Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: No Need for Guilds
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"I don't need something like a guild, do I?"
After planting seeds in each of the five pots.
I spent the whole day peeking into the pots whenever I had a moment, checking the seeds' condition.
Were they crying from hunger again? Was the water just right? Had they somehow missed the light because of my carelessness?
With such devoted care, the seeds sprouted visibly day by day, formed buds, and finally bloomed into flowers.
They'd bloomed faster than expected, which was great, but...
The seed yield fell short of my hopes.
I'd gotten five seeds from one flower before, so I figured twenty-five from five this time.
But when I actually harvested them, there were only fifteen seeds.
Maybe getting five from one was just luck.
Well, no big deal.
The seeds were fewer than hoped, but there was an unexpected bonus.
⚔ ITEM ⚔ [Lumina Bell] [★]
- A single lantern blooming in thick darkness - Sensitive to light and noise, imbued with pure mana [Plant Growth Bonus +40%. Quality grade increased by one level.]
Unlike the Lumina Bell I'd gathered directly from the gate, the one I grew had a star attached—a sight I'd never seen before.
It was probably thanks to my unique ability, which bumped the quality up a grade.
And there was one more thing: a brand-new effect that hadn't been there before.
[Effects]
- Promotes mana recovery - Effective against mental fractures from mana overload - Emits mana waves within a certain range to soothe the mind I had no clue what mana waves meant exactly.
Still, to test this new effect, I'd need to unsettle my mind a bit first.
How could I make myself anxious?
'Ah, that'll do it.'
A perfect idea hit me.
I logged straight into the Plant Gallery and started scrolling through the comments on my posts.
"Stop with the aggro already. Aren't you tired of this troll shit? Bait banned. What's the point of posting crap like this?"
...
My heart felt shredded by the vicious comments.
Right then, in the darkness, the Lumina Bell began pulsing softly—brightening, then dimming.
A bluish glow rippled through the room, spreading a gentle breeze.
In that instant, my mind grew perfectly calm, like a lie.
All my negative emotions melted away like snow in the sun.
'Whoa... this is amazing.'
Anyone battling depression or mental instability would benefit hugely from keeping this flower nearby.
I'd make sure to list the new effect when posting it for sale.
Visions of rolling in cash started dancing in my head.
Once I made a ton of money... what should I do first?
'Gotta move out of this place first.'
Basking in the Lumina Bell's blue glow, I scanned the room.
Mold spotted the wallpaper here and there.
Being in a semi-basement meant poor ventilation, so the air was thick and stale.
Worst of all, sharing a single room with a flower that dies in light felt like it was ruining my eyesight.
Time to move.
I pulled up the auction house app on my phone and started drafting the listing.
[Selling 5 Lumina Flowers—Limited Stock. Offers Welcome. Bulk Preferred.]
- Homegrown Lumina Bell flowers, five stems.
- In addition to the standard mana recovery effect, keeping it nearby calms the mind via...
The second I posted it, inquiries poured in.
How had I kept them alive this long?
How exactly did I grow them?
Did I raise them from seeds? Any secret method?
Were there still gates where you could gather Lumina Bells...?
More questions than buy offers had my head spinning—until this hit.
[Bulk offer: 10 million won desired.]
My foggy brain cleared in a flash. That was mind-blowing money.
I replied cautiously: "Can't share growing methods—trade secret."
They shot back they didn't care about that, just wanted to buy.
But then.
[Prefer direct trade.]
A condition that suddenly felt creepy.
'Suspicious...'
What if I went to meet them and got kidnapped, sold off somewhere no one would find?
My gut churned with unease, so I didn't reply. Then another message.
[Would appreciate if you could come to Bloom Guild headquarters.]
'Bloom Guild?'
Rang a bell.
I opened the Awakener Community and searched "Bloom Guild."
My jaw dropped at the results.
Bloom Guild was one of Korea's top three mega-guilds.
No way they'd mess around using their name. I sent a quick "Deal" and set the listing to reserved.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Money has a distinct scent.
And Song Yu-hwa always sniffed it out first.
The founder of Korea's Big Three guild, Bloom.
Today, she sat in her office, silently reviewing reports.
'About time.'
She stood to greet the incoming seller, stretching her neck and shoulders with soft cracks, loosening up leisurely.
Her chief secretary, working beside her, spoke up hesitantly.
"Guild Master, even so, isn't 10 million for five flowers a bit much...?"
Song Yu-hwa's cool gaze fixed on him as he finished.
"S-Sorry. I shouldn't have said anything..."
As he bowed his head, she finally looked away, perching on the desk and crossing her legs.
"Do I strike you as someone letting an outsider in just to buy a flower?"
She eyed the pitiful, silent secretary with disdain before continuing.
"I'm investing in the person who grew it."
Song Yu-hwa had always had a killer business instinct. She'd instantly seen the commercial potential in Lumina Bells from low-grade gates.
And she knew better than anyone that the sole person successfully cultivating them held immense value.
That's why she'd thrown down 10 million for five flowers.
She had zero interest in the flowers themselves.
Her real goal: recruit the seller into Bloom Guild.
When rumors of Lumina Bells first spread among Awakeners,
Bloom Guild members, her included, had been the first to scour low-grade gates.
They'd gathered a decent haul flipping through those gates.
But not one guild member— not even her—had succeeded in keeping them alive, let alone cultivating more.
Even the guild's top gatherer with Korea's highest level had failed. How the hell did this person pull it off?
Song Yu-hwa briefly imagined the seller's appearance.
'Probably some elderly person, or a middle-aged guy.'
Men had this weird tendency to get obsessed with plants as they aged.
Maybe their Awakening reflected that trait.
"Ex-Excuse me...!"
But the seller arriving right on time shattered her expectations.
A small, delicate frame with slightly chubby cheeks.
Clear, huge eyes like glass beads.
A soft, cute girl who looked like she'd been molded from cotton candy.
Song Yu-hwa's lips curved into a slow smile.
She could already see who would win.
No way this fragile-looking girl had Awakened any decent combat skills.
She probably struggled just to take care of herself.
'Growing flowers to make money says it all.'
Song Yu-hwa inwardly declared victory.
'One word from me, and she'll fold.'
Oblivious to her scheming, the girl lit up and launched into an explanation of the flowers she'd brought.
"I wasn't gonna mention this, but if you dry the petals and brew them, it's good for mana surges or whatever? Never had one myself, so I can't test it, but hehe..."
But Song Yu-hwa wasn't in a state to listen.
Her mind was already on recruiting this innocent, naive-looking girl—then slowly building trust to pry out the cultivation secrets.
"Oh, right! One more thing. Just having it nearby emits mana waves for psychological stability..."
Song Yu-hwa cut her off lightly.
"I heard you."
She sat arrogantly across from the girl, legs crossed, and dove into her pitch with confident flair.
"No long talk. Join Bloom."
The girl's expression shifted oddly.
Yeah. Must be stunned.
No way she'd imagined a top guild scouting her.
"You've probably never even cleared a proper gate. Join Bloom, and we'll guarantee raid slots. Even kit you out with mid-to-high-grade gear."
Game over, right?
-Or so she thought.
The girl gave an unexpected reply.
"You mean I have to join the guild to sell the flowers?"
She'd expected an eager yes.
What was this question getting at...?
"...Pardon?"
When she asked back, the petite girl—apparently thinking she hadn't understood—repeated it clearly, enunciating sharply.
"Are you saying I can only sell the flowers if I join the guild?"
Irritation tinged her tone, leaving Song Yu-hwa speechless, mouth agape.
Taking it as confirmation, the girl stood without hesitation.
"Fine, then. No sale. Goodbye."
She bowed politely and bolted.
Could life throw a bigger shock?
Song Yu-hwa let out a hollow chuckle.
And for good reason—this was Bloom Guild, one of Korea's Big Three prestigious guilds.
A guild Awakeners were dying to join.
The guild master herself—Song Yu-hwa—offering recruitment personally.
In all of Korea, was there an Awakener who could refuse...?