Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Taesung's Chairman, Jeong Chan-ho
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Right after the message announcing the weapon's growth stage upgrade appeared.
Text filled my entire field of vision, scrolling line after line.
⚙ WEAPON UPGRADE ⚙ [Breath of Groa] An ancient spirit's staff imbued with the flow of life, recovery, and circulation.
[Grade] Legendary (Growth Type) [Growth Stage] Stage 2 – Bloom (0%) ⚔ NEW SKILLS UNLOCKED ⚔ ● Sustained Recovery II
>Healing skill effects persist for a set duration, with additional recovery every 5 seconds. (Total 15 seconds) ● Healing Field
>Creates a healing spell in a designated area, granting recovery effects to all allies within range. (Duration 10 seconds / Recovery every 1 second in range) ● Sustained Enhancement II
>Buff skill effects apply to all allies within a certain radius. (Increased radius / Duration +20%) 🌿 NATURE RESONANCE II 🌿 Resonates with the flow of nature to detect 'Rare Gatherables', 'Ancient Plants', and 'Relic-Grade Resources'. Gatherables within range emit faint pulses, guiding the user toward them. ※ Low chance: A secret quest may unlock at nature's whim, granting special rewards.
I couldn't even register how the healing or buff skills had changed.
What captured my attention was the weapon's 'Nature Resonance' ability at the very end.
Rare gatherables were one thing.
But now ancient plants and relic-grade resources too?
Just hearing those names made my heart race—I could already sense something massive waiting to be found.
And gatherables within range would emit faint pulses to guide me right to them.
In other words...
'No more wandering aimlessly through the forest?'
I wouldn't have to roam endlessly, clueless about where these things might be hiding.
I quickly checked the next growth conditions.
[Growth Conditions]
• Purify contaminated zones (0/3) • Meditate continuously for 6 hours in nature (0/3) • Cultivate seeds discovered via 'Nature Resonance' (0/3) • Overcome 'Trial of Nature' (0/1) ※ Next Stage: Stage 3 (Final) – Full Bloom (Progress 0%)
As expected of a growth weapon's final stage, none of the conditions looked achievable right away.
The only one I could try now was 'Meditate 6 hours continuously in nature'?
But I might get hungry midway, so I should eat a full meal, get a good night's sleep.
Best to adjust my condition perfectly before attempting it.
"Alright then."
Time to hunt for ancient plants and relic-grade resources!
"Kuwool... Nyaang..."
"Kool... Nyaang..."
Since leaving the forest, the cat must have been searching nonstop for Harnel flowers without sleeping—it was still deep in slumber.
Careful not to wake it, I quietly rose to my feet.
Then I followed the pulses from the gatherables, slipping silently into the woods.
How long had I walked?
A chilling cold began to seep in, making my body shiver.
"...Huh?"
The landscape ahead transformed entirely.
Snow blanketed every branch.
Snowflakes drifted lazily from above.
Inhaling filled my lungs with icy air.
Startled, I stumbled back.
Warm air enveloped my skin once more.
The snowy vista vanished, replaced by an ordinary forest.
"Wha...?"
Was it a dream? I stepped forward again, and the blizzard returned—a pristine white forest.
Step back, and green trees filled the view once more.
The sheer unreality left me standing there, dazed for a long while.
A single step changing seasons... was that even possible?
"......"
Whatever it was, I couldn't go in right now.
With the weather warming up, I was only in a thin t-shirt and shorts.
'To explore a snowbound forest properly, I need thick clothes first.'
And who knew what lurked inside.
Better to prepare thoroughly before coming back.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Deep underground lay 'GenAke'.
Isolated from the surface, this was a sealed zone beyond any external eyes or ears.
Countless wires and conduits snaked across cold metal walls.
Under artificial lights, glass capsules hummed steadily.
No sunlight reached here; all life grew in engineered environments.
At the pinnacle of this vast facility.
In a control room accessible to one person alone, a snake-like woman peered at a hologram, letting out a low groan.
⚙ FIELD REPORT ⚙ [Dispatched agents: Communications lost mid-operation - All missing without trace] A massive viper slithered from her nape across her shoulder to her forearm, but she didn't blink.
Then the panel refreshed with a delayed addendum.
⚙ ADDENDUM ⚙ [Target residence area check:] [Bloom Guild Master and Full Moon Guild Master confirmed residing in adjacent homes] Her face twisted as understanding dawned.
"...This is getting annoying."
She'd believed everything would proceed as planned.
Maximize 'Lumina Bell' growth, embed a gene-altering toxin code within.
Let side effects spread slowly, imperceptibly.
By the time fatal symptoms emerged worldwide.
She alone would control survival via exclusive special ampoules.
The world would naturally fall into her grasp.
But.
Her grand scheme shattered because of one girl with emerald eyes.
- Thanks to my unique ability, I can detect item hazards or status ailments with relative sensitivity.
As long as that danger-sensing girl existed.
All future plans were doomed to fail without exception.
That's why she'd tried eliminating the pest before the next project...
"With mega-guilds planted firmly on both sides."
Her future plans were likely doomed too.
Why.
Why were those powerhouse guilds protecting some no-name nobody?
"Because she's a healer?"
Fair enough for Bloom, still hunting for one.
But Full Moon already had an exclusive healer—why...?
Whatever.
That healer had to go.
Only then could all plans proceed smoothly.
'I didn't want to show my face outside again...'
No choice now.
She'd infiltrate the girl's life gradually, leveraging past 'good influence'.
Pretend to help, feign coincidence, slip in slowly.
Build trust, forge bonds.
Then stab her in the back quietly.
"Time to prepare a move."
Her eyes narrowed like a serpent's.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Stepping into the cafe to prep for opening.
The spirits, usually scattered about, were oddly gathered together.
- Pipik, pi-yik.
- Piik! Pipik!
- Pi.
"What's this? What's going on?"
They all looked grave, voices raised—had they fought? I hurried over.
['Lily' smugly insists 'Mushrooms are plants'.] ['Lumina Spirit' vehemently claims 'Mushrooms are animals'.] ['Pristine' corrects that mushrooms are 'fungi'.] Their conversation floated above their heads in text...!
'...Huh?'
How could I see spirits' speech as words?
Until now, I'd guessed from expressions and actions—this was astonishing, novel.
'Oh, wait.'
🌿 BLESSING EFFECT 🌿 • Receiving 'Forest Guardian God' blessing • Spirit resonance increased via 'Forest Guardian God' blessing This must be why.
Boosted spirit resonance let me see their words directly.
'And I didn't even know that spirit's name. Lily, huh.'
As I eavesdropped on their ongoing debate.
Pristine spotted me, popped up a joyful message, and fluttered to land lightly on my palm.
⚔ SPIRIT STATUS ⚔ [Pristine] Type: Nature Spirit (Frost) Attribute: Cold Special: Blooms ice flower 'Glacie Bloom' Likes: None Not to be outdone, Lily wedged in beside her on my palm.
⚔ SPIRIT STATUS ⚔ [Lily] Type: Nature Spirit (Forest) Attribute: Life / Purification Special: Ecological Purification Likes: Sweet Desserts After glaring at each other atop my palm for ages, they suddenly started bickering via message windows.
['Pristine' claims this was originally her spot.] ['Lily' demands to know where that's written.] "Hey, no fighting, you two."
Shwoong—
I gently flicked the squabbling pair off my palm.
- Pii-yik!
['Lumina Spirit' insists once more that 'Mushrooms are animals.'] I approached the fuming Lumina Spirit alone and carefully stroked its head.
⚔ SPIRIT STATUS ⚔ [Lumina Spirit] Type: Special Creation Spirit (Lumina Bell) Attribute: None Special: Lumina Bell exclusive: Can grant 'Spirit's Blessing' Likes: Purified Water, Aged Mana Potions The Lumina Spirit spread all five fingers toward me.
['Lumina Spirit' demands purified water for the head pat.] I ignored it lightly.
And continued cafe opening prep.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The customer once chased out for leering at spirits with mad eyes was now...
"Whoa!? She's here again, that lady!"
"Doesn't her guild have work...? Stamps in every day."
...a recognized regular everyone knew.
"Lumina!!!"
At some point, she'd fixated on the cafe's least popular Lumina Spirit, unleashing fervent fandom.
- Piiiiiik!
['Lumina Spirit' recognizes its diehard fan and rejoices.] The Lumina Spirit seemed to like her too.
It treated other customers indifferently but warmed up to her alone.
Well, couldn't blame it.
['Pristine' shows blatant disgust.] ['Lily' barely restrains its fury.] I didn't know the details, but the other spirits loathed her—bordering on extreme hatred.
'What's the reason?'
Because of the initial creepy staring?
'Or did she do something shady when I wasn't looking?'
Now that I could read spirits' thoughts, I'd ask later.
For now, I started washing the piled teacups one by one.
'Ugh, so hectic.'
Needed to hire part-time help soon.
Finishing dishes, I turned to take orders from new customers.
['Pristine' sighs deeply in pity.] ['Lily' bursts into tears, at a loss.] ['Lumina Spirit' rubs its reddened nose.] The spirits were in an uproar again.
"What now? What's wrong?"
Startled, I asked—they silently pointed to one spot.
A unfamiliar customer sat at a table.
Despite the new face, I recognized him instantly.
Taesung Chairman, Jeong Chan-ho—one of the three mega-corps.
'Man, I owe him big time back then.'
When money was tight, Taesung Food's ultra-cheap ramen for low-income folks kept me from starving day to day.
He'd always held a grateful spot in my heart—never dreamed he'd visit as a customer.
A warm fondness welled up.
'But...'
A man of wealth and fame.
Why were the spirits pitying him, eyes teary?
I approached the customer scanning the cafe, pretending to take his order for a closer look.
"Welcome! Ready to order?"
"Ah... yes. Your most popular item, please."
No odd vibe from him at all.
'Probing a stranger would be rude, right?'
Tilting my head, I turned back to the counter.
"Um, if it's not too much trouble... could we talk for a moment...?"
His desperate voice stopped me from behind.