Chapter 5

"Hmm..."

Renok, groaning from a burning thirst, opened his eyes in the middle of the night.

The room was already shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see anything.

Clutching his throbbing head, he barely managed to get up from his bed and felt his way along the wall until he found the switch.

Only then did the room light up, revealing the hotel room before him.

He found the sink in the small kitchen, turned on the tap, and drank the water frantically.

As the thirst subsided, he let out a sigh of relief and tried to stand up, but a sudden wave of nausea forced him to grab the sink again.

"Ugh!!"

Having consumed nothing but cigarette smoke all day, only bitter stomach acid came up.

Renok, clutching his aching head, finally lay back down on the bed in the middle of the room.

His head was pounding, and the muscle pain throughout his body felt like his joints were being torn apart.

His entire body was trembling, and his limbs were contorting in strange directions. The cramps and nausea continued to wring him out like a rag.

"....Side effects?"

He thought that even though working in the factory was excruciating, it never made him suffer like this. It must be the side effects.

Although he had never taken drugs in his life, the aftereffects must be something like this.

Even as the ceiling spun, Renok instinctively realized that he wouldn't be able to let go of these cigarettes for a while.

They were the only means to make his frail body move like a normal person, even if only temporarily.

When he finally came to his senses, his empty stomach, which hadn't had anything in it for over twelve hours, began to ache.

Crawling to the corner of the room, Renok opened the refrigerator and ate the contents of a can with his bare hands.

The taste was ambiguous, like finely ground meat, but compared to the food given at the factory, it was a feast.

After filling his stomach to some extent, drowsiness overcame him again.

The insomnia that had plagued him for several nights had seriously drained his mental state.

Eventually, Renok only woke up when the hotel phone rang loudly the next day.

[Your scheduled check-out time is one hour away. Would you like to extend your reservation?]

"....Yes."

[The cost for an additional night is 200,000 cells. The 20,000 cells for the consomme canned food you had yesterday makes it a total of 220,000 cells. Since you have already paid 100,000 cells in advance, you need to pay 120,000 cells at the counter today.]

A can of food costing 20% of a night's stay—extortion knows no bounds.

Renok laughed bitterly and threw the phone away.

Even after sleeping for a full day, his body still felt heavy, but it was much better than when he first escaped.

Renok got up from the bed with great effort and counted the money he had.

"130,000 cells... After paying the hotel, I'll have only 10,000 cells left."

Although he had only known the currency of this world for less than 24 hours, he had a rough idea of its value.

With just 10,000 cells, he couldn't do much.

Realizing he couldn't stay even one more day in this state, Renok immediately got up.

His first goal after escaping was clear.

He needed money.

Cash acquisition

He went into the shower and scrubbed his body thoroughly. This was the first time he had washed himself since waking up here.

After soaking his body in water, he stood in front of the sink. Only then did Renok see his face clearly.

"......"

Dull eyes, long black hair, deep dark circles, and pale lips. His skin was so pale that the blood vessels were visible.

At least his nose was sharply defined, which was a small mercy.

Looking down at his emaciated, stick-thin body, Renok laughed bitterly.

His condition was so poor that he could hardly recognize himself as the character he had created in the character selection screen.

He picked up a razor from the sink and cut off all his long hair.

After completely shaving his head, his appearance changed dramatically, making him look more nervous than sinister.

After staring at the mirror for a moment, Renok nodded in satisfaction.

With this, the supervisors would find it hard to recognize him.

Although he thought he had already evaded pursuit, he still needed to be cautious.

Wearing the loose civilian clothes of a supervisor, Renok laid out all his possessions on the bed before moving.

130,000 cells in cash, a gun with five bullets, and a dozen cigarettes he had stolen from the supervisor's bedroom.

He had long since changed out of the work clothes from the factory, and he had left the car keys in the car when he abandoned it. This was all he had now.

Sitting on the bed, Renok fell into thought.

What did he need to survive in this world where he knew nothing?

The first thing was already decided.

But there were many issues to consider before making money.

"No matter how I think about it... it's impossible to earn money legally."

In this world, Renok was nothing more than an illegal resident without proper identification.

He didn't know if it was possible to become a legal citizen in this city, and even if it were, it would require time and money.

For Renok, who couldn't afford even the next night's stay, it was a luxury.

His options were limited.

Even in a situation where he was struggling to afford food, Renok's mind methodically derived solutions and presented rational possibilities.

If it didn't have to be legal, there were countless ways to get money.

There were many things he could do within the bounds of his morals and conscience, even if it meant breaking the rules.

With his magic, he could easily hunt down criminals lurking in the city's underbelly and take their money.

"This is the best plan for now."

Although it wouldn't provide a steady income, it was suitable for immediate funding. With his decision made, Renok got up from the bed.

To catch fish, one must go where the water is abundant.

Sweeping up the items he had laid on the bed, Renok left the room, paid for the night at the counter, and stepped outside.

He moved into the shade to avoid the intense sunlight.

His head was spinning, and he was starting to feel short of breath, but Renok suppressed the urge to smoke a cigarette.

'I have to endure.'

If he started smoking cigarettes out of habit, there would be no way to prevent long-term damage to his body.

Moreover, if he started smoking now, it would be like a time limit before the side effects kicked in.

If he wasn't in a hurry, he needed to avoid smoking as much as possible and act with a clear mind.

Observing the hundreds of people walking the streets from the shade, Renok turned his head.

He didn't know where to go, but a direction began to feel right.

'That way.'

In the heart of the city, where countless life signals intersected, Renok's innate talent caught a faint thread of magic.

A damp and sticky magical aura rising from a corner of the city.

Although it was a new sensation, Renok instinctively realized that this was the magic of those who lived in the shadows.

The magic of criminals who fed on the blood of others in the dark and parasitized the city.

It was a place that suited Renok's current situation perfectly.

Following the trail of magic, he arrived at a chaotic street filled with large entertainment venues, gambling halls, various street vendors, and abandoned construction sites.

A sign reading "Sector 49" was discarded in a corner of the street.

Neon signs and bright lights assaulted the eyes, and the pungent smell of perfume and acrid smoke filled the air.

The street, shrouded in deep shadows even in broad daylight, was crowded with people who avoided making eye contact.

Despite the stark contrast to the bustling center of Balkan City, Renok was not particularly surprised.

In a massive city that had developed by embracing all industries and capital, it was unnecessary to understand the side effects and drawbacks of its growth.

Just as flies are drawn to where money accumulates, it was a common occurrence in the world Renok came from.

The attitude of people who not only ignored each other but also deliberately kept their distance and remained indifferent was evident everywhere.

Occasionally, a few people gathered in secluded spots to chat, but most disappeared into buildings with unknown purposes.

However, there was a way to eavesdrop on their conversations, especially for Renok.

Finding a spot in a corner of the street, he focused his magic on his ears. The process came naturally without any guidance.

His hearing quickly became acute, and he began to pick up sounds from all around.

Renok leaned against the wall and listened to all the sounds coming from inside the buildings.

"They're looking for an agency to lobby for the selection of construction companies in the 17th development zone. The terms are 80-20."

"The engineer who was testing the new AI in the unarmed state of the Palmus Corporation disappeared. They'll probably hire a replacement soon."

"I want to ask a druid to participate in the green belt reduction plan. I plan to smuggle out one of the T9 endangered species."

Many conversations were dangerous and seemed profitable, but he had no intention of getting involved in situations he couldn't understand immediately.

He quickly brushed off unfamiliar words and expanded his range.

His senses rapidly expanded, quickly encompassing the entire street and absorbing all the sounds.

Although he had only started using magic properly for less than a week, Renok's magic control had already far surpassed his perception.

He skipped over conversations that seemed too dangerous or overly complex.

Occasionally, he encountered spaces shielded from his magic, but he ignored them.

What he was looking for was a simple and low-risk event that he could easily get involved in and that would yield some money.

It was about catching capital in the city's jungle, far from the shadows of law and regulation.

When his magic reached a damp alley where the street and sewers intersected:

"Bring the stolen money quickly. Can't you hear me?"

"...I found it."

Renok's eyes lit up, and he quickly moved.

In a damp, nameless back alley, water trickled along the ground, and smoke from ventilation fans filled the air from the distant factories.

Two men were mercilessly kicking a man lying on the ground.

Thud! Thud!

"....What did I say?"

The man who was leading the kicking lit a cigarette with trembling hands.

"If we do this job well, there won't be any problems. But why did you lose the money you stole so well? Huh?"

"It's not a lie... It really disappeared on the way..."

Crack!!

The older man's head snapped back as he tried to explain with a bloodied face.

The man standing next to the one swinging his arms in anger shook his head.

"There's no answer. We need to combine the money this guy brought to pay this month's installment..."

"Huff, huff... This is the third time. This time, that dwarf won't let it go."

"Here's what we'll do."

The man's eyes glinted dangerously.

"Let's beat one of them and sell their organs."

His companion grinned.

"You and I think alike."

Their gazes simultaneously fell on the man lying on the ground.

The moment he realized their intent, the man's face turned pale.

"Ughhhhh!!!"

"Aaaaaaaah!!!"

Suddenly, the two men's eyes rolled back, and they began to tremble violently.

Foaming at the mouth and convulsing, they fell to the ground. Behind them, Renok emerged.

A cigarette was already in his mouth.

"Hmm."

Blue electrical currents flickered from his hands.

"Very effective."

It was a basic bolt spell, but it was more than enough to knock out two people.

Renok ignored the man staring at him in shock and began to search the pockets of the two fallen men.

While a normal person might feel some guilt, Renok felt none when thinking of robbing a failed organ trafficker.

He took the cash from their wallets, and also collected the watches and jewelry they were wearing.

Finally, he searched their pockets for anything useful and found something hard in the pocket of the man who had been the most aggressive.

"What's this?"

He pulled it out, and the older man, terrified, fell to the ground again.

"Ah! Don't point it at me!"

It was a metallic object with a design similar to a fountain pen. When he pressed the button in the middle, a whirring sound, like an engine, was heard.

Moreover, a faint magical light seeped through the circuit-like patterns on its surface, indicating it was not an ordinary item.

"This is a modified laser cutter from the Dyke Corporation. It can cut through steel plates. It's a monster. If it hits a person, they'll be sliced in half..."

"Hmm....."

Do the thugs in this world carry such items as weapons?

'If the goal is cutting, using magic would be more convenient...'

Renok thought but ultimately decided to keep the pen-like cutter.

He only had five bullets left for his gun. More defensive tools were always better.

After gathering everything he needed, Renok stood up and looked at the man who had not run away.

He had chosen the simplest and least risky event among the incidents happening in this area, but it might be best to eliminate the witness.

"Will knocking him out erase his memory?"

As Renok muttered, generating electricity in his hand, the man trembled.

"I won't tell anyone, I swear!!"

"Words are easy to say."

The man, frightened by Renok's cold response, asked:

"If you want something..."

"I've only been in this city for a short time."

Renok smiled.

"I'm looking for a job."

Library

Watching the man run away in a panic, Renok composed his tired expression.

He had considered killing him to ensure his silence, but no matter how much Renok had become more cold-hearted, he wasn't cruel enough to kill an innocent person.

He had no hesitation in killing the supervisors who had brutally mistreated him in the factory, but this situation was different.

He had the man's contact information, so if any trouble arose from this incident, he could deal with it later.

The thugs' anger would be sky-high, but that was not Renok's concern.

As he left the damp alley, he counted the money he had taken.

"....Not bad?"

They had been short of money to pay their installment, but they had a significant amount.

The total from both men was about 700,000 cells, which would allow Renok to stay in the hotel for about four more days after covering various expenses.

For a single robbery of street thugs, it was a decent haul.

With the money, Renok immediately left the entertainment district and bought new clothes at a nearby store.

The clothes he was wearing were too ill-fitting and drew unnecessary attention.

A proper shirt and jeans would make him blend in anywhere.

Returning to Sector 49, Renok walked around the area and found a shabby pharmacy with a barely visible sign.

When the door opened, a haggard pharmacist weakly looked up to confirm the customer.

"Sleeping pills. How much for a week's supply?"

The pharmacist slowly replied.

"150,000 cells."

The price was higher than expected, but Renok handed over the money and received seven packets of pills.

It was a necessary item to resolve the insomnia that had plagued him.

Having experienced the agony of sleepless nights in the factory, Renok had no intention of going through that pain again.

He had confirmed that smoking cigarettes in succession would make him fall asleep, but it was foolish to endure the side effects just to sleep.

Although he was using doping for necessity, he needed to avoid overexerting his already weak body.

With the necessary funds secured and a means to sleep properly, he had some breathing room.

Renok left Sector 49 and headed straight for the bustling city center.

Following directions from passersby, he arrived at a large library at the end of the bustling area, a ten-story building used entirely for storing books and data.

Renok shook off the lingering cigarette smell and found a seat inside the library.

The first thing he needed to look for was not general information about this world, but knowledge about magic.

'The most important thing is to maximize my magical abilities. Everything else can wait.'

Since waking up here, various events had occurred, but Renok clearly remembered the penalties imposed on this body.

The various negative traits he had used to boost his magical talent through the Karma System.

Among them, the most critical was "Life Drain."

A trait that drastically reduced his lifespan in exchange for talent, making him a ticking time bomb.

'Now that I think about it, the existence of such a trait was strange.'

If he had noticed the oddity of applying a lifespan-related trait to a game character without a lifespan, things might have been different.

But regretting it now was meaningless.

Ultimately, his goal was set to one thing: survival.

He needed to find a way to extend his time, which was melting away like a short candle.

And the closest answer was in his hands.

'Magic related to time... There might be a way in the highest-level unique magic.'

When playing as a Mage in Mage Corps, he had wanted to learn but couldn't due to his class restrictions, the unique magic (Sinister).

Renok was well aware of the power and greatness of his magical talent and had a good idea of the process needed to use it effectively.

Fortunately, the magic-related category occupied an entire floor, with many books and data organized.

Renok started by taking out all the introductory books he could find and began to read them.

'Methods to sense mana, principles of storing it in the body, dangers of mana control, fifteen necessary preparations for using magic....'

These were meaningless to Renok, who had awakened his mana and started using magic in just three days.

He skipped them boldly.

He read through the books at a rapid pace, flipping through dozens to hundreds of pages.

The pages stopped abruptly at the last chapter.

'Mana patterns. There was such a concept.'

It was a concept he knew but didn't need to pay attention to when playing as a Mage in Mage Corps, so Renok focused on reading the book.

According to the book, a mana pattern is created when a mage awakens their mana, and it leaves a trace every time they use magic.

The book described the pattern as a mage's fingerprint, stating that once it solidifies, it cannot be changed.

'However, it says that from level 8 Great Mages, who can adjust mana at the particle level, it becomes meaningless... What level is level 8?'

In the WORLD 2.0 where Renok played