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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 30: Necropolis (1)
The door leading to the boss room...
In front of it, red-glowing ores were embedded here and there on the walls.
〔Is this the bloodstone I've heard about?〕
'Yes. It's quite expensive.'
From the size of watermelon seeds to fingernails...
Bloodstones, which had grown by absorbing the Gate's mana, caught his eye.
'No wonder the Red Spider keeps a tight grip on this place.'
Yoojin quickly averted his gaze from the wall.
〔Aren't you tempted?〕
'A long tail will only get you caught.'
〔Wise words. Small humans often ruin things with excessive greed.〕
Yoojin chuckled briefly.
'I know how to distinguish between what I can and cannot handle.'
This Gate was more valuable than a gold mine.
The Red Spider wouldn't have prepared only these measures.
Even with the communication blocked by the formation...
It wouldn't take long for them to notice the anomaly.
'I need to conquer the Gate and get out before that.'
Yoojin placed his hand on the iron door at the end of the cave.
Screech!
The door slid open with a loud noise.
[Giant Red Slime]
The boss monster of the Crimson Lair was a large slime with three cores in its body.
"Kyuing!"
The boss monster exploded with a strange shriek.
Despite being a boss monster, it couldn't hold out for long against Fafnir.
Fafnir snorted like a living creature.
【Hmph, how boring.】
"It's not like the Red Spider couldn't conquer it."
It was a boss monster deliberately left alone for the sake of mining bloodstones.
It couldn't last long against Fafnir, who possessed power exceeding 3 Stars and unleashed a fierce onslaught, squeezing out his remaining Spirit Power.
A small orb and a skill book dropped from the exploded slime's body.
[Slime Core]
Rank: Rare
Category: Miscellaneous
Durability: 37/50
The core of a giant slime. It has the effect of concentrating mana.
[Energy Bolt]
Rank: Rare
Category: Skill Book
Restriction: Magic-user class, 3 Stars, one fire attribute magic proficiency over 80%, one wind attribute magic proficiency over 70%
Durability: 10/10
Condenses energy and fires it in the form of an arrow.
〔How ironic. You could also use the Slime Core as a golem core.〕
'It's output is too low to be used as a core for operating a golem.'
'Don't worry, it won't overlap with your position.'
He had just obtained a corpse that could utilize the Slime Core anyway.
The Energy Bolt skill book was an unexpected bonus.
Magic skill books were rare.
He could sell it or give it to Lee Seongmin of the Little Runts Team.
When he finished the conquest and came out, the bright moonlight still greeted him.
"That was faster than I expected."
"Did you have faith that I would succeed?"
"I wouldn't have given you the request if I didn't think the chances were high."
The owner of the Milky Way Pub had quite a high opinion of him.
"What about the Red Spider?"
"They've noticed that communication has been cut off. They'll be moving soon."
【Then shouldn't we hurry?】
"She's probably already prepared an escape route."
Yoojin replied calmly.
"You're no fun to tease."
Oh Hyunjeong grumbled and led the way.
＊ ＊ ＊
Yoojin and his party returned to the pub.
Oh Hyunjeong brought out a machine the size of a compact car from the pub's storage.
MIS-4
The next-generation magic engineering engine created by Myth Corporation.
"Would you like to check if it's genuine?"
"I doubt you'd play tricks in a place like this."
"Well, I'll show you that it works properly."
She connected it to a generator.
When she pressed the operation button, the engine sputtered to life. Gears whirred, pistons pumped, and the whole machine thrummed with power.
A wave of mana pulsed outward, bathing the room in an eerie light.
"That's a decent output."
"I can't be held responsible if there are any defects later."
"Isn't that a bit too unkind?"
"It's a prototype. You have to take that into account if any problems arise later."
Oh.
Was she just perceptive, or did she know something?
The MIS-4 was an incomplete engine with a fatal flaw from its inception.
If he used it as a golem core without any measures, it would break down before long.
'She's leaving herself an escape route.'
He was hoping to take credit for fixing the engine defect later, but it seemed difficult to find even a single weakness.
"I won't complain even if there's a problem with the product, so throw in some extra service."
"Delivery, you mean?"
"Yeah, it's a bit big to carry around."
When he gave her Shin Joonseok's workshop address, the Madam's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're quite close by?"
"I'll be mainly active in the border region."
"Then we might not see each other again."
"Why don't you just go ahead and curse me to die while you're at it?"
Muttering under his breath, Yoojin glanced at Fafnir standing behind him.
Thud—
"What's this?"
"Items from those Red Spider bastards."
"The Milky Way Pub specializes in mediating requests."
"If I handle it myself, it'll be the same as announcing who attacked them."
He had to provide some after-service.
Oh Hyunjeong's smooth brow furrowed slightly.
"We have a deal, so I have to keep it. But I'll have to charge a commission."
"10%."
"Stolen goods start at at least 40%, you know?"
"Hey, hiding my identity from the Red Spider was one of the conditions of the request."
Yoojin didn't back down a single step.
This was a rare experience for Oh Hyunjeong, being led by someone else's pace.
"...Fine."
"I'll write down my account number as well."
Yoojin's sly grin as he held the pen was infuriating.
After finishing his business in Ground Zero, the journey back to Shin Joonseok's workshop was more challenging than expected.
The biggest problem was Fafnir.
The Ring of Darkness could only store one corpse, so if he stored Fafnir, he would have to give up Jo Seungchul's body.
'That would be a waste.'
Quick Reload was a high-ranking unique trait among magic-user Hunters.
It would be quite useful if he turned him into an undead.
If he raised his rank and used various catalysts, he could create a minion he could use for a long time.
【Why not transport the corpse along with the engine delivery?】
"Our country's security isn't that lax."
What if they encountered the police while transporting a corpse?
He loaded Fafnir onto a truck and headed straight for the border region.
"Call me anytime for this kind of work."
The truck driver, who received a hefty payment, beamed with joy.
"My business partner, you managed to return safely."
"Why? Were you hoping I'd lose an arm or something?"
"It's Ground Zero, you know. I would have believed it even if you said you saw a ghost."
"Ah, I just happen to have a ghost to introduce you to."
- Hee hee hee!
Jo Seungchul, now a Specter, appeared with a ghostly wail.
"Oh, shit!!"
"Kekeke. Why are you so surprised?"
"How can I not be surprised? A ghost just popped out!"
One side of Yoojin's cheek twitched.
'This is a masterpiece. This is truly a masterpiece.'
Even the future great alchemist was afraid of ghosts.
"Regarding the potion approval and mass production..."
"Let's talk later. I haven't slept a wink."
In Ground Zero, he had run himself ragged trying to find Oh Hyunjeong after she was attacked.
And he even conquered a 3 Star difficulty Gate alone.
In the process, he fought the Red Spider Hunters.
【Hearing you say you're tired makes you seem a bit more human.】
"Did you think I was an undead?"
【Not an undead, but maybe you were raised in a crypt.】
'He's full of it.'
Treating a perfectly healthy person like a corpse was too much.
"My business partner, please rest here."
Guided to the lounge attached to the workshop, Yoojin closed his eyes.
A little while later...
For the first time since turning back time, Yoojin had a dream.
＊ ＊ ＊
Consciousness sinking into the swamp of slumber...
A ray of light pierced the crown of his head, awakening Yoojin's mind.
'How long has it been since I closed my eyes?'
As he frowned and lifted his eyelids...
"Huh?"
A bewildered voice escaped his parted lips.
Instead of the white ceiling he saw before closing his eyes...
A colossal giant, filling the darkened world, dominated Yoojin's vision.
〔Have you arrived, Contractor?〕
'Kronos?'
〔Indeed. This is my old body.〕
'It's not okay to barge into someone's dream without warning.'
He should respect people's privacy.
Kronos burst into laughter at Yoojin's brief grumbling.
〔As my rank as a constellation rises, I can open a channel to the mortal I sponsor.〕
〔The one who connects to the channel is guided to the constellation's hall.〕
〔Connected to the hall of the constellation 'Heaven-Defying Giant'.〕
The space resembled the scene he saw in the Pantheon.
The only difference was...
Back then, Yoojin's 'star' shone faintly among countless constellations, but now it stood alone, radiating brilliantly.
'So this is what those sponsored by constellations were talking about.'
Hunters with patron constellations often had their souls connected to the constellation's hall while unconscious.
It was an opportunity gained by getting closer to the constellation.
Hunters summoned to the hall often received more powerful blessings.
Even if there were no tangible rewards, they could gain enlightenment by meeting a powerful spiritual being.
'But you're not giving me anything?'
〔Is that all you have to say after seeing my magnificent form?〕
'Of course a Titan would have a large body.'
〔I haven't accumulated enough history as a constellation to bestow blessings upon you.〕
Damn it.
Even achievement quests in games tell you what to do.
'Tell me more specifically.'
〔It would be much better to receive help from that 'system' thing than for me to explain.〕
Snap!
Kronos snapped his fingers.
[The constellation Heaven-Defying Giant currently has no sacred relic.]
[A sacred relic is an object that anchors the existence of a constellation and serves as a symbol of faith for its followers.]
[Acquire a sacred relic suitable for the origin of the constellation.]
[There is no temple dedicated to the constellation. Find a suitable site and build a temple.]
[In addition, you can quickly raise your rank by exceeding your limits or achieving unregistered achievements within the system.]
Acquiring a sacred relic.
Building a temple.
And creating new undead.
'The third one will be naturally fulfilled as my rank increases.'
The problem was the sacred relic and the temple.
'It will be difficult to make them right away.'
Yoojin didn't think too deeply about the sacred relic.
There was another way to increase his influence as a constellation.
'Is there any way to get more divine spells?'
〔I told you, it was already pushing it to grant you the ones I did before.〕
How strict.
He was greedy because both Punishing Spike and Unholy Blessing were so powerful.
He smacked his lips in regret but quickly cut off his thoughts.
He had seen everything he needed to see.
As he decided to disconnect from the constellation's hall, the starlight shining above Yoojin gradually faded.
＊ ＊ ＊
Yawn—
Yoojin stretched and turned his head from side to side.
With popping sounds, his stiff body gradually loosened up.
【You must have been quite tired.】
"How long have I been asleep?"
【Half a day.】
"I slept longer than I thought."
Getting out of bed, Yoojin headed to the Little Runts Team's quarters.
Kang Minho, who had just finished eating, bowed his head.
"Hyung, you're awake?"
"Where are the others?"
"They're brushing their teeth, they'll be here soon."
"Good timing. I have something to discuss with you all."
Yoojin sat down on the makeshift mattress laid out in the room.
A little while later, the Little Runts Team gathered.
'Oppa, what's with the atmosphere?'
'Why is he acting so serious?'
'I don't know. He suddenly called us over.'
As the Little Runts Team exchanged uneasy glances...
Yoojin slowly opened his lips.
"What's your reason for being a Hunter?"
"To make a lot of money."
An honest answer, blurted out without hesitation.
Yoojin chuckled at Kang Minho's reply.
"That's a good mindset."
"I thought you'd say it was materialistic."
"I expected some nonsense about justice or wanting to be a hero."
"Come on, would we be following you if that were the case?"
Kang Minho spoke frankly, though he didn't grasp the intent behind the question.
"I have a proposition."
As Yoojin raised his index finger, the Little Runts Team's eyes naturally followed it.
"Become my subordinates. Officially."
"Weren't we already working as your subordinates?"
"Right now, it's just a temporary contract. And once my rank increases, you won't be able to keep up, will you?"
The Little Runts Team members were all 1 Star.
If he wanted to, he could surpass their level within half a month.
"So that's what you mean by official."
"You need to be able to follow in my footsteps."
It meant that they had to be at least not a burden to work alongside Yoojin.
In other words...
They had to become stronger.
"Can we become stronger if we follow you?"
"It will probably be incredibly difficult. You'll regret it every day and scream in agony."
"So if we endure that, we'll be able to keep up."
Yoojin smiled.
Understanding the unspoken affirmation in his smile, Kang Minho abruptly stood up.
"I want to follow you, Hyung."
"What about you two?"
The other Little Runts Team members, meeting Yoojin's gaze, shouted a beat later.
"Y-yes!"
"Please train us until we almost die!"
Although they were half-terrified, they were also burning with the will to follow him.
It felt strange that two future rankers were asking to be his subordinates.
He still wasn't sure what one of them was capable of, though.
"Then pack your bags. The road ahead will be tough."
"Where are we going?"
"The place we went to a few days ago."
"The border region..."
"We'll be staying there for a while, so pack plenty of extra food."
He planned to stay in the border region for at least a month.
Necropolis.
To create his own 'domain' that would be the core of his necromancy.
‘If you follow me, you'll definitely become stronger. But be prepared for the toughest challenges of your life.’
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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