Reinforcing Kim Chulkwon — Part 3
“You want to become stronger?”
“Yes. I want to become stronger.”
He must have realized a lot through this recent ordeal.
In the end, the only thing you can truly rely on in your final moments is yourself.
No matter how large an organization you build, if your own strength isn’t solid, it’s nothing more than a house of cards.
And I knew better than anyone how a Reinforced Type could become stronger.
As I debated what to say in response, Kim Chulkwon pulled out a magical contract he had prepared in advance.
He knelt before me and offered it with utmost humility. Taking a look, I found the terms were exceedingly simple.
[First, Kim the Warrior shall be referred to as Party A.]
[Second, Kim Chulkwon shall be referred to as Party B.]
[Third, Party B shall obey Party A without question.]
[Fourth, Party A shall have full control over Party B’s life and death.]
That was all.
A perfect example of an unfair, exploitative slave contract.
Not even part-time workers would agree to such terms.
I casually waved the magical contract.
“Are you serious? This is a bit much.”
“I am serious, Superhuman.”
Still kneeling, Kim Chulkwon straightened his back with determination.
“I’m already as good as dead. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve died long ago, and my brother would’ve met the same fate. Since you saved me, I’ll dedicate everything I have to you.”
His eyes were filled with resolute determination.
The recent events had clearly shaken him to his core.
At the same time, it seemed like he was also wary of himself—perhaps afraid that he might betray me someday.
Empty words of commitment can feel hollow. It seemed he wanted to bind himself like this to solidify his resolve.
“Alright. I’ll accept it.”
I respected Kim Chulkwon’s wishes.
The magical contract activated.
The paper ignited instantly, and a magic circle appeared in midair.
Then, like a stamp, the magic circle engraved itself onto our hearts.
It was an unfamiliar sensation—linking heart to heart, soul to soul, and holding another person’s life and death in your hands.
From now on, Kim Chulkwon couldn’t even entertain the thought of betraying me.
I could crush his heart anytime I wished.
Strangely, rather than fear or dread, Kim Chulkwon looked more at ease, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“I’m in your hands, my lord…”
“Just call me Superhuman. Let’s not make this awkward.”
“Haha, understood.”
Kim Chulkwon laughed like a young boy, looking genuinely happy.
After organizing my thoughts for a moment, I spoke.
“There are two fundamental ways for a Reinforced Type to get stronger. You know that, right?”
“Through biological mutation and mechanical prosthetics, correct?”
“Exactly.”
Biological engineering mutations. Mechanical prosthetic augmentations.
In the game, Reinforced Types chose one of these two paths to level up.
But that wasn’t all.
To truly become strong—truly ascend to the higher levels as a Reinforced Type—you needed to use both.
“You know Leviathan, right?”
“Of course. Who doesn’t know Leviathan? Especially among Reinforced Types.”
Leviathan, a being on par with the Heavenly Demon.
One of only four Level 9 Superhumans.
The pinnacle of Reinforced Types and their ultimate aspiration.
Leviathan was the perfect example of a Reinforced Type who combined both biological mutation and mechanical prosthetics.
“To become stronger as a Reinforced Type, you have to follow Leviathan’s example.”
“Isn’t that dangerous? I’ve heard of people who tried to emulate Leviathan but ended up as mutants or had mana outbursts. It’s considered a taboo in public and even in the media.”
“You just need to use mutation factors and prosthetic components that are compatible with each other. When properly matched, instead of causing rejection or suppression, they produce a synergistic effect. The mutation becomes more stable, and the prosthetic’s mana efficiency increases dramatically.”
“That’s… possible?”
“That’s why Leviathan was the first to reach Level 9. Even the conglomerates in our country know about this. That’s how they’ve climbed to where they are.”
“Ah…”
Kim Chulkwon’s eyes wavered.
“Do you know of any specific combinations? We’re not going to have to resort to live experiments, are we?”
“I know a few. Some of them can even be implemented using the materials in the Geonwoobong facility.”
“Then we should head to Geonwoobong as soon as the sun rises.”
“Exactly.”
Retaking Geonwoobong was easy.
As soon as they saw us, the guards at Geonwoobong threw down their weapons and knelt.
After all, the core members had all been wiped out the day before.
The ones left behind were the lowest of the low.
I assigned the remaining executive to handle cleanup and headed straight for the body modification facility.
“Get in.”
“Is it going to be okay?”
“Of course. It’ll just hurt a bit since you’re doing both biological mutation and prosthetic implantation at the same time.”
Arcane Seoul was filled with countless mutation factors and prosthetic components.
The combination would depend on the type of mutation factor, the material of the prosthetic, and the attributes of the mana core embedded within it.
I operated the computer to check the available materials.
‘Starting from Level 3 would be best.’
I chose the most standard occult build.
Werewolf mutation factors, blood mithril, and a mana core extracted from the spectral amalgamation boss at the Shopping Mall Forbidden Zone.
A combination of werewolf, vampire, and ghost.
The key to a successful Reinforced Type build was ensuring the components were similar yet slightly distinct. Using identical elements would almost always result in a mana outburst.
‘The magic circles… they’re lacking.’
Here, the blood mithril would be used to engrave the magic circles onto the prosthetics.
Blood mithril was a soft metal and extremely expensive, so crafting an entire prosthetic out of it was impractical.
Instead, magic circles would be etched into it. But the number of pre-engraved magic circles was disappointingly low.
What had they been doing with all their money?
Why hadn’t they hired a proper mage—or at least a magical engineer—to conduct research?
‘I’d prefer something with elegance or a blood-draining effect.’
The options were limited to just three.
Strength, Vitality, or Dexterity.
Basic traits among basics. Even among common traits, it was just a Tier 3.
I chuckled inwardly.
It reminded me of when I had first been thrown into this world, scrambling to gather traits.
‘Let’s go with Dexterity.’
The werewolf mutation factor inherently provides two traits:
[Strength] and [Toughness].
If Kim Chulkwon were purely a warrior or a close-quarters combatant, Strength or Vitality would have been good choices. Adding steel claws to his prosthetic arm would also work well.
But Arcane Seoul’s Kim Chulkwon was an all-around attacker.
In close combat, he used his prosthetic arm, and at mid-range, he sprayed bullets with submachine guns.
In that case, the choice had to be adjusted.
[Dexterity] trait selected.
Whirr!
The prosthetic manufacturing device roared to life.
It was similar to a 3D printer from my original world.
The sleek prosthetic arm began to take form in mid-air, its design sketched in glowing blueprints. At the same time, silver magic circles were engraved into the surface using blood mithril.
“Arghhhh! Aaaaaghhh!”
Next to me, Kim Chulkwon was screaming in pain.
He was encased in a large glass chamber.
Through a tube inserted into his neck, the werewolf mutation factor was being injected into his body.
His muscles swelled, and black fur began sprouting all over him.
It would be painful, but he would survive.
After all, Kim Chulkwon had already reached Level 3 before.
In the game, the werewolf mutation factor suited him well.
I pulled a magic box out of my golf bag.
Inside was the mana core I had prepared, which I inserted into the prosthetic manufacturing device.
The almost-complete steel prosthetic arm was infused with the mana core at its center.
The magic circles engraved on it activated, emitting a sinister energy.
I checked the progress displayed on the monitor and nodded.
‘It’s working perfectly.’
Since I had used a wild mana core rather than a processed mana stone, an additional trait would be granted.
The traits provided by the mana core from the spectral amalgamation varied, but…
It was most likely [Chilling Touch].
When the prosthetic is activated and brought into contact with an opponent, it would freeze them and drain their vitality simultaneously.
‘Still feels like it’s lacking.’
It didn’t seem like the full potential of the materials had been realized.
If things had gone perfectly, it might have yielded something greater, like [Phantom Hand] or [Hand of Death].
But even so, this was a solid start.
[Strength], [Toughness], [Dexterity], [Chilling Touch].
Adding in Kim Chulkwon’s existing [Martial Arts] trait, that made a total of five.
Although his base grade was N-rank, this setup placed him near the top among Level 3 Superhumans.
Even an average R-rank Superhuman wouldn’t stand a chance against him.
Whirrr! Click!
“Aaaaargh!”
The completed prosthetic arm was implanted into Kim Chulkwon, who was still mid-transformation.
The prosthetic fused with his severed arm and connected to his nerves, causing him to scream at the top of his lungs.
That’s when the prosthetic began to glow.
A faint gray light spread from within, while the magic circles on its surface radiated an ominous red.
The werewolf mutation accelerated rapidly.
His face morphed into that of a wolf, and his entire body became covered in thick fur.
But it only lasted for a moment.
As the mana light enveloped his entire body, his form returned to normal.
The wolf’s head reverted to a human face, and the black fur that had covered his body vanished without a trace.
All that remained was a patch of black fur on his chest.
Though his physique had become slightly more muscular, the changes weren’t dramatic.
Hiss… Clunk.
The glass chamber opened, and Kim Chulkwon collapsed to his knees, gasping for air and drooling thickly.
“Huff, huff, huff…”
“How do you feel?”
“I feel like I’m dying…”
“Focus on the prosthetic arm and try channeling your mana into it.”
Even in his dazed state, Kim Chulkwon obeyed my instructions.
The prosthetic began to gleam.
A powerful mana vibration echoed through the air.
As all the traits activated, Kim Chulkwon’s body swelled up.
His muscles became even bulkier, and black fur sprouted all over him again.
Kim Chulkwon looked at himself in confusion.
“T-This… What’s happening?”
“It’s the werewolf mutation factor. You only need to trigger it during battle.”
“This feels… strange…”
“Of course it does. You’re a werewolf now. Don’t worry—you won’t transform just by seeing the full moon or tasting blood.”
The werewolf, vampire, and ghost elements had been perfectly balanced.
Each element counteracted and enhanced the others, creating an ideal golden ratio.
“And there’s something you need to keep in mind if you want to level up from here.”
“I’m listening.”
“You’ll need to hire a mage or a magical engineer.”
“A mage… or a magical engineer?”
“The mutation factor and mana core I picked are good. You’ll be fine up to Level 4. But the problem lies with the magic circles on your prosthetic. What is Dexterity supposed to mean, huh? At the very least, you need something like Elegance or Blood Drain. If you remake your prosthetic with those, you’ll hit Level 4 instantly.”
Kim Chulkwon laughed in disbelief.
“Can leveling up to Level 4 really be that easy?”
“That’s the privilege of being a Reinforced Type. The real challenge is Level 5. With your current setup, you’ll need the ‘Master of Blood’ ability and a Level 5 ghost mana core. Finding a Level 5 ghost mana core is one problem, but implementing the ‘Master of Blood’ ability into a magic circle is a whole other challenge.”
“‘Master of Blood’ ability… Level 5 ghost mana core…”
“I recommend switching to a different combination entirely instead of sticking with this one.”
Kim Chulkwon nodded, his eyes filled with trust.
“I’ll do whatever you say, Superhuman.”
“For now, focus on reaching Level 4. Gather as many magic circles as you can. The first priority is Elegance, and the second is Blood Drain.”
“Yes, Superhuman.”
Blindly switching to a new combination wasn’t an option.
It would result in a 100% chance of side effects.
The best solution would be to reset everything with a diamond-grade resource, removing the mutation factor and prosthetic entirely to start over from scratch.
Even the pain and compatibility issues during implantation could be negated with a diamond-grade resource.
Looks like I’ll need to head to the Colosseum soon to earn some Diamonds.
RUMBLE!
Just as we were wrapping up our conversation, the entire Geonwoobong facility began to shake.
The tremors were intense, reaching us even in the deep underground.
The source of the tremor wasn’t far.
Kim Chulkwon and I exchanged a glance before dashing out in a hurry.
“Gather up! What’s going on?”
Kim Chulkwon shouted, and the Iron Fist Gang members quickly assembled.
“B-Boss…”
Strangely, they were sweating profusely and looked visibly shaken.
Kim Chulkwon immediately sensed something was off.
He drew the submachine gun he had recently recovered from his waist, pulling the bolt back with a loud metallic clack on purpose.
“What is it? Speak honestly. That noise just now—it came from inside the facility, didn’t it?”
His face was as cold as a gang boss should be.
The tension was palpable, as if he might pull the trigger at any moment.
The gang members all lowered their heads deeply.
“S-Sorry! Actually… Boss Go Junbeom… I mean, that traitor… left something hidden here. No, not something—someone.”
“Someone?”
RUMBLE!
Another tremor shook the facility.
The fluorescent lights flickered dangerously, and dust fell from the ceiling above.
Judging by the state of things, this wasn’t the first time it had happened.
Kim Chulkwon roared angrily, as if fire was about to spew from his mouth.
“What did I tell you? I said no human trafficking under any circumstances! Didn’t I?”
“W-We didn’t do it!”
“It was all Go Junbeom’s orders!”
“He said he’d kill us if we didn’t obey, so we had no choice!”
Kim Chulkwon glared at his subordinates, his eyes blazing.
The submachine gun was already aimed at them, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if he pulled the trigger right then and there.
I quietly raised a hand to stop him.
“Enough. What kind of power do they have to stop it? If a traitor like Go Junbeom orders them around, of course they’d follow. What were they supposed to do? Rebel and get themselves killed?”
“Boss!”
“I told you to call me Superhuman. Anyway, who’s locked up in there that’s causing this? Did you capture some high-level Superhuman or something?”
The gang members looked at one another hesitantly, as if silently urging each other to speak.
When Kim Chulkwon glared at them again, one of the older members stepped forward and spoke up.
“Um… it’s a witch.”
“A witch?”
“Yes. Go Junbeom said if we handed her over to the Mage Tower or the Church, we’d make a fortune. He even said we might receive a high-level artifact.”
If it’s a character with the [Witch] trait, that’s certainly possible.
Ah, could this be why Go Junbeom betrayed Kim Chulkwon?
Because of the potential profit from human trafficking?
With a powerful magical sword or a Level 5 prosthetic, ruling the nights of Seoul wouldn’t just be a dream.
“Let’s take a look for ourselves.”
“Yes, sir! I’ll lead the way!”
It was well-known that Kim Chulkwon had sworn his loyalty to me, so the gang members quickly moved to guide us.
The location wasn’t far from the body modification facility.
It was a prison previously used by the Cleaner Association to detain sex slaves.
“There she is.”
RUMBLE!
The steel prison trembled violently.
Blinding white beams of light shot out like laser cannons, striking the walls and ceiling.
Every time the light struck, the steel bent, and the entire facility quaked.
Inside the burning white light was a young girl.
Her golden hair was matted with dirt, and her once-bright blue eyes had dimmed to a dull, lifeless hue.
She wore nothing but a single ragged cloth over her thin frame.
The moment I saw her, I recognized her identity.
I couldn’t not recognize her.
The girl, trapped in that cage-like steel prison…
She was Janet.
One of the Big Three Warriors.
–TL Notes–
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