My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 191
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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 191
Clang!
Claaang!
The pickaxe dug into the ground with a steady rhythm.
Master Han Yo-han used the power of the Gigant Armor to easily break through rocks and minerals.
“The technique is a bit different from hammering.”
I watched the craftsman’s pickaxe work while stroking my chin.
Should I say it’s thanks to the Heavenly Martial Body?
Even in movements that seemed like random swinging at first glance.
I could read that the craftsman’s enlightenment had seeped in.
To think there was something to learn from watching mining.
It was quite fascinating.
“Master’s eye has opened quite well now.”
“Eye?”
“You’re not just watching but understanding.”
“How does it look to you, Sir?”
“He’s accurately reading the grain of the minerals and only striking at weak points.”
Grain.
It’s been a while since I heard that word.
When I first took Sir Isra as my retainer, he wasn’t this strong.
I couldn’t even imagine techniques like aura.
Enhancing the body with mana was also impossible.
He had reduced his bulk and was only slightly better than an ordinary zombie.
“Even with that body, you sliced through iron like it was nothing.”
“Hmm. It wasn’t difficult.”
He had cut through the metal chunk Living Armor like slicing radish with a bone knife.
The word Sir Isra often used back then was ‘grain’.
Before, even when I heard the explanation, I couldn’t understand it and just let it pass.
“You can see it somewhat now, I suppose.”
“More or less.”
With a crack, part of the cave that had split broke off and tumbled down.
Master Han Yo-han picked up several fragments and put them in the cart.
『Good. Very good.』
“Is it mithril?”
『We need to melt it down to extract it.』
『About 10% ratio, I’d say.』
At Nam Jin-woo’s supplementary comment, a “hmm” escaped me.
Taking only part of the minerals mined from the mine.
And only 10% of that contains what we need – it felt like a loss somehow.
『Considering the value of mithril, it’s tremendous.』
Master Han Yo-han answered as if he had read my mind.
Since they say it’s fine.
I guess it doesn’t matter.
While we had been swinging the pickaxe for quite some time.
Crrrack.
Something writhed among the glowing minerals.
“Shaaaak!”
[Steel Worm]
A large larva that emerged pushing through the minerals.
The Steel Worm opened wide its cylindrical mouth.
The densely packed teeth looked sharp enough to easily tear through metal chunks.
“B-grade monster level.”
“Please step back, Master. I’ll handle this…”
『Perfect timing.』
Master Han Yo-han approached the Steel Worm instead of retreating.
『First real combat. Perfect opponent for testing.』
The Steel Worm that had twisted its body out of the mine charged forward, moving dozens of legs.
[Auto Target]
[Mana Boost]
When the iron fist struck the Steel Worm’s head.
Thud! The minerals attached to its body crumbled, the skin tore, and body fluid splattered with a pop.
The Steel Worm with its head caved in could no longer move its body.
『There shouldn’t be any problems during mining.』
“Are there no stronger monsters coming out of the cave?”
『That’s right.』
『Monsters don’t regenerate. They just kept popping out during mining, which was problematic.』
I won’t need to stand guard the whole time.
【Quite useful.】
Meigers also praised the Gigant Armor’s performance after seeing it.
“Sir Isra.”
“Leave the guard duty to me.”
We’re perfectly in sync.
As expected of my first sword. He reads my thoughts perfectly.
“Master Han Yo-han. Could I use a pickaxe?”
『I brought plenty. Use one.』
A pickaxe suddenly emerged from the subspace pouch.
[Alloy Pickaxe Forged by Craftsman’s Touch]
Grade: Unique
Category: Tool
Restriction: Strength 500, Agility 300 or higher.
Durability: 500/500
A pickaxe forged by a Meister-level craftsman. Specialized for its original function of mining.
*Mining Lv 65
*Penetration Lv 65
“Wow.”
It’s funny that a pickaxe is Unique grade.
The options were equally bizarre.
I could feel the obsessive determination to break rocks and obtain the necessary minerals.
“Do you need mithril?”
“I have something to experiment with.”
The grain that Sir Isra had mentioned.
The two blacksmiths struck the grain of rocks precisely with their pickaxes.
Even without the help of Gigant Armor.
They could have easily split house-sized rocks.
In that case.
Couldn’t I also develop a sense for reading and breaking ‘grain’ here?
I didn’t bother voicing the thought I held in my heart.
It might end up being a waste of time.
Especially Sir Isra would probably scold me to grab a sword one more time instead of swinging a pickaxe.
He’s been glaring at me so much lately for not training.
Hoo.
Let me focus.
I gripped the pickaxe with both hands.
The rough texture of the handle cleared away my distracting thoughts.
[Heavenly Martial Body]
[Master of Magic]
[Golden Ratio]
[Spirit Eye]
My senses became extremely sharp.
Following my five senses, even the sixth sense that recognizes mana.
Drawing out all my senses to the maximum made my body tingle.
Tsk.
I can’t keep this up for long.
After sharpening my senses keenly, I recalled how the two blacksmiths had been mining.
The state of the rocks.
Where their gazes were directed.
The angle of the pickaxe.
I etched even the smallest details into my mind.
“Let’s try it.”
After muttering to myself, I raised the pickaxe upward.
Crack!
Both my arms were pulled taut.
It felt similar to when I countered the Chinese Hunter’s surprise attack on the uninhabited island.
『Hunter Park.』
“This isn’t easy.”
I didn’t have the comfortable thought that I’d succeed on the first try.
If I keep chipping and mining minerals, won’t the grain become clearly visible?
『Of course.』
“It’ll be fine if I keep at it.”
『No. That’s not the case.』
Where did Nam Jin-woo, who usually spared no encouragement, go?
Today he seems sharp.
Is it because he’s been entering the dangerous Cross Gate?
He’s a bit sensitive.
『There’s no mithril there.』
“Ah.”
He wasn’t being sensitive.
I.
I was literally digging in vain.
『Reading the wavelength of metals is basic for a blacksmith.』
『Hunter Park isn’t a blacksmith, are you?』
『I see.』
Master Han Yo-han, who replied briefly, swung his pickaxe again.
『Try swinging it over here.』
“Thank you.”
I walked awkwardly and stood at the wall Nam Jin-woo pointed to.
Hoo.
Let me focus.
I sank all embarrassing emotions below the surface.
I need to read the flow of minerals hidden in the cave.
Clang!
In rhythm with the sound of Master Han Yo-han’s pickaxe splitting rock.
“This is it.”
Pop— the feeling came.
The pickaxe raised high traced a smooth curve as it came down.
The moment the blade tip struck the rock.
Crack!
A rock larger than a person split left and right.
[You have successfully read the grain of an object.]
[Skill – Precision Strike has been added.]
[Precision Strike]
Type: Physical Technique
Grade: A
Classification: Passive
Reads and strikes the grain of objects or mana. Can inflict great damage with little force.
Understanding: 1%
As if proving my recent enlightenment.
A skill was added.
“Lord?”
Sir Isra’s voice was dripping with undisguisable amazement and admiration.
Hmm.
Well, you see.
I didn’t expect it to work on the first try.
* * *
After splitting a rock larger than a person in one strike.
Sir Isra talked non-stop.
“With your current skill level, Lord, you absolutely cannot split this rock in two.”
“Sir. Even so, ‘absolutely’ is a bit much, isn’t it?”
“Unless you use aura, it would be impossible.”
Right.
I can’t use aura.
“Minerals containing mithril are extremely hard.”
『The lady speaks truly.』
Master Han Yo-han also chimed in.
“To split it this cleanly, you must be able to read the grain.”
“Right. I read it.”
“Amazing! Lord! Truly amazing!”
I’m grateful he’s happy for me.
But isn’t he overdoing it a bit?
It’s not like I awakened aura or anything.
“Hmm. Lord, you are mistaken about one thing.”
Sir Isra shook his head left and right.
“Just because you can project intent into mana doesn’t mean you can see the grain.”
“Huh? I thought anyone above a certain level could do it.”
“Even knights who have reached the Master level cannot see the grain.”
Master level means S-rank Hunter level, right?
Reading grain is that amazing a technique?
“I can’t believe it.”
Joy and bewilderment arose simultaneously.
Seeing what the two blacksmiths were doing.
It was just a sudden thought that it might work, so I swung the pickaxe a bit.
But you’re saying enlightenment that even S-rank Hunters find difficult to master suddenly came to you?
“Those with exceptional talent sometimes see the grain before learning aura.”
“Ah. Then that makes sense.”
The Continental Greatest Sword, the Eclipse Witch, a saint beloved by evil gods, and even the Grand Alchemist.
I’m the one who inherited all the talents of those who reached the pinnacle in each field.
Even when I swung the pickaxe just now.
Didn’t I weave together and maximize the talents of my familiars?
[Stealthy Steps] exists too, doesn’t it?
It doesn’t seem like there’s a place for Zaugg’s talent here.
“Of course, talent alone isn’t enough to awaken this ability.”
Brilliant talent, countless effort, and enlightenment – all three elements must align perfectly.
So it was such an incredible ability.
“I’ll try some more.”
“An attitude of constant dedication. Excellent!”
Clang!
Just like when I first swung the pickaxe, tremendous recoil shook my wrist and arm.
This is harder than hammering.
Still, it’s bearable.
Claang!
Clang!
As I kept swinging the pickaxe until I got the feel for it.
“Now.”
[Critical Strike has activated.]
The moment I struck the visible grain, crack— the rock split.
“Just seeing it isn’t everything.”
“Correct. You must strike the exact point with consistent force.”
This is tough.
Well.
Sir Isra in the days when he couldn’t even handle aura cut through iron like slicing radish.
To accomplish something nearly impossible.
It’s only natural that there would be such difficulty.
“Master will be able to master it quickly.”
【Amazing. Master.】
【Even in my era, there were hardly any knights who could read the grain.】
Thanks to my familiars’ encouragement, I gained confidence.
“Once I get used to Critical Strike, I should be able to pull my own weight, right?”
“Don’t say such frightening things. Master wielding a sword will absolutely, absolutely, absolutely never happen!”
Sir Isra spoke with a serious expression.
“Ah. Master is mistaken about that.”
Ingrid smiled sweetly, but her eyes had turned cold.
You people.
If I learn a skill, shouldn’t I use it?
“Don’t worry. Master’s senses will be shared with the underlings too.”
“Skills can be shared?”
“Critical Strike is strictly speaking a concept of sensing.”
Just like abilities such as [Heavenly Martial Body] and [Master of Magic] apply to the underlings.
The Critical Strike skill will also become an ability the dead share.
“So don’t neglect your training.”
“Tsk.”
Is this what they call responsibility without pleasure?
As I grumbled internally and reached for the pickaxe.
“Great Lord!”
Zaugg came hurrying into the cave in a fluster.
“Were you being chased by monsters?”
“That’s exactly right.”
Huh.
I was just making conversation, but it was actually true.
“I was trying to explore the surroundings, but there were strong monsters so I couldn’t go any further.”
Strong monsters.
They might attack the two blacksmiths, so should I eliminate them?
“Oh my. There’s no need for Great Lord to step forward.”
“Hmm. That seems wise. Master should consolidate your enlightenment.”
Sir Isra agreed as well.
“Just lend me My Lord, My Lady, and the junior alchemist.”
“Meigers too?”
“Yes.”
Well, should be fine.
I can leave guarding the blacksmiths to the Death Warriors.
“Alright. Then I’ll leave command to Sir.”
“Hahaha. Leave it to me.”
The perilous Cross Gate.
Being cautious can’t hurt.
With four familiars, most opponents can be instantly defeated.
What could go wrong?
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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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