My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 17

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

Episode 17

【You’ve come here again.】

“I didn’t expect to come back after just one day either.”

Clang!

Bang!

The sound of hammers ringing from here and there.

The Blacksmith District was hot today as well.

I crossed the sweltering street heated by the heat from the metal smelting process.

“Are you here for an experience session?”

“It’s a rental.”

“That’s 300,000 won for four hours.”

The sun had tilted quite a bit to the west.

It would be difficult to extend the rental time like last time.

I need to work quickly.

[Death Space]

[2/10 → 1/10]

Thud!

A massive figure that popped out from the pitch-black space fell face-down on the floor.

It was an Orc Grunt corpse that would serve as the base for an undead.

Its weight was about 200kg.

Thanks to the [Death Space] skill, I was able to save subspace capacity.

【Are you going to craft it into an undead right away?】

“Corpse Crafting doesn’t work with just a snap like that.”

How many times do I have to tell you before you understand?

To turn a corpse into an undead, a maturation process was necessary.

Really.

If I could create undead with just a single spell, I wouldn’t have gone through all that trouble.

I took out the Magic Stones I had acquired during the Gate raid.

Gripping a scalpel in my hand.

I cut into both forearms and thighs, as well as the chest.

I carved out grooves sized to fit the Magic Stones.

I fitted five D-rank Magic Stones that I hadn’t sold at the Hunter Market into the grooves.

[Corpse Processing]

Converting the power contained in the Magic Stone into spirit power.

Accelerating the aging process that should take a long time.

“This way, I can prevent decay and boost performance.”

【Magnificent.】

“The minor downside is that it requires Magic Stones.”

The Orc Zombie Mk.42 that became Sir Isra’s base was also an undead aged with Magic Stones.

It takes about two hours to fully absorb the energy of a D-rank Magic Stone.

Let me get the rest of the work done while waiting.

[Hobgoblin Tendon]

Grade: C

Category: Miscellaneous

*Agility + 10% when creating Undead

Implanting tendons throughout the lying Orc Grunt Corpse.

[Frosttusk Mammoth Leg Muscle]

Grade: C

Category: Miscellaneous

*Strength + 12% when creating Undead

*Low chance to inflict Freezing Lv 8 on impact.

I also reinforced the muscles in key areas.

While cutting through skin and muscle, I carved Spirit Power Circuits as well.

I couldn’t make them as detailed as Sir Isra’s.

But I can expect performance improvements.

“Phew.”

I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

Tearing and joining the flesh of the dead after rigor mortis has ended.

It sounds easy, but it’s quite labor-intensive work.

It requires delicacy too.

I don’t know how many zombies I’ve made while struggling as an E-rank Hunter.

【That experience has made you who you are today.】

“You’re quite skilled at sugarcoating things, aren’t you?”

【I am acknowledging your efforts.】

I tried to deflect because it was embarrassing.

But he hits me with another straight shot.

Sir Isra.

Don’t people often tell you that you’re oblivious?

About 30 minutes have passed up to this point.

“Why is this going so fast?”

【Is there a problem?】

“The modification went well. Probably.”

I’d have to confirm by raising it with Corpse Crafting.

Thanks to years of experience, I could tell.

There were no problems with the process.

I was just surprised that the work speed was much faster than expected.

“Is this also the influence of the Heavenly Martial Body?”

Force distribution.

Accuracy.

Both had improved.

In the past, I had to concentrate tremendously with each stroke of the scalpel.

Now?

A simple motion flows like water.

It made me wonder why I had made something so simple so difficult.

【There’s quite a lot of time left.】

“Let’s do other work too.”

White bones poured out from the subspace bag.

[Owlbeast Bone – 150Kg]

There were too many and they were too heavy to take out one by one, so I just poured them out.

“Sir. Put them on the table.”

【Understood.】

Sir Isra, who suddenly emerged from the shadows, helped with the organizing.

Piles of bones sorted by size.

Phew.

Having them organized put my mind at ease.

【How nice it would be if the old workshop were organized too.】

“Shh.”

That’s that, and this is this.

【Are these bones also needed for creating the Zombie Warrior?】

“I’m going to make armament like yours, Sir.”

Two meters tall.

A muscular physique reminiscent of a bodybuilder.

This type of build would suit heavy armor better than light armor.

I rolled up my sleeves.

“Let me show off my skills a bit.”

* * *

The moment Min-ho pulled out a pile of bones.

The eyes of the blacksmith on daily duty widened in surprise.

‘He really works with bones?’

Two days ago.

At a place considered one of the best forges in the country.

Nam Jin-woo, the chief apprentice of Hanil Forge, had walked around saying.

―There’s a blacksmith who makes weapons from bones.

―That person’s skill in handling bones was as impressive as mine.

―If someone who rented the forge works with bones, please call me.

They thought it was nonsense.

Bones?

Except for parts from certain monsters, it was a useless material.

Maybe for alchemists.

Those guys strengthen them by carving magic circuits after all.

It was a material that didn’t match well with blacksmiths who refine with fire and oil.

That’s what they thought.

Clang!

Clank!

“Huuuu.”

The hammer pounded the red-hot bone.

Bone weakened by heat.

It should have shattered to pieces normally.

But somehow.

Each time Min-ho struck with the hammer, it gradually compressed and changed shape.

‘Chief Apprentice Nam Jin-woo was right!’

The blacksmith who had been blankly watching the work process turned around.

He had to deliver this news to Nam Jin-woo.

Not long after.

Several blacksmiths came running.

Among them was Nam Jin-woo, the chief apprentice.

“I was right!”

“Chief Apprentice. Keep it down.”

“You might disturb his work.”

When the other blacksmiths gave him looks, Nam Jin-woo glared back as if wronged.

When he had said a blacksmith who handled bones like metal had appeared.

No one had believed his words.

And yet.

Now that one really appeared, they told him to be quiet?

“Hiya. How fascinating.”

“Why isn’t the bone breaking?”

“He seems to possess a special skill.”

I wanted to say something but held back.

No.

I had no choice but to hold back.

Among those who had flocked here to observe Min-ho’s work.

About half weren’t apprentices, but blacksmiths who were the faces of their forges.

Even though Nam Jin-woo was the senior apprentice of Hanil Forge.

His reputation was still far lacking compared to official blacksmiths.

“Where did you learn to hammer like that?”

“No. Those habits aren’t from the Blacksmith District.”

“Huh. He doesn’t seem to have learned it anywhere, yet look at that even force distribution.”

The blacksmiths were pointing out the exact same things Nam Jin-woo had admired.

Unaware that the gazes directed at him had increased.

Min-ho was focused on Bone Metallurgy.

* * *

Whoooosh.

Heating the bone.

I repeated the process of hammering it and then quenching it.

Wow.

This is incredibly tough.

Is it because it’s heavy armor?

The workload was much greater than when I made Sir Isra’s armament.

【Take a breather.】

“No. Then I’ll lose my concentration.”

I need to finish everything when the feeling comes.

Clang!

I somehow refined and wove together the 150kg of bone.

Creating a decent form.

Helmet.

Plate Mail.

And even greaves.

“Ugh.”

As I arched my back to relieve the stiffness.

The crowd gathered near the forge came into view.

What’s this?

Those people.

Were they watching me work?

“What are you doing?”

“Kuhuhum. You there. You never learned hammering separately, did you?”

“If you come to Jingun Forge, I’ll make you head apprentice right away!”

“How about properly learning blacksmith work?”

What the hell.

These people.

Why are their eyes rolling around?

I don’t know. It’s scary.

“Masters. This person is a visitor, so please be careful.”

A young man stepped in to block the blacksmiths.

Come to think of it, he looks familiar.

He’s the person from two days ago.

“We meet again.”

We’re acquainted, aren’t we?

So.

Won’t you explain this chaos for me?

“The customer’s talent is outstanding. The artisans seem to have taken a liking to you.”

“It seems they watched your entire work process.”

The excited artisans made “ah” expressions.

Watching the work process wasn’t illegal.

However.

Sensitive artisans often kept their workshop interiors hidden from view.

Even the smallest noise could often break their concentration.

“Oh my. We were rude.”

“Sorry about that.”

The artisans cleared their throats with “ahem.”

“Masters. Our customer seems a bit displeased, shouldn’t we give him something?”

“Ah. Wait a moment.”

“We happen to have some spare minerals, just wait!”

The artisans hurriedly left their spots.

Wow.

He’s good at managing traffic.

I was so focused on hammering the bone that I didn’t even know anyone was watching.

If they’re offering to take care of me like this, I won’t refuse.

“Thank you. Um… you’re Nam Jin-woo, right?”

“Yes. I’m Nam Jin-woo, head apprentice of Hanil Forge.”

He’s doing self-PR through a niche market opportunity.

I knew his name thanks to the business card I received last time.

But I couldn’t remember it was Hanil Forge.

Hanil Forge is the best in our country.

If he’s working as a senior apprentice at such a place, his skills must be impressive too.

It wouldn’t hurt to get to know him.

“But, sir.”

Nam Jin-woo carefully pointed at the Heavy Armor I had made by hammering bone.

“In that form, it would be difficult to put on and take off.”

“I suppose so.”

“To be honest, it would be hard to expect performance as armor too.”

Let me remind myself once again.

I’m not a proper blacksmith.

Heavy Armor?

I don’t even know the proper structure.

As I please.

I just craft however my hands lead me.

Yet the reason I confidently work the bone is simple.

Because it’s the Undead who will wear this equipment.

“I fitted the frame to match an Orc Grunt’s build.”

“You… made this for a corpse to wear?”

“Yes.”

Should I call it wearing?

The expression “draping over” seems more fitting.

Anyway, after draping it on, I plan to connect it with a Spirit Power Circuit.

Then it should be recognized as originally one body, right?

It doesn’t matter if there are differences from actual Plate Mail.

Since the Undead will never need to put on or take off armament.

【The energy contained in the Magic Stone has long been completely exhausted.】

“Good.”

Before raising the Undead.

I carefully fitted the Bone Heavy Armor I had painstakingly made.

The back portion was impossible to put on without Sir Isra’s help.

I aligned the armor divided into various sections as best as possible.

[Spirit Power Circuit]

I connected the joints of the armor.

And linked even the parts that touched the Orc Grunt’s skin.

“Ah.”

【What’s the matter?】

“I wasn’t supposed to put the armor on it.”

【That’s right.】

“It would have been better to carve grooves in the corpse beforehand and connect the bones together.”

Maybe because it was my first attempt.

Improvement ideas came to mind immediately.

How regrettable.

I’ll do better next time.

After connecting the pre-carved Spirit Power Circuit with the armor’s lines.

The rental time had almost completely passed.

Phew.

I barely managed to finish.

“Finally, if I insert this, the preparation is complete.”

The Fragmented Soul Stone embedded deep into the Orc Grunt’s forehead.

Hah.

I’m trembling.

This is my first time using Corpse Crafting since my promotion.

A new undead.

Added armament.

And on top of that.

Even the variable of a Fragmented Soul Stone.

Since I couldn’t know what kind of synergy effect would emerge.

With a heart where excitement and nervousness coexisted, I drew up my mana.

“Open your eyes.”

[Corpse Crafting]

[Creating a Zombie Warrior.]

[A special wavelength is detected from the target corpse.]

[This is a new form not recorded in the system.]

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