Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Korean Special Product, 'Mana Expansion Potion'
"So, this is..."
The moment I opened my mouth.
The people sprawled on the floor scrambled to their feet and thrust their translation artifacts toward me, reaching out as far as they could.
Their determination not to miss a single word was plain to see.
I felt like I was standing on some official stage.
"Ahem."
I spoke clearly, word by word, to ensure the translations came through properly on everyone's artifacts.
"This is a flower a dear friend gave me as a gift, and it holds great meaning for me, so I can't exchange it for anything else..."
The people checking their translators let out disappointed sighs.
Then I immediately tossed out the bait.
"Instead."
"I have an item you all might like."
💬 Crowd Reactions — Voice 1 I like items with collection value. — Voice 2 Is it an item that satisfies my collecting desires? — Voice 3 Does it have more collection value than the purification artifact? — Voice 4 I want an item no one else has. — Voice 5 I hope it's extremely rare. Peering at the translation artifacts up close, I realized one key fact.
'Ah... so that's what it is?'
These people didn't want just expensive items or ones with great stats—they craved things no one else had.
'Glacie Bloom is a flower only Pristine can bloom...'
The flower I'd just shown them was obviously something they'd never seen before.
And its purification ability looked impressive too.
That must have ignited their 'collecting desires.'
Now I got it.
'Perfect timing.'
I pulled out the three bottles of 'Mana Expansion Potion' I carried for emergencies.
From their reaction to rare collectibles, I figured I'd test if other countries besides Korea had 'potions that permanently expand mana.'
"This is the Mana Expansion Potion."
I held the potion high so everyone could see it clearly.
They checked their translators, then showed no reaction for a long while.
Their faces were hidden behind gas masks, so I couldn't read their expressions precisely, but...
"......"
"......"
From the way they just stared silently at their artifacts, it was clear they weren't all that interested in the 'Mana Expansion Potion.'
I moistened my dry lips.
'...Do other countries already have something similar?'
Their reaction suggested potions—or other means—to permanently expand mana were already out there.
'Hmm...'
I couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed, but...
It made sense enough.
Korea lagged behind the US and China in gate clear speeds and talent for crafting top items.
It wouldn't be strange if those advanced nations had already found ways to expand mana.
'Still, worth checking.'
Time to tweak my strategy a bit.
'Mass-produce expansion potions and sell them cheaper than anywhere else...'
As I racked my brain.
A few people tilting their heads raised their translators toward me again.
— Voice 6 If it's top-grade mana potion, we already have plenty. — Voice 7 Mana Expansion Potion—what exactly does that mean? It's hard to understand. '...Huh?'
— Voice 8 I'm familiar with mana potions, but what's an expansion potion? — Voice 9 Is it a potion with expanded capacity? — Voice 10 Mana potions aren't rare. Got anything else? They hadn't reacted because they didn't understand what a 'Mana Expansion Potion' was at all.
'In that case, no way.'
Was I really the only one in the world who could make 'potions that permanently expand mana'?
Thump, thump—
My heart started racing irregularly.
'If that's true...'
Then gathering money to achieve my goals would be a piece of cake.
Once someone here drank a 'Mana Expansion Potion' and felt their skills grow stronger.
They'd experience a whole new world unlike anything before.
And to get more expansion potions, they'd shove their precious items at me.
'And the money from selling those goes entirely...'
Not a single won left out.
All reinvested—straight back into Korea.
With my full support, Korean awakeners would grow into absolute monsters.
— Chat 1 All one-combos now. — Chat 2 Aaah—so easy. — Chat 3 There was a time healers were essential... — Chat 4 What did it feel like needing a healer...? No more forcing people into gates, obviously.
'Heh heh...'
Just imagining it made me happy...!
Then I explained the effects of the 'Mana Expansion Potion' to the crowd again.
"This potion permanently expands your mana capacity, which is fixed at 100."
And finally.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The crowd erupts in shock! The people started showing exactly the reaction I wanted.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ — Voice 11 Mana is a vessel set from birth. — Voice 12 You can refine it through training, but expanding the vessel itself is impossible. — Voice 13 Does that potion expand the fixed vessel? "Exactly. And as your mana expands after drinking the potion, your skill power grows stronger too."
— Voice 14 Oh, my god. — Voice 15 What have I just heard? — Voice 16 Hard to believe. You're lying. — Voice 17 A divine blessing? Gasp after gasp and cries of awe erupted from all around.
— Voice 18 That's beyond a mere collectible—it's revolutionary. — Voice 19 A potion that changes your foundation? — Voice 20 It'll affect our descendants too. The murmurs grew louder and louder.
— Voice 21 We demand proof. Someone shoved a 'stat measurement artifact' my way.
Beep—
Finally, proof: mana fixed at 100 now expanded to 130.
— Voice 22 I want to trade. Right now! — Voice 23 Name your terms. I want to trade! — Voice 24 What do you want? — Voice 25 Tell us what you need! Jewels? Accessories? Paintings? The market turned into utter chaos again.
"Everyone, calm down for a second! I have something to say first!"
I raised both hands high to quiet the crowd.
"Each bottle only increases mana by 1...! And I only have three bottles...!"
— Voice 26 The amount doesn't matter to me. — Voice 27 Only three bottles? Even better. — Voice 28 That has collection value. — Voice 29 You've satisfied my collecting urges. I explained it only raised stats by a measly 1, but...
The fact there were only three bottles made them even more frenzied.
— Voice 30 No time! Tell us what you want! "I-I want to trade this for items that make me stronger...!"
The moment I finished speaking.
Someone rushed to my stall, swept everything off it, and dumped it in front of me.
Another pulled swords, bows, staves, and gleaming gear from a fist-sized pouch.
— Voice 31 All made by Japan's top craftsmen. Someone else stripped off all their accessories and shoved them in my face.
I carefully surveyed the mountain of items before me.
'First, trade for stuff I've never seen in Korea.'
That way, I could solve money, growth, and support in one go.
'That's Bloom Guild's main seller...'
'No idea what this one's for.'
I recalled info in flashes as I sorted through the items.
Finally, I held a book radiating light in all directions.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The deal done, I headed straight home with Pristine.
My original plan was to explore the winter forest, gather materials, and auction them off, but...
Bob-
Bob-
'Too much for today...'
I'd pulled an all-nighter, and after the crowd drained my energy, I felt like collapsing any second.
'At least I made some gains.'
Yawning hard, I gazed at the book clutched to my chest with drooping eyes.
'Wonder how it'll do at auction...'
Yawn—
Tomorrow morning, drop Pristine at the cafe first, then hit the auction house.
Sleep-walk.
Sleep-walk, repeat—and suddenly, I was at my front door.
I crashed into bed the instant I got inside.
And fell asleep right away.
How much time passed?
'Ack, so cold...!'
A bone-chilling chill jolted me awake mid-sleep.
- Doro-long, pii...
- Dororong, pi-ii...
There was Pristine, snoring cutely with her face right against mine.
'Sleeping together's a first.'
Another memory with Pristine—nice feeling, but...
...way too cold to sleep!
The next day.
After a freezing night with zero sleep, dark circles down to my chin, I headed to the cafe with Pristine.
'If the others find out we went out alone, they might get upset...'
Drop her off quick before the other spirits noticed.
Then bolt to the auction house.
- ..... .
But Lily caught us red-handed, hovering at the entrance.
- ...Pii?
Lily stared back and forth between me and Pristine, face frozen in shock for ages, then started floating messages overhead.
⚙ SPIRIT MESSAGE ⚙ ['Lily' doubts her own eyes.] ['Lily' asks where you two went.] ⚙ SPIRIT MESSAGE ⚙ ['Pristine' says you don't need to know.] Pristine fired back, and Lily's eyebrows furrowed fiercely.
- Piiik!
⚙ SPIRIT MESSAGE ⚙ ['Lily' yells that she wasn't asking you.] ['Pristine' ignores her and hums happily.] And then, inevitably.
- Piiiik!!
⚙ SPIRIT MESSAGE ⚙ ['Lily' feels massive betrayal toward you.] ['Lily' expresses immense hurt to you.] Her face beet red, Lily stomped her feet, turned away from me, crossed her arms, and huffed—shuuu—shup— breathing raggedly.
'...Didn't expect her to get this mad.'
I'd noticed before, but this one.
She had stronger jealousy than I thought.
'I've got a mountain of stuff to do... but leaving her like this...'
As I stood there troubled.
A message popped up like an answer.
🛒 SHOP UPDATE ⚔ ['Ancient Spirit Shop' has new products in stock.] Ah, right...!
There was this!
Maybe something in there could cheer Lily up.
I quickly raised my weapon to open the shop window.
And there...
"Oh...!?"
Were items the spirits would go crazy for, packed to the brim.