Chapter 42: Spoils of War
Slurp slurp.
Empty bowls continued piling up beside Cheoldu.
“Oh my, eat slowly, General.”
“Madam, I’m not a general.”
“My, at this rate, you’ll end up looking like my nephew. Honestly, seeing how you flattened all those villains—you’re something else!”
The innkeeper auntie, who’d been forced to cook after being dragged to the mountain stronghold, kept showering Cheoldu with gratitude.
Whether due to the side effects of the Strength Orbs or not, Cheoldu was diligently devouring far more food than usual.
“Tie ’em up tight!”
“These damn brats!”
“Serves you right! Bastards!”
Former slaves who’d been imprisoned in the stronghold now busied themselves binding the surrendered bandits.
As for the resisting Ranker sub-leaders?
All three had their heads blown off, joining the departed.
The strange part? Their bodies dissolved into light and vanished.
“Slurp slurp. So... do you actually turn into a monster when you become a Ranker?”
……
At Jintae’s question, all eyes shifted to Choi Junseop—the only remaining Ranker.
“…Haven’t died before either. No idea.”
“Hmm.”
“Cheoldu, what dropped earlier?”
“This?”
Cheoldu casually produced the loot.
Each sub-leader had dropped one item: a bow, a backpack, and a coin pouch.
“Any pattern to this?”
“When you die, one inventory slot drops all its contents. Or you spill every coin you’re carrying.”
“?”
Everyone stared at Choi Junseop.
“You’ve never died, yet you know this how?”
“…People die sometimes. Statistical data exists.”
“Ah.”
Jintae bobbed his head.
“Cheoldu, let’s open them.”
“You do it.”
“Me?”
“Still hungry. Slurp slurp—another bowl, madam!”
“Right away!”
The innkeeper lavished her saviors with portions. No point skimping—this was all bandit provisions anyway.
“Let’s see...”
Jintae eyed the bow with peculiar hunger.
“Cheoldu.”
“Take it.”
“Really?”
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“Heh heh heh.”
“Thanks!”
Jintae reverently tucked the visibly superior bow into his inventory. After witnessing Giyongsu’s archery, he’d resolved to improve.
What good’s me swinging a sword anyway?
Since Cheoldu spearheaded every charge as a vanguard, honing archery to support him made sense. Even beyond that, mastering versatile skills to complement their frontline berserker felt necessary.
Versatility itself was power.
“Check these Stat Stones. Want more Strength absorption?”
“No. Expanding the vessel further’s pointless now.”
“Huh?”
“Time to fill the vessel I have.”
Cheoldu had absorbed nearly 40 Strength Stones. Even his barbarian-trained body needed time to adapt. He’d gradually absorb more stones as his training progressed—the proper method.
“So the Colosseum’s on hold?”
“Heh. Looking forward to it.”
“Surprised. Thought you’d rush in.”
“Jintae. Savory meals deserve slow savoring.”
After initial Colosseum entry, tickets were required. Charging in half-prepared held no appeal.
“Other Stat Stones here?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Hand ’em over. Coins too.”
The third sub-leader’s coin pouch held over 4,000 Juhwa.
“Hm.”
Cheoldu stroked his chin.
Come to think of it, non-Ranker bandits just left corpses—equipment could be stripped, but their coins vanished.
“Can’t be helped.”
A waste, but dead men spent nothing.
“Shame the boss only dropped one inventory slot’s loot. His inventory must’ve been huge.”
“We can’t exactly become bandits ourselves.”
“…Right.”
Jang Ho-cheol’s skull had already been pulp. They could’ve looted him before killing, but Cheoldu had simply dispatched him.
“Our goal was vengeance, not plunder. Jintae. Waver, and you become the monster.”
“…Yeah.”
Jintae nodded. The spoils’ grandeur had tempted him with thoughts of unclaimed riches, but revenge alone had been the aim. Everything else was incidental profit.
Interesting.
Choi Junseop studied Cheoldu. Ruthless efficiency, zero hesitation. A natural warrior with minimal Stat Stone absorption yet physicality overwhelming Rankers.
Was this humanly possible?
He might as well be an ogre incarnate. After all, an ogre with 10 Strength Stones would outmuscle a human with 50.
What nonsense.
Chuckling inwardly at his own absurdity, Choi Junseop sobered.
“Cheoldu.”
“Daring to ‘hyung’ me?”
“…….”
Can we drop this charade already?
Choi Junseop and Giyongsu exchanged glances.
You tell him.
You’re the Captain.
As they hesitated, Cheoldu counted stones.
“Yongsu.”
“Y-yes?”
“Need more blood debt repaid?”
“N-no, sir!”
“Hm. May this soothe your mother’s spirit.”
Cheoldu had obliterated dozens of charging bandits in moments. The survivors surrendered en masse.
Prisoners now numbered over 180. Freed captives exceeded 300. Roles reversed, the bandits sat tightly bound.
“Sh-she’d surely be pleased!”
“Good.”
Cheoldu activated Agility Stones one by one, savoring each. After several, he handed the remainder to Jintae.
“My limit.”
“Already? Not even 50. Absorption cap?”
“No. Further requires training.”
To surpass current reflexes, he’d need second-stage barbarian meditation.
“Stamina Stones here.”
“Thanks.”
Cheoldu activated them until pausing abruptly.
“Stopped why? Cap?”
“No.”
The barbarian heart synergized strangely with Stamina Stones. His heart itself felt fortified—regeneration boosted, endurance skyrocketing. Each stone’s effect integrated seamlessly.
“Feels like absorbing more’d hit 50.”
“Then stop.”
“Heh. Not ready yet.”
“Perception Stones.”
Cheoldu absorbed these until hitting another wall at 20+. Now he could sense nearby presences eyes closed—precognition nearing supernatural.
Strength, Agility, Stamina, Perception.
All hovered near 40, except Stamina at 49. Not that he counted precisely.
“Incredible talent.”
“My Perception’s 52. Others are 30-40.”
Choi Junseop genuinely envied Cheoldu’s physique. He’d become a Ranker via Perception (52), with Strength 42, Stamina 31, Agility 38—all maxed, no room left.
“Hyung, you’re slacking.”
Giyongsu had pushed all stats to their caps, peaking at Strength 43—respectable for a novice, but Ranker material? Only naturals need apply.
“Any items to break absorption limits? Elixirs?”
At Jintae’s question, Choi Junseop shook his head.
“Rumors exist. No confirmed reports.”
“Tch.”
Jintae, still below 20 in any stat, shelved the thought. Even reaching 30 would require years of adaptation.
“Your plans?”
At Cheoldu’s query, Giyongsu and Choi Junseop locked eyes. Their Defense Command affiliation remained unspoken.
Finally, Captain Choi stepped forward.
“I’m... a Defense Command Special Operations officer. Captain.”
“Heh. Gained a military dongsaeng.”
“…….”
Shouldn’t you have noticed by now?
Sighing, Choi Junseop confessed.
“We approached knowing your profiles. Both 19.”
“Irrelevant.”
“Huh?”
“Here to enlist me again?”
“No!”
“No?”
“We... wished to assess your character. Determine if you’re friend or foe.”
“And?”
“…….”
“Am I good? Evil?”
“…….”
“These bandits—good?”
“Evil.”
“Seoul?”
“…Good?”
Cheoldu grinned.
“I see only allies and enemies.”
“…….”
“Am I good? Evil?”
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“……We could be good friends.”
“Good.”
Cheoldu nodded.
“Clean up here, Junseop. We hunt Mana Stones.”
“They’re rare drops, but New Seoul has stockpiles.”
Choi Junseop gestured around.
“Your bandit-clearing merits should suffice.”
“Hm.”
“Return with us.”
Cheoldu shook his head.
“Since we’re here, we’ll hit Obong Mountain first.”
“The rewards won’t disappoint.”
“Looking forward.”
Cheoldu’s grin widened.
“This ‘Major’ they mention—strong?”
“…Unclear if he’s at HQ.”
“Hope he is.”
“…….”
Choi Junseop had Cheoldu figured.
Never make enemies of this type.
“I’m... twelve years older.”
“Oh? Two elder dongsaengs acquired.”
“…….”
“Go.”
“Return safely. We’ll prepare generous rewards.”
“Heh. Good.”
Cheoldu and Jintae parted with Choi Junseop and Giyongsu. Bypassing New Seoul, they resupplied at the stronghold.
“General! Please take this!”
“This is all I can offer. Please!”
Freed slaves swarmed Cheoldu with gifts upon hearing his departure. Leaving the bustling stronghold behind, the duo marched toward Obong Mountain.
Four of Cheoldu’s five inventory slots bulged with massive packs—only the first held his spear.
