Chapter 10: Adaptation (1)

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Having secured tuition funds, I successfully returned to university.

The campus was bustling with youthful students.

Maybe because it was my first class since being discharged from the military, everything felt so unfamiliar.

Then.

“Alright, I’ll announce the group project assignments and wrap up early today.”

A young female professor addressed the students gathered in the lecture hall.

I quietly observed the professor standing at the blackboard.

Professor Park Ahjeong, who taught the elective course Otherworld History.

She was a passionate historian specializing in the history of the Lokpia continent, the otherworld, and the youngest professor on campus. 

She was also a broadcaster with a keen interest in dungeons, magical beasts, artifacts, and Awakeners in the real world.

Not to mention, she was renowned for her stunning beauty, rivaling actresses, and, above all, she was an A-rank Awakener and the master of a guild, drawing global attention.

“That’s all for today. Oh, and just a reminder—my class has weekly quizzes, so you’d better study hard! Especially the freshmen and returnees! But I trust Korea University students are all smart and diligent, so I’m not too worried!”

With a cheerful tone, Professor Park Ahjeong concluded and left the lecture hall.

A swarm of diligent students, armed with questions, followed her out, while reporters with microphones waited outside for interviews.

She’s insanely popular.

I packed my bag to leave the lecture hall.

As I passed through the lobby and headed toward the back gate where the parking lot was…

“Hey, hey! Cha Hasang!”

Someone called my name.

Turning around, I saw a guy with a buzz cut jogging toward me.

It was Kim Youngjun, a classmate from my department.

“Dude! Where you headed? It’s lunchtime—aren’t you eating?”

“I’m going straight home. Got some stuff to do.”

“Come on, just eat with us. Big bro’s treating!”

Standing next to Kim Youngjun were a few female freshmen.

Among them was a girl assigned to my group project.

Kim Youngjun’s gaze was fixed on one particular girl.

Kim Yerim.

Rumor had it she was the prettiest freshman in our department.

But, as I said, that had nothing to do with me.

“I’m really busy, gotta go.”

“Tch, this guy’s acting all high and mighty. Fine, go, go!”

Kim Youngjun waved me off dismissively.

At that moment, Kim Yerim turned to me and spoke.

“Sunbae, we’re in the same group, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You seem busy. Do you have a part-time job? Tutoring? Or maybe teaching at a hagwon?”

Before I could answer, Kim Youngjun jumped in.

“Nah, he’s not the tutoring type. He got in through the rural quota. Probably just loading and unloading at some warehouse.”

The atmosphere turned awkward for a moment.

Meanwhile, Kim Youngjun grinned at me.

“Come on, dude, join us! I said I’m buying! You’re probably tight on lunch money anyway, right?”

“Nah, I’m good. You guys eat. I’ve got to get to the warehouse.”

I was genuinely short on time.

Because I actually had to go to a warehouse.

“You still doing that loading job? Man, you’re gonna wreck your body like that. Think about your age. We’re twenty-four. Next year, we’re halfway to fifty.”

“…”

Kim Youngjun crossed his arms, clicking his tongue.

But I didn’t have time to respond.

I was really busy.

Beep—

I pressed the car remote in my pocket.

Vroom!

A heavy engine roared from ahead.

A Benzs-Royce P-Class.

A top-tier sedan worth over 400 million won.

It sat in the middle of the parking lot, waiting for me.

I waved at Kim Youngjun and the freshmen, who were staring blankly.

“Sorry, Youngjun, I’m really out of time. Buy me lunch next time.”

“Uh… yeah… sure, safe travels…”

With that, I slid into the driver’s seat and hit the gas.

It was time to head to the real warehouse.

***

Ding-dong!

<Morgue’s Magical Warehouse is now open.>

The entrance to the warehouse still exuded an overwhelming aura.

It felt like a gate to hell or a divine realm—grand and ornate.

The pillar’s surface, flickering with flames of various colors, was intricately carved with countless distorted human faces.

Those aren’t real people, right?

Maybe thanks to the physical and mental enhancements granted to Awakeners, it felt a bit less terrifying than the first time.

Back then, I was so scared I nearly wet myself. Now, I was only slightly leaking.

…Tears, I mean tears.

Plus, for some reason, the warehouse’s cooldown felt shorter.

The first time I opened and closed Morgue’s Magical Warehouse, it took exactly a week to reopen.

But this time, even though a week hadn’t fully passed, I could open it a few hours early.

At that moment, a system message flashed clearly before my eyes.

Ding-dong!

<As the warehouse exploration rate increases, the cooldown time for reuse slightly decreases.>  

<As the warehouse exploration rate increases, Featherback’s guidebook will be further updated.>

As expected.

After the Forest of Blade Trees incident, the exploration rate for Morgue’s Magical Warehouse had risen from 0.01% to 0.02%.

Likely the result of liberally using Rozchild’s sack and the Immortal Pseudo-Dragon.

From what I’d figured out, there were two ways to increase the exploration rate:

1. Directly explore the interior of Morgue’s Magical Warehouse.

2. Use items retrieved from the warehouse.

Now that I knew the methods, I planned to use the warehouse more efficiently and frequently.

A thought crossed my mind.

Did Featherback have to deal with a cooldown too?

The previous warehouse keeper, Morgue Mu Featherback, who wrote the guidebook, must have mastered this place.

I couldn’t help but grow more curious about who they were.

Lost in these thoughts, I stepped into Morgue’s Magical Warehouse.

<You have entered the “Safe” zone of Morgue’s Magical Warehouse!>

The familiar notification sound rang in my ears.

I moved forward slowly and cautiously.

There could be dangerous creatures like the Immortal Pseudo-Dragon lurking anywhere.

Still, compared to last time, I was much safer.

Why?

[What a strange and wondrous place, filled with mystical power.]

Because an A+ rank Death Knight was escorting me.

Jeanne surveyed the warehouse with a serious expression.

[I sense countless malevolent energies from deeper within. I see…]

“?”

[The great work of a guardian, purifying the world from darkness by sealing corrupted and twisted demonic entities in this abyssal prison.]

“??”

[And you, Master, have been silently carrying out this duty alone.]

“???”

I had no idea what she was talking about.

Since I didn’t get it, I just nodded vaguely.

“There’s even more dangerous stuff up ahead. If anything seems off, act immediately.”

[Understood. I will handle it before you need to intervene, Master.]

Jeanne strode forward confidently.

I followed, flipping through the guidebook.

Since the Forest of Blade Trees incident, a few more pages had unlocked.

The previously sealed pages now turned smoothly.

Of course, the new pages only covered artifacts in the Safe zone.

There’s one artifact I really want to check out.

As I thought this and moved forward…

[Rooooar!]

A blood-curdling roar jolted me awake.

Bang! Bang! Bang! BOOM!

A creature roared furiously, rattling its cage.

As expected, it was MRG-682, the Immortal Pseudo-Dragon.

It gripped the half-melted bars, shaking them while bellowing.

The bars corroded and broke, only to regenerate, keeping the Pseudo-Dragon contained.

At that moment.

Shaaaaaa!

A cascade of dark green acidic solution poured from the warehouse ceiling like a waterfall.

The acid, capable of melting steel, softened and weakened the Pseudo-Dragon’s body.

Notably, its regeneration speed seemed much slower.

In its battle with Jeanne, the Death Knight, it had healed all wounds instantly.

But now, its regeneration couldn’t keep up with the acid dissolving its body.

[Rooooar!]

My eyes caught a magic circle etched into the floor of the cage.

Bzzz—Bzzz—Bzzz—

Densely packed with hieroglyphs and runes.

Dark magical energy from the circle seeped into the Pseudo-Dragon’s body.

That magic circle must be the culprit slowing its regeneration.

So that’s how it’s contained. I didn’t notice during the chaos last time.

I observed the Pseudo-Dragon from a distance.

Meanwhile, Jeanne gripped her sword hilt, glaring at it.

[To think such a ferocious beast is kept alive and imprisoned. Truly remarkable. All I could do is fight it to the death… Is this done through magic, may I ask?]

“Uh… well… something like that.”

I nodded vaguely.

Jeanne pondered something, then bit her pinky and scribbled a blood-written note.

[Today’s lessons: Not magic, but something akin to magic… An open-minded approach that leaves room for possibilities without giving definitive answers… A gentle and kind demeanor that consistently responds to a disciple…]

I didn’t know why she insisted on writing in blood, but it was creepy as hell.

While Jeanne blocked the acid, I hurried past.

Phew, I wouldn’t have made it through here alone.

Passing the Immortal Pseudo-Dragon’s containment zone, I could finally explore further down the corridor.

The updated guidebook listed some intriguing items.

Right after the Pseudo-Dragon, it’s the “Armor of Flame” and the “Blade of Ice,” right?

A craftsman doesn’t discriminate between tools.

Why does that saying exist?

It’s a reminder for non-craftsmen to choose their tools wisely.

As an Awakener, my physical abilities were stronger than an average person’s.

But only to a certain extent.

About the level of a national athlete—nothing more, nothing less.

To survive in the Awakener industry, securing decent equipment was a priority.

My goal: a weapon and armor.

Especially armor—something really sturdy would be ideal.

At that moment, a faint glow appeared at the end of the corridor.

But as I emerged from the passage, I was speechless.

What the hell is this mess?

An astonishing sight unfolded before me.

Rooooar!

Blazing crimson flames roared, scorching the surroundings red-hot.

The source was a blood-red suit of full-body armor on the left side of the cage.

Meanwhile.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

On the opposite side, icy white frost was freezing everything in its path.

A white sword on the right side of the cage was conjuring a blizzard.

Fire and ice clashed ferociously in the center of the cage.

“Good lord…”

I was at a loss for words.

To emit such world-altering magical energy.

And without resonating with a wearer—purely from the artifacts’ own power!

I’d read about artifacts like these and their classifications.

No doubt about it. 

These are definitely…

The Armor of Flame, Yama Raja Armor.

The Blade of Ice, Tyrfing.

Ultra-high-tier artifacts rivaling S-rank.