Chapter 49
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Minerals from the Gate
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Skill: Material Analysis activated.
Though she'd had it since her awakening, Park Ju-hee— who'd spent her days as a National Intelligence Service puppet, mechanically crafting whatever they ordered— finally used Material Analysis again after so long. She peered down at the ore clutched in her hand.
Her gaze first settled on the black ore that made up the bulk of it. Information flooded her mind, as if she'd known it all along.
[Armorite]
A hard, highly durable ore.
- The ore itself boasts exceptional durability.
- Special ability: [Self-Repair] – Automatically restores damaged sections.
- Can be imprinted with the user's mana for temporary increased flexibility, while maintaining high strength even in that state.
"Ooooh…!"
Park Ju-hee trembled with excitement as she confirmed the details of the ore, Armorite.
"What's got you so worked up? What kind of ore is it?"
Kang Ji-ye asked curiously, and the thrilled Park Ju-hee explained Armorite's properties in detail.
The listeners' eyes widened round as they took it in.
"Whoa, that's good stuff. Sounds perfect for armor just from the description."
"You might think that at first glance, but there's another key feature: its weight."
"Weight?"
Though Park Ju-hee had started using polite speech diligently, Bae Deok-ho— still uncomfortable around her as a National Intelligence Service agent— asked politely in return.
But she'd grown accustomed to it by now, and she no longer saw him as just "National Intelligence Service" but as "Kang Sa-hu's colleague." She continued without missing a beat.
"Yes. See the amount I'm holding? It's nearly 10kg."
Everyone's eyes dropped to the Armorite in her grip at her explanation.
The chunk she held was barely the size of a cigarette pack.
"Its density is incredibly high, making it more suited for fortresses, walls, or bunkers in modern terms rather than personal armor. Of course, you'd need an enormous quantity for that."
"But how are you holding something that heavy so easily…? Oh, right, you're an awakener too, Unnie."
Kang Ji-ye nearly asked about casually tossing and catching 10kg like a hacky sack, but remembered she was an awakener too and nodded.
Awakeners didn't just wield mysterious skill powers; their physical abilities were extraordinarily enhanced at a base level.
Even Kang Ji-ye, who looked slim and had awakened as a non-combat healer class unrelated to fighting, could effortlessly bench 500kg at a gym if she put her mind to it.
Kang Sa-hu, having quietly absorbed Armorite's traits, glanced at the total haul.
As she said, it was optimized for massive structures like walls, but they hadn't mined nearly enough for even a shield, let alone a wall.
Besides, they weren't Defenders holding positions against monsters spilling from gates. They were Hunters plunging into gates to hunt monsters.
For them, what mattered wasn't sturdy walls but gear for hunting and protecting their bodies.
"In any case, with its specialized defensive properties, this ore suits you well, Kim Ho-myeong."
At Kang Sa-hu's words, Park Ju-hee pondered briefly before shaking her head.
"That's true, but I think it'd be great for bows too. If we leverage its rigidity for elasticity, it could work for sniper-grade bows."
Kang Sa-hu nodded as Park Ju-hee smoothly countered him and pitched her own idea.
"You've already got plans in mind."
"That's why we're here. Heh heh heh. I never dreamed we'd score treasure like this."
She stroked the ore with a sly grin— a far cry from the irritated scowl she'd worn in her workshop.
"…Impressive. A true expert…."
Bae Deok-ho nodded approvingly, reminded of professionals who, when immersed in their craft, displayed laser focus and a totally transformed demeanor.
"Hold on a sec. Time to check the next one."
Park Ju-hee carefully set down the Armorite and grabbed the purple ore beside it, her eyes trembling with excitement.
Far less had been mined than Armorite, so she focused her mind with even greater anticipation.
Skill: Material Analysis activated.
The skill triggered once more.
Park Ju-hee stared silently at the purple ore.
"……."
She froze like a statue as she examined it.
[Erethium]
An ore highly reactive to mana that amplifies injected mana.
- Special ability: [Mana Amplification] – Boosts magical abilities.
- Special ability: [Magic Imprint] – With sufficient quantity, enables instant spellcasting.
"What's wrong?"
Kim Ho-myeong asked curiously, snapping Park Ju-hee out of it. She shook her head.
"Uh, this… it seems like an incredible ore."
"As incredible as Armorite?"
Kim Ho-myeong perked up, but she shook her head again.
"No. Even more so."
D-Rank Gate Cleared.
1,000 points acquired.
'Duke of Hell Demadreur's Blood-Drinking Scythe' fully drained the blood from the boss goblin's thigh.
With all its blood sucked dry, leaving it gaunt, the boss goblin breathed its last— and the gate clear notification appeared.
Soon after, an exit gate began forming, and the interior started shrinking.
Once the shrinkage finished and the exit connected, National Intelligence Service hunters waiting outside poured in like they'd been holding their breath.
"Huh? What the…?"
The hunters— dubbed "miners" for entering post-clear to harvest resources— were startled and scanned their surroundings.
While Kang Sa-hu blitzed through gates like a whirlwind, they'd naturally filled the mining role proportionally. They quickly noticed how cramped the gate interior had become.
"We haven't even harvested resources yet. Why's it so small already?"
As they panicked over this unprecedented situation,
Kang Sa-hu and his team approached the gate.
"Hello."
"H-Hello, sir!"
The miners jumped and returned his casual nod.
They always entered after clears, so they'd only heard rumors and reports about Kang Sa-hu.
This was their first time seeing him in person.
"Whoa, it's really Kang Sa-hu the hunter…."
"Right? The one who hosted that summoning ritual on NewTube a while back."
"Oh, that was Kang Sa-hu?"
"Think he'd sign something…?"
As National Intelligence Service miners,
as hunters,
and as modern folks glued to NewTube for info,
they whispered excitedly.
But Kang Sa-hu simply bid them "good luck" with his team and strolled out through the gate.
"Ah…. He's gone…."
"Wanted that autograph…."
The miners, so fixated on Kang Sa-hu they'd forgotten the shocking gate shrinkage, smacked their lips in regret.
After exiting the gate,
they returned to Park Ju-hee's workshop at breakneck speed, ignoring the Giant Hounds' paths just like on the way there.
Park Ju-hee, sickly as ever on the trip back, received healing from Kang Ji-ye, while Kang Sa-hu immediately summoned the King Forest Lizard.
Kuueh.
The King Forest Lizard spat out the Armorite and Erethium it had carried inside.
Troll weapons and armor tumbled out with them, and it eyed Kang Sa-hu expectantly.
"……?"
But when Kang Sa-hu stared back as if to say "Why aren't you eating?", it drooped and reluctantly swallowed the items again.
"Feeling better now?"
"Hoo. Hoo. Yes, much better."
Park Ju-hee, healed by Kang Ji-ye's Hand of Healing, regained her color faster than before and replied.
Though her body looked drained, her eyes sparkled, locked on the ores the King Forest Lizard had deposited.
"I still don't know exactly how to forge them, so it might take a while."
Kang Sa-hu nodded at Park Ju-hee's words.
"Understood. Take all the time you need. As long as we get something great."
"Of course. After hauling in Armorite and Erethium like this."
She pronounced the ores' exact names with affection, and Kang Sa-hu smiled faintly, sensing the deep passion of a true artisan.
As he turned to leave after a bow,
he paused and looked back.
"By the way, Meister Park Ju-hee."
"Yes?"
Park Ju-hee, lunging toward the ores the moment he turned, startled and whirled around.
Kang Sa-hu eyed her tightly bound long white hair and the red eyes revealed upon entering the room.
"Do you perhaps have albinism?"
"……!"
Albinism.
His question about the condition, more famously known as her affliction, dimmed her eyes slightly.
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Has it worsened or anything?"
"What's this about?"
Park Ju-hee responded sharply to his questions.
Understanding her reaction, Kang Sa-hu continued calmly.
"I'm a necromancer."
"……? Yes, and?"
She blinked at the sudden declaration.
Kang Sa-hu gazed past her, as if staring into the distance, and spoke.
"In the past, necromancers had a dark history tied to albinism."
Unable to follow as he delved into necromancer lore, Park Ju-hee tilted her head warily.
Kang Sa-hu met her face steadily and finished.
"I can't erase albinism entirely. But I can fix the vision loss and UV vulnerability it causes."
"……?!"
Her eyes flew wide at the unexpected offer.
Watching her quietly,
recalling the Necromancer Society's current king, Kang Sa-hu softened his gaze.
"If you ever want it, just say the word."
With a final bow, he exited.
Park Ju-hee, clutching the ores, stared endlessly at the closed door with trembling eyes.
"Oppa-!"
As Kang Sa-hu emerged, an exuberant Kang Ji-ye shouted brightly and rushed to him.
"Ji-ye. You know a lot about albinism, right?"
"Huh? Out of nowhere?"
She faltered briefly at the abrupt question but answered.
"Yeah, I do. Why?"
"Can you prepare to treat albinism anytime if I ask?"
"Sure, I'll get ready. Ah. Wait."
As she dazedly replied, linking "albinism" and "Park Ju-hee," realization dawned and her eyes widened.
"Unnie has albinism?!"
"Seems like it."
Kang Sa-hu answered flatly, and Kang Ji-ye scratched her head.
"So many people dye their hair or wear lenses these days, I never guessed. Her eyes looked normal too. But if it's albinism, why not heal her right now?"
"I've already mentioned I can. No need to rush."
A faint glint sharpened in Kang Sa-hu's eyes as he thought of Park Ju-hee.
"Just be ready to do it whenever needed."
"O-okay."
Kang Ji-ye nodded, unsettled by his intense gaze amid her seriousness.
Naturally emitting that glint in focus, Kang Sa-hu mulled keywords in his mind.
Park Ju-hee. Meister. National Intelligence Service. Albinism.
And, Afterlife Guild.
An idea he hadn't considered before founding a guild, sparked by witnessing her skills.
'If possible.'
Watching people run toward him from afar,
'Recruit her into the guild.'
He finalized the thought.