Chapter 23

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 023

Chapter Title: First Meeting

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Meanwhile, Lee Dong-gyu was biting his nails as he monitored the Auction House.

Park Ha-jun was trying to calm his pounding heart.

"This... sold for this much?"

He had figured it might fetch 120 million given asd123's reputation and the scroll's numerical rarity.

But he hadn't expected the one listed at 240 million gold to sell as well.

Naturally, that sparked hopes of "What if 480 million works too?"

Unfortunately, it seemed 480 million was a stretch.

He forced his racing heart to settle and checked the community reactions.

These were the reactions from Awakeners who had watched the pre-dawn auction parade unfold.

And as time passed.

Considering asd123's value, 240 million was more than reasonable.

The buyer confidently predicted that once asd123 gained even more fame, a [Barrier] circuit would fetch far more than 240 million—something about its artistic value.

Anyone who had seen [Purification] in person would get it······.

The responses were mostly mocking.

"Hm···."

It was bedtime, but the community reactions were too entertaining to stop scrolling.

Lying in bed, after refreshing for about five minutes, the buyer posted again.

And a few dozen minutes later.

The post got buried under downvotes and vanished from the community for a long while.

Refunds were obviously impossible, but if they crossed paths later, he might buy them a drink.

Park Ha-jun's lab.

"Whoa···."

Even knowing it was his lab, a sigh of awe escaped him.

Fortunately, the researchers—used to hearing the math professor's heavy breathing now and then—just glanced over without comment.

Snapping out of it, Park Ha-jun pondered what to do with all this gold.

Department budget and research funds··· A year's worth covered with plenty to spare.

Luxury? Not his style. He might indulge once someday, but not now.

Allowance for his parents. Of course. He'd been sending 30 million a month since becoming a professor, but it could never repay their sacrifices.

And then.

"···This is possible now."

After a moment's thought, Park Ha-jun closed the status window.

"No reason to pay right now."

It was because of the [Trait-Exclusive Quest].

Regular quests offered just a few sheets of parchment and pocket change.

But this [Trait-Exclusive Quest] had delivered overwhelming rewards, hadn't it?

"···A 3-circle circuit won't be easier than a 2-circle one."

As a math professor eager for fame and to elevate his department, Park Ha-jun had long abandoned the stubborn notion of achieving it through pure mathematics alone.

Using a skill enhancement on [Geometric Interpretation] might provide help—perhaps enhanced communication abilities, or something forcing magic-trait Awakeners to study math······.

"To get rewards like that, I need to master 2-circle first."

No need to splurge 100 million on 3-circle just yet.

"Department budget, research funds, parents' allowance, living expenses······."

About 100 million gold should keep money troubles at bay for a while.

For reference, last time he only cashed out a little since the goal was "2-circle Barrier creation."

Anyway.

He had perfected Barrier. Preparations for potential dangers were mostly complete.

Park Ha-jun sent the delayed reply.

He habitually deleted the wording and rewrote ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it.

···His stance on the Association.

After much deliberation over a long time, he had reached a conclusion.

Running wild with his new abilities or throwing his weight around didn't suit him.

But he couldn't grovel either.

Park Ha-jun was an individual; the Association was an organization.

Even if only Lee Dong-gyu and the chairman knew of the contract, any "consideration" from him would invite escalating demands.

Individuals could sacrifice and yield, but organizations couldn't.

His conclusion was simple.

At minimum, on contract matters, he had to dress the part.

All asd123-related dealings required his inspection and approval.

That way, his current life could last longer.

For that, he perfected Barrier.

And for that, he would continue honing his Awakener abilities without pause.

"Alright, time to go···."

With his thoughts sorted, Park Ha-jun headed to Kang Eun-ho's training room. Time to test Barrier's real-world performance.

Item Analysis Room.

A reply arrived for Lee Dong-gyu, who had been scraping together funds.

This meant asd123 didn't fully trust the Association yet. He was prepared for that.

No matter how pristine the Association's public image, contracts with organizations demanded caution.

Especially for production-class Awakeners lacking personal power.

"As expected, no public activity, but plenty of savvy."

To reach that level, luck alone wouldn't cut it.

asd123 was an Awakener who achieved mastery through solitary, grueling training.

Efforts beyond "bone-grinding" for sure.

Definitely no pushover.

"···Preparing cash was the right call."

Lee Dong-gyu glanced at his smartphone. Texts with the chairman.

The two had scraped together 1.3 billion through tears.

But asd123's dawn transactions totaled 450 million gold.

"···Need more."

With a deep sigh, he replied to asd123.

Using mana detection items and the transparency item bought with his life savings, they could meet discreetly.

Of course, thorough plans were in place.

Send an elite raid team to a nearby gate for rapid response.

The chairman providing remote magic support, all without revealing info.

"···If Corrupted Awakeners sniffed this out and breached it, Korea would have fallen long ago."

While awaiting asd123's reply, he reviewed documents.

Flip. Flip.

Signing and passing papers for raid teams requesting appraisals or loans.

Then.

"···!"

Concise words.

Unlike other Awakeners, no pandering to the massive Association—in fact, turning the tables with sheer audacity.

"···First time like this. What does this person even do?"

His identity gnawed at him.

Suppressing his curiosity, he resumed reviewing papers.

Of course, consulting the chairman mid-task to gather more funds.

Kang Eun-ho's training room.

Having unlocked 2-circle, Kang Eun-ho cast his magic.

Boom—!!!

Attribute magic bullets and attribute mana arrows hammered the Barrier.

It shuddered violently but held.

However, damage numbers appeared on the steel dummy inside.

The Barrier protecting the dummy.

This was Kang Eun-ho's standard Barrier. No topological math involved.

Plenty to say about it, but not the time to nitpick.

"As long as shock absorption isn't 1, internal damage is inevitable."

Kang Eun-ho nodded at Park Ha-jun's words.

"Yes. Excluding the chairman and a few peak 4-circle masters, perfect Barriers are impossible. It's about damage reduction."

After several tests, they analyzed [Barrier].

[Shock Absorption] reduced internal damage.

[Defense] was the Barrier's durability.

Park Ha-jun's scrolls hit "1" on both.

No internal damage, and durability···.

"Hard to say? Unless it's a full 4-circle attack spell, piercing it would be tough. Multiple attackers pouring it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on might be different."

"I see···."

Park Ha-jun nodded, and Kang Eun-ho said excitedly,

"By the way, Professor, you saw the article too, right?!"

"What article?"

"Huh? The insane Auction House parade by asd123 at dawn? The baseline value 1 Barrier···!"

"Ah··· Something like that."

"What's that guy's deal? I wish ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'd been like asd123 instead of a mage···."

After some idle chat with Kang Eun-ho.

"Time flies! Professor, I gotta go for class. Ah··· I wasn't helpful at all, wasted your time···."

"Haha. You still need to attend. Your grades matter, and the Magic Department profs worked hard prepping it."

Though profs who actually prepare diligently are rarer than you'd think.

"···Right."

Kang Eun-ho rose listlessly.

"Ah, mind if I use the training room a bit? Talking with you sparked some ideas······."

Once Kang Eun-ho left, Park Ha-jun alone deployed a Barrier scroll at the steel dummy.

"···First time using it myself."

Truth be told, he hadn't planned to use scrolls personally before.

Magic activation vids flooded NewTube.

But his [Barrier] scrolls had a uniquely special structure, didn't they?

Hunter reviews would be ideal, but at that price, none yet.

For his own safety, he had to test it.

Kang Eun-ho's Barrier lingered, perfect for comparison.

"Plenty of gold now—time to invest boldly."

He bought high-grade parchment from the [Exclusive Shop], then drew a circuit via [Accelerated Manifestation].

A 1-circle spell from a 6-circle mage.

Aimed at the steel dummy, he channeled mana.

Fwaaah.

The circuit glowed blue. A dense rock projectile launched at the Barrier. The result.

Krasha. KABOOM—!!!

"···Whoa."

Just a 1-circle spell did that. A 2-circle—Mana Arrow—would have wrecked the dummy.

Calming his shock, he checked the damage.

For reference, Kang Eun-ho had used four spells at once for 130 damage.

Variables aplenty, so not fully comparable···.

But Park Ha-jun's scrolls were monstrously powerful.

"···Now, compare to my Barrier."

Painful to use, but he treated it as life insurance.

Fwaaah.

Blue light enveloped the circuit. The formed Barrier spherical around the dummy.

Unlike Kang Eun-ho's single layer, it looked thick.

The space-defining circuit differed from reality, giving the Barrier a shimmering otherworldliness.

Definitely no ordinary Barrier.

However.

The massive mana drain left his legs weak.

"···."

As an F-rank Awakener, his mana pool was bottom-tier even among Awakeners.

"Gotta test quick and head home. Might collapse···."

Dazed, he hurriedly drew an Earth Magic Bullet on high-grade parchment.

This time, at his [Barrier]. Mana cost 20—manageable.

The scroll activated normally.

Pfshk.

The Earth Magic Bullet sank into the Barrier like a ball into a fluffy bed.

The impact spot stretched like rubber sheeting.

But after fully absorbing the damage, it snapped back.

Zero damage, naturally.

"···Performance is solid."

After tidying up, Park Ha-jun sent a mail.

Summoning Lee Dong-gyu to his home turf.

Safer than fumbling around—let him come.

Evidently, Lee Dong-gyu kept asd123's secret well.

Major guilds still sending love calls.

"Back to the lab first···."

Park Ha-jun massaged his throbbing head and hurried off.

The next day.

Lee Dong-gyu entered Yeonhui University Science Hall 3rd floor per the thorough plan and mailed asd123 from the hallway.

"Calling me to a university? Fresh and shocking."

A college student maybe?

Mid-weird fantasies, a reply came.

"Unnecessary words?"

Puzzled by the phrasing, a woman approached from down the hall with light, sparrow-like steps.

"···! asd123 is such a bright, bubbly college girl?!"

Utterly flabbergasted. Beyond expectations. The university summons were odd, but this? Unimaginable.

···Focus. This is asd123.

But.

"Hellooo! You're the sponsor, right?! The professor's in his lab. I'll show you!"

Sponsor? Total confusion. Professor? Who? asd123? Then who's she?

He just followed asd123's no-frills instruction.

"Ah, yes···."

He trailed the oddly familiar woman to a lab door.

"Right in here!"

She knocked for him.

"Professor! Sponsor's here!"

"Ah, come in."

She nodded at Lee Dong-gyu.

Thoroughly flustered, he reached for the door—but her familiarity hit him, so he turned.

"By the way, aren't you···."

She dropped her smile, finger to lips.

"If you know who I am, you know what I hate most."

"···Yes."

He nodded and entered.

A man in his late 20s poured coffee.

"Professor? TA? Professor?... She said professor, so professor?"

But one thing was certain: this was asd123.

Smooth, intellectual vibe. Eyes mysteriously weary.

Chilling gaze, but lips forced into a smile.

"Come in."

And visible only to Lee Dong-gyu: the item's trace.

Confirmed. This man was asd123.