In the original work The Rich Hunter Who Returned from Hell, before engaging in battles with higher beings, Choi Kang-ho traveled from country to country, gradually acquiring items optimized for himself.
His main weapon was the Yeoui Sword, an SSS-class item upgraded with the high black magic absorption material known as Hongdan (紅緞), which he obtained through twists and turns in China and Turkey.
Following that, he used a chain sickle created by Hang-gul during a tumultuous episode acquired in Saudi Arabia and Italy as a secondary weapon for environmental control.
For armor, he wore a splendid uniform-style item that not only provided powerful physical defense but also resistance to all elemental properties. This set item was found in Mongolia and Taiwan, with one piece located in each country.
Additionally, he collected materials for crafting special auxiliary equipment in the United States and Germany, while crucial consumables were acquired from South Africa, India, and Peru. Collecting all these victory conditions took several years.
Though he had impulsively reported his findings, he held little expectation. In the original story, Choi Kang-ho had never acquired any items to aid him in the final battle aside from the Yeoui Sword from China. However...
‘Why is this here?’
As Ryuseoha received and skimmed through the ledger listing the items farmed in Jilin Province, she couldn’t help but doubt her eyes.
<1867. Celestial Formal Wear: Upper (Black)>
<Equipment Grade: Unknown (Estimated S Class)>
<Comprehensive Category: Unknown (Estimated Elemental)>
<Skills Held: Unknown (Estimated Elemental)>
<Basic Appearance: Two-piece uniform>
<Usage Restrictions: Total stats over 500, quality of mana at S Class or higher>
<Overall Evaluation: Currently unwearable, Collection value A Class or higher>
She had discovered what would later become the SS-class armor item that Choi Kang-ho would find in Mongolia and Taiwan in the original work.
<1868. Celestial Formal Wear: Lower (Black)>
<1869. Celestial Robe (Red)>
There were even set items listed together that could showcase defensive abilities equivalent to SSS-class when worn in combination.
<1870. Celestial Formal Wear: Upper (White)>
<1871. Celestial Formal Wear: Lower (White)>
<1872. Celestial Robe (Gold)>
Furthermore, there were items of different colors that the Third Apostle had suddenly donned, generating an overwhelming amount of negative comments.
Honestly, it was bewildering. She never expected to acquire them in such a way. In fact, she had already made plans to obtain them.
The reason she had alerted the governments of various countries about the crisis was to lay the groundwork for later assistance in exchange for items.
‘It’s nice that things have gone more smoothly than expected, but… how?’
Ryuseoha recalled how events unfolded without her involvement. In the original story, China fragmented like in the Warring States period, with numerous warlords competing for power. It appeared that the items obtained from the Chinese dungeon, or gathered through plunder and trade, had flowed into other countries during that chaos.
“Do you like this?”
Noticing Ryuseoha’s inability to take her eyes off a particular item, Choi Kang-ho pulled out the uniform item from [Space] and asked. The black uniform looked magnificent, just as described in the original work.
The clean fit accentuated the silhouette of the body, and instead of epaulets or insignias on the shoulders and chest, skill activation patterns were intricately embroidered with golden thread.
At first glance, the design appeared to lack practicality, but in reality, it provided excellent comfort with self-restoration features, high defense, and resistance while also being remarkably elastic.
“Picked another SS-class one, huh?”
Choi Kang-ho muttered with a smirk, casually draping the upper part of the uniform over his shoulder. In that moment, Ryuseoha’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
The uniform item recognized its suitable wearer and swiftly wrapped around him like a superhero's transformation suit, filling in any gaps in an instant. It was the automatic detachment function she had seen in the original work.
“Would you like to try it on?”
After quickly putting on the lower part of the uniform in the same manner, Choi Kang-ho pulled out another set of a different color from [Space], grinning as he handed it to his young lover.
Nodding eagerly, Ryuseoha tried on the white formal wear, unable to hide her delight. It was so comfortable that she didn’t feel as though she was layering it over her everyday clothes, and she couldn’t help but be impressed.
Dressed in the set, including the robe, he emitted soft gasps of admiration. Indeed, the SSS-class was distinctly different. She even thought that with this one item, she could survive in a space environment.
While it was slightly burdensome that using its features like self-restoration, size and temperature adjustment, and durability recovery would continuously consume the wearer’s mana, it would be hard to find armor of this caliber again.
Intrigued, Ryuseoha spread her arms wide and even pulled at the cuffs with her palms rounded to examine the fabric when she paused. Choi Kang-ho had suddenly raised his eyebrow, looking at her askance.
“…What’s wrong?”
Realizing his subtly altered expression, she stopped spinning around, which was akin to a puppy chasing its tail, and cautiously asked.
Had she gotten too immersed in the feeling of wearing a transforming robot from a cartoon? A hint of worry crept into her mind. Choi Kang-ho, staring at his flustered young lover, let out a soft sigh.
“I want to tear it apart.”
“Pardon?”
At his unexpected and extreme comment, Ryuseoha’s eyes widened in surprise, and she ran her hands over the soft, white fabric. There was no mirror in the bedroom to see her reflection.
“Doesn’t it suit you?”
“It suits you too well; that’s the problem.”
His low murmur was accompanied by a gaze filled with desire that clung to the fabric. Only then did Ryuseoha feel reassured, thinking, So this is my taste, and she let out a small laugh.
“Then I should wear it often.”
“On my bed?”
Choi Kang-ho asked the question innocently, his expression revealing a raw desire as if he would push her onto the bed at any moment.
“…Once everything is wrapped up.”
Instead of recoiling from his candid request, Ryuseoha awkwardly responded with a tentative agreement. She had no intention of treating her grateful lover, who was trying so hard in various ways, strangely for wanting something from her in bed.
Even if it was an unreasonable demand, she was willing to accommodate it as much as possible. After all, no matter how much it was torn, as long as mana supply wasn’t interrupted, it would be restored immediately… She deliberately brushed aside any logical reasoning.
“I need to wrap things up quickly.”
Unknowingly reddening her earlobes, Choi Kang-ho gazed at his beloved young lover, who nodded obediently, and then turned serious, swiftly heading toward the living room.
Embracing Ryuseoha, who laughed softly, he hurriedly exited the bedroom. But before long, he spotted Han Kang-seok running in breathlessly.
“What’s wrong…?”
“I found it!”
Before she could finish her worried question, Han Kang-seok shouted with a bright expression. He then launched into a rapid-fire explanation.
While she didn’t understand all the technical jargon, to summarize, he had found a solution to the recurring problem of the marionette virus’s symptom onset and remission phases, which had been the biggest headache.
“Did you succeed in tracing the source?”
Ryuseoha asked in surprise. Just before moving to the Blue House, she had requested them to backtrack the mana waves received by those infected with the marionette virus, wondering if they had already achieved results.
“No, it was something I never expected… Aah!”
“Phew—!”
Han Kang-seok, who was shaking his head, suddenly let out a short scream. He was startled by Ruby, the red bird that had appeared from behind and landed rather roughly above his head with a flutter.
Regardless of his shocked expression, Ruby took off again effortlessly and soon landed softly on Ryuseoha’s shoulder, pecking gently at the feathers on her wings with her small beak.
“Doctor, did something happen with this little one?”
“Um… I had to verify something, and it got a bit annoying…”
In response to Ryuseoha's cautious inquiry regarding Ruby’s unusual behavior, Han Kang-seok scratched his head sheepishly as he explained.
“Verification?”
“Because that little one did something I never imagined…”
As Han Kang-seok trailed off, still wearing an incredulous expression, Choi Kang-ho slightly furrowed his brow.
“What happened?”
Only when he heard his superior's demand for a proper explanation did Han Kang-seok straighten his posture.
“Have you heard the report that an MRI scan revealed the emergence of a new organ in the infected person's body that acts like a blood pouch?”
He followed up with a question regarding the report received from the ProHelm Guild's Research and Development Laboratory. This had also been written in the ‘Future Incident Log.’
“While I was verifying that this bird has the ability to change the properties of matter…”
Seeing Choi Kang-ho lightly nod, Han Kang-seok quickly continued.
“It was concluded that it could be applied to internal cell tissues without major side effects.”