[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 39: Strengthening Forces (1)
"I''ll help you with the byproduct disposal regrly."
Madam spoke as soon as they left the house.
"I saved your acquaintance''s life, and that''s all you''re going to say?"
"The chairman paid the proper reward for the request."
"How cold."
Yoojin didn''t press the matter further.
"You did well too, partner."
"Heh, thanks to you, I had a fascinating experience."
"Is inspiration overflowing?"
"I haven''t even organized the insights I gained during the golem alchemy, and now this. I have so much to do."
Shin Joonseok continued to scribble something in his small notebook.
''What did he write? …Good heavens, look at this man. His handwriting is atrocious.’
Yoojin clicked his tongue at the strange talent of creating his own cipher.
He read it patiently and found that Shin Joonseok had formted all sorts of data into equations, such as the rtionship between the mana wave generated during golem alchemy and the reaction of the enhanced circuit.
''Now he''s writing down the mana emission form.''
At this rate, he''d im to have gained inspiration from breathing.
This must be what geniuses are like.
〔Aren''t you, who achieved the 9th rank despite being a mere human, also included in the category of genius?〕
''Yeah, I''m pretty great.''
〔Tsk, tsk. When will you learn humility?〕
Ignoring Kronos'' rebuke, heid his head back against the seat.
A short rest wouldn''tpletely relieve his fatigue.
"Don''t bother me until we arrive."
Leaving those words behind, he closed his eyes.
＊ ＊ ＊
[KM Bank - 1,437,580,110]
1.4 billion won.
This is the amount earned from disposing of byproducts and Mana Stones.
Before returning, it took years to earn 1 billion won.
"Shall we try to get other elixirs?"
"The Inseolsam is enough."
[TL/N: Ginseng from chapter 38]
Yin energy works well with the dead.
If Fafnir consumes it, it will take a long time to fully digest the power of the elixir.
Rather than acquiring elixirs that are of no immediate use, I should invest.
"Partner. Take this."
"One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... How much is this?!"
"I''ll make more for you in the future, so don''t worry about the funds and work hard."
"Thank you! I won''t let you down!"
Shin Joonseok was panting as if he were about to lick Yoojin''s boots.
It seems he has already erased our spectacr first meeting from his mind.
"Alchemist."
"Yes!"
"Can I invest too?"
"No. Who are you trying to covet?"
Yoojin immediately rejected Madam''s investment proposal.
"Hoho, I wasn''t talking to you. I''ll hear the answer from the new alchemist."
"I''m his partner."
Madam. She has a terrific nose for money, Yoojin thought.
Attracting investment is good, but when the pie gets bigger, you have to share it. And sharing with Madam? Not a good idea.
He''d rather not get involved with someone who likely has a few schemes brewing.
"I''ll consider it!"
"Ah."
Yoojin pressed his temples.
When he returned to the Paju workshop, the Little Runts team was waiting for him.
"Hyung-nim. You''re back."
"Have you all passed the ancient trials?"
"Yes!"
‘Oh?’
A look of surprise shed across Yoojin''s eyes.
"You all managed to endure it."
"We just did as you told us!"
At Lee Seongmin''s answer, Yoojin stroked his chin.
‘I knew those two would pass, but I didn''t expect him to withstand the Draconian.’
He had shown Kang Minho and Kang Minyeong how to properly utilize their unique traits.
At the same level, it was difficult to find an opponent for them, except for Hunters who received blessings from constetions.
But Lee Seongmin isn''t at that level, is he?
"How did you pass?"
"I used my spatial ability, just like you told me, hyung."
"Space?"
"I put in as many shields as I could."
A crack appeared in front of Lee Seongmin. Inside the subspace created by his unique trait [Space], a gray object came into view.
"You opened the space right before the Draconian''s attacknded?"
"Yep! That''s right!"
While learning magic applications from Yoojin, his subspace storage capacity had increased several times over. 50kg.
After hearing about the test, Lee Seongmin bought as many magic-grade shields as were allowed and stored them in his subspace.
‘*I didn''t tell him to do that…*’
This kid…
Not bad, huh?
It''ll be quite rewarding raising him alongside the Mirror Hunter siblings.
Shin Joonseok nced between the waiting Little Runts team and Yoojin.
"Are you going back to the Border Region?"
"Yeah."
"Then…"
"We need to take the Blood Golem too."
"No!!!!"
Shin Joonseok screamed as if the world was ending and copsed on the floor in despair.
"Ahjussi, are you alright?"
Kang Minyeong looked at him with pity, but Yoojin just waved his hand dismissively.
"He''s just being dramatic."
"My research! New inspiration is flowing like crazy!!!"
"You said you had a lot to process. Do that first."
The intermediate potion mass production factory.
The alchemy used in the process of transmuting the golem.
He had said there was a mountain of things to analyze, and now he''sining?
Leaving the whining Shin Joonseok behind, the group entered the Border Region once again.
[Limit level reached.]
After several days of forced marches, it was a secondary gain that all members of the Little Runts team had reached 2 Stars.
＊ ＊ ＊
【You''re toote!】
A furious roar fell upon them as soon as they reached the Necropolis. The blue mes residing in Fafnir''s empty sockets flickered violently.
"Late? What are you talking about?"
【You didn''t say it would take this long!】
"I never promised to be here within a few days."
【Such a heartless master. To abandon me alone in thiswlessnd filled with monsters!】
‘Coming from a former 6 Star awakened, that doesn''t sound very convincing.‘
Yoojin sighed briefly.
"Here. Take this."
【A gift won''t appease me.】
"It''s Inseolsam."
Fafnir''s massive body suddenly froze. As if time had stopped, even the flickering blue mes became motionless.
【I-I- Inseolsam?!!!】
"It''ll work well with you."
【How did you obtain such a precious thing, Master?!】
"I helped someone out."
【I can''t believe it. That Master acted as a healer.】
"If you don''t want it, fine."
Yoojin slowly pulled the bag back, teasing Fafnir. But something was strange. It was slow enough for Fafnir to react, but he didn''t move an inch.
"Don''t you need the elixir?"
【Hmm. About that, Master. Actually, I don''t think I need the elixir.】
Fafnir''s thoughts calmed.
Yoojin remained silent, waiting for his next words.
【Even after Master and your group left, there were quite a few monsters aiming for the Necropolis.】
"That''s to be expected. This is the Border Region."
【But, you see, I identally touched a monster''s mana stone with my mouth.】n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
Fafnir''s thoughts wavered.
"Was it really an ident?"
【To be honest, I don''t know why, but suddenly it smelled delicious.】
"It smelled… from the mana stone?"
【So I ate it. The moment I put it in my mouth, it melted and went into my stomach.】
‘An undead that consumes mana stones?’
Even Yoojin, who had reached the pinnacle of necromancy, had never heard of such a thing.
"That''s not the end of it, is it?"
【My total mana increased.】
Yoojin let out a hollowugh.
‘To think it would be that easy…’
Eldritch Dragon.
A growth-type undead created by using the corpse of a Draconian as a foundation.
It was called iplete because it was created through irregrities and loopholes, and even Yoojin, in his past life, hadn''t been able to create one, so hecked information.
‘I thought it was strange that it didn''t surpass its limits even after experiencing various battles…’
Should he have approached it more simply? Yoojin ran a hand through his hair and chuckled.
Lack of mana.
He hadn''t expected that filling the empty Dragon Heart would be the condition for growth.
"Then the Inseolsam would be of great help."
【For now, mana stones are enough.】
"Why?"
【At the current level, I don''t think I can absorb all the mana contained in the elixir.】
That''s a valid point.
It''s a shame he couldn''t use it right away, but he was satisfied with having made a connection with Seongcheon Enterprise.
"Anyway, I''m d we found the answer."
【Will it be alright?】
"What?"
【If I eat mana stones, Master''s ie will decrease.】
Ah. So that''s why Fafnir was beating around the bush about the mana stones. There was another reason.
"Money is ultimately a means to an end."
【A means to an end?】
"One of the ways to be stronger."
They say money buys time, right? If you have a lot of money, you can quickly get what you want. But what''s truly necessary can''t be obtained with money alone.
"For my shining future, there are many enemies I have to face."
Even in Korea alone, there''s the Arhan Guild. And the Romanov family, who were Yoojin''s nemesis in his past life.
The entire Seven Great ns who stood by and watched are also implicit enemies.
"How much can you earn by selling some mana stones? It''s far more important for you to be stronger."
【M-Master!】
The touched Fafnir rushed towards Yoojin.
【Thank you for understanding! Master!】
"Hey, hey! If you put that much strength into it, my organs will get crushed!"
【I swear! I will fight for Master until my bones turn to dust!】
"Ugh."
With a scream, Yoojin lowered his head. Only then did Fafnir realize he had used excessive force.
As he gently loosened his grip, Yoojin took a deep breath, supplying oxygen to his brain.
‘*Wow. I almost died twice.*’
〔Khahahaha! What a masterpiece. To almost die from being crushed by your own subordinate!〕
Kronosughed heartily. This time, even Yoojin couldn''t find anything to retort with.
"Oh, right. Is Jo Seungchul doing well?"
【You mean the noisy wraith? He''s over there.】
Fafnir pointed to the end of the spire.
A whitish soul was circling the pointed tower tirelessly. It was Jo Seungchul, who had be a wraith.
"Come here."
-Kihihihit!
The wraith flew to Yoojin''s side.
〔But why are you keeping that ghoul? It doesn''t seem to be of much help.〕
‘*Oh, I know a certain ghoul who''s not much help either.*’
〔Are you trying to insult me?!〕
‘I didn''t say "constetion," did I? You must think that way normally.’
Kronos fell silent. It was sufficient payback for his boisterousughter earlier.
Taking the wraith, Yoojin moved to the Profane Cemetery. He ordered the Armored Skeleton to dig up Jo Seungchul''s corpse.
‘*Now that I''ve reached 2 Stars, I need to learn a new spell.*’
Separate from alchemy, he could also engrave additional knowledge from already existing fields into his mind.
Raise Dead.
Category: Magic
Rank: D
Creates a magic-type undead from a soulless corpse.
The quality of the created undead is determined by the abilities of the base corpse and the user''spetence.
It was a spell that differed from Raise Undead by two letters. However, the result was quite different.
After stripping all the flesh from the corpse with [Flesh Control], Yoojin concentrated his spirit power in his hand.
"Answer my call."
He shouted powerfully and released the spirit power condensed in his hand.
It infused into Jo Seungchul''s skeletal remains, which then abruptly stood up with a rattling sound.
[Raise Dead used.]
[Skeleton Mage creation sessful.]
[Completion rate is very high. All stats increased by 110%.]
"As expected, the burial had an effect."
The Profane Cemetery. It was a structure that infused the corpses buried in thisnd with spirit power, making them suitable for revival as undead.
The first one he buried after building the cemetery was Jo Seungchul.
Perhaps thanks to that, the enhancement level, which hadn''t exceeded 100% since his return, had increased by another 10%.
"Even with the enhancement, it''s only 2 Star level."
The specs were significantly lower than the Armored series. Even though it specialized in magic attacks, it was hard to consider it on the same level as other 2 Star undead.
〔For all that fuss, it''s a rather unimpressive result.〕
‘*We haven''t even started yet.*’
〔You mean there''s more to show?〕
‘Of course.’
〔You''re confident. Then don''t disappoint me.〕
Yoojin snatched the restlessly circling wraith.
-Kihihihit?
"Stay still."
He suppressed Jo Seungchul''s wraith with the spirit power surrounding his hand.
Holding it firmly in ce, he shoved it into the Skeleton Mage''s skull.
‘It''s about synchronizing the two.’
The original owner of this body was the wraith, Jo Seungchul. Although low-ranking undead didn''t have souls... What would happen if he forcibly bound the soul and synchronized it?
This knowledge wasn''t even recorded in the Ring of Darkness.
‘I call it Unification.’
Yoojin''s spirit power fixed Jo Seungchul''s soul and the corpse''s wavelengths. The whitish energy seeped into the skull, and then...
[The corpse and soul of the deceased have been unified.]
[New spell - ''Unification'' added.]
[Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul) created.]
-Ggehl!! Chaos, destruction, deathi—!!
Azure mes flickered violently in the empty eye sockets.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]