Chapter 66
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Conspiracy, Quest, Demon - Part 3
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Author's Note) To correct parts of Chapters 63-65 that felt somewhat coincidental, the following revisions have been made. I apologize for any confusion.
1) Hell's Grip: This plant-type monster appearing in the underground parking garage is not merely a guard, but part of a 'Hellification' phenomenon occurring throughout Seoul as the summoning ritual for the demon Abaddon progresses.
2) Following from point 1, the government was also aware of the 'Hellification' phenomenon happening across Seoul. When Lee Hyun-wook contacted Woo Seong-mun, he wasn't completely in the dark but had some understanding of the situation.
3) However, the government had not discovered the 'event map,' so they were unaware that this incident signified the 'summoning of Abaddon.'
Ki Baek-jun, the master of the Taesan Guild, was on the phone with someone.
"The summoning of Abaddon will proceed without a hitch. Yes, the quest progress is currently at 61%."
The conversation was about the demon summoning currently taking place in Seoul.
"As you may have heard, the South Korean government has been continuously requesting aid from the 'Saint Dome.' They managed to stop the 4th Wave, but the city is still teeming with undead monsters. Now that they've detected a demon summoning at a time like this... it would be strange if the Saintess didn't make an appearance."
The Saint Dome was the world's largest 'sanctuary,' located directly beneath the trunk of the World Tree in the Republic of Chad.
The priests and holy knights who resided there were the best in the world.
For Villains who wielded dark powers, they were the number one arch-nemesis that had to be eliminated.
"More importantly... do you think they'll just stand by and watch Seoul, the city where Laputa appeared, fall further into ruin? It's not just what this country's government wants, but the whole world... All those vested interests will undoubtedly compel the Saintess to appear and use a large-scale purification skill."
Yes, the true key to this incident wasn't 'demon summoning,' but 'Saintess summoning.'
"Honestly, there's no way to stop the summoning of the demon, Abaddon, without the Saintess's power. In 36 hours, the required number of Disaster Shards will be met. For someone on this land to find all 20 hidden locations scattered across Seoul by then... isn't that just nonsense? Haha—"
Hearing something from the other end of the line, he shook his head with a sly smile.
"...And just in case, I've prepared the next plan. You don't need to worry."
***
"And... I'd like access to the government's <Armory 1>."
At Lee Hyun-wook's bold request, Woo Seong-mun couldn't help but feel bewildered.
"Armory 1..."
During the Wave, he had provided the Steel Platoon with <Armory 2>.
It had been a timely decision. After all, it had contributed to saving Seoul.
Of course, a considerable number of items were lost in that operation, but when it came to saving Seoul, a few dozen items were a small price to pay.
The only perplexing thing was... he couldn't understand why it was necessary at this moment.
What they needed to do now was track down the hidden 'event map.'
Simply put, they needed to move quickly, so a large number of weapons would only be a burden.
"In this situation... is there really a need to mobilize so many weapons?"
To that question, Lee Hyun-wook shook his head.
"Ah, you misunderstand. I don't need a lot of weapons like last time."
He held up his index finger.
"I only need one thing."
"Hm, and what would that be..."
"I need 'Huginn,' which is said to be stored in Armory 1."
Huginn was one of a pair of ravens belonging to the chief god of Norse mythology, Odin. It was known to fly all over the world, gathering information to report back to him.
Based on this myth, the item Huginn was also realized as a Legendary-grade item specializing in 'information gathering.' And through various channels, it was now the property of the South Korean government.
Using Huginn could expand all senses—or a specific sense—by up to 50 times.
And if that ability were applied to the current Lee Hyun-wook, the detection range of <Demon Chaser> would also increase by 50 times. It would display overwhelming efficiency in tracking the 'event map.'
'To think of Huginn in this situation...'
Woo Seong-mun was once again impressed.
The more he saw of Lee Hyun-wook, the more remarkable the man seemed.
Especially for his young age, he possessed a mature insight.
But... he wasn't proficient in everything, after all.
'It's only natural. Even if he knows a lot, he can't possibly know everything...'
He knew of Huginn's existence and function and had instantly thought of how to utilize it, but he couldn't have known about the fatal flaw hidden within the item.
For a moment, he had placed his hopes in this man, but it seemed he couldn't entrust everything to him after all.
Woo Seong-mun shook his head with a bitter expression.
"Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook, I'm sorry, but Huginn, that item is currently inoperable, for all practical purposes."
"...May I ask why?"
"Huginn is, of course, yes, an item with an incredible effect befitting its fame, but..."
Huginn had a fatal, undisclosed drawback.
"...The item consumes an immense amount of mana just to activate its function."
Usually, skills embedded in items didn't consume mana, but there were exceptions.
"Unless you're an Archmage-level mage with a total mana pool of over 10,000, you can't maintain it for even five minutes, even while wearing a top-tier 'mana tank.' That's why it's completely unusable."
If it were something that could be used easily, it wouldn't have been stashed away in an armory like that in the first place.
Such items were called 'Over Handicaps.' Items that held incredible functions but came with such ridiculous penalties that they were practically unusable white elephants...
But at that moment, Lee Hyun-wook wore a faint smile.
"Director Woo, I can do it."
"...Pardon?"
Woo Seong-mun wondered how many times he had asked "Pardon?" today.
Whenever they hit a snag, Lee Hyun-wook would step forward, claiming he alone could do it.
It was enough to make him wonder if the man was teasing him.
"...Are you telling me that your total mana is over 10,000?"
"Yes, let's just leave it at that."
"Hah— What in the... Just what kind of achievements have you accumulated..."
Lee Hyun-wook's current mana was 59,441, and even his 'recovery speed' was overwhelming.
The organ created after digesting the Dwarven Greatmountain Engine, the 'Aether Engine.'
It was only natural, as his heart was now a mana generator itself.
Unaware of the full story, Woo Seong-mun wore a look of utter incomprehension.
"...I'll say it again. I'd like you to trust me."
Woo Seong-mun gazed intently at Lee Hyun-wook's face.
'Clearly... he's filled with firm confidence. There must be a reason for it.'
Woo Seong-mun slowly nodded.
"...Very well. Still, for now, let's bring Huginn here and run a test."
At Woo Seong-mun's glance, his mage aides opened a portal to <Armory 1>, and a moment later, a government agent emerged from it carrying a large hard case.
"Here, this is Huginn."
A high-ranking mage, the security chief, dispelled the multiple security spells on it and opened it.
Click—
Inside, there was a black sphere the size of a bowling ball.
Lee Hyun-wook carefully took it out.
- You have acquired 'Huginn in Dormant State (Legendary)'.
[Item Information]
- Name: Huginn in Dormant State (Legendary)
- Effect: Activates when infused with mana.
Lee Hyun-wook held the object in both hands and infused it with mana.
Wooooo——
The sphere slowly unfolded, and soon, it took the form of a black raven.
Of course, it was no ordinary raven.
Not feathers, but scales—no, from a body that looked as hard as metal, a brilliant blue light billowed out. A piercing blue glow slowly rose in its eyes, creating an eerie atmosphere.
'And the lore is that this is actually a mechanical lifeform created with ancient magitech.'
That's why later on, Kang Hee-seol and the seven dwarves would create an 'imitation' based on this, launching dozens of cloned Huginn and Muninn into the sky to serve as the eyes of the Magi-tech Legion.
Of course, they could never quite match this 'original.'
- 'Huginn' has been activated, and 'All Senses' will be expanded by up to 50 times.
* Mana Decrease Per Second: 24~120
If this item's effect is raised to its maximum, it consumes a whopping 120 mana per second.
However, Lee Hyun-wook's heart could currently produce about 98 mana per second.
'That means a net loss of 22 per second... Good, I can maintain this for almost an hour.'
He closed his eyes and felt the 'sensory explosion' caused by Huginn.
- Your senses are being 'synchronized' with 'Huginn'.
He felt his senses explode outward, spreading in all directions.
The sound of an insect chirping in some distant corner...
The smell wafting from trash discarded on the ground...
Even the rumble of an aircraft passing overhead was clearly perceived.
"Hoo..."
He wondered if this was what it felt like to become a wild beast.
With his eyes still closed, Lee Hyun-wook sent Huginn flying out of the underground parking garage.
Swoosh—!
"Whoa—"
As the Legendary-grade item disappeared from view, the government agents let out panicked voices.
But Woo Seong-mun calmly observed Lee Hyun-wook's reaction.
Lee Hyun-wook was currently synchronized with Huginn, soaring toward the sky.
Fwooooosh—
How high did it climb...?
'...I see it.'
The landscape of Seoul spread out below Lee Hyun-wook's vision.
And within it, he could feel writhing dark energies.
- Quest Objective 'Demon's Secret Altar' has been discovered.
- Quest Objective 'Demon's Secret Altar' has been discovered.
Yes, the <Demon Chaser> buff was functioning, pointing out the 'quest objectives.'
Lee Hyun-wook chuckled in disbelief.
'At this rate, I'll find them all in no time, won't I?'
He had only sent Huginn out as a test, but he had already found two.
The harmony of a skill obtained by digesting a Legendary-grade material item and a Legendary-grade information item.
In a way, it was only natural for such a powerful effect to occur.
Meanwhile, Woo Seong-mun and his aides were staring blankly at him.
With his eyes closed, he was smiling, as if he were seeing something amusing.
"Wow, it's already been five minutes..."
"Seriously, just how much mana does he have..."
Just then, Huginn returned and perched on Lee Hyun-wook's shoulder, and he opened his eyes.
Wheeeerr——
An engineered, mechanical hum from within Huginn echoed in his ear.
This proved that he could operate Huginn without any issues.
Lee Hyun-wook folded Huginn back into a sphere—its dormant state—and looked at Woo Seong-mun.
"Director Woo, I think I can operate it just fine."
"Hah— Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook, your total mana is... just how much..."
Woo Seong-mun found himself asking before he could stop.
"Ahem..."
He thought that now was not the time to pry into the detailed information of this S-rank Player.
Besides, asking another Player about their abilities was a major breach of etiquette.
One thing was certain: there were probably only a handful of Players in the entire world who could handle Huginn like that.
"Then, Director Woo, am I correct in assuming you'll follow my plan now?"
Woo Seong-mun nodded without hesitation.
This counter-operation was now, in name and reality, centered around Lee Hyun-wook.
"So, what do you plan to do with Huginn? Tell me what you need."
Woo Seong-mun said, gesturing with his hand, and aides from various fields stepped forward, ready to carry out his orders.
"First, please mobilize as many mage Players as possible."
"Hm, it would be helpful if you could specify what kind of mages you need."
Just hearing 'mage Players' didn't give him a clear idea of what they would be used for.
"Yes, enough mages to open dozens of portals on skyscrapers all over Seoul."
Lee Hyun-wook added one last thing.
"...We might be able to finish this faster than you think."
***
"—All teams on standby in five minutes!"
Lee Hyun-wook stood on the rooftop of a building in Yeouido.
Behind him, Woo Seong-mun and other government agents bustled about, carrying out various tasks.
'If I launch Huginn, all quest objectives within at least a 5km radius will come into view.'
But the demon's secret altars were currently spread all over Seoul.
In other words, it was impossible to scan the entirety of Seoul just by relying on Huginn's flight.
Besides, Huginn couldn't stray more than 2km from its user.
The way to solve that was...
"Currently, a total of 450 mages have been deployed to 50 locations on skyscraper rooftops across Seoul."
Just like that, Lee Hyun-wook had requested that 50 'portals' be opened all over Seoul.
Essentially, he would travel between the 50 locations as if space-jumping, activating 'Huginn' to quickly scan the area.
By doing so, he would pinpoint the locations of the 'demon's secret altars,' and the 'assault teams' on standby in those areas would surround the buildings and await the signal to enter.
'And once all the secret altar locations are confirmed, we'll raid them all at once, simultaneously.'
To minimize any chance for the enemy to notice and react, wiping them out in one fell swoop—that was the plan.
For this, 450 mages and 85 assault teams had been prepared.
It was an operation that would have been impossible for Lee Hyun-wook alone, or even if he had numerous comrades.
This was only possible with the power of the 'government.'
'As expected... having the government's backing is a huge advantage.'
And on the other hand, it was possible because of a man named Woo Seong-mun.
A true bureaucrat dedicated solely to the nation's security...
However, Woo Seong-mun was scheduled to be assassinated in just two years.
After that, the government's power would be usurped by the Villains.
'The governments of various countries around the world are already falling into their grasp, and South Korea is no exception...'
Naturally, he planned to prepare from now on to prevent that from happening.
"Standby in three minutes—!"
Soon, the mages gathered in one place and began to open a 'two-way portal.' Mana radiated from the tips of their wands and staves, coalescing into a single point.
"Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook, it's about time to get ready."
"Yes, I'm already prepared."
"Understood. I'll give you the signal shortly."
Just then, Woo Seong-mun approached Lee Hyun-wook.
"Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook, I know this is late, but..."
"Yes?"
"The truth is, we've already requested help from the Saintess to resolve this issue."
The S-rank Priest, Saintess Emilia Müller, who was living in seclusion at the 'Saint Dome' in the Republic of Chad.
For the past few years, she had not responded to any requests for aid.
But with all of Seoul in crisis, the story was bound to change.
In his past life, she had actually participated in the operation to restore the corrupted Seoul...
"Fortunately, we received a positive response, and we were in the middle of preparing to welcome her."
Yes, the Saintess's wide-area blessing magic could stop the Hellification and block the demon summoning.
The only problem was the astronomical cost required to cast that single spell.
"So, if this plan shows any signs of failure... we won't push it unreasonably. We'll wait for the Saintess to arrive to avoid making things worse. The safety of Seoul is what's most important. Please... keep that in mind."
Lee Hyun-wook nodded.
"It won't fail."
And at this point, Lee Hyun-wook was certain of the Villains' true reason for the demon summoning.
'So it was about the Saintess after all.'
Lee Hyun-wook had already sensed that there was a hidden motive behind their actions.
A demon was certainly a powerful being, on par with a 'world boss monster,' but it was still strange to summon one so openly.
It was like advertising that they were summoning a demon, allowing others to prepare a countermeasure early on...
'It's bait to draw out the Saintess.'
They had originally planned to assassinate the Saintess as an extension of the 4th Wave, but since that had all gone up in smoke, they had come up with a new method.
'But if I take care of this, there will be no need for the Saintess to be mobilized.'
Just then, a strong wind gusted from behind him.
"Two-way portal to A3 deployment complete—!"
As the portal opened, the air in the area churned.
Huginn soon returned and landed on Lee Hyun-wook's right side, and he turned and walked toward the first portal.
'Of course, they won't give up and will continue to target the Saintess. I need to keep a close eye on any variables.'
Thus, Lee Hyun-wook always considered and prepared for variables.
But in reality, Lee Hyun-wook himself was the biggest variable.
It was the moment he once again wrenched the steering wheel of the truck named 'Villain' in the opposite direction.