The Kind Angma
Hagenti examined the rusted hammer from every angle.
'The Magician of Metals,' the 48th seat demon Hagenti.
They said Hagenti could handle all kinds of metals.
She even forged hell's weapons with that power.
Could she fix the [Broken Thunder God's Hammer (D-)] too?
"Uhm… this'un, yuh…"
A moment later, Hagenti, who'd been scrutinizing the rusted hammer, spoke up.
"Reckon I can fix it, yuh."
"Oh. Really?"
Oh. I widened my eyes.
To think she could fix that dying, rusted hunk of junk.
If we repaired it, thunder power could conquer the Jamsil water-attribute gate.
"But there's a snag, yuh."
"Snag?"
"Perfect fix looks impossible, yuh. Ain't just metal trouble why it's busted."
Hagenti explained the hammer's current state.
◈ Thunder power nearly depleted
◈ Link to original owner severed
The [Broken Thunder God's Hammer] wasn't just rusted.
Originally wielded by the Thunder God.
Brimming with the Thunder God's power.
But now, that thunder force had almost vanished from it.
"Link 'tween this hammer's first owner an' the hammer's gone, yuh. That's why it lost power an' crumbled. Dunno what befell the owner. But if owner was hale, wouldn't be this wrecked, yuh."
◈ One with the Thunder God
◈ Extension of the deity's body
The [Thunder God's Hammer] was like one mind and body with the Thunder God.
Practically no different from the god's own limb.
Yet the connection between hammer and Thunder God was severed.
"The Thunder God actually exists?"
What? Wasn't it just an item?
A real Thunder God in this world?
Well, demons exist, so no reason not for a Thunder God.
"Weapons of this sort mostly borrow from their primal owners. Hammer losing power means trouble befell the Thunder God, its true master—it seems so, milady."
Another chunk of convoluted worldbuilding.
Anyway, something happened to the Thunder God. Got it.
"So, can't fix it? No electric attacks?"
But that spelled trouble.
Fixing for the electric attribute.
Jamsil gate needs electric weapons.
No Thunder God power meant no electric strikes, right?
"Can do it, yuh. God's link cut, but traces of old thunder power linger in the hammer."
Luckily, not impossible.
"But barely any left, yuh. Limit's five swings."
Can't fully restore.
Exactly five uses of the Thunder God's power.
After that, plain hammer.
"Then, can you fix it that way at least, Hagenti?"
"Er yuh, wouldn't have it any other way. But here in this world, no tools o' mine, magi so thin—takes time, yuh. 'Bout a week?"
Takes a week to repair.
Two weeks till collapse, they said.
Might clear before then, but no loss having it fixed.
"Fix it up then."
"Gotcha, yuh. Jus' leave it with me!"
Hagenti rolled up her sleeves and flashed a good-natured grin.
Five-use limit, but electric weapon crisis solved.
I wouldn't swing it myself anyway.
Hand it to Jamsil team—someone'd grab it and fight.
"Lucy-nim. Might this lowly one dare pose a single question?"
Then Asmodeus raised her hand.
"Sure."
"Doth Lucy-nim aid these mortals wholly without recompense?"
"Eh, less charity, more gate collapse screws everyone. No reason not to help if I can."
"As ever, Lucy-nim…! Thy boundless grace must be known to all mortals of this realm!"
Asmodeus clapped like a seal.
Not some saintly volunteer gig.
Electric weapon handy—might as well deliver.
"Oh yeah, you said demons always contract when helping humans?"
Suddenly recalled Asmodeus's earlier words.
Back when humans worshipped demons.
Demons granted aid to summoners—for a price.
"Tis so, milady. More precisely, we had no choice."
"Why?"
"After defeat in the war 'gainst angels, demons could no longer breach this realm unaided. Only via mortals' rituals could we cross the veil. They sought pacts and called us—we but obliged."
Humans offered payment first; demons didn't demand.
Sacrifices needed just to summon anyway.
From demon view, summoning was the payoff.
"Many demons would heed mere pleas. Yet here, our image is set in stone…"
Somehow demons became terrifying granters of wishes for horrific tolls.
Inevitable branding.
Not all demons evil.
Good ones, bad ones—like humans.
"Thus, should the supreme demon Lucy-nim bestow goodwill gratis, mortals shall surely be swayed."
"Could flip the scary demon rep, huh."
"Precisely so. Demons sorely need better image-crafting in this world."
Rebranding demons.
Yeah, now a demon myself—demons ain't so bad.
Semantics aside, poor souls stuck in hell by circumstance.
Hagenti? Who'd peg her as demonic?
"Hm. Yeah, sounds necessary."
I'm a demon now.
Better rep wouldn't hurt.
Issue: can't reveal yet.
Too frail for that.
"Once Hagenti finishes the hammer, we'll see."
"A judgment most sagacious."
Whatever—cross that bridge later.
No need to out myself as demon, but wanna help anyway.
"Separate from that, wanna pitch in this time. Felt bad seeing Jeon Yu-i worked to death."
Saw Korea's top hunters' grind up close.
Jeon Yu-i tossed to Jamsil post-three raids.
No recovery time—fought, took major hit.
Other high-rankers suffering too.
Hiding while they bleed? Guilt trip.
Jeon Yu-i's a fan, besides.
"Ever the paragon, Lucy-nim. Thy care for mortals touches this heart. Thy servant shall strive to emulate."
"Good's good."
Anyway, wait till Hagenti's done.
But even fixed, delivery's an issue.
How to pass the repaired hammer?
Can't tote it to Jamsil myself.
Auction? Someone else snags it—trouble.
Figure that out later.
That can wait.
For now, sleepy AF.
Up till dawn from maratang mess.
Belly full—I crashed soon after.
About a week till Jamsil water-attribute gate collapse.
Seoul's elite hunter hospital. Outside Jeon Yu-i's room.
A doctor and Association President Park Chul-yong were at it.
"No can do, President. Jeon Yu-i Hunter needs more rest."
"But at this rate, gate collapses soon. Beef up tanks, shield her max—we'll fight careful. Last time too reckless."
"That's not the issue. She's burned out bad. Not just body—needs rest."
This path, A-rank gate bursts for sure.
Electric attacks mandatory.
Park Chul-yong hunted electric weapons himself—no dice in a week.
Attribute gear rare to begin.
A-rank+ powerhouses rarer.
Folks won't lend even if they have.
Hand to sketchy raid, lose forever—huge L.
"Urgent, man. Protect her full, save firepower for boss. No choice!"
"…Urgent or not, as doc I can't condone. Overwork breaks even A-ranks. You know her type."
Doctor-cum-healer Cheon In-su told Park.
Hunter hospital vet treating hunters.
Seen too many high-rankers grind to dust.
Korea's mess aside—as doc, line in sand.
Creak—
Then Jeon Yu-i's door slid open.
Jeon Yu-i shuffled out, dazed and dreamy.
"…I'll go."
"Pardon? What, Jeon Yu-i Hunter."
"Jamsil gate raid. I'll go. Botched the finish—wanna own it."
"No way, Jeon Yu-i! Rest now!"
Cheon freaked.
Near-death scare, back to that gate?
Her skills legit.
Solid party ups clear odds.
But she's wrecked now.
Skill don't mean no slips—humans err.
Piled fatigue or old wounds? One mistake, she's gone.
"But… no one else fits. Only electric hunter's me…"
"Jeon Yu-i…!"
Jeon forced a smile.
Maybe her Achilles' heel.
Jeon timid.
Heart soft as hell.
Thinks collapse casualties? Ditches games for gates.
A-rank perks sweet.
But civilians mangled by outbreaks? Guilt gnaws.
Why she obeys Association no fuss.
"I guarantee—no danger for you. Party built for safe DPS. Collapse'd be catastrophe."
Park said gravely.
Park hated grinding her.
Hunter life's brutal.
Power demands staking life for folk and flag.
That's his ideal hunter.
He rolled that way prime time.
Expects same hustle from others.
"…No, really can't this time. She's teetering."
Association angle.
But doc Cheon dug in heels.
Healer-hunter specialist—watched hordes overworked to graves.
Jeon gave plenty.
No more corpses on his watch.
"Don't wanna lose a hunter! Safe party, said so."
"Still risky!"
"No party's 100%. Hunters eat risk!"
"But—"
Cheon and Park deadlocked.
Jeon, IV-dripped amid them, pondered.
'Ugh… wanna home, Pokopia time…'
Game anything—now.
IV home fine?
Cheon harped hospital stay.
But gaming home heals better.
"Anyway, no! Jeon Yu-i rests absolute."
"Situation's dire!"
Cheon and Park unyielding.
-Bbappabappabba- Bbappabba-
Suddenly Park's phone blared.
Checked—Lee Chang-ho, site chief.
Chang-ho ran Jamsil now.
Park excused, picked up.
"President, call received…"
"President, big trouble!"
Phone barely up—Chang-ho screamed ear off.
Park sighed, yanked phone away.
"What now."
"Electric attribute weapon provider showed!"
"What?"
"But the provider… seems like the Angma!"