Chapter 226: City of Day (2)
“No, I’m not! My eye color is different. I have my citizen ID right here!”
“What do you mean ‘fair skin’?! This isn’t fair skin! I’m telling you, it’s not me!”
…This sandwich was pretty good. I wasn’t sure what kind of meat it was, but it had a texture similar to chicken thigh—only a bit chewier. The sweet and spicy seasoning complemented it well. The bread was surprisingly soft and moist for a store-bought product. If only the vegetables had been like the lettuce from back home, it would have been perfect.
‘I guess black hair and black eyes are rare around here.’
Hair dye was probably a thing, so I saw a few people with dark hair, but most of their eyes were blue or green. Their skin tone was also slightly darker than the average Korean’s. The part about having “fair skin and delicate features” had made me a little uncomfortable, but if it was just a relative comparison, I could accept it.
Crouching next to a roadside flowerbed, I finished my sandwich—while staying under stealth, of course.
‘The citizens here are pretty loyal.’
Maybe it was the bounty, but people were diligently checking out passersby. That fake Seong Hyunjae knew I had an S-class level stealth skill, so why did he only issue a simple wanted notice? Unless they were SS-class, it would be nearly impossible to find me.
‘Does he expect me to turn myself in since living in the city like this will be impossible?’
Or maybe he was waiting for my mana to run out. This city didn’t have mana potions, after all. However, my inventory was full of them. When I entered the dungeon with the S-classes, the only thing I could stock up on was mana potions. I should have grabbed more weapons while I was at it… A tent, a sleeping bag, too.
‘Let’s sort things out.’
To escape this place, I needed to clear the dungeon. To clear the dungeon, I needed to install five discs across different regions to establish a connection with Newbie.
The problem was that the installation sites were likely in five different cities. Each city was probably protected by a defensive wall, with monsters roaming outside. Traveling between cities required the escort of an S-class guard.
And lastly, the fake Seong Hyunjae, whom I had mistaken for the real one, had issued a bounty on me.
‘Even if I sneak to another city using my stealth skill, I have no idea how far it is.’
Considering that someone in the drama had arranged a truck, the distance was probably too great to cover on foot. I needed a vehicle.
I had to find a stealth-enhanced vehicle and get past the defense wall.
…But how the hell was I supposed to do that in my current situation?
‘They should’ve just dropped me straight into Achates City.’
I could have met up with Yuhyun right away—bam! Installed the first disc—bam! If he had taken over an SS-class guard’s body, he’d have a ton of resources, so we could have gotten a vehicle and moved from city to city, installing discs without a hitch. Since intercity communication didn’t seem impossible, it would have been easier to locate the rest of my party.
That fake Seong Hyunjae was the root of all my problems. Damn it. Where’s the real one?
Crack. I crumpled the sandwich wrapper in my hand. Fake bastard. Did he really think I’d just let myself get caught? Sure, I couldn’t do much to him, but still—
‘Just because I’m C-class doesn’t mean I’m completely helpless.’
I might not have much strength, but I had my wits and experience. The reality was that no matter how clever I was, there was an insurmountable gap between an SS-class and a C-class. Still, it wasn’t like I couldn’t put up any fight. I had already torn his sleeve, after all.
Alright, then. What should I do next?
I stood up, scanning the pedestrians.
Scattered along the city streets were public phone booths. But they weren’t ordinary booths. They also seemed to function as temporary shelters, built with thick, opaque walls and sturdy doors. And on the front of each booth, in large letters:
[City Defense Bureau Emergency Hotline: 11G]
[If you spot a monster or a suspicious Awakened during the day, please report immediately!]
It made sense to report stray monsters if any were left over from the night before, but suspicious Awakened? Was the surveillance on Awakened people stricter than I thought?
Taking advantage of a moment when no one was nearby, I slipped into the booth and shut the door. A small light automatically flickered on. The phone system consisted of a receiver, a touchscreen, and a surveillance camera. The camera could be used wirelessly—probably to allow people to record and report monsters or suspicious individuals.
I tilted the camera so it wouldn’t capture me. Then…
‘11G.’
I dialed the City Defense Bureau’s emergency number.
[Welcome to the City Defense Bureau, your friendly protectors. Please hold while we connect you to an operator.]
Were there a lot of people calling in reports because of me? After a short wait, a man’s voice answered, followed by a screen displaying an employee’s face.
“Hello, thank you for your hard work! I’ve successfully captured the C-class Awakened that Lord Sigma is looking for.”
[Excuse me? You’ve captured him?]
“Yes. I caught him safe and sound, without a single scratch.”
Yep. I was right here. Aside from my throat being a little dry from eating a sandwich without a drink, I was perfectly fine. A cold soda would be nice.
“However, it seems he tried to go into hiding—he wasn’t wearing his red earrings. So I’d like to confirm his face before we proceed.”
[Ah, a confirmation. Please hold for a moment.]
The screen went black.
There was no way anyone at the Defense Bureau knew my face aside from Sigma. Sure, I had run into a few random nobodies, but it was unlikely they would step up and claim they recognized me. They had tried to lay hands on an Awakened meant to be under Sigma’s jurisdiction, after all. Fear of retaliation would keep them quiet.
If they told me to bring the captive in without verifying anything, how should I spin it? I was running through possible excuses when—
[You gave up quicker than expected.]
A deep, weighty voice rang in my ears. At the same time, the darkened screen lit up. A familiar face. That damn fake. I hadn’t expected to be connected to him directly so soon, and for a moment, I was speechless.
[C-class.]
“…Yes, that C-class. You must have a lot of free time if you’re personally taking calls like this.”
At my words, the fake tilted his lips in a slight smirk.
[Would an experienced Awakened with an S-class stealth skill really be captured so easily?]
“It could just be a false report from someone after the bounty.”
[No guard would be reckless enough to attempt that, but I’ll verify it nonetheless. Show your face.]
“Yes, yes.”
I turned the camera toward myself as instructed. Even threw up a V-sign for good measure.
“See? You’ve confirmed it, right? The C-class you wanted, captured safe and sound. In excellent condition, too. Looks very lively, doesn’t he?”
The fake’s expression became unreadable again. Yeah, I figured. The fact that I had let myself be caught so easily must have made things boring for him. If I obediently turned myself in now, he’d probably just make use of my stealth skill and nothing more.
Creating an opening by making him lose interest wasn’t a bad option, but—
“You said I’d be joining your ranks, right?”
[For now.]
“Then I’m taking a day off.”
I had always wanted to be that guy who took a vacation right after getting hired.
“So go ahead and broadcast a correction. I’d like to enjoy my sightseeing in peace.”
[You don’t plan on using that time to escape?]
There was a faint hint of interest in his voice again.
“I’ll move around openly, without stealth, leaving a clear trail, so don’t worry. Once night falls, have my bounty money—1 billion L—ready on my card and come pick me up. Since I’m the one who caught him, the reward is mine, right?”
[Still as fearless as ever.]
“No reason to be scared. You, a world-weary SS-class, should be the one getting impatient, not me.”
Life must be so damn boring for him. If this fake was even more jaded than the real Seong Hyunjae, then predicting how much he’d tolerate from me wasn’t too hard.
“If you cooperate with me, I’ll make sure you’re properly compensated. It’ll be fun—I guarantee it.”
The golden eyes on the screen narrowed. Even though he was nowhere near me in reality, I felt a slight chill.
If I failed to meet his expectations, that bastard wouldn’t hesitate to snap my neck. Unlike a certain someone whose whereabouts I still didn’t know, this fake wouldn’t hesitate. Here, I was just a C-class with good skills and no background. If I failed to impress, he would crush me underfoot and erase me from his mind without a second thought.
[Do not disappoint me. My expectations are quite high, and if it turns out to be a dull trick, I might actually get a little… angry for once.]
“Try not to be too surprised.”
After setting the exact time and place, I ended the call.
I could afford to do this kind of reckless nonsense because I had five extra lives.
Now that everything was set, it was time to enjoy myself.
“Bring me the most expensive and delicious dish you have, please~”
I walked into a fancy-looking restaurant and took a seat. My confidence made the staff take my order without a second thought, and after a short wait, the food arrived. I also asked for a cold drink on the side.
The beverage resembled lemonade. I took a sip before starting my meal. The mystery meat practically melted in my mouth, while the flat noodles were perfectly chewy, soaking up the rich sauce. The soup had a pleasantly spicy kick, with a cool aftertaste.
I had wondered if the food here would suit my taste, but the seasoning was balanced and, most importantly, clean. Maybe it was because it was an expensive place, but it was really good. A quick glance at the menu had shown prices in the tens of thousands.
I made sure to eat all my vegetables and finished the last sip of lemonade.
As I approached the counter, the restaurant owner and staff all stared at me. Recognized me, huh?
“You’ve probably already heard the news—I’m the newly appointed C-class guard under Lord Sigma.”
“Oh, I thought so!”
“I was supposed to spend the day observing the city, but the paperwork got messed up, and the broadcast mistakenly called it an escape attempt.”
Hahaha. I laughed, and the restaurant staff followed suit, smiling. Looks like they had all seen the correction broadcast.
“Charge the bill to Lord Sigma. He told me to handle it that way. That should be fine, right?”
“Of course! If Lord Sigma placed a 1 billion L bounty on you, he must value you greatly.”
“I do have some rather unique skills. Lord Sigma personally! Extended an invitation to me.”
That wasn’t a lie. It was technically the truth.
Despite dining and dashing, I even received polite farewells from the restaurant staff, thanking me for ensuring the city’s safety.
Now that I was full, the next step was—
“Charge it to Lord Sigma, please!”
With just those few words, I managed to secure a stay in the most luxurious suite of a high-end hotel.
As much as I wanted to sprawl out and relax, I forced myself to wash up, brush my teeth, and pack a toothbrush, toothpaste, and other essentials—my body was real, so I had to take care of it properly.
I felt a bit melancholic, wondering when I’d next get to enjoy a warm bath. With a sigh, I stepped out onto the streets again and flagged down a car that seemed to be a taxi. Once again, I charged the fare to Lord Sigma. Sigma was starting to grow on me.
My destination was a department store for guards, similar to a Hunter’s Market. They sold inventory-compatible items and various pieces of gear.
As soon as I walked in, both the staff and the guards shopping inside turned to look at me. I grinned brightly at their curious stares.
“Hello~! I’m the newly appointed C-class guard under Lord Sigma! The very same C-class you saw on the broadcast!”
Hi, everyone. Hello, hello.
One of the staff members quickly approached and bowed.
“Welcome. What are you looking for today?”
“Well, I just started my work as a guard, so I’d like to browse as many different types of equipment as possible. Could you recommend some of the higher-ranked gear? Oh, and charge everything to Lord Sigma. He told me to shop freely and get whatever I needed.”
“Yes, understood. Please follow me.”
The staff member courteously guided me deeper into the department store. I sat in a VIP lounge, heart pounding with excitement, and flipped through a product catalog.
Some items were similar to what I knew from my world, but most were entirely new. Unfortunately, just like back home, they didn’t sell S-class or higher equipment to the general public. However, S-class items that weren’t weapons or armor were available.
Ignoring the price tags, I focused on performance.
“What’s this ‘Inside Bag’?”
Why was a mere bag labeled as S-class?
“It’s a bag that reduces the volume and weight of stored items. It can hold up to five times its apparent capacity, and its contents will weigh only one-fifth of their original weight. It’s very popular since it can store both magic-infused items and everyday goods. However, when filled with non-magical items, it cannot be placed inside an inventory.”
They were down to the last one and highly recommended it. Wow, they had stuff like this here? Could I take this back home? I wanted it.
I immediately bought the bag—an absolute favorite among high-ranking guards—for a whopping 50 million L. That was about 6 billion won in Korean money. Naturally, Sigma was covering the bill.
“Show me your best daggers, too.”
A lineup of A-class knives was laid out before me. There were five, each with different effects and designs. I took them all. Another few tens of millions of L vanished in an instant.
I also bought a higher-grade wire, a sleeping bag instead of a tent (considering inventory space), and a trap package. My bounty money had long since run out, but whatever.
“You sell guard uniforms too, right?”
Since guards were primarily active at night, most of the clothing was in dark colors. Just in case, I bought a full set, along with matching shoes and gloves.
And a few more things—filling my inventory nearly to its limit, leaving only a little space.
I wasn’t sure of the exact total, but I had probably spent several billion won by now.
At that moment, a message window popped up.
[☆★ Hidden Quest Achieved!! ☆★]
A hidden quest?
I slipped into the restroom to check my quest log. Not just one—two quests had been completed.
[You Are the Emperor of Shopping!]
Spending 100 million L on shopping within an hour—congratulations, you are a true shopaholic!
Reward: 100,000P, S-class Points Shop Exchange Ticket
[If You’re Going to Scam, Go Big^▼^]
If you’re going to commit fraud, do it grandly! You swindled billions using someone else’s name—impressive! But you might want to watch your back.
Reward: 100,000P, Fake ID, Golden Wildcat’s Boots
Holy shit, what was all this?! Sigma, thank you. I love you. All hail quests!
I immediately claimed the Emperor of Shopping reward first. 100,000 points were nice, but the S-class Points Shop Exchange Ticket was the real prize. S-class items started at a minimum of 10 million points, and this ticket let me pick anything. Ah, my heart was racing. Did SS-class exchange tickets exist too? Just thinking about it made my pulse quicken.
Next, I claimed the Big-Time Fraud reward. Another 100,000 points, plus a fake ID and Golden Wildcat’s Boots.
[Fake ID]
Allows the owner to register any identity of their choosing. Has a chance of being detected by individuals with S-class or higher stats and related special skills.
This was great. Even if the overall average ranking in this world was higher than back home, S-class individuals wouldn’t be that common. Regular institutions and city gatekeepers were probably A-class or lower.
Thank you! I’ll continue scamming diligently. Could I take this back to my world? Please let me.
The Golden Wildcat’s Boots, despite their name, were sleek black combat boots. The “golden” part?
‘…The soles are gold.’
Was this like… cat paw pads? I suddenly missed Peace.
The Golden Wildcat’s Boots, like the Black Wildcat’s Jacket, focused on agility-based stats. Their special skill was Agile Suction—allowing the wearer to walk on vertical surfaces as if they were flat ground, even on ceilings.
‘…Could this be a set item?’
Two pieces could have been a coincidence, but getting a third made me suspicious. Were there gloves, bracelets, necklaces—more in the Wildcat series? Would I get a set bonus if I collected them all?
Since these S-class boots were better than the new shoes I had just bought, I switched into them immediately. I had worried that the golden soles would stand out too much, but the moment I put them on, they turned black. Made sense—gear specialized for stealth wouldn’t exactly work if it was flashing gold.
‘Got tons of shopping done~ Even scored S-class gear~’
And with the addition of the points shop exchange ticket, that made two. I decided to save the ticket for now—I’d use it to buy something useful for Yuhyun or Yerim later.
Feeling completely satisfied, I left the guard department store, warmly sending off the staff who bowed as I exited. Then, I grabbed another taxi and headed toward the outskirts of the city.
The closer we got to the city’s edge, the more rundown the streets became. After a long drive, a towering defense wall finally came into view. It was impossibly high—far too tall for even an S-class Awakened to leap over in a single bound. At regular intervals, surveillance towers equipped with large-scale weapons were positioned along the wall.
“This area is dangerous. You shouldn’t wander around alone.”
The taxi driver warned me with a concerned expression. He had been reluctant to bring me here in the first place. Apparently, flying monsters occasionally managed to get over the wall, so only the extremely poor lived in this part of the city.
I dismissed the taxi and walked toward the entrance of a watchtower. A B-class guard stationed at the entrance glanced at me.
“Hello, Lord Sigma recommended that I visit the defense wall. Would it be alright if I took a quick look around?”
“Of course. Please, come this way.”
Since I was supposedly under the great Lord Sigma’s command, even a C-class like me was treated with kindness.
Following the B-class guard, I took the elevator up to the top of the watchtower. I stepped up to the circular windows that lined the observation deck.
Stretching endlessly before me was barren wasteland, with sparse forests scattered in the distance. There were no signs of other cities anywhere in sight.
The view was bleak—like a city stranded in the middle of a desert, surrounded by nothing but emptiness.
‘Yuhyun, getting to you is going to be a real pain.’
But just hang in there a little longer.
Hyung is coming to find you soon.