Chapter 490: Changing Incheon (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 490: Changing Incheon (3)
A new world.
While studying this unfamiliar culture, one particular element caught Roman Dmitry’s eye.
Items.
When the first Great Disaster struck, people armed with modern firearms had struggled immensely in battle. But as time passed, humanity came to recognize the existence of items. By absorbing mana to amplify the power of skills, these items became the very weapons that allowed mankind to defend itself against the threat of monsters.
During the month spent preparing for the Ant Cave subjugation, Roman Dmitry had learned the language, absorbed the culture, and immersed himself in information regarding these items.
'The concept of items is nothing special. It’s only called that because people familiar with game systems coined the term. In reality, they are merely primitive versions of the mana weapons from my past life. Just as we crafted weapons with exceptional mana conductivity as Aura developed, this world has only just recognized the existence of mana and begun crafting weapons suited for it.'
Because of this, their crafting methods were incredibly crude.
They had only been forging items for a mere twenty years. Their techniques paled in comparison to Dmitry's technology, which had been refined over generations. In truth, Dmitry's craftsmanship utterly overwhelmed the technology of this world.
'Considering the brief span of their cultural development, this is only natural. Besides, the people of this world do not truly understand the principles of mana. In my past life, even if their foundational understanding was lacking, people still recognized mana and forged a new path called magic on their own. But here, they merely receive power through a conduit called the System. Though they have grown strong rapidly over the last twenty years, they have built a castle of sand that could collapse at any moment.'
Whether through Aura or magic, the people of his past life had carved out their own domains.
Because Roman Dmitry had established an overwhelming domain even by those standards, he couldn't help but find this new world's system cruder the more he studied it. This was also why he was so certain of Kang Min-ho's promotion. Against opponents who didn't even understand the basic principles of power, Kang Min-ho—who had learned the Asura Mind Method and the Asura Sword Technique—would hold a massive advantage.
Rustle.
He turned the page, reviewing the information on items.
From S-rank down to F-rank.
Examining the items ranked A and above, which reportedly sold for astronomical sums, Roman Dmitry reached a single conclusion.
'I have no need for the weapons they call Famous Swords. Such trash cannot fully withstand my power. For what I plan to do in the future, I must forge my own weapons. The time to do so will be after the Ant Cave subjugation. Once all immediate problems are resolved, I will craft a new weapon suited to this world.'
This had been his plan from the very beginning.
Thus, Roman Dmitry had ordered Kim Jun-hyeok to prepare a forge.
* * *
Kim Jun-hyeok spoke up.
"Actually, up until a year ago, this forge was used by Incheon's greatest artisan. It has been vacant since he relocated to Seoul, but I can assure you that the equipment here is top-of-the-line."
The interior of the forge felt familiar.
Watching Roman Dmitry meticulously inspect the tools, Kim Jun-hyeok couldn't help but feel bewildered.
'What on earth is he planning?'
Crafting was a highly specialized domain. It wasn't an area someone could simply dabble in. To craft an item recognized by others required at least ten years of rigorous training. It was unthinkable that someone as powerful as Roman Dmitry would also possess master-level crafting skills.
But that was mere prejudice. Just like Lee Tae-seong, those who lived within the boundaries of common sense simply could not fathom an absurd reality.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"For the next month, do not seek me out unless it concerns a Great Disaster or a direct threat to Incheon's safety."
"Understood."
Creeeak. Thud.
The door closed.
Roman Dmitry prepared to work the anvil for the first time in a long while.
The furnace was lit, and the forge was instantly bathed in intense heat.
Whoosh. Whoooosh.
'Spirit, the sword into which I poured my very soul, was lost during my dimensional travel. If I were to invest the same effort and dedication as I did back then, I could craft a weapon rivaling Spirit. But not right now. Spirit was a masterpiece born from the convergence of my circumstances, my emotions, and everything I experienced at that time. Right now, I do not possess that kind of spark.'
Merely matching Spirit's level wouldn't satisfy him.
If he was going to pour that much effort into a blade, Roman Dmitry was determined to craft a weapon that surpassed Spirit.
But it was still too early.
Since that was an impossible goal for now, he set a new objective for the immediate future.
'Living in this new world, I will experience many things. The countless factors that accumulate along the way will eventually become the spark required to forge a weapon superior to Spirit. But that is for later. For now, I will craft a sword for my own temporary use. A sword that far exceeds the standards of this world, one capable of withstanding my full power.'
Clang! Clang!
He began to hammer the steel.
Heat enveloped Roman Dmitry. Amidst the fiercely blazing flames, his aspect as a master blacksmith revealed itself.
'Furthermore, I will craft as many weapons as possible over the next month. I cannot bear to see my people using such crude weapons in the impending Great Disaster. At the very least, their weapons must not hold them back.'
He had forged swords as the Heavenly Demon, and he had lived among the master blacksmiths of Dmitry. Roman Dmitry now possessed the stubborn pride unique to peak artisans—the kind that made one frown in disgust at the sight of a terrible weapon.
It was confidence.
It was pride.
And having entered a new realm of power, Roman's crafting skills had advanced far beyond his past life.
Whoosh. Whoooosh.
Flame Divine Art.
The flames fell under his perfect control.
Dancing through the forge, the fire provided the precise heat dictated by Roman Dmitry's will. Under his peak-level crafting skills, the steel glowed a brilliant, searing red.
Neither Lee Tae-seong nor Kim Jun-hyeok knew the truth about Roman Dmitry.
They didn't know what kind of person he truly was, or just how many talents he possessed.
His shocking actions and his combat power—which might very well be S-rank—were merely the outermost layer of an onion waiting to be peeled.
Clang!
He struck down hard.
For the next month, Roman Dmitry immersed himself in the scorching flames.
* * *
A month.
It was not a short amount of time.
The USA warned that the 6th Great Disaster was imminent due to recurring omen phenomena, and the intelligence agencies of various nations released data agreeing with the USA's assessment. The global economy contracted. Nations reorganized their military forces, stockpiled supplies, and verified their alliances to prepare for any contingency.
Meanwhile, South Korea was being marginalized.
Although it maintained friendly relations with the USA, South Korea was in a position of unilaterally receiving aid. This meant the safety of the USA and other major nations took absolute priority. It was an ironic picture. Just as the tiny land of South Korea prioritized the safety of Seoul above all else, on the global stage, South Korea itself was relegated to the status of a mere province.
Perhaps because of this, South Korean President Kim Jeong-tae made a public address.
"South Korea needs talented individuals to protect our nation. If you prove your skills at the Promotion Exam Site, the South Korean government promises to treat you in accordance with your abilities. We will never take lightly the determination of those who wish to serve their country. For the future of South Korea, and for our people, please lend us your strength."
This was a recurring phenomenon whenever a Great Disaster loomed.
The president's speech temporarily boosted the number of applicants for promotion, and today, as soon as dawn broke, crowds swarmed the exam site. They weren't driven solely by patriotism. While the president's words might have touched a few hearts, most were simply capitalizing on the "Great Disaster boom."
During this period, the value of Hunters skyrocketed.
With other nations actively promoting naturalization, the Great Disaster boom was the perfect opportunity to sell oneself to the highest bidder. Some Hunters had even intentionally waited for the 6th Great Disaster for this very reason.
As the stream of applicants continued to pour in, a staff member processing the applications suddenly looked startled upon receiving a stack of dozens of forms at once.
"...Are all of these people applying together?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Group applications from a single organization were not uncommon.
However, there had never been a case where the desired ranks were this high.
What in the world...
[12 applicants for D to C-rank]
[18 applicants for C to B-rank]
[1 applicant for B to A-rank]
A total of 31 people.
The higher-ups had instructed them to secure anyone of C-rank or above by any means necessary, yet every single one of these applicants was applying for C-rank or higher. If all of them succeeded in their promotions, it would undoubtedly be an unprecedented event. Even putting the C-ranks aside, the news of eighteen B-rank Hunters being born simultaneously would throw Seoul into an absolute frenzy.
And...
There's even an A-rank applicant. Not a single new A-rank has emerged over the past month, leading to criticisms that this is the worst period in South Korean history. This is a massive scoop. But of all things, they belong to the Incheon Government. The higher-ups ordered us to ensure the Incheon Government's applicants fail, but failing such talented individuals at a time like this is too great a loss.
It was a dilemma.
The Incheon Government.
Over the past month, the pressure on them had intensified. They were practically outcasts in domestic politics, and the fact that these applicants belonged to Incheon weighed heavily on the staff member's mind.
Perhaps they had applied for the promotion exam as a desperate last resort. Even if the chances of success were slim, they might be trying to prove Incheon's worth this way.
The staff member finally spoke.
"I will process the applications as they are for now. However, for the A-rank promotion, we need to coordinate the schedule with the examiner, so it will be difficult to conduct the exam today. Please return home for now, and we will notify you of the exam schedule shortly."
* * *
The Directly Controlled Unit's application for promotion was immediately reported to Moon Tae-jun.
Although the staff member suggested they should try to win the applicants over regardless of their affiliation with Incheon, Moon Tae-jun's thoughts were entirely different.
"They're desperate. Pathetic bastards."
He laughed.
Over the past month, while tightening the noose around Incheon, he had already caught wind of the Directly Controlled Unit that Kim Jun-hyeok was secretly training. Most of them were individuals who had sworn loyalty to Kim Jun-hyeok due to ties from six years ago. Back then, they weren't particularly impressive, but after diligent effort, their unit commander, Lee Tae-seong, had managed to rise to B-rank.
But that was his absolute limit.
No matter how much he investigated, none of the others were anything special, with the sole exception of Lee Tae-seong.
'They might be considered quite skilled in the provinces. But a bunch of mediocre runts who aren't even B-rank cannot overturn Incheon's cornered situation. This is nothing but a bluff. It's a performance to beg for leniency for Incheon in the face of the impending Great Disaster, hoping that even one or two of them manage to promote. Based on what I know of the Directly Controlled Unit's strength, they won't succeed in promoting at all. And Lee Tae-seong promoting to A-rank is utterly absurd.'
It was a judgment based on solid intelligence.
It was laughable. Seeing them struggle so desperately to survive, he felt he would soon be able to bring about the exact outcome he desired.
Incheon would have no choice but to bow its head.
Their rebellion was nothing more than an idealistic fantasy that ignored reality.
'It's all because they trusted that fraud, Roman Dmitry. Roman Dmitry hasn't made a single move over the past month. If he were truly an S-rank powerhouse, he would have tried to highlight his position and gather people at a time like this when everyone is preparing for a Great Disaster. His silence only points to one obvious truth: his strength is a lie. He might be an A-rank, but he is certainly not powerful enough to withstand the pressure of the Central Government.'
It was utterly pathetic.
To think such a creature had dared to speak so insolently to him. Although Incheon would self-destruct even if left alone, Moon Tae-jun intended to crush them thoroughly to make an example out of them.
He commanded his subordinate.
"Assign the Incheon Government's applicants to face the strongest opponents of their respective ranks. And..."
His eyes turned razor-sharp.
Incheon's appearance at the promotion exam site run by the Central Government was not a solution to their crisis; rather, it was a disastrous misstep that would push them right off the cliff.
"Use the exam as an excuse to kill them all."
The total annihilation of the Directly Controlled Unit.
Anticipation swelled within him. When that disastrous outcome was made public, Moon Tae-jun would visit Incheon to witness their despair firsthand.
That would indeed be highly entertaining.