Chapter 122: Chapter 122

“Aren’t they losing because all the young hunters are terrible?”

“N-No. I didn’t say that... ”

Kim Chanseong hesitated. The SSL players selected to represent South Korea were usually high-grade hunters. It was hard to insult such hunters.

“Then is it Hunter Lee Changsik’s fault?”

“N-No.”

The moment Choi Yeonseung glared at him, Kim Chanseong froze. He then cleared his throat and continued.

“The problem is that Korean players lack skills and teamwork, isn’t it?”

“So there’s nothing wrong with Hunter Lee Changsik?”

“There could be a bit... No! Nothing! There seems to be absolutely nothing wrong with him!”

“Yes. Now I like you a bit better.”

Kim Chanseong inwardly cursed Choi Yeonseung.

***

“I was worried!”

“Why?”

“... Because the Expert of Twisted Hallucinations’ minions appeared in the research complex?”

Nguyen looked at Choi Yeonseung as if he was stating the obvious. Even if Pable controlled the media, there was such a big explosion that rumors would still likely spread. In addition, there were informants planted within them.

“Are you okay? I was going to ask for immediate support if the situation wasn’t resolved...”

“I’m fine. I took enough people with me.”

“We will pay those who helped you appropriately.”

“They didn’t come for that...”

“If I don’t pay someone after using them, the chairman will reprimand me.”

“I see.”

The Mount Hua Sect hunters didn’t participate for money, but there was nothing bad about getting paid.

“If you were hurt or injured during the fight, you have to tell me now. We have the best medical staff and can treat you immediately.”

“I wasn’t, so don’t worry about it.”

He didn’t get hurt because he didn’t get into an intense battle with the Expert of Twisted Hallucinations’ household member. However, he did receive the strange power Red Hallucination, which was a problem.

-He’s probably trying to tempt you. It isn’t easy for a mortal to forget the power of a constellation once they have gotten a taste of it.

The power of a constellation was like a drug. If an ordinary person caught the eye of a constellation, they would instantly gain a power equivalent to a B-grade hunter. They couldn’t go back easily after tasting such power. The problem was...

-I don’t intend to use this power.

-I think so as well. Honestly, the Expert of Twisted Hallucinations’ powers is a bit of a mixed bag.

The problem was that Choi Yeonseung was already a constellation. He had little intention of using his opponent’s power.

“Can I go now? I want to relax and train a bit.”

“Ah. Please wait a moment.”

“?”

“It has to be fate that you’ve come here. Why don’t you take a look at our company?”

“Why should I do that?”

Choi Yeonseung was puzzled. Dragon Artifact was a research company that developed artifacts, while Choi Yeonseung was a hunter. It didn’t mean much for Choi Yeonseung to see it.

“You’ve come this far! I’m sure you’re curious!”

‘I am... ’

The reason why Nguyen did this was simple.

-Nguyen. I’m about to tell you a secret that you must keep to yourself. I'm going to put Choi Yeonseung on the board when he is somewhat ready.

-Ah. I understand.

-Yes. If I do that at the right time and he performs well, he will be able to solidify his position in the group.

Hwang Gyeongryong had told him that! Hwang Gyeongryong led Dragon Industry with absolute charisma, but that didn’t mean he did everything on his own. Rather, when it came to group management, he listened carefully to the presidents and directors of various companies before making decisions.

-So I want you to look after him and judge him. Find a field where he can do well.

-Understood!

It wasn’t uncommon to place outstanding hunters in senior corporate positions. A hunter’s raid abilities, connections, and other qualities were also useful for companies. However, they had to have abilities aside from combat ones to rise to a higher status.

What areas could Choi Yeonseung play in?

‘I have to find something that interests him by letting him experience different things.’

Nguyen intended to find areas of interest for Choi Yeonseung by letting him experience not only Dragon Artifact but other companies as well.

… He had to do it slowly to avoid getting caught, though!

“I got it, I got it. I’ll go take a look.”

Choi Yeonseung followed Nguyen.

‘A place where artifacts are created... Is it like a smithy?’

Dragon Artifact was a uniquely designed building on a large site located a bit of distance away from the city center. It was like a research institute.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it is looking forward to the humans’ smithy!]

-Ah. That’s right. Cat, you are a blacksmith, aren’t you?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ asks if you’ve forgotten who made your dagger and shield.]

-Dagger and shield... Ah, the kitchen knife and pan?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it is a dagger and a shield.]

Cat of lava and Magma wanted to forget using orichalcum and adamantium, which were rare metals, to forge a kitchen knife and a pan. If anyone asked, it planned to say, ‘I made a dagger and a shield.’

-By the way, why are you working as a blacksmith even though you’re a cat?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is dumbfounded. It asks why you cook even though you’re the incarnation of training.]

‘Good point.’

A constellation didn’t necessarily have to do work in line with their name. The longer they lived, the more things they would do.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that swimming through boiling lava and magma makes it want to play with the minerals above them.]

‘I see.’

“This is where the prototypes are made. Once the researchers have finished their research and determined the shape and material of an artifact, they produce and test it here.”

“......!”

Inside the room were numerous robotic arms, machines, and container belts. The moment the researcher pressed a button, the robot arms grabbed a metal mass and started production.

Kakakakang! Kakakakang!

Sparks flew and mechanical sounds roared as the metal was quickly trimmed into the form of a blade.

‘Is that?blue?iron stone?’

That Abyss metal emitted a blue glow and had strong ice attributes. If turned into an artifact, it would be a great pair for ice-related skills.

‘That’s amazing. I thought the blacksmith would hammer on it until they’ve gotten their desired result. I never thought robots would be doing everything like this.’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ screams that this isn’t blacksmithing!]

-What’s wrong?

The soulless, cold laboratory made the Cat of Lava and Magma shed tears. A blacksmith was supposed to stand in front of a scorching fire, hold metal against the anvil, and pour their heart and soul into their work... However, these vicious humans were making robots do the job. Was this not a crime?!

-... It isn’t that bad, is it?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ warns that if you say one more word, it will become seriously sulky.]

‘Um.’

Choi Yeonseung didn’t understand, but he decided to respect the cat’s stance.

-I see. Can we just quickly move on?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ finds it hard to answer because it is crying right now.]

-I understand...

Choi Yeonseung was about to leave, only to become puzzled when he noticed the eyes of the researchers around him. Their gazes weren’t very favorable. Rather, they were mixed with hostility and competitiveness!

“Nguyen. I think the researchers here are glaring at me. Is it just me?”

“Ah... I’m sorry.”

Nguyen was embarrassed and apologized.

“These young friends of ours envy hunters.”

“Hunters?”

“Yes.”

Although the competition had grown more intense, being a hunter was still a popular and highly coveted job. Those who were chosen to become a symbol were always an object of envy. They worked at Dragon Artifact, a big company that was envied in the industry and that only hired geniuses among geniuses. Even so, they still envied hunters. While hunters constantly played around and posted lavish parties on social media, they spent their time stuck in the laboratory.

“I’ll tell the team leader to be careful with his attitude.”

“No. Don’t do that.”

“Huh?”

“They can be envious.”

Choi Yeonseung didn’t care much, thinking it was only normal for young people to act that way. He didn’t care if other people disliked him or not anyway for as long as they didn’t spit on his face.

“Is... Is it really okay?”

“It’s fine.”

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it isn’t!]

-What is wrong with you all of a sudden?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says to show an example to those soulless, cold scarecrow bastards. It says that would help the cat feel better.]

-... ?

Choi Yeonseung was momentarily puzzled. He didn’t know what the cat constellation was talking about. Did it want him to go in there and make an artifact?

-Hah...

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that if you refuse, it will really, really sulk.]

-... I understand.

Choi Yeonseung decided to grant the cat constellation’s request. It wasn’t that difficult anyway. This was the least he could do considering what the cat constellation had contributed so far.

“Nguyen. Can I go in and make something?”

“Huh? N-No. That’s a bit...”

Nguyen was worried. Making an artifact by hammering Abyss metal wasn’t something that just anyone could do. He was afraid that the researchers would ridicule him.

“I want to give it a try. I won’t be angry even if I get embarrassed, so I hope you’ll allow it.”

“... I understand. I’ll let them know.”

***

Frank, the leader and chief designer of Dragon Artifact’s Team 2, looked at Choi Yeonseung with displeasure. He couldn’t say anything because hunters were known to be bad-tempered, but he was filled with dissatisfaction deep down.

‘Does he think making artifacts is a joke?’

Hunters could assume it was easy because they just picked up artifacts in dungeons, but the developers risked their lives creating each artifact. What materials they should use, how they should design it, and what magic power they add to should it… Even a small difference could change the artifact’s effect. Moreover, artifacts required extreme precision. It couldn’t be done by a hunter who didn’t know anything about it.

“? !!”

However, the researchers were soon shocked. When Choi Yeonseung entered the room, he ignored all equipment and just started pounding on the metal with his fists.

“W-W-W-What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry.”’

“...... ”

“I’ll bite you if you mess it up.”

“No, that’s not what I meant...!”

Despite their protests, Choi Yeonseung just kept slamming his fists into the metal. As a result, the solid lump of metal changed shape like soft clay every time Choi Yeonseung struck it. Fists filled with internal energy molded the metal much more easily than the robotic arms with powerful pumps.

‘Martial arts!’

‘Oh my god, what a method!’

The watching researchers couldn’t shut their mouths. It was really unthinkable.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ admires martial arts for being surprisingly useful!]

-What? Surprisingly?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ makes an excuse, saying that it was just a slip of the tongue.]

Choi Yeonseung entered the room to produce an artifact at the request of a cat constellation, but he soon found a big problem. He had no equipment! No matter how much the cat constellation tried to guide him, he couldn’t do anything without equipment.

Choi Yeonseung was worried about it, but he suddenly realized that he actually did have equipment he could use.

His fists.