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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 120: Work Properly, Opportunity-Finder(1)
The moment mana, body, and divine power became one.
The explosion that occurred with a white flash crushed the aura imbued in the blade.
The explosion was powerful enough to startle Kim Mijeong, the mercenary group's advisor, who'd been casually observing.
If Min Sangjin hadn't quickly reinforced the area with his aura, absorbing the shockwave, the team could have been seriously hurt.
"Whoa, mister! What was that?"
"Just a little trick."
"A little trick like that, and you'll take out one of our guys!"
Min Sangjin's eyes widened.
He'd orchestrated the whole thing, pretending to be witnessing it for the first time, but he hadn't anticipated such a powerful display.
'Is that the level of aura I used with all my strength?'
The axe blade trembled gently.
The axe blade trembled slightly in his hand.
Even with his aura at maximum capacity, the shock hadn't been completely absorbed.
Min Sangjin let out a sigh.
"Hey, snot-nose—I mean, Mercenary Leader. What was that?"
"Ah. Advisor Kim Mijeong."
"Tsk, 'advisor.' Forget the titles. That wasn't aura, was it?"
"No. I combined mana with divine power and detonated it."
Murmuring—
"Divine power?!"
“A hunter who can’t even get past the walls has a patron?”
“Is he such a remarkable talent that the Constellation is paying attention?”
Just as the hall was about to erupt in chatter again, Kim Mijeong cleared her throat loudly.
“Ahem! Leader. Do you even realize what you just said?"
"Huh? Did I say something wrong?"
"You've got divine power, and you're using it with mana? And you're only a 3 Star!"
"Yeah, so?"
"Ugh, I shouldn't have said anything. Anyway, at this rate, you'll hit 4 Star the moment you break through your current level."
The corners of Kim Mijeong’s lips twitched.
It was an unconscious habit that appeared when she found an interesting opponent.
“To think that the infamous Mad Dog would be interested in a 3 Star hunter.”
“Mercenary Leader. He’s not a pushover.”
“Wait. Did he just call her the mercenary group’s advisor?”
"The Mad Dog is an executive in the mercenary group!"
It was already shocking that a 3 Star hunter had received the Constellation's divine power.
But learning that Kim Mijeong was backing him... the mercenaries' reactions shifted dramatically.
Their earlier opposition vanished as if it had never existed.
Kang Minho's display of divine power, coupled with the revelation of the mercenary group's advisor's presence, had completely quelled their doubts.
“Mercenary Leader Kang Minho. I look forward to working with you.”
Min Sangjin said with a grin, extending a rough, calloused hand.
"I look forward to working with you."
Kang Minho wasn't sure why, but he felt a sense of gratitude towards the man before him.
‘One thing's for sure, they're warming up to me.’
Kang Minho thought.
"The pleasure is all mine."
Kang Minho replied, clasping the offered hand without a moment's hesitation.
Yoojin gave a short, amused chuckle.
'Well, there goes my chance.'
He'd prepared three different plans to demoralize the mercenaries.
But then this unexpected ally had appeared.
Still, it was Kang Minho's abilities that had ultimately won them over.
'Things went even smoother than I expected.'
The Little Runts Mercenary Group... its first step had been taken, and it was far more successful than Yoojin had anticipated.
＊ ＊ ＊
Organizing the mercenary group's structure was left to the Little Runts team and Im Jaebaek.
"I'll leave it to you."
"I figured you'd say that, so I've already drafted a basic framework."
"Really? I could cry with gratitude."
"I've also requested assistance from the Black Market."
‘Talk about thorough. It feels like my efforts to rescue Im Jaebaek from the deserted island have finally paid off. It really does pay to be a good person.’
Kindness is always rewarded in the end.
〔You say that as if it wasn't all calculated.〕
'Rescuing someone is still a good deed, isn't it? Besides, I'm not exactly forcing Director Im to work for me. I'm even paying a salary to someone who volunteered to repay their debt. And putting their talents to good use. What's the problem?’
After delegating all the tedious tasks to Im Jaebaek, Yoojin headed up to the building's top floor.
He pulled out the pocket watch from his pocket.
Yoojin looked at the stopped hands of the watch with anticipation.
'I've waited so long for this.'
〔Oh? Has it already been that long?〕
'Long? I've been waiting for the cooldown to end, it felt like forever.'
Memento, a divine ability that allows one to read the memories of objects or living beings.
And then there's the [Broken Kronos' Pocket Watch], capable of reading the timeline before the regression.
Kronos had tuned this device specifically for Yoojin, turning it into a tool for finding hidden opportunities—a way to discover lucky breaks that were previously missed. The cooldown on this device had finally expired.
'Alright, pocket watch, show me something good.'
〔You say that as if the information you've gathered so far hasn't been significant.〕
'Well, yeah, but you never know.'
〔Beseech me earnestly and use the spell with a reverent heart.〕
Ignoring Kronos's nagging, he placed his hand on the pocket watch.
[Using Memento.]
[Target - Broken Kronos’ Pocket Watch]
A mountainous region where blue-green foliage rose and fell along the contours of the land.
It was impossible to tell where it was from just a glimpse.
Thump— Thump—
Heavy footsteps echoed, and a moment later, a creature emerged from the undergrowth.
It was a massive lizard, easily 10 meters long.
Its brown skin was as rough as rock.
Its claws looked sharp and strong enough to tear through even steel.
And finally...
Its yellow pupils were slitted and gleamed with an unsettling aura.
'A Basilisk...'
Yoojin mused, tapping his chin.
'Were there even any areas in Korea where those things spawned?'
He let out a thoughtful sigh.
At that moment, the Basilisk in the vision shifted, revealing a hidden cave behind its massive body. Inside, a single book lay on the ground.
As the vision faded, Yoojin caught a glimpse of the title: [Monarch's Command], before a shadow obscured it completely.
[January 19, 2026]
[Read the memory of Paju.]
Yoojin blinked, the image of the book burned into his mind.
He racked his brain, trying to remember if anyone in Korea had acquired that particular opportunity around that time. Nothing.
'Someone must have found it…'
He concluded.
'But died before they could make use of it.'
〔Why do you assume that?〕
'Monarch's Command is a command-class skill that's incredibly difficult to acquire.'
Command buffs have the advantage of not overlapping with divine abilities and can be applied to multiple targets.
〔Doesn't necromancy have a similar ability?〕
'You mean Undead Command.'
〔Indeed.〕
'That's a magical imitation of the command skill's benefits. It's a bit inferior to the original.'
The range is limited to 100 meters, and it can't even be activated in areas with high holy power density.
It's commendable that they managed to create such a decent imitation.
But compared to a proper command skill, its performance is lacking.
〔This seems like a opportunity that would suit you perfectly.〕
'Yeah. It's a very tempting opportunity. That's why I'm hesitant.'
〔Are you afraid of the Basilisk?〕
'If I plan carefully, I can take it down.'
The Basilisk is a 6 Star monster.
Its skin is harder than steel, and the brute force it possesses due to its massive size is terrifying.
But what makes it especially tricky among 6 Star monsters is its petrifying gaze, which can turn living beings to stone just by looking at them, and it's paralyzing venom.
〔From what you've described, it sounds like a troublesome opponent.〕
'My main strength is my undead army. They're not affected by the petrifying gaze.'
The petrifying gaze only turns living creatures to stone.
And the paralyzing venom is less effective on corpses.
And it's tough hide?
A punch from Fafnir would be more than enough.
〔Then you have nothing to worry about.〕
'There's something else to consider. A certain someone lives near the Basilisk's territory.'
〔That guy?〕
'One-Eyed.'
One-Eyed, a mutated ogre who reached the 7 Star level.
It's a monster that wields both aura blades and magic simultaneously, possessing formidable stats worthy of its massive size.
〔Wouldn't it be sufficient to anticipate an encounter with the monster One-Eyed and prepare accordingly?〕
'I can't win. Not with my current abilities.'
〔For you to speak of weakness... how unbecoming.〕
'Even though it might seem like I'm always jumping into things, I only act when I believe there's a chance. If it were any other 7 Star monster besides One-Eyed, there'd be at least a 1% chance.’
Against magic-type monsters, he could manipulate the surrounding mana distribution or interfere with their magic deployment, creating an advantageous environment for combat.
And against martial-type monsters, he could set up traps or prepare all sorts of poisons and debuffs to give him an edge.
〔Then why is this particular monster so problematic?〕
'Ogres are naturally highly resistant and have an exceptional sense of danger. Even if I set up traps, it would likely sense them instinctively..
A head-on confrontation was out of the question.
And it's so fast that even escaping wouldn't be easy.
〔Do you intend to give up?〕
'Of course not. Even if it's a long shot, I have to go for it.'
〔Kuhahahaha! That's the spirit of my contractor!〕
'You're the one who egged me on, and now you say that?'
〔Crisis and opportunity are two sides of the same coin. A spirit of challenge is a hallmark of a hero.〕
‘Ugh. I was wondering why he hadn't brought up his "hero" spiel yet. So, on top of hunting the Basilisk, I also have to prepare for a clash with One-Eyed, huh?’
Yoojin thought.
'I'll need to make some preparations.'
＊ ＊ ＊
After confirming that the Little Runts Mercenary Group's operations were becoming established, Yoojin returned to the Necropolis.
"Song Myeongseok, I'm entrusting you with the overall defense of the Necropolis."
【Do you see? Your Lord's most trusted subordinate is none other than I!】
"Ah, not exactly. Fafnir is essential for hunting the Basilisk, but you're not."
The Basilisk is a monster even larger than an ogre.
It's not Song Myeongseok's turn to step up when he struggles against ogres or Brutals.
【Lorddddd!】
【Huhu. I told you that you weren't the right person. It can't be helped.】
At Fafnir's low chuckle, Song Myeongseok's blue ghoul fire burned intensely.
One Brutal was stored in the Ring of Darkness.
【Will two be enough?】
"If you're not confident, then don't."
【The Basilisk is a 6 Star large-sized monster, after all. Just in case.】
"The Basilisk isn't what we need to worry about right now."
We're heading into One-Eyed's territory.
If a large undead like a Brutal moves around, it's bound to attract his attention.
"Well, I also have the Blood Golem, so we won't be lacking in manpower."
【As expected, my lord has a plan for everything.】
"Song Myeongseok, guard the house well until I return."
【Understood.】
Four Brutals.
39 Dark Minions.
And hundreds of other low-level undead.
They should be able to hold out unless the Manhunters go all out or One-Eyed attacks.
"Jo Seungchul, get the others' Raise Undead skill proficiency up to 20%."
【Understood, Master.】
"If even one person falls short, you'll be held responsible."
【You lazy bums! Start practicing your spells!】
Jo Seungchul cracked his whip at the Dark Minions.
Since Yoojin wouldn't be leaving the Necropolis unattended for long this time, he gave simple instructions and then headed deeper into the border region.
【But why a Basilisk?】
"My Constellation gave me a useful divine ability. It's a way to find hidden opportunities—like a tool for discovering lucky breaks."
【A way to find opportunities?】
‘It's an ability that reads the timeline before the regression to identify serendipitous events that someone obtained.’
He couldn't explain the whole mechanism, so he gave him a vague explanation.
"When I used the ability this time, it showed me that there's a skill book where the Basilisk is located."
【Your Constellation seems quite unique.】
"What makes you say that?"
【It's rather focused on worldly gains, wouldn't you say? For a divine ability, that is.】
Fafnir chuckled.
‘Huhu. That's what he says.’
[Using Dark Calling.]
While heading north, they encountered a few monsters.
Yoojin didn't even need to lift a finger; Fafnir took care of them all.
After defeating the monsters, he branded their souls with a curse, turning them into wraiths to serve as scouts.
【The minor debuff effect is still there, right?】
"It's more for scouting purposes."
After spreading out several wraiths, he used [Ghost Eye] to survey the surrounding terrain.
As he scanned the area, trying to pinpoint the location shown in [Memento], he suddenly stopped.
"Wait a second. I think that's it."
A place that looked very similar to the cave he'd seen earlier came into view.
At that moment...
A 10-meter-long lizard burst from the ground, glaring up at the sky.
[Deactivating Ghost Eye.]
[One wraith has been destroyed.]
"Whoa, that was close!"
【What happened?】
"The Basilisk used petrification on the wraith as soon as it sensed its presence."
If he had been synchronized with the wraith when it was hit by the petrifying gaze, the curse would have affected Yoojin as well.
If he'd deactivated the shared vision even a second later, it would have been quite painful.
"I've found it, so that's good enough."
【Which way should we go?】
"10 o'clock."
He didn't know who had originally found this opportunity, but this time, he wouldn't let it go to waste.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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