WeTried Translations

Translator: Joy

Editor: Joy

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◈ Damned Transmigration

Chapter 15

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The 3 Billion Sel Man (1)

Yuri had a dream.

He was back in his cramped studio flat after finishing a late shift at his part-time job.

He’d hastily boiled some ramen, taken a quick shower, and sat down at his computer. The first thing he did was launch Seronis. Then he opened the overseas community forum.

Hardly anyone posted there anymore.

A few newbies trickled in now and then, but the site was on life support, and they usually left after a short while, or deleted the game entirely.

Still, Su-hyeok logged in every single day.

He rarely posted, but his ID, UrMumSpammer, marked him as a veteran, one of the last true old hands of Seronis. He even stubbornly kept his Korean username on this international site.

The reason he no longer posted much was simple. Most of the players he had met, chatted with, and traded information with over the years had long since moved on.

Naturally, he had become more of a lurker, commenting here and there rather than writing new threads.

His main role was to answer questions whenever a promising newbie asked something worth his time.

After skimming the new posts, he checked Seronis’s only competitive feature: the Hall of Honour.

‘Looks like this bastard’s about to hit number one.’

The guy had been stuck at fifth place for more than six months, but today he had finally clawed his way to second.

He must have had some kind of breakthrough, either refining his build or abandoning it entirely for a new one.

‘Perfect.’

Su-hyeok’s lips curled.

‘I should post my score before he makes it to first.’

They were both scrabbling for the top, but Su-hyeok could claim it whenever he liked.

His build was already perfectly optimised. He could take first place in the Hall of Honour at any time. At this point, he was shaving seconds off his clear time that only luck could improve.

Just yesterday, he had maxed out his character’s stats and unlocked the path to the hidden boss.

He was confident he could clear it in his sleep.

Of course, a streak of critical hits or rotten luck could still kill him instantly, but he had prepared the best countermeasures possible.

“Nope. You don’t get to be number one.”

‘Wouldn’t that guy throw a fit when the leaderboard updated with a score he could never touch?’

Su-hyeok grinned foolishly at the thought.

“Ah, for fuck’s sake…”

He woke.

Yuri covered his eyes with a hand, recalling the dream.

‘I shouldn’t have done it. I should’ve just let him have first place…!’

A wave of regret for his past actions washed over him.

‘That poor bastard probably has no idea I’m his saviour.’

Yuri let out a heavy sigh and rose from bed.

The mattress Elena had bought him a few days ago was wide enough for two to roll around in, and unlike the one back in Oldor, it didn’t creak with every shift of weight.

It wasn’t just the bed.

The once-empty room was now furnished with all manner of things, every piece bought by Elena. Even the pyjamas on his back were her doing.

Yuri stepped off the mattress and sat cross-legged on the thick, plush carpet.

Despite the nightmare, his body had woken at its usual time: five in the morning. He glanced at the still-dark window, then pulled back the curtains.

Five days had already passed since he had come here.

At first, he’d bristled at the idea of sharing a roof with Elena, but in practice, it wasn’t inconvenient in the least. In truth, it was far more comfortable than life alone in Oldor.

The main reason was simple, Elena was hardly ever at home.

She rose at eight sharp each morning, ate, got herself ready, and left for the Dersia Mage Tower before ten, returning around seven in the evening.

While she was away, Yuri looked after the house.

Not that there was much to do, as cleaning and laundry were handled by magic, so his duties mostly came down to cooking with whatever was in the pantry.

‘For breakfast, I’ll heat up yesterday’s stew, and fry some bacon…’

Closing his eyes, he pictured the meal.

Morning, noon, and before bed. Three times a day, without fail, he cultivated his internal energy through Regulating Ki.

The results gave him a quiet pride. He could tell no one, but to him, it was a treasure.

And today, that treasure would grow even more.

At the dining table, Elena looked far too composed for someone who had just woken.

She dipped her bread into the stew and spoke casually.

“I’m staying home today.”

“Why?” Yuri asked, pausing mid-bite.

“Namgung Jin is coming. If I leave you here alone, there’s a chance the same thing could happen again.”

“After what he went through? He wouldn’t dare.”

“You never know. Oh, and don’t bother preparing lunch or dinner.”

She smiled blissfully as she popped the stew-soaked bread into her mouth.

Once, she had made the occasional attempt at cooking, but since Yuri moved in, she’d abandoned the effort entirely.

“Why not?” he asked.

“We’re going out.”

“Me too?”

“We’re going to buy things for you, so of course you’re coming.”

“But we’ve already bought everything I need. What else is left?”

“Martial arts.” Elena spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“The Le Seyun Auction House is open today. We’ll use the apology money to buy you manuals.”

Yuri froze with his spoon halfway to his mouth. Elena tilted her head.

“What are you staring at?”

“You’re using the compensation money… for me?”

“Yes. I don’t know how much Namgung Jin will give, but it won’t be a small amount. If we spend it all, we can get every technique you need. If it’s still not enough, I’ll add from my own savings.”

“…That’s…”

He was at a loss. Gratitude, yes, but wasn’t this far too much?

“Isn’t it excessive to use all of it on me?”

“What’s excessive? It’s your compensation, so it should go to you. Or did you think I’d pocket it?”

“That’s not what I thought.”

“I’ve already borrowed an entry pass to Le Seyun from the Tower Master. I’ve told Haryeong we’re going. Even if you protest, we’re absolutely going today.”

Her tone left no room for argument. Yuri set his spoon down with a small sigh.

“…Can I call you Nuna, then? Or maybe Lady Elena? Miss Elena?”

“What? What’s with the creepiness?”

Her mouth twitched despite her best effort to keep her expression stern.

“And about the Azure Heaven Pills,” she went on, forcing the conversation elsewhere.

“You and I will take one each. The last one… hm, what should we do with it?”

“You should have two, my lady.”

“A-hem… let’s save one. Whoever needs it later, whether you or me, can use it. That’s fair, isn’t it?”

“Of course.”

“Stop talking like that. It’s creepy.”

The more openly he played along, the less she seemed able to stand it.

After the meal, Yuri fetched some books from the study.

<Basics of Magic>

<Easy and Quick Guide to Common Magic Vol. 1, by Arsen Lucionell>

He’d already read them in the carriage, but he went over them again and again.

Mages did not cultivate mana with methods or heart techniques as martial artists did. Instead, they studied formulae and drew on the mana of the world.

By repeating this process, their affinity grew, and their soul slowly became a vessel that could hold mana. Only then could one claim the title of 2nd-Circle mage.

Talent in mana affinity; this was the mage’s true gift.

“Arsen Lucionell,” Yuri asked absently as he memorised a formula.

“Have you ever met him?”

“Once, when I was a child,” Elena answered, lowering her book.

“I was about thirteen, desperate to reach the 3rd Circle, and clinging to common magic. Lord Arsen visited the Dersia Mage Tower, and he gave me a great deal of advice then.”

Her gaze drifted towards him.

“Why? Do you want to meet him too?”

“He’s not the sort of person one can meet just by wanting to, is he?”

“True. As far as I know, he’s not even at the Lucionell Mage Tower anymore.”

Their conversation was cut short by Haryeong’s arrival.

She looked between the two of them, each lounging with a book, and sighed deeply.

“My, what a carefree life you two lead.”

“Why pick a fight the moment you walk in?” Elena asked flatly.

“I’m not fighting, just making an observation. So, no physical training today?”

By contract, Yuri now trained under Haryeong.

At first, she had grumbled that being a combat instructor was outside a bodyguard’s duties, but the size of the advance payment had changed her mind quickly enough.

“You don’t need to,” Elena said.

“We’ll be heading out soon.”

“Lord Yuri is such a rewarding student. It’s truly a pity I won’t get to enjoy teaching him today. A real shame.”

Her expression betrayed no such pity.

“He’s a good student, then?” Elena asked.

“Just as Lady Orca said, he has a knack for martial arts. He’s learning faster than I expected.”

At that, Elena’s lips pushed into a small pout. She would rather Yuri chose the path of a mage, so Haryeong’s praise left her less than pleased.

“Do you dislike me learning martial arts instead of magic?” Yuri asked.

“Who said I disliked it?”

“Your face says it.”

“What’s wrong with my face?”

She hastily smoothed her expression.

When Namgung Jin arrived around noon, he wasn’t allowed inside. He stood in the garden, the very place he had knelt before, and offered a large bag with both hands.

“About that day… I am truly sorry.”

Though only five days had passed, he looked years older. His face was drawn, his eyes shadowed with sleeplessness.

Elena sighed, took the bag, and gave her reply.

“Rest assured, Young Master Namgung Jin, your mistake will not be pursued.”

“Did the Tower Master… say anything more?”

“No.”

At that, a flicker of relief softened his features. He lingered, gaze heavy on her face.

“Do you need something else?” Her voice chilled.

“…No.”

He shook his head and swallowed a sigh of regret.

* * *

“One billion sel! Good heavens, good heavens!”

Haryeong was still raving in the carriage, as if unable to believe it.

That money couldn’t have come from the family vault; it had to be Namgung Jin’s personal fortune.

“As expected of the fourth young master of the Namgung clan. Generous indeed. And three Azure Heaven Pills as well? In market terms, that’s three billion sel at the very least.”

Murmuring to herself, she clapped suddenly and grinned at Yuri.

“Magnificent! Lord Yuri, the three-billion-sel man! Countless lads come to Rutlan from the countryside chasing fame and fortune, but you must be the only one to earn three billion sel within days of arrival.”

“Stop teasing me.”

“Teasing? What teasing? I am entirely sincere.”

Even Elena hadn’t expected such a large sum.

‘I thought a hundred million, at most…’

For Namgung Jin to part with a billion proved how shaken he was by what had happened.

“I had planned on first-rate techniques, but with a budget like this…” Haryeong crossed her arms in thought.

“A heart method is essential, as is footwork. A light body technique can wait. What about weapons? If you want a sword, we’ll need a sword style. If a spear, a spear style.”

“I don’t plan on using weapons.” Yuri, no less startled by the fortune, did not let it show.

“I prefer bare-handed fighting. Buying a weapon style feels wasteful.”

“To be honest, I’d recommend a sword or a spear,” Haryeong said.

“Why?”

“The debate over which is king, sword or spear, has gone on for generations. Both have great strengths and few weaknesses. And they’re common enough that manuals are abundant.”

“What about fists?”

“The road is harsh. No matter how hard you train them, fists are at a disadvantage against blades. A broken weapon can be replaced. A broken fist is far worse.”

Her reasoning was sound.

“That’s why martial fighters combine fist arts with external techniques. Think of Iron Sand Palm: striking heated sand until the skin hardens, turning the hand itself into a blade’s match.”

Elena glanced down at her hands, then at Yuri’s.

“That doesn’t sound like it has any advantages. Why not just use a sword or spear? Later you could even wield an enchanted weapon.”

“It does have advantages,” Haryeong said.

“A martial fighter at mastery is terrifying. From an assassin’s point of view, killing one is far harder than killing a swordsman of equal rank.”

Her eyes sharpened.

“A swordsman tempers his body, yes, but not to the degree of a martial fighter who gambles life and death with nothing but his own flesh.”

“Once they reach the 4th Circle and their internal energy gains an attribute, even their fists cut like blades. Their very body becomes a weapon, and blades cannot pierce them.”

The 4th Circle wasn’t easily attained.

It had taken Elena, praised as a prodigy by Heavenly Thunder Orca herself, ten years to reach.

‘How long will it take me?’

Yuri felt certain he would be faster, though how much faster, he couldn’t say.

The carriage stopped.

Le Seyun.

Stepping out, Yuri was struck by the grandeur of the casino-like building. It was run directly by the Ascard family, the true rulers of Rutlan.

Here, elixirs, artefacts, manuals, and grimoires were bought and sold. At the exclusive auctions, even supreme martial studies and forbidden texts went under the hammer.

Underground, rumours whispered of secret arts from mage towers, clans, and noble houses being traded, but such things carried impossible prices and grave risks.

The manuals Yuri and Elena sought, at least, were of the legitimate kind: techniques safe to purchase and practise without fear of repercussions.

“The three-billion-sel man arrives,” Haryeong muttered as they approached the opulent doors of Le Seyun.

“Will you shut it?”

Yuri muttered back, his face twisting, while Elena laughed behind her hand.

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