My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 288
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 288
Raid on a High-Ranking Member of the Black Heaven Society in the Great Rift Confirmed!
“I’ll depart in a week.”
“You’re not going right away?”
“There’s much to hand over, so that’s why.”
Ah.
Aah.
I see.
“I’ll help defend the Yalu River Defense Line as well.”
“Hunter Park, please make thorough preparations.”
“Understood.”
A week of free time had opened up.
Thinking of the people struggling, I felt a bit guilty.
“Your liege’s dedication shall be rewarded.”
“Dedication? You all did the work anyway.”
“We familiars are all like the limbs of our master. When our hands and feet labor, it is the master’s achievement.”
Limbs, they say.
The phrasing felt a bit off.
Like… jewels?
It sounded like a family-oriented company.
I brushed aside the unnecessary thoughts and checked the date on my mobile phone.
“That’s fortunate.”
It was early in the month now.
Ten days were included in the rest period.
I’d at least sample the Promotion Exam.
“As always, you shall surely pass on the first attempt!”
“The girl’s master is certainly capable of achieving it.”
And I don’t even know the test subjects!
Necrosmith is a job class that hasn’t been reported by anyone other than me so far.
Job classes like Warrior Class / Magic Type / Clerics have all had their Promotion Exam contents publicly disclosed.
High-scoring techniques are also being shared quite extensively.
Of course.
The catch is that knowing doesn’t mean everyone achieves S-rank.
“Since my liege has overcome all trials faced for the first time, this too shall be possible.”
“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
That’s how you end up in real trouble.
A Promotion Exam.
I should… prepare, shouldn’t I?
On the way back by ship from Sinuiju.
Clang!
Clang!
[The Fallen Knight’s Bone Sword has been perfectly repaired.]
[The Soul Iron Armor has been perfectly repaired.]
[The Regenerating Soul Iron Shield has been perfectly repaired.]
….
I entered the Death Domain and repaired the equipment I’d worn down.
“There’s not much to prepare for a promotion exam, is there?”
Just as I always did.
Striking damaged equipment with my hammer.
[Corpse Crafting]
[Death Guard 1 unit has been created.]
I created more Undead.
“Mastering the fundamentals is the best approach.”
To be precise.
Since I didn’t know what topic would come up, I was building up my foundational skills.
And in the process, I could duplicate Undead as well. How fortunate?
[Death Giant 1 unit has been created.]
I transformed the large species corpse I’d obtained while holding back the monster wave into a Death Giant.
“Large species inventory has been completely dry lately. I got lucky.”
“Well, the big shots have been buying up everything that exists anyway. That’s why the supply dried up.”
“Come on. Would my acquiring one unit really disrupt the large species market?”
“Please don’t spread stories about the Master on the Hunter network.”
Good grief.
To think the reason large species inventory has dried up was because of me.
“There’s merit to that.”
“Gates that produce large species were never common anyway.”
Tsk.
So I was the culprit.
I swallowed a bitter pill and resumed my work.
“To face a Grand Master-level, or SS-rank powerhouse in this world, wouldn’t a Death Knight be better?”
“We don’t have Soul Stones.”
To create an Epic-grade Soul Stone, I’d need resentment left behind by an SS-rank powerhouse.
Director Jeong’s home might have some traces if I visited.
But it felt awkward to say “I’d like to enter your house for a bit” when the owner was in Sinuiju.
“If the Master asks, I think he would allow it.”
“If it’s difficult to ask, Schne can open the door.”
“Please refrain from that.”
By now, I wasn’t even trying to hide my thieving instincts.
After continuing repairs and additional crafting in the Death Domain, I soon arrived at Incheon Port.
While I was in Gando, I received the express delivery that GGG had sent.
[Raptor Corpse]
[Triceratops Corpse]
[Kentrosaurus Corpse]
….
Countless corpses of Primordial Species.
I received them immediately and fed them into the Slaughterhouse.
“Centauro Armor. Can you make it?”
Claaang!
Clang!
A small Death Warrior holding a hammer lifted its head.
【Of course, Master!】
A Meister-class Craftsman.
Hael crafted the Centauro Armor piece by piece.
The surface area was so vast that the workload was enormous, yet she showed not a trace of fatigue.
“Isn’t it exhausting?”
【Undead don’t get tired!】
“Repeating simple labor alone accumulates mental fatigue, doesn’t it?”
【Learning something new is such a joy.】
This is what you call a workaholic.
Someone like me is just an amateur, I suppose?
Meigers grumbled with clear displeasure.
【When do you plan to make the Gigant Armor?】
“Results don’t appear instantly. Just be patient a little longer.”
【Grrrrrgh.】
“Help me set up the Centauro with the others.”
【Once this work is done, don’t forget we’re researching Gigant Armor together.】
“I really will do it, so wait and see.”
【Ugh. Tsk tsk. Working an old man to the bone—how shameless.】
Sir Isra glared at Meigers with arms crossed.
“Serving one’s Liege Lord is the joy of life. You still have much to learn.”
【That’s only for blockheads like you. I’m an Alchemist—loyalty and chivalry have nothing to do with me.】
“Then I shouldn’t involve my Liege Lord in your research either.”
【Heh heh. You’re impatient. Just wait and see.】
With multiple Familiars pitching in, I crafted two additional Centauro.
Without informing anyone of my return except President Baek.
Until the day the Tower of Ascension activated, I never set down the hammer, working alongside my Familiars.
* * *
The day of the Promotion Exam.
“How’s your condition?”
“Well, not bad.”
“You did well to stop working and rest.”
Sir Isra gazed at me with a satisfied expression.
“Even if the Heavenly Martial Body is a form granted by the heavens, it does not make you an invulnerable iron man.”
I furrowed my brow.
The day before the Promotion Exam.
Sir Isra had stopped me from working just a little longer before sleeping.
“Saying he stopped me is just packaging. It was suppression. Pure suppression.”
“A loyal retainer does not spare his life when offering candid counsel.”
“If I’d worked any longer, wouldn’t that have crossed from counsel into outright rebellion?”
He suddenly rushed over and snatched my hammer before I could even react.
When I tried to summon my second Armament with the [Stone of Chaos], he grabbed both my hands.
“Master. You don’t look like you’re in good condition.”
“Zaugg, whose side are you on?”
“Of course I’m on your side, Master.”
“Then why did you help suppress me?”
It was Zaugg who had been holding both my hands.
He’d concealed his presence completely, timing his rush to the moment Sir Isra snatched the hammer.
He’d hidden his presence so well when he drop-kicked the Malnourished One.
Now he’d even deceived my senses.
“The responsibility lies entirely with me.”
“Fine. I get it. I understand.”
I grumbled while preparing to head out.
“Master. Please try wearing this today.”
“What’s with the hoodie?”
“It’s a sponsored item. It’s a shame to hide your handsome face, but it’s perfect for moving around quietly.”
A black hood and shirt set as one piece.
Once I put it on, my mind felt at ease.
“With jeans too, it looks perfect!”
Ingrid beamed with a bright smile.
I couldn’t quite grasp the appeal, but since you like it, that’s good enough.
This exam was conducted quietly thanks to not being announced publicly.
[Hunter – Park Min-ho]
[Rank – A]
[Promotion Exam Candidate.]
[Will you take the exam?]
Y/N
Contact with the Tower of Ascension.
The moment I pressed Y, the door opened.
Without hesitation, I entered and was transported to the interior in the blink of an eye.
[The Promotion Exam now begins.]
[Your class is confirmed as Necromancer-type / Blacksmith-type.]
[Accordingly, the examination content and assessment have been determined as Necromancer / Blacksmith tests.]
Why can’t I just take the Necromancer-type test like I did at D-rank or C-rank?
I clicked my tongue at the inflexible promotion exam standards.
It feels like I’m at a disadvantage having to take two exams each time.
[The first examination is in the Creation field.]
[Using the provided materials, create the highest quality mineral.]
[You have 180 minutes.]
Bones from various monsters.
And minerals like rare iron and soul iron appeared.
“Lucky.”
I’d done bone alloy tests until I was sick of them.
I’d worked tirelessly to apply the ideas I’d gained at Hanil Forge to real combat.
By coincidence, all the materials before me were ones I’d handled before.
“Let me start the fire first.”
Whoooosh!
After placing kindling in the furnace and drawing up the heat,
I first added the soul iron, waited a certain amount of time, then fed in the monster bones as well.
“Great one. Why are you putting them in separately?”
“A foolish question, thief.”
“You’ve done this work so many times, and you still ask?”
“Eek. I was just asking, Master.”
“Bone has lower fire resistance than metal. That’s why you heat them separately for a time before combining them.”
Sir Isra answered with confidence.
So why did someone who knew so much lack talent for blacksmithing work?
It was truly a shame.
[Bone Alloy]
Clang! Clang!
The finest result, it seemed.
Then reinforced soul iron mixed with Ogre bone was indeed the answer.
Keeping the ratio of Ogre bone to soul iron constant,
I broke the bone appropriately, mixed it into the soul iron, and hammered it several times.
If the alloy wasn’t completed before the heat dissipated, the quality of the result would suffer accordingly, so I paid careful attention to temperature control.
“I’ll submit this.”
I pointed to the warm reinforced soul iron with my right hand.
[There is still time remaining.]
“Why wait? I’m busy, so let’s move on to the next examination quickly.”
[The alloy mineral will now be assessed.]
[Perfect! This mineral possesses a completion rate that exceeds the grading standard.]
[Assessment Result ― S-rank]
Ah.
Easy. So easy.
I really wish the second exam could be this effortless too.
“As if that’ll happen.”
I muttered to myself in complaint.
The first exam had gone smoothly because the theme I’d practiced beforehand came up.
I’d be foolish to expect the same stroke of luck in the second round.
[The second examination is in the field of Necromancy.]
[Inflict damage upon the Mithril pillar.]
[You have only one attempt.]
A silver pillar shot up abruptly from the ground.
A Mithril monument, then.
It looked absurdly expensive.
“I suppose taking it with me is out of the question?”
Despite my words, I unfurled my Death Domain and gave it a subtle push.
The Mithril pillar didn’t budge an inch.
“Tsk.”
“My Lord. Allow me this opportunity.”
“Very well. Show me the full extent of your prowess, Sir Isra.”
Shhhhk―
The moment my answer left my lips, Sir Isra’s concentration sharpened.
Her blade trembled with intensity.
It was as though the sword itself responded to her focus.
[Imperial Swordsmanship (Modified)_Isra Form]
[12th Form – Heaven Slash]
The blade descended from above, falling like judgment itself.
Screeeech―
The Mithril pillar cleaved in two, then toppled sideways with a thunderous crash.
[Perfect! You have completely destroyed the Mithril pillar!]
[First Exam ― S / Second Exam ― S]
[Overall ― S-rank]
[Promotion Reward has been added.]
How about that.
Promotion—truly effortless, isn’t it?
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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