[{"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-593":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},1848607,2454,"Chapter 593","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-593",593,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 593: The Great Exploration (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hypocrite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone who is evil in essence, but pretends to be good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, while fundamentally close to evil, if that hypocrisy ultimately produces a good outcome… can that too be called good?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Obviously it’s good, isn’t it? You performed a good act in the end. At the moment you acted hypocritically, you were being good.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing that the Hypocrite Catalog was beginning to activate, Yeongwoo stepped into the ash-gray portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The portal’s characteristic sense of distortion swept across his entire body, and soon Kejen’s hideout filled his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see Kejen, who had arrived first and sat collapsed on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiiik!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo fully stepped out of the portal, Kejen looked at him with a thoroughly exhausted expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—This is the first time I’ve ever been this tired. Even when I stole the royal seal, it wasn’t this bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confirming that Jeonggu, Amana, and the Golden Goblin were coming in behind him, Yeongwoo slid his mythic sword Bastard into his belt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re only halfway done. Still, seems like we’ve passed most of the big hurdles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Halfway?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. If possible, we still have to sell the Selulite, and we still have to escape, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had plenty of Katangdal ingots remaining, but he’d already made two enemies since arriving here, so it was best to leave quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Katangdal ingots could be used later to modify or build ships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—True. That tracker bastard wouldn’t have gone back quietly. He’s probably requested additional support from the royal family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, the city’s huge. The odds of getting caught aren’t that high, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Inside the city, yes… but the zones where you can board a ship to depart are limited. If we waste too much time, we’ll have problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, the sooner they left, the lower the chances of complications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ziiiiing…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the Hypocrite Catalog emitted a strange activation hum as if preparing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, here it comes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What is?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Kejen tilted his head, a golden light spread across the center of Yeongwoo’s vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwaaaah!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Collection Effect: 5]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Damage to Evildoers +20%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s jaw dropped as he witnessed the first true ability of the Hypocrite Catalog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t this straight-up broken?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Wh-what is it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Hypocrite Catalog. I unlocked the first stage—damage to evildoers increases by 20%.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—20%…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Kejen also opened his mouth wide in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Jeonggu cut in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it’s not damage reduction but damage increase? For the Hypocrite Catalog? Its first ability is offensive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, right. That is weird.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo looked again at the Catalog’s first collection effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until now, the Catalog’s intrinsic ability had always been damage reduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically, damage reduction against the family or clan of the target toward whom the Catalog’s owner had acted hypocritically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, as befits a Catalog aligned with ‘good’ at least superficially, its abilities were defensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment he unlocked the Catalog’s full function—it gave offensive power instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? Why did it suddenly become an attack-type Catalog?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo muttered, Jeonggu spoke carelessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe because, in this universe, hypocrisy basically means… beating up evildoers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know—fake goodness or not, when you act it out, you inevitably end up fighting evildoers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the Catalog increased offensive capability so its owner could continue performing hypocrisy against evildoers—this was Jeonggu’s theory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In a sense, it’s still defensive. Most preemptive attacks come from evildoers anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded like nonsense, yet it wasn’t entirely wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it benefits me, so it’s automatically correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ability was effectively a damage increase against almost every enemy he’d ever face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo wasn’t a “good-deed doer,” but he had always clashed with evildoers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost certain that 80% of the enemies he’d fight in the future would also be evildoers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And I already have evildoer damage reduction too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo pulled out the milky-white coin he always kept in his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Emblem of Relief」 – Mythic Currency\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Light’s Mantle】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Damage taken from evildoers −20%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Chorus of Virtue】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| By using this token as collateral, you may borrow each of the following planets’ ultimate weapons once:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Doatel, Delmir, Shuaarel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Protection of the Shelbir Royal Family】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| This emblem substitutes for the royal seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ridiculous item was a token King Teroph had given him, claiming it would help with charitable operations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a symbol proving that this “villain” was in fact working for Doatel and the Shelbir royal family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If this emblem gives 20% damage reduction, then a damage increase on the Catalog shouldn’t be surprising.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having both damage increase and decrease was simply ideal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And clearly, when it came to morality-aligned abilities, the Catalog surpassed all others—except mythic Codices with outside-standard privileges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In pure offense, weapon codices are probably stronger… but still.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo pondered, Jeonggu stroked his chin and added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Stage 1 already gives +20% damage… what happens at Stage 2?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. Usually abilities get way stronger as you go up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next collection milestone for the Hypocrite Catalog was collection value 10.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning five more acts of hypocrisy remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It used to announce the remaining number each time, but now it’s silent.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because the first ability had already been unlocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after waiting, there was no notification of remaining hypocrisy count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo turned away from the Catalog and looked toward the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All right, let's summarize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much… no, how much I earned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I currently have 40.4 billion won in cash.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An involuntary gasp at the number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But 15 billion goes to Koatu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you keep 25.4 billion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And we have 13 Katangdal ingots.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were insane stolen goods looted practically under Mohir’s nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You gonna sell those too? At current rates, that’s about 1.5 billion each…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roughly 19.5 billion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not desperate for quick cash, and we can’t just sit here dealing forever. We’ll take them back with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Katangdal ingots are always useful. No need to rush selling them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen—desperate to leave the Kardal royal family’s reach—spoke with pleading eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, that’s a decent haul. Though we risked our lives for it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jeonggu said this, Yeongwoo stared at the high-value bills in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But after laundering the money, it won’t be that much. Still not enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And separate from the money—there was the possibility that the Catalog could activate again during laundering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, giving stolen wealth to an interstellar relief organization was arguably a form of hypocrisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But since I planned this from the start, the Catalog might not count it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it did count, he would effectively secure six acts of hypocrisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So all that remains now is… selling the Selulite?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeonggu folded his fingers one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo nodded while glancing at Amana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah—if a buyer appears. If no one wants it after waiting a bit, we just go home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amana opened her beak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—And what is that ‘bit’ of waiting?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What else? Until the famed bandit who owes me his life brings out something valuable to buy it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So essentially—he wouldn’t wait at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—But I must sell this. Absolutely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t surviving enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—My planet’s debt issue is as important as my life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo finally realized Amana’s face was full of stubbornness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’d sell it for half price, I could buy it now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You are truly rude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then forget it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shrugging, Yeongwoo looked back at Kejen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now it’s time to settle your life-debt. I’m very curious what your most precious item is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Kejen flinched and trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he didn’t seem intent on stealing his own life-payment—he raised two fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I’ll give you a choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A choice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Pick one of two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What two?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The most expensive thing. And the most precious thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Expensive versus precious? Smells fishy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Presenting options out of nowhere clearly implied ulterior motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo didn’t hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give me the precious one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because when you were desperate, the one you swore to give me was the ‘precious’ one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo repeated Kejen’s earlier plea word for word:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—P-please think again. You don’t know what else is in my hideout! If you spare me, I’ll give you the most precious thing I’ve hidden!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That life-payment had been the “most precious” item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now you suddenly want to give the expensive one instead? Means you changed your mind after surviving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo pierced through him, Kejen pressed his ears flat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—But… the expensive one is a good option too. You like money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Money is just quantified value. Stop talking and hand over your most precious item.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Yeongwoo cut off any possible escape route:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you say something rodent-like such as ‘my life is my most precious thing,’ I’ll cut your head off immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the sincerity in his tone, Kejen involuntarily stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You really are a bandit…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you only realized that now, no wonder your lifespan was short.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yeongwoo rested his hand on Bastard, Kejen rolled his eyes anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Fine. Don’t regret it. It’s not what you think at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just spit it out. I won’t regret it—hand it over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cornered, Kejen finally placed a hand on one of the many safes along the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…A map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A map? A map for what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo slightly drew his mythic sword, and Kejen glanced nervously at its crimson aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—A map. A map for finding myths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1579,"2026-06-09T07:04:15.797Z",1,"novelbin.me","a157e3eb8a9130ec301d32545a1e4ef8c2896934ddae4481b8913c1494434c1c","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-594","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-592",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]