Chapter 71

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 71

Chapter Title: 【Geniuses】

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―How's it going? How's it going?!

The faces of the Azadivar siblings on the video call screen were flushed with excitement. They must be exhausted from talking nonstop for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dozens of minutes about their research results.

'They cut the development time almost in half.'

It was still too early for commercialization—the advanced material extraction process was too long, and the yield was low. But shortening the development time this much was an enormous achievement. No, it felt like even better progress than before.

Mi-rae-ssi hadn't even properly reviewed their research yet, and they'd advanced this far. It was borderline miraculous.

"How did you develop it so quickly?"

―It's because Shin Ji-ui Hunter gave us confidence!

―That's right, that's right!

Mina nodded vigorously at Muha's words.

―The other guild members thought our idea was interesting, but that was it.

―Lately, everyone's going crazy helping Dr. Naomi with her research.

Muha rolled his eyes, making his disappointment obvious, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but he could only pout since there was nothing to be done about it.

"No need to feel too down. For now, I'll contact Mi-rae-ssi and get her interested in your research."

―Oh, right! Actually, there's something related I wanted to tell you...

What the...?

The airport announcement flowed through my earpiece auto-translator. Come to think of it, the siblings seemed to be outside somewhere right now.

―Actually, we're flying to Korea today!

"Wh-what?!"

Thud.

I shot up from my chair without thinking, and the kitchen chair toppled backward with a loud crash.

―We have to board the plane now, so we'll hang up! We'll call when we land!

―Bye-bye~

"W-wait a sec..."

Click.

The video call ended abruptly. I stared at the 47-minute call time record for a long while.

'The Azadivar siblings are coming here?!'

Totally caught me off guard.

First, I need to borrow an auto-translator from the Association. No, before that, contact Mi-rae-ssi and make her look at their idea paper?

My mind reeled from the flood of thoughts.

'Calm down.'

Ego's words helped me regain some composure.

'Since the siblings are coming anyway, you have to make sure they meet Mi-rae-ssi, right?'

'Obviously. We need to make this meeting happen no matter what.'

Mi-rae-ssi and the Azadivar siblings. As far as I remembered, they weren't exactly exchanging research actively. It was a given fact that Mi-rae-ssi was the genius who first extracted advanced materials from dungeon byproducts, so the siblings surely knew of her.

'The problem is Mi-rae-ssi has no interest in them.'

Mi-rae-ssi had extracted advanced materials from dungeon byproducts to create cutting-edge devices like maglev trains and auto-translators, even mana recovery potions. But she'd never made items that directly blocked monsters.

Was it a lack of interest, or had her research failed...?

Rattle.

I pulled my phone from my inventory and opened HunterNet. I searched contacts for Mi-rae-ssi, and her profile popped up right away.

'Whatever. Gotta try.'

Beep, bzzz.

I waited as the nature-inspired ringback tone played, hoping she'd pick up. It was a weekday daytime, so she was probably at work.

―What?

"Ah, Mi-rae-ssi!"

―Ah, fuck. You scared me.

She picked up!

She doesn't answer if she's busy, so I'd braced for her to ignore a call or two. Lucky she got it on the first try.

"Uh, do you remember that research I sent you before?"

―Oh, the crap you shoved into my lab without asking?

I heard rustling paper through the phone.

Yeah, clearly she'd just shoved it somewhere and ignored it...

―Got it here. What, you want it back?

"Why would I want it back? I left it there for you to see."

―I'm dying of work as is. Why the hell should I look at this garbage?

"Mi-rae-ssi, any interest in barrier research?"

―Barrier?

"Yes. There's this sibling duo I met at the Chicago Dungeon Conference. Their idea is amazing."

―Not interested.

She said that, but the wavering meant she was 100% intrigued.

"It's a liquid barrier that envelops entire buildings. In situations where evacuating people quickly is tough, that barrier would..."

―Liquid? Did you just say liquid?

Nice. Knew it piqued her interest.

"Yes. Liquid."

Flip.

The sound of turning paper meant she was finally reading it.

―These fuckers... complete lunatics.

"What do you think?"

―How the hell am I supposed to judge from this bullshit hypothesis? Just makes me think they're nuts.

"Then if they come explain it in person, can you judge?"

Mi-rae-ssi suddenly went quiet. I swallowed nervously at the inexplicable tension, and a scoff came through the phone.

―Did you eat monster meat at Gyeongpo Fortress Dungeon or something? You're way more ballsy than when ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I first met you.

"I-is that so?"

―Anyway, if those lunatic fuckers who wrote this show up in person, I'll meet 'em. But one hour max.

"Thank you, Mi-rae-ssi!"

―Shut up and hang up.

Click.

True to form, the call ended.

'Yeah, a research track record with zero failures. Of course she'd see the potential.'

I stowed my phone back in my inventory and checked the time.

The siblings would arrive tomorrow dawn or early morning. Time to hustle.

Thanks to masking up and wearing a cap, no one at the airport recognized me. Plus, it was dawn with hardly anyone around.

A text from the Association driver.

The siblings should be out soon. Gotta get them and go.

Vrrr—

The immigration gate door opened, and a few people emerged pushing carts. Mostly tired-looking salarymen and international students.

I pulled a paper from my jacket pocket with Mina and Muha's names written on it and powered on my earpiece auto-translator.

Rumble.

The quiet gate opened again, and a cart loaded with two huge backpacks appeared—along with familiar faces.

"Uh, whoa?"

Mina and Muha turned toward me, eyes widening as they rushed over, pushing the cart fast.

"Shin Ji-ui Hun...!"

"Shh!"

I pressed a finger to my lips, and they finally clamped their mouths shut. But they couldn't hide their joy, bouncing in place with me in the middle.

Makes me excited too when they're this thrilled.

"What? Surprise?"

"How'd you know we were coming out? Hunter-nim is the best!"

I grinned wide at Mina and Muha before handing them the auto-translators first. Once they had them on, I replied.

"I caught your flight number during the video call."

Their eyes sparkled intensely at my answer.

Oh right, with the Word Seed bloomed, my words affect them a lot.

"But why'd you decide to come to Korea? Did Windy Guild send you?"

"Ah, well, actually..."

Ring♪♪♪

Mina's phone rang from her pants pocket. She jumped, grabbed it, glanced at me, then held it to her ear.

"Hello...?"

―Mina, Muha! Are you out of your minds?!

'Whoa.'

The shout was so loud I heard the man's voice clearly. Mina winced and pulled the phone away, making his words even clearer to me.

―Flying to Korea alone without a guardian? And what? Meeting Director An Mi-rae?

"Rex, listen, it's..."

―You lied to your parents about going to Disneyland? What the hell do you plan to do there, huh?

Sounds like a guildmate.

Mina sighed deeply and passed the phone to Muha, who clenched his fist like he'd made up his mind and spoke resolutely.

"Rex, we're not here to play. We're here for research."

―You can do that in the guild. Why go all the way to Korea?

"In the guild, we just help other doctors!"

Mina chimed in. As Rex groaned on the line, she pressed on.

"We're gonna find someone here to research with us. Just watch! We'll succeed with this barrier and come back."

―Oh, please. I get you're upset, but at least lis—

Tap.

Muha ended the call with a finger. A weird silence fell over us after the commotion, broken first by Muha.

"...We should send pics once a day so the guild doesn't worry, Mina."

"Yeah, good idea."

Mina and Muha fist-bumped, then turned back to me.

"S-so, shall we head to the Association first?"

Couldn't get a hotel room right away, so I rushed them to my place to unpack. They poked around my shabby apartment like it was amazing, laying out souvenirs from the US—mostly snacks.

Over breakfast from a fast-food joint, I told them the meeting with Mi-rae-ssi was set. They were shocked speechless.

"I-I'm so nervous I might die."

And that aftermath lingered. I'd brought them to Mi-rae-ssi's lab, but they sat frozen on the spot, repeating how tense they were.

"Mi-rae-ssi has a foul mouth, but she's not a bad person deep down. Don't overthink—just explain like you did to me!"

"I don't think I can. In front of the century's genius, Director An Mi-rae..."

First time seeing them this lacking in confidence.

They just buried their heads between their knees, groaning.

'Like with Hunter Choi Jae-yoon, maybe fire a bullet?'

Both Mina and Muha had bloomed Word Seeds, so I could shoot bullets at them. The question ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was which one...

This'll do.

I checked the bullet in my status window and selected 'Affirmation.' Another window popped up.

Effect's weaker, but no need for Ego. Not bad.

'Yes.'

Vmmm—

The air vibrated faintly, and white marks appeared on Mina and Muha's backs.

"Mina, Muha. I believe your barrier research will definitely succeed."

"...Really?"

"Yes! So don't worry—just do it like always."

The faint sound hit the white marks on their backs and got absorbed into their bodies.

Way different from Ego-fired bullets. Perfect for stealth use.

"Haa... You're right. There'll be tougher challenges ahead. Can't crumble here."

"Exactly!"

"Just like Hunter-nim said, we'll do our best like always!"

"Let's go, Muha!"

Good, they're pumped. They rang the doorbell at Mi-rae-ssi's lab door, and it slid open soon after.

"You made it, you idiots."

And there was Mi-rae-ssi, greeting us just like always.