Chapter 20: Iselin

Unlike the new evolution paths that had appeared before, this was an evolution direction that had even been seen in the Dimension War.

Proliferation was about numbers, while Devour was a tech path.

Nutrients would increase if he devoured Orcs. And there was the Psionic specialization for Evolution Points.”

Choi Kangjoong, a seasoned veteran of the Dimension War, glanced at the options and made his decision immediately.

“Absorb.”

[Apocalid’s absorption ability is evolving.]

[You can now synthesize Evolution Codes.]

There were two ways to synthesize Evolution Codes.

The first method was to use similar Evolution Codes and consume millions of Evolution Points to strengthen them into a more powerful Evolution Code.

For example, if he obtained the Monster Muscle Evolution Code from a Minotaur, he could combine it with the Orc’s Combat Muscle to upgrade it.

The second was to combine different Evolution Codes.

For instance, synthesizing Acid Pouch and Fluid Ejection would yield an Acid Fluid Ejection Evolution Code.

“Since this is reality, there must be Evolution Codes I don’t even know about.”

Choi Kangjoong shuddered at the endless evolutionary possibilities of the Apocalid.

“Before heading to the central Dimension of the Hydra Sea, maybe I should try to get a few more Evolution Codes.”

Choi Kangjoong headed to the Chamber of Evolution.

First, he planned to reorganize his classes.

“Delete Runner Scout, and equip Leap Attack to Scout.”

[Apocalid Runner Scout has been deleted.]

[Apocalid Runner Scout has been reproduced as Apocalid Scout.]

“I’ll use 2 million points to evolve Chitin Blade and Bioweapon.”

[Chitin Blade has evolved to level 5.]

[Psionic specialization is now combined with Chitin Blade.]

[Chitin Blade has evolved into Psionic Chitin Blade.]

[Physical attack power has increased.]

[Psionic edge has been added.]

[Bioweapon has evolved to level 5.]

[Psionic specialization is now combined with Bioweapon.]

[Bioweapon has evolved into Psionic Bioweapon.]

[Power has increased.]

[You can now produce Bio Pods.]

The Bio Pod was a biological pouch that could be used for Dimension Ship assaults or Dimension descents.

It protected the Apocalid inside with a thick chitinous shell and, after dropping at high speed, used reverse thrust to slow down, reducing the risk of being intercepted.

With enough nutrients, it was even possible to scatter Apocalids across Dimensions in the Dimension Sea.

“Not sure how useful this’ll be against Orcs, but it’s better than nothing.”

After all, Apocalids and Orcs were in a pure contest of strength.

The loser would be devoured, and the winner would take everything.

Bio Pods were more useful against species with powerful long-range weapons or those who had major strongholds.

Finally, he produced 1,000 Workers, 100 Warriors, 5 Giants, and 1 Titan.

Since the opponent was Orcs, he didn’t produce light Scouts, and even the Giants weren’t Cannon Giants—just regular Giants.

The plan was to use Apocalids, stronger and tougher than Warriors, to face the Orc Great Boss.

“The front line can’t break.”

Choi Kangjoong imagined the Apocalids that would multiply after swallowing the Hydra Sea.

How spectacular would it be to see tens of thousands of Apocalids dropping simultaneously from Bio Pods?

“Kiiik! Ik!”

Kai, who had gone out beyond the Skyeye Giant and the Kraken Sea, reported having found the Hydra Sea.

“Take a Fighter Giant with you and scout ahead.”

“Kiiik!”

With the addition of the Fighter Giant, Kai’s group moved forward.

Kuongi and the Giants began to move.

The Apocalids entered hibernation, and the Apocalid Dimension followed slowly.

If Choi Kangjoong took the Gate to move to the Hydra Sea, it would be fast, but the Apocalid Dimension couldn’t be summoned, so this was the best he could do.

“Two or three weeks, probably. Guess I’ll look for a place to live in the meantime.”

The once cozy, comfortable room now felt cramped.

He needed a bigger corner to himself.

“At twenty-four, it’s about time for a man to live on his own. I’ll fix up the place so I can just stay home.”

Choi Kangjoong announced his decision to live independently during dinner.

Choi Jooyoung cheered him on, but Yoo Haein was worried.

“You’re going to live alone? You can’t even fry an egg by yourself.”

“I’ll just have to practice.”

“What about the time you burned the pot trying to make ramen?”

“I don’t do that anymore.”

“Do you even know how to clean a bathroom?”

“Honey, that’s enough. Kangjoong is twenty-four. If this were the Joseon Dynasty, he’d already have five kids.”

Choi Jooyoung cut in, unable to listen any longer.

“I’m just worried, that’s all.”

“A man doesn’t grow up by being worried over. He grows with encouragement. Isn’t that right?”

Choi Jooyoung patted Choi Kangjoong on the back.

Choi Kangjoong nodded.

“Sorry. I’m not the old Kangjoong anymore. Have you found a place?”

“I’ll look into it bit by bit.”

“Want me to come with you?”

“I’ll do it myself. This is something I should experience.”

Yoo Haein smiled.

She was proud of how confident her son looked.

“Do your best. Ask if you need help.”

“Yes. Is there anything you need from me, Mom?”

“Just stay healthy.”

“Anything else?”

“Get a girlfriend.”

“Ah….”

For Choi Kangjoong, devouring Dimensions seemed far easier.

Choi Jooyoung answered for him, seeing that Kangjoong was speechless.

“Once you move out, you’ll get one soon enough.”

“But if he just holes up inside, even moving out won’t help.”

“You made elf friends, didn’t you? He’ll figure it out. Leave him be.”

“Right. Kangjoong will do fine on his own.”

This time, Choi Kangjoong couldn’t answer confidently.

From the next day, Choi Kangjoong checked listings on real estate apps for price and location, and visited any place that looked good.

He cared more about the house being spacious and in a quiet area than transportation.

Then he found a place that fit him perfectly.

“It was built by a Hunter, so the walls are sturdy and the ceiling is really high. It’s as high as a four-story building, but there are only two floors.”

With a black-and-white interior giving off a modern vibe, and a living room ceiling so open that Lutal could even be summoned inside.

The basement was sturdy enough that he didn’t have to worry about mana stone theft, and the rooms were spacious.

Satisfied, Choi Kangjoong signed the contract right away.

It cost more than the surroundings since a Hunter had poured effort into building it, but he was much more satisfied.

For furniture and appliances, he got help from his mother.

It was much easier and faster to use the family “chance” than to agonize alone.

He bought and had delivered big items like a bed, desk, refrigerator, washing machine, and dryer, then filled the place with daily necessities.

Yoo Haein offered to clean the house, but after seeing how big it was, she decided it was better to call someone in and stepped back.

Moving day arrived.

He’d planned to do it alone on a weekday, but Choi Jooyoung, Yoo Haein, and Choi Yunseo all took vacation days to help.

“I don’t have much stuff. I can handle it myself.”

“These things are meant to be done together. Remember when we all went with Yunseo to Hunter Academy?”

Back then, Choi Kangjoong was holed up in his room and hadn’t been able to go.

“Oh my. Look at me. Sorry, Kangjoong. You look so good these days, I forgot.”

Yoo Haein was very sorry for touching her son’s old wound.

Choi Kangjoong was flooded with old emotions and memories.

Days spent buried in regret, grief, self-loathing, and helplessness, unable to face reality and living only on the internet.

The deep wound was poked, but his emotional reaction was mild.

Just a slight queasiness was all.

‘Is it thanks to the Apocalid that my mental strength has gotten better, too?’

Choi Jooyoung and Yoo Haein watched Choi Kangjoong carefully.

Choi Kangjoong smiled to reassure his parents.

“I’m okay now. That was then, this is now.”

Yoo Haein was relieved and hugged Choi Kangjoong.

“I told you. If you leave him alone, he’ll work it out and come out on his own. He’s my son, after all.”

Choi Jooyoung stroked Kangjoong’s head.

“When’s Yunseo coming?”

“She said she’ll be here before lunch.”

“We’ll be done before lunch, since there isn’t much stuff. Should we eat jjajangmyeon together?”

“Of course. Moving day calls for jjajangmyeon.”

The three of them packed up Kangjoong’s things.

There was so little that all his clothes and daily items fit in a single box.

“What’s this?”

Yoo Haein pulled Iselin’s necklace from the drawer.

The elegant, refined necklace swayed in her hand.

“I got it from an elf friend.”

“It’s beautiful. Not an ordinary thing. Did you give her something in return?”

“I helped her, and she gave it to me.”

“On the internet?”

“No, outside.”

“You already met? What’s her name?”

“Iselin.”

“Same name as that elf princess.”

“It’s that elf.”

“Oh, I see.”

Yoo Haein put Iselin’s necklace in an empty jewelry box.

“What’s this? Looks like a Dawnphone.”

Choi Jooyoung lifted up the Dawnphone, still plugged in to charge.

“I got it from Han Junghwa.”

“Han Junghwa from the Dawn Guild? That A-rank Hunter, youngest expected to draw an Aura Blade, that Han Junghwa?”

“Yes, that Han Junghwa.”

“Hm… I see. Well done.”

Choi Jooyoung wrapped the Dawnphone in bubble wrap.

A message from Han Junghwa flashed on the screen, but he pretended not to notice.

He didn’t mess with it, thinking others might think it was fake.

‘Better not to bring it up.’

‘Is it because of emotional scars? I should talk to the doctor about this.’

Yoo Haein and Choi Jooyoung shared a glance and nodded behind Kangjoong’s back, thinking the same thing.

They loaded his things into Choi Jooyoung’s car and drove over.

Unpacking was over in no time.

After poking around at the boxes, Choi Jooyoung whispered to Choi Kangjoong.

“Kangjoong, be honest with me. You have a girlfriend, don’t you?”

“Huh? I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“You can fool your mom and Yunseo, but not me. That necklace is from your girlfriend, and you’re moving out because of her, right? Isn’t that it?”

“It’s not.”

“Then what, are you dating? Just starting out?”

“Dad, if you drink kimchi broth before getting the rice cake, you’ll get sick.”

“Really not?”

“Really. I moved because it was too cramped.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Eyy.”

Choi Yunseo arrived.

True to her Dawn Guild status, she drove a fancy imported car.

With her salary, she could easily own ten of them.

“Wow. Five parking spaces! Is this your first house, oppa? It’s really spacious and nice.”

Thanks to the front balcony and the open ceiling, the sense of openness was incredible.

“When will I ever live in a house like this?”

“With your salary, you’ll buy one soon.”

“I need to finish my shift at the Dimension Fortress first. I’m still living there.”

“Right, I forgot.”

It felt like things were back to how they used to be between him and his sister.

‘She’s always been there, but I was the one who drifted away.’

Yunseo looked up at the ceiling, then glanced suspiciously at Choi Kangjoong.

“It hasn’t been that long since you became a Hunter, and getting a house like this isn’t easy. Oppa, you’re not scamming other Hunters, are you?”

“Do I look like someone who’d do that?”

“These days, there’s only one Hunter who became one recently and got a place like this without scamming….”

“Outer Mind?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s me.”

Choi Yunseo snorted.

She thought it was a joke only someone who hadn’t seen Outer Mind would make.

‘Oppa wouldn’t know what it feels like to stand in front of Outer Mind.’

She didn’t point it out, considering his mental state.

“Hmph. I’ll believe you.”

“All right, let’s eat. I’m starving,” urged Choi Jooyoung.

They all ate jjajangmyeon together, then drove around the neighborhood to look around.

Dinner was at a duck specialty restaurant in the suburbs.

It was their first family meal out in five years.

Choi Kangjoong and Yunseo bickered, while smiles never left Jooyoung and Haein’s faces.

In the darkened room.

On the desk, where he could easily see them, lay Iselin’s necklace and the Dawnphone.

Choi Kangjoong lay down on his bigger, softer bed.

Now that the move and cleaning were done, it was time to focus on the Apocalid.

“Kiiik! Ik!”

Kai reported that a group of Orc Dimension Ships was nearby.

What the Skyeye Giant saw entered directly into Choi Kangjoong’s mind.

“Three hundred Dimension Ships. If there are about fifty on each, that’s fifteen thousand in total. Everyone, get up.”

“Krurk.”

Lutal woke up first.

As if an electric signal ran along the nerves, the Apocalids, sensing prey, began to rise one by one.

Cannon Giants took their places on Kuongi’s back.

Mana concentrated inside Kuongi, the one Titan, and twelve Cannon Giants.

“Row faster!”

“It’s a Dimension Monster!”

“If we catch that, we’ll have a feast!”

The Orc Dimension Ship group changed course, heading for the Apocalids.

Even with their crude mana engines, the strong Orcs rowed hard, making for considerable speed.

“Guess I’ll just watch.”

Now that Kuongi was a special specimen, there was no need for detailed orders.

Lutal, Kai, and Kuongi shared all information and thoughts as they formulated their strategy.