SMH 144

Chapter 46 – The Magic Scholar who Fled (3)

TL: Boko

Editors: Frost, StellarRain

“I won’t let them,” Sung Joon said with an grimly resolved expression. The Empire and the Species Alliance had killed him in his past life. He was definitely going to pay them back

“I can understand up to where you said that Roukel’s grudge is the trigger that opens the Awakening Dungeon. But it will be difficult to fight back against the Empire through just the Awakening Dungeon.”

“Are you talking about a preemptive strike through some other means…?” Sung Joon asked. Zelos nodded his head and spoke.

“If only we had the Dimensional Leap theoretical book, I would be able to find a method of creating a warp gate from our side.

Like a true magic scholar, who was talented in dimensional magic theory, Zelos spoke with a voice overflowing with confidence. Seeing that, Sung Joon smiled.

“Do you actually have it?”

Sung Joon silently nodded his head.

“It should be stored securely within the Pan-Dimensional Task Force’s training school.”

“The Awakening Dungeon opened there, so I killed them all and took the theoretical book with me.”

“There should’ve been several elite troops stationed there… As expected of Sir Roukel’s disciple,” Zelos said in admiration. Sung Joon extracted the Dimensional Leap theoretical book from his dimensional pouch and passed it over to Zelos.

“It’s definitely the Dimensional Leap theoretical book. This will help significantly in making a more stable warp gate.”

Zelos confirmed that the theoretical book was the real deal. His eyes shined as he read through the book.

“I didn’t think I’d ever be able to see this with my own two eyes.”

Aside from special circumstances, non-interested parties did not get a chance to read the Dimensional Leap theoretical book.

“How is it?”

“I need to read more, but I have no difficulties understanding the contents thus far. I believe I’ll get a clue on how to open a more stable warp gate once I’m done reading through the book,” Zelos replied. The warp gate Zelos had used to travel to Earth had been unstable.

If something had gone wrong, he could’ve been swept away in the ‘dimensional storm’ and lost his life.

He could open a similar unstable warp gate this instant, but there was no point if he lost his life in the process.

“For now, I want you to work on placing some defensive spells around the mansion, since we don’t know when the Empire will catch on.”

The warp gate wasn’t his priority right now. Even if he were to open a warp gate immediately, there was only so much damage Sung Joon could inflict onto the Empire or the Species Alliance by himself.

“I understand. Then, I’ll think about the defensive spells that I’ll place around the mansion first.”

As Sung Joon requested, Zelos prioritized the mansion’s defense first. Zelos set up defensive spells around the mansion for a few days. It may have been because he was a magic scholar, but he wasn’t really good around other people.  He didn’t attempt to interact with Shin Chul, Jang Hoon, or Jung Chul. However, that wasn’t a huge problem.

“I’m finished.”

On a certain day in December, Sung Joon had finished soloing an A-rank dungeon, and came back. By then, Zelos had finished setting up the magic circles and reported that fact to Sung Joon.

He guided Sung Joon around the mansion to explain the engraved defensive spells.

Though they were called defensive spells, they were in fact quite deadly.

“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that your mansion’s defenses have increased twofold, Sir Kang Sung Joon.”

“But who will control  the defensive spells? They’re extremely deadly, so it seems like someone needs to control them. They could attack our allies,” Sung Joon said. His automatic turrets could distinguish between friend and foe as it had a system that identified allies.

“Ah… I forgot to explain that to you. Only those that I consider an ‘enemy’ will cause the spells to go off, so you don’t have to worry so much.”

In other words, if Zelos was killed, then the defensive spells he’d set up would go with him.

And by saying that outright, he was telling Sung Joon of his importance. Because of that, Sung Joon decided to prioritize Zelo’s safety in case of an attack.

“What about the activation?”

Sung Joon was a swordmaster in his previous life, but he was an elite who possessed some knowledge regarding magic.

Thus, he knew that the defensive spells needed to be activated for them to display their effects.

“I infused mana into them just a little while ago. There wouldn’t be a problem, even if enemies were to invade right this instant. The spells will intercept them.”

“Then I can trust you and go out, right?”

“Do you have an appointment?” Zelos asked. Sung Joon nodded his head and spoke.

“I’m preparing to make a guild. You know about guilds, right?”

“Of course I do. But making a guild right now is… Are you planning on training an ‘elite guard’?”

Zelos had seen through him in an instant.

“You’re quick on the uptake.”

“Just by looking at Mr. Park Jung Chul, Mr. Yoon Shin Chul, and Mr. Park Jang Hoon, I can tell that you’re training them to become your elite guard, Sir Kang Sung Joon.”

“That’s the plan. In any case, I’m going to meet someone regarding the guild and attack a dungeon, so keep a close eye on the house.”

“You don’t have to worry about the mansion’s defense. Since I am here.”

Zelos was overflowing with confidence. After Sung Joon had nodded his head, he got into his car to meet with Seol Ah and embarked.

“It’s a relief that the Kingdom Alliance has mobilized and is fighting back against the Empire.”

As soon as they got onto the quiet road, Rishubalt spoke. For the past few days, Rishubalt had spoken with Zelos quite a bit. Because of that, he heard a lot of news about what the Empire and the Species Alliance were up to following the Battle of the Ridonia Great Plains. In order to escape, Zelos had been gathering information through a helper.

“The problem is how long the Kingdom Alliance will last,” Sung Joon said. The moment the Kingdom Alliance collapses, the Empire and the Species Alliance would focus all their resources into invading Earth.

If that happened, then their research into warp gates would speed up and in no time at all their armies would invade Earth.

But because they were retaliating against the Kingdom Alliance, their plan to invade the Earth hadn’t really begun yet.

“It seems like we’ve arrived,” Rishubalt said. Sung Joon had been driving whilst engaging in a serious conversation with Rishubalt, so he had arrived at the promised location quickly.

He parked nearby, and entered the cafe. Though they were supposed to meet in twenty minutes, Seol Ah was already there waiting for him.

“Ms. Yoon Seol Ah? You should’ve told me if you had arrived so early…” Sung Joon said as he sat in front of her. To be honest, it had been quite some time since she had entered the cafe and waited for him, but she kept smiling.

It was honestly her own fault, as she had been so excited to meet with Sung Joon that she had arrived too early and waited for so long.

“I had some work nearby, but I finished it quickly. I came early and was drinking a cup of coffee.”

“Then that’s a relief. Did you go through all the procedures?”

“Yes. We’ve already prepared all the necessary documents. All you need to do now is bring these documents to the Hunter Bureau and apply.”

“Thank you for all your hard work.”

Seol Ah smiled at Sung Joon’s compliment. Her feelings toward Sung Joon had become a lot clearer.

“Zelos’ name is included in the documents, right?” Sung Joon asked. Because Zelos had joined them so late, he had asked Seol Ah to include his name four days ago. That’s why they needed to check to make sure that the preparations were all complete.

“Yes, please don’t worry.”

“Thank you again,” Sung Joon replied and checked his watch. If he wanted to complete his guild registration before his dungeon assault, then he needed to go now. As soon as Sung Joon stood, Seol Ah took her remaining coffee and followed him out.

“It seems like you’re quite busy?”

Her voice was tinged with disappointment. Sung Joon nodded his head and spoke.

“I have an appointment for a dungeon attack. If I want to register my guild then I think I’ll have to go immediately.”

“I see…”

“I’ll make sure to deliver the magic stones to you. Please don’t worry.”

Sung Joon accumulated an overwhelming amount of magic stones from his solo plays. If he passed these magic stones over to her, then her position within the company would grow.

Because the Blue Dragon Group was given permission from the government to do business in magic stones, they could form a contract with either a guild or a regular assault team for a supply of magic stones.

“Ok.”

Seol Ah wanted to hang out with Sung Joon some more. It felt regrettable to just let him go like this, but she had no choice.

She was well aware that keeping him here would just be getting in his way. The only thing she could do was to follow him to his parked car.

Anything else would be getting in his way.

“Then, I’ll get going now.”

Sung Joon got in his car and drove to the Hunter Bureau. Because he sent a message, Hyun Sung was waiting for him on the first floor. When he saw Sung Joon coming, he offered a handshake with a joyous expression.

“Mr. Kang Sung Joon! It’s been a long time! Have you been well?”

Because Sung Joon was an SS-rank Hunter, people would try to get close to him no matter where he went.

“Let’s go up to my office.”

Sung Joon nodded at Hyun Sung’s offer. He could’ve dealt with this through Han So Eun, who was at his private counter, but going through it in Hyun Sung’s office didn’t sound like a bad idea either.

The two went up to Hyun Sung’s office. Sung Joon gave Hyun Sung the documents that Seol Ah had prepared for him.

“There are no problems with the documents. They’re perfect. Most people making guilds for the first time have trouble preparing these documents.”

Anyone could register for a guild if they wanted, but because the procedures were particularly stringent, there were many Hunters who just gave up on making one. To the point that there would be someone separately drawing up the documents for them, as it was especially troublesome.

Seol Ah would be his secretary, so she took responsibility for these procedures and documents. She was the head of the Blue Dragon Group’s guild plan, so she knew all about it.

“We had planned on helping you as well.”

Because Sung Joon was such an important figure to the Hunter Bureau, they were doing their utmost so that Sung Joon wouldn’t have to deal with troublesome matters.

“A friend helped me, so I was able to prepare it quite easily.”

“That’s a relief. We’ll take care of the rest of the procedures. There will be nothing troublesome that goes your way, Mr. Kang Sung Joon.”

“I thought that there would be some more troublesome things after,” Sung Joon said honestly. He had gone through the bulletin board messages on Hunter.com regarding guild registration, and most regarded the procedure as a pain in  the ass and quite difficult.

Hyun Sung just smiled and spoke.

“That’s usually how it is, but there are exceptions to everything.”

Hyun Sung stressed that Sung Joon was getting preferential treatment.

“In any case, please take care of it.”

“Of course.”

After Sung Joon parted ways with Hyun Sung, he attacked the A-rank dungeon. There was no change to his 56% synchronization rate. Once he had finished the dungeon and sold his magic stones, he returned to his house.  However, on the way…

Sung Joon felt several stealthed presences around his house.

“Rishubalt.”

“Just give me the order.”

“The mansion is surrounded.”

“They’re not the Russians.”

He didn’t know why, but Rishubalt’s voice sounded absolutely sure.

“Then is it…”

Sung Joon eyes gleamed with killing intent.

“Zelos… he came over quickly, but people followed him here.”

Sung Joon shook his head. However, he sported a wicked smile. Seeing that, Rishubalt spoke with an elated expression.

“I’m curious as to how far your synchronization rate will increase this time.”

Sung Joon already saw them as ‘enemies’ who possessed mana; enemies who would be sacrificed to increase his synchronization rate.