Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 140

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

Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (140)

 

A Benefactor Seen After a Long Time

 

After that, I spent several more days in the bunker.

 

The half-destroyed laboratory had reached near-total devastation due to the Golem’s clumsy repairs, and water was leaking in like crazy, turning it into a swimming pool, so it took two days to repair this disaster.

 

Still, it wasn’t too difficult since the Golem and Lumibra moved all the heavy debris for me.

 

“Ugh, this is draining all my energy.”

 

“….”

 

Because of that, I had to just watch Lumibra grumble while making a show of all the thankless work she was doing.

 

Anyway, what I proceeded with next was organizing the data on the Soul-Chasing Harpoon.

 

Thanks to the clash between the Golem and Lumibra, I had obtained some information, but I needed a process to organize it and build it up as part of my knowledge.

 

As a result….

 

‘This is top-tier even among Legacy Artifacts.’

 

I was able to grasp the approximate level of the 〈Soul-Chasing Harpoon〉.

 

Now that I had reached the point of creating Origin Artifacts, one might ask what was so great about mere Legacy ones, but they were strictly different fields.

 

If Origin dealt with the broader concept of ‘space’ not limited to weapons, Legacy was closer to much more intuitive and direct tools.

 

From that perspective, the Soul-Chasing Harpoon wouldn’t lose to any Legacy Artifact that came along.

 

‘The highest-grade Legacy discovered so far was probably… the 〈Shield of Belmark〉.’

 

An iron wall shield that could block any attack.

 

Then could it block even this Soul-Chasing Harpoon’s attack?

 

If it were to encounter the Soul-Chasing Harpoon that would absorb more abilities and be strengthened, achieving endless growth, not stopping at the present.

 

Would it be able to maintain the title of iron wall even then?

 

A smile played around Lee Si-hyeok’s lips. Fantasy led to more fantasy, creating new imagination. Countless scenarios were simulated in his head, inspiring even more ideas.

 

It was when he was swimming deeply in that ocean of imagination.

 

“…ster.”

 

A voice came from beside him. At the same time, someone tapped his shoulder.

 

“…Master!”

 

It was the Golem’s voice.

 

Only then did Lee Si-hyeok stop thinking and turn his head, casting aside his reverie, to see the Golem and Lumibra standing side by side waiting. Since those two were each quite large, the rest room felt packed when they stood together.

 

“What? Why?”

 

When he asked while blinking, the Golem tilted its head and said.

 

“What were you thinking about so intently? Anyway, I finished all the cleanup you told me to do earlier. I collected Necrosis’s corpse too, and completely smashed and disposed of all the building debris you told me to handle.”

 

“Oh. You’re done already?”

 

“Yeah. This guy kept slacking off, so I just hurried up and finished it myself….”

 

“Hey now. You should call him senior.”

 

“….”

 

Lumibra, who had been listening quietly, suddenly interjected.

 

“I am the Great Creator’s first creation. But can you call me that when you were born so much later?”

 

“….”

 

“Oh my. I can hear the departed Creator lamenting all the way here. With the hierarchy collapsing like this!”

 

At Lumibra’s tongue-clicking display, Lee Si-hyeok inwardly swallowed a sigh.

 

From what he could see, it seemed Lumibra had slacked off alone instead of doing the cleaning properly, and the Golem had handled everything instead….

 

“…That’s enough, enough.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok waved his hand to defuse the situation.

 

Then the Golem cried out as if extremely wronged.

 

“No, Master!”

 

“You worked hard. I’ll take care of you later, so just bear with it for now.”

 

“Ugh. This is unfair!”

 

He’d probably be happy if I upgrade the hot spring in the subspace or something. Lee Si-hyeok etched that plan into his mind and shifted his gaze to Lumibra.

 

“Child, what do you mean bear with what?”

 

She asked cheekily.

 

“…Now please just go back as I explained. All the work is finished.”

 

“Hmm, shall I?”

 

What came back instead of an answer was a new instruction, but Lumibra didn’t mind much.

 

Return to the subspace when all the cleanup is finished.

 

Recalling the explanation she had heard from Lee Si-hyeok a few days ago, she nodded.

 

Confirming that, Lee Si-hyeok widened his eyes and added.

 

“If you do go back, don’t come out carelessly again. I won’t go easy on you then either. It was fortunate nothing happened this time, but if the timing gets messed up, who knows what could happen.”

 

“I understand. Don’t worry, child.”

 

“It’s not a request, it’s an order. And please treat Eul-cheong well too. When I heard about it last time, you’re apparently making Eul-cheong do everything, even the dishes.”

 

“Dishes, I’ll have to think about that.”

 

“No. Just answer properly right now. As a member of my research institute, from now on faithfully fulfill your duties….”

 

“Child.”

 

Lumibra smiled benevolently. It was clearly a pervert’s face, but somehow warm energy enveloped his body.

 

“I told you not to worry. I’ll make sure not to cause any trouble.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Perhaps because of that, Lee Si-hyeok, who had been snapping, regained his composure. Of course, he hadn’t been genuinely angry and was just giving a stern warning, but even so, he felt relieved.

 

It was an inexplicable sense of relief that came from having the same nature of mana.

 

“Well then, I should get going. You must have things to do too. Won’t you open the door to that space for me?”

 

Soon the warmth quickly receded and Lumibra spoke.

 

“…Yes, sure.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok shrugged and immediately activated 『Subspace』, causing a rift to appear in the air.

 

“I’ll see you again soon. Make sure to call me if there’s any danger.”

 

“Master, sorry for causing trouble. I’ll be going now too. The hot spring calls to me.”

 

“Ah, take care. You too, Lumibra, please go in safely. I’ll be dropping by whenever I need something anyway, so we’ll meet again soon.”

 

Shortly after, with brief farewells, their figures disappeared in an instant.

 

Lee Si-hyeok watched the rippling rift alone for a moment, then soon let out a chuckle and turned around.

 

It was time to go outside.

 

* * *

 

That evening.

 

South Korea’s A-rank Hunter.

 

Snow Flame Empress Cha Yu-rim was bustling around the vast grand mansion with a seemingly tense expression.

 

Kitchen, dressing room, bedroom… She went in and out of countless rooms that seemed completely unrelated to each other, going back and forth through the mansion. Sometimes her steps got tangled and she stumbled, creating a comical scene.

 

“Th-the floor is slippery.”

 

Even so, the Snow Flame Empress remained stiff and just did unnecessary mopping. It wasn’t because she was nervous that she fell, but simply because the corridor was slippery….

 

“Whew….”

 

The root of all this began with a phone call she had received a few hours earlier.

 

The Snow Flame Empress recalled again the moment she discovered the name ‘Lee Si-hyeok’ written large as the caller.

 

―Ah, Snow Flame Empress. It’s been a while.

 

When she answered the phone, Lee Si-hyeok opened the conversation with those words.

 

It really had been a long time.

 

Though she had briefly met him recently when participating in his rescue operation at the Nari Basin Gate, it had only been an exchange of glances, and having a direct conversation like this was the first time since escaping from Orbes.

 

“You! It really, really has been a long time!”

 

She received the greeting with a glad heart.

 

And when the exchange of greetings was finishing, Lee Si-hyeok suddenly said.

 

―I’m thinking of visiting your mansion today, would that be alright?

 

“…?!”

 

For a moment, the Snow Flame Empress was flustered. Suddenly coming to her house?

 

―I owe you for many things. Like the letter I received from the Magical Engineering Academy last time, and thanks to you sending Bae Jun-wan, my work went smoothly too.

 

―Also, I sent you a message not too long ago, didn’t I? That I would visit you soon with Blackie. As I mentioned before, I’m the type who always keeps promises.

 

Promise.

 

The Snow Flame Empress’s expression became momentarily dazed as she recalled that memory.

 

That promise she had heard in passing at the Expo in the past, which she had thought was merely empty courtesy, had brought about the salvation of Orbes that she had so desperately yearned for.

 

The memory of that time remained more vivid than anything else.

 

So the Snow Flame Empress could only answer as naturally as flowing water. It didn’t take even a second to consider. She reacted reflexively to the word “promise.”

 

“Y-yes. Come anytime, dear friend.”

 

―I’m glad you have time. Then I’ll visit you this evening. I just came out of somewhere, so it’ll take some time.

 

She didn’t bother asking where he had come from.

 

Wasn’t he an incredibly busy person? This time too, he must have surely resolved some major incident or created an amazing artifact.

 

However, the Snow Flame Empress was nervous.

 

It was her benefactor whom she would see after a long time.

 

Moreover, it held great meaning for her.

 

“…Blackie.”

 

The small life form she had met right after its birth, who had come to recognize the Snow Flame Empress herself as its ‘mother.’

 

Since then, she had developed an inexplicable sense of responsibility, and one corner of her mind was always filled with worry about that child.

 

Perhaps, when the doomed Orbes was saved by Lee Si-hyeok, that sense of responsibility that had remained like a debt didn’t disappear but instead turned toward Blackie.

 

However, she couldn’t become obsessed.

 

Because Blackie was now with Lee Si-hyeok.

 

And because she couldn’t presumptuously pester her benefactor.

 

“But…”

 

This time, an opportunity had come.

 

Was this joy at seeing Lee Si-hyeok, or happiness at meeting her child again?

 

She thought it was both.

 

That’s why she had moved so busily today and finished all the preparations.

 

“I-is the taste alright?”

 

The Snow Flame Empress, who had arrived at the kitchen again, asked Bae Jun-wan.

 

He had stopped by the mansion this morning saying he had matters to report, but coinciding with the news of Lee Si-hyeok’s visit, he had been tasting the Snow Flame Empress’s food dozens of times all day long.

 

He answered while barely suppressing his irritation.

 

“…Didn’t I keep saying it was delicious? More importantly, there’s a matter that arrived from the China branch, so you should hear that report first…”

 

“I-is it really delicious? Really?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Finally, Bae Jun-wan answered while pressing his temples.

 

She wouldn’t listen. Leaving behind Bae Jun-wan who had finally given up, the Snow Flame Empress immediately headed to the mirror in the dressing room.

 

“Wearing a skirt after so long… feels awkward…”

 

The last time had been the dress she wore during her days as the Princess of Orbes, so this was her first time since arriving on Earth.

 

Though it was uncomfortable, she wanted to make a good impression on Blackie whom she was meeting after a long time. As she struck various poses while looking in the mirror, Bae Jun-wan’s low sigh could be heard from behind.

 

The Snow Flame Empress wandered around the mansion like this for quite a while.

 

Suddenly, anxiety about her cooking skills, which she had been grinding her teeth and training ever since Lee Si-hyeok left, struck her, and just as her eyes became completely covered with tension.

 

―Ding dong.

 

The mansion’s door opened.

 

“D-dear friend! You’ve come!”

 

The Snow Flame Empress ran out as if she had been waiting and greeted Lee Si-hyeok. Fortunately, though it was a conversation after a long time, there wasn’t much awkwardness.

 

After finishing such greetings and entering the mansion, the Snow Flame Empress asked.

 

Where was Blackie?

 

She had been continuously curious, but since Lee Si-hyeok didn’t mention it first, she held back and held back before finally asking. It was also because Lee Si-hyeok’s research coat front pocket was unusually quiet.

 

But…

 

“Hmm, about Blackie…”

 

That Lee Si-hyeok was swallowing nervously.

 

Since she had rarely seen him flustered, the Snow Flame Empress became flustered as well.

 

However, that was just the beginning.

 

When the Snow Flame Empress saw the black cotton ball that Lee Si-hyeok pulled out from his front pocket shortly after, completely limp and unconscious.

 

“Wh-what is this…?!”

 

She could only scream like that.

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