Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: A Tempting Spiritual Elixir
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I stretched, though honestly, my body felt barely any fatigue—it was just for show. The real issue was mental exhaustion, even if my flesh was perfectly fine.
'Hah.'
I have strong mental fortitude. That's not self-praise; it's an objective fact.
Would the selectors have bothered listing [Superhuman Mentality] in my traits for nothing?
Logging in and out repeatedly during dismemberment-level agony to keep fighting, or managing with sleep spells for just 30 minutes a day while working like a madman—anyone could do that, right?
'I've gotten soft.'
But now, even ten hours of grinding wears me out. Gaining transcendent-level combat power, tens or hundreds of billions in income, and worldwide fame is great, of course... but after achieving so much, it's hard to muster the same desperate drive as before.
In the end, I shut down the system UI and made the keyboard vanish.
"That's it for today."
After the contest ended, I'd been sequentially releasing Ouryong Net's popular works into Ardenia. Sure, it's piracy... but if I had qualms about that, I wouldn't have scammed 2 billion off a single legendary pet card.
"Well done, Your Majesty."
Flower approached at some point, handing me a steaming drink.
I took it absentmindedly, then jolted at the familiar aroma.
"Coffee?"
I'd vaguely thought it might be cultivable in the southern zones someday, but I hadn't expected actual product this soon.
And this sweet taste...
'Mixed coffee!?'
As I gaped, Flower explained.
"You know it, huh. It's an item made by combining coffee beans farmed from Manokseong and sugar from the World Tree's garden. Beyond boosting mana recovery, the taste is so good it's become a premium drink among players."
"Drop item, huh... With more castles secured, crafting and cooking ingredients are falling into place."
Of course. Leather, iron, wood, gems for gear production—all smoothly farmed from the eight castle sites.
Fabrics from undead or spider monsters are a bit tricky, but that'll resolve once I conquer those sites.
"Anyway."
I stood by the window, sipping coffee while overlooking the city.
Beyond the guild tower in the central plaza, the largest complex was our condominium—nicknamed Nobel Tower. On its rooftop sat a one-eyed giant in seiza position. With a katana across his thighs, he looked so still he seemed like a statue, not a living being.
"Who'd have thought you'd pick a Cyclops Samurai..."
A month ago, I'd offered three legendary pets to Rozarian, winner of the first literary contest. I had over twenty legendary pets, but they were all in my collection; those were the only ones I could give away.
Even with limited options, I hadn't expected a combat pet. I figured she'd go for Kasim—huge for imperials—or at least Sweet Home.
"But they look like they're getting along, don't they?"
"...Yeah."
Rozarian, her pure white hair neatly tied, approached the Cyclops Samurai, Jenta, who was in seiza.
She carried a large pot, which looked like a shot glass in his hands once passed.
"~~~~."
"~~~~."
They conversed. Too far and my agility too low to hear, but the warm atmosphere was clear.
Seemed like tea; Jenta sipped slowly, just wetting his lips, with calm demeanor and posture.
"...Well, positively. Having that around means no accidents, at least."
I watched them a bit, then turned away.
"Where's Hayes?"
"Secured a room on the 29th floor. The kid she brought is on the same floor."
"Red, right."
A mere teen, but with extraordinary talent.
From Hayes's vague mentions, I knew her identity.
'Future hero.'
A hero class Elementalists and legendary class Master Wizard in potential.
'Class card lore: Elementalist at 30, Master Wizard at 120. Both looked twenties, though.'
Of course, that's from the 'world of possibilities,' so no guarantee this girl Red reaches legendary.
But considering Edward—past version of a special boss—his mythic talent suggested hers was immense too.
The fastest way to awaken it? Grant her a legendary class now.
'No need to make that bomb.'
Humanity's not in peril; it'd be needless risk. Unlike kind, just Hayes—tied to me—heroes from [other timelines] were unpredictable.
If I handed power to anyone competent, I'd have given Sword King class to the former Murim Alliance leader, now Paladin Knight.
"Yeah... Let her rest. Tell her I'll drop by sometime."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After Flower left the office, I calmly sipped coffee, gazing at the city.
"Ardenia's fully stabilized now."
Mythic castles at eight sites blocked monster assaults. No need to patrol the continent daily or guard spots.
In other words.
"Time to decide."
Time to handle postponed matters amid grinding frenzy.
"What to learn."
A week of surgery with four archmages overcame my trash mana aptitude—practically a curse.
Eyes closed, mana flows felt naturally.
No need for poses or breaths; aura read effortlessly.
Mana moving with mere will was indescribable.
'But coldly... my power hasn't changed much.'
Right. Unchanged. Because I'd become too overpowering despite trash mana aptitude.
I'd gained longed-for mana talent, but it was just the starting line.
Tearing special gloves barehanded—when would mana accumulation reach meaningful levels?
But having erased trash aptitude, I couldn't stop at mere sensing. I mulled options.
"First, martial arts."
Most appealing. An entry-level internal energy user surviving 20 years in this savage world. Life-or-death honed my martial insight to master level.
But internal energy.
'Not the real thing.'
I used it now, but strictly, it wasn't true internal energy.
Not accumulated in dantian from nature's qi—chakra-opened via knowledge power.
Qi techniques worked—burst emission, rooting to earth—but that's not all internal energy does.
Using Giant's Land Breaker, yet no martial cultivator changes: no bulk-up, no tougher body.
Now accumulation possible, so I could build true internal energy for power boost.
"But when would I accumulate enough..."
Right. The issue. Internal energy isn't overnight power!
"Magic might be better there."
Some magic lines grew fast if aptitude allowed.
Open [Magic] chakra, equip legendary/mythic magic class—rapid growth.
"And biotics."
Chewing insane money to bulk collection, slaughtering monsters to level 64—my physical stats outstrip average transcendents. Absorb biotics now, evolve repeatedly...
Dramatic power surge.
"..."
I set down the empty cup. Truth is, I knew. No real dilemma.
"Biotics are strongest."
Obvious. My body too powerful already; combat foresight suits biotic cultivators more than martial arts. Blunt fighters without qi sense—add foresight, imagine real combat might.
However.
"I want martial arts..."
Pathetic, inefficient—I knew.
Factor: Already wielding peak+ internal energy via [Martial Arts] power—starting accumulation from scratch? Time waste.
Yet still.
I wanted it.
"Look for real magic arts... Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Soul Absorption Method. Demon Starve Art fast accumulation, they say."
Ultimately, gather more info.
"Logout."
Back to Earth, scour net.
[To Lambs Aspiring Heavenly Demon Divine Art]
[Heavenly Demon Ascending Divine Art]
[Heavenly Demon Soul Absorption Art]
[Heavenly Demon (天魔) Moonwalk]
[Heavenly Demon Marrow Cleansing Art]
[Heavenly Demon...]
Endless Heavenly Demon Divine Art variants. Too many for "just powerful."
Phenomenon from power + insane difficulty. Can't learn straight—hence tearful ass-shows.
"Absorption arts the answer? Heavenly Demon Soul Absorption Art fits—suck monster qi..."
Then.
Wung!
Familiar vibration. Left arm up—Zero Sum hummed. I pondered, shook head.
"No need to save this..."
Perfect idle moment.
Paat!
Shifted to sleek, sci-fi room. Nothing like that weird Duel-something game before.
Strange yet familiar—I grasped it.
"...Inner world."
"Yeah. My inner world. Only layer 4, so not huge."
Merlin, sitting first, slurped tea. Beside him, the squished sack looked around in wonder.
"This isn't big? My room's smaller than a single..."
They had inner worlds too. Like me raising layers via sites, external via castles—they opened chakras their way.
"Different from last drag-in."
Merlin startled at my words.
"Dragged? So my game visit was an accident?"
"If you insist... yes."
"Sheesh. Forcing into others' games now? Years in, this..."
Merlin pondered. Sudden thought—I opened inventory.
Paat!
As expected, item emerged. Inner worlds block real items... but game items work. Merlin used spell cards here, right?
"Merlin. Need these?"
Showed seven legendary cards; his eyes bulged.
"Legendary cards? Why do you have Dark Star cards?"
"Caught real-world monster drop."
"Oh, that monster incident... Drops sucked, but legendary gear too?"
Amazed tone, but no excitement.
"No big deal, huh."
"I'm Dark Star dev and GM, remember? Could copy transcendent items by thousands if I want."
"...What?"
Absurd—retorted, but obvious. Dev/GM—item duping trivial?
But then issue.
"Wait, why were you chased? Cheat deck, sweep all?"
"Not that easy. Thousands of legendaries, but no draw power—can't deck... Huh?"
Merlin paused mid-sentence.
"Wait, what's this... Draw power already embedded?"
Unlike before, his eyes sparkled at my cards.
"Seven ready-to-use legendaries..."
Like my monster-gear pay-to-win feel. He stared, then said.
"You, agonizing over mana accumulation?"
Startled.
"How'd you..."
"Waste mana aptitude forever, right? Fixed it—so now mana. See you haven't accumulated. Mana, aura, internal—whatever..."
Merlin finger-wiggled air.
Ding ding ding~ ding ro ri~
Dozens numbers scrolled.
"...Sorry, but cultivation methods plenty."
"Why cultivation now? Easier path exists."
"Easier path—what?"
He gave idiot-stare at my puzzled look.
"What else?"
Paaat----!!
Space tore; burning something emerged. Thumbnail-sized, but sun-bright!
'What penetrates inner world?'
Ignoring my shock, Merlin grinned confidently.
"It's an awesome spiritual elixir."