SWNOVELXO Chapter 66
Chapter 66. Treatment (4)
TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader
“Orabeoni?”
“Hyung? Why the sudden alarm?”
“Shimun-ssi?”
Yujeong, Kim Shihyuk, and even Park Jinwook.
They all approached with curiosity at Shimun’s sudden shock.
Then, spotting the golden magic circles floating layer upon layer in Shimun’s eyes, they halted in their tracks.
“You’ve seen something, haven’t you, hyung?”
These three were avid viewers of Shimun’s broadcasts, missing not a single one. Furthermore, each was a top-tier player, on par with or surpassing the Diamond rank.
They had long since realized that those golden, mystical eyes possessed the ability to see something specific.
“Right. But this is… it doesn’t make any sense…”
Shimun struggled to regain his composure, clearly deeply shaken by what he saw. Indeed, it was true.
‘Why is the Dragon Force within my aunt’s body?’
Odin’s Eye.
Or more precisely, the Dragon Force reflected in the Vision.
Unlike the state of his aunt, who seemed almost indistinguishable from a normal person as the traces of Magical Energy had nearly vanished.
The Dragon Force was ceaselessly active, clearly proclaiming its presence. This led to two possible conclusions. One, that his aunt, like himself, possessed the Dragon Force stat.
‘The other is that the Dragon Force was forcibly infused…’
Shimun naturally leaned towards the latter explanation. Because…
“Yujeong.”
“Uh, yeah?”
“Our aunt was a pure combat ranker, right?”
“Yes. You know well that mom was called Dohu.”
“Right, that she was.”
Dohu Lee Younghee.
One of the proud first-generation rankers of South Korea, and later among the group of high-rankers defined by their ability to freely manipulate Ki.
Though the term high-ranker hadn’t been coined yet, within the circles of combat rankers, the extent and manner of one’s Ki manipulation served as a measure of their standing.
Naturally, the monstrous siblings present, Kim Shi Hyeok and Yujeong, also freely utilized Ki, categorizing them among the upper echelon of rankers.
And Lee Younghee, throughout her career in the Arena, had never once…
‘Used Dragon Force.’
She had never utilized any energy other than Ki.
Being purely from the combat system meant just that; not supplementing the inherent weaknesses of combat abilities with other powers like magic or divine energy, but soaring to heights using sheer physical prowess alone.
Hence, those in the combat system might have slower growth due to sticking to a single energy type, but a single breakthrough could leapfrog them in rank, leading to a massive disparity in skill based on talent.
Lee Younghee stood as a representative figure of such pure combatants. Naturally, she had neither used nor acquired any other power like Dragon Force.
Then, ‘It’s certain that the Dragon Force was infused from somewhere…’
As Shimun furrowed his brow, Yujeong, watching anxiously, questioned him again.
“Orabeoni, has something gone wrong?”
“Ah. Well, it’s just that…”
Shimun trailed off. After all, were he ignorant, it would be one thing; but knowing about the Dragon Force made him hesitant to proceed with the treatment.
There was the risk of unforeseen complications arising.
“Let’s reconsider using the treatment for a moment.”
“Huh? All of a sudden? Why? Can you at least explain?”
“Yes, hyung. You said the cure was successfully made. Then why?”
Lee Yujeong asked pleadingly, shocked by the unexpected news. Kim Shihyuk asked similarly, “It’s because foreign energy resides in aunt’s body, which could potentially clash with the cure if we’re not careful.”
“Foreign energy? Are you referring to something like demonic energy or divine energy?”
When Kim Shimun nodded silently, Yujeong breathed a sigh of relief and said, “If that’s the case, it’s probably because of me. I cast sacred magic on her every time I visit.”
“No, that’s not what I’m talking about.”
“What? You mean it’s not divine energy?”
“Right. It’s Dragon Force.”
“What?!” Yujeong’s eyes widened in shock, and Kim Shihyuk and Park Jinwook behind him reacted similarly.
“Dragon Force?”
“Kim Shimun, sir, is it the Dragon Force we’re thinking of?”
“Yes.”
As Kim Shimun nodded, the faces of the three darkened in unison. Foreign energies that cannot be managed are nothing but poison.
Among these, Dragon Force was something no player had ever managed to control before. It was impossible for those present to be unaware of this.
“There’s a tiny amount, but it’s steadily flowing along your aunt’s circuits….”
Kim Shimun’s voice suddenly cut off. He quickly turned his head to look at Lee Yeonhee.
“Wait. Could it be!”
He hurried towards her. Kim Shimun’s actions were abrupt, but Yujeong silently watched her brother. She knew her brother, who had never acted without reason and was the only one capable of saving their mother.
She had been yearning for a positive answer to heal her mother, who had only been receiving negative responses for the past seven years. Was it Yujeong’s faith that reached him?
“Exactly.”
Kim Shimun, with the eyes of Odin, examined Lee Yeonhee’s condition and slowly nodded.
‘Circuit Reversal. The cause of this disease was Dragon Force.’
Originally, Dragon Force was a unique energy that only middle-class or higher dragons could use. Naturally, a human body couldn’t withstand it, and even the structure of the mana circuit was different from that of dragons. In the end, due to this backlash, the mana circuit starts to run in reverse.
‘Trying to control the Dragon Force that runs wild forcibly attaches the original mana along with it.’
Let it flow as it should. Naturally, the Dragon Force will repel such an attempt by mana. As a result, the mana circuit begins a total reversal. That was the cause Kim Shimun saw for the circuit reversal.
‘And the cure for circuit reversal forces it to flow correctly,’ causing the reluctant Dragon Force to explode in dissent and react.
‘Eventually, the mana circuit breaks down.’
No matter how great a player, such damage to the circuit is difficult to reverse. Especially during circuit reversal, continuous damage to the circuit and a decrease in stats occur. Without immediate treatment upon diagnosis, becoming crippled is inevitable.
‘And Mana Deficiency Syndrome. This also seems strongly related to Dragon Force….’
Was it because the situation hadn’t been fully assessed yet? It was challenging to realize the milder arena disease, Mana Deficiency Syndrome, properly.
However.
‘But this is enough for now.’
Having obtained the answers he sought, Kim Shimun stood up with a solemn face. Then, “Yujeong.”
“Yes, orabeoni.”
Perhaps due to nervousness, the slight tremble in Lee Yujeong’s voice caught his attention.
“We might be able to treat your aunt without any aftereffects.”
“Really?!”
* * *
“Just a little more… just a bit more….”
In front of a tiny wound meticulously cut by Sword Saint Kim Shihyuk, lay an emaciated pinky finger.
Kim Shimun was sweating cold, clasping his hands together. The method of treatment wasn’t particularly difficult.
It involved the extraction of Dragon Force, the source of the counterflow in the circuit, from the body.
However, “Come this way, this way!”
Even the slightest amount of Dragon Force was challenging to control for Kim Shimun, despite having activated his eyes.
Indeed, extracting Dragon Force wasn’t hard; it could be forcibly pulled out with the compelling force of the Divine Eye.
But when Dragon Force was discharged, it risked damaging the already weakened magical circuit of the patient.
Thus, “Alright, kiddo, be nice? Please come here!”
Kim Shimun coaxed the Dragon Force as if pacifying a rampantly playful child, with added caution and patience.
Fortunately, -It’s done! Oppa, I’ve managed to discharge nearly 70%!
While progress was slow, the Dragon Force obediently moved under the guidance of Kim Shimun.
Fsssh.
With his hands together, the Dragon Force coaxed and discharged by Kim Shimun was emitting a fine mist from his grip.
“Orabeoni, if you feel tired, give me a sign anytime. I’ll cast a holy magic spell right away!”
Lee Yujeong, standing nearby, sent vigorous cheers upon seeing the growing mist.
Yet, Kim Shimun merely smiled gently, Unwilling to rely on a Ranker’s holy magic.
The reason was simple:
[Control over Divine Eye and Dragon Force has been intensified.]
[Divine Eye is slightly growing.]
[Dragon Force is slightly growing.]
The ordeal of Dragon Force control.
As a result, the related capabilities, Dragon Force and Divine Eye, were growing bit by bit.
With the growth of Divine Eye, the base for controlling Dragon Force, the endurance to control Dragon Force naturally increased.
Replenishing physical strength by other means at this stage would negate the effects of training.
‘My mental strength may be tearing apart, but the efficiency of training is insane.’
A never-ending cycle of give and take. Even for Kim Shimun, who knew about all sorts of stat training methods from his past life, the situation was astonishing.
‘Especially since growth in abilities, not stats, is truly not easy to achieve.’
He couldn’t let such a prime opportunity slip away.
‘Focus, concentrate!’
Despite sweating profusely, Kim Shimun clenched his teeth and continued the process of discharging Dragon Force.
Before long, -Oppa, it’s all done!
Along with the confident voice of the philosopher’s stone, “Hah….”
Having fully discharged the Dragon Force, Kim Shimun let out a deep sigh and slumped to the ground. Of course, he did not let his concentration on controlling the Dragon Force falter. This damned Dragon Force had its separate use.
Then, at that moment.
Whoosh.
A cluster of light imbued with warmth seeped into Shimun’s body. Feeling his body lighten up, Shimun lifted his head.
“Orabeoni, are you alright?”
Yujeong, who had been observing quietly, had cast a holy spell on him. Kim Shihyuk and Park Jinwook, who had been watching from behind, also stepped closer.
“Hyung, you okay?”
“Shimun-ssi, are you alright?”
Shimun nodded and smiled at them.
“The effect of a Ranker’s holy magic is no joke indeed.”
Shimun, chuckling, stood up. His hands were still gathering together the condensed mist, the Dragon Force.
“Hyung, what are you going to do with that now?”
“You should just destroy it right away, brother.”
Perhaps because it had tormented their mother for so long, Yujeong glared at the Dragon Force while gripping the brightly condensed holy power.
“No need for that.”
Shimun shook his head and brought the Dragon Force close to his chest.
“Orabeoni?”
“Hyung!”
“Shimun-ssi!”
The three around him were startled.
But before they could take any action, swoosh.
Just like melting snow, the Dragon Force naturally seeped into Shimun’s chest.
[You have absorbed a high-level Dragon Force.]
[Dragon Force increased by 2.]
[Converted into a binding stat, your Alchemy Energy increases by 1.]
Messages popped up before his eyes. Shimun’s eyes sparkled.
‘As expected, it’s absorbed without any conflict.’
-Of course. As you know, the Dragon Force we’ve obtained is from a Dragon God.
The Philosopher’s Stone continued in an excited voice.
-Dragons are strict with their hierarchy. Their innate energy is such a mess. If it’s of a higher rank, they can’t even budge.
From the moment they started extracting Dragon Force from Lee Younghee, Shimun and the Philosopher’s Stone had already discussed absorbing the said energy.
Shimun, who had obtained the energy of the highest-ranking Dragon God, Tiamat, Any Dragon Force would naturally become advantageous to Shimun.
‘But, even though it’s such a minute amount, it’s high-level because it’s increased by 2?’
-Exactly. I wondered why it wouldn’t obey, turns out it’s because it’s an enormous power from a high-ranking dragon!
Shimun nodded slightly at the Philosopher’s Stone’s grumbling.
He held a rank that could even make a high-grade dragon like a Naga flinch. If he’s resisting control with such a small amount of Dragon Force, ‘It might at least be of a Dragon, perhaps even of a Dragon Emperor’s level.’
Hard to articulate, Shimun instinctively felt that the Dragon Force he just absorbed wasn’t of an ordinary rank.
Yet, “Orabeoni, are you really okay?”
“Hyung, just to be safe, why don’t we get you checked right now?”
“That would be wise, Shimun-ssi.”
The three, unaware of Shimun’s situation, continued to express their anxiety.
Just as Shimun was about to assure them he was fine, “Ugh……”
A groan silenced everyone. Yujeong painfully turned her creaking head, “Ah…”
Upon meeting those weary yet warm eyes, “M-mother!”
She burst into tears.