LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 30 - A Coincidence for the NPC
Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: ford53
=================
< Chapter 30: A Coincidence for the NPC >
“…Is there truly a need to turn iron into gold? Iron kills enemies just as well, does it not?”
–Excerpt from a letter sent by Stalin to the Nine Peaks, 11 days before the start of the Soviet-Dwarf War
***
Despite Siri’s unexpected interference, she neither opposed nor revised the plan Seti had devised.
Contrary to the impression given by her test of Dawn, she actually supported Seti’s plan with enthusiasm.
“To put it plainly, the crux of Unni’s plan hinges on how much fame Oppa can gather.”
Fame.
The kind of fame that would compel key figures of the Korean government to seek an audience with Dawn.
The problem was the method.
How could someone with no noteworthy background, a nobody, acquire such renown?
To the puzzled Dawn, Seti offered a simple answer.
“Just by revealing a hint of your talent where people’s attention is focused, fame will naturally follow you.”
“Where people’s attention is focused?”
“Academies, dimensional gates, conflict zones… Wherever supers gather, that’s where attention goes.”
Since the opening of the dimensional gates, Earthlings had been unable to take their eyes off superhumans.
It was inevitable. Superhumans on Earth had been a tool for regime propaganda from the very beginning.
Heroes of the people, proof of America’s favor with God, living Supermen, symbols of progress…
Even after the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, superhumans continued to be adored and treated in the same way.
“No need to overthink it. The public’s attention to superhumans isn’t much different from their attention to celebrities.”
Upon hearing Seti’s explanation, Dawn immediately understood what she meant.
Publishing, press, broadcasting…
The so-called mass media showcased the every move of superhumans without fail each day.
Bookstores were filled with novels and comics themed around superhumans, and TV dramas set in superhuman academies were smashing viewing records.
Economic newspapers criticized the comings and goings of superhuman mercenaries who shook the international oil prices, while academia discussed the impact of classical philosophy on superhuman martial arts.
Of course, this was merely a cultural phenomenon.
The truly important information, such as the true essence of martial arts or magical spells, was not disclosed to the public.
Even Dawn, who had looked through countless superhuman documentaries and comics, didn’t know what real martial arts were.
“…I understand the context. So what should I do now?”
As soon as Dawn finished speaking, Seti presented him with five documents.
One application for admission, one acceptance notification, and three bounty notices.
“Please make the choice yourself, Dawn.”
Upon examining the documents, Dawn noticed that each one had different names and dates written on them.
‘Has she been preparing these since the day we left Incheon?’
Impressed by Seti’s initiative, Dawn first checked the acceptance notification.
It was from PMC… a private military company, often called a mercenary group.
The Sunjuk Mercenary Group, which mainly dealt with monster disposal and security jobs, coming and going between the Manchuria and Kaesong dimensional gates.
Dawn had heard of this mid-tier mercenary group even during his janitor days.
‘It’s not a place to receive an acceptance notification so easily within just a few days…’
After examining the notification, Dawn asked frankly.
“…How did you manage this?”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
“The acceptance notification for the mercenary group. It shouldn’t have been so easy to obtain.”
As Seti was about to answer, Siri interjected.
“Unni spent some money.”
“…Siri.”
“To tell you the truth, it didn’t take much for the mercenary group, right? After all, it’s a place where people die every day; what does it take to get one more recruit through?”
“…”
“But the academy admission application is different, right? That must have cost a pretty penny.”
Siri pointed at the admission application with a grin. Dawn carefully read through the application.
The next moment, his brows furrowed.
At the bottom of the document, the phrase “transfer into the second semester of the first year” caught his eye.
“If it’s the second semester… that’s half a year away.”
“I’m sorry. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t get an earlier admission…”
Seti slumped her shoulders in disappointment while Siri added from the side.
“What do you expect at this late hour? It’s not a regular high school that can just accept a first-semester admission request, especially now with security tightened after last month’s terrorist attack.”
Dawn nodded in understanding. It wasn’t an unreasonable situation.
Unlike the academies of dramas, a real superhuman academy was treated like a quasi-military base.
In fact, Seti’s ability to even come up with an admissions application this way was commendable.
‘…Should I have taken that recommendation letter from the Holy Sword?’
The thought crossed his mind, but he immediately shook his head.
He didn’t want to enter the academy for an education, but to kill.
What would the Holy Sword and the Australian government do if he, recommended by them, committed a murder?
Would they understand his thirst for vengeance? Unlikely. He would be lucky if they didn’t come after him with swords drawn to protect their honor.
There was no need to make more enemies; he already had too many people to kill…
Dawn thought about it for a while, tapping on the table before picking up the three bounty notices left there.
The bounty notices had photos of superhumans or half-skilled criminals who had committed crimes using magic.
A murderer who killed with magic, a madman who fed people to monsters, and an escaped necromancer.
Details such as recent sightings and commonly used spells, seemingly written by Seti herself, were noted below in fine print.
After a moment, as Dawn placed the bounty notices on the table, Seti spoke up.
“What will you choose?”
With that, she began to explain the benefits of each choice and the plan in detail.
How joining the mercenary group would grant combat experience, and when going after bounties, it was essential to bring along an internet broadcaster…
After Seti’s lengthy explanation, Dawn turned to Siri and asked,
“Siri, when exactly is the academy’s entrance ceremony?”
“Didn’t Unni tell you? It’s in three days. It should have been two weeks ago, but it was postponed because of last month’s terrorist attack.”
“…Three days, then.”
“Most students are waiting in the dormitories without having had an entrance ceremony. Thanks to that, both Unni and I can move around without the Korean government’s surveillance.”
“If that’s the case…”
Dawn thought back to the conversation he had with Seti at Pier 13. She had introduced herself as a ‘prospective special admittance student to Lord Howe Academy.’
“I should leave today or tomorrow.”
Seti didn’t deny it.
“Yes, that’s right. We sisters must return to the academy soon. But that doesn’t mean a complete goodbye, right?”
“…?”
“You have my contact. We can keep in touch even when I’m at the academy, and I can go out on weekends…”
Seti stumbled over her words as Dawn and Siri squinted at her.
Siri stepped in,
“Unni, Lord Howe Academy is in Australia. What are you going to do, flying out every weekend? Take a plane on Saturday, spend one night, and fly back on Sunday? Even weekend couples don’t meet like that.”
“… ”
“Just be honest. We’re under the thumb of the government, we can’t accompany or fight alongside Oppa, and the best we can do is offer indirect help like contacts or money.”
“…Siri, shut up.”
Seti finally scowled and glared at Siri. Siri, far from intimidated, exaggeratedly dodged behind Dawn.
“I mean, what did I say wrong? Oppa would’ve known this already.”
“…I didn’t expect us to part so soon.”
“Ah, really? That’s something Unni should have told you beforehand.”
Unable to hold back, Seti stood up and started chasing Siri.
Dawn watched the two of them for a moment before speaking to Seti.
“Seti, you said I could choose any of these documents as I wished, right?”
“Yes? Yes, of course. You can choose whatever you want.”
As soon as Seti caught Siri by the collar, Dawn boldly picked up all five documents.
Siri tilted her head in confusion, and Seti’s eyes widened.
“Are you planning to do… all of them?”
“Why choose just one? Half a year is plenty of time. I can get my hands dirty in the mercenary group, catch all those bounties and then… enroll in the academy.”
Siri burst out laughing when she understood Dawn’s intent.
“Heh, right, why settle for one? If you can do it all, do it all.”
Seti hesitated between Siri and Dawn before nodding as if she had made a decision.
“If that’s what you wish, Dawn, I’m here to help.”
***
“Sir.”
Jangman, who had been looking out to sea, turned his head at the call.
A boy who was once Dung Beetle, now Cheon Yeomyeong, was approaching him.
“Did everything go well with the talk?”
“Yes, we’re proceeding as originally planned.”
“…Then you’re leaving this city. When do you plan to go?”
“We’ve decided to move immediately. I came to say… my farewells to you, sir.”
“Is that so? Well, there’s no need to waste more time here.”
Jangman didn’t ask where Dawn was headed. It wasn’t his concern where the boy would go or whom he would fight.
But like all elders, he could offer a small morsel of help to a young man embarking on his journey.
He pulled out a suitcase that he had prepared earlier from within the alleys. The case, leaning against the wall, was larger than Jangman’s torso.
“Sir, what’s this?”
“Open it up.”
Dawn did not hesitate to open the suitcase.
With a click, upon seeing the contents after releasing the locks, Dawn looked at Jangman in surprise.
“While you were bunkering up, I asked that young lady Seti, and she said you had used up all the weapons you bought last time.”
Inside the suitcase were the same weapons that Dung Beetle had purchased in the black market.
The Remington MH750, ammunition, and a dense pack of grenades.
“A man shouldn’t embark on a journey empty-handed.”
“Sir… thank you.”
“Never mind the thanks. I gave it unbidden, and you can accept it as such. And…”
Jangman waved his hand, pulling another item wrapped in cloth from behind the suitcase.
A long object wrapped in a sheet.
It was the sword of the Imperial Knight that Dawn had bought in the black market and then stashed away under the tavern counter.
“You left this sword behind last time. Thought about tossing it, but kept it, just in case.”
“…”
“Don’t need to ask why you bought a sword you wouldn’t use.”
Carefully, Dawn took the sword.
It was an exact replica of the blade wielded by the player who had killed his colleagues and their site manager, and as Dawn gazed down at it, his heart quieted.
Jangman, looking down at Dawn, paused before speaking.
“Dawn.”
“Yes, sir.”
“May I impart a few last pieces of advice?”
“…I’ll listen carefully.”
Jangman lifted his head to gaze at the sky. It was dreary, filled with clouds.
“When you leave this city, never trust anyone. No matter who it is, always suspect they’re lying. Doing so, you may not gain much in human relations, but you will not lose either.”
“…”
“And if you decide to kill, make sure you do it. The quicker you dispose of enemies, the better, and misunderstandings are resolved faster with the dead.”
With that, Jangman sighed.
The advice he gave was not that of a wise old man. It was filthy, sordid, the words of a smuggler from the black market.
He would never have offered such guidance if their relationship were a tad more normal.
“…The work team leader never gave you advice like this. Even while living amidst trash, he was the farthest from trash himself.”
After brushing back his hair, Jangman lowered his gaze to look at Dawn again.
“After it’s all over, let’s visit his grave together.”
“…Yes. I’ll make sure to do that.”
Their conversation did not continue. Both understood that farewells were best kept short.
Dawn stood up, carrying the suitcase and the sword, and bowed deeply to Jangman. With that final gesture, he turned his back and left the alley.
Just as clouds drift across the sky, the smuggler and the cleaner parted ways.