Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Qualifications (2)
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He didn't waver.
He wasn't foolish enough to show an opening in front of an enemy he suspected.
But he couldn't help his gaze drifting to what the woman held.
"……."
Perhaps a considerable amount of time had passed.
No blood dripped.
But Master Jeonghye's face, eyes closed, had grown deathly pale, contrasting sharply with the serene expression etched upon it.
There were so many questions he wanted to ask.
So many stories he wanted to share.
He had held back out of consideration for the abbot.
He wanted to give the man who had kept a promise nurtured over long years time to gather his thoughts and calm his heart.
But now, that was no longer possible.
There were no more tomorrows for the dead.
"I have a few... questions."
"Oh? We're on the same wavelength? I had a bunch of questions too."
The woman replied with a seductive smile.
"Are you a Homunculus?"
"Bingo. Name's Zainan. And you're Hunter Kim Gunja, right?"
He didn't deny it.
"Why did you kill him?"
"Huh? Oh."
Zainan's red lips curved faintly.
"Were you close?"
She tossed the head in her hand playfully into the air like a hacky sack.
That was the moment.
Kim Gunja's Crimson Moon spat fire.
Dozens of crimson flashes surged toward Zainan.
"Hm?"
Pure white threads erupted from Zainan's hand, instantly wrapping around it like a gauntlet.
Kagagagang!
In an instant, dozens of clashes rang out.
Zainan's spider threads, blocking the assault infused with Heaven-Shattering Divine Art qi from Crimson Moon, bore not a single scratch.
"A rough guy has his charms too... Hm?"
Zainan's brow furrowed slightly.
Hwang Siho's head, which she had lightly tossed into the air, was now in Kim Gunja's hand.
He had launched Shadow Walker simultaneously with his attack.
'When...?'
She was only A-rank.
Even if the attack targeted elsewhere, how could one of the eleven alchemists miss the movement?
It made no sense.
'...I let my guard down.'
She had focused only on his attack, never imagining he'd go for the head in that moment.
Rumors said he switched positions like a ghost, and it was indeed an impressive ability.
It only made her want it more.
Zainan, newly appointed as the alchemist of the Spider Branch, licked her lips.
Kim Gunja was already like prey caught in her web anyway.
Kim Gunja carefully stored the retrieved head of Master Jeonghye in his coat's sub-space and asked again.
"Answer me. Why did you kill him?"
Zainan replied nonchalantly.
"I needed it. The research data he took and vanished with. I didn't plan to kill him, but he wouldn't talk, so what choice did I have? Had to take the head and dissect it."
"He wasn't weak."
Zainan's eyes gleamed.
Did he know Hwang Siho's true nature?
Homunculi rarely revealed their identities to outsiders.
Close enough to confide in.
He might have info on the research data she couldn't get from Hwang Siho.
After returning empty-handed, this felt like heaven-sent luck.
And scoring an excellent test subject was a bonus.
"Who knows? We'd have to see him resist to tell. Even test subjects struggle at least a little, but this guy... Talking about promises and not using his powers at all. How were we supposed to know if he was strong or weak?"
At the mention of no resistance, Kim Gunja had a hunch.
Master Jeonghye had shown such resolve.
He wished to remain an ordinary man, forsaking the powers he had built as a Homunculus.
Even at the cost of death.
"I expected more from one of the former eleven alchemists, but I was disappointed too. And he didn't even set up barriers around the temple."
With that, Zainan asked slyly.
"But... you seem to have stopped by the elixir room earlier. Did he tell you anything? Like... a place nearby where he hid something?"
Her lewd gaze roamed over Kim Gunja's body.
Zainan, the Homunculus, could see it.
Kim Gunja's perfectly tuned physique.
This balance was unbelievable for a naturally born body.
Among all bodies she'd seen, it was closest to the ideal new humanity she dreamed of.
The more she looked, the more her greed surged to drag him off for study.
But she held back, needing answers first.
"Haaa...."
As Zainan subtly exhaled her heated breath.
"I don't know about research facilities, but I did hear something."
Zainan's face lit up at Kim Gunja's words.
"Really? What was it?"
Her innocent question would make anyone think they were close friends.
It proved how much she underestimated him.
Kim Gunja stared at her steadily before speaking.
"Before I tell you, one more question."
"What?"
"How do you Homunculi spot others' bodies? Especially, your gazes on me are always so sticky."
It was always like that.
Jin Garyul, Maneuver, Han Yongjin.
Upon meeting him, they showed curiosity, greedy stares, without hiding it.
Zainan before him was the same.
How did they discern his condition?
Kim Gunja had always wondered.
They hid their own identities perfectly despite those eyes.
'Even Baek Jincheon of the world didn't know.'
No one knew Jin Garyul was a Homunculus until his body transformation.
Sin Yeji with her Demon Eye was the same.
She spotted his physical changes but couldn't detect the Homunculus.
That uniqueness let Homunculi lurk everywhere in society.
'Identities are exposed only when caught in events revealing power or when their greed sparks incidents.'
There was surely something unknown to the world.
A mark only they recognized, or a unique ability.
Zainan pondered briefly but saw no issue revealing it.
He was already a captured specimen.
"Homunculi aren't something you become just because you want to. Only chosen Awakeners can."
Chosen...?
"Homunculus Eyes. They let us spot bodies that can transform or enhance themselves. All Homunculi gain these eyes upon awakening. With a slight penalty, of course."
He'd never heard this.
He hadn't dreamed of such a secret.
It wasn't known to the world.
And now it all made sense.
Why Homunculi spotted him instantly with those gazes.
Customizing.
His body, superior to others due to it, beyond his original.
That was him, so their stares weren't surprising.
'Moreover...'
With the Yeoui Bead, his balance was now perfect, appearing like a walking treasure to Homunculus Eyes.
Conversely, those eyeing him lewdly were likely Homunculi.
Either way, this was a major secret for them.
Yet she revealed it casually because...
'She has the info she wants and confidence I can't escape.'
He could only think that.
Even if past glory, she tracked a former one of the eleven alchemists, Hwang Siho.
High chance she was one of the current eleven.
She showed superb reflexes in their brief exchange.
'Used threads like spider silk.'
Had he heard of such an ability?
First time.
"Your turn now?"
She answered honestly, so now he should spill what Hwang Siho told him.
Kim Gunja eyed Zainan, presumed one of the eleven alchemists.
He knew firsthand from Maneuver how strong they were.
But that was a 'prepared' alchemist.
This wasn't a lab, no barriers or puppets.
Of course, he knew even unprepared, their base stats overwhelmed most S-ranks.
'But...'
Now he was the same.
Swaaaaa—
Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, dark mana, and holy lightning power.
As he summoned all three at once, colorful auras rose like waves from his entire body.
Zainan's relaxed expression slowly hardened.
Even she, with countless human experiments, had never seen such a phenomenon.
Three utterly different energies rising from one body.
"Fine. I'll tell you what I heard."
He hadn't gone all-out since the expedition.
No, he couldn't.
His body balance and mana circuits couldn't keep up with Customizing's power.
But now, tuned to perfection by the Yeoui Bead, he could.
And that wasn't even his full power.
'Illya.'
Responding to his call, Illya smiled brightly and soared into the night sky.
Storm Spirit King, Illya.
Her true power went beyond mere wind manipulation.
Changes began in the night sky where the full moon shone brightly.
Dark clouds swirled in instantly, blanketing the mountains in darkness.
Swaaa—
Gusts heavy with moisture shook the mountains and trees.
And then,
Kururung—
The heavens thundered in rage.
Zainan looked baffled.
She witnessed the energy from Kim Gunja's hand altering the weather.
Not even legendary artifacts or rare nature-affinity beings could do that.
'No... could they?'
The doubt arose from how bizarre it was.
Kiririr, kiririt!
Sensing danger, spider threads burst from Zainan's body.
They wrapped her like armor, while eight sharp legs protruded from her back.
She resembled the spider-human from legends.
Kim Gunja calmly regarded her as his left hand reached into his coat.
Some things had to stay hidden.
Abel's power, Stahn's artifact.
But not here, against an opponent not to be taken lightly.
Wuuung—
A spear emerged from his coat.
The top-grade artifact Dragon Slayer Spear, with shaft and blade of dragon bone.
Crimson Moon in his right hand.
Dragon Slayer Spear in his left.
Kim Gunja fully opened his mana circuits gripping both weapons.
Kwagwagwagwa—!
The three energies, never used together, rampaged through his mana circuits.
The incompatible trio synergized, amplifying power until body and circuits hit their limits instantly.
Then,
The perfectly tuned body temporarily expanded its vessel.
As if saying unleash your power freely as desired.
Now he understood the '+' by his levels.
Kim Gunja continued, facing Zainan whose body had transformed.
"Master Jeonghye said this."
Tok, tudok, shwaaaa—
Strong winds swept the darkened mountains under the thunderclouds, rain now pouring over them.
Kim Gunja slowly parted his rain-slicked lips.
"A lifetime of atonement wouldn't suffice."
"What...?"
Zainan's face twisted.
This wasn't about research data.
She realized she'd been tricked.
"So..."
Kwarururung!
Lightning flashed, illuminating the world.
"Atonement on my behalf. Zainan. With your death."
With those words, the storm incarnate Illya whipped up a vortex, shredding Zainan's body.
"……!"
Kagagak!
The vortex clashed with spider threads, screeching like metal.
Kim Gunja leaped high toward Zainan, feet bound momentarily.
Kwajijik!
The golden Dragon Slayer Spear, amplified by holy lightning, shattered the air.
The spear tore through wind and rain, plummeting like thunder atop Zainan's head.
Simultaneously, Shadow Walker activated, Kim Gunja's form appearing behind her.
"...W-Wai...!"
Zainan, blocking the lightning-like spear while trapped in the vortex, spat bewilderment.
She desperately poured mana into her back legs, but.
To Kim Gunja, who had seized her rear, it was futile resistance.
A swarm of sword auras gleaming white as starlight severed space.
Srake.
In the raging storm, Zainan's head floated lightly.
Beautifully, futilely.