Chapter 121
[Things That Are Changing]
After conquering the Cyclops’ Tomb, Shin Tae-gil visited Kang Hyeon after a long ti.
“Did you have a good ti in the dungeon?”
“Ah… Well, it was okay.”
Kang Hyeon frowned for a mont as he recalled the events in the dungeon.
“By the way, what brings you here? Coming all this way in person.”
Shin Tae-gil is always busy with work. Kang Hyeon was curious as to why he would co in person, which he rarely does.
“First, take this.”
Shin Tae-gil pulled out an unfamiliar chanical device from his pocket.
“What’s this? A new smartphone?”
“Similar. It’s a prototype of a product being secretly developed in collaboration between the governnt and corporations.”
“Governnt and corporate collaboration?”
“Yes. You know how there are many electronic products powered by magic stones these days? This is one of those.”
“Wow. That’s nice. Products using magic stones don’t need separate charging, right?”
Recently, there’s been a boom in the market for electronic products using magic stones. Thanks to magic being a highly efficient energy source, products could be used for over a year with just one charge. Moreover, ability users could charge them by infusing their own magical power. Because of this, despite being much more expensive than existing products, they were steadily expanding their market share.
“There’s not much difference from existing smartphones just because it uses a magic stone. In your case, Kang Hyeon, the difference would be that you can charge it with your magical power, and it can be used inside dungeons.”
“Use inside dungeons… But still can’t make calls, right?”
“Correct.”
It was still too much to expect calls inside dungeons.
“Still, this is pretty good. But why are you giving this to ?”
“One mont. Take this too.”
Ignoring Kang Hyeon’s question, Shin Tae-gil pulled out another device.
“What’s this now? A hearing aid?”
“Similarly, it’s a prototype of a product made in collaboration between the governnt and corporations. It’s based on existing translation magic and allows for mutual communication.”
“Allows for mutual communication… Is it possible to talk with monsters too?”
“It is possible.”
“Wow! What the heck?! When were you making sothing like this? You could have given a heads up.”
Communicating with monsters was possible before too. It was done using magic or abilities related to translation. At first glance, it seed very good, but these were shunned by the market. Astronomical prices and limited quantities. Even if you went through the trouble of talking with monsters, there wasn’t much benefit. To begin with, there were very few monsters intelligent enough to have a conversation with.
The only usefulness of such translation magic was that you could understand and speak foreign languages without learning them separately. But even that was seen as a luxury item used only by the rich, as the money to buy a skill book could hire dozens of interpreters.
“Both users need to wear this device for communication to be possible. It’s not yet at the completion stage, but I’m showing it to you first, Kang Hyeon.”
“Thank you. I actually had a use for it, so this is great.”
Kang Hyeon grinned, thinking of his swordsmanship teacher, Kergo.
“So, what’s the reason for giving these to ?”
There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. While he would gratefully accept the gifts, Kang Hyeon thought there must be a reason for Shin Tae-gil’s sudden behavior.
“It’s not particularly for compensation.”
“Then?”
“There’s sothing I need to tell you, Kang Hyeon. I think you might need it in the’ future.”
“Sothing to tell ?”
“Yes. It’s really important.”
Suddenly, Shin Tae-gil started to get serious.
“Kang Hyeon. Don’t you think electronic products have been malfunctioning more often lately?”
“What’s with that sudden question?”
“It’s exactly as I said.”
“Malfunctions… Co to think of it, there have been so. Calls getting cut off, and ah, my computer crashes occasionally too.”
“Since your magic power level is high, Kang Hyeon, you probably experienced these symptoms more frequently.”
“Is there a reason for that?”
“Yes. Currently, this phenonon is occurring worldwide. It’s just not being ntioned yet because the symptoms aren’t severe.”
It was then that Kang Hyeon realized the seriousness of the situation.
“It’s related to the dungeons, right?”
“That’s correct. It’s been about 9 months since B-rank dungeons appeared. Experts predict that A-rank dungeons will appear in the near future.”
“What does that have to do with electronic devices?”
In fact, everyone expected A-rank dungeons to appear. It wasn’t really a surprising event at this point.
“You might not have noticed, but since B-rank dungeons appeared, residual magic power has started to appear in reality, not just in dungeons. Reality, not dungeons. It ans magic power has started to exist on Earth.”
“So that’s why electronic products are malfunctioning.”
“Even though A-rank dungeons haven’t appeared yet, the magic power density on Earth is gradually increasing. At this rate, experts believe that all electronic products will be neutralized not long after A-rank dungeons appear.”
“Huh…”
Not being able to use electronic devices. For humans, it would be like taking away fire from people before the Industrial Revolution. That’s how much all of humanity currently relies on equipnt powered by electricity. If all of that suddenly disappeared, it was obvious that society’s systems would collapse.
“Is that information reliable?”
“It’s confidential information from the United States. I don’t know the exact source, but I’m certain because their words have never been wrong so far.”
“So far? You an this isn’t the first ti you’ve heard this information? That.”
“Ah, that’s…”
For a mont, Shin Tae-gil was flustered by Kang Hyeon’s question.
“Well, if you don’t want to reveal it, that’s fine. It’s not particularly important to anyway. In any case, your amazing information from Arica has been spot-on so far, so I guess it will be this ti too. That’s what you’re saying, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Are we preparing well?”
“The governnt is doing its best to overhaul the existing system based on the magic stones we’ve collected so far. I’m not sure if we’ll make it in ti, but we can’t just sit idle either.”
“That’s good enough for .”
“Mr. Kang Hyeon. As you know, this is absolutely…”
“Top secret? Don’t worry, I understand.”
Even Kang Hyeon knew that if this kind of information leaked out, it would cause trendous chaos.
“Are you leaving already?”
As soon as all the conversation was over, Shin Tae-gil stood up from his seat.
“Yes. I’m busy with work.”
“Wait a mont. I have sothing to say.”
“What is it?”
Shin Tae-gil was taken aback by Kang Hyeon’s sudden seriousness.
“I just cleared a B-rank dungeon, rember? The Cyclops’ Tomb.”
“Yes, I know.”
“You also know that I bought it for quite a high price at the auction, right?”
Of course he knew.
The whole country was in an uproar when Kang Hyeon spent 4.5 billion won to buy the dungeon.
“Yes… I know… But why…”
An uneasy feeling started to creep up.
“Mr. Kang Hyeon. Perhaps…”
“That money. I want you to cover it, Mr. Shin Tae-gil.”
Unfortunately, ominous premonitions always co true.
“Why should I cover that?!”
“To be precise, I’m asking the governnt to cover it. Can’t you do that?”
“No, we can’t. Didn’t we already give you the C-rank dungeon Knight Training Ground for almost free last ti?”
“Co on. Don’t be so stingy. I’m just asking you to cover 3 billion.”
“Is the governnt so kind of charity organization!? No, even a charity organization wouldn’t cover that.”
“You said it yourself before, Mr. Shin Tae-gil. That we’re in the sa boat, rember? Aren’t we?!”
“That, that’s…”
Shin Tae-gil was flustered by the ntion of being in the sa boat.
Kang Hyeon didn’t miss this opportunity.
“Mr. Shin Tae-gil! You live in Namcheon-dong, right?! I’ve eaten with you! Gone to the sauna with you! We’ve done everything togeth…”
“Please stop…”
Shin Tae-gil raised both hands in surrender to Kang Hyeon’s passionate act.
“Please! Can’t you stop that weird impersonation?”
“Then you’ll give the 3 billion won payback, right?”
Kang Hyeon asked with a grin.
“Sigh… Alright.”
Shin Tae-gil already felt a headache coming on, wondering what excuse he would have to use to secure the budget this ti.
***
Ippotranslation
***
“Have you been well?”
Kang Hyeon visited his parents’ ho after a long ti.
It had been half a year since he last saw his parents’ faces.
He had been putting it off with the excuse of being busy, but he ca because he didn’t know what kind of chaos might co in the future.
“Who is this! Isn’t it the universal superstar, big brother Kang Hyeon!?”
“Get lost, you’re disgusting.”
The first to welco him was his younger sister, Kang A-hyun.
Kang Hyeon’s family, who had recently moved, was living in a luxury apartnt in Seoul, even receiving protection from governnt agents.
Kang A-hyun had also quit her job at a small company and had been living off the money Kang Hyeon sent for about 3 months.
“Mom kept asking you to co, but you never showed your face. What’s the occasion? Did you co to give us an allowance?”
“Ah, I didn’t co to see you! Move!”
“You crazy bastard! You’re hitting a woman? Do you want to die!?”
As Kang Hyeon pushed her aside while passing through the front door, Kang A-hyun lunged at him even more fiercely.
“Hey, I’m not who I used to be. If you ss with wrongly, you’ll get hurt badly, so back off while I’m asking nicely.”
“That’s asking nicely? Huh?”
At that mont,
His mother’s voice was heard from inside.
“A-hyun. Who are you making such a fuss with… Kang Hyeon!?”
“Haha… It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“You ungrateful child! Your mom kept asking to see your face but you never ca! Do you know how much I missed you?”
“I’m sorry. I was busy…”
A few months ago, Kang Hyeon’s mother, who had fallen into a brain-dead state, woke up.
At first, everyone was happy, but soon they couldn’t hide their sorrow.
Her body and mind were so devastated that she could barely move.
-Kang Hyeon… Is that Kang Hyeon!?
But when she saw that Kang Hyeon was alive, life returned to her eyes.
And now, after a few months have passed.
His mother appeared to have no outward issues, having improved significantly.
“I’m really glad you ca.”
At first, his mother pretended to be angry, but soon she hugged Kang Hyeon with a bright smile.
“This won’t do. Co in quickly. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“That’s perfect, we were just about to have dinner. Honey! Co out here for a mont!”
“What is it. Oh, it’s Kang Hyeon.”
His father ca out of the main bedroom and greeted him with an indifferent expression.
“Dad, have you been well too?”
“Of course I have.”
The father and son soon grinned at each other.
Kang Hyeon and his father hugged lightly.
“n shouldn’t hug like that, it’s disgusting.”
“You like it though. By the way, how’s your arm? Is it usable?”
Kang Hyeon asked, feeling the hard touch as his father patted his shoulder.
“It gets tiring if I use it for a long ti, but it’s fine for daily life.”
Kang Hyeon’s father, who beca one-ard during the Orc incident, was using a prosthetic arm.
It was a masterpiece from Jeong Seo-bin’s laboratory.
It moves based on magic stones and gives an item-like effect when worn by an ability user.
“Don’t overdo it, increase the usage ti little by little.”
However, Kang Hyeon’s father was not an ability user.
He could wear it, but couldn’t exert strong power like ability users.
Even that would bring extre fatigue if used for a long ti, requiring frequent rest.
“If only I were an ability user like you, it would have been good. I’m causing trouble unnecessarily.”
The atmosphere suddenly beca heavy at his father’s words.
Kang Hyeon’s expression also beca very dark.
“Hey, that’s not like you, Dad! Why are you saying such things? What’s wrong with not being an ability user?”
Kang A-hyun stepped in to lighten the mood, but Kang Hyeon’s darkened expression didn’t improve.
“You too, stop frowning! It’s not like you to pretend to be depressed.”
“It’s not like that.”
“What do you an it’s not? You’re not crying, are you?”
“Damn it. I said it’s not!”
In fact, there was another reason why Kang Hyeon’s expression was dark.
‘A terrible mory ca back to .’
A few months ago, Kang Hyeon had a heated argunt and fought with Choi Min-jun.
Although the situation was resolved because people around them intervened, Kang Hyeon was still uncomfortable.
‘That bastard. I should have finished him then…’
***
Ippotranslation
***
Not long after Bandarenko and the Free Ability Users Liberation Alliance had fallen, there was an incident.
That day, everyone had gathered at Shin Tae-gil’s arrangent to clear up misunderstandings and promote harmony.
“What misunderstanding is there with a criminal bastard?”
Kang Hyeon was consistently sarcastic, and the other participants were the sa.
Perhaps it was inevitable that an argunt broke out in such a eting.
“You don’t know anything.”
“I don’t know? What don’t I know?”
Kang Hyeon asked with a fierce expression.
“Only trials make humans stronger. And only humans who survive like that will survive in the world that’s about to unfold.”
Kang Hyeon frowned at Choi Min-jun’s answer.
“Do you think that’s a valid reason for killing people?”
“How naive.”
“What?”
“Is it arrogance from strength? Do you think you can survive in this world with such naive thoughts?”
“You bastard… I could tear you apart right now. Watch your mouth.”
Although Kang Hyeon spoke aggressively, Choi Min-jun’s expression remained calm.
“In a changing world, you alone might survive. Because you’re strong. But what about your family? Your comrades? You don’t think you can protect them forever, do you?”
Kang Hyeon’s face hardened at Choi Min-jun’s words.
Honestly, it would be a lie to say he had never thought about it.
Kang Hyeon had pondered this issue several tis.
But because there was no realistic alternative, it was a problem he had ultimately ignored.
“So? What are you trying to say? Since they’re going to die later anyway, let’s just kill them now? Is that it?”
“If they experience trials and grow, more people will be able to survive.”
“What about those who haven’t awakened? They can’t grow. For non-awakened, monsters aren’t trials, they’re literally disasters.”
Choi Min-jun made a firm expression at Kang Hyeon’s words.
“They’re those who will be eliminated and die anyway.”
“Ha, keep talking. I think I need to hear it all before I beat you up to feel better.”
Kang Hyeon snorted, but Choi Min-jun still looked confident.
“In a world where magic power becos a new resource, there’s no place for humans who don’t pass the test.”
“…”
“Don’t you feel it too? Even here where we are, magic power is gradually erging. The world outside the dungeons is also changing and adapting to magic power.”
“So there’s no place for humans who are eliminated in this new world?”
“Now you’re starting to understand.”
Choi Min-jun smiled, seemingly satisfied with Kang Hyeon’s words.
“I’ve heard your bullshit well.”
However, his expression quickly hardened at the following words.
“Honestly, I’m not exactly a person who values life much. But I can clearly see that you’re an even crazier bastard than An Yu-seong, who’s steeped in chosen people’s ideology.”
“Don’t take it emotionally, think logically.”
“Logic my ass!”
***
Ippotranslation
***
“Hyeon. Hyeon! What are you doing?”
His mother kept shaking Kang Hyeon, who was lost in thought.
‘Enough. What’s the point of thinking about it now?’
Kang Hyeon decided to push thoughts of Choi Min-jun aside for now.
“It’s nothing. Haha. I’m hungry. Let’s eat quickly.”
“Okay, okay. I understand.”
Kang Hyeon tried his best to forget about that day’s incident, but he couldn’t help these mories surfacing occasionally.
When wounds hidden in ordinary daily life suddenly popped up, anger towards himself and the world welled up for not being able to properly refute Choi Min-jun’s words.
-They’re those who will be eliminated and die anyway.
“That’s bullshit. I won’t let that happen.”
Everyone turned their heads at Kang Hyeon’s sudden muttering.
“Hyeon. Is sothing wrong..?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. I just had a different thought for a mont. Haha!”
“Are you really okay?”
“I said I’m fine. By the way, what’s for dinner tonight?”
As Kang Hyeon returned to a bright mood, his mother smiled.
“What else? It’s beef, your favorite.”
“You don’t usually eat at often. What’s the special occasion?”
“I had a good dream today. Sohow I thought of you, so I bought so earlier when I went shopping.”
Kang Hyeon grinned at his mother’s words.
“We have beer too, right?”
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