The Only Enhancer - Chapter 34

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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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Chapter 34
Chapter 34 – The Saint Who Gives Without Reserve (2)
The majesty possessed by a Level 6 transcends imagination.
It’s not without reason that investments are made in those with such potential.
Only fifteen exist in the entire world.
All are called superhumans and treated as national assets in this era.
In an age where national power is judged by the number of Level 6s and 6-tier items, discussing the value of a Level 6 is almost absurd.
Yet Min-jun is merely Level 1, is he not?
One might think he lacks value as an investment.
But that perspective changes entirely when considering the majesty visible only to those with Level 6 potential.
Robert Hauser.
Publicly known as the one who achieved Level 6 in ten years, the reality was far different.
It took him merely five years to reach Level 6.
This was possible because of his overwhelming mana reserves.
The overwhelming mana he possessed upon awakening exceeded that of an ordinary hunter at Level 1 by more than tenfold.
Once you understand that experience accumulates proportionally to the mana spent when using skills, it becomes simple.
His overwhelming mana reserves allowed him to grow faster than anyone else.
That was why Robert Hauser reached Level 6 in five years.
Both Lee Hee-bin, the saint, and Myung Ha-jin, the specter, understood this fact well in this moment.
Therefore, they were investing in three or four 4-tier items.
He was worth that much.
‘You said Robert achieved Level 3 in six months.’
‘If we manage him, we could shorten even that.’
That was precisely why they said Min-jun alone would upset the balance.
Achieving Level 3 in merely six months after awakening, Level 4 in less than a year, and Level 5 in less than two years.
And after five years from awakening?
He would become a Level 6, a national asset.
There would be variations, but this was the common trajectory shown by all those who had demonstrated Level 6 potential thus far.
‘The Association thought it was more beneficial to keep him in this country than to bring him into the Association.’
The Association wanted Min-jun to become self-reliant.
‘Our Sacerdotal Society must consume and manipulate this nation however we can!’
The Sacerdotal Society sought to use Min-jun for power and profit.
And Min-jun himself.
‘Why aren’t they calling me anymore?’
Was using both of them.
The Association was betting he wouldn’t join anywhere, while Myung Ha-jin from the Sacerdotal Society, unaware of this, grew anxious.
‘I could use this well.’
Not by raising the stakes, but in a different direction.
From the atmosphere, Myung Ha-jin was half-convinced that Min-jun would join the Association.
And it was Lee Hee-bin who drove that conviction home.
“What do you think, Myung Ha-jin?”
“Hmm.”
Myung Ha-jin paused, as if considering the matter carefully.
At the Saint Lee Hee-bin’s words, Myung Ha-jin’s jaw clenched audibly.
Four 4-star items.
More than the number Myung Ha-jin currently possessed.
Even if the Sacerdotal Society was thriving, it was fundamentally a gathering rather than a true guild.
While they received public funds and some mercenary commission fees, compared to the Hunter Association, the number of 4-star items they held was far from abundant.
In fact, the Sacerdotal Society’s public fund contained zero 4-star items.
The reason Myung Ha-jin had called out three was simply because he possessed exactly three 4-star items.
‘Hmm, if he throws in his items as well….’
At most six.
All of them were items suited for healers to use.
But….
‘He’ll raise the stakes further.’
Roughly ten 4-star items emerged per year.
And the Hunter Association controlled all item distribution.
In other words.
‘The betting pool is substantial.’
I never imagined the Hunter Association would go this far.
The very fact that they deployed the Saint—one of their symbols—to this meeting revealed just how serious the Association was.
Normally, knowing Lee Hee-bin was here, I would have conceded, but Myung Ha-jin was far too valuable a prize to abandon.
I couldn’t back down now.
Myung Ha-jin still believed the Saint was betting to bring Myung Ha-jin into the Hunter Association.
So he asked Myung Ha-jin.
“Will you be joining the Hunter Association?”
“I’m still considering it.”
Though it was fair to say the scales had already tipped considerably.
But there was still a chance.
“If you postpone joining the Hunter Association, we can certainly bring better terms to the table.”
“Hmm, very well.”
He nodded magnanimously, as if he were a generous man, and accepted.
Lee Hee-bin’s mouth fell open in shock.
Of course it did.
Because she had never mentioned anything about joining the Hunter Association in the first place.
She realized Myung Ha-jin had misunderstood, but she never expected things to unfold like this.
Meanwhile, Myung Ha-jin’s expression relaxed as if a weight had lifted from his shoulders, and he bowed lightly before excusing himself from the room.
As his footsteps faded away.
The Saint Lee Hee-bin spoke in astonishment.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
From the moment Myung Ha-jin appeared, Lee Hee-bin’s composure shattered as he asked the question.
Min-jun answered as though it were obvious.
“Of course.”
“Phew, that’s impressive. But you did well. Despite what I say, the Sacerdotal Society is quite a murky place.”
“Hmm, what do you mean by that?”
“The Sacerdotal Society claims to protect healers’ interests, yet they oppress healers more than anyone else. In other words, for their own purposes, they’d exploit you ruthlessly without hesitation. You’d feel like a bird trapped in a cage. That’s why I escaped from there.”
At those words, I recalled the skill Myung Ha-jin had used last time—how effortlessly he’d blocked a Level 3 Disaster Zone attack.
Especially at his final remark, I nodded solemnly, committing it to memory.
“What about the Changgong Guild?”
“It’s no different. In fact, Han Mu-gyeol, the giant of the Changgong Guild, is even more dangerous than the Sacerdotal Society’s leader. He’s a man with ambitions that run far too deep. We assess him as someone who’d stop at nothing if circumstances turned unfavorable. He’ll definitely try to exploit you in every way to realize his ambitions. One of those ambitions is the globalization of the Changgong Guild.”
“…I see.”
Both of them were well-intentioned toward me, yet they each harbored their own ulterior motives.
Both the Sacerdotal Society and the Changgong Guild wanted to control me and bend me to their will.
Regardless of my own wishes.
It was a clichéd story—becoming a puppet.
Looking at Lee Hee-bin’s expression, he didn’t seem to be lying.
He was distinctly different from Myung Ha-jin, who appeared to have many hidden agendas, or from Han Tae-jun and Cha Hae-yeon of the Changgong Guild.
Then should I broach the formal conditions now?
I needed to organize everything I’d gained so far.
First, they said they’d provide all the information I wanted.
Then why not put it to use immediately?
“Since it’s just the two of us left, feel free to ask if there’s anything else you’d like to discuss.”
“Then I won’t be shy. Since you said you’d provide information, I’d like to hear about Level 6.”
Lee Hee-bin nodded, murmuring “as expected.”
Of course, someone with Level 6 aptitude would naturally need to know such information.
So he shared all the information about Level 6 without reservation.
Everything from how their level-ups are faster than anyone else due to their enormous mana reserves, to how each individual approaches superhuman capability and is treated as national military assets, equivalent to 6-star items.
After hearing it, I finally understood why the Changgong Guild and the Sacerdotal Society were so desperate, and why the Hunter Association was so insistent on keeping me from joining the Sacerdotal Society or the Top 5 Guilds.
I truly possessed immense value.
I nodded as I listened to this explanation.
I’d obtained crucial information.
Level 6 aptitude meant possessing ten times the mana of an ordinary hunter.
Then what level could I possibly reach, given that I didn’t even feel the consumption when using ordinary hunters’ skills?
I was glad I’d asked.
“This isn’t the end—whenever you need information, our Association will provide it wholeheartedly.”
They’d provide information whenever I wanted, summon raid teams from the Association to let me raid and give me the byproducts, grant me access to all Disaster Zone dungeons, and provide four 4-star items of my choosing.
Right now, it would be difficult to manifest exclusive options on 4-star items, but considering the experience I’d accumulated so far, my level would definitely rise within days.
And if the 5-star enhancement probability increased then?
‘I could stack 5-star items with exclusive options from naturally high enhancement values!’
Based on my instinct from acquiring the skill, the higher the innate enhancement value, the better the options that appear.
If a 2-star innate awakening yielded an inventory, what items would emerge from a 4-star innate awakening?
And to think I’d obtain four such items.
Honestly, I couldn’t believe it.
On top of that, the other conditions weren’t even unfavorable.
They’re truly giving me everything.
A saint, not an angel.
‘They’re really giving without reservation.’
With this much support, there’s only one thing Min-jun needs to do.
Establish independence without joining the Sacerdotal Society or the Top 5 Guilds.
And the Association President assured me the Hunter Association would support me until then.
Ma Hyun-seok, South Korea’s strongest—the Level 6 Steel Hero—would have my back.
At this point, I couldn’t help but be curious.
“Why would you go this far?”
“Pardon?”
“Why support me until I can establish independence on my own?”
“Naturally. Min-jun, you are an Awakener of this nation, are you not? And we are the Awakener’s Association. While it is our role to prevent incidents caused by Awakeners from negatively affecting other sectors, it is equally our role to protect Awakeners.”
When I met Lee Hee-bin’s gaze, I could understand.
This person was sincere.
I never thought there could be someone who genuinely cared for the nation’s people.
Though somewhat surprised, I chuckled softly and nodded.
If they’re offering help, I won’t refuse.
And if possible.
“Do you happen to have any schedule?”
“Pardon? No, I don’t… but is there something you need?”
“Ah, I need the saint’s assistance for something.”
I said this with a subtle smile, and Lee Hee-bin laughed awkwardly, sensing an inexplicable foreboding.
‘Did I… walk into a trap?’
2.
“….”
“….”
“….”
Two Level 5 Awakeners.
One was Cha Hae-yeon from Changgong Guild, and the other was Lee Hee-bin, the saint of the Hunter Association.
Two people who would normally have difficulty meeting had come together.
And Han Tae-jun, caught between them, regarded the architect of this situation with considerable distress.
“Hmm, the fragrance is quite pleasant.”
Min-jun’s leisurely smile was perfectly suited to shattering all the plans Han Tae-jun had meticulously crafted, even preparing for war with the Sacerdotal Society.
The saint Lee Hee-bin?
If she came here, it could only be because of Min-jun.
I suspected the Hunter Association would somehow get involved once the Sacerdotal Society made its move, but I never expected them to act this swiftly and decisively.
At most, it’s only been a week.
Government institutions are naturally slow, after all.
I’d even thought the Sacerdotal Society would find some way to obstruct the Hunter Association, and the Changgong Guild had likewise tried to block them through their planted people, yet they moved without any warning.
No signs whatsoever.
‘…The Association Chairman himself stepped in.’
Han Tae-jun stared at me in shock, and I looked back at him as if it were finally time to discuss this, then asked.
“So what reward are you offering?”
Lee Hee-bin didn’t need to step forward.
He’d simply sat there and only asked to help if something came up.
And I rode that momentum well as I spoke to Han Tae-jun.
What reward was he offering?
It was nothing short of a tiger using a tiger’s might.
In this case, was I still an underdeveloped tiger, or should I say a dragon?
Either way, the result was similar.
Even Cha Hae-yeon, who’d been confident before Myung Ha-jin last time, hesitated to speak.
Well, it made sense.
With the Saint of the Hunter Association right beside him, it would’ve been difficult to pull any tricks.
‘It’ll be hard to scheme.’
Like someone shouting they’d sue, only to find a familiar lawyer standing right next to them—that kind of reassurance.
At least it felt like I wouldn’t get scammed anywhere.
I smiled victoriously at Han Tae-jun, and Cha Hae-yeon shook her head at the sight.
Han Tae-jun had tried to pressure me through intellect while Cha Hae-yeon applied force, but with the Saint Lee Hee-bin in play, it was already lost.
I’d backed them into a corner.
There wasn’t much Han Tae-jun could do at this point.
And the best option among them was just one.
“…First, I offer this item as an apology for involving you in an unfortunate matter, and as a request for your continued cooperation in the remaining two raids. I’m sure you already possess this skill so it may hold little significance, but I believe it carries sufficient monetary value.”
Han Tae-jun spoke thus and offered an item.
An item gleaming with a brilliant blue light.
A +3 enhanced item.
Certainly a highly enhanced piece, but why did it feel this way?
A sense of disappointment washed over me.
Well, having heard of three or four +4 enhanced items until now, receiving a +3 naturally felt….
“It’s a +3 enhanced item with Blink attached.”
“!”
Blink?
I already had that skill, so it held no meaning?
That couldn’t be right!
The reason I’d enhanced my belt to +5 first instead of my weapon was partly because Enhancement Mage-exclusive options didn’t attach to it, so there was no reason to push it to +5.
Besides, the Blink option was too precious to enhance my weapon to +5 and then discard it.
But a naturally 3-star wand?
A new wand with exclusive options and enhancement up to +5?
Unlike +5, the probability of going from +3 to +4 is 20%.
With an Enhancement Mage’s Blessing and Mana Enhancement combined, it’s 35%.
The probability of an exclusive option appearing is the same.
‘If that reaches +5…’
To obtain something like this.
But Min-jun didn’t show it on his face.
He simply accepted the wand with an expression that said it was nothing special, just taking what was offered.
Of course, his hands trembled slightly, but no one noticed.
Once Min-jun received his reward, Han Tae-jun asked him with determined eyes.
“Then the remaining two mercenary contracts are still valid, correct?”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Han Tae-jun spoke to Min-jun, but internally he looked toward the Saint and his eyes gleamed.
Despite saying he would take on mercenary work, there was no particular reaction.
It was an existing contract, but certainly one that could be broken.
Yet the Association didn’t object?
‘I haven’t fully entered the Association yet.’
Two raid opportunities.
I had to make the most of those opportunities somehow.
‘I can’t let this slip away.’
He hadn’t joined the Association, but his resolve seemed to be wavering.
I had to find a way.
While Han Tae-jun was thinking this way, Min-jun was.
‘I… I want to go home and enhance it quickly.’
I wanted to hurry and enhance it.
But I had to hold back.
Because enhancing after leveling up would guarantee the exclusive option would appear.
“Then I’ll contact you next time.”
“Yes, thank you.”
As I left the Changgong Guild, I thought.
Should I buy 100 non-innate enhancement items again for a week and enhance them? But now I knew that when enhancing a newly acquired innate enhancement item, exclusive options appear.
If I buy a bunch of non-innate items and enhance them all to +2, then exchange them for all the innate +2 items.
‘It would be incredible.’
I stepped outside and first bowed deeply to Lee Hee-bin, the Saint, to express my gratitude.
Getting this far was truly all thanks to her.
“Thank you so much for today.”
“Oh! No, it’s nothing. If you want the remaining rewards, you can come to the Awakener’s Association headquarters anytime. It would be more convenient if you contact me in advance.”
“Ah, of course. Thank you again. Thanks to you, I managed to avoid unnecessary conflicts.”
As I expressed my sincere gratitude, Lee Hee-bin waved his hand saying it was nothing.
He felt embarrassed, saying it was only natural, but gratitude was gratitude nonetheless.
I expressed my gratitude properly, then glanced at my phone before looking back at Lee Hee-bin and spoke.
“I’m afraid I have something to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave.”
“Oh, yes. Of course!”
“Then, I’ll be going.”
As I hurried to leave like that.
Was Lee Hee-bin simply too curious?
Normally, someone as timid as her wouldn’t have done this, but seeing how urgent I appeared, she asked.
“May I ask what this matter is about?”
“Ah, yes. I’m going to a secondhand marketplace.”
“…?”
The saint still couldn’t understand.

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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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