Chapter 29

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 029

Chapter Title: Fireworks in the Seoul Sky

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Before Lee Dong-gyu received the email from asd123.

The Mathematics Department researchers were holding their breath as they read the email sent by Professor Park Ha-jun.

The mathematical models and equations contained in the email were extremely unusual.

"...A Kalman filter model?"

It was similar, but different.

The Kalman filter is a highly effective mathematical algorithm for probabilistically estimating an object's current internal state based on its past data.

It's mainly used for real-time tracking and surveillance, with radar as a prime example.

However, it's not surprisingly difficult.

The proven results are very straightforward, and you can use it just by understanding those results.

But.

The proof process itself is tough.

Understanding it and applying it to complex situations is equally challenging.

And Professor Park Ha-jun had sent something similar to the Kalman filter, yet...

A 'brand new' model in 'abbreviated' form.

That's right. He'd left the proof and detailed development to them. He'd dumped the filthy hard part on them...

"Kyaaak...!"

Like zombies spotting prey, the researchers let out guttural cries.

At their howls, Kang Eun-ho and Kim A-hyun flinched in alarm.

Kang Eun-ho stepped forward to calm them down.

"S-Seniors, please calm down..."

But there was no need for Kang Eun-ho to intervene in the first place.

The researchers immediately returned to their seats and got to work on their assigned roles.

One researcher reviewed and fleshed out the model Professor Park had sent.

"Soo-ji, can you fire up the 3D modeling program?"

"Ah, I don't know how to use it..."

"Just turn on the computer."

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, others pored over the equations and formulas Professor Park had sent.

"Why is mana in the covariance matrix...?"

"Hey, don't get all self-conscious. Hurry up and calculate the initial values. You wanna go home or not?"

"Ugh..."

Watching the scene unfold, Kang Eun-ho and Kim A-hyun were utterly bewildered.

The world outside was in chaos from the giant monster and the rain of fire.

Just ten minutes ago, these people had been trembling in fear too.

How could Professor Park's assignment flip the atmosphere 180 degrees like this?

To the bewildered pair, Lee Soo-ji approached after successfully booting up the computer.

"At least this is something we can do."

Her words left the two new researchers in awe. Even in a national crisis, she was giving her all to her work. So cool.

But Lee Soo-ji corrected their misunderstanding.

"...The hunters will handle that monster, but if we don't do this, we can't go home."

Whether today or tomorrow...

"Ah..."

Kang Eun-ho got it now.

Of course, Professor Park wasn't that harsh, but it was a lab tradition born from somewhat complicated circumstances.

"Soo-ji! Can you review this?"

"Ah, sure!"

Lee Soo-ji dashed off again at a researcher's call.

Fortunately, Professor Park's project was progressing smoothly.

Meanwhile, in Professor Park Ha-jun's workshop.

While the researchers diligently analyzed the data, Park Ha-jun was drawing circuits for attribute magic bullets.

He was attempting to replace [Attribute] with [Harmony].

He'd been pondering it steadily ever since hearing the request.

"...Done."

After an hour of trials, he succeeded.

Of course, the system didn't display the word 'Harmony' that the Association President had mentioned.

But there were no issues with the circuit. His intuition told him so.

And then, while pondering how to incorporate it into Barrier.

- Professor! We've proved the equations you sent and fleshed out the modeling! Please reviewㅠㅠ

A text from Soo-ji arrived.

Park Ha-jun checked it immediately and clenched his fist. He'd been worried since this wasn't their main field.

'...They organized it perfectly in such a short time.'

A shiver ran through him.

His decision to separate circuits and math for role division had been spot on.

This meant he could rely on the researchers going forward.

'I should set up a private lab and hire them after graduation. Fat salaries.'

These talented kids were doing research assistant work for a measly 1.1 million won.

Sure, there were tuition waivers, but for people routinely clocking in at 9 a.m. and out at 11 p.m., it wasn't enough.

Park Ha-jun wasn't paying their salaries, and he couldn't just hand out raises willy-nilly, so it had been tricky...

'...Lucky.'

Either way, to secure that future, he had to give his all now.

Park Ha-jun marked the logically shaky parts in Soo-ji's materials, sent them back.

Once he fully ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠internalized it to the point of manifesting it as intent, he emailed Lee Dong-gyu.

Following Kim A-hyun's words that custom orders didn't need conceptually perfect circuits.

He was seeking confirmation on the Association President's mana capacity and such.

Not sure if the analogy fit, but if the scroll was a rocket, the Association President was the launchpad...

The scroll's boldness would depend on the launchpad's performance.

And that launchpad's specs...

They said he was the world's best.

'Then I can go all out.'

The thought of implementing that elaborate circuit in his head thrilled him.

'Boldly... Ignore efficiency for now...'

Park Ha-jun, buzzing with excitement, began drawing the circuit.

Meanwhile, Lee Dong-gyu around that time.

After sending a reply, he hurriedly chased after the Association President.

"...Association President! A response came in!"

The Association President halted and asked dryly.

"What did it say?"

"They say it can be made in 2 hours!"

The Association President's eyebrow twitched.

Two hours. Was that even feasible?

'asd123... I already know you're not a fully realized Awakener.'

asd123 was growing in real time.

Looking at the scrolls he sold chronologically, they progressed sequentially from 0-circle to 2-circle.

But [Barrier] had only recently appeared on the Auction House.

'I have to acknowledge that overwhelming growth rate. However...'

Even with that growth, his current level couldn't manage it in two hours.

The Association President himself had regressed ten times just to infuse harmony into Barrier.

Yet it still wasn't perfect, leading to failure and broken will in the 10th regression.

'And you claim to have done it in a mere four days?'

The Association President chuckled.

No way. asd123 must have misunderstood the request.

Still, he didn't voice those thoughts.

"Two hours... Cutting it close."

"If they deliver within the time, the fallback plan you mentioned still has a chance."

The barrier would last roughly another two hours and thirty minutes.

Even if asd123 missed the two-hour mark, the plan wasn't doomed.

"...Understood. But pass on that I can't wait beyond two hours. Of course, we'll still compensate appropriately."

"Got it... But asd123 has never once missed a request deadline."

The Association President flashed a subtle smile.

"Hmph... I'll trust and wait."

The odds were slim, but he had to cling to even shallow hope.

Resuming his steps, the Association President reviewed strategies in front of the normal barrier, waiting for asd123.

About two hours passed.

The giant snake thrashed within the barrier.

Cracks were forming in the barrier, widening the snake's range of movement.

"...Get ready. The barrier will only hold for another 30 minutes."

At Seo Ji-ah's words, the Association President and the subjugation team prepared.

"Don't worry too much. It's not properly summoned."

"...Yes."

Excluding the poison, subjugating it wouldn't be too hard. The poison was the issue.

'That said... what is Lee Dong-gyu doing?'

He'd reported a reply from asd123.

Why no word after ten minutes?

They still needed to check ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the scroll before entering.

As the Association President sighed deeply.

A presence appeared at the mountain path entrance.

"Association President...!"

Lee Dong-gyu was rushing over, clutching a single scroll preciously to his chest.

"...!"

Tension rippled through him. Realistically slim odds, but hope stirred.

Yet Lee Dong-gyu's expression was ambiguous.

If he'd received asd123's scroll and the request succeeded, he'd be the happiest person there?

But he looked somewhat worried as he ran up.

'Why that face?'

As the Association President imagined the worst, Lee Dong-gyu stopped and caught his breath.

"Huff... Association President, explanations later—here's the scroll first...!"

He handed it over.

The Association President examined the received scroll.

"......What is this?"

Uncharacteristically, he was at a loss for words. He even rubbed his eyes, wondering if his vision was failing.

But the text on the scroll didn't change.

"Hah."

Chuckling in disbelief, the Association President inspected it properly.

Everything was blank.

But what shocked the Association President wasn't that.

It was below that.

"...I'm sorry. I should have come right away, but even I was too stunned to think straight."

The Association President's throat bobbed.

"...What the hell did you make to require this much mana?"

And what was that alpha at the end?

In that moment, he realized. Lee Dong-gyu's worried look was for him. Whether he could handle this mana...

'...Treated like a mere stand-in. Amusing.'

Fine. He wasn't sure if this scroll perfectly captured 'Harmony'.

But using it would unleash magic beyond imagination. That much was certain.

Time to test it.

"Good work. Hold the line."

The Association President approached Seo Ji-ah.

"Can you drop the normal barrier?"

"...No problem. But I can't modify the virtual barrier activating in 30 minutes. Keep it pinned until then."

If he planned something, it meant hold it for 30 minutes.

"Understood. They've all done their part, so I'll manage that much."

He then addressed Councilor Shin and the melee dealers.

"Prepare."

With that, he unfurled the scroll.

His mood was peculiar. A grand mage like him relying on another's magic felt profoundly odd.

But the oddity didn't last.

Flash.

Infusing mana into the circuit, a staggering 810,000 mana vanished in an instant.

Even he, who cast 6th-circle spells without backlash.

"...!"

As if laced with malice, the scroll wrenched an enormous surge from his heart.

Seeing the scroll's blue glow, Seo Ji-ah released the normal barrier.

Wooong.

Freed from restraint, the snake cloaked itself in flames and unleashed another fiery barrage.

Stronger, more intense.

But the Barrier from asd123's scroll and the Association President's mana stood firm.

A vast hemispherical dome enveloped the area, blocking the fire rain.

The flames slowed drastically, as if sinking into a swamp.

Screech. Boom!

They were intercepted by magic bullets generated around the Association President.

"...!"

Only the Association President understood what was happening.

The others might think it was his magic intercepting the fire, but no.

He was too busy replenishing mana to act.

'...What just happened?'

Chill running down his spine, he analyzed.

Fire rain hitting the barrier slowed.

His mana continuously drained in the meantime.

'...Using my mana to predict the fire's trajectory and speed.'

Screech, boom!

'Then expending my mana to intercept with attribute magic bullets.'

The intercepting bullets shimmered in rainbow hues, devouring the faint mana corruption in the fire and vanishing.

The rainbow lights adorned the snake-tainted sky like colorful stars.

Like fireworks, soothing the panicked populace.

'...What did you pack into this single parchment, asd123?'

It was a profoundly humbling sight.

A spell that made a fool of him, despite his near-century investment with [Absolute Memory].

Around that time, Park Ha-jun was on the balcony, gazing at the sky. A beer in one hand.

Screech. Boom.

He sipped as brilliant fireworks burst overhead.

"...Beautiful. So that's what all the fuss was about."

Back when he [Purified] the elemental golem's core, hadn't he drawn explosive interest from top hunters?

But there was a clear difference then and now.

Then, only elite hunters saw it. Now, all of Seoul would witness it through the sky.

The fallout would be on another level.

As long as that attention didn't crash into his reality, it was fine by Park Ha-jun.

'...Still, I'd love to tell the kids this is our handiwork.'

Smiling, Park Ha-jun brushed off his pants and stood.

Having seen the results, time for the next task.

'The report said the main body is separate.'

A 2-circle spell with 60%+ circuit completion—might be useful for the Association?

With that, he emailed Lee Dong-gyu and headed to the workshop.