Chapter 310
Chapter 310
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 311
Chapter Title: Gearing Up for the Night of the Full Moon
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After conquering the Tower of Four Seasons, I kept researching the [Space Leap] spell.
Thanks to the skill acquisition enhancement effect, I had succeeded in [Space Leap], but I still couldn't set precise coordinates.
Not stopping there, I drank the 'Low-Grade Proficiency Potion (Friendship?)' I'd gotten from the 'Random Gacha Box' and spent the night in training that bordered on torture.
...And just like that, two days passed.
[Your understanding of spatial and coordinate formulas has increased.]
[The proficiency of 'Formula Comprehension (C)' has greatly increased.]
['Formula Comprehension (C)' has risen to B-rank!]
Before I knew it, I could embed simple coordinates into the [Space Leap] formula.
The problem was that due to my inexperience, I could only handle nearby distances, making it sorely lacking in practicality...
But I figured it would improve over time.
"...Huh? Jinwoo-ssi?"
Today, after finishing all my training, I visited JWK with my remaining time.
The reason was to craft a high-quality piece of clothing that could use the S-rank magic imprint scroll 'Winter's Guardian' I'd obtained from the Tower of Four Seasons.
Yang Taemin spotted me and approached with a bright smile.
"If you'd told me you were coming, I would've come out to greet you right away."
"No, I'm just stopping by briefly. How's business?"
"Yes, as you can see, it's going great. Customers are steadily increasing, and we're expanding by hiring more staff."
I looked around.
Magitech machines filled the interior.
Numerous employees working in front of them. And customers who wanted to do business with JWK.
Reservations were overflowing, making the customers the anxious ones.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that JWK had completely swallowed the 'crafting' and 'magic stone supply' sectors worldwide.
Taking in the scene, I felt an odd sense of satisfaction before heading into the representative's office with Yang Taemin. We got straight to the point.
"I'd like you to make me some clothes."
"...Clothes?"
Yang Taemin's specialty in 'crafting' wasn't limited to weapons.
It included accessories, armor, and all magitech items that could hold 'mysteries.'
"Yes, at least A-rank quality. With [Auto-Thermoregulation] and [Camouflage] effects."
'Auto-Thermoregulation' maintains a constant body temperature regardless of the environment, while 'Camouflage' copies the design of other clothes to change appearance.
In other words, highly versatile clothes I could wear anytime, spring, summer, fall, or winter, anywhere.
With that said, I pulled out the materials I'd prepared in advance.
'Yeti Leather (A)', 'Frostpeak Knot (B)'... And I also added 'Underground Realm Ancient Wood (C)' from the random box.
Yang Taemin's eyes went wide at the sight.
"...Where did you get these? They look like pretty rare items."
"Dungeon rewards."
It was a half-made-up answer, but Yang Taemin took it at face value.
Finally, I placed the 'Magic Imprint Scroll: Winter's Guardian (S)' on the table.
"What I'm aiming for is clothing with effects that match this magic imprint scroll."
Yang Taemin examined the scroll, and his eyes widened again.
"...Wow, this is insane. Dungeon reward too?"
"Yeah, something like that."
I shrugged. Yang Taemin looked down at the scroll with lingering shock.
"...What kind of dungeon did you conquer?"
Instead of answering, I gave a small smile.
"Need anything else?"
"Oh, no. This is more than enough. The main material is this leather anyway."
Yang Taemin tapped the Yeti leather on the table.
"But are you planning to use it yourself?"
"Yes, for my personal use."
"So, no plans to resell? You'll be using it long-term?"
Yang Taemin had already pulled out a notepad and was jotting down my responses.
"...Yeah, pretty much. Why?"
"I was thinking of making it a dedicated item. It's more efficient that way."
A dedicated item could only be used by its first wearer.
No one else could use it, so the effects inside were amplified.
"Making it dedicated to me is fine."
Yang Taemin nodded and noted it down.
"Any deadline?"
"Within two weeks. Got something important coming up."
The biggest event of the summer was approaching.
The 'Night of the Full Moon,' an event to showcase Hansung Group's new beginning and Han Sejin himself.
Numerous demons closely tied to Han Sejin would attend this massive event.
I had a rough idea of what would happen there, but to be safe in case of unforeseen incidents, I planned to attend.
I'd urgently bought the 'Blessing of the Moon' partly because of this event.
Yang Taemin grinned and set down his pen.
"Got it. Then within two weeks, I'll craft the ultimate armor to match this magic imprint scroll."
Late evening.
After finishing all my tasks, I arrived at a small, deserted park near my house.
Looking around, I spotted a woman in sunglasses and a mask sitting on a bench.
She looked suspicious no matter how I sliced it, but the aura emanating from her made her seem more mysterious than shady.
I chuckled and approached her.
"Se-yeon-ssi."
At my call, today's appointment—Han Se-yeon—looked up at me, removed her sunglasses and mask, and gave a light smile.
"Jinwoo-ssi."
I sat beside her. Han Se-yeon rummaged in her bag and handed me a rectangular piece of paper.
"Take this first."
Thick paper with an ornate design.
At the top: [Night of the Full Moon].
Below, in small print: the date and location.
Date: two weeks from now, Saturday and Sunday.
Location: 'Buydo,' owned by the Hansung family in the East Sea.
"VIP invitation. With this, nothing bad should happen at the event."
"Thanks."
This confirmed my participation in the summer's biggest event.
As always, I hoped it wouldn't deviate much from my expectations, but since a full moon would rise on event night, I was thinking of introducing a variable myself.
Then Han Se-yeon gave me a surprised look.
"But I didn't expect Jinwoo-ssi to be interested in the Night of the Full Moon."
"I've heard it's the talk of the wizard community lately. Personally curious and looking forward to it."
In fact, the 'Night of the Full Moon' event was generating massive buzz in wizard communities.
With invitations scattered far and wide, it might draw the largest crowd ever.
As we chatted about the Night of the Full Moon, we naturally shifted to recent catch-ups.
How's work? How've you been? And so on...
Lost in conversation, time flew by.
Han Se-yeon looked up at the darkening night sky and murmured regretfully.
"Time passed so fast already."
She glanced at me and smiled softly.
"I get so chatty only when I'm with you, Jinwoo-ssi."
Her oddly embarrassing words made me feel strange, and I gave an awkward smile.
Then Han Se-yeon stood.
"I should head back."
"Sure. Oh, wait a sec."
I rummaged in my bag and pulled out a prepared document envelope.
"Here. Should help."
Truth be told, delivering these documents was also a purpose of this meeting.
Han Se-yeon stared at the envelope before carefully taking it and asking.
"...What's this?"
"A list of demon companies."
Summer vacation, with all its ups and downs, was finally over.
After about a week, I returned to the Special Task Force.
"Long time no see, everyone~"
"Hello~"
The team buzzed after a week off.
Everyone looked brighter, having recharged during vacation.
"I went on a Europe trip? It was amazing."
"I hit the beach."
"Oh yeah, junior. How was the Tower of Four Seasons?"
Some agents crowded me, Lee Seojun, and Yoo Ara, peppering us with questions about the tower.
Lee Seojun kindly recounted our experiences there, earning envious looks from all.
"Wow... So everyone got at least A-rank rewards?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Jackpot."
Mid-conversation, one agent muttered to themselves.
"By the way, when's the analysis on the formula from Antonio's pocket coming out? It's supposed to reveal Jaun's next terror site."
The Antonio incident referred to wiping out Jaun's crime syndicate, 'Silvers.'
Back then, a barrier-disabling blueprint had come from boss Antonio's pocket.
"...Yeah? Isn't it over a month already? Taking quite a while."
Jung Hyun-soo, coffee in hand, chimed in with a tilt of his head.
Then the door to the energetic Special Task Force HQ burst open, and Kim Deok-hyun strode in.
"Ah~ Senior, how've you been?"
Jung Hyun-soo grinned and approached, but Kim Deok-hyun responded sternly.
"...Well? While you lot vacationed, I was working nonstop."
Everyone groaned and shook their heads at his words.
"Tough as nails."
"His passion's unmatched, though."
Then Jung Hyun-soo asked.
"Oh yeah, senior. Still no results on the Antonio formula?"
"Analysis team says it'll take more time."
"Really? Has it ever taken this long before?"
"...Well, over a month is extremely rare. So the analysis team's speculating it might relate to 'holy relics,' but nothing confirmed."
"Holy relics..."
Jung Hyun-soo murmured gravely.
Kim Deok-hyun scanned the room and clapped lightly.
"Alright, everyone sit. Important briefing."
His serious demeanor had us scratching heads and taking seats.
"Straight to it. Remember the 'Kwak Hyun-do' op last time?"
The Kwak Hyun-do incident was the most recent demon syndicate takedown.
I'd sniped the fleeing Kwak Hyun-do with [Gravity Bullet] to resolve it.
Since I'd solved it, eyes naturally turned to me.
Kim Deok-hyun eyed me uncomfortably too.
"The key from that led us to a company suspected in the demon gate incident."
"Ooh, for real? Huge."
"Where?"
As questions flew, Kim Deok-hyun waved dismissively.
A hologram lit up, displaying a familiar megacorp logo.
Everyone looked shocked.
"...AY Life?"
"No way. AY's a demon company?"
Amid the murmurs, Kim Deok-hyun spoke.
"As you see, we found ties between AY Life and Taesang Finance."
"Wow... Yeah, their ops and revenue always seemed fishy."
One agent shot up a hand.
"But why wait? Shouldn't we raid and smash them now?"
"To use bait and catch them all at once."
Kim Deok-hyun waved again. The hologram shifted.
AY Life's logo vanished, replaced by another megacorp's.
Everyone's faces filled with shock.
"...Hansung Group?"
It was Hansung Group's logo.
I'd half-expected it since Han Sejin had demon ties.
Kim Deok-hyun addressed us.
"Not confirmed, but we caught transaction signs between Hansung Group and demons."
"...This leaks, it'll be chaos."
"But can't we touch the Hansung family?"
As the agent said, even the association couldn't casually challenge the Hansung juggernaut without cause.
"True. Hansung Group's different. So we're using this chance to find cause."
The hologram changed again.
Not a corp logo—a event logo.
[Night of the Full Moon]
"Two weeks from now, hosted by Hansung family. AY Life's chairman's attending too. We're joining."
Not exactly like the original flow, but heading similar.
Then Kim Deok-hyun said.
"Volunteers for participation?"
Many agents raised hands.
Lee Seojun included.
Not all for duty—some for the fun, no doubt.
I didn't raise mine.
Obviously, I'd attend as Kim Jinwoo.
"Not joining?"
Lee Seojun beside me asked.
"Nah, I'm good."
"...Really?"
He looked surprised. Kim Deok-hyun's voice rang out again.
"More volunteers than expected. But we have only 8 invites, so selecting 8 here."
Muttering, he pointed finger by finger at raised hands.
"You, you, you, you, you..."
Past Jung Hyun-soo, to Lee Seojun.
"You."
That made 7 including Kim Deok-hyun.
One spot left.
Amid the many raised hands, Kim Deok-hyun's finger pointed my way.
I met his gaze.
"Kim Sun-woo. You're in too."