Desert Rose's Processing Method
“What’s with all these people?”
Nimal Village was packed with crowds. More precisely, the area around the respawn zone in the village square. When Hura first arrived, it had been a barren, empty place, but now it felt like a famous tourist spot.
“If I didn’t have Stealth, I’d have been in trouble.”
I activated Stealth and carefully made my way to the spot where I’d met the old lady before. It was a skill attached to an item, so it wasn’t as specialized as the Stealth used by thief-class users, but it was perfect for weaving through a place this crowded.
As I pushed through the throng, voices drifted into my ear.
Hey, isn’t that the Panwol reporter lady from that emo channel?
Spectators settling in with munchies too.
…Looks like not everyone here is just after a ranker spot.
Whatever. None of my business.
I reached the old lady without anyone spotting me.
She was sitting on a porch bench by a house near the roadside, just like last time. I dropped Stealth and called out.
“Granny, it’s me.”
“Eek! You scared me!”
The old lady jumped, then glared and yelled at me.
“Make some noise next time, you brat!”
“Haha, sorry.”
“Already? Giving up? Or here to renegotiate?”
She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
“I’m telling you upfront—no haggling on the three we agreed on! I’m already taking a loss here!”
I silently pulled one Desert Rose from my inventory.
Her eyes went wide at the sight.
“O… oh!”
She reached out with both hands and took the Desert Rose ever so carefully.
“This pure mana! It’s definitely a Desert Rose!”
“Of course. Took a lot of work to find it.”
Well, Baek Bal Baek Jung did the real legwork. But he didn’t seem to suffer much either. Still, I deserve a little credit, right?
“But why just one? We agreed on three.”
She eyed me suspiciously.
“I’ll give you the other two once you teach me the processing method.”
Never hand over everything at once. If you give it all before getting what you want, the other side might stab you in the back with no regrets. The world’s harsher than you think—it teaches you that way.
“Trying to settle for one?”
She glared daggers.
“Have you always been this gullible?”
I pulled out the other two from my inventory to show her.
“No way…! How did you find them so fast? I figured at least two weeks, even rushing!”
“Got lucky, let’s say.”
I placed the two Desert Roses on the bench.
“Now, the processing method, please.”
“Fine, fine.”
She fetched a basin of rippling water.
“It’s not that complicated. Simpler than you’d think.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Yep. A Desert Rose is pure sand infused with nature’s mana—like sand as a vessel holding mana.”
“I see.”
“Question: Can you eat sand?”
“No.”
She nodded.
“Right. So just remove the sand.”
“How?”
“With water.”
“Water?”
“Yeah. The cleaner and purer, the better. This is from deep in the well at dawn.”
She gently submerged the Desert Rose in the basin.
Srrrr—
The sand unraveled like threads on its own.
“……!”
The sand dissolved into the water like melting, and inside, a mystical light shimmered.
“See the mana now?”
“That’s mana?”
“Yep. Normally, only those who’ve mastered and refined it—like mages—can see it.”
“But I can see it with my own eyes.”
“Exactly. It’s such pure nature mana that even regular folks without mage training can spot it.”
She was right. Stripped of its sandy shell, the purest nature mana undulated like blue flames.
“Leave it like this, and it’ll scatter back to nature.”
She brought her hands to the flickering blue flame.
“This is the crucial part. Focus.”
She cupped the blue flame delicately with both hands.
“Hold it gently so it doesn’t escape, and picture the ingredient you want in your mind.”
“Huh? Any ingredient?”
“Yes. Tell the mana to form the vessel you want instead of sand. You know mana’s the smallest particle making up everything?”
“Uh… sure.”
I had no idea.
“Mana can become anything. That’s why magic and miracles are possible.”
She closed her eyes and caressed the blue flame in her hands.
“Everything starts with mana. A swordsman’s brutal strikes, a mage’s intricate spells, a magician’s wild tricks.”
Colors shifted in her hands—blue to red, green, back to blue, then green. Smooth as flowing water.
“Imagine the ingredient clearly. Nature’s mana will respond, forming the purest, top-grade version.”
“Whoa…!”
Fwaaah—
Dazzling light burst between her hands.
She opened her eyes and slowly spread her palms.
There bloomed a cabbage, radiant like a flower.
“Ah, beautiful…!”
It shone with a crystalline freshness beyond mere vibrancy.
◈ Created from nature's mana—the purest cabbage in the world.
◈ Looks like it'd taste amazing.
She placed it tenderly in a basket and looked at me.
“Got it? Your turn.”
“Anything works?”
“Anything.”
“Like… chicken?”
She grimaced.
“Possible, but not recommended.”
“Why?”
“Inefficient.”
Seeing my confusion, she explained.
“Nature’s mana clings best to natural forms. Processed stuff or finished dishes? Too inefficient—mana dissipates, taste unreliable.”
“Ah…”
“Ingredients are best. Veggies are safest.”
“Got it. Let’s try.”
I emptied the sandy basin and refilled it with water from Cream Dragon’s Horn. Took a Desert Rose from inventory and submerged it.
The sand dispersed faster and smoother than before.
“Now! Cup it with your hands!”
As the blue mana bud appeared, I followed her shout and cupped it.
Warm yet cool. I caressed the intangible energy, picturing one thing.
Fwaaah—
Bright light erupted, the energy coalescing into form.
I pulled my hands away carefully. A plump, perfectly colored carrot bobbed in the basin.
◈ Created from nature's mana—the purest carrot in the world.
◈ Looks like it'd taste amazing.
◈ Eating it might improve eyesight?
“Whoa…! Granny! It worked!”
She beamed proudly, like a grandma watching her grandkid nail the multiplication table.
“Not bad for a first try. Didn’t expect success on the first go.”
Crunch—
I took a bite right away.
“…Oh! Delicious!”
Like swallowing a mouthful of sunlight. My vision even cleared up instantly.
But her face twisted in horror.
“You lunatic!”
Smack—
“Ow! Why’d you hit me?!”
“You wanna devour that precious ingredient like that?!”
“Finders keepers! It’s mine, I’ll eat it!”
“Oh yeah? If someone wanted dragon egg fried rice, you’d let ’em?”
“What’s wrong with that? Sounds tasty!”
“Never seen such a cooking illiterate!”
“Fine! I’ll eat it all!”
Spite kicked in, and I chomped the whole carrot.
“Good grief! At least make carrot soup! Eating it raw like that?!”
“Hmph! I’ll just make more.”
“Poor carrot. Wasn’t born to be scarfed in one bite.”
“The carrot, huh?”
“What?”
“How do you know? You’re not a carrot. Bet it’d love sharing its true flavor.”
“You insolent brat! Can’t even think to enhance its essence! Are you really a chef?!”
She pummeled me with her skinny arms.
“Ow! Why, why?!”
“Get lost! Can’t stand the sight of you!”
“Okay, okay! I’m going!”
I bolted off the bench.
Not satisfied, she hurled the basin at me.
“…Huh?”
Time slowed. The basin arced toward me in slow motion.
I sidestepped effortlessly.
“…What was that?”
What just happened?
Dazed, she huffed and rummaged for more projectiles.
“You little punk. Mocking me? Stay put.”
“Ahem. Stay healthy.”
I hightailed it out.
“Whoa… this is wild.”
I muttered, glancing around.
That brief clarity after the carrot wasn’t just a feeling.
My vision was crystal clear—like fog lifting, or new glasses.
Even unseen things came into view.
A bird incubating eggs atop a distant rocky peak. Tiny ants crawling at my feet, each distinct. Flies’ wingbeats buzzing nearby.
“…It really was valuable.”
One carrot boosted my eyesight like this? Temporary, sure, but still.
I scanned the area.
This roadside was far from the crowded square—quiet compared to the respawn bustle.
“Doesn’t look too dangerous.”
Worst case, smash the Twin Crystal and bail.
Spotting a stall selling turbans and sunglasses, I approached stealthily.
Poked around.
“Maybe buy a few…”
I’d slipped up with Baek Bal Baek Jung earlier. He played it cool, but his deflated vibe bugged me.
Bought some turbans and shades.
“Yeah, he’ll like these.”
Satisfied, I stowed them in inventory.
Then—
Boom—!
A commotion erupted from the square.
“Huh? Already time?”
Blood Axe Thrower’s 24-hour penalty. Only one command chance.
Bad timing to bump into him.
I fumbled for the Twin Crystal in my pocket when—
—Huraaaa!! I’ll kill you!!!
“……!”
Boom—!
With a roar, Blood Axe Thrower burst through the crowd, charging with murderous intent—straight at me.
How…?
He’d been triple-surrounded!
And how’d he know where I was?
“Kahaha! Right before logout, I smeared a drop of your blood on my clothes!”
His voice boomed even from afar.
Damn. Tracking skill via blood? Fits the “Blood” in his name.
But something was off.
His movements looked sluggish—like slow-mo video.
“……!”
The carrot’s effect.
“Oh ho.”
Before, I’d panic and flail. Now? Different story.
“Heh heh heh.”
A sly grin crept across my face.
What to do, what to do.
“Even if I go down, you’re dying first!!”
Blood Axe Thrower raged toward me, and I just murmured softly.
“Aigoo, so scary~”