Chapter 521. Invite |
Chapter 521. Invite
To think he would find out the reason why the other party's frequency of leaving the country was so low like this.
***
Kang Chang-ho invited his guest into the basement. However, the scenery of the lower floor of the mansion they soon reached was actually brighter than the first floor.
"The atmosphere is overall cold because there are many stainless steel products..."
Above all, the light from the illumination was pouring down from the ceiling. It emitted a white light, making it look not much different from an LED on the outside, but the lighting embedded above was definitely devices driven by magic power.
As for other visible features, there was a peculiar, massive refrigerator gleaming in silver. A three-story shelf filled with unknown chemicals. In addition, specimens of various creatures were found around.
Then what would be the name of this place?
"Did you set up a laboratory?"
"Oh my god, then you're saying what's here is equipment used by Earthling scientists?"
I widened my eyes. Of course, the expensive items existing in the room—with their price tags still attached unremoved—were a target of astonishment. But what surprised me more than anything else was the characteristic of this space.
"It's good for avoiding the enemy's eyes. Even I didn't know the exact structure until I came inside."
This special basement that Kang Changho had hidden away tightly at this time possessed the characteristic of 'being located as having no coordinates on Earth'. This happened because the caster disrupted the location with various magics, making it impossible to infiltrate this place through normal means.
A laboratory existed right here that could not be set as a destination for spatial displacement magic, and conversely, one could not recklessly leave using [Teleportation]. Furthermore, a space with such ambiguous coordinates inevitably wouldn't have Gates generated in it either.
It's a truly formidable fortress. At this level, he could even hide in the laboratory and attempt a siege battle in an emergency situation.
"If I had lived on Earth for just a few more years, I would have built a zone like this to live in."
Kang Changho had no choice but to guard Seoul all this time for the safety of this laboratory as well. I nodded my head upon realizing the new facts above. After Kang Changho reintroduced his name, I felt it became somewhat easier to understand that man.
"By the way, it feels like it's somehow bigger inside than outside..."
"Since I was building a base anyway, I applied space distortion too."
"Like an Item Box?"
"As expected, you recognize it right away. My situation was so poor that I had to use [Skill Stones] because I lost most of my magic, but fortunately, I remembered all the techniques I used as my primary bread and butter in my past life."
"Hmm."
A moment of casual conversation flowed. Having heard Kang Changho's explanation, I briefly cast my gaze at the surrounding objects.
"This has a similar shape to the [Soul Separator] I use."
As I stared intently at an object, the owner of the laboratory informed me that its name was a pipette. Moreover, the giant square machine worth around 100 million won next to it was also fascinating.
"At this rate, isn't it that this b*stard had no money because he bought laboratory tools? Why is everything so expensive?"
This place is truly interesting enough to feel like a whole new world. However, it seemed this was not the time to be dwelling on things like experimental equipment.
Step, step, step.It was when I was moving deeper into this space following Kang Changho's steps. Soon, something else entered my sight.
'A person.'
There was a male Earthling on one side of the laboratory.
"Wait, a person?"
But the problem was that the person was lying soundly asleep on a bed exuding cold air.
"Uh, excuse me... By the way, Engineer. I'm really sorry, but could you explain a bit what this is?"
Swish.
When the starved man pitably raised his index finger, the master of the mansion finally looked in that direction. In addition, he began his explanation with a light voice, as if he hadn't managed to pay attention to it.
"That? That's an Earthling corpse I obtained recently."
"As expected..."
It was a sound that made my expression cool down on its own.
"Is he insane?"
Come to think of it, I believe Kang Changho said... he had obtained a substitute to fill his [Improvement] from another country. Then could it be that the contractor violated the contract in the brief moment he and I were clashing? Or if not, that, did the contractor's chronic illness flare up and turn him into a corpse?
Curious as to why there was a human in this laboratory, I demanded a more detailed explanation.
"Hmm? [Improvement]? Of course, all the stories related to that were lies."
However, a somewhat unexpected answer returned. Kang Changho also said that he only threatened 1 person (me) based on stealing skills. He even ruined my mood by asking back, 'Did you perhaps believe the nonsense I made up until now?'
"I got this Chinese man by killing him myself. I didn't place a contract through conversation or anything."
"China, you say. You really went far to get manpower..."
Then another thing is explained now. Come to think of it, Kang Changho had distinctly become more lenient from a certain point.
To be exact, his signs of worry that his [Improvement] contractor might die in a place out of his sight had faded. If I assume all this was actually leisure created by already obtaining a spare body, it finally made sense.
"I also had a lot of worries because I didn't have a proper spare in the past. That's probably why I was prickly with you, so I'm sorry."
"Are you apologizing to me when there's a corpse right in front of my eyes?"
However, even if the past matter was understood, nothing regarding this Chinese person had been resolved yet.
"Anyway, Lemming... have you perhaps started caring about the human rights of this spare? If that's the case, it's really fine."
Seeing my sharp gaze, Kang Changho soon explained.
"I'm an engineer of the modern era, but as I said earlier, when it comes to etiquette, I'm an old-timer who'd be sad to be second to anyone."
"Hmm."
"So, unless it's a shell that's already dead, I was quite strict with my criteria when killing a living entity."
"What criteria?"
"I don't lay a hand on an intelligent being unless they truly deserve to die."
"Then what was the time you punched my eye socket with your fist?"
"That was because I mistakenly thought an inferior species was getting ahead of itself..."
"Oh, please..."
To Earthlings, that man would roughly look like a heinous person with an abnormality in his frontal lobe. But this was a level of personality very commonly seen in Alphauri.
"But anyway, this Asian looked like a man who 'deserved to die' in your eyes?"
"He's a criminal who almost ruined an entire city in China, so he would have been executed in his own country soon anyway even if I hadn't taken care of him."
"Hmm."
"Before his awakening, he was a guy who sold food that harmed people's health just for money. But after gaining powerful superpowers, he even tried to scheme for power despite being a criminal..."
"Is this an S-rank Hunter?"
"Just because he had such a good awakening doesn't mean his past sins disappear. So I caught him, and right now I've embalmed him with magic."
I absolutely won't dig deeply into the personality problems of my Alphaurin compatriot. I avoided what could be stirring up a hornet's nest and changed the topic of conversation.
"Must be nice, though."
Because someone who has also inwardly in need of an auxiliary body.
"I tried to get a spare too, but Earthlings have a developed funeral culture, so it wasn't easy to take a corpse from someone else's house."
Apricot-colored opaque skin.
"Hm eyebrows.
Black hair.
And quite distinctive brow bones.
"Given that he feels unpleasant to Kim Goryeo's senses, he must be quite good-looking by Earthling standards."
I revealed my emotions while looking at the spare corpse with prominent advantages.
"I'm jealous you managed to get a body like this."
But when I praised it, the body's owner was actually indifferent.
"I see. Well, as for me, you never know what might happen in life, so I just got something like this as insurance for now, but..."
"Hmm?"
"Honestly, I don't want to switch to that vessel if possible."
The target is a whopping S-rank. An S-rank. Yet how could he be so unenthusiastic after obtaining such a precious shell that doesn't even make up a few percent on Earth?
"Why?"
When I asked, the Engineer occupying Kang Changho's body immediately took action.
"Drug addiction, airway obstruction. The reason Kang Changho died was truly foolish beyond comparison, but."
He placed a hand around his own ribs and pointed at his own body.
"This is still a body with quite a lot of advantages."
"So you're saying you don't want to change it?"
"That's right."
The reason for that was soon explained.
"Aliens like us have a hard time grasping the sense of close combat, but this body basically has knowledge of martial arts..."
"Kickboxing?"
"There are quite a few lack of restrictions in moving the body."
He said while raising the corners of his mouth for the first time in a while.
"Moreover, Kang Changho is, above all else... tall!"
Roughly 190cm. By the time the number written on someone's internet profile came to mind, the other party immediately brought up the next words.
"Such a physique is definitely rare to see within Asian countries."
I wondered why he was suddenly particular about height, but.
"So I really liked the fact that, at least while riding this vessel, I don't have to look up at others."
"Oh my."
"We aren't exactly creatures structurally comfortable with lifting our heads anyway, so wouldn't it be more advantageous to maintain a massive physique just so I can walk around with my gaze lowered?"
"It's absurd. Above all, isn't it best for golems to be swift and light?"
"To think he specifically chose and is using such a heavy, massive body."
I felt complex emotions at the unchanged appearance of the Engineer from the past to the present. But since the other party is the benefactor of this body, I decided not to particularly point out his tastes deeply.
"Just hurry up and bring the possessed bodies of those dungeon creator b*stards..."
I merely hurried the schedule.
"It's right in the next section. They got damaged a bit from the battle, but... we can still examine their memories."
"That's a relief."
"However, it'll be hard to use high-tier magic with an Earthling's body. I recommend visiting every day and looking at them little by little if possible."
I've been surprised too many times today anyway, so I don't want to stay for long either.
Trudge, trudge.
I walked around the laboratory with weak steps and listened to Kang Changho's explanations.
"Hmm?"
But at this point, an object that would instantly dispel boredom was discovered.
"That's..."
A golem. And an actual weapon golem, at that, finally made its appearance. As soon as we turned around the white partition, we encountered a weapon about 3m tall. The sight of it almost filling one side of the wall looked magnificent as well.
"Since he was top-tier in the field of golem engineering, I guess he managed to stitch this together even with Earth's inferior materials."
But looking closely, the form itself of that amazing golem was... a shape I had seen a lot somewhere.
"It's a 'Dragon'?"
"Yes, Master! Did you call me?"
"No, not you. You stay inside."
[ㅇㅅㅇ]
Yeah.
The golem in front of us was the exact shape of the elongated creature that this Archmage favors. The head shape is completely different, though... Anyway, Kang Changho had also crafted a minion modeled after the ancient deep-sea monsters of Alphauri.
"Don't misunderstand. For your information, this was the most widely used design on our planet, so I just tried making one."
Swish.
Kang Changho lightly raised his hand and pointed at the golem. And he continued speaking.
"But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't handle this like you."
It was obvious. Even if that golem seemed simple at first glance, its performance varied greatly depending on who controlled it.
"So, since you're seeing it anyway, you take ownership of this eyeless dragon."
"Uh-huh?"
"But I didn't expect the creator to come out like this."
"I have a separate golem I use anyway, so it's fine."
Kang Changho handed me a piece of thick parchment. Drawn on it was a specific spell formula for summoning a golem that only Alphaurins could recognize.
"Lemming. You haven't forgotten how to call a golem, have you?"
"Of course. Since I didn't use an incomplete spell like someone else."
"Talk about a stroke of luck."
Yahoo.
This was a record-breaking achievement for today.
[New Item]
[Rank:???]
[Acquired the complete 'Dragon']
Thanks to my compatriot's goodwill, I can now freely use complex golems.
[No, Master. What about me?]
And the small dragon that had been repeatedly sticking its head out of the Item Box since earlier—I plan to use them concurrently, of course, so don't worry. After all, the greatest advantage of Alphauri golemics is the ability for a single person to field an army.