Chapter 113: The Child Who Shapes the Flow
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113: The Child Who Shapes the Flow
"Yeon-woo, aren't you tired? We could have entered the dungeon tomorrow instead."
"I was the only one out playing; I can't let the party suffer because of that."
"Master, you barely got any sleep."
As soon as the broadcast ended, I returned to Korea and immediately headed out to clear a dungeon first thing in the morning.
"I slept soundly on the plane at dawn. I'm not tired, and we're just going to an easy dungeon today to warm up anyway," I said nonchalantly, packing my gear before stepping inside.
As I set the case down, it opened automatically, deploying the drones. I double-checked to ensure all my equipment was functioning correctly within the dungeon environment.
"Oh, by the way, Master, did you see the internet? Im Jin-ah is a total mess right now. There are even rumors that she was a school bully. Didn't you go to the same school as her?"
"Yeah, I did. But I'm not really in a position to say anything."
I had plenty I wanted to say, but I held my tongue. The internet would do the talking for me anyway.
In truth, I hadn't slept much on the plane because I was too busy browsing the web. But what could I do? It was just too entertaining.
It started with the controversy over Survival Hero being rigged, moved on to theories that Im Jin-ah had lost on purpose at the end, and once public opinion turned against her, victims who had been staying silent began coming forward one by one to expose what she’d done back then.
All the karma she had accumulated until now was exploding at once, and she was currently being searched for even more than I was.
Some 'brave souls' had even captured and analyzed the broadcast footage of Survival Hero with such sharp insight that they caught things even I, who was right there, hadn't noticed.
Due to the boiling public sentiment, there were even extreme comments questioning her very qualifications as a Hero, but what can you do? She reaped what she sowed.
In Eom Soo-hyun's case, she had no malice and was a good kid, so I helped her, but Im Jin-ah deserves to suffer more.
I was curious about what she was doing right now, but I figured it would be more fun to binge-read the updates on her situation later.
"Yejin, if you ever did anything like bullying, you better apologize to your victims right now."
"What are you talking about? I got along great with the other kids. If anything, you're the one who probably manipulated people from the shadows, aren't you?"
Kwon Ye-jin and Lee Yu-na started bickering again.
While the two of them made a racket, Yoon A-young and Anna quietly checked their equipment. Seeing this familiar sight put my mind at ease.
"Let's focus. From this moment on, I am the party leader. No honorifics, and every command comes from me."
As I flipped the switch, the look in my party members' eyes changed.
Though it had only been three days, Kwon Ye-jin charged forward with great momentum, determined to show off the results of their training while I was away. Yoon A-young and Anna followed close behind with focused expressions.
Even though we had chosen this dungeon just for a warm-up, we cleared it much faster than expected thanks to the party members, who had improved remarkably during my three-day absence.
What on earth did they do to improve this much in such a short time?
I could understand Anna and Yoon A-young since they were naturally talented, but the growth rate of Kwon Ye-jin and Lee Yu-na was also extraordinary. I hadn't expected Kwon Ye-jin—who had slightly less talent than the others—or Lee Yu-na—who was still adjusting to her new role as a supporter after switching weapons—to grow this quickly.
Was it because of the boosters?
Then why isn't my own body growing at all?
My body, which was still a one-trick pony for looks—no, a two-trick pony if you count my cock—showed no signs of improving its stats.
To function properly as a C-rank Hero, one's total stats should be around 60. But mine were still only at 39.
...At this rate, am I just going to end up getting carried by my party members as they skyrocket past me?
I'm not the type to rely solely on stats to fight, but I still need a baseline to keep up. It would be embarrassing for the party leader to have such a massive power gap with the rest of the team.
I hope I'm not heading down the Park Sung-jun route.
Feeling a sense of urgency, I decided I needed to ramp up my personal training even further as we finished the raid and exited.
Outside, a few reporters tried to ask me questions about Im Jin-ah, but I ignored them all and climbed into the van.
The public will keep talking even if I stay silent, so why waste my breath? That idiot who relied only on her strength and acted out must have realized by now how terrifying the masses she looked down on can be.
I hope she doesn't take this as a lesson to turn over a new leaf; I'd rather she just be quietly buried. If she hasn't come to her senses at her age, she's not going to change anyway.
"Hero Jeong Yeon-woo, the weaponry creator Michelle Audrey is waiting for you at the clan."
"Michelle? Whoa, the Michelle?"
When the staff member spoke, Kwon Ye-jin made a huge fuss in surprise, but I remained stoic since I didn't know who that was.
However, I was the only one without a reaction; everyone else looked shocked. Even Anna, who was still struggling with her Korean, widened her eyes as if she had clearly recognized the name Michelle Audrey.
"Is she someone famous?"
At my question, everyone looked at me with bewildered expressions.
"Master... you're joking, right?"
"I thought there wasn't a single person who didn't know her... I didn't expect you to be the one..."
"Are you serious?"
Except for Anna, everyone scolded me. Hey, it's possible not to know. Why are you looking at me like that?
"Michelle Audrey is a master who has been crafting weaponry for Heroes for over forty years. Her creations are nicknamed 'Customs' because they are perfectly tailored to highlight each Hero's unique characteristics. She's so famous that most current S-rank Heroes use only the weaponry she creates."
If she's been active for over forty years, that means she's at least in her fifties—basically a grandmother.
It was a bit of a letdown for me, as I had been hoping for a cute master character like Midas from the games I used to play. Midas was adorable, running around with a belt full of tools.
"But why did she come to see Master?"
In response to Kwon Ye-jin's question, I told them about my conversation with Lee Ru-da.
I spoke plainly, but the party members reacted as if they were hearing some legendary tale of a fated encounter.
"I'm jealous..."
Seeing even Yoon A-young, who rarely expresses her emotions, mutter that under her breath, she really must be someone incredible.
"Even if the Clan Leader persuaded her, 'Custom' never makes weaponry for someone she hasn't acknowledged, no matter how much money they offer. In that sense, it means Yeon-woo has been recognized by her."
Hmm... this is a problem.
She's the 'true artisan' type. What if she refuses, saying that collaborating with a firearms company to make a gun goes against her convictions?
While I was busy thinking about how to package my proposal, the van arrived at the clan.
A staff member who was already waiting hurried us over to the master named Michelle.
As we went straight to the Clan Leader's office, I saw a Black woman talking with Lee Ru-da. But why was she wearing a Hanbok?
"I heard her hobby is collecting the traditional clothing of the countries she visits," Lee Yu-na whispered to me, sensing my confusion.
The Hanbok made it a bit unusual, but Michelle looked like the kind Black grandmother you'd see in a movie. Her spectacles hung on the bridge of her nose, and the wrinkles on her face weren't unsightly; rather, they made her look even wiser.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, child who shapes the flow of the world."
"Hello, I'm Jeong Yeon-woo. It's an honor to meet you."
Flow? I didn't know what she was talking about, but I greeted her politely and sat down across from her.
Michelle looked me over carefully, then smiled and glanced at the party members behind me.
"What wonderful children. Ru-da's praise was actually an understatement. Your exploits have reached even distant foreign lands."
"It is a great honor."
Michelle smiled at Lee Yu-na's response and then turned back to me, holding out her hand.
Does she want that business card?
Glancing at Lee Ru-da, I took out the card and gave it to her.
Michelle closed her eyes and read the memories embedded in the card, flinching slightly as if surprised.
...She saw it.
I had never felt ashamed of my relationships with women before, but right now, I wanted to crawl into a hole. Unless you're a complete lunatic, it's hard to stay composed while showing your own sex tapes to a dignified elderly woman.
"It is a bit startling, but I suppose it means you are healthy, so that is a relief."
A moment later, Michelle opened her eyes and gave my promiscuous lifestyle a decent spin. Even though she had seen everything, she wasn't flustered at all and remained serene.
Lee Ru-da tilted her head at her words but didn't bother to ask.
Thank you, Michelle. Your professional integrity in not disclosing a client's information is truly magnificent.
"Ho-oh, I see. Yes. That is a good idea."
While I was debating how to respond since I didn't know what she was referring to, Michelle continued.
"I was actually worried about how to create a gun, something I have never crafted before. If an expert assists me, my work will be much easier, and I will be able to produce a satisfying masterpiece."
"I apologize for proceeding with this without consulting you first."
Right. Since she read my experiences, she must have seen the entire conversation I had with Scarlet.
As I explained the situation to those who didn't know, Lee Ru-da frowned.
"You should have told me before moving forward with something like that."
"I'm sorry."
It was the first time Lee Ru-da had scolded me. Just how big of a deal is this woman if even Lee Ru-da is being so formal and cautious?
Seeing me look dejected, Michelle chuckled and waved her hand, saying it was fine.
"Did this child not do this after much thought? There is no need to be so angry."
"I apologize for the rudeness."
When Lee Ru-da apologized, Michelle gave a benevolent smile and turned her gaze back to me.
"It is quite alright. It was not rudeness, but a form of consideration. Now, tell me your thoughts."
What a relief. I thought she would insist on her artisan pride, but she's showing a positive attitude toward collaborating with Poltsmith.
I cleared my throat and began to explain the thoughts I had gathered on the way here.
"The guns I'm currently using are standard firearms, not something made for Heroes. This is the equivalent of a Hero using a mass-produced store-bought knife instead of weaponry crafted by a creator."
Michelle nodded, her eyes sparkling.
"Bows, which are also long-range weapons, have many functions built into them. The arrows are also specially crafted. Because there haven't been any Heroes using guns until now, weaponry creators haven't shown any interest in them."
"You speak the truth. I have never even fired a gun, let alone made one."
"I don't know if other gunslingers will appear after me, but if there are guns made specifically for Heroes, it will be a great help to those who dream of becoming gunslingers. The method of infusing mana into bullets is too difficult for those who have just become Heroes or those who aren't proficient with mana."
It was a technique that took even me—with decades of experience and the Mana Detection skill—months of practice to master. If a complete novice were to try, it might take years.
A gun is a tool that can be incredibly efficient with just a little training, but because of the requirement to infuse mana, it has ironically become a weapon more difficult to master than a bow for Heroes.
"Even if they aren't a gunslinger, a gun is a great secondary tool. Unless they are an S-rank or a top-tier A-rank close to S-rank like Clan Leader Lee Ru-da, they can't be faster than a bullet. And even then, the further the distance, the more overwhelmingly faster the bullet becomes."
"I can see you have put a lot of thought into this. Yes, if what you say is true, it means that eventually, every Hero will carry at least one gun."
Michelle spoke while stroking her chin, looking intrigued.
"I wouldn't go so far as to make such an arrogant assumption, but given the nature of firearms, if they can be utilized as secondary tools for Heroes, I believe the breadth of tactics and the ability to handle various situations will increase."
"Ahahaha—"
When I spoke with conviction, Michelle laughed, slapping her leg as if she were having a great time. Then, she looked at Lee Ru-da with teasing eyes.
"He isn't a child you need to worry about, is he? I thought he was just a small ripple in the great flow of the world, but he is a much larger current than I realized."
"The problem is that he doesn't share his inner thoughts."
As Michelle teased her, Lee Ru-da looked embarrassed and then glared at me.
Hey, I just thought of that now. I'd been thinking for a while that it could be used that way, but the actual phrasing was something I came up with on the way here while trying to figure out how to pitch it.
I was worried that it might seem too arrogant for me to make such predictions just because I'm the only one using a gun, but Michelle seemed to like my ideas.
Thank goodness. I won't have to say anything disappointing to Scarlet.
Scarlet Portman, the CEO of Poltsmith, was growing increasingly anxious as more time passed without hearing from Jeong Yeon-woo.
The business he had mentioned was definitely a blue ocean. However, she worried whether the prideful weaponry creators would actually collaborate with them.
Jeong Yeon-woo, who possessed a womanly confidence, seemed trustworthy on the surface, but one could never truly know a person's inner thoughts until they were revealed. Furthermore, regardless of his will, there was nothing Jeong Yeon-woo could do if Square Garden or the weaponry creator refused.
But she had considered these risks from the beginning when they made their agreement. Even if the deal fell through, the promotional effect of Jeong Yeon-woo choosing Poltsmith over H&K was already immense.
Poltsmith was already heavily promoting the fact that Jeong Yeon-woo had chosen their guns, using aggressive marketing to suggest he had abandoned H&K because their products were inferior.
Though not much time had passed since the charity event, sales of the pistol Jeong Yeon-woo used had clearly risen, and they were in the process of reclaiming the market share they had lost to H&K.
If they could create the 'first' Hero-exclusive gun as Jeong Yeon-woo suggested? It would be the icing on the cake. Or as they say in the East, Geum-sang-cheom-hwa.
Scarlet was filled with anticipation and excitement, but she tried to steady her heart, telling herself not to be too disappointed if it didn't work out. Even if Jeong Yeon-woo's weaponry creator refused, there wasn't just one creator in the world.
Since Jeong Yeon-woo was currently the only Hero who could properly use a gun, collaborating with a different creator would cause significant setbacks, but it was a risk she could handle.
As she was lost in thought, her smartphone rang.
It was Jeong Yeon-woo.
She wouldn't know if this was good news or bad news until she answered. Scarlet calmed her trembling heart and picked up the phone.
"Yes, this is Scarlet. It's been a while, Hero Jeong Yeon-woo."
Scarlet, speaking as calmly as possible, listened to what he had to say.
The call wasn't long, but her face went blank, and she couldn't even manage a response.
If you asked anyone who the greatest weaponry creator was, they would all give the same name.
Michelle Audrey.
Icing on the cake? That was an understatement.
The firearms industry was about to be hit by a nuclear bomb dropped by Poltsmith.