It was an unscheduled event, but expanding our network this way wasn’t a bad idea.
We arrived at the Fist Guild and waited in the reception room while Kim Dong-gil stepped out briefly.
“What a pretty little girl.”
A smiling guild staff member who entered the room first brought snacks for Ara, which was impressive.
“Oh! Something delicious!”
“There’s also something to drink here, so have it together.”
“Yes! Will Kyu-seong Kyu-seong not eat any?”
“Shall I try just one?”
As we spent some time, Kim Dong-gil appeared with an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry for keeping the guests waiting.”
“What happened?”
“Oh, we received a call from the potion maker who was supposed to supply our guild, so I had to take care of it urgently…”
“Potion?”
“Yes. We can meet the delivery dates for all other types of potions, but one is not available. And it happens to be the recovery potion.”
A recovery potion, huh…
It was quite a troublesome matter.
In truth, all potions were essential for dungeon raids, but none were as crucial as recovery potions.
As expected, Kim Dong-gil was distressed.
“Actually, clearing a dungeon isn’t a big issue, but as both you and Kyu-seong are aware, recovery potions are a kind of emergency medical supply. We prepare them in case of unforeseen accidents, even if we clear the dungeon as safely as possible…”
“Are there no recovery potions left?”
“We happened to use the last one on the previous expedition. So, we requested recovery potions first in this delivery, but they said they couldn’t procure the ingredients.”
Kim Dong-gil sighed in distress.
Since the issue was the supply of ingredients, Hanul scratched his head too.
“It’s a tricky problem to ask neighboring guilds for help.”
“Exactly. If we had an urgent awakened one, we would try to procure the potion somehow, but that’s not the case…”
Listening to their conversation, I suddenly thought of the strawberries I had stored with Bokkeum.
The effect of the strawberries was minor wound healing.
Although it was somewhat ambiguous, I had confirmed that if I synthesized them into a potion, it could become a pretty decent recovery potion.
Of course, it would require the concentration of 50 strawberries…
‘Hmm.’
Should I extend my generosity to the Fist Guild, even if I couldn’t provide it to our guild?
Of course, we delivered a large quantity of strawberries and a sample of the strawberry potion I made to Ara Hongryeon through this delivery.
“Uh, Hanul.”
“Hmm?”
“Is Ara Hongryeon not having any issues with potion supplies?”
“We’re fine. The title of Korea’s first guild wasn’t earned for nothing; our network is formidable.”
“Then, may I help the Fist Guild a bit?”
“Oh?”
Hanul let out an exclamation I couldn’t understand, and Kim Dong-gil stared at me with wide eyes.
“Gasp! Is, is that possible? Well, since Mr. Kyu-seong’s food had buff effects, there could be food with recovery effects too!”
“It’s nothing grandiose…”
Seeing me glance at Hanul , he realized he hadn’t answered and nodded.
“As long as the delivery is met, there’s no problem with other activities. We originally made such a unilateral contract.”
“…… You’ve given me such favorable contract conditions.”
“Of course! Kyu-seong, you’re not just a business partner; you’re family!”
No matter how I thought about it, it was a sucker’s contract.
The surprising part was that the sucker wasn’t me but the large corporation, Ara Hongryeon Guild.
“Guild Leader, as you heard, I can trade items with recovery effects.”
“Oh!”
“But!”
I decided to draw a clear line.
“As a person, even if there’s no problem contractually, it’s a bit ethically questionable. So, I can’t provide a large quantity. This time is special.”
“Oh, thank you. This urgent situation will be fine with just that. From next month, we will be able to procure them ourselves, so we just need to get through this month safely.”
“How many recovery potions were you originally supposed to receive?”
“Five.”
It seemed like a small number, but it was a testament to the caution people took during dungeon raids.
Because lives were at stake, most guilds usually sent awakened ones one grade lower to clear the dungeon.
Therefore, as a Level 1 awakened, I could barely enter a harmless-grade dungeon.
It was a structure where accidents were unlikely to happen.
However, despite this, each guild always prepared recovery potions just in case.
The situation was slightly different for high-grade dungeon raids…
‘Since recovery potions themselves are in high demand but short supply.’
And the efficacy of manufactured potions was almost negligible.
The really effective ones were potions dropped as items in dungeons.
I took out the strawberries from Bokkeum.
Kim Dong-gil was amazed at the sight.
“That’s an unusual artifact. It looks like a slime.”
“It is a slime.”
“What?”
Everyone in the guild, including Hanul, already knew about it. Since things had come to this, I decided not to hide it anymore, and no one seemed particularly surprised.
‘Isn’t dual awakening more common than I thought?’
Even I had only learned then that Jeong So-yeon, the emblematic awakener of Ara Hongryeon, was also a dual awakener. This fact was not known to the public. It also explained why Jeong So-yeon could become the leader of Ara Hongryeon’s first team at such a young age. Guild Leader Han Seok-jun must have seen great potential in her growth.
“Our Kyu-seong here is a dual awakener.”
“What?!”
Hanul said it outright. But now it didn’t matter much because my ability didn’t seem particularly impressive. Even with dual awakening, my mana level was still that of a Level 1 awakener. Furthermore, my abilities were just liquid synthesis and slime lord, which were quite odd. In other words, I was a harmless awakener with no reason to be restrained.
‘…Is this a good or a bad thing?’
I should think positively, right?
In any case, I didn’t hide my abilities anymore, following Guild Leader Han Seok-jun’s advice. But that didn’t mean I went around announcing it first.
I asked Kim Dong-gil to prepare a basin to collect the strawberry juice.
“Ara, can I use some of the strawberries?”
“Yes!”
These strawberries were snacks meant for Ara. She had a hearty appetite, so I brought quite a lot, which was enough to make about three potions.
‘The key is whether I can make three potions in one go with liquid synthesis.’
I had two uses of liquid synthesis left for today. If needed, I could make just two.
Once the basin was ready, Ara and I started mashing the strawberries diligently. It felt like playing a sensory game with my daughter.
Lick.
Ara was cute, licking the juice off her hands while mashing the strawberries. Others found her adorable too.
“…Sss.”
Wait, was that not a look of adoration?
I heard someone swallowing their saliva.
When the scent of strawberries spread all around the Fist Guild, the mashed strawberries turned into complete juice.
I used my liquid synthesis ability on the completed strawberry juice.
Would it work…?
Thickening–!
As I used liquid synthesis, part of the juice coagulated on one side, forming something. About half of the juice. I poured the remaining juice that hadn’t become a potion back into the original container.
“Oh, amazing! Is it done?”
“There’s still one more to go.”
Leaving the completed potion in the basin, I used my ability again on the separated juice. This time, I successfully made a total of three potions.
[Strawberry Potion LV.1]
[Effective for both internal and external injuries.]
[When consumed, triggers a mild healing effect based on the user’s mana level.]
Hmm, success.
Even though it was labeled a mild healing effect, it was still quite potent. The effects were categorized as minimal, mild, normal, strong, and excellent. Even the minimal level showed noticeable effects. A mild level could heal a minor cut within 30 seconds. Additionally, the healing effect varied with the mana level, so a high-level awakener would experience a normal level of healing.
“Could you prepare potion bottles?”
“Here they are.”
Kim Dong-gil, displaying excellent foresight, had already prepared them.
I filled the completed strawberry potion into the potion bottle I received. There were exactly three servings.
“We can only make three for now.”
“…Making three recovery potions on the spot is amazing! If you go to a potion maker’s workshop, you’ll see that potions are made through a very complex process!”
However, unlike them, I couldn’t make potions endlessly even if I had enough raw materials. I had a lot of ingredients, but my abilities were limited to what I could use in a day, making it tricky.
“Hmm, so this is the potion we sent to the guild as a sample?”
“That’s right. Ara Hongryeon said they didn’t urgently need recovery potions, so we only sent the completed fruit juices and crops.”
The carrot juice that allowed one to see monster information was in steady demand. It seemed that Ara Hongryeon was aiming for high-level dungeons.
Meanwhile, Kim Dong-gil, who confirmed the effects of the strawberry potion, widened his eyes.
“Gasp!”
“Oh! This is quite surprising!”
Hanul also clapped his hands at the effects of the strawberry potion he was seeing for the first time.
“Wow, if it has this kind of effect, even Seok-jun would want it supplied immediately. High-ranking awakeners will definitely want it for its recovery effects based on the mana amount they have.”
“Haha.”
I awkwardly scratched my head at the sudden praise.
“Kyu-seong Kyu-seong, you are amazing.”
Ara, who was licking the strawberry off her hands and wrists, suddenly started worshipping.
“I don’t know how to price this… Do you have any idea?”
“Well, it’s my first time selling this potion too.”
The price for recovery potions was already set based on the level of recovery. But mine was a bit unique, so it was ambiguous.
“A minor recovery level is about 12 million won, but since this one has an urgent demand and new effects on our side…”
“Let’s go with 20 million.”
Hanul chimed in decisively.
“20 million should be fine, right?”
“I’m grateful.”
“20 million. Honestly, it feels cheap.”
While Kim Dong-gil said it felt cheap, I shook my head.
“Let’s consider it a connection. There might be a time when I need help from the guild leader later.”
“Well then, I’ll gratefully accept it without shame.”
Kim Dong-gil carefully inspected the three potions he received.
“Luckily, we have a joint subjugation with the Terror Guild mid-month.”
“Joint subjugation with the Terror Guild?”
“Oh, didn’t you know? We’ve been working on it diligently. We’re challenging a level 7 dungeon mid-month. Although it’s a joint effort.”
“I haven’t been keeping up with the news. A level 7 dungeon? Hmm…”
Hanul looked slightly worried, but Kim Dong-gil confidently shouted.
“We’ve been preparing thoroughly for the past six months! And with the industry-leading Terror Guild, we won’t fail!”
“If it’s the unresolved level 7 dungeon in Korea, could it be the one in Gangwon-do?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm. If you clear it, the guild’s stock will soar instantly. But…”
Despite Hanul’s still doubtful gaze, Kim Dong-gil smiled confidently.
“Hanul! Trust me this once! I’m going to make a splash this time! Hahaha!”
I wasn’t aware that the Bare Fists Guild was subjugating a level 7 dungeon. Since I was always farming in dungeons, I had no way of knowing recent news.
‘I hope they don’t get hurt…’
With the number one guild in Korea, the Terror Guild, they should do well.
* * *
Rumble!!!
“Ugh!”
“Guild Leader!”
Time had passed, and Terror Guild and Bare Fist Guild were attacking the level 7 dungeon. Right in front of the final boss, trouble arose.
“Damn it…”
Looking at the injured Kim Dong-gil, the Terror Guild’s leader, Vice Director Choi, furrowed his brows. It wasn’t a look of criticism towards Kim Dong-gil but a reflection of his own inadequacy.
‘If I had been more careful, the Bare Fists Guild Leader wouldn’t have been hurt!’
But regret was fleeting.
In the urgent situation, Vice Director Choi shouted the predetermined code word and hurriedly headed towards Kim Dong-gil.
“Guild Leader! Are you okay?”
“P-Potion. I need a potion!”
A member of the Bare Fists Guild cried out, trembling. Seeing this, Vice Director Choi looked towards the supply unit, but the area was already chaotic.
‘This is bad.’
He tried to stay calm.
Fortunately, the strategy was going well, and the boss’s attack was nearing its end.
Boom!
“Wow!”
“The boss is down!”
“Haha! We cleared the level 7 dungeon! We did it!”
Unaware of the situation behind, the awakeners at the front line cheered. But soon, sensing a strange atmosphere, they whispered among themselves.
“What? What’s going on?”
“Is someone hurt?”
Then, realizing Kim Dong-gil had collapsed, the Bare Fists Guild awakeners rushed over.
“Guild Leader!”
“What on earth is going on! Potion! Where’s the potion!?”
At that moment, a supply team member shouted with a grim face, “We’ve run out of recovery potions! Does anyone on the front lines have any left?”
Recovery potions were given priority to the front-line awakeners. The system was designed so that if they got hurt during battle, they could use them themselves.
“…”
“I used mine up!”
“What? Does no one have any spare potions?”
“The boss’s resistance was tougher than expected. If I’d known, I would have just fought through minor wounds!”
Everyone fell into despair at the news that there were no potions left.
Just as they were deciding to quickly retreat from the dungeon…
“Ugh!”
“Guild Leader!”
Kim Dong-gil coughed and regained consciousness.
“Ugh. The subjugation?”
“The subjugation was successful! Now we just need to get out and get you treated!”
“No. If we do that, we’ll delay and miss out on the byproducts of the level 7 dungeon.”
“What are you talking about right now!”
“Heh.”
Kim Dong-gil pointed to his chest.
“I brought a potion with me just in case.”
“Oh!”
An awakener next to him pulled the potion out of Kim Dong-gil’s chest. But it looked a bit different from the usual ones.
“It’s an unauthorized, makeshift potion, so it wasn’t officially registered in the supply list. But if you look at the item label, it’s definitely a potion.”
“This, this is?!”
It was a peculiar potion from its name alone: a strawberry potion?
But as Kim Dong-gil had said, the effect was sure.
“Guild Leader, please stop talking and drink the potion.”
Surprised by the potion’s name and effects for only a moment, Vice Director Choi of the Terror Guild fed the potion to Kim Dong-gil.
Half of it was given to drink, and half was applied to his wounds.
A strong strawberry scent, out of place, filled the dungeon.
“Gasp!”
“Guild Leader?!”
Seeing Kim Dong-gil suddenly scream, everyone called out to him in worry.
But…
“It tastes so @$# good!!!!”
“…”
The atmosphere suddenly turned icy.
Cliche Novel 