Expedition Preparation (2)

On the Hero Universe’s free bulletin board, everyone felt confused as they looked at the new test product sold by the New Anvil (that was, Kang Shinhyuk).

[Loki – Record, play record? What do you need this for?]

[Halo – Tsu, there are many rules in human society that haven’t yet developed. A society in which morality rules before it has been dominated. This is an object to gain a more advantageous position in society.]

[Super Ultra Galaxy Fist – An underdeveloped society? It doesn’t matter where you live as long as you make good things. Hi.]

[Eunah – Check.]

[Loki – I know now. Eunah, every time I see someone who says they bought something from Anvil, she says that.]

[Halo – Maybe she wants to check the number and ask Anvil to make her share later.]

[Eunah – No.]

[Tsukuyo – Oh my god, my god… Anvil made some really fun stuff. Whoo, it seems that the insignificant humans are bothering Anvil.]

[Eunah – It’s okay because I’ll solve everything.)

[Tsukuyo – You don’t have enough skill, so Anvil didn’t come to you himself. That’s why I have to be with him.]

[Eunah – …I will kill you.]

[Loki – It’s always fun to see the fighting. Is there popcorn, popcorn?]

[Halo – Be a little mature now, Loki.]

[Super Ultra Galaxy Fist – Will I have grandpa’s child?]

[Bartender – Fool.]

Kang Shin-hyuk raised his head and looked at Claire in front of him. She was closing the Hero Universe with a loud hum after leaving this comment.

“How can I look over what that person is saying?”

“You’re right, but she’s a very strong kid, so don’t provoke her too much.”

“This is a game where a woman shouldn’t run away. That’s all.”

If so, it couldn’t be helped. He gave Claire a brief kiss.

“How long will you stay? I guess I’ll stay here until the expedition begins.”

“I’ll stay here, too. Anyway, it’s impossible to open the bar for the time being.”

Because of this expedition to Africa, a huge amount of requests for potions had arrived for her. She had to send plenty to her motherland, the United States, as well as to Korea, where she was currently staying. Additionally, even the European Union, China, and Russia put great value into the Alchemist’s potions and sent requests.

“Everyone is acting so childishly.”

“But, I want to help if I can. I want to go on the expedition with all my heart, but…”

“No.”

“Yes, I won’t go. I’ll be waiting here, so come back safely.”

When she noticed the brief flash of terror on his face, she smiled and kissed him as if she were satisfied with his reaction. As the two exchanged another smile, a voice grunted from behind them.

“Should we leave?”

“It looks like a movie.”

Alright, the problem was these two. Kang Shin-hyuk narrowed his eyes and looked over at Lee Na-hee and Eleanor, who had intruded into their room.

“Why did you two come?”

“I came because my unnie asked for help. I’m learning how to make potions from her.”

“Na-hee secretly wanted to go somewhere, and I followed.”

He ignored Eleanor and tilted his head at Lee Na-hee. Looking back at Claire, she nodded.

“Yes, I called her.”

“Can that be taught to someone else?”

“I figured that Na-hee would do well since she learned the runes, and my expectations were correct.”

Claire said this with a small smile. It wasn’t clear what the relationship between runes and alchemy was, but there seemed to be some connection between them.

“I, alone, can’t be in charge of potions around the world. Na-hee is so talented that she can follow me.”

“No… didn’t you decide to open an artifact store with me?”

“Artifacts won’t be sold every day. I considered our store’s finances and saw a compromise.”

The moment Lee Na-hee said ‘our store,’ Claire’s eyes narrowed a little.

“If you learn how to make potions better, why not just open a potion shop by yourself? To put it openly, Shin-hyuk makes good artifacts without your help.”

“Ah, that’s not it, unnie. There are some areas that can only be reached with our abilities combined.”

Oddly enough, though neither was using magic, it seemed like an electric current was sparking between the two. As he watched, Kang Shin-hyuk suddenly saw Loki asking for popcorn on the bulletin board earlier, but a moment later, there was a person behind him tugging gently at his collar. It was, of course, Eleanor.

“Vice-captain… no, Shin-hyuk.”

Eleanor, perhaps conscious of the new students who would be enrolling the next semester, was trying to grow accustomed to the title of vice-captain.

“Yeah, what is it?”

Looking at Eleanor’s serious face, he thought maybe he hadn’t just followed Lee Na-hee.

“I want to talk to you.”

“Okay… let’s leave these two and talk outside.”

He turned to see Claire and Lee Na-hee in the middle of a heated argument and quietly left the room with Eleanor.

“It’ll be fine at this point. What’s going on? Do you want a new weapon?”

“Actually…”

She seemed very hesitant. If someone saw it from a distance, they might think she was about to confess. Oh, he saw Lee Jinseok watching them with wideopen eyes as he hung up his laundry.

“…Friend?”

“You can ignore him; he won’t hear you here.”

With a sigh, he breathed his spirit into the little cube-shaped object in his arms. It was a sound collector he had made, which had the simple effect of collecting and storing ambient sounds. As it worked purely on spiritual power, those who didn’t know it couldn’t realize how it worked, but it had a function that prevented sound from spreading out.

“That’s interesting.”

“We’re also developing a smaller version and a remote version. As soon as it’s developed, I want to register a patent.”

“With that, there would be no need to create a soundproof barrier.”

“It would be nice for use in important places, right?”

Kang Shin-hyuk promoted his new product with a smile.

“So, what’s happening to get you so excited?”

“Africa… expedition.”

He didn’t know she would bring that up.

“Is the British royal family participating? Oh, because it’s the royal family who leads the superhumans, they will definitely participate.”

“Yes. Besides, the royal family has a grudge against Jormungand…”

“Where is a group that doesn’t hold resentment toward Jormungand?”

“The prince’s son is dying.”

As far as he was aware, there had never been such news on TV. Which meant it was a secret within the royal family.”

“Eleanor senior…”

“It’s my cousin; he was a good child.”

Eleanor’s eyes were full of hesitation, but beyond it, a light of firm will shined. Kang Shin-hyuk decided to get straight to the point.

“Is it okay to assume you want to follow along on this expedition?”

“… Yes.”

Eleanor nodded quietly.

“I want to check.”

“Aren’t they hostile?”

“If they don’t hate me…”

She had some complicated family matters going on. Kang Shin-hyuk nodded with a bitter smile.

“Let’s go together. If you wear a mask, it’ll be okay.”

“Yes, thanks.”

Eleanor smiled softly. If someone took a picture of her now and promoted it, this year’s Miss Shinyoung would be Eleanor instead of Lee Na-hee.

“Hey, Kang Shin-hyuk! Who is that beauty there…!”

“How noisy.”

“Are you his friend?”

“It’s not like that.”

Kang Shin-hyuk sighed. Afterward, Lee Jinseok, who had noticed that both Eleanor and Lee Na-hee liked Kang Shin-hyuk, went into a fit of intense training angrily. He said some ridiculous nonsense as he would surely defeat Kang Shin-hyuk and rescue those women.

***

Time passed by quickly. Kang Shin-hyuk refined his friends’ equipment to a level that would raise their physical abilities to C-rank or higher, even if they didn’t have magic.

“Use it only when you’re in trouble, alright?’

“I know, I know.”

It would be bad if it were discovered, but it was better than dying. With that in mind, he trained his friends even more.

“I’m dying, Shin-hyuk! Dying!”

“Don’t worry. You’re not.”

“What are you doing to Hye-na?!”

“The same I’ll be doing to you next.”

“Shin-hyuk hyung!”

A sound mind and a sound body. Kang Shin-hyuk really trained them until they might’ve died. However, they were amazed that they were able to withstand as much as they could, all because Kang Shin-hyuk used his guardian Golden Dragon and spiritual power to help them.

‘It’s good to use my trait like this.’

His trait reinforced the strength of himself and all his allies. It didn’t just amplify physical strength, but even abilities such as comprehension and memorization so that it could raise training efficiency to the extreme.

-You are a general capable of leading a large army. 500,000HP bonus!

‘I won’t.’

-Cheh.

Meanwhile, there was no contact from Kang-yul Lee. Did his threat from before work, or was he still considering how to respond? It didn’t matter, anyway. Those guys had bared their teeth once, so he didn’t know when they might come back. He had no intention of being beaten.

[Senior Eunah: The place and time have been decided. We will gather in Portugal.]

[See you then.)

[Senior Eunah: Yes… sorry.]

[Don’t worry.]

[Senior Eunah: Yes…]

He taught the three mercenaries while using his spare time to refine his armaments in the Furnace of Nephritis and train himself through battling with Eleanor. Eleanor, who had the same talent for close-quarters combat, was a very good sparring partner.

“It’s strange, Shin-hyuk.”

Then, one day, Eleanor spoke up with an odd expression.

“When I compete with you, I feel like I’m improving faster.”

“Thank you for the compliment, but isn’t it just because you’re facing off a similarly skilled opponent?”

“It’s not like that.”

Only

Eleanor wanted to say something but instead raised her spear with a frustrated look, unable to find the appropriate words.

“It’s not such a subtle growth; I feel like my body and magic are being clearly refined…”

“I guess it’s because you’re growing up. Now, let’s go one more time.”

Lee Na-hee narrowed her eyes and looked to Claire as she saw the two fighting.

“Unnie, should I learn how to fight like that?”

“Make potions.”

Eventually, the day of the expedition arrived.

It was a historical moment that would decide whether mankind would advance one step forward or retreat.