Monopolizing Skills to the 666th Floor - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Skill Devouring to the 666th Floor Episode 025

25. Treatment

“Uh… h-how many are all these?”

“Exactly 50.”

“You already collected this many in just a few days?”

Joshua’s mouth won’t close.

Well, it is quite a lot for what I gathered in four days.

“As I mentioned before, I know a secret method.”

“I’ve also tried conquering Floor 15, but I couldn’t tell which monsters had Magic Stones just by looking at them.”

“That would be the case. But I can tell them apart.”

“How on earth…”

He seemed curious, but I kept my mouth shut.

‘The ability to distinguish Irregulars is a technique that no one else in the world can do except me.’

A technique that only I mastered through 18 years of experience.

Even Joshua from my previous life never realized it.

Because he ended his life early.

‘It’s not something that can be taught with words. You need enlightenment.’

So even if I wanted to tell him, I couldn’t.

“Please calculate it.”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

As per our contract, we traded at $6,000 each.

540 million won in Korean currency came in instantly.

Into my account.

“Thank you.”

“Then I’ll put these in my Inventory.”

Joshua took the F-Grade Magic Stones into his Inventory.

All those Magic Stones disappeared like magic.

Inventory is truly convenient.

“It would be nice if we could put other luggage in the Inventory too.”

Joshua tapped the suitcase he had placed beside him.

Unfortunately, the Inventory only accepts items from the Labyrinth.

“Have you started selling the Magic Stones?”

“Of course. Since we got the first-mover advantage, we need to quickly go public and sell them.”

“How did it go? Was the response good?”

“It’s incredible. Right now, various companies are going crazy trying to buy them.”

“That’s great.”

“This is all thanks to Tae Seong. Thank you so much.”

Joshua bows his head.

Knowing I’m Korean, he greets me according to our culture.

“Shall we go have a meal? You haven’t had lunch yet, right?”

“No.”

“Since you came all the way to Korea, I’ll take you to a good place.”

The place I took Joshua to as a self-appointed guide was a famous hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.

A place that received three Michelin stars – there’s no better location for entertaining a buyer.

“The Korean traditional cuisine here is famous for being delicious.”

“Oh, really?”

“Have you tried Korean food before?”

“Unfortunately, I’ve only heard about Korean food but never actually eaten it.”

He said he came here for business in the past, but it seems he really just came and left with his body only.

“Try it once. You’ll like it.”

Food came out at the elegant Korean restaurant.

“What’s this?”

“It’s burdock root bugak. The crispy texture is delicious.”

The second dish that came out was ark shell.

“Oh, the plating is amazing.”

Joshua exclaimed as soon as he saw it.

After tasting it with his eyes first, he carefully picked up chopsticks following my lead.

“Mmm. This is good.”

Oxtail sashimi, sea bream cold cuts, chestnut soup, and more.

Appetizers kept coming out, and then what could be called the main dish appeared.

“Hmm? What’s this?”

After one taste, Joshua’s eyes widened and his hands moved faster.

“Wow, this is so delicious! What’s it called?”

“It’s braised short ribs.”

“The sweet and savory taste is really delicious.”

“This is just the beginning.”

“Huh? This is just the beginning… of what?”

Soon after, various dishes like tteok-galbi and oyster rice came out.

I couldn’t keep my wits about me from the food barrage of Korean course meal coming out like a course dinner.

“Phew, that was really delicious.”

“It’s not over yet.”

“What? There’s still more?”

Only after eating strawberry sherbet, red ginseng ice, and tea cakes for dessert did Joshua finally put his hands down.

Like someone who had been knocked down.

“Haa… This is the first time I’ve had such a satisfying meal abroad. It’s truly amazing.”

“Really? You’d be even more surprised if you saw the price.”

One meal cost 300,000 won.

Not for both of us combined.

300,000 won per person.

“Huk… That is surprising indeed.”

“I’ll pay for it.”

“No, let’s just go Dutch…”

“In Korea, the person who suggests eating together pays. That’s Korean sentiment.”

I handed over my card, leaving Joshua trying to refuse behind.

I have plenty of money anyway.

More than anything, I want to become close with Joshua.

I want to maintain the relationship we had in my previous life.

‘Joshua was like my benefactor before my regression. This level of treatment is only proper.’

The next place I went with the moved Joshua was Gyeongbokgung Palace.

We walked leisurely against the backdrop of elegant hanok buildings, digesting our meal.

“The buildings are truly beautiful.”

“Right?”

The next course was Namsan Tower, a place you can’t help but visit at least once.

The view of Seoul from the high tower was indescribably beautiful.

Especially when it gets dark like now, it creates an even more spectacular sight.

“It’s wonderful. The lights are as beautiful as fireflies.”

“Haha, you think so?”

Quite sentimental.

Well, I knew Joshua’s personality.

Kind to people and sentimental by nature.

Since he got along well with the other Twelve Apostles too, he had the qualities of a leader.

‘How did someone like him die on the 399th Floor…?’

Does it make sense that a man more talented than me died early?

He even had Skill Copy at that time?

‘I’ve faced the 399th Floor boss too, but it wasn’t much. Joshua would have been more than enough to win.’

It’s puzzling.

Since it’s something that’s already passed, I can’t know the reason.

‘In this life, I’ll save Joshua.’

I’ll save him and definitely stay with him until the end.

Such talent is hard to find.

However.

‘Cutting off Amon’s head is my job.’

I won’t let him handle dangerous tasks.

I’ll do it.

“You must be getting hungry? Shall we go have dinner?”

“Is there somewhere good?”

“Of course. You’ll like it better than the hotel.”

There’s a place more delicious than the hotel’s Korean course meal?

At those words, Joshua’s eyes sparkled.

Eyes full of expectation.

But his eyes soon changed to disappointment.

“This place is…?”

“A samgyeopsal restaurant.”

“Ah, Korean barbecue?”

It wasn’t as spacious or clean as the hotel, but Joshua entered without complaint.

“You haven’t tried samgyeopsal before, right?”

“No. I’ve seen videos on YouTube but never eaten it.”

“You’ll probably like it. Most foreigners do.”

That’s what I said, but actually I know Joshua’s taste.

‘Before my regression, he loved samgyeopsal to the point of going crazy for it.’

His taste wouldn’t have changed just because I regressed, so he’ll show the same reaction this time too.

Sure enough.

“Oh my God!”

Joshua screamed after trying just one piece.

“It’s so delicious!”

As soon as the meat is grilled, he devours it frantically.

“Shall we take a look around the night market one last time before we go?”

The night market bustling with many people even at night.

Joshua’s eyes are busy looking around at this and that.

After treating him to the full course including the night market, Joshua said something.

“Tae Seong.”

“…?”

“I love it.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I love the country called Korea, the culture, the food, everything.”

An expression completely smitten with Korea.

If I treat him twice more, he might even give me a kiss.

“You’re so lucky, Tae Seong. Living in such a wonderful country… And it’s even the nation that possesses Amon…”

“Possessing nation? I’m not some object…”

“Haha, I meant it in a good way. I’m just envious. Of everything.”

The night has grown late.

Now it’s time to part ways.

“Where’s your accommodation? I’ll escort you there.”

“Oh, thank you. How gentlemanly.”

“If I volunteered to be a guide, I should see it through to the end.”

I escorted him to the front of his accommodation.

Time to really part ways.

But Joshua’s feet won’t move away.

“Um…”

“Do you have something to say?”

“This might be a difficult request…”

As soon as he mentioned a request, I immediately thought of it.

What he would ask of me.

“Could you possibly duel with me…”

As expected.

Joshua who’s crazy about dueling.

He always wanted to test his strength.

In the past, he dueled with me countless times too.

Even though my skills were pathetic compared to Joshua’s.

‘It wasn’t like bullying civilians or anything.’

He simply loved dueling itself.

That’s the kind of person Joshua is.

Gentle on the outside, but someone who loves fighting by nature.

‘That’s probably why he was the most outstanding among the Twelve Apostles.’

I nodded to Joshua who was waiting for an answer.

“Alright. But just one round, okay?”

“Oh, thank you!”

“Where would be good… Ah, that place looks good.”

The place I chose was a nearby school playground.

Here we could duel without being seen by people.

“I brought gloves and headgear.”

“Just give me the gloves like before. The rules can be the same as before too.”

At my words, Joshua’s eyes became sharp.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay? I’m not the same as I was before?”

“It’s fine. I’m not the same as I was before either.”

“Haha! Good. Then I’ll use my skills without holding back.”

The rules are the same as before.

Only Joshua is allowed to use skills, while I’m prohibited from using skills.

Well, I have 17 skills right now, so if I allowed all of them…

‘I’d win in an instant.’

I should hold back somewhat.

As a service for Joshua.

“Here I come!”

‘Ah…’

Looking at the stars in the sky, Joshua thought.

‘Korea has a beautiful night sky too.’

The one sprawled out in a big character shape wasn’t Lee Tae Seong, but himself.

Joshua had expected this too.

‘But it ended way too quickly.’

He completely toyed with me.

No, rather than toyed, it would be more accurate to say he was being considerate.

I could feel it from his movements and punches.

That he was moderately adjusting his strength to match mine.

‘He’s really a strong opponent. Exciting enough to get my blood pumping.’

When faced with an insurmountable wall, people are divided into two types.

Either they find a way to break through somehow, or they give up.

Joshua was the former.

Facing the wall actually made his motivation surge.

‘Having an opponent to surpass. That’s always a pleasant thing.’

Because it means there’s always room for improvement.

“Are you okay? Joshua?”

“Ah, yes. I was just admiring the sky for a moment.”

Joshua got up and looked at Lee Tae Seong.

“Um… could we go just one more round?”

“Since it’s disappointing to end here, shall we go one more round?”

“Yes!”

This time I won’t lose.

‘I need to use the Time Regression timing well.’

He challenged with that thought, but the result was the same.

“Ah…”

This time too, he saw stars.

The sky is pretty.

“Tae Seong. I have something I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“Do you happen to know about my skill?”

He had that feeling.

The feeling that he already understood the skill.

Otherwise, there’s no way he could counter so perfectly.

“I know.”

“…!”

“It’s Time Regression, right?”

“Ah…!”

As expected, he knew.

“Could Tae Seong’s patron spirit be… the God of Time?”

“That’s right.”

“Ah! So we have the same patron spirit! No wonder!”

Amon, whom I respect, has the God of Time as his patron spirit?

I felt good.

Like being assigned to the same unit.

“So you have the same skill as me? Time Regression. That’s how you noticed, right?”

“Well, rather than that… the God of Time told me.”

“Ah… the God of Time did?”

“Yes. He said we’re fellow Apostles.”

The God of Time told him?

The god who wouldn’t even respond to him?

“You even communicate with the god… that’s amazing.”

“Doesn’t Joshua contact the God of Time?”

“It’s not that I don’t, but that I can’t. Even when I ask curious questions, there’s no answer.”

“What did you ask about…”

“About the next floor’s mission.”

Lee Tae Seong barely held back a laugh that was about to escape.

How would the Three Gods know such things?

They’re just outsiders who squeezed into the Labyrinth.

“Um, Tae Seong. I’ve wanted to ask you something for a while…”

“What is it?”

“How do you distinguish monsters that have Magic Stones? If there’s a method, I’d like to know too…”

“It’s hard to explain in words. It’s like instinct.”

“I see… Ah! I have another question.”

“Ask me anything.”

“Do you happen to have a lot of items?”

Lee Tae Seong tilted his head at Joshua’s question.

“Why do you ask that?”

“Ah… I’ve cleared up to the 16th Floor but haven’t gotten anything I could call a weapon. I was curious if Amon might have some…”

“You don’t have a weapon?”

Nod nod.

It’s embarrassing, but that’s right.

I don’t know if they originally don’t drop well.

“Equipment Items don’t drop well originally. They’re very hard to get as regular clear rewards.”

“Ah… is that so?”

“But since you said you don’t have a weapon…”

Lee Tae Seong suddenly opened his inventory and pulled out something long.

“Th-this is…?”

A spear.

Though worn, anyone could see it was a spear.

And it was a Labyrinth item that came from my inventory.

“I’ll give this to you as a gift. Take it.”

At my words of readily offering him a weapon, Joshua’s eyes widened.

The Korean full course was so memorable that he couldn’t forget it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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