Chapter 39
“Though it may seem crude, one must accept it—as long as we live in this society, we must acknowledge the fact that a raid starts and ends with money.”
The class was titled “Principles of Raids.”
The elderly professor, boasting an impressive mustache, displayed an image on the screen.
“This is a depiction of an ancient raid. As you can see, this is the assault team. Swords, spears, wizards clad in robes with staves—the essence of a raid team has hardly changed. However, observe here.”
The corner of the illustration zoomed in.
Unlike the lively assault team, there were people crouched in the shadows, gathering something.
“Does any student know who these people are?”
“Porters.”
“Correct. They are porters. In the ancient era, before the advent of ‘dimensional pocket magic,’ porters were indispensable for raids, because earning money was essential.”
Another image appeared, showing porters transporting monster corpses.
“Porters are collecting monster corpses and magic stones. In today’s terms, this would be the ‘looting’ process. But before we delve deeper, a brief explanation is necessary.”
The professor picked up a marker and wrote elegantly in calligraphy, “Monster Looting.”
“For a standard Blue Gate, the academic consensus is that about 30% of the monster’s corpse remains intact. In other words, 70% of it vanishes post-hunt, leaving only magic stones. We don’t know why—a mystery riddled with speculation.”
“Those who have experienced hunting know that a monster’s corpse is valuable. Yet only 30% of it remains? For assault teams, it’s like watching potential profits vanish before their eyes. Though numerous studies aim to increase this preservation rate, a solution has yet to be found.”
“However, there’s one exception—the Red Gate. Monsters that ‘spill back’ into reality from a Red Gate leave their entire corpses behind, providing a 100% preservation rate. At one point, exploiting this was a popular, albeit reckless, trend. Hard to believe, isn’t it? That’s all for our discussion on ‘monster looting.’ Now, back to the main topic.”
The professor set down the marker and returned to the illustration.
In the image, the porter struggled under the weight of supplies, following the assault team.
“As I mentioned, a raid starts and ends with money. The role of porters in a raid is to supply provisions. This volume is substantial and crucial, as the team’s earnings are directly proportional to how long they can sustain hunting within the Gate.”
The illustration shifted to depict setting up a camp, preparing food, and keeping night watch.
“Porters performed numerous tasks.”
Finally, an image of porters dismantling a monster corpse.
“Supplying provisions, building fortifications, cooking, standing guard, and disassembling monsters—modern logistics were foreshadowed in these porters. The purpose was clear.”
Money.
“Ensuring the assault team could focus solely on hunting generated unparalleled profits.”
Optimum Agency Headquarters.
I was with my mother, stepping into the basement level two, the ‘Automated Doll’ development unit.
“Wow…”
Beyond the glass, mechanical arms busily assembled parts, each piece gradually forming a recognizable shape.
A War Machine.
It was a familiar sight from Jin Yuri’s catalog.
“That’s a War Machine, right, Mom? Are we making War Machines here too?”
“Of course. This is Optimum, one of the world’s top five agencies! If we don’t make it, who will?”
“But, Mom, I came here for supply equipment…”
“Haha! Oh, you’re adorable. It’s right here in front of you—the supply equipment.”
“These machines are supply equipment? Not combat gear?”
“Really, kid? Did you think supply equipment meant only food rations and a tent?”
“Uh… yes… isn’t that enough? With a dimensional pocket and a month’s supply of food…”
“My goodness, that’s so old-fashioned. Who supplies like that these days? Son, this is the 21st century, not the 18th.”
My mother enthusiastically described the history of supply logistics, from ancient porters to the revolution of dimensional magic, up to today’s system, which covers everything from nutrition to rest, ensuring peak condition.
To sum up…
“So, in the end, it’s all about money?”
“Well, I hate to admit it, but yes. That’s the bottom line—money is paramount.”
I recalled yesterday’s lecture on the “Principles of Raids.” When I mentioned this to my mother, she reacted.
“Oh? Professor Roh Hae-choon?”
“You know him?”
“Of course. He was already teaching ‘Principles of Raids’ back when I was there. Still going strong, I see.”
“Aside from the fact his lectures are a bit dull.”
“He hasn’t changed then. But listen well—he’s surprisingly in tune with trends, even if his lectures are dry. You’ll find his insights useful.”
“That ‘trend’ being these machines?”
“Exactly. You’ve got my knack for catching the main point. These machines are the trend, and soon they’ll be indispensable. When you’re on the field, you’ll see them everywhere.”
I’d certainly heard about them a lot lately.
These machines, which are taking over a significant portion of labor tasks, from menial to intricate, have raised issues about human rights and job security, prompting civic groups to demand regulation.
In terms of raids, though, the popularity of these machines is likely to continue.
The Empire had experienced similar trends with “familiars.”
Commonly seen golems, or the upgraded versions like Gigants and Titans, even chimeras crafted from corpses—such summoned entities were all referred to as familiars in the Empire.
Even my Skeleton, strictly speaking, could be considered a familiar.
Familiars were initially used to bridge the delay before a mage could complete a spell. But as magic advanced, their roles expanded.
In essence, familiars offer consistent performance across varied environments, less susceptible to human error.
Consistent performance in diverse environments? Remind you of anything?
Yes—inside a Gate.
Gates are realms of the unknown. They could be towering mountains, barren deserts, or pitch-black darkness.
To deliver reliable performance in such conditions?
An incredible asset.
No wonder they’re so favored.
As long as Gates remain, the evolution of familiars and machines will persist, onward and ever forward.
“Is this okay… Here, look. I selected a few popular models. What do you think?”
“Um… whichever?”
“Thought so. Let’s go through them one by one.”
The first model was an enormous steel box, big enough to engulf a person, mounted on wheels.
“This is an American model. It handles basics like establishing a base and cooking, and it’s proficient at retrieving bodies. Despite its bulky appearance, its movement speed is decent. A unique feature of this equipment is its independent communication network, allowing much broader radio use.”
The second model was an odd one—like a snowman, with two stacked white spheres.
“It looks like a snowman, doesn’t it? Hence the name ‘Snowman.’ It covers all basic functions. Its standout feature is ‘levitation magic,’ which makes it the fastest among support machines. Great for fast-paced missions.”
The last model was distinctly different.
Whereas the previous two were abstract shapes—a box, a circle—this one was unmistakably humanoid.
It looked like a mannequin.
“Hmm, this one…”
Strangely, as she explained, my mother glanced at me.
“This one also covers basic functions but isn’t as specialized for support as the others. It’s actually closer to a ‘War Machine.’”
“Wouldn’t being capable of both support and combat be beneficial?”
“Well, it has its drawbacks.”
While it has above-average close-combat abilities, it’s inefficient in terms of mana consumption.
It resembles a human in movement but lacks autonomous actions.
As I listened, I noticed something odd—she seemed unusually focused on listing its flaws.
And soon, the reason was clear.
“Ah… I’ll be honest, son. This is an Optimum in-house model. The performance is excellent, but… it’s still in the testing phase…”
“Approved.”
“Ki-hyuk?”
“Approved!”
What else matters? It’s “Made by Mom.”
With a satisfied expression, I left the room.
Mary studied the white mannequin closely, tilting her head towards me.
“…Is this really a new model from Optimum?”
“Yes. So, what do you think?”
“Well, I’m not sure. The design isn’t bad, but…”
“Exactly! See? The other ones looked odd, like basic shapes. It was like looking at kindergarten art projects—squares, triangles, circles. But this? A human form! How refined!”
“Support machines aren’t really about appearance, though. Functionality is what matters. Let’s see how it moves. How do I control it?”
“Just wear the control device like a headband and channel your mana.”
As I held Mary’s hand to explain, I noticed that Jin-woo and Jin Yuri were already gleefully playing with their machines behind us. They had skipped past the instructions and dived straight into action.
“This feels like an extension of my own body.”
“This is amazing! Watch this kick! Hi-yah! Hi-yah!”
Each of them was focused, Jin-woo displaying expert control as his mannequin threw punches like a pro boxer, while Jin Yuri’s machine, still clumsy, struggled to perform each action smoothly.
“Got it?”
“Roughly. I’ll give it a try.”
Mary furrowed her brows in concentration. Slowly, the white mannequin before her began to move.
It walked forward, backward, pivoted, even spun around a few times, effortlessly mimicking the latest popular dance moves.
Surprisingly, its movements were smooth and fluid.
“Not bad at all.”
“You’re handling it better than I expected. Most people struggle with their first try. Look over there.”
I pointed to the corner where Jin Yuri’s machine was attempting a high kick on a sandbag but promptly lost its balance, sprawling to the floor.
“Looks like you might have a knack for summoning, Mary.”
“R-really? Well, I am pretty good at anything I try.”
With a big grin, Mary continued to test the machine’s limits, thoroughly absorbed in the experience. The others joined her, playing with their machines like children with new toys, until our lunch delivery finally pulled them away.
Lunchtime.
Incidentally, mealtime with this group was always lively.
“So, let me get this straight—Optimum provides supplies in exchange for you using this machine?”
“Yep. Plus, we have to put a logo right here on the chest.”
“Ah, product placement. Could I have some water? This is spicy!”
Mary, her mouth on fire from the spicy tteokbokki, reached for water, and Jun-woo passed her a glass, seamlessly continuing the conversation.
“It’s pretty common. They say famous assault teams are like walking advertisements. But Ki-hyuk, is it okay to accept help from your mom like this? Isn’t the final exam meant to test every aspect of a raid?”
“No…”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
Jin Yuri cut in before I could finish, casually wiping a spot on her sleeve.
“Wouldn’t you know it—here, wipe it yourself! Why do you always lean over and ask me to clean up after you?”
“Oh, don’t fuss. You’d just do it anyway. Stop playing hard to get. I don’t like guys who toy with me.”
“Seriously, you’re asking for it…”
“Wait!”
This time, Mary interrupted.
Please, just let me finish a sentence.
“Yuri, back to the point—why exactly is it okay?”
“Simple.” Jin Yuri grabbed my collar playfully. “Because background counts as ability.”
Making use of all available resources—a reminder that the academy was never truly a fair place.
“…But why are you holding onto my collar?”
“Because it’s charming.”
The world isn’t fair.
“No matter how hard you try, you’re just a supporting role. Bloodlines dominate everything.”
“You know that girl we went to middle school with? She’s a bloodline member now—accepted right into the academy…”
For some, the power they could never achieve even through years of struggle was granted simply by virtue of their birth.
I had wanted to change this. To break this entrenched inequality with my own hands.
That’s why I aligned myself with the Echelon, and yet…
“I’m sorry, Chief. We’ll need to suspend our activities for now. The Enforcement Division has caught wind of us.”
“Damn it, we should have held back, even if our member was attacked. Going all out like that has put us in a tight spot.”
“Regrettably, the ‘Homunculus F’ project will be transferred to our Japanese division… Hold on! Watch your words. It’s not about favoritism; it’s about capability, nothing more!”
For a moment, I almost forgot. The world wasn’t fair, not even here.
It didn’t matter how lofty their ideals or grand their promises—when it came down to it, everyone was just looking out for their own.
Fine then. I’d do the same.
“Boss… Sir… Boss.”
Kim opened his eyes.
“You’re here? How’d it go?”
“All suspects have been taken care of. We’ve cleared our local operations and transferred to the ‘Daegu lab.’ We’ve also handled the police interference, so we should have some breathing room.”
“Good job. If this were any other day, I’d treat you to a drink and a hot meal, but we’re pressed for time. Are the preparations set?”
“We’re ready whenever you are.”
“Excellent. Any extra time we have, we’ll sweep up every test subject and head for Daegu.”
Transfer the project? Not on my watch.
I started this, and I’ll see it through to the end. Even if it means failure. No one’s taking this from me.
Kim reached into the dimensional space and drew out a spear.
“From now on, the Korean branch of Echelon is moving independently.”
The serpent coiled around the spear came alive, its red eyes glinting menacingly.
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