Jeon Eunbyeol: The Mad Genius's Soul-Bound Pact
As Jeon Eunbyeol had said, this world was one from a novel. One might ask why bother mentioning something so obvious. But even so, he had to say it one more time. This world was a novel. And in such a place, he had clung to life with ruthless desperation for over twenty years, staking his very existence.
Even after gaining bonds more precious than his real family, he would occasionally sigh upon remembering that fact. Why? Simple. 'Fuck. There's no way a crazy bitch with a personality like that could exist in reality, right?'
Clang— Metal scraped against metal. He glimpsed the glint of a syringe needle. It was hard to believe this power came from someone who'd been holed up in a corner, buried in research and crafting. Of course, it was still just an attack from a non-combatant. He twisted her fingers, forcing her weapon downward.
"Calm down."
"C-C-C-Calm down? Huh? You show me that and tell me to calm down?! D-Don't make me laugh! Do you even know what you've just shown me? That's a revolutionary formula that would make any pharmacist scream and drop dead from shock!"
"I know."
"You know?! You know?! Bullshit! You have no idea what that thing's worth! That's why you scribbled it on some cheap scrap of paper and shoved it at me!"
Jeon Eunbyeol bellowed in frenzy, foaming at the mouth as she glared at him—a perfect picture of utter madness. He humored her for about five minutes. She seemed a bit calmer...
"Th-That... you made all of that, right? Y-Yeah? It felt off from the start... Even if the ratios were perfect, the fact that you chugged all my little darlings and didn't drop dead from poison was already suspicious! Y-Yeah, I get it now! You're the god of alchemy, Eollei! A goddess who descended as a man... a TS goddess... You know your stuff. Hehe, hehe! Oh god, h-how does that brilliant mind of yours even work to come up with something like that? How the hell does it even work? Oh god! Goddess!!!"
Scratch that. This crazy bitch wasn't calming down at all.
"Y-You're my god alone! I-I'll kill you. I'll kill you and preserve you in formalin! Don't worry. I'll wash you meticulously every day and k-keep you safe... Ah! But first, wanna spend the night with me? Bearing a god's child... what an honor..."
Sigh. Even after over ten years dealing with her, her madness always exceeded expectations. Well, it wasn't incomprehensible. As she'd pointed out, that memo contained an ultimate crafting formula that far surpassed current technology and understanding.
'Practically, you could make almost any potion based on that.'
And not just any—the kind so close to perfection you'd swear it was the original elixir. In theory, with enough money and materials, even divine substances like [Nectar] or [Ambrosia] could be produced. No wonder she saw him as a god.
Of course, there was no way a swordsman like him could produce something so absurd.
'Swordsmanship, maybe. But a guy without alchemy skills? No chance.'
The creator was right in front of him. None other than Jeon Eunbyeol herself—she'd developed it personally. Fifteen years in the future, after the world crumbled under the Demon Lord's assault and resources dwindled to nothing, that's when she'd finally perfected it.
'And not just any creation—she screamed "I am god!" before brewing it.'
As the saying went, even a temple dog learns poetry after three years. Having spent so much time with her, he'd picked up alchemy crafting himself, though he never wanted to. As her assistant, he'd lent a hand now and then, watching the whole process from start to finish. A formula that took a whopping fifteen years to complete. A potion list she pompously dubbed GOD-P, full middle-school syndrome vibes. Out of the dozens, the most core foundational equation was the one in his hand right now.
'A treasure beyond measure.'
No joke—if that leaked out, Olympus, the Shanhaijing, they'd all flip and come hunting. Hell, not just them; major overseas powers and groups like the Aventar Mage Association would drool over it too.
Master. You've really toned down your temper. If it were anyone else, you'd have started by chopping off limbs.
'Yeah, probably.'
Every drop of blood and scrap of flesh in his body was elixir material, after all.
'Gotta be careful.'
He trusted her personally, but that was from his past life. With their relationship still shallow now, betrayal would be a real problem.
'Time to test the waters.'
Their contract, that is.
"You remember the upfront payment, right?"
"...H-Huh? Upfront?"
"Yeah, upfront. You know what that means."
Jeon Eunbyeol's eyes darted wildly, sweat beading on her brow—uncharacteristically. Then realization dawned, her face twisting in horror.
"N-No way!"
"Yeah, that no way..."
"You're trying to get me in bed with this!! Pervert! W-Well... for this much, maybe once wouldn't be bad? Y-You're pretty hot, so losing my virginity to you..."
"Yeah, fuck no. Think again. Aren't you the self-proclaimed super-genius sick beauty?"
"Hmm..."
She crossed her arms, pondering deeply. Then snapped her fingers.
"N-No way... there's more? Like this recipe?"
"Yeah, dozens. Good thing your head's not just for show."
"D-Dozensss!!! Gotta kill you!"
"Calm down, and if you play nice with our deal, you'll have them all soon enough."
"...!"
"So put down that syringe and let's talk?"
Master. Impressive. You've really mellowed out.
'I owe her too much.'
Crazy bitch or not, without Jeon Eunbyeol, he and the others would've crossed the River Jordan long ago. For all her flaws, she was endlessly soft toward those she saw as family. Her final act was sacrificing herself to save them... so this much was the least he could do.
'Gonna repay that debt in this life as best I can.'
"An-Annoying. J-Just kill me and take it, hehe..."
"..."
Correction. What a fucking bitch.
* * *
"S-So... you want me to supply potions on demand based on this? In exchange for ongoing recipes and cash..."
"Exactly. I'll need doping triggers eventually, but for now, just stuff to clear accumulated fatigue."
"E-Eh... I have a few like that..."
"Sorry, but your stuff won't cut it."
"E-Eh? Are your eyes fucked? No one in the markets tops this super-genius sick beauty..."
He pulled [Hiven's Mercy] from his pocket and handed it over. She eyed it curiously, uncorked it, and sniffed. Her expression shifted instantly upon grasping its value.
"...Wh-Where the hell did you get this."
"That's the level I need. Shouldn't be hard. With the formula I gave you, a super genius like you could mass-produce equivalents like eating cold porridge."
"E-Ehe... Y-Yeah, true. N-Not hard at all. I'm a genius, after all."
For someone who strutted around proclaiming it, she blushed at actual praise.
"And now, the second matter."
"E-Eh... another one?"
"Yeah. This one's more important."
He handed over a new memo. She read it carefully, her face hardening for a different reason.
"...You're serious about me making this?"
"Yes."
"J-Joking, right? Who've you been fighting, dragons? N-No way an antidote for this level of poisoning and madness even exists..."
"So you can't?"
"..."
Silence hung heavy. Her eyes darted as she swallowed dryly.
"I-Impossible... sorry. Even for me..."
Too quick to show weakness—out of character. Considering the timeline, it made sense.
'Still young, lacking confidence.'
Yeah, her wings weren't fully spread yet. No choice—time to poke a little.
"Don't you want recognition?"
"Huh?"
"From the family that branded you a madwoman. Despite your talent, they always looked down on you."
"...Watch your mouth..."
"Think about it, Jeon Eunbyeol. This is my gift—a chance."
"...A ch-chance?"
"Stop rotting in this hole, bragging to yourself. Prove it. Your genius, your talent. You always said you'd show those dumb pig bastards they were wrong. Isn't now the time?"
"..."
"Succeed, and you can publish every formula I give you under your name at the academy."
"...!!!"
"So show me. That you're the real deal—not just talk."
"..."
Her head drooped under the perfect mix of provocation and carrot. Laughter trickled from her ears.
"Heh, hehehehehehehe."
The madwoman Jeon Eunbyeol snapped her head up, grabbing his arms. Her face twisted in a grotesque spin—360 degrees. Her pupils swirled into pitch-black voids, unleashing overwhelming insanity.
"G-Good. I like that taunt... W-Where'd you dig up that intel? Wanna crack your skull open and see... B-But fine! Deal! Hehe, you sure know how to talk, huh?"
"Thanks, but please don't spin your head like that when talking to people. Someone might faint."
"Hehe, hehehehehe! F-Fool, this is great. My brain spins 360, cleaning every nook... hehe."
After laughing it off, she continued.
"R-Recovery potions are no problem. B-But the antidote... m-materials are way short. Others I can manage... y-yeah. P-Poison sacs... samples are the issue."
"Samples?"
"T-Told you? That contract dummy retired. N-Not his spots—one or two levels higher. I'll open sis's A-rank dungeon for you. K-Kill the fat-ass there, bring the bits and the core 'heart.' Then I'll make it."
"Good. Deal."
As he spoke, the memo he'd given her glowed brightly. Invisible runes, visible only to him, wove like threads between them.
"Wh-What's this?"
"My ability. Don't worry—it's your favorite kind."
[Party A: Choi Siwoo, Party B: Jeon Eunbyeol—contract established.]
[Party A swears on their soul to provide Party B's required materials and support. Party B swears on their soul to produce Party A's requested items. As final reward, Party A will continuously provide owned formulas to Party B. Both parties pledge absolute secrecy.]
"Y-You're a mental ability user? A power that binds contracts like this... f-fuck, first time seeing it. You've got some insane shit."
"Not the point. This secures us both. You like certainty, so no complaints, right?"
She stared blankly, then nodded with a madness-tinged grin. Thus, their long first meeting with Jeon Eunbyeol mercifully ended without incident.