Chapter 7 · 12 min

Chapter 7

7. Artifact (1)

Mana filled steadily.

From premature to a sturdy mana vessel.

Whirrrrr—.

Naturally in front of his eyes six cards whirled!

There was even a card of a different color?

But right now is not a situation to look at that.

‘Mana is sufficient. Let’s use [Flame Spear].’

He dismissed the card window.

Because he has to focus on the guy first.

-G-guuh! Guuuuh!

The guy also seemed excited and completely turned his body toward him.

And the arm swung again.

Whiiiiik!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The guy’s arm undulating like a snake completely smashed the surrounding walls as it approached.

As he saw a little while ago, if hit by that it’s instant death.

Fwoosh.

In the meantime, he also made [Flame Spear].

Flames made in a long and sharp shape on the right hand flickered.

Whoosh—.

He immediately threw the spear.

[Flame Spear] blazed fiercely and rushed rapidly.

Even faster than the guy’s arm.

Shaaaaaak!

Kwaaaang!

-G-guh!

Thud! Thud!

[Flame Spear] stuck into the guy’s body.

At the same time a small explosion occurred.

Hot flames covered the guy’s body and at the same time the guy’s body staggered backward.

-Guh! Guuuuuh!

However, it was not power enough to completely knock him down.

Although he was struggling in pain, the guy’s hard body was still intact.

But···.

Sizzle!

Soon a strange burning pattern was engraved on the guy’s body.

Then.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!!

Explosions occurring without rest from the guy’s body.

Head, body, legs, arms.

Regardless of which part, it burst, and burst again.

To the point the guy’s body staggered without rest from those explosions.

This is the Magic Residue effect of [Flame Spear], [Brand].

‘That explosion is almost at the level of pouring bombs···.’

The explosion was a bit very strong.

And the number of bursts was amazing.

Every time it burst, the body shattered into pieces and scattered in all directions.

-G-guh···.

Kuuuuung—!!

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!!

In the end, the guy collapsed.

The scary thing was that even so the explosions occurred without rest.

···To a cruel extent.

Ah! This is not the time.

“Mincheol!”

He ran to Mincheol who had collapsed on the floor.

* * *

That afternoon.

Two certified mages arrived at the scene.

The reason these people came was one.

Because of a tip that an Aberrant was rampaging here.

“······.”

But there was nothing particular for these people to do.

Because when they came to the scene it was already right after it had been processed.

“Who on earth processed it? Was there a mage who was supposed to come as support separately besides us?”

“That can’t be. Even at the Association they said there was no one to go besides us and even postponed the work they were doing.”

“Right? But who did this?”

“······.”

8th grade certified mage, Han Suji asked back as if she really couldn’t understand.

“Well. I can’t know for sure who really did it but··· what’s certain is that another certified mage besides us has been here.”

Kim Dongwon, Han Suji’s partner and 9th grade certified mage, said while pointing at the scene.

The Aberrant’s corpse scattered in all directions.

Traces of skin that had burned and melted in the fire.

Even the surroundings were in a state of having melted in the fire.

“Someone really played with fire properly here? The range of the scorched traces from flames is amazing. But look at this guy. Have you ever seen an Aberrant smashed this badly?”

In other words, if it’s a person who uses fire-type magic of this level of power, it’s the level of a quite high-grade certified mage.

“···It is certainly amazing.”

“Yeah. But you know too what it is that I can’t understand right now, right?”

“Ah, right. If it’s power of this level, then the certified mage level is also quite high···.”

Snap!

Han Suji flicked her finger and widened her eyes.

“That’s it, that! Even looking at the scene I really don’t know what this is? If a certified mage capable of this level came, contact would have come to us long ago? But it didn’t come? Then an uncertified mage processed it!”

“No way··· no matter what, that’s not it. How could an uncertified mage do it to this extent. Then he would have registered as a certified mage long ago. Isn’t that right?”

“Do you know how many uncertified mages there are who deliberately don’t register because they don’t want to see the Association’s mess?”

“Even though they give such good benefits? Who?”

“···A completely blocked guy.”

Han Suji shook her head and ended the conversation.

‘Who on earth is it? Of all places I end up seeing something like this here. This place almost has no CCTV so it’s hard to know···.’

Sillim-dong is originally like this.

It’s close to a somewhat closed place.

Moreover the incident scene is of all places a demolition site.

But it’s not that they gave up on the investigation.

Because they also asked the request offices with the fastest information.

‘They all said they don’t know.’

But there was nothing gained.

Strangely everyone had no information.

It seemed like they were deliberately not giving information but···.

“Let’s go back for now. There’s nothing for us to do.”

“Yes! Let’s process the piled-up work. It must have piled up quite a bit because we came here!”

Suji felt uneasy, but there was nothing she could do right away.

* * *

That night.

He took Mincheol to the hospital and came back.

Fortunately there was no major injury so one or two days of hospitalization would be enough.

So he contacted Mincheol’s parents and returned home. As soon as he arrived he immediately lay on the bed.

“Hoo.”

This battle was quite brutal.

Because if he had made a mistake he could have been the one done in.

‘···But it was certainly thrilling.’

He recalled the battle with the Aberrant.

[Flame Spear] blazing fiercely in his hand.

The enormous explosion that occurred when he stuck it in.

I used magic like this?

Thump, thump!

His heart pounded.

To the point it was unbelievable that he had done it.

He used to comfort himself saying that doing as much as others was already doing well.

Because until now there was nothing he was good at.

But luckily an ability like this appeared.

An enormous benefit regarding magic, that is.

‘Even so it wasn’t easy.’

But he also came to know that this field is hard even with talent like this.

It was thrilling, but it was also dizzying.

Fortunately if he hadn’t leveled up because the guy had a lot of mana···.

‘I should have used [Flame Spear] in advance.’

Because of little combat experience, not considering the order of magic use was the biggest reason.

Moreover he should have judged more carefully considering the mana shortage problem.

‘There are many things to do from now on.’

On the way home he thought about various things.

He has now reached the stage of just starting requests.

A situation where the conviction arose that earning money through requests could quickly gather money he couldn’t even dream of in his life.

If he utilizes this ability well, it was clear his life would change.

Accordingly he tried to do this request work in earnest.

But there is a bit of a problem.

Precisely that this damn mana premature still hasn’t been resolved.

This too, requests are the answer.

‘Because there are quite a lot of magics related to mana.’

Let’s diligently collect mana stones.

Then this problem might also be resolved.

If not that, there are artifacts too.

‘Because Mr. Sangcheol said he could bring an artifact-related request.’

Something is starting to stick.

Originally he’s the style of seeing the end if something sticks.

This time it seems he has definitely stuck on magic.

‘Now then, let’s select the cards.’

Whirrrrr—.

The card reward he couldn’t check because he was fighting.

He could confirm that only now.

There was a green card too.

He checked immediately.

<Active>[Lightning Strike](Advanced)

-Lightning-type magic

-Strike lightning from the sky

-Mana consumption: High

“Oh···.”

Precisely [Lightning Strike].

As the name says, lightning struck from the sky!

The problem is that mana consumption seems quite large.

How much is it that even ‘Mana consumption: High’ is written.

···This is especially poison to me.

‘First I’ll learn this.’

But there is no reason to hesitate.

He learned it immediately.

And one remaining choice.

What would be good to do.

<Passive>[Projectile +1](Common)

-Number of projectiles for projectile-type magic +1

<Passive>[Sensory Enhancement](Common)

-Enhances one’s sensory ability

-Enhances crisis detection, instinct, intuition.

<Active>[Rock Wall](Common)

-Earth-type magic

-Erect a rock wall in front.

·········

Several cards were visible.

Projectile came out again.

If I apply this to [Fireball], does it become three?

‘Moreover there is even earth-type magic. But···.’

All were appealing.

Even so among them···.

[Acquired Sensory Enhancement (Common).]

He selected this.

Because it’s one of the things lacking for him right now.

Because of no experience, sensory is falling.

Since he can raise something like this too, it’s good.

Like that, selection of two cards complete.

‘What level is [Lightning Strike]?’

Does it really drop lightning from the sky?

Just thinking about it is thrilling.

But what is the Magic Residue effect?

<Active>[Lightning Strike](Advanced)

-Lightning-type magic

-Strike lightning from the sky

-Mana consumption: High

[Magic Residue Effect: Chain Discharge]

*When lightning hits, chain-jumping lightning spreads in a circle in all directions from the hit position as the starting point.

*Chain lightning transfers from the hit target to the surroundings.

“······.”

Now words don’t come out.

[Lightning Strike], known as a powerful magic in terms of attack power as it is.

But here what?

‘Lightning spreads in a circle from the place where lightning struck?’

If explaining this in one word.

‘That place really gets completely devastated···.’

There was nothing else to say but this.

Ding!

At that moment.

A KakaoTalk notification rang.

It was Mr. Sangcheol’s message.

[Mr. Sangcheol: Hey, young man Dojin. Are you okay? Well, you seemed okay but anyway. Not anything else, do you remember what I talked about last time? The thing about asking for a personal request, a good request just came in, will you try it?]

It was talk about a request.

And a custom personal request.

This means···.

[Mr. Sangcheol: Ah, of course the reward is ‘artifact’. Actually I don’t know what kind you want so I received it for now, but if you don’t like it you can refuse so don’t feel burdened^^]

As expected artifact reward.

He quietly looked at the gloves on his hands.

‘This is also an artifact glove, right?’

Essential equipment of mages, artifact.

Actually this Aberrant matter was as good as processed thanks to these gloves.

[Me: I’ll do it. What kind of request is it?]

[Mr. Sangcheol: Oh, you’ll do it? I’ll tell you the details if you come this way. Anytime is fine so come when convenient!]

Okay.

He should go once tomorrow.

That aside···.

‘Quite a lot of mana came in from the Aberrant, right?’

Looking at the gloves, it came to mind.

When he did [Mana Robbery] on the Aberrant, he leveled up twice.

In a way it was natural.

Why did Aberrants aberrate?

The basis is aberration symptoms due to mana overload.

In other words, it means it’s extremely normal that these guys have a lot of mana.

‘Then···.’

He called Grandma Sunim.

Because the contact that if he needs something tell her came to mind.

“Yes, Grandma. I have one request to make.”

-Oh, is it bachelor Dojin? Yes, okay. Tell me anything.

“By any chance, can I receive a request related to Aberrants?”

-···What? Aberrant? Hmm, that’s not easy. As you know too, bachelor, Aberrants are usually managed by the Association. Because it’s work that certified mages process.

That’s right.

Because you don’t know what kind of guy an Aberrant will change into, the danger level is quite high.

Perhaps the guy he processed hadn’t been aberrated for long, and luckily might not have been that threatening a guy.

-But whose request is it? If it’s bachelor Dojin’s request I have to look into it! You’re our customer! However, because I have to look into it through routes before it becomes known to the Association, it will take quite a bit of time.

“Time is fine. Anything is good so please connect me.”

Oh, done.

These people seem to have quite good ability.

Looking at them looking into several routes besides Sillim-dong.

‘Good. First let’s focus on Mr. Sangcheol’s request. Later when Grandma Sunim’s request comes in, I’ll make sure to clear it.’

He definitely has to do the Aberrant request.

The level up experience is no joke.

‘If there’s a chance I should try to get mana potions too. Buying with money would be unreasonable, but can I receive something like this as request reward too?’

Potions that fill mana.

But he doesn’t know if this would be efficient.

The price is also tens of billions, and he knows the amount filled is not that large. Mostly used for the purpose of filling immediately, not filling a lot and using.

First he should just look into it.

* * *

The next day.

He stopped by Mr. Sangcheol’s shop.

“Oh, young man Dojin! Hahaha!”

The uncle welcomed him brightly.

And naturally handed over documents.

“This is the request received this time. I don’t know if it’s okay for you, but it’s a joint request. Besides you, one more person will do it together.”

“Joint request?”

“Yeah. The request difficulty is a bit high. They’re not using two people for nothing. The guy who received this request is my high school classmate so he contacted me right away, and he said finding one more person additionally is quite difficult.”

Swoosh.

He examined the request form in detail.

[Request: Hanseong Mana Co., Ltd. Facility Protection Request]

[Request content: Wants processing of the group that periodically raids.]

[Request difficulty: ★★☆☆☆]

“It’s a two-star mission?”

“What’s marked right now is like that. This is the difficulty standard when two people are together. If it was one person it would be at least three stars, at least. The request start date is from one week later.”

Ah, two stars based on two people.

Whatever it is, it seems not easy.

“Some group keeps coming to that company it seems. The client wants them processed. Do you understand what this means? It means there will be quite a lot of enemies to deal with.”

“So they’re looking for two instead of alone.”

“Something like that. Ah! For reference, you know that difficult difficulty means the reward is also good, right? Originally I would have just ignored it, but because our young man Dojin came to mind I quickly grabbed it! Hahaha!”

“Ah, what is the reward?”

“That’s also the reason I chose this. You asked me to find a mana-related artifact back then, right? It’s that.”

The uncle took out another document and showed it.

It was the document with the reward written.

But this···.

‘Isn’t this an option that automatically levels up?’

Others might not know, but for him alone it was an extremely cheat artifact.