My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 54
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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 54
[1,000,000,000 won has been deposited.]
My balance had increased dramatically.
With one more zero added, my mood felt completely different.
【If you dispose of all the wealth you’ve earned, wouldn’t it be comparable?】
“Until I sell it, it’s not my money.”
The price of C-Grade Magic Stones had dropped a bit, so I decided to dispose of them later.
The friendship fees I received from the Hwarang Guild Newcomers were also starting to run low.
The saying that the thickness of your wallet equals peace of mind was indeed true.
【You’re going to the Blacksmith Shop today, aren’t you, Master?】
“That was the plan.”
[Nam Jin-woo Teacher]
―I’m sorry, Hunter. An urgent request came in suddenly, so could we take a break today?
That’s what the text message said.
I was in a situation where I was swinging a hammer thanks to the one-sided(?) kindness of our country’s greatest Blacksmith.
Rather than being annoyed by the same-day notice, I was curious about what was happening.
[Park Min-ho]
―Yes. See you next time.
I could ask about it later.
【Since today’s schedule is also free, swinging a sword would be…】
“I have something to do.”
【Hmm.】
【Iron Head. Are you defying Master?】
【Defying? I’m merely trying to show my loyalty!】
【So what’s today’s schedule?】
“Materials shopping.”
I hadn’t been able to go to the Hunter Market at all lately.
【If you need something, don’t you order it with that thing called a mobile phone?】
“I need to see things in person too.”
The special properties dwelling in Monster Byproducts.
To check the options that can only be seen with [Spirit Eye].
I have to do the shopping myself.
【If you have a little time left after shopping…】
【Gah! You mage. Where do you get such wicked thoughts!】
There’s too much to learn, that’s the problem.
I felt like I wanted to split my body in half.
No wait.
If I said something like that, Sir Isra might gleefully offer to split me up!
“Don’t you think using magic and swordsmanship in real combat would make my skills improve rapidly?”
【Absolutely not!】
【You can’t!】
Tch.
You two are only united at times like this.
* * *
The Hunter Market I visited after a week.
In terms of time, it’s not much different from usual.
Maybe it’s because so much has happened recently.
It feels like I’m visiting after a long time.
“The Guui-dong Necromancer?”
“I heard he signed with a new agency.”
“Since he can’t get guild support, he must be here to buy equipment.”
“Hmm. Even if he’s outstanding among D-ranks, that form won’t last forever.”
Is it because I signed a contract with President Baek?
Or is it because they’re Hunters?
A hint of hostility seeped through their gazes and voices.
Is this something I’m feeling thanks to Heavenly Martial Body too?
【Those who excel are bound to receive the jealousy of ordinary people.】
My goodness.
To think that I, who was called E-rank or weakest weapon my whole life, am now receiving jealousy.
How deeply moving.
【Are you worried?】
“What. Not really worried.”
Rather than gazes of pity, concern, or distrust.
Those wary looks are much better.
【Haha. I’ve received plenty of such stares myself, so don’t worry.】
Yes.
Yes.
I’m sure you have.
【Hmph. Only good at swordsmanship but completely lacking in tact, what an Iron Head.】
【Come at me, mage!】
The two souls growling at each other once again.
But Sir Isra seemed to have missed one thing.
That Ingrid didn’t particularly refute his boasting about swordsmanship.
Does that mean even the strongest mage of the Witch Group acknowledges his level?
Using their argument as background music, I arrived at the Monster Byproduct Corner.
【Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?】
“No. Today I’m just planning to look around.”
I walked leisurely while scanning the byproducts with [Spirit Eye].
[High Orc Muscle]
Grade: B
―25% increase in Strength when creating undead.
―17% increase in Agility when creating undead.
[Watcher’s Brain]
Grade: B
―22% increase in calculation speed when creating undead.
―15% increase in mana when creating undead.
······.
There are many useful materials.
The problem is that their grades are too high.
【Even if the byproducts are high grade, isn’t crafting itself still possible?】
“The spec reduction is severe.”
The byproduct grade I can handle without penalty is up to C.
B-grade has a 50% spec reduction.
If I put in A-grade or higher, it negatively affects the undead’s specs too.
I once steeled myself and used expensive byproducts like Ogre Muscle, only to waste my money.
The emptiness I felt when I lost all the money I earned working for two months.
Tsk.
It leaves a bitter taste.
【Will you only look at C-grade and below?】
“Not necessarily.”
【Huh. Chivalry states that one must be wary of a heart that wavers like reeds.】
“That’s not something Sir Isra should be saying, is it?”
【When, when have I ever been like that!】
Put your hand on your conscience and think about it.
“This time I’m thinking of getting materials that help with special abilities or modification.”
The protrusion discovered inside the Evolved Predatory Ghoul.
There might be other mutation organs that possess the properties of so-called ‘Predation’.
【You might come up empty-handed.】
“I’m not expecting much.”
I don’t really think I’ll find special organs.
Besides that.
Body parts that could help with Undead Modification.
Or I might find something needed to strengthen my forces, like the corpse of a magical monster in relatively good condition.
【As expected of Master! I want to quickly fill the mage unit and be of help to you.】
Ingrid’s telepathy carried a subtle excitement.
She seemed to harbor a quiet competitive spirit now that the Knight Order was fully staffed.
I’ve been having her conduct Magic Research steadily whenever there’s time.
If I can just secure the numbers, I expect the firepower from forces other than Ingrid will be quite sufficient.
While scanning through the vacuum-packed byproducts.
“Huh?”
A strange description caught my eye.
[Chrono Lizard’s Vocal Cords]
Grade: B
―Adds Fire Attribute Lv 20 during Undead Creation.
―Adds 15% durability during Undead Creation.
―Contains trace amounts of dragon essence.
Dragon essence?
【I feel like I’ve seen this somewhere before.】
“It’s an Elicro Warrior.”
【Ah! You mean the monster you’re keeping in Death Space.】
The boss monster I encountered in the D-rank Gate.
The corpse of the Elicro Warrior, a reptilian monster that looked similar to a crocodile, had the same description.
It was quite large, so it could be used as a base for an Armed Zombie Warrior.
But I had left it alone because of that unfamiliar description I was seeing for the first time.
【But what kind of monster is a Chrono Lizard?】
【It’s a fire-breathing lizard. There were stories that its distant ancestors were dragons, and I guess that was true.】
【I see. We didn’t have such monsters on our continent.】
Hmm.
Come to think of it, the worlds these two lived in during their lifetimes were different.
“Did they call it Chrono Dragon in Ingrid’s world too?”
【Yes. Even the pronunciation is exactly the same.】
How fascinating.
To think they use the same expression even though they’re from different worlds.
Even in our country alone, there are cases where the same object is expressed slightly differently by region.
【The structure of dimensions. I’d like to research it if I get the chance.】
That’s quite a profound topic for me.
Let’s leave the complicated stories to the rift studies professors.
For now, let’s think about what to do with the byproducts that contain the essence of dragons.
“Boss. How much are those vocal cords?”
“Chrono Dragon? 10 million won each.”
“That’s a bit expensive.”
“I won’t give you a discount.”
“I wasn’t asking for one. I was wondering why they’re so expensive.”
“They’re used as catalysts to enhance Explosion Magic or in potion crafting.”
【The usage methods are the same as in our world.】
Magic catalyst and potion materials.
It’s an understandable price.
“I’ll take them all.”
“That’s three, so 30 million total.”
Wow.
So reliable, President Baek.
Since I gained a billion won in ammunition this morning, 30 million won wasn’t burdensome.
As soon as I dispose of the C-Grade Magic Stones, I should buy more expensive monster byproducts.
Kehehehe!
【There might be more byproducts containing dragon essence.】
Oh.
Good point, Sir Isra.
I have enough ammunition.
Today.
Let’s thoroughly scour the Hunter Market and sweep up all the useful byproducts!
* * *
One hour after shopping.
What got completely cleaned out was my account.
“To spend over 300 million in just one hour.”
One-third of the contract money had vanished.
It’s money I’ll recover and have left over when I sell the C-Grade Magic Stones.
But I also thought I might have spent it too easily.
The results of my shopping were as follows.
[Lizard King’s Muscle]
Grade: C+
―Strength +13% during Undead Creation
―Agility +22% during Undead Creation
―Contains trace amounts of dragon essence.
[Cloud Chaser’s Scale]
Grade: C
―Agility + 35% when creating undead
―Durability – 12% when creating undead
―Contains a trace amount of dragon essence.
[Dragon Hound’s Tendon]
Grade: B
―Strength + 24% when creating undead
―Agility + 25% when creating undead
I didn’t buy them one by one.
I purchased them all in sets of three.
【That seems quite excessive.】
【That much is basic for magic research, Iron Head.】
I don’t know if it’s basic.
There weren’t any more byproducts containing dragon essence.
I scraped together whatever I could find.
On top of that.
[Elicro Warrior Corpse x 3]
…I even bought those.
Should I call it lucky?
They weren’t in as good condition as the ones we hunted in the Gate.
Some had only their torsos remaining.
Or barely had one leg or arm attached.
They were put up for sale to Tamer-type Hunters, apparently.
After purchasing additional byproducts to use as arms and legs.
My balance was quite depleted.
“Tsk.”
I had thought about buying decent items for Sir Isra and Ingrid when I got the chance.
I can’t push it any further with the advance payment I received from President Baek.
I stored the purchased byproducts in the subspace carrier and returned to the workshop.
“Alright. Shall we give it a try?”
【What are you planning to do this time?】
“I’m going to try connecting and stimulating the dragon essences.”
I’ll embed parts containing dragon essence throughout the base corpse.
Then connect them with spirit power circuits.
If they receive stimulation, won’t something manifest somehow?
What if it doesn’t work?
“Can’t be helped then.”
Don’t worry.
Back in my E-rank days, I failed plenty of times.
Now I make better money, so I can recover quickly.
【It does seem possible.】
“Really?”
【Energies with similar properties tend to react to each other.】
Since the Eclipse Witch says so.
Even confidence I didn’t have before starts welling up.
This time I used a Ghoul as the base instead of a Zombie Warrior.
I took out the Elicro Warrior corpse in the worst condition.
[Corpse Processing]
After seamlessly attaching the reptilian monster’s arms and legs.
[Spirit Circuit Installation]
I connected the dragon essence parts I had embedded throughout with circuits.
Phew.
I had only learned the Ghoul Creation Method.
This was my first time actually setting one up.
Having to be mindful of the dragon essence too, I missed even lunchtime while concentrating on the work.
【Have you finished all preparations?】
“Yeah.”
【Please call us out too. We should prepare for any contingencies.】
That’s right.
After summoning the Two Vassals as well.
“Open your eyes.”
[Corpse Crafting]
I infused mana into the processed Elicro Warrior corpse.
[Creating a Ghoul.]
[Detecting a special wavelength from the target corpse.]
[This is a new form not recorded in the system.]
It’s the same message I saw when creating the Armed Zombie Warrior.
My heart pounds.
What kind of result will come out?
[The Dragon Essence fusion is unstable.]
[The corresponding Undead will collapse.]
The Elicro Warrior’s corpse began to swell up.
Soon after.
BOOOOM!
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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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