn’t even planning to pay.”
“Nonsense. Then leave your wallet and phone here.”
“What? Who leaves their phone in the bathroom these days?”
“Then take mine.”
Is he serious? Does this man have no sense of privacy?
Of course, I couldn’t just cave here.
“Really? Then give it to me.”
I made a show of pulling out my phone and wallet, placing them directly on the table.
There. My hand is played.
There’s no stronger move than this.
‘In this day and age, who actually gives someone their phone?’
“Here.”
…Apparently, someone does.
Kim casually unlocked his phone and handed it over without a second thought.
“There are lots of baby photos in the gallery. Look through those if you get bored.”
“No, really—you don’t even have privacy mode on? You have no privacy at all, do you?”
“What privacy does a father need? So, the bathroom—aren’t you going?”
I’ve lost. Completely lost.
I gave up and sat back down properly.
“I’m too busy eating meat to worry about the restroom.”
“Ha, I knew it.”
“Ugh, buying someone a meal is such a hassle. You’ve got to think about how the other person feels too. If you do it once in a while, they think they can mooch off you legally, you know.”
“I don’t care about that stuff.”
“So you really don’t mind if I loosen my belt and go all out?”
“Go ahead. I’ll order you more. Eat until you burst.”
All right, let’s just enjoy the meal for now.
Once I’ve made it big—gotten myself a nice car or something—I’ll treat him properly then.
Or maybe not.
* * *
On the way back, I stopped by Choi Deok-su’s Workshop.
I’d planned to take the day off anyway, so I figured I’d pay my respects while I was at it.
That’s why I’d only had a single beer at that nice restaurant—I didn’t want to reek of alcohol when greeting an elder.
It was a matter of courtesy.
‘Though, truthfully, I’ve never been much of a drinker anyway.’
I’d been too busy eating meat to fill my stomach with anything else.
Especially something bitter, tasteless, and expensive.
I arrived at the Workshop in no time.
Thanks to the midday drinking, the sun was still high in the sky.
“Hello, sir. It’s me—I was here the other day.”
“What? Why’d you come? Don’t tell me you’ve already broken that blade I gave you.”
The reaction I’d expected.
“No, sir. I was just passing by and thought I’d stop in to say hello. Hoping to mooch some tea off you.”
“Heh, anyone would think you’d left a car here for safekeeping.”
Despite answering gruffly to my unannounced visit, the old man gestured for me to take a seat.
“Why’re you standing there gawking? Sit down over there. I said I’d get you some tea, didn’t I?”
“Then I’ll take you up on that. Thank you.”
Even as he grumbled about me dropping in unannounced and pestering him, he quickly brought out two cups of instant coffee.
“Here, take these.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll enjoy it.”
As we both focused on our coffee, a brief silence settled between us.
The old man broke it with a sudden remark.
“Getting anything out of it?”
“Pardon?”
“Climbing that tower, I mean.”
“Well, sir, thanks to you I’ve gotten myself a fine weapon, and I’m managing all right.”
He paused mid-sip of his instant coffee and gave my hands a quick once-over.
“Managing all right—what nonsense.”
“Sir?”
“A week ago, you looked like you’d never held a sword hilt in your life—all soft and fumbling. Now your hands are calloused and there’s a blade in your eyes. You’ve put yourself through hell, haven’t you?”
What, he could tell all that just from a glance?
They say a craftsman’s eye sees all. He certainly had the gaze to match.
“Ha… well, there’s no easy path in this world, is there? I’m working hard so I can make a living.”
“Bah, and here you are, after all that effort, talking about ‘managing all right.’ You’ve hardly suffered at all, then.”
“Ha…”
I couldn’t think of a better answer, so I just laughed awkwardly—which seemed to displease him even more.
“Laughing like an idiot… drink up and get going.”
“But I just arrived.”
“How much longer are you planning to sit around? You’re a young man—what could we possibly have to talk about with an old codger like me?”
Having said all that, it would be rude to stay any longer.
“All right, then. I’ll be on my way for today, but I’ll come pay my respects again next time.”
“Don’t bother with courtesy visits like you’re checking whether an old man’s still breathing. Just come if you’ve got business.”
“Got it! Next time I’ll bring something to show for it. Then I can come by again, right?”
“Tch, I swear… every time I see you, your nerve seems to grow. Wonder if there’s an old codger’s spirit living inside you.”
The old man heaved a heavy sigh as if exasperated, then added quietly:
“Look after yourself out there. Don’t get hurt.”
Coming from a man who’d normally tell a young fellow not to leave before an old one, this was rather unexpected.
I dropped the playfulness from my tone as well.
“Yes, sir. I’ll be careful.”
* * *
And so, having wrapped up a satisfying day, I headed home.
As I walked down a quiet alley, something stirred in my chest.
“Hm?”
A small dark bundle of fur poked its head through the folds of my clothing, peering out cautiously. It was Bami.
“Meow!”
“I was wondering why things seemed so quiet today. That’s right—you must’ve been bored cooped up in there. Come on out and get some fresh air.”
What began as an unexpected evening stroll somehow made me look like I was carrying a kangaroo.
“Meow—”
The way that little head turned this way and that, searching curiously, was so endearing that a smile bloomed across my face unbidden.
The pleasant dinner with Kim.
The warm, unpretentious mix coffee prepared by Choi Deok-su.
And this small, mischievous creature nestled against my chest.
‘Is this what living is all about?’
It felt like recompense for the past week—for wielding the blade, for sustenance, for the blood on my hands.
“One day well rested. Tomorrow, I’ll work hard again.”
Tomorrow, the day after, and every day ahead, I would climb the Tower.
To protect this precious, once-unimaginable everyday life.
To afford beef.
I Just Copy Skills by Stepping on Shadows
Author |
Killing Part
Publisher |
Samyang C&C Corp.
Editor-in-Chief |
Editorial Department
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Samyang C&C Corp. – Dream Books
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G720:N+A063-20260703072
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blog.naver.com/dreambookss
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@dreambookss
Submissions |
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The contents of this book may not be used in any form or by any means without the written permission of Samyang C&C Corp. – Dream Books.

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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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