Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: National Power-level(5)
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‘Is it a new guild?’
‘Why are there so many people...’
‘Going all the way down to Wanjju in Jeollabuk-do and back for 2 million won...’
Even if taxi fares had gone up, a round trip would only cost around 500,000 to 600,000 won.
But factoring in what they had to pay the company, their take-home pay was bound to shrink.
On the other hand, the 2 million won from the GH Guild was pure profit.
Plus, it was paid in cash, so it wouldn't even count as taxable income.
And they covered motel fees, food, and gas to boot.
“We’re heading out!”
The drivers slowly maneuvered the buses out of the underground parking lot.
“Isn’t Wanjju in Jeollabuk-do... classified as a danger zone due to attacks from Otherworld Races and Magic Beasts? I thought it was a controlled area...”
Kang-hyuk, seated in the front, nodded at the bus driver’s question.
“We’ve already notified the Hunter Association. Including the training of our guild members, we’re hoping to contribute even a little to reclaiming the homeland...”
Kang-hyuk smoothly fielded the driver’s questions with the excuses he’d prepared in advance.
About two hours later, they finally arrived in Jeollabuk-do.
Destroyed cars and traffic lights started appearing along the roads.
Soon after, the buses entered the controlled zone.
“You’re Park Kang-hyuk, the S1-rank Hunter, right?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
The man in military uniform checked Kang-hyuk’s hunter license.
“Confirmed. Good luck out there.”
“Thanks. Take care.”
Once they passed the controlled zone, the bus driver stared tensely ahead.
“About 15 minutes to the destination.”
Kang-hyuk gave a single nod.
And right on cue, after exactly 15 minutes, they reached the bridge at Gosan Stream.
“In five days... around 1 p.m. on January 12th, I’ll give you a call, so come pick us up then.”
“Got it. Safe travels...”
After the Homunculi unloaded their backpacks, the drivers boarded the buses and headed back to Sejong City.
In the meantime, Kang-hyuk crossed the Gosan Stream Bridge with the eighty or so Homunculi, slowly making their way toward the Wanjju County Office.
As they left the highway and entered the town proper, the cries of Magic Beasts echoed in the distance.
“Sound the siren.”
“Understood.”
Arbon and the Homunculi pulled out megaphones and blared the siren.
Weeeeeng!
The massive siren wail made the Magic Beasts’ roars grow even louder.
“Master, Magic Beasts are gathering.”
“The... numbers...”
Even the Homunculi were stunned by the sheer volume of Magic Beasts swarming in.
Kang-hyuk let out a small sigh of admiration as he eyed them.
“A-ranks and B-ranks mixed in too?”
From D-rank Goblin Warriors to Orcs, Black Wolves, and Ogres.
Magic Beasts of all kinds were converging from every direction.
Shamans and generals were mixed in among the Goblins and Orcs.
And even C-rank Red Wolves were spotted among the Black Wolves.
“All hands... draw weapons!”
At Arbon’s shout, the Homunculi raised their swords.
They’d learned the basics of the Black Moon Sword Technique from Kang-hyuk and possessed over five hundred mana points, but even so, facing D-rank Goblin Warriors would be tough for them right now.
They couldn’t wield Sword Aura yet, and their physical abilities were unchanged.
As the distance to the Magic Beasts narrowed to a few hundred meters, Kang-hyuk narrowed his eyes and unleashed his mana explosively.
Kuung-!
-Kiek...!?
-Chiiik...!
The Magic Beasts toppled to the ground one after another, and Arbon’s group charged in unison.
“Uwaaaah!”
Sslash-!
“Die!”
Puuk! Chwaaak!
The A- and B-rank Magic Beasts lost limbs to Kang-hyuk’s slashes and collapsed.
-Kyaaaak-!
Kang-hyuk kept bursting his mana to suppress the Magic Beasts’ movements.
Thanks to that, the Homunculi leveled up quickly and soon mastered Sword Aura.
They invested AP into stamina and spent hours subjugating Magic Beasts.
The eighty Homunculi managed to take down over seven hundred Magic Beasts in a single hour.
“Haa... haa... haa...”
Sword Aura was essential for killing high-rank Magic Beasts.
You couldn’t pierce an Orc General or Ogre’s tough hide with a normal sword.
So the Homunculi took down low-rank ones first to learn Sword Aura, then moved on to the higher ranks.
Kang-hyuk handed all the A-rank Magic Beasts over to Arbon.
“Th-thank you!”
Arbon rocketed straight to Lowest Sword Master realm.
The issue was mana.
He couldn’t sustain Lowest Sword Master-level Sword Aura for long.
“Mana... well, popping Inner Cores should sort that out. The others...”
Most had reached Mid to High Expert levels.
“Keep moving!”
Alternating rest and battle, the Homunculi subjugated over two thousand Magic Beasts in five hours.
As a result, most became High Expert or better swordsmen, boosting their combat power overnight.
Arbon let out a wry chuckle.
‘Gaining this much power in just a few hours...’
It was all thanks to their creator.
They inwardly prayed to him and decided to hole up for the day in a nearby villa.
With all residents evacuated, the place was empty.
They handled meals with instant food and used the existing bathrooms.
“I’ll prepare bedding for you.”
Sub-master Arbon personally entered Kang-hyuk’s room, cleared out the old blankets, and fetched clean ones from the wardrobe.
“Good work. Go rest.”
“Yes, sir. Sleep well.”
“Yeah.”
Arbon bowed and left the bedroom.
While Kang-hyuk slept, the Homunculi took turns standing watch.
The next day, they sounded the siren again and took down hordes of Magic Beasts.
-Roooaaarrr-!
“Minotaur legion...!”
At Arbon’s cry, Kang-hyuk pulled out pitch-black dragon wings and hurled himself forward.
Pang!
Chwaaaaak-!
Dozens of Minotaurs lost limbs and fell in mere seconds.
-...?!
Arbon jolted in shock and urgently led the Homunculi toward the Minotaurs.
“Use Sword Aura!”
Shring!
The Homunculi unleashed Sword Aura, stabbing their swords into the Minotaurs’ necks.
Puuk!
“Attack!”
“Deeper!”
Arbon subjugated a Minotaur General and instantly became a Low Sword Master.
In his past life, Mid Sword Master and above were called Sword Saints.
In this life, they were S2-rank Hunters.
Reaching Lowest to Low Sword Master would qualify them for S3-rank Hunter licenses like Lee Sung-ho’s.
Of course, Homunculi without IDs couldn’t even take the exam.
But even illegal immigrants with B-rank or higher skills could gain citizenship through a simple test.
“If they’re going to replace me... better get them naturalized.”
Kang-hyuk began planning GH Guild’s future as he raised the Homunculi.
-Chiiik! Chiiik!
“Hm?”
Was there an Orc tribe nearby?
Orc cries rang out, and soon hundreds of Orcs appeared ahead.
In the rear, Orc Shamans and numerous Orc Generals flashed red eyes.
Why was a measly fifth-circle black mage Orc Shaman posing like some big bad villain?
Kang-hyuk chuckled wryly and spread his wings.
Chwaak!
He shot into the sky and instantly severed the Orc Generals’ and Shamans’ limbs.
Chwachwachwak!
-Kuwo...?
The Shaman was too stunned by the sudden turn to react.
“Attack!”
At Arbon’s shout, the Homunculi surged toward the Orcs.
Sslash-! Chwaaaaak!
They were starting to look like proper veteran Hunters.
Even handling the basic Black Moon Sword Technique decently.
Arbon leaped over Orc Warriors and approached Kang-hyuk.
Paat!
“Finish them.”
“Yes, sir.”
Arbon’s sword swung toward the Orc Generals and Shaman.
Chwaaaak-!
Red blood sprayed.
While Arbon absorbed the experience, Kang-hyuk burst mana to pin down the Orc Warriors.
The Homunculi easily reaped their lives as a result.
Over several days of this routine, GH Guild subjugated a whopping ten thousand Magic Beasts.
“It’ll be tough carrying all the recovered magic stones.”
“Call the driver and ask if he can get us some cargo trucks.”
“Yes, sir.”
Arbon pulled out his smartphone and called the bus driver.
[Cargo trucks...?]
“Yes, ones that can go to Dongjak-gu... Could you check if any are available?”
[What size...?]
“Two 3.5-ton trucks should do. Pay around a million won...”
[A million should get us some from Sejong City too. I’ll check right away.]
“Thanks.”
With the bus driver’s help, they secured two 3.5-ton cargo trucks.
The trucks would head straight to the Association.
Kang-hyuk called the Hunter Association Seoul Headquarters customer center.
[Hunter Association Seoul HQ consultant Kim Min-hee speaking. How may I help you?]
“This is S1-rank Hunter Park Kang-hyuk.”
[...Pardon?]
“I came down to Jeolla Province, subjugated Magic Beasts, and recovered a ton of magic stones. I’m planning to send them via cargo truck... Just checking if you can buy them.”
[Um... could you tell me roughly how many...?]
“Probably over nine thousand C- and D-rank stones. Plus a few hundred A- and B-rank ones.”
[Ah... pl-please hold for a moment?]
“Sure.”
Music played through the phone.
Soon, a higher-ranking woman took the call.
[Yes, this is Yoo So-hee, head of the Magic Stone Management Department at the Korea Hunter Association Seoul HQ. I hear you’re calling about selling magic stones. Over nine thousand C- and D-rank, hundreds of A- and B-rank...?]
“Yes, exactly. Sending them via two cargo trucks to Seoul HQ...”
[Ah... no need! We have our own trucks, so no renting required. Could I get your location, Hunter Park Kang-hyuk? We’ll send one from the nearest city right away.]
“A villa near Wanjju County Office.”
[Did you... subjugate them alone?]
“With some Hunter friends from way back.”
[I see. I’ll send you a contact. Text the exact address, and we’ll dispatch a truck immediately. Payment will be wired to your account later.]
“Got it. Thank you.”
[No, thank you. We’re the grateful ones.]