Chapter : 72
Shaina spoke without much thought, but for Suhyun, her words were not something he could just let pass. Grabbing Shaina by the shoulder, he asked urgently,
“Say that again. Keshika? Are you sure it shows horrifying illusions?”
“Huh? Uh… I’m not making others drink it, so why—”
Shaina waved her hands nervously, thinking Suhyun had misunderstood her reaction. Among humans, dark elves had a bad reputation, so maybe he had jumped to the wrong conclusion.
“No, it’s not that I’m criticizing you for knowing about it. If what you said is true, I have a use for it.”
“…?”
Shaina tilted her head in confusion. Keshika was now an herb barely used even among dark elves. In the past, it had been used in coming-of-age rituals to test courage, but now it was considered an outdated tradition. The only ones who still used it were tribal seers for divination.
“Do you happen to have some on you?”
“No. Why would I carry something like that around?”
Her words were disappointing but truthful. Suhyun moved on to the next question.
“Then where can you get it?”
“It’s easy to get in my hometown, but that would be impossible.”
“Impossible?”
“It’s not just far… if you go there, you won’t come out in one piece…”
Shaina trailed off, but Suhyun understood immediately. He had encountered aggressive dark elves before; stepping into their territory meant instant attack.
“Oh, you might also be able to find it in the Euterf region.”
“Really?!”
“…Maybe?”
“Why the maybe at the end?”
“Well, I haven’t checked it myself. In the past, if we ran out of the herb, we’d tell others to go get it from the Euterf region… so maybe it’s there?”
It was convincing enough. Suhyun nodded.
“Thanks. That helps a lot.”
“I’m glad, but are you sure this will really help?”
Shaina didn’t understand why Suhyun was so interested in Keshika. To her, it was a useless herb. Burning it and drinking the smoke would show horrifying illusions, but it took too long and required a lot to use, making it impractical for combat.
“Just think a little more flexibly. Nothing in this world is truly useless. Even a random stone can be sold at a high price.”
“How?”
“Take this to Earth and say it’s a mystical stone from Cameron Planet—it’ll sell for sure.”
“…”
Shaina made a face of exasperation. As a non-human, she had considerable interaction with humans on Cameron Planet, so she was fairly adaptable, but that didn’t mean she fully understood human systems.
“Anyway, something that seems useless to dark elves or other races might actually be useful. So if an idea comes to mind, speak up immediately. Other races’ knowledge is always welcome.”
“Got it.”
While they were talking, Kang In-kyu was drenched in sweat and about to collapse. Suhyun clapped his hands to signal him to stop.
“Well done. Take a break!”
“Huff… huff… huff…”
“Soldier Park. Take Kang In-kyu, give him some nutrients, then inject him as per the manual I prepared. Just follow it exactly.”
“Yes, sir.”
Even without the unfair advantage of body-enhancement surgeries, techniques to train the body had advanced far more than before. Suhyun’s manual, in particular, was genuine, created from the results of numerous test subjects.
‘Surprisingly persistent,’ Suhyun realized from Kang In-kyu’s training. Despite his frail-looking appearance and timid demeanor, he kept running until Suhyun told him to stop, even with an expression of near death.
‘Of course. Not just anyone can become a curse sorcerer.’
People had limits. If he were weak, even a huge shock wouldn’t have changed him.
“This is a good team.”
“?”
Shaina muttered softly. When Suhyun looked at her curiously, she responded, flustered, as if she didn’t expect him to hear.
“It’s just… you can feel the closeness among the team. And you don’t seem dissatisfied with me either… so I just thought it’s a good team.”
“Why so shy while giving a compliment? Relax, it’s fine.”
Suhyun lightly tapped Shaina’s back. He had sensed from the start that she was cautious as a dark elf. He didn’t plan to make a recruited psychic act timidly.
“Let’s get along from now on. As teammates.”
“…Yeah!”
Shaina walked off with a pleased expression, filled with positive expectations about the team and future. Suhyun watched her back and thought,
‘Better not tell her about the next mission yet.’
Thanks to Shaina’s words, the location for the next mission was decided: the Euterf region. Limiting the mission to the Euterf region naturally limited what tasks they would undertake there.
Cities near the gate, like those in Russia and China, were mostly in the north, so their operational zones were mainly northern. Korean and American cities were in the south, so their zones were mostly southern. Places like the Calcutta jungles, Kebaswak region, Ames plains, and the Euterf region were areas where Korean or American forces mainly operated.
Among them, the Euterf region contained many different factions. It was relatively vast and extremely valuable, so many forces aimed to profit there. Naturally, the Korean government was actively working to gain benefits there, meaning there would be no shortage of missions.
However, the important thing wasn’t getting missions but what missions they got. Suhyun wanted to solidify trust in Uncle Joe Company with this opportunity.
‘Then… as expected.’
Recalling the mission list, Suhyun made a decision.
While training the squad and adapting them to artifacts, Suhyun planned the next mission. When he told the Development Planning Bureau what he had in mind, Choi Hyun-min was as surprised as expected.
“Rock giants?”
“I didn’t think you’d dislike it.”
Rock giants. The Euterf region had plains, hills, and mountains. Rock giants were massive monsters using the terrain to hide and move. The problem wasn’t just hiding—they attacked intruders using the environment.
Though their name suggested a dull monster, rock giants were among the most cunning monsters. Immense resistance to physical attacks, stealth using terrain, and relentless attacks on intruders. Any group venturing deep into the Euterf region knew of them.
“No, Team Leader Kim Suhyun. We don’t stop teams from doing what they want. We don’t have that authority. But…”
Choi Hyun-min hesitated.
“This is my personal opinion, not official. I think it’s a bit too hasty…”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Since Uncle Joe Company began working with us, they’ve succeeded at a rapid pace. Almost flawlessly. Usually, even large company teams rarely succeed at that speed.”
Suhyun wasn’t fully satisfied yet, but within the Development Planning Bureau, Uncle Joe Company was highly rated. They were competent even if he wasn’t confident in a head-on confrontation.
Choi Hyun-min hoped Uncle Joe Company would grow steadily. Suhyun’s team wasn’t one to end clumsily. Talented individuals always rose.
Yet, even such people could die suddenly on Cameron Planet. It was better to grow their influence steadily and become the government’s trump card. Others in the bureau shared this opinion.
“Sure, rock giants are tough opponents.”
“Tough opponents… hmm. Whether I’d call them ‘tough’ is another matter…”
“But Manager Choi, one thing— I’ve never jumped recklessly into a task. Karcrita Valley, Kebaswak Region—I calculated everything before acting.”
Suhyun’s voice carried sincerity. Only a man risking his life repeatedly could speak that way.
“And now that I’m saying I’ll do it, do you think I’d speak without a plan?”
“Of course…”
Suhyun’s words left Choi Hyun-min speechless.
“There are other tasks in the Euterf region, right? There are still unconfirmed areas. Exploring and gathering info…?”
“That’s unnecessary. We’ve already proven we can do that.”
“…Do you have a particular reason for fixating on the rock giant?”
“Reputation.”
“?”
“Even if I don’t say it, I can tell how the bureau and others view us. They’re probably thinking: ‘Uncle Joe Company is excellent non-combat-wise, but what about their combat abilities?’”
“They wouldn’t…”
“You can’t say they wouldn’t.”
“…”
“I intend to show it definitively. And for that, the rock giant is a perfect match. It’s not a monster you can defeat by chance.”
Suhyun clenched his fists. Choi Hyun-min felt an inexplicable thrill.
‘Am I witnessing the start of a legend?’
Legends on Cameron Planet, like someone circling the planet alone, wiping out monster species, or slaying a dragon, didn’t appear out of nowhere—they had a beginning.
To Choi Hyun-min, Suhyun wasn’t a reckless young prodigy but a cunning predator who knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it.
“You’ll see after this mission why I’m obsessed with the rock giant.”
“I understand. If you capture it, your fame will soar.”
‘He doesn’t know.’
Among countless tasks, Suhyun had a reason for choosing the rock giant. Other monsters could prove strength, but the rock giant carried more weight. Choi Hyun-min probably overlooked it due to the name and Suhyun’s eagerness.
Rock giants weren’t just threats to mercenaries—they devastated Korean and American forces in the Euterf region. Even after some time, capturing one would revive that knowledge.
Among mercenary companies, only insiders knew the significance, but on Cameron Planet, unknown info fascinated the public. Some Korean mercenaries and psychics were famous like celebrities.
‘Defeat one monster, become a hero.’
A rock giant wouldn’t go unnoticed. Media coverage was guaranteed.
Suhyun intended to become a major figure—untouchable. To do so, he needed strength, influence, wealth, and fame—everything.
‘Of course, that’s after defeating the rock giant.’
Other mercenaries in the Euterf region avoided the rock giant. There were plenty of profitable tasks; why risk a dangerous, persistent opponent?
Bounties were offered when military forces were first attacked, but after a few reckless attempts led to disappearances, interest waned.
To mercenaries in Euterf, the rock giant was no longer a target but a nuisance to avoid. Suhyun’s team would now change that perception.
