You Will Be Blessed If You Do Good Deeds¿ - Chapter 152

"Meow meow!"
"Ugh...."

When Leo yelled at Robo, Robo made a noise like sniffing, embarrassed.
Jeong Da-jeong, who had been watching this, whispered.
"......Isn't it a bit strange to raise a dog and a cat together? They always seem to be fighting."

"They're not fighting. Leo is just thinking... hey!"
"Meow!"
Thwack!

Just as I sided with Leo, Leo slapped Roboâs nose.
Although it still looked like a kitten, its strength was no joke.
Robo, who got hit on the nose, jumped up in surprise and soon slumped down.

"Yelp...."
"Isn't this fighting?"
"......It's a scolding, a scolding."

"Meow!"
Don't eat that!
 
In reality, the reason Leo was scolding Robo instead of getting mad was obvious.

When Robo killed Margaritaâs sentinel following my orders in the dungeon, Robo didnât just eliminate the sentinel; it also absorbed its mana.
No wonder there was so much ash on Roboâs snout.
My subordinates generally subsist on mana.

So, in a situation where there was no other mana to absorb, the mana of the sentinel would have been a rare delicacy for Robo.
âItâs bound to backfire.â
I had entered the dungeon last weekend and didnât return until Wednesday.
And now it was Thursday evening.

Since returning from the dungeon, Robo had been suffering from a stomach ache.
When we were still in the dungeon, Robo seemed fine, but as soon as we got home, it started complaining about stomach pains and was whining throughout the night.
At first, I didnât know what was happening, but after checking Robo's body, I found that Margarita's mana had stayed inside Roboâs body, causing friction and pain.

My subordinates, who take animal forms, donât have human-level intellect, but they excel at sensing mana and are highly sensitive to other people's souls.
Mana is, after all, the power of the soul.
If Robo, without my assistance, recklessly absorbed the mana of a powerful mage like Margarita, it was bound to cause problems.

"Meow!"
Stupid!
 
Thatâs why Leo was mad at Robo for this.

Even though Leo seemed worried when we first came back from the dungeon, grooming Robo and staying close, as soon as Leo realized that this was Robo's own fault, Leo started getting angry.
Robo, realizing its mistake, was making pitiful, deflated sounds.
"Whine... whine...."

Still, itâs not like Robo is a puppyâit's a wolf, but now itâs acting too pitiful.
As expected, Jeong Da-jeong was taken in.
"It's so pitiful... youâre really not sick, right? Then should I give you a treat? I bought some jerky."

"That's a bad habit."
And actually, Robo doesnât avoid Jeong Da-jeong as much as it does Leo, but it doesnât eat jerky from Jeong Da-jeong recklessly either.
Anyway, Robo did something that deserved to be scolded, so I decided to leave it alone this time.

âIâm tired too.â
This time, I was definitely... exhausted.
Thanks to that, I was now slouched on the sofa once again.

Why?
âDidnât expect to be sent to work todayâ¦â
I had just finished work.

And, I had just returned from the dungeon yesterday!
While the dungeon run over the weekend was considered work, that didnât mean I got any extra days off.
It was just that I would get the weekend overtime pay, but my time off disappeared.

So, as soon as I returned to Seoul, I went straight to work as usual... After dungeon running with Shin Ji-eum and Lee Pyeong-hwa, I was finally home.
Even Lee Pyeong-hwa kept nagging me, asking why I went to the dungeon without telling her. My ears are still ringing from it.
I feel like I might die.

âMaybe if they paid more, I wouldnât mind.â
Weekend overtime pay is based on national standards, so itâs not a huge amount.
Still, the compensation was sweet.

I opened the status window again, which I had checked countless times since yesterday.
Jeong Da-on (Normal)
Potential Ability Rating: S-Class

Health: LV. 45 (Max: None)
Strength: LV. 55 (Max: None)
Mana: LV. 85 (Max: None)

Overall Level: LV. 54
 
The stats themselves were only slightly improved in health and strength.

But the important part was the next line.
Skill "Starry Covenant" acquired.
When using this skill, temporarily unlock all latent abilities.

 
âThis is it, this is it.â
For this, I had to argue with the system for so long.

Is this how office workers feel when they endure through work just to see their paycheck?
After enduring many arguments and hardships, seeing the reward I earned brought me to the verge of tears.
This time, the system had made a considerable concession.

It seems that Yu Han-ul was really nervous, thinking I might die, which made the system uneasy.
Thanks to that, I changed my mind when I saw the state of the system and initially thought about grabbing some stats.
The stats had been increasing easily due to public sentiment getting better, and I had been succeeding in silly quests like "doing good deeds" just by breathing.

Simple stat increases werenât worth it.
âUnlocking all stats.â
Just thinking about it is a sweet deal.

Even though I had reached a level where I could implement some incantation magic, there were still many frustrating parts.
After all, circles, stats... I shouldnât have to measure my level by those numbers. Thatâs not who I am.
But now, with just a skill, I could unlock all my stats!

Of course, there were a few limitations on this ridiculously overpowered skill.

This skill cannot be used against users performing the 'SAVE THE WORLD' quest.
The physical burden of unlocking stats is borne by the user, âJeong Da-on.â

 
This meant I couldnât use the skill when fighting Yu Han-ul...
Most importantly, if I recklessly used the skill, I could die due to the extreme strain it placed on my body.

âThat bastard really used his head in a pinch.â
The skill allows for stat unlocking, but what would actually happen was another story.
Letâs say I used that skill to unlock all my stats right now.

Even if I had trained a lot, my current bodyâor rather, any ordinary human bodyâwouldnât be able to last more than 10 seconds before dying on the spot.
So from the systemâs perspective, itâs handing me a skill that I canât even use properly and taking credit for it.
In other words, the system is giving me a shiny, useless gift and taking advantage of it... but.

âAll swarm intelligences are stupid.â
I know full well that I canât use the skill properly with my current body.
However.

If I accepted the conditions, it meant that I had a way to avoid it.
"Hoo... hoho..."
"Da-on, whatâs going on?!"

As I lay slouched on the sofa laughing, Jeong Da-jeong, startled, turned away from feeding Robo jerky to look at me.
"Why are you suddenly laughing by yourself...? It's scary. Was the seminar that tough?"
"No, donât worry about it."

"Donât say itâs nothing."
Jeong Da-jeong poked at the dark circles under my eyes.
I felt irritated.

"Your dark circles have dropped all the way down here."
"Go look at your face in the mirror."
My sudden few days of absence had been explained with a weekend seminar excuse, thanks to Han Jae-young. But it turned out there was no need for a lie.

Jeong Da-on was also called in for an emergency over the weekend and had been at the company all this time.
"What exactly does your company do that calls people in on weekends?"
Jeong Da-jeong looked up at the ceiling with a wistful expression.

"I think I made a wrong career choice... I shouldnât have chosen a game company..."
"Then just quit."
"I shouldnât have joined the game operations team made from spaghetti code. Even when bugs happen, we canât even touch them. All we can do is patch things together with more code... This gacha-driven, time-wasting game that just drains usersâ money and time is evil. It should disappear from this world."

The system feels a slight sympathy.
 
Where the hell does this swarm intelligence feel sympathy?
"Should I destroy it?"

"Please bear with it...."
I shook my head.
"If itâs that hard, just quit that company. You can move to a more comfortable place now."

"No, I still need to work for a year to get my severance."
"Iâll just give you that money."
Listening to her complain was getting tiresome.

I had just burned almost 1.5 billion won on this house, and Jeong Da-jeongâs severance, even if it were generous, would probably only be a few hundred thousand won.
However, Jeong Da-jeong looked horrified.
"Why would I touch your money! And I need to save money so that when Da-on wants to quit being a Hunter, she can."

"...I knew youâd say that."
I shook my head.
At that moment, the news running on the TV in the background flashed by with the caption: âS-Class Hunter, Jeong Da-onâs new heroism revealed...â

At a time like this, she thought I could quit being a Hunter?
Right, Jeong Da-jeong, you were dreaming.
Whoooosh!

That was when my phone, which had been shoved into my pocket, vibrated, and I checked the screen.
It was the call I had been waiting for.
I was exhausted, but delaying it would have been even worse.

I got up from the slouched sofa.
"I'm going out for a bit."
"Huh? Why? Are you going to buy something? Then Iâll come with you..."

"No, I have an appointment."
"...An appointment?!"
Jeong Da-jeong was startled, a beat behind.

"An appointment, with who? At this hour? Oh, a Guild person? Emergency call?"
Take a breath.
"...If I say I have an appointment, does it automatically mean itâs a Guild person?"

"Usually it does... ack, that hurts! That hurts!"
It wasnât a hard kick, but still.
I snorted and gave instructions for Leo and Robo to stay with Jeong Da-jeong before leaving the house.

"What do you want to drink?"
And the one who called me to the café near my house was...
Of course, it was Yu Han-ul.

A franchise café that wasnât too crowded, nor too empty.
The moment Yu Han-ul and I entered, whispers could be heard around us.
I saw some people discreetly pulling out cameras.

I looked at Yu Han-ul, who came back with two cups of coffee, arms crossed.
"Why did you ask to meet here? I donât think privacy is guaranteed at all."
"Well, I thought it would be more comfortable in a place where people can see. Given the current situation, itâs uncomfortable for the two of us to enter some closed space."

Just hearing that made my insides twist.
Yu Han-ul smiled as he saw my expression and said.
"And surprisingly, people donât crowd around me asking for photos. Seems itâs a bit difficult."

Now that I think about it, when Iâm alone, itâs absolute chaos, but for Yu Han-ul, not as many people seem to swarm him.
Itâs probably because heâs just too famous.
Fame can sometimes be a form of power.

While sipping my iced Americano, I stared at Yu Han-ul.
âWhat the hell is he thinking?â
Last night, right after returning from the dungeon.

Both Son Hyeong-hwa and Lee Hyun-jun immediately started questioning about the âdummy doll.â
Of course, there were all these things about humans in other dimensions and mana-absorbing monsters.
Since they were hearing these things for the first time, it was natural they would press me about it.

Especially Lee Hyun-jun, who interrogated me fiercely.
And among them, especially me.

"This reeks of suspicion, if I let this slide, Iâll be considered a fool. You came back late alone, too... What the hell are you plotting? You really need to explain it to me now."

"It wasnât just me, Yu Han-ul came back late too."
"Thatâs not the point. There are so many suspicious things...!"
"Hyun-jun, senior."

Just as the conversation was about to escalate again, Yu Han-ul blocked Lee Hyun-jun.
"Iâll explain everything later. For now... letâs all go home and rest. Weâre all too tired."
"Yu Han-ul!"

"Trust me. Iâll handle it."
"......"
If I had heard such words, Iâd have shouted that Iâd trust someone reliable, not a fool like you, but Lee Hyun-jun kept quiet.

His eyes were still filled with distrust, though...
"Okay, I trust you."
Son Hyeong-hwa tapped Yu Han-ulâs shoulder lightly.

Even Son Hyeong-hwa, his wife, stepping in like that made it hard for Lee Hyun-jun to say anything more.
âThis guy.â
And I could understand Lee Hyun-junâs position.

Honestly, if I were in Yu Han-ulâs position, Iâd have already killed me.
Itâs not just that the Earth is being attacked by Orbis.
But an unexpected being with overwhelming power has appeared, one that even he canât handle.

If I felt like it, I could commit even worse acts than Orbis.
Thatâs why the system has been trying so hard to put a collar on me.
âWouldnât it be better to kill me if thereâs a chance?â

I was even weakened from reckless incantation magic right now.
If I had been hit by the other four's attacks, it would have been hard to predict the outcome, so wasnât it foolish to miss such an opportunity?
"Then, Iâll call tomorrow."

"Itâs not going to end with a call. Come down to my place this weekend. Got it?"
But they werenât like me.
They didnât realize what opportunity they were missing, and Son Hyeong-hwa and Lee Hyun-jun left their seats.

Han Jae-young let out a sigh.
"Ah, Iâm drained. The troublesome guests are finally gone..."
"Do you have troublesome people too?"

"After living over 30 years in a society like this, you get used to it. Itâs hard to deal with older people."
"....Hyun-jun is naturally cautious. Iâll apologize on his behalf."
Yu Han-ul spoke very calmly.

If anyone else heard this, they would think that nothing at all had happened between us.
I asked Yu Han-ul.
âDonât you have something to say to me?â

Since I couldnât delay it any longer, I was ready to listen to Yu Han-ulâs thoughts.
But unexpectedly, Yu Han-ul delayed the conversation.
âYeah, but letâs talk later. Actually, Iâm okay now, but you...â

âMe?â
âYou and I both need to work tomorrow.â
Yu Han-ul looked at his watch and nodded seriously.

At that moment, I thought he was joking.
For the first time in a while, I thought Yu Han-ulâs joke was funny.
âIf we go back to Seoul now, we wonât even sleep for 2 hours before going to work.â

â...But weâve been dungeon hunting since the weekend, donât we get a break?â
âYouâll get overtime pay...â
I couldnât even complain properly to Han Jae-young, who was also wearing the same exhausted face.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than .net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
It seemed like Han Jae-young, too, had a lot of questions for me, but I let it slide.
He was just in a rush to get back to Seoul and go to work too.

âWhatâs with this substitute duty thing...!â
Shouldnât this country just collapse already?
And that "later" I delayed turned out to be today, right now.

âDid you rest and go to work yesterday?â
âDo you think 2 hours of sleep is going to make the fatigue go away?â
I couldnât even tell if Yu Han-ul had any common sense.

Now that I thought about it, the iced Americano he ordered for me was so bitter that I could even taste the salt from how many extra shots were added.
âSo, you need to build up your stamina. Even if you're a mage... hahaha.â
Yu Han-ul suddenly laughed.

âThis is exactly what I said in my past life, right?â
â......â
Maybe thatâs true.

We werenât total strangers after all.
âSo, when did you start remembering?â
I finally asked the main question.

âAfter clearing the New York dungeon.â
And Yu Han-ulâs answer was exactly what I had guessed.
I should have realized earlier when he didnât give me a clear answer and just brushed off my question back then, that it wasnât like Yu Han-ul to act that way.

âBut still, he realized way too quickly.â
I never imagined he would recall all his past life memories in just a few months.
Could it be due to the systemâs trickery?

â...Well, at least he didnât mistake me for the mastermind behind all of this. Thatâs a relief.â
But still, I had lingering questions.
â...So why didnât you kill me?â

I asked directly.
Since Yu Han-ul had regained all his memories, I figured there was no point in beating around the bush.
âIf I let you go like this...â

âWhat happens?â
Yu Han-ul asked again with a smile.
I paused for a moment and then asked.

âDo you trust the systemâs power?â
The fact that heâs this calm probably means that heâs overestimating the leash the system has placed on me.
Either way, I wanted to live as a human, so I had no choice but to be bound under some ridiculous quest with a silly name.

But if Yu Han-ul truly believes this... then...
âNo, I donât trust the system.â
â......â

âOf course, I know how to lie, but I wouldnât lie to Master or Senior Lee Hyun-jun. I said exactly what I told them.â
â...You think you can handle me?â
âIâd rather handle the consequences of trusting someone than regret not believing.â

And with that, Yu Han-ul extended his hand toward me.
âAnd maybe... this time, we might actually become friends.â