I Stepped on Their Shadows and Skills Started Copying Like Crazy - Chapter 46

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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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46
The morning of the second day.
Another dawn had broken, and without fail, mealtime had arrived again.
Which meant I had to prepare breakfast for these guests who had not a single redeeming quality.
“Sigh, this is no trivial task.”
Today’s breakfast was soy sauce egg rice.
Over fluffy white rice, I placed a golden fried egg, drizzled soy sauce over it, and finished with a touch of sesame oil.
“There. Done.”
Soon the bowls were lined up neatly on the Flower-patterned Aluminum Tray.
Now it was Snigg’s turn.
“Snigg, take this and head straight to Bigo.”
“I shall depart at once!”
Like a scene from some old film, Snigg led the way to Bigo, carrying the tray gracefully in one hand.
The moment we entered Bigo, Snigg’s voice rang out.
“Behold! You wretched rabble! Your noble and merciful lord has deigned to provide this day’s sustenance with his own hands—let this grace be etched upon your very bones!”
“Quite the voice first thing in the morning. Come now, everyone sit down. Let’s eat.”
Last night, we’d all spread newspaper across the Bigo floor and eaten jjajangmyeon, but it felt wrong, so we’d moved the table entirely inside Bigo instead.
With all this space, there was no reason to squeeze into that cramped single room and eat in a jumble.
“Oh…! Is it soy sauce egg rice this morning?”
Sang-sik, who’d been reading a religious magazine in the corner, sat down at the table with a pleased expression.
“Yes, one egg per person. Though mine looks like two, it’s only one—a double yolk.”
“Of course not. I said nothing of the sort.”
Meanwhile, the two goblins scrambled onto chairs with their short legs, whimpering slightly.
Bami, who’d been sleeping late, poked his head out from the shadows and settled at my feet—and with that, everyone was ready to eat.
“Meow—.”
“Sleep well, Bami?”
“Meow!”
Bami began eating first with little smacking sounds.
“Looks like someone was hungry. Come on, let’s dig in.”
Just then, Roga placed his hands together reverently before his soy sauce egg rice.
“Kiru! Ashkatal! Keru Karac!”
“What’s with that? He was doing it last night too. Is he saying grace or something?”
Snigg immediately stepped in with an answer.
“He’s giving thanks for the sustenance our lord has provided. By Ashkatal’s grace, he shall grow strong and become a valiant warrior, he says.”
“That’s not it. I counted—he only said three words. Tell me straight. Stop adding embellishments.”
“…He said he’d eat gratefully.”
“I’m watching you. Mind yourself, Snigg.”
“Yes, my apologies, lord.”
Why did he keep adding words that weren’t there?
“All right, enough. Let’s eat.”
“Yes, enjoy your meal, lord.”
Snigg picked up his spoon and, instead of mixing his rice, scooped it up in a large dollop.
“Hey, that’s not how you eat it. Give it here. Sang-sik, would you mix Roga’s rice for him too?”
“Of course, boss.”
He took the bowl and mixed it skillfully.
“Wooow…! The food shines like gold!”
“That’s enough, eat.”
Snigg took his first careful spoonful and closed his eyes in appreciation of the taste.
“Ugh…! This salty-sweet liquid with its savory depth—what is it…!”
The egg he would have tasted before, but the soy sauce seemed to have won him over.
“That’s ‘soy sauce’—one of the fundamental seasonings in Korean cuisine.”
“Soy sauce…! And this oil’s fragrance is exquisite!”
As long as it wasn’t spicy, he’d eat anything.
I chuckled at how eagerly they ate, then glanced over to see Roga with his nose buried in his bowl, shoveling in rice.
“Tch, you’re making a mess all over. Here, hold the spoon properly. Again.”
“Kee…?”
“Look. Snigg eats without spilling a single grain.”
“Right, Roga! You mustn’t act like an ill-mannered forest goblin!”
After wrestling with him for a moment, I finally lifted my own spoon when Sang-sik quietly spoke up.
“Um, boss. I have a question, if I may ask?”
“Yes, of course.”
“So… what happened with the 75th floor? Did you clear it? I saw the extension by seven days, but after that… well… you know what I mean.”
I did.
That’s why I’m even buying your meals.
“Oh, that? Shin Yu-seong cleared it yesterday.”
“Oh really?! The great Shin Yu-seong indeed…!”
Sang-sik’s face lit up the moment Shin Yu-seong’s name came up.
It was an unexpected reaction.
“Seems like you admire him.”
“How could I not? Is there anyone in all of South Korea who doesn’t like him? Unless they’re a traitor wishing for the nation’s downfall.”
“Well, that’s fair.”
He had a point.
When I first met the Master, I was thrilled myself.
“Still, it’s surprising. I thought you didn’t care about rankings or Awakeners and such.”
“I may not know much, but it’s impressive, isn’t it? A hero protecting the nation through his own strength…! Wow… isn’t that every man’s dream?”
Is it?
Having the whole country watching you sounds exhausting and overwhelming.
“And for his epithet, ‘Sword Saint,’ he certainly carries the bearing to match—so dignified and noble!”
He’s undoubtedly remarkable, but dignified and noble? That’s debatable.
‘If anything, he’s more of a troublemaker.’
Unaware of my true thoughts, Sang-sik kept singing Shin Yu-seong’s praises.
On and on about Shin Yu-seong this and that.
“I’ve heard that normally he barely speaks and exudes such charisma that—get this—just by gazing at a Demon Beast, the creature freezes solid.”
Barely speaks? That man?
I couldn’t help but laugh at that point.
“Pfft.”
“Huh? Why are you laughing?”
“Just find it funny.”
“But there’s nothing funny about it… oh, I get it. You don’t believe me? But it’s true! There are countless witnesses who’ve seen it firsthand.”
Ah, so that’s what he thought.
“Yes, well… I suppose that’s possible.”
Freezing a monster with just a glance probably isn’t an exaggeration. Probably.
I’ve simply never sensed anything like that myself.
‘Maybe at lower floors, he could even kill monsters with just a look?’
After that, I heard nothing more and thought the conversation had ended, but suddenly Sang-sik’s face took on a meaningful smile.
“Ah, I see. You’re jealous because he’s another Awakener too? No need to feel that way. Shin Yu-seong is a heaven-sent hero. You’re in different leagues, that’s all.”
“Jealous? How could I possibly be jealous? I’m hardly worthy of such feelings. That’s not it at all.”
“Come now, it clearly is. But don’t worry. Though I don’t know much about Awakeners, your abilities are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. If you keep going like this, you’ll certainly make a great name for yourself.”
“Oh, such kind words. Thank you, Sang-sik.”
“That’s strange… that’s not the reaction I expected.”
Sang-sik gave me a suspicious once-over.
“What? I just laughed. That’s all.”
“I may look it, but my eye for people is sharp. No matter how I look at it, that wasn’t just a laugh, yet you keep saying it was.”
Would he believe me if I said I’d actually met Shin Yu-seong and could reach him with a single phone call?
Too much effort to explain, so I just chuckled and let it go.
Breaking the yolk on the white rice with my spoon.
“Eat. Eat. It’s getting cold.”
* * *
Bigo after Si Hyeon left for work.
The white prison echoed only with the sound of Snigg’s vigorous sweeping.
“Dust removal! Hair annihilation! Roga, are you keeping pace? Sweep and wipe immediately!”
“Kiru! Kiruk!”
Two goblins working together on cleaning.
After days of Bigo life where one day felt like a week, even this surreal sight had become somewhat familiar to Sang-sik.
“Sigh… it’s spotless. Where is there even dust here? Or does dust actually form in this place? Time flows so strangely too.”
Muttering to himself with no one to answer.
When Si Hyeon was around, at least he’d toss out the occasional quip, but alone like this, Sang-sik was always just a sack of barley left in the corner.
“Tsk. Who am I even talking to.”
Sang-sik grimaced at the bitter taste and shifted his attention to the magazine in his hand.
Namely, “The Path to New Life.”
He’d already read it cover to cover several times, but in the end, he always came back to this.
‘I’m reading it to kill time since there’s nothing else to do, but the content is just… meh.’
If he was being honest, he still didn’t understand religion.
‘Where is God in this world?’
If God existed, He would’ve gotten him out of here long ago.
‘I don’t even know if I’ll ever leave this place.’
Rather than dwell on the worry that kept creeping in, Sang-sik chose escape—the refuge of books.
“Ah, forget it. Let’s just read.”
Normally, Sang-sik would have buried himself in his book while Snigg went about his business—such was the usual rhythm of Bigo.
But today was different.
“Hey, you useless Sang-sik! Here I am, Snigg, the pinnacle of goblin intelligence, leading by example and cleaning Bigo—so what are you doing? Get over here and help, would you?”
Snigg’s voice came like a thunderclap.
Sang-sik’s ears had to be deceiving him.
“Me…? As well?”
“Is there another Sang-sik here besides you? Move! Get over here now!”
“Y-yes, sir. Coming right away, Snigg.”
Sang-sik scrambled to his feet and grabbed the cleaning cloth that lay nearby.
‘Before, when he had no master, he wouldn’t even treat me like a person. What’s gotten into him?’
Though he grumbled inwardly, the corners of his mouth twitched strangely upward.
Though he himself seemed oblivious to it.
“Soldiers! Though Bigo is sparse now, one day it shall overflow with trophies and honors celebrating our lord’s victories and great deeds! As servants, we must never forget this—we must maintain Bigo in the finest condition at all times! Is that understood?”
“Kiru!”
“Yes, yes. We’ll do our best.”
Snigg was brimming with resolve, and Roga, whom Si Hyeon regarded as his right hand, followed his lead.
Even Sang-sik, who answered half-heartedly, put genuine effort into scrubbing the floors.
‘At least doing something is better than nothing.’
“Sang-sik! Don’t rush ahead! Cleaning means sweeping and wiping properly! You’re just smearing dust across the floor!”
Though they’d started awkwardly, the three of them were falling into sync.
Snigg was just about to express satisfaction with their work when—
“Mmm, now that’s more like it….”
Whoooosh—!
In an instant, a ripple spread through the center of Bigo.
Sang-sik, sleeves rolled up to his elbows mid-scrub, snapped his head around.
‘What? Already? That’s too fast. Did he fall in the tower today?’
He’d find out soon enough.
Sang-sik forced a smile and prepared to greet Si Hyeon.
Then, stepping through the portal, Si Hyeon appeared.
“Oh, boss, you’re back already? Hm—”
Someone else was entering Bigo behind Si Hyeon.
A tall man, his robe pulled low, his face concealed behind a mask.
The way his face was wrapped up tight, as if he were a wanted fugitive, rubbed Sang-sik the wrong way.
“Ah, Sang-sik. You were cleaning? Looks like you’ve gotten quite friendly with the others.”
“Yes, well… it’s come to that. But who is the person behind you…?”
“Ah, a guest. I’ll introduce you in a moment.”
Si Hyeon turned and spoke warmly to the man who’d followed him in.
“This is the secret space I mentioned. It’s a bit sparse, isn’t it?”
“Not at all. It’s quite impressive, really. I’ve only heard about Subspace skill before—this is my first time seeing it in action. It’s remarkably spacious.”
The man’s gaze swept across Bigo, then settled on the goblins and Sang-sik standing before him.
“Ah, these must be the guests you mentioned earlier. Hmm…? But those two over there—are they goblins?”
“Yes, technically they are. It’s a long story, but one is my subordinate and the other is under temporary protection. So please, don’t kill them, alright?”
“Ha, of course. I’ll remember that clearly.”
At this point, Snigg started to step forward with ‘As for this goblin of the highest intellect…’ only to be stopped by Si Hyeon’s gesture.
“Shhh.”
The man observed the scene silently, his eyes gleaming with intrigue.
“Oh, so you can be surprised, you say? I thought once you climbed enough of the tower, not much would faze you anymore. But a talking goblin is certainly new. How fascinating.”
“The problem is he talks too much. And this one here is staying temporarily because of certain ‘circumstances.’ Isn’t that right, Sang-sik?”
“Yes, well… that’s about right.”
“Sang-sik, then. Pleased to meet you.”
Without even offering his own name, the mysterious stranger extended his hand for a handshake.
Sang-sik reluctantly took it.
“…Yes, well, isn’t it proper etiquette to at least give your name when introducing yourself? And that face covering is a bit much, wouldn’t you say?”
Sang-sik’s sharp remark drew an awkward laugh from the other man.
“Ha, well, I suppose you’re right. My apologies. I do have my reasons, though….”
At that moment, Si Hyeon interjected smoothly.
“Ah, please, if you’re comfortable with it, there’s no need to stand on ceremony. Sang-sik already knows enough about me. He’s hardly the type to go running his mouth elsewhere, are you, Sang-sik?”
Si Hyeon turned to Sang-sik with a meaningful look.
It was the same piercing gaze he’d shown when he’d fed Snigg nothing but pork belly fat.
“Yes, of course… exactly. That’s right.”
“Ah, is that so? Then I suppose I ought to introduce myself properly. I’m, well, a public figure, after all.”
‘A public figure—calling himself that? This guy’s shameless.’
While Sang-sik sneered inwardly, the mysterious man slowly pulled back his hood and lowered his mask.
“Permit me to introduce myself properly. I’m Shin Yu-seong.”
“Wha—?! What—!!”
Sang-sik’s jaw dropped as the face was revealed.
It was Shin Yu-seong—the Shin Yu-seong—standing right in front of him.
‘Wait, why is he here? Did he get kidnapped too? This bastard abducted him? Or—don’t tell me they’re both fans?!’
Either way, wasn’t the country finished now?
Shock rendered him nearly speechless.
“…I, uh, um…… P-pleased to meet you. P-Park Sang-sik.”
Standing behind Sang-sik, who was now frozen stiff, Si Hyeon patted his shoulder as if to say he understood.
“Park Park-Sang-sik. You get it now, don’t you? Why I smiled this morning.”
A simple smile—the one he’d shown that morning.
I Copied a Skill by Merely Stepping on a Shadow
Author |
Killing Part
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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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