My Skeleton Soldier Is Strange - Chapter 40

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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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Chapter 40
As the commotion showed no signs of subsiding, Valerot guided Kim Ji-min and Ye-jin through a hidden passage.
I wondered why a single room would have multiple exits, but….
‘A first-class alchemist must have many secrets.’
From the way she spoke, it seemed there were even more passages she hadn’t shown us yet.
The Secret Passage we were guided through was dark, damp, and filled with a musty stench.
“It’s cramped… it would hurt if we fell.”
Ye-jin walked ahead, offering a warning.
Moreover, the uneven stone floor made walking itself difficult.
The two of us felt our way along the walls in the darkness, moving forward slowly.
The narrow passage seemed to stretch on endlessly.
Only the sound of our footsteps filled the quiet space.
Throughout the tunnel walk, neither of us spoke.
Each lost in complicated thoughts, we moved forward in silence.
‘Did we really let that slide? Surely we did, right?’
‘At market price, that would easily exceed twenty million won… but I can’t just demand fifteen million won worth of goods outright.’
“Phew!”
As we emerged from the passage, the bright lights of the Fortress Plaza greeted us both. The Secret Passage connected directly to the plaza.
“Did you hear? A monster just appeared in Valerot’s shop!”
“Let’s go check it out right now!”
Despite having taken the Secret Passage to escape the noise, the players were still talking about the explosion.
Moreover, less than ten minutes had passed since the incident, yet many players were already speaking Valerot’s name.
‘Their information network is incredible.’
But listening more carefully, the information was more specific than I expected. What happened in Valerot’s shop should have occurred in a sealed room.
‘Who was watching the VIP room… or was it another customer?’
“We’ll need to be more careful going forward.”
Both Kim Ji-min and Ye-jin possessed sharp senses, yet neither of them had detected another player’s presence in Arhenna’s shop.
Yet the news spread this quickly—we would need to move far more discreetly from now on.
―Glance.
I stole a quick look at Ye-jin.
‘Could someone have followed us without my noticing?’
While there were people searching for Ye-jin on YouTube, she wasn’t yet a “hot topic” figure, so the probability was low.
“Someone might have recognized me… did we pick up a tail?”
It seemed Ye-jin was thinking along similar lines.
“Surely not enough for someone to follow us, right?”
“…Ah, come to think of it, you said you didn’t know ‘Ye-jin’?”
“…Isn’t that Ye-jin’s real name?”
“No, never mind. Just forget it.”
“…??”
Ye-jin, who had experienced stalking several times in the past, let out a sigh, while I could only wear an expression of complete bewilderment.
Ye-jin didn’t want to boast in tedious detail about how popular she was, so she tried to change the subject.
“Ye-jin.”
But then.
“Yes?”
“Let’s disguise ourselves.”
“…? No, not to that extent….”
“I don’t know much, but from the comments, you seem to be someone quite famous….”
‘He hasn’t even searched once.’
Hearing that, Ye-jin realized that Kim Ji-min still had no idea who she was.
“Then it will become bothersome eventually. My face is already all over YouTube.”
From his tone, he seemed to treat Ye-jin and Kim Ji-min almost equally. Ye-jin’s face crumpled in real time like a dried, twisted piece of paper.
“You’re not developing celebrity syndrome, are you?”
“I’m not.”
“Hmm.”
Though she wasn’t entirely pleased, the truth was that a disguise was becoming necessary. She predicted that the more time she spent with Kim Ji-min, the more exposed her face would become.
“There is a way to disguise myself.”
“What is it?”
“…Cosmetic surgery.”
“…?”
“Evern Online doesn’t have a re-customization feature for characters once created, to prevent abuse….”
This much information Kim Ji-min already knew.
“Surprisingly, there are players in Evern Online who specialize in cosmetic surgery. Since Evern Online has such high reality implementation, it’s apparently possible. Plus, once the surgery succeeds, recovery is possible through skills or potions, so there’s no swelling period or anything like that.”
As Ye-jin’s explanation grew longer, Kim Ji-min tried to say something.
“By any chance….”
“By any chance what?”
―He hesitated.
If he asked, ‘Have you ever had cosmetic surgery in real life too?’
He would die.
Certainly. Without a doubt.
Sensing this instinctively, Kim Ji-min stopped himself.
“…There haven’t been any users who died during cosmetic surgery, right?”
“Hmm….”
Ye-jin nodded with the implication that she’d let it slide this time.
“Apparently there were cases like that in the past. So now they only accept users with at least 10 health. You need that much to survive a blade being wielded. Oh, and don’t forget to set your pain settings to the minimum before you go.”
“Do you know a shop?”
“As it happens… I know a cosmetic surgeon quite well. If I ask them, they’ll do an excellent job.”
“How much does it cost?”
“Don’t worry about that. You won’t be able to afford the crystal price anyway, or rather, the first fragment price.”
“….”
“Once the next drop item comes, you can pay it all back at once.”
“Thank you.”
At Ye-jin’s words, I bowed respectfully. I had always expressed gratitude to those who paid me.
“By the way, Ye-jin, you must find this wasteful.”
“Why?”
“Your original face is already quite beautiful, so it seems a shame to change it.”
“…Are you flattering me because I’m paying you?”
“I can’t deny it.”
“You should deny it in situations like this.”
* * *
Ye-jin and I set out toward Arban City, located in the heart of the Evern Continent, to undergo our disguises. As we passed through the grand city gates, a breathtaking vista unfolded before us.
‘This is massive….’
Arban City was filled with enormous structures crafted from wood. Verdant leaves blanketed the outer walls of the buildings, creating the sensation of stepping into a forest itself.
The architectural style, harmonizing nature with construction, was both distinctive and beautiful.
Dozens of wooden buildings lined the streets throughout the city.
“The buildings are all quite ornate.”
“That’s what makes Arban City distinctive.”
Wooden pillars and roofs, intricately carved window frames—all evoked an air of classical elegance.
The complex patterns carved into each building added an air of mystery.
Most striking of all was the colossal wooden tower standing majestically in the City Center.
“That tower is where the lord of Arban City resides.”
Rising to a height reminiscent of a modern skyscraper, its grandeur seemed to pierce the heavens. The outer wall of the wooden tower was densely studded with crimson gems that gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.
“Fresh bread for sale!”
“Buying HP potions in bulk!”
The streets teemed with crowds of people.
Adventurers and merchants in all manner of peculiar attire mingled together.
“Elf’s tears for sale!”
“Dwarf’s hammer—anyone interested?”
Various races—fairies, dwarves, elves—were visible throughout. The cacophony of unfamiliar languages created an exotic atmosphere.
While Evern Online supported a translation system, in crowded spaces like this, the developers intentionally left some voices untranslated to preserve the exotic feel.
Of course, you could enable that setting if you wished to hear everything.
Shops displayed all manner of wares in their storefronts.
Gleaming magical items, exquisite crafts, even unusual instruments.
Simply observing them was a feast for the eyes.
“A city where different races gather.”
The appeal here was the chance to encounter other races. From orcs to elves—truly, fantasy races moved about throughout the city.
“Our destination is over there.”
Then Ye-jin pointed toward our objective. It was a customizing shop run by a player who was an actual cosmetic surgeon.
“Ah.”
It exuded a distinctly different atmosphere from the other medieval structures. The building’s exterior resembled a modern hospital.
Clean white brick walls, large glass windows, and even automatic doors.
It was a rare sight in a fantasy world.
Yet upon closer inspection, this place harbored special elements all its own.
Towering crystal pillars lined both sides of the building’s entrance.
The azure-glowing crystals emanated an air of mystery.
Vines draped between the pillars created the impression of a woodland cottage.
Blue flowers bloomed abundantly along the vines, lending an unexpected vitality to the scene.
Above the entrance door, an ornate star-shaped pattern was carved, reminiscent of constellations in the night sky, glowing with a soft golden radiance.
“The design is quite impressive.”
Kim Ji-min marveled at the building’s exterior.
“Come on in. I made the reservation on the way here, so we won’t have to wait.”
“…Your connections are better than I expected.”
“Of course. Despite appearances, I work hard in reality, you know?”
I found myself reassessing Ye-jin’s network once more. I’d always suspected she was no ordinary person—her demeanor when we’d met in reality had been distinctly different from that of a typical person.
‘I should search for information about her later.’
If I knew who she was, I could make better use of her, I thought idly.
* * *
As Kim Ji-min and Ye-jin approached the building, the automatic doors at the entrance opened of their own accord.
―Whirrrrr…
Accompanied by a sound reminiscent of mechanical whirring, the double glass doors slid smoothly to either side.
‘They really nailed the implementation.’
The speed and motion of the doors were identical to real automatic doors, creating the illusion of being in a modern city.
Yet these automatic doors were powered not by electric motors, but by magical force.
Intricate magical circles were meticulously inscribed within the door frame.
Glowing rune characters in azure light moved of their own accord, shimmering brilliantly.
―Shhhhh…
As the doors fully opened, crimson vapor rose from both sides. It was a mystical effect reminiscent of opening an ancient temple entrance.
[You are entering the Golden Hand Customizing Shop.]
Violet mana flowed through the vapor, releasing a subtle fragrance. This automatic door, where cutting-edge technology and ancient magic blended seamlessly, left a powerful impression from the very entrance.
A mysterious yet otherworldly harmony that transcended the boundary between fantasy and reality—it seemed to symbolize what this customization shop aspired to be.
“Welcome, esteemed customer. Thank you for visiting the Golden Hand Customizing Shop.”
As I stepped inside, a receptionist greeted us. She was an elegant and refined female elf.
Her crimson hair possessed a vivid hue, like flames themselves.
Her long, natural hair cascaded softly, each strand gleaming with luster.
Her distinctively elongated elven ears boasted graceful curves.
Golden earrings studded densely along her earlobes jingled melodiously.
Her clear, transparent green eyes were pristine, unmarred by a single impurity.
Her straight nose and full, rosy lips formed an elegant balance.
A green skirt embroidered with golden thread wrapped around her slender neck.
The design emphasized her narrow waist, accentuating her curves even further. Slender calves were visible between the folds of her long skirt, resembling a living sculpture.
“I have a reservation under Ye-jin.”
Ye-jin spoke up to the elf.
“Oh! I’ll guide you right away.”
The elf, who had been wearing a gentle smile, widened both eyes at Ye-jin’s words. Then, with polite courtesy, she gestured for Kim Ji-min and Ye-jin to follow her.
Following the elf through a long corridor, we finally arrived at the director’s office.
Creak.
The office door swung open.
“Oh, welcome—”
When I heard the director’s voice, I found myself freezing involuntarily.
“—?”
The player who supposedly specialized in cosmetic surgery was none other than…
‘What the hell is he doing here?’
It was Kim Ji-min, someone whose connection to cosmetic surgery couldn’t be more distant. Our pupils trembled violently as we locked eyes.

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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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