#23 A Day in Beltsmets (4)
Four hundred million.
The Bloodhound wasn't originally worth that much. In poor condition, they could drop below a hundred million. But the one in front of me was in too good a state, even for a healthy specimen.
On top of that, it seemed a bit larger than the others. Had it ruled as alpha in its pack?
The owner's voice continued under my gaze.
"That's the price it deserves. Look at the hide—no scars, perfectly smooth. And the organs are all intact. Hunted just the other day, so no decay has set in."
With that, the man stroked the hound's back.
"Stuffed, it'd make a fine trophy."
"People stuff magic beasts?"
Han Seohyun's question prompted the man to elaborate.
"You didn't know? It's all the rage among the upper crust these days."
Han Seohyun looked utterly disgusted.
Of course, there were people in this world who collected stuffed magic beasts as a hobby.
The tastes of the rich were truly inscrutable. Tsk, I thought, shaking my head at the man's offer to introduce a taxidermist.
"No, we don't need it stuffed. Package it as-is; we'll take it with us. Just make sure it's secured well."
With great resolve, I bought the carcass.
To Han Seohyun, who wore an apologetic expression, I said,
"Why the long face?"
"Is it really okay to accept something like this?"
"We needed a proper corpse sooner or later. You can't keep messing around with small animals and skeletons forever."
Only then did Han Seohyun nod.
Until now, the undead he'd handled were limited to familiars from dead small animals or basic skeletons. They had virtually no combat ability.
It was time for a real investment if he wanted proper training. And it wasn't inefficient—Beltsmets only had three members. Boosting each one's combat power was crucial.
The stronger Han Seohyun got, the safer we'd all be.
Back at base, Han Seohyun hugged the magic beast and dove straight into the lab. He was itching to work with quality material.
I called for Kim Jaeho.
"A gift."
Kim Jaeho's reaction to my present was ambiguous. What, didn't like the sword?
"I want a doll like his."
Only then did I understand his sullen look.
"That's not a doll."
"Oh."
Kim Jaeho finally wiped the disappointment from his face. He took the sword and examined it closely.
"From now on, I'll teach you swordsmanship too."
"Ugh."
Realizing his training was ramping up, Kim Jaeho's face crumpled.
"You can't fight barehanded forever."
I planned to teach him swordsmanship along with throwing techniques. With no ranged skills yet, knives would come in handy someday.
I sheathed a dagger in its holster and hung it from his belt. Kim Jaeho grimaced at the unfamiliar weight but didn't remove it.
"Get used to it around the others. Take this too."
I slung the sword onto his back. Belts were ideal for swords, but the clanking could alert enemies, so back-mounting was safer.
Maybe because he never dressed properly anyway. Kim Jaeho trudged off with a clunky gait.
I decided to refine my mask further.
It wasn't bad now, but traveling meant dealing with inconveniences.
━A checkpoint search, and it'd be game over.
Yeah.
To operate as Beltsmets, I had to hide my identity completely. If people learned Kang Ishin led us—a B-rank mental-type disgrace from Babel Academy—the rumors would deflate instantly.
What, thought they were hot shit? Just nobodies. Makes sense they'd follow Kang Ishin.
That kind of talk would spread like wildfire.
━You're brutally harsh on yourself.
Not harsh—realistic. No one would fear me. Jeong Hosan might, though. Finding out his old friend turned real villain...
Either way, my identity needed to stay hidden forever. That meant making the mask more natural.
Ideally, I'd hand it to Geum Doctor, the maker, but he was busy.
With Ray's help, extracting the magic circuits wasn't hard. I couldn't pull personal data, but core functions like concealing the face and projecting another were salvageable.
It used illusion magic. I molded a silicone base first—the shapeshifter's skin was too floppy for structure. I layered it over the old mask's frame, extending coverage to the neck, unlike the original face-only design.
"Looks like someone's flayed face."
The silicone felt uncomfortable. Better material needed—breathable, non-irritating for long wear.
I etched circuits on the back to mask mana flow. Even mana-sensitive folks wouldn't detect the artifact.
After days of trial and error, tanned cowhide proved best. I added breathable gaps and shaped it from forehead to neck.
Shapeshifters could mimic stored forms. I skipped my old mask and copied its saved face: a mid-20s man, weary, average—neither handsome nor ugly.
Second-generation hologram copy meant slightly fuzzy quality, but fine from 30cm away.
Best part: perfect neck coverage.
Specialized in mimicry, it synced well with movement after a few tests.
Drawbacks remained.
First, no quick face-swaps. Stuck to one stored face, unlike the old mask's versatility.
Second, low durability. Leather construction allowed folding for carry, but it creased easily.
Conclusion: carry both. Old one for big jobs, new for daily ops.
Mask complete, I knocked on Han Seohyun's door.
He'd barely emerged from the lab I'd built. Time to check progress.
I'd assumed he'd just raise the Bloodhound like a skeleton, but no.
He'd explained modifying it with his mana: infusing black magic between muscles to toughen flesh and sinew.
Not mere revival—a sturdier undead.
Opening the door, Han Seohyun looked pale.
"Eat while you work."
"I am, in my way. Mana drain's the killer."
"How's it going?"
He stepped aside. The Bloodhound's corpse floated mid-air, shrouded in black mana—mostly darkened, save lower body. Far from its original red hue.
"Almost done?"
"Should finish tonight."
"Good luck."
Next, Kim Jaeho—covered in wounds big and small.
"Dagger work that tough?"
He tossed a dagger with a bored face. It pierced dead-center.
"Nice."
Talent made it click fast.
"Keep it up."
I shut the door.
Me? Time for a nap.
Artifact tinkering had kept me up nights. Exhaustion weighed heavy.
The next day, Han Seohyun finished the Bloodhound.
It looked lifelike—less undead, more new monster.
Black mana wisped from mouth and paws like smoke. Cool effect.
"What do you think?"
"Badass. Make it move."
"Sure."
I watched closely.
Bloodhounds were tough alive. This one? Several times faster.
"Does it regenerate if damaged?"
"Tested it—repairs with mana past a point. But losing limbs? Probably not."
"Name? Not Doggo, right?"
He glared, horrified.
Meant as a joke. Felt awkward now.
"Just calling it Hound. Means hunting dog."
"Ah, infected by English worship too."
"Hey!"
With a new hound, time for new training.
"Training grounds."
"Huh?"
"Gotta learn tag-teaming with Hound. And skeleton synergy."
Refining forces after gains was standard.
"Call Jaeho. Joint drills sound good."
Han Seohyun paled.
No choice.
"Move that heavy ass already!"
━Loving that line, huh.
Heh, can't suffer alone.
The day Kim Jaeho stepped on leaves silently. The day Han Seohyun synced with Hound in tag battles.
I gathered them.
"Sick of training? Time for real action."
"Real?"
"Gate raid."
Han Seohyun bolted up.
"A gate raid?!"