Master? What's That? (2)
Master? What's That? (2)
At the point when humanity was gradually adapting to the mana invasion, the first to appear were the Mana Adapters. People who accepted and adapted to mana.
Following them came the Mana Compatibles, whose physical abilities were enhanced by mana.
It was around this time that the term Mana Rejector was born. People who had been weeded out by the changes, you could say.
And finally, the Awakeners.
Those who could stand toe-to-toe with mana beasts using only their bare bodies, thanks to the system and level-ups.
Now, 300 years later.
In terms of population ratio, Mana Rejectors make up about 5% of the total, Mana Adapters 70%, and the rest are Mana Compatibles and Awakeners.
No one knows the exact number of Awakeners.
With the Samhan Empire's population at 600 million, some scholars guess there are easily over 2 million.
Awakeners in the military are tracked in statistics.
Of course, the military doesn't disclose them precisely.
The same goes for Masters; no one knows the exact count.
Due to the military's nature, Masters' identities are exposed, so we can estimate their numbers, but civilians are different.
Some are publicly known, while others hide their Master status and live quietly.
Nogodan Guild Master Lee Jeonghak is a known Master.
One of the three pillars managing Gurye City.
That's why he had a passing acquaintance with Geumsan Defense Division Commander Oh Jinhyeong.
"What brings you here, all the way to this freecity?"
"Hm? Do I need your permission to come here?"
"Of course not. I'm just asking if I should take this as the military intervening in an incident in Gurye."
"Come on, would I defy His Imperial Majesty's will? I'm not here as a soldier. Just think of me as a regular citizen. Call me Jinhyeong."
The person who jumped down wasn't Oh Jinhyeong alone.
Whoosh! Whoooosh! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three men in simple gym clothes jumped down as well.
Faint tattoos connecting their cheeks to their jaws.
Awakener facial tattoos become smaller and fainter with higher ranks.
Meaning they were all Masters.
Major General Gu Junyoung, Major General Park Pilseong, Major General Hong Juntak—division commanders under the Jirisan Mana Beast Defense Legion.
'Fuck.'
Lee Jeonghak bit his lip hard.
Mountains beyond mountains.
Regardless of Lee Jeonghak's feelings, Oh Jinhyeong approached Baek Hongpyo with a smooth demeanor and exchanged greetings.
'Baek must've called them.'
Mosquito poison antidote military supply contract.
Plenty of reason to help.
Not just Oh Jinhyeong—the three Masters played along too.
"I'm just here visiting Gurye. Name's Junyoung. Call me Gu."
"Yeah, you're not even in uniform."
"Call me Juntak."
"We were out for a heli drive when Jinhyeong hyung suddenly jumped, so we followed."
Drive my ass.
They knew everything and came prepared.
All the Masters of the Jirisan Defense Legion had shown up.
And they lined up to approach Baek Hongpyo.
"Aigoo, President Baek, you aren't hurt anywhere, are you?"
"Who did this? Just say the word."
"Should I prescribe you some tonics?"
"Don't just talk—send over a few officers from your unit for protection. Can't have issues with our antidote supplier."
"You think?"
Baek Hongpyo shook hands with each, expressing his gratitude.
That morning's call from Kim Taeju.
He hadn't been too surprised to hear that four Sanity Faction thugs trying to kidnap him from his home had been caught.
Ma Sang-sik was an Awakener.
His organization was full of drugged-up lunatics.
Whereas Kim Taeju wasn't an Awakener.
But he'd heard from Changhoon about Taeju's hidden skills.
A guy who could take out 20 storm weasels in one shot?
Of course!
The man who made antidotes for mosquito poison and spore poison, things thought impossible—he couldn't be ordinary.
But what Taeju said next.
He'd reported it to the Gurye Autonomy Committee vigilante squad, so don't worry about it.
Once reported, Guild Master Lee Jeonghak would handle it personally—big enough issue.
This wasn't good.
The vigilante squad didn't stand for justice.
Especially not Lee Jeonghak.
And Kim Taeju wasn't one to back down either.
The charisma he felt whenever they met.
Would he bow to a Master?
If a clash happened?
So he called Major General Oh Jinhyeong.
Something like this came up—could you come by?
And his hunch was spot on.
Watching, Lee Jeonghak sighed.
'No choice.'
Major General Oh Jinhyeong and three other Masters.
Military men, no less.
Not the type to talk it out.
Time to withdraw.
Staying longer might make him collapse.
But he'd make them pay.
Once reported through Imperial Dispatch Official Ji Gwangin, Oh Jinhyeong couldn't dodge responsibility.
"Well, enjoy your chat. I'll be going."
"Already? Stick around a bit."
"I'm busier than I look. No time for casual heli drives."
"Hm? That's unexpected."
"What is?"
"If you've been so busy, you should've prevented trash like this from running rampant in Gurye from the start. What does the vigilante squad even do? Want me to send some support troops?"
"...No need."
Lee Jeonghak swallowed his boiling rage and returned to his car.
Then to his guildmates.
"Load up those Sanity Faction bastards. We'll handle them back at base."
But Oh Jinhyeong wasn't one to just watch.
"Hey, no way. Leave them. I'll take them."
Lee Jeonghak's face turned beet red.
Trembling lips.
"Didn't the military say they wouldn't intervene?"
"Tsk. They tried to kidnap my closepersonalfriend. You expect me to sit idle knowing that?"
"This is a clear violation of imperial decree. If His Majesty finds out..."
Suddenly!
Whoooosh!
A terrifying aura surged from Oh Jinhyeong's entire body.
Even among Masters, abilities weren't equal.
"Hey! Lee Jeonghak!"
"...What?"
"If I lop off your head right here, what do you think His Majesty would do to me?"
"You, even after this..."
"Take a guess. A warning? Demotion? Summoned to the palace, maybe a few slaps. But that's fine. It wouldn't stop me from killing you."
"..."
The three division commander Masters raised their auras, glaring at him.
"Not lowering your gaze? Gurye folks fawn over you, and your guts swelled beyond your belly."
"You think we can't touch you?"
"Don't delude yourself. We're military—we live and die by orders. Give the word, Major General, and I'll kill him now. Hell, tell me to strip and discharge, I'll do it."
Oh Jinhyeong chuckled.
"Gu Junyoung, recommend you for discharge to His Majesty if you retire. His spot'll open up."
"Whoa, for real? Sounds good to me."
"...Not Gu, what about me? Can't I do it?"
"Just order it. First to kill him strips and discharges. I'm confident."
Lee Jeonghak was speechless.
Nogodan Guild was Gurye's top guild.
Massive revenue.
One of the Empire's richest.
But not huge in scale.
Mid-tier in the whole Samhan Empire.
Other committee members blocked expansion out of jealousy.
So aside from Master Guild Master Lee Jeonghak, the members were middling.
A Master power struggle.
But Taeju was too busy suppressing his boiling killing intent to notice.
'Hoo, hoo.'
Mistake.
Stupid.
His soul was the world's top absolute expert.
But his body hadn't caught up.
Killing intent surges when you're confident you can kill.
Half-baked intent just alerts the enemy.
Taeju slowly circulated Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong.
His mind calmed.
Defeated in the power play, Lee Jeonghak gnashed his teeth.
Then,
"Everyone in the cars! We're leaving."
Once in the car with the door shut, he finally exhaled deeply.
Honestly, he could barely stand.
Just holding face.
Because of Oh Jinhyeong and the Masters?
No.
"T-to the hospital!"
"...Pardon?"
"Q-quickly! Urk!"
Kim Taeju's thrown weapon had grazed the back of his right hand.
Just a scrape, but a sinister energy was invading his veins toward his heart.
Desperately blocking it with mana.
'W-what the!'
Poison?
Had to be.
Poison expert.
Of course he cranks out antidotes.
Masters have strong poison resistance, if not total immunity.
They've experienced plenty.
But nothing this vicious.
"A-ah, still far?"
"Almost there."
"U-urge the ER docs to prep!"
Meanwhile, Taeju watched the Nogodan guild members leave, then approached President Baek Hongpyo.
"You aren't hurt, right?"
"Don't worry. I'm fine. Still, Guild Master Lee showed some mercy..."
"Because he's nice? He backed off 'cause hurting you would've been big trouble."
He said he was fine, but really unhurt?
Taeju inspected Baek Hongpyo closely.
Good.
Just some scrapes from falling.
Then Oh Jinhyeong sidled up and eyed Taeju.
"You're the mosquito poison antidote developer...?"
"Yes. Nice to meet you. Kim Taeju."
"Finally meeting you. Oh Jinhyeong."
The two gripped hands firmly.
Mana flowed through, but he ignored it.
Sizing up each other's achievements.
Common in the jianghu.
So he casually leaked some history, then,
"Thanks for coming."
"...Mind a quick chat? Got questions."
"Of course. Anytime."
"Haha, won't bother you much."
The earlier aura gone, Oh Jinhyeong now a friendly middle-aged man.
"By the way, that spore poison camel gorani antidote... any?"
"Developed it. Mass production soon."
"Oho!"
"Got meat too—want some?"
"R-really?"
The three division Masters perked up.
"Uh, Mr. Kim Taeju, our share too?"
"Yeah, plenty."
Zap! Oh Jinhyeong glared.
"You lot watch those trash. What if they escape?"
"Haha, no worries. Tied tight—our kids can handle it."
With Baek Hongpyo's help, the Masters brightened.
Makes sense.
Camel gorani meat, after all.
※ ※ ※
Sizzle, sizzle. Rising smoke.
Camel gorani meat party.
Charcoal grill outside.
Appetizing meat grilling on the wire mesh.
Marinated, with veggies and ssamjang—perfection.
Can't have no booze.
Conversations flowed.
Mainly spore poison camel gorani antidote supply.
Price, quantity haggling, verbal contract sealed.
Oh Jinhyeong was satisfied.
Taeju promised supply exclusively through Jirisan Defense Legion.
Military-only, but still a monopoly of sorts.
'Brought a few division commanders by heli for a show of force, and score this huge win.'
Taeju was satisfied too.
Needed materials for antidotes.
How to gather them alone?
So he asked Oh Jinhyeong.
Could the military collect and supply? Not free—fair price purchase.
Oh Jinhyeong agreed readily.
Collection ops starting tomorrow.
More talks followed.
Oddly, no mention of father Kim Ungbang or Paju Territory.
Taeju didn't bring it up, nor did Major General Oh.
Masters in the military should've crossed paths.
They knew the backstory.
Party ended, heli arrived.
Loaded the tied Sanity Faction thugs,
"I'll handle these. And their backers."
"No need."
"Tsk, this isn't personal. It's about our legion's security. Production delays from this? Can't have it."
"Mm... Got it."
Heli flew toward legion HQ.
Taeju looked at flushed, tipsy Baek Hongpyo.
"We should prep too."
"Yeah. Materials incoming—gonna get busy."
The sudden clash with Lee Jeonghak, then bonding over drinks.
Taeju asked to drop formalities—too burdensome—and Baek accepted.
"Need workers. Folks to prep poison herbs under my direction."
"Dangerous? Look for Compatibles?"
"Nah. Normals fine with masks or suits. No super-dangerous stuff like spore poison."
"Easy then. Got our kids."
"Reliable, I'm sure."
Generous pay—rival big corp vets.
Trust between boss and workers comes from money.
Speaking of, expenses piling up.
This building too small.
Hard to meet current contracts.
'Build factory, warehouse.'
If needed, add another drug.
Draw people in, get breathing room.
Master? What's That? (2) End