Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 166

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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 (166)

 

Acquaintances

 

[Problem 27]

 

[Present a method to destroy space.]

 

“Hmm.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok pondered while cupping his chin.

 

The message flickering before his eyes was presenting him with a challenge he needed to solve. Destroy space? What could this mean? He thought about it, but no answer came to mind.

 

“I’m stuck here.”

 

He sucked his lips and sat down on the floor. The damp moisture unpleasantly touched his pants from below. He turned his head to look behind him.

 

Under the torchlight, beyond the dim whitish view, 26 doors were visible.

 

That was the number of tests he had passed so far.

 

The evening before yesterday. Lee Si-hyeok, who had opened the first door, had passed through the tests the doors proposed without resting even once.

 

It wasn’t particularly difficult. Since it was the beginning, only simple problems were presented. He didn’t know how others might feel, but at least for Lee Si-hyeok, that’s how it was. He participated enjoyably, creating various artifacts and moving forward without hesitation.

 

Then he got stuck.

 

‘I don’t know where the end is, but.’

 

The lunchboxes left by the mother and daughter who alternately visited without interfering were his only meals for two days. When his progress was blocked, only then did he feel the hunger he had forgotten.

 

“What should I do.”

 

I don’t want to stop here though.

 

It was completely different from the 26 tests so far. Until now, problems asking for detailed engineering solutions like ‘Stop an unstable magical power reactor without causing a runaway’ or tests requiring theoretical explanations like ‘Specify the design limitations that cause collapse during long-term use’ were presented.

 

A method that demanded complex yet clear answers.

 

But…

 

‘This is too abstract.’

 

Destroy space. The words themselves weren’t difficult.

 

Installing explosives. Condensing mana and blowing everything up. There were plenty of methods that could create the result of ‘destruction.’

 

But for the 27th test.

 

Would they really be asking for such a hollow answer?

 

Lee Si-hyeok thought not.

 

From what he had experienced so far, this test was designed so that the difficulty gradually increased as you passed through more doors. Then, having passed through quite a few problems by now, it should require a high-level breakthrough.

 

“Phew…”

 

Finally, Lee Si-hyeok let out a deep sigh and stood up.

 

No matter how much he thought, no answer came. Then it would be better to cool his head once rather than staying like this. It had been too long since he went outside. Considering he was here as a guest.

 

So he went outside and looked for the mother and daughter’s house.

 

Knock knock.

 

“Come in!”

 

A voice full of affection to a burdensome degree. When he hesitantly entered, Aurelie del Lumiere was smiling brightly. He bowed his head and sat across from her.

 

“Where did your daughter go?”

 

“She went to help the Master. Work seems to be a bit busy.”

 

The Snow Flame Empress had come here at the Master’s call. She seemed to be handling that work.

 

“I see. Mother… no. What should I call this.”

 

She laughed “hohoho.”

 

“How cute. You can call me Leader.”

 

“Leader? Isn’t there already a Master?”

 

“I’m the rank below that. To be precise, I’m the leader of the Execution Squad under the Apocalypse Order. The original title is Execution Squad Leader.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok erased the absurdity of this shabby-looking group having even subordinate organizations along with his expressionless face. Aurelie del Lumiere’s eyes curved.

 

“So. Why did you come looking for me? You haven’t finished the test already, have you.”

 

“I got stuck in the middle. I was thinking of getting some fresh air and came because I have something to ask.”

 

Before Aurelie del Lumiere, who looked shocked at Lee Si-hyeok’s words that he was stuck, could say anything, he struck first.

 

“By any chance, are there any unexcavated artifacts in this area?”

 

“Huh? Unexcavated artifacts?”

 

“Items that have been discovered but haven’t been excavated yet.”

 

The artifact that could see the future, the ‘Oraculum Orb.’

 

Since he couldn’t directly ask about what Baek Min-ji had hidden somewhere, he asked indirectly. When she seemed to be thinking deeply, he added an explanation.

 

“I heard that the Apocalypse Order mainly does such work. Artifacts that flowed out during the process of conquered Gates disappearing. In other words, artifacts that Hunters couldn’t discover are discharged alone in mid-air much later. Collecting and storing such items is called ‘Artifact Archaeology.'”

 

The artifacts displayed in the basement of the headquarters were all gathered that way. However, he couldn’t find the Oraculum Orb there.

 

“There are a few.”

 

“…Really?”

 

Lee Si-hyeok brightened up.

 

“Yeah. Even we can’t recover all discovered artifacts. Many people live together in this Juchuan City. Because of that, there are things that are difficult to approach easily.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“The reasons are various. Simple ones include private property where we can’t enter unless they give permission. Or even if it’s not because of people, there are things that are physically inaccessible. It would be better to explain while showing you.”

 

She brought out a map from the drawer and spread it out.

 

Befitting the crumbling headquarters, she was using a paper map even in this day and age.

 

“Do you see here? The places marked with red and blue dots.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Red dots are for physical reasons. Like magical storms occurring due to the mana spewed by factories making approach impossible, reasons like that. If you get close, you’ll get caught up and die.”

 

He had heard that strong magical storms were difficult even for S-rank Hunters to handle.

 

“Then what about the blue dots?”

 

“As I said, realistic reasons. Relationships between people.”

 

“…”

 

“But why this? Do you happen to be looking for something?”

 

Lee Si-hyeok was silent for a moment. How should he answer this?

 

“Yes. Actually, I came here because of that.”

 

He decided to be honest in the end. Mixed with a little lie.

 

That there was an artifact he had to find, and it was hidden somewhere in Jiuquan. But the only clue was the fact that it existed in this region.

 

After hearing the whole story, she sighed.

 

“…It’s difficult. The range is too wide.”

 

“I agree.”

 

“I want to help too, but there’s nothing I can figure out with just this. What should we do?”

 

She looked genuinely sorry. Lee Si-hyeok shook his head.

 

“It’s fine. It’s my business. Instead, may I examine this map in detail?”

 

“Yeah. Of course.”

 

He took the map she handed over with a disappointed smile and scanned it. He could see small notes written under the red and blue dots.

 

‘Did they roughly mark what kind of artifacts are there.’

 

Some had their identities clearly expressed, others didn’t. It was probably a matter of accessibility.

 

Meanwhile, there were two dots that caught Lee Si-hyeok’s attention.

 

One red dot and one blue dot, sitting nicely together.

 

“You’re only looking at the most dangerous places. You’re doing exactly the same thing as our daughter, really.”

 

“Dangerous places?”

 

“Yeah. You were looking at that red dot, weren’t you?”

 

He was right. It happened to be at the center of the desert zone. It was located right in the middle like an empty field.

 

“That place is much more dangerous than other red dots. It’s where a Gate Break occurred in the early days of the Gate era, and the monsters that came out then bred extensively and formed a demon’s den.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok made an expression of not understanding.

 

“I haven’t heard news that a Gate Break had occurred?”

 

He devoured all kinds of research papers and academic journals almost daily. That included news related to Gates. But he had never seen news that a Gate Break in Jiuquan couldn’t be resolved and formed a monster den. The underground ruins here were one thing, but why…

 

“The government blocks it from leaking out. It would be like advertising that their country is dangerous.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“So what grade that Gate was, even exactly what monsters they are hasn’t been identified. They didn’t particularly restrict access, but the very fact that the demon’s den exists made it a forbidden zone.”

 

Does that mean people who go there can’t return?

 

“You look like you’re getting interested.”

 

“A little.”

 

“Hmm. Want to go check it out?”

 

She asked without hesitation. Lee Si-hyeok was taken aback by her straightforward attitude.

 

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

 

“It is, but there’s no other suitable method, right? You said you need to find artifacts. Wouldn’t that still-unconfirmed demon cave have the highest possibility?”

 

“….”

 

‘She’s more bold than I thought.’

 

It was different from her seemingly gentle demeanor. Her disposition matched her elegant appearance. Not roundabout, but straight as a line.

 

“Could you guide me there?”

 

With Lumibra around, he had no worries. Lee Si-hyeok folded the map as he asked. It wouldn’t be too late to check the other blue dots again after investigating the demon cave.

 

“Of course. I’ll call someone over.”

 

* * *

 

“Huh?”

 

Lee Si-hyeok, who had been waiting for Aurelie del Lumiere to bring someone to help with guidance, couldn’t help but look bewildered when he saw the person she brought.

 

“Oh?”

 

That person also made the same expression as Lee Si-hyeok. The two who confirmed each other’s appearance blinked their eyes.

 

“Hm? What? Did you two know each other?”

 

Aurelie del Lumiere, who had arranged the meeting, seemed flustered.

 

The other person stammered as he spoke.

 

“You there. Aren’t you the person who came to buy a doll from me? The one who got pickpocketed?!”

 

“That’s right, but why are you….”

 

“My goodness! How can such a coincidence exist in this world?”

 

Lee Si-hyeok stepped back at the sight of the merchant making a fuss.

 

It was the merchant he had met at the black market a few days ago. That simple-looking person from the shop where he had discovered the small doll.

 

Aurelie del Lumiere, who had been listening quietly, raised her voice.

 

“Oh my. What? Pickpocket? You got pickpocketed?”

 

“Yes. You don’t need to worry! That thief already got properly taught a lesson!”

 

“My goodness. Why didn’t you tell me? Well, it’s fortunate that you already know each other. Introduce yourselves to each other. You know from what I told you on the way from the market, right? This is Lee Si-hyeok. The famous one.”

 

“Wow. I never imagined this person would be that Lee Si-hyeok!”

 

“Well, you wouldn’t have recognized him since he was using camouflage. Anyway, this guy is our member who will guide the student to the demon cave. His name is Kim Jin-seok.”

 

“…I’m Lee Si-hyeok.”

 

He greeted with a reluctant expression.

 

Wait, he was a member of this place? And Korean too?

 

“The purpose is information gathering. The black market is where antiques and artifacts gather. Naturally, information tends to flow there as well.”

 

“Wait. But is it okay for the Archaeology Guild to sell artifacts like that?”

 

“Actually, those are all counterfeits! We forge them so skillfully that no one notices! The real ones are all kept underground here!”

 

“Then what you sold to me was….”

 

“Ah! That was real. The doll or whatever it was, since it wasn’t even an artifact, I got permission from the Master to just sell it!”

 

No wonder only that one caught his eye among all the other items.

 

Lee Si-hyeok’s eye was never wrong.

 

“Then I’ll guide you. Please follow me!”

 

Lee Si-hyeok got into the jeep he had brought.

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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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