[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world":3,"chapter-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-588":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Level 4 Human in a Ruined World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1848602,2454,"Chapter 588","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-588",588,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 588: Quagmire (5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightning Rod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the legendary spear that Architect Lemu gave Yeongwoo as a wedding gift substitute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it contained one trap-like feature that Lemu had embedded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was one of the Lightning Rod’s special abilities, “Lemu’s Seal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Lemu’s Seal】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Every time you pronounce ‘Lemu,’ you receive a thrilling jolt of lightning damage and gain favor with machines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the effect triggered every time one uttered Lemu’s name, the weapon ironically ensured that Yeongwoo could never forget Lemu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he had already benefited greatly from this weapon when infiltrating Weapon Merchant Koatu’s vault area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its effect of enchanting machines had been truly formidable, and so:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I don’t know if it’ll work again this time… but there’s no reason not to try.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo, worried the seal might strengthen if he spoke the name aloud, gripped the Lightning Rod directly and looked toward the three machines that had been watching them silently until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If Lemu’s Seal works again… that would mean Lemu foresaw this future as well through the plates.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if that were true, Yeongwoo would no longer be able to predict Lemu’s intentions at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How do you play a game of minds against someone who sees the future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if he received Lemu’s help yet again, he’d practically owe him a life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At that point it really is a grand courtship. Should I go around advertising Lemu now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when Yeongwoo reached that thought, the rain of coins falling overhead finally stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire 42.5 billion won in cash had finished dropping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…In that case…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Yeongwoo murmured this, the towering rectangular mass of tightly stacked coins began collapsing all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chwararara…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at the same time, Kejen urgently shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Prestige!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Same as in the dueling arena. Prestige doesn’t activate inside the trading arena either! So do something!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What—why are you telling me now? And the opponents are machines of all things…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of every race imaginable, machines were the ones who needed Prestige the least.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their physical capability alone was leagues above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwa-gwa-gwat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coins crashed even onto the transparent cloak concealing Yeongwoo, finally revealing his position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as if the machines had been waiting specifically for that, they reacted the instant his silhouette appeared beneath the coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pwoooong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two machines flanking the central giant figure suddenly dashed off in different directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–They’re blocking the escape route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen locked onto the one sprinting toward the distant exit path, a slender, extremely fast machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as expected, upon reaching the exit area, it threw something on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It instantly expanded into a massive steel block, sealing the entire exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the other machine—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWA-ANG, KWA-AANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—came charging at Yeongwoo’s group with monstrous footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That must be the combat unit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine rushing straight at them resembled a gorilla and even ran on all fours like one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad! Try ‘persuading’ it first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wh-what…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though bewildered by his son’s order, Jeonggu raised the Aratubank close to his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAAT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he hugged an armful of Katangdal Ingots with his other arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And said, trembling:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-you’re here… t-to pick up your goods…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, the ‘gorilla’ gave its greeting in the form of a fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>HWAAAAAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“AAAGH!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Persuasion: failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, the opponent didn’t seem to have any intention of listening to words in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-Yeongwoo!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the enormous fist hurtled toward him, Jeonggu instinctively cried out for his son, and in that very same instant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PWAAAAAK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monstrous machine fist slammed into the surface of the Aratubank and buried Jeonggu into the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWA-A-A-AANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–We’re doomed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen reacted first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed one of the Katangdal Ingots buried in the coin pile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo thought Kejen was taking the ingot to run away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–What are you doing, idiot!? Fight back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen hurled the ingot right at the gorilla attacking Jeonggu, trying to create even the slightest interruption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>HWEAAT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was not just any object but a trade item, the gorilla momentarily dropped Jeonggu and snatched the ingot with one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tup!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And thanks to that brief moment, Yeongwoo found an opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swung Bastard from within the cloak, cutting off the gorilla’s right arm before it could react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWA-A-A-AAT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Oh…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evidently not expecting a mythic weapon to burst from the cloak, the gorilla showed its first bewildered expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KU-UUUNG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stepped back the moment its severed arm hit the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–So you weren’t just petty thieves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gorilla finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo shrugged off the cloak, slid Bastard into his belt, and then immediately drew it back out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was recharging the weapon’s “First Strike” effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「First Strike」 – Mutated One-Handed Sword\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【First attack damage +20%. Recharges on sheathing.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, isn’t it weird for a petty thief to be carrying 25 ingots?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gorilla didn’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, it slowly rose upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SHEOK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stood on two legs, like a person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it raised its remaining arm at a right angle, as if holding up something invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bizarre posture made Yeongwoo tense instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the space above the gorilla split open, and the machine swordsman from earlier leapt out mid-swing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thin one and the gorilla had been functioning as a teleport relay for the swordsman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swordsman’s blade resembled a tuning fork, two parallel edges producing an eerie vibration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>GWEEEAAAAK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You crazy bastard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo swung Bastard to intercept the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KAAAAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their blades clashed mid-air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever ability the opponent’s weapon had, the instant it touched Bastard, all nearby coins and ingots trembled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Dueling with a Sword Tournament Champion +0.2」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A system message unexpectedly obscured part of Yeongwoo’s vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vision went black right after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PAAAACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine swordsman headbutted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh—! Fuck!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expecting a follow-up, Yeongwoo sharpened every sense, waiting to catch the hologram warning even with closed eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he reflexively reopened them, the opponent had stepped back instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–A planetary ship…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine swordsman had received a Prestige notification as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically: “Dueling with a Planetary Ship Owner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the situation, Yeongwoo blurted out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! That’s Yur!’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swordsman looked around as if unable to comprehend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then pointed his tuning-fork blade at Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–You… are the owner of a planetary ship?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo heard that line often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to reply, “And you’re a sword tournament champion?” but the words wouldn’t leave his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because in those short exchanges, he had felt the opponent’s true skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Yeah, that bastard is the real deal.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it wasn’t that Yeongwoo was a fake planetary ship owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But being treated like a universe-spanning VIP was… obviously a stretch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was nowhere near someone like President Dogo, nor did he have the presence or power of fellow Earthling Headmistress Herisa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-how about… we call it a draw?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo smiled slyly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–…A draw?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. Facing a planetary ship owner normally costs money. You got to enjoy it for free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–……?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I was rude too, so let’s call it even.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swordsman rolled his glowing red pupils around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Ah. Rudeness. Yes, that’s right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–But I am curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…About what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–About how well the marvel of the universe can fight!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“OH SHIT!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s scream was drowned beneath the swordsman’s vicious roar as he swung his blade again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>GWEEEEEAK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected from a sword tournament champion, absurdly aggressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the fact that he had come to buy twenty-five Katangdal Ingots meant he was almost certainly constructing a ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting the owner of the greatest ship design in the universe, the planetary ship, he definitely wasn't going to stay calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>TRAAAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bastard rang violently as Yeongwoo barely guarded, the surrounding metals vibrating again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His arm trembled like a leaf against the sheer force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One more exchange and I’m done for.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the swordsman was absolutely not his opponent, Yeongwoo held up the Lightning Rod in his free hand and shouted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“L… Lemu! Lemu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–……!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White lightning blasted down on Yeongwoo's head, then arced into the swordsman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PACHICHIT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brain-scorching jolt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swordsman’s pupils shifted from red to orange as he scanned the Lightning Rod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–…This is…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had recognized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not Lemu’s Seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWA-A-A-AAT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had recognized that the weapon itself was about to open a nearby space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lightning Rod was also a teleportation device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing space distort at the edge of his vision, Yeongwoo forgot the duel for a moment and turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the newly opened space, Architect Lemu stepped out in a silver-white body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh—? Lemu—sir! How did you get here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that split second, Yeongwoo understood many things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example: the Earthship’s location must have been transmitted to Lemu in real time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been carrying Lemu’s teleport device all along, of course its location would be exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Lemu solemnly drew his sword and declared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Your development is progressing faster than the Machine Tower predicted. And so, your moment of demise has also come earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? This place was supposed to be my grave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lemu pointed toward the steel-blocked exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Go. The future is still being written, and I am still holding its tail end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He meant: if he bought time, Yeongwoo could escape and survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if someone who peeks into the Records says so, it must be true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo reflexively stepped forward—then looked down at the coins and ingots blocking his shins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry but—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–……?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long… can you hold that tail end?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1590,"2026-06-09T07:04:15.797Z",1,"novelbin.me","87eea95b99f90cfb1ae763c4f2e24ca49c3d476bc638186b6b15a23917edc569","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-589","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-587",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]