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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 53
【"It's the first time a human is selling something to the Comet Store. Let's give it a try."】
【Your Constellation 'Sunny' watches you with intrigued eyes.】
Listening to the Constellation's voice and the system notification, I pressed the seller chat window that appeared on one side of the Comet Store.
A smaller chat window popped up on the sales window.
[Manager: How can I help you today?]
[Hong Baekya: Is selling also possible?]
[Manager: I'm sorry, customer. Our Comet Store does not purchase goods from regional servers.]
They don't purchase?
I wondered how they acquired items to sell, but I didn't express my curiosity.
Were there only one or two things in this world that I couldn't understand?
The important thing was to never stop trying to understand.
And to confidently push forward with my own interpretations.
[Hong Baekya: I have the core of a Rank 1 gate.]
Gate cores were the most sought-after resource in this era, second only to mana stones.
They were essential for creating space-type artifacts, especially defensive barriers installed in schools, government offices, and shelters.
If it were a 4th or 5th rank core, they wouldn't even bat an eye, but with a Rank 1 core, it might be a different story.
[Manager: Please wait a moment.]
As if to say my prediction was correct, an urgent notification popped up.
How many minutes had passed?
Ding. Ding. Ding.
Messages arrived in succession.
[Manager: Customer Hong Baekya.]
[Manager: First of all, we sincerely thank you for your boundless love and support for our company.]
[Manager: We would like to inform you that our Comet Store is interested in purchasing the Rank 1 gate core.]
Yes.
I knew it would work.
[Manager: We propose two sales methods.]
[Manager: 1. Auction, 2. Immediate purchase.]
[Manager: The auction will be held at the end of this month, and the starting bid for the Rank 1 gate core is 8 million Aitel achievement points. The commission fee upon successful bid is 25%.]
[Manager: In the case of immediate purchase, payment is possible as soon as you hand over the item. The price we've appraised is 15 million Aitel achievement points.]
I carefully read through the series of messages.
And I made my decision right away.
[Hong Baekya: I would like to request an immediate purchase.]
[Manager: An excellent choice!]
A reply came as soon as I wrote, and I also heard the Constellation's voice.
【"If the starting bid for the auction is 8 million, the final bid will be several times that. Even considering the commission fee, it would be an overwhelming profit. Why did you choose immediate purchase?"】
【Your Constellation 'Sunny' makes a questioning gesture.】
I answered firmly.
"How can I wait until the end of the month?"
【"....?"】
"If there's something that needs to be done, it needs to be done now. Wasting time over a few pennies is a bigger loss. Moreover, I'm currently being hunted. I need to keep moving and keep growing to stay ahead of my disciples' expectations."
【"That's true."】
【Your Constellation 'Sunny' understands.】
The Constellation understood.
Another message popped up.
[Manager: Please move to a location where you can see the night sky and display the item. We will dispatch a retrieval team immediately.]
[Manager: The points will be paid as soon as you hand over the item to the retrieval team. We hope you have a good day...]
I opened my inventory and took out the Rank 1 gate core.
The crimson orb, the size of two fists combined, glowed ominously yet beautifully.
Slide.
I opened the window wide and even opened the screen.
The weather was nearing early winter, past late autumn.
A cool breeze poured in.
I looked up at the sky.
A shooting star streaked across the night sky, which would normally be obscured by city lights.
Just as I thought the meteor was heading this way...
Fwoosh!
A blinding emerald light filled my vision.
["Item successfully received, Customer Hong Baekya."]
The light was too bright to see their faces.
All I could remember was the refreshing voice and the gentle touch that took the core.
The next moment, the blue meteor soared back into the sky, tracing the same trajectory it had come from.
It passed over the Aitel Tower, piercing the sky.
I enjoyed the lingering afterglow of the spectacle that had become commonplace for a moment, then closed the window.
* * *
【Cracked Compass that Chases Mythical Fragments (Comet)】
【Points to fragments of myths that have become reality. Meet monsters that escaped from gates and roam the Earth, legends brought to life by the Aitel system!】
【*Accuracy may be slightly reduced due to cracks.】
A compass lay on the desk.
It was a compass encased in black metal, with an emerald crystal needle.
As the descriptor "cracked" suggested, there was a thick crack on its surface, but thankfully, the needle itself seemed undamaged.
【"Hurry up and use it!"】
【Your Constellation 'Sunny' exclaims with anticipation.】
"Yes."
I held the compass in my hand and infused it with mana.
Hum!
The needle vibrated softly and spun around in all directions.
Click!
After a few spins, the needle pointed in one direction and stopped precisely.
【"It stopped. Where is it pointing?"】
"I'll check."
I accessed a map website on my laptop and confirmed the direction.
It was northwest, closer to the west.
It was a direction that almost followed the Han River, and if I kept going that way, I would reach Gimpo City and Ganghwa County.
It meant that there was some escaped monster or a legend brought to life by the Aitel system in that direction.
Surely it didn't mean I had to go all the way to China.
【"But isn't that a Comet Store item?"】
The Constellation read my mind and spoke.
【"Perhaps it's pointing to a planet a few light-years away in that direction?"】
That was quite a shocking thought.
"I don't think so."
【"Is that a guess or a wish?"】
"A wish."
I checked the map on my laptop once more.
I hoped some information I had received in the past would come to mind.
Come to think of it, the directional information wasn't that precise.
In the past, I would have immediately dispatched a helicopter, but I'm not in a position to do that anymore, am I?
I could ask Ryu Haneul, but that would be too conspicuous.
I don't even want to imagine Cheong Siyeol firing a Azure Sky Sword Slash at a helicopter.
Oh?
At that moment, a familiar place name caught my eye.
It was a place I couldn't forget even if I tried.
Because I had thought about burning it down.
I smiled brightly and spoke to the Constellation.
"I found it."
【"You found it?"】
"I know where it's pointing."
I zoomed in on an area in Ganghwa Island.
"This is that bastard Choi Gimin's guardian warehouse."
【"Choi Gimin? That..."】
"Yes. The backer of that thief bastard, the punk with the dreadlocks. That bastard wreaks havoc on everyone, regardless of whether they're Awakened or not."
【"I remember you being angry about him."】
"Yes. He often used thieves to raid the warehouses of other high-rankers. If it were just items being stolen, I'd be angry but let it slide. Most of the items in the warehouse aren't immediately profitable anyway. The problem is..."
【"The problem is?"】
A sigh escaped me just thinking about it.
"He steals the Guardians too."
【"Steals the Guardians?"】
【Your Constellation 'Sunny' is puzzled.】
"Guardians are much more expensive than you'd think. They're artifacts that rarely appear even within the Tower. And since he knows how to sell them off well, he takes everything, the warehouse and the Guardians."
Most of the stolen Guardians end up with broken internal circuits, becoming unusable.
They go berserk, unable to recognize their owners, and destroy everything within their designated space.
Of course, that bastard sells even those broken Guardians as stolen goods overseas.
【"So you're saying there's a collection of Guardians there?"】
"Yes. Aren't most Guardians beings that protect something in myths and legends?"
Even my Guardian was Ajax, the hero from Greek and Roman mythology.
There were also various other Guardians like the dragon guarding the golden apples, the Haetae guarding the palace gates, and the firstborn of the Dragon's Nine Sons, the Bixi.
"With dozens of such Guardians gathered in one place, it's no wonder the compass pointed straight there."
The Constellation whispered in an excited voice.
【"If you go there, you can feast on high-quality mana. And since they're broken, you don't have to feel guilty about destroying someone else's property. You can even get back at that punk who tried to rob your warehouse."】
【Your Constellation 'Sunny' looks at you with eyes filled with both excitement and anxiety.】
Then, her voice lowered.
【"But remember, you're making another enemy."】
"That's true."
【"If I recall correctly, he's also a Regressor, but he's never come after you before. Ryu Haneul didn't mention him either. Are you sure you want to make another Regressor your enemy?"】
I was grateful for her concern.
But if I just ended it with a "thank you," I wouldn't be worthy of being called the Chosen One.
The love and support of the Constellations were never unconditional favors.
"Actually, I just had an idea."
【"What is it?"】
"There are three main ways to become stronger. First, like me, absorbing mana, or like most hunters, accumulating achievements, or simply fighting enemies to get stronger. Second, there's the method of consuming elixirs."
【"What else is there?"】
"Yes. There's also the method of buying artifacts."
【"Ah."】
【Your Constellation 'Sunny' makes a face as if they've been outsmarted.】
"Currently, I have the legendary artifact 'Winter Vanguard's Standard' and the heroic artifact 'World-Reflecting Mirror.' Both are nerfed. If I can restore them, it would be a great help to my strength."
Even in their nerfed state, they were powerful artifacts that amplified mana, distorted the laws of the Tower, and created subspaces.
If I could recover from the rank downgrade, it would be a huge help.
Maybe I could even enter the Tower before reaching S-rank.
"But... as you know, I'm not in a position to openly seek out a master artifact crafter right now."
The hunter industry wasn't free trade; it was protectionism.
Awakened individuals in the crafting class who could handle heroic-grade or higher artifacts all worked exclusively for large guilds or were affiliated with agencies, only taking on 1-on-1 commissions.
In the past, I could have summoned 10 or 100 of them with a single phone call, but I wasn't the same person anymore.
"The Iron Blood Legion and Sun-Moon Divine Sect also have master artifact crafters, but they are all experts in swords or firearms."
【"So?"】
"That bastard Choi Gimin is a gangster and a black market dealer. He has his hands in everything, both domestically and internationally. If I can crush him, if I can get him to cooperate!"
The Constellation seemed to grasp my intentions and burst into laughter.
【"Ah..."】
【"What a clever contractor! You were planning to fight from the beginning, weren't you?"】
【Your Constellation 'Sunny' feels both excitement and fear at your bold attitude and ambitious plan.】
I concluded confidently.
"I can start by absorbing high-quality mana and even look forward to restoring the artifact's rank."
Hum.
The halo above my head buzzed softly.
The Constellation promised her support in battle.
【"Let's do it right away! I'll provide the best support. I look forward to your success."】
I opened my inventory and took out the '22nd Century Katana' that Lee Eunwoo had given me.
Looking at the stylishly curved blade, I thought to myself.
This was still just a delusion that I couldn't even hope for, so I didn't tell the Constellation.
But if that bastard Choi Gimin had connections to that place I knew...
Then the growth of Law of Light wasn't just a dream either.
* * *
After two days of complete rest and recovery, I departed for the warehouse in Ganghwa Island.
The hardliner Regressors like Lee Baejeong, Cheong Siyeol, Joo Suhyeok, and Park Seojin were all busy running around dealing with the aftermath of the Rank 1 gate.
Choi Gimin's Guardian warehouse wasn't utilizing subspace like mine; he had illegally occupied an abandoned large art museum building.
There were countless protective and warding spells, but...
【Your constellation 'Sunny' effectively... 'Oh, there was something urgent!'】
They crumbled like spring snow before the constellation.
Creak.
I opened the warehouse door.
Dust was accumulating on the rows of exotic sculptures.
Sunlight streaming through the large windows cast grotesque shadows on the sculptures' faces.
It was as if they, unable to fulfill their duties and broken, were screaming and writhing.
I drew the 22nd Century Katana.
At the same time, the sculptures began to move.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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