The Only Enhancer - Chapter 128
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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 128
128 – The Yolk Land (3)
4.
What was amusing was how every construction company that had inquired with the Reinforce Guild after Min-jun’s announcement fled with their tails between their legs.
To be honest, Min-jun found it difficult to understand.
Was it really so hard to transparently disclose what materials had been used all this time?
Min-jun understood well enough that cutting costs to some degree was part of doing business.
So why were they so terrified they ran away with their tails tucked?
Honestly.
Min-jun could only shake his head and click his tongue.
How guilty must they feel to act like that?
It was incomprehensible.
Of course, Min-jun’s stern words had also frightened them considerably.
In any case, looking at the few remaining companies, Min-jun couldn’t help but sigh.
“Siiigh.”
Should I select from those who remained?
Among them, there wasn’t a single company with real capability.
It was frustratingly ambiguous.
If they had technology, they cut corners; if they didn’t cut corners, they lacked any special skills.
It was an irony that couldn’t be avoided.
My worries only deepened.
Should I set this aside for now and handle other matters first?
As Min-jun was lost in thought, a buzzing sound reached my ears followed by a voice.
-Huh!? Are you planning to build a structure?
“Hm? What about it?”
Baya, now known as Baya, brought up the topic, and Min-jun tilted his head in confusion.
Why was she doing this?
Then.
-I have a brilliant idea for you!!!!!!!!
Watching Baya suddenly cry out like that, I tilted my head in confusion.
Why was she suddenly acting like this?
With that thought, Min-jun looked at her.
Baya spoke urgently.
-Ultimately, you’re lacking manpower, aren’t you? Did you know that golems are masters of construction!?
“Oh? And then?”
-Since you’re already planning to create golems anyway, why not kill two birds with one stone by making golems and using them as workers while building the city!!!!!
“Ooh!”
-Moreover! I’m perfectly capable of handling architectural design myself!!! I’m confident I’m superior to humans!!!
Certainly, the reason for hiring construction companies was their various machinery, design expertise, and the ability to directly execute the construction.
But the technological prowess of a monster that could be called an alien?
You’re coveting this?
Min-jun chuckled at the thought, stroking his chin with an amused expression.
If that’s the case, I should accelerate Andrew’s growth a bit more.
Gwen has already reached her full potential, after all.
It would have been a chilling revelation had Andrew overheard, but that wasn’t Min-jun’s concern.
5.
Following the recent North Korea campaign, all members of the Reinforce Guild were granted rest.
Everyone was grateful to Min-jun for telling them to rest well, emphasizing that recovery was equally important.
Everyone, that is, except Andrew.
He wasn’t ignorant of why he alone had been summoned.
Unlike the other combat specialists, he was a blacksmith.
He’d caught wind that Gwen and Andrew were collaborating to craft something.
With that in mind, he’d dressed in somewhat formal attire before coming.
He’d thought it best to be at least somewhat comfortable while working, but ultimately, using his skills meant he could craft regardless of what he wore.
Unfortunately, that was all Andrew had been thinking.
Naturally, that assumption didn’t survive long.
“Uh, u-um?”
Uttering a bewildered sound, Andrew gazed at Gwen and Min-jun, sensing something was profoundly amiss.
Seeing Gwen in combat attire and Min-jun in light clothing yet clearly battle-ready, anyone could tell something was wrong.
Gwen spared Andrew a pitying glance before turning away indifferently, while Min-jun tilted his head curiously at Andrew’s expression.
Why does everyone dress up when called?
Well, I suppose it’s understandable since I didn’t mention we were going hunting.
Regardless, that’s not the important part.
With that thought, Min-jun spoke to the flustered Andrew.
“I apologize for calling you despite granting rest, but we’re heading out to hunt. Would you like to borrow some combat clothes?”
“…Yes? Oh, yes, yes!”
Andrew snapped to attention and accepted the clothes from Min-jun, changing into them at a distance.
Once he was in combat attire.
Min-jun spoke without hesitation.
“Since you’re still only level four, Andrew, you’ll need to reach level five. I’m afraid I can’t offer much additional rest later, but let’s finish this as quickly as possible.”
“…Yes.”
Everyone had leveled up during the last North Korea campaign.
The lowest level in the Reinforce Guild had become four.
Of course, after enhancing them all, some had reached level five, but unfortunately, not everyone had.
Andrew was one of those who hadn’t.
And the difference between them and Andrew was simple.
“I think we need to see what your blacksmith’s ultimate skill is first, then decide whether to enhance your traits or not.”
“…Yes! I understand!”
Though it would be grueling and his vision might darken, Andrew chose to think positively.
After all, he’d be the first among the new recruits to receive trait enhancement.
Andrew consoled himself with these happy thoughts, and Min-jun began subjugating the remaining North Korean monsters.
Though he’d eliminated all the Disaster Level 5 creatures—a trivial feat—Min-jun’s experience enhancement buff ensured an astronomical influx of experience points.
During breaks, Min-jun explained his strategy.
“The Blacksmith’s ultimate ability will determine our next course of action.”
“Can we create creatures like those liquid metal giants we saw before?”
“…Oh!”
“Yes. While the Alchemist excels at transmutation, the Blacksmith specializes in forging superior metals into creations. Working together, we should achieve remarkable results.”
Gwen, the Alchemist I’d considered before, would create new metals, which the Blacksmith would then refine and forge into something stronger, and Gwen would transmute those ingots once more.
If I enhanced the final product, we could create something transcending perfection itself.
With Baya included, the recipe was flawless.
Most importantly.
-Since circumstances have changed, I’ll recalculate and create an even better recipe!
Baya, her spirits lifted, declared this with determination.
It wasn’t mere servitude speaking.
As a born researcher, she was genuinely curious about how far this synergy could take them.
Though currently sealed in the form of essence, I’d confirmed that essence could sufficiently create Homunculus.
Why do it at all?
More assistants naturally meant better efficiency.
Even without Homunculus, creating golems and providing them physical forms would prove equally useful.
I moved forward with all these considerations in mind.
Andrew, of course, was suffering terribly.
Greater mana quality and quantity naturally increased mental fortitude.
Andrew’s mana quality and quantity were extraordinary for a special trait.
Compared to ordinary traits, that is.
He surpassed even Jung Ji-hwan, who’d strengthened his trait as a Cursed Knight, so his mental resilience deserved recognition.
Yet even such fortitude crumbled under my relentless, grueling schedule.
“Uuuugh…”
Watching Andrew’s suffering, Gwen felt sympathetic, but there was no choice.
No Disaster Level 5 creatures remained on the Korean Peninsula, so we had to level up against Disaster Level 4 and below.
The difficulty was indescribable.
I’d thought subjugating all of North Korea impossible.
Yet the three of us—Andrew, Gwen, and I—were eliminating most creatures.
Though Gwen and Andrew handled the actual combat.
What was I doing meanwhile?
Essence production was in full swing.
It was unavoidable if I wanted to level up the increased guild members.
Gwen and Andrew were equally busy.
During combat, they fought with full strength.
During rest, they crafted equipment and gave it to me, and I enhanced and converted it into essence.
Wasn’t that essentially not resting at all?
It was hardly surprising that Andrew’s mental stamina was depleting.
Even Gwen, who was dozens of times superior, was beginning to feel somewhat fatigued.
Fortunately, the initial month-long subjugation of North Korea had at least made the conquest itself proceed at a remarkably swift pace.
The problem was that levels weren’t increasing.
But that too was resolved after more than two weeks had passed.
“M-my level went up!”
“Oh, oh my goodness! Congratulations, Andrew!”
“Th-thank you so much, senior!”
Andrew’s joy was unmistakable, and Gwen offered her congratulations as she watched him.
Min-jun, who had been crafting essence, opened his eyes upon hearing the news and smiled.
“Congratulations.”
But the congratulations were brief.
“What ultimate skill did you acquire?”
He immediately got down to business.
Andrew spoke with a slight smile, as if he hadn’t expected much.
“I-it’s called Magitech Engineering? It seems to be a blacksmith-related skill, but…”
“Excellent!”
-Woo! Magitech Engineering!!!!!
At Baya’s voice, celebrating alongside Min-jun, Andrew swallowed hard.
He wondered if he’d mentioned it carelessly, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
Fortunately, the desired skill had appeared.
“Then let’s begin work immediately.”
“Eh, yes? H-here?”
Andrew spoke in apparent bewilderment at Min-jun’s words.
Baya kindly provided an answer.
-Human! Rejoice! There happens to be a research facility nearby that the Lava Hunchback was using! The equipment should be sufficient, so we can begin production right away!
“Ah, ah ah ah!”
-To think you’d be so delighted! Hehehehe! I’m pleased too!
“Ah ah ah ah ah!”
Min-jun nodded with a satisfied smile, and Gwen wore a smile as well.
With Gwen already won over by Min-jun, there was no one left to take Andrew’s side.
6.
Around the time Min-jun, Gwen, and Andrew accelerated their North Korea subjugation and began their research endeavors.
People grew anxious watching the now-quiet Reinforce Guild.
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
Whenever Min-jun disappeared from the Reinforce Guild and reappeared, hadn’t he always unveiled something massive?
Many believed this time would be no different.
-What will he bring back this time?
-Is there even anything left to bring?
-Who knows? It’s the Reinforce Guild, after all.
-Geez, but I heard England sent over a blacksmith?
-And supposedly there’s an alchemist too?
-The synergy would be insane.
Everyone chattered away, speculating about what might come next.
Honestly, nobody knew what would appear, so they were just throwing out ideas for the fun of imagining possibilities.
-But more importantly, how’s the North Korea development coming along?
-They say all construction companies jumped out of fear. Haha, so you must have tried it quite a bit.
-Honestly, anyone doing shoddy work should be arrested.
-Exactly.
-Honestly, when Mister Reinforce said that, it felt so satisfying.
-Companies need to make a profit, but that was way too much.
-Right, right.
-So what about the North Korea development anyway?
The curiosity about what Min-jun would bring back and how North Korea would develop going forward—
that was the main topic.
While everyone was chattering away like that—
-The Reinforce Guild’s statement just came out?
-Insane! Let’s go right now!
Min-jun had returned.
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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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