Infinite Evolution Hunter - Chapter 149

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

149
“Chairman, are you going to keep calling me like this? I can’t get any work done.”
“Jae-in, these people are starving to death!”
“Sigh… So we need to prioritize solving the drought and food shortage. Fortunately, the timing isn’t bad. The core made from the Blue Dragon Heart has just been completed.”
Jae-in placed a large metal bag on the desk and opened it.
Inside the bag was a blue core, radiating white light from within.
Unlike the unstable cores from before, this one showed no signs of heat or instability.
“Wasn’t it red before?”
“The color changed because we’re burning pure energy now. The energy efficiency is several times higher than before. If we make just a few of these, Earth’s energy problems will be solved.”
“But there’s no Blue Dragon Heart left. It’s impossible unless we create an extinct dragon.”
…
Her eyes had lost focus—Jae-in was clearly thinking of something strange again.
“Let me test the core.”
I took the core from the bag and held it in my hand. I expected it to be very cold, but it was merely cool.
I drew out energy and circulated it through my body. Countless times more energy than what I’d absorbed from the Angels poured out endlessly.
Since I had no immediate use for what I’d absorbed, I stopped the absorption.
“This is good, but how exactly do you plan to solve the food and water problems with this?”
“We’ll open a Gate at the seabed and spray seawater into drought-stricken areas. Until now, we couldn’t transport water through Gates because of the cost, but with this massive energy, it’s possible.”
The sea on Telus wasn’t completely salt-free, but its salinity was extremely low.
“Once we solve the water problem, the food shortage will resolve itself over time. In the meantime, we can open a Gate connecting Korea and the Newus Imperial Capital to procure food supplies.”
Earth was in good condition right now and producing excess food. Selling the surplus to Telus and purchasing necessary resources in return would benefit both sides.
“A Gate to Earth? Is that even possible? Until now, we’ve only opened Gates within Gates.”
“We have the Blue Dragon Heart core, and through technological exchange, our understanding of spatial movement has increased significantly. However, while using it this way, you won’t be able to use the core, Chairman. Is that alright?”
“I don’t need it right now. This is more urgent, so let’s proceed.”
I summoned Jae-in, Bae Na-young, and the former Imperial mages to begin research. Voices rose and fell with opinions, and occasional curses echoed through the air—I disliked headaches, so I left the room.
While Bae Na-young and Jae-in researched the magical circle connecting to Earth, I went to the sea with a young court mage.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes!”
William, the mage who came with me, was sharp and focused—after all, he was to inherit the position of Emperor Joshua.
William created a circular protective barrier with mana and entered the sea, while I dove deep into the ocean with my bare body.
William placed the device Jae-in had made on a flat rock. Then he raised both hands above his head, forming a circle to signal me that he was ready.
Seeing that, I swam through the sea searching for fish.
Sensing life force, I found a large school of massive fish that resembled tuna.
I blocked their path and herded them toward William like a shepherd tending sheep.
As thousands of fish the size of a person rushed toward him, William’s face stiffened with tension.
I veered sharply away from the school of fish and swam toward William.
William was startled seeing me swim faster than the fish.
I nodded at William, and he activated the device. A Gate opened underwater.
The Gate opened by the Blue Dragon Heart core had a diameter of at least ten meters.
The school of fish, unable to change direction in time, couldn’t escape and was sucked into the vortex created by the Gate.
I wrapped my hands around William’s barrier to keep him from being swept away.
Once we’d absorbed enough water, William shut off the device and we surfaced together.
“Check the situation on the other side for me.”
“Yes!”
William contacted the team on the side where they were pouring water through the communication channel.
“We’ve filled the lake completely! We’ve never seen anything like this! Normally only important officials can use the Gate to travel, yet here we are using it just to move water!”
“From now on, we won’t have to worry about money limiting our Gate usage. There’s still plenty of work to do. Prepare the next connection point.”
We repeated this process dozens of times, pouring water into river sources and lakes throughout the Allied Forces territories.
The fish I added were a bonus—immediate food supplies for them.
The sea on this side lacked salt, but mana dissolved within it, so the fish contained trace amounts of mana as well. Because of this, Telus’s sea fish were poison to Earth humans, but for the lifeforms of Telus that existed before the Gate’s emergence, they made a delicious meal.
After finishing the water distribution, I remembered the village I’d visited before.
I took the largest fish and headed to that village.
“Have you returned?”
I descended from the sky with the enormous fish, and the young boy who had lost his mother showed no surprise whatsoever. Even when I’d seen him before, I’d sensed he was no ordinary child.
“Did you know I was coming?”
“Since you saved us, I thought you might visit again at some point.”
“Is that so? How have you been managing?”
“The people have been gathering what they can with the food you provided, and we’ve been scraping by. We’re grateful for your kindness.”
The young boy bowed respectfully, and the villagers gathered around and did the same.
Unlike last time, they weren’t lying on the ground, but they were all skin and bones—clearly still suffering from food scarcity.
At my gesture, the people rushed forward and began butchering the fish.
“What’s your name?”
I asked the child’s name.
“My name is Alice.”
“…Alice? You’re a girl?”
With such a composed expression, she’d seemed like an old soul, but at my words, her lips pouted in a childlike manner. She’d been so grimy and thin that I couldn’t distinguish her gender.
“Yes.”
“I see. Alice, will you come with me?”
“They say heroes are lecherous—now that you know I’m female, do you desire me?”
“Don’t be cheeky. You know that’s not it. Isn’t it difficult to live alone here?”
“It’s fine. That’s the life of a commoner. Besides, this place is my parents’ homeland.”
“Hmm, you seemed clever enough that I thought I’d give you an education, but if you won’t come, that’s unfortunate.”
“…You would provide education to someone of low birth like me?”
“If you’re intelligent, I don’t care whether you’re a commoner or a noble. If you want, I’ll send you to school.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“You said it was your homeland?”
“A homeland that can’t even provide a single book isn’t worth keeping. If I’m going to study, my parents would be happy about it.”
Alice glanced at the two graves behind the house.
“All right. Let’s go.”
I took Alice and returned to the Imperial Capital, Derham.
“Alex, what kind of place is the Academy in Newus?”
“The Academy, Your Majesty? It is where nobles enroll to study academics, martial arts, and magic. There are several locations throughout the territory.”
“Is that so? Can’t commoners learn there?”
“… Where would commoners find such funds, Your Majesty?”
“Doesn’t the nation have plenty of money?”
“We are on the brink of bankruptcy, sir.”
“Bae Na-young, I need some funds.”
“Huh? Right. Disband the Imperial Capital garrison, reduce the banquets to one-tenth, eliminate the dignity maintenance budget…. Will this suffice?”
Bae Na-young, who had been conducting research with Jae-in, scribbled budget cuts on paper and handed them to me.
“Yes, that should be enough.”
Upon hearing my response, Bae Na-young returned to her research.
“Alex, use this to establish a new Academy where commoners can also enroll. Build it near the World Tree.”
“But…. If you disband the Imperial Capital garrison, how will we defend ourselves?!”
“You think someone would attack here? With me and Bae Na-young around?”
“But…. still….”
“If we had plenty of money, fine. But you say we’re broke? Isn’t education more important?”
“…. I shall implement it at once.”
Since an Academy cannot be established overnight, I would need to enroll Alice in the Academy where the nobles attend for now.
“Alice, for now….”
But by then, Alice was already sitting on the floor, reading a book as thick as her own torso.
Alice’s eyes as she read the book sparkled more brilliantly than anything I had ever seen.
Though Telus was a world where life held little value and death was commonplace, the sorrow of a child who had lost her mother was not something easily forgotten.
Sadness had always lingered in Alice’s eyes, yet in this moment of reading, she seemed to have forgotten, at least for a while, the grief of losing her mother.
Another bookworm had joined Bae Na-young and Jae-in.
If Alice grew up intelligent and reduced my workload, I wouldn’t have to worry about troublesome matters. That would be nice.
“Wait!”
Bae Na-young suddenly cried out and stood up.
“Yes?”
Alice opened her eyes wide and looked at Bae Na-young.
“You….”
Bae Na-young stared at Alice with wide eyes.
“When was the last time you bathed?”
“…”
“Come with me.”
Bae Na-young, who valued cleanliness, could not tolerate Alice’s odor and grimy appearance, so she went to bathe her personally.
* * *
“Your Majesty.”
“Alex…. Is it another matter?”
“Yes, it is.”
“For a moment, I understood Jae-in’s feelings.”
“Did you think the throne would be easy?”
“I never wanted it in the first place.”
“Well, you’re already king, so there’s nothing to be done about it.”
“So what?”
“Ailstobic and Wihol have attacked Bolboen’s granaries.”
Alex scratched his head, and what little hair remained fell away with a soft whisper.
“Dwarves and elves attacking Bolboen? That’s the region south of the Elven Kingdom and the Dwarven Kingdom, right?”
I pointed to the map.
“Correct. Elves inhabit the Great Forest east of the World Tree, and dwarves dwell in the Eastern Mountain Range. Neither region is suited for grain cultivation, so until now they’ve supplied the Empire with magic and weapons in exchange for purchasing food from Bolboen.”
“And?”
“Now that the war between the Eastern and Western Continents has ended, the demand for weapons and magic has plummeted.”
“Wait, didn’t we stock the waters near the Elven and Dwarven Kingdoms with fish? Shouldn’t that be enough to sustain them for now?”
“Elves are vegetarians, and dwarves won’t eat fish.”
“Picky eaters. So they lack the food they want, and they’ve joined forces to attack the surrounding lands?”
“They haven’t joined forces. Each is attacking Bolboen separately to seize the granaries. The Bolboen military, weaker than either elves or dwarves, has evacuated, and now the elves and dwarves are fighting each other over the land.”
“Madness… Wait, we’re already stretched thin with reconstruction materials and mages needed for war recovery. Why not export something other than weapons?”
“Elves and dwarves take pride in being superior races and refuse to engage in menial labor.”
“So they seize farmland by force instead?”
“Precisely.”
“Didn’t I tell them not to wage war?”
“They won’t listen to humans. The previous Emperor had constant problems with them as well.”
“Why did he let it slide?”
“The Western Continent alone was difficult enough to manage—he couldn’t afford internal conflicts. Besides, the Emperor needed their strength. Elven magic and dwarven weapons proved invaluable on the battlefield.”
I need neither.
“Send them a warning. Tell them I’ll come myself if they continue.”
“…Understood. Though I doubt they’ll listen.”
“If they don’t, then we’ll have a conversation.”

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