The Regressed SSS-Rank Supporter Who Turned Dark - 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
It wasn’t just the [Alchemy] card that surfaced in my mind.
The axe hanging at my waist dissolved into the Alchemy card.
Following that, the spirit blade named [Death’s Jest] stored in my inventory seeped into the Alchemy card.
Finally, the [Blood Slayer] that I had received from Kim Sang-eung dissolved into the Alchemy card.
Three spirit blades merging into a single Alchemy card.
Ding!
A status window materialized before me.
[Synthesis]
(Madman’s Butcher)
★★★★
(Death’s Jest) (Blood Slayer)
★★★ ★★★★
[Synthesize the spirit blades?]
[Success probability: 58.3%]
‘Over fifty percent—that’s worth attempting.’
Interestingly, when I had created the Madman’s Butcher, no success probability had been displayed. The higher tier of the spirit blades being combined must have triggered this calculation.
‘Let’s do it.’
If it failed, I could simply create another one.
The [Alchemy] card’s response suggested there was good reason for this synthesis.
‘Combine them.’
I channeled ether into the Alchemy card.
Whoooosh!
The Alchemy card erupted with iridescent ether.
Ding!
The status window appeared once more.
[Spirit blade synthesis successful!]
The result was success.
[Slaughter’s Jest]
★★★★★
Equipment Card Main Weapon (Jungle Blade)
A crude and weighty blade, yet extraordinarily sharp—a dao specialized in slaughter.
Etherium acquisition probability +150%
Rune acquisition probability +150%
Item acquisition probability +150%
Decapitation power +200%
Life force absorption +3%
Ether absorption +3%
Critical strike chance +30%
(Awakening possible)
“…This is.”
A machete with a crimson blade.
The blade bore all the hallmarks of a blood spirit ghost—that eerie shimmer of crimson blood rippling across its surface.
As if entranced, I grasped [Slaughter’s Jest] in my hand.
Along with its weighty presence came a chilling aura of killing intent.
“Wh-what is that? *cough*!”
Kim Sang-eung coughed blood as he asked.
His complexion was ashen from the aftereffects of transferring ownership of the spirit blade, yet his eyes remained fixed on my new spirit blade.
“Slaughter’s Jest….”
“Slaugh… ter’s Jest? *cough*!”
“Yes, it’s my new spirit blade.”
“….”
Kim Sang-eung stared at me as if I’d lost my mind.
I understood.
Combining two spirit blades to forge an entirely new one was a concept that had never existed before.
Even I, who had traveled back through time, found it remarkable—how much more so for everyone else.
“Does that ease your burden now?”
“Yes.”
It was then that Kim Sang-eung wiped away the blood trickling from his lips and spoke.
Shhhhh!
Ether enveloped Kim Sang-eung.
Whooom!
Soon after, before Kim Sang-eung materialized a jungle machete identical in form to [Slaughter’s Jest], yet rendered in deep charcoal black.
It had an unusual design.
Blunt at the front, but with a sharp edge running along the back.
In other words, it was a reverse-bladed sword.
“Th-this is.”
Kim Sang-eung reached toward the jungle machete.
“Life and Death Extremes… I see.”
“Life and Death Extremes?”
“It can both heal and kill. Though it’s only 1-star rank… with continued use, it should grow stronger.”
“That’s excellent.”
A smile bloomed naturally across my lips.
This felt like a fitting conclusion.
Both Kim Sang-eung and I had obtained new spirit blades.
‘I hope you find peace of mind.’
I wished it sincerely.
An era where one must live burdened by guilt was far too cruel.
* * *
Propaganda is a crucial instrument of control and the most efficient tool for guiding public perception and emotion in a desired direction.
Because of this, regardless of the era, those in power have always been eager to promote their narratives through various means.
This remained true even in an age when humanity’s very survival was threatened by mysterious invaders.
– Breaking news: The Jebu Island crisis has been officially concluded following the Abyss Clan’s successful Gate conquest. The Defense Strategy Department….
News bulletins poured from digital billboards stationed throughout the streets.
Since the first Gate phenomenon, all related news had been broadcast exclusively through the three terrestrial networks.
For the three terrestrial networks, which had faced a precipitous decline in viewership since smartphones became ubiquitous, the Gate phenomenon was actually a lifeline.
The people had returned to watching the three terrestrial networks.
– Minister Ahn Guk-seon’s unilateral decision to mobilize the military and hunters without the commander-in-chief’s approval has become controversial. According to our investigation….
– The opposition leader is calling for Minister Ahn Guk-seon’s impeachment….
Du-hyeon, waiting for his delivery pickup while his motorcycle sat openly in front of the shop, caught the broadcast drifting from the distant billboard and let out a derisive snort.
“These bastards are really something, spouting nonsense like this.”
Du-hyeon’s expression twisted in disgust at the news content.
The world remained unchanged.
Nothing had changed.
The news was, as always, nothing but partisan bickering between ruling and opposition lawmakers, criticism of every faction.
Who did well, who did poorly.
This and that.
Blah, blah, blah….
Even as Gate phenomena occurred daily, Gates were generated, people died, and cities were destroyed, the behavior of those in high places had ‘not’ changed one bit.
And the people watching it were no different from before.
Who was it that said it?
Humans are creatures of adaptation.
Perhaps humanity had come to accept the Gate phenomenon as a kind of natural disaster or merely an ‘accident’ that could happen in everyday life.
When fires break out, people burn to death. When earthquakes strike, people are crushed. When traffic accidents happen, people are run over.
When Gate phenomena occur, people die at the hands of monsters.
That was all.
In a sense, death itself was no different.
“Order XA21M04. Your order is ready.”
The shop owner thrust a bundle containing several freshly fried chickens into Du-hyeon’s arms.
“Hyperion Penthouse Bangbae, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“You’ll be getting a generous tip. Those people are quite generous.”
“They certainly are. Hehe.”
Vrooooom!
An excited Du-hyeon twisted the throttle.
* * *
After returning home and finishing my shower.
“Phew.”
Before dinner, I logged into HunterLink to check the public sentiment.
[Please select your account.]
[Reverse Body Pot]
★★★★
[Supernova]
★★★★★★★★★
Of course, I logged in as Supernova, the enigmatic ten-star hunter.
Thanks to having direct messages blocked, I didn’t encounter any trouble the moment I connected.
Otherwise, I would have coughed blood and collapsed the instant I logged in.
HunterLink was a form of telepathic network, so an overload would damage the actual user as well.
[Anonymous] He’s a god (18,122)
[Anonymous] Could his unique ability just be prophecy? (53,312)
[Anonymous] Supernova’s true identity (35,432)
…
[Anonymous] How the hell did he achieve ten-star rank alone??? (78,831)
The Hunter Link Forum was not merely hot—it was overheating because of Supernova.
‘This should certainly draw enough attention.’
Thanks to prophesying the Jebu Island incident, Supernova’s recognition and credibility had undoubtedly soared.
‘I should stay quiet for a while. If I post too frequently, the mystique will fade.’
Just before logging off, I checked my direct message inbox.
IronBlood has sent you a message.
IronBlood has sent you a message.
…
IronBlood has sent you a message.
Minister An’s messages filled my inbox.
Even after the incident erupted, he’d been attempting to contact Supernova whenever he found the chance….
I decided not to read them or reply.
Contact should only happen when Supernova wished it to.
* * *
At that same moment.
Minister An kept opening the HunterLink messenger whenever he had a spare moment, checking the conversation window with Supernova.

You sent a message to [Supernova]. (Unread)
You sent a message to [Supernova]. (Unread)
…
You sent a message to [Supernova]. (Unread)
Supernova hadn’t read any of the messages since visiting Minister An’s office.
Click, click!
Minister An stuck a cigarette between his lips, frustration gnawing at him.
No nation in the world was exempt from such troubles, but for Minister An, communication with Supernova was absolutely vital.
After all, he was the mysterious 10-star Hunter who had prophesied the Jebu Island incident.
“…Still, I should at least thank him for giving me an excuse.”
In truth, Minister An found himself in a politically precarious position.
He had moved troops unilaterally without prior authorization, so criticism from both ruling and opposition lawmakers—not to mention the President himself—was inevitable.
However, if he submitted the conversation records with Supernova, he could expect leniency.
Since Supernova had become a global figure of immense interest, overlooking Minister An’s procedural shortcuts seemed reasonable enough.
* * *
Ding dong!
“I’ll get it.”
I stepped into the living room just as the delivery arrived, and opened the front door to find a familiar face standing there.
“Huh?”
Both Doo-hyun and I spoke in unison.
“You live here, hyung?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow. I’m really jealous.”
Doo-hyun peered past my shoulder into the apartment, letting out a low whistle.
“You’ve really made it, hyung. Living in a place like this….”
“It’s not mine. The Defense Strategy Department is just letting me stay here temporarily.”
“Ah….”
“Is delivery your side job?”
“It’s my main job now. Haha.”
Doo-hyun held up a bundle stuffed with chicken, his smile tinged with bitterness.
“Why, isn’t employment working out?”
“It’s not. Sigh.”
Doo-hyun exhaled a heavy sigh.
“Even that armed security guard job was hard to land. The economy’s been so bad.”
“Yeah, I guess….”
I understood what Doo-hyun meant.
Society still functioned, the economy still turned, yet the world faced an unprecedented recession.
This was the true age of the New Normal.
Since the Gate incident, prices had skyrocketed, and things once taken for granted were no longer assured.
In particular, youth unemployment caused by prolonged economic stagnation had become a grave social crisis.
To what extent had things deteriorated? There were even stories circulating that a considerable number of criminals operating as Recka members were those who’d been pushed out of the job market.
In such a world, a young person like Du-hyeon who steadfastly found their purpose and made their living deserved respect in its own right.
“Du-hyeon.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“Would you consider working under me?”
“I… what?”
Du-hyeon flinched at the unexpected proposal.

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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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