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Chapter19
‘Why does he have so much stuff?’
The trembling researcher in front of Jang Su-nam revealed quite the haul of items.
“T-This is everything. I swear, this is all I stole.”
At that, it made sense.
‘Ah, just a petty thief, huh?’
When Hunters enraged by Baekui’s authority stormed in, it was natural that someone inside would turn traitor.
“There wasn’t much in the vault anyway. This is really it.”
Su-nam didn’t particularly doubt him. In fact, he admired the thief’s ability to loot Pi Gwang-seok’s vault.
“Go.”
“Th-thank you for sparing me.”
Golden Thief bolted away in just his undergarments.
‘Soon enough, he’ll reappear as Golden Goblin, I bet.’
From past regressions, Su-nam knew leaving such thieves alone often paid off.
“With Absolute Map, I can raid their hideouts regularly. The profits are pretty sweet.”
Fortune seemed to follow good deeds.
Among the spoils: dozens of miscellaneous items, a Baekui robe, three gear enhancement stones, and two skill enhancement stones.
A bright grin spread across Su-nam’s face.
Since his inventory was limitless, he packed it all away without hesitation.
‘Glad I unlocked the Skin feature.’
He used the skin system to hide his actual gear and donned the Baekui uniform. Then, he tried summoning Aria through Mini Ha-il.
But—
“Sub-Master Aria is currently engaged in battle.”
That response was unexpected.
“Is it dangerous?”
“No, it is not.”
If Ha-il judged so, it meant there was truly nothing to worry about.
“The Sub-Master is facing an opponent suitable for training and is taking her time.”
“I see.”
If there had been real danger, Ha-il would have opened a portal and pulled Aria out instantly.
No need to worry—though, pretending not to care would’ve been a lie.
“Then connect me to another NPC who can open portals.”
“Summoning Domael Dezar.”
A portal opened, and the elf Domael stepped out gracefully.
“It’s good to see you again.”
Su-nam nodded lightly.
“I need equipment enhancements.”
“Yes, I’ll open the system.”
He moved through the shop interface with ease:
-
<Mind & Body Training> (S) → +3
-
<Old Summoning Ring> (F+) → +3
With Ha-il and the other summons now boosted by both <Phantasmal Summon> (EX+)+3 and the upgraded ring, their power soared.
‘At this level, no opponent of similar rank could beat us outright.’
The Hunters fighting Aria were likely panicking at Ha-il’s sudden surge in strength.
“Good. Stay on standby; I’ll need more soon.”
“Of course, leave it to me.”
The elf bowed as the portal closed.
Su-nam had narrowed the gap with Pi Gwang-seok, though unease still lingered.
‘If only there were another way to power up even more…’
Just then—
[The Fortune of Extremes has activated.]
“Master, I brought you something good, nya.”
Light feline steps approached—Jelly appeared.
‘That system alert… something’s up.’
At Su-nam’s feet, Jelly morphed swiftly into the form of a Baekui female officer.
“This is it, nya.”
<Summon Enhancement Elixir> (F+)
┗ Permanently strengthens traits of summons F+ rank and below.
A rare find indeed—likely scavenged from the fallen near the battlefield’s entrance.
Jelly handed over clinking coins as proof.
[You have obtained 1,043 coins.]
Thanks to Jelly’s shapeshifting, she excelled at scooping up loot and coins from corpses.
‘Perfect for farming, huh?’
His funds now totaled around 17,000 coins.
“How about it, nya? Don’t you think I’m the best one to use it on?”
Jelly emphasized herself, wary that Su-nam might enhance someone else—especially Mini Ha-il, who she saw as a rival.
Su-nam glanced at the little Ha-il on his shoulder, and Jelly’s face crumpled in despair.
“Nyaaang…”
She whimpered pitifully, resigned to her fate.
Then—
“Alright. You take it.”
“NYA!!”
In an instant, Jelly’s mood skyrocketed.
“I won! That brat can’t compare—I’m the most useful to Master, nya!”
But she celebrated too openly, mocking Ha-il.
A ripple opened beneath her feet—
Fwoosh!
She vanished, flung through Ha-il’s emergency-evac portal.
A moment later, splash!—Jelly tumbled back, dripping wet.
Ha-il glared coldly.
“…Don’t get cocky. Next time, I’ll drop you in the ocean.”
“S-sorry, nya…”
With the pecking order firmly established, Su-nam simply said:
“Don’t fight each other.”
Jelly nodded meekly and uncorked the elixir.
Pop—
A fragrant hiss escaped as she gulped it down eagerly.
The effect was random—it could be worthless or a jackpot.
But Su-nam had the Fortune of Extremes.
[Your summon has evolved from <Mimic Slime> to <Protean>.]
‘Protean?’
Though unseen until now, Su-nam recalled the tales—an aberration that could adapt and transform endlessly.
“I can feel it, nya… I’ve become… complete.”
Jelly trembled with joy.
“Master, cut my arm off, nya.”
Without hesitation, Su-nam slashed her arm.
“…Shouldn’t you at least pretend to hesitate, nya?”
Her severed arm bled realistically—no trace of slime.
Before, her wounds betrayed her nature. Now, even the essence of flesh was perfectly replicated.
“Now I can even play dead, nya.”
The spilled blood and arm faded to mist, reattaching seamlessly.
Slime resilience remained—unless her core was destroyed, she was nearly invulnerable.
“What about your acid trait?”
“I can change my body’s substance at will. I can replicate slime properties—or even DNA I’ve absorbed.”
“Memories too?”
“Impossible, nya. Memories are information, not traits.”
Unfortunate, but still immensely powerful.
Su-nam’s eyes gleamed.
‘If she can replicate DNA… then maybe… she can loot sealed drops without buying them?’
Jelly beamed even more.
“And Master, I finally conquered salt! No more weaknesses!”
“Oh? Then how about a swim in the sea?”
“Never! I’d rather die, nyaaa!!”
Despite her evolution, her fear of salt lingered in spirit.
At that moment—
“Hey! What are you doing there?”
A patrolling guard approached, suspicious of their hushed corner.
“Jeju-do!”
He shouted the passphrase.
‘Damn, I should’ve learned it from Golden Thief…’
Too late—combat it was.
But then—
“Mandarin.”
Jelly coolly replied.
“…Alright. Just don’t act suspicious next ti—wait, that’s wrong!”
The guard spun back, raising his weapon.
“You didn’t know it, did you?”
“I just guessed, nya.”
So brazen, even the guard faltered for a heartbeat.
“You dare infiltrate in disguise?!”
He reached for his radio—
Crack!
An arrow shattered it. Jelly had conjured a bow and loosed in an instant.
‘So she can even form metal now…’
Before, she relied on inventory weapons. Now, her body itself became blades and steel.
“Nya-haha! I’m perfect, nya!”
Twin swords sprouted from her arms as she clashed with the guard. Boosted by enhancements, she overwhelmed him swiftly.
Thud.
The guard collapsed, lifeless—perhaps already spent in battle to the east.
Su-nam’s eyes sharpened.
“Jelly. Replicate him. See if you can claim his drops.”
“Pointless, nya… but fine.”
She devoured the corpse—its shadow sinking into her like data.
Then, in the guard’s form, she reached for the sealed drops. Normally, they were immovable objects.
But—
“Nya? It works?!”
As his DNA replica, she was recognized as the original owner—the seal lifted.
Su-nam’s grin stretched wide.
“Perfect. No need to waste coins buying drops anymore.”
The sound of savings echoed sweetly in his mind.
Gazing toward the underground parking lot, Su-nam’s eyes glinted.
“Looks like I don’t need Pi Gwang-seok alive to transfer his facilities after all.”
With a chilling smile, Jang Su-nam strode off to hunt his prey.
