Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 114

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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 (114)

 

Fall

 

Lee Si-hyeok, who had been staring blankly at the message, soon came to his senses.

 

He immediately put the ore in his hand into his bag and asked.

 

“How far have we come from the entrance?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

The Guardian of Light paused for a moment at the sudden question.

 

“From the entrance… we’ve come about halfway? Around 40%? There was a lake right at the Gate Center where we killed the boss. The lake should appear soon.”

 

“The lake.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok’s eyes darkened. He stared at the Pink Coral Zone spread out behind the Pasuin.

 

“Then what’s beyond that lake?”

 

“The other half? There’s nothing special there. It’s just the same terrain you’ve seen so far repeating itself.”

 

“So there’s nothing particularly special about it.”

 

“Yes, well. But why do you ask?”

 

“…It’s nothing.”

 

There was no need to explain right away.

 

Instead, Lee Si-hyeok shook his head and began to move.

 

Where they were now was a kind of Fossil Hill Zone formed by hardened coral. He carefully stepped on the sedimentary layer, being careful not to stumble on the uneven ground.

 

When he reached the top, a vast landscape unfolded beyond.

 

A forest made of coral trees, pink geysers that were completely rotten and spewing foul odors and steam, and monsters with decaying flesh roaming above them.

 

And…

 

“That’s the lake over there. Right next to the coral forest.”

 

Right in the center, a huge lake with the only deep blue color was situated.

 

Even from a distance, he could see at a glance that the water was boiling vigorously.

 

Lee Si-hyeok’s eyes gradually narrowed.

 

It felt like something was slowly taking shape.

 

After observing for a few more minutes, he said.

 

“Let’s start moving again.”

 

“Alright. Should we go straight to the lake?”

 

“Yes, straight to the lake.”

 

“Follow me. I know a shortcut.”

 

The shortcut the Pasuin guided them to was the geyser they had confirmed from the hill.

 

As they entered the path temporarily created by the conquest team, they could see monster corpses scattered everywhere. They were rotting in damp coral piles, giving off a foul smell.

 

Just as he was about to approach for a closer look.

 

Swoosh!

 

A stream of water suddenly shot up from a nearby hidden geyser.

 

Hot steam that he could feel even though he reflexively dodged.

 

“Be careful. More than a few guys got hurt by that thing. Polar mana… what was it called?”

 

“Polar Mana Dissolution Liquid.”

 

“Ah, right, that’s it. As soon as it touches you, it reacts with your mana and your body starts melting.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok had only known about this liquid in theory.

 

Though none had been discovered yet, he thought that such a fusion liquid with those properties might exist somewhere.

 

But to think it would be in this Gate.

 

He carefully stepped on the monster’s corpse and approached the geyser. Squelch. An unpleasant texture transmitted from his feet, but there was something more important than that.

 

The Pasuin who had been watching him opened his mouth wide and followed.

 

“No, I’m telling you it’s dangerous…!”

 

“It’s fine. There’s still some time left until the next eruption.”

 

Precisely about 20 seconds.

 

Being a combat type, he might not know, but for Lee Si-hyeok who was familiar with the unique mana circuit, it was precisely discernible timing.

 

He held his breath and endured the stench.

 

Then he collected an appropriate amount of fusion liquid in a bottle he took out from his bag.

 

Glug glug glug… Making such sounds, the pink liquid filled up the small medicine bottle.

 

After that, he collected a few more bottles from each visible geyser, then gathered byproducts from the corpses before heading to the lake.

 

After a while, he exited the temporary road through the geysers, and soon a huge blue pond spread out before his eyes.

 

“We’ve arrived. Here it is, the lake.”

 

Seeing it up close, it was even larger in size.

 

As he briefly observed the bubbling surface, the Pasuin spoke up.

 

“Isn’t it strangely quiet? Surely there was considerable noise just until we were at the geysers.”

 

“…Indeed. It’s probably the influence of mana.”

 

“That must be it. The final boss was here in the center of this lake. It was stronger than most S-ranks, so I think the surrounding mana got quite twisted.”

 

He clicked his tongue while staring intently at the unusually calm center of the lake.

 

“Just the ones who died back then were almost a truckload. The loss is huge, really.”

 

“Loss?”

 

“Each one was a powerful Hunter, wasn’t they? Whether you look at it from the entire nation’s perspective or my personal perspective, the loss is enormous. It’s such a waste I could die.”

 

“…”

 

He felt a slight sense of dissonance.

 

That was because the general public, including Lee Si-hyeok, mostly perceived the Guardian of Light as ‘righteous.’

 

Not only was he always portrayed that way in the media, but his style of wielding a hammer with light at his back reminded one of a paladin.

 

But to call it a loss.

 

‘Situationally speaking, it’s not wrong, but…’

 

Was it because the Pasuin himself said those words directly?

 

For some reason, it felt even more alien.

 

He smiled wryly and continued speaking.

 

“Well, it can’t be helped. We can just recruit new Hunters. And as a result, we cleared all the Gates too.”

 

“Didn’t you say you didn’t see the clear message?”

 

“That’s right. But we caught all the final bosses. Then the clear should be complete for now, and the Gate not closing… hmm, Mr. Lee Si-hyeok will figure that out for us instead.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok turned his eyes away from the Pasuin who added, “I’m counting on you.” Watching air bubbles bubbling up on the water surface, he casually asked a question.

 

“Have you ever thought that maybe the clear isn’t finished yet?”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“You never know. There might still be a boss remaining somewhere in this Gate.”

 

“A remaining Boss…?”

 

The Pasuin blinked for a moment, then let out a scoffing laugh.

 

“That’s impossible. We already searched thoroughly. Not just once, but a total of five times. Even after all that, nothing came up, so what Boss are you talking about?”

 

“Did you check under the lake?”

 

“Underwater? Of course. It was just an ordinary lake, except for the boiling water. The only special thing was maybe some excrement left by the last Boss?”

 

“…”

 

“You don’t still think there’s a Boss remaining after what I just told you, do you?”

 

His expression seemed to definitively conclude that such a thing was absolutely impossible.

 

However, Lee Si-hyeok didn’t answer immediately.

 

Instead, he only stared straight ahead with furrowed brows.

 

There, two translucent windows were blinking, floating over the lake.

 

[The unconscious memories absorbed from 〔Necrosis〕 are locating its main body.]

 

[You are now in an even closer state to where the main body is hidden!]

 

The modifier “even” had been added to the message he saw earlier.

 

Then surely there would be no other candidates except for this lake. That is, if the Pasuin’s story was true that the area beyond the lake was just a repetition of the same scenery.

 

Recalling this, Lee Si-hyeok slowly parted his lips.

 

It was time to voice the fact he had been speculating about all along.

 

“Haven’t you ever thought it was strange?”

 

“Huh? What? Wow, don’t tell me you’re still talking about clearing…”

 

“I’m not talking about that. What I’m asking about is your overall impression of this Gate.”

 

“…Overall impression?”

 

The Pasuin tilted his head.

 

“You must have felt it too, but this Gate is very peculiar. I’m not just talking about the level of byproducts or monsters discovered here.”

 

I’m talking about the overall ecosystem inside here, itself.

 

Everything is made of corals, and the moisture filling the air, with the occasional wind carrying even the salty scent of seawater.

 

“To put it simply, it feels like being inside the ocean. This kind of appearance can mainly be seen in the deep sea, specifically in coral zones.”

 

“Well, that’s true, but… couldn’t that be possible? It’s not like all Gates look the same.”

 

“It could be. Actually, overseas there have been several discoveries of Gates set underwater. However…”

 

There had never been a single Gate that depicted an underwater scene without water like this.

 

Lee Si-hyeok emphasized that fact.

 

“…So what’s your point? That doesn’t seem particularly important right now.”

 

“It is important. Because it’s all connected to what we’re about to do.”

 

Was he the type who was slow to understand despite his power?

 

Since he seemed completely unable to grasp what was being said, Lee Si-hyeok spoke more directly.

 

“Pasuin. The hammer I gave you earlier, where is it?”

 

“I put it in my compression backpack, but why…?”

 

“Take it out. Don’t ask why.”

 

“Yes, sure.”

 

His reluctance was brief, as he tilted his head and picked up the large hammer.

 

The hammer, long enough to pierce the sky, felt surprisingly light in his hands.

 

“Now, would you swing that toward the bottom of that lake?”

 

“What, suddenly?”

 

“I’ll explain later, so hurry.”

 

“Hah, really. Fine.”

 

Pasuin frowned but silently followed the instruction.

 

After all, he was in a position where he had come to assist Lee Si-hyeok.

 

From what he had observed so far, this seemed like someone difficult to use for his own purposes, which didn’t sit well with him, but for now he had no choice but to comply.

 

‘Even if I ignore him, if the Association finds out later, it’ll only damage my image.’

 

Besides, he had heard rumors that Isaac Reynolds, though invisible, always followed nearby.

 

In other words, this was a VIP he couldn’t just knock out and run away from, so he eventually jumped into the lake.

 

Splash!

 

Hot water immediately enveloped his entire body, but it didn’t matter much.

 

It only felt slightly stinging, and his superhuman body could endure even that.

 

When he drew up his mana, the surrounding water parted like the Red Sea.

 

Having quickly reached the bottom of the lake, Pasuin looked up and shouted.

 

“I’m really going to swing it?”

 

“Yes! Just strike down with all your might!”

 

The answer came immediately.

 

However, Pasuin was still in a state of uncertainty.

 

He looked down displeasedly at the lake bottom filled with slimy corals. The bottom was formed of hard stone rather than sand.

 

‘Why is he suddenly acting like this without explanation? How annoying.’

 

Then, after a brief wait, he raised the hammer high.

 

Whoooosh!

 

The long handle cut through the wind as it soared up to the sky.

 

Immediately after.

 

Whiiish! Thoom!

 

The hammer fell vertically at tremendous speed.

 

The head that immediately collided with the bottom generated massive energy in all directions.

 

Rummmmmble.

 

The ground shook with violent vibrations.

 

The mana swirling in the air fluctuated wildly, and the waves that rang through the sky created shimmering ripples.

 

Vibration, vibration, vibration.

 

That tremendous power.

 

The force was incomparable to his original weapon, and Pasuin’s unconscious admiration was brief.

 

“…?”

 

Cracks began to form little by little in the bottom where he stood.

 

Crack. Crackle.

 

Those cracks gradually grew larger and spread beyond the center of the lake to the edges.

 

The lake water that had been split around him shot up high with a whooshing sound.

 

And then….

 

…Crack.

 

The floor ‘broke apart’ precisely from beneath his feet.

 

Rock crumbling with a crisp sound, like a cookie being split.

 

The spreading crack had finally caused the ground itself to collapse.

 

The Pasuin’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

 

Normally, even if the floor cracked a bit, there should be bedrock underneath, so nothing should be wrong.

 

But for some reason, beneath those cracked feet was strangely empty.

 

“Wh, what…?!”

 

Sudden bewilderment washed over him.

 

The annoyance he had felt toward Lee Si-hyeok just moments ago was nowhere to be found.

 

Goosebumps rose all over his body. His spine shivered.

 

The scene visible below the broken floor was something even he, an S-rank Hunter, was encountering for the first time in his life.

 

Endless void.

 

An abyss of the Bottomless Pit, extending so far that he couldn’t even dare to fathom where it led.

 

“N, no…!”

 

At that scene of pure darkness, he tried to escape by releasing all his mana the moment he saw it.

 

[You have discovered the Hidden Space of the ‘Nari Basin Gate’.]

 

[You have destroyed the entrance to the Hidden Stage through an abnormal route.]

 

[This is a method beyond common sense! The 《Hunter’s Harpoon》 is pulling you in!]

 

[Tremendous gravitational force is being applied!]

 

At the same time as messages filled his vision.

 

An enormous compulsive force began to emerge from that deep void.

 

The Pasuin gritted his teeth and somehow twisted his body.

 

[Attempting to resist! S-rank Special Skill 『Radiance』 is assisting with power….]

 

[Failed! The gravitational force is too strong!]

 

[Attempting to resist….]

 

[Failed!]

 

However, it was ultimately futile resistance.

 

The Pasuin’s body, struggling desperately while floating in the air, was gradually sucked down into the void.

 

The more he resisted, the faster it became.

 

Even while falling at an insane speed with such acceleration, the Pasuin’s eyes remained wide open.

 

He bit his teeth so hard that blood flowed from his gums as he glared at the broken floor above.

 

The translucent message window blocking his view.

 

Beyond it, someone smiling and looking down at this place….

 

“…!”

 

Lee Si-hyeok was there.

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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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