Chapter 74 – Illegal Mana Stones (1)

Something feels off.

-The Rania Beekeeping Zone Gate is closing.

Not long ago, I went on a pest control job for the Bureau Chief.

But I saw honeybees that only live in Rania.

The Butterfly Queen I fought as a dungeon boss was also from the Rania territory.

A doubt I’ve had for a while. And a question that remained unanswered.

I think there’s a connection.

‘Maybe…’

A gate, by its very nature, is a passage connecting that world and this one. And a core, authorized by the System, summons a dungeon.

“Is everything alright in the territory?”

Hearing my question, Katrinne, who was picking up and eating a biscuit, answered.

“Hmm, well, the territory is fine. Same as always.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Lately, Katrinne has been checking on her territory whenever she has a spare moment.

From what I hear, a lot of new menus have appeared besides the ones she originally had.

-Train: Train soldiers.

-Messenger: Communicate with residents via mail.

-Relief: Provide supplies to the territory’s people.

-Personnel: Grant positions to the territory’s people.

-Expand Territory: Enlarge the territory.

-Politics: Make decisions on territory management.

-New Village Movement: Increases all production and labor for a certain period.

-Economy: Manage agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry, commerce, mining…

“Normally, I’d have to worry about invasions from neighboring territories, but since mine is completely isolated, it’s great. Heheh.”

“The territory can’t be invaded, but it’s teeming with monsters.”

I once took Katrinne and called Seo Hyun-ji to hunt honeybees.

Seeing that, Seo Hyun-ji nearly had a fit.

I didn’t know why back then, but thinking about it calmly now, I think I understand.

The honeybees of Mount Rania are unusual. No, it’s not just them; some of the animals living there are intelligent.

In other words, monsters.

“Monsters? They’re all our precious citizens.”

Perhaps she had an epiphany during the honeybee incident, because Katrinne ‘recruited’ the monsters.

It’s not like she’s playing a Romance of the Three Kingdoms game or something.

The one doing the recruiting, and the monsters being recruited.

At first, I thought it was ridiculous.

Even in the dot graphics, I could see the original citizens avoiding the newly recruited monster residents.

But after sharing some ramen and soju, they all became friends.

Huh, but soju?

How did she buy that and get it in there?

I looked down at Katrinne.

Is this kid buying alcohol even though she’s a minor?

Anyway, there’s a sentinel rabbit patrolling to maintain public order.

A researcher tortoise studying magic for agricultural development.

A gentleman chicken who loves playing with the children.

Well, seeing them all getting along in harmony, I guess it’s fine.

It’s a relief if my worries were premature.

The floating island is still flying above the city.

People who were initially shocked are now taking selfies with the floating island in the background, as if it’s a novelty.

“Yes! Production is steadily increasing. So is the population. Capitalism is the best. It’s awesome!”

After dropping a load of food into her territory, Katrinne beamed like a supreme leader who had just tasted true power.

I kind of understand how she feels.

When you play simulation games where you develop a civilization, seeing your city flourish after something like a cultural revolution gives you a real sense of accomplishment.

Well, for now, it seems there are no problems on Katrinne’s end.

It must have all been me just being overly worried.

Soon, the delivery food Katrinne ordered arrived.

Snatching the complimentary coupon that came with the food, Katrinne was grinning from ear to ear again.

A girl completely dominated by capitalism.

Eating only delivery food isn’t a balanced diet.

Considering the nutritional needs of a teenager like Katrinne, I should probably start paying attention to her diet.

‘I should go grocery shopping.’

Katrinne, being used to strong flavors, probably won’t like it much.

But as her guardian, I feel a sense of responsibility, so it’s on my mind.

I’ve earned quite a lot of money working as a Hunter.

I’ve used that money to start a joint business with the Star Center’s director, but I’ve also been donating to welfare organizations.

The reason I donate.

Hunters earn a lot of money.

While some look on with envy, others do so with jealousy.

I am building my brand image and increasing my value.

Right now, I’m seen as a rapidly rising Hunter with heroic qualities.

If that weren’t the case, would I have been able to obtain judicial authority as a Special Guarder?

I earn a lot of money, but I give back to society and support the weak.

It gives me a strong justification.

Especially the fact that I’m an orphan. My past, having grown up in a center, has also become known, stirring up public sympathy.

Thanks to that, even people itching to criticize me for no reason have developed a ‘we can’t touch that guy’ sort of image of me.

And in truth, there’s a big benefit for me as well.

-Synchronization Rate is 61%.

My Synchronization Rate increased by donating my personal funds and supporting people in need.

I was actually unsure if this would be considered a heroic act, but when my donations saved someone, the System acknowledged it to some extent.

Thanks to that, I’ve recovered a few of the Authorities I used in the past.

Immunity Enhancement, Resistance Enhancement, and my only mid-range attack skill, Lightning Strike.

I also recovered the Sacrifice skill, but that’s one I really don’t want to use.

Even if I spend a lot of money on donations, it’s not a big problem for me.

Honestly, all my equipment is provided for free by the Hanul Guild’s research lab.

That’s partly because I’m the guild’s franchise Hunter, but it’s also because of my contract with that Demon King fellow.

The problem is, it’s stuck at 61%.

Just in case, I donated another 300 million. But my Synchronization Rate didn’t budge.

When I donated before, there was a change in the rate, but not now.

Even after waiting a bit, there was nothing.

Why?

I started to wonder if my donation money was being siphoned off somewhere.

‘There are all sorts of scumbags out there.’

According to recent news, the head of an organization that received large donations under the guise of an animal welfare business didn’t support the animals at all, instead spending the money on lavish overseas trips and entertainment.

It’s the same for charities for the needy.

In the end, I came to a decision.

‘I’ll go check it out myself.’

It’s been bothering me anyway, so I might as well check while I’m out grocery shopping.

See if my money is actually being used properly.

***

I left Katrinne, who was busy managing her territory, at home and went out alone.

I stopped by the guild to approve some documents that needed handling for the day, then headed out.

“What is this? Oh my god.”

“What do we do…”

“Don’t take pictures! I said don’t take pictures!”

The plaza in the Guild Town, where several guilds are gathered, is particularly chaotic today.

Not that it’s ever quiet, though.

Blood splattered across the plaza floor.

And a forensics team was gathering up pieces of flesh.

Beyond the riot police pushing people back, something caught my eye.

It looks like someone died.

In broad daylight, on a roadside like this?

I was curious about what happened when something strange entered my vision.

‘A mana stone?’

I could see fragments of a mana stone mixed in with the gruesome pieces of flesh.

But it wasn’t the color of any mana stone I knew.

A deep purple.

Usually, mana stones have different colors depending on their attribute.

Fire is red. Water is blue. They’re made to be easily recognizable.

Perhaps it’s the System’s consideration, making it easy enough for an elementary schooler to understand.

In any case, that purple color isn’t included in the six major elements.

That is.

‘Corruption?’

It’s the color of a corrupted mana stone.

I slipped through the crowd and approached the scene.

The stale scent of the mana stone still lingered.

“Excuse me, you can’t come in here. Hey!”

Ignoring the riot police officer blocking my way, I stepped inside the cordon.

“Hey, you idiot. Why aren’t you stopping him!”

“Huh? Hunter Lee Hyunbin?”

Seeing me suddenly barge in, the people who had been blocking the way recognized my face and cleared a path.

There was no need to stop someone with a special license, after all.

I picked up the largest mana stone fragment I could find.

“Y-You’re not supposed to touch that carelessly…”

“Leave him be, he’s a special license Hunter.”

An explosion?

The mana stone exploded. Just like a bomb.

Judging by the traces and range of the bloodstains, it sprayed out from the alleyway up ahead.

Why?

I looked around at the traces.

-Activating Insight skill.

-Kim Il-ho’s status: Pain, Fear, Salvation

So the dead person’s name was Kim Il-ho.

I felt the illusion that the lingering scent of the mana stone was leading me somewhere.

The traces he left behind remain here.

As if he wanted to reveal his path.

Out of habit, I began reading the traces and deducing the situation.

He was moving desperately. Trying to get to a place where no one would get hurt.

He met his end soon after.

In other words, the mana stone’s explosion likely wasn’t what he wanted.

Then what for?

-Insight’s level has increased.

Just then, it went from Level 2 to Level 3, and a new function opened up.

-Insight: Extrasensory perception is generated.

My brow furrowed on its own.

An overwhelming torrent of thoughts floods my consciousness.

I want to live.

He cries out, wishes for it, countless times.

“Damn it.”

Kim Il-ho’s consciousness flowed into me.

Kim Il-ho was young.

Just a little kid.

A child who should have been under someone’s protection had dragged his dying body all this way for someone else’s sake.

An obsession and grit you wouldn’t expect from a child.

I can hear the dying child’s quiet wish.

“…”

The dead child is not an Awakened.

Nor is he a child with mana stone sickness, like Kim In-ho’s.

“Crazy bastards.”

There are people out there forcibly implanting mana stones into orphans.

***

“Sister…”

A young child, emaciated from malnutrition, clung to her sister’s hand.

The child called sister wasn’t in good shape either.

Filthy clothes, a haggard appearance.

A look in her eyes that told you at a glance she hadn’t had a normal upbringing.

“Where’s Il-ho? Why isn’t he back?”

The girl’s sister said nothing.

“I’m hungry… He said he’d bring food…”

The place where the two children were was an empty concrete room.

In that room, which didn’t even have common wallpaper and conveyed only a sense of desolation, the two of them were the only ones there.

There was no way out of this place.

Iron bars blocked their freedom.

“You’re hungry too, right, sister?”

The child whimpered quietly, clutching her empty stomach as she curled up on the floor.

A prison where not a single ray of light entered.

There was only one way to get out of this place.

To stop moving.

The girl’s sister. No, Yi-ho was not Sam-ho’s biological sister.

The same was true for Il-ho.

Just as their names suggested, they weren’t proper names.

They were simply designations for the order in which they were brought to this institution.

There were many children at this institution.

In fact, there were more at the beginning.

But quite a few children had gained their freedom and gone outside.

Though they likely wouldn’t be able to enjoy that freedom.

The days here were always the same.

They performed very painful treatments. Refusing was not an option.

The adults here were so worried about the children that they forced the treatments upon them.

They said some children’s bodies got better after surgery, so they were allowed to live outside.

Her younger sister, Sam-ho, was sad they had left without saying goodbye, but Il-ho and Yi-ho trembled in fear.

No one spoke of it, but they knew instinctively.

-I’ll go get some adults who can save us. Just hang in there and wait.

With those words, Il-ho left his sisters behind and escaped from that hell.

Yi-ho didn’t stop him.

In truth, she knew he wouldn’t be able to return.

It wasn’t a guess or a deduction.

It was an absolute premonition.

Tears streamed down Yi-ho’s face.

She had thought that maybe, just maybe, Il-ho would survive and really come to save them.

Because this place was so horrible.

Because the fear was so bone-deep.

She thought that doing something might change things.

Yi-ho sobbed silently, so her sister beside her wouldn’t hear.