Mutant — Part 2
“Are you serious? You’re telling me to use mutant mana cores?”
I asked sharply, but the magical spirit calmly explained further.
[Master, your abilities are too numerous. To make full use of all of them, you need not just groundbreaking but revolutionary physical reconstruction. A standard reconstruction won’t suffice—you’ll require something on par with a mutant-level reconstruction.]
“On par with a mutant-level reconstruction… What if I end up becoming a mutant myself?”
[But Master, you already possess mutant abilities, don’t you?]
“Well, yeah, that’s true…”
[We’ll incorporate a purification process midway. Fortunately, with your [Indomitable] and [Purification] abilities, it’s feasible. By utilizing your mana circuits, we can remove the mutant factor. My calculations show that it’ll be safe.]
It was a bit concerning.
But the magical spirit’s logic was sound.
I decided to trust her.
After all, she wasn’t just any artificial spirit—her simulation capabilities were nearly precognitive. Designing a restructuring elixir recipe that could handle my Trait Swap ability was something only a magical spirit or a handful of high-ranking mages could achieve.
“Is the mutant mana core the only ingredient we need?”
[The other ingredients are relatively easy to obtain.]
“That’s… troublesome.”
I frowned.
Several sources for rare materials came to mind: the Shinwon Market, the Mage Tower Auction, the Colosseum…
But I shook my head.
It wasn’t just one or two kinds of mutant mana cores I needed—I needed four different types.
Mutant mana cores.
They weren’t ordinary mana cores extracted from beasts or mutated creatures.
When the word [mutant] was attached to a mana core, it meant it came from only one kind of being.
Well, calling them a “species” didn’t quite fit.
After all, they could interbreed with humans and have offspring.
Mutants.
Humans whose DNA had been altered over generations as mana accumulated in their lineage, transforming them into something beyond human from birth.
They were called mutants, and their hearts were called mutant mana cores.
In the Joseon era, they were killed at birth. But times have changed. Nowadays, they live secluded lives in deep mountain villages in Gangwon Province.
“Where do I even get mutant mana cores? Do I have to go to the monster village?”
[According to my data, the monster village is the only legitimate source. Occasionally, items show up on the black market, but that’s strictly illegal. If the monster village finds out, they’ll press criminal charges. In some cases, they even seek personal revenge.]
“Whew, got it.”
By law, mutants were recognized as humans.
It couldn’t be helped.
Though they often had violent and impulsive personalities, they were fully sentient, capable of speech and reason.
They could marry and have children. That said it all.
“I’ll bring back the mutant mana cores, so wait here. Finish the design and preparations in the meantime. Also, contact Manager Choi to procure the other ingredients.”
[Understood! Be careful on your journey!]
I got into my SUV and headed toward Gangwon Province.
It was the same SUV that Manager Choi had repaired until it was almost spotless.
But not entirely.
With [Driving], [Riding], and [Insight] equipped, I could tell—every time I shifted gears, there was a faint metallic noise. Once I hit the highway and picked up speed, the wind noise grew harsh.
‘Just a little longer. Then I’ll get a proper vehicle.’
For now, buying a new one was out of the question. No money.
VROOOOOM!
I sped down the highway, lost in thought.
‘How am I going to get those mutant mana cores?’
I already knew the answer.
Reputation quests.
The monster village wasn’t very old. Since it was isolated and inhabited only by mutants, they lacked many things and didn’t know much about the outside world.
Just by scratching their itches in the right spots, I could raise my reputation there quickly.
And with high enough reputation, I could obtain plenty of materials.
‘The problem is that you can only get mana cores after completing all the reputation quests…’
Obtaining a living mutant’s mana core was impossible.
The best I could hope for was to receive mana cores that had already been extracted from deceased mutants.
I mentally reviewed all the methods for raising reputation in the monster village.
‘Repeatable quests, resource collection, monster hunts… All of them take way too long.’
In that case, I needed to change my perspective.
In Arcane Seoul, there were a few quests that awarded massive reputation boosts for the monster village.
The standout ones were character-specific quests tied to mutant characters.
I needed to find one that could be activated at this stage and didn’t require the presence of those characters.
‘Grizzly Bear, Thunder, Skeleton Snake… Ah, this one will do.’
I found it.
A quest that could be completed in a single day if you knew about it in advance.
In the game, this quest alone could raise your reputation rank by one full tier. If I handled it well here, I might even get all four mutant mana cores.
VROOOOM!
I organized my thoughts and stepped on the gas.
The destination: Daeam Mountain, spanning across Yanggu and Inje in Gangwon Province.
Before heading up, I stopped by a nearby store to gather supplies.
Essentials.
Food.
Provisions.
And, from a shop that seemed to deal with the monster village, a bulk purchase of Level 0 mana cores.
“What brings an outsider here?”
“I have some business to take care of.”
“That so?”
The shopkeeper eyed me suspiciously.
I left the store and headed out of town.
In the car, I made some modifications to the mana cores, then began my ascent.
At the summit of Daeam Mountain lay a high-altitude wetland known as Yongneup, where the monster village was located.
The road only extended partway up the mountain.
I parked the SUV by the roadside and sprinted up the trail.
[Sigurd Cultivation Technique], [Mana Soul], [Mana Recovery]
[Leap], [Dash], [Mobility]
Even I had to admit my speed was incredible.
Daeam Mountain was infamous for its rugged terrain, but it couldn’t slow me down.
I streaked through the dense forest like a bolt of lightning, leaping over massive boulders like a deer as I raced toward the summit.
How far had I run like that?
Swiishhh!
A sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
“Ugh!”
At the same time, Danger Sense activated.
I felt a prickling sensation at the back of my neck and immediately twisted my body.
I shifted direction almost 90 degrees, rapidly decelerating.
The ground furrowed beneath my feet, leaving deep skid marks as my body came to an abrupt halt.
Thud!
Just then, a white object flew past me and embedded itself in a tree.
It looked like an arrow at first glance.
I narrowed my eyes as I examined it.
This was no ordinary arrow.
It was a finger bone.
Someone had used it as ammunition, like a bullet or arrow.
At the same time, a voice imbued with mana reverberated eerily through the air.
“Stop. This is a restricted area.”
I turned toward the direction of the voice.
A figure stood there—a peculiar individual.
Her body was obscured by a bulky outfit, and her face was hidden behind a gas mask.
The only part of her exposed was her pale skeletal hand.
[SR Skeleton Snake]
I knew what lay beneath those clothes.
Her entire body was skeletal, with a snake’s head and a snake’s tail.
An undead mutant.
In the game, many players favored her for her exceptional performance.
“A restricted area?”
“Exactly. No one is allowed to enter. If you wish to pass, you must present an entry permit.”
Normally, you could only proceed through a special quest.
But I knew a magic phrase.
“Isn’t this the path to Hope Village?”
“…Hmm.”
Hope Village.
That was what the mutants called their monster village.
It was actually the official name, though most referred to it as the “monster village” due to the poor perception of mutants.
I stared at the Skeleton Snake, feigning innocence.
“I came to find Hope Village, but this is the first I’ve heard about needing an entry permit.”
“Who told you about it?”
“A friend.”
“Which friend?”
“Uh… do I really have to say?”
I deliberately expressed irritation, and the Skeleton Snake scrutinized me intently.
Her face, hidden behind a gas mask and goggles, tilted slightly.
From the empty sockets beneath the goggles, a green glow pierced out, radiating directly toward me.
So what?
I had nothing to hide.
A friend from the game is still a friend, isn’t it?
“If you know that name, you’re a friend of mine too. Follow me. Our village is protected by a barrier.”
“Thank you.”
It was fortunate she was the one patrolling.
If it had been someone like Thunder, who was notoriously inflexible, this would’ve been much harder.
As we walked, the mist thickened.
It was an unnatural fog, suffused with mana.
Tap, tap.
Skeleton Snake leapt gracefully from rock to rock as we moved.
She only stepped on specific boulders, each spaced several meters apart.
I memorized the sequence and followed her, leaping to each rock.
She mumbled a warning as she moved.
“Step on the wrong rock, and you’ll be immediately expelled. There’s a sanctuary barrier here.”
“I’ve heard about it.”
“The rocks change every day, so don’t get any funny ideas.”
“If I had bad intentions, I would’ve gone after you the moment I saw you.”
I casually tapped the Mjolnir hanging from my belt as I spoke.
She gave me a peculiar look but then continued flying ahead.
After hopping across countless boulders, we finally reached the village.
“Wow!”
The sight before me was exactly as it had been in the game.
It didn’t match the name “monster village” at all.
Instead, it resembled a quaint countryside hamlet.
Houses built from mutated trees lined the area, their walls formed by sprawling ivy vines.
Roses, lilies, and chrysanthemums bloomed abundantly around each home.
Some houses even used flowers to create murals on their walls.
It felt less like a monster village and more like a town of flowers and trees.
As I marveled at the scenery, the villagers began to notice me.
“A human?”
“Huh? It’s a human!”
“What are they doing here?”
The reactions were varied.
There were so many of them, and the diversity was astonishing.
A five-meter-tall giant.
A man with six arms and growths on either side of his head, making him look like he had three heads.
A woman resembling the demons I’d encountered in the Great Labyrinth.
A child with feathers crackling with electricity sprouting from their body.
An elderly man, pale as a corpse, who cast no shadow.
A flaming humanoid, their entire body composed of fire instead of flesh.
If I’d seen them outside, I probably would’ve attacked them immediately, assuming they were just mutated creatures.
But now, they were simply staring at me with wary eyes.
“So, what brings you to our village?”
“I need to speak with your village chief.”
“The chief? Alright, follow me.”
At the village center stood a tree house five times larger than the others.
“Chief, I’m coming in.”
Skeleton Snake pushed the door open without hesitation and entered.
Inside, I saw him.
A massive bear.
His entire body was encased in an armor-like shell of steel, and majestic horns curved upward from his head.
A mutant.
[SSR Grizzly Bear]
Grizzly Bear blinked as he looked at me.
“A human? What business does a human have in our village?”
“Tsk. They said they wanted to see you.”
“Click your tongue all you want, but at least learn some manners. You’ve been here for over 20 years, yet you still talk like that?”
“It’s easier this way.”
“Do as you please.”
With a grunt, Skeleton Snake vanished, leaving me alone with Grizzly Bear.
He regarded me with moist, calf-like eyes.
In the game, this had been weird enough, but seeing it in reality was even more jarring.
Who would believe this was a Level 7 superhuman and a mutant?
If he were smaller, he’d be called “Cute Bear” instead of “Grizzly Bear.”
“You’re someone I’ve never met before. You said you had business with me?”
“Yes. I came to ask for a favor.”
“A favor? I can’t imagine what a human superhuman would need from me, but go ahead. Let’s hear it.”
I took a deep breath.
How should I phrase this?
In the end, being straightforward was best.
I’d probably take a hit for it, but it was better than being suspected of ulterior motives.
“I need mana cores.”
Grizzly Bear’s eyes took on a peculiar gleam, as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
It was clear he was questioning his own ears.
Even though the disaster I had anticipated was now unfolding, I didn’t back down. Instead, I strengthened my voice and pressed on.
“The Giant Mutant Mana Core, the Demon Mutant Mana Core, the Yaksha—”
“You bastard!”
Just as expected.
Grizzly Bear erupted with rage.
His eyes flared like blazing fire as he swung his massive arm.
That gigantic arm, thick as a tree trunk.
Swoosh!
The air itself split apart.
It felt as if space was being torn asunder.
If I took that blow without any defenses, death would be the only outcome.
Switching traits in a flash, I extended my left arm.
[Vajra Body], [Undying], [Sigurd Cultivation Technique]
[Mana Shield], [Close-Combat Mastery], [Defense]
Shiiing!
Aegis unfolded.
Metallic wings spread sleekly outward, forming an intangible force field that solidified into a wall.
Over this wall, a shield-shaped barrier layered itself.
Finally, the massive iron-like arm of Grizzly Bear came crashing down like a thunderbolt.
BOOOOM!
The world turned white.
For a moment, I nearly blacked out.
If not for Vajra Body or the resolute will it bestowed, this would’ve been the end for me.
But that didn’t mean I was unscathed.
My body was flung into the air and sent flying over 10 meters.
“Gah!”
My left arm throbbed with pain as though it had been shattered.
But it wasn’t actually broken.
Aegis had held firm.
Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to my feet.
Grizzly Bear bellowed as if flames were pouring from his mouth.
“Not bad! That makes it worth killing you! I’m going to crush you!”
Standing tall on his hind legs, Grizzly Bear roared.
The sound struck my ears like a cannon, bursting my eardrums.
Then, Grizzly Bear slightly lowered his body—a clear preparatory motion to leap forward and flatten me in one devastating attack.
If I took that head-on, even I wouldn’t survive.
Just as Grizzly Bear tensed for his leap, I shouted with all the strength in my voice.
“Wait! What the hell are you doing? I didn’t come here to poach anyone, so why are you attacking me right away?”
“Hah! I know exactly what human superhumans think. You ask for mana cores? Sure, you won’t take them from the living. But you’re here to pillage the mana cores stored in our mausoleum, aren’t you? Tell me, would you sell the remains of your family or friends for a handful of coins? We don’t need money or gold! All we want is a small paradise to live in, away from you people!”
Grizzly Bear slowly brought his front paws together.
Mana rippled violently around him.
The intense reddish-brown mana began to solidify into a visible form.
Aura Claws.
Or an Aura Blade.
A bear capable of using aura attacks—this had to be a joke, right?
“I’ll pay you.”
“Pay? PAY? Would YOU sell the corpses of your family and friends for a price?”
“Of course, not for money. But I would sell them… if you took my soul as the payment.”
“What? Your soul?”
Grizzly Bear’s eyes widened as he looked at me, utterly baffled.
Keeping my composure, I slowly set down the golf bag I’d been carrying on my back.
Unzipping it, I retrieved a particular item.
I raised it high so Grizzly Bear could clearly see it.
“This.”
It was slightly larger than my palm.
A perfectly inflated container with a smooth, slightly slippery styrofoam texture.
Just as in my previous world, it was a beloved national snack in this one too.
Grizzly Bear’s fiery rage visibly cooled as his gaze narrowed.
“A… cup ramen? Why?”
Of course, this wasn’t just any cup ramen.
–TL Notes–
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Bro is cooking hard