The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

What Seol had handed over to Kibo was the shadow venom’s antidote that he created with the Poisonous Herb powder.

Since it was something that only Seol could make, it was also something that he had to come up with the price for.

Kibo, who was still looking at the antidote, was silent for a moment.

“Is this… the shadow venom’s antidote?”

“As you can see.”

“How did you make… no, more importantly, how did you get the materials for it?”

“Is that important?”

“It isn’t. I-It isn’t important at all. I apologize.”

Mira was shocked as it was her first time ever seeing Kibo so flustered.

“Antidote? Are you saying that this is the shadow venom’s antidote?” asked Mira.

“I don’t like to answer the same question twice.”

“Th-then does this mean Kibo can be healed?”

“That’s also the same question.”

“But…”

Like a granddaughter worrying for her grandfather, Mira didn’t easily believe that the antidote was real. Kibo, seeing that, comforted her with one hand.

“Mira, from this point on, just listen.”

“Kibo!”

“I want you to just listen, Mira. This isn’t a conversation that you should’ve joined in the first place. Or would you rather wait outside?”

“Urgh…”

Kibo spoke sternly to her. Mira had seen Kibo act like that a few times before and when he did, he scared her.

Mira stayed silent as she took glances at Seol. Seol didn’t think of her negatively because of it though.

‘She must really like Kibo.’

They were a unique pair.

A female transferee and the experienced leader of a ruins hunter faction.

Kibo continuously tried to teach her and she followed him without hesitation.

As Seol was thinking about their relationship, Kibo opened his mouth.

“What do you want for it? Gallotta's Tongue?”

“That was already on the table. I want something else.”

“...Something else?”

“A treasure or rare quality item or information that I might find useful.”

Kibo was silent.

It seemed like something was troubling him. Kibo then sighed and opened his mouth.

“We’ve already sold off all of our treasures because of the war of nerves with Heka. Could you take our circumstances into consideration?”

“I don’t know… I think I’ve been more than kind to you already.”

“Hm?”

“Trading this antidote with you is kindness enough.”

“Haha… you aren’t wrong. I see.”

“What does he mean, Kibo?”

Kibo slowly, painstakingly nodded.

However, Mira was unable to keep up with their conversation at all.

“He’s right. Think about what would’ve happened if he took this antidote and went to Heka, Mira.”

“Ah… I see.”

“He’s already been considerate to us from the moment he decided to trade this antidote to us. Anyway, what to do…”

Kibo already understood Seol’s intent.

Kibo realized that Seol looked favorably on him and had shown kindness to him.

‘Still, goodwill ends here.’

If Kibo was unable to properly see through the situation and did something wrong, the deal would collapse immediately.

“I’m sorry but everything that I said earlier was the truth.”

“That you sold off all your treasures?”

“Yeah. Unfortunately, most of the treasures that could be used for trade were…”

‘Most’ meant that it wasn’t ‘all’. Kibo was implying that he still had something left to trade.

Slide…

From his ring-filled hands, Kibo placed the ring with the deepest hue on the table.

“Kibo! That’s…”

“I know. But if I want to pay a fair price, I have no choice.”

“That ring is your symbol. How could you…”

“The only thing that can symbolize me is myself. This is nothing more than a ring.”

Seol took a look at the ring that looked like a wolf’s head.

[[Wolf’s Warning]

Quality: Treasure

Recommended Level: 10-20

Resistance: 30

Durability: 68/68

Weight: 0.1kg

A ring that is passed down in a tribe in the north that worships a wolf god. Perhaps due to a supernatural power, it warns the wearer of dangers.

Basic Effect: +2 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence, +8 Wisdom

Bonus Effect: A wolf’s cry will warn the wearer when they are in a dangerous situation.]

‘It has an alarm effect.’

This item was perfect for casters who had low health and constitution.

Since it was hard for accessories like necklaces and rings to have better effects than the more important equipment areas, effects like these were typically more useful.

- Excuse me, why does he keep getting Treasure-quality items?

- I don’t understand it either.

- This is alchemy LMFAO An antidote turned into a treasure!

- Not to mention the fact that he has a bunch of antidotes left lmfao

- This is insane… I can’t believe he even got a fucking treasure-quality ring too now.

- But man, a Peerless-quality item is really good after all, huh?

- What?

- He got disappointed after looking at the treasure-quality item’s stats lol

- Seriously haha. But the surprising thing is that Snowman has both…

Seol gave a sly smile and grabbed the ring in his hands. Kibo, seeing that, asked him,

“Are you… accepting the trade?”

“Yes, I like the ring.”

“Haha! Hahaha… I hope you use it well! It’s something that I haven’t taken off for twenty years.”

Mira, who was next to Kibo, was on the verge of tears.

“I thought… you got that ring when you also inherited the faction members…”

“Mira…”

“Is it really okay to give something like that?”

“My family is still alive. And thanks to the ring, I also got a great opportunity.”

“......”

“You should never get attached to things; what’s important is family. I could always just replace the ring with another treasure anyway.”

“...Okay.”

Kibo gave a glance to Seol and lifted the antidote.

“Now why don’t I see what kind of effects this has?”

“Feel free.”

Pop.

Kibo popped open the antidote’s bottle cap and poured it into his mouth without hesitation.

Fsss…

“Krgh… I can feel it burning my neck. Even the strongest liquor I drank wasn’t this harsh.”

“That’s because it's poison.”

Mira jumped up at Seol’s words.

“What? What did you say?”

As Mira was about to pull out her sword, Kibo answered her questions instead.

“Mira, my head’s ringing. Please be quiet for a second.”

“He said it was poison!”

“I mean, judging by the pain he’s not lying, but… it’s definitely having an effect.”

Fssss….

Kibo’s limp, black arm was slowly returning to its original skin tone. It started at Kibo’s elbow, then his wrists, then finally his fingers.

Fssss…

An awful-smelling black fog vanished through the window.

Mira’s eyes were shocked open and she couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

“Oh my god… Kibo’s arm got better?”

“Haah… Haah…”

“It must’ve been quite painful…”

“How painful could it be compared to losing your arm? No one would listen to me if I cried when I’m this big.”

Seol nodded and stood up.

“Next is trading the treasures.”

“Ah. Yes, please.”

Rita, the auction house manager, came here despite it being her office hours with extensive security. She had both of the treasures with her.

Place.

She handed Kibo the Shades’ Grace.

Place.

And Seol the Gallotta’s Tongue.

After confirming both things, Rita then passed out two documents.

“I need signatures from both of you here.”

“Ah. By the way, I will be paying all of the service fees.”

Kibo suddenly declared that he would be paying for all of the transaction fees. Since Seol didn’t particularly have a reason to decline, he nodded his head.

Once the deal was complete, the employees from the auction house left. Once again, it was Seol, Mira, and Kibo.

“Aren’t we all done here now?”

“No, there’s one thing left.”

Frss…

Kibo, holding the Shades’ Grace in his hands, brought out a black energy.

Seol’s eyebrow twitched when he felt how strong Kibo’s energy was. And because of it, Seol also unwittingly increased his energy to face off against him.

“What are you doing?”

“It was just a joke. Still, I’m a bit sad that you weren’t surprised at all.”

Kibo stopped his joke and looked at Seol with a serious expression in his eyes.

“I want you to help us with our battle against Heka.”

“I refuse. I despise getting involved with other people’s problems.”

"Hm… that’s going to be hard though? Since this is the biggest event going on in Nobira right now, even bakery owners, no, even the rats in the sewers, won’t be able to avoid the aftermath."

“Are you done?”

“Well, I’ll stop here. It was a good trade. Could I have your name?”

Seol was a bit surprised as he didn’t realize he hadn't given Kibo his name yet.

“You can call me Snowman.”

“Ah, Snowman. We’ll see each other again.”

“If the circumstances call for it.”

Mira and Kibo left.

* * *

As Mira was following Kibo out, she kept stealing glances at Seol as if she was disappointed by something.

After leaving Seol’s outbuilding with Kibo, Mira pouted and started complaining to Kibo.

“Why were you practically crawling at that Snowman’s feet? It’s not like he’s in any faction either.”

“...He’s scary because he isn’t in any faction, Mira.”

As Kibo was talking, he felt sweat drip down his chin.

“Kibo? Kibo? Kibo, what’s wrong? I knew it! I knew it wasn’t an antidote! That bastard! I should just…”

It was expected for Mira to be shocked after seeing Kibo like that but she wasn’t going to return to Seol’s outbuilding. Kibo immediately explained the situation.

“Mira,”

“Kibo? Are you okay?”

“You’re finally calmed down now. Fuuu…”

“Why’d you sweat so much? What’s going on?”

“Mira, sit down for a second.”

The two sat down in the flower bed of a safe location for a short break.

Kibo was the first to break the silence.

“What about a ruin hunter stands out more than an ordinary person’s?”

“Their eyes?”

“Exactly. To be more specific, it’s their eyes and instinct. It’s also the reason I took you in.”

“...And I’m grateful for that.”

“When you first came to this world, you were filled with anger toward the world.”

“I know. I can feel how much I’ve changed since then too.”

Mira recalled the day she first came to Nobira. It was a rainy day, all of the stores had their lights shut.

No one was kind to her but she didn’t expect any help from them either. She thought it was obvious that people didn’t help her. It was the same in her original world too after all.

She was alone there. She would scream that she was in pain at the top of her lungs but no one would listen to her other than the fake people who were only interested in her appearance.

The person who took her in was Kibo.

“Thank you for taking me that day. I wonder if I’d even be alive now if it wasn’t for you then…”

“You? Definitely. I still remember your bloodshot eyes filled with malice…”

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

"The gossipers compare Heka to a lion and me to a wolf. Well, they’re not wrong. Heka is rugged and brave. I’m the leader of a smaller ruin hunter faction than his, and I avoid fights unless they’re necessary."

“You’re in the right, Kibo. Heka’s just crazy.”

Mira followed Kibo, thinking of him as the absolute good. Even now, she believes whatever Kibo says to be true.

“Kibo, you’re the only person thinking of a future with the transferees. You’re practically our shepherd.”

“Haha… I bet people would laugh if they heard you call a wolf a shepherd. Stop looking at me with those rose-tinted glasses.”

“I’m serious! You really are amazing.”

Kibo let out a sigh.

“Mira, there’s no real other special reason I’m bringing this up to you. It was simply because I was scared of him.”

“Of who? That Snowman guy? What are you saying?”

“Do you remember how I showed some of my energy?”

“Yeah, I thought you said it was a joke?”

“No, I was testing him. But, my eyes and my instinct… The two things that brought me up to this position were warning me. They were telling me that he was dangerous, that I shouldn’t get close to him.”

“Are you really doing this solely because of your instinct?”

“It’s also based on other things as well. You don’t find it strange that an individual who isn’t a part of any faction has a treasure?”

“...Ah!”

Kibo’s suspicions were obvious ones to have.

The majority of the treasures in Nobira, the ruins city, circulated around the ruin hunter factions. It circulated around the factions because the majority of these treasures typically required an entire group to uncover.

However, a random man showed up out of nowhere and traded a treasure like it was nothing. Not only that, he even solved Kibo’s illness which had reached critical condition.

There were way too many contradictions to claim that he was just an ordinary person.

"Also, I’m sure that he has much more treasure than the one he just traded. I could tell at a glance that his belt was extremely valuable; it was the first time I had ever seen something like that. It’s much more incredible than even the crystal ball in my hands."

“...Who could he be?”

“From now on, listen, don’t approach him carelessly.”

Since Kibo had never given a warning to her like this before, she was shocked.

Kibo ignored her reaction and continued talking.

“Mira, there’s a reason why I take you with me whenever I have an important business or meeting.”

“What is it?”

“A wolf pack doesn’t follow the strongest wolf, they follow the smartest wolf.”

“......”

“I want you to remember these words for when the time you’ll have to stand alone comes. You only have to be strong enough to not be behind, but you must be smarter than anyone else.”

“Strong enough to not be behind… smarter than anyone else…”

“I’m sure Heka would feel the same thing if he met him. Because regardless of whether you’re a lion or a wolf…”

Kibo gulped with a shudder, remembering the power hidden behind Seol’s eyes and small frame.

“You’re still below a human.”

“How amazing do you think Snowman is?”

“You’ll learn soon enough as well.”

“How? The trade’s done, no?”

“After I heard about him from Rita, I used the internal information network to look into our mystery person.”

“And?”

Rather than giving a reply, Mira only continued to ask questions in response to Kibo.

“You told me that transferees in Nobira are able to know who’s the strongest amongst transferees, right?”

“Yeah, I told you about it recently too, remember? Even though I had 350,000-ish points, I got pushed out of the Top 5 because of some weird… huh?”

“And who was the strongest on it?”

“Uh… it says it’s ‘Private’?”

“The day that Private appeared is also the same day that he arrived in Nobira.”

“Come on, I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.”

“I doubted it at first too. But now, I’m confident. I saw it in person, that’s why I’m saying this.”

Gulp…

Mira could already tell what Kibo would say from his attitude.

As she was thinking ‘Maybe…’ Kibo answered her question.

“He’s Private. And there’s a good chance that Heka’s faction realized it as well.”

“What do we do then? What if he goes to Heka’s side?”

"I don’t know... We have to first prepare for the upcoming battle, though, since that will be happening soon. He’s probably going to be the most important storm in this upcoming battle. We just have to hope that the storm hits the lion’s faction and not ours."