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I got pummeled by a bald guy.

This time, not just the part, but his entire wallet.

‘How dare he think he can just walk away after getting carried?’

Do you know how expensive it is to get a carry in a dungeon these days?

For office workers with no time, they end up shoving their hard-earned cash into polygon chunks just to get their stat window numbers to budge.

In reality, you can’t just expect to get carried without completing the quest, which at least gives back some of what you invested.

By the way, since I didn’t have enough carry last time, I decided to get a little extra after completing the quest.

Also, for some reason, it feels like that guy has been avoiding me and sneaking glances while keeping his distance.

“What’s up with Luna over there?”

“If I had someone trying to bury me alive next to me, I’d probably act like that too…”

Bury alive? That’s a bit extreme.

He sacrificed himself, didn’t he? If he really hated it, he could’ve just held on and escaped somehow.

Like when we came back, goblins and war wolves showed up, so we had a few battles.

But on the way back, the situation was completely different.

The moment a monster appeared, the bald dude charged ahead and took care of everything.

Of course, he had pretty much done the same when we came. Back then, he had the face of a trainee about to shave his head, but now he felt like a soldier who really enjoyed the training.

Well, thanks to that, it made things easier for Luna and me.

While I’m at it, I opened my status window to check what I gained from this quest.

[ Information ]

Name: Luke

Gender: Male

Age: 20

Magical Power: 0 / 0

Level: 32

[ Skills ]

Inventory (F)

Superstrength (B)

[ Stats ]

Strength: 32 (+16)

Agility: 10

Intelligence: 0

Stamina: 10

Stat Points: 0

Still zero magical power.

But seeing my strength go up a lot compared to before makes me really happy.

I leveled up a whopping 7 levels from this hunt.

Catching those dented ants probably got me around 3 levels. The additional 4 levels must have come from that demon who unexpectedly died earlier.

‘Was its name Borg?’

It shares the same name as the trash demon responsible for the protagonist’s early growth.

It must have been hiding somewhere to store its power only to show up later as experience for the protagonist, but it seems “hiding” was just a gap in the anthill.

‘But I ended up killing it?’

So sweet~

The protagonist is hogging all this deliciousness for himself!

If there’s this kind of loot, he should share with the heroine too! Huh!? And even share with the extras, huh!? How great would it be if everyone had a feast and even took down the demon god together!

He’s just hoarding everything and later fights the demon god all by himself; that’s just hilarious!

Normally, I’d avoid stealing the protagonist’s opportunities, but the blood of a Korean, who seeks extreme profit, is flowing within me, so I can’t help but feel dazed by this experience I have already consumed.

It feels like hunting in a burning level 10 area while sucking on an experience coupon, then hunting without burning or coupons.

‘But what’s up with that +16 next to strength?’

Is it linked to the new skill I received?

‘Hey, system! Explain superstrength!’

As soon as I thought that, a blue window appeared in front of me like when I named my weapon.

◈ Skill Information

Name: Superstrength

Grade: B

Description: A passive skill that increases the user’s strength by 1.5 times. It’s optimized for those who are all about strength.

Just like last time, this time too, it seems like they just like to tease me with a little extra comment instead of simply telling me.

In those reincarnation stories, the author always has to watch until the ending to make their appearance, but when I finally meet them, I’ll make sure to smear poop on their face and turn them into a Scatman.

‘By the way, how does making strength 1.5 times make it a B grade?’

Well, it’s true that there aren’t many manly men who focus solely on strength.

You’d think rogues would have higher agility, mages would have intelligence, and tanks would balance strength and stamina.

In that sense, I have been proven to be exceptionally manly.

‘But is it affected by the maximum capacity or not?’

If it is affected by the maximum capacity, presuming the max is 99, I just need to hit 66 to automatically hit 99. If it’s not affected, then I could flaunt 148 absurdly!

‘Guess I’ll have to grow more to find out.’

Should I just go and pummel the demon god now? If I don’t get hit at all, I could totally take him down.

I was seriously contemplating that but decided against it. Catching the demon god would be nearly approaching the ending, and I don’t want to see the ending right after reincarnating.

‘But why do demons reward skills when killed?’

That wasn’t even a setting from the novel. While the growth could be similar, the protagonist and I must still differ, so I wondered if I’d have to train or find opportunities like the protagonist to gain skills, but in reality, it was much simpler.

This world operates on a protagonist-centered model, so I doubt they’d throw a fit over snatching a few demons.

‘If they throw a fit, let’s just kill them.’

If they do, I’ll take the protagonist down, and we’ll all go to ruin together.

Then I would reincarnate.

I resolved myself.

*

I returned to the Adventurer’s Guild.

“I’m glad you made it back safely.”

Usually, it felt half-hearted, but today was an unusual one, filled with genuine warmth from Adela.

It wasn’t a difficult quest, but was it because of Baldwin’s earlier fuss?

“Is there something wrong with Baldwin?” Adela asked, looking at the bald dude trailing behind me, palms clasped politely.

“Maybe it’s because he didn’t become a hero?”

“…?”

He probably feels down about returning alive when he had the chance for a noble sacrifice.

‘Damn… If only I’d prepared a bit more flour to crank up the firepower!’

I should’ve sent him off in one shot without him feeling pain. I feel bad for not being able to do that.

If we go on a quest together again next time, I definitely have to send him off properly.

“Well… At least Baldwin being modest is a good thing. Now, will you show us the proof of the slaughter?”

“There’s none.”

“…Huh?”

“There’s none, I said.”

“Ah, maybe you lost it…?”

“No, there’s just none.”

Adela darted a look at Luna, needing an explanation.

“It’s… not that it’s lost, it’s more like it’s disappeared…”

“…The more I hear, the less I understand.”

“Luke blew up the Giant Ant’s den…”

“WHAT?!”

As shock washed over Luna’s face, it shifted to mine.

In that moment, I winked and gave her a cheeky grin.

“Hehe.”

“…Could it be that Baldwin’s condition is also related to the explosion?”

“Who knows?”

“Haah… That was a pointless question.”

But what happens to my reward if there’s no proof?

“What about our payment?”

“Seems like it will only be paid once our side directly confirms it.”

So that means I’m not getting any money right now.

Damn it!

“Adela, is there any training ground in the Adventurer’s Guild?”

“There is, but… what are you planning to do?”

I’m just gonna train in the training ground, what’s it to you? Why does it sound like I’m already causing trouble when I haven’t done anything yet?

“Hey, Baldy.”

“Uh, me?”

As I called him, the bald guy pointed at himself in disbelief.

“Who else is there besides you?”

“Well… I guess…?”

“Enough chatting. Follow me to the training ground.”

Honestly, I wanted to grab him by the hair and drag him off, but there’s nothing to hold onto, so I couldn’t do that.

Together with the bald dude, I headed to the training ground owned by the Adventurer’s Guild, guided by Adela.

It was a wide training area made of dirt, located underground in the guild building. The two of us took up one section.

“Hey, pick up the axe.”

“…Huh?”

Out of the blue, asking me to grab a weapon? Anyone would be bewildered.

“If you don’t grab it, you’ll die.”

But sadly, I wasn’t planning on hitting him anyway.

If he just stands there, he’s practically a punching bag.

Listening to my words, he hastily pulled out the axe.

The emptiness of returning from labor with zero reward…

It’s enough to make anyone seethe with anger.

Sure, they said they’d pay after confirmation, but the conclusion is still a total sum of zero for today!

It’s like finishing up a part-time job and being told they’d pay you together with the paycheck day.

My reward is zero. I blew it up. The reason I blew it up is because of that bald idiot.

The syllogism is complete.

‘It’s all his fault.’

If he hadn’t been flailing around in front of me, I wouldn’t have made such an extreme choice.

How could someone want to blow something up with people inside?

It’s all his fault for being so annoying.

If not for that, I wouldn’t have exploded anything, and by now, I would have had a reward!

“Chhh. Chhh.”

“…Luke, can you calm down a bit?”

“I’m more peaceful than anyone right now.”

At this moment, I am the most rational person.

I’m not some idiot losing my senses in anger, but rather a sensible person.

Therefore, I control my rage well.

That means I will unleash my frustration with logic!

“Hey, Baldy, you better block properly. Or else you’ll die?”

With that, he stood the axe upright, sticking it into the ground.

Just like what I saw earlier in the anthill, a stone wall appeared to block the front.

I then pulled out the greatsword.

“Luke! You have to control your strength!”

“Sure! I’ll control it for you!”

I’ll control it with full force!

I swung my sword in a full arc like a pitcher throwing a fastball.

-CRACK!

As the blade made contact with the stone, digging in deeper, the stone that could withstand explosions shattered like fragile clay.

Then, as his axe met my sword—

-CLANG!

“WHAAAA!!!”

The sound of the axe shattering was drowned out by the bald dude crashing into the wall.

“Phew… that’s refreshing.”

I stored the sword away in my inventory and dusted my hands.

“Bring the carry along once you get paid.”

With those parting words, I left the training ground with Luna.

Just before leaving, I noticed a bead of sweat trickling down the bald guy’s face.

 

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