Legendary Magic Quill (1)

Park Ha-jun's workshop.

Scritch-scratch.

Park Ha-jun was frantically wielding his quill, drawing the circuit for Frost Wind like a madman.

Before he knew it, he'd produced over twenty Frost Wind scrolls.

Each time he finished one, he sent it straight to Lee Dong-gyu.

As a result...

......

In truth, once he'd surpassed 100 billion gold, even massive influxes no longer sparked wild joy.

Park Ha-jun's goal wasn't just to rake in gold.

His aim was to elevate the status of mathematics and live a fulfilling life as a professor.

Not by forcing the necessity of math through asd123's influence.

But as a true professor, to discover why math was essential to formulas and circuits—and preach that truth.

That was his modest ambition.

However...

To achieve that goal, he needed the Legendary Magic Quill.

Park Ha-jun had plans for new research topics and preparing regular courses like "Mathematical Understanding of Scroll Circuits"...

But the Mines' antics kept disrupting the flow.

He needed the overwhelming power to crush crises and directly suppress the Mines.

Not just unlocking new circles—something beyond.

Like the Legendary Magic Quill's special effects: Circuit Reinforcement and Ancient Grade Circuits.

And honestly, as a proper scroll maker now, he was curious what those effects actually did.

In short, Park Ha-jun had woken up because of the hundreds of billions in gold.

But he'd stayed glued to his seat, churning out over thirty Frost Wind scrolls, thanks to that goal and his resolve.

"...Ugh."

After sending the last scroll to Lee Dong-gyu, Park Ha-jun checked his balance.

He was short nearly 170 billion gold.

Some countries hadn't sent their payments yet.

Wealthy nations like Saudi Arabia had breathing room, but others were tight on funds.

'...No helping it.'

Pushing aside his regret, Park Ha-jun emailed Lee Dong-gyu.

Once the remaining payments came in, he'd be able to buy. For now, he'd ask the item analyst for basic info.

It was a maker-exclusive item, so Lee Dong-gyu might not know—but worth a shot.

After sending the email, Park Ha-jun flopped onto his bed.

'...Good thing I wrapped up department stuff yesterday.'

Thanks to that, he didn't need to go in today. The researchers would handle their own work...

Just as he closed his eyes...

Lee Dong-gyu had sent a sponsorship.

Ten minutes earlier.

Lee Dong-gyu was communicating with foreign associations on behalf of the president, distributing asd123's scrolls.

Though asd123's Frost Wind had delivered shocking results in Saudi Arabia...

Not every nation rushed to commission scrolls based on that alone.

Reasons abounded, but they weren't important now.

Victory reports were pouring in from everywhere.

And Korea was leading the charge.

As an early association member, Lee Dong-gyu felt immense pride.

Korea, once a weak nation, had risen to a magic powerhouse through the president's efforts.

And now, that powerhouse was safeguarding global security...

As Lee Dong-gyu savored the thrill and caught his breath, an email arrived.

The maker was inquiring about the pinnacle item for creators: the Legendary Magic Quill.

"Finally buying it, huh..."

He recalled his earlier conversation with the president.

The reason for sparking gold competition among nations with asd123's scrolls amid the chaos.

The reason the president had seized raid rights from the superpowers...

— If Garuda is stronger than Vasuki, humanity can't inflict any damage right now.

It was proven in the Sea of Milk.

Even the president, the Sword Saint at S-rank, and top hunters' attacks left Vasuki unscathed.

They'd merely slowed its charge.

— Of course, if all superpower S-ranks united, it might differ... but...

Far too risky. Enormous sacrifices required.

— Humanity needs to grow. Time to spend our hoarded gold.

And the president's judgment: asd123 offered the highest ROI.

He knew asd123 hadn't bought the Legendary Magic Quill yet.

Mage and scroll maker growth weren't identical.

For mages, circles weren't everything.

High mastery in an element unlocked special attributes like lightning.

"Mass magic" mages used was separate from circles.

From the president's research, quills served that role for scroll makers.

But only the Legendary Magic Quill had special effects...

— So when I step away, gather every goldless gold in the association and send it to asd123. He needs time to adapt to new power before Garuda appears.

They'd seized those raid rights to fund it.

Generous commissions to asd123 wouldn't hurt.

— Now I'm purely excited. What abilities will he unleash...?

The once-powerless president was gone.

As a former passionate mage, he anticipated asd123's next unique phenomenon.

......Finishing his reminiscence, Lee Dong-gyu chuckled softly.

'...Indeed. What scrolls will you craft next?'

Truth be told, sorry as it was to asd123...

The latest Detection scroll had shortcomings.

asd123 always delivered optimal solutions before.

Scrolls that resolved crises in one shot or cracked core mechanics.

The harmonious interception barrier, the planetary Detection in the Sea of Milk.

Seoul's Detection scroll was impressive—but not optimal.

Undeniable credit to asd123, but compared to priors...

In asd123's style, Seoul would've taken zero damage.

'...But per the president, our stingy gold caused the limit.'

Uncharacteristic greed from the president made sense now.

Lee Dong-gyu wouldn't betray that. He'd pulled all-nighters gathering gold, convincing foolish executives.

"Analyst! Vietnam sent their commission."

"Got it."

Adding the new payments...

Lee Dong-gyu sponsored asd123 270 billion gold.

'Make Garuda regret setting foot on Earth.'

After sending it, he checked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on the president, away on U.S. mercenary duty.

"...?"

The association, 200 billion?

President was away—had Mines infiltrated? Otherwise...

...Silly half-asleep thought. No way.

Shaking it off, Park Ha-jun read the full message.

Lee Dong-gyu shared what he knew about the Legendary Magic Quill.

But...

He could unlock it now. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠No warnings against rushing, so he'd proceed.

Questions could wait.

With tense anticipation, he entered the Dedicated Shop and hit Buy.

Convert to cash, hire bodyguards, live easy?

'...Maybe. If not for the Mines.'

If hunters only cleared gates, the quill would be a hobby.

But Mines roamed free, and reports ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hinted at a divine monster Garuda imminent.

'I have to do what I can.'

Other hunters didn't live for raids alone.

They had no choice. No excessive greed.

He bought it.

Thud.

No flashy effects for the Legendary Magic Quill.

He picked up the quill at his feet.

"...Whoa."

Amazed by its insane feel and grip, he checked its specs.

Item effects now registered as his skills.

Indeed, Circuit Reinforcement and Ancient Grade Circuits appeared in his skill list.

He checked Circuit Reinforcement first.

Vague yet promising description.

If his hunch was right, no sleep tonight.

'...Just three more hours.'

Bolting from bed, Park Ha-jun headed to his workshop.

There, he unrolled intermediate parchment on the workbench.

[Adjust designed baseline values.]

Time to test his theory.

Nothing fancy: neutral magic bullet.

But first, contemplation.

He'd glossed over it from habit, but circuit creation had steps.

For neutral ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠magic bullet: design into circuit.

Efficiency varied by parchment's mana tolerance and circuit completion.

But alter the initial design?

Say, Designed Baseline Power: 2?

Same process: Final Power: 2.4.

A spell with 2.4x a skilled 5-circle mage's magic bullet.

And Circuit Reinforcement's effect:

[Adjust designed baseline values.]

He suspected that's what it meant.

Pondering the method, Park Ha-jun smiled.

'Got it...'

Neutral magic bullets used shapes and graphs.

Shape perfection converged power to 1.

Graph's role?

Easy with Geometric Intuition.

Log function: y=1 at x=100.

'...Can I tweak it freely?'

Unclear. Time to draw.

Neutral bullets took under 2 minutes now.

He adjusted the graph's y to 2, fitting slope and equation.

Final stroke...

Exactly as predicted.