Chapter 86

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Lee Hyun-wook, Park Jun-mo, and Yeo Sang-min arrived at Shin Gil.

“Uh... It seems like something has been added in just a few days?”

Park Jun-mo said this while looking around the research facility. As he said, it seemed that various facilities such as barbed wire, CCTV, and magical alarms had been installed where there were only buildings a few days ago.

This was the result of Lee Hyun-wook's request to Park Cheol-soo, who then entrusted the construction to a 'shelter consulting' company.

“Still, since this is one of the few important facilities of our guild, we need to pay attention to security, right?”

“Ah! Yes, that's true. A lot of rare items are being made here.”

“Over there in the main building, a magical defense barrier has been installed, so it can also serve as a personal 'shelter' in an emergency.”

“Wow! Is it that good? Wow...”

A shelter, one was installed here. Of course, it wasn't on the level of a large-scale shelter operated by the government, but it could withstand attacks from ordinary monsters for a few days.

‘From now on, this place, Kang Jung-doo's research institute, will be the core of the development of magical engineering along with Laputa.’

That's why he planned to invest generously to raise the security level to the highest possible.

“...But where are we, exactly?”

This question was asked by Yeo Sang-min.

Since he entered Red Hole Village when he was very young, it was his first time leaving the black market or the slums of Incheon and coming to Seoul. Therefore, he had a look of unfamiliarity and curiosity.

“Ah, now that you're here, you should get a weapon.”

“...What? Me? My weapon?”

“Yes, since you're a player, you need to know how to protect yourself.”

Of course, Yeo Sang-min was a non-combat type, so he would rarely have to fight.

But you never know when a crisis might arise.

“Do you know how to use any weapons?”

“Uh... I've fired a pistol before and hit it quite well.”

“No, I mean, do you have a proper weapon, not the one you used during your thug days?”

“Huh? Thug days? I didn't do any thieving! But I did protect what I had to.”

“Is that so? Your friends often did, but you didn't join them, I see.”

“...”

A moment later, the three met Kang Jung-doo and Kang Hee-sul in the warehouse.

However, the warehouse, which was spacious enough for Friedwen to enter, had been transformed into a shooting range.

Sandbags were piled up here and there, and a steel target with holes was set up far away.

“Here, this is the item. Take a look.”

Kang Jung-doo placed a metal case on the table.

Behind him, Kang Hee-sul followed, out of breath.

“Mr. Client, this is really amazing! It's like firing a cannon!”

“...You, it's dangerous, so don't fool around here!”

“Ah! Grandpa! This time, I also contributed! Let me say at least one word!”

“...”

“Ah, really... And I named this shotgun, you know!”

With Kang Hee-sul's fuss as background noise, Kang Jung-doo opened the case.

“I'm not good at decorating, so it's a bit rough, but the performance is good.”

As he said, it was a ‘pump action’ shotgun that didn't look particularly special.

‘Players who are treated as heroes often pay attention to their style, but I don't.’

Lee Hyun-wook only valued performance.

– Name: Black Rhino (Proficient)

– Effects

1) Subspace Magazine: Can load 30 ‘shells’ into a subspace magazine.

2) Annihilation Spray: Consumes all shells in the subspace magazine and fires them simultaneously.

‘To think that an item of this level has already been created...’

The Proficient level is the third level of manufactured items, comparable to the ‘Hero’ level, but since manufactured items are generally not given ‘skills,’ they are usually rated much lower.

However, thanks to Hephaestus' hammer, this item has two skills attached.

‘In fact, it's practically at the Hero level... or even better.’

Lee Hyun-wook carefully examined the ‘Black Rhino’ named by Kang Hee-sul.

While doing so, Kang Jung-doo began to explain its functions.

“What was it... the part of that bronze giant...”

“Ah— That! Ah, I'm so frustrated!”

“Yeah, you, I was just about to remember! Yes, it emitted an incredible amount of energy. So, we used its power as a propellant to fire the bullets, and the power is, yes, terrifying. And if there are no bullets, it can be used like a single-shot flamethrower.”

So, instead of a propellant, it uses the power of a ‘flame magic’ condensed and discharged to launch the projectile.

‘And with a subspace magazine...’

A subspace magazine attached to a firearm type item is one of the best options.

‘In the future, the French hero Jean de Thurrell, who would be called the best mage marksman, used a subspace magazine and a rapid-fire skill on a large-caliber sniper rifle, firing it like a machine gun...’

He had seen a scene where Jean de Thurrell, with two large-caliber sniper rifles on his sides, walked steadily, spraying bullets like Rambo, reducing two trolls to mush, even overriding their unique regeneration speed.

“Can I try firing this once?”

In response to Lee Hyun-wook's question, Kang Jung-doo pointed to a corner of the warehouse where a wall was horribly punctured.

“That's what happened even though we set up a target with dozens of steel plates. And...”

Kang Jung-doo vaguely pointed to someone.

He was one of the younger researchers, a man in his 40s. For some reason, he had a cast on his right shoulder, and from the context, it seemed his shoulder was dislocated by the recoil during a test firing.

‘Well, with that insane crystal embedded as a propellant, it's no wonder he couldn't handle it...’

But Lee Hyun-wook could handle it.

“I'll be fine.”

Soon, the workshop staff set up a target and stacked sandbags behind it to prepare for the shot.

Lee Hyun-wook told everyone to step back and attached a variable stock.

Click—

When he pulled the pump of the barrel cover, the sound of the bolt swallowing a shell echoed heavily.

And the moment he pulled the trigger,

Rumble—

A red magic circle appeared on the barrel.

It was manifesting the highest-level fire medium, the fire magic.

Whoosh—!

In that instant, an immense heat rose from the barrel,

Bang—!

Followed by a deafening explosion—Lee Hyun-wook was pushed back by the impact.

“Crazy...”

Really, he couldn't help but swear.

At the target about fifty meters away,

A 3cm thick steel plate was completely shredded and flew, embedding itself in the far wall of the warehouse.

“How about it! Isn't it amazing!”

Lee Hyun-wook nodded at Kang Hee-sul's exclamation.

It was indeed a destructive weapon, but the test wasn't over yet.

“Phew...”

Lee Hyun-wook was about to use the second skill.

Before that, he added weight to his reinforced body to prepare for the impact.

– The skill ‘Annihilation Spray’ of ‘Black Rhino’ is ready to use!

Lee Hyun-wook infused mana into the barrel.

This time, five red magic circles appeared.

Bang—Bang—Bang—Bang—Bang—!

The continuous explosions and impacts made Lee Hyun-wook grip the gun with both hands.

The remaining 14 shells in the subspace magazine were fired simultaneously.

Each shell contained 9 pellets, a total of 126 pellets tearing through the air,

Pew—Pew—Pew—Pew—Pew—!

Literally shredding the vast area in front.

Whoosh—

A thick cloud of dust rose from the aftermath of the shot.

“Wow, crazy...”

Behind him, Yeo Sang-min muttered.

“Do I have to use such a weapon? It's too scary...”

Lee Hyun-wook carefully put it down. Without his reinforced body, he couldn't use it.

‘With this level of firepower, a troll could be taken down with one shot at close range.’

While Lee Hyun-wook's attack style focuses on ‘firepower,’ it relies on ‘quantity.’

In other words, it lacks the ‘sure and powerful one-shot’ aspect.

At most, he used ‘Shockwave’ after an attack with Mogulay.

‘Actually, I own a legendary item...’

He doesn't carry it around for a reason.

‘That spear is a bit too much for me to use now.’

Bolg was a weapon famous for taking down a ‘Twin Ogre Champion’ in one shot.

However, it had a significant ‘overhandicap,’ just like Hugin.

That's why it was a kind of white elephant that the Zuminnae guild didn't use easily.

‘Each thrust consumes life force, which could lead to exhaustion or death in the current state.’

Lee Hyun-wook knew this, so he didn't bother to look for the Zuminnae guild.

‘When I can use it, I'll use this shotgun until then.’

But the gift prepared this time wasn't just the ‘Black Rhino.’

“Ah, and my granddaughter improved the air drop device. Would you like to see it?”

“Ah, right! It's really improved! So, I gave it a new name!”

Until now, this item was only called an ‘air drop device.’

A moment later, Kang Hee-sul brought a cart.

“This is the AD-1!”

It was a new version of the air drop device, but its appearance didn't seem to have changed much.

“AD-1, does that mean the year 1 AD?”

“No! It means ‘Airdropper Mark 1’!”

“...What, you just said air drop device in English?”

“Still, doesn't this sound cooler?”

He didn't really think so, but he decided to respect the creator's opinion.

Anyway, after Kang Hee-sul's upgrade, it became lighter and had a better center of gravity.

“...I adjusted the position of the magic nozzles to improve the center of gravity. I also enhanced the accuracy and velocity by adjusting the nozzles... and, uh, added two ‘Fly Eyes’ to the top... and...”

Kang Hee-sul excitedly described his work.

“Good, it's definitely better. Can I ask you to keep upgrading it?”

“Yes! Anytime!”

Kang Hee-sul clenched his fists with enthusiasm after receiving the praise.

‘He's doing well now, but soon, dwarves will appear to greatly enhance his abilities.’

Lee Hyun-wook loaded 12 of these ‘AD-1s’ into Friedwen's cargo hold and made them into a ‘shield.’

This way, he could carry countless items in a small shield.

And he ‘engraved’ it on his right wrist.

In other words, he used multiple subspaces to equip an enormous number of weapons on his body.

Now, to exaggerate a bit, he was becoming a walking aircraft carrier.

***

The next evening, Lee Hyun-wook was sitting in an office with Woo Sung-moon.

And finally, he revealed to Woo Sung-moon that he was the ‘administrator of Laputa.’

“...”

However, despite Lee Hyun-wook's shocking declaration, Woo Sung-moon didn't seem particularly surprised.

“Indeed... Honestly, I had my suspicions.”

He just wore a resigned smile, and on the other hand, a somewhat disappointed look.

“But why did you hide it