My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 29
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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 29
From dozens of meters away.
A dazzling flash blazed forth.
An intense light that made it difficult to keep one’s eyes open.
About 0.5 seconds, perhaps.
The intense light that was strong enough to leave afterimages on the retina disappeared.
This time, darkness reminiscent of an enclosed space descended.
Simultaneously.
KWAAAAANG!
An explosion struck my eardrums.
[You have leveled up.]
The thick darkness faded.
The slimes that had been rushing in like waves also disappeared together.
“That just now was…”
【Yes. It’s an ability granted to the Eclipse Witch.】
A skill name identical to her title.
Eclipse.
Ingrid first deployed [Eclipse].
The magic itself has no effect.
The true value of Eclipse is only demonstrated when it contains various elemental spells.
【I only have two spells I can use.】
“That’s right.”
【I simply fought with quantity.】
She completely exhausted her mana reserves.
She combined dozens of [Ice Bolt] and [Flame Beat] spells together.
And detonated them with a bang in the direction the slimes were rushing from.
“Haha.”
It’s destructive power beyond my understanding.
For a Mage Hunter to produce that level of power.
They’d need to be C-rank, and an experienced Hunter at that.
【I’m sorry. I fought too recklessly, didn’t I?】
“No. It’s not that, I’m just surprised.”
【There are more delicate application methods too, but this was the best approach for now.】
You’ve missed the point.
This girl has.
Clatter—
After finishing her explanation, Ingrid collapsed to the floor.
Ah.
I was so surprised that I forgot to check my minion’s condition.
I hurriedly sat down and supported Ingrid.
“Are you okay?”
【Oh my. How touching.】
“Taking care of minions is only natural.”
Enough with the touching talk.
Just tell me where it hurts.
【Don’t worry. It’s just simple mana exhaustion.】
Skeletons are beings that defy death.
They need mana to maintain their bodies.
She just pushed herself a little too hard trying to eliminate the slime wave in one strike.
“Sigh. You didn’t need to push yourself like that.”
【I had to show who’s superior.】
Not present in this place.
Those words were directed at the undead staying in Death Space.
【Graaaaaah!!!】
Let’s acknowledge what should be acknowledged.
In terms of single-hit power, Ingrid was superior.
【Graaah! Uuuuugh!!】
Sir?
Why aren’t you speaking and just groaning?
【He must have given up being human.】
Sir Isra isn’t human but one of the dead.
But I didn’t bother correcting her.
After storing Ingrid in Death Space.
I headed to where the explosion had swept through.
At least dozens of slimes died from that attack just now.
I wonder how many magic stones dropped.
“There’s nothing.”
It’s clean.
No sticky slime either.
No slime cores either.
No magic stones, which are the main source of income either.
Nothing was left behind.
【With that level of power, the magic stones probably exploded too?】
“Ingrid.”
【Yes, Master.】
“Eclipse. It’s forbidden except for urgent situations.”
To even blow away the magic stone.
This makes me completely broke.
【Mage. Your loyalty is questionable.】
Sir Isra laughed loudly with a “Hahahaha!”
Tsk.
No. It would be better not to say anything.
* * *
The Chilseong Guild HR Manager let out a long, deep sigh.
Knock knock—
“Come in.”
Carefully opening the door.
He entered while being mindful of even placing one foot inside.
“Did you find him?”
“Yes. Director.”
A conversation that implied many things.
Nevertheless.
There was no problem understanding it.
“Director Jung Seung-il took him to the gopchang restaurant, right?”
“Yes.”
“That man always goes there.”
“Does he have a VIP room or something?”
“No. It’s incredibly delicious.”
“Excuse me?”
The HR Manager asked again at the unexpected answer.
Though he thought “oops” to himself, Director Baek Seong-hyeon seemed unconcerned.
“That gopchang restaurant. It’s a local hidden gem that only people in the know visit.”
Is he serious?
For it to be a joke.
His expression was too earnest.
“Those who know, know. That Director Jung Seung-il goes there whenever he has serious talks.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I was so curious once that I went there myself, and it really was delicious.”
Being able to predict Director Jung Seung-il’s movements was because of that habit.
Premium information that almost no one knows.
Actually.
It might be a reluctance to share good restaurants with others.
If too many customers come, it becomes difficult to go and eat there.
“We couldn’t confirm the conversation details.”
“He’s our country’s strongest Hunter. He would have noticed immediately if we got close.”
They say that once Hunters reach a certain level, they can sense others approaching through mana wavelengths.
If they had approached carelessly, Director Jung Seung-il would have caught on.
Confirming the appearance and clothing of his companion was sufficient.
The Chilseong Guild’s information network was.
“Awakening was 5 years ago. Currently lives in Amsa-dong. His ability is called Necrosmith.”
With even the smallest piece of information, they could identify who the S-rank promotee was.
Confirmation was possible.
“He was E-rank for 5 years?”
“Yes. He was quite a famous figure in the Hunter industry.”
“Necrosmith. A class that creates Undead.”
Documents briefly summarizing Min-ho’s activities over the past 5 years.
Director Baek Seong-hyeon’s eyes moved quickly.
“Interesting.”
“What do you think was the reason he didn’t get promoted for 5 years?”
“There’s no way he wouldn’t try. He must not have been able to.”
Something lacking for promotion.
Was resolved through some ‘incident’.
It was reasonable to assume that potential started exploding recently.
“You said he was famous, so why wasn’t he identified immediately?”
“We didn’t realize that the Hunter who repeatedly failed promotion exams and the S-rank promotee were the same person.”
“It’s fortunate we confirmed it now at least.”
At the pointed criticism, the HR Manager bowed his head deeply.
“What conditions can we offer?”
“Contract money is 3 billion. Dedicated support team of ten people prepared. Annual salary of 1 billion.”
“Raise it to 10 billion.”
“Securing the budget will be difficult.”
“Do it under my name.”
“Understood.”
What Director Jung Seung-il would say was obvious.
Appealing to duty and patriotism.
How strong conditions could a National Agency present?
When other guilds haven’t made contact yet.
They needed to bet as hard as possible to bring him over for sure.
“If we make contact, other guilds will move too.”
“That’s right.”
A Hunter who had been moving carefully to raise his value until now.
Director Baek Seong-hyeon was certain.
“He’ll want to hear all the conditions from the Big Five.”
Making the first move isn’t everything.
Somehow leave a good impression.
You have to play your ace card from the first meeting.
Only then can you bring an S-rank promoted Hunter to your guild.
“Have you confirmed Hunter Park Min-ho’s schedule?”
“He rented an empty room that doubles as a warehouse yesterday.”
“He’s called a Necrosmith. He must be planning to use it as a workshop.”
“He also purchased a portable furnace, so it’s certain.”
“Keep someone on standby at all times. Call me immediately when Hunter Park Min-ho shows up.”
“Are you going there personally, Director?”
“Of course. Is this matter ordinary?”
This could change the landscape of the domestic Hunter industry.
Even if he’s an S-rank promoted Hunter.
Isn’t it thinking too big for a Hunter who just reached D-rank?
That’s not the case.
“If it’s S-rank, wouldn’t his growth ceiling be very high?”
“That’s highly likely.”
Growth ceiling.
The first gateway that determines the presence or absence of so-called ‘talent’.
Any decent Hunter can advance to C-rank if they don’t give up and keep going through Gates.
However.
B-rank is different.
Because ‘enlightenment’ is included in the promotion conditions.
Not just sensing mana.
But handling it like limbs to enhance your body at will.
Or casting multiple spells simultaneously – these are the promotion conditions.
The global Hunter population is 1%.
There are non-combat classes like Blacksmiths too.
But even excluding those.
The number of those who awakened by sensing mana is quite large.
Among them, less than 1% reach B-rank or higher.
Similarly, A-rank also requires enlightenment.
And advancing to S-rank or higher is said to be as difficult as plucking stars from the sky.
“Hunter Park Min-ho is talent who will rise to at least A-rank.”
“Since he received an S-rank in his promotion exam.”
“It’s just a matter of time.”
Over-investment?
It was certain to return with much greater value in a few years.
If there’s a blue-chip stock guaranteed to rise, you have to grab it immediately.
Who would just stand around watching?
“I’ll have the staff take turns on standby.”
“Tell the staff going in at night to rest a bit the next day.”
“Understood.”
A fierce business war.
Chilseong Guild was the first to catch the scent.
However.
Director Baek Seong-hyeon didn’t let his guard down.
The Rift Bureau had already made the first move.
Director Jung Seung-il appealing to patriotism and sense of duty wasn’t a one or two-day affair.
Nevertheless.
This meeting felt a little different.
‘Fast. And we need to go strong.’
The S-rank promotee hidden behind a veil.
Sensing that the time to meet Min-ho face-to-face wasn’t far off.
Baek Seong-hyeon continuously ran image training of that situation in his head.
* * *
After causing quite a commotion in the Slime Forest.
“I thought about it, but it’s better to learn it.”
I took out the Fireball Skill Book I had stored in my Subspace Carrier.
An ability added when I took Ingrid as my subordinate.
I want to make use of Master of Magic somehow too.
Heavenly Martial Body was amazing, wasn’t it.
Since it’s a skill of the same grade with similar effects.
【You just need to follow my guidance.】
Just as Sir Isra had said.
There’s the Eclipse Witch who had reached the pinnacle of magic.
If there’s an excellent teacher for Master of Magic.
Wouldn’t it work out somehow.
【How about having the Mage learn that spell instead?】
“No. Skill Books are exclusive to Hunters.”
The reason Ingrid’s spell range is narrow is because the body her soul inhabits is a Skeleton Mage.
Additional techniques and materials.
And we need to obtain items to expand her spell range.
【The knowledge itself remains.】
【Truly regrettable.】
[You have acquired the skill – Fireball.]
[The Fireball Skill Book is destroyed.]
Whoooosh.
The book that had turned to powder scattered in the wind.
Sir Isra didn’t hide his displeased expression.
【So you’ve finally learned magic after all.】
It would be nice to just casually cast magic safely from the rear.
No need to swing a sword either.
It wouldn’t be dangerous.
【But you’re still participating in combat all the same!】
“Being in the back is better than being on the tanking line, isn’t it.”
【Keh-heh-hmm.】
Look at him clearing his throat because he has nothing to say.
After learning Fireball.
I went to the nearby Hunter Training Center.
“I’d like to use the magic training room.”
“It’s 500,000 won per hour.”
More expensive than the rental workshop.
And the usage time is shorter.
【Are they perhaps trying to deceive you?】
“Magic training is originally expensive.”
Since the power of each shot exceeds that of warrior-class Hunters.
Even at the same grade, the dummy costs were much higher.
When I entered the training room, a single wooden dummy stood there alone.
【What a crude dummy.】
It’s fortunate the Boss won’t hear this comment.
Training dummy.
As far as I know, it’s a new model.
Ingrid’s standards are just unreasonably high.
“So what should we do?”
【Try shooting a Fireball once.】
I rearranged my mana as instructed.
The Fireball mana structure had been engraved in my mind since I used the skill book.
Since there’s a difference between theory and practice.
Expressing the knowledge that entered my head wasn’t easy.
Whoosh!
A crimson sphere I somehow managed to create floated gently above my palm.
When I projected my will to hit the training dummy.
The sphere that had been hovering in my hand flew in a straight line.
BOOM!
Acrid smoke billowed up.
The fine hairs on my body stood up from the scorching heat.
Magic used for the first time.
It felt similar to the emotion I felt when my hands and feet moved as my heart desired.
【Excellent, Master!】
“I just used it according to the Skill Book knowledge.”
【Even though it was your first time using it, your Mana Rearrangement was incredibly smooth.】
Really?
Since I’m a complete novice when it comes to magic.
I happily accepted Ingrid’s praise.
【But you have a long way to go.】
Ugh.
Changing her stance in less than 10 seconds after praising me.
【Then I’ll begin.】
Ingrid’s magic lesson.
How different would it be from learning swordsmanship from Sir Isra?
I was looking forward to it.
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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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