The Only Enhancer - Chapter 56

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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 56
Episode 56 – First Raid, Magic Stone Enhancement (1)
When people are overwhelmed by shock, they cannot muster any reaction at all.
This was precisely such a moment.
Gazing upon the items laid before them, no one could produce even the slightest response.
How could they react when they couldn’t even tell if this was a dream or reality?
Everyone fell into stunned silence.
Jung Ji-hwan found himself genuinely impressed by their expressions.
‘Remarkable indeed.’
Min-jun’s method of recruitment did strike Jung Ji-hwan as somewhat risky.
The mixing of Level 4 and Level 3 hunters was particularly concerning.
While there were two Level 5 tanks, the Level 4 hunters still found it uncomfortable to have Level 3 members in their party.
Jung Ji-hwan followed without complaint because he trusted Min-jun, but he had expected complaints to erupt among the guild members.
But look at this now.
Anyone with complaints?
Impossible.
Everyone was utterly astounded by the overwhelming equipment support.
To such a degree that not even the sound of breathing could be heard.
‘Even knowing beforehand, I feel a shiver down my spine at this sight. Such a reaction is only natural.’
All of this must be Min-jun’s plan.
Even his seemingly flustered demeanor right now is probably an act.
As Jung Ji-hwan gazed at Min-jun, thinking once again how remarkable he was, Isabella was also watching Min-jun.
While everyone else had been shocked, Isabella—especially coming from the Saint Guild—could not help but be the most shaken.
The Saint Guild already equipped Level 5 hunters with +5 weapons and matched others with +4 gear.
But to provide support to Level 3 and Level 4 hunters as well?
To nearly thirty members in total?
‘Is that even possible?’
Isabella shook her head immediately.
Even the world-class Saint Guild could not manage such a thing.
The value of +5 and +4 equipment was far too high to distribute to mere Level 4 hunters.
Yet he was presenting it as though it were nothing.
Looking at Min-jun, Isabella felt a chill deepen within her.
‘The depth of his schemes is unfathomable.’
Min-jun building the world’s greatest guild?
It was Franklin’s prediction, and Isabella herself believed it would come to pass, but this was excessive.
Had Korea’s Awakener’s Association provided such support?
Even so, the quantity made no sense.
It was far too valuable to supply to a single organization.
One could argue that Korea’s expectations of Min-jun were extraordinarily high, but what government was capable of consolidating such opinions?
‘Is that why he used a skill bound by contract to prevent information from being disclosed?’
It was entirely understandable.
And Isabella wasn’t the only one thinking this way.
‘How much did this cost per person?’
‘The Five Pillars alone cost at least hundreds of billions of won….’
‘If we mess this up, won’t we be slaves for life?’
‘But if we can actually use these items, maybe it’s not so bad?’
‘Actually, wouldn’t we be lucky to have slaves of this caliber?’
‘Our family line has been descended from slaves for generations anyway. Zero damage!’
Though some trembled with fear and anxiety, they soon began to converge on a single consensus.
They wanted those items.
And everyone knew the way to get them.
These people who had initially been wary and suspicious of each other rather than unified.
Somehow, all their ideologies had crystallized into one.
‘We’ll bury our bones here!’
‘The descendants of slaves will serve!’
‘If we’re going to be slaves anyway, might as well be the strongest slaves!’
‘We pledge our loyalty!’
‘If we work ourselves to the bone, maybe he’ll reward us with an item or two?’
All of them were expressing their loyalty to Min-jun through their eyes.
Watching them, Jung Ji-hwan nodded as if he’d known this would happen.
Among them, Isabella and Cha Hae-yeon’s eyes had also changed from before.
Cha Hae-yeon was equally astonished by Min-jun’s hidden strength.
‘This was never a fair game to begin with.’
Whatever secrets he possessed to obtain items of this caliber, one thing was certain.
Changgong Guild had never stood a chance.
Even those from Saint Guild were shocked by this level of item support.
In other words, even the Sacerdotal Society—the wealthiest organization in the country—couldn’t keep pace.
The question was where he’d obtained them.
She’d considered asking, but since a gag order was already in place, Cha Hae-yeon decided to stay silent.
And not just Cha Hae-yeon—everyone thought the same and remained quiet.
In the midst of this, only Min-jun sat with a slightly dejected expression, his mouth sealed shut.
‘They could at least cheer a little.’
Anyway, that wasn’t what mattered right now.
Min-jun thought this and gripped the microphone to speak.
“Now that we’ve equipped new items, we should naturally test them out, right? Let’s go now to synchronize our movements as well. Is there anyone who objects…? No one, I see.”
As Min-jun spoke, he noticed twenty-eight pairs of eyes boring into him and nodded in understanding.
Indeed, it was only natural to want to use items immediately after receiving them.
“Then let’s go.”
0.
Association Chairman Ma Hyun-seok stroked his chin, finding it strange that his workload had inexplicably increased so much lately.
No matter how much I thought about it, there was no reason for my workload to increase.
The only recent development was Min-jun’s Reinforce Guild, and I hadn’t gotten busier because of a guild that hadn’t even held its founding ceremony yet.
‘This is strange.’
Trivial tasks had been piling up.
As I pondered this, I finally realized the truth.
‘All of these are the duties that Jung Ji-hwan used to handle as the former team leader.’
For a moment, I wondered if I’d made a mistake letting Jung Ji-hwan go, but I shook my head.
No, it might actually be for the best.
I’m busier for now, but things will be different down the road.
Once Min-jun properly establishes himself, I’ll finally be able to retire.
Originally, I had considered Jung Ji-hwan as the next association chairman, but given how things have turned out, I’ll need to think of another option.
Still, if I want to retire comfortably, I should lay out this kind of plan.
With Jung Ji-hwan, my previous candidate, gone, there was only one other option left.
‘Hee-bin would be suitable, though.’
I was worried whether she could handle politics well, given that she was a bit scatterbrained and too kind-hearted.
If I teach her gradually from now on, wouldn’t she improve?
As Ma Hyun-seok was thinking this way and feeling troubled, someone knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
‘Ah, time has already passed like this.’
Ma Hyun-seok glanced at the time before responding.
“Come in.”
The one who opened the door and entered was none other than Won Eun-seong.
Ma Hyun-seok smiled as if the timing was perfect.
Won Eun-seong’s body trembled slightly.
He seemed to sense something ominous.
But it was already too late.
“I-I heard you called for me.”
“Hmm, yes. Since Team Leader Jung Ji-hwan has retired, I wanted to ask you to take over the Anti-Hunter Task Force.”
“…What?”
A delayed response.
Ma Hyun-seok continued.
“Hmm, it will get busier, but it’s a position we can’t leave vacant. Besides, someone like you handles villains well. That Go Ji-woo fellow has too much of a killer instinct for it.”
“Ah, no, I’m grateful for the position, but Jung Ji-hwan quit?!”
“Ah, so that’s what surprised you.”
“Ah, no, what—why did he suddenly quit?!”
His voice carried a hint of genuine disappointment.
After all, they were friends, no matter what.
Ma Hyun-seok chuckled warmly, and Won Eun-seong exclaimed.
“Ah! No, that’s not it! I was just curious! Just curious!”
“Hmm, I suppose so. But it seems you haven’t heard the news.”
“Yes, what’s the matter?”
This news was far too late in coming.
For a moment, I wondered if I should promote someone this slow to lead the Anti-Hunter Task Force, but it would at least reduce my own workload.
There was no helping it.
“Min-jun founded a guild, didn’t he? I’ve joined it.”
“Wh—what!?”
“This guy’s going to burst my eardrums. He came to get permission to take Cha Hae-yeon with him too.”
“Wait, but why didn’t he even offer me an invitation!?”
“What?”
“Huh? Oh, no, that’s not it, um, well I wasn’t going to go anyway… that, that. No, anyway, why didn’t that bastard say anything.”
Surely this guy wasn’t thinking of going too?
Ma Hyun-seok watched with anxious eyes, but Won Eun-seong didn’t notice and had taken on a considerably hurt and aggrieved expression, nodding his head slightly.
Something seemed suspicious.
Ma Hyun-seok asked again, just to be sure.
“Are you joining?”
“Oh, no.”
From the way he spoke so unconvincingly, if Min-jun had mentioned it, he probably would have considered it.
“…If you’re going, at least tell me beforehand.”
“I said I’m not going! Anyway, I’ll just take the position of Villain Subjugation Team leader, right!? I’m leaving!”
Watching Won Eun-seong leave the Association Chairman’s Office, Ma Hyun-seok muttered anxiously.
‘They say the one who broke wind gets angry… I should prepare just in case.’
Perhaps because I’d already experienced it before, I couldn’t help but worry.
Ma Hyun-seok was already planning ahead, assuming Won Eun-seong would leave.
1.
Three tanks and twenty-five dealers, with only a single healer.
It was hardly the personnel count for a Disaster Level 4 raid, yet not a trace of concern or worry could be seen on the guild members’ faces.
Only one emotion was visible.
Excitement.
Those who had been stuck at Level 4, blocked by the level cap, had finally equipped Level 5 weapons.
They were thrilled because they could now use the ultimate skills they’d only heard about.
Level 3 hunters weren’t blocked yet either, but it wouldn’t be long before they hit that ceiling too.
To finally be able to use ultimate skills with Level 5 equipment they thought they’d never encounter in life.
How could they not be excited about achieving something they’d never even dreamed of?
Though there was only one healer, no one worried.
That healer was Min-jun, after all.
‘He healed everyone alone in the Gangneung Disaster Raid, so it doesn’t matter.’
‘His mana pool is absolutely enormous!’
‘Even if it were Disaster Level 5, our guild master wouldn’t tire at Disaster Level 4.’
‘You bet!’
They all shared the same thought.
Everyone wielded a Tier 5 weapon, and two of the three tanks were already Level 5.
What was there to worry about?
Besides, I was well aware of Min-jun’s monstrous mana reserves.
There was nothing to be concerned about.
Well, if there was one worry, it was just one thing.
‘Hey, but who’s the main tank?’
‘Ugh, this is really tough.’
‘Still, wouldn’t it be Isabella? She was the main tank of Saint Guild’s second team, and she’s a world-class tank.’
‘Hey, but Cha Hae-yeon isn’t lacking either!’
‘Hae-yeon only just reached Level 5, so she’s lacking quite a bit, isn’t she?’
‘Plus, isn’t she basically treated as a criminal right now?’
‘Ahem, ahem.’
Though the former Changgong Guild members had chosen Cha Hae-yeon, they couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by Isabella’s overwhelming specs.
Above all, there was Cha Hae-yeon’s status to consider.
It was at that moment.
Min-jun spoke up.
“I’ll entrust the main tank position to Park Min-ho.”
“What!????”
Park Min-ho repeated back as if he’d heard something utterly incomprehensible.
With Isabella and Cha Hae-yeon here, why him?
And to him, who’d just reached Level 4 and was essentially on his first Tier 4 disaster raid?
Look at them. Both Level 5 tanks were staring at Park Min-ho as if something was off.
Of course, their expressions weren’t ones of dissatisfaction or complaint.
Simply incomprehension.
But that alone was an enormous burden for Park Min-ho.
Had he done something wrong?
Park Min-ho could only think that way.
But Min-jun explained it so simply.
“Since I don’t yet know the tendencies of Isabella or Cha Hae-yeon, I’m entrusting it to Park Min-ho, the tank I’ve coordinated with the most.”
It made a certain sense.
Isabella and Cha Hae-yeon nodded in agreement at those words.
It seemed everything was settled.
But there was a fatal flaw in that decision.
“B-but I don’t have experience hunting Tier 4 disasters….”
“You don’t?”
“N-no, I do have experience, but never as a main tank.”
“Well, everyone has a first time. Besides, the commander will be Jung Ji-hwan here.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Even as Jung Ji-hwan greeted everyone, Park Min-ho was flooded with worry, but it felt awkward to say anything more here.
This was the guild’s first raid, after all.
I couldn’t afford to ruin the atmosphere.
Taking a deep breath, I seemed somewhat tense.
Jung Ji-hwan approached Park Min-ho and spoke.
“Don’t be nervous. I’ll be calling the shots anyway, so just follow my orders.”
“Ah, thank you, senior.”
Who would have thought Jung Ji-hwan would encourage me like this?
This actually boosted my confidence a bit….
“Besides, nobody expects anything from you anyway. No need to be nervous.”
“….”
Even the serious Park Min-ho felt like throwing a punch, but quickly shook his head.
‘No, I’m not going to lose.’
Once the positioning issue was settled.
We moved to hunt the Disaster-grade 4 monster.
How far had we traveled?
Upon reaching our destination, I spotted the creature that had claimed this territory as its own.
Today’s Disaster-grade 4 target was the Flame-Maned Inferno Beast.
A creature of pure flame, distinguished by its blazing mane.
Because it incinerated everything around it, we could feel considerable heat even from our considerable distance away.
Yet none of us could actually sense the heat.
“Crimson Lotus.”
The Crimson Lotus buff Min-jun had already cast on us.
While the physical amplification was weak by Min-jun’s standards, it substantially increased our flame resistance, making it invaluable in a situation like this.
Sure enough, all party members were unaffected by the heat.
Once everyone was ready.
Jung Ji-hwan spoke.
“Main tank, engage.”
“…Engaging.”
Park Min-ho, now accepting his role as main tank, charged forward.
Was it because he was decked out in a +5 shield and +4 equipment?
His movements felt entirely different from usual.
My body felt lighter than a feather.
More than anything, it felt like I was cutting through the very air itself.
Even though I’d already confirmed my physical capabilities, once combat began, they exceeded my expectations.
So this is what people mean by gear advantage.
‘Focus.’
Just as I was about to be mesmerized, I charged forward rapidly and managed to close the distance to the creature that had already turned its surroundings into a sea of flames.
Even with my flame resistance greatly increased, as I drew near, scorching heat enveloped my body.
But rather than grimacing, I found myself laughing.
‘…I can endure this. Actually, it’s just a bit warm.’
With that thought, I swung the massive shield I’d received at the beast and activated my skill.
“Haaaaaah!”
With a shout, I brought my shield crashing down onto its head.
The creature took the direct hit and trembled violently as it staggered upright.
The moment it rose, Park Min-ho gripped his shield tightly, anticipating its counterattack.
It lurched unsteadily as it got to its feet.
“Pwooooogh?!”
The creature seemed equally shocked.
Getting struck by a tier-5 reinforced item—the impact was nothing to scoff at.
In that fleeting moment when the Flame-Maned Inferno wavered and lost its footing, Park Min-ho’s eyes flashed with opportunity, and he charged forward, shield still firmly in hand.
Crash!
The shield struck its shin with perfect precision.
The creature lurched, its massive body convulsing.
Boom——!
Even Park Min-ho, who had executed the charge skill, stood dumbfounded at the result—but only Jung Ji-hwan reacted swiftly, barking orders.
“Main tank, fall back! Damage dealers, group one—prepare ultimates!”
An ultimate skill order right from the start.
Yet everyone was ready, as if they’d been waiting for this moment, and Park Min-ho quickly withdrew.
After Park Min-ho disengaged, the creature—already reeling from successive attacks and having even fallen—was just beginning to rise when it hadn’t even regained its senses.
“Group one, fire ultimates!”
Crash-crash-crash-crash-crash-crash———!
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom————!
Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble—————!
Crash-crash-crash-crash-crash-crash——————!
“Pwheeeee-eee-eee-eee!”
Under the overwhelming barrage, the Flame-Maned Inferno let out a cry of agony.
Reduced to tatters in a single volley.
“Wow.”
“Seriously?”
“Unbelievable….”
“This is what an ultimate skill looks like?”
“The firepower is….”
“So a level-5 ultimate is twice this power….”
The guild members were left speechless.
They were shocked by the overwhelming firepower, certainly.
But what truly staggered them was that they themselves had created it.
Soon the flames flickered and burned brightly as the creature recovered halfway.
Yet they had succeeded in reducing more than half of its body to a mangled ruin.
Everyone watching was left awestruck.
The problem was….
‘I need to pull the tank back faster.’
Park Min-ho, who had retreated as quickly as possible, was caught in the ultimate skill’s blast.
Fortunately, with his 5-star shield and the considerable distance, he didn’t take critical damage.
Of course, Min-jun’s swift healing restored him immediately.
But this pattern would be problematic going forward.
Jung Ji-hwan calculated this and shouted again.
“Sub-tank Isabella, deploy.”
“Yes sir.”
Isabella swiftly took over the tanking position.
After securing aggro firmly.
Jung Ji-hwan issued the next order.
“Isabella, fall back. Team Two, ultimate skill ready.”
At his command, Isabella withdrew rapidly and Team Two’s ultimate skills unfurled once more.
The terrain that had become a sea of flame was now ravaged in countless places, the landscape itself warped—a testament to the devastating power on display.
After that, rather than relying on ultimates, they tested the dealers’ regular damage output.
Ultimate skills all consumed considerable mana, after all.
More importantly.
‘The firepower is exceptional.’
If they weren’t careful, even the tank could get caught in the crossfire and suffer serious consequences, so they held back.
It would be more effective to use them when victory was assured.
Though this first raid couldn’t be called perfect, they extracted meaningful data.
Around the two-hour mark, the creature transformed into light and collapsed.
The average raid duration for a Disaster Level 4 is roughly four hours.
They’d cut that in half.
Min-jun smiled with satisfaction watching it fall.
‘This is what the best guild should be like.’
Now, shall we check what spoils we’ve obtained?
Wait.
Come to think of it?
‘Should I test magic stone enhancement?’
With that thought, Min-jun gazed at the man-sized magic stone from a distance, smiling softly.

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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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