Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Fortuitous Encounter
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"Ehehe... So squishy."
Save me. Please. I desperately rolled my eyes, sending SOS signals to the old man.
"That's enough. She clearly doesn't like it."
"Aw, come on. She's so cute."
"Yi Seol."
His voice dropped low, and only then did Yi Seol reluctantly release her arms.
The moment I was freed, I put as much distance as possible between us and pressed myself flat against the wall. Cold sweat poured down my back.
But Yi Seol paid no mind to my reaction. Her eyes sparkling with curiosity, she began scanning the workshop.
"Hmm... So this is your workshop?"
She roamed around like a kid at an amusement park, poking at the tools on the workbench, the piles of materials in the corner, and even the massive synchronization synthesis system in the center. Everything her gaze touched seemed wondrous to her.
"What's this? Looks like magitech equipment... but the design is unusual."
"It's confidential, Yi Seol."
"Oh. Right. Got too excited."
She whipped her head around to look at me. Her intense stare made me shrink back involuntarily.
"What's your name?"
"I-I'm... P-Park... Seha..."
I answered in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Seha? Cute name. I'll call you Seha from now on!"
She beamed and strode toward me again. Thinking she was about to hug me, I reflexively dodged, but instead, she grabbed my hand and placed a small box in it.
"Here! Friend fee!"
"...Y-Yes?"
"Open it."
I dazedly opened the box I'd received.
"A gem?"
Inside was a small gem that looked like a necklace pendant. It shimmered with an iridescent blue glow that hinted at something extraordinary.
"It's an artifact. I made it thinking about what you need most."
"......"
"If you get in danger, the defensive spell activates automatically. It can block pretty much anything except consecutive high-tier spells."
A defensive artifact crafted by an S-rank mage herself. One that could withstand high-tier magic.
This was priceless.
"Should I call you sis?"
The words slipped out unbidden.
"Pfft! Yes! Call me sis!"
Yi Seol burst into satisfied laughter. The old man clicked his tongue in exasperation and stepped outside.
Now it was just me and Yi Seol in the workshop. No idea where Chun-sik had scampered off to.
"What's this?"
"Ah, that's..."
Satisfied with the "sis" title, she resumed wandering the workshop, peppering me with questions.
I couldn't chase out an S-rank mage by force, and she didn't seem like a bad person. Plus, she'd given me that item.
'The specifics are trade secrets, but...'
Basic knowledge should be fine.
Before long, I ended up demonstrating how to make a simple potion in response to her questions. It was more like a beverage than a potion—tastier than coffee with a slight awakening effect.
Yi Seol took a sip and looked at me.
"By the way, when you make this."
Her golden eyes suddenly turned serious.
"Same with treating Yuna, and this now. How do you stabilize unstable mana so quickly? With alchemy knowledge?"
"...Yes?"
I tilted my head.
It was the most basic common knowledge. The kind you'd find in the newbie magic theory series on the Alchemy Gallery.
I thought it was a joke at first. But Yi Seol's expression showed genuine curiosity.
"W-Well..."
I cautiously opened my mouth.
"I just... divided it into startup mana and operational mana... Doesn't it stabilize on its own then...?"
After hearing Seha's explanation, Yi Seol tilted her head for a moment.
"...Startup mana and operational mana?"
What did that mean? She repeated Seha's words in her mind.
"W-Well... The mana for building the structure and the mana for actual output... if you separate them..."
"What does that..."
Suddenly, Yi Seol's eyes widened.
"......"
All magic until now had been built on a single flow of mana.
That's why high-tier magic was inevitably harder to control. The more complex the spell structure, the exponentially greater the mana consumption to maintain it, and adding output mana made energy flow unstable by necessity.
'Mana separation.'
It was such a simple solution. There was no need to handle everything with one mana flow. Separate the power for erecting the framework from the power moving it.
'Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?'
Yi Seol froze in place, muttering to herself. The magic theories in her head were dismantling and recombining at lightning speed.
"If you split mana into two streams... add a filter midway in the mana circuits for the spell... "
Her eyes darted rapidly.
"...Refine only the mana for spell construction uniformly, amplify the rest for output as usual... Maximize output without compromising spell stability..."
Everything clicked into place. A euphoric rush swept through her body, like blocked meridians clearing.
Yi Seol snapped her head up. Her gaze returned to Seha.
Her eyes were completely different now, filled with awe and gratitude.
"You're my fortuitous encounter!"
Yi Seol hugged Seha tightly once more.
Then, without hesitation, she turned and vanished in a flash of light.
Paat!
"......"
The workshop fell silent again.
Seha stared blankly at the spot where she had disappeared, utterly confused.
Then, a rustling came from under the workbench.
Sruruk...
Chun-sik slowly crawled out and flopped onto the floor in a spread-eagle position.
"Just watching drains my energy."
Seha nodded deeply in agreement.
The White Tiger Guild incident was swiftly resolving.
The guild had effectively disbanded, and those involved faced legal judgment. Nationwide gate concerns from the vacuum left by White Tiger had long stabilized thanks to Rabbitfoot Company's full potion support.
And today, an important press conference was held at Rabbitfoot Company headquarters.
"Hello. I'm Seo Yi-hyun, CEO of Rabbitfoot Company."
Standing at the podium, CEO Seo Yi-hyun looked as poised and refined as ever. Not a flicker of unease before the barrage of camera flashes.
"Over the past few weeks, we've overcome a national crisis together. This is thanks to the hunters who dedicated themselves on the front lines."
He paused, bowing politely. When he spoke again, his tone was far firmer.
"With that, we announce the end of free combat support potion distribution in response to the national crisis. Starting today, they will be available for official sale."
The reporters buzzed. The expected reaction. Seo Yi-hyun calmly displayed prepared materials on the screen.
The new pricing policy was revealed. It wasn't cheap. Compared to free supply, it was burdensome.
But considering the potions' overwhelming performance, it was reasonable—nay, a bargain. Just one potion boosted hunter survival and combat efficiency tremendously.
The market reacted instantly. Hunters who had tasted the effects had no choice.
Buff potions officially on sale now
Free supply ended
But gotta buy anyway fml
Can't enter gates without this anymore, real talk. Withdrawal hitting hard
Once you taste it, can't quit. Almost drug-level for real
After buffing with this, wonder how I hunted before
Fucking greedy bastards
If you hate it, don't use it. I'll hog 'em all
Think about the revenue boost from those buffs. Only idiots wouldn't buy
Gate turnover rate skyrockets too
The very next day after the press conference.
[Rabbitfoot Company Signs Regular Potion Supply Contract with White Night Guild]
[White Night Secures Stable Potion Supply Chain... Hunter Industry Shake-Up Imminent]
Major media headlines were flooded with the same news.
This information spread intentionally and rapidly throughout the hunter community. Especially the small mention of "preferential terms" piqued their interest.
"What? White Night gets it 30% cheaper than us?"
The other major guilds were thrown into panic.
Rabbitfoot potions were no longer optional—they were essential. A core strategic resource dictating guild competitiveness. White Night securing stable supply at 30% less made competition impossible.
"Is our guild master slacking?"
"Maybe I should switch to White Night?"
Rabbitfoot Company's lobby was mobbed by reps from various guilds, desperate for a meeting with CEO Seo Yi-hyun.
His office phone rang nonstop. While handling the influx of requests and finishing a report via his direct line to Seha.
"Yes. We'll proceed."
Right after hanging up.
Vrrr—
His personal phone buzzed again.
"Yes, Seo Yi-hyun speaking."
- Mr. Seo, sorry to bother you when you're busy.
The corner of Seo Yi-hyun's mouth curved up. It had finally arrived.
- I was wondering... if you could supply potions regularly to government hunters as well...
"Of course. We must cooperate."
He opened a prepared binder and continued.
"However, I'd appreciate a few favors first."