Chapter 27

Ch.27 The Regression Of Calamity-Level Monster Tamer

Clean interior design with a white background.

A refreshing sense of openness thanks to the high ceilings and glass walls.

‘Money really is nice.’

Inside the research building, the entrance to a spacious lab—that’s where I’m currently standing alone.

—This is a Gold Card indeed… Identity verification complete. If you go to the research building, ‘Teacher Kim’ will be there to greet you. From then on, you can follow that person’s guidance.

I recalled the security guard’s words as I slowly looked around.

Dozens of researchers in white coats were all staring intently at me.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The research lab was silent as if muted.

The scene looked bizarre, like something from a dream.

‘This is definitely the right place… but among all these people, there must be one or two people with the surname Kim, mister.’

While I was internally cursing the security guard, outwardly I wore a business smile.

After all, first impressions determine everything about a person, don’t they?

“Hello. I’m Kang Si—”

So I introduced myself in a clear voice.

Or, I tried to.

“…?!”

Thud thud thud thud—

But before I could even finish saying my name, dozens of researchers rushed toward me.

At first glance, they looked like a horde of zombies discovering the only human.

“Wh-what’s going on!?”

Nevertheless, the reason I didn’t fight back against them was…

“Are you really Kang Si-woo-ssi?”

“The wolves. The red and blue wolf Magic Beasts. Are they in the Nest right now?”

“Please, can’t we collect just a few strands of those children’s fur?”

“No, just let me observe them with my eyes once…”

“Those Magic Beasts, they’re Special Entities of Gray Wolves, right? But how can they possess attributes beyond the limits of their species…”

“I’ve researched ‘the growth characteristics and resulting developmental direction’ of Kang Si-woo-ssi’s Magic Beasts. If you look at this graph here…”

Because I didn’t feel any killing intent to harm me.

It was closer to madness.

A madness that craves knowledge.

‘These might be even trickier opponents for me…’

If they were enemies, I could just crush them, but I don’t know how to deal with these people.

So I was breaking out in a cold sweat and backing away when a voice came from behind.

“Everyone seems to have a lot of free time?”

A dry voice without highs or lows.

That made it sound even more chilling.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Then the mouths of the researchers who had been making noise just moments ago all shut simultaneously.

I turned around to look at the owner of the voice.

“Back in my day, we stayed up for days and nights researching because of projects…”

A middle-aged man delivering lines that seemed about to explode with old-timer energy.

He wore a white coat and thick horn-rimmed glasses.

I immediately recognized him as ‘Teacher Kim.’

Because his ID card hanging on his necklace had a business card photo along with the text ‘Senior Researcher, Kim Ji-seong.’

‘A higher-up than I expected came to greet me.’

Senior Researcher means the position right under the research director.

That must mean Baek Mi-ran is paying a lot of attention to me.

“There’s a task that needs to be finished by tomorrow morning, and I’m wondering who I should give it to…”

At Kim Ji-seong’s muttering, almost like an aside, the researchers scattered in an instant like scattering cockroaches.

‘Wow… with that much Agility, shouldn’t they change class to Thief instead of being researchers? I think they chose the wrong career path?’

The researchers’ movements were that swift.

Only after the area was cleared did Kim Ji-seong approach me.

“Sorry for being late. There was an important experiment, so I was a bit delayed. I’m Senior Researcher Kim Ji-seong.”

“I’m Kang Si-woo. It’s fine. I had an interesting experience, so it was good.”

“Ah… I apologize on behalf of everyone for what just happened. But they’re not bad people, so please understand generously.”

“Hey, I was grateful for the warm welcome, haha!”

I shook his hand lightly in greeting.

At least relieved that one person seemed normal.

Squeeze—

But suddenly his face changed to expressionless in an instant, and he gripped my hand tightly.

“Then can I also see Si-woo-ssi’s Magic Beasts right here and now?”

“…?”

“Hahaha! Just kidding. Just kidding.”

I let my guard down.

If he’s a ‘senior’ researcher, he’d be more crazy than those people earlier, not less.

‘Well, it is that time…’

Even though he was being so rude, somehow I couldn’t find their behavior hateful.

Probably because I went through such a period too.

‘I was even more extreme, not less.’

That’s why I am who I am now.

Thinking that, I leaned close to Kim Ji-seong’s ear and whispered softly.

“When there’s time, I’ll show you first, Teacher Kim.”

“You’ll definitely keep that pro—”

“A man’s word.”

“…Is as good as gold.”

At my firm confirmation, Kim Ji-seong made eye contact with me and nodded.

I felt we had grown much closer from this exchange.

“This way. The Director is waiting in the laboratory.”

And it wasn’t just me who felt that way, as Kim Ji-seong began politely guiding the way with both hands.

“…”

“…”

Step. Step.

The research institute’s depths were as deep as its vast site.

Even now, I don’t know how many doors we’ve passed through.

First was a password.

Next was a card key.

Third was fingerprints of all ten fingers.

Last, we opened an iron door firmly locked with iris recognition.

‘With this level of security, the laboratory should appear soon…’

That’s when it happened.

Screeeech—!!

A piercing high-pitched sound burst out from the end of the long corridor.

I recognized the owner of the noise just from the sound.

‘Blade Beak Ostrich…’

A Magic Beast roaring in a place like this means trouble erupted in one of two places.

The breeding room, or the laboratory…

‘And accidents usually happen when you’re doing reckless experiments.’

Tsk—

Without hesitation, I kicked off the ground toward the source of the sound.

I had a hunch about what was happening.

“…Kang Si-woo-ssi! If you go now, it’s danger—”

“Run quickly! Or we’ll be too late!”

All ostrich species Magic Beasts have low intelligence. Extremely low.

So they’re perfect for ‘contamination.’

‘They’re the Magic Beasts that respond best to the Heart of Evil or Artifacts made using it…’

Which means none of the emergency measures they prepared will work.

Because as much as they’re easily contaminated, they’ll become stronger than their original rank.

“Freki!”

At my call, the wolf who flowed out like smoke instantly took form.

Already sensing the situation and running after me.

It didn’t stop there and grabbed me with its mouth, tossing me onto its back with a whoosh.

“I’m going ahead!”

“Kang Si-woo-ssi! Then I’ll also go with…”

I gripped Freki’s red mane and lowered my posture.

Kim Ji-seong’s shout instantly grew distant.

Does this count as keeping my promise?

The promise to show my children first.

“Geri.”

Geri, who appeared in an instant, shot forward ahead of me and Freki. Even without orders, Geri knew what it needed to do.

Crash—!

Geri rammed its body into the steel door and sent it flying.

At the place we arrived, a dozen researchers were facing off against a Blade Beak Ostrich whose eyes had completely rolled back.

“Krrrr…k!!”

“Ugh… Everyone run away quickly!”

A white-haired woman who was holding the crazed ostrich with ice magic shouted while breaking out in a cold sweat.

Then the researchers hurriedly escaped through the emergency exit.

‘Director Baek Mi-ran.’

Seo Gyeoul’s mother and the very essence of the Incomprehensible Magic Beast Research Institute.

A person who absolutely must not die.

“Kids.”

“Woof!”

“Woof woof!”

As I lightly jumped down to the ground, the two guys bared their fangs and rushed at the Blade Beak Ostrich.

Freki bit its neck, and Geri bit its thigh.

Crunch—!!

The three rolled around, crushing the wide laboratory floor.

At the same time, flames leaked from Freki’s mouth, and white frost leaked from Geri’s mouth.

“Screeeech!!”

The Blade Beak Ostrich let out a pain-filled groan and struggled.

But its death throes ended there.

Crack—

Its neck snapped in half and its breath ceased.

[Geri and Freki’s Level increases by 1.]

[User’s experience increases slightly.]

The wolf brothers were Magic Beasts who had conquered all waves of the White Gate.

Plus, considering they become at least three times stronger when cooperating, even a rampaging Magic Beast couldn’t be a match.

Meanwhile, I supported the staggering Baek Mi-ran and helped her up.

“Are you alright?”

“Whew… Are you Kang Si-woo?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it. I was going to show you the successful result, but I only showed you something embarrassing.”

She recognized me immediately.

Well, Geri and Freki are here, and it was about time for me to arrive.

“Huff, huff… Si-woo-ssi. It’s danger… ous… Huh?”

And Kim Ji-seong arrived late, panting.

Though the situation was already over.

Baek Mi-ran looked at Kim Ji-seong with a dumbfounded laugh and jerked her chin toward the exit.

“Hey, Ji-seong, let’s go to my room. And Si-woo? Can I speak casually?”

“Of course.”

“Then while we’re dropping formalities, let me impose on you more. Since you’re an advisor, we’re family now, right? Let me borrow your shoulder to my room.”

“Let’s go.”

Unlike Seo Gyeoul, Baek Mi-ran seemed to have a straightforward personality.

***

Clack—

A teacup with a subtle green tea fragrance was placed at my seat.

“Phew, thanks. I lived thanks to you.”

“I know you could have handled it yourself.”

“Then I would have had to gamble.”

“Was it because of the experimental Artifact?”

“You catch on fast.”

The ‘Heart of Evil’ I gave her.

Through it, she must have obtained a clue for her research.

But since it’s ultimately based on theory, she would have wanted to prove it through experimentation.

“The ‘Heart of Evil’ you sent through Gyeoul… I made an Artifact based on that Relic’s mechanism. But that damn thing ate up seventy percent of my Magic Power.”

That’s natural.

The Heart of Evil is a Relic that charges not with mana, but with human blood.

[Heart of Evil] 

—Rank: None 

—Information: A Relic created by defying providence through heretical methods. It craves the blood of those with ‘faith.’ 

—Authority: ‘Contaminates’ Gates and Magic Beasts. —Charge: 0/100

To copy that Authority even approximately, a large amount of mana is indispensable.

Moreover.

“It seems using Magic Stones or borrowing another Player’s help isn’t possible.”

“Right. It’s still a prototype, so it only responds to my Magic Power.”

That was why Baek Mi-ran, a skilled expert, struggled against the Blade Beak Ostrich.

‘I can give some advice on that part.’

Of course, it didn’t come from my head, but knowledge that future Baek Mi-ran discovered.

“Anyway, that’s something I need to solve… The reason I called you is because I’m curious about a few things.”

“You mean how I knew your research topic, and how much I know about the Heart of Evil… things like that?”

“…Yeah, it’s nice and convenient because you catch on so fast.”

Actually, they’re nothing special.

She’d probably feel deflated if she heard them.

Because they’re things you can know if you just pay a little attention.

It’s just that people in the current world are looking away from that direction.

“It’s not difficult to tell you. But before that, Director-nim, it’s definitely confirmed that I’m an advisor, right? You said so when I was supporting you earlier.”

“…Uh, yeah that’s right?”

“Then I heard there’s a ‘special gift’ you receive when you become an Animal Caretaker Advisor at the Magic Beast Research Institute.”

“…”

“I’ll tell you after receiving that first.”

This is what they call a newcomer’s audacity.

***

This is the hatching room.

The most heavily secured place among the research institute’s depths, a place where hundreds of eggs are carefully stored in their respective incubation machines.

“If you’ve heard about the ‘special gift,’ you must also know about the restrictions, right?”

Tall Baek Mi-ran put her arm around my shoulder and spoke while strolling.

“Of course. One Magic Beast egg per person.”

“And?”

“If you fail to hatch it within one month, you must return it.”

“Good, good. You know exactly the information posted in the recruitment announcement.”

The Magic Beast eggs here are all different species.

That means the hatching methods are all different for each egg, which means.

‘It’s that much of a pain in the ass…’

First, you need to be knowledgeable about Magic Beasts.

First is the eye to distinguish Magic Beasts just by looking at the eggs.

Second is the knowledge and ability to hatch them.

“Is there anything that draws you?”

“I wonder.”

“Hmm, this is really rare, but… I owe you, so as repayment, I’ll tell you one precious secret.”

“I’ll listen carefully.”

I was actually getting a bit confused because what I was looking for was an extremely rare one.

“Now, take a good look at the incubation machines. What about the colors?”

“They’re divided by rainbow color order.”

“Right? Like Gates, I distinguished the incubation machines by color according to ‘hatching difficulty.’“

Hearing that, I could see the incubation machines arranged in neat rows and columns, painted sequentially in various colors.

Closest to the entrance is purple.

Furthest is red.

“Then choosing one from those purple incubation machines would be the wisest choice, right?”

“Thank you for the valuable information.”

With that, the answer is decided.

I bowed in greeting and moved my steps toward the incubation machines.

First, I lightly passed the purple machines.

“Hey, you…!?”

Baek Mi-ran called me, but I didn’t stop walking.

Step step.

Indigo. Blue. Green. Yellow…

And I passed even orange.

Finally, where I stood was the only red incubation machine.

“…You. Are you really confident you won’t regret it?”

Baek Mi-ran, who had approached beside me, asked in a serious voice different from before.

‘Regret? Doing that once before dying was enough.’

There are no more regrets.

Moreover, I’m too happy right now.

“I have a feeling. This one is mine.”

Saying that, I picked up the egg shining yellow like Venus inside the machine without hesitation.

‘…I finally found it!’

Kakan.

A Kaiju I met as an enemy in the past and had no choice but to kill.

Aside from when I was betrayed by my companions, the only Magic Beast species that showed me the threshold of death.

I obtained ‘that guy.’