My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 181
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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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Episode 181
The day of the promotion exam.
“Mom! I’m heading out!”
“Don’t be nervous. Mom always believes in our Yeon-du.”
“I’ll get S-rank like Uncle, so look forward to it!”
Why are you dragging me into this?
“Don’t act foolish and make mistakes.”
“Nieeeep.”
“Student Min-ho. Are you sure it’s okay when you’re busy?”
“We’re like family who eat from the same pot. It’s fine.”
I cleared my entire schedule for today too.
Yeon-du and the entire support team are taking their promotion exams, so shouldn’t I at least cheer them on?
“Really. I don’t know how to thank Student Min-ho enough.”
“Then please pack more pickled vegetables. They were delicious.”
“I’ll bring them up as soon as I make them.”
“Thank you. It’d be even better if you give me a lot.”
Their appetites have grown tremendously.
Especially Sir Isra could easily be considered three, no, four people’s worth.
“Hahahaha. Isn’t it the first sword’s mission to do the work of several people?”
“Being a big eater is something to brag about, Iron Head.”
“In this country, they say rice power is strength itself, Mage.”
“You do just fine without eating.”
Here they go again.
“Let’s go, Yeon-du.”
“Yeah, Uncle.”
“Wait! Don’t leave me behind!”
“Let’s go together! Master!”
The vehicle departed noisily and quickly arrived at Yeouido.
The support team had arrived first and was stretching.
“Hyung-nim.”
“Don’t worry about me and just loosen up.”
These guys are today’s main characters.
There’s nothing I can do to help, but I came out to at least cheer them on.
“If you get nervous, even what you can do won’t work.”
“We’ll do as Sir Isra taught us.”
“Of course. Naturally.”
Sir Isra placed both hands on his hips.
“If anyone doesn’t get A-rank or higher in this exam, know that you’ll all undergo special training.”
“S-special training?”
“It’ll be twice, no, three times harder than usual.”
The color completely drained from the support team and Yeon-du’s faces.
“You have received instruction from the Continental Greatest Sword. You must do at least that much for my reputation to stand.”
“We will definitely succeed!”
“Ah. I might just die if I get B or lower.”
Sir Isra’s training intensity is pretty intense.
I couldn’t even imagine how hard it would be if he increased it by more than double.
I should respectfully pray for the deceased’s souls.
“Ha, haha. I was aiming for S-rank from the beginning anyway. Right, Uncle?”
“You were.”
“I-I can do it. Of course!”
Your pupils are shaking, Yeon-du.
“We can’t lose either.”
“Unnie? Um, excuse me?”
“Mi-jeong, if you get B-rank or lower, let’s train a bit more too.”
“Hieek!”
I’m completely innocent in this, everyone.
I definitely came to cheer them on, but their morale got completely shattered, beyond broken into powder.
“Everyone’s overflowing with motivation. It’s good to see.”
Boss, who had approached at some point, smiled warmly.
If they overflow with motivation twice more, they might transfer their affiliation from this world to the next.
“Well then, we’ll be going. Hyung-nim.”
“Yes. I wish you good fortune.”
“Uncle. Give me a victory spell too.”
Yeon-du tapped near her ear with her finger.
Ugh.
I quietly approached and muttered, “Loser who lost to a permanent E-rank.”
“Uoooh! I’m not a loser!”
The five of them walked toward the Tower of Ascension with high spirits.
I wonder how the results will turn out.
“Let’s go wait in the car.”
“Yes. It’ll take quite a while.”
President Baek came to work in the coffee truck today.
As I sat in the portable chair, I heard the sound of coffee beans grinding—drrrrrr—along with a savory aroma.
“They’ll be fine, right? Everyone?”
“The support team Hunters have worked much harder than Hunter Park thinks.”
“How do they look to you, Boss?”
“I don’t know if they’ll meet Sir Isra’s expectations, but I think they’ll at least pass.”
“You rate the support team highly.”
I thought that was unexpected.
B-rank Hunters are in the top 5% of the industry.
How many permanent C-ranks have been frustrated by their inability to overcome the walls of [Mana Emission] and [Multiple Casting]?
“That’s why they acted so arrogant during that strategy competition.”
I tilted my head briefly at Sir Isra’s words.
Ah.
He’s talking about that guy who was the Mir Guild Academy Supervisor or something.
Even though it happened a few months ago, it felt like ancient history.
“There aren’t many cases of succeeding in mana emission before passing the exam.”
Then passing at minimum B-rank or higher is confirmed.
That means they’re at the level of promising rookies that Mir Guild would push.
The weight that B-rank carries is that significant.
President Baek smiled slightly and answered.
“Objectively speaking, the individual capabilities of the support team members aren’t particularly outstanding.”
You’re delivering fact-based violence while smiling.
“The palace minister speaks correctly.”
“Why are you agreeing again?”
“I merely stated the facts.”
Whirrrrr—
The extract from freshly ground coffee was poured into a small cup.
“The reason I’m confident about the support team’s promotion is because of you, Hunter.”
Who, me?
“You’ve been inspired by Hunter-nim and learned from an outstanding expert like the Knight of White Light, so it should be fine.”
“I’m here too, you know?”
“I haven’t forgotten the assistance of Eclipse Witch Ingrid-nim either.”
Our Boss.
You’re working hard to keep the familiars happy.
I should be the one disciplining the kids.
No matter how much I tell them about using honorifics for others, they just won’t listen.
“When you’re nervous, coffee made from Brazilian beans is good.”
Clink.
Steam rose gently from the coffee placed in front of me.
Excuse me.
Boss???
What on earth is going on here.
About three question marks floated above my head.
“Didn’t I tell you.”
“So what exactly?”
“When you’re nervous, an Americano brewed with Brazilian beans is good.”
“No. I get that. But why did you give me something boiling hot.”
“To taste coffee’s true flavor, you must drink it hot.”
Good heavens.
Was all that talk just buildup to avoid taking menu orders?
How terrifying.
To think I fell for Boss’s scheme.
“Phew.”
Adding ice would just make it bland.
Can’t be helped.
I pretended to give in and picked up the steaming cup.
Gulp.
“Hm?”
“How is it.”
“It’s incredibly nutty.”
Something, something’s different.
All the coffee I’d had until now was just bitter and nothing else.
The countless flavors coating my tongue completely awakened my senses.
“Try this one too.”
A small cup filled with pitch-black liquid.
Thinking it was the same coffee, the moment I took a sip.
“Mmm?”
My eyes widened.
“How is it.”
“It has a sour taste like alcohol.”
“Depending on the region and roasting method, the taste is completely different.”
Wow.
It was as amazing as watching a magic show.
So this is why you said not to add ice if you want to properly taste coffee.
“Hot coffee is pretty good sometimes too.”
“Sometimes, you say.”
“If you’re Korean, you’re part of the iced-till-death cult.”
Of course.
Regardless of how amazing the taste is, I can’t change my religious beliefs.
Converting from the Iced Americano faith would require more impact. Boss.
“Can I taste some too?”
“I’m curious about that flavor.”
“Could you prepare some for Schne as well?”
“Of course.”
While sipping the coffee President Baek brewed for us.
[D-rank Hunter Kim Yeon-du has received an S-rank evaluation in her promotion exam.]
[Additional skills will be granted to Hunter Kim Yeon-du.]
“It’s up.”
“Thanks to Hunter Park, I got promoted.”
“It’s the result of Boss doing business even while selling me out.”
“You knew?”
“It was pretty obvious.”
“I’ll do my best to ensure nothing damages Hunter-nim’s reputation.”
What could possibly damage my reputation.
Since you handle everything so well on your own, you’ll take good care of Yeon-du too.
“Since we have something to celebrate, we should naturally raise a toast.”
“Iron Head. Are you thinking about food again?”
“Gal! When great deeds are accomplished, they should be commemorated with food and drink.”
Sir Isra’s words are sound logic though.
“I made a reservation at that beef restaurant we went to last time.”
“Oh! Ooooooh!”
“Schne finally gets to try it too!”
“Well, it’s not bad.”
The familiars who could taste food showed their excitement, big or small.
Seriously.
Sometimes I get confused about whether I’m raising kids.
* * *
Early evening.
After finishing the exam, I went to the dinner venue with the group.
“It’s all thanks to hyung.”
Seong-su, the support team leader, said with an excited expression.
“We actually broke through the Wall of Lamentations!”
“And everyone got A-rank evaluations too.”
“It wouldn’t have been possible without hyung!”
Yeon-du got S-rank.
The support team all passed their promotion exams with A-rank.
“Hahaha. It’s rewarding to have elevated our Lord’s honor.”
“Mi-jeong. You should be happy too.”
The two familiars also wore proud expressions.
“How about we do a toast again this time?”
When President Baek asked, everyone got caught up in the mood and raised their glasses high.
The liquid swirled.
Just as Yeon-du was about to join the mood and raise her glass.
“You’re a minor.”
I took away the soju glass she was holding and handed her a carbonated drink instead.
“Ah. Why! The college entrance exam is over!”
“You’re still not an adult, right?”
“All my friends drink too!”
“Tell me who they are. I need to report them to the police.”
“Damn.”
Madam.
I’m protecting Yeon-du, so don’t worry.
I’ll defend her with iron-tight security so not a single drop of alcohol enters her mouth.
“For the Support Team and Miss Yeon-du’s promotion!”
President Baek led the toast.
“Cheers!!!”
The Support Team friends and everyone cheerfully responded together.
Clink!
Glasses clinked in the air.
Alcohol splashed here and there, but no one frowned.
“Is this called marbled beef? It melts so smoothly in your mouth.”
“Eat slowly, Iron Head.”
“You’re the one who should put down your chopsticks.”
“This! Is! Completely! Delicious! I tell you!”
The familiars were busy devouring beef, whether there was a toast or not.
Guys.
I’ll buy you more separately, so please don’t eat so frantically.
“You’re probably the only Hunter who brings A-rank promoted members as a Support Team.”
“What luxury. Such luxury.”
“With the Support Team’s level, even if the Domestic Big Five is a stretch, they’re talents that major guilds would welcome.”
Boss.
Why are you setting up flags while enjoying your meal?
Doesn’t it seem like you’re encouraging these friends to change affiliations?
“We became B-rank thanks to hyung, so where would we go?”
“We’re going to stay with hyung!”
Maybe it was because they had some alcohol in them.
The flag President Baek had set naturally disappeared.
Phew.
“Right. Now we don’t need to ask the Rift Bureau for help anymore.”
“I told them as soon as we confirmed the promotion.”
“I felt a bit sorry every time I saw the Rift Bureau employees.”
Nominally, they were people who came to escort me.
But since the difference in our combat power was so great, I used them like the Support Team.
That was understandable to some extent.
But it was obvious they were suffering from chronic manpower shortages.
It was a bit burdensome that they sent people who weren’t available anyway every time we attacked gates.
“That’s good. No need to read the room anymore.”
“Is there something going on?”
“A-rank gates. We need to attack them.”
A-rank gates that B-rank Hunters can enter appear quite frequently.
Higher-level gates we couldn’t enter because we were being considerate of the Rift Bureau.
Now that the Support Team is back, we can enter freely.
“Everyone’s okay with this, right?”
“If hyung says let’s go, of course we have to go!”
“Let’s gooooo!!!”
The drunk Support Team friends agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
I feel like I’m scamming them.
No.
These are people who would have gone even if they were sober.
Right?
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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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