The Only Enhancer - Chapter 132

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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 132
132 – Underground Invasion (1)
0.
Homunculus had always been created before, but the reason it was suddenly so remarkable was simple.
It was created through direct transmutation rather than a skill.
Unlike Bella’s creation, which required the Orb of Evolution and countless level 5 mana stones of various disasters, I had created a Homunculus with just a single mana stone and a mana doll-like body—that was what made it remarkable.
Now, if Andrew, who had learned magical engineering, succeeded in creating liquid metal, we could establish the foundation to mass-produce liquid metal golems.
Gwen laughed with great joy, and Baya teased Andrew as he marveled at the sight.
Regardless, Gwen clenched both fists tightly and gazed at the Homunculus she had created entirely on her own.
Unlike Bella, who possessed exceptional intelligence from the start and could understand everything and learn independently, this creation could not.
It was more intelligent than a newborn, certainly, but the fact that she had to command and teach it everything one by one was somewhat disappointing.
‘That’s something I can fix!’
It was just a matter of developing it gradually.
After all, the difficult part was achieving success in the first place; refining it afterward was trivial.
The satisfaction of accomplishing something difficult was incomparable!
Of course, that wasn’t all Gwen felt.
The moment she succeeded, Min-jun came to mind.
‘The Guild Master will be delighted too, won’t he?’
She grinned and immediately called Min-jun.
She had finally succeeded, she told him.
Of course, the liquid metal wasn’t ready yet, but that didn’t matter.
We could now mass-produce Homunculi without the Orb of Evolution.
This alone was a success.
If we added Min-jun’s enhancement on top of this?
‘Developing North Korea will be a breeze!’
We could essentially mass-produce golems.
Right now, through transmutation, Gwen created a doll form and obtained a Homunculus with a doll’s body, but if asked to create it as a golem, she could certainly do so.
Liquid metal required magical engineering, which Gwen couldn’t do, but crafting sturdy golems was now trivial.
That’s why Baya was urging Andrew on.
At that moment, a voice came through Gwen’s phone as she made the call.
-Gwen? Could it be?
Even Min-jun spoke with a hopeful tone.
And to such a Min-jun, Gwen replied with a laugh.
“Yes! I succeeded――!!!”
-Is that really true?!
“I succeeded in creating a Homunculus without the Orb of Evolution or massive mana stones――!”
-!!! I’ll summon the executives shortly. We’ll meet again then.
“Yes!”
Just as she was about to hang up.
Min-jun spoke as if he had almost forgotten something.
-What about Baya and Andrew?
“Ah….”
At that question, Gwen’s words trailed off as she glanced at the two of them.
Baya and Andrew startled visibly and began moving their hands even more diligently.
-I see. Understood. Still, please inform them that they’re being summoned to an executive meeting.
“Ah, yes, understood.”
Gwen answered thus and the call ended. Baya and Andrew swallowed hard as they looked at Gwen, but she smiled brightly and spoke.
“You heard that, right?”
-O-of course! Q-quickly, move your hands faster!
“Yes, understood!”
Andrew had initially harbored some hope that things might become somewhat comfortable and pleasant with Gwen, but now such feelings had vanished entirely.
He simply wanted to perform well enough not to fall too far behind Gwen, and not to be compared unfavorably to her achievements.
Watching Andrew work his hands so earnestly, Gwen stretched and murmured to herself.
“Mmm, it’s finished, but it’s such a shame that I should develop some other things too.”
Gulp.
A sound of someone swallowing came from somewhere, but Gwen pretended not to notice and attempted to continue her research.
She stopped upon seeing Bella trying to restrain her.
She looked at Bella as if asking why.
-Master, excessive overwork diminishes productivity.
“Hmm, is that so?”
At Bella’s words, Andrew and Baya also nodded in agreement as they looked at Gwen alongside Bella.
But it was futile.
“Well then, I’ll just do a little bit more.”
-…If that is your wish, I understand.
Despite the pleading gazes of the two other beings, Bella could only sigh softly in resignation and assist Gwen.
Andrew naturally continued moving his hands, diligently learning from Baya’s knowledge.
Gwen smiled brightly as she continued her research.
Initially, there had been so little an alchemist could accomplish.
Now it seemed there was so much more, and she was deeply satisfied.
She would work even harder to be of help to Min-jun.
Her mind held nothing but that single thought.
1.
Executive summons.
It was the first time since the Reinforce Guild was established.
After all, it had never been a guild that held meetings.
It had been a guild that moved according to Min-jun’s will.
Now that executives had been appointed, one could truly feel the guild becoming a massive organization.
Though most guild members had already sensed this.
The executives who gathered numbered eight in total.
Ma Hyun-seok, Jung Ji-hwan, Gwen, Isabella, Woo-jin, Mary, Henry, and Andrew.
Everyone gathered together for the first time, and though they seemed somewhat awkward in their positions, Ma Hyun-seok maintained composure and gravitas until Min-jun arrived.
One could argue there was no need to assert such authority, yet circumstances suggested otherwise.
“Grrr, grrr—so strong!”
“Woo-jin, you promised to behave, didn’t you?”
“Grrr, but I still want to fight!”
The young boy Kim Woo-jin, radiating wild energy and unleashing his power, displayed his competitive spirit, eager to test himself against Mary or Jung Ji-hwan.
Had it not been for Ma Hyun-seok, the gathering might have descended into chaos because of Woo-jin.
Of course, Isabella would have intervened gracefully, but one could never be too certain.
Ma Hyun-seok gazed at Woo-jin with an affectionate smile, his expression that of a doting grandfather.
“Hehehehe, the little rascal certainly inherited a fiery temperament from someone.”
Though Ma Hyun-seok’s rejuvenated thirty-something appearance made his grandfatherly demeanor somewhat incongruous, it felt natural enough that everyone simply accepted it without comment.
Mary, too, felt the stirrings of competitive spirit.
The only difference was that she kept it concealed.
Jung Ji-hwan, naturally, paid it no mind whatsoever.
Andrew remained visibly tense, as though acutely aware of his lack of accomplishments, while Henry beside him shrank inward with timidity.
Though both possessed unique traits, they believed themselves the most deficient among those gathered here.
Andrew, once arrogant, had since observed figures like Gwen and Mary, awakening to his own limitations, while Henry had always been naturally reserved.
Finally, Gwen beamed with barely contained excitement, her body fidgeting with restless anticipation.
As all the executives assembled in this somewhat chaotic atmosphere, Min-jun appeared at last.
Everyone rose from their seats.
Even Woo-jin, who moments before had been radiating wild energy, sprang up with sharp precision.
“Ah, my apologies for the delay.”
“No, not at all!”
As everyone responded in unison, Min-jun quickly took his seat.
The commanding presence he exuded overwhelmed them all; even as he sat, none dared follow suit, remaining standing.
Observing their hesitation, Min-jun spoke.
“Please, everyone be seated.”
At his words, they all sat down, their attention fixed entirely upon him.
What could be the reason for this summons?
There could be many reasons, but since this was the first time he had called them all together, each felt an unavoidable tension.
Min-jun, however, paid little attention to the atmosphere, merely surveying those around him.
Seeing nothing amiss, he opened his mouth to speak.
“I’ve called you all here today because there are four matters to discuss.”
“Four matters?”
“Hmm.”
“Huh.”
“Hehe.”
Each responded with their own sound of acknowledgment.
Several swallowed hard.
“First, it concerns strengthening the unique traits of Team Lead Ma Hyun-seok and Team Lead Isabella.”
“Ah!”
“Oh!”
Isabella and Ma Hyun-seok’s eyes lit up simultaneously, while the others watched with envy.
Though other executives were present, prioritizing Isabella and Ma Hyun-seok carried a simple meaning.
Only those two didn’t possess unique characteristics.
Currently, only Gwen and Jung Ji-hwan had received characteristic enhancement.
The remaining six hadn’t yet, but Gwen and Jung Ji-hwan had earned their merit, so it was only natural.
Thus, excluding these newcomers, we decided to enhance the two of them first.
After all, Isabella and Ma Hyun-seok had accumulated considerable achievements.
The reactions of the other six weren’t particularly different.
Since they deserved it, everyone simply offered congratulatory applause.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
“We’ll proceed with characteristic enhancement immediately after this meeting concludes.”
Ma Hyun-seok and Isabella nodded, a faint tension settling across their faces.
New power, no less.
There was no way not to feel excited.
Especially after witnessing how much stronger Jung Ji-hwan became after obtaining the Curse Knight.
That’s why I held even greater anticipation.
“And the second agenda concerns North Korea development.”
“Ah! That’s right!”
“You didn’t tell us about it either?”
“Heh, I’m certainly curious about how you’ll proceed.”
As everyone expressed their curiosity.
Min-jun continued speaking.
“Regarding North Korea development, we’ve decided to undertake it ourselves. Originally, we intended to collaborate with construction companies to handle the building aspect, but thanks to Gwen, that’s no longer necessary. I’ll ask Gwen to explain the details from here on.”
Following Min-jun’s words, Gwen stood and explained the Homunculus we’d developed.
Though essentially akin to golems, the fact that no human labor was required left everyone astounded.
Subsequently, Andrew and Gwen’s technology could produce new materials, and if we incorporated them into construction and development, we could build a far more advanced form of city.
Of course, I also mentioned that the blueprints were with Baya.
The executives displayed reactions of surprise, unable to help but marvel.
In truth, when we said we wouldn’t pursue North Korea development, I suspected we’d acquire another company and do it ourselves, but this exceeded even those expectations.
Observing them, Min-jun spoke again.
“Then the third agenda is enhancement up to Level 6 for all of you and every guild member.”
Preparations were nearly complete.
Just as Andrew had reached Level 5, everyone else had also attained Level 5.
Those whose limit was Level 4 had long since completed their enhancement.
In other words, one more enhancement would allow everyone to reach Level 6.
Since we’d finished all preparations, the agenda was to enhance sequentially starting with Team 1 after the executives’ characteristic enhancement.
The moment the world’s first guild with all members at Level 6 would be born was drawing near.
Hearing this, no one could hide their excitement.
The world’s finest.
And the sole force capable of standing against monsters that grew stronger with each passing day.
For this reason, everyone had no choice but to harbor expectations.
It was at that moment.
Min-jun finally opened his mouth.
What remained was the last item—the fourth agenda.
All the executives focused intently on Min-jun’s words, wondering what it could possibly be.
Min-jun spoke to them.
“We have located the underground lair of the monsters. Our next hunting ground is Russia.”
Thus, preparations for the invasion were underway.

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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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