Chapter 40
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Investigator Arrives
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Wow, insane.
"So......"
The scar stretching from his eyebrow to above his eyelid twitched. Lee Chun-bae rubbed his old wound as he asked his subordinate.
"When's the investigator coming?"
"Tomorrow, to the guild office."
"With those De Marin bastards?"
"Yes. They want things quiet around here while they investigate the anomalies... Looks like they're trying to broker a truce."
"Damn it, should have finished them off back then."
Originally, the plan was to take out De Marin's key members and force them to hand over the gate. But the Hunter Management Bureau stuck their nose in midway, and everything went sideways.
Now they were even dispatching an investigator from the capital. An investigator meant at least a 4-star. No matter how strong All-Kill Guild was, they couldn't take someone like that.
'Is it true that no matter how much power you build, you can't overcome the rank gap?'
The more these situations arose, the greater Lee Chun-bae's thirst for power grew.
"What do we do, boss?"
"First, give the investigator the VIP treatment. Keeping them sweet is priority one."
In the last fight, All-Kill Guild had killed one De Marin hunter, crippled two others, and in the process, left a civilian with severe injuries.
If De Marin decided to press the issue, it would be a headache. They had to butter up the investigator before those guys made a move.
"Tell them we'll cooperate fully with the investigation. If they need it, they can come and go from the gate as much as they want."
"Yes, boss!"
Better this way. Might as well use the investigator's power to uncover which psycho was behind all this.
Lee Chun-bae thought that as he pulled out a cigarette and lit up.
"How much lizardman hide do we have left? I want some gillie suits made."
"Not a lot. Maybe enough for two suits at best."
All-Kill Guild's 2-star gate spawned lizardmen, and the armor made from their hides was commonly called a gillie suit.
Wearing a gillie suit let you use the lizardmen's racial skill 'Camouflage.' The hide automatically mimicked the surrounding terrain, making it incredibly useful for ambushes.
"From today, secure as much hide as possible and make gillie suits. At least two per dungeon for ambushes."
"Yes, boss! I'll get it started right away."
"Good. Get out. ...Ugh!"
Once his subordinates left, Lee Chun-bae suddenly clutched his chest. A sudden pain stiffened his body.
He waited motionlessly for the pain to subside, but even after a while, the ache in his chest didn't fade.
Of course it wouldn't. The pain came from the mana stone inside it, from the ferocious demonic energy craving human blood.
Without blood, the pain wouldn't stop.
"Damn, the intervals are getting shorter."
Lee Chun-bae muttered as he clenched his fist. For a split second, green scales glimmered on his skin before quickly returning to normal.
* * *
"Did you hear? They're sending an investigator from the capital."
Lee Jin-hyuk hyung started blabbing loudly. I listened closely, figuring it might actually be useful for once.
The Hunter Management Bureau had dispatched an investigator, putting the feud between All-Kill Guild and De Marin on hold for now.
"A full 4-star hunter. How strong do you think they are? Even our 3-star instructor's no joke, and this guy's supposed to be even tougher?"
"We definitely need to be careful."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"...All-Kill Guild might finally have to watch themselves. They've been rampaging without a care till now."
"Yeah, those bastards have caused more chaos these past few months than monsters. More people hurt by them than by gates."
That said it all about how much hell All-Kill Guild had raised.
"But things should quiet down now. Even they can't mess with a 4-star."
Good news. Meant no fights breaking out for a while. But bad news too.
'Means I can't hit the dungeons for a bit.'
A 4-star opponent. Fresh off my 2-star promotion, I'd get wrecked even in my dreams.
'Goblin essence farming's on hold for now.'
After chatting with Jin-hyuk hyung, I headed to the throwing range. Assistant Instructor Song Hye-rin was there as always.
"Oh, you're here."
She greeted me warmly, then glanced around to check if anyone was nearby. Then she whispered.
"Turns out that poison was definitely lizardman venom. I heard it's the only paralyzing kind that's blue."
Ever since that day, she'd been digging into the poison Kim Cheol-min used—its identity and source.
"Looks like All-Kill Guild supplied it after all."
"They're the prime suspects. Kim Cheol-min was one of theirs, and lizardmen spawn in their 2-star gate."
It was less suspicion and more certainty. But Song Hye-rin still muttered with a puzzled look.
"The question is why they'd target you."
In truth, it stemmed from personal beef between Kim Cheol-min and me, but she suspected some organized plot.
A mix-up from All-Kill Guild's shady recent moves and my fake story about being a secret agent.
"I'm looking for anyone in the academy with All-Kill ties. Got some suspects, but nothing solid yet, so I'm watching."
"Oh, and Lee Joo-hyuk's with All-Kill Guild too."
"I'm keeping eyes on him. No clue why, but the way he glares at you is off—like you killed his family or something."
"Haha. Turns out I have more enemies than I thought..."
Truth was, I found Lee Joo-hyuk suspicious too. If it was personal grudges, only Kim Cheol-min and him came to mind.
Kim Cheol-min was a coward at heart. Might snap impulsively, but prepping poison beforehand? Not his style—too calculated.
Lee Joo-hyuk, on the other hand, had shown weird killing intent toward me at first, but suddenly dropped it at some point.
'Weird. That wasn't the look of someone who'd give up easy.'
If he hadn't quit on fighting me himself, he'd likely outsourced it. And if to Kim Cheol-min, it all fit.
'I'll figure it out from here on. Moemoe-chan, you there?'
-Listening, Master.
The eyes of Magical Girl Lilia on my T-shirt print slid over and winked slyly.
A faint-hearted person might've had a heart attack. But knowing she was there, I just nodded casually.
'Just in case, keep tabs on Lee Joo-hyuk. Secretly watch who he meets, what he does.'
-Haa. Overtime again.
'I'll let you rest proper after. Watch close—report any shady moves right away.'
-Roger that!
Moemoe-chan quipped playfully, then slipped into the ground while Song Hye-rin wasn't looking.
'Where'd she pick up lingo like that?'
Lost in that trivial thought as Moemoe-chan vanished, Song Hye-rin clapped to get my attention.
"Oh, right—you were looking for someone to work mana stones?"
"Yeah. Got one from an orc warrior, thinking of making a throwing weapon. Know anyone like Uncle Jang?"
"Leave it to me. There's this stubborn guy who outdoes even Uncle Jang."
"Huh? Stubborn?"
"Yeah. Hiding out over some nonsense. But he'll do it for me, no question. Wanna come meet him? Skills are top-notch, whatever else."
Looked like Song Hye-rin had her own connect. Some backstory, maybe, but if skilled and convincible, no issue.
"Let's go today while we're at it."
"Stick with me."
* * *
"No. I'm done."
"It's not cigarettes you're quitting."
"I didn't quit smokes."
The blacksmith with the potbelly pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Song Hye-rin snatched it like she'd been waiting and crushed it.
"Quit smoking if you're quitting. Keep smithing."
"I am smithing. Just stopped weapons. Still doing household goods."
True to his word, the place was full of teapots, pots, sickles—everyday stuff. Closest to a weapon was a kitchen knife.
'Light, sharp. Sturdy, good balance.'
Skills as advertised—solid for a kitchen knife. Way better than the goblins' bronze daggers.
As I browsed, Song Hye-rin laid into the blacksmith, fuming.
"So why waste that talent on crap like this?"
"Crap? People love my stuff. Tough, lasts forever—orders pouring in."
"Uncle—!"
"Aw, shut it. My ears are ringing. Already swamped matching orders—go home. Said it already: no more weapons."
"...Because you're guilty toward oppa?"
The blacksmith, reaching for another smoke, froze like she'd hit the mark. He spoke again after a deep drag.
"Whew. Who's it just him? Sorry to you too. And everyone else—no face to show. Surviving alone's bad enough; can't keep doing what I love. Not as a sinner."
"Not your fault, Uncle."
"No, it is. I blabbed about needing otherworld materials, and that's what caused it."
"Oppa made the call. Everyone agreed. Thought success odds were high. Horrible misjudgment."
"That's why no. Don't wanna repeat mistakes. You're stuck at the academy for the same reason, right?"
"...I'm leaving the academy soon. Planning to hit gates again."
"What?"
"Realized I can't just hide and run because it hurts or it's hard. Thanks to someone."
Song Hye-rin glanced at me.
'Why look at me?'
Feeling awkward, I ducked behind a pot lid.
"What'd a kid who can't meet eyes teach you?"
"...I figured it out myself."
She backpedaled quick.
"Anyway, no more running for me. So help me out, Uncle."
She handed him the axe she'd brought. Ship emblem on the head, SSW initials on the handle.
"This is......"
The blacksmith took it, eyes distant. He caressed it gently. Finger brushed the initials.
"Sorry, Seung-woo. My greed..."
He squeezed his eyes shut. Moisture flickered through the smoke.
"Whew. Weird, no craving for a smoke."
He stubbed it out and looked at Song Hye-rin. His guilt-clouded eyes sharpened.
She glanced at me. I pulled out the mana stone. His gaze intensified.
"Finish oppa's axe with this."
"2-star... no, 2.5-star? Nice stone anyway. Good skill for throwing weapons too."
Whoosh!
The forge lit up. Flames danced in the man's hollow eyes. Dead passion reignited.
Clang clang clang!
With each hammer strike, his eyes came alive. The guilt weighing him down chipped away, strike by strike.
It wrapped quick. Just embedding the stone into a finished weapon—no big job.
"Whew. Been off too long; not perfect. But it'll do."
I checked the info.
[Summonskull Axe (C)]
[Attack: 40. Durability: 30. Weight: 8]
[Wind's effect boosts attack by 10. 'Recall' usable.]
Wow, insane.
There was Doomguy's chainsaw.