The Last Request
That evening.
Park Ha-jun spread out an intermediate-grade parchment on his workbench and sank into thought.
Frost Wind was a spell that fused the water and wind attributes.
From Park Ha-jun's perspective, armed with geometric interpretation, it was about linking two three-dimensional knots.
But in topology, knots were closed curves with both ends joined.
In other words, since the ends of a knot were connected, it couldn't be "linked" to another knot.
It was easier to think of circles. A circle could touch another shape, but it couldn't share internal space in a true "link," right?
...As long as you didn't cut it in the middle.
Of course, topology didn't allow cutting knots. The moment you did, it ceased to be a knot.
But if you cut the knot and reconnected it properly, there was no major issue. It was mathematically permissible.
And that was called a connected sum.
With that concept in mind, Park Ha-jun pondered.
'I need to cut and reconnect while preserving the essence of water and wind...'
So, where was that essence defined?
Which part of the knot could he cut and link without disrupting the attribute’s core, allowing true fusion...?
He agonized over it for a long time.
This time, though, Park Ha-jun was tackling it entirely on his own. It was knot theory from topology, after all.
'...Asking the researchers to handle equations at this level would hurt their pride.'
He modeled the water and wind attribute knots, setting attribute invariants as equations.
Then, fully leveraging his geometric intuition, he selected candidate sections to cut...
'...Let me draw it out.'
He sketched the connected knots—or the fused attribute circuits—onto the intermediate-grade parchment.
The resulting Frost Wind model would truly become "Frost Wind" in itself.
While typical mages' Frost Wind blasted frost with strong gusts, manifesting water and wind as separate effects...
Park Ha-jun's scroll would realize genuinely fused attributes.
Meanwhile, at the Tae-san Guild.
Upon receiving the email from asd123, Kang Mu-jin assembled a subjugation team and headed to a B-rank gate.
A B-rank gate. Among the recent commissions Park Ha-jun had taken, it was the lowest grade.
But it wasn't low for Tae-san Guild.
This gate contained only flying monsters. Even at B-rank, the matchup was the worst possible.
Still, Kang Mu-jin formed the subjugation team solely from martial awakeners. Of course, he had no intention of joining himself—just filming the process with a camera.
The goal of this subjugation wasn't mere monster hunting.
It was proof. Proof that they didn't need to fear the Association's uncertain plans. They had their own countermeasures...
However.
Base Destructive Power: 1.0
Mana Consumption: 100
Attribute: Water#Wind
'...A bit disappointing.'
asd123 had sent a Frost Wind scroll. He'd expected something like a wide-area Levitation scroll circuit from asd123.
With Kim Chae-won saying they'd meet any demand, his expectations had been too high.
Apparently, even asd123 planned to tackle this wave the same way as the Association.
Using wind-attribute magic to ground flying monsters.
Of course, the Association planned basic wind magic, while asd123 used fusion magic Frost Wind.
There was a clear difference in level.
...But Kang Mu-jin had hoped for more, so he was a little let down.
Still, if asd123's scroll reliably crashed flying monsters...
Tae-san could fight their own way, independent of the Association's shaky plans.
"If you're ready, head in."
He entered the gate with his guild members. The plan was simple. To capture the most dramatic scenes possible on video.
A speed-type hunter would weave through the gate interior, pulling off a classic "mob pull."
Once all the flying monsters were gathered, they'd activate asd123's scroll to crash them.
Then the martial awakeners would mop up.
Of course, if the plan failed, the video would be scrapped. No more dealings with asd123 either—their visions just wouldn't align.
"Let's start."
Kang Mu-jin began recording and gave the signal with his chin. The speed-type hunter shot off at breakneck speed, darting through the gate.
Soon.
Screeeech—!
Harpy cries echoed from all directions.
The hunters exchanged glances and tightened their formation.
As the lead hunter waited with the scroll unfurled...
"...They're coming!"
A flock of harpies surged forward like a storm cloud.
The hunters' faces hardened.
Without ranged attacks, fighting those things on the ground was tough.
But Kang Mu-jin wasn't worried.
asd123's scroll guaranteed solid performance by the numbers.
Base Destructive Power: 1.0
This scroll would crash most harpies and slow the rest.
Not all, but that should suffice.
The speed hunter squeezed out his last burst of energy for the mob pull.
The distance from the harpies opened in an instant as he rejoined the group successfully.
At that moment, the lead hunter activated asd123's scroll.
'...It can't end with just crashing a few B-rank monsters.'
Something overwhelming—like massive range or instant-freezing...
He hoped it would give the martial awakeners clear hope that joining the flying wave wouldn't be meaningless sacrifice.
As his anxiety peaked, the circuit on the scroll glowed blue, unleashing Frost Wind ahead.
Typically, Frost Wind was a fierce gust carrying scattered ice crystals.
But asd123's Frost Wind was different.
Frost and wind were inseparable.
Crackle...
The lead harpy's wingbeats halted. Or rather, it couldn't flap anymore—frozen solid as a white ice statue.
Every harpy touched by the advancing Frost Wind froze on contact.
They plummeted. Now the martial awakeners just had to finish the crashed ones.
But.
Crack—!
The perfectly frozen harpies shattered with dull thuds.
Just 30 seconds.
That was all it took for the storm-cloud flock of dozens to litter the ground as ice chunks.
All frozen. All dead.
"......"
The hunters, waiting for Frost Wind to end, were stunned.
"...Is Frost Wind supposed to be like this?"
Kang Mu-jin, stopping the recording, replied.
"No way."
His lips curved up to his ears. Utterly satisfying results.
Normal Frost Wind couldn't freeze like this. It only locally frosted where ice crystals hit, applying a speed debuff.
If crystals lodged in wings, flight slowed, leading to crashes—but that was the expectation.
asd123's Frost Wind froze them entirely on contact.
And the frozen harpies died.
"Haha..."
Of course, the footage didn't quite capture his intent.
Would this inspire guild members to fight Tae-san's way?
Who knew.
But one thing was certain.
This scene could plant seeds of hope across all of Korea.
Two days passed.
Park Ha-jun was returning from graduate student interviews that morning.
With the wave just five days away, total preparation was essential.
'Two promising students...'
In the current situation, adding two math researchers was a massive shift.
Hadn't they just hired an admin recently? Im Ji-won.
Thanks to her, the researchers could focus purely on studies, personal projects, and Park Ha-jun's tasks.
No more delays like with the Detection—Fourier transform equation. They wouldn't miss deadlines now.
Basking in pride, Park Ha-jun opened the lab door.
'...Hope she's settling in well.'
Im Ji-won started today. He'd seen the handover, but what happened after...?
"Oh my god... How is this possible? A lab doing groundbreaking research with security this vulnerable?!"
Clack-clack—
Im Ji-won, voice laced with shock, hammered the keyboard. Researchers watched in stunned awe beside her.
"This is exposed on the school network, and the firewall might as well not exist..."
"I'll encrypt the key research data and set up suspicious traffic detection..."
......
"...I have no clue what's going on."
"This isn't handover—it's us learning from her..."
The handover had long ended; now Im Ji-won was giving the researchers a security lecture.
No wonder she was a brain-type awakener.
Anyway, she was adapting fine.
Park Ha-jun smiled warmly, checked the time, and approached.
"If the handover's done, shall we grab lunch? Newbie Ji-won picks the menu."
Im Ji-won, mid-keystroke, widened her eyes.
"I can pick...?"
"Of course."
"Um... Can it be over 10,000 won...?"
What kind of guild had she worked at?
The researchers, pitying her timid words, jumped in.
"Professor! Beef! Let's do beef!"
"Or sashimi? Tuna?! No, wait—what's Ji-won-ssi like?"
Im Ji-won flinched.
"Eek...! Beef! No, I don't deserve something so extravagant! Slurp..."
Her mouth watered. Beef it was—prime Hanwoo.
With the wave looming, the researchers needed hearty meals too.
Lunch costs weren't an issue anymore.
"Alright, let's go. Pack up and come out."
He texted Kang Eun-ho, still in class.
Now a successful mage, Kang Eun-ho's wallet was fat, but he rushed over post-class to join the fun.
Thus, Park Ha-jun filled the researchers' bellies with premium, fatty beef. A happy time.
Tae-san Guild uploaded the video to the hunter community. A mob pull of B-rank harpies, wiped in seconds.
Comments exploded with hope.
The Association president, watching the video, let out a short sigh of admiration.
"...Always exceeding expectations."
He couldn't even imagine how asd123 had implemented the Frost Wind circuit.
Numerically, it had fused water (100%) and wind (100%) without loss.
Even he couldn't do that—perfectly blending two utterly different attributes.
That special lecture's fresh take on "harmony" had been raved about...
Perhaps this Frost Wind was an extension of that perspective.
'Maybe I should snag those lecture notes...'
Asking asd123 directly felt off—pride and all.
As he watched with mixed feelings, Lee Dong-gyu spoke up.
"Korea can definitely handle the wave perfectly."
Mages' elemental understanding had risen overall, thanks to asd123's special lecture.
The Association's plan success rate was up to 90%.
And per Tae-san's video, asd123's scrolls would help big time.
Using Frost Wind as a wide-area speed debuff? asd123 turned it into a wide-area insta-kill.
"We might even get through the wave with zero casualties."
Not 100%, of course. Variables existed.
If not just flying monsters but a "Garuda" appeared in Korea, it'd be catastrophe.
"...Any updates on the villains?"
"No traces in Korea anymore. Recent signs in China."
"...Figures."
The villains had operated in Korea to take out the obstructive Association president first.
But since asd123 started, no plans succeeded here.
Them leaving Korea was natural.
However.
"...Then that Garuda will show up in China."
"...Likely."
"..."
Flying monster wave. Korea's prep was perfect.
Fastest strategy of any nation, smooth big-guild cooperation, and asd123's massive aid.
Not every country was so lucky.
"...Might be hasty, but we should sweep overseas outbreak gold from this."
Korea clears faster, helps others.
But absorbing some damage meant claiming minimal compensation, right? Gate subjugation rights.
Domestic gates alone wouldn't grow their hunters enough.
Clenching his fist, the president murmured.
"...To do that, we block our wave with zero losses first."
Association plans, big guilds' help, asd123's unique scrolls.
All three in harmony.
While Park Ha-jun expanded Frost Wind's range and added friend-foe identification...
The Association prepared thoroughly across all fronts.