My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 24

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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 24

 

After helping the Orc Mage’s head and body part ways.

 

Sir Isra walked over confidently.

 

【Haha. How was it? My performance?】

 

“I watched it very well.”

 

【Praise is appreciated. It’s only natural for a knight to do such things.】

 

What did you say?

 

It seems there’s been a slight misunderstanding.

 

“Don’t you see his armor melted down?”

 

I pointed at the Armed Zombie Warrior with my index finger.

 

After taking a Fireball head-on.

 

The armor that would only get scratched by most attacks had melted down quite a bit.

 

【Wounds are a knight’s medal of honor.】

 

“And fixing those wounds is my job.”

 

【….】

 

Sir Isra shut his mouth tight.

 

“Grooough. Knight Commander’s orders. Followed them.”

 

“I’ll let you off the hook.”

 

What’s the point of scolding someone who doesn’t have high intelligence?

 

I need to discipline that Knight Commander bastard.

 

【I acted quickly to secure your safety.】

 

“Next time, read the situation as you go.”

 

Sigh.

 

This is why I couldn’t control multiple undead when I was E-rank.

 

Once I cleared a Gate, the repair costs were enormous.

 

Though my Dexterity did increase tremendously through the countless process of repairing undead.

 

After meeting Sir Isra.

 

And even obtaining Heavenly Martial Body, I thought it would require less maintenance.

 

But you pull this kind of stunt?

 

“Please, I’m begging you.”

 

【I’ll keep it in mind.】

 

Phew.

 

Will there be improvement next time?

 

I didn’t have much faith, but this was as far as I could go.

 

I sighed inwardly and checked what I had obtained.

 

There were two items I salvaged from the Orc Mage.

 

[Empty Spirit Staff]

 

Grade: Magic

 

Category: Staff

 

Restriction: Mage

 

Durability: 231/300

 

A tree left as an empty shell after the Dryad departed.

 

Has good mana sensitivity, but incurs nature’s hatred.

 

*Mana Amplification Lv 21

 

*Elemental Resistance ―Lv 9

 

*Very low chance to inflict Confusion Lv 10 when casting magic.

 

[Fireball Spellbook]

 

Grade: Magic

 

Category: Skill Book

 

Restriction: Fire Elemental Mage

 

A book containing the ‘Fireball’ skill, a magic that hurls compressed flame mana in sphere form.

 

Using it allows you to learn Fireball.

 

No Fragmented Soul Stone dropped.

 

“Still, it gave us a good skill book.”

 

The Melee Dealer admired it.

 

“Is it expensive?”

 

“Yes. Fireball has decent power and can even do area attacks, so it should be worth 5,000.”

 

That’s the money you get from solo clearing one D-rank dungeon.

 

Hmm.

 

How long has it been since I got promoted?

 

My sense of money is already starting to get warped.

 

Don’t lose your original intentions, Min-ho.

 

“Does the staff look decent?”

 

“Ah. That one’s a bit…”

 

Following the Grudge-Laden Axe, another flawed item appeared.

 

There’s no one to use the staff anyway.

 

I probably won’t get much money selling it, so I should store it for now.

 

I’ll give it to a Skeleton Mage when I make one.

 

There’s even a suitable corpse right in front of me.

 

[Death Space]

 

[1/10 → 2/10]

 

The stretched shadow swallowed the corpse whole.

 

Really.

 

Without this skill, I would have had to drag around three subspace carriers.

 

Ehehehehe!

 

[100 D-rank Magic Stones are given as clear rewards.]

 

100 magic stones contained in a leather pouch.

 

“Take half of them.”

 

“Th-thank you.”

 

I have to keep my promises.

 

The magic stones obtained during the raid are my share anyway.

 

【It’s a shame we couldn’t get the Fragmented Soul Stone.】

 

“Today isn’t the only day.”

 

We can just run it again tomorrow.

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“Does everyone have plans?”

 

“N-no.”

 

“Then that’s settled.”

 

You just need to get on the bus.

 

How can I resist a money duplication event?

 

By the way.

 

Renting a blacksmith shop every time I enter a Gate is also a hassle.

 

I’m making quite good money now.

 

When I get out of the Gate, I should look into getting a private workshop.

 

* * *

 

Chilseong Guild Director Baek Seong-hyeon checked the report.

 

“Another SSS appeared in the Domain of Challenge?”

 

“Yes. It was 10 minutes ago.”

 

News delivered with utmost urgency.

 

They had moved faster than any other guild.

 

The HR Manager could answer with confidence.

 

“Have you identified the whereabouts of the Hunters near the Gate?”

 

“Yes. We’ve confirmed most of them.”

 

Baek Seong-hyeon clicked his tongue after checking the Hunter list.

 

“The data is lacking.”

 

A question mark appeared above the HR Manager’s head.

 

“Was finding out the Hunters’ names and ranks the best we could do?”

 

Baek Seong-hyeon tapped the documents.

 

“When did they awaken? When did they get promoted? How often have they been going in and out of the Domain of Challenge?”

 

The HR Manager’s back became damp with sweat.

 

‘I don’t know. How am I supposed to check all of that?’

 

If there had been enough time, maybe.

 

This was information he had brought as soon as he heard news of an SSS-grade clear.

 

He had been about to praise himself for managing to gather even this much.

 

“I’ll investigate immediately.”

 

“When can I expect to receive it?”

 

“Three hours should be enough.”

 

“Two hours.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Director Baek Seong-hyeon muttered as if organizing his thoughts.

 

“Hmm. He’s hiding himself quite well.”

 

By now, there should be some traces emerging.

 

Either he couldn’t contain himself and let something slip.

 

Or witnesses would come forward.

 

But there was absolutely nothing to catch onto.

 

That was why he had requested additional materials from the HR Manager.

 

“The Domain of Challenge. You can only enter with five people, right?”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

He even made his team members keep their mouths shut.

 

“Didn’t you say it was likely a random party?”

 

“He must have hit it off quite well with the Hunters he met by chance.”

 

The important thing was that this jackpot Hunter was cautious and good at hiding himself.

 

“Could it be that another guild has already scouted him…?”

 

“If that were the case, they would have already put up a poster or something.”

 

An S-rank promotion candidate appearing after five years.

 

There would be no reason to stay quiet.

 

“He knows very well how to raise his market value.”

 

How cunning.

 

Strategically raising his market value.

 

This was behavior only possible because he knew what his worth was.

 

…That was Director Baek Seong-hyeon’s assessment.

 

“The D-grade in Hanam also got an SSS clear, didn’t it?”

 

“Yes. We’re checking the CCTV footage.”

 

“There’s no need to push it to the point of doing illegal things.”

 

The HR Manager held back a sigh.

 

Wasn’t that rich coming from someone who had just been pressuring him moments ago?

 

If it looked like securing CCTV footage would yield results.

 

Baek Seong-hyeon would have been the first to give that order.

 

“Have you checked Director Jung Seung-il’s schedule?”

 

The HR Manager blinked his eyes several times.

 

Why was a Rift Bureau official suddenly being mentioned while discussing an S-rank promotion candidate?

 

Baek Seong-hyeon clicked his tongue once more with a “tsk.”

 

“The report stated it was a Gate cleared at SSS-grade. It was just before the break risk level.”

 

“Ah. Then there must have been a staff member present.”

 

“They would have checked the Hunter Registration Card to confirm who it was, right?”

 

The information was in the hands of the Rift Bureau.

 

With high probability.

 

The man who was South Korea’s hero and the Rift Bureau’s legend.

 

Response Department Director Jung Seung-il would make his move.

 

“I-I’ll check right away.”

 

Did he really have to explain such simple things step by step?

 

Baek Seong-hyeon was about to scold him but held back.

 

It seemed he had already exceeded his nagging quota.

 

Though this employee didn’t meet his standards, generously overlooking mistakes was also a virtue of a superior.

 

If the HR Manager had known Baek Seong-hyeon’s thoughts, he would have thrown in his resignation letter.

 

‘Did they beat us to it?’

 

However.

 

Baek Seong-hyeon wasn’t greatly disappointed.

 

The essence of the Rift Management Bureau was a group of civil servants.

 

The conditions they could offer weren’t that impressive.

 

A hidden dragon carefully concealing itself to increase its own value.

 

Could the Rift Bureau handle that?

 

‘Director Jung Seung-il. Please guide that S-rank Hunter to us.’

 

Whatever conditions they offered.

 

Seven Stars could provide double, no, even more compensation than that.

 

Rather.

 

The Rift Bureau stepping forward would only have the reverse effect of highlighting their own conditions.

 

“Report this case as top priority.”

 

“Understood!”

 

A fierce recruitment war.

 

He would be the one smiling at the final moment.

 

Baek Seong-hyeon was confident.

 

* * *

 

The impulsive search for a new workshop.

 

I searched through real estate apps to see if there were any decent places.

 

【Didn’t you say it would be fine for the time being?】

 

“Thanks to someone, it’s no longer fine.”

 

Look at that melted armor.

 

Hm?

 

Body cuts can be fixed in the simple workshop at my studio apartment.

 

All I need is thread and mana.

 

But.

 

Things warped by heat need to be straightened directly.

 

【Didn’t you say it has a non-separable structure?】

 

“I’m different.”

 

Before Death Space was created.

 

He must have forgotten how I used to transport Sir Isra around.

 

Circuit separation is quite labor-intensive, but that’s all.

 

Temporarily dividing and then reconnecting was perfectly possible.

 

【Ah. I see.】

 

“How about you try going back to basics too?”

 

【I must respectfully decline.】

 

I was being serious though.

 

What a shame.

 

Not far from my studio apartment.

 

Warehouse type that allows heat discharge and is convenient for storing items.

 

After contacting a place that met both conditions.

 

I headed to Yongsan Hunter Market.

 

【Weren’t you going to the workshop?】

 

“I want to place orders for the contents in advance.”

 

Just because I order doesn’t mean it gets shipped right away.

 

At the earliest, it would be tomorrow.

 

I should order in advance and ask them to deliver once the workshop location is decided.

 

“Welcome.”

 

After receiving the staff member’s greeting and entering, I selected a portable furnace, quenching tank, and several other pieces of equipment.

 

“The portable type has lower firepower and endurance.”

 

“Ah. I need something to use right away.”

 

The furnace for the blacksmith shop is an installation type.

 

Staff in charge have to come and set it up according to the space.

 

It takes quite a while.

 

The portable furnace can be carried around in a subspace carrier.

 

And since it operates on magic stones, emergency repairs inside Gates are also possible.

 

“When would be the fastest delivery?”

 

“It can be done by morning.”

 

Oh.

 

Good.

 

“Then I’ll send you the address later.”

 

“Please deliver it within six o’clock.”

 

Hah.

 

This is South Korea alright.

 

Look at that delivery speed.

 

After that, I quickly purchased only the essential items and also looked into workshop locations.

 

I looked around three places.

 

“I’ll go with this one.”

 

I chose a warehouse that was 10 minutes away from my studio apartment.

 

I completed the contract on the spot.

 

【How decisive.】

 

“Even thinking time is precious.”

 

I have plenty of bullets.

 

It’s better to run Gates in the time it takes to think twice.

 

【Hahaha! I like that boldness.】

 

It’s not like I’m doing this to get praise from Gyeong, you know?

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

As soon as morning came, I headed to the new workshop.

 

“Should we move it over here?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I arranged the Portable Furnace and several blacksmith shop items.

 

Whoooosh!

 

I immediately lit the furnace.

 

A furnace that operates using either electricity or Magic Stones as an energy source.

 

It might be different inside a Gate.

 

But in the workshop, it was better to run it on electricity instead of expensive Magic Stones, then add combustible materials to increase the heat.

 

[Corpse Processing]

 

[Spirit Circuit Installation]

 

I temporarily removed the armor.

 

Clang! Claaang!

 

[Bone Metallurgy]

 

I reinforced the melted parts with Spare Bone.

 

[The bone properties are different.]

 

[Durability decreases by 5.]

 

Damn picky, isn’t it.

 

Since quantity and enhancement are possible, does that mean they can also become weaker in reverse?

 

I should buy some additional Owlbeast Bones.

 

I’m also thinking of making additional Armed Zombie Warriors.

 

【You repair it so easily.】

 

“You try doing it, Sir. Is this something that’s done easily?”

 

What kind of thing is that to say while looking at someone who’s sweated buckets?

 

Sir Isra. Do you have something called a conscience?

 

So in the morning, I organized and repaired the workshop.

 

In the afternoon, I attacked a Gate.

 

[Ant Nest]

 

Entry Conditions: D-rank and below, maximum 15 people

 

“Shishishit.”

 

A Gate where large dog-sized ants appear.

 

Scritch!

 

Tschgerrk!

 

Hah.

 

Easy. So easy.

 

A Gate in the form of narrow passages.

 

With Sir Isra and the Armed Zombie Warrior stepping forward, the monsters didn’t even have a chance to approach.

 

Watching them hunt without lifting a finger.

 

My body was getting restless.

 

【Don’t even think about stepping forward.】

 

Ugh.

 

I got caught.

 

[You have cleared the Ant Nest.]

 

[Grade – SSS]

 

[100 D-rank Magic Stones are awarded.]

 

Including the Magic Stones from the ant corpses, a total of 170.

 

I didn’t get any other items.

 

But the Magic Stones alone were worth close to 80 million won.

 

“Should we go for one more?”

 

Just some scratches on the armor.

 

I didn’t even need to take out the Portable Furnace I brought in my subspace.

 

【That’s a good idea.】

 

“Grooogh.”

 

The moment I stepped out of the Gate with such a light heart.

 

A luxury sedan that hadn’t been there when I entered was parked nearby.

 

Wow.

 

Isn’t that a Ben00?

 

I heard there are less than 100 of them in the country.

 

Why would such a car be here…?

 

Just as I was glancing over there out of curiosity.

 

Click— The door opened and someone stepped out.

 

Wait a minute.

 

Could it be.

 

It can’t be that person.

 

“Are you Hunter Park Min-ho?”

 

“Ah. Yes.”

 

“I’m Jung Seung-il from the Response Department.”

 

Whoa.

 

It really is him.

 

One of the heroes of the Great Cataclysm.

 

A famous figure from the Rift Bureau who’s still active today.

 

Why would someone like that…?

 

“If you have time, shall we grab a meal together?”

—————
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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