The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 232

230. Solemnis Defense Agency (3)

[Doppelganger Doll]

[Skeleton Key]

[Mini-Mini Cookie]

I scoured the Point Shop, nearly blind, before finally selecting these three items. They cost a total of 274,000 points. Ridiculously expensive, considering they were all single-use or limited to a few uses. An SS-class monster costs a million points, so 300,000 points must be enough to catch at least an S-class dungeon boss monster. I should avoid overspending, but oh well.

First, I bought the Skeleton Key. A small card key appeared in my hand.

[Skeleton Key – Grade A

A key that can open any lock below S-grade without being detected.
Available uses: 3/3]

It was an A-grade item, but a consumable limited to three uses. If it weren’t a consumable, it would have cost over a million points. Next, I purchased the Doppelganger Doll. This time, a round bead was placed in my hand.

[Doppelganger Doll – Grade B

A lifelike doll that looks exactly like the user. Noticeable upon close inspection. Difficult to fool senses above S-grade, even from a distance.
Duration: 1 day]

The Point Shop was truly amazing the more I looked at it. You could get these miscellaneous items as dungeon rewards, but they were random drops, and you couldn’t carry everything around with you.

Even the Doppelganger Doll was an item that occasionally appeared in A to B-grade dungeons, usually only used as bait in emergencies. It wasn’t very useful for its grade and just took up inventory space, so I naturally didn’t have one.

But it was very useful now.

A shop where you can buy the items you need right away, anytime, anywhere. The required points are high compared to the item’s value, but considering the convenience, it’s not expensive at all.

I want to keep using it even after leaving the dungeon. If I have enough points, I’m practically invincible outside of combat. I could do all sorts of schemes.

I dramatically pulled the blanket over my head.

“What are you doing!”

The A-grade shouted, telling me not to do anything suspicious. Afraid he would come closer, I quickly poked only my eyes out from under the blanket and said,

“It’s too bright. Isn’t it better than turning off the light? And it doesn’t seem like you’re going to turn it off.”

Then, I went back under the blanket and used the Doppelganger Doll. As soon as the doll, which looked exactly like me, was completed, I used the Stealth skill. I subtly switched places with the doll, pretending to toss and turn, and slipped down under the bed.

“I’ll switch to a night light, so stick your head out. I’ll even prepare an eye mask for you.”

“Ah, no, it’s okay. I’ll just sleep on my stomach. Turn on the night light, and don’t turn off the TV even after I fall asleep!”

While arguing, I used the Skeleton Key to unlock the necklace around my neck and put it on the doll. Then, I made the doll lie on its stomach as naturally as possible. Since the blanket covered up to its neck and it had a fluffy pillow, it would be hard to notice it was fake unless someone lifted it up. Moreover, like a high-performance item, its body rose and fell slightly as if it were breathing.

The A-grade, who was about to come towards me, seemed relieved when he saw my head sticking out and switched to the night light. With this, it would be even harder to notice that the sleeping me was fake. He’d probably only find out around dawn.

I quietly moved and entered the bathroom, which I had left ajar earlier. I carefully put on the Wildcat Shoes to avoid making noise. Then, I put on a jacket to enhance the stealth effect. The TV was quite loud, so even the A-grade wouldn’t be able to notice me rustling around.

After finishing equipping my gear, I looked up. I saw the vent on the bathroom wall. To avoid making noise, I reluctantly used the key to remove the panel blocking it, revealing a hole connected to the outside. Of course, it wasn’t big enough for a person to pass through.

[Mini-Mini Cookie – Grade S

A cookie that shrinks the user’s size, including equipped gear, to 1/10th of their original size for users below SS-grade.
Single-use, lasts 30 minutes]

It was a single-use item that lasted only 30 minutes, yet it was an S-grade item that took the most points.

‘But it’s useful.’

I checked the outside situation once and ate the cookie. Instantly, my body shrank, and a timer window popped up. I had shrunk to the maximum, so I was less than 20 centimeters tall. Maybe a little bigger than my phone.

‘This is a strange feeling.’

If there were no time limit, I’d want to give it to Noah. He also had miniaturization and fluidization skills, so would he save up points to buy it? I’d rather recommend attack-type or other helpful skills.

I walked up the wall using the Golden Wildcat Shoes skill. It wasn’t just adhesion; it really felt like walking on flat ground. I entered the vent and walked along the narrow passage. Soon, a fork appeared in the road. Judging by the air and wind direction, the right side seemed to be the exit.

‘There’s no need to go out right away.’

The chances of them finding out I escaped were low until morning. Besides, Sigma and the S-grade guards would be away from the Defense Agency.

From what I’d occasionally asked and overheard, they could detect when monsters above S-grade were generated in the city. Our neighborhood could predict the dungeon saturation state before the regression, so it seemed like a similar research result.

They could predict it two to four days in advance, so unless there was a forecast of monsters above S-grade appearing, Sigma and the S-grade guards had no reason to go out. But today was different. Due to the unprecedented situation of an unpredictable SS-grade monster appearing because of the disc installation, they would be patrolling for a while.

I felt a tiny bit sorry for giving them extra work.

Anyway, if Sigma, the only SS-grade, wasn’t there, I wouldn’t get caught even if I wandered around a bit.

‘Of course, I can’t let my guard down.’

I had to be careful, just in case they said they left but didn’t. I checked to see if there was anything to take, and most importantly, my 100 million L [currency] and the items I had worked hard to shop for! Everything I hadn’t put in my inventory was gone. At least my ID and transit pass were in my inventory, probably because they were made from byproducts, but give me back my card, you bastard!

I entered the passage on the opposite side of where I felt the wind. The passage connected to a hallway. Since there was no one in the hallway, I quietly pried the blocked panel inward without using the key this time. Then, I climbed onto the ceiling and lay flat.

‘I’ve only used 270,000 points so far.’

With that in mind, I should use about 300,000 more points. I boldly invested 200,000 points to buy a gift set for Sigma. It’s a small token, but I hope he’ll be happy.

“What’s up with that C-grade?”

“I heard it’s related to the sudden appearance of the SS-grade monster.”

“No way. If it was that dangerous, they would have taken care of it right away.”

Two A-grades walked by, talking about me. I quietly followed them along the ceiling. This area didn’t seem to have any mini-portals because there were no dungeons. Even though security was strict, it was just a regular door with a card key, password, iris scan, and fingerprint recognition. Thanks to that, I could easily pass through the door without using the key if I waited a little.

‘I’ve roughly looked around the inside of the Defense Agency.’

Of course, not all of it. It was so big, and there was no need to look closely at the dormitories, lounges, and cafeteria. I just snuck out the late-night snacks they had prepared. There were many vending machines, but I couldn’t use them because I didn’t have a card.

I roughly skimmed the outer living facilities to check the escape routes and then returned to the center of the Defense Agency. It wasn’t easy to move around because the areas with the main facilities were heavily guarded. I couldn’t even think about entering the Mana Hall. Not that I needed to.

‘It’s comforting that everyone is at least C-grade or higher, whether it’s because it’s night or because it’s the Defense Agency.’

Even if I got caught, I’d just suffer some financial loss. I kept a close watch, just in case Sigma or an S-grade returned, and continued to follow the A-grades closely. After confirming their identities and opening the door three times, the A-grades finally arrived at the place I had been hoping for.

The Defense Agency’s Upper-Level Guard Equipment Room.

I perked up my ears at the A-grade’s voice complaining that weapon repairs took too long and he had to get a new one. It was worth sticking to them persistently.

“The equipment room itself has an inventory sealing contract installed. Entering the entrance is considered consent to the inventory seal and is applied immediately. The contract is automatically解除 [released] when you exit the entrance. No one here has A-grade or higher curse resistance skills, right?”

The equipment room manager said. When an inventory seal is installed in a certain area, the contract is applied through explanation and consent like that. It seems like it doesn’t work if you have A-grade or higher curse resistance.

I followed the A-grades into the equipment room. There was a separate storage room for consumable items, and this room only had equipment items. And since it was for upper-level personnel, everything was A-grade or higher!

‘It’s a buffet.’

With an excited heart, I carefully looked around. The A-grades seemed to have something in mind, so they quickly grabbed their weapons and left, leaving me alone in the equipment room. There were no people, but surveillance cameras were installed everywhere.

Most of the weapons were A-grade, and some of the other equipment was S-grade. But there wasn’t anything that was good enough to be amazed by. They had better performance than market products, but still.

‘It’s a bit disappointing to only take this much after coming all the way here.’

It’s a meager reward for being dragged here and even subjected to quasi-torture. Could this be all the items in the equipment room? Usually, valuable items are stored separately. There should be a secret storage room or a vault.

I checked the surveillance cameras attached to all sides. Usually, only one camera was pointed at one location, and there were quite a few blind spots. But the surveillance cameras that were gathered together stood out.

The wall inside. Three surveillance cameras were pointing at it simultaneously. It was like saying, “I’m suspicious, so please check me out.”

‘I’m not asking for much, just an SS-grade sword, please.’

The method of finding it wasn’t difficult. Of course, it would be locked. I took out the Skeleton Key with one use left. Should I buy another one? It’s useful.

I slowly moved the Skeleton Key, which was being closely watched by the surveillance cameras, against the wall. Before long, a message window popped up.

[This is a lock below S-grade. Would you like to use the key?]

I can’t hide opening this and going inside. I have to assume I’ll get caught and move quickly.

Before opening the door, I organized my inventory. I went to a blind spot of the surveillance cameras and threw away anything that wasn’t absolutely necessary. Sleeping bag… what should I do? I can buy it in Akates City, so should I just close my eyes and throw it away? Anyway, I’ll have to stay up all night because I’m afraid of monsters on the way.

Regretting it, I took out the sleeping bag and made my inventory spacious. This time, I opened the Point Shop. If I just grab everything and run, the security will be tightened, Sigma will hear about it, and there’s a high chance that my escape will be discovered quickly.

[Glutton’s Auxiliary Mud – Grade S

Perfectly replicates items below SS-grade, including performance. After 30 minutes, it turns into a model with no abilities.
Single-use]

It was a consumable item that was quite famous and useful before the regression [time travel]. There were B to S-grades, and the S-grade mud allowed you to replicate and use rare SS-grade equipment for 30 minutes, so S-grade hunters carried one or two with them.

‘Expensive.’

I bought two S-grade muds that applied to items below SS-grade and five A-grade muds that applied to items below S-grade. There probably aren’t many SS-grade equipment, but just in case, I kept the Point Shop window open so I could buy them at any time.

Then, I approached the secret door again and used the Skeleton Key. The completely consumed key crumbled to dust, and the door opened. I immediately jumped inside. I saw equipment displayed in a room much smaller than the outside. My hands moved before my eyes could confirm.

‘S-grade, S-grade, ah, SS-grade! S-grade, S-grade S, S, S… another SS!’

But why isn’t there a sword! I quickly touched them, but there were no SS-grade weapons. Well, weapons would be in Sigma’s and the S-grades’ inventories. The ones here would be spares, so I couldn’t expect as much. Well, this is still something.

I didn’t have time to choose properly, so I hurriedly replaced the roughly picked equipment with fakes. As soon as I went out to the general equipment room, the door burst open.

“No one’s here? Is the device malfunctioning?”

“Check it out!”

Taking advantage of the gap when people rushed in, I quickly slipped out. The fact that there were no warning broadcasts or anything until I reached the entrance to the outside meant that they had simply judged it as a mechanical error. If they slowly looked at the surveillance camera footage, they would know that the equipment had been switched, but they couldn’t have seen it properly because I ran out as soon as the door opened. Since everything looked fine, there was no reason to look back.

‘Then, Sigma, let’s not meet again.’

I’ll generously forget about the 100 million L and my items. I looked at the Defense Agency building one last time and slipped into the street, which was as quiet as a mouse because everyone had evacuated.

‘Everything’s fine.’

I got a little lost because I didn’t know the way, but I safely found the place where I had hidden my luggage. My backpack was safe, and my folding scooter was waiting for me in perfect condition. I put the backpack on my back and unfolded the scooter.

The scooter, which cost nearly 10 million L, was sturdy, fast, and could run for up to three days without stopping when fully charged. It also had B-grade stealth applied and was a quasi-item scooter that was compatible with the rider’s skills.

I want to take this to our neighborhood. If I had the ability, I’d steal some technology. I should have brought Myungwoo.

I rode the scooter towards the city’s outer defense wall. The tall wall built in the darkness appeared before my eyes. The wall itself didn’t have any special defense facilities, and it scanned the surrounding bio-reactions every 30 minutes to watch out for monsters with stealth skills.

Keeping a sufficient distance, I looked at the watchtower with binoculars. After a while, the light flickered a few times in the watchtower. It’s scanning now. After waiting for about 10 minutes, I approached the wall.

I folded the scooter and climbed the wall. I minimized the sound of my footsteps and quickly climbed to the end, then climbed down to the other side again. The watchtower was quiet. I got on the scooter after moving away to some extent so they wouldn’t hear the sound.

There was a road between the two cities because they weren’t completely isolated. I was told that I just had to follow this road.

‘I saved one life.’

I hope I can use less than two lives and arrive in Akates City. As long as I don’t encounter an SS-grade monster, I should be fine. If Sigma was Sung Hyunjae, I would have safely gone to another city, but I can’t help it that it’s gone wrong.

‘If I join Yoohyun, everything will be smooth sailing after that.’

Alpha must be Yoohyun. …Please let him be my brother. I hope he welcomes me, saying that my brother has suffered a lot. I’m worried that Akates City doesn’t treat guards very well, but he’s an SS-grade, so his treatment won’t be too bad.

Hoping that I can install the disc easily this time without any problems, I started the scooter along the road that wasn’t even paved, just barely had a shape.