Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Acquired a Super-Cheat Stat Weapon
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I guided my regular customers to the VIP room we'd set up separately in a secluded corner of the gate.
"It's awfully dim in here, huh?"
"The gate's so huge... I didn't know there was a place like this..."
I spoke to the customers looking around with curious expressions, my voice low and serious.
"Everything that happens here and every conversation we have is strictly confidential. Can all of you keep a secret?"
The management office staff sensed the unusual atmosphere from my utterly humorless tone and nodded tensely.
I placed three ginseng roots on my palm and held them out for them to inspect closely.
A flash of bewilderment crossed the customers' faces.
"Ginseng...?"
"Actually, thanks to my unique ability, I can see hidden information about plants."
I then revealed the true nature of the ginseng on my palm.
"And this is wild ginseng that forcibly unlocks awakening potential."
"What!? It forcibly awakens your potential??"
"No way... Does an item like that really exist??"
The startled management office staff crowded around me, peering intently at the ginseng.
But to them, it just looked like ordinary wild ginseng, so they seemed utterly skeptical no matter how closely they looked.
"...Nah, you're joking, right, boss?"
"We're really desperate here. You can't tease us when we're this serious..."
Well, I couldn't blame them.
There had never been an item that could forcibly awaken non-awakened people before.
And what I held was just plain-looking wild ginseng.
That was when it happened.
The youngest staff member, who had been listening silently to my explanation, quietly reached out and picked up one of the ginseng roots.
"I'm just gonna believe you."
She popped it straight into her mouth.
"The boss wouldn't play a prank like this on us."
I could glimpse the bitterness of her life as a non-awakened through the way she roughly chewed the bitter root.
Crunch crunch—
Gulp.
The other staff held their breath, watching her until she swallowed.
"......"
In the quiet silence.
The youngest stared blankly into space for a long moment before finally speaking.
"S-Sisters... I... I awakened..."
"What? For real? You really awakened?"
Her face pale, she fumbled through the system window floating before her eyes.
"Defense-based warrior class... Passive abilities strengthen the more I face enemies head-on without running... I-I'm a growth-type awakener!!"
The customers went absolutely wild at her words.
Cheering, hugging each other, letting out emotional screams.
"Please, be quiet...! Shh...!"
At my urgent gesture, the customers finally calmed down and silently exchanged looks before embracing the youngest tightly.
"A tank... and a growth-type at that..."
"Hamin, your life's about to skyrocket from here..."
I handed the remaining two ginseng roots to the customers, still basking in the moment.
They exchanged glances before cautiously speaking up.
"Um... boss. If you put this up at auction, it'd go for not just hundreds of millions, but tens of billions easy..."
The youngest, who had been beaming happily, went pale with horror.
"Truth is, we don't have that kind of money... But for the one the youngest ate, we'll pay somehow, even if we take out loans."
"Sorry, but we don't have the spare cash to eat all three..."
I smiled gently at them.
"I'm not planning to sell these for money. I just want to invest in my customers' potential."
Truth be told, I knew full well.
How massive the ripple effect these ginseng roots could have.
Put them on auction, and they'd draw the world's attention in an instant. Non-awakened people everywhere would come running with fire in their eyes.
'But.'
If I could earn the 'loyalty' and 'lifelong trust' of customers who cherish and love my café more than anyone.
Wasn't this investment more than worth it?
'If all these people awaken and get rich, my profits double...'
Just make them core customers for 'secret deals.'
Then I could sell mana expansion potions and such without any risk.
Heh heh.
Heh heh heh...
A laugh was already slipping out.
Of course, the customers had no idea about my inner thoughts and just gazed at me with moved expressions.
"You saw potential in us...?"
"We're just... the first-floor staff used to being called stragglers..."
Sniffling.
Their eyes reddened, tears threatening to fall any second.
"That's why—don't worry and eat up."
Reassuring them once more, they picked up the ginseng with trembling hands.
Munch munch—
Gulp.
Tears streamed down their faces as they stared into space.
"I-I actually awakened..."
"A day like this really came... Sniff..."
The youngest quietly went to her sisters and patted their backs.
"Boss... thank you."
"I used to think about dying every day with no future ahead, but now I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow for the first time... Thank you, boss..."
Even amid tears and snot, they didn't forget their thanks.
After a long while, once they'd composed themselves, they started planning excitedly.
"Now that we're awakened... should we check our skills and tackle a gate right away?"
"Senior! I know all the strategies for nearby low-grade gates! Where do you wanna go first?"
'Oh ho...'
Right.
They worked in the department that directly manages gates.
They might even know more gate strategies than active awakeners.
Plus, with the 'non-awakener' handicap, their hunger for gates was probably unmatched...
I was looking forward to their futures too.
"Once you clear a gate and get your rewards, come straight to the café. I've got another item you'll love..."
"For real!?"
"Wait, there's more like this?"
"Seniors! Let's go clear some gates!! I can't wait!"
And with that, I'd secured my first core customers for future 'secret deals.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The rumor that three non-awakened staff from the gate management office's first floor had all awakened simultaneously spread like wildfire, shocking and confusing the entire awakener community.
Until now, the established theory was that those who didn't awaken would remain non-awakened for life, so this incident hit everyone hard.
And that news reached the ears of Jeong Chan-ho, chairman of Taesung Group, once one of the top three conglomerates.
'Then, maybe... my daughter too...'
Gates had propelled modern medicine forward leaps and bounds, and healers' skills had saved countless lives.
But no method could cure his daughter's illness.
His last hope was one thing.
The fact that his daughter hadn't awakened yet.
It was widely known that upon awakening, all lingering diseases vanished without a trace.
"My girl. It must be so hard on you..."
Stroking his bedridden daughter's hair.
He felt hope sprouting after long despair.
The chairman immediately sought out the management office staff to uncover the 'conditions for non-awakened to awaken.'
"There must be a separate way for non-awakened to awaken, right?"
But the staff unanimously shook their heads firmly, lips sealed. No information forthcoming.
In the end, he knelt and begged.
The pride of once being called 'chairman' meant nothing before his dying daughter.
"My little girl... she doesn't have much time left... You all know this. Awakening cures even chronic diseases..."
His voice trembled desperately.
"Please, I beg you. Save my poor daughter... Help us... Money's no object..."
The staff sighed deeply at the chairman's plea.
But they could only say one thing.
"There is a way for non-awakened to awaken..."
"But we can't tell you what it is. We're truly sorry."
"...I see."
The chairman rose quietly.
Only one option left.
Tail them himself.
Using his wealth and influence, he tracked the staff's movements.
And found one common thread amid their varying schedules.
Around lunchtime, they visited a café inside the gate.
Determined to save his young daughter, no matter what, the chairman headed there without hesitation.
But as if punishing his misdeeds.
[Closed for the day]
The gate door with the café was firmly shut.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ An emergency meeting was underway at the management office.
"All gates so far were clearable with enough healers."
"But this massive one in downtown Busan can't be cleared even with healers."
"Why?"
"Apparently, there's a limit on the number of potions you can bring inside."
"Hah, now they're limiting potion counts too?"
The director sighed deeply, forehead in hand, amid news of ever-increasing new and variant gates.
"It's a massive gate, so with so many people, there aren't enough healers to cover everyone."
"Plus, DoT damage drains healers' mana so fast that limited potions are useless..."
The director, staring blankly at reports, finally spoke.
"What's the current progress?"
"They haven't even reached near the boss room..."
Luckily, the gate was new, so plenty of time before rampage.
But if things continued, Busan citizens would suffer massive casualties.
"Director, how about more healers?"
"No. We can't find more, and in massive gates, lacking DPS means party wipe."
"You know how our national exclusive healers' skills are..."
Right then, a little girl's face flashed in the director's mind.
The healer who showed overwhelming prowess during the artificial Lumina Bell incident, outshining others.
If she joined the massive clear party...
Even this variant gate headache might resolve.
"No choice. We need to ask her for help."
"...You mean that healer?"
The director pulled out his phone instead of answering.
"As expected of our director! What connections!"
He clicked his tongue at the flattery but felt a quiet pride at having her personal number.
Ring ring— ring ring— ring—
Click.
After three rings, it cut off.
His confident face turned to dismay in an instant.
He tried again— three rings, then click.
Same result.
"Director, did that healer... block you?"
"Huh...? No way..."
He stared blankly at his phone screen.
'No way... Did she really block me...?'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [You receive the blessing of the 'Guardian of the Forest'] [Due to the blessing of the 'Guardian of the Forest', the efficiency of 'Meditation' increases dramatically] [Due to the blessing of the 'Guardian of the Forest', spirit affinity has risen] Every time I entered the forest, my phone lost signal, making me increasingly convinced this place was cut off from the world.
I worried a bit about missing important calls while here, but...
'What important call would come my way?'
Dismissing the thought, I shook my head.
Deeper in, I spotted the cat sitting like a statue at our first meeting spot.
Boredly scanning around, it perked up its tail straight upon seeing me, stretched out languidly.
"What? Were you waiting there all this time?"
"Ah, no! This is just my spot!"
Lie.
Chuckling at the obvious fib, I passed by.
Right then, it dashed somewhere and started sharpening its claws furiously on a big tree.
And naturally, harunella flowers bloomed beneath it.
"Oh? Harunella flowers!"
It watched proudly as I harvested, then dashed off to sharpen elsewhere.
Harvest there, and it ran again...
Thanks to it, I gathered harunella to my heart's content.
"You... were you searching for these flowers all day yesterday?"
"Heh, hek... I just happened to trim my claws on trees I passed... hek..."
The cat's nose was red from heavy panting.
Unable to resist the cuteness, I ruffled its head roughly.
"So cute! Good job! You're the best, my kitty!"
Grrr— grrr—
Grrrrr—
A motorcycle-engine-like rumble came from it.
Petting its soft fur, I realized I'd explored the nearby forest thoroughly but gotten no weapon reactions.
'Guess all rare harvestables around here are tapped out.'
Time to focus on weapon growth today.
I sat, closed my eyes, and attuned to nature's sounds around me.
"Suddenly the human's doing something weird."
The circling cat plopped down beside me.
At the same time, a warm, soft heat bloomed against my back.
"You shouldn't expose your back so defenselessly in the forest."
"Heh heh, protecting me? Thanks."
The warm heat at my back.
The cool breeze blowing.
I could stay like this all day.
'Alright, let's begin.'
As I settled into true meditation.
Suddenly, my vision brightened strangely, so I cracked my eyes open.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ※ Next Stage: Stage 2 – Bloom (Growth: 83%) "...Kitty, meditating with you fills the growth gauge way too fast?"
"Zzz... Nyaa..."
I hurriedly closed my eyes and refocused.
Soon, my vision brightened again with new messages.
✨ GROWTH UP! ✨ [Stage 1] → [Stage 2] ⚔ WEAPON STATUS ⚔ [Breath of Groa] - An ancient spirit's staff containing the flow of life, recovery, and circulation. [Grade: Legendary (Growth Type)] [Growth Stage] Stage 2 – Bloom (0%) Seeing the stats, words failed me completely.
'Insane... this is just...'
A total cheat...?