Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 75

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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 (75)

Oh My

“…Live broadcast?”

“They’re going to broadcast it to the whole world?”

“What, what kind of nonsense is this?”

People were flustered by the host’s bombshell announcement.

On Air.

Literally broadcasting the entire process live to the whole world. It was an absurdly radical approach, but those who had been murmuring soon began showing contrasting reactions.

“Now that I think about it… it’s not bad?”

“Isn’t it actually good? We could promote our research team?”

“Hmm, there aren’t really any penalties.”

It was different from the voting method of the first session.

Back then, voting determined rankings and even calculated rewards based on them, so participants expected to rank low had quite strong opposition.

But this time, wouldn’t they just need to show their original research process?

In other words, they could show their activities exactly as they were to people all over the world just by doing what they normally did.

The desire for recognition that any magical engineer would have. The Association had struck that emotion very well. They were probably also thinking of drawing more attention to the seminar while they were at it.

Although there were still some voices of opposition, most seemed to think positively about it.

“…”

And among them, Lee Si-hyeok, who had been observing the people, darkened his gaze.

‘…This is beneficial for me too.’

Of course, it wasn’t for reasons like being able to show his skills like the others, or wanting to satisfy his desire for recognition.

Because he knew the session would never proceed properly.

However…

‘I can expose Pyo Jae-hwan’s schemes to the whole world.’

Not only that, but all the crimes the Dean and Eterion had committed as well.

A faint smile appeared on Lee Si-hyeok’s lips.

This would give momentum to the plan he had set up. Much more than he had thought.

But there was one thing that bothered him.

‘They wouldn’t cancel the plan, would they?’

Pyo Jae-hwan’s side probably hadn’t expected the live broadcast either.

They might not welcome this sudden variable, so postponing today’s plan to next time would be…

That’s when it happened.

“…So this session consists of a total of 6 stages, and the first stage is…”

―Crackle, crackle!

Following the talk about the live broadcast, static suddenly began coming from the host’s microphone as he was explaining the session structure.

―Crzzzzzt!

“Huh, huh? Why is this happening?”

Soon the static spread to an unbearable degree, then after a moment, with a pop! sound, the microphone’s power went out completely.

The host blinked his eyes in apparent confusion.

“We’ll, we’ll take a break due to equipment malfunction. I’m sorry…”

He kept tilting his head in puzzlement as he entered the broadcasting equipment room behind the platform. The participants were also puzzled by this unexpected incident and began analyzing the current situation.

“I don’t think it’s a simple malfunction.”

“That’s right. A perfectly fine microphone suddenly acting up like this? Without any mana sparks? It doesn’t make sense.”

Lee Si-hyeok inwardly agreed with their words.

These were the facilities of Eterion Magical Engineering Academy, South Korea’s top professional academy. Such facilities wouldn’t break down without any warning.

‘So they have no intention of postponing the plan after all.’

Even though news of the live broadcast must have reached Pyo Jae-hwan, he seemed determined to push through recklessly.

But the situation didn’t end there.

Clatter clatter clatter!

Whirrrr, boooom!

Crash! Hissssss…

The research lab equipment began breaking down one by one.

Machines started running by themselves and eating away at their own bodies, entity analyzers overheated and exploded.

A crane from the ceiling even crashed to the floor, nearly crushing a participant.

“Cra, crazy! What is this!”

Lee Si-hyeok narrowed his eyes and quickly scanned the entire research lab.

Among the people running around in panic, countless pieces of information flooded into his mind.

One common point he identified:

‘All the equipment breaking down are only those that use mana.’

But there was no time to continue that line of thought.

“…?!”

Suddenly, a mana analysis drone above Lee Si-hyeok’s head began flashing frantically.

“Get away, you fool!”

“Run away?!”

Professor Hong Yong-jin and Aila, who had been moving to find a safe place, shouted in horror.

Lee Si-hyeok clenched his teeth and put strength into his legs.

It wasn’t that he had missed it. While scanning the research lab, he had already noticed this drone flying toward his head.

The reason it had come to this was:

‘…Did Chronos deliberately guide it here!’

There must be a clear intention behind it. Lee Si-hyeok clicked his tongue as his feet left the ground. The emergency artifact he activated simultaneously added power to his movement.

And just before launching his body, he felt an intangible energy from behind.

―Boooooom!

It was truly just a split second.

Lee Si-hyeok, who had jumped with all his might, landed next to Professor Hong Yong-jin, and the drone exploded right above where Lee Si-hyeok had been just moments before.

“Are, are you okay, you fool.”

“Yes…”

Looking at the debris that had crashed down while emitting smoke, Lee Si-hyeok answered blankly.

If Isaac hadn’t secretly lent his strength at the last moment, it really might have been… close.

Lee Si-hyeok mentally expressed his gratitude as he brushed the ash powder off his pants and stood up.

His ears were still ringing from the explosion.

Nevertheless, he held onto his consciousness and observed the research lab’s situation.

“Which bastard is doing this shit…!”

“Let us out! Open the door, damn it!”

“Ahhhhh! I’m going to die!”

The expression “panic-stricken” was insufficient.

Now the research lab doors seemed to be locked too, as Ray Wen pounded on the door with his burly frame, but it absolutely wouldn’t open.

Since it was a door that operated through mana, it was completely useless in this situation.

“…”

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

Even though people were in chaos, he waited for a moment. He was deliberately making them feel the current fear even more.

‘I’ll go with the most certain method possible.’

The reactions of the people he observed were varied.

Some analyzed this situation from an engineering perspective, others screamed and pounded on the door to break it, and some were just trembling in corners, paralyzed with fear.

Then, people’s thoughts gradually began to be guided in one direction.

―Who orchestrated this?

Wasn’t that right? As mentioned earlier, it was common knowledge that mana equipment didn’t break down easily. Moreover, having this much equipment break down all at once was nearly impossible.

That meant there was someone behind all this chaos.

People’s reactions were different, but everyone harbored that puzzlement inside.

Who on earth?

In that way, puzzlement became doubt.

When doubt turned into resentment, and resentment was about to become anger.

Swish.

Lee Si-hyeok pulled out an artifact from his bag.

“Um, excuse me? Choi Hyeok?”

Aila, who had been restless beside him, looked at him anxiously.

“Do you have any ideas? Or thoughts?”

Lee Si-hyeok continued his actions without giving her a glance. Gripping the artifact in one hand, he brought his other hand toward his face.

And putting strength into that hand.

“What should we do now… Huh, what?”

He tore off the disguise artifact covering his face in one swift motion.

“What what what?”

Immediately, Aila’s eyes widened as if they would tear apart.

‘What, what is this?!’

Just moments ago it had been a familiar face. But suddenly he tore off his face, and a completely unfamiliar face replaced it.

‘Could it be? He was hiding his identity?’

But the shock didn’t end there.

Suddenly, following his face, even his physique and atmosphere began changing into a completely different person. On top of that, calluses even formed on his fingers!

Crash!

“Uh, uhhh?”

Whether the drone fell or not, everything was now erased from Aila’s thoughts.

Nothing could be more shocking than this scene of someone she thought she had finally gotten close to suddenly shedding their shell!

“Who, who are you?! What did you do to our Choi Hyeok?!”

Aila, who had been backing away in terror, froze in place.

“…Wait a minute? Haven’t we met somewhere before…?”

Then a figure flashed through her mind.

The one person who had appeared like a comet a few months ago, heated up the entire Earth, and was still providing tremendous inspiration to magical engineers.

…Right, ‘we’ hadn’t seen him.

Only I had seen him. Through the screen.

“What what what what?”

But he didn’t respond. He just gave a small smile toward Aila, who was gaping with an indifferent gaze, then quickly turned his head as if he was busy.

‘I’ve waited long enough. I can’t delay any longer.’

Having made that judgment, Lee Si-hyeok lifted the artifact he had just taken out back up to his chest.

And without hesitation, he pressed the activation button.

―Whoooooosh!

Blue energy erupted from the artifact and spread throughout the entire research lab in an instant. Mana. The power called by that name instantly seized control of the entire area.

The mana didn’t stop there and rushed even further.

One strand, two strands, three strands. Soon the mana split into countless strands beyond counting and settled into the failing equipment.

More delicately than anything else.

“Ahhhhh! Someone save me…”

Thud.

“…Huh? What, what is this?”

The crane that was about to crash stopped in place.

The quantum experimental device that had been consuming itself came to a halt.

The drones that had been flying chaotically through the air regained their original speed.

The mana restored all equipment to its original state in less than a few seconds.

This then slowly spread out and even formed a defensive barrier on the research lab walls. It looked as if the walls had been coated with blue.

At the same time, consecutive messages appeared before the bewildered people’s eyes.

[〈Isolate Barrier〉 is activated!]

[The barrier isolates the space and stabilizes the area from danger.]

[+ Additional modification by the creator!]

[‘Purification’ ability has been added. As a result, all defects in existing artifacts have been successfully repaired!]

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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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