Planned Pauses and Profitable Potions
Life goes according to plan.
Game Paused
Acquired 1,317 points
With my existing points plus this fresh batch, I easily surpassed 2,000. I immediately upgraded Sahonroeju and mastered it on the spot.
If it were a bottomless skill like my main art, Sipdan-geum, that'd be one thing, but Sahonroeju is a technique whose power overwhelmingly depends not on forms or depth, but on what you use to deploy it. What could surpass a martial art designed to wield death soul threads like limbs? Heart Sword? If you're gonna do a Heart Sword with threads, might as well just learn regular swordsmanship... I couldn't help but snort at the absurdity. Excluding Sipdan-geum, my skill list was now spotless—all mastered. I grinned with satisfaction.
Hmm... looks like that's everything sorted out...
With urgent business done, a lazy sigh escaped me as my eyes took in my real-world bedroom. Without a second thought, I stripped off my clothes and headed to the shower.
Just in case, I spread my senses wide. A heavy aura pulsed from the underground training room—remodeled courtesy of the principal's consideration—vibrations rippling through my skin. Sounded like Park Jisu and Dang Soso were sparring. Having heard from me that my strength stemmed from systematized martial arts and special abilities from various worlds, Jisu—beyond her ranged prowess—must be eyeing ways to get even stronger. Seemed like a natural outcome for her.
Well... honestly, Jisu's too specialized in long-range anyway.
Thinking about Dang Soso's Sakpa Tang Clan, which like Jisu needed to keep enemies at bay to shine, I figured she'd gain a ton from martial arts or close-quarters body techniques. Nodding to myself, I shook out my wet hair and dove into my routine inventory cleanup.
A jumble of junk I'd scrimped and saved like a mole across countless worlds cluttered my view.
Hmm... Apocalypse stuff's too mundane... Wuxia lacks infrastructure, so supply's a pain...
These were items I'd handpicked and collected, meant for supplying the Academy or Association via connections to boost my social influence. But factoring in each world's unique properties and backgrounds, I'd trimmed the fat—leaving only fantasy-world potions.
Proving their fantasy origins, their effects were bizarre, mechanisms unknown.
And they're mass-producible from the Alchemist Association if you pay—another strike against them.
As I eyed the lineup of potion bottles, my gaze locked on a fancy glass vial. Instinct kicked in, and names flashed through my mind.
Was it... the hair growth potion... right?
Thanks to customization, looks were pointless for me now. But for normals, appearance is everyone's dream upgrade. Especially for those baldies declared beyond recovery—what value would this hold?
Curiosity bubbled up alongside the potion's mysterious aura. I swallowed hard, then started scheming how to cash in.
That purple hue's perfect for bullshit excuses too...?
Claiming it came straight from a gate might raise flags, but blaming "my mana reacting with the potion's color" would shut down prying from recipient orgs, right?
One bottle turns a normie normal... dilute it, slap on a premium, and sell. Heh heh.
Even claiming mana origin, if they sniffed out its true value, trouble would follow. To dodge deep probes and keep it low-key, become an irreplaceable supplier—the ultimate top dog. They'd hesitate to rock the boat, fearing retaliation.
Heh heh. No need to test dilution ratios myself—ask the Alchemist Guild.
Ideas chained together. For future plans, strike while inspired. I stood, changed clothes.
Grab intel and routes on hair growth stuff, handle the guild master's request, fool around with Tier and crew, then back. Perfect schedule. My lips curled up.
+++
Heart leading the way, I shifted worlds. The fantasy mansion hit me—lived-in bustle, warm breaths wafting everywhere.
Last time, I'd banged receptionist Margaret and crashed out, but returned early morning. No lingering scent, all tidy—perfect alibi. I smirked in satisfaction.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Door swung open; Tier led, Daphne and Plang tailing like a chain. Tier sniffed me, her face lighting up—a spectator sport in itself. Nodding at this world's sweet vibe, I grinned softly.
"What's up? Morning business, all of you?"
"Uh, no. Heard the boss was out overnight..."
"Yeah, handled some guild work, wandered a bit. Oh! Was gonna tell you—don't just stand, sit."
Daphne demurely perched by my bed; Plang dove into my lap, rubbing her horns on my chest with a growl. Tier shot envious eyes but, as big sis, dragged a chair over, planting herself right in front.
Unlike the others, facing me direct, soaking up my gaze—her tail wagged. I chuckled at her cuteness, smiling as I spoke.
"Got an offer for direct guild master adventurer. Means hitting the tower's frontlines soon."
Party members—guild rising stars—went wide-eyed. Tier and Daphne mixed awe and worry realistically; Plang just mimicked her sisters. Come to think, I'd planned womb massages but neglected her. This time, spoil the cutie, I vowed inwardly, nodding.
"They're stuck around floor 36 now."
"Uh... flying monsters?"
Sharp Daphne. I shook my head ruefully.
"Kinda... but Empire's dumping huge requests for flying types, especially wyverns. Egg hunts got 'em prioritizing quests over clears."
"Ah..."
"So, boss is joining the Empire quest...?"
"Yeah. Guild master's desperate—takes any skilled adventurer, rank be damned."
"Hmm... but with our party... won't that be tough for you?"
Tier flicked anxious ears. Cohabiting meant no split, but tower forcing party changes? Adorable worry. I ruffled her fluffy hair and wolf ears, shaking my head.
"Won't happen like you think—don't worry. Got an artifact from the guild master for it."
"Grr... yeah...!"
Soaking in Tier's cozy vibe, Plang's tightening hug, Daphne's breast press on my arm, I raised my voice to refocus the loosening mood.
"Things being what they are, I'll solo climb this time. You all push as far as you can. Post-quest, we climb together."
"Yeah."
"You're past 20 into desert now, right? Break through that first. Tough, sure, but your combo handles one tier above easy."
Cheat trash char plus top-tier synergy? Instant growth snowball—they'd breeze it.
Worst case, bus 'em through.