My Skeleton Soldier Is Strange - Chapter 41

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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 41
There’s a saying that enemies meet on a single-plank bridge.
‘This is strange. He’s not my enemy.’
Jae-beom had never considered Kim Ji-min an enemy. Rather, he’d always thought of him as a good friend—the kind who even bought him meat. In fact, hadn’t they just met not long ago?
“….”
“….”
Yet in this moment, the two of them stared at each other in silence. One had just discovered his friend’s lie about not playing Evern Online. The other had just realized that someone far removed from the Cosmetic Surgery Clinic was impersonating a doctor.
‘I thought she was created as a male character.’
Kim Ji-min’s customized avatar was a strikingly tall woman who could easily be mistaken for a man at first glance.
Dressed in a pristine white doctor’s coat, her appearance seemed paradoxically realistic yet surreal.
‘Silver hair? Really? Is she supposed to be fifteen instead of twenty-five?’
Her silver locks gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight. The long, straight strands possessed a lustrous texture as if platinum had been melted and poured into silk.
The slightly swept bangs created an intellectual yet refined atmosphere.
What captured the eye most was the crimson gaze. Those ruby-like eyes radiated a mesmerizing scarlet brilliance.
‘So that’s why the nickname is Red Peach… The taste in nicknames is questionable.’
Even a casual glance revealed an overwhelming presence in that gaze.
A gentle smile played at her lips, adding warmth to her otherwise cold impression.
Beneath the coat, a slender figure was visible.
Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs.
All sculpted with moderate musculature, the body was healthy and beautiful. Overall, she embodied a doctor character radiating charisma and intellectual refinement.
Though tall and slender, her appearance was far removed from Kim Ji-min—someone whose physique showed little sign of athletic training and carried a somewhat mischievous air.
‘The voice.’
But the voice gave it away.
Despite using customization features, Kim Ji-min’s voice remained unchanged. Moreover, when Kim Ji-min saw Jae-beom, she flinched—so both their suspicions instantly transformed into certainty.
“Hm?”
As Jae-beom stared at Ji-min in silence, Ye-jin tilted her head in confusion. She felt something odd about the sudden quiet.
“I almost said you’re quite handsome.”
That’s when Jae-beom spoke first.
He’d barely regained his composure and was attempting a procedure to seal this situation. Though startled and absurd, he had no intention of revealing Kim Ji-min’s identity or their connection in front of Ye-jin.
“Wow… Isn’t that the name of some old drama?”
Ji-min quickly picked up on his words. With Ye-jin present, she seemed to be reading the room carefully.
“But the voice doesn’t quite match the appearance.”
“…You can use customization features to alter your voice, but that’s much more difficult and expensive.”
Kim Ji-min answered Jae-beom’s comment in a somewhat reluctant tone.
Indeed, modifying vocal cords through cosmetic surgery would be no simple matter.
“I see.”
―Whoosh.
Ji-min turned to look at Ye-jin beside her, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation with Jae-beom.
“It’s been such a long time, Ye-jin. I hope you’ve been well?”
“Of course. Thanks to you introducing me to people, I’ve been gaining considerable benefits.”
“Haha. Isn’t that how the world works—helping each other out?”
I said this while glancing sideways at Jae-beom. Of course, he chose to ignore me.
“I’ll make sure to match exactly what you’re looking for this time as well.”
At Ye-jin’s words, Kim Ji-min offered an awkward smile.
―Whoosh….
Then, while looking at Ye-jin, I gave her a look asking her to step out for a moment. At that, the guide beside me took Ye-jin and left the office.
―Creak….
Finally, only Jae-beom and I remained.
“Sigh.”
Deep wrinkles formed across my forehead, and shadows hung heavily beneath my eyes.
My pallid cheeks appeared sunken.
My lips were parched, and my jaw clenched tight.
I looked as though crushed beneath the weight of life itself.
‘The man transformed in an instant.’
Even Jae-beom, who rarely showed dramatic emotional shifts, couldn’t hide his amazement. It was as though I had complete command over every facial muscle—like a master of cosmetic surgery.
“So… Jae-beom.”
“Yeah, Vanguard Commander Red Peach.”
“…When we’re alone, call me Kim Ji-min, Jae-beom. Unless you want to get stabbed.”
―Click.
As I revealed my identity, I pressed a small button on the desk.
―Zzzzzing….
Then magical barriers inscribed with countless spell formations surrounded the entire room.
[Special soundproofing spell formation activated.]
[Grade 2 concealment applied.]
An environment where ordinary players couldn’t eavesdrop had been created.
“Actually… I figured it out from YouTube. I’d heard before that you’d be a veteran if you played another game.”
In truth, I recognized your identity the moment I saw your username.
“Plus, that arrogant-looking face and those eyes… anyone could tell it was you.”
Besides, your appearance hadn’t changed.
When you started Evern Online, you’d used your real face almost unchanged.
“Arrogant-looking? I’m actually quite gentle-faced.”
….
“Fine. It was a joke, so stop looking at me with that cursing expression.”
Seeing me crumpled like a piece of paper, Jae-beom let out a small laugh. Was it because we already knew each other in reality?
Despite meeting for the first time in Evern Online, there was no awkwardness between us.
Jae-beom stared intently at my face. My features had originally been quite striking, yet I couldn’t explain why I’d chosen to alter them.
“Ahem. What kind of surgery are you looking for?”
“Hm?”
“You came for surgery, didn’t you? Since I’m a customization master, I can tailor it to whatever you prefer.”
At Jae-beom’s gaze, I quickly got down to business.
“Preferences, huh….”
Jae-beom touched his chin upon hearing those words.
He’d never really thought about wanting to alter his face. Back in Warlord Online, Ji-min had suggested that using his original face wasn’t quite right, so Ji-min had customized it for him.
“Do whatever you want. Just don’t keep the original.”
So he decided to leave it entirely to Kim Ji-min’s discretion.
“If you make me look weird, we’re settling this in real life.”
After all, they knew each other in reality too.
“Sigh.”
Kim Ji-min exhaled deeply at Jae-beom’s words.
“Fine. Then I’ll create you exactly as I see fit.”
Though he wasn’t a cosmetic surgeon, skill was skill. Kim Ji-min decided to show off his craftsmanship.
“Let’s move to the operating room. Follow me inside.”
Right here and now.
* * *
A “cosmetic surgery” in Evern Online turned out to be a far stranger experience than expected.
No anesthesia—just slicing away at the face with scraping sounds….
“Ah, I made a mistake. Let me restore that.”
Occasionally unsettling sounds echoed out, fresh blood splattered across the face a few times, and restoration cycles repeated.
How much time had passed like this?
“Surgery complete.”
Ji-min declared it in a slightly exhausted tone.
“This is really convenient.”
No pain, no suffering—not even disinfection, let alone anesthesia. During the surgery, Ji-min had mentioned in passing that there were perverts out there who maxed out pain settings, but….
‘Why would anyone do something so insane.’
Naturally, Jae-beom had set his pain setting to ‘0’. He’d raised it a bit during hunts for combat sensitivity, but there was no need for that now.
―*Whoosh*….
Then Kim Ji-min held up a mirror to Jae-beom. When he checked his own face reflected in it.
“…?”
Jae-beom was left utterly speechless.
* * *
Ye-jin waited patiently for Jae-beom in front of the shop. Her gaze drifted toward the armored players across the street. Those clad in heavy, clanking armor cut an imposing figure.
‘Must be White Guild users.’
They were members of a guild so famous that Ye-jin could recognize them at a glance.
Thick bracers and greaves, shields both large and small gleamed as they caught the sunlight.
Cloaks draped around their necks fluttered in the breeze. Their hands gripping weapons glistened with sweat. From their disciplined physiques and sharp gazes emanated the unmistakable aura of warriors.
“Hmm….”
Ye-jin observed them intently.
“Should we warm up a bit?”
“Sounds good!”
They seemed to notice her gaze and suddenly began sparring. Since Dairun Fortress still had plenty of beginners, it appeared to be a form of recruitment.
—Clang!
Steel collided, producing a sharp, ringing sound.
Soon, blades began exchanging at rapid speed.
The two knights repeated crossing parries and retreats, engaging in fierce offensive and defensive maneuvers.
Their nimble movements, each pressing the other, were dynamic and captivating.
—Tap, tap, tap!
The sound of blade striking blade rang out satisfyingly.
Occasionally, steel scraped against armor.
Sweat beaded on foreheads, and ragged breathing escaped their lips.
“This level of skill isn’t enough!”
“It’s not over yet!”
To Ye-jin’s eyes, their dialogue was awkward at best—a sparring match where the coordination was painfully obvious, and most onlookers had clearly caught on that this was a promotional display. Yet, setting that aside, the actual swordplay itself was reasonably impressive.
In fact, some of the beginners watching were becoming captivated by their blade work.
With breathless exchanges of dialogue, the speed of their attacks intensified.
Feints and true strikes, deceptions and genuine blows—their swordplay gleamed brilliantly. Neither yielded an inch.
“Wow, look at that!”
“Who’s going to win?”
As the crowd began responding enthusiastically, cheers and shouts of encouragement erupted.
The clashing of blades fueled the excitement further.
Eventually, one knight succeeded in knocking away the other’s weapon.
The disarmed knight raised both hands in surrender.
“Ah! I concede. But you’re strong! Which guild do you belong to?”
“I belong to the White Guild…”
As the two began their farce—both from the same guild yet asking about affiliation—Ye-jin turned her gaze away.
‘They’re strong, but…’
Ye-jin murmured to herself, recalling the duel she’d just witnessed.
They were undoubtedly strong. They were certainly higher level than her. The fact that the White Guild had sent them for promotion meant they were at least in the mid-30s level range.
But they seemed weaker than Jae-beom.
Weaker than Jae-beom, who had only just reached level 21. Even as she thought it was absurd, she couldn’t shake the feeling.
—Ding.
Then it happened.
“All done.”
The shop door opened, and Jae-beom stepped outside. Ye-jin turned at the sound of his voice coming from behind her.
“…!”
The moment she saw his face, her eyes widened.
“Wow.”
He had never been ugly to begin with, but now he was absolutely striking.
Even Ye-jin, who as a top model had seen countless handsome men, couldn’t tear her eyes away from his appearance.
Upon seeing him, she spoke in a trembling voice.
“What are you… I mean… are you actually an idiot…?”
Someone worried about their face being recognized, yet they go and get cosmetic surgery with such striking features—what were they thinking?
I found myself seriously considering whether I should just grab a bow and claw at that face myself.

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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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