Pyo Nagil was a sharp awakener.

As someone who committed crimes while avoiding the Associations eyes as an unregistered person, Pyo Nagil was skilled at concealing even his slightest movements. Supported by delicate control of his awakening abilities, his ability to sense magic naturally followed.

Even in front of him, my disguise only reached about C-Class at best.

However, he managed to deceive Pyo Nagil with such an act

F-Class, not a weak awakener.

Su Yehwi engraved Kim Kiryeos face in his mind. As it was an important time approaching the beginning of the world, being cautious of dangerous people would do no harm.

***

I finished eating and went out.

Sometimes a buffet is good too~

In the meantime, Seonwoo Yeon talked about a lot of things, but they were not interesting topics. The terrorist was actually a believer in some pseudo-religion. She also says theres a possibility that foreign nationals are involved in the series of incidents.

Its none of my business.

I sipped on some plum tea indifferently.

Anyway, its stressful because of those terrorists. Theyre scattered all over the place, making it difficult to focus on one thing. And now, theyre even reaching out to other crimes

Yes, yes.

Moreover, these days, boss steals are resurfacing again. At this rate, they probably think they might as well get involved themselves.

Yes.

Well, someone like Kiryeo-ssi probably doesnt need to worry too much.

Slurp.

After finishing the plum tea, I crumpled the paper cup. Honestly, I hardly paid attention to Seonwoo Yeons words. I was full and sleepy.

Then Ill go.

Ah! Yes. You can go back.

Today, I safely returned to the gymnasium like that. And the next day, after idling around for a while Since lying around in the cramped tent was getting boring, I decided to step out for some magic practice.

7 a.m. the next day.

Damn it!

Its a refreshing start to the day.

I kicked the corpse at my feet and cursed. How could this happen? After all the trouble I went through to collect the samples.

Hey!

The result of an experiment with a beast corpse obtained with great difficultywas a failure.

It was impossible to control monsters with a trashy body like Kim Kiryeos. C, D, E, and F-Class. Corpse manipulation would undoubtedly be ineffective in any of these categories. In the end, it seems that what I can handle is limited to pigeons or mice.

No, if I had known this would happen, I wouldnt have entered the B-Class gate back then. Why on earth did I end up being caught by Jung Haseong?

Pak, pak, pak.

I took out my frustration at the worthless corpse of the F-Class monster. However, it didnt change anything.

Whoo.

Lets calm down.

There is not just one way to protect my own body.

It cant be helped.

There was a time when I thought a magician who relied on magic tools was pathetic, but now was not the time to be picky.

As expected, for the time being, I have no choice but to rely on my item!

The modified incense burner was destroyed by Jung Haseong. In that case, its urgent to find a replacement offensive method. But theres a problem here.

How much balance is left?

I have no money. Money.

Kim Kiryeo, this brat. If he doesnt have mana, he should at least have money.

Every time I realize the shortage of resources, I cant help but feel resentful towards the owner of my body. But reincarnation is already spilled water.

Come to think of it, theres more than just one place where money is needed. I want to change my residence and enjoy the entertainment of the people of Earth, such as traveling abroad.

For a moment, I pondered on how to make money. And what came to mind as a result was the face of an A-Class hunter.

Hmm.

To be honest, it sounds like I have no conscience.

But as expected, there is no easier or more convenient way than sucking the life out of that Earthlings spine.

One way is to work as an external appraiser.

To be honest, maybe its because of the memory of being kidnapped, but the idea of making a name for myself in that field doesnt sit well with me.

Alright. Ive made up my mind. Lets fleece Ahn Yoonseung off.

I soon made up my mind.

It was like returning a favor with vengeance, but it didnt matter. Because the providence of the universe is usually heartless.

-Drrrt Drrrt

After reaching a conclusion, I didnt hesitate to call Yoonseung. Despite the remote location in the mountains, the signal surprisingly held up.

-H, Hyung-nim! Hello!

Yeah, Yoonseung-ah.

Last time, I avoided upsetting Yoonseungs feelings, so I quietly engaged in petty theft. But now that Ive realized theres a risk of getting caught by the Association staff, I have to aim for a big score altogether.

What are you doing? Have you eaten yet?

I started off with a friendly greeting.

***

Of course, Im not entirely a bad guy either. I also thought that I should slowly return Ahn Yoonseung to his work.

Before that, lets just slightly reap the fruits of our labor, shall we?

That A-Class hunter probably doesnt know.

Beyond Kim Kiryeos blank facial expression lies a happy emotion.

Heuk! Have you been waiting long?

No.

Hyung-nim always comes early.

When I saw Ahn Yoonseung appear at the meeting place, I chose my words carefully. Now, lets get to the point.

As I mentioned earlier on the phone, Im planning to enter a gate today

Yes!

Before that, theres something I want to tell you. You might panic if you go in without knowing.

Panic?

At my words, Ahn Yoonseung blinked. His pierced skinhead didnt exactly make him look innocent, though.

The place we need to enter is the A-Class gate called Golden Fragrance. Regular monsters wont appear; instead, there will be Golem Guards.

Finally, the expected reaction from Ahn Yoonseung exploded. He instantly hardened his expression.

Golem?

But I continued without pause, listing out the plan.

Just so you know in advance, dont expect my help. After all, youre the attacker.

Yes?

I plan to have you clear this gate solo.

After hearing my proposal, he let out a loud gasp.

How can a rookie like me handle a gate of the same level?!

Its rare for Ahn Yuoonseung to talk back.

Moreover, its a golem. Golem. You know, golems are particularly difficult to deal with, even at the same level!

I waited until he poured out everything he wanted to say, and only when he caught his breath did I slowly open my mouth.

But without such intense experiences, will that trauma naturally disappear?

Kim Kiryeos physique has many shortcomings in various aspects. His lungs are damaged, and his mana is low. So, the only favorable aspect is this one.

Ahn Yoonseung, be honest. If I were to put a golem in front of you right now, you wouldnt be able to deal with it, right?

Kim Kiryeos voice was appealing.

Sound is a matter of grave importance. It would have been great if Earthlings had echolocation abilities too.

Are you afraid of golems?

Ahn Yoonseung quietly took a deep breath. Judging by his pale complexion, it seemed he was recalling past events.

That kind of fear might gradually improve if you repeatedly encounter golems in a controlled and safe environment.

Hyung-nim.

Im not an expert in this field, and in fact, I didnt want to use such drastic methods.

Ahem. Maybe its because the wind is dry, but my throat feels dry.

Youre a hunter, arent you?

By profession, youre always exposed to monsters. But imagine one day a dungeon break happens, and golems start pouring out.

Are you confident you wont be flustered?

I asked. Ahn Yoonseung couldnt easily answer.

We need to correct any misperceptions.

How unfortunate it is for a young magician to be overwhelmed by fear, unable to fully blossom their abilities.

Let me help you.

This was the plan for today.

Ahn Yoonseung overcame his golem trauma, and I retrieved the materials from the A-Class monster.

Golems are easy to defeat once you know the strategy. Its simple.

The strategy?

Yeah.

Ahn Yoonseung widened his eyes and asked. It seemed that this was enough to pique his interest.

As expected, would you like to try it again?

Hmm.

If youre not completely confident you can just try capturing one near the entrance. If it seems like it might not work out, you can always leave.

I gently released the bait. The effect was outstanding.

I, If Hyung-nim says so

Soon after, the big shot, known as the A-Class hunter, was hooked. Before he could change his mind, I spoke boldly.

Great! Lets apply for entry to the gate right away!

At my urging, Ahn Yoonseung nervously took out his phone. Now all we needed to do was open the Association app and get permission to enter.

But then, at that moment.

W, wait a second.

Ahn Yoonseung, who was using his phone, suddenly paused. Then he asked a question.

But if its an A-Class gate, you wont be able to accompany me

I glanced at his phone beside him and touched the option instead.

[Enter information]

[Raid members: 1 person 2 people 3 people ]

[Whether you are a Transporter:YES NO ]

Now, its done.

Hyung-nim?

Apply it.

This.

Do it.

Again, Kim Kiryeos voice is persuasive.

Whats the problem?

N, n, no.

Maybe even these cold eyes can be persuasive.

So Ahn Yoonseung and I arrived at a gate.

True to its name, Golden Fragrance, the scenery beyond the passage was magnificent.

Oh.

A well-paved road.

Dark ceilings. Long stretches of labyrinth.

It looks like the entire inside of the pyramid is covered in gold.

Is it real gold?

I dont know

But I didnt pay much attention to the walls here. Theres something more valuable waiting for us than gold bars.

Stay here quietly.

Hyung!

I close my eyes to broaden my senses.

I turned my head to follow the familiar magical energy detected inside the gate.

And what catches my gaze at the end is

Golem Guards.

Its a familiar object.

A self-propelled earth doll powered by mana. It unmistakably carries the technological prowess of our homelands soil!

Oho.

Actually, I thought it was strange for a long time.

A golem is also a golem. Familiar animals and plants were often found in the space called the gate.

Familiar traces of Alphauri.

Along with the fact that its a space in the otherworld containing many unknown substances that Im completely unfamiliar with.

Its a different type than last time.

With this, the identity of those who made the gate becomes unclear.

Well, its not a problem that needs to be proven right now, so lets move on.

Yoonseung-ah, are you ready?

I walked back towards the entrance to the dungeon where Ahn Yoonseung was.

Yes. Just in case, Id also brought a few more potions earlier. As for the equipment, its the usual stuff I always use

What about that?

Ah, that. Of course I borrowed that too.

Next, Ahn Yoonseung handed me something.

Here. Its a rare item box.

A palm-sized square box.

In simple terms, its a magic bag. It can store a certain amount of materials found in the gate.

Wow, you really borrowed it. I wasnt sure if this would work when we talked on the phone.

Its Hyung-nims request, of course I had to bring it! Feel free to use it as much as you want!

Hoho.

I tightly gripped the box.

Although my hands were shaking at the thought that such a small box would cost as much as an apartment.

Oh, right, just one more thing before we enter the correction. Ill take care of the core and magic stones. Im giving you advanced information, so there are no complaints about this, right?

I boldly revealed my greed. After all, I was planning to make a big hit this time and make a fortune

No, not to that extent.

Anyway, I plan to stop using Ahn Yoonseung.

Core and magic stone? h, youre telling me a strategy, but? Yes, yes! If you need anything, take it all!

Even when I asked for what could be considered the core part of the golem, he didnt show any hint of displeasure.

I should quickly make him independent.

Its perfect.

Follow me.

Yes!

Thats how we set out to subjugate the golem.

Fortunately, the first prey was placed near the entrance. This golem, referred to as a guard, is unexpectedly designed for civilian security rather than military purposes. Additionally, theres an emergency stop command

So light is being used.

In my hometown, sound is mainly used, so it is rare, but fortunately, Earth is a world where light signals are more important.

I knew it would be like this and brought it with me.

Yes?

I took out a hidden tool.

Laser pointer purchased from DaSo.

Do you see that round bead stuck in the golems head over there?

Ah, yes, yes. That blue one?

I just need to shine the light there for about 10 seconds, you know? Im not sure about the exact light intensity needed, but as long as theres regularity, this should be enough.

By the way, I will later charge Yoonseung the 10,950 won spent on purchasing the laser pointer.

Now that the strategy explanation is done, lets prepare the defense skills.

Yes?

As soon as I finished speaking, I stepped forward and pressed the button on the laser pointer.

I said it clearly. 10 seconds.

-Qukukukuku.

Click.

As soon as the light was detected, the golem, sensing something unusual, began to awaken from its sleep mode.