Chapter 34

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 034

Chapter Title: Churning of the Ocean of Milk

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[Sender: Urgent Item Buyer]

Hello, Maker...

Until the official request from Lee Dong-gyu arrived, Park Ha-jun had no choice but to go about his ordinary daily life.

No matter the situation, without a request from the Association, Park Ha-jun was just a regular mathematics professor.

So, as always, he would scribble away at circuits in his workshop until late into the night.

Then in the morning, he'd head to his lab office, review the research data and papers submitted by his researchers, and spend the day like that.

Of course, there were times chatting with Kang Eun-ho about magic theory after his classes,

or discussing commercial circuits with Kim A-hyun, who showed up late.

But even those had become utterly routine now.

Still, even in this ordinary routine, there was one incident worth calling an "event"...

And it all started with an email from Lee Dong-gyu.

Due to this, they planned to concentrate all power on the quarantine facility, with a note to be cautious about entering hazardous areas.

And at the end of the email...

In other words, Jeong Hyun-seok had officially become a sponsor.

- A Geometric Approach to Magical Formulas and Scroll Circuits...

Though the title was abstract, the contents were what had propelled Kang Eun-ho's rapid growth.

'...Without knowing it's asd123, he must have been genuinely impressed by the content and decided to sponsor.'

Park Ha-jun shared the research sponsorship account with Lee Dong-gyu without much resistance.

And sure enough, it came through swiftly and cleanly: 300 million won in Jeong Hyun-seok's name, and 100 million anonymously from Lee Dong-gyu.

Lee Dong-gyu mentioned he planned to do installment sponsorships.

Anyway, since this wasn't Park Ha-jun's personal account, he inevitably received a flustered summons from the department chair.

[Professor Park Ha-jun, could you come to the department chair's office for a moment?]

Hwang Ji-on, chair of the Mathematics Department. Gentle and deeply considerate.

He had assigned Park Ha-jun only 6 credits this semester out of consideration for his upcoming associate professor promotion review.

Thanks to that, Park Ha-jun could focus on research, but out of guilt, he helped with administrative tasks.

Even Hwang Ji-on, who had stepped away from admin work for a while, was shocked—so 400 million won in sponsorship was no small matter.

Enough to make Hwang Ji-on pace the office anxiously, biting his nails.

"Professor Ha-jun!"

At the urgent call, Park Ha-jun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠greeted him with an awkward smile.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, it's just... A huge sum suddenly got deposited into our research sponsorship account. And it seems like it's from sponsors for your research."

The reason was simple.

A quick search for the sponsor Jeong Hyun-seok showed affiliation with the Awakener Association...

"Would the Mathematics Department get sponsorship from the Awakener Association...? It must be that they saw potential in the magic fusion research you've been planning lately..."

"Hmm... Probably. I happened to have a chance to discuss the research."

"I knew it..."

Hwang Ji-on stroked his chin thoughtfully, organizing his thoughts.

"If a renowned mage is sponsoring to that extent, it means your research isn't in vain, right?"

Park Ha-jun nodded with a smile.

Hwang Ji-on let out a sigh of relief.

"...Truth be told, there've been some unfavorable rumors among the other department professors lately."

"What kind of rumors?"

"That you're pushing an overly ambitious research topic for your associate promotion review, exploiting an innocent Magic Department student for labor... That sort of thing has been floating around a bit."

"Hmm..."

Hwang Ji-on didn't mention it, but even harsher rumors were circulating.

Things like renaming the Mathematics Department to Computational Magic Fusion Department.

Good for the school, but it would mean mass exodus for pure math professors.

"You know there's a faculty meeting coming up soon? Bad things are bound to come up there, so I was going to suggest picking a different research topic. But... your current research clearly has value. Right?"

...

The conclusion of the conversation was straightforward.

This sponsorship money would go entirely to Park Ha-jun's lab, so produce meaningful results.

A request to become associate professor and stay on as a Mathematics Department prof.

Park Ha-jun's response was simple.

"Yes, of course."

He planned to do that anyway.

Once the Vasuki request was perfectly wrapped up, he'd pause new circuit analysis and solidify his foundations.

This conversation was the cornerstone for that.

Hwang Ji-on would trust Park Ha-jun and fend off external pressure.

And the 400 million sponsorship would fully reach Park Ha-jun's lab.

'...The system is in place.'

Now it was time to run wildly with the established system. All together.

(Note: Researchers receive part of the research funds as salary, based on participation rate.)

So, the researchers who had been getting just over 1 million won a month could now easily earn over 3 million based on their efforts.

'The kids are gonna love it...'

But since it wasn't fully confirmed yet, he couldn't announce it prematurely.

As Park Ha-jun awaited the Association's exploration report, another email arrived.

Before Lee Dong-gyu emailed asd123,

the exploration team was watching the charging Vasuki.

[...Guide her.]

Uttering incomprehensible words. At that, Councilor Shin trembled slightly.

"That rage doesn't seem directed at us, yet how can they do something so foolish..."

But there was one estimable fact.

"No matter where the rage is aimed, that thing has already been summoned to Earth once. It could pass through this portal."

If that massive body rampaged through the passage, Korea would be devastated regardless.

So, Seo Ji-ah prepared a virtual barrier and said,

"Can't be certain, but a simplified virtual barrier can hold it for 10 minutes. We don't even need to stop Vasuki—just slow it down a bit. So please... before it's too late!"

These were elite hunters who had traversed countless battlefields over 8 years.

Though their initial mindset had faded, that resolve still lingered in a corner of their hearts.

Pride in their abilities.

The sacrificial spirit and responsibility based on it...

And Councilor Shin was no different.

"Tch... Madmen. I won't plan anything with you lot ever again."

Slapping away the Sword Saint's hand on his shoulder, he formed a decent Barrier at a distance.

"Vasuki has the ability to corrupt an area with demonic energy. If that Barrier breaks, I'll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cross the portal alone."

The Sword Saint smirked.

"Finally talking sense."

As the Sword Saint, Kang Mu-jin, and Councilor Shin prepared in their own ways to slow Vasuki,

Vasuki reached the Barrier Councilor Shin had formed with wide-area output.

"Now!!!"

At Seo Ji-ah's shout, everyone unleashed their best strikes.

Councilor Shin's [Frost Wind] mixing attack and debuff, the Sword Saint's sword draw, plus Kang Mu-jin's fist shockwave.

Of course, that alone couldn't inflict any damage on it. But to just slow it down...

KABOOM!

...Impossible. It collided with the Barrier at nearly the same speed as before.

"Damn it!!"

But Councilor Shin, who had vowed to cross alone, maintained [Frost Wind] a bit longer.

The Sword Saint and Kang Mu-jin poured on desperate follow-up attacks.

Did that desperation reach it?

Hummm-

Vasuki's furiously charging form suddenly vanished. Along with all the space around it.

The virtual barrier had activated. The ability that allowed mere barrier specialist Seo Ji-ah to become master of the large Fire Spirit Guild.

"..."

As everyone panted silently from exhaustion,

Councilor Shin, snapping to his senses first, crossed the portal wordlessly.

"...Let's hurry back too."

At Seo Ji-ah's words, they returned one by one.

But upon return, a shocking fact awaited them.

"What the hell happened in two days?"

It should have been less than 5 minutes, yet two days had passed.

The flow of time was different.

Compiling the exploration team's statements, Lee Dong-gyu reported to the Association President.

"Different flow of time... The virtual barrier held for 10 minutes, so roughly four days were granted there."

"That's the estimate. Also, linking the ocean of milk and quest details to Hindu mythology..."

Hindu mythology features the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.

A battle between gods and demons to obtain immortality.

To end that pointless war of attrition, head god Vishnu mediated.

Tempted by tales that churning the ocean of milk yields the elixir of immortality, gods and demons temporarily allied.

Vasuki offered his body as the churning rope to save his kin from extinction.

And per the team's info, the scene beyond the portal was post-churning.

"It's said that during the churning, Vasuki spewed only poison from the agony of being pulled."

And the paper Seo Ji-ah tossed into the ocean of milk dissolved like it touched intense poison.

Meaning Vasuki's poison already permeated the ocean of milk.

I.e., the churning had already happened.

Per the original myth, gods would obtain the elixir, and Vasuki lift his kin's curse.

But system phrases like [Curse of the Clan] and [Kali's False Contract] suggest it didn't go smoothly.

"So, finding that elixir of immortality completes the system quest?"

"Yes. Though killing Vasuki is an option too..."

Even 9% Vasuki overwhelmed them. Not a monster humanity could take on.

"Explanation was long, but the goal is simple: find the elixir in that vast ocean."

The method: find it within at worst 4 days.

"Any proof the elixir is there?"

"Vasuki still being there explains it. He's searching for it."

Vasuki's poison was unbearable even for gods.

Only Vasuki remained, churning the poison-filled sea.

"...Got it for now. Gather Awakeners with detection abilities and mages for float spells. And this time, we desperately need asd123's scrolls."

In unknown situations, scrolls that just need activation are incredibly convenient.

"Request fee for asd123 set?"

"Yes. Consensus on 2.5 billion gold. The department will deliver via sponsorship soon."

"2.5 billion gold... Best this narrow country can do."

Gold's primary source: gates.

Narrow Korea had limits on gate clears.

Not enough to block 2.5 billion, but not enough to hand it over freely either.

"Yes... Quest rewards existing is a relief."

"Yeah. Not bad for us."

The president's second-best was confirmed doom.

This round's urgency succeeded thanks to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠asd123 delivering scrolls perfectly.

The president thought he deserved the top reward.

"Confirm reward ownership for asd123. But don't let him rest on it."

Not just asd123—for all national hunters henceforth, to pay fair compensation...

They needed stable systems and expand clears overseas for more gold.

"Yes. I'll request from asd123 then."

Thus, Lee Dong-gyu emailed asd123.

Park Ha-jun's workshop.

Park Ha-jun's task was simple.

To find the elixir of immortality, make [Detection] scrolls within 4 days. Range: Earth-scale.

[Float] as spares if mages' mana runs low.

Plus, for the quest reward (item enhancement ticket), no internal objections, so no worries...

Apparently, scroll makers getting contribution rewards is rare.

Unsure of the ticket's value.

'...Expected some backlash, but surprisingly smooth.'

Not entirely absent, but rewards are tiered by contribution anyway.

All participating hunters got rewards, so less backlash.

Anyway.

'Float scroll performance still iffy.'

Now was time to focus on [Detection] over [Float].

He hadn't paused trading, earning another 60 million gold post-Vasuki (9%) clear.

Considering upcoming request fees, he could pay this boldly.

Clicking [Pay], 3-circle activated.

Using 1 billion won equivalent in cash? He stared blankly at the system window amid strange excitement.

'No... Not the time.'

Snapping out, he selected [Detection]. The system presented the circuit: filled with 3D grids and vectors.

Its structure and usage visualized via [Geometric Intuition].

'System gives circuits for finding spaces/objects near caster.'

This wouldn't satisfy Association needs, no matter the tweaks.

But Association wouldn't request impossible tasks.

President's approval meant magically feasible.

'Find one object in an Earth-scale ocean.'

...Ultimately, keeping only [Detection] purpose,

he'd have to draw his own circuit. Sacrificing efficiency again.

"This won't do..."

Mulling circuits, he went to the convenience store near home.

Bought a ton of canned coffee.

Four days to burn.

Sipping canned coffee while designing the circuit, Park Ha-jun texted his grad students in the lab.