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[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
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Chapter 338
After the successful development of the open-air Mana Stone Mine, a distinct vitality could be felt in Neo Seoul.
Neo Seoul poured a massive amount of funds into turning the open-air Mana Stone Mine into a fortress.
Constructing, stabilizing, and maintaining the fortress required both money and manpower.
An enormous amount of funding was necessary, but so was an equally massive amount of human labor.
Naturally, a tremendous number of people were needed.
Workers to build the fortress, awakened ones to act as guards, miners and administrators to extract Mana Stones—truly, an overwhelming number of personnel was required.
The raiding parties that contributed to the conquest of the open-air Mana Stone Mine voluntarily dispatched personnel, having secured stakes in the operation. Even so, it wasn’t enough, and additional people were recruited from the slums.
Awakened ones were preferable, but even ordinary people were welcomed.
Everyone had their use.
Countless numbers of people headed to the open-air Mana Stone Mine.
People fond of dramatic terms called it the "Jay's Gold Rush."
Just as people had once flocked westward during the American gold rush to change their fates, now they swarmed toward the Mana Stone Mine to better their lives.
So many people left that the streets of the slums appeared completely empty.
"So many have left? The streets are completely deserted."
A boy muttered as he looked at the streets of the slum.
It was night, after the sun had fully set.
Normally, this would be when people came out to avoid the searing daytime sun. But even now, hardly anyone could be seen.
It meant just how many had departed for the open-air Mana Stone Mine.
Thanks to that, the boy could wander the streets freely without drawing attention.
It might have been an unremarkable sight for those who lived here, but for the boy, who had lived underground for so long, the surface world was like paradise.
The boy’s name was Zetoya.
A boy who had lived his entire life in the sewers had finally come up to the surface.
For the past several days, Zetoya had secretly traveled between the surface and the underground, purchasing and delivering necessary supplies.
He had almost no time to rest, but not once did Zetoya think it was hard.
If a little hardship could make life even slightly better for the people living underground, he was willing to endure anything.
His backpack was stuffed full with hard-won goods from the surface.
"Phew! Time to head back."
It was time to return to the dirty, foul-smelling underground world—the Crocodile’s Den.
Zetoya was walking toward a secured entrance when—
"Hey, stop right there!"
A voice suddenly called out from across the street.
Zetoya frowned and turned to see two men in heavy, gleaming armor approaching him.
He immediately recognized who they were.
'Paladins?'
There were countless awakened ones in Neo Seoul, but only one group wore such bright, heavy armor while patrolling the streets.
They were Paladins from Dongdaemun.
Zetoya was currently in one of the backstreets of Dongdaemun.
It was an area outside the usual patrol zones of the Paladins.
He had never expected to run into them here.
The Paladins approached Zetoya, their eyes sharp.
"Come here. We need to conduct a search."
"A search? For what?"
"You don't look like someone who lives in Dongdaemun."
"What’s the big deal? I'm busy."
Zetoya grumbled nonchalantly.
His calm attitude made the Paladins exchange uncertain glances.
Zetoya took advantage of that brief opening and bolted.
Pop!
Like a squirrel, he kicked off the ground and darted into an alley.
"Hey!"
"Get him!"
The Paladins lunged after him, but Zetoya narrowly evaded their grasp.
He headed straight for an iron grate leading to the sewers, flung it open, and jumped down without hesitation.
Arriving a moment too late, the Paladins clicked their tongues.
"Knew it. Damn Croc spawn."
"Shit! No wonder he reeked of filth."
Glaring at the sewer grate, the Paladins' faces twisted with hatred.
The fanatics of Dongdaemun dreamed of a heavenly world.
They believed their leader, Johan, would lead them into such a world without doubt.
To such zealots, people like Zetoya were filthy pollutants tainting their pure paradise.
Thus, they hated them with a burning passion.
The Paladins had no intention of following him underground.
To them, the contaminated underworld was nothing short of hell itself.
"Seal this gate for good. Make sure that bastard never crawls out again."
"Goddammit, this happens every damn time! They're like cockroaches."
Chiik!
They used their skills to melt the gate’s locking mechanism.
But they knew.
No matter what they did, they couldn’t completely stop the Crocs from crawling back up.
"Shit! What are we, a plague? Locking everything up so tight? We'll just find another door."
Hearing the melting noise, Zetoya grumbled as he moved underground.
An ordinary boy might have trembled in fear, not knowing if the Paladins would pursue him.
But Zetoya knew.
They would never willingly enter this world.
The "chosen ones" considered this place to be hell, and Zetoya roamed it freely.
Carrying his backpack, Zetoya began walking upside down, clinging to the ceiling.
His bare feet, unhindered by shoes, generated a strange suction force that allowed him to stick firmly.
It was a natural ability, one that had become even stronger after he awakened.
Thanks to it, Zetoya could move like a lizard on walls or ceilings in any environment.
"Heh, heh!"
Zetoya even hummed a tune as he walked upside down.
He finally dropped to the ground when he was near his destination.
Fwoosh!
A bright light suddenly flared up ahead.
"What the?"
Startled, Zetoya looked toward the light.
At the source of the light, there was a small village.
A place where people gathered, away from the flowing sewage.
Since Zetoya had joined recently, the village had grown in size.
With rumors spreading that they had a magic generator, even more people had gathered.
Now the village population exceeded two hundred.
Zetoya was responsible for the village’s safety.
Despite his young age, being a D-rank martial artist and having ties with Zeon made the villagers trust him deeply.
Naturally, it was his duty to protect them.
Worried by the sudden flare of light, Zetoya quickened his steps.
A large crowd had gathered in the middle of the village.
"What’s going on?"
Zetoya asked urgently as he arrived.
A resident quickly answered.
"Remura performed a miracle!"
"A miracle?"
Zetoya’s eyes widened at the unexpected reply.
Pushing through the crowd, he saw a little freckled girl with blonde hair, looking about eight or nine years old.
She stared at her own hands with a face on the verge of tears.
In front of her sat a middle-aged woman with a dazed expression.
The woman’s abdomen was blood-soaked, as if she'd been stabbed, yet she was breathing steadily.
She blinked in disbelief at her own condition.
Zetoya asked,
"What do you mean, Remura performed a miracle?"
The one who answered was a plump woman standing next to the freckled girl.
"My daughter Remura brought back someone who was dying!"
Zetoya pressed further.
"What do you mean, brought back?!"
"Marlang Auntie was badly hurt, but then light flashed from my daughter's hands—and she got all better!"
The injured woman’s name was Marlang.
She had fallen deep into the underground, landing onto something sharp and tearing open her abdomen.
That she even made it back to the village was a miracle itself.
But that was it.
The underground village had nothing to treat her—not even basic blood stoppers or potions.
All Marlang could do was wait for death.
The true miracle happened then.
A light flashed from Remura’s hand, and the terrible wound was healed completely.
Remura's mother, Heather, chattered excitedly.
"Did you see it? My daughter performed a miracle! She saved a dying person!"
"Hold on, Auntie Heather. You’re saying Remura saved Marlang Auntie?"
"Yes! Light flashed, and she was saved!"
Heather shouted, spitting as she spoke. But no one blamed her.
Everyone here had clearly witnessed Remura’s miracle.
Zetoya frowned.
'A flash of light, and the wound healed? Does that mean Remura awakened as a Healer?'
Healers were an extremely rare class.
Even among magical awakened ones, they were hard to find.
From what Zetoya knew, there were only a handful of Healers in Neo Seoul.
"Hold on. Marlang Auntie, let me check your wound."
Zetoya carefully inspected the injury.
He lifted her clothing and gasped.
Despite all the blood that had been spilled, there wasn’t even a scar left.
It was as if she had never been injured at all.
Zetoya couldn’t hide his astonishment as he turned to Remura.
"Remura!"
"Y-Yes, Zeon oppa!"
"Did you awaken?"
"I... I think so?"
"Can I see your wrist?"
"Mhm!"
Remura held out her wrist.
Checking the badge on her wrist, Zetoya’s jaw dropped.
Six bright white lines shone there.
"My God! Six lines? Starting as A-rank?"
Having awakened himself, Zetoya knew.
The initial rank at awakening determined everything.
Starting at A-rank meant an incredibly high chance of becoming an S-rank awakened one.
He didn't know the full extent of an A-rank Healer’s powers, but based on what Remura had just shown, she could likely save someone even on the verge of death.
'This is insane!'
Zetoya clutched his head and shook it.
Meanwhile, Remura stared at him with a clueless expression.
She clearly had no idea just how extraordinary her ability was.
Heather, on the other hand, was different.
Her face shone with naked greed.
She fully realized how amazing her daughter’s gift was.
"My daughter awakened! She’s a powerful awakened one! From now on, you'd better treat me well if you want healing!"
She raved, spitting in excitement.
Zetoya cautiously warned,
"Auntie!"
"What?"
"You need to be careful from now on."
"Careful? Why?"
"If others find out about Remura’s powers, they’ll covet her."
"So what?!"
"Excessive power always invites disaster. Remura’s power is too dangerous."
"Don't be ridiculous! You're just jealous and want her power for yourself!"
Heather shielded Remura behind her, glaring fiercely.
Seeing her blinded by greed, Zetoya sighed heavily.
'Sigh. Damn it.'
Heather’s face was already stained dark with avarice.
It was clear that no matter what he said, she wouldn’t listen.
There was no telling what kind of waves Remura’s awakening would stir up in the underground world.
'No choice. I have to discuss this with Zeon.'
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[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
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