Chapter 26

Ch.26 The Regression Of Calamity-Level Monster Tamer

One day after Kang Si-woo completed the White Gate.

Tower Net and the mass media were once again abuzz with news about him.

[World’s first! Player Kang Si-woo who cleared the White Gate. What exactly did he obtain there?]

[World Gate Research Association glimpses humanity’s hope in Kang Si-woo’s recent actions…]

[Ark headquarters announces position: ‘For humanity’s future, we will pour even stronger support into nurturing novice Players.’]

[Rising star who appeared like a comet, Kang Si-woo! Revealed to have rejected not only Seonyang and Dokkaebi, but even Tian Dun’s proposal…?!]

Through this incident, Kang Si-woo was recognized as a next-generation powerhouse in both name and reality.

As such, every organization coveted Kang Si-woo and paid attention to his next move.

Perhaps that’s why?

The public couldn’t help but be surprised by Kang Si-woo’s unexpected choice.

[Kang Si-woo’s next step is… a professor at Ark Korea Branch? “I believe we must serve even one more person for humanity’s survival. Today’s decision is one result of such deliberation…” Shocking announcement…!]

└ …?? Didn’t Kang Si-woo receive tons of love calls from guilds? Why go to such a place?

└ That bastard got a 5 billion offer from Seonyang alone. He’s just crazy.

└ lololol A pathological liar appears.

└ Nope, it’s true. Dokkaebi proposed engagement with Ma Seol-ah, Tian Dun proposed helping him tame a Yinglong.

└ …For real?

└ Believe it or not.

└ Wait, hold on…

No, it wasn’t just surprising.

Pure panic.

As the stakes the guilds had placed on Kang Si-woo spread through word of mouth, this phenomenon intensified.

└ …He threw all that away and chose to be a part-time lecturer at a backwater provincial university that just opened…??

└ Is Ark that level? Genuinely asking because I don’t know.

└ It’s not even the American headquarters, if it’s the Korea branch it’s definitely provincial university level.

└ Admiral Yi Sun-sin… Why are you sacrificing yourself for the nation even in this life…

└ Me who cursed at that bastard for showing off… why am I still alive instead of dead…

└ Die~!! That’s the only way we’ll bury you!

└ No…

└ He said when you die, to ask to be buried!

└ lololololol so funny

└ Tsk tsk… Don’t compare the standards of ordinary people like you with Lord Kang.

***

‘These people are nuts.’

Swipe— Swipe—

Even as I scrolled through my smartphone screen with my thumb, I listened attentively to the woman’s voice coming through my earphones.

— As promised, I notified the media that it was a choice for humanity’s future.

“Thank you for cooperating. As long as it helps Seo Gyeoul-ssi, it won’t harm you.”

— But is there a reason you need to go this far?

“It’s absolutely necessary work for me to agree to Seo Gyeoul-ssi’s proposal.”

The guilds tried to recruit me, even pulling out their biggest cards.

But it ended with a conclusion they found hard to accept?

They would definitely think they were disrespected.

‘Even when using them, I need to package the exterior well.’

Because you never know where the sparks of discontent might fly.

It would also be tiring to make enemies of all of them.

Anyway, for this purpose, the Tamer Kang Si-woo had to become ‘holy’ like a saint, not just a materialistic person who only cares about money.

‘I asked them to stake what was most valuable to me as their bet in the first place.’

That value judgment is subjective.

So I aligned my social image with ‘sacrifice and service.’

After all, only if I’m accepted as that kind of person can they also accept this choice.

‘Of course, it’s a choice made through thorough cost-benefit analysis.’

At my answer, Seo Gyeoul didn’t argue.

She just said she understood and moved on to another topic.

— And the promise I made with Kang Si-woo-ssi last time, I was able to keep it this time.

“…Promise? Ah? Don’t tell me, did you schedule a meeting with Director Baek Mi-ran?”

— Yes. When I brought that heart, she said she wanted to meet you.

“When can I meet her? The sooner the better for me.”

— You speak exactly like my mother.

“Then can we handle the Animal Caretaker Advisor matter all at once?”

It was an important matter.

Originally, I was going to establish a connection with Baek Mi-ran first, then look for a way.

But if the Animal Caretaker Advisor matter gets resolved like this, meeting ‘that guy’ I’ve been worried about for a while becomes much easier.

— Of course. Actually, it was Mother who brought up the proposal first. I just packaged it well.

It wasn’t Seo Gyeoul-ssi who brought it up, but Director Baek Mi-ran?

What about me does she trust?

The ‘her’ I know isn’t someone who gets swayed by rumors the media spreads.

Then… ah.

“She watched my exam video.”

— Do you think she only watched it once?

“…”

— And to add, all the staff at the research institute are curious about Kang Si-woo-ssi. Ah, let me correct that. They’re looking forward to meeting you.

“…Then please schedule it for an hour from now.”

— Understood. Lastly, there’s something I need to tell you about the ‘visiting professor’ matter.

Finally, here it comes.

What I said at the beginning was my main point, and from now on would be Seo Gyeoul’s main point.

“I was going to ask you about that anyway. A novice like me as a professor. Even if it’s part-time, isn’t something wrong?”

Of course, there’s no one… no, no ‘being’ more knowledgeable about Tamers than me. Not just on Earth, but throughout the entire Tower.

But what they see of me must be an extremely small part.

That’s why I pointed out Seo Gyeoul’s proposal. But she refuted that point in a calm voice.

— I think Kang Si-woo-ssi knows better… that Tamers have an absolutely small talent pool.

“…”

Right, it was like that at this time…

She must have prepared thoroughly, as I feel like Seo Gyeoul is beating me down with facts.

— And this wasn’t my unilateral decision either.

“…Pardon?”

— Due to the nature of Tamers, practical classes are essential, and for that, living Magic Beasts are needed.

“…The research institute that can supply Magic Beasts would have a strong influence.”

— More precisely, the research institute director’s influence. She said she couldn’t lend Magic Beasts unless it was a Tamer she personally recognized.

“Ahem…”

Tsk.

Now I understood the whole situation.

Baek Mi-ran—she’s one of the few people who can glimpse beyond the part I deliberately show the world.

As Seo Gyeoul said, she probably watched my video over and over and understood a little about me.

‘It’s annoying, but it can’t be helped.’

Since I decided to do it anyway, I just need to do it with a good feeling.

“Well, a person can’t only do good things, right? To receive the ‘glorious’ position of Animal Caretaker Advisor at the Incomprehensible Magic Beast Research Institute, there should be some losses too.”

— Kang Si-woo-ssi… you have a more irritating side than I thought.

“That can’t be.”

— …Anyway. You’ll have plenty of time to prepare for classes. There’s exactly one month until the semester starts, so I’m counting on you.

One month.

Perfect.

That should be enough for me to put out the urgent fires.

“Understood. Then I’ll keep that in mind. And about Kim Pyeong-on-ssi…”

The rough gem I accidentally picked up this time.

To turn this into a brilliantly shining jewel requires a polishing process. Of course, it’s a bothersome and troublesome task.

But discovering a youngster with infinite potential and not raising them would be a Tamer’s dereliction of duty.

This is as natural a law as water flowing from top to bottom.

— Yes, the voluntary resignation you mentioned was processed immediately. But why exactly are you trying to recruit that Grade 9 civil servant?

“Just… because he’s special, I guess?”

— …Pardon?

Actually, this wasn’t the original plan.

First, I grow by monopolizing everything alone.

Second, I save the Three Venerables whose deaths are scheduled and have them protect Earth.

That was the original draft of the plan.

‘But after meeting Kim Pyeong-on, I added one more.’

Third, I discover hidden gems and make them absolutely my people, different from the past.

Of course, since they’re human, I can’t rule out the possibility of betrayal. But that’s something that will be resolved once I become stronger.

Absolute strength to the point where they can’t even think of it.

That’s enough.

“Anyway, I’ll contact him within a few days, so please tell him to rest well at home until then.”

Because after that, he won’t be able to rest even if he wants to.

As I finished speaking, after a moment of silence, words so shocking that I couldn’t believe they came from Seo Gyeoul flowed out.

— Kang Si-woo-ssi, this may be presumptuous to say, but… do you know that you’re a lunatic?

“…Pardon?”

— If I were Kim Pyeong-on-ssi, I would definitely think that about Kang Si-woo-ssi.

Lunatic. A lunatic…

Isn’t that praise?

Calamity, disaster, evil spirit, Satan—I heard much worse and harsher words in the past.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

— …Lunatic.

“I’m sorry, I’m a bit busy… I’ll hang up now.”

I hurriedly hung up at the scene flickering before my eyes and stood up from my seat in the waiting room.

Whirrr—

Then dozens of forklifts carrying various types of minerals approached me, gliding.

Actually, this place is.

[Blackstone Minerals]

It’s a global corporation that handles all minerals mined not only on Earth but also in Gates.

Naturally, I came here to buy ‘minerals.’

“Here are the minerals you ordered.”

Among them, one neatly dressed manager approached me and had me verify the goods.

“They’re definitely raw ore.”

“Of course. We followed your request.”

They weren’t refined once into bar form, but the raw ore itself. And that was what I wanted.

“Here’s the estimate.”

Iron 1,000 tons. Copper 100 tons. Silver 100 tons. Gold 100 tons. Mithril 50 tons. Orichalcum 30 tons. Adamantium 30 tons. Star Stone 10 tons. Total price ₩7,400,000,000,000

‘Actually, because of the Gates, Earth’s metal prices plummeted, so it’s only that much. Otherwise, it would have easily exceeded 10 trillion.’

The employee handed me the estimate while looking at me suspiciously.

He brought all that out after recognizing I was Kang Si-woo, but he must be doubtful whether I actually have the ability to pay.

‘Actually, I don’t know either. Whether I have money or not.’

I thought as I fiddled with the worn card in my pocket.

Then I took out the sentence that had been circling only in my mouth.

“Do you take card payments here?”

“…Pardon?”

“Don’t you take card payments?”

Actually, I came with an attitude of ‘good if it works, whatever if it doesn’t,’ so it doesn’t matter.

If this doesn’t work, I have another alternative.

“What kind of transaction with a card… Huh?”

The employee who was speaking widened his eyes after seeing my card.

A Black Card with a golden border, worn and frayed.

[Worn Credit Card] 

—Rank: Rare 

—Information: The card’s owner is an incredibly wealthy person. However, he is a miser and has obsessive personality disorder. Therefore, he has installed his own safety device on the card. Be careful when making payments! 

· Available uses (0/1) 

· ‘Payment limit amount’ is set. 

· Payment is possible anywhere in the world.

The employee’s response became even more polite after seeing this card.

“It works!”

“…Huh? It does?”

“Yes! It works!”

I don’t know why, but this works.

But it’s too early to be relieved. It could fail if it exceeds the ‘payment limit amount.’

But the end of gambling must be concluded with gambling.

‘The item description says incredibly wealthy. Then there should be at least 10 trillion.’

And thinking that it’s not my money anyway put me at ease.

“Card received.”

The employee who received the card politely with both hands attempted to process the payment on the card reader.

“…”

“…”

After a moment of silence.

Whirrr—

The card reader spat out a receipt.

‘This worked too?’

I was surprised but didn’t show it.

The employee politely handed me the card while asking.

“Since you’re such a big spender, we’ll provide the first delivery for free. Where should we deliver it to?”

“Ah, that’s fine.”

I said that and brought my ring to the minerals piled high before my eyes.

“…?!”

Swoosh—

Then, as if space was warping, the minerals were sucked into the ring.

“It was a good transaction. Take care then.”

I left without showing my satisfied feelings.

***

America, Japan, China.

The reason Korea has lower damage from Gates despite having lower average Player skill compared to these three countries.

It’s probably thanks to the research institute on this vast site stretching endlessly before my eyes.

And the treasure-like existence that must be sleeping inside there.

‘…I can finally see [that guy]!’

The reason I made the first proposal to Seo Gyeoul in the first place.

The reason I gave her the Relic, ‘Heart of Evil.’

All of it was just groundwork to tame [that guy].

‘Let’s go.’

A checkpoint filled with tight security.

I approached it without hesitation.