WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Haruto
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Became the EX-Rank Pet Maker Hunters Obsess Over ◈
Chapter 68: Skill Demonstration Event
──────
Could Guild Master Cheon Sanha have escaped if my pet had been more complete?
I was not there, so I could not say.
But one thing was certain. What mattered was ensuring a better outcome if something similar happened in the future.
For example, if Hunter Yeon Harim found herself in a similar situation, my short-term goal was to create a magical beast strong enough to at least give her the option to escape.
Honestly, I wanted to help Guild Master Cheon Sanha, but things were never as easy as I wanted them to be.
In the end, all I could do was make better magical beasts.
So even this act of destruction was a small price to pay for that goal.
KABOOOM!
The incubator exploded, sending Researcher B, Tanaka Shinichi, flying backward in a protective suit.
“Gaaaah!”
“Tanakaaaa!”
Clatter.
The cultivation room looked as though it had been hit by a terrorist attack.
“Hmm... We are going to run out of incubators. The custom order is delayed, so it cannot be helped.”
Pant, pant...
Ordinary incubators could not withstand the creation of new essences.
But waiting around would be a waste of time, so I had no choice but to sacrifice the incubators.
It was a strategy of buying time with money.
Still, the results were certain.
I took out a pale-green gem the size of my thumbnail.
A solid-type essence... No, thinking about it now, crystalline essence was a better name.
This would completely change the existing magical-beast essence system.
Though it was still incomplete.
“I think I’ll figure it out once I collect a little more data.”
Pant, pant...
I held the crystalline essence to Haengbok’s mouth.
Slurp.
Haengbok gulped down the essence with gusto.
The reaction was immediate.
Pop.
A jelly horn grew from Haengbok’s jelly forehead.
“You’ve become a Jellykko Unicorn Edition, Haengbok.”
Pant, pant!
When I touched it, it felt tougher than the other parts.
It was still jelly, though.
“Once I stabilize it a little more...”
Pant, pant...
A short while later, Haengbok’s horn vanished without a trace.
* * *
Slurp.
Yeon Harim sat in an Ars Magna cafe, killing time.
Her pet consultation was over, so she could have returned to Korea. But there had not been many Gates in Korea lately, which meant there was not much work.
So she had taken some vacation time and was enjoying sightseeing in Japan.
KABOOM!
An explosion sounded in the distance.
It was probably the Hermes Research Institute.
“...Yoo Hyun is all right, right?”
Chirr...
Anyway...
“There are really a lot of magical beast pets here...”
Not only canine and feline magical beasts, but even bird-of-prey magical beasts like Chirring were extremely common.
Even considering that this was a magic engineering special zone, there were too many.
“It wasn’t this crowded with them the last time I came to Japan.”
Back then, neither Korea nor Japan had many Hunters walking around with magical beast pets.
Usually, buying equipment with the money spent on a magical beast pet was far better for improving one’s capabilities.
But what about now?
All kinds of magical beasts and the Hunters who appeared to be their owners were everywhere she looked.
“Is this Yoo Hyun’s effect too?”
Yoo Hyun’s magical beasts had practically saved Japan, so magical beast pet adoption had probably risen because of that...
Come to think of it, magical beast pet ownership had also risen dramatically in Korea. Not combat pets, but household ones.
Jellykko cafes existed now, which said it all.
“Hmm...”
However, as all kinds of production technologies rapidly advanced, existing Hunters’ equipment was quickly becoming obsolete.
A new realm of equipment, now called Tier 5 and surpassing the previous Tier 4 equipment, was opening up. The magical-beast industry was in a similar position.
More and more companies were creating S-rank magical beasts, and their production costs were falling accordingly.
Equipment could be thrown away and replaced.
But what about magical beasts?
Honestly, the low rank of Chirring, the Keraunos model, did not matter to Yeon Harim because she had Etherization.
But what about other Hunters?
What would happen when combat magical beasts were pushed aside by inflation?
It was easy to imagine what would happen to creatures born not to be loved, but to fight, once they could no longer prove their worth.
“It’s bitter...”
Chirr...
A few days passed like that...
And the explosions stopped coming from Yoo Hyun’s laboratory.
* * *
“Hmm, the stabilization is done, but the crystallized essence itself is a mess. Its arrangement isn’t merely tangled. It’s all broken apart.”
Pant, pant...
Amon tilted his head behind me as I continued my research.
[ Hmm. I cannot understand it no matter how I think about it. Why are you not using the power of a higher hierarchy? Would not magical beasts become stronger easily just by infusing them with energy? ]
Amon found it strange that I was researching older technology despite already being able to handle the power of Tier 2.
“That’s true, but using that method would stagnate my growth.”
[ Then do you intend to never use the power of Tier 2? ]
Of course not.
“It’s just not time yet. I haven’t even fully mastered the first-tier technological level, so it feels premature to follow the Tier 2 tech tree.”
While learning about Dharma Arts from Amon, I had realized that second-order energy had different characteristics depending on its type, and every type developed in a different direction.
Could I control all of that right now?
Realistically, it would be difficult.
I still did not even know how Rodin, the first Tier 2 magical beast, had turned out that way.
But one thing was certain. Tier 2 energies such as Dharma Power, Demonic Energy, and Divine Power were all derived from mana.
In other words, once I mastered all Tier 1 mana technology, I would naturally understand Tier 2 technology too!
“Skeleton Jelly Dog, fundamentals are the most important part of all crafting.”
Pant, pant...
[ That is true, but remember that a mortal’s life is terribly short. ]
That was true.
That was why most people only thought about using the power they gained, rather than understanding its principles.
There was no need to know, and no reason to know, in such a short life.
It was probably like everyone knowing how to use a smartphone without knowing how to make one.
“Still, I’m a creator. I need to identify the principles, understand them, and expand my thinking. Even if it takes a long time.”
[ You were a monster chasing essences until recently, yet you speak well. ]
“I have no intention of denying my ability. This Trait is part of me, no matter what anyone says. But if I leave everything to instinct in the end, how am I any different from a beast?”
The direction my EX-rank Trait desired was the same as mine.
The instinct to pursue ultimate evolution.
But because it lacked reason, it was excessively drawn to powerful essences and energy.
It only pursued ways to grow stronger quickly.
This approach was bound to cause problems.
Like an illegally built structure thrown together without care.
“It’s Demonic Arts, Demonic Arts.”
Pant, pant...
I grabbed Amon and kneaded him roughly.
Creak. Knead. Knead.
[ Gaaaah! I told you not to knead me! ]
I took out and examined the green gem, which had been processed to some extent.
Reach the ultimate while controlling myself, without obsessing over hierarchies or essences, and without being controlled by instinct.
To forge a path while maintaining a precarious balance between the instinct of the Sovereign of Evolution and human reason.
I believed that was the right way to use an EX-rank Trait.
“Should I start gathering people soon?”
[ People? ]
“I need samples.”
* * *
【 Magic Beast Minor Gallery 】
- [ Free ] Is the board dead...? Why is it so quiet?
- [ Free ] There is nothing to talk about...
- [ Free ] For real... Technology keeps advancing, but nothing feels new... It wasn’t like this when the Man was around...
- [ Free ] Any fun gossip?
- [ Free ] What about the Ouroboros S-rank new release showcase, or reviews of Adlers Kraft’s A-rank magical beasts with Duality applied?
- [ Free ] We talked about that yesterday too...
- [ Free ] Ah, I’m bored! So bored!
- [ Free ] Huh? What is this? The Man’s demonstration event is up???
- [ Free ] Don’t bait us.
- [ Free ] What the fuck, it’s real?
- [ Free ] ????
The Magic Beast Minor Gallery stirred at the news that Yoo Hyun would be showing off a new technology after so long.
Others were interested in the news as well.
Namely, magical-beast alchemists from overseas.
“Hmm...? A new technology demonstration event...?”
“Again? I’m sick of it. Are you going?”
“I don’t know. Isn’t he just going to boast about magical-beast production methods he got through the support of Transcendent factions as if they were his own?”
Ordinary people did not know this, but more than half of the top creators already knew about the factions.
With technology developing at an incredible pace because of them lately, it was impossible not to know.
One alchemist clicked their tongue.
“Tch... I don’t like it. He’ll probably just be showing off cost-effective, powerful A-rank or S-rank magical beasts again.”
That was what the magical-beast production methods supplied by the factions were like.
They were like cost-effective weapons of war.
Whatever others thought, they had no interest in demonstrations of war-machine performance.
“But this is Yoo Hyun announcing a new technology. And it’s in Japan...”
The colleague’s words made them pause, but they soon shook their head.
“...Even so, isn’t it just going to be a demonstration of some new S-rank magical beast?”
Yoo Hyun had not released anything new since unveiling an S-rank production method.
His genius had probably run dry. It was common in this field.
As they worked their smartphone while thinking that, the colleague beside them spoke in disbelief.
“Then why are you booking a plane ticket?”
“...Just in case.”
At that, everyone there looked at one another before starting to book flights to Japan.
“Well, I’ll treat it like a trip to Japan.”
“Me too. Ahem... I’m not expecting much.”
* * *
And so, the day of the demonstration event arrived.
People packed the interior of a building that resembled an indoor concert hall.
Chatter.
Murmur.
Rustle.
A Korean man holding a short selfie stick swept his gaze around the room and spoke.
“Wow, can you see this? It’s packed. There are even more people here than at the German Magic Engineering Expo competition. I can see Judge Maximilian, who served as a competition judge, and all the famous alchemists over there...! You can really feel how much Director Yoo Hyun’s standing has changed since the competition!”
It was Petite Cream, the YouTuber who had broadcast the competition at the previous Magic Engineering Expo.
Hearing that Yoo Hyun would announce a new technology, he had set aside all his plans and flown to Japan.
[ Chat ]
- Fuck, Cream bro! You cancelled the Rebeta Tier 5 equipment demonstration for Yoo Hyun? Are you insane???
- You have seriously gotten complacent lately???? Magical beasts are already out of the meta!!!!
- Seriously... If it’s not Jellykko these days, it doesn’t even get views;;; Why did you come...
“Whew... Everyone, quiet down. It could be a demonstration of a new Jellykko model.”
[ Chat ]
- Hmm... Fair.
- If it’s Jellykko, it can’t be helped.
- No, you fucking jelly freaks, does it make sense to cancel the Rebeta Tier 5 equipment demonstration and come to a Jellykko demonstration???? You can see dozens of Jellykkos just walking to and from work, damn it;;;
“Ahem. Director Yoo Hyun is my benefactor. Even if this demonstration event is nothing special and flops, I won’t regret coming.”
His YouTube channel had blown up entirely thanks to Yoo Hyun.
Even if public sentiment was bad, he had to show loooyalty.
[ Chat ]
- Lol, just wait, Cream bro. If this is less interesting than Rebeta’s Tier 5 equipment, we’ll punish you by unsubscribing.
- Seriously, with the technological singularity lately, Yoo Hyun’s technology isn’t even that appealing a choice;; We’re not here watching your broadcast for this...
- But isn’t Yoo Hyun the only one who can make S-rank magical beasts? I genuinely don’t know.
- S-rank? Major companies and top alchemists are mass-producing those now, so they’re not even that rare anymore lol...
- Gasp! Then what if Yoo Hyun makes an SS-rank magical beast...!?
- There’s no SS-rank mana core processing technology yet, so how the hell would he make an SS-rank magical beast, you dumbass;;
- Anyway, there’s nothing to speculate about with Yoo Hyun’s technology right now... That’s why coming to this demonstration is boring as fuck. There’s no vision, no vision.
Sure enough... As the viewers said, it did not seem likely that anything especially revolutionary would appear.
‘The recent meta has been stronger, cheaper magical-beast production, so he’ll probably target that?’
If it was Yoo Hyun, he might have developed new technology for lowering costs.
‘Well, even that would make up for missing the Rebeta Tier 5 equipment demonstration.’
As he sat there praying it would not be a flop, the lights on the ceiling gradually dimmed.
“Shh... It’s starting. For reference, filming is allowed at this demonstration.”
Yoo Hyun quietly walked onto the stage amid the silence.
“Hello. I’m Yoo Hyun. I don’t like dragging out introductions, so I’ll begin the demonstration right away.”
Not long after the demonstration began...
A tremendous cheer rang through the venue, and Petite Cream shed tears as his channel looked set to take off once more.
“Ah...! I believe, Yoo-men!”
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading today too...!!!
Have a great Chuseok holiday in advance!!!!
Footnotes:
“Yoo-men” combines Yoo Hyun’s surname with “amen,” matching Petite Cream’s dramatic declaration of belief.
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