Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Potion Across the Waters
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Realizing this now made me feel pathetic about myself.
At the same time, it all made sense—every situation that had happened to me.
Why Ryu Seolhwa knew my progress.
Why those strange people had approached me.
It was all my own doing.
"First things first, let's fix the profile."
I logged into Hunter Net and changed my profile settings.
Fortunately, the public range was limited to entry permissions.
If someone hid their clear status and joined a party, it would cause a disaster where no one gained experience.
That's why raid parties always checked this—it was practically a national rule.
Strict parties even verified levels, but first-floor parties didn't, which was a small mercy.
If I'd made my level public too, I'd be dealing with reporters by now.
A sharp one might even connect it to the fifth-floor unlock.
"In that sense, the seal absolutely can't be discovered."
If word got out about the toll fee, I'd be treated like a golden goblin for sure.
"A mob that drops magic stones just by shaking it down?"
Even I'd want to mess with someone like that.
It was too much for one person to handle against a nation or organization.
Come to think of it, exchanging them for cash was a problem too.
Magic stones would pile up over time, and selling them would leave a trail.
I had no idea how to solve this.
"For now, I should just stockpile them..."
I needed to prepare for the worst.
I pulled the Reactivated Poison Elixir from my inventory and downed it.
Anyone watching would think I was just having a coffee.
Who could imagine a healer chugging poison like this?
Come to think of it, the color's pretty similar.
"Urgh."
Passive Skill: Pain Accumulation +11
Thanks to my increased pain resistance, it definitely hurt less than before.
The rewards were generous too. I should look into related items while I'm at it.
Come to think of it, I'd been so distracted by the system announcement that I hadn't checked the clear rewards.
"Wonder what the rewards are besides the seal... Ack."
This had to be the tastiest moment right now.
First up, the skills.
Active Skill: Aura of Healing
Applies continuous healing to all targets within the caster's radius for a set duration. 5/5 (Resets at midnight daily)
As the description says, it seemed like an AoE healing skill.
But to me, it was a total white elephant.
"The moment I use this... I'm a confirmed troll. Ugh."
I probably wouldn't join parties anyway, but even if I did, using this would guarantee a party wipe.
No choice but to seal it away.
Next skill.
Active Skill: Resistance Insight
Analyzes attribute resistance values of targets in sight. Identifies the most vulnerable resistance.
Lowest-grade magic stone cost: 1
"Huh? This looks amazing."
A skill that consumed magic stones to use.
I'd heard skills like this only unlocked through achievements or unique means.
And it appeared already... Fitting for that ominous achievement name, it had to be a high-tier skill.
This was perfect for me.
Honestly, my Tower clears so far had been makeshift at best—clumsy tricks at worst.
But now, systematic progress seemed possible.
Of course, each use cost about a million won, so I'd save it for necessities.
"Achievements really are key."
Before entering the Tower, I needed to gather info on achievable achievements per floor.
Something told me re-entries wouldn't count them.
Next, the potion skill.
Creatable quantity had increased to 10.
That was great news.
While prepping for the fifth floor, I'd discovered various recipes.
Plenty of useful potions—might even sell some.
Though with my own stockpile needs, sales were iffy for now.
"Fifth-floor rewards are insane."
Finally, the boss drop.
30 magic stones base—180 million won with achievement bonus.
Plus the item. Monopolizing paid off big.
Steel Scale Basilisk Shedding: Material
The shell shed by the Desert Ruler. Physical Resistance +10%
『Taking it off makes you naked... no, weak...』
"...Who the hell writes these comments?"
The flavor text was cringy, but the options looked valuable.
Checked the exchange—no listings.
So I hopped on Hunter Net and searched.
Newbies, if you've cleared the 5th floor and got the shedding, dispose of it carefully!
There's this material drop from the 5th-floor boss called Steel Scale Basilisk Shedding. It's super rare.
Sometimes newbies post "Is this good?" and get scammed. Ignore anyone offering more than market price in comments or DMs—total BS.
No listings on exchange so you don't know the price? That's wholesalers manipulating it. They snatch it in 1 second flat.
Feel bad for newbies underselling, so here's the tip. Open your inventory right now—if you've got the shedding, sell it to me. Let me try on some steel armor too.
Wholesalers are so annoying. Can't tank without this, and no stock.
Buddy of mine sold one for 10 mil.
What were the options? Scammer probably bought a car off that.
8%.
"Whoa, it's ridiculously expensive."
"A car" wasn't hyperbole.
Digging further, prices varied wildly by options.
Found a similar trade record to mine.
Steel Scale Basilisk Shedding (10%)
Sold for: 82,000,000 won
"......"
Achievement doubled the loot.
Mine was simply calculated at 160 million.
"Insane. How much is this in one go?"
Way more than I'd scraped together bleeding in the Tower so far.
And this was just the start.
As long as people entered the fifth floor, tolls would keep stacking.
"Like hitting both lotto and annuity at once..."
Now it felt real. My life had turned around.
At the same time, across the Pacific. America.
Century Guild was battling the 40th-floor gateway.
"Phase 2! Healers, potions now!"
The raid party's healer downed the potion without hesitation.
Her eyes widened instantly.
Kwaaarak—!
Gray breath blanketed the battlefield in a massive blizzard.
The ground froze solid, and the entire assault team was encased in ice.
At the same moment, a lullaby-like melody flowed from the gatekeeper's maw.
It was mental bondage, cold repose.
But in that instant.
Pain struck the frozen, sleeping healer.
"Ugh!"
Consciousness forcibly yanked awake by agony.
Simultaneously, the ice surface boiled away, shattering the freeze status.
Freed from debuffs, the healer grasped the party's plight and hurriedly cast regeneration and purification.
Party members awoke one by one.
Someone yelled at her.
"Jessica! What the fuck did you do?! You're the best, damn it!"
"I didn't do shit! That Regeneration Potion... who the hell made something this crazy?"
Heading to the hotel lobby, I spotted Yoo Soyeon waving at me.
What was this woman's angle, acting all friendly?
"Congrats on breaking through the gateway."
"Now you're openly advertising surveillance."
"Oh, come on. Management Bureau only confirms Tower entry, not which floor."
"Then how'd you know?"
"Woman's intuition?"
I nearly laughed in disbelief, but I couldn't take the bait.
"Truth is, I inferred from your entry pattern. You only enter when raiding. You're fine, so only one answer."
"Didn't consider Emergency Escape?"
"Of course I didn't rule it out. But your reaction just now confirmed it."
So she'd tested me, and I'd fallen for it.
Crafty woman. But what was it today?
"Why'd you want to meet?"
"The Regeneration Potion matter. It passed."
"And?"
"You're now a protected subject. Management Bureau will handle your security from here. That's what I came to tell you."
"Security?"
"Yes. Personal protection, info security. Basics."
"Sounds like surveillance to me."
"Surveillance? Too harsh a word."
Yoo Soyeon brushed it off with a light laugh.
"We just adjust potentially risky situations in advance."
This was treatment even S-rank potential awakening hadn't gotten.
What the hell was so special about that potion?
Anyway, protection had no downsides.
Like this afternoon's mess—if I'd handled it alone wrong, I could've been a criminal overnight.
Shock death would've been disastrous.
No reason to shoulder that risk myself.
Borrowing others' hands was the way.
"Official notices cause misunderstandings. Judged direct explanation best. Anyway, gotta go. Swamped with the unlock event."
Oh, right. Time to probe.
How much did Management Bureau know?
My turn to test.
"Why the sudden announcement?"
"We're puzzled too. Limited to Yongsan Tower. No related incidents domestically."
"Any solo fifth-floor data?"
"Dunno. Solo data's hard to get. Probably not."
Yoo Soyeon answered uncertainly.
Seemed she lacked access.
"Lost interest in my data?"
"You shot me down like a pumpkin last time. No point asking when I know the answer. So, what rewards?"
"Secret."
"See? Anyway, I'm off. Busy with overseas hunters' licenses."
She had no clue linking the unlock to me.
Still, better reaffirm.
"Remember the promise when I gave the potion?"
"Tch, yes. I swore never to leak anything about Yeonwoo."
Back in my room, the TV was on news.
Variety show must've ended while I met Yoo Soyeon.
Grabbed the remote to change channels.
Then I noticed the breaking subtitle at the bottom.
US Century Guild clears 40th floor
"Huh? They broke through?"
By last progress reports, world-first clear.
Makes sense for breaking news.
But Yoo Soyeon said my potion was a hint for 40th-floor raid?
Theft timing and clear synced perfectly.
Plus sudden protection status.
Both tied to the Regeneration Potion.
Afternoon's incident flashed back.
"No way..."
Those suspicious people targeting me.
Maybe their goal was the potion too?