CHAPTER 82: GIFTS

The room they had entered was large and looked like an observatory. It was decked out with a telescope—its husk to be precise—that hung from the wall, planetary spheres that barely hung from the roof and pieces of glowing crystals scattered across the ceiling in a pattern that looked like constellations.

The small glowing crystals gave the same illumination as the night’s sky, giving the impression that they were out in the open despite being behind four walls.

A thought that under normal circumstances would be blissful and serene, but not now.

Further analyzing the room, Min-ho’s assumptions about the room being an observatory was quickly debunked when he realized there was no opening to utilize the presumed telescope.

Also, the room was filled with shelves and books of all kind that had fallen to one side of the room, due to the tower titling. Behind the pile of books and shelves were three statues peeking out.

Ignoring all of it, Min-ho and the others carefully manuevered through the room. They made it to the pile of books and shelves, which was the only leveled ground they could use to rest up.

As they trod over the books, something inside Min-ho sunk when he realized he was trampling things that were very important.

Painfully aware there was more to feel sorry for than books he couldn’t read, he lifted his gaze and pinned it on his comrades.

They each slowly settled into the ground, groaning, moaning and wincing as they finally found a moment of respite.

Min-ho turned his sights to the Z-Streamers who were now placing Sae-wee and Im-hee beside an outcropping shelf.

He scratched his thumb, then winced when it burned.

It was then that he realized he had wounded his hand.

He sighed.

***

After settling in, Ji-su had taken the initiative to prepare something for them to eat. Though Min-ho and the others were unwilling, they had eventually given in thanks to Ji-su’s encouragements.

Once their supposed supper was over with, they each took a Blood Burner, which was followed by several seconds of agonizing pain.

Having endured the pain, Min-ho lay on the pile of books covered in sweat as he panted hard.

His eyes remained fixated on the roof, the small pieces of glowing crystals that mimicked the glow of stars somehow twinkled under his watch.

He didn’t have time to appreciate the beauty of it, or understand what the constellations were, his mind was too heavy.

’Those damned tunnels,’ he thought, wishing they never stepped onto the shattered plains.

Just then, images flashed in his mind.

[You Have Been Gifted An ’Inspirational Tablet’ Worth 500 Coins]

[You Have Been Gifted A ’Magic Mansion’ Worth 5,000 Coins]

[You Have Been Gifted An ’Inspirational Tablet’ Worth 500 Coins]

[You Have Been Gifted An ’Inspirational Tablet’ Worth 500 Coins]

[You Have Been Gifted An ’Iced Pepsi’ Worth 10 Coins]

[You Have Been Gifted An ’Inspirational Tablet’ Worth 500 Coins]

[You Have Been Gifted A ’Magic Mansion Tablet’ Worth 5,000 Coins]

After they escaped the tunnels alive, the Gifts came flooding in. And he wasn’t the only one. Jang-book and Dok-su had informed him they were likewise receiving Gifts at that moment.

For Min-ho, by the time the Gifts had stopped coming in, he had accumulated a total of 32,200 Coins.

And an additional 10,950 Coins from the bonuses he received from Jang-book’s and Dok-su’s Gifts.

Though this was supposed to be a good thing, Min-ho couldn’t help but feel disgusted at the Gifts, the audience and the Z-Tower itself. It was all disgusting.

Still, he knew what he had signed up for.

At the very least, no matter how wrong it all was, it wasn’t entirely in vain.

Gritting his teeth, he cleaned out his brows and sat up. He ran his eyes across everyone and saw that most of them were already dozing, while his comrades were still recovering from the Blood Burner.

As he scanned them, he found his gaze lingering on the Z-Streamers that helped them. Moreso for the stranger that waltzed in without having a reason to be here.

He was young, but had a defined and muscular physique. He had short green hair, and he dawned black overalls.

As much as he didn’t like to admit it, he couldn’t shake the reality that he didn’t know these people. Even if they helped one another, the fact still stood that they were strangers.

Leaning against an outcropping shelf behind him, Min-ho took in a deep breath. He turned his gaze to Sae-wee and Im-hee, who—by some miracle—were still hanging onto life.

His gaze lingered as dread settled into the pit of his stomach.

’Will they make it till tomorrow?’ he thought, his brows dropping.

He gulped, then turned away and pulled up his System.

[Name: Mee Min-ho, Rank: E]

[Affinities, Equipment]

[Inventory, Shop]

[Coins: 69,050]

[Developer Options]

He ran his eyes down the list, then ignored everything apart from his Inventory, which he selected.

[—Inventory—]

[Inventory Slots: 15, Items Available: 6]

[Item List: Sleeping Bag, Haze Limit, Kento’s Shroud, Stove, Empty Canteen, Canteen]

He looked over everything, then paused when he saw the item ’Haze Limit’.

’When did...’ his memory flashed.

It was when he pushed that Spector off the building.

’I completely forgot,’ Min-ho thought, then expanded the item.

[[Haze Limit]]

[Rank: E, Tier: 3]

[Uses: 1/1(Resets Each Day]

[Enchantments: Haze ]

[—Haze: Will slow down time whenever receiving a lethal blow]

[Description: The amulet of Imara Goldess, given to her by her lover Hjeriso The Great before his passing. Imara wore the amulet until she was killed by the same people who slew her lover Hjeriso. Legend says her soul was trapped in the amulet, forever destined to be apart from her lover even in death]

Min-ho ran his gaze down till he saw Enchantment.

He held his mouth upon seeing it.

’This is a very useful relic,’ he thought. Even if it was limited to just a day, a wound escaped could mean the difference between life or death.

He went back several menus and expanded his Equipment menu.

[—Equipment—]

[Armor: Commoner’s Armor(Broken)]

[Weapon Slots: 2, Weapons: Casalis’ Tooth]

[Relic Slots: 3, Relics: Gongio’s Eye]

He narrowed his gaze down to the Relics, and felt his heart thump when he realized the number of slots he was given was so small.

***

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

"Who is it?!" a voice rang out, then the door creaked open.

A man stood behind the door, an axe in hand.

He paused when he saw a girl with two pink pontails, crying eye makeup and a skirt that was enjoyably short to look at.

He ran his gaze up from her legs till he met her eyes.

He instantly dismissed his axe and then asked "What do you want?" with a reserved but still grouchy tone.

She smiled.

"Just who I wanted to meet," she said, then placed a hand on his arm and slowly ran her fingers up his shoulder.

She looked up at him and asked, "Would you like to do a Nightshade Stream with me?"