Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Humanity's First Mage (6)
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“…Yes.”
“?”
Suhyun started feeling uneasy. If Kim Chang-sik had acted like this, he would have told him to prepare for a punch and then say it with a smile, but for Seo Kang-seok to act this way, it seemed like he had caused more than just a minor mishap.
‘This guy isn’t the type to screw up?’
“What is it? Don’t drag it out—spit it out.”
“Well... There’s good news and bad news.”
“Getting worse by the minute... Fine. Good news first.”
“I’ve awakened as a superpowered user.”
“What?! For real?!”
Suhyun grabbed Seo Kang-seok’s shoulders in delight. Uncle Jo Company’s members had been slow to awaken their superpowers, which had been a growing concern.
‘As expected, someone guaranteed to awaken does just that!’
“What’s your superpower?”
He already knew the answer. Something related to poison.
Seo Kang-seok clenched and unclenched his pot-lid-sized fist. A deep green hue began to form at its tip.
“Poison synthesis?”
“Yes, I can store a certain amount inside my body too...”
A superpower that mixed existing poisons to create new ones and stored them in the body. It wasn’t as freely manipulable as Suhyun’s poison technique, but it was still an outstanding ability.
‘So that’s the power.’
Even at this level, it was more than enough against ordinary enemies. Poison was that powerful a weapon. Especially when paired with knowledge and understanding of toxins.
Seo Kang-seok was perfect in that regard.
“If this is the good news, what’s the bad?”
“The thing you gave me, Team Leader.”
“What did I give you?”
“...The one with the antidote effect...”
“Oh, the man-faced spirit plant.”
Compared to the transparent gem that absorbed superpowers, the man-faced spirit plant’s stone hadn’t interested Suhyun much. It was merely a lesser version of his own abilities. No reason to covet it when he had poison technique.
“What about it?”
“It... disappeared.”
“??”
* * *
Seo Kang-seok wasn’t the type to lose things. Suhyun quickly heard the story. As expected, it wasn’t lost or stolen.
“It went inside your body?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose!”
“No, you idiot... Who said anything? It’s fine even if you lost that one. Relax.”
Seo Kang-seok was deeply moved seeing Suhyun casually dismiss the loss of a treasure that could fetch an unknown fortune from the rich. He knew Suhyun was like this, but it hit differently every time.
“I took it to my daughter, and she grabbed it because it was fascinating. Then in an instant...”
“It vanished?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm...”
“I’ll make it up to you no matter what! I don’t know how long it’ll take, but...”
“No. Forget that. So, how’s your daughter? Any changes?”
Seo Kang-seok’s face lit up at the question. Suhyun guessed there had been changes.
“Her condition improved dramatically. To the point where the doctors were shocked.”
“Wait. Does that mean...”
Suhyun eyed Seo Kang-seok suspiciously. He was a hunter from a poison-handling clan. Poison had to have built up in his body. If that constitution was hereditary and passed to his daughter...
‘If it’s congenital poisoning, couldn’t I just go cure her with poison technique?’
“Yes?”
“Nothing. Doctors shocked, huh? How much?”
“They said she can be discharged soon...”
“Nothing else unusual?”
“Nothing?”
“Then it’s not bad news!”
“I’m sorry!”
Suhyun kicked Seo Kang-seok’s leg. He felt foolish for worrying. Seo Kang-seok rolled on the floor but immediately straightened up.
“I thought you’d accidentally killed someone.”
“N-No way...”
“Think before calling something bad news next time. Congrats on your daughter’s discharge. Planning to keep going to the hospital?”
“Yes? I was.”
“Good she’s healthy, but absorbing an unknown substance is a bit worrying. I know someone—let me introduce you. Expert in this field. Works at a government lab.”
“Ooh...!”
Seo Kang-seok teared up and tried to grab Suhyun’s hand. Suhyun recoiled at the expression unfit for his bulk and shoved him away.
“Stop sniveling. Repay with work. You’ll have more duties now that you’ve awakened.”
“Yes!”
Seo Kang-seok’s worries were gone thanks to Suhyun, but Suhyun gained a new one because of him.
‘An artifact... fusing with a human body?’
This was a first.
According to current academic consensus, heterorace artifacts were likely extracted from their superpowered users’ bodies. The man-faced spirit plant’s stone was one too—a core from a monster corpse, with special abilities.
He already had a headache from unknowingly possessing time-manipulation powers, and now this new phenomenon doubled the pain.
‘Ugh, damn it. Hand it off to Choi Ji-eun.’
Researchers always handled the headaches. Like before.
“Suhyun, you free now?”
“Depends. What is it?”
“That guy you asked me to introduce last time. Lee Seung-su.”
“Oh... What about him?”
“He came looking, begging to see you.”
“?”
Lee Seung-su. The merchant he’d contacted to trade with Kevaswak’s orcs.
‘What’s this?’
If he’d heard about the first mage awakening and come scavenging, Suhyun planned to kick him out. He headed inside.
“Sorry!”
But what he faced inside was unexpected. Lee Seung-su was prostrated, forehead glued to the floor.
“Am I accepting apologies today?”
“Yes?”
“Giving you one minute. Quick, simple, summary of your screw-up. Go!”
“Uh...”
“1, 2, 3, 4...”
“I’ll talk!”
After working with Suhyun, Lee Seung-su couldn’t shake his curiosity about what those orcs had. Contacting the remaining orcs after Mogok left was easy.
Red boar mushrooms. Skyrocketing in price—a product to rake in money if the source was secured. Lee Seung-su naturally proposed to the orcs: he’d pay more than Suhyun, so sell to him.
The orcs, having already sold their stock to Suhyun, pre-contracted future harvests as gifts. Suhyun had told them to handle future trades themselves, so they didn’t hesitate.
Stealing trade partners was commonplace on Cameron Planet. Especially easy marks.
But upon return, he heard humanity’s first mage had appeared. Talk about bad luck.
If he wanted, borrowing government power to strangle Suhyun would be easier than breathing.
Lee Seung-su chose upfront apology over waiting for a later beating.
“Worth groveling like this? Stealing trade partners happens.”
Suhyun knew red boar mushroom prices would crash soon. Lee Seung-su just looked foolish; no real anger. But to him, it sounded different.
“I know I messed up and truly regret it. Please, just one chance!”
“No one’s threatening to kill you. Get up first.”
Suhyun lifted him with one finger. No time to waste on a merchant when bigger issues loomed.
“Brought gifts. Let me bring them in!”
“Wait, I barely use this office...”
At Lee Seung-su’s signal, employees carried in items. Heterorace-crafted ornate crafts piled up.
“Seriously, this stuff...”
Thud!
“?”
“Handle gently! Break it and you pay!”
“...”
The worker nodded silently at Lee Seung-su’s bark. He turned back to Suhyun.
“What was that?”
“You think this’ll sway me?”
“Yes?!”
* * *
Cameron Planet was small, but he hadn’t expected to find his target here. Suhyun’s change of tune came from spotting an employee under Lee Seung-su.
‘It’s Koo Jung-chul!’
Koo Jung-chul. Nicknamed ‘Iron Arm’ for his combat prowess, but essentially a bit slow and naive. Before the military, he’d been in debt trouble; Suhyun hadn’t pried.
‘Working here? Messed up a guarantee, huh...’
Seemed neither knew the other’s abilities. Suhyun shook his head.
“That guy?”
“Needed a strong laborer.”
“He’s got debts...”
“How much?”
“Uh, remaining is... 120 million.”
“Sent to the account.”
“!”
Lee Seung-su was shocked at Suhyun’s casualness. Then shocked again—the transfer was only 30 million.
“Uh... It’s only 30 million?”
“Principal wasn’t 40?”
“How’d you—?”
Lee Seung-su caught himself. Not the time to profit. Merchant instincts kicking in.
“Uh, why only 30 mil...?”
He couldn’t resist asking. Suhyun replied flatly.
“CEO’s life fee.”
“...Thank you.”
Lee Seung-su bowed deeply, asking no more.
* * *
“I paid off your debts.”
Koo Jung-chul blinked and nodded like a cow. Suhyun sighed at the sight. He’d worked hard making him useful before; now it repeated.
“You’ll work here from now on. Lots of questions, I bet, but learn what this place is from others later. Training first. Gotta awaken.”
Koo Jung-chul tapped the holographic keyboard, displaying text.
-Why?
Why pay debts, why bring him—layered question.
“‘Cause you’re useful.”
“???”
Koo Jung-chul tilted his head. He didn’t see himself that way. Strong, sure, but no one paid debts to hire a porter.
“Yeah, you wouldn’t know. Don’t worry—you’ll see.”
Suhyun cracked his knuckles, approaching slowly. Koo Jung-chul felt inexplicable unease.
* * *
Koo Jung-chul’s ‘Iron Arm’ nickname came from his unique superpower.
Enhancement.
No superpower split users by capability like enhancement. His focused on durability.
Purely defensive.
When he dug in, even paper scraps became shields tougher than steel. He’d survived countless times thanks to it.
Plus his loyalty. Few would jump into fire without hesitation.
Problem: he didn’t realize it.
‘Answer’s training.’
“Gah!”
“Up. Not enough yet.”
Koo Jung-chul staggered to his feet, baffled by Suhyun’s sudden assault.
“Feeling anything?”
“...”
“No? Then until you do.”
“Why, why?”
The usually silent Koo Jung-chul finally spoke.
“Why?”
Nod. Suhyun replied calmly.
“Told you. You’re useful, so I brought you.”
Fierce attacks made it unconvincing, but Suhyun continued.
“No assets, poor education, only strength going for you. That your self-assessment?”
“...”
“I disagree. You have talent. As a superpowered user. And that means a lot on Cameron.”
“...!”
Even taking hits like a dog, his heart raced. First to affirm his ability without doubt.
“B-But... why...”
Why the beating? Obvious unspoken part.
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