Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 142

142. Mana Bullet (1)

The path to Level 3 Platform required passing through at least eight layers of security.

Even then, armed Hunters constantly patrolled, checking and verifying everyone entering and exiting.

“Even the Sejong Institute isn’t this thorough.”

Do Won-kyung said, sounding fed up. But for Hyun-woo, it felt insufficient. With the conflict with the Alliance and the cutoff of Crystalline Moss supply, there might be a need to further strengthen security. Who knows what they might do to get Crystalline Moss.

“By the way, can we even make ‘that’ at our factory?”

‘That’ referred to the technology transferred from D&W.

Do Won-kyung said that everything made on Level 3 Platform was top secret, so she would assign appropriate code names.

However, Do Won-kyung named all projects ‘That,’ ‘This,’ ‘Mine,’ confusing everyone.

“Why?”

“If Park Gyu finds out, he’ll be furious again.”

Even if it wasn’t Park Gyu, just touching it was illegal.

Considering that most of the Hunters’ equipment is weaponry, Hunter equipment manufacturing is practically a defense industry already.

“That’s why we’re doing this so secretly.”

“…I thought you had some miraculous way of getting permission.”

“You don’t have to worry too much. Preparations for the Northern Expedition will proceed soon, and if we slowly show them the high potential of Awakened ones, they’ll change their minds.”

Hyun-woo chuckled and replied.

“Or they’ll realize they’ve already gone too far.”

Arriving at the Level 3 Platform and opening the door, Lee Si-won was seen holding project ‘That.’ Holding it in both hands, aiming at the air, even striking a cool pose.

Do Won-kyung sighed and took out her phone to take a picture. As the shutter clicked, Lee Si-won was startled and turned around.

“Director!”

“Put that down, you brat. Otherwise, I’ll spread this picture to all your contacts.”

Lee Si-won hurriedly put the item down. But Hyun-woo could understand Lee Si-won’s feelings.

This technology transferred from D&W had something that made a man’s heart flutter. Hyun-woo picked up what Lee Si-won had put down.

They were two pistols with particularly long barrels and thick slides.

Project ‘That’ was D&W’s itemized bullet business.

The itemization of bullets meant that even ordinary soldiers could kill monsters. Monster hunting would no longer be the exclusive privilege of Hunters.

Hunters worried about the reduction of their position, but the powerful expected a monopoly of force and invested heavily.

But the results were disappointing.

Despite decades of attempts, the itemization of bullets had not succeeded, and even the successful ones had terrible cost-effectiveness.

It was difficult to catch high-level monsters with ordinary-grade bullets.

Who would shoot bullets costing hundreds of thousands of won per shot just to catch monsters below 3 stars?

So, despite high expectations, D&W had no choice but to shut down the business. It was cheaper to hire a Hunter than to use expensive firearms.

‘Hunters can be used multiple times, understand words, and can be repaired, but bullets are one-time use.’

Of course, there were still a few countries or individuals who didn’t spare money and used them.

Priest Johann was one of those very few special cases.

Hyun-woo raised the pistol and aimed it at the air. Do Won-kyung clicked her tongue at the sight and asked.

“Are you another Lee Si-won?”

“…I was just checking the weight and balance.”

“Have you ever shot a pistol before?”

“Toy pistols, yes.”

Do Won-kyung was about to tell Hyun-woo what to look for and what to check.

But Hyun-woo quickly looked around the pistol and began to disassemble the parts.

He checked whether it was loaded, separated the magazine, and even did a simplified disassembly to check before starting to reassemble it.

Do Won-kyung closed her mouth.

“Aren’t you going to ask how I figured it out?”

“If I ask that question, it’ll only make you feel proud. I’ve decided not to question anything you know anymore.”

“H, how did you know?!”

However, Lee Si-won asked, tactlessly, from the side. Do Won-kyung gritted her teeth and kicked Lee Si-won’s leg, but he looked wronged.

“A, no. This gun is specially made to withstand the pressure of Mana Bullets. The design is completely different from existing pistols. If you fire Mana Bullets with a regular gun, the chamber will explode. But you disassembled it without even listening to the explanation…”

“Just take it as it is, you bastard!”

Hyun-woo didn’t have a way to explain it either. It was just that the design was grasped thanks to the Understanding of Everything +1 perk.

Of course, Hyun-woo also had no way to replicate this as it is without seeing the schematics.

“Let’s skip the tedious explanations and get into action. I’ve tested it with ordinary bullets, but I’ve never done it with Mana Bullets.”

Do Won-kyung seemed eager to test it out.

Mana Bullets were the first prototype created after receiving the technology transfer from D&W. Mana Bullets meant itemized bullets, which were the core of project ‘That.’

It was a fearsome-sounding name, but it didn’t mean anything special. It was just a bullet with mana in it. That was all.

Hyun-woo test-fired Mana Bullets at the soundproof shooting range inside the Level 3 Platform.

Bang, bang, bang. Three shots rang out, and three holes appeared in the pig carcass target.

‘It doesn’t look much different from a gun on the outside.’

In fact, that was what the powerful, those who invested in this business, had expected. It was a study that started with the hope that guns would work equally well on monsters.

Lee Si-won and Do Won-kyung were watching the target’s holes and slow-motion videos, looking quite pleased. But Hyun-woo was somehow dissatisfied.

“How far did you say this would work?”

“Hmm, we haven’t tested what we made yet, but according to the data D&W gave us, it’ll work up to level 30. But the data is quite good. I think it’s because the Crystalline Moss is highly pure.”

Then, in Difficulty: Hell, it would only work at about level 20.

“No, why did it take so long to make just this?”

The moment Hyun-woo said that, Do Won-kyung’s face contorted. Before Do Won-kyung could pick something up, Lee Si-won quickly stopped her and began to explain.

“Well, you may or may not know, but in the early days of the item manufacturing industry, it was difficult to make even a simple dagger. Itemization became possible after figuring out the proper design and the amount of Crystalline Moss to inject after numerous experiments.”

“Yes. But the bullet design itself shouldn’t be difficult, right?”

“The method of figuring out the design and injection amount… was ultimately through disassembling, analyzing, and assembling existing items. So, items with simple structures and commonly available items started to be made first. You can’t just disassemble rare or legendary items carelessly.”

Hyun-woo, who treated rare-grade items like trash on the street, briefly averted his gaze.

Well, commoners might think that way, he thought with a bit of arrogance.

If Hyun-woo could bring all the Crystalline Moss from Difficulty: Hell, he would be the richest man in the world.

“But bullets… there are no items to redesign. There’s nothing to analyze. You just have to bump into everything from scratch. Moreover, the smaller and simpler the object, the more difficult it is to itemize. Mana is like, ‘Why is this an item?’ and leaves. Mana Bullets are like an embodiment of all mana scholars’ ideals.”

Listening to Lee Si-won’s explanation, Hyun-woo seemed to understand why Do Won-kyung was pissed.

Well, it takes months or years to write a novel, but the reader can read it in as little as two hours.

‘Then it makes sense that the exoskeleton was relatively easy to itemize.’

It had functions, was large, and had a role assigned to it like armor, so it was easy for mana to dwell in it.

Of course, if he told Do Won-kyung that it was easy, he would get slapped this time.

“What about putting Crystalline Moss or item junk in and shooting it?”

“Well, it’s not that there weren’t such attempts… I heard that they even experimented with stuffing various things into a shotgun and firing it. Of course, it’s hard to call that a gun. The accuracy was terrible, and the Crystalline Moss turned into powder during the firing process.”

D&W succeeded in shooting a gun like a gun, albeit clumsily.

But Hyun-woo was still dissatisfied.

“Hmm…”

Hyun-woo took out a Mana Bullet from the chamber and examined the itemized purple bullet.

[Basic Mana Bullet (Common)]

[Physical Attack: Low, Magic Attack: None, Penetration: Low]

[Special Ability: None]

‘Looking at the stats, it’s just a miniature throwing dagger.’

Hyun-woo had already tried ‘manufacturing’ bullets in Difficulty: Hell.

But only this common-grade bullet was made, and nothing more came out.

The reason was clear.

The ‘Manufacturing’ skill can only create ‘what already existed,’ whether it’s an item or simple furniture.

The reason Hyun-woo could make something several generations ahead of what Do Won-kyung made was ultimately because Do Won-kyung would have made it in the world of Difficulty: Hell.

But the reason there are no Mana Bullets stronger than this is probably because bullets of this grade or higher have never been made in the original history.

But now history is changing.

“You said this was done according to the process provided by D&W, right?”

“Yes? Yes.”

“That process that maximizes cost-effectiveness.”

Lee Si-won’s expression became subtle. When he nodded, Hyun-woo smiled.

“Don’t worry about cost-effectiveness and make the most expensive one.”

***

The result came out earlier than expected.

Basically, it was just a matter of changing the ratio in D&W’s process.

Do Won-kyung and Lee Si-won were greatly concerned, saying it could be a tricky problem, but after several hours of process and experimentation, they created three bullets.

“I don’t know if this will perform properly, if the gun will hold up, or if this is really the limit. But if we pour more Crystalline Moss in here, it won’t even be a bullet anymore.”

The Mana Bullet that Do Won-kyung handed over was white, unlike the original one. The ordinary Mana Bullet was purple, but he couldn’t understand why this one was brighter.

Hyun-woo checked the status of the bullet. Then Hyun-woo saw an unfamiliar window.

[Unnamed (Rare)]

‘Name?’

[Assign a name.]

It was clear that this was a completely new item. Hyun-woo thought of the name White Mana Bullet since it was a white mana bullet.

As soon as he made up his mind, the status window popped up.

[White Mana Bullet (Rare)]

‘The reason why the window that didn’t pop up when I made the common-grade bullet popped up… is it because the grade increased?’

In fact, common-grade items don’t need complicated names. The name itself explains the identity.

But when it comes to rare or legendary items, unique and unintuitive names were attached.

Hyun-woo put aside his 잡생각 [jap-saeng-gak, Korean for 잡 “various, mixed” + 생각 “thoughts”; meaning: random, useless thoughts] and focused on the stats.

[Physical Attack: Medium, Magic Attack: Low, Penetration: Medium]

[Special Ability: Grants ‘Attribute’ to the bullet to give the target an effect.]

‘Attribute?’

When Hyun-woo wondered what an attribute was, Do Won-kyung made an annoyed expression.

“What is it again? Don’t just be surprised by yourself, let’s be surprised together.”

“No, this is… no. I’ll just show you.”

Hyun-woo loaded the White Mana Bullet… let’s just call it White Mana Bullet from now on, and headed to the shooting range.

He didn’t know what the attribute was yet, but if he understood it with a game sense, it would be like additional damage.

Hyun-woo wondered what attributes he could give and slightly took out Poison Blood from his fingertip and smeared it on the White Mana Bullet.

As soon as the Poison Blood touched it, the White Mana Bullet turned dark purple. It was clear that it had reacted to something.

The gunshot rang out, and the bullet hit the pig carcass set as a target.

Bang! The pig carcass shook greatly the moment the bullet hit. The power of the bullet had definitely improved.

The faces of Do Won-kyung and Lee Si-won were filled with smiles when an anomaly occurred.

The pig carcass began to swell and turn black in an instant, centered on the hole.

In an instant, half of the pig carcass rotted black and fell in half, emitting a terrible smell.

“Confirmed.”

[Hey, Kang Hyun-woo! What did you just do?!]

Do Won-kyung shouted loudly over the radio outside the bulletproof glass. But her voice was not angry, but overflowing with joy and a desire for exploration.

“Don’t come in. The smell is terrible.”

The ‘Contagion’ trait was turned off, but it was still a nauseating smell. But the lab was made in preparation for situations where it was contaminated by Hyun-woo.

As Hyun-woo tried to press the button to send the pig carcass to the incinerator, Do Won-kyung shouted.

[No, you idiot! How much data is there to extract!]

“Ah, then… be careful not to touch your skin and analyze it.”

Anyway, the moment Hyun-woo’s blood touches the target and spreads, a considerable amount is diluted. Because it spreads quickly.

But when Hyun-woo saw it, it seemed like the damage was simply due to the attribute being applied, not because of the blood.

‘If it really touched my blood, the pig carcass… wouldn’t be left.’

It seemed to have weakened instead. If you have proper protective clothing, nothing big will happen.

As Hyun-woo opened the door and came out, a sour smell quickly wafted in. But Do Won-kyung didn’t care and put on protective clothing and entered the shooting range.

“How much Crystalline Moss did it take to make this bullet?”

Hyun-woo asked Lee Si-won. Lee Si-won’s expression changed slightly awkwardly.

“Approximately… we concentrated about 98g of Crystalline Moss as much as possible and injected it.”

The weight of a normal pistol bullet is about 90g, so it meant that they extracted only the essence of a similar weight of Crystalline Moss and injected it.

The concentrated leftovers become Crystalline Moss residue and flow into the designated sewer. And the collectors will pick up some of it.

‘Let’s say it’s about 100g. Then how much is this?’

He recalled the price per kilogram when he last sold Crystalline Moss to the Alliance.

After a bit of calculation, Hyun-woo was able to realize that just one of these bullets cost as much as a domestic car.

He was so dumbfounded that he laughed in vain rather than feeling sorry.

“It’s definitely not cost-effective.”

“Y, yes. Well. That’s right.”

But Hyun-woo had no intention of saving it at all. Anyway, the raw material, Crystalline Moss, should be reduced as much as possible.

Selling only finished products that cannot be reprocessed. Moreover, now that this has been made, it will definitely be possible to make it in Difficulty: Hell in the future.

There were endless ways to use this. Hyun-woo smiled and instructed Lee Si-won.

“Can you make a thousand of these for now?”

Lee Si-won’s face changed to a crying expression.