The Only Enhancer - Chapter 185

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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 185
185 – Pacific Ocean Voyage (2)
Min-jun scratched his head awkwardly at Ma Hyun-seok’s nagging.
It wasn’t as though he’d harbored any malicious intent, so he was fortunate not to have been scolded harshly.
After all, Min-jun had never imagined it would become a problem. The trap was that he’d only thought it would be wonderful to hunt monsters for them.
That’s precisely why he intended to strengthen the cargo ship with magic as a service.
When he thought about it, the conditions were incredibly advantageous for the crew of the Terrario.
They could have said they wanted to be isolated ten times over. Though their hearts had been heavy during that time, with benefits like these, they could have agonized ten times more and still come out ahead.
In any case, as Min-jun approached their supervisor with an apologetic demeanor, all the crew members stood visibly intimidated. Standing beside them were what appeared to be the Captain and the First Mate.
Captain Huran and First Mate Marca couldn’t help but tense up as Min-jun approached. Even though they lived in the small nation of Nauru, they knew Min-jun’s status well.
In fact, Min-jun was more famous in these waters than even the most threatening pirates in the region.
‘P-perhaps… that ordinary-looking young man is the head of Reinforce Guild…’
‘He looks so young… even younger than my own son.’
Min-jun had already ascended to Level 8 and handled his aura naturally, so there was no sense of oppressive pressure or overwhelming force. Yet why did it feel this way?
Huran and Marca found themselves breaking into cold sweat as they looked at Min-jun.
There was no oppressive aura of mana or power, but the weight carried in those four letters—Reinforce—was something they couldn’t escape.
As the two men waited nervously for Min-jun to speak, he bowed respectfully to offer his apologies.
“I sincerely apologize. My negligence caused you all to become isolated.”
“Eh? Eh-eh-eh? W-what do you mean? N-no, more importantly, G-Guild Master, please lift your head! I’m afraid of what others might think!”
“Y-yes, that’s right. W-what does it matter now! Y-you’re helping us like this!”
As Huran and Marca stammered out their words in panic, Min-jun pressed forward with resolve.
After all, this was genuinely his own mistake.
Knowing they wouldn’t understand if he simply left it at that, Min-jun quickly continued.
“The strange movements of the monsters in this area were all caused by our Reinforce Guild’s subjugation operations. I moved to gather the monsters and subjugate them all at once. I sincerely apologize for the damage you’ve suffered as a result.”
As Min-jun bowed, all the Reinforce Guild members gathered there bowed their heads and offered their apologies respectfully.
In truth, Reinforce Guild bore no fault. They were victims just like these people, but what did that matter when their leader was bowing?
What mattered was offering their apologies together.
Huran and Marca, their minds reeling from Min-jun and the guild members’ apologies, desperately insisted it was fine and accepted the apology.
After receiving forgiveness he arguably didn’t need, Min-jun explained to the two what he would now provide them.
When Huran and Marca heard that Min-jun was offering compensation not out of sympathy for the worn appearance of the Terrario, but to atone for his own mistake, they nearly fainted.
“From now on, this Terrario will prevent any monsters below Disaster Level 6 from even approaching. I’ve applied reinforcements and magic that will allow it to withstand a Disaster Level 6 monster for ten hours.”
“Kyaaaaa!”
“D-Disaster Level 6?”
In Nauru, even if a Disaster Level 5 monster appeared, the nation would face annihilation. Yet a cargo ship that monsters below Disaster Level 6 couldn’t even approach, and could withstand one for ten hours if it did appear?
When they heard those words, Huran and Marca thought they must have misheard.
Or perhaps Min-jun was joking.
But the moment for “Haha! Just kidding~” never came, so they stared at Min-jun in shock. Yet seeing his sincere expression and the pure gaze in his eyes asking why they were reacting that way, they realized he was serious.
As they wondered whether they could truly accept this, whether they even could, swallowing dryly in contemplation, Min-jun spoke as though troubled.
“Ah, if you’re not satisfied with that, I could make it Disaster Level 7…”
“N-no! W-we’re satisfied!”
“Y-yes! Absolutely! I was just so delighted that I got carried away! Hahaha! Thank you so much, truly! I mean it, Guild Master!”
Seeing the pair’s reaction, Min-jun nodded in relief.
Huran and Marca said that receiving such gifts was already overwhelming, and accepting an escort on top of that would be far too presumptuous. They mentioned that a protective spell was already in place to help them avoid Disaster Level 6 monsters and below, so they would make the journey themselves.
Min-jun insisted on providing an escort anyway, but Ma Hyun-seok assured him it was fine and managed to dissuade him. Huran and Marca thanked both Ma Hyun-seok and Min-jun profusely before departing for their own country.
After all, there were still many people starving back home, so they needed to hurry.
Min-jun watched the Terrario depart with a slightly wistful expression, clicking his tongue softly.
Still, since I had formally apologized, it should be fine, I thought, shaking my head with relief that one problem was resolved. That could have turned into a real disaster.
Next time, I decided I should search a wider area and help out when I encounter cargo ships like that one. It seemed like it would be beneficial in the long run.
“Sigh, I should have just reinforced them and left it at that. Why did I keep insisting on escorting them?”
“Hmm, isn’t that good service?”
“If that’s service, there would be countless people who’d find it burdensome and refuse. When someone receives such valuable treasures and you offer to escort them all the way there, it puts the other party in an awkward position.”
“Ah, I see. I always think anything given is appreciated.”
“That’s not wrong, but you also need to know how to accept it when the other person declines.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
At Min-jun’s words, Ma Hyun-seok nodded approvingly.
Honestly, having said this much, he wasn’t the type to make the same mistake again, so Ma Hyun-seok felt somewhat relieved.
There had been a lingering worry about whether something like this might happen again.
Just as Ma Hyun-seok thought one problem was resolved and turned to leave, Min-jun grabbed his arm.
When Ma Hyun-seok turned his head questioningly, Min-jun spoke.
“Actually, I was planning to use escorting those people as an excuse to give the other guild members a break.”
“Huh? Wh-what?”
At Min-jun’s words, Ma Hyun-seok stood there in stunned silence.
He had no idea that was Min-jun’s intention, and now he looked at him with new understanding.
“Let’s just continue training and not bring this up again, shall we?”
“…Y-yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”
“Right, understood. We’re busy anyway since we still need to catch Ursula, so that works out well.”
At Min-jun’s words, Ma Hyun-seok nodded in agreement and watched him leave, then turned to see the Reinforce Guild members who were unknowingly enjoying this brief respite.
Both Team 1 and Team 2 were gathered together, making quite a crowd. Seeing those poor souls genuinely delighted by just this short break filled Ma Hyun-seok with an unexpected sense of guilt.
But what could he do?
Wasn’t it right to prioritize the civilians first?
With that thought, Ma Hyun-seok turned away and ignored them.
There was no point in bringing up unnecessary matters and making things worse.
2.
It was around the time when the Reinforce Guild had spent roughly ten days aboard the deep-sea fishing vessel.
It had been about five days since they parted ways with the Terrario.
On Earth, there were several people moving about busily.
Not everyone had boarded the deep-sea fishing vessel. Isabella and Jung Ji-hwan, along with others handling important matters, had remained behind to continue their work.
Andrew was one of them.
Andrew was currently struggling to create an optimized gun tailored specifically for Natalia.
The liquid metal golems were nearly complete, and once mass production began, there would be no issues whatsoever.
Moreover, since Gwen needed to complete her research before mass production could begin, Andrew’s work essentially boiled down to nothing but crafting Natalia’s sniper rifle.
About ten days ago, he had fashioned a precision sniper rifle tailored perfectly to Natalia, and after manufacturing various other firearms as well, he had finally completed them all.
It had taken ten days.
“Ehehehe! Wow, it’s done!”
His eyes were bloodshot, and his hands and entire body trembled uncontrollably.
This was what happened when you maintained such frenzied concentration and worked without sleep for ten straight days.
Uldin and Baya could only shake their heads at the sight of Andrew in such a state.
To think he’d push himself so recklessly.
Yet they couldn’t help but acknowledge his effort.
They had never seen Andrew work with such passionate intensity and focus before.
Thanks to that, hadn’t he achieved success at an extraordinary rate?
The original Andrew would have needed another month just to barely approach completion.
-I suppose we have to give credit where it’s due.
-Right? What’s he so happy about? Ugh, it’s disgusting, I’m telling you.
-Haha, well, isn’t that what youth is all about?
-There’s a limit to these things, but he’s acting like an idiot. That woman, she’s not even thinking about Andrew…
-Now, now, we shouldn’t dampen youthful passion so easily.
At Uldin’s words, Baya clicked her tongue and frowned.
Well, there was some merit to it, so she remained quiet.
With Baya settling down, Andrew walked out with a foolish grin on his face.
Though his appearance was disheveled by any measure, he paid no mind and immediately headed toward the Guild Master’s Office to report to Min-jun.
However, someone watching Andrew rush off in such an unkempt state suddenly frowned deeply.
Soon after, a man in a neat suit blocked Andrew’s path.
“Where are you headed right now?”
“Huh? Huh? Ji-hwan! I’m on my way to make a report!”
“A report? What research has been completed?”
“Haha, not just research—I’ve also completed the finished products. Haha, you could call it Ma Chong-sa’s gun set? So I was heading to report to the Guild Master and deliver them to Natalia.”
At Andrew’s words, Jung Ji-hwan tilted his head in confusion before nodding in understanding.
Of course, how would someone cooped up in the Research Laboratory know?
So Jung Ji-hwan explained.
“Both Min-jun, the Guild Master, and Natalia are currently away on business.”
“Eh? Then, where are they?”
“Probably somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.”
???????”
He couldn’t bring himself to ask why they’d gone there.
Andrew wasn’t in his right mind at the moment.
“Uuuaaaaahhh!”

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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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