The Butterfly Effect
That afternoon.
…….
Online, articles about the Rift Bureau’s announcement and Minho poured out like bamboo shoots after rain.
It wasn’t just online that was heating up.
Broadcasts scrapped their regular programming and aired debates centered on the remarks from the Rift Bureau’s press conference.
Panelists: Park Kitae, Professor of Rift Studies at Korea University / Yang Seoyeon, Guild Master of Phoenix Guild
“Professor Park Kitae of Korea University’s Rift Studies department. How many SS-class hunters are there worldwide?”
“Including the five surviving members of the Twelve Heroes, there are twenty-three.”
“Not a large number.”
“Indeed.”
“Professor, do you believe Hunter Park Minho can advance to SS-class?”
“Going by academic consensus, I honestly feel Director Jeong Seungil’s remarks lack sufficient grounds.”
Beep.
“Professor Park. People out in the field tend to have better instincts, don’t you think?”
“Guild Master Yang of Phoenix has a point. I’m only speaking from the data.”
“The average rank for necromancers is A-class, but Hunter Park Minho’s growth rate stands out even more. I believe S-class or higher is more than possible.”
Yang Seoyeon spoke without pause.
Listening to the two panelists, the executive producer tilted his head.
“Does Park Minho have some connection to the Phoenix Guild?”
“Apparently they just ran into each other once in a gate.”
“Then why is one of the domestic top five guilds defending him so hard?”
“Who knows. Maybe they’re trying to send a recruitment offer.”
“Well, as long as the ratings are good for us.”
Experts discussing from their own experience or data made the conversation far more professional than online comments, and the real-time viewership climbed steadily as a result.
Moreover, the impact of this press conference did not stop at the domestic level.
SS-class hunters were a rare breed even on a global scale.
Each and every SS-class hunter was called a walking strategic weapon.
In fact, for an SS-class hunter to leave the country, they had to go through rigorous procedures.
They were powerful enough that, if they so chose, they could topple most nations.
Obtaining prior permission from the government of the country they intended to visit was the bare minimum, and various other formalities had to be completed.
“Jeong Seungil is certain he’s SS-class material?”
“That man is famous for never making empty claims.”
“He’s not affiliated with any guild. Let’s try recruiting him.”
At the mere mention of SS-class potential, major guilds from every country began salivating.
“I knew this would happen.”
Yujeong Kim, master of the large guild GGG that primarily operated out of California, laughed heartily.
“I knew this kid would cause a stir.”
“I was the one who found him first.”
“Executive Director Sophia. Let’s not nitpick every little thing.”
The hunter known as the Saint of LA.
Sophia let out a short sigh.
“This isn’t the time to be laughing so carefree.”
They had proposed an investment to Ascension Agency but had seen little return.
Who would have thought he would reject nearly 50 billion won in Korean currency?
“Let’s look on the bright side. We’ve already got one foot in the door.”
Yujeong Kim laughed boisterously.
“If we keep knocking without giving up, he’ll eventually open his heart.”
“That grit theory of yours again.”
“Don’t be like that. How about you go in person, Executive Director?”
“Can you handle the guild’s workload without me?”
“If we’re going to host someone precious, we should put in at least that much effort, don’t you think?”
“While I’m gone, Master will probably get pushed around by Executive Director William.”
“Ahem. I am the master of GGG.”
There was an invisible power struggle within GGG.
Yujeong Kim, a founding member and the guild’s symbol.
And Executive Director William, who advocated pure-blood white supremacy.
Lately, rumors had been circulating that Executive Director William was busily persuading major shareholders who held guild equity.
Sophia smirked and stood up.
“Then I’ll book a ticket.”
“Get a cheap one.”
“Obviously first class. Otherwise my back will kill me.”
“Pay for it yourself.”
“I’ll expense it.”
The butterfly effect of the press conference had even the United States stirring.
Sophia’s trip to Korea was confirmed!
The Ranger inauguration ceremony and press conference.
Even after that storm of major events had passed, my daily life hadn’t changed much.
Clang! Clang!
“You’ve got the basics of Mana Folding down now.”
Nam Jinwoo gave a solid thumbs-up.
“It’s thanks to your excellent teaching.”
“Then I’ll go fetch Master.”
“Excuse me?”
“He said that once you grasped the basics of Mana Folding, he would examine your work himself.”
Ugh.
Meister Han Yohan was a bit intimidating.
Those bloodshot eyes had left quite an impression.
【Hmm. That murderous look was just like a berserker’s.】
Even Sir Isra, the Continent’s Greatest Sword, had been startled enough to ask me to summon her.
Feeling uncomfortable wasn’t my fault.
Definitely not.
But since he was offering to look over my technique, I had no excuse to refuse, so I waited with a nervous heart.
The heavy iron door opened.
“Hmm. Already learned Mana Folding, have you?”
Disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes.
His appearance was just as terrifying as before.
【Hmm.】
【Oh my.】
Don’t be so wary.
Judging people by their looks isn’t a good habit.
But as the distance between me and Meister Han Yohan closed, my arms tensed up on their own.
“Ah, hello.”
The meister barely acknowledged the greeting.
His bloodshot eyes fixed on the iron plate I had been hammering until moments ago.
“This it?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Not bad. Usable.”
Meister Han Yohan’s mouth twisted.
A face like some malevolent spirit.
【My Lord.】
【Master!】
Both of my summons cried out urgently.
“I knew you’d like it.”
Nam Jinwoo answered with a smile.
Huh?
That’s a face that likes it?
It looked more like he was about to thrash someone.
An atmosphere I just couldn’t get used to.
“Hunter Park Minho.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Try Mana Folding with this.”
Thud—
A metal with a subtle green glow.
No.
Looking closer, it wasn’t metal—it was ‘bone.’
◈ When crafting undead: Strength +120% / Stamina +70% / Durability +80% / Mana +120%
Green Drake Bone.
Perhaps because of the immense mana contained within, the crafting options were extravagant.
【Impressive.】
【Green Drake Bone? What a precious item!】
Both summons marveled.
“Is it all right for me to work on something this valuable?”
“Even if the Mana Folding fails, it won’t disappear, so it’s fine.”
Since he himself said it was okay, there was no reason to refuse.
Besides, the moment I saw the Green Drake Bone, my hands had started itching.
This would be my first attempt at Mana Folding with bone.
As a material with dual properties of metal and bone, it might turn out even better.
I placed the Green Drake Bone into the forge and waited for it to heat up.
“Internal temperature is 2100 degrees.”
It needed to be heated far more than iron.
I waited until the entire bone turned crimson, then immediately pulled it out and—
Clang!
Clang!
I hammered and folded and hammered again, just as I had been taught.
It was different.
I could feel it far more clearly than when striking metal.
With each blow of the hammer, the change that occurred as the infused mana resonated with the bone slammed into my mind.
At the same time, I gained another realization.
Ordinary bones would never withstand Mana Folding.
The shock generated during the folding process.
My skill, Bone Metallurgy, provided some correction, but a normal bone would shatter into pieces before enduring even three folds.
Lucky that the Green Drake Bone was my first try.
Thanks to that, I got a solid feel for how to fold and refine bone.
Clang!
Mana Folding comprehension has greatly increased.
Dexterity stat increases by 3.
After folding it four times, I set the hammer down.
That was as far as my skill could take it.
If I tried folding any further, the mana array I had infused would fall into disarray.
The Green Drake Bone still retained heat from its recent removal from the forge.
“Hmm.”
Meister Han Yohan toyed with the finished product bare-handed.
Wow.
So blacksmiths can handle heat over a thousand degrees like it’s nothing.
“Ah! Hot.”
Never mind.
“Blacksmiths have fire resistance, but not enough to casually handle heated metal.”
“Ah, I see.”
“There is a skill like Third Hand, though.”
Thanks for the explanation, Mr. Nam Jinwoo!
Even after hearing Nam Jinwoo’s explanation, Meister Han Yohan continued examining the Mana-Folded Green Drake Bone for a long while.
“A little more and you’ll surpass me.”
Recognition from Korea’s greatest blacksmith.
Even knowing it was empty praise, my lips twitched.
“Master isn’t the type to make empty compliments.”
“Eh?”
“Even Master finds working with bone difficult.”
Meister Han Yohan’s mouth twisted again.
So that’s a smile?
No matter how I looked at it, it was the face of someone staring at a mortal enemy.
“Could you help with my work later?”
“Me, helping Meister Han Yohan’s work?”
“I need someone skilled in bone refining.”
“Master is counting on Hunter Park, who specializes in handling bone.”
Well, I’ll be damned.
Even if it was because of my bone-handling ability, I never expected the day would come when Korea’s top blacksmith would place his hopes on me.
Getting mentioned as a potential next SS-class, and now this.
My birthday was still a long way off—why was everyone acting like this?
“Next time, I’ll instruct you personally.”
“Yes, Master.”
By the time I finished refining the Green Drake Bone, evening had arrived.
Promising to meet again, I left Blacksmith Street and was heading back to my studio apartment when—
【Do you feel it?】
“Yeah.”
I looked behind me and called out.
“I know you’re hiding. Come out.”