Dimension
Garuda's golden wings lost their luster. Holes riddled through them, stripping away their essence.
In the endless barrage of Explosions, Garuda could do nothing but plummet powerlessly.
And its arch-nemesis Vasuki had waited its entire life for this exact moment.
Krunch!
Vasuki snatched Garuda at breakneck speed, throttling its windpipe with all nine heads.
With Garuda thus bound, one of Vasuki's heads swallowed it whole.
As the hunters watched in dazed confusion at the sight of it sliding down its throat,
"You always pull off miracles with your bizarre tricks."
Vasuki uttered the words. Its gaze was fixed on Lee Jong-hwa.
But Lee Jong-hwa had no intention of chatting with a monster. Hadn't Vasuki inflicted damage on Seoul before this aid?
"...So, what now? We've both achieved our goals, it seems."
Fortunately, asd123 had sent two Explosion scrolls. Clutching the remaining one, he awaited a response.
"...No need to worry. I stayed behind because there's something I must pass on."
At that moment, the Fragment of the Story in Lee Jong-hwa's possession began to glow.
Vasuki stared into the distance.
"...With your current tricks, reaching Kali will be impossible."
With those final words, it vanished.
Afterward, news came that in Russia and 34 other countries where the rifts hadn't yet closed, torrential rains of lightning had wiped out all flying monsters.
And so...
The wave drew to a close.
Two days later.
"...What do you think?"
Lee Jong-hwa posed the question to Lee Dong-gyu.
Fragment of the Story
Using this allows you to glimpse Vasuki's memories.
The Fragment of the Story had been imbued with Vasuki's memories.
He'd wondered why there was no reward for Garuda's appearance this time.
This 'memory' must have counted as the reward.
But before using it, Lee Jong-hwa harbored doubts.
Vasuki and Garuda—who was good, who was evil?
Was the Vasuki they'd helped truly the righteous one? Had the system dictated which side humanity should take...?
He wanted to establish a firm stance before peering into the memories.
And Lee Dong-gyu's answer was simple enough to satisfy him.
"Well... Just because mythical monsters appear doesn't mean we have to be bound by myths. Myths are open to interpretation anyway."
The gist was straightforward.
If they threatened Earth or humanity's survival, fight them.
No different from not overanalyzing the orcs that pop up in C-rank gates.
Myths sufficed as targets for extermination.
"Even if we regret the outcome later, we should take down that Kali bastard first. They're the ones shoving swords in our faces."
If the system's guidance led to Kali, humanity had no reason not to follow.
"I see... Thank you."
With his mind eased, Lee Jong-hwa gripped the Fragment of the Story. He activated the item.
Fwaaah!
Silver light filled the item analysis room, drawing Lee Jong-hwa's consciousness elsewhere.
But with eyes closed, he pondered briefly.
'...As Vasuki said, the hunters need to grow even stronger.'
He wouldn't rely solely on asd123, no matter how overwhelming their growth.
As president, Lee Jong-hwa would eagerly seek knowledge with an open mind.
And the other S-rank hunters, shocked by asd123's Explosion, would doubtless redouble their efforts.
'...Though they still don't seem to grasp the phenomenon itself.'
In any case.
Having tasted repeated success through asd123's miracles, the Hunter Association president shook off his sense of powerlessness.
Yearning for progress, he slowly opened his eyes to confirm Vasuki's memories.
The next day.
In Yeonhee University's cafeteria, two math lab interns were eating their meal.
They looked utterly drained. So absent-minded that spoons sometimes went to their noses instead of mouths.
"...Ugh, I'm gonna die like this."
Ha Ji-ho couldn't hold back anymore. He really felt like he might.
"Is grad school even tougher than this? How do people survive years of it...?"
Lab life was grueling yet fun. The accomplishment of finishing a project was indescribable.
The advisor professor was great too.
Strict during projects, warm otherwise. That perfect balance ignited the desire to learn.
He wanted to learn more from Professor Park Ha-jun...
That much was true.
But the intensity still gave him pause. Was grad school really for him?
Going would mean enduring this for years.
"...How do the seniors enjoy this life?"
His fellow intern, eating with him, replied.
"They get paid a ton?"
"Hmm... That magic fusion research blew up recently, so maybe."
But that didn't apply to interns.
That blockbuster project had wrapped before they arrived.
They benefited as undergrad researchers with 1 million won monthly pay.
But incentives? Not a crumb. They hadn't contributed.
"Didn't they say this project has performance bonuses too?"
"...Even if we get some, how much? It was a one-day short-term gig. And we didn't do much."
Just flipping through sub-papers under TA Lee Soo-ji, jotting a few lines.
"Yeah. 50,000 won would be lucky."
Even that would be a windfall. Enough for chicken at home.
Still, landing even minor projects showed real dedication.
A lab where the professor stayed diligent post-breakthrough...
"It's a good opportunity."
"Yeah. And we'll adapt to lab life, right?"
Maybe the first-week project made it extra tough.
"...Yeah, gotta tough it out."
They ate in silence again—
When a smartphone alert pinged. Banking app.
An odd amount. A system glitch adding an extra zero?
No. Even that wouldn't explain it...
Exchanging glances with his peer, Ha Ji-ho bolted to the lab.
He couldn't bask in joy until confirming this bizarre bonus was real.
Around then, Park Ha-jun was talking with Kim Ah-hyun.
"...So, I'd like Ah-hyun-ssi to be the TA for Mathematical Circuitry next semester."
Mathematical Circuitry. The board had grabbed his pant leg, begging for a regular course.
Park Ha-jun, shaker of the magic world, opening a circuits class would draw elite awakeners.
'...I planned to do it anyway, no begging needed.'
He'd delayed for Association requests...
Anxious board sent the president with a pitch.
— Try Mathematical Circuitry next semester... No misunderstanding. It's 'math' circuitry! Haha!
Park Ha-jun nodded approvingly at the emphasis.
— Best classroom in Awakening Hall, 3rd floor...
But he shook his head.
— Too far from the lab.
He wasn't picky, planning Science Hall. But...
— Ahem... During Science Hall renovations, we reviewed classroom remodels...
Thus settled. He'd plan curriculum and methods with Kim Ah-hyun, if she agreed.
"I'd love to! I want to do it!"
"Good. With your help, prep will be smooth."
Mathematical Circuitry. Math and circuits lectures.
But Park Ha-jun differed from typical makers.
His style might make classes floaty.
He hoped she'd bridge that gap.
"Then, with the research prep I mentioned last time, plus class...
As he synced schedules, the lab door burst open.
"Professor...!"
The two interns gasped, faces mixed joy and confusion.
Park Ha-jun knew why. Others had cheered over bonuses before interns arrived.
"Th-this... must be a mistake."
Ha Ji-ho thrust his phone forward.
"Just in case, I haven't spent it..."
Veterans stifled chuckles at their frenzy.
Park Ha-jun smiled gently, explaining calmly.
"7.75 million won. It's probably correct."
"What?! But we didn't do that mu—"
He shook his head.
"Why not? You both pulled all-nighters reviewing Steiner tree papers, finding key references. You did your researcher duties, so you got paid accordingly."
Of course, it was overly generous. Very much so.
But after lean times, shouldn't good times follow?
For now, just this small lab...
Eventually, he'd extend it to all of math academia.
"...Great work on the project."
And with his plea for more next time, the interns resolved.
They'd stick here through their PhDs.
That evening.
In his workshop, Park Ha-jun read emails.
Professor duties piled up, but he wouldn't halt maker growth.
The Legendary Magic Quill's Ancient Grade Circuits gave new goals.
But.
It was Hwaryeong Guild Master Seo Ji-ah.
Rare for an individual to send 500 million gold. Curiosity piqued, Park Ha-jun read on.
The content was baffling. Why ask a scroll maker...?
Summarized:
1. Post-awakening, Seo Ji-ah dreams every sleep and remembers them all.
2. Virtual Barrier backlash. Dimensional issue...
3. Sleep doesn't refresh her. Back-to-back Sea of Milk and this wave pushed her limits.
Healing bigshot Kim Chae-won found no fix; other special awakeners failed too.
Thus, straw-grasping plea to asd123.
Not mere insomnia, but dimensional. Maybe magic could solve it...?
"...".
Park Ha-jun swallowed, pondering.
'Dimension... Possible?'
Her plight tugged; dimensional puzzles intrigued.
Special AttributesTimeSpace
Confirming Ancient Grade Circuits, Park Ha-jun replied.