Chapter 105
Translator: MJK
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Legendary Guardian Beast and Premium Talent Too?
After Kang-hyun's internal energy flowed into Hellmung-i's body...
Paht-
A sturdy central axis formed between the rampaging fire and ice energies.
The clashing forces began rotating in perfect order around Kang-hyun's energy at the core.
"Keng?"
Hellmung-i blinked its eyes wide and tilted its head.
The pain was gone.
As it tried to scratch its belly with its hind legs, feeling all ticklish inside...
Kuwaaaa-!
The unstable sparks erupting from Hellmung-i's body transformed into a perfect spiral aura and shot up into the sky.
"Th-this...!"
Rio couldn't comprehend the phenomenon unfolding before her eyes.
It defied every theory of mana circuits she knew.
Opposing attributes were supposed to clash, annihilate each other, or go berserk.
That was the law of this world.
'But... they're coexisting without mixing?'
She couldn't explain the power this man had infused.
It was an absolute force that rectified everything.
'It doesn't even compare to mana.'
A raw yet natural energy, heavy like the earth itself.
She couldn't identify its nature or fathom its depth.
This was the first time she'd ever sensed such a thing.
'Can energy like this even exist in the world?'
As an S-rank healer who'd encountered countless mana wavelengths, she'd never felt anything so pure, noble, and utterly flawless.
And he'd pierced its essence with a single touch, elevating it to a higher realm.
[Evolution Complete!]
[Through the harmony of internal energy, the Hellhound has evolved into a Dual-Pole Guardian Beast.]
[Description: A legendary demon beast from myth that wields opposing extremes simultaneously. It freely controls flame and frost, its power becoming destruction or protection at its master's will.]
"Kraang!"
The transformed Hellmung-i rose proudly.
Left head wreathed in red flames, right in blue frost.
"...!"
Rio imagined it.
What if she'd been the one to heal it?
For safety, she'd have forcibly excised one energy.
Hellmung-i would have become a half-baked flame-less beast or a mundane frost-loser.
But now, both potentials preserved, reborn as a legendary being.
'This person... expands the vessel of life itself.'
As she stood dazed, feeling the gulf in their levels, Kang-hyun picked up a log from the yard corner.
"Wanna give this a try?"
"Waaang!"
The left head.
Whoosh-
The log burst into roaring flames in an instant.
Pure fire rose without a hint of acrid smoke.
Then the right head snapped at the burning log.
Whoosh-
The flames froze solid and extinguished in a blink.
Perfect harmony defying thermodynamics.
Kang-hyun watched blankly, then slapped his knee.
"Jackpot. No more need for a boiler or AC, huh?"
Cool breeze in summer, warm heat in winter.
A eco-friendly, off-grid generator with no utility bills.
"Kraang!"
Hellmung-i wagged its tail excitedly at the praise.
Kang-hyun petted both heads at once.
Warm on the left, cool on the right—a bizarre sensation.
"That's right. You're the strongest in this district now, Hellmung-i."
Rio watched, speechless.
Wielding such overwhelming power yet appearing endlessly unpretentious.
'Just how vast and distant is this person?'
A height too lofty to even gaze up at.
Yet that absolute power wrapped her not in fear, but warm protection—deep respect welled in Rio's eyes.
Seoul outskirts, a quiet residential neighborhood.
Kim Se-jin looked around the house in disbelief.
"Whoa..."
An old house, but incomparable to Incheon's dank basement shack.
Sunlight poured deep into the living room through the windows, fresh grass scent replacing mold.
"Yu-na, check this out! This is your room!"
Kim Se-jin opened a door, and Kim Yu-na squealed, rushing in.
A small but cozy space.
Outside the window: not gray concrete, but lush green fields and open sky like a painting.
A vista unimaginable from their shack's tiny window.
"...This house is really this price?"
The realtor nodded.
"Yes. The owner is such a kind person, looking for reliable tenants. Gave you siblings a special discount."
An absurd deal, really.
Key money less than a third of market rate—suspicious even for a generous landlord.
"They live nearby and check often. Here's their card."
Even shared the owner's identity for reassurance.
'Valhalla Chief Supervisor...?'
Everyone in Korea knows Valhalla—no way someone from there scams.
"Oppa, we live here? Our real home?"
"Yeah. We'll make a life here."
Kim Se-jin's eyes reddened.
Escaping the leaky shack in rain, shivering winters.
Hot water, sunlight—a miracle for these siblings.
Incheon black market, Beast's Misc Shop.
Before moving, Kim Se-jin visited Beast one last time.
"Beast hyung!"
"...Hm? What's up, kid? That luggage?"
Beast asked indifferently, buried in his chair with his massive frame.
Kim Se-jin shouldered his backpack and grinned.
"I'm moving."
"Moving? Suddenly?"
Beast's brow twitched.
A kid scraping by day-to-day, moving?
"Yeah. Somewhere with clean air. Not good for Yu-na here."
"Money? Where'd you get that?"
"Kang-hyun hyung... Y'know, the guy who bought all my stuff last time. He helped a ton."
Beast recalled that extraordinary young man who'd cleaned out his shop.
'That guy helped him, huh.'
He'd bailed Se-jin out before too.
Generous in ways unfit for black market life.
"Good for you. Better than here. So, you coming back?"
"I'll commute for now. Busy settling, but... hyung! Thanks for everything!"
Kim Se-jin bowed crisply and left.
Two weeks passed already.
"..."
Beast scanned the empty shop.
No pesky kid daily—felt oddly empty.
"Hmph."
He fiddled with the ledger aimlessly.
Letters blurred.
Wondered if they were okay, if that guy was looking after Se-jin.
'...Yeah, A/S is merchant basics.'
Beast pulled out his terminal.
Black market had emergency buyer-seller channels.
[Black Market Guarantee Link]
Originally for tracking scam sellers fleeing with cash or faulty goods.
A brutal policy to rebuild trust—but Beast's only contact now.
Unusual for a seller to ping a satisfied buyer first, though.
"Item... might've broken."
Beast muttered, hitting send.
Seoul, cafe across from school.
Kang-hyun tilted his head at the sudden alert.
[Seller 'Beast' requests periodic item inspection.]
"Periodic inspection?"
Rare for black market sellers to follow up.
Worried about defects, he nearly approved—then it clicked.
'Ah, it's about Se-jin.'
The 'Beast' Se-jin introduced.
Fierce mafia look, but secretly cared for the siblings.
No contact post-move, so fabricated an excuse.
No malice—the clumsy message reeked of goodwill.
"Hey, expensive stuff. A/S is a bonus for me."
He sent the cafe address readily.
Moments later...
The door opened; a bearish man entered.
'Quick arrival.'
The Beast from the market.
"Welcome."
"...Hello."
Beast scanned the cafe, hesitantly puzzled.
"You installed them here? Overkill for cafe security."
"Ah, this way."
Kang-hyun led him to the elevator.
Hit floor 4; doors opened.
"...?!"
Beast's jaw dropped.
Statues flanking the elevator.
He'd sold [Sleeping Lion Statues].
But these were... bulging-muscled bipedal Gorani.
"Grrr..."
Red glow from stone eyes, killing intent at Beast.
Owner-approved guest, but territorial show of force.
So bold even ex-mafia Beast stepped back.
"This... really what I sold?"
Beast asked blankly.
Kang-hyun grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah. Tuned up a bit. Used better mana stones; they got healthy."
"Tuned? This is evolution..."
Beast clicked his tongue.
The [Bewitching Forest Magic Circle] too—dozens times stronger, a monstrous barrier.
Not just illusions, but space-warping grand magic embedded.
No wonder he gawked.
"Nothing to A/S. I'm the one learning here."
Beast reevaluated Kang-hyun.
Artifact modding at this level?
Uncommon before, but beyond imagination now.
"Have tea since you're here. Chat about Se-jin too."
Kang-hyun brought him to the 1F cafe.
Lunch rush hitting.
"Ah... one sec."
Forgot to wrap up service.
"Boss! Extra shot like I ordered? Why's it so pale?"
"I gotta pick up my kid from academy—still no order?!"
"Hey! Less ice, I said. Cup's overflowing."
Nonstop orders and complaints.
Naru-dong parents: picky, high standards.
Flavor baseline, service flawless or bust.
Then a karan customer cut in, yelling.
"Hey! Where's mine? Hurry up!"
Beast's brow twitched.
He strode over without hesitation, hand on the guy's shoulder.
"Wait your turn."
"Ow! Who're you?!"
The customer saw scar-riddled face, overwhelming bulk—shrank instantly.
Cafe quieted in a flash.
Kang-hyun's eyes sparkled.
'Perfect.'
He approached Beast.
"Hey, like coffee...?"
"...?"
"Gonna check on Se-jin often? Need a pretext, right?"
"Y-yeah?"
Beast flushed beet-red.
Busted—fierce face turned oddly innocent.
"Help out here, I'll hook you up direct to Se-jin's place. Visit anytime. Pay generous too."
"...Well, if that's it."
Beast coughed, averting eyes.
Not hard—grateful, even.
"For now, this."
Kang-hyun handed an apron.
Cute pink one from So-ye for cafe opening.
Beast eyed it and Kang-hyun alternately.
"...Looks small."
Grumbling, he took it.
No refusal—Se-jin updates tempting.
"Never done service work. Courtesy, smiles... not my life."
Beast rubbed his rugged face awkwardly.
Can't teach ex-mafia fixer 'customer is king'.
Kang-hyun shook his head.
"No forced smiles. Just be natural, like always."
"Really? Then... sure."
Beast half-dubious, tied the tight frilly pink apron, grabbed a tray.
Headed to the complainer's table from earlier.
"Hey! Coffee's lukewarm agai—"
Customer whipped around, froze.
Bear-man in pink apron stared blankly down.
Scarred face, thigh-thick arms.
Thud.
Beast set the cup down—light touch, heavy vibration.
"Your hot coffee, sir."
Polite honorifics, but gravelly tone like noir dialogue.
"Th-tha... thank you."
Arrogant customer took it two-handed meekly, sipped quietly.
"Hot... perfect."
Kang-hyun watched, beaming.
'Top talent indeed.'
Premium manpower walked right in.