Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Leisure in Busyness (1)
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There was a saying.
See something, and desire arises.
It meant that even someone without greed would develop it upon seeing the real thing.
Kim Gunja was experiencing this truth in real time.
"Should've just not looked..."
He pressed his temples as if his head ached terribly.
The Sword Demon Ma Ilcheon, the Shadow Lord Stein, and even though he hadn't customized them yet, Holy Knight Abel and Titan Emperor Pertao.
Kim Gunja had no hesitation in granting them the title of Absolute.
Their abilities were extraordinary, and their lives had been full of twists and turns.
But the owners of these newly added privileges were a bit different from them.
It wasn't just about their abilities.
It was the incidents they had caused.
Kim Gunja's gaze turned to the heart among the privilege holograms.
The heart of the Dragon of Ruin Kaishir, commonly known as the Dragon Heart.
Having glimpsed Kaishir's life, Kim Gunja remembered which investor the heart's owner was.
The Last Mad Dragon.
Kim Gunja could understand why he was called mad and the Last Dragon.
"Devouring all the other dragons..."
It was truly an immense draconic nature.
Not satisfied with killing his kin, he devoured all their hearts.
He destroyed, massacred, and trampled his world as he pleased.
That was the Dragon of Ruin Kaishir.
He was the epitome of absolute evil.
"But he wasn't always a mad dragon..."
Kim Gunja had seen Kaishir receiving special treatment among dragonkind and growing increasingly ferocious as he consumed his kin's hearts.
Observing a long life in a short time made the change starkly apparent.
But that was the limit.
He couldn't see why Kaishir started killing his kin and eating their hearts, or why he zealously burned the continent.
The Customizing Room always showed fragments, never the whole story.
"The ability looks incredible, but assuming the investor has some agenda..."
An extremely dangerous being.
The unease was unavoidable.
Having reached a conclusion on Kaishir, he looked at the mana veins.
The owner of the mana veins had a personality no less vicious than Kaishir's draconic nature.
Seeing the part about magic runes engraved, he vaguely recalled an investor.
The Founder of Magic Runes.
His guess was correct.
"Great Archmage Belshutain."
In one word, he was 'the one born with everything'.
Well, except for his personality.
Born as the crown prince of the empire, an unparalleled genius.
Instead of forming circles in his heart like ordinary mages, he engraved runes in his veins, creating circles throughout his body, and proclaimed himself greater than any mage—a Grand Archmage.
Then he sought out and killed renowned mages.
Solely to prove his own greatness.
He viewed all beings except himself as insignificant.
Kim Gunja let out a faint sigh as he stared at the added privileges.
They were undoubtedly amazing materials, but their owners were too unsettling.
And the fact that they were the heart and mana veins was also problematic.
Essential for mana use, their sync rates would likely rise faster than other parts.
"And that means the investors' shares will rise quickly too."
He wasn't sure yet how much influence an investor's authority could have over him as the master, but the idea of near-pure evil entities gaining shares rapidly was unwelcome.
"If such a being gains enough shares for forced descent..."
Just imagining it was a horrific catastrophe.
Recalling Ma Ilcheon's words, Kim Gunja judged the worst-case scenario.
The added privileges were materials he couldn't handle yet.
"Plus, since they appeared after the Customizing Room leveled up, they must differ from the existing ones."
He couldn't shake the feeling that something powerful yet dangerous was hidden.
These two materials should be chosen when he felt confident handling them.
Having organized his thoughts, Kim Gunja reached out as he first thought.
Toward Holy Knight Abel's arm.
#
Late on a weekend night.
Four men gathered at a restaurant in Bucheon.
They were Kim Gunja's friends, contacted by him.
As Jintae, limping in, sat down, all four met for the first time in ages.
Before awkwardness could settle, Byunghoon, the mood maker as always, spoke to Jintae with a forced smile on his unnatural face.
"How about it? Still keeping the saltwater ready these days?"
He meant Choi Jinseung.
Among the friends, Jintae had the hottest temper and always reacted most aggressively when Choi came to apologize.
"Of course. If I could, I'd pour oil and set him on fire, but he's not even worth that."
In truth, seeing Choi Jinseung reminded him of being beaten by Kang Inhyeok and threatened using his family, making his heart skip, but Jintae pretended to be tough.
But they were friends who understood, so they just gave faint smiles at his words.
They flinched reflexively at the sight of Choi too.
Yet they responded to Kim Gunja's proposal despite that, for one reason.
— There are probably more victims like us.
They were shocked at first.
They hadn't thought that far.
But a little reflection made it obvious.
The Hero Guild's handling had been too slick—not their first time.
But considering others' pain after your own wasn't easy, so they thought Kim Gunja amazing for it.
— This might be tough for you.
Kim Gunja felt very sorry for asking.
But upon hearing he was gathering victim lists, they accepted readily.
That was enough.
No, they were grateful to him.
They felt uneasy about him shouldering it alone, so this was a way to help.
As they chatted lightly starting with Choi Jinseung, a sturdy-built man entered the restaurant.
Seeing Kim Gunja, the friends exclaimed in admiration.
"Whoa... Is that really you, Gunja?"
"Man, you've changed completely."
"So you really became a Hunter."
They'd followed his exploits on TV, papers, and internet, but seeing him in person was different.
Kim Gunja sat sheepishly at their reactions.
"Sorry. Because of me."
"What, right off the bat."
"Yeah, about that Choi bastard?"
"We're relieved, actually. Stress relief."
"Right? Without you, when would we get to throw salt in his face? Felt great."
The friends replied casually, as if it were nothing.
It was better for everyone that way.
Byunghoon spoke for them.
"So, what's up today? Another favor?"
Kim Gunja shook his head lightly and turned to Hangil.
"Mind if I see your hand for a sec?"
"Huh? My hand...? Why?"
Hangil looked puzzled, a bit uncomfortable.
He wasn't used to showing his disabled part to others.
"Just a moment."
"Well... okay. Geez. First time handing my hand to another guy."
They chuckled at Hangil's playful remark.
Kim Gunja took Hangil's finely trembling hand in his left.
"Might sting a bit."
"Huh?"
Crackle—
A near-golden spark jumped from Kim Gunja's left hand, stimulating Hangil's.
"Whoa, startled me! What is that, tingly?"
Hangil flinched but didn't pull away.
Kim Gunja asked seriously.
"How's it feel?"
"What? Same as alw— Huh?"
Hangil tilted his head and looked suspiciously at his hand.
The fine tremors had subsided more than usual.
And above all, the constant needle-like stabbing pain had eased greatly.
"H-How did you do this? The pain's gone down more than after physical therapy!"
"What?!"
"Really?"
The friends were shocked at Hangil's words, and Kim Gunja sighed in relief.
He'd tested plenty, but anxiety lingered.
Invisible to them, his right arm bore many small cuts and burns from lightning.
Wounds from testing Holy Knight Abel's left arm ability on himself.
Special: [Holy Lightning 1 Star]
Through Abel's left arm, Kim Gunja could convert mana to holy lightning.
He was disappointed at first.
No separate holy power, so no healing seemed possible.
But he persisted with tests.
Cutting his arm, adjusting holy lightning intensity to find any healing potential.
And he found it.
The point where holy power dominated lightning.
"Can't fully restore nerves or disabilities, but can alleviate pain."
Kim Gunja stimulated his friends' injured parts with adjusted holy lightning.
Byunghoon's facial muscles relaxed, Giyun's jaw stiffness eased, Jintae's limp lessened.
Seeing their amazed faces, Kim Gunja said,
"Just temporary relief, but better than nothing."
He promised periodic treatments and mentioned Vatican info.
Included was guilt for fixing only his own disabilities via Customizing Room.
The friends looked at him incredulously.
"Trying to hog all the cool points."
"Right."
"Shouldering the world's burdens alone."
"Huh?"
Kim Gunja blinked at their reactions.
Byunghoon patted his shoulder.
"Hey, if you're sorry after healing us, how should we react? Think of us too."
Only then did Kim Gunja catch on.
Hangil had already pulled out canned beers.
"Good day after so long, right?"
His friend Kim Gunja famous as a Hunter, and a clue to treating disabilities.
"Yeah. Got to vent at that Choi bastard too."
They burst laughing at Giyun's words.
Byunghoon cracked a can.
"Let me say this clearly. Honestly, we don't have the confidence—or courage—to go all-in on revenge like you."
The others nodded in agreement.
"But don't try to carry everything alone. What's friendship for? Can't always help, but we can listen."
"Yeah, dude. Ease up on the sorrys."
"Dial back the serious face."
Teasing Kim Gunja, they laughed heartily, and he chuckled, raising his can.
A little. Just a little...
It felt like old times.
"Yeah. Little by little..."
As they enjoyed rare relaxed time with friends,
Bzzz—
A text from Yeji arrived.
— Uncle! You're really settling my wish with Everland tomorrow, right?
Sensing her excitement, Kim Gunja replied concisely.
— Yes.
Yeji's reply was quick.
— Yay! See you tomorrow then! No take-backs!
Kim Gunja had contacted her to go to Everland in Yongin using the wish coupon from their spar.
One of Pentagram's requested investigation sites was there.
He'd planned to go alone but changed his mind.
"Me, obsessed with hunting, suddenly going solo to an amusement park? Too suspicious..."
So he thought of Sin Yeji.
No need to hide much from her, and going together avoided needless suspicion.
Kim Gunja pondered Mongjiro's words slowly.
About the Slayers, altars, and the demonization spreading among civilians.
"Slayers, huh..."
He'd already experienced how dangerous their madness was.
Yu Gahye and Bae Yongdu's futile deaths at Slayer Choi Jiyeon's hands weren't easily forgotten.
Recalling that, Kim Gunja's eyes darkened heavily.