Seoul, Korea.
There is a very special alley in Yongsan District.
This alley was home to many workshops.
For the last 30 years, the development of aether has paved the way for new technology.
And because of that, the blacksmithing job was revitalized, and this alley was proof of that.
From 1st-Grade through 3rd-Grade blacksmiths who dealt with billions of won of materials to even unlicensed ‘4th-Grade’ blacksmiths who handled defective goods.
They were all gathered here at Yongsan Aether Shopping Center.
About 30 years ago this place used to be an electronic shopping mall, but has since changed to a place that dealt with aether-related things, and was frequented by hunters who lacked money but urgently needed equipment.
December.
The season of snow and chilly weather.
Seodam walked in sweatpants and a black padded jacket.
There was a huge difference from Celeste’s proper attire, who was walking beside him.
Celeste’s eyes glistened looking at the rows of blacksmiths on the street.
They were slightly different from the blacksmiths of the old, but it wasn’t actually much different if you consider the idea of melting aether and hammering it.
“Is this your first time here?”
“Yes. I haven’t been here before.”
You’re going to continue following me, aren’t you?
Seodam looked at Celeste, who followed him here, suspiciously.
I’ve never noticed it before, but she stood out too much.
Compared to Seodam who looked common in every way, Celeste had an overly lively appearance.
No matter how common foreigners have become, her beautiful and lustrous blonde hair will stand out not only in Korea but also everywhere else.
But even with the suspicious glare from Seodam, Celeste quietly followed him.
Celeste had a lot of questions about Seodam.
Name, age, hometown, siblings, parents, where did you learn swordsmanship, where do you usually hunt, what’s your relationship with Lost Day, etc…
Really, It was simple curiosity.
An unusual F-Rank hunter who has a stronger presence than even S-Rank.
For Celeste, who had seen so many geniuses in the world at such a young age of 17, the existence of Yoo Seodam was unique.
‘What kind of equipment do you use?’
The age of internet orders.
Equipment was no different.
There were many excellent equipment available in online stores, parts were available at a lower price, and the various reviews made it possible to compare products.
So people who bought equipment in person are usually divided into two categories.
People with eyes so discerning that they don’t need information from others, and people who don’t know anything.
Celeste knew there was not much of a difference in prices between aether stores and online stores, moreso merchants knew it was impossible to collude to drive up prices.
So, she became more curious.
What kind of eyes does a hunter like Yoo Seodam have when he’s choosing his equipment?
“Is there a way to get better equipment?”
“Of course. Everyone knows of it ever since this place was an electronic store.”
A method that literally everyone knew.
A method that can be used by everyone, and no one.
Such is the case that the method has become a legend.
Seodam entered the interior of the tranquil electronic shopping mall.
This is Yongsan.
Also known as the ‘second dungeon.’
Instead of betting one’s life, they betted their wallet here.
A horrifying place where one wrong move and you could be stripped bare.
Yoo Seodam stopped and stood confidently.
“…”
It’s quiet.
It’s the weekday morning with no customers.
‘But why did you suddenly stop in the middle of the street?’
Celeste thought about it, then wore her translator device on her ears to translate Korean.
Suddenly, Yoo Seodam shouted.
“Aether Photodynamic Interface 1.20 million won!”
“What…?”
3, 2, 1.
Celeste thought, ‘what crazy situation is this?’
The moment she had such a thought.
“Hey, it’s in great condition. 1.20 million won!”
“Used goods. 1.17 million won!”
“What? It’s worth at least 1.15 million won!”
“1.10 million won!”
“…1.08 million won!”
“Hey! You have no morals!”
“1.05 million won!”
“For this little thing, 1.03 million!”
The merchant hesitated after hearing 1.03 million, and like a death blow from Seodam, the transaction closed.
“1.03 million won. Sold!”
“…”
Celeste made a ‘this is ridiculous’ expression while looking at Seodam, but it wasn’t over.
“Aethertaker Hollow Point 1,200ft. 1.20 million won starting bid!”
Seodam had purchased 12 more equipment here, totaling 20 million won.
It would have cost between 25-30 million won, so it could be seen how much he had haggled.
Though of course Seodam didn’t randomly buy things just because of its price.
If there was even one defective bullet, he would cut the price even more or packed a few more bullets.
He would also check the items in the aether dispenser very carefully and meticulously.
After purchasing all other necessities, Seodam with a satisfied look, spoke.
“Let’s go check the 2nd-Grade equipment now.”
“…Yes.”
Celeste, wearing a Korean translator, was able to understand the conversation between Seodam and the merchants, albeit awkwardly.
To be honest, she was a little exhausted now.
Because this wasn’t what she had in mind.
So she didn’t expect much when he said they would go check the 2nd-Grade equipment.
However.
The moment they entered the 1st-Grade blacksmith’s shop.
Celeste saw Yoo Seodams eyes change.
It was the eyes of a veteran hunter staring down a beast.
Woosh!
After ejecting the metal blade from an aether blade, Seodam flicked the blade lightly with his finger.
Then while stroking it slowly, he spoke.
“Don’t you think the aether coating is too much?”
“What are you talking about? Don’t you need at least that much to be able to cut a monster?”
“If this is activated for more than three hours it will overheat and stop working. Why is the cooling on this thing so shit?”
“That’s…to make it more portable.”
“Lightweight and small things are in fashion these days, but does it have to cut down on the lifespan of the equipment?”
Seodam then took out every piece of equipment the blacksmith had and scrutinized them one by one.
Until finally the blacksmith became dispirited.
In the end, he only bought a bullet.
“…Why did you buy that?”
“Spoils of war.”
“…”
The same happened with other blacksmiths.
Equipment was a hunter’s life.
Not to mention the defense, if the weapons don’t work properly, the strong and weak hunters would be helpless.
Celeste, like being possessed, followed Seodam around like a puppy.
She recalled the equipment she had used so far.
The finest equipment the family had prepared.
She didn’t know why they were good, and only used them because she was told it was so.
Things she never knew about like their proper usages.
Now she understood a little bit.
She now felt that she could handle the equipment more efficiently.
Seodam had taken 12 more bullets since then, and half a day had already passed, but Celeste didn’t even notice.
However, by now, rumors about them had spread, and the blacksmiths started refusing them service.
“No service!”
“Why?”
“I heard everything. You don’t even buy anything and just do all sorts of shit!”
‘Watch out for the suspicious hunter who goes around with a pretty girl.’
The blacksmiths at Yongsan Aether Shopping Center were already wary of them.
Seodam, with a troubled look, nodded.
“Hm… what am I supposed to do when I don’t see anything I like? Let’s go check another place.”
There is nothing I can do if merchants gang up on me.
When Seodam gave up and tried to take his business elsewhere, Celeste suddenly took out her smartphone and began filming here and there, including the sign of the shop.
The blacksmith wondered what the little girl was trying to do, but unfortunately, she only brought a hearing translator and not a speaking translator.
“Why are you filming?”
“(Italian language)”
“Aha. You’re going to post a review on your blog?”
“(Italian language)”
“You’re posting it on social media? Come to think of it, didn’t you say you made an account recently? But that’s too much. You already have so many followers. What if you start a rumor here?”
“(Italian language)”
“Huh? Kicking out innocent customers? I think so too…”
“Hey, wait! Let’s do business! Come! Come in!”
The 21st century.
An era in which social media is common.
It was no secret to anyone.
The scariest thing was not a hunter like Seodam, but a blogger.
“It was a good shopping trip.”
“I think so too.”
Late evening.
Seodam smiled contently at the full shopping bags in his hands.
In the end, he bought two average high performance 2nd-Grade equipment and still had money leftover, but couldn’t find what he wanted for the last equipment.
And Celeste, who followed Seodam, picked up many miscellaneous equipment she normally wouldn’t use.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to buy the last one, but it couldn’t be helped.”
While leaving the shopping district, Seodam suddenly noticed an old building that stood out.
There were many places that handled aether equipment, but that place was unique.
It was a place that only dealt with guns.
Though, it wasn’t the only place to do so, even if it is rare.
Especially if it’s at an aether shopping mall.
The old sign that reads ‘3rd-Grade’ caught Celeste’s eyes, but Seodam headed there as if possessed.
When the old glass door opened, the stale smell of gunpowder assaulted their senses.
Guns used to deal with monsters contained aether, not gunpowder.
In other words, this blacksmith specializes not only in aether guns, but vintage guns as well.
He was also one of the two remaining blacksmiths in the modern era to still be dealing with such firearms.
An old craftsman who’s unable to forget the past, or just an old craftsman who loves guns.
In Seodam’s opinion, the owner of this place was the latter.
This is because aether guns were more profitable.
“This is…art, isn’t it…?”
He slowly stroked a gun hanging on the wall.
With a look as if he was appreciating a beautiful piece of art, Seodam looked at each of the obvious mass produced guns that must have been put out for sale.
“Ho. You have a keen eye. People without superpowers are good at using guns.”
Said an old man, keenly walking out from the inner door.
Seodam looked at him and asked.
“How did you know I don’t have superpowers?”
“Anyone can tell at a glance. The calluses and eyes tell me they’ve fought on the battlefield, but people with superpowers don’t use guns. But you know a lot about guns, isn’t it to cover your weakness of not having superpowers?”
Ather bullets were also expensive.
However, superhumans alone easily surpassed the power of guns.
Unlike bullets, it is difficult to maintain the power of an aether blade, so I rarely used it under normal circumstances.
But ordinary people had to cover their weakness of not having superpowers somehow, thus, with tears of blood they used guns that cost hundreds of thousands per shot.
So unless they die, ordinary hunters either quit being hunters or they became gun experts.
And hunters who are the latter usually die shortly after.
“I don’t know if there’s anything here that would interest a hunter like yourself…”
Said the old man, but in fact, there was one thing that caught his eyes since he came here.
“What’s that?”
The gun that Seodam pointed to was as long as a sniper rifle and as thick as a machine gun.
I knew at once when I saw it that it was made with the essence of aether science, but for some reason it looked to be an ornament.
“That’s a modified ‘DK-001 Crossbow Shooter’ that can shoot six bullets at a time.”
“C-crazy. Crossbow Shooter…”
It has to be at least 2nd-Grade.
There was just one problem, the Crossbow Shooter was too heavy for ordinary people to carry around.
Furthermore, it was even modified to fire six bullets…
“If there’s one problem, it’s that this monster is hard to use unless someone has at least E-Rank physical strength.”
It may be possible to carry it around and use it as a F-Rank Hunter.
However, on the battlefield where you need to respond quickly to every situation, carrying such a heavy load will make it difficult to move nimbly.
“So that’s the dilemma. There is no reason for superhumans to use guns, and it was difficult for ordinary people to use.”
He was right.
Yoo Seodam had E-Rank ability now, and if he wielded an aether blade with the ability of White Swordsmanship and Swordsmanship (A) he wouldn’t need that monster monstrous gun.
That’s only if you excluded ‘very special cases.’
But, Seodam no longer hunted only monsters.
The next prey was none other than a mage, and their strength was to fight from afar.
Do you think they’ll allow you to get close with just a sword, or shooting a pistol?
They are also smart enough to have a variety of methods to prevent people from doing so.
To break through the unusual magic barrier used by mages, powerful distant means were needed.
“…I’ll buy it.”
The shopping trip ended.
I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.
The inspection of all my equipment had long been completed.
While I had to give up other equipment except for the most essential ones, a gun called ‘Mega Shooter’ was strapped to my back.
An aether coat as well as a highly charged mega shooter, aether blade, and 2nd-Grade equipment to deal with mages.
My wallet is in tatters, but if I can succeed in hunting a mage, this amount of investment will be worth it.
“Give me the next mission.”
< … >
“Hey. Client?”
< Sorry. I was taking a short break. >
“You take breaks?”
No matter when I called, you always answered me, so I thought it was a 24-hour service.
“I’m ready.”
#Student_Turned_Out_To_Be_A_Magic_Genuis
#Fantasy #Regression #Academy #Harem
[Traveling to Vivienda Magic Empire. The world of the Level 70 protagonist, Fiolen.]
[10…9…8…]
My vision briefly flickered, and when I opened my eyes again.
[2…1…0]
[Travel completed.]
[You became a Magic Combat guest professor at Vivienda Magic High Academy.]
A whole new world came into view.
“…!”
The first thing I saw was the sky.
Through a window, the blue clouds roamed.
The sky felt too close.
So I went close to the window, and when I looked down.
The view of a bottomless cliff welcomed me.
“Crazy.”
Then, I saw a huge building, floating in midair.
There were crystal balls and even some winged lizards gliding through the sky.
I stepped back slowly, unable to contain bewilderment.
No matter how advanced magic is, was this possible?
I slowly looked around.
I was in an office with an unusual style.
The desk was full of books with leather covers, but it was impossible to understand them even though I could read it.
[Brief Study of Eurwen’s Third Law of Magic (1098P)]
[Solving the Paradox of Trigonometric by Fairy Eleden]
[Essence of Magic (1st edition)]
What’s this?
I was slowly looking over the books when suddenly the door behind me opened and someone came in.
“Professor Yoo!”
A man suddenly rushed at me.
What?
Are you looking for a fight?
Just in case, I placed a hand on my aether blade even though I could not sense any hostility.
“Professor, what are you still doing here! Freshman Mana Circling Orientation has started!”
“Professor?”
Only
“Yes!”
“Me?”
“Yes!!”
I was dumbfounded and tried to refute, but suddenly this man grabbed me by the wrist.
“Professor, hurry up before you’re any later!”
“…?”
Yes.
I became a professor in a world of magic.
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