Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Budget Crunch and Solo Training
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It's been about two weeks since I started stirring up the airwaves on broadcasts and radio.
Han Sang-ah managed to scrape together roughly 45 billion won. On paper, that's a massive sum—enough to build a few buildings, no problem.
But after splitting it with the other hunters, buying all the necessary consumables, and hiring gulls to handle operations...
Anyway, once we crunched the numbers, it didn't feel all that generous. We'd secured just enough to get by.
"Surprisingly, Mr. Jeong turned out to be a big help."
"Surprisingly? Come on, Chan-seok. Don't be like that."
On top of the budget, intel from Jeong O-hun added one more item to our shopping list: masks made from the fibers of a plant called sulfur reeds.
"I did some digging, and it looks like sulfur reeds are native to the Erosion Zone on New Britain Island in Papua New Guinea."
They're known for their pungent sulfur stench. Mess around with mana nearby, and the flower buds react by exploding, dealing damage.
"How much can we get? Can we even source them?"
Han Sang-ah nodded at my question.
"If we really push for it, yeah. But..."
She glanced over the various materials pinned to the wall before answering.
"I'd say 60% at best. Too many people applying, you know."
Out of the roughly 800 hunters who'd signed up for the Joun Valley raid and qualified to join.
"Never thought we'd get this big a turnout."
Jeong O-hun grinned at my comment.
"No need to be modest, superstar."
"Beat it."
Superstar, my ass.
"The media's all you, all the time. Haters, fans, the works."
"News desk panels are already analyzing the economic impact on Korea if we pull off the Joun Valley clear."
It's not like that rank-1 Erosion Core buried in some Russian backwater. Changchun's right next door, so wiping out even one rank-1 core there would hit Korea hard.
"Even if we succeed, there's still another rank-1 up in North Korea. And that Undying Legion's a worry too."
They're undead from the Gunsalok area near Beijing—motionless until someone shows up. But reports of some appearing around Jilin Province? That's troubling.
"We've got the Talisman Drawing Method."
"It won't fully purify them. Just weaken 'em a bit."
There's tons of info on the Gunsalok Undying Legion. Too much, actually—that's the problem. Hard to sift truth from bullshit.
"Did you ask Owner Sa Seung-hee?"
I nodded at Han Sang-ah's question.
"Yeah, but she didn't have much."
Simple reason: no hunter's ever gone to Beijing's Gunsalok and come back alive. Hell, operators can't even get comms through in the area—something's jamming them.
"What about online forums?"
"All bullshit."
Want the real scoop on the Undying Legion? Experience it firsthand—that's the only way.
"Silver lining, I guess. Gunsalok's an Erosion Core we gotta tackle eventually anyway."
This raid gives us a chance to gauge the Undying Legion's strength indirectly.
"Talismans, huh."
Drawing a couple won't cover all the hunters heading into Joun Valley. The thought of cranking out dozens already has me worn out.
"At least it doesn't cost money."
I shot back at Han Sang-ah with a glum look.
"What about my labor?"
"That's off the table. But couldn't those talismans handle the Joun Valley mist too?"
I mulled it over before replying.
"Don't know the exact process behind how the mist affects people."
Scout it out there, maybe. But...
"Starting talismans on-site would be too late."
Dozens to draw, and no sitting around twiddling thumbs. I grabbed my spear and told Han Sang-ah and Jeong O-hun.
"Work goes on, but training's training."
"Training? More like getting our asses handed to us by you."
Jeong O-hun grumbled but obediently picked up his rifle.
And so we spent the time training.
"Dinner already?"
After wrapping up, I left Jeong O-hun sprawled like a pancake and checked the time.
Grabbed dinner, then headed to my room in the association building.
"..."
I ignited Paradox Flame in my palm and stared into the flickering fire.
It takes the form of flame, but it's no ordinary blaze. This power incinerates abstract concepts—curses its foes, yet it's no curse.
Doesn't burn matter, so not destruction per se, but the results? Horrific. Burning abstracts inevitably warps the physical world.
"Dangun's heirs want this, apparently."
They don't even grasp what it is—just chase the outcomes. Not just them, though. Idiots everywhere drool over any strong power.
And those morons? They'd all covet this.
A horrific seed of apocalypse writhing in my hand. That's why I sealed another world's doom with it before returning to Earth.
"If it slips control..."
Shatters time and space, devours the seven emotions and six desires, reduces reason and emotion to ash.
In a world where all concepts burn away, nothing remains. Among apocalypse flavors, this is the worst.
The Paradox Flame in my hand grew more violent. I pushed it to the limit—amplifying while reining it in.
Shrunk to pea-sized, the black flame churned with destructive fury. Max concentration: sweat poured down my forehead, eye vessels burst.
I brought the tiny spark to the desk. Instantly, it lost form—like watercolor soaked in water, bleeding into surroundings, blurring beyond notice.
The desk still exists. I burned its form, not its being.
But good luck spotting its original shape anytime soon.
"Head's killing me."
I snuffed the Paradox Flame, clutched my forehead. Nosebleed. Tissues plugged it.
Brain felt desert-dry. Form-burning's viable in theory, but not battle-ready yet.
Even mind-burning's iffy for combat. I stood, checked time, headed to the training room.
Dark without lights.
"Let's see."
Daylight hours go to helping Jeong O-hun and Han Sang-ah train—barely enough time.
I filled eight glasses with water, arranged them in a regular octagon, took position at center.
"Hoo."
Spear in hand, I swung slowly. Blue trails etched the air along the tip.
Trails whipped space; swings accelerated. Shockwaves burst glasses' water into chaos.
Yet glasses stayed intact, water never spilled over.
Slammed spear down—water surged up. Spear and trails unleashed chain shockwaves.
Water danced midair on those waves. Dozens of droplets rode them back, landing in wrong glasses.
Not a drop hit floor.
Mana makes it easy—Han Sang-ah could do it. But I only used mana for the trails.
Everything else? Pure spear and trail force. Few could match that sans mana.
"Keep going."
Long road ahead, distant goals.
Large basin of water on floor. Slowly dipped spear tip in.
Blade touched—water boiled furiously. Stared a while, then pulled spear.
"Fuck. Not happening."
But goal isn't boiling water.
Vibrate basin with mana into instant mist—like ultrasonic humidifier.
Right now? Just bubbles. Useless.
"It'll happen eventually."
Keep at it. Stomped—water erupted.
Swing, trail—water snaked midair, split, reformed endlessly.
"Lasted 30 minutes before. Beat that this time."
Hold floating water spill-free for 30+ minutes.
"..."
Senses tracked whipping streams; swung spear. No lapses.
I drill them on instinct control—can't embarrass myself.
Time ticked. Mana flow gauged it.
"Ugh... ugh..."
Stopped—water scattered everywhere.
Repeat.
Taut nerves tracking water fatigue fast; precise muscles screamed.
Paralyzed, dropped spear, collapsed. Water soaked sweat-drenched body.
"Pfft."
Spit water, ignited Paradox Flame to burn fatigue, drowsiness.
"How's it 5 a.m. already?"
Their sessions drag; mine fly.
The world I saved differed from Earth. There, one mighty monster started and ended it—soloable.
Earth? Scour every Erosion Core worldwide.
"Can't do it alone."
Burned exhaustion clean. Back to dorm for an hour's sleep—residual ash would clear.