T7RFHE 14💸

Chapter 14

A short while later.

Before heading to the Baekui Authority’s base camp, Jang Su-nam decided to strengthen his Martial Discipline skill and hunt down a very important NPC.

Finding him wasn’t difficult.

Su-nam’s Absolute Map was currently enhanced to +3, allowing it to detect within a 700-meter radius: monsters, hunters, NPCs, dungeons, towers, and even key strongholds.

He couldn’t see precise details, but knowing the NPC’s location was more than enough.

‘This time… let it be the right one.’

He had checked every nearby NPC, but none were the one he sought. Finally, arriving at a shadowed alley, he found the last.

“…Would you like to use my shop?”

A silver-haired, short-haired male elf greeted him with calm dignity.

‘Found him.’

Su-nam stepped closer.

“I want to enhance a skill.”
“Understood.”

His Martial Discipline strengthened by +1, Su-nam immediately shifted to the real business.

“A black emblem with a white tower… You’re a researcher from the Tower of Medicine, aren’t you?”
“You… know of our world?”

At Su-nam’s words, the elf’s eyes widened with surprise.

The Tower of Medicine—in Aria’s world, it was renowned for combining magic with medicine to create Magitech Healing Arts.

And Su-nam knew this man well. In past runs, they had once fought side by side.

‘If I want to mass-produce the vaccine, I’ll need his power.’

Among all possible methods—modern medicine, alchemy, or pure item crafting—the most efficient was magical medical science. And this elf carried that knowledge.

“I heard from Aria that your tower excels in Magitech medicine.”

As he spoke, Su-nam deliberately activated a title for the elf to see:

<Trusted by Princess Aria>

“Hah!”

The elf gasped in awe, then immediately bowed in the formal style of his kin.

Anyone trusted by the First Princess of the Empire was worthy of reverence.

“What do you think of the Imperial Family?”
“They are great protectors. Even in our elven lands, their legends of risking life to defend the people are sung with reverence.”
“Then know this—the last survivor of that family, the First Princess Aria, will soon found a guild. One where even NPCs can join.”

The elf froze, astonishment plain on his face.

“I saw the Princess’s achievements in the system messages. If she truly embarks on another legend… please, allow me to be part of it.”

Su-nam smiled in satisfaction.

In a past cycle, it had taken him three long years to earn this elf’s trust. Now he had accomplished it in mere minutes. The rush of satisfaction was undeniable.

“I am Domael Dezar.”
“Jang Su-nam.”

After brief introductions, Su-nam raised his palm skyward.

Mini Hail, ever perceptive, opened a tiny portal and transmitted a new android copy.

“Take this. Mini Hail—an android that can communicate with Aria’s party.”

Then Su-nam pulled out a tourist map of Daejeon, marking the location of a hotel.

“By tonight, NPCs joining the guild will gather here. Let Mini Hail guide you there.”
“Such fortune… after a hundred days of hardship, I finally find hope.”

The elf’s voice trembled, overwhelmed with relief.

“As thanks, please accept this small gift.”

From his inventory, Domael presented an item:

<Worn Summoning Ring> (F+)

‘Oh? Now that’s good.’

A clear upgrade to his current summoner’s tool—it would allow him to summon up to F+ rank creatures.

‘Perfect timing.’

Su-nam slid the ring onto his finger.

“Call me whenever you need my Magitech medicine. For Her Highness, I swear by the World Tree to give my all.”

Domael traced the mark of the World Tree across his chest—a vow unbreakable for any elf. With that oath, Su-nam’s vaccine plans would face no obstacles.

“Good. I’ll be counting on you.”

Work done, Su-nam finally turned toward the Baekui Authority’s base camp.

‘The vaccine’s with me. They shouldn’t be able to pull anything reckless now.’

But he hadn’t accounted for Lee In-ja’s unpredictability.

“Master,” Mini Hail whispered, “the Baekui transmissions sound urgent. Shall I summarize?”

If even Mini Hail called it ‘serious,’ then it was worse than expected. Su-nam frowned and nodded.

“…Go on.”
“Lee In-ja has already initiated the Gudon Plan.”
“Damn that bastard!!”

Su-nam clutched his forehead.

The plan should only have been executed after confirming the vaccine’s existence. But Lee In-ja had jumped the gun.

‘This complicates things. The base camp needs to be destroyed, and fast…’

The problem was the guards. Hunters were far deadlier than monsters, and dozens of them stood watch. Too many for him to face head-on.

He needed a plan.

‘Hmm…’

Then he remembered an item taken from the Holy Cross Tower:

[One-time Lucky Gem]

• Increases luck for one use only.

• Expires in 12 hours if unused.

‘With this, I can boost the odds of a successful summon.’

If he needed someone to turn the tide in a multi-versus-one… only one came to mind.

Su-nam pulled out the gem.

Activating Phantom Summoning, a dazzling light spread—

And a beautiful girl appeared.

Aria.

“You’ve called me, Su-nam.”

She smiled warmly at him.

“Change form.”

Instantly, her shape shimmered and shifted into a small cat.

This was no princess.

It was the Mimic Slime, the Tutorial Boss, capable of assuming any form.

“Nya-haha. So touchy. Summoned me just to torture me with salt again?”

It remembered its death at his hands, spitting barbed words. But as a summon, it could only obey.

“We’re bringing down the Baekui base. Time to use your specialty.”
“Deception and assassination, you mean?”

The slime’s grin widened.

Su-nam laid out the plan:

First, disguise as a Baekui researcher and release goblin venom in plain view.
Next, transform into a hunter and whip the crowd into fury.
While hunters and Baekui clashed, Su-nam would slip in and eliminate Lee In-ja.

“I can kill some guards too?”
“Only if necessary. Keep it minimal.”

The slime smiled brightly.

Soon, atop the Sky Road, chaos boiled.

Hunters and guards squared off, fury thick in the air.

“My son died because of them!”
“Kill them! Spill their blood!!”

Realizing Baekui’s crimes, hunters roared with vengeance.

At last, one hunter lunged—

“Go! No mercy!!”

“““Uoooooohhh!!”””

And war erupted.

‘Good thing that slime was only a Tutorial Boss.’

It had single-handedly incited the carnage. If it had been a higher-level boss… it would’ve been humanity’s nightmare.

‘Time to move.’

Su-nam activated his invisibility bracelet, slipping unseen into the base.

‘Now… where’s that bastard hiding?’

Ignoring others, he strode straight for the officers’ tent. Empty.

“…Mini Hail, fake the team leader’s voice. Tell them we’ve secured the vaccine.”

Mini Hail nodded, sending the transmission.

Immediately, a furious roar answered:

“You useless bastard!! Why so late?! Get your ass to the mess hall now!!”

The voice was close.

“There he is.”

Su-nam smirked, deactivated invisibility, and clipped the Seed of the Evil God brooch—looted from a supermarket—onto his chest before stepping into the mess hall.

“…Why so la—huh? You’re the Crow?”

Lee In-ja froze, eyes glued to the brooch on Su-nam’s chest.

“Why, I had no idea the famous Crow was a ‘Collector’…”

Instantly, he shifted from bluster to groveling.

‘Collector?’

Su-nam had planned to ambush him. But now, unexpected intel dangled before him. Better to play along.

“…Why do you think I’m a Collector?”
“I-I was told—those who gather the Chaos energy are ‘Gatherers,’ like Lord Pi-gwang-seok. Those who take it away are ‘Collectors.’ Am I wrong?”
“And what else do you know?”
“Not much, sir. Only that the energy becomes… the Seeds of the Evil God…”

Su-nam frowned.

‘They create seeds… with the same name as their organization?’

Still too little information. He pressed harder.

“You don’t even know what the Seed does?”
“I-I heard… if one consumes or absorbs it, they gain a fragment of the Evil God’s power…”

The man spoke timidly, sweat dripping. Clearly second-hand scraps.

‘No further use, then.’

Su-nam feigned distraction, glancing aside. Instinctively, Lee In-ja followed his gaze.

Whish!

The axe flashed, cutting clean through his throat.

“Ghhkkk?!!”

One life gone. He resurrected, gasping in rage.

“You tricked me?!”

Sword drawn, he swung wildly.

Clang!

‘This strength…?’

His power was immense—likely +2 Swordsmanship or Strength this run.

‘If brute force fails… I’ll win with technique.’

As the axe swung, Lee raised his blade to parry—

But it was a feint. Su-nam’s fist slammed into his gut.

Thud!

“Guaahhh!!”

His body lifted from the ground, organs crushed. Another death.

Resurrecting again, terror warped his face.

“No… I can’t die again!!”

Su-nam smirked.

So he had already lost a life elsewhere. Only two remained.

With a scream, Lee activated a new ability.

Dozens of forks around the hall trembled—then shot into the air.

‘Telekinesis?!’

A skill he hadn’t possessed in past runs.

“Die, bastard!!”

Forks rained down like a storm.

‘You think I’ll just stand here?’

Su-nam’s axe split his skull before he could finish.

Crash!

His aim shattered, the forks went wild. Seizing the moment, Su-nam dragged him close.

Thud!

Both crashed to the ground—forks impaling mercilessly into the body beneath him.

Lee In-ja’s own telekinesis had killed him. His last life drained away.

‘Barely scraped by.’

Su-nam shoved the corpse aside and stood.

At that same moment—

“Uwaaaaaaahhh!!”

The hunters’ triumphant cries rang out—the base camp had fallen.

‘One problem solved. Next up…’

He gazed out the tent window at the city beyond.

‘The zombie outbreak.’