Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Blaze Guild's Frustration
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The media was in a festive mood.
But the Blaze Guild support team's office felt like a funeral home.
"We... no, I lost."
"T-Team Leader."
In the end, the Perfect Clear Awakener fell into the government's hands. Thanks to Section Chief Choi.
"With this, the balance of power has completely shifted to the government."
"They'll be able to do a lot more from now on."
They could even control the progression rate systematically.
Someday, they might possess the might of the strongest S-Rank.
They could crush any powerhouse with sheer force.
All thanks to the power of one Perfect Clear Awakener.
"At least this country will get stronger."
"But the domestic guilds won't have much say anymore. Not even Blaze."
A bitter future.
The result of defeat.
'If only we'd secured the Perfect Clear Awakener...'
A meaningless what-if.
Better to look to the future.
"Now that it's come to this, we have to find that S-Rank Word of Command User."
"Team Leader, fighting!"
Team Leader, fighting?
She'd probably end up pulling all-nighters with them too.
Until they found that S-Rank Word of Command User!
"At least we got Aden. But..."
"Our Aden is the team's greatest achievement this year!"
"But."
"Huh? But what?"
"Why does she have a hump on her back?"
Yoo Chae-young's glasses flashed.
She pulled out an official document and showed it to her team member.
It was Kang Hyun's profile.
"What's this?"
"What else? A parachute drop."
"Pardon? A parachute?"
"Yes, a parachute! Into the nation's third-ranked mega guild, Blaze!"
Yoo Chae-young was always composed.
But her reaction was fierce this time.
It involved Blaze's pride, after all.
"And why the hell do I have to manage him personally!?"
This was pure humiliation.
A parachute into Korea's third-ranked guild, Blaze!
And a team leader-level manager for him!
For just one newbie!
How far had Blaze's prestige fallen!
"Whoa, approved by the Awakener Management Headquarters Director? This is a massive parachute."
"What's his deal?"
"He's a free agent mercenary, right? We just have him serve the mandatory contract period and boot him."
"That's what makes it worse! A free termination clause? We don't even offer that to A-Ranks!"
A national free agent mercenary?
What a grandiose title.
None of it sat right.
But Yoo Chae-young was a pro.
"Hoo... His meeting's tomorrow, so book an open dungeon. We'll test him right away."
Let's see.
Just how amazing is he?
"Won't you be tired?"
"Gripes are gripes. Work's work."
"Yes, ma'am! Team Leader, fighting!"
"Ah, wait."
Yoo Chae-young grabbed her turning team member.
"What about the report?"
"Huh? Which...?"
"The strategy to accelerate guild member conquests via F-Rank Blessing stat boosts."
"Ah, haha... I'll finish it before clocking out!"
Yoo Chae-young pressed her forehead again.
"...Do that tomorrow. Go get the research team's E-Rank Blessing data instead."
The effects of the E-Rank Blessing were still unknown.
They needed to figure it out fast to stay ahead of the other guilds.
"Yes, ma'am!"
The staffer beat a hasty retreat.
Yoo Chae-young tapped the document idly.
"Kang Hyun, Kang Hyun..."
The name rang a bell somewhere.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Arrived at the dungeon today too.
Dungeon conquest report?
Not filed yet.
Instead, one call to Section Chief Choi's subordinate.
"Uh, heading into the dungeon?"
<Yes, permission processed. Have a safe run! Fighting!>
Click. Report done.
So convenient.
'Do guilds handle things this smoothly?'
The reason Awakeners thirsted so much for top guilds.
Kang Hyun was starting to get it.
Though reality was entirely different.
No one but him enjoyed such privileges.
"Let's go in."
Dungeon entry.
E-Rank <Orc Camp>.
"Orcs?"
"Yeah. Underdeveloped mini orcs."
About 20 of them.
Mini orcs, but still above goblins.
"Looks tougher than the last dungeon."
"No boss here, though."
"Ah."
The key to this dungeon was the mobs' regeneration.
Shing-
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ 【Ignite】 Whoosh!
Flames enveloped the crimson sword blade.
Aden's eyes sparkled.
"Ooh..."
Aden, thrilled to see demon swordsmanship again.
'Master Kyle must have fought just like this.'
No one used demon swordsmanship.
Except movie effects.
No sane person trained magic and sword together.
Maybe her master was the first since Master Kyle?
'I want to join a guild with Master soon.'
Aden wanted to show off her master's demon swordsmanship to everyone.
"Here we go."
Kang Hyun charged straight into the orc pack.
Kueeek!
Kuek!
Swinging his sword left trails of fire lingering in the air.
Slash.
Slash!
As the orcs were sliced, their wounds were cauterized.
Sizzle-
Regeneration halted, the mini orcs dropped dead one by one.
'Cuts clean as ever.'
Worth 120 million.
He could buy more like this in the future.
Especially now that the Platinum Card was fully his post-contract.
"Watch out!"
Three orcs encircled him.
But he slipped away smoothly.
'Stamina boost feels great.'
The Drake Mountain Ginseng from before.
Bumped stamina by 3, now E-Rank.
Slash.
Sizzle-
'Still a bit lacking, though.'
Mini orcs had thick necks.
Heads didn't fly off cleanly.
More strength, and it would.
The handfeel was off.
Damn stats!
"Master's the best!"
Before long, all 20 mini orcs were wiped out.
'Mana's holding up way better.'
Mass-slaughter Words like 【Stop】 were powerful.
But demon swordsmanship—casting on himself—was more efficient.
Enough left for one more dungeon, barely.
Not Perfect Clear, though.
'Basic Words like 【Ignite】 last pretty long now.'
Stability improved.
He could feel himself growing.
At an insane pace.
'System's pretty nice.'
With guild support ahead, even faster growth.
The elite path he never had in his past life!
"That's it for today. Prep for the Blaze meeting."
What reward this time?
Right before severing the roots.
"But seriously, is this okay?"
"What?"
"We're profiting off the government and Blaze way too much."
The government signed a free agent mercenary contract.
Truly free.
They hired Awakener Kang Hyun as a mercenary.
No heavy restrictions.
Not a civil servant, a merc.
Draft in emergencies?
Just a commission.
Could refuse.
Not conscription, so rewards and loot intact.
'And we still get all the prior benefits.'
Utterly one-sided contract.
Really okay?
"That's the right of the strong. They chose it."
"Ooh...! Master's wisdom!"
Her eyes sparkled at the profound-sounding words.
So dramatic.
The government seemed content with priority access.
As long as not stolen by guilds or foreigners, national power rose anyway.
'Plus, this buildup makes snagging a Thea diplomat post easier later.'
A win-win contract for all.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Perfect Clear! (Solo)] [An incredible feat! Cleared an E-Rank dungeon, repelling the World Tree's invasion...] [Due to your achievement, a 'Blessing' has been granted to the surrounding area...] Reward time now.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Achieved 'Perfect Clear! (Solo)' of the dungeon. Special rewards granted.] ['Bronze Box' awarded.] "No achievement this time?"
"You're too greedy. Clear ten in a row first."
Still good enough.
Bronze Boxes were plenty rewarding.
And today felt lucky.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['Bronze Box' opened.] Familiar effects burst forth.
Shwaaak-
Ding!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Random Word of Command seal released.] [Word of Command 【Vera】 seal released.] "Ooh! Got one!"
"Wait! You're way too excited. Don't tell me..."
"Junk item!"
"Are you doing this on purpose!?"
Sorry.
I'll spill everything in time.
'Teasing her's kinda fun, though.'
Mira was the same in his past life.
This must be why you raise disciples.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Oh Hyuk-jun, executive of Blue Wave Guild.
He flung the documents down in irritation.
"What the hell's that guy? Suddenly some A-Rank villain?"
"That branch posed as a loan shark front, so maybe they made enemies."
"Hoo... Yeah, probably nothing."
Too much headache to worry about villains.
A-Rank villain was intimidating, sure.
But no direct clash with the guild.
Just one subcontractor branch.
"Worse is losing the planted bodyguard team leader at HQ."
Oh Hyuk-jun, who culled Awakener sprouts.
Earning demon race subsidies that way.
But his best intel source was gone.
Murders wouldn't go as smoothly now.
"Subsidies will drop."
"Fuck."
Bam!
Oh Hyuk-jun kicked the desk.
"Fucking bullshit, always some fucking nonsense getting in the way..."
Blaze snagged a rookie A-Rank.
Perfect Clear to government.
Now some no-name villain hitting subsidies.
His legs shook.
Nails headed to his mouth automatically.
Then, he lit a cigarette in frustration.
Sweet medicinal smoke filled the room.
His subordinate flinched.
"Hey, accelerate 'Anomaly Project.' Just blow it wide open."
"Is that wise? Investigation's ongoing."
"Ugh, Legion Antagonist? Push it anyway."
Those who'd faced a Legion Commander.
They'd sniff out this project.
"Thought about it. So what if they do?"
"Hm... You're right."
"Even if they link it to demons, can they point at us? Got proof?"
Subordinate nodded.
Oh Hyuk-jun opened the safe, handing over a bundle of scrolls.
[Anomaly Generator] [Target 10 dungeons to corrupt with Abyss Legion Commander's power. Induces 'Dungeon Anomaly.'] Items from the system.
Meant to counter the World Tree.
But harmful to humanity.
World Tree intervened, corrupting system items.
"Take 'em. Start."
"Yes, sir."
Induce anomalies in dungeons.
Boost failure and death rates.
Awakeners get scared, progression slows sharply.
Control progression this way.
Secure influence.
Cull Awakeners, rake in demon payments. That's the Anomaly Project.
"Stop freaking over trivia. Money comes from crises."
"Yes. But..."
"What."
"What about the Perfect Clear Awakener?"
"Why him? Oh, progression?"
The now-national Perfect Clear Awakener.
"Government will ramp progression with him."
"One guy can't cover it. Demons went all-in this time."
Dungeon anomalies would be worse than expected.
Experts' calculations confirmed.
Perfect Clear alone couldn't fill progression yet.
Needed C-Rank growth at least.
"Plus, anomalies threaten him too. Saw him drop Perfect Clears in E-Ranks? Getting tough."
"Right. But if he dies..."
"If he dies, he dies. Wasn't mine anyway."
Better even.
Blue Wave's progression control strengthens.
"Push without hitches."
"Yes, sir!"
Subordinate dismissed.
Oh Hyuk-jun inhaled deeply.
Leg shakes eased, eyes glazed.
'Nail this one...'
Guild Master's recognition.
Finally become vice guild master of his dreams.
His mind drifted hazily.