The Only Enhancer - Chapter 27

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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 27
Episode 27 – Territory Dispute (1)
0.
Whoooosh—!
As light swirled around the item, casting an ethereal blue glow, Kim Min-jun felt his strength drain away and collapsed backward onto the bed.
Anyone would have thought him exhausted, yet a smile played at the corners of his mouth.
And for good reason.
‘This is absolutely insane.’
I had managed to upgrade more than half of my +2 items to +3.
The count came to a staggering thirteen pieces.
Combined with my existing +3 items, that made nineteen total.
If I upgraded all the remaining +2 items to +3, I would possess a whopping twenty-nine +3 items.
Considering that even the most useless +3 item with a skill fetched five hundred million won, this amounted to acquiring roughly fourteen and a half billion won in assets.
Beyond that, the experience points I’d gained must have been beyond imagination.
‘It’s really frustrating not knowing my exact experience gain.’
Still, surely it had been substantial?
I thought it might have filled at least half my experience bar, though it could have been less.
I shouldn’t get my hopes too high.
Regardless, all of this had been accomplished in a single day—a remarkable achievement.
Now that things had progressed this far, new possibilities opened up.
“Haha! I have so many +3 items now, I’m not sure which skills to equip!”
Though no one was around to hear me, I spoke aloud while deliberating what to bring to the raid scheduled for this afternoon.
Some items had skills I couldn’t use, but the majority were compatible with my abilities.
First, I discarded my existing wand with the Spirit’s Eye.
After all, I now possessed a new +4 wand—undoubtedly my strongest item.
And it came equipped with Blink, no less.
Unlike other healers, I actually needed the healing capability it provided.
For my accessories, I kept wearing the ones I already had.
None of the newly upgraded accessories surpassed my existing pieces.
To summarize the options on my newly equipped enhanced items:
Robe – Stealth skill usable.
Dagger – Fang Poison skill usable.
Breastplate – Iron Wall skill usable.
Boots – Swift Step skill usable.
Ring 1 – Fire Resistance (Minor).
Ring 2 – Skill Delay 15% reduction.
Bracelet 1 – Skill Cooldown 10% reduction.
Bracelet 2 – Freeze Resistance (Minor).
Badge – Skill Mana Cost 30% reduction.
Necklace – Mana Recovery 10% increase.
There were quite a few parts of my body I hadn’t equipped yet.
If I added gloves and arm guards, that would be two more slots.
They were cumbersome, and both came with skills I couldn’t use, so I decided against wearing them.
Looking at it this way, it was absolutely absurd.
‘Wow.’
I let out a small exclamation of wonder.
To be able to select and equip items of this caliber.
Even an extraordinary Hunter would find that difficult.
‘The enhancement ability really is broken.’
Simply being able to enhance items puts me at the pinnacle of this era.
Aren’t there Hunters who risk their lives running high-level raids just to obtain enhanced items?
But I didn’t need to do that.
My level increases when I enhance, and even highly enhanced items—if luck isn’t on my side—I can eventually obtain them by investing time.
An age where a nation’s power is measured by the number of highly enhanced items.
My ability in that age—something that could be called the world’s peak.
Honestly, I thought I’d understood my own value until now, but I was mistaken.
‘The ability I possess is truly extraordinary.’
With that thought, even the lingering negative emotions that remained vanished.
And in their place came self-confidence and composure.
I was finally feeling things I hadn’t sensed after leveling up.
It was a fresh realization.
I’d gone on raids as a healer, received recognition, and even acted arrogantly at times, but only now—having focused purely on enhancement—could I truly grasp my own worth.
Enhancement alone is undoubtedly an incredible ability.
With this ability, it’s impossible now, but someday it will be possible.
‘Will the day come when I can create a 6-enhancement item, of which only ten exist in the entire world?’
It sounds like a dream.
To be able to create a 6-enhancement item—the very pinnacle of national power.
But I’m still far from that.
For someone like me, barely level 2, it’s a distant dream.
But.
‘It’s not a tree I can’t climb.’
I chuckled softly and reminded myself not to rush—I’d gained quite a bit of experience today alone.
Though they say human greed knows no bounds.
‘When I level up next, will a skill appear that lets me see what skills will attach to items before I enhance them?’
If anyone heard that thought, they’d question whether I possessed a conscience.
Enhancement itself is already an absurd ability.
And now I’m imagining a skill that shows me what skills will appear before I even enhance them.
My imagination is quite something.
Anyway, I needed to collect myself.
I gathered all the items and stood up from my seat.
It was almost time for the raid.
‘A Disaster Zone Level 2 raid with these items!’
The thought of heading out fully equipped with three-star gear made my heart race with anticipation.
Of course, I’d use the glow of enhancement to make them appear as two-star items, so I wouldn’t be able to test the skills—but there was one exception.
‘I should at least try out Blink.’
I left home with only the wand appearing as a three-star item.
Eager to test out Blink as soon as possible.
1.
At Cheonjang Mountain in the Disaster Zone Level 2 area located in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, which was owned by the Changgong Guild, Team 5 of the Changgong Guild moved about busily.
And commanding them there was none other than Han Tae-jun.
For a Level 3 Healer like him, a Disaster Zone Level 2 raid was almost trivial, but this time things were different.
This was an opportunity to evaluate Min-jun’s potential.
He hadn’t come here merely for a raid against Disaster Zone Level 2 monsters.
The report had noted that the buff didn’t match Level 1 standards, and the aura he’d felt directly was far from ordinary.
How would he perform in actual combat?
No matter how impressive, Level 1 was still Level 1.
‘If his buffs work against Disaster Zone Level 2 monsters….’
His value would be beyond imagination.
Han Tae-jun could only hope for that.
If a Healer who hadn’t yet caught the Sacerdotal Society’s attention possessed such value?
Then he, who recognized that value first, would have the advantage.
He would secure the contract by any means necessary.
‘A Blink Wand and 3 billion won in signing bonus should do.’
Normally, just the Blink Wand alone would be considered the industry’s best treatment, but adding 3 billion won on top of that?
It was a difficult decision, but based on what he’d seen so far, he judged the value to be more than sufficient.
If he demonstrated even more in this raid?
He was prepared to invest even further.
‘He said he has about three three-star items, but since he’s a Healer, item loans would go up to 2 billion won. If he bought them with that, the three-star items he actually owns probably aren’t very good.’
Two billion won was slightly tight for purchasing all the two-star items and three-star items confirmed in the report.
If he’d only matched the cheapest three-star items, that price made sense.
That’s why he was preparing 3 billion won in signing bonus.
This should be more than enough.
Though he wasn’t certain, there was also a possibility he’d initially purchased and then resold them.
New Hunters rarely know better, after all.
‘What kind of performance will he show?’
Han Tae-jun, thinking with anticipation, and Team 5’s first and second squads preparing for the raid moved about busily.
Just as preparations were in full swing, a figure appeared in the distance.
A man who had arrived early despite being given a late time for preparation.
“Oh! You’re all already here. Thank you for having me today.”
Min-jun greeted them with a refreshing, bright smile.
Han Tae-jun observed Kim Min-jun and pondered.
‘…Is the wand the only Grade 3 item?’
Everything else was merely Grade 2 equipment.
It seemed he’d sold them all, likely deeming them worthless.
Han Tae-jun smiled, thinking this was fortunate.
He’d considered his opponent formidable.
Yet here were such glaring openings.
This would prove considerably advantageous.
Of course, Han Tae-jun had no way of knowing that Kim Min-jun had deliberately used the radiance of enhancement to make Grade 3 items appear as Grade 2—a misconception entirely his own.
But then an unexpected situation unfolded.
“Uh, wh-what?!”
The ominous voice came from none other than Jang Ji-won, the healer of the existing Team 5, Squad 1.
As if his premonition had proven accurate, Kim Min-jun also spotted Jang Ji-won and spoke.
“Ah! We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
For some reason, this felt ominous.
Observing the reactions of both Kim Min-jun and Jang Ji-won—clearly not favorable—Han Tae-jun exhaled softly and squeezed his eyes shut.
‘…There was an opening here too.’
A perfect plan was only perfect before reality tested it.
2.
It wasn’t particularly welcome, but since it was a familiar face nonetheless.
Kim Min-jun smiled wryly and acknowledged him.
“Was it yesterday? I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
“Ah, y-yes.”
Jang Ji-won stammered, his words faltering as he looked at Kim Min-jun.
Could the person he’d seen then really be a mercenary healer?!
He wanted to question the probability of such a coincidence, but the situation didn’t allow for it.
How could he have known he’d encounter someone before whom he’d shown such an ugly side?
And of all people, the one Han Tae-jun himself had warned him to be cautious of.
As expected.
Han Tae-jun approached, observing both their reactions.
“…It seems you two know each other.”
“Ah….”
“Ah, y-yes, th-that is….”
At Han Tae-jun’s words, Kim Min-jun glanced subtly at Jang Ji-won’s expression.
A face trembling with anxiety, drenched in fear.
It seemed certain that if Han Tae-jun learned the truth, there would be consequences.
Simultaneously, Kim Min-jun recalled yesterday’s events.
The vivid image of Jang Ji-won coercing an employee, wielding his authority like a tyrant.
‘Hmm.’
Honestly, I despise those who bully the weak and grovel before the strong.
During my school days, Sung-jun and his gang were bullies, but my classmates also stood by and said nothing to those stronger than them, which made me resent them. But my perspective has shifted.
After gaining the power of reinforcement as a Reinforcement Mage, didn’t I gain strength myself?
At first, I even considered punishing Jang Ji-won for his arrogant behavior.
But then it occurred to me.
‘What makes me different then?’
I despise the strong preying on the weak.
But now I understand.
Could there truly be someone stronger than me, who possesses the ability of reinforcement?
I’m not talking about physical strength.
The power that comes from authority and ability itself.
When I considered that, I shook my head inwardly.
How could there be?
Then was I now telling Han Tae-jun about Jang Ji-won’s past to punish the strong?
At least the Jang Ji-won I see now wasn’t doing that.
‘It brings back memories.’
It wasn’t sympathy.
It was empathy.
I recalled my past self, constantly wondering how to avoid becoming a target of Sung-jun’s gang day after day.
That doesn’t mean I would just take it lying down.
If someone touched me, I would definitely stand up for myself.
But Jang Ji-won wasn’t like that.
He hadn’t caused me any harm.
Unless he was the one who had provoked me.
“I happened to see you at a restaurant yesterday and remembered you.”
“Ah, what?”
It was Jang Ji-won who was surprised by my words.
He had been watching me, wondering if I might try to blackmail him later.
Instead, I simply smiled as if everything was fine.
A genuine smile without pretense or a trace of falsehood.
The moment Jang Ji-won saw that smile, he understood.
‘Ah… he’s not going to say anything.’
He didn’t wonder why.
A halo seemed to shine behind my back.
He had shamefully bullied employees weaker than himself.
For no real reason—just to look good in front of his friends.
It was a karmic connection, if anything.
He had shown his ugly side, and judging by how I had stepped in, he must have definitely gotten on my nerves.
Yet now I was smiling as if it was all fine.
‘I’m truly pathetic.’
Even a healer whom Han Tae-jun treated with respect and formal language was overlooking his ugly self without wielding power intoxicated by authority—so what had he been doing?
‘What a truly magnanimous person.’
But what about myself?
I had been too busy wielding what little power I possessed as a Healer, and too busy groveling before those above me.
Was this truly the life I had wanted?
No.
‘I want to live like that too.’
As Jang Ji-won was silently reflecting on this,
Han Tae-jun looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression.
There had clearly been some kind of negative tension just moments before.
“Ah, I see.”
“Yes, it’s nice to see you here. I look forward to working with you, Healer Jang Ji-won. I’m Kim Min-jun.”
As Kim Min-jun extended his hand for a handshake,
Jang Ji-won, without thinking, wiped his hand on his clothes before accepting the handshake, bowing deeply as he spoke.
“I’m the one who should be grateful! It’s an honor to go on raids with you, Healer Kim Min-jun!”
“Haha, you’re too kind.”
The subtle tension between the two vanished rapidly.
In fact, Jang Ji-won was now gazing at him with eyes full of reverence, as if pledging his loyalty.
Though an odd feeling lingered, Han Tae-jun felt relieved.
At least there didn’t appear to be anything negative at the moment.
He decided to interrogate Jang Ji-won about what had happened later.
For now, there was something more important at hand.
“Then shall we begin the briefing shortly? Would that be acceptable?”
“Of course.”
The Disaster Zone Level 2 raid was drawing near.
3.
Meanwhile, at the Changgong Guild Headquarters, people were moving about in considerable urgency.
And that bustle soon reached even the Guild Master’s office.
Knock, knock, knock.
Though it was an urgent matter, the secretary entered respectfully after knocking, and Han Mu-gyeol immediately stopped what he was doing and looked up.
If the secretary had entered so urgently, there must certainly be a problem.
He looked at the secretary, his gaze inviting them to speak.
The secretary spoke in an unusually urgent voice.
“We’ve detected abnormal signs in Cheonjang Mountain, a Disaster Zone Level 2 area owned by the Changgong Guild.”
“…Explain in detail.”
“According to satellite observations, it appears to be a territorial dispute.”
A territorial dispute.
This was something that occurred with extremely rare probability in Disaster Zones, typically indicating a sign that the dominant creature that had previously ruled the Disaster Zone was changing.
Every Disaster Zone’s dominant creature referred to a monster one rank higher than the Disaster Zone itself.
In other words, it was also evidence that a monster of higher level than the Disaster Zone had appeared there.
The problem was that when this happened, the surrounding mana wavelengths would spread, causing communication disruptions.
If we lose contact, the entire party could be wiped out if we’re not careful.
“…Who’s there right now?”
“…Team 5 and Team Leader Han Tae-jun.”
“…?”
The secretary spoke, seeing the confusion in his eyes—why was Han Tae-jun there?
“A new mercenary healer….”
“Send reinforcements.”
There was no time for further deliberation.
Every moment was critical.
But if a territorial dispute had erupted in Disaster Zone 2, it had to be a Level 3 monster.
It was difficult enough to hastily assemble Level 3 Hunters for a raid.
Team 5 could be annihilated before then.
Han Mu-gyeol made a swift decision.
“Send that one—the one who just became Level 5 and has been spreading their influence.”
“…Yes, understood.”

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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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