Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Report
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"So, how was it?"
Gu Yeon-jeong's office. There, Lee Jae-hyo was giving his report on the recent dungeon expedition.
"...It was incredibly impressive. Honestly... you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it yourself."
"If even you're saying that much, Jae-hyo... now I'm really curious."
"...To be honest, since I hadn't been to the Training Facility myself, when you, Clan Master, insisted we had to recruit them no matter what, I thought you might be overreacting..."
"Hmm..."
"But after witnessing this dungeon run, I realized it wasn't just 'no matter what'—we should've been prepared to go to war with other clans if necessary to bring them in."
"Ho... That good, huh?"
"Frankly, I even felt a pang of sympathy for Incarnation Clan's Clan Master, Kang Sung-jun."
"Pfft... Well, they got lucky when one of their grubs messed up and handed us Lee Yun-seong on a platter."
"I heard Joo Seung-hwan tried to blackmail Lee Yun-seong. Is that true, Clan Master?"
"Ah, yeah... it is. Honestly, Yun-seong's talents are... you know. I figured we could just grab him since we were taking the others anyway."
"...That was a misjudgment, Clan Master."
Gu Yeon-jeong looked utterly shocked to hear Lee Jae-hyo call it a misjudgment.
It wasn't a displeased expression—it was just the first time she'd seen him express himself so strongly.
"Something must have happened."
"Yes. While his combat prowess may be lacking, his mind will definitely benefit the clan."
"...I'd love to hear the details. Care to fill me in?"
After hearing the full rundown of the dungeon events from Lee Jae-hyo, Gu Yeon-jeong rested her chin on one hand while seated and spoke up.
"Coming up with the idea to eliminate the shadows in that situation... that's pretty ingenious."
"Yes. His physical power may be weak, but I believe his situational judgment and crisis response are exceptional."
"Ha... Yoon Yeon, that sly fox from the Training Facility, put in an offer after just two days... Guess there really was something to it."
"..."
"Alright... Looks like I need to revise my evaluation of him a bit. How about the others?"
"Most of them were outstanding. Hard to believe they're fresh out of the Training Facility."
"......"
"Lee Yu-rim struggled a bit. Since it was a Rare-grade dungeon instead of Normal-grade, I suppose that's why."
"I see."
"She wasn't bad by any means, but her talent felt solidly average."
"She's family with Lee Yu-hyeon anyway, so we have to bring her along. If she's average, we can just equip her properly or give her more experience to grow her."
"Wise words."
"Anyway, that leaves one more, right?"
At Gu Yeon-jeong's question, Lee Jae-hyo fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"...In Seo Yu-ju's case... 'off the charts' is the best way to put it. I know it's rude to phrase it that way, but her talent is undoubtedly superior to yours, Clan Master, or even the leaders of the other major clans."
"Ha..."
Gu Yeon-jeong was floored. When Lee Jae-hyo said something like that, it meant it was true. The man never exaggerated—he just stated facts as they were.
"...This batch really is a jackpot."
"Clan Master, recruiting them was truly the best decision. In two years... no, just one, our clan won't even be comparable to others."
And of course it would be. Even setting the others aside, Seo Yu-ju alone would bring glory to the clan. Given time, she'd surpass the current major clan masters.
"And to think someone like that is one of our clan members... Ahaha!"
"......"
"Once she grows enough, we should put her in an executive position."
Lee Jae-hyo couldn't bring himself to object. Her talent was just that overwhelming.
To the point where he wondered if the clan could even contain her.
After the dungeon run, for the next three weeks, I trained in the mornings and afternoons, then hit the library whenever my mana ran dry. I needed all sorts of info for experiments, after all.
And that's why I was messing around in my personal lab right now.
"Ha... Why won't it work?"
What I was trying to do was combine Necromancy with Chimera Synthesis.
More precisely, my goal was to create a chimera in a wraith state, like a wraith.
Someone might ask why bother with Chimera Synthesis for a wraith-state summon when Necromancy exists...
'The reason is, fuck, Necromancy guzzles mana like crazy.'
The difference between Necromancy and Chimera Synthesis is that Necromancy uses mana to maintain summons, and they vanish when mana runs out.
Chimera Synthesis requires massive materials, time, mana, and ideas to create, but they exist permanently.
Necromancy summons are easy to call but infused with my mana, leaving a traceable link.
Chimeras, however, become independent entities after creation. No mana link to me—they just follow my orders.
What I wanted to make was a chimera stripped of all offensive capabilities, murderous intent, and malice. Just a pure existent in wraith form.
'Since the purpose of these chimeras is info gathering.'
For example, create a wraith-form chimera and order it to surveil a player.
Without murderous intent, malice, or attack functions, the risk of detection is near zero. It'd just trail them, listening to conversations and observing interactions.
'Collect the intel like that... then when the chimera returns, I hear the report. Done.'
In other words, a chimera for intel gathering, not combat.
I was confident no one else would think of this. It wasn't arrogance.
'Because most black magicians are obsessed with experiments, combat, or murder.'
If summoning wraiths, they'd use Necromancy for battle. Who'd bottleneck it with Chimera Synthesis for spying?
Black magicians holed up in labs or dungeons make things like death knights for their armies. Not harmless wraiths.
By removing offense, intent, and malice, invest everything in erasing presence.
The theory was perfect.
...Yeah, the theory.
'Fuck, the problem is the inherent malevolence.'
Forget intent—the existence itself was evil. That needed fixing.
Shadow Cubes could perfectly mask presence for detection.
But if the target had evil-sensing abilities, the inherently wicked nature posed a risk.
"The issue is... I'm a black magician. How do I make something non-evil?"
I needed a non-evil creation, but as a black magician...
"...Guess I should be satisfied with getting this far."
Experiment paused.
Solutions would come later. Rushing never works. Take it slow.
Just as I wrapped up, urgent news hit the clan.
Everyone except the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th parties on expedition gathered in the Clan House conference room. Our party was no exception.
'...What's going on?'
The others looked deadly serious, minus our party. I could hear murmurs, but couldn't focus on the words.
Glancing at Seo Yu-ju, she wore an "it had to happen" look. Deeply conflicted.
'...Did the expedition fail, like she predicted last time?'
Gu Yeon-jeong's face was stone-cold. I didn't know the details, but shit looked dire.
"...Everyone, quiet down. I'll explain the situation."
The noisy room fell silent at her words.
"...You all know the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th parties left on a joint large-scale expedition with other clans."
"......"
"It's been three weeks since they left, and no word. Just like when Golden Wing Clan went alone."
The room erupted in murmurs at Gu Yeon-jeong's words.
'...I heard expeditions usually take 2-3 weeks on average.'
Some take over a month, but the problem was this dungeon: Golden Wing Clan entered before and no one came out.
'...All dead? With that much firepower?'
"I believe our clan members are likely still alive."
Three weeks in—not a full month yet, so possible, like she said...
'But no one's emerged from that dungeon so far.'
No one from any expedition had returned. Over four months.
'...How is that possible? All failures?'
How could zero survivors emerge?
The others seemed to brace for her next words, eyes squeezed shut.
"...After consulting with reps from the other three great clans, we've decided to launch a rescue expedition. This time, every member of all three great clans, no exceptions."
'Even dumping all three great clans' forces... and it still fails?'
I'd dismissed it from Seo Yu-ju's reaction before, but apparently even full commitment from the three great clans wouldn't cut it.
The others looked relieved at the news of total mobilization. With that many, failure seemed impossible to them.
"However, Party 6 and the new recruits will stay with the clan."
"...Pardon?"
Lee Jae-hyo looked baffled at being benched.
Our party made sense—less than a year on the continent meant no major expeditions. But why sideline a key fighter like him?
"The new recruits can't manage the clan alone while we're gone. Jae-hyo, you'll act as interim Clan Master in the meantime."
"B-but... with the clan's safety at stake, I can't be the only one left out..."
"Don't worry. With this many people, failure's not an option. Stay and hold the fort."
"...Understood, Clan Master."
He didn't like it but accepted her order.
"Anyway, everyone except Party 6 and the new recruits joins this expedition. Incarnation Clan and Golden Wing Clan are committing full forces too. I get the anxiety, but try not to worry too much."
One man raised his hand.
"Clan Master, when do we depart?"
"In two days. Time's critical—one day's delay could mean more lost survivors."
'Makes sense... Rush out to save as many as possible.'
Her decision was logical.
'...Straight to hell, though.'
Unfortunately, neither I nor Seo Yu-ju saw a way to save them.
No matter how much a newbie protested, they'd go to rescue their comrades.
Unless Seo Yu-ju revealed she was a Regressor, there was no explaining why not.
Gu Yeon-jeong drove it home.
"Expedition launches in two days. Prepare yourselves."