NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22
A dozen gold bars stacked before his eyes.
They were the spoils of looting a loan shark branch.
“This should be worth a fortune, right?”
Let’s not sell it just yet.
Before being a modern man, Kang Hyun was a wandering mercenary. He understood the value of gold well.
Always good to keep some gold stashed away.
He wasn’t short on cash either. He could afford to hold onto it.
Ah, hoarding gold reminds me of home.
Back there, he’d buried gold like a mountain. Hopefully, no one had stolen it.
I’ll retrieve it later when I secure a diplomat’s position.
“Disciple, now that we’ve got money, shall we treat ourselves to something delicious?”
“Why waste money on expensive takeout? I’ll cook for you.”
“Huh? You can cook?”
That was unexpected. Coming from someone with such a noble background, he hadn’t imagined it.
“Of course, Master. I’ve been living on my own for years.”
But now that they had money, wouldn’t takeout be worth it? One moment, she advocated for indulgence, and now she’s frugal?
Snacks are an acceptable luxury, but takeout crosses the line.
Her threshold for luxury was surprisingly low, seemingly shaped by habit. Aden grabbed a portable gas burner and scampered to the break room.
“Just wait a moment!”
As he waited, Kang Hyun reviewed his schedule. Tomorrow, there was a meeting with Seonghwa, which was practically an initiation ceremony.
It’d be nice to boost my stats a bit before joining.
Might as well hit a dungeon today. The potential rewards already had him eager.
“Here you go, Master! Enjoy!”
Aden returned triumphantly, carrying a pot.
“What’s this…?”
The pale concoction inside was barely a soup. It looked more like gruel—a bland, mish-mashed soup he’d grown sick of during mercenary camps.
“Eat up before it gets cold!”
“….”
Fine, let’s give it a try.
Sip.
“…Bring me instant noodles.”
He set down the spoon.
“Excuse me? Why?”
“Bring. Instant. Noodles!”
The soup was absurdly bland, and it carried the distinctive smell of a poorly made mishmash.
I’d forgotten something.
The culinary culture in Thea was abysmal. Earth had a joke:
The thinnest books in the world? A German joke book and a British cookbook.
Even Britain’s food wouldn’t compare to Thea’s.
“Try it again, Master!”
“Get rid of it! Just pour hot water into the instant noodles!”
“You just don’t appreciate the true taste of cooking!”
“Get it out of here!”
What’s with this mishmash soup? This isn’t a campsite!
“What kind of upbringing did you have to eat this and call it food!?”
Not that Kang Hyun didn’t already know. Being from Thea himself, he once shared the same palate. But his time on modern Earth had refined his tastes. Thea’s food was now unbearable.
He handed Aden a recipe from the internet—tomato spaghetti.
“If you’re dead set on cooking, follow this exactly.”
“Why are there so many ingredients? Water, salt, and something to chew on should be enough.”
“….”
He pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
“Just pour the water into the instant noodles….”
“Eating salty food is bad for your health!”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! Do I have to spell it out five times?”
At this rate, he’d have to use a Word Command.
“Forget it. I’ll do it myself.”
He poured water into two cups of instant noodles.
Sluuuurp.
“Ahh!”
This salty, flavorful sensation. This was it.
“Ugh, salty and intense… How is this tasty…?”
“Shut up. Eat and let’s hit a dungeon.”
“Y-yes, sir….”
From now on, they’d order takeout.
###
South Korea’s progress has been reset.
The six-month cycle has ended, and a new season has begun.
The result?
[South Korea has successfully achieved 100% progress.]
[The invasion of the Black World Tree has been successfully repelled.]
[The protective system applied to South Korea will be maintained.]
They had already achieved 100%.
└ Without a perfect clear, it might’ve been a close call.
└ Even if Korea is past its prime, it’s not that weak yet.
└ Last season, we barely managed to hit 100% seven days before the deadline. It’s been downhill for a while now, so no one was sure this time.
└ Korea’s progress speed was sinking fast, like the birth rate.
└ One thing’s certain: if two more seasons passed, destruction was guaranteed.
└ Not anymore!
The speed at which progress fills up.
This is referred to as “progress speed.”
Nations with slow progress speeds face existential threats.
As such, progress speed significantly impacts a country’s credit rating, stability, and diplomatic power.
Naturally, rankings exist.
Korea ranked in the lower-middle tier among “Safe Nations.”
Safe Nations are those capable of achieving 100% progress without external assistance.
Korea once enjoyed a spot in the upper-middle tier.
The Miracle of the Han River was such a time.
However, after the Korean War, persistent brain drain, and low growth, it quickly fell to the lower-middle tier.
Meanwhile, Japan, a rival at the time?
Despite the burst of the economic bubble, it remained in the upper tier, a stark contrast to Korea’s faded glory.
But things were different now.
This season, everyone held high hopes.
└ This season is going to be incredible.
└ Let’s not get greedy. What if something happens to the Perfect-Class Awakened?
└ We must cherish our talent! We can’t end up like North Korea!
└ Even if we play it safe, the ranking will improve a lot compared to last time.
└ The ruling party must push the “One Day, Three Perfect-Class Policy”! Nationalize Perfect-Class Awakened through conscription!
└ Arrest that old geezer above me.
Everyone discussed the hopeful future of the new season, unaware of what was to come.
###
Aden gently touched the severed edge of a stone monster.
“Woah… How did you manage this?”
The boss mob, Stone Ant, had been split in half.
Its clean, precise cut was oddly satisfying.
“Now this feels like a real fight.”
Indeed, the thrill of unlocking a new spell was unmatched.
“Let’s head out. Huh? Where did you go?”
“Here, Master!”
Aden had already wandered over to the roots of the World Tree.
“Master, can’t we stash this root in our inventory?”
“Huh?”
“They say the roots of the Black World Tree are the ultimate weapon material.”
Movies often referenced it as well.
Its rarity was beyond absurd—a dream material.
But who could harvest it?
One would have to cross endless battlefields, approach the World Tree known as the Demon King, and start chopping at its roots.
It was a resource rarely gathered, even during large-scale wars—a true dream material.
“If we sell it, we’d be rich in no time.”
“You’ve got sharp ideas, but it won’t work.”
Dungeons leave nothing behind.
Except for mana stones, the core energy source of mobs.
“This place is an illusionary space.”
Naturally, the World Tree roots were no exception.
Even if cut, they disappeared with the dungeon’s collapse.
“But strictly speaking, aren’t the roots real?”
“Hmm? Now that you mention it…”
“Dungeons are created when the World Tree extends its roots through dimensions to invade. Doesn’t that make these the real roots?”
“You’re right.”
The energy radiating from them was unmistakable.
These were indeed genuine roots.
The very roots of the Black World Tree they had faced.
“We’ve got nothing to lose. Why not give it a shot?”
“You’ve got a sharp mind for odd things.”
This reminded him of his disciple from his past life, Milla.
“Heh, really?”
Intrigued, he chopped the root.
He quickly reached into the air and placed it into his inventory.
And then—
“Huh?”
Something unexpected occurred.
The space rippled.
The inventory rejected the root.
Wooong—
“What is this…?”
If the root were an illusion, it would have simply disappeared upon being placed in the inventory.
This reaction was a rare anomaly.
The root, imbued with the power of dimensional distortion, was causing interference with the subspace magic.
“Whoa, the space is rippling! Did it work?”
“…”
“Master?”
But Kang Hyun’s focus wasn’t on the root anymore.
It was on something else entirely.
The boundary of the space.
The waves emanating from it.
Residual traces of space magic, induced by subspace magic.
Even in his past life, he hadn’t had the chance to witness such phenomena.
Inspiration struck like a storm.
“Again.”
He repeated the act, observing the ripples.
It was coming.
That elusive sensation.
The feeling of approaching the essence of the world.
Enlightenment.
“Just a little more…”
Ding!
###
The familiar notification sound pulled him from his thoughts.
The dungeon was already cleared.
[Perfect Clear! (Solo)]
[Incredible Achievement! You have flawlessly repelled the invasion of the World Tree!]
[Your achievement bestows ‘Blessings’ upon the surrounding area! All will praise your deeds!]
“Ah…”
A sigh of regret escaped his lips.
He had cleared the dungeon.
The moment of enlightenment had yet to fully arrive.
“Should I try another dungeon?”
His mana was low, so another perfect clear wasn’t possible, but he could still complete one.
“…No.”
He had a sense.
It wasn’t time yet for this revelation to come.
Even if he observed the phenomenon again, nothing would change.
“But it’s so close. I’ll meditate and reflect on it.”
He had glimpsed a new realm.
Excitement coursed through him as he clenched his fists.
“And now…”
It was time for rewards.
[‘Opening the Bronze Box…’]
Flash!
Ding!
[‘You have received the Twin Wings of the Garan Butterfly.’]
“Huh? What’s that? Don’t tell me it’s junk…!”
“Looks pretty good to me.”
A small jewel box opened to reveal a pair of sapphire earrings.
[Twin Wings of the Garan Butterfly]
[A pair of earrings to be shared by two.
Allows the wearers to send emergency signals to each other without distance limitations.]
The effect seemed underwhelming for a perfect clear reward.
But they were breathtakingly beautiful.
“Whoa… That looks incredible!”
“Wow… This is gorgeous.”
So, it was a perfect clear reward for its aesthetic appeal?
“This will sell well.”
Items produced by the system were rare and valuable by default.
And these were stunning.
Plus, the practical effect made them ideal for civilians.
This would fetch an astronomical price.
“This dungeon was fruitful.”
He had edged closer to enlightenment and obtained a valuable item.
The system truly was amazing!
###
On the day of the meeting.
At the entrance of the Seonghwa building.
“Please sign!”
A woman passerby holds out a notebook.
Aden is flustered.
“Eh, eh? Me?”
“Yes! You’re A-class Aden, right?”
“Y-yes, but… sign?”
After a brief moment of surprise, her cheekbones rise.
“Heh, heh. Of course! Give it here!”
Though there was no official signature, she quickly scribbles her name.
And takes a picture too.
“Kimchi~”
“Heh, kimchi~!”
Click!
“Thank you! You were so cute when you were flustered on the broadcast! I’ll support you!”
The passerby leaves.
Kang Hyun, who had been watching this scene, comments.
“What a sight.”
“Did you see that? This is the master’s disciple! An ultra-popular A-class Awakened!”
It is said that the recognition of an Awakened is not much different from that of a celebrity.
It certainly seemed like it.
“By the way, wow… the building is really tall.”
It was almost overwhelming.
The stature of a large guild really hit home.
“The 3rd ranked guild, Seonghwa… I never imagined a day like this would come for me!”
“Stop making a fuss and let’s go in.”
“Yes!”
Aden walks confidently into the building.
But just as quickly, upon passing by well-dressed people and the neat interior, she reverts back into a crouching mode.
“…What are you doing? Why are you back in the illegal immigrant mode?”
“Ah, whenever I’m in a difficult position, I can’t help it…”
Who would ever think she was A-class?
But the guild members passing by seem to think otherwise.
They glance over and whisper.
“Aden? Is that the Aden?”
“Wow, she’s really huge…”
“Why is she here? Is she joining our guild?”
“The HR team really did their job. I need to get an incentive. So jealous…”
The attention and compliments keep pouring in.
However, Aden slowly falls into a panic.
“Ugh, ughhh…! Master! People are looking at me suspiciously! They’ll find out about me!”
“What will they find out, kid?”
He scolds her for making nonsense remarks.
“Do you want me to stick an ID card on your forehead? Should I write ‘not an illegal immigrant’ so you can walk around more comfortably?”
“Pl-please do!”
“Argh! Straighten your back, kid!”
He gives her a quick slap on the back, and finally, she jumps up.
“Kyaaah!”
They barely arrive at the meeting room.
“Hello~”
They exchange some formal pleasantries.
“We’ll be starting the test soon, and your team leader will come to take care of you two.”
“Are we starting today?”
“Yes, that’s the scheduled plan. If you’re not feeling well, we can make adjustments.”
“Hmm… Well, let’s go right away.”
The employee makes a phone call.
“Yes, team leader. We’ll take them to the gate right away.”