novelraw Chapter 140 : Adamant (1)
Chapter 140 : Adamant (1)
"Cough!"
Chamsalgwi.
The Ma-in who had once terrorized the world with his mighty power of estimated A- rank was now kneeling before Su-hyeon in a miserable state, all weapons broken and both arms bent backward.
"Urgh. Aaack!"
The Ma-in screamed, unable to endure the pain.
"Couldn't even withstand five exchanges."
Su-hyeon sneered as he looked at the Ma-in.
"Ch-child. What exactly are you? How can someone not even of age possess such power!"
"Hmm."
Crack!
Without answering, Su-hyeon twisted the Ma-in's jaw and muttered as he watched the fading afterimage.
"Is this all."
Techniques that lacked finesse due to excessive output.
Nevertheless, his physical abilities that subdued an A-rank Ma-in in one go without being inferior in strength or speed were impressive even to himself.
'Indeed, it's the mandrake. The performance is certainly impressive.'
Su-hyeon smiled, feeling that all the hardships to become the top student of the first semester were worth it.
'After meeting the Sword Master, my sword energy should advance to the next level too.'
How much stronger would he become then?
Su-hyeon terminated the connection with an excited heart.
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"Hmm. The results are in."
At Instructor Kim Cheol-han's words as he received the applications, other Instructors gathered around.
"Well, Jeong Su-hyeon went to Unit 1 after all."
"Seo Jun-seong is in Unit 2. I thought he might go to Unit 3."
"Whether it's because Min Hae-na is there, or due to the connection between Captain Son Ji-gwang and Senior Seo Dong-jin. Either way, Unit 2 gets an excellent talent for the second consecutive year."
"Hwang Ji-su went to Unit 3. I heard she was also very interested in Unit 2."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes. But since Seo Jun-seong was ahead in the designation ranking for both units. It can't be helped."
"Lee Yu-jin and Unit 4. This combination is good too."
"Right. It will inject the tenacity she somewhat lacks right into her bones."
"Hong In-hyeon unexpectedly went to Unit 8. But it's not a bad choice."
The Instructors generally assessed that the assignments were appropriate.
"Seo Jun-seong, and also Hwang Ji-su, Lee Yu-jin, and Hong In-hyeon all chose their units well. These are units that can greatly enhance their abilities."
"That's right. The concern is rather..."
"Yes."
The Instructors' gazes converged on one point.
"Jeong Su-hyeon is concerning."
"Unit 1 will probably try to intimidate rookies this year too."
"If he endures, that would be perfect, but..."
"Even top students have often come back having quit."
"Can Jeong Su-hyeon endure it?"
As they worried.
The pride of Unit 1, boasting to be the strongest in the Execution Force, had aspects so extreme that even EFAC's top students would not leave without having their pride crushed.
"Honestly, I had a hellish time when I was in Unit 1 too."
At Instructor Oh Chang-seong's lament, Instructor Lee Ho-seung chuckled.
"Everyone knows you cried when you were a rookie."
"Come on, that was because of the tear gas, I tell you!"
Instructor Oh Chang-seong shouted with a reddened face.
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"Senior."
I visited Lim Eun-seo's workshop.
"Oh, look who it is. Isn't it our top student?"
Lim Eun-seo grinned as she removed her gloves covered in grease stains.
"Aww, did you come because you missed this noona?"
"? No."
Su-hyeon tilted his head sideways.
"I have a request for you."
"Would it kill you to just say yes once?"
Lim Eun-seo grumbled.
"So what is it? About a sword, right?"
"Yes. I thought it would be good to get a new one custom-made."
"Right, right. Equipment matters too."
Lim Eun-seo nodded.
"If your sword had been better, it wouldn't have broken against Hae-na."
"That's right."
"To not be inferior against any weapon, you need a sword that's much sturdier yet flexible than what you have now. It should at least be better than what I made for Yu-jin, right?"
Lim Eun-seo said.
"I can't stand the sight of a weapon I made breaking against someone else's weapon."
"It will be different next time."
Lim Eun-seo pouted her lips.
"Well, honestly, while a blacksmith's skill is important, above all, the material used matters most."
"That's true."
"And good materials are damn expensive."
She was asking how much budget I could use.
"I do have a material in mind."
"What kind? Will you use demonic beast carcass byproducts?"
"No."
I shook my head.
"Adamant."
"Wow."
Lim Eun-seo's jaw dropped.
"Do you even know how expensive that is?"
"I know very well."
"Were you that rich?"
"Of course not."
"Then? Don't tell me you're going to obtain it yourself?"
"You know well."
"Hey."
Lim Eun-seo said seriously.
"At that level, wouldn't you make more money just switching careers to become a hunter?"
"...Maybe you're right."
"My goodness, adamant. Even I haven't properly worked with that material yet. This is amazing."
Lim Eun-seo snorted with excitement.
'It's reasonable to be excited.'
What is adamant?
'Simply put, it's adamantium.'
Just like in many fantasies, it's a very rare metal, but in Edge of Gate, it received special treatment due to the peculiarity of how it's obtained.
'Because it can't be mined from mines.'
The demonic beast "Adamantragos" lives between veins close to the mantle and accumulates adamant crystals within its body by eating tiny adamant crystals.
Adamant is a metal formed like internal alchemy in the lower dantian area of that demonic beast.
'They unnecessarily made it difficult to obtain.'
But because of that, its hardness was real.
Truly at a level surpassing even the bodies of most high-level demonic beasts.
Its reputation was so great that it was known in the world as a metal that could withstand even a dragon's breath.
'Though it would melt without a trace.'
...Of course, that rumor was somewhat exaggerated.
Moreover, as a material with excellent mana responsiveness, it was a weapon material commonly used by high-ranking Awakened of A-rank, though not at the level of S-rank Awakened.
"But do you actually know where to find an Adamantragos? It's not something you can just find if you look around blindly."
As Lim Eun-seo said.
Due to its high value, Edge of Gate's setting was that the number of Adamantragos individuals had become extremely few due to excessive hunting.
'However.'
Isn't knowing the location of such hidden pieces a basic quality for an experienced player?
"I have reliable information."
"I'm sure you do."
Lim Eun-seo nodded.
"This noona has decided not to be surprised by anything you do anymore."
"That's fortunate."
Lim Eun-seo brought a well-sharpened sword and handed it to me.
"Here. Use it well and bring it back. If the blade breaks, you're on your own, okay?"
"You don't need to worry."
I said.
"Should I buy something for you on my way back?"
"Hmm, I've been craving something sweet lately."
"If you eat those too often, you'll get fat."
"You're dead."
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The last weekend before the vacation.
The Instructor in charge of roll call nodded as he watched the first-year cadets, now comfortably handling the morning physical training.
'They've finally shed some of their rookie appearance.'
Especially for Class 1 cadets, he was inwardly curious about how they would have changed when they returned after the vacation.
"Good. This concludes the roll call. Don't get too lax just because it's vacation, and take time to calmly regroup."
"Understood!"
As soon as the roll call ended, Hong In-hyeon, Lee Yu-jin, and Hwang Ji-su approached Su-hyeon.
"Hey, do you have time today? I'd like to have a light virtual sparring session."
"Su-hyeon, if you don't have plans today, want to go see a movie?"
"Hmm. I heard some good coffee beans came in, if you're curious, I could specially go with you..."
"Sorry. I have some busy matters today."
But Su-hyeon firmly rejected everyone's wishes.
"Let's go, Nam Tae-hoon."
"What's this? Where are you two going?"
"We have something."
Glare.
Under Lee Yu-jin's sharp gaze, Nam Tae-hoon sighed.
"Don't look at me like that, it's not like I'm going because I want to."
Nam Tae-hoon sighed, saying he felt like he'd just been getting pushed around since getting involved with that guy.
'I put up with it because he pays well.'
Ten minutes later.
Su-hyeon was successfully escaping through the dog hole, hidden in Nam Tae-hoon's shadow.
"You really have guts. What if a patrol catches us doing this from the morning?"
"Just don't get caught."
"Now you're walking out as naturally as if it's your own living room."
"The first time is always the hardest."
Nam Tae-hoon scratched his head vigorously.
"Anyway, come back before dinner. There's a limit to how much alibi I can create."
"Don't worry."
Su-hyeon said.
"By the way, has your arm healed?"
"About 80 percent."
"You monster."
Su-hyeon chuckled.
"I'm going."
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That's how security is.
It's difficult to break in from the outside, but an insider who knows the situation well can easily pierce the blind spots.
Was it around the 250th playthrough?
When nothing I tried would clear the game, out of frustration, I tried a concept of acting as a traitor on the Ma-in side.
And the effect was truly remarkable.
'The whole country fell apart in less than a year.'
Even without doing anything, humanity was on the brink of extinction, and adding fuel to the fire created an amazing synergy.
I quit after just once due to a reality check, but that experience greatly helped in subsequent playthroughs.
As such, even EFAC's supposedly ironclad security meant little before me.
"Whew."
After escaping to a blind spot untouched by CCTV, barriers, and the patrol's gaze, I found a one-ton truck at the arranged location.
"You've arrived."
An employee sent by Park Min-cheol had prepared the motorcycle we had nabbed from Gangneung earlier.
"Yes, I've received it well."
"Then I'll take my leave."
Without further words, he simply bowed and left.
'Well-trained.'
The fact that he employed such employees was a testament to Park Min-cheol's considerable business talent.
Brrrring.
I answered Park Min-cheol's call that happened to come in.
[Did you receive it well?]
"Of course."
[Are you leaving right away?]
"Yes."
[Do you really have to go through all this trouble to come out?]
Park Min-cheol was saying the same thing as Nam Tae-hoon.
[You'd have plenty of time during vacation anyway, you could catch it then. You said your senior would be in the workshop even during vacation.]
But my answer was simple.
"Time is money."
And it was better to bring a new sword before meeting the Sword Master.
'If I receive a new sword from that man, I might get attached.'
I could clearly envision him desperate to get his hands on me after seeing my swordsmanship.
'He's the kind of grandfather who might seriously talk about me becoming his son-in-law.'
[But can you really obtain adamant?]
"Why, do you want some?"
[I do. That's something difficult to get even from Old Man Jang.]
"Someone of his caliber would have the quantity. He just doesn't sell to just anyone."
[I figured as much, right?]
"By the way, at first you were terrified of that old man, but now you're doing quite well."
[Such people usually like spirited young folks. That's all it is. I haven't done anything special.]
"I may have opened the door, but it's your ability that grabbed the opportunity and expanded the business."
[It's thanks to you crushing the Big Bear Gang. Everyone thinks I have someone formidable behind me, so they're cautious.]
"Still, it would be good to spend money on security."
[Yeah, thanks to that, I'm working to death but not keeping much.]
"That's how business is. You have to reinvest, expand, and grow."
[I know. I know. Sigh, whatever. I'll just grow old and die working like this.]
"Even when you're old, a thick wallet gets you respect."
[Alright, kid, stop nagging.]
"Sure."
I looked down to check my watch.
Having caught up with recent events, now it was time to work.
"I'm going now."
[You said it's near the coastal outskirts of Jeongseon? Is it really there?]
"Yes. I'm certain."
That was the end of the chat.
After hanging up, I pulled the accelerator smoothly and drove down the road.
'Motorcycles are indeed convenient.'
The throbbing from the powerful engine, the engine sound, the overwhelming acceleration.
The motorcycles of this world boasted monstrous specs far beyond those of the era I came from.
Perhaps that's why, when riding this motorcycle and cutting through the wind, I felt an inexplicable sense of liberation and exhilaration.
Hmm.
Should I get a rider's jacket?
"This is it."
The place I arrived at, recalling my memories, was an abandoned mine on the coast of Jeongseon.
This place, once a limestone mine, had its purpose changed to a dungeon after a gate opened in the middle of the mine during the Gate era.
However, since it wasn't a dungeon where particularly impressive demonic beasts appeared, it soon reached the end of its life as a dungeon and became a place no one visited.
During that time, the ground had been completely destroyed, and the limestone that came out was only of poor quality – an abandoned mine.
But the Adamantragos was precisely the kind of demonic beast that liked places like this.
Only a handful of hunters who knew such habits of the beast would reap this sweet honey.
'I'm taking this one first.'
Isn't honey rightfully owned by whoever sucks it first?
"There's a sweet smell here."