Chapter 45 : Purification (4)

Rachel’s strategy broadcast caused an immense sensation.

It was the world’s first gate strategy broadcast using only ‘Magu.’

Moreover, it was merely a ‘promotion.’

A bombshell announcement had been made that the Dawn Constellation would be distributing Magu.

[The Dawn Constellation, World’s First Magu Purification Success?!]

[Now Hunters Can Also Wear Magu?!]

[The Magu of Monsters – How Is It Different from Magic Tools?]

Is this real?

Looking at the article, it seems legit… lol.

└ Wow, I never imagined Magu would be possible.

This is crazy lol, they’re even taking the monsters’ weapons now.

The internet was in a festive mood.

And for good reason—Magu had only ever been usable by monsters.

Yet now, something previously deemed unusable by humans was suddenly available.

Of course, magic tools had always been considered ‘inferior versions’ of relics.

Magic tools were developed as substitutes for relics due to the limited supply of relics.

Magu was no different in terms of capability compared to magic tools.

Thus, the relic-based market was unlikely to change.

After all, relics of great figures were considered irreplaceable.

The true significance of Magu lay in pioneering a new ‘genre’ of magic tools.

Still, it was hard to believe.

Some Magu, held by bosses of the highest-level, unexplored gates, even surpassed human-made magic tools.

Naturally, people turned their attention to Rachel’s press conference, expecting the truth.

And then—

“It is indeed Magu.”

As expected!

See, I told you it was Magu!

Hunters cheered at Rachel’s statement.

Wow, does this mean people can use the Dark Whip that Balrog wields?

I was so jealous of the longsword the Orc Warlord used… If it comes out, I’ll spend my entire fortune to get one.

Among hunters, there were also monster enthusiasts.

To them, Magu was an item that fulfilled their vanity.

But Rachel’s statement didn’t stop there.

Her next words sent the online community into chaos.

“If you use Magu, the monsters of the same species as the original wielder will drop their guard.”

“Can you explain what you mean by ‘drop their guard’?”

“They mistake the hunter wielding Magu for one of their own.”

Is… is that even possible?

Even the interviewer stammered in shock at Rachel’s statement.

Monsters mistaking humans for their own kind?

That’s an overpowered ability.

“It is possible. However, it only lasts for a short time. And in higher-level gates, it only works on creatures with low intelligence.

The intelligent ones quickly figure it out.”

Rachel clearly outlined Magu’s limitations, but this wasn’t seen as a drawback.

For an S-rank hunter like Rachel, it might be a useless ability, but most hunters couldn’t even enter high-level gates.

Creating confusion.

That ability alone made Magu worth purchasing.

As Rachel’s interview ended, the Dawn Constellation released their Magu catalog.

Wow, insane! They even have the Minotaur’s Axe?!

How did they even get the Ogre’s Club? Lol, that’s mine.

I’m going to fully gear up in the Goblin Chieftain’s Magu. Don’t stop me.

└ I need to buy this. I need to buy this. I need to buy this.

[The ‘Magu Festival’ with Princess Rachel Bonaparte of France!]

[Tuesday, March 2nd, 1:00 PM]

[Meet us at the Dawn Constellation!]

The world’s attention shifted to the upcoming Magu Festival.

The news of Magu’s distribution spread worldwide in an instant.

The information even reached the ears of Patriarch Felix of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow.

“They say Magu purification was successful in Korea.”

Despite the bishop’s report, Felix silently continued reading his Bible.

“Shall we secure some Magu?”

“Jesus said, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

It was a declaration that Magu was unnecessary compared to holy relics.

The bishop also found Magu meaningless.

It might be beneficial to lower-ranked hunters, but that was the extent of its value.

It was incomparable to the sacred relics used by the high-ranking priests of the Orthodox Church.

“Understood.”

Recognizing the patriarch’s stance, the bishop prepared to leave.

Then, the patriarch, still reading his Bible, softly spoke.

“The only one who can fully purify Magu is someone blessed by His grace.”

He was referring to the Saint.

There was only one reason the patriarch would mention the Saint.

The bishop silently closed the door and left.

Meanwhile, news of the successful Magu purification had traveled across the ocean, reaching the other side of the world.

“Your Excellency.”

A middle-aged man, addressed as ‘Your Excellency,’ silently watched a video on the screen.

It showed Rachel Bonaparte, clad in Magu armor, slaying a Banshee.

“If Magu has been purified, that means they’ve solved the issue of magical contamination.”

“It appears so.”

The middle-aged man, Marquis Gerald Cunningham, lifted a sword from a marble table.

The sword, now dulled and murky, was heavily contaminated with magic.

“Then perhaps this ‘Éduze’ can be purified as well.”

The sword in Gerald’s hand was the legendary magic sword used by Godfrey of Bouillon, the hero of the First Crusade and defender of the Holy Sepulchre.

At the same time, it was also the symbol of Gerald’s ancestor, Swordmaster Alexander Cunningham.

Restoring ‘Éduze,’ which had been contaminated when Alexander Cunningham died in an unexplored gate, had long been the Cunningham family’s greatest aspiration.

This was because Éduze was essential to solving the unexplored gate, ‘Sultan’s Labyrinth,’ which plagued the Cunningham family.

Gerald had entrusted Éduze to numerous purification ability users, but none had succeeded in cleansing its contaminated magic.

And then, just in time, news arrived from the other side of the world that Magu purification had been successful.

For Gerald, who considered the restoration of Éduze a lifelong mission, this was an eye-opening revelation.

“At last, the day has come when I can use Éduze.”

Gerald spoke with deep emotion, gazing at Éduze.

“Contact the Dawn Constellation. I have something to discuss with them.”

“Understood.”

The noble Marquis of England, Gerald Cunningham, boarded a flight to Korea that very day.

[The ‘Magu Festival’ with Princess Rachel Bonaparte of France!]

[Tuesday, March 2nd, 1:00 PM]

[Meet us at the Dawn Constellation!]

He was on his way to attend the Magu Festival.

“Who’s coming?”

“Marquis Cunningham.”

“Swordmaster Cunningham?”

“Yes, he contacted us about purifying a relic.”

“A relic… It must be the magic sword, Éduze.”

“That’s correct.”

Ha Jin-woo let out a deep breath.

They had only thought about selling Magu, never expecting such a prominent figure to take action.

Gerald Cunningham.

A close associate of the British royal family and an exceptional hunter, almost reaching S-rank himself.

They had forgotten that Gerald Cunningham’s lifelong goal was the restoration of Éduze.

But was Éduze just any relic?

It was the spoils of ‘Godfrey of Bouillon, Defender of the Holy Sepulchre,’ the leader of the First Crusade.

A magic sword taken after cutting off the right hand of a Turkish Sultan’s closest aide.

With such a history, purifying the sword wouldn’t be easy.

“What’s the price?”

“He offered 20 billion won.”

20 billion.

The number itself was staggering—more money than one person could ever spend in a lifetime.

And yet, Marquis Cunningham willingly offered 20 billion won for the purification of Éduze.

That showed just how important its purification was to him.

It made sense—Godfrey of Bouillon’s magic sword was necessary to conquer ‘Sultan’s Labyrinth.’

However, this wasn’t a decision they could make on their own.

The one who would perform the purification wasn’t them—it was Choi Jeosun.

“I’ll go talk to Jeosun.”

“Please do.”

Kim Hayun got up from her seat.

Jeanne had recently become deeply engrossed in reading.

As a girl who had never learned to read, she had developed a fascination with books.

Her usual choices were about gates, monsters, and modern science.

Since she lacked modern knowledge, there was much she wanted to learn.

Occasionally, she read romance novels, and every time, she would stare blankly or widen her eyes in deep concentration.

Modern romance novels were likely shocking for Jeanne, who came from an era that valued chastity.

For some reason, she wanted to keep her romance novel reading a secret from me.

‘Oh, today’s book is Daddy-Long-Legs.’

I’ll pretend I didn’t notice.

Meanwhile, Vanessa was sitting at the table, knitting.

As a seamstress, Vanessa enjoyed making clothes for the children.

But today, she looked especially cheerful while knitting.

“What are you making?”

“A scarf.”

“A scarf?”

“Yes, since the weather is cold.”

She smiled warmly at me as she spoke.

Then, with a pleased expression, she resumed knitting.

Bzzzz—

Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

[Kim Hayun, Team Leader]

The name on the screen was Kim Hayun, the deputy team leader of Dawn Constellation’s second team.

‘What could this be about?’

I tilted my head and answered the call.

“Team Leader Hayun, what’s the matter?”

“Jeosun, I’m on my way to your place. Are you home?”

“Yes, I am. What’s going on?”

“It’s not something to discuss over the phone. I need to talk to you in person.”

I glanced at Vanessa and Jeanne, who were engrossed in their books and knitting.

Quietly, I stood up from the sofa.

“I’ll come outside.”

“Ah, then I’ll wait at the Starbox in front.”

“Understood.”

After ending the call, I grabbed my coat.

Vanessa instinctively stood up.

Even Jeanne, despite being absorbed in her book, had somehow sensed something and was looking at me.

For some reason, it felt like I wasn’t supposed to go out alone.

“Shall we go together?”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

When I asked, both of them smiled.

Scratching my head, I eventually left the house with them.