TRGBH 09

Chapter 9

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[Stage 15 cleared successfully.]

[Reward will be given.]

“Good grief, that was hard. You idiot, since this was going to happen anyway, you could have just let yourself get caught quietly. It would have been better for both of us.”

“Moo.”

The huge Minotaur, which had been outside the arena, lowered its head at my scolding.

I looked bitterly at the Stone Golem, which had been completely wrecked. The golem, which had been the gatekeeper of Stage 13, was lying on the ground in pieces after the battle that had just taken place.

Since I was going to part with it soon anyway, I suppose I should be thankful…

“Are you okay?”

I asked the Blood Wolf, the Stage 14 gatekeeper, which was lying beside me with its tail curled into a circle.

“Pant, pant…”

It had been licking the wound on its hind leg, but when it heard my voice, it quickly raised its head. Then it stuck out its tongue, looking exhausted.

Even at a glance, the wound didn’t look minor. Unable to hold back my anger, I complained to the Minotaur again.

“Look at that! What are you going to do about it?! How is it supposed to fight properly like that?!”

“Moo…”

The Minotaur lowered its head, and eventually, it flopped down onto the ground. Somehow, its appearance looked so solemn that my anger faded as if someone had poured cold water over me.

Right. What good would blaming it do? It had probably just been doing its best to fulfill the role it had been given.

Anyway, I was a little worried about things going forward like this.

The higher the stages went, the more noticeably the gatekeepers’ combat power increased.

I had no idea what kind of monster would be waiting at Stage 16, but I wasn’t confident that I could get through it smoothly with my current combat power alone.

I hoped the reward would at least be something useful…

I licked my lips as I looked at the black chest placed in the center of the arena.

Except for the System Pouches I had obtained at Stages 1 and 10, all the rewards I had received so far had been Purified Red Fruits and Magic Orbs. Of course, the 10% Trait Experience given at every stage was by far the most valuable reward I could obtain from this stage.

Still, I was starting to think that it would be nice if I could get at least one reward that would directly help me in battle.

‘This is the reward for Stage 15. Five is a number that naturally makes you expect something special. Please, let there be something good.’

With secret expectations, I reached toward the chest.

Suddenly, I remembered what my grandfather had said.

—The more you empty yourself, the more you will be filled. The more you give, the more will return to you.

Ah, but Grandpa…?

Whether I emptied my heart or not, isn’t the reward inside the chest already decided?

If the cat inside the box lived or died depending on the mindset of the scientist watching it from beside the box, that scientist would have a truly painful time.

Anyway, I opened the chest.

Huh…?

[Stone of Trait]

┕ Grants an additional trait to an Awakened.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

I shouted in joy with my head still inside the chest. Startled by the noise, the Blood Wolf hurried over to me. Then it stuck its head out and looked inside the chest.

They were curious too.

I took the Stone of Trait out of the chest and held it high above my head.

“The Stone of Trait came out!!”

“…?”

“…?”

Yeah, of course, you guys have no idea what this is.

But I wanted to share this happiness with you anyway.

“It’s really good! It’s just good! It’s definitely good! Let’s all shout together!!”

“MOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“AWWOOOOOOOOOO!”

“WOOOOOOOOOO!”

This wasn’t me making a big deal out of nothing. I wasn’t exaggerating.

I actually got a Stone of Trait!

Grandpa, I got a Stone of Trait!

In my previous life, I had never even seen a Stone of Trait in person, let alone used one. A Stone of Trait was an extremely valuable and rare item that even a B-rank Hunter couldn’t dare to dream of obtaining.

As its description said, the Stone of Trait was a treasure that granted an Awakened another trait.

Didn’t I tell you?

An Awakened was a trait wearing the skin of a human.

And with this stone, I could obtain one more trait, something that could be called the very essence of an Awakened.

“Phew…”

My excitement suddenly cooled down.

It wasn’t over yet. In fact, one could say that this was where the real beginning started.

The most important thing was what kind of trait I would obtain.

It was as if Schrödinger had opened the box, only to find another box inside instead of a cat. I still didn’t know whether the cat was alive or dead.

‘Oh, God. Don’t give me more or less than I need. Please, just give me a decent mid-to-high-grade trait.’

…No, wait.

Wasn’t that too modest?

With things going this well, couldn’t I get a top-grade trait? Like Lee Hasol’s Flame Summoner or Sajeil’s Blood Sword?

If I got a trait of that level, I could conquer the world.

“Hehehe.”

Lost in happy thoughts, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Perhaps because of that, the Blood Wolf came over and rubbed its head against my body as if trying to act cute.

“Yeah, yeah. Thanks for cheering me on. I’m sure an amazing trait will come out. Of course it will.”

Gacha was all about momentum.

I didn’t hesitate.

[Would you like to use the Stone of Trait?]

[Yes / No]

Let’s go, Kim Daram.

Let’s conquer the world!

“Yes.”

The Stone of Trait in my hand became surrounded by a faint blue light. Soon, it disappeared as if being absorbed into my body.

I summoned my status window and slowly closed my eyes.

Then I suddenly opened them.

——————————

【Kim Daram】

【Level】: 1

【Traits】

┕ [Manipulation] Puppet (LV 2)

┕ [Special] System Observer (LV 2)

┕ [Summoning] Tentacle (LV 1) New!

【Corruption Rate】: 0%

【Ranking】: Below Standard

【Performance Score】: 55,000

——————————

“…Tentacle.”

Tentacle…?

If Schrödinger had opened the box only to find that the cat was nowhere to be seen and a random octopus was wriggling inside instead, wouldn’t that be exactly how I felt right now?

Even worse, this was a trait I already knew about.

As far as I remembered, the New Zealand Hunter I had met in my previous life possessed this very Tentacle trait. Unfortunately, he was torn apart and killed while clearing a ‘Danger’ grade stage together with me.

Even in that life-or-death moment, I had watched him and thought that it was truly a death fitting for his trait.

At the same time, I had also thought that if he had possessed a higher-grade trait instead of ‘Tentacle,’ he might have been able to avoid such a gruesome end.

In other words, this wasn’t exactly a trait I wanted.

Damn it.

Had the god of gacha really abandoned me?

Grandpa, are you watching?

If I had emptied my heart and opened the chest, would the result have been different?

Was all of this because of the dark greed curled up inside my heart?

But what was done was done.

There was no way to turn it back.

‘Well, I suppose it’s still better than having nothing.’

Come to think of it, that New Zealand Awakened from my previous life had often used his tentacles to skillfully pick up objects from far away.

‘It did look convenient.’

Who am I?

The master of positivity, the genius of rationalization—Kim Daram!

No matter how difficult things became in my previous life, I overcame them through positive mental control and rationalization.

…Still, it hurt.

I continued looking at my status window with regret, unable to let go of my disappointment.

Then, suddenly, I noticed the two words written before ‘Tentacle.’

【Traits】

┕ [Manipulation] Puppet (LV 2)

┕ [Special] System Observer (LV 2)

┕ [Summoning] Tentacle (LV 1) New!

Summoning?

The Tentacle trait wasn’t an Evolution-type trait but a Summoning-type trait?

No.

As far as I remembered, the Tentacle trait possessed by that New Zealand Awakened in my previous life was definitely an Evolution-type trait.

But mine was a Summoning-type?

Only then did I check my Performance Score.

‘55,000 points!’

My Performance Score had increased by a whopping 15,000 points after obtaining the Tentacle trait.

Considering that Sajeil’s Performance Score with his Blood Sword trait was 19,000, this was an extremely high number.

Judging only by the score, it was almost on the level of a top-grade trait.

Goosebumps rose on my arms.

My mind suddenly became clear.

I hurriedly checked the skill of the Tentacle trait.

[Tentacle Transformation]

┕ Transforms the body into tentacles.

Transforms the body into tentacles…?

Is that all?

The explanation was extremely unhelpful.

For now, I decided to use the skill myself.

[Transforming the body into tentacles. Please select the body part to transform.]

“Select the body part to transform?”

I didn’t think for long.

Anyone would have made the same choice as me.

“Left hand.”

[Beginning Tentacle Transformation. This skill is applied passively, and once a body part has been designated, it cannot be changed. Thank you.]

What the hell?!

Why are you saying thank you?!

You should have told me such important information before I made the choice!

Don’t tell me I’ll have to live with a tentacle for a left hand for the rest of my life?

No, that can’t happen…

I had only just repaired my relationship with Mom.

There was no way I could go home with a tentacle for a left hand.

What would Mom say?

With a nervous heart, I stared at my left hand, expecting it to turn into something hideous at any moment.

But even as time passed, nothing changed.

[Tentacle Transformation]

┕ Applied Area (Permanent): Left Hand

Instead, the wording on my status window had changed.

Ohhh.

Then this must mean it was variable Tentacle Transformation.

I let out a sigh of relief.

Simply put, variable Tentacle Transformation meant that, according to the Awakened’s will, the body part could transform into a tentacle and then return to normal.

Thank goodness.

I had just narrowly escaped being disowned by my mother.

I stretched out my left hand and tried Tentacle Transformation.

Sure enough, my five fingers stretched out long and began dancing strangely in the air.

Kiha—my 20 years as a Hunter hadn’t been for nothing.

Being able to use a Trait skill this smoothly on the first try wasn’t something an ordinary person could do.

I gathered the five tentacles that had been moving freely in the air into one thick, twisted strand and slammed it down toward the arena floor with all my strength.

Thud!

A dull sound rang out, like a giant hitting a punching bag.

However, the arena floor didn’t crack, nor did the stone get deeply gouged.

In terms of physical power, it didn’t seem very strong.

The good thing was that the sense of pain coming from the transformed area was faint.

Even though it had made quite a loud sound, all I felt was a dull sensation.

It was still too early to be disappointed.

There was no way a skill worth 15,000 Performance Score could end with just this.

There had to be some other ability hidden within it.

Well, that was what I hoped, anyway.

In any case, there wasn’t much time left.

The time limit for Stage 15 was nearing its end.

First, I should clear Stage 16 and then investigate it in more detail.

But…

Could I clear Stage 16?

---

[Entering Stage 16.]

[If even one of the following three conditions is met—the gatekeeper dies, the gatekeeper is judged to have left the arena, or the time limit expires—you will proceed to the next stage.]

[START]

[60:00]

[59:59]

[59:58]

I quickly checked the status window of the newly appeared gatekeeper.

——————————

【Steel-Scaled Lizardman】

【Level】: 32

【Performance Score】: 40,000

——————————

‘Level 32? Performance Score 40,000? That’s impossible. It suddenly jumped three times higher than the previous stage?’

Although my Performance Score was 55,000, that score had to be viewed as being based on the potential of the traits I possessed.

On the other hand, the Steel-Scaled Lizardman’s Performance Score was most likely a number derived from its pure combat power.

I took my eyes off the status window and watched the Lizardman that had appeared at the edge of the arena.

Its size was similar to that of an adult human.

It seemed to possess a certain level of intelligence, as it held a sword and shield that a human might use.

The creature looked around as if it were a stranger who had suddenly been dropped into an unfamiliar land.

Then it suddenly turned its head and stared directly at me.

The Lizardman’s pupils became filled with a blue light and narrowed into thin vertical slits.

At that moment, I instinctively realized it.

‘Ah. Shit.’

The Steel-Scaled Lizardman moved.

I had only blinked once, but the Lizardman was already right in front of my nose.

It didn’t seem to care about the Blood Wolf beside me at all.

Its eerie gaze, filled with blue light, was fixed solely on me.

Dangerous.

Extremely dangerous.

The Minotaur was only now climbing into the arena from outside.

At least the Blood Wolf, with its sharp senses, reacted to the enemy’s killing intent and flinched.

But it was too late.

Before the Blood Wolf could get in front of me, the sword raised by the Lizardman would already come crashing down.

Time slowed as if I were experiencing a flashback of my life.

‘Come to think of it, the last thing I fought in my previous life was a Lizardman too… Damn it, is this some kind of joke played by fate…?’

Unlike the thoughts spreading in every direction, the only thing I could do was instinctively raise my left hand.

At the same time, the Lizardman’s sword came crashing down toward the top of my head, intending to split me in two.

‘If I’m going to die this quickly, then why the hell did I even regress?!’

At the very moment I screamed that dying cry in my head, unable to say it out loud—

KKA-GA-GA-GANG!

A deafening roar exploded, almost tearing apart my eardrums.

And I survived.

Because I hadn’t closed my eyes in childish fear until the very last moment, I could clearly see what had blocked the attack in front of me.

It was a tentacle.

A tentacle summoned from my left hand.

Strangely, it had transformed into the shape of a shield and blocked the enemy’s sword.

Summoned?

A creature?

It was understandable to be confused by my choice of words.

But I didn’t think my choice of words was wrong.

Because dozens of unidentified eyeballs had sprouted across the inner surface of the shield, and they were looking directly at me.

The eyeballs blinked as they stared at me.

Then, about half of them suddenly moved together and shifted over to the other side.

Because of that, the Steel-Scaled Lizardman was startled and quickly pulled its sword away.

That’s right.

I didn’t know exactly what it was, but whatever was attached to my left hand was clearly something terrifying enough to make even an otherworldly monster recoil in fear.

Whatever this thing was, even a monster from another world was afraid of it.