Chapter 17

Chapter 17

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 17

Chapter Title: Cloud Eagles and Secret Raid

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Dungeon entry.

I pulled Aden out.

"Section Chief Choi didn't give you a ride today?"

"…It felt a bit off."

I'd just taken a taxi.

"Once I make some money, I should buy a car."

"Oh!"

Because of the Perfect Clear effect, I always hunted remote gates.

But without a car, it was seriously inconvenient.

"It's taking a while, but no monsters in sight."

"Up."

"Pardon?"

Aden looked up.

She just tilted her head.

"Nothing but clouds."

"Reinforce your eyesight with mana, and you'll see. Inside the clouds."

White cloud eagles hid within the white clouds.

Cloud eagles.

A dungeon with tricky conditions.

But only three of them.

Cl, clouds!? That's way too high! How do we even catch them?"

"That's why no one clears it."

Its location was remote, too.

No one around.

That's why I picked it.

A dungeon only gravity Awakeners would bother with.

Gravity types?

Not a single one in the country.

That rare an ability.

"Ah- Ah-"

I pulled down my mask and loosened my throat.

Adjusted my resonance chamber.

Made my voice as narrow as possible, to carry far.

Basic Word Mage technique.

"What are you planning? How do you intend to handle those?"

"【Fall】"

"Huh?"

Aden looked up in disbelief.

The three cloud eagles plummeted powerlessly.

"Whoa! You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can do that? Word Magic is so convenient!"

Thud!

The cloud eagles hit the ground.

Instantly dead on impact.

"That eyesight reinforcement? How do you do it? I've never heard of such a thing."

"Forget it. You can't even handle your own mana—if you tried, your eyes would pop."

"Eek."

Aden blinked her blue eyes.

"But you've never heard of it? Don't kids these days know even this?"

"…Excuse me, but you're one of the kids these days too."

"Thanks."

"Pardon?"

I picked up the magic stones.

Sliced the World Tree roots.

The dungeon shattered, and we stood outside.

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Perfect Clear! (Solo)] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [An incredible achievement! You have perfectly blocked the World Tree's invasion!] [Due to your achievement, a 'Blessing' descends on the surrounding area! Everyone will praise your feat!] A pillar of light shot into the sky.

The usual sight.

But today was a little different.

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Special reward for 'Perfect Clear! (Solo)' on the dungeon.] ['Bronze Box' granted.] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['Perfect Clear!' achieved for the first time 10 times!] [Outstanding achievement!] [Achievement reward granted.] ['Silver Box' granted.] "Huh?"

Achievement reward?

That's what popped up with the Inventory, right?

For real?

'No, last time it was [Unprecedented Achievement], this time [Outstanding Achievement].'

Different boxes too.

Last time it was some weirdly mosaiced thing that felt like it shouldn't drop yet.

This time it's Silver.

Probably one rank above Bronze.

Not as good as Inventory, sure.

But better than Bronze, right?

"Two rewards this time."

"Huh? Why two?"

"Achievement for 10 Perfect Clears. Silver one."

"Oh? Silver?"

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['Bronze Box' opened.] Bronze box first.

Familiar effects burst forth.

Flash!

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['Drake Mountain Ginseng' granted.] Ginseng?

Random ginseng?

Maybe an elixir?

[Drake Mountain Ginseng]

A specialty of Drake Mountain. Raises Stamina by 3 ranks if F-, or 1 rank if F+ or below.

"Oh, this!"

Drake Mountain—a place name from Thea.

Kang Hyun knew it too.

'They say this is great for stamina.'

⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: F- 💨 Agility: F- ✨ Magic Power: E- 💪 Stamina: F- 🍀 Luck: - 🛡️ Endurance: F- Awakener Profile

Name: Kang Hyun

Rank: F-

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Traits:

<Reincarnator>

Skills:

<Kyle-style Demon Swordsmanship (Original) Lv. Max>

Current Stamina: F-.

Save it for F+?

Or eat now?

Remembered the last dungeon.

Goblins and orc boss.

Panting after catching a few.

Reality check.

Triple effect right now.

Just eat it.

Munch munch.

"Blech, bitter."

Ahh, that healthy elixir taste every time!

Ate it all without spitting.

Guys gotta finish the good stuff for it to work.

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['Stamina' increased. (F- → E-)] "Stamina premature escape!"

"Congrats on escaping premature stamina!"

Huh?

Anyway.

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Would you like to open the 'Silver Box'?] "Now for the special reward box smash!"

"Special reward! Let's go!"

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['Silver Box' opened.] Flashier effects and sounds.

Silver gleam swirled in the bursting light.

Flash!

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['Skill Level-Up Coupon' granted.] "Eh."

"Oof. Your reaction says it's a dud."

"Not really feeling it."

Skills I have?

Just one at Max level.

Can't use it now.

Even if I did, not sure the skill system is worth it yet.

'Just higher level makes you a master? Give me a break.'

Tsk.

Bust.

Stash it for now.

"Achievement reward's not bad anyway."

"Isn't it a flop?"

"It's a random box. Baseline is Perfect Clear reward—pretty good."

Random, so dud this time.

Next one will be better.

"Wanna do another achievement. What other ones are there?"

"First time hearing about achievements."

"Huh? Only I get them?"

Makes sense.

Baseline for achievements feels like 10 Perfect Clears.

They existed, but no one hit them.

Basically monopolizing achievement rewards.

"10 more for another?"

Gauged my mana.

Plenty left.

【Fall】 is beginner Word Magic, and few targets.

"One more dungeon doable?"

"Oh! Going? More Word Magic?"

"Right away. Oh, gotta take a call."

Ring ring-

Pulled out my phone and answered.

"Yes, Section Chief Choi."

<Great job on the clear. Solo again today!>

"Yeah, pretty much."

<Relieved! Haha!>

Relieved why?

Section Chief Choi had been oddly urgent lately.

<Oh, about that new condition I mentioned last time. It's… still in approval. Once approved, it's done!>

"Ah, okay."

<So hang in there a bit! Absolutely don't go to Blaze Guild…!>

Who knew he'd treasure Aden this much.

Her value shot up from broadcasts lately.

Makes sense—she was practically a celeb now.

Thea native, unique and pretty; everyone recognized her on the street.

"Got it. That's all?"

<No way! Don't disappoint me!>

"No, not disappointed. Was gonna ask about another dungeon—"

<1st Floor Security Team Leader!>

Interesting topic.

<The 1st floor security team leader who messed with Kang Hyun. Interrogation's done.>

Is that so?

Dungeon later.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the academy.

Aden flopped onto the sofa.

"Which country's spy?"

<Not a foreign spy.>

"Huh? Then what?"

Section Chief Choi explained the 1st floor team leader's affiliation, the 'company'.

"Tch, those guys again."

<You know them?>

"Minor scuffle."

Blocked the first assassination attempt.

But they didn't give up and came again.

Bold enough to try it at the Awakener Management Headquarters.

"Can't just leave them be."

"Section Chief Choi! Can you hear? They're threatening my master—how can the nation not handle it?"

Switched to speaker.

<Well…>

Troubled reaction.

<Of course we can, but it's complicated.>

"How so?"

<Need solid evidence for arrest in the act.>

"Ah. That'd expose Master's identity."

<Yes. Otherwise, additional investigation takes forever.>

I see.

Makes sense—easy catches would've been nabbed already.

"Won't get swept up all at once."

Guys this fearless.

Organization must be huge.

<Oh, don't worry about that.>

"Huh? Why?"

<Interrogation showed the company is large, but murders handled by one small branch.>

"Structure perfect for cutting off the tail."

Oh ho.

In that case…

"Gotta wipe them all out."

<Y-Yes!? No!>

Section Chief Choi jumped.

"Why not."

Not gonna say 'no vigilante justice!' or some boring crap?

After threatening my life twice?

'That'd be disappointing.'

But thankfully, no.

<Guys killing Awakeners, an organization even. Even for Kang Hyun, too dangerous!>

"Ah, thought you were against it on legal grounds."

Section Chief Choi seemed the type to sternly declare,

'Korea is a rule-of-law state! Citizens must obey the law!'

While fuming.

Unexpected response.

<What are you saying? Cancer eating Korea's Awakener forces. If possible, cut them all out.>

"Oh."

<That's truly for the nation's strength, for Korea.>

Scarier than expected.

I like extremists like that.

Anyway, too dangerous, he said.

Fine then.

"Got it."

I'll do it on the sly.

'I know the branch location.'

Section Chief Choi didn't know.

That I'd interrogated the loan shark in a dungeon too.

<…? Uh, thanks.>

Backing off too quick surprised him instead.

<We'll do our best here, so please wait.>

"Sure, sure."

<Kang Hyun's protection detail starts immediately. Sending people in two days.>

"Hmm…"

Protection?

Quick work is admirable.

But then I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gotta finish by tomorrow.

Gonna get annoying to move secretly.

<What's wrong?>

"Nothing. Please do."

Tonight, hit them.

Time to use 'Shadow Bind'.