When I Returned to Farming, National-level Big Juniors Flock - Chapter 66



Only Krnovel

66. Spirit of Fire

The world beyond the gate was full of things hostile to humans.

Monsters, harsh environments, and terrible turbidity.

I wish something like a magic stone could be the driving force behind my dreams, but unfortunately, no such power source has been found.

When the Gate was first discovered, humanity’s expectations were shattered.

The emergence of the Gate brought about numerous negative impacts on humanity, including threats to survival and air pollution.

However, it wasn’t all negative.

Within the gate, there was a very slim chance that ‘relics’ would be discovered.

Otherworldly objects that defy Earth’s laws of physics.

The ‘magic bullets’ mainly used by the military were also made by mining and refining white stone found beyond the gate and then infusing it with magical power.

Normally, it would be impossible to artificially imbue magic power into any object, as it would quickly evaporate, but it was possible to artificially imbue magic power into that substance.

Moreover, since it was a relic that was discovered frequently and was found in large quantities at one time, it was widely used.

However, it is still prohibitively expensive for civilians or third-rate criminals to handle.

However, there were only a few artifacts that were used so widely.

The Baekyeongseok, which is often found in its entirety as a building within a gate, is a very special case.

The relics each took the form of a single object and were usually traded for enormous values.

The higher the grade of an artifact, the more its value skyrocketed.

Especially in the case of high-grade artifacts, each country tried to secure them thoroughly.

In the past, this was the reason why bloody fights between hunters continued even as waves of giant monsters poured out.

Just as Hunters have become the strongest asymmetrical force ever seen, Artifacts have also become significant assets that can influence the entire nation.

“… found it.”

Baek Ji-soo took the ring off Amir’s finger.

A ring set with a gem with a subtle green glow.

It was a ring that looked like an old but expensive vintage piece, but it was not, it was an artifact made of otherworldly material.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before… You guys, you have something like this too?”

She looked at the ring this way and that.

A relic completely unknown to the outside world.

It is not just a secret from the world, but it is something that has been kept so thoroughly hidden that even she, the head of the national intelligence agency, has never received a report on it.

“As expected, you’ve dealt with it with the ability to hide your presence. In several layers, I mean.”

“If the deadline is like this, you must have had a hard time waking up.”

Hunters could instinctively detect otherworldly substances.

In particular, there was a strong sense of incongruity when artifacts that ignored the laws of physics were roaming the Earth’s environment.

If it was a national treasure-level relic, even the newly awakened ones with completely untrained senses would be able to tell that something was strange as soon as they saw it.

To prevent such a sense of alienation, hunters imbue relics with powerful abilities to avoid detection.

Even while Oh Hyun-seong was personally searching the body, he didn’t notice it.

It must have taken a tremendous amount of time and effort, with high-level manpower at the national level being mobilized.

This is treatment that would not be received unless it is a national treasure.

“Just looking at it like this, I can’t even tell what it is.”

“I guess I’ll have to try starting it myself. Do you want to try, senior?”

“okay.”

Oh Hyun-seong received the ring.

Then he started it by pouring in his magic power.

Then the relic resonated with his magic and gave off a soft glow.

“… Nothing happens. Is the ignition method different?”

“No, it works fine.”

Tsk tsk tsk!

It was completely invisible to Baek Ji-soo, who was standing next to him, but it began to become visible to Oh Hyeon-seong.

A green light is emitting from the sword that Baek Ji-soo is holding.

“… I see light from your sword.”

“My sword?”

Basically, Hunter equipment has an abnormally high strength.

It was natural that he had to endure the superhuman strength of a hunter and split the flesh and bones of a monster.

The reason that was possible was because it was made by mixing in otherworldly substances.

That’s why hunter equipment is expensive, and the higher the equipment, the more exponentially expensive it becomes because the material content of the relic increases.

However, in the case of high-ranking hunters, there were cases where the weapons they held were artifacts.

The long black sword that Baek Ji-soo is holding is also not a weapon made by adding material, but a relic that had the shape of a sword from the beginning.

“If I put on the ring and my sword glows… is it the ability to detect other artifacts?”

“No, it’s not at the detection level.”

Oh Hyun-seong shook his head.

The green light flowing from the sword did not stop at the sword.

A long trail extending to both sides.

“Move to the side for a moment.”

“… like this?”

“As expected, traces are left along the path you move. To be exact, along the path your sword moves.”

The green light continued as Baek Ji-soo took a step to the side.

Not only that, it was connected to the house she had just left, and even to the road she had driven up here.

“That means…”

“Yeah, tracking.”

The methods of tracking were extremely diverse.

Since there are various awakeners and abilities, each can be tracked in their own way.

But they had one thing in common: they were all chasing traces of life in some way.

But this was completely different from that.

“A relic that’s chasing a relic… Now I know why they hid it so thoroughly.”

There are many ways to erase traces of humans, but there is no way to erase traces of things.

It has never been studied because there has been no need for it.

As it was a relic that had never been known before, there was no way to deal with it.

If you don’t know, you will be subjected to it.

“I wondered how you chased me here, but it was because of this artifact.”

“Yes, you must have followed the traces of the weapon that Yun Seol-ha used.”

Both swords used by Yun Seol-ha were first-class artifacts.

The sword spirits that Yun Seol-ha left behind at the scene would have been everywhere, and if the path was this clear, it would have been very easy to find my way here.

“My eyes are already a little tired, but once I get used to it, I think I’ll be able to use it in endless ways.”

Oh Hyun-seong said, touching his eyes.

My eyes were tired as the countless marks left by Baek Ji-soo’s sword overlapped.

But it wasn’t a big problem because I quickly got used to it after using it for a few days.

“Then what do we do with this?”

“What should I do, senior, take it.”

“Is that okay?”

“My senior got it, so should I covet it?”

She said with a shrug.

“If it were a national treasure, they’d probably be clamoring for its return, even if it meant losing their pride and all, but it’s easier for us if we just say it’s gone. It’s better for my senior to keep it.”

Even if they are the National Security Agency, it is difficult to completely hide something of this size.

In any case, the fact that it was taken from another country and held by Korea was significant enough, and if Oh Hyeon-seong had it, the relic would not be leaked to a useless place, so it was the best choice for her.

“Bringing something like this, he wasn’t completely useless. From our perspective, that is.”

Baek Ji-soo looked at Amir and clicked her tongue.

It is a national treasure that was kept in strict secrecy and not leaked to the outside world, so it is absurd that it was lost like this.

From the French perspective, it will be a total bummer.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“What are you going to do already? You came all this way, so you should eat before you go.”

“Okay. I have to go up and deal with this guy too, and I’ll stop by a rest stop on the way and fill my stomach.”

Baek Ji-soo turned her back coolly.

But Oh Hyun-seong noticed that something was strange.

That guy ate rest stop food?

“Really? That’s too bad. Today’s lunch is kalguksu… The bright red, spicy broth and chewy noodles, wow, my mouth is watering.”

A fuss with a clumsy acting tone.

But Baek Ji-soo’s steps suddenly stopped.

All I could see was her motionless back, but I could clearly see the expression on her face.

Gulp.

Just looking at her appearance, she seemed like she only liked fancy food, slicing steak with wine, but if you look at the menus she actually preferred, it was the complete opposite.

I’m especially weak towards foods that bring back memories of when I used to eat them often in my hometown.

Baek Ji-soo, who had been hesitating, eventually turned around and quickly strode ahead of Oh Hyeon-seong into the house.

“I thought about it carefully.”

“…”

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop.”

Oh Hyun-seong couldn’t hold back his laughter for a while at the sight of his junior, who was rarely seen on a regular basis.

****

That evening, Baek Ji-soo ate several bowls of kalguksu.

“Hoo…”

Oh Hyun-seong closed his eyes while wearing the ring.

As the sky darkened, traces of green light became more vivid and tangled together in a mess.

His eyes were spinning, but he blocked out some of his senses and took in only the information he needed.

Tsk tsk.

“Phew, good. I’m finally getting used to it.”

Oh Hyun-seong, who had become accustomed to controlling the ring, was able to select the information that poured in.

Now it was usable enough.

The reason he was already practicing controlling the ring like this was because he had thought of a way to use it.

Chasing people away was just an added effect, the true value of this relic was something else.

‘But there’s something I have to do before that.’

In some ways, it is the most important thing for Oh Hyun-seong.

Meanwhile, as he ate the best crops made from original seeds, a powerful neutralizing effect continued to occur within his body.

Thanks to this, I felt like the remaining turbidity had decreased, and his body condition had also become sufficiently ripe.

‘Then, have your last meal reverently.’

Turup!

Oh Hyun-seong had a hearty dinner.

Then he sat quietly on the bench in the yard, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

‘It’s time enough.’

Oh Hyun-seong, feeling confident, felt the cores of his danjeon.

The rings of magical power he had accumulated in the past.

Excluding the recently created sixth ring, only two of the five rings built in the past are active.

But right now, at this moment.

He opened the third ring of magic power that had been sealed.

Woohoo!

A vast amount of magical power flowed through his body.

One clear and pure ring.

And from the three giant rings, a vast amount of magical power, impossible for a human, surges around his body.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Within moments, a powerful heat burst out that seemed to engulf everything, and a superior being appeared.

****

“Ugh… Whew!”

Boom!

An employee of the management office fell over with a loud noise.

It’s because of the huge signal that suddenly appeared on the screen.

“what’s the matter?”

“S… S-rank wavelength! S-rank wavelength detected!”

“What? Where!”

The man sitting behind me came running in a hurry.

But when he looked at the screen, he sighed deeply and said.

“Hey, it’s Changyeong-ri. You can just ignore the S-rank waves exploding here.”

“…Huh? Just let it go? This?”

The staff looked in horror at the waves rippling across the screen.

A huge wave that threatens to engulf almost an entire area.

It was the first time he had seen such a huge wave since he had recently transferred departments.

But the senior standing next to him just looked at him indifferently.

“Hey, it seems like the wavelength is bigger this time?”

“Uh… Instead of laughing, shouldn’t we call all the high-ranking hunters right now?”

“Okay, this is the third time already. Anyway, it’s the deputy director’s order, so don’t complain and don’t write it down either.”

“The… the vice director himself said it?”

The staff’s mouths dropped open.

He looked at the back of the man who had tapped his shoulder and left, then shook his head in bewilderment.

‘S-rank waves of this magnitude explode, but it just passes quietly every time…? What kind of town is this?’

His shoulders trembled in fear at things he could not possibly understand.

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