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Chapter 24
At long last, Jang Sunam unlocked the Base Construction Function.
With a satisfied look, he pulled out the poleaxe he had once wielded.
“When building a base, it’s always easier to have an axe.”
He took a slow breath.
What he was about to do next was something that made even him—someone who had lived through countless regressions—nervous every single time.
Because this… was the kind of thing that would make anyone nervous.
“Mini-Hael, call Aria.”
He summoned her and waited. Before long, a portal shimmered open, and Aria stepped through.
“You called for me, Mr. Sunam?”
“Yes. The time has come. From this moment on… let’s do that.”
“That?!”
From beyond the still-open portal, the twin Laneth sisters gasped in shock.
Sunam ignored them.
Aria, catching the seriousness in his eyes, tensed.
“Wait—do you mean… that one?”
“Yes. That one.”
“Are you sure? That’s…”
Aria swallowed. Sunam felt his own heartbeat quicken in response.
“I know. But I’ll still do it.”
“…Then I’ll wish for your success!”
Aria straightened her back, her expression dead serious.
“Opening the Equipment Fusion System!”
A translucent system window opened at her command.
No turning back now.
Heart pounding, Sunam placed his weapons into the fusion slots:
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Goblin Lord’s Ice Poleaxe (F+)+1
-
Goblin Warrior’s Longsword (F+)+3
-
Goblin Captain’s Longsword (F+)+5
-
Gobbig’s Staff (E)
Three of his old weapons, and the new one he had just obtained.
Gulp.
Both he and Aria swallowed hard, their tension rising.
It couldn’t be helped.
Fusion was pure gambling.
Failure meant ruin, success meant glory.
It demanded nothing less than 100% luck.
“Sh-should we go for it?”
Aria’s question sent a cold bead of sweat running down Sunam’s back.
Even after living through countless timelines, this moment was something he never got used to.
At least the system hadn’t flashed one of those ominous bad-luck warnings.
If he was going to do it, now was the best chance.
“…Proceed.”
Aria pressed the fusion button with trembling fingers.
Flash!
The weapons merged into a single orb of light.
The worst-case scenario was simple: the weakest material item would come out.
The best case? A weapon of higher grade, with all enhancements stacked.
That was why hunters, when reinforcement stones were scarce, often risked spare gear in this deadly gamble.
The orb spun, glowing brighter.
It felt as though it was pulling them in.
Neither Sunam nor Aria dared to blink, staring in rapt silence.
Seconds passed—yet it felt like an eternity.
Finally—
“It’s taking shape!”
The orb swelled, the new weapon’s outline forming.
A success? A failure?
What he hoped for was an E-rank poleaxe.
But with bad luck, he might be left with nothing but the weakest weapon.
“It’s a poleaxe—it’s definitely a poleaxe!”
At least the shape was confirmed.
Now, the grade…
[Fusion Complete. Gobbig’s Poleaxe (E)+5 has been created.]
“Jackpot!”
“Congratulations, Mr. Sunam!”
Sunam let out a triumphant cry, while Aria clapped her hands with delight.
He had only hoped for an E-rank poleaxe.
But to think it came out +5 reinforced…
Smiling proudly, he gripped his new weapon.
He couldn’t wait to test it in battle.
“Um, Mr. Sunam…”
Aria’s face flushed as she spoke with an almost trembling excitement.
“I actually have something good too. Would you… like to try just one more time?”
Her expression was that of a textbook gambling addict.
“You’d better not touch any gambling other than fusion.”
“Of course!”
Her reply sounded wrong—like she was excluding fusion from the definition of gambling entirely.
“…So, what is it?”
Curiosity colored Sunam’s own expression.
He, too, was caught up in the thrill.
Aria held his hand and gently pressed something into his palm.
[Worn Summoning Ring (F+)+3]
It was identical to the one he already wore—same grade, same enhancement.
“No risk at all. Even if it fails, your combat power won’t decrease.”
“…Heh.”
A grin spread across Sunam’s face.
With no risk of loss, not trying would be the real foolishness.
“Let’s do it.”
“Let’s.”
They placed the two rings into the fusion slots.
Aria looked at him; he nodded.
“Here we go!”
She pressed the button.
The rings merged into another glowing orb, spinning and reshaping—
And then—
[Fusion Complete. Ring of Thunder Summoning (E)+6 has been created.]
It was a massive success.
“WE HIT THE JACKPOT!!”
“Wow! Incredible, Mr. Sunam!”
Aria bounced in delight like a child, while Sunam nearly roared at the heavens in joy.
Of all possible results, the very best had appeared.
With the lightning attribute… I can finally use my Thunder Arts properly!
No longer did he need to rush into obtaining lightning skills.
And with his summons’ power boosted, even Jelly wouldn’t struggle like before.
“You’ve been an excellent support, Aria.”
“I’ll keep working hard to meet your expectations, Mr. Sunam.”
She smiled warmly and gave him a courteous bow.
“Then, please do your best today as well. I’ll always be cheering for you.”
She knew when to step away, never overstaying her welcome.
That was one of her strengths.
“Thanks. And prepare to move into the new E-rank base soon.”
“Yes! I’ll even pour all my wealth into fusions if it’ll make me an E-rank NPC!”
“Haha, funny joke.”
Aria gave a faintly mysterious smile before stepping back into the portal.
…That was a joke, right?
For a moment, Sunam worried she had taken his words as a command.
But the portal had already closed.
No way. She wouldn’t actually throw everything away like that… right?
He shrugged it off.
The new equipment made the very air feel fresher.
“Alright… time to build my first base.”
He walked toward a nearby tree and swung his new poleaxe.
Crack—Thud!
In just two strikes, a tree thicker than a man’s thigh fell to the ground.
With Body Training +3 and an E-rank +5 poleaxe, his logging speed was monstrous.
[Acquired: Logs +30]
A familiar system message appeared—straight out of a survival game.
Cut trees, mine ore, gather resources. Use blueprints, and build.
The E-rank zone was littered with “system-placed” trees and rocks, endlessly respawning.
There would never be a shortage of materials.
Now this is where infinite inventory shines.
With no worries about storage, he harvested wood and ore in bulk.
After a while—
[Base Construction skill has been reinforced: +1]
A welcome message.
“That’s enough.”
Construction skills could be raised through steady harvesting and building.
He had gathered at full tilt, saving his skill enhancement items for later.
At +1, he could only build wooden structures.
But that was fine. For now, it was about practice and experience.
Hunters in past timelines had even specialized in construction alone.
Choose a blueprint, place supports, walls, doors, roofs—done.
Buildings popped into existence like magic.
Some hunters could erect entire houses in just hours.
Of course, villains often smashed them for fun.
That’s why most people built cheap, temporary bases until sturdier materials became available.
“Hey, young man!”
A powerful voice rang out.
“Don’t build a house here! That bastard will target you!”
An old man, at least ninety, rushed toward him at shocking speed.
Clearly his body had been strengthened by martial arts skills.
“Huff… huff… ah, what a strain.”
But it was just habit—he wasn’t tired in the least.
He’s no ordinary elder.
Above his head floated the tag: Hunter E+ Rank.
Anyone who had reached that level was clearly capable of surviving and fighting well.
“Young man, you’re building a base here, aren’t you?”
“…Yes, sir.”
Though mentally older than most, Sunam spoke politely out of courtesy.
“If it isn’t a place where hunters gather, don’t build a base! You’ll be targeted by that damned bastard!”
The old man stomped the ground, each strike shaking Sunam’s body.
“My houses—he’s destroyed more than ten of them! That damned bastard!”
“Who is he?”
The elder’s face twisted with rage.
“4885! That lunatic! Smashes houses with a warhammer, and throws sakura-shaped blades like daggers! A complete madman!”
4885…
The number struck Sunam as very familiar.
Could it be—the very Collector I’ve been searching for?
