SWNOVELXO Chapter 67
Chapter 67. Paracelsus’s Flask (1)
TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader
[Dohu awakens!]
[The Dohu returns after 7 years! South Korea in turmoil!]
[Legend returns, first-generation players cheer!]
[Dohu’s news stirs up international reactions!]
[It’s not yet time to mention this, Holy Trinity Group urges restraint]
[A boon or a bane? The association silent on Dohu’s return]
[Can the Arena disease now be conquered? Experts weigh in…]
A flood of articles streamed in. Beyond the TV, across the internet, and into reality itself. South Korea was abuzz with the news of Dohu’s awakening.
And internationally, there was intense interest in the return of a legendary first-generation ranker. Amidst this flurry of attention.
“Sir, the Blue House has sent an official request for our stance on Dohu’s return.” said a subordinate.
But the Awakened Association, which should have been at the heart of the fervor, especially the highest office of the President, was as cold as the Arctic.
“What should we do?” asked Choi Changwook, a middle-aged man with a stern face.
President Kim Muyeol tapped on his desk, fixating only on the monitor’s screen. After about five minutes, he finally spoke.
“Choi Changwook, what’s your take?”
As cold as ice.
“Personally, I don’t think we need to respond to the Blue House’s request. Especially since the Holy Trinity side is also keeping silent…”
“Do you think I’d care about those who haven’t even Awakened?”
His gaze sharp as a blade. Having served him for a long time, Choi Changwook quickly shifted the topic to appease Kim Muyeol’s irritation.
“I myself can hardly believe Dohu’s recovery.”
Had he hit the mark?
“Hmm.”
The edge in Kim Muyeol’s eyes softened.
“What’s the likelihood this is a media play by the Holy Trinity Guild, given their poor debut performance?”
“To see it that way carries too large a risk. If it’s discovered to be a lie, even Holy Trinity wouldn’t be able to withstand the backlash.”
“Right. They’d have to be mad to stage such a farce.”
Which means.
“That Dohu’s recovery is real…”
Kim Muyeol’s brow wrinkled. The question was simple.
‘How?’
How had Dohu recovered from the Arena disease? There was supposedly no cure for it till now. At that thought.
‘No, not exactly no cure.’
Kim Muyeol’s frown eased slightly.
“Recently, a treatment for Mana Petrification Syndrome surfaced on the black market. Could that be related?”
“We’ve been looking into it, but even bribes aren’t working with the black market, suggesting the master is personally overseeing this.”
“Does that mean the black market’s owner is directly involved?”
“Yes. As you know, they’d sell even their client’s information for the right price, but they strictly follow their master’s orders.”
Hearing Choi Changwook’s words, Kim Muyeol slowly nodded. For trash that sells human lives for money. Strangely, their loyalty to their master was immense.
‘Or is it fear?’
Either way. If the black market’s owner was directly involved, uncovering the identity of the cure’s seller was an impossible dream.
“What about Holy Trinity?”
“They’re outright blocking information, leaving us completely in the dark.”
Not this way.
Not that way.
The emergence of the most disliked phrase made Kim Muyeol’s eyebrows twist in annoyance.
“Didn’t I tell you? Unsavory as it is, that old man is still in the same boat as us.”
“I did reach out to Chairman Lee Suncheol. However…”
“However?”
“Chairman Lee Suncheol himself does not know the details.”
“What?”
For the first time, Kim Muyeol’s poker face broke. And for good reason.
‘He’s an old man who’s nurturing dozens of snakes in his belly, but could there possibly be any potential in acting?”
He is none other than the owner of Holy Trinity Group. For decades, it has reigned as the top corporation in South Korea. Even with the emergence of Galaxy Arena, it swiftly adapted, never losing its title as the nation’s leading corporation.
That Chairman Lee Suncheol would be unaware of something? Of course, there were suspicions.
‘Was it Lee Yujeong acting on her own accord?’
Dohu Lee Yeonhee.
Yujeong, who inherited the essence of being outwardly soft but inwardly firm from that woman, despite being in her early twenties. She was a cunning and brilliant woman. Just like his own nephews.
“I can’t be certain, but she seemed earnest to my eyes. She looked quite flustered.”
“That old man, flustered…?”
Then, it must be certain. Muttering thus, Kim Muyeol tapped his desk lightly again.
‘Dohu must not awaken. Ideally, it would have been best if she simply died.’
But she woke up. This was bad news for both himself. And for Chairman Lee Suncheol as well.
“Dohu was at Holy Trinity Hospital, wasn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“… Can you send someone?”
Even without specifying from which organization, “It’s impossible.”
Choi Changwook replied immediately. At his answer, Kim Muyeol’s expression soured.
“I seem to be getting a lot of bad news today.”
“I apologize. Our security personnel have all declined, and the elite of the Holy Trinity Guild are taking turns standing guard… Additionally, reporters have been camped out there 24/7.”
At the mention of reporters, Kim Muyeol clicked his tongue.
“Tsk. The young one is quite cunning. To think she’s now using the media, something she used to dread.”
With so many eyes watching, an ‘assassination’ would be difficult indeed. Having made that assessment, Kim Muyeol propped his chin.
‘Forcing an assassination now might lead to intractable problems if we get caught.’
Just the revelation of an assassination attempt against Dohu, a hero of the first generation. The association and Holy Trinity wouldn’t survive the public outcry.
‘Indeed, it’s troublesome. Probably the old man is thinking the same.’
It couldn’t be helped.
Dohu Lee Yeonhee.
Her existence was a significant threat to both himself, the association president, and Lee Suncheol, the owner of Holy Trinity.
“Was Chairman Lee Suncheol merely flustered?”
“He seemed very anxious.”
“Of course. He has sins to answer for.”
And so did he. If Lee Yujeong delves into the incident from back then, problems would arise.
‘She’ll surely dig into it. Stubborn woman that she is.’
Needlessly, that is.
‘Well, that’s why she ended up like that, after all.’
Kim Muyeol said with a twisted smile.
“Did you reply to that message from the Contiental City recently?”
“Still on hold.”
“Send a reply. Tell them we’ll facilitate their illegal entry.”
“Chairman, considering the heightened security in the country following the recent terrorist incident in Sinrim, with just our power…”
“Reach out to the old man of Holy Trinity.”
The association and Holy Trinity. If the two forces join hands, they could create enough of a gap in the heightened security. However, Choi Changwook raised a doubt.
“To Chairman Lee Suncheol? Would he really take the risk to assist us?”
“I’ll send a separate message myself. Once you’ve done something once, the second time is easier.”
“Understood. I’ll proceed as directed.”
Choi Changwook bowed his head.
Just as he was about to leave the room, “Ah. By the way, Kim Shimun, that guy moved into Ranker’s Palace recently, didn’t he?”
“Yes. It seems Kim Shihyuk and Lee Yujeong had a hand in it.”
“Well, that place is practically owned by those two brats.”
Kim Muyeol, after glancing at the monitor streaked with news about Lee Yeonhee, said, “Keep an eye on him. As long as he’s in Ranker’s Palace, assassination would be impractical, even for the Continental.”
“Understood.”
After Choi Changwook left the president’s office, Kim Muyeol moved his mouse. The screen, previously plastered with images of Dohu Lee Yeonhee, was suddenly covered with the photo of a young American man.
It was inevitable.
Before Dohu woke up, South Korea was abuzz about the winner of the Gold Rank debut, after all. Kim Muyeol glared at such a winner intensively.
“It’s strange, you know…”
This feeling of being oddly uncomfortable and somewhat left behind. Only felt towards his accomplished brother.
‘Why do I feel this damned sensation towards you, Kim Shimun?’
He glared at the monitor displaying his nephew until dawn.
* * *
Upon opening the door, lights automatically flickered on. Beneath them unfolded an interior both lavish and sleek.
“Whew!”
Shimun threw off his coat and flopped onto the sofa.
“I’m dead tired.”
He was sincere. His aunt’s treatment method had enhanced his capacity related to the Dragon Force, but at what felt like the cost of tearing apart his mental strength. Even without hard physical labor, he was incredibly mentally exhausted.
-But everyone seemed to really like it, didn’t they? Your brother did too.
“That’s true.”
Shimun cracked a smile at the Philosopher’s Stone’s comment. How could he not be thrilled? He had managed to treat the woman who took care of him and Kim Shihyuk like a mother.
Moreover, “With Auntie back, Yujeong must feel a bit more at ease.”
Dohu Lee Yeonhee.
Not just for her reputation, but as one of the few figures capable of standing up to the titan, chairman Lee Suncheol.
‘Was it Deputy Manager Ahn Hojin? Just seeing that person who came to me last time tells it all.’
It showed how much Chairman Lee Suncheol interfered with the Holy Trinity Guild.
With Auntie’s return, such matters will likely disappear completely.
-So, the goal wasn’t just curing after all?
“You little, someone might misunderstand. Auntie’s recovery was the priority.”
-While also helping Yujeong and sending a check against Holy Trinity’s side, huh?
“To be honest, there’s another reason.”
-What is it?
“The Association.”
Shimun swiftly turned to gaze out the considerable glass windows. Far, yet visible, the towering building of the Korean Awakened Association, epitomizing the dignity of current Awakeners, caught his eye.
“My brother were too young to understand back then, but I knew. One of the few who could raise their voice against my uncle was my aunt.”
Although deemed an illegitimate child and thus not deeply involved in the family’s affairs, he knew that the Kim family had been close with the Holy Trinity family since his grandfather’s time.
It was likely that his uncle had known the aunt since their youth. Hence, she could raise her voice so boldly against the razor-sharp uncle.
‘She really gave him a piece of her mind back then.’
He vividly remembered, though he was young at the time. The day he first met his aunt, holding his father’s hand. Auntie, for some reason furious, had shouted at Uncle Kim Muyeol, raising her voice.
‘Even father couldn’t easily calm her down.’
It was the heyday of the first generation then. Their emanated energy wasn’t ordinary and left a lasting impression.
“With Auntie back, Yujeong can finally breathe easier.”
-Right. And incidentally keeping that damned uncle in check, huh?
“…Do you really have to add that, you rascal?”
A playful flick to the chest as if delivering a nougat. However, the Philosopher’s Stone just giggled.
-Hehe! But oppa, will it work? Your aunt, she’s lost a lot of her stats, hasn’t she?
At those words, Shimun’s face darkened. Though he had cured her backflow syndrome and even administered a treatment for her mana deficiency, restoring her condition, her diminished stats hadn’t returned to their previous state.
“I was shocked too. I didn’t expect her Status Window to be almost reset.”
Level 2.
Moreover, her stats were even lower than when he first awakened. The specs that used to boast of a first-generation ranker status had almost entirely vanished.
“It can’t be helped. You’ve been suffering from the Arena disease for so long.”
“Indeed. In a way, using the specs she had accumulated over the years to extend his life.”
Kim Shimun nodded in agreement with the Philosopher’s Stone’s remark, replying with a tone full of certainty.
“Still, if it’s Auntie, she’ll stand back up. She might even start over in the Arena. Saying it’s like embarking on a second life.”
– Well, hardly able to move her vocal cords, she still made an effort to express her gratitude. She does seem to have the will of a strong human.”
“Haha! She does have quite the personality!”
Their conversation naturally led to the mass production of the Arena disease cure.
“By the way, why did you tell me to receive Paracelsus’s Flask?”
Kim Shimun had reached the point of discussing Paracelsus’s Flask. He took out Paracelsus’s Flask from his inventory.
[Paracelsus’s Flask]
Grade: (Old) Mythical
A creation of the vanished alchemist god, Paracelsus. It can be used, but since its creator has disappeared, the method of use is unknown.
‘Old mythology?’
He tilted his head at the unfamiliar grade, but quickly understood.
‘Well, it’s the item of a god that’s no longer around.’
Unlike the Chronos’s Sand he had forged before, this was something he had in his possession in the Galaxy Arena. What he really didn’t understand was, “But how do you use this?”
It was about how to use the item. The method of use was not intuitive from the information provided.
“Don’t worry, I know how to use it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Quickly, put it there. I’ll show you!”
Urged by the Philosopher’s Stone, Kim Shimun placed the flask on the table ahead. Miraculously, ‘It even stays put?’
The flask, round like a crystal ball, remained in place on the desk without rolling around.
– “Then, oppa, I’ll use a bit of the alchemy energy.”
“Okay… Ugh!”
The Philosopher’s Stone immediately started vibrating like a phone in vibration mode. Startled by the sudden vibration, Kim Shimun clasped his chest, but, “What the!”
The scene that followed left him no choice but to further widen his eyes.
Whooosh.
A clear and crimson energy, or should it be called a current, flowed between the fingers placed on his chest. No, into the Paracelsus’s Flask. Then, ‘Two Philosopher’s Stones?’ Just like the Philosopher’s Stone at the center of his chest, a presence akin to the Philosopher’s Stone was felt inside the flask.
[The Constellations Zeus, Heavenly Demon, and Odin express their admiration.]
[The Constellation Black Goat drools over your achievement.]
[The Constellation Black Goat donates 1,000 achievement points.]
The reactions and donations from the constellations appeared before his eyes. And for good reason, because.
[You have recreated the forgotten alchemy knowledge, homunculus]
[The option of the title ‘Pioneer of Alchemy’ grows.]
[A new option is added to the title ‘Pioneer of Alchemy’.]
[You have achieved the achievement ‘Little Human in a Flask’.]
[You have received 2,000 achievement points.]
For Kim Shimun, the content of the achievement was shocking, to say the least.
“A Homunculus?”
Before Kim Shimun could fully process his astonishment, inside the flask filled with the red current, “Hehe.”
Swoosh.
A large eyeball opened with a sinister laugh.
“Finally, you’ve reached this point!”
The entity gazed intently at Kim Shimun, then, “Seeing you up close, you’re even more to my liking. Well done. Now…”
Suddenly, a wide mouth split open.
“Sleep!”
TL’s Corner:
Philo in a bottle.