Chapter 34: God Fruit (1)
Mother Tree's God Fruit.
It was an item that was incredibly hard to obtain through force. To get it, one would have to carve through the forest and slaughter the elves, but even if they did…
‘The elves would destroy it first.’
Rather than hand it over to the likes of you, they'd smash it! Something like that, and they'd shatter the God Fruit.
That was why he'd gotten a promise from Elise in advance.
Thanks to that, even after dealing with one elder, he could enter the heart of the Mother Tree without issue.
“… Take it.”
In the spot she pointed to.
Inside a box made of wood sat a single God Fruit.
“Thank you.”
He picked up the God Fruit.
[Mother Tree's God Fruit]
[Grade: A+]
[A fruit that rarely forms on the Mother Tree. Eating it seems like it would make you healthier.]
[Effect: All stats +20.]
“Oh.”
Kim Minwoo let out a gasp of admiration upon seeing the God Fruit. He then looked at Elise.
“The God Fruit's effects are better than expected. This Mother Tree must be quite old, huh?”
“… It's a descendant of the World Tree. It's also the last Mother Tree remaining on the continent.”
He nodded.
The World Tree, a staple in any fantasy world.
It was the tree the elves loved most.
But elves didn't necessarily only live around World Trees.
Seeds of the World Tree.
They'd take those and migrate to other regions.
The trees that grew from those seeds were called Mother Trees.
‘Kind of like Gyeonggi-do compared to Seoul.’
Anyway.
The God Fruits he'd seen so far had been B to A-grade at best.
But this one was a step higher, A+.
“Did the World Tree survive?”
“… No. It burned and fell.”
That explained it.
When the World Tree is destroyed, the oldest Mother Tree takes over its role.
This Mother Tree was probably the last of its kind and in the process of evolving into a World Tree.
That must be why the God Fruit's effects were so potent.
‘Perfect.’
He grinned.
The God Fruit's stat boost was impressive, but its other effect was even more overpowered.
‘It bypasses stat restrictions.’
The common line on elixirs: 'Inapplicable if stats exceed XX.'
Stats boosted by the God Fruit don't count toward that limit. That's why he'd gone to such lengths to get it.
‘It's tough to obtain otherwise.’
Normal gates had no real story. You just went in, smashed everything, and left.
Even if there were elves, they'd mostly be hostile, and building favor was hard.
Hidden gates were different.
A grand stage.
Numerous races and the conflicts arising from them. Thanks to the stage's nature, the finicky elves approached first, giving him his chance.
In the end, to get a God Fruit, you had to meet elves in a hidden gate, build massive favor, or bestow a favor on their race on the level of saving them.
“Difficult.”
“Yes?”
“Nothing. Despite the tragedy, thank you for so generously giving me the God Fruit.”
He bowed his head slightly, and Elise shook her head.
“… No. I've learned much myself. In the current situation… perhaps your way is the right one.”
She'd gained some insight.
A pretty admirable elf.
“Will you consume the God Fruit now?”
“I plan to.”
Better to save the Sword Shadow Pill.
It was subject to stat restrictions.
But not the God Fruit.
Eating it now wouldn't hinder the next elixir session.
‘Before the Apostle moves.’
He needed to hand off crafting and alchemy skills to the skeletons as quickly as possible.
Summoning as many as he could would help.
‘Magic +20, plus 10% from Unyielding Soul, makes 22.’
That let him summon 88 more skeletons. Plus the stat advantages from the Apostle fight.
No reason not to eat it.
Crunch!
He bit into the God Fruit.
A sweet aroma spread, followed by a refreshing energy coursing through his body.
[All stats +20!]
A pleasant message appeared before his eyes.
* * *
[Skeleton unit's crafting experience greatly increases!]
[Concentrated crafting experience creates a new skill!]
[Skeletons can now use Dwarven Forging (F)!]
[Learning another crafting skill! Proficiency rises faster!]
[Skeleton 507 acquires alchemy faster…]
[Skeleton 801…]
[Power of collective intelligence!]
[Skeleton horde comprehends the mysteries of alchemy!]
[Skeletons can now use Elven Alchemy (F)!]
“No way?!”
―Chiiik! Big bro! What happened?!
Urkan, who had been camping, jolted awake and looked around in surprise.
“Ah, sorry. Go back to sleep.”
―… Zzz! Puhuu! Chiiik!
Urkan immediately fell back into deep slumber.
Cold winter.
The orcs were tough, sleeping wrapped in just a few hides.
They'd wiped out nearby monsters, so they had to go far to hunt.
That's why they were camping.
―Chiiik! Big bro! You heading out?
“Yeah. Eat this, stay awake, and keep watch around.”
He handed jerky to the orc sentries guarding the camp perimeter.
The orcs nodded eagerly, faces lighting up.
With that, he stepped out.
He canceled the summons of about ten skeletons, then resummoned them.
Clatter!
Ten skeletons rose.
‘ Gotta test it, right?’
He couldn't hold back.
He pulled heaps of materials from his subspatial ring. All from high-level monsters.
Proper skill use needed a forge or alchemy lab.
But lacking facilities didn't mean they couldn't use the skills.
Success rates just dropped sharply.
“Make gear and potions with these. Whatever. Until you succeed once.”
Nod!
The skeletons extended their hands forward.
[Skeleton 1 uses Dwarven Forging (F)!]
[Skeleton 501 uses Elven Alchemy (F)!]
[Critical failure!]
[Crafter's materials are too high-grade! Proficiency gained!]
[Critical failure!]
[Crafter's materials are…]
[Critical failure!]
[Crude success!]
[Very crude Minotaur bone sword crafted!]
[Dwarven Forging (F) proficiency greatly increases!]
[Success!]
[Some weird stealth potion crafted!]
[Elven Alchemy (F) proficiency greatly increases!]
After materials exploded everywhere, results finally emerged.
He checked the items.
[Very Crude Minotaur Bone Sword]
[Grade: Normal+]
[Level limit: 230+]
[A sword made from minotaur bone. Full of a novice's clumsiness.]
[Effect 1. Strength +10, Agility +10]
[Effect 2. Weight +20%]
[Some Weird Stealth Potion]
[Grade: Normal+]
[A potion that seems like it might make you invisible. But probably with side effects.]
[Effect 1. Grants invisibility for 5 minutes on consumption.]
[Effect 2. Inflicts random side effect on consumption.]
“Heh heh.”
He couldn't stop laughing.
Critical failure?
They'd just learned the skills and used high-level materials.
Of course.
Far more important was…
‘The potential's unlocked.’
All the products had a +.
Something hard to see with standard crafting or alchemy. Dwarves and elves, specialists in their fields.
Directly taught by them, that's why.
Skills gained proficiency and leveled up with use.
Of course, not for Kim Minwoo.
His wretched body rejected any skill growth.
But skeletons were different.
They could grow skills through proficiency.
Crafting skills too.
Higher-level materials sped up proficiency gain.
‘Materials? I've got plenty.’
Auction house or gates.
Anywhere.
And skeletons? Endless supply.
While other crafters gained proficiency from one or two items, skeletons could do it with thousands attempting at once.
Insanely high ceiling.
‘And even trash like this…’
Demand existed.
+ items, after all.
Sell cheap, they sell out. Not just investment—recovery possible too.
A flashy money-copying virtuous cycle.
Impossible for other necromancers.
Skeletons lacked intelligence.
Intelligent undead? Not enough numbers. They cost too much mana to summon.
Even Dullahans—most necromancers couldn't summon ten.
‘And no dwarven or elven crafting tech.’
Only possible for Kim Minwoo.
“Death Lord is god, and I am invincible.”
He declared solemnly.
Fast leveling.
Two crafting skills.
God Fruit, then bound skillbook.
This gate run was already a massive jackpot.
‘And there's more left.’
Apostle Belitas.
Presumed B-grade gate boss, so it'd drop something.
Awakeners weren't moths to hidden gate flames for nothing.
Hidden gates were filled with rewards unimaginable in ordinary ones, although their difficulty rose to match.
He checked his faction status.
[Current Resistance Faction Status]
[Leader: Kim Minwoo]
[Members: Humans 1, Orcs 6,363, Dwarves 532, Elves 421]
[Level: Well-armed regular army]
[Average level: 161]
[Food situation: Extremely poor.]
[Morale: Burning with zeal]
[Enemy alertness: 31 (Aware of major issues.)]
Ten days since eating the Mother God Fruit.
Orcs had swelled past 6,000, armament solid.
Average level up too.
Weak orcs died hunting. Strong, high-level ones survived more.
Average kept rising.
All smooth.
‘Except one thing…’
Enemy alertness.
Jumped from 5 to 31. High enough for an Apostle to worry, even if witches didn't.
Yet no attack.
‘Definitely wary of orcs.’
He'd heard much from dwarves and elves.
Witches greatly feared orcs.
In peak war times, mere orc stirrings brought armies to crush them.
Given that, an army should've come by now.
They'd detected the orc activity.
But no?
Knew the fight's crux.
‘Time.’
Orcs ate a lot.
Food shortage tightening.
Elven fruits? Not nearly enough.
Why he'd camped and hunted far.
‘No rush, right? I'd do the same.’
Past and present differed.
Harsh cold killed many.
Orcs stirring? Couldn't form big groups long. Starve in days.
‘So holing up in the fortress.’
Wait, and you starve without attacking?
Something like that.
Apostle Belitas.
Far more cautious than thought.
“But oh well. I've got a trump card.”
Overlooked one key fact.
Gates had midpoints, perfect bases.
Awakeners entering could exit to midpoint, reenter.
Not infinite.
‘One-time use.’
Return within three days, back to midpoint. After, clear gate to return.
One round trip.
Normally, no variable.
Couldn't solve orc food issues that way.
But for Kim Minwoo, different.
He had cash to burn.
Load subspatial rings with food, return?
Subspatial vacuum—no spoilage.
Kim Minwoo grinned.
Last week.
Visited midpoint, scouted with orcs.
Found it.
Didn't exit right away.
Out foraging, Belitas attacks? Disaster.
Tested if it'd come.
Now certain.
Camping far, hunting, no strike?
Natural camper.
No intent to come.
Let him hit level 101 perfectly, teach skeletons freely.
Food crisis imminent.
Time for one-use golden ticket.
“I'll show you there's always a bigger fish.”
Belitas would be shocked ahead.
Even at 10,000 or 20,000 orcs, they'd be plump.