Chapter 14

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: Time for Preparation (1)

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National Intelligence Service.

Commonly abbreviated as NIS, it was South Korea's top national intelligence agency.

The organization handled intelligence and security related to the nation's safety and protection, as well as criminal investigations, with its operations governed by specific laws due to its critical importance.

Just a few hours earlier, Bae Deok-ho—who had been hunting an F-rank Gate alongside Kang Sa-hu—walked through the secretive halls of the building.

Upon reaching his destination, he checked his black suit, which he'd changed into right after exiting the Gate, then knocked on the door with his fist.

"Bae Deok-ho reporting."

"Come in."

A response came immediately from inside.

He opened the door and entered. Lee Jae-man, the director waiting for him, set down the documents he was reading and looked up.

"So, Team Leader Bae Deok-ho. How did the hunt go?"

"Yes, we wrapped it up without any particular issues."

Lee Jae-man nodded at the concise reply.

"There can't be any anomalies. Especially not with you."

As Lee Jae-man gazed at him with eyes full of trust, Bae Deok-ho bowed his head slightly.

"Thank you."

"That's what I should be saying. Who would've thought? An S-rank Hunter emerging in our country, of all places."

"I'm turning 41 soon, so I'm worried I might not live up to the expectations."

"Forty-one is prime age, full of vigor. Don't talk like that."

After a brief exchange of light banter, Lee Jae-man suddenly fixed him with a serious gaze.

"By the way, what about the people you hunted with?"

The team assembled for this F-rank Gate hunt with Bae Deok-ho wasn't a coincidence.

Everyone involved was someone the NIS was closely monitoring—potential threats to the nation or key talents. They'd been grouped together to make it seem like a random first-come-first-served party.

There had been one unavoidable addition: his younger sibling. But that was within acceptable limits.

Bae Deok-ho, fully aware of the facts and having participated as part of the operation, launched into his report without dragging things out.

"Starting with the EX-rank youth... As expected, his reputation precedes him. He has remarkable abilities."

"Hmm."

Lee Jae-man's eyes lit up with anticipation at the words "remarkable abilities."

And they sparkled even brighter upon hearing that he could resurrect and command dead monsters, even casting magic.

'......'

Bae Deok-ho paused briefly upon noticing the director's greedy gaze, then continued his report.

"His abilities certainly seem exceptional. But the limit on the number of monsters he can command is clear, so I'd advise against high expectations."

Having picked up on that sticky interest, Bae Deok-ho omitted any mention of Kang Sa-hu's other Necromancer spells and reported that he could only control five monsters.

Lee Jae-man's gleaming eyes cooled slightly at the words.

"In any case, the ability itself is intriguing. At minimum A-rank, and if he can stably acquire strong monster corpses, it could approach S-rank. But with corpses that decay easily and a limit of just five... The constraints are obvious."

Bae Deok-ho inwardly sighed in relief that the director's interest hadn't deepened, but he didn't show it.

"Next, I observed Lee Yu-rim closely, but there were no unusual actions."

"Keep her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠under constant watch anyway. You know her father is a high-ranking Russian noble, third in line? We have to prepare for any possibilities. That's our job."

"Of course."

The discussion on Lee Yu-rim ended abruptly, and Lee Jae-man glanced at the last name on the list.

"That leaves the young heir from the Kim Ho Group."

"Yes, no unusual movements from Kim Ho-myeong either. Since it was his first Gate hunt and anything could happen going forward, I'll keep a close eye."

"Good work."

Lee Jae-man picked up the remote and turned on the TV beside him.

The screen was packed with top-secret files and videos accessible only to the NIS director—classified intelligence of the highest level.

"As you can see, the world is in the midst of massive upheaval right now. It's not just about survival; the global balance of national power is shifting dramatically."

Bae Deok-ho glanced at the TV, then turned back to Lee Jae-man.

"The key to a nation's future strength and wealth won't be nuclear warheads or corporate number-crunchers—it'll be Hunters. Hunters will protect humanity from extraterrestrial threats and bring back alien resources to bolster national treasuries."

He paused for a moment, then fixed Bae Deok-ho with shining eyes.

"And I want you right there in the middle of it. As a member of the NIS."

Bae Deok-ho didn't respond.

He simply stared silently into the director's eyes, burning with excitement and ambition.

Back home, Kang Sa-hu was meditating in his room.

He wasn't yet accustomed to casting spells that normally required an altar, sacrifices, and spirits—using qi, or mana, instead.

Above all, Necromancer magic had evolved over ages targeting Earth's beasts, especially humans. Applying it to otherworldly monsters would require further adjustments.

Fortunately, with each battle, he distinctly felt his mana growing—just like other Hunters who leveled up and grew stronger.

And surprisingly, it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't just mana increasing.

The mana cost for spells was decreasing, while their power increased.

Moreover, his qi, his soul corresponding to mental strength, his po tied to physical prowess—all of it was growing, strengthening his overall spirit in tandem.

"Oppa, what's up? Meditating all of a sudden?"

Kang Ji-ye emerged with a towel around her neck, heading for a shower, and spoke to him.

"Reviewing the battle."

"Ugh, take a break already! Don't you know the important thing is a relaxed mindset? Pushing too hard like that will make you collapse!"

"The jukgeumma I know doesn't mean that. More importantly, 'drink'? Ji-ye, have you ever drunk alcohol?"

"Wh-what? What are you talking about? A model student like me wouldn't indulge in something as extreme as that, right?"

Kang Ji-ye turned away, sweat beading on her forehead.

As Kang Sa-hu's eyes narrowed and a sharp glint emerged, she let out a shriek.

"A-anyway! Even if you've awakened and can use magic, be careful with high-tier spells! How did you cast that without a spirit, just using mana? What if you get hurt?!"

Kang Ji-ye, having learned Necromancer magic herself, knew that its true power stemmed from spirits.

She also knew substituting mana for spirits was possible but reduced power and efficiency drastically.

Thus, she understood how incredible it was that Kang Sa-hu had slain a bulky, tough-boned boss monster in one shot using only mana.

But as he stared at her wordlessly with half-lidded eyes, Kang Ji-ye bolted from the room, claiming she needed to shower.

Once she left, Kang Sa-hu sighed deeply and pulled a Forest Lizard soul core from his pocket.

He gazed at the BB pellet-sized cores, then clenched his fist around them.

Feeling the Forest Lizard soul cores in his grasp, he activated another ability he knew only theoretically.

The 'Forest Lizard' within the soul core is converted to mana.

The amount converted to mana is adjusted based on potential.

The soul core's durability decreases.

Already aware of this from knowledge alone, Kang Sa-hu closed his eyes and focused on the mana flowing from the cores into his hand.

The cores grew hot, and he felt mana pouring into his body.

Kieeeek.

Keieeeek.

The Forest Lizards trapped in the soul cores wailed.

Screams audible only to those who could sense and wield spirits.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The cores melted away, transforming into mana that seeped into his hand.

Moments later, confirming his total qi capacity had increased, he opened his fist and examined the remaining cores.

A quick glance showed nearly half of the original 99 were gone.

"Monstrous growth."

Soul cores for mana recovery.

And absorbing beyond the limit slightly expanded his total capacity.

Confirming an ability he'd only known theoretically, Kang Sa-hu pocketed the rest with satisfaction.

As the BB pellet-sized cores dropped into his pouch, one particularly large one caught his eye.

The soul core extracted from this Gate hunt's boss.

As expected of a boss, it was quail egg-sized, radiating presence.

Gazing at the soul cores from countless Giant Hounds and Forest Lizards, Kang Sa-hu let out a low sigh.

"Too weak."

For his first Gate hunt, he'd used five Giant Hound soul cores.

Despite the harsh conditions, the Giant Hounds had performed beyond ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠expectations.

But if they took this much damage in an F-rank Gate, he'd have to prepare for their durability to bottom out and shatter later.

Not yet fully tuned for combat—just basic zombies for now—Kang Sa-hu brainstormed ways to reinforce them and boost survival rates.

Most Necromancers would have gawked at his concerns.

To them, spirits were mere energy and fodder for spells and abilities.

But Kang Sa-hu, hailed as the strongest Necromancer in history, couldn't treat them that way.

"I don't like watching those who follow me die off..."

Unlike the Forest Lizards that rejected soul cores, the Giant Hounds had submitted willingly.

They obeyed commands faithfully, even embracing rest without hesitation to fulfill orders.

It was akin to living beings charging into death.

Kang Sa-hu didn't want to use his followers as expendables.

"...I need to make them stronger. And since they're starting to decay, time for reagent treatment too."

Residual mana in flesh, muscles, fat, and blood meant little burden for now.

But there were clear limits.

Repeated summons and battles would rot the corpses until only bones remained.

As skeletons, every action from summoning to movement would drain his mana.

That was the worst case, and he had the means to counter it.

He even had a plan to strengthen them.

Kang Sa-hu drew the boss monster's soul core from his pouch.

"Boss monsters can be forced into soul cores at max durability and potential, whether they want it or not."

He'd only recently acquired the Soul Core Creation skill, but the knowledge felt naturally ingrained, allowing him to grasp his abilities intuitively.

Like absorbing mana from soul cores—pure theory turned certainty in practice.

And it suited the greatest Necromancer perfectly, maximizing his potential.

"Then, shall we start with spirit command?"

Kang Sa-hu infused mana into the soul core in his hand.

The core, which had been emitting malevolent energy to intimidate its dreaded foe, began to vibrate and convulse wildly.