Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: S-Grade Gate (3)
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'Transcender...'
Unfortunately, I wasn't one.
Even with the overwhelming power I currently possessed.
To be precise, I was about half a Transcender.
"Well, when I saw Instructor Kang Ju-young before, I did think she was close to that level."
-A Transcender?
I gave a simple answer to Lee Seojun, who was asking about Transcenders.
"A realm beyond human limits. Think of it as demigod status, in simple terms."
-I see. Then Lee Seongmin must be a Transcender too.
"......"
I couldn't easily respond to that either.
In my current state, my body and soul had reached the Transcender realm.
'The problem is the mind.'
But my mind hadn't, leaving me as a half-baked Transcender.
Usually, the mind reaches it first, but since I'd cheated my way there, my mind had stagnated.
"I haven't become a full Transcender. Precisely, my body and soul have reached it, but my mind hasn't."
-Ah... So a Transcender would be stronger than you, then.
"Not at all."
I shook my head and denied it.
The power I'd accumulated across fourteen worlds wasn't that fragile.
"I can beat a Transcender anytime."
In fact, I'd fought them several times and won without much trouble.
Plus, in the thirteenth world, I'd taken over an online game company and remade it to my liking, so it'd be even easier now.
-So being a Transcender doesn't mean you're automatically the strongest?
"No, they are strong. It's just that my accumulated power surpasses theirs."
-I think that's even more impressive.
"Not really."
If Lee Seojun went through fourteen worlds like I did, he might surpass even me and become a full Transcender.
Thinking that way made me sigh inwardly at myself for still not being one, but I didn't show it.
"Anyway, we need to find the boss monster."
-At this speed, we'll find it soon.
"Yeah, it's just a matter of time."
I replied like that and dashed back toward the monsters while keeping an eye on the healers.
"A healer? What, did you bring a serial killer or something?"
On the healers' side, a woman who looked to be in her late thirties eyed me suspiciously.
With her long hair coiled and tied at the nape of her neck, she was Na Seo-ha, the grand mage from the Compass Guild.
'Hmm.'
Maybe due to her age, she had a mature aura and an egg-shaped, pretty face.
But regardless of her looks or her title as grand mage, her rude words prompted Seo Do-kyung to hurriedly interject.
"What kind of rude remark is that? How we brought him here."
"How? By raiding the Hero Association's skill stones stockpile. I don't know if this guy's worth that much."
From her response, it seemed she didn't know I could even resurrect the dead.
I ignored her words, tailoring my response to fit a healer's temperament.
"Call me whatever. I'll just do what I'm paid for."
"Right. To make 300 billion worth, you'll have to move mountains."
I didn't reply and instead looked at Instructor Kang Ju-young beside Na Seo-ha.
Geared for battle, she wore a single sword and iron armor.
"Even if the Destroyer is impressive, he can't handle a special mana bomb. In short, Seo Do-kyung, your bad judgment just wasted 300 billion."
"The Association Chairman approved it. Don't whine."
"It's not my money anyway, so no whining here. I just think the preparation was overly wasteful."
Apart from that, watching Na Seo-ha, she seemed to have quite the ego.
'Must be from everyone fawning over her as a grand mage.'
Then I spotted Jeon Il-seop approaching from one side.
He looked relatively relieved, probably thinking the Destroyer who entered the gate could handle it.
"Preparations are almost done. I'd have loved to set three special mana bombs, but it's a shame I couldn't."
A single special mana bomb cost 500 billion.
Even as Association Chairman, he apparently couldn't bring three.
"How many did you set?"
"Just one. The government says that's plenty."
"It's a special mana bomb, after all. Even an S-Grade gate's boss monster would die or be crippled by it."
Na Seo-ha spoke as if one was more than enough.
Jeon Il-seop nodded at her words but showed a faint trace of unease.
"If by chance the Destroyer survives... I'll have to ask for your help then."
"We'll do our best."
Only Seo Do-kyung replied to Jeon Il-seop's request.
Since they'd handed over Hero Association skill stones, he couldn't be dismissed like the others.
"More importantly."
But Jeon Il-seop ignored that and turned to look at me.
"A healer, was it? I can't fathom why someone like you isn't well-known."
"I haven't stepped out enough to be known."
"Ever thought of joining the Hero Association?"
Unlike Na Seo-ha, Jeon Il-seop was trying to recruit me, so he must know about my abilities.
Makes sense—he'd heard about them, which is why he gave up the skill stones.
"I have no plans to join anywhere. Or work under anyone."
"You seem to want skill stones. Join the Association, and you can get them easily."
"But I'd have to move for them. Taking orders from others doesn't sit well with me."
Jeon Il-seop let out a small groan and nodded at my impenetrable attitude.
It made sense if Seo Do-kyung had told him about my ability to restore prowess and resurrect the dead.
'Just having me would boost the Hero Association's strength immensely.'
I don't know how many heroes they have, but I'd add no small power alone.
'Plus, if they bring any injured or dead to me quickly, it'd be perfectly resolved.'
Thinking further, my presence could elevate the Association's reputation entirely.
And if I joined, I'd probably have to treat every hero there and all sorts of patients.
"Association Chairman! Installation complete!"
Meanwhile, someone ran up to report the special mana bomb was set.
"It's installed. We need to move out of the blast radius."
The special mana bomb's range was 1-2 km.
But Jeon Il-seop led everyone 4-5 km away.
'Still visible from this hill, though.'
They must have scouted the position beforehand.
"Now we just wait."
Grand Mage Na Seo-ha already looked bored.
"It's only been a few hours since the Destroyer entered the gate. Shouldn't we wait at least a few days?"
"A few days? Even better. The Destroyer has no food. I hope he starves in there."
Listening to Na Seo-ha and Jeon Il-seop, I figured it was about time.
The Destroyer side had already found and pummeled the boss monster with fists.
'Was the boss a Behemoth?'
It looked like a massive, ferocious bull with horns.
It controlled earth's power too, causing earthquakes now and then, but it wasn't hard to handle.
'It's done.'
Soon after finishing the boss, a change occurred at the gate entrance.
Kwah-kwah-kwah—
The gate disintegrated like crumbling stone, its particles scattering upward like smoke.
At the sudden change, Jeon Il-seop and the others watching were stunned.
"Gate dissipation. He cleared it already?"
"An S-Grade gate in just hours?"
Of course, they weren't panicking despite the surprise.
"Now we just deal with the Destroyer emerging in an hour when the gate vanishes."
Separate from Jeon Il-seop's words, the Destroyer checked the artifact from the boss Behemoth.
【SS-Grade Behemoth's Gauntlets】
Gauntlets condensed with Behemoth's power. Grants the ability to cause earthquakes.
'An artifact perfect for the Destroyer.'
Of course, the Destroyer didn't equip the gauntlets... but stored them in his subspace.
Stepping out right into a special mana bomb blast would've shattered them, so subspace it was.
In the meantime, Jeon Il-seop fiddled with the detonation switch in his hand, eyes glued to the gate.
An hour later.
"He's coming out."
As Jeon Il-seop said, the gate shrank gradually, vanishing completely to reveal one figure.
The massive Destroyer, over 2 meters tall, emerged—and Jeon Il-seop pressed the switch without hesitation.
Ku-ku-ku-ku-kuwaaang!!—
Instantly, a hemispherical explosion like a barrier engulfed the Destroyer's position.
The blast spanned 1-2 km, yet strangely, the healers felt no shockwave or aftermath.
'It really explodes exactly within that range.'
If I had a few, they might be decently useful.
Anyway, the Destroyer endured the extreme heat, impact, and pressure bare-handed.
'Hmm.'
True to Jeon Il-seop's confidence, the Destroyer's body was rapidly deteriorating.
That alone would've killed him, but my regenerative power was beyond imagination.
'Damage and regeneration repeating.'
Soon, regeneration lagged, and damage gained the upper hand.
"......What?"
Before long, the explosion faded, and the damage visibly lessened.
Five or six bombs might've done it as Jeon Il-seop hoped.
'That is, if I took them bare-handed.'
Jeon Il-seop stared in disbelief at the Destroyer standing unscathed after the blast.
Either way, since the Destroyer hadn't died, the next step was set. I let out a massive roar from the Destroyer's body.
Kraaaaaaargh!!—
With that, Seo Do-kyung and the S-Grade heroes, along with the pre-positioned A-Grades, charged forward.