17. Alchemy

Ko Byeong-gap took off his work clothes stained with blood and dirt and changed into the clean clothes he had brought. He also wiped his neck and face with wet tissue and cleaned himself further. No car owner wanted to get blood on his car seat.

On his way back to Seoul, he thought about many things.

‘I’m sure I’m definitely more tired than using a gun.’

It wasn’t exhausting, but there was some fatigue left in his body. No matter how well he used it, it was still a weapon that needed to be used by his body.

He had more scars on his body than before. If it weren’t for the Ki-breathing textbook, he could’ve used more than half a bottle of potion.

In two ways, given his fatigue and injuries, it left him more vulnerable than with a gun when he used the sword. If so, there was no reason to leave a decent gun and insist on a sword.

He wasn’t an idiot. There was no way he wouldn’t be able to use a sword instead of a gun that could kill monsters with just the lift of a finger, right?

‘But… I have to overcome this too.’

However, to win the title of ‘top,’ he would have to let go of the gun one day, from modern firearms to cutlery weapons. There was a good reason for that extremely anachronistic retrograde.

In short, guns didn’t work in the higher world. Well, aside from that, there was a reason why Ko Byeong-gap had to pick up a sword. It was due to the money. Every conflict in the world was bound to come from money.

The amount of ammunition he spent every month alone exceeded 1.5 million won. It might be written off as a gum price for some, but it was a lot of money for the poor.

While he thought about multiple matters, he arrived in Seoul. Ko Byeong-gap went straight home without stopping by the association, and after he had packed his things, he went to Ashvilam.

“Lord, sir, you’re here.”

“Oh, Gobung, Gobung, Gobung.”

As soon as he came to Ashvilam, Gobung welcomed him.

“So, anything special about your work?”

“Oh, there is none. And, Lord… We’re done with what you asked us to do.”

Gobung pointed to one side. The by-products of the Horned Wolves had been piled up and were well organized. It was great work for 90 Goblins.

“Oh, how well organized.”

Leather, horns, teeth, claws. It was well classified according to type.

“We did it. Like that. I ordered it!”

“Yes, you’re the head of the workforce. Very good.”

“Hehe…”

Ko Byeong-gap praised him, and his mouth stretched from ear to ear, and then, Ko Byeong-gap approached the stacked by-products.

‘Huh? Did they really clean these up?’

He complimented them to make them feel better, but their workmanship was pretty good. Ko Byeong-gap smiled with satisfaction as he peered at the skin of the Horned Wolves.

“Yes, you should go and take care of your work.”

“Okay, sir.”

After sending Gobung away, Ko Byeong-gap opened the Ancient Shop.

[Crystals on Hand: 1,765]

The Goblins dug more than 400 crystals during the day. Certainly, their mining speed was different from when it was 30 of them that worked.

He teased his fingers and went looking for the product he wanted. The category he looked at was ‘Construction.’

‘Found it.’

[Low-grade Combustion Unit]

-Price: 900 Crystals

-Description: An alchemy device that can craft and enhance objects. Suitable for low-level alchemy.

Ko Byeong-gap paid 900 crystals and bought a low-grade combustion unit. Something intangible floated in the air, as it did when he had purchased the crystal slot in the past.

It also looked like roasting machinery in a way. Two columns rose like chimneys attached to a rugged, square frame. The pillars were large and spacious, and the materials were to be put into them. Ko Byeong-gap installed the combustion unit in a suitable place.

[Do you want to install the ‘Low-grade Combustion Unit’ in this location?]

[Starting installation…]

[Required time is about 5 minutes.]

The low-grade combustion unit, which was an illusion, took over reality. Ko Byeong-gap calmly waited for it to be completed.

Five minutes passed quickly.

‘Now, what shall we make?’

He knew how to use the combustion unit through the ‘Ancient Alchemy Textbook – Low-grade’ engraved in his head. He wanted to make clothes as a test first.

He put a Horned Wolf’s leather in the chimney then placed his hands on the flat plate located in the front of the oven.

‘Shall we try a t-shirt?’

He calmed his mind and conceived an image in his head. At that point, the chance of failure would increase if he was distracted, so he concentrated on it. He tried to ductile by painting a very simple type of short-sleeved T-shirt.

A soft glow shone from the plate he touched. The combustion engine started operating with the sound of the gears turning.

Do do do do do do do do do…

The affair was soon over. After confirming that the light on the plate had disappeared, Ko Byeong-gap pulled the handle on the combustion unit’s body. He opened it full of anticipation, excited to see a neat t-shirt inside, but there was kind of a strange bulky piece of garbage instead. It was a malleable product.

“What? Where’s the t-shirt?”

Needless to say, it was unsuccessful in the synthesis.

He picked up the result. No matter how much he tried to make it look good, there seemed to be no use to it more than a mop.

“Maybe it’s because I’m lacking in skill.”

Ko Byeong-gap rolled up his sleeves. He had a lot of materials anyway. He had finished his work that day, but he decided to just sit down and do more crafting.

“Let’s see if you win or I win.”

Ko Byeong-gap entered the second training without a break.

* * *

Ko Byeong-gap couldn’t stand it and laid down. His chest rose and fell, exhaling harshly.

“Sigh, sigh… This is work.”

Alchemy used up a lot of his stamina. At first, he didn’t know it was going to be difficult, but at some point, his body lost strength.

A satisfied smile spread on his face even in the midst of his exhaustion. He laid down and opened up a t-shirt. It was a neatly made t-shirt. Its difference from other t-shirts on the market was that it wasn’t stitched together. So it was more robust.

‘Shall I start selling clothes with this?’ That was what he thought.

It wasn’t a nonsensical story. He lacked many things at that moment, but if his alchemy skills improved, he might be able to make and sell clothes and goods.

‘I’ll make my mom a mink coat later.’

Ko Byeong-gap got up and prayed for his mother to get well soon. However, unbeknownst to him, evening came, and it was dark.

After work, the Goblins gathered to watch Ko Byeong-gap craft.

He said while throwing a t-shirt at the place where he collected successful works, “Take this and wear it. I only have a few pairs, so share them with each other.”

“Wow!”

The Goblins were eager to share. A smile spread across Ko Byeong-gap’s lips. He then decided to calm down and try his final creation.

‘I’ve raised my skill level enough…’

He picked up the long sword he had brought from home. The blade was badly damaged, so it was too much to use further. He would have to buy a new one or have it repaired.

‘Tsk! What a waste of money to repair.’

A hunter, who saved money on equipment, was an idiot. That meant that there was nothing to say if they died while subjugating.

However, swords were too expensive. To buy something useful, he had to pay a few million won, even hundreds of millions of won. He couldn’t understand why a sword was more expensive than a gun.

Alchemy was groundbreaking in that sense. He might not need to invest money in equipment if what he envisioned was realized.

He placed the long sword in one chimney and the tail collected from the Rake Wolf in the other. The Rake Wolf’s tail was so sharp that it was actually used in weapons production.

‘This time, it’s not production. It’s synthesis.’

Ko Byeong-gap started his soft work. The ductile plate lit up, and the combustion unit was activated.

Do do do do do do do…

The processing ended quickly. He calmed his trembling mind and pulled the knob on the machine’s body that contained a well-edged longsword.

It was a success.

“Oh, thank God!” He shouted for joy and picked up the result.

“Hey, this is real stuff.”

It no longer looked like junk that had ragged teeth at its edges. Instead, there was only a long sword that made him feel cold just by looking at it.

It was more than he expected. Looking at the cold blade… It was cool to just gaze at it.

While appreciating the shape of the long sword, the weapons of the Goblins came into view when he suddenly turned his gaze. It was a primitive weapon in a crude form.

‘I’ll have to make the Goblins some later. No, why don’t I teach the Goblins alchemy or other skills?’

In the future, he thought it would be okay to teach the Goblins various skills. For example, if he selected a few people and let them learn about alchemy, they might be able to set up a workshop.

What else? If he taught them how to farm and raise livestock, they would have no problem with the food supply. If he picked strong people and raised them as combatants, subjugation would be easier.

There was a myriad of things he could do with the Goblins.

“Kayak!”

“Keeek!”

‘…’

Of course, it would take some time. He needed to increase their number first. At least 300 would be able to speed up their crystal mining and had a surplus of troops.

“I’m leaving. Take a rest.”

“Oh, my Lord! Already. Are you leaving?”

“Uh, I have to go see my mom.”

“Oh! Goodbye. Bye!”

“Okay.”

The Goblins bowed their heads to say goodbye. Another day passed like that.

* * *

“You planted this!”

“Wait, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Ko Byeong-gap pondered for a moment, then brushed it off. Did it matter if it was planned or not? As long as it made sense, that was enough.

“Wooo…”

The Goblins in front of them showed a bewildered reaction. Ko Byeong-gap put his long sword into the sheath and smiled.

“What makes your reaction so lukewarm? Is this your first time seeing your Lord? Oh, first time? I’ll let you off the hook this time.”

“L-Lord?”

He had stepped into an E-rank crack located in Gapyeong. However, it was a Goblin colony that defended the other side of the world. As it was an E-rank crack, there were only Normal Goblins at the beginning. Ko Byeong-gap hugged a Normal Goblin and shouted, “You! Don’t you want to go to Ashvilam?”

“Ah, Ashvilam!”

“Going. Want!” The Normal Goblins murmured. Ko Byeong-gap nodded his head as if satisfied.

“Yeah, yeah, if you want to go, you have to go. Take me to your boss!”

As predicted by Ko Byeong-gap, the world’s boss monster was a Hob Goblin. He saw Ko Byeng-gap and immediately froze.

“Oh my God, you’re…”

“Hey, don’t be scared. I’m not going to eat you?”

“Gee, really? Are you really the Lord?”

“Oh, I’m 100%, genuinely, your Lord.”

After responding so, Ko Byeong-gap scoured the Goblins and shouted in a declaration, “I’m your Lord! Everyone! Swear your allegiance to me! Then I’ll take you to Ashvilam!”

His loud voice echoed, and a second later…

“Lord!”

“Lord!”

“Humph! Hum!”

The goblins bowed their heads. Some even ended up in tears.

[The Normal Goblins (51) and Hob Goblin (1) have been transferred to Ashvilam.]

‘Good.’

Ko Byeong-gap looked satisfied and said, “Come on, let’s go! To Ashvilam of dreams and hopes!”

He opened the door to Ashvilam. The Goblins were astonished by the momentum that blasted out their eyes.

“Gobung, Gobung, come out!”

Gobung jumped out soon after he called.

“Lord! Did you call me?”

“Oh, the newcomers are here. Take them and teach them.”

“Okay! All. Me. Follow me!”

Gobung was accustomed to leading the goblins.

Ko Byeong-gap came out empty-handed within 15 minutes of entering the crack.

‘It’s a little futile.’

Recruiting additional Goblins was a good thing, but somehow it felt like a waste of time. He wanted to test his new long sword that day.

“It’s too bad to hit the ball like this.”

Ko Byeong-gap picked up his cell phone when he thought so, but since the time was still early, there had to be some cracks without owners.

He logged on to the Hunternet app and touched the “Real-time Crack Status” bulletin board to see the crack map. However, he accidentally pressed the bulletin board next to him.

It was a little thing to call a mistake, but Ko Byeong-gap, while he looked at his cell phone, stopped… because a post caught his eye.

[A-rank crack near Gapyeong Station. One porter is urgently needed! 3 million won per day!]

‘Three million won?’