WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Haruto
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Became the EX-Rank Pet Maker Hunters Obsess Over ◈
Chapter 28: The Beginning of Disaster
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A few days after I sent Mansu Precision Engineering an email detailing the dangers of its unfinished Buffering Array.
Mansu Precision Engineering was still claiming that the Buffering Array I unveiled was theirs. They had gone a step further, releasing articles day after day saying they would soon undergo technical verification by the International Alchemy Association (IAOA).
[ Markets ] Mansu Precision Engineering stock hits record highs for three straight days... “Expected to monopolize the global magical beast market if it passes technical verification”
[ Breaking ] “Proof they invented the Buffering Array?”... Mansu Precision Engineering’s first magical beast using the Buffering Array nearing release
[ News ] “We’re the original creators.” Only the stock price smiled at their shameless declaration... Global capital flows into Mansu Precision Engineering
[ Analysis ] Mansu Precision Engineering stock hits new highs daily... “Has it truly surpassed Yoo Hyun, or is this a massive scam?”
“Look at that media campaign. Articles are just pouring in.”
“Pant, pant...”
Well, writing provocative headlines to draw attention was nothing new. There was no point getting worked up over it.
Despite Mansu Precision Engineering's shameless claims, its stock price was soaring...
No, the entire magical beast sector was rising with it.
“...Hmm. Even if a competitor is introducing new technology, the Buffering Array is practically good news for the entire magical beast industry.”
The Buffering Array would clearly divide magical beast productivity into before and after.
Click.
I looked up more articles about Mansu Precision Engineering.
‘As expected, there are articles questioning the technology Mansu Precision Engineering reproduced.’
[ Interview ] French master alchemist Henri criticizes Mansu Precision Engineering... “There’s no way the Buffering Array could be stabilized that quickly”
[ Editorial ] Numerical success and actual stabilization are different... The hidden risks behind Mansu Precision Engineering’s rushed development
[ Exclusive ] Mana emissions at Sichuan Magical Beast Industrial Complex exceed normal levels fortyfold... “Suspected cover-up of failed cultivation specimens?”
[ Foreign News ] Magic Engineering Expo judges warn, “Mansu Precision Engineering may have skipped even the minimum clinical and safety verification procedures in reproducing the Buffering Array”
Honestly, Mansu Precision Engineering's actions could not be called normal. It was as if they were being chased by something, ignoring every required procedure.
Naturally, some people had raised questions, but their opinions were quickly buried beneath the overwhelming force of Chinese public opinion.
They were practically in a celebratory mood over there. No matter how much people warned them about the danger, they would not listen.
‘...Their voices may have been drowned out by Mansu Precision Engineering's media firepower, but others sense that something's wrong too. Looks like my choice wasn't wrong.’
What choice was that?
“Haengbok, I'm going to become a short seller.”
“Pant, pant...”
Knead, knead.
An ETF that aimed to return double Mansu Precision Engineering's rate of decline...
I was going all in on a product called the “2x Short Mansu Precision Engineering Daily ETF”!
“Got to do what I've got to do.”
Nothing would change no matter what I said to Mansu Precision Engineering, so I might as well make some money.
* * *
Every morning, I woke up, checked the news to see whether something had gone wrong in China, then checked whether Baek Seola's Duality specimen was growing well.
That was my morning routine.
Now that I had finished, it was time to properly start my workday.
That work was...
Writing a paper on the new technology.
Putting my intuition into words was pretty difficult. I could not accurately tell where people would get stuck or how much they could understand.
Maybe my intuition was too good, letting me skip the intermediate steps and reach the conclusion?
When faced with problem A, I should work through B and C before reaching conclusion D. Instead, I saw A and immediately arrived at D.
So, to make the paper more accessible, I had been getting Luise's help through DMs every day.
[ YH1234 ] : Buffering_Array_Paper_Final_Final_Last_This_Is_It_Version2_Actually_Final_Last_End.docx What do you think of this one?
[ VictorKreutz ] : I think this should be enough. Honestly, I think it's overkill. Other alchemists will figure out the interpretation themselves, so I don't think you need to explain it in this much detail...
[ YH1234 ] : No, it needs to be broken down even further. As you know, this technology has an overwhelmingly higher mutation rate than other techniques.
The Buffering Array's structure was clearly different from other techniques.
Unlike existing techniques, which optimized by adding and removing essence arrays, this method layered a huge number of arrays over the main array like windbreaks. By its nature, that meant a high risk of mutation.
It probably would not happen, but even I could not predict what would happen if my Buffering Array somehow intruded on an existing array.
‘And China most likely used a rushed Buffering Array that isn't even complete.’
An unfinished Buffering Array was highly likely to deform under the flow of mana, negatively affecting the Seed and causing mutations.
The violent mana flow produced during the Cultivation of high-rank magical beasts would be more than Mansu Precision Engineering's unstable Buffering Array could handle.
That was why I was almost certain a biohazard would soon break out in China.
‘The rumors said Mansu Precision Engineering was cultivating magical beasts all the way up to A-rank.’
Some would fail cultivation due to conflicts with the Buffering Array. But there was no telling what kind of monsters the ones that succeeded would become.
A magical beast with an A-rank mana core possessed power beyond that of monsters that appeared in A-rank Gates. It would be no different from a disaster.
China had plenty of Hunters, but could they really suppress a biohazard that quickly?
‘It'll be difficult in a city...’
There was no knowing where the magical beasts might hide. Completely containing the outbreak in a short time would be difficult.
This massive incident would cause many casualties and raise concerns about the dangers of magical beast production.
So I decided to raise the quality of my paper as high as possible, to prove that the technology itself had no flaws.
[ YH1234 ] : So? Luise, did you understand the Buffering Array after reading my paper?
[ VictorKreutz ] : ......How many times a day do you think you've shown me your paper? I understand it perfectly well by now. At this level of completion, no one will raise concerns about the technology's stability. More importantly, I can't make any sense of the Spirit Core analysis you assigned me as homework...
She got stuck on the Spirit Core?
[ YH1234 ] : You're more than capable. After all, you're Victor Kreutz, whose intellect rivals mine.
[ YH1234 ] : ......Why aren't you replying?
[ YH1234 ] : Where did you go?
“...No reply.”
“Pant, pant...”
Luise did not respond, but someone else contacted me instead.
Bzzz.
When I checked my smartphone...
[ Mom ] : Son, a young lady named Yeon Harim came by our house. Since when did you know such a lovely girl? She's polite and so sweet, just the kind of girl I'd want as a daughter-in-law. I hope things work out between you two
“What the hell...?”
When did she go to my parents' house?
I had given her the address because she said she would provide protection, but she went there herself?
When I asked Hunter Yeon Harim about it...
[ Yeon Harim ] : I wanted to introduce myself in advance. You've always done so much for me, Yoo Hyun.
“...Do people normally visit someone's parents because they owe them a favor?”
“Pant, pant...”
[ Yeon Harim ] : More importantly, did you meet Hunter Baek Seola again today?
[ Me ] : She hasn't come by yet today, but the magical beast cultivation is in its final stages, so I think she'll probably come to check on it
[ Yeon Harim ] : I see... But Hunter Baek Seola seems to visit very often. Isn't it tiring for you...? I'm worried you might feel pressured, President Yoo Hyun...
[ Me ] : Hmm... She probably cares because she spent a lot of money on the magical beast's production. I don't really mind
[ Yeon Harim ] : I see... Then I'll visit every day too next time you make a magical beast, without holding back!
“...How did you reach that conclusion?”
“Pant, pant...”
...I needed to finish this paper quickly and apply for technical verification too.
* * *
A research laboratory at the Sichuan Magical Beast Industrial Complex in China.
“Is this the magical beast that uses the Buffering Array?”
“Yes! It's the first successful specimen, and no issues have been found so far. Its health is excellent as well!”
“Grrk...”
“Hmm...”
Lucas was a Magic Beast Alchemist dispatched as a technical inspector by the International Alchemy Association (IAOA).
He was principled and meticulous, notoriously strict in his inspections.
‘...A quick look around confirms they've violated safety regulations, but there's nothing I can press them on. I'll have to wait and see if Leona finds anything.’
For now, Lucas decided to observe the magical beast in front of him for the technical verification.
It was a bipedal magical beast covered in what looked like hard scales.
The creature stared at Lucas with a blank expression.
‘It's definitely interesting, but something feels off.’
[ Model Name 》 Iron Ghoul - Type 4 ]
[ Mana Core Rank 》 C ]
[ Lifespan 》 8 years ]
[ Trait 》 Ironclad Jaws (C+) ]
‘...A magical beast with high defense? So far, it seems ordinary enough.’
The magical beast the researcher presented as a success appeared very stable at first glance.
“Now, watch closely.”
When the researcher held out a hand in front of the cage containing the magical beast, it held out its hand as well. When the researcher extended a foot, it extended a foot too.
The researcher performed more difficult movements, but the magical beast continued to mirror the researcher as though it were a reflection.
Lucas spoke, sounding surprised.
“Oh... It mimics human movements? Its replication is quite accurate.”
“Interesting, right? The original model didn't do this, but perhaps due to the Buffering Array's influence, it displays this unusual behavior. Ah, of course, there's nothing wrong with the Buffering Array!”
“...You can't produce Seeds with machine-like precision, and the environment differs every time. Individual variation is possible.”
“Hahaha... Exactly what I was saying. Please, keep watching!”
The researcher gave the magical beast some simple problems meant for magical beasts, and it solved them without issue.
“What do you think? It's quite intelligent, and as you can see, it's very friendly toward humans.”
It certainly seemed ordinary. For the moment, Lucas judged there were no major problems.
“...Mansu Precision Engineering is quite something. To reproduce such a difficult Buffering Array in such a short time.”
“Haha! Not at all, Inspector. Mansu Precision Engineering has been researching the Buffering Array for three years already. We have records of that research too. Would you like to see them?”
“No, thank you. I'm the kind of person who wants to see what others are trying to hide, not what they want to show me. Can I inspect other specimens?”
“...Haha, you're an amusing person. Of course. We have hundreds of successful specimens, so please take your time looking around.”
After the researcher and Lucas left, the blank-faced magical beast's mouth slowly split open into a chilling smile.
“Grrk... Grrrk...”
* * *
While Lucas toured the magical beast industrial complex with the researcher, Leona, the inspector who had come to China as his partner, conducted a separate investigation...
Soon, they muttered in a dazed voice, unable to believe what they were seeing.
“W-what is this...?”
A short distance from the magical beast industrial complex.
Freight trucks had been coming and going with strange frequency, so Leona grew suspicious and secretly infiltrated the area.
“This is... all magical beast corpses...?”
Their voice trembled with fear.
Thousands of magical beast corpses had been dumped into a pit, while people outside the pit incinerated them with flamethrowers.
Whooosh!!!
Incineration itself was not that unusual. It was common to see magical beast corpses being burned elsewhere too.
The problem was...
The scale.
Normally, a medium-sized research laboratory disposed of around four or five magical beasts a month.
The number of magical beasts discarded during development was lower than people might think.
That was because cultivation was fundamentally carried out using well-developed designs. If a design was considered inadequate, most laboratories would refine it further rather than attempt cultivation.
And Seeds with fundamentally flawed designs often developed errors during cultivation and died on their own.
That was why cultivation only proceeded when they were certain the design had no major flaws.
There were ethical concerns, of course, but unlike design, cultivation consumed materials and came with high costs.
But what about this place?
“Have they really lost their minds...?”
The number of magical beast corpses was beyond imagination.
Even at this moment, freight trucks were coming and going from the site with something loaded inside.
They could not even begin to guess how many magical beasts had been cultivated.
Seeing this, Leona could roughly picture what Mansu Precision Engineering had done to reproduce the Buffering Array.
“...They cultivated massive numbers solely to collect specimens... At this scale, it's practically a national operation...!”
Leona immediately contacted Lucas and the association.
But at that moment...
Boom!!
Booom!!!
“W-what was that!!”
Black smoke rose in the distance from the magical beast industrial complex.
[ Breaking ] Massive explosion at Sichuan Province magical beast industrial special zone... Chinese authorities: “The work of anti-state terrorist forces”
[ Issue ] Mansu Precision Engineering's Sichuan research complex engulfed in flames... Authorities: “We will respond firmly to this hostile operation”
[ Society ] Internet and communications across Sichuan Province abruptly shut down... Chinese authorities: “Security measure to track terrorists”
[ Breaking ] “It wasn't terrorism”... Satellite images reveal the truth of the Sichuan complex, tens of thousands of magical beasts went berserk in a chain reaction
[ Reuters Breaking ] Satellite image analysis reveals... Cause of Sichuan Magical Beast Industrial Complex explosion was not terrorism but a “mass magical beast rampage”
[ CNN Exclusive ] “No signs of any external attack”... The “Sichuan Magical Beast Catastrophe” caused by Mansu Precision Engineering's arrogance
[ Breaking ] IAOA inspector reports from the scene: “Mansu Precision Engineering broke every safety rule and forcibly synthesized magical beasts”
[ Exposé ] “They drove tens of thousands of specimens to their deaths to imitate Yoo Hyun's technology”... International inspection team releases video evidence
[ Special ] “China's disaster happened because of a knockoff”... International Alchemy Association grants Yoo Hyun's paper a perfect score
Footnotes:
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