Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Gangneung's Hive Queen
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It was none other than Gangneung.
'About a month left, huh.'
Gangneung was home to nests of magic beasts—hives.
And it was because of the magic beasts crawling out from those hives that a stampede would eventually erupt across Gangneung and the surrounding occupied territories.
But,
'The real problem is the Hive Queen.'
Hive Queen.
The queen who ruled over the magic beasts in the hive.
It took decades for a queen to fully mature.
Thanks to that, humanity had been able to quietly monitor the occupied zones up until now.
But once the queen reached full maturity, the hive would start mass-producing magic beasts in overwhelming numbers. The occupied territories would fill to the brim, and they'd come bursting out.
Just like in his previous life.
'Things were total chaos back then.'
Recalling memories from his past life, Shin Yu-hyun shook his head.
About thirty percent of the world's nations were occupied by magic beasts.
What do you think happens when those beasts break free?
Defending the cities where humanity still clung to life was madness enough.
Even so, humanity had succeeded in holding them back.
Over ninety percent of the global population were superhumans, and the outbreaks from occupied zones happened in waves, giving time to rotate defenses.
'Thankfully, there were hives without queens too.'
That had bought them a little breathing room.
But the real trouble came after.
'And that's when they showed up.'
In the next few years or so.
Not long after the magic beasts rampaging out of occupied zones across the world were finally subdued, they appeared.
Beings claiming to be gods from another dimension—the Getia.
'Probably their worshippers pulling strings from the shadows.'
While superhumans and hunters worldwide were busy suppressing magic beasts from occupied zones and raiding dungeon gates, it seemed the Ashen Church worshippers had been quietly preparing in the background.
To summon the Getia to this world.
'For now, focus on what I can do.'
Shin Yu-hyun's current goal was to build his forces as much as possible.
To that end, he was gathering talent and constructing new divisions and facilities.
But everything required funds.
That's why he'd decided to secure investment from Namdu Group's chairman, Nam Hyun-cheol.
Gangneung was loaded with rare minerals.
It was a goldmine.
'Gotta clear Gangneung within the month.'
There was a queen in Gangneung's hive too. And she had about a month left before full maturity.
He needed to wipe out the occupying magic beasts and deal with her before then.
Otherwise, a massive swarm would come charging straight for Seoul.
In his previous life, that was why the four great clans—including this one—and the Hunter Association had suffered heavy losses holding the line.
'Now that I've got Ruber, it's about time to move.'
If he bolstered his skeleton soldier legions a bit more and mobilized the full Black Tortoise Hall, retaking Gangneung wasn't a pipe dream.
'And snag that advance investment too.'
Shin Yu-hyun grinned.
Moving on Gangneung would come later.
But he'd already made a deal with Namdu Group's chairman, Nam Hyun-cheol.
Clear a raid dungeon, get advance funding.
So when the call came, he'd head over for negotiations.
'First things first—time to visit the old man.'
The Twilight Blacksmith, who survived to the very end in his previous life.
He needed a custom weapon made for Choi Jin-seong, recently recruited from the Wind Forest Volcano Guild.
'Can't just use any old gun.'
Choi Jin-seong's unique trait was Magic Bullet Marksman.
Exactly what it sounded like: the ability to fire magic bullets.
But regular guns couldn't handle magic bullets.
So he needed one forged from metal tough enough to withstand them.
'The old man can do it.'
Make metal that could endure magic bullets.
And he'd commission the actual gun from Nam Yeon-ah.
The artifact research genius could surely craft a firearm.
Plus, with the Twilight Blacksmith's help?
Together, they'd make the perfect custom gun for Choi Jin-seong.
Whether rifle or sniper— he'd discuss that with Choi later.
'Gotta drop by soon.'
And so, Shin Yu-hyun was steadily advancing his plans.
Strategic Planning Office.
A young man sat in his private office, drumming his fingers on the desk, lost in thought.
'What a pain.'
The young man, Nam Min-hyuk, scowled.
He was in a foul mood.
Someone kept interfering with his work.
And it wasn't just that.
He'd recently heard some unbelievable news.
'Investing in that bastard?'
His own grandfather—the Namdu Group chairman, Nam Hyun-cheol—was going to sponsor Shin Yu-hyun of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan?
'Should've crushed him ages ago...'
Nam Min-hyuk ground his teeth.
The assassins he'd sent after Nam Yeon-ah had gone silent.
And then he hears Shin Yu-hyun of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan rescued her from a dangerous dungeon and brought her back?
That's when it hit him.
Shin Yu-hyun had thwarted Nam Yeon-ah's assassination.
After she returned from the unidentified dungeon gate, he'd played it safe and stayed low, just in case. All while keeping tabs on Shin Yu-hyun.
But what happened next was enough to make his blood boil.
'Grandpa's lost his mind too.'
Not only did he gift her a black card loaded with a fortune as a "thank you" for the rescue, but now he wanted to sponsor Shin Yu-hyun?
And that wasn't all.
At the auction party, Nam Min-hyuk had lost the Vampire Sword Witch he'd taken a liking to—because of Shin Yu-hyun.
He'd played it cool on the surface, but inside, he was seething.
Plus, digging into Shin Yu-hyun? Just a few months ago, he was trash the clan wouldn't even acknowledge.
'Me, blocked by that kind of guy.'
Nam Min-hyuk gnashed his teeth.
There were countless reasons he despised Shin Yu-hyun. One of his convenient organizations in Asia had been smashed because of him, too.
'Situation's not good.'
Nam Min-hyuk frowned.
He had urgent business right now.
Nam Yeon-ah's assassination.
Her talent was astonishing. Calling her a genius in artifact research wasn't exaggeration—countless superhumans used the defensive coat she'd developed.
Namdu Group reaped massive profits from it.
But Nam Min-hyuk knew.
Her talents didn't stop at artifact development.
Nam Yeon-ah had executive potential too.
Luckily, she had no interest in management and just wanted to tinker with artifacts.
But that didn't mean she wasn't a threat.
Whispers were already circulating among Namdu's executives: why not make her the successor?
'Never gonna happen.'
Nam Min-hyuk harbored ambitions to rule over Namdu Group, Korea's premier conglomerate.
He was determined to eliminate Nam Yeon-ah somehow.
But striking at her had gotten trickier than before.
'Damn that Shin Yu-hyun.'
When she was holed up in her lab, it wasn't easy—but doable.
Risk it, and he could've pulled it off.
But after the lab incident, things changed.
She'd gone straight to the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
Even Nam Min-hyuk couldn't touch the clan.
It was one of Korea's top martial forces.
'Won't last forever, though.'
For a brief moment, Nam Min-hyuk's lips curled up.
He had one piece of good news.
'The organization's finally mobilizing.'
They'd started moving in earnest to assassinate Shin Yu-hyun.
No matter who he was, he couldn't escape the organization's grasp.
'No one blocks my path and lives.'
Not Nam Yeon-ah. Not Shin Yu-hyun.
Nam Min-hyuk intended to remove every obstacle.
All for the sake of the Great One.
A strange light flickered in Nam Min-hyuk's eyes.
The next day.
Shin Yu-hyun led his group out of the clan.
"Yu-hyun, where are we headed today?"
Nam Yeon-ah asked from the back seat, curiosity plain on her face.
Shin Yu-hyun had dragged her out, saying they had an important meeting.
"I'll explain when we get there."
Shin Yu-hyun turned from the passenger seat, smiling back at her.
The others in the car exchanged puzzled looks.
Then Choi Jin-seong spoke up.
"Hall Leader, do I need to be there too?"
"Yeah. The person we're meeting—he's gonna be a huge help to you, Jin-seong."
"To me?"
Choi Jin-seong blinked in surprise.
"What about this little one?"
Nam Yeon-ah glanced at Dia in her lap.
Dia piped up.
"Dia go play!"
"Oh, I see."
Nam Yeon-ah pinched Dia's cheek and rubbed her face against it.
"So squishy."
Her expression softened at Dia's cuteness.
Seemed the artifact research stress was melting away.
And so, Nam Yeon-ah, Choi Jin-seong, Dia, Shin Yu-hyun, and Ishia at the wheel—five in total—headed to the place where the future Twilight Blacksmith resided.
How much time passed?
The car carrying the group pulled to a stop.
Ishia turned to Shin Yu-hyun.
"Hall Leader, this the spot?"
"Yeah, right here."
Shin Yu-hyun nodded.
At this point in time, the Twilight Blacksmith lived not far from the clan.
In a quiet outskirts spot in Suwon City stood his forge.
The group got out and approached the house that looked like a smithy.
"Anyone home?"
Shin Yu-hyun rang the bell and called out.
"Who is it?"
Moments later, an old man in his late fifties opened the gate.
'It's the old man, alright.'
Shin Yu-hyun smiled inwardly.
In his previous life, the old man had a haggard, utterly depressed face.
Compared to then, he practically glowed now.
And at this stage, he wasn't famous yet, but known as a skilled smith.
"We're from the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan."
"Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan?"
The old man, Kim Sang-cheol, eyed Shin Yu-hyun and the group suspiciously at his cheerful words.
Everyone knew the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan in Korea.
But two men, two women, and a kid?
"What brings you here?"
Still, Kim Sang-cheol asked.
Shin Yu-hyun smiled at him.
"We have a commission."
"Commission? Here for a sword?"
"No."
Shin Yu-hyun shook his head at Kim Sang-cheol's guess, leaving the old man puzzled.
"Not a sword? Then what?"
To his question, Shin Yu-hyun dropped a bombshell.
"Please make us some Agranium metal."
"What?!"