Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 108

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (108)

Retreat

[Crystal Growth Chamber – Crafting Equipment / Enhancement Series

A device that artificially injects mana into magic stones to maximize their output. However, precision remains unchanged. This may cause balance issues.]

[You can now 『Mimic』 the 〈Crystal Growth Chamber〉!]

 

It was the crafting equipment I had seen at Hyeon Eul-cheong’s Cheongyeon Workshop.

Simply put, a device that enhances artifact output.

Just hearing this much, it sounds revolutionary and innovative, but it had one fatal flaw.

As discussed then, it was simply a method of brutally forcing mana in.

‘So you can’t precisely control that increased output…’

It’s completely useless.

However, Lee Si-hyeok had a way to overcome that limitation.

He put down his pen after roughly sketching the blueprint.

A storyboard-style blueprint spread across the wide paper.

And below it, step-by-step concepts were roughly written.

 

[① Frame Assembly

· Materials: Mana-resistant alloy frame, vibration suppression panels, plus 7 others

· Purpose: Establishing stable chamber structure

· Caution: Double-control welding sparks]

[② Mana Injection Coil Installation

· Materials: Mana coils, conductive fiber, cooling lines, plus 18 others

· Role: ‘Source output device’ to artificially inject mana into magic stones

· Caution: The mana lines of the coils…]

…

 

It would be completed through a total of four stages.

After briefly simulating, Lee Si-hyeok activated his skill.

 

[『Mimicry』 is activated!]

[Assisting user’s thinking.]

[Assisting user’s movements.]

 

As he picked up the gleaming alloy frame, a throbbing sensation passed through his fingertips.

Resonance with mana.

While blue sparks scattered slightly, his eyes clearly saw where each panel should go.

Thunk, clack, clack.

He didn’t hesitate.

Moving his hands while suppressing the pain, the frame was secured with the sound of bolts fitting together. The chamber’s outline gradually took shape.

At the same time, heat began to build in his head. His accelerating thoughts seemed to overheat as they found the optimal direction.

Still, it was bearable, so he moved to the next stage.

 

[Please install the mana injection coil.]

 

The coil was shaped like threads thinner than hair extending in seven directions.

Three to the left, three to the right.

And one in the center.

These needed to be knotted with conductive fiber. Then mana would naturally extend from the connected knots throughout the entire device.

Whirrrrr!

As he brought the coil to the output control panel, numbers began rising from 0.

0, 10, 30, 80, 400…

The slowly rising values began increasing exponentially. Lee Si-hyeok lowered his gaze and raised his concentration.

It was a speed impossible for humans to track, but possible with 『Eyes that Pierce the Essence』. Time felt like seconds in the tense atmosphere.

The moment the value reached exactly 48,320.

Click!

He turned off the control panel and completed the knot.

 

[Amazing! Not even a single digit of error!]

[A great success beyond perfection!]

 

Soon the numbers on the gauge began decreasing rapidly.

Lee Si-hyeok’s gaze turned to the tied coil knot.

Mana circuit.

If the magic stone was the heart, this would be the blood vessel.

That process had just been completed.

However, he didn’t relax yet. There was still quite a bit left until completion, and he would need to make his own modifications.

After taking a sip of the instant coffee he had prepared, he moved to the next stage.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, in Jiuquan, Gansu Province, China.

In the western desert region near Dunhuang.

In that vast land where a massive canyon was located, Lin Qingwu, the guild leader of the Absolute Dream Society, let out a rough breath.

“Kugh!”

He was struggling unexpectedly in the Western Desert Conflict Zone where he had personally deployed recently.

A tribe in the desert region that had suddenly appeared recently.

He thought it would be quickly resolved since his brainwashing skill worked better the closer the distance, but.

Whoosh!

“Damn it…”

He cursed as he barely dodged the flying hammer.

Unexpectedly, the tribe members had tremendous resistance to brainwashing, unlike other people.

So in his urgency, he set up camp closer.

“Kahahaha! Die, you bastard!”

‘Damn it, when did they get so close again…!’

Now they had rushed in, putting him in a dilemma.

He couldn’t figure out their identity at all.

They suddenly appeared in the western desert, and despite being a small tribe, they grew rapidly enough to affect the industrial complex, eventually creating this situation.

“Retreat! Retreat for now!”

Avoiding the burly tribe members charging at him, Lin Qingwu shouted.

He needed to return to the skyscraper and approach more carefully. He seemed to have judged too hastily because of that bastard Lee Si-hyeok.

Just as he was hurriedly boarding a vehicle near the camp.

“So, Society Leader! Something terrible has happened!”

Not far away, a guild member burst out from a tent responsible for communication with the city.

“Urgent news from the skyscraper! Please quickly see the report…!”

Then he came running over frantically.

Soon the guild member stopped in front of the car, and Lin Qingwu glared at him with the intention of killing him if it wasn’t important.

“Th, that! There’s fierce fighting happening at the skyscraper right now!”

“What?”

Lin Qingwu’s eyebrows twitched.

“Explain in detail. What the hell are you talking about?”

“It’s an attack that happened just a few minutes ago! They came without any warning and put about a dozen of our guild members into complete comas…”

“Damn it. How many enemies were there? Did you properly retaliate?”

“O-one confirmed enemy in total, we couldn’t retaliate. They attacked with a sniper rifle from an invisible location…”

The guild member trailed off as if terrified.

Lin Qingwu’s face grew serious at this unimaginable story, then the guild member added:

“Ah! There’s one more thing I heard! The enemy left this message right before disappearing!”

“A message?”

“H-here it is! I recorded the message exactly as I heard it!”

The guild member handed over a note.

 

[If you see this message, immediately return awakener Lee Si-hyeok to Korea.]

 

“…Lee Si-hyeok?”

A mutter escaped without him realizing it.

What kind of nonsense was this all of a sudden?

If he had Lee Si-hyeok in the first place, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad.

He would have simply used him like a slave and planned for the future comfortably. Without being desperate about dealing with the villagers.

But what was even more puzzling was…

‘How did they know I tried to kidnap that brat?’

He definitely hadn’t been caught.

Lin Qingwu’s brainwashing had worked properly, and the subordinate who failed had killed himself before his identity was exposed. There was no way that idiot could have undone the brainwashing himself, right?

He felt the situation getting increasingly serious.

He had merely approached Lee Si-hyeok once, yet two disasters had struck simultaneously.

“What the hell is this…”

Just as he was about to give orders to the guild member with a scowled face:

“Huh?”

He saw something rushing toward them at tremendous speed from behind the guild member. A bizarre movement like a dump truck charging forward.

Lin Qingwu kicked the guild member in the stomach in shock.

He planned to use him as a sacrifice and escape.

However…

Crunch!

Something that closed the distance in an instant crushed the guild member with its weapon-like bulk.

Shoulders reminiscent of a hippo and limbs that felt even heavier than an elephant’s. The moment that massive body made contact, the guild member was torn apart on the spot.

And the next place that opponent’s gaze turned to was Lin Qingwu with his shocked expression.

“Holy shit…!”

The opponent’s teeth gleamed from his raised lips.

 

* * *

 

“Okay, this is done. Next is…”

The Great Workshop of Gyeongdo-gak.

Lee Si-hyeok brought the mana control board to the frame he had prepared.

Controlling even the slightest tremor, he connected each groove, and a clicking sound was heard.

Immediately, the device lit up with a resonant sound.

 

[『Mimicry』 successful.]

 

“It’s done.”

Lee Si-hyeok looked at the finished product with a satisfied smile.

A square box the size of a medium safe. A glass door was installed on one side, allowing desired magic stones to be inserted and operated.

He had concentrated so hard that his mouth tasted sweet. Drinking a few sips of coffee seemed to quench his thirst somewhat.

Thud, as he set down the paper cup, a voice came from beside him.

“Wow…”

It was Hyeon Eul-cheong, who had been watching from some point.

Was it the second stage? Or maybe the third?

He wasn’t sure exactly. He had been so absorbed in his work that he had completely blocked out any presence around him. But when he looked up at some point, she was there, so he could only notice then.

“May I take a closer look?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Hyeon Eul-cheong approached the wall where the device was installed.

It was installed somewhat low, so he wondered how she would see it from her wheelchair, but the height adjusted automatically.

Whirr.

She brought her face to the glass door and examined the interior. So close it seemed like she might press her nose against it.

Judging by the energy he felt, she seemed to be observing by activating various skills like 「Mana Sensitivity」.

Eventually, an exclamation escaped her.

“Wow, there’s really nothing to criticize.”

“Were you trying to criticize it?”

“No. It’s not that, it’s just really too perfect. Usually, if it’s a part unrelated to the device, people sometimes gloss over it, right? I do that often too. But there’s not even a single such part here.”

How is this possible?

“Well, it’s nothing special. Just what I always do.”

“…Aren’t you being too modest?”

“It’s the truth though.”

“Ha, you’re really just as I heard.”

“Pardon?”

Hyeon Eul-cheong raised her wheelchair again.

Then she pressed a switch and returned to Lee Si-hyeok’s side.

“The customers who visit my workshop always said that. What seems impossible to us might be just child’s play to ‘that’ Lee Si-hyeok.”

“…”

“And they also said that the person himself doesn’t seem to know it well. Of course, there are people who don’t think that way too.”

Hyeon Eul-cheong smiled slightly as if recalling something amusing. It was the first smile he had seen from her.

“Song Hyeon-gyu. Chae-ah’s younger brother, you know him, right? He always said that. That Si-hyeok hyung has a somewhat cunning side. That he’s very confident yet sometimes modest, and being so smart, he sometimes feels cunning to the point of being ruthless.”

“Geez. What slander.”

“It’s closer to a compliment. That’s just his personality. Making a fuss for no reason, exaggerating when he speaks. It was really funny how Chae-ah would grimace whenever she saw him.”

Hyeon Eul-cheong’s eyes turned slightly toward the remaining coffee as she said this.

After looking at the cup for a moment, she brought the remaining coffee to her lips.

“That’s what I was drinking…”

“What does it matter? You’re done with work anyway, aren’t you? The magic crystal growth device. It seems like you made it several times more perfect than the one in my workshop.”

She smiled faintly. Her smiles had been gradually increasing since arriving at Gyeongdo-gak.

Was the buff working more significantly than expected? She looked much more at ease to the eye.

After watching such Hyeon Eul-cheong for a moment, Lee Si-hyeok said reluctantly:

“But, um, Ms. Hyeon Eul-cheong.”

“Yes.”

“I’m not done with work yet.”

“…Yes?”

“No, I have a mountain of things to do. I haven’t even started modifying what I just made.”

“…Yeeees?”

Hyeon Eul-cheong’s expression became dumbfounded for a moment.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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