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Chapter 11: Cheat-Level Bloodline
“Kyah! Kyahhh!”
“I’m full now!”
The baby beast and the girl, satisfied from eating, patted their bellies and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Kranol smoked and stored the leftover wild boar meat, using cooking skills he had mastered back in the real world.
‘Never thought that would come in handy like this.’
Smoked meat lasted longer, so it was perfect for travel.
The next morning, Kranol handed some meat to the baby beast.
“Put this in your subspace storage.”
“Kyahhh!”
The baby beast opened a rift and stored the smoked meat.
Items too large or inconvenient to carry could be stored in subspace, which was much more convenient than expensive dimensional backpacks.
Kranol smiled, grateful—he was saving a lot of money thanks to the baby beast.
He had little money left after buying herbs and supplies earlier, but luckily, he had gathered decent loot from the dungeon.
On the 11th day of their journey, the Birshi Territory finally came into view.
“I’m going to rest in my subspace shelter! Call me if you need me!”
With a flap of her black-and-white wings, the girl vanished into a rift.
Her skill was called Subspace Shelter, different from the baby beast’s Subspace Storage.
The storage couldn’t hold living beings, but the shelter skill allowed summons and spirits to rest inside.
Since both the baby beast and the girl stood out due to their unusual appearances, this skill was very useful in populated areas like towns and cities.
However, it wasn’t a catch in all solution—one couldn’t enter subspace during emergencies or battles.
Kranol looked at the baby beast still by his side.
“You’re not going too?”
“Kyahhh!”
The baby beast shook its head. It was clear it wanted to stay and protect Kranol.
‘Well, it’s already learned Level 7 Invisibility. It’ll be fine.’
Invisible, the baby beast followed Kranol into the territory.
He had made a Star Oath with the lord of Birshi not long ago—a sacred promise tied to the territory’s Guardian Star.
Breaking this oath would bring down the anger of the stars themselves.
The request he accepted was to purify the corrupted western region. It was a difficult mission, but the reward was worth it:
a pair of magic shoes called Sky Boots, and one wish granted—anything Kranol desired.
Since there was no known cure for his madness, he had to gather as many powerful rewards as possible.
In the original story, there was no cure. Kranol went insane and died at the hands of the protagonist.
But he refused to give up—there were miracles in this world.
Places like the Dimensional Labyrinth, the Pilgrimage to the Underworld, Time Distortion Magic, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the Holy Waterfall…
For any of them to even come close, one had to be extraordinarily strong.
That’s why completing the lord’s quest and earning the reward was his first goal.
‘Fast profits and rapid growth—that’s the only way I’ll survive.’
His first stop was the blacksmith’s shop.
Clang! Clang!
Fire blazed, and the sound of hammering filled the air.
Near the main furnace, smiths were melting large metal chunks into molds.
An older man, muscles defined despite his age, approached.
“I’ve seen you near the mercenary guild. What brings you to our forge?”
“I’m here to commission some gear.”
“Oh? What kind?”
“A sword and a helmet. I also brought monster materials.”
Then Kranol calmly added:
“I’ll take them by this afternoon. Also, I’ll need six gold coins in advance.”
“…What?”
The old blacksmith scowled.
Kranol was essentially saying: I’ll give you materials and work, but you pay me?
“Are you messing with me? I don’t have time for broke jokers.”
Even the invisible baby beast clung nervously to Kranol.
But Kranol didn’t flinch.
He pulled out the rare monster loot from his bag:
- The venom fang of a Knight Ant (★)
- The outer shell of a General Ant’s head (★)
The moment the old man saw them, his attitude flipped.
“Oh my stars, they’re starred materials?! Why didn’t you say so earlier!”
He suddenly smiled, voice syrupy sweet, even swallowing his spit.
“Kyahh?”
The baby beast looked confused, but Kranol wasn’t surprised.
Starred materials came from beasts that the Guardian Stars admired.
If forged well, the stars would bless the item—and the blacksmith too.
That’s why blacksmiths and workshops would jump at the chance to craft gear from these.
Even a 1-star item could bring major benefits:
- For a month, the forge might produce unusually high-quality gear
- Tools wouldn’t rust easily
- Ores would have richer metal content
These blessings were worth way more than a few gold coins.
And in a rural territory like this, a client with star materials was extremely rare.
“I’ll assign our best craftsmen! Come back this afternoon!”
The old blacksmith happily handed Kranol six gold coins as a deposit.
Kranol took the money and walked out, while the baby beast stared in awe.
“Kyahh…”
Next, he headed to his usual herb shop.
The moment he walked in, the shop owner yelled:
“Quick! Treat this man like royalty!”
“Huh? Who even is he?”
“He’s our best customer, you fool!”
Kranol bought plenty of herbs, arrows, lantern oil, dried food, and other travel supplies.
By the time he returned to the blacksmith’s shop, the gear was ready.
[Item Name: Venom Fang Sword]
[Grade: ★]
[Effect: A weapon crafted using a vicious beast’s fang. The first strike always poisons the target. Not effective against those with strong resistance.]
[Item Name: Ant Shell Helmet]
[Grade: ★]
[Effect: A helmet made from the durable outer shell of a General Ant. Offers excellent defense and light weight.]
[Performance: A sturdy helmet made from the hide of a unique ant-type beast. Crafted with care by expert artisans. When lifting heavy objects, the user’s strength increases by 50%.]
“Thank you! If you need gear made again, be sure to come to our forge!”
Now equipped with new gear, restocked on herbs, and with some money saved up, Kranol adjusted his black leather gloves.
It was finally time to head into the Corrupted Western Region.
***
The corrupted land was filled with magi—a dark, cursed energy.
If it touched your skin, you could fall victim to disease or a curse.
Without sacred water, staying in contact too long was dangerous.
Many mercenaries had died in this very place.
So before entering, Kranol summoned a powerful ally.
“Come out, Odong.”
…
“Odong?”
…
“Hey, girl.”
“You called me, mister?”
The girl appeared through a glowing rift, flapping her black and white wings.
This swampy, corrupted land was full of magi, making it the perfect place for her—
a hybrid beast born of angel and demon blood.
“Baby dragon, you stay in the subspace—it might be too dangerous!”
“Kyahhh!”
The baby beast curiously entered the subspace shelter.
Kranol and the girl stepped into the zone.
Rotting mud, endless stinky swamps, and a sickening air surrounded them.
“Why are we even here, mister?”
“To purify this place. To make the forest clean again.”
The corrupted land had invisible magi that made you weak and nauseous.
Whenever that happened, Kranol raised his leather gloves—
Demonic Gloves, a 2-star item with a special ability:
“Absorb Magi.”
[‘Magi Absorption’ activated.]
[The absorbed magi is converted into a random stat.]
[Note: Growth has a limit and is not infinite.]
Purple fog—the magi—was sucked into the gloves, purifying the surroundings.
The rotten swamp faded, and green life slowly returned.
[You absorbed magi from Rotten Swamp.]
[This becomes a source for leveling up “Luck (Lv1)”.]
[Three more absorptions needed to level up.]
‘So if I absorb enough swamp magi, I can level up my stats.’
Though not very efficient, it was still amazing.
Permanent stat-boosting gear was rare and valuable.
And in this cursed land, magi was everywhere.
[You absorbed magi from Murky Mire.]
[This becomes a source for leveling up “Strength (Lv2)”.]
[Seven more absorptions needed to level up.]
Kranol continued purifying the forest.
But some places were still too dangerous—
like a massive lake overflowing with magi.
Even his gear couldn’t protect him from the deadly aura there.
Suddenly, the girl jumped in—
Splash!
“Kyahaha! Mister! This lake is huge! Wanna come in?”
“…”
She splashed around happily in the highly contaminated lake—
completely unaffected thanks to her demon blood.
To her, it was just a normal lake.
‘She really is a cheat-level hybrid.’
Not only immune to magi, she could also use holy powers—
a perfect mix of angel and demon traits.
‘Though… being mixed-blood comes with its own curse.’
Because she wasn’t fully angel or fully demon,
one day, both sides would treat her as an outcast.
Especially when the story reached volume 3 and expanded to the heavenly realm.
Then, she’d be the first target for rejection by both sides.
But for now, that was still far off.
“If this good air helps you, mister, then I’ll help more!”
She flapped her black wings—
and the magi around her gathered into one spot,
funneling straight into Kranol’s gloves.
‘She can even control magi freely… That’s insane.’
It was like auto-farming—he no longer had to walk around to absorb magi.
[Magi fully charged.]
[Stat has leveled up!]
[Strength (Lv2) → Strength (Lv3)]
What should have taken months of work
was now done in just a few days, thanks to her help.
The forest was being purified faster than expected.
‘She’s an absolute jackpot.’
Kranol was amazed.
He wondered just how powerful she would become once she grew up.
Together, they traveled the forest,
jumped over tree roots, played by the now-clean lake, and absorbed more magi.
Until finally—
[You have bonded with the young beast: “Child of the Angel-Demon Hybrid.”]
[Hidden Trait ‘Calamity Affinity’ has been activated.]
[You can now copy this calamity’s exclusive skills.]
The message Kranol had been waiting for appeared.
Now, he too could enjoy the perks of her broken bloodline.
