Chapter 56
It was not only the [Alchemy] card that floated up.
The axe hanging at my waist seeped into the Alchemy card.
Next, the Spirit Sword named [Death Game] inside my inventory seeped into the Alchemy card.
Finally, [Bloodslaughter Ghoul], which I had received from Instructor Kim Sangeung, seeped into the Alchemy card.
In that way, three Spirit Swords had seeped into the Alchemy card.
Ding!
The status window appeared.
[Combination]
(Butcher of Madness)
★★★★
(Death Game) (Bloodslaughter Ghoul)
★★★ ★★★★
[Do you want to synthesize the Spirit Swords?]
[The success rate is 58.3%.]
‘If it is over half, it is worth trying.’
However, when I made Butcher of Madness, no success rate had been displayed. It seemed that was because the grade of the Spirit Swords being combined had risen.
‘Let us try it.’
If it failed, I could just make another one.
The fact that the [Alchemy] card had reacted like this meant there had to be a reason for it.
‘Combine them.’
I infused Ether into the Alchemy card.
Sssss!
The Alchemy card emitted rainbow-colored Ether.
Ding!
The status window appeared again.
[Spirit Sword Combination successful!]
The result was a success.
[Slaughter Game]
★★★★★
Equipment Card Main Weapon (Machete)
A rough and heavy, yet extremely sharp blade specialized for slaughter.
Etherium acquisition chance +150%
Rune acquisition chance +150%
Item acquisition chance +150%
Decapitation Power +200%
Vitality Absorption +3%
Ether Absorption +3%
Critical Strike +30%
(Can Bloom)
“……This is.”
A machete with a red blade.
The blade had retained the characteristics of Bloodslaughter Ghoul, rippling as if red blood were sloshing within it.
As if entranced, I gripped [Slaughter Game] in my hand.
Along with its heavy sensation, a chilling murderous intent was transmitted to me.
“Wh-What is that? Cough!”
Instructor Kim Sangeung asked while coughing blood from his mouth.
His complexion was pale from the aftereffects of transferring ownership of his Spirit Sword, but his eyes were fixed on my new Spirit Sword.
“Slaughter Game…….”
“Slaughter…… Game? Cough!”
“Yes. It is my new Spirit Sword.”
“…….”
Instructor Kim Sangeung stared at me as if this made no sense.
I understood him.
Combining Spirit Swords with other Spirit Swords to create a new Spirit Sword was a concept that had never existed before.
Even I, who had returned from the past, found it fascinating, so how much more shocking would it be to others?
“Do you feel a little better now?”
“Yes.”
Instructor Kim Sangeung wiped the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth and answered.
At that moment.
Sssss!
Ether wrapped around Instructor Kim Sangeung.
Woooong!
Soon, a dark ink-colored machete with the same shape as [Slaughter Game] floated before Instructor Kim Sangeung.
It had an unusual form.
The front was blunt, while the back had a sharp edge.
In other words, it was a reverse-edge sword with the blade on the opposite side.
“Th-This is.”
Instructor Kim Sangeung reached toward the machete.
“It is called Life-and-Death Polarity.”
“Life-and-Death Polarity?”
“It says it can either heal people or kill them. Although it is only 1-Star…… I think it will grow if I keep using it.”
“That is good.”
A smile formed on my face by itself.
This seemed like a rather decent conclusion.
Both Instructor Kim Sangeung and I had obtained new Spirit Swords.
‘Please find peace of mind.’
I sincerely hoped so.
Because this era was far too harsh for living with guilt.
***
Propaganda was a very important means of control and the most efficient tool for guiding public perception and emotion in a specific direction.
For that reason, regardless of the era, those in power among humanity were always passionate about propaganda through various methods.
That fact remained unchanged even in this era, when humanity’s survival was threatened by unidentified invaders.
Breaking news poured out from electronic billboards installed on every street.
After the first Transference Crisis, related news was only allowed to be broadcast through the three major terrestrial broadcasters.
For the three major terrestrial broadcasters, which had suffered a crisis of sharply falling ratings after the spread of smartphones, the Transference Crisis had instead become a chance for revival.
Because the people had started watching the three major terrestrial broadcasters again.
Duhyeon, who had parked his motorcycle in front of a store and was waiting to pick up delivery food, heard the broadcast flowing from a distant electronic billboard and snorted.
“They are making a damn fuss even in the middle of all this.”
Duhyeon frowned as if he could not stand even seeing the contents of the news.
The world was the same as ever.
Nothing had changed.
As always, the news was filled with political battles between ruling and opposition party lawmakers, and criticism of each faction.
Who had done well, who had done poorly.
This and that.
Blah, blah, blah…….
Even while Transference Crises occurred day after day, Gates formed, people died, and cities were destroyed, the behavior of those high and mighty people had not changed “at all.”
And the people watching them were no different from before either.
Who was it that said this?
Humans were animals of adaptation.
Perhaps humanity had come to accept the Transference Crisis as a kind of natural disaster, or merely an “accident” one could experience in daily life.
If a fire broke out, one burned to death. If an earthquake struck, one was crushed to death. If one got into a traffic accident, one was run over and died.
If a Transference Crisis occurred, one died at the hands of monsters.
That was all.
In a way, the fact of dying itself was no different.
“Order XA21M04. It is ready.”
The store owner handed Duhyeon an armful of packages containing several freshly fried chickens.
“This is for Hyperion Penthouse Bangbae, correct?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“You will get a generous delivery tip. People there are quite generous, you know.”
“I suppose so. Hehe.”
VROOOOM!
Excited, Duhyeon pulled the throttle.
***
After I returned home and finished showering.
“Whew.”
Before eating dinner, I briefly accessed Hunter Link and checked public opinion.
[Select an account.]
[BestSupportEver]
★★★★
[Supernova]
★★★★★★★★★
Naturally, I logged in as Supernova, the mysterious 10-Star Hunter.
Thanks to having set direct messages to refuse incoming messages, I did not run into trouble as soon as I logged in.
If I had not done that, I would probably have coughed blood and collapsed the moment I connected.
Since Hunter Link was a kind of telepathic network, if it overloaded, the actual user would also suffer harm.
[Anonymous] He is a god (18,122)
[Anonymous] Could his Unique Ability simply be prophecy? (53,312)
[Anonymous] Supernova’s identity (35,432)
……
[Anonymous] How the hell did he achieve 10-Star by himself??? (78,831)
The Hunter Link board was not merely heated because of Supernova; it was practically overheating.
‘This should be enough to draw attention properly.’
Thanks to having predicted the Jebudo incident, Supernova’s recognition and credibility had definitely risen even further.
‘I should stay quiet for a while. If I post too often, the sense of mystery will fade.’
Just before ending my connection, I checked my direct message inbox.
[IronBlood] has sent you a message.
[IronBlood] has sent you a message.
……
[IronBlood] has sent you a message.
The messages sent by Minister Ahn filled the inbox.
It seemed he had tried to contact Supernova whenever he had a chance, even after the situation had broken out…….
I decided not to read them or reply.
Contact had to happen only when Supernova wanted it to.
***
At the same time.
Whenever Minister Ahn had a spare moment, he opened Hunter Link Messenger and checked the conversation window with Supernova.
[A message has been sent to Supernova.] (Unread)
[A message has been sent to Supernova.] (Unread)
……
[A message has been sent to Supernova.] (Unread)
Supernova had not read the messages since visiting Minister Ahn’s Nest.
Click, hiss!
Out of frustration, Minister Ahn put a cigarette in his mouth.
It was probably the same for every country in the world, but for Minister Ahn, communication with Supernova was an extremely desperate matter.
Because he was the mysterious 10-Star Hunter who had predicted the Jebudo incident.
“……Still, since he gave me an excuse, I should at least thank him.”
In truth, Minister Ahn was in a politically difficult position.
Since he had moved troops on his own without prior approval, it was only natural that he would be criticized not only by lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, but also by the president, the commander-in-chief.
However, if he submitted the conversation history with Supernova, there was room for extenuating circumstances.
Since Supernova was currently a globally controversial figure, Minister Ahn skipping over procedure could be overlooked to some extent.
***
Ding-dong!
“I will get it.”
I went out to the living room, and since the delivery food had arrived just then, I opened the front door. A familiar face was standing there.
“Huh?”
Duhyeon and I spoke at the same time.
“brother, do you live here?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. I am really jealous.”
Duhyeon glanced over my shoulder at the inside of the house and clicked his tongue in amazement.
“You really made it, brother. Living in a place like this…….”
“It is not mine. The Defense Strategy Department is only letting me live here for a while.”
“Ah…….”
“Is this a side job?”
“Right now, this is my main job. Haha.”
Duhyeon held up the packages full of chicken and smiled bitterly.
“Why? Is it hard to find work?”
“It is. Whew.”
Duhyeon let out a deep sigh.
“That armed security job back then was something I barely managed to get. The economy is really bad, you know.”
“I suppose so…….”
I felt as if I understood what Duhyeon meant.
Society was still maintained, and the economy was still functioning, but the world was in the midst of an unprecedented recession.
It was truly the era of the real New Normal.
After the Transference Crisis, prices had skyrocketed, and things once enjoyed as a matter of course were no longer a given.
In particular, youth unemployment caused by the long-term recession was an extremely serious social problem.
It had gotten to the point where people were even saying that a considerable number of the criminals working as Wreckers were people who had been pushed out of the job market…….
In a world like this, a young man like Duhyeon, who steadfastly found work for himself and continued making a living, deserved respect in itself.
“Duhyeon.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Have you ever thought about working under me?”
“Yes……?”
Duhyeon flinched at the unexpected proposal.
Rainy Lotus
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