Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: I'll Grant That Wish
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The moment Garam took the contract and signed the scroll.
The contract between Benefactor and Yu Garam has been established.
A notification window popped up in front of my eyes, confirming that the contract had been sealed.
I could tell our deal had gone through smoothly.
"Is this it?"
Yeah. You've already escaped the penalty's bind since giving the healing potion was your condition, Benefactor. Garam here's bound to make the item you asked for.
"Um... what happens if she doesn't make the item?"
She'll get hit with a penalty worth not just the healing potion's value, but also for being cheeky about it... Probably something like all her stats halving and a nasty curse that makes favors impossible.
"A nasty curse that makes favors impossible...?"
Just hearing about a curse that prevents favors sounded brutally vicious.
So I asked the doc exactly what kind of curse it was.
Restrictions on using certain body parts, sudden fits of madness, parasitic monsters like demons or ghosts latching on, or in the worst cases, turning into something inhuman.
And if you're really unlucky, instant death curses pop up sometimes... Anyway.
So, Benefactor, never sign anything just because someone says it's a gift, a complimentary item, or a delivery needs a signature, got it?
"Of course, Doc. I just decided—no signing contracts for the rest of my life."
That's the spirit.
"Hey, guys... I'm standing right here after just signing a contract. Is that the kinda talk for now...?"
"Ah."
[Ah.]
...Anyway.
After soothing Garam, who looked dejected from overhearing our chat,
we gathered Heon-gyu and moved to get on with our business.
We followed the doc to a room in the mansion.
There was a faceless wooden doll and a circular magic circle etched with unknown letters and patterns.
We set Heon-gyu down in the center of the magic circle.
"So, uh, why are we here?"
To feed Heon-gyu the healing potion, obviously?
"Can't we just make him drink it?"
Just feeding it to him straight would shock him to death from the pain.
That's why this magic circle blocks some pain sensation, and the rest gets transferred to that doll...
From what I gathered, the magic circle and wooden doll were there to shoulder Heon-gyu's pain instead.
Unlike me, who just chugged potions without knowing better and toughed it out,
the smart doc had a proper setup.
But that didn't last.
...Hold on, Benefactor. How the hell are you even alive?
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"What're you talking about, Harin?"
The doc, mid-explanation of the magic circle and doll's mechanics, suddenly realized something.
She stared at me in horror, like I was some freak of nature.
...Never mind. I must've been mistaken.
She gave up thinking about it soon enough.
Muttering something inaudible, she said she'd finish prepping and stepped away.
A short while later.
Now just feed him the potion.
"I'll handle that, Harin. And could you cast that spell too...?"
The mosaic spell? Already on it.
"Doc. What's a mosaic spell?"
Exactly what it sounds like. The mosaic from AVs. You know.
"That... like the concealment spell before, why does a spell like that even exist?"
'Cause the same guy who made that concealment spell made this one too.
Ah, now I was really curious.
Who the hell was that prankster mage?
Someone genius enough to rival the doc, making spells like that.
If I got the chance, I'd ask, "What the heck are you on to make stuff like this?"
Anyway.
"Alright... here goes."
With the doc signaling all preps were done, Garam approached Heon-gyu with the healing potion.
She stroked his face once, murmuring, "You've been through so much, Heon-gyu..." before pulling down his pants and feeding him the potion.
Moments later.
Sssslowly...
Heon-gyu's mosaiced member (not that small) silently melted away.
The magic circle the doc had drawn lit up and began to glow.
At the same time, the wooden doll bearing his pain cracked with ominous sounds and started crumbling.
Crack!Craaaack!!
"Uh... Doc. This is fine, right?"
It's fine. I've got hundreds more dummies in reserve.
About 30 minutes passed. Over ten dolls had shattered by then.
With no change after it melted, I started worrying the potion was defective.
Sssslowly...!
Heon-gyu's melted member gathered like slime, reshaping into the familiar form I knew.
Soon, something massive and imposing emerged—embarrassingly bigger than before.
Like a vigorous eel throbbing powerfully, it stood tall.
Our reactions were...
...Hah. Unbelievable.
The doc clicked her tongue in disbelief at the sight.
She turned away, giving me that "How is this guy alive?" look again.
"...Harin. Got any vacant houses nearby? Mind if I crash one night?"
No funny business at my place.
...There's that soundproof motel nearby. Go there if you're desperate.
"Oh, right...! That place exists...? Thanks a ton, Harin! And Benefactor, thank you so much! But I've got urgent business now, so I'll come back tomorrow?"
Garam's eyes gleamed like a predator spotting prime prey.
With inhuman strength unfit for her delicate frame, she hoisted Heon-gyu and dashed to the motel.
And I...
'Hmm... about two-thirds my size...?'
I roughly gauged the eel's dimensions.
After settling which of us had the bigger man's pride, I headed home with a satisfied smile.
That night, I slept like a baby for some reason.
The next day.
Early morning, with Lulu and Arin still deep asleep.
Job Hunt Villain. Get over to my place quick.
Ok...?
That dumb couple brought a pretty nice "gift."
Hurry up and check it out.
On... my... way...
...Might wanna make a wake-up potion for later.
Woken by the doc's urgent call, I splashed water on my face, brushed my teeth, and headed to her place.
Arriving at the doc's house after a leisurely stroll,
I saw Garam beaming benevolently while rubbing her belly,
and Heon-gyu spotting me, calling me "hyungnim," and bowing 90 degrees.
"Ah, Benefactor! Sorry for waking you so early."
"Benefactor! No, Big Bro Benefactor! You're here!"
'...What the hell's going on?'
They were treating me like a lifesaver—or more.
The potion was effective, sure, but this seemed overkill, so I asked the doc.
Reason they're acting like this? Kinda awkward for me to say. Ask them directly.
The doc shook her head and stepped back.
I approached the couple, who were showering me with fervent gratitude, and asked why.
"Uh... why the sudden fuss? Honestly, it's kinda embarrassing..."
"How could we not? You made our lifelong wish come true, Benefactor."
"Exactly! Thanks to you, Big Bro, I can finally man up!"
Lifelong wish...? Man up...?
Confused, I listened closely.
I learned the couple had issues beyond erectile dysfunction—serious ones.
"See... even Harin Teacher didn't know, but... I had azoospermia..."
"Azoospermia?"
"Yeah. Not sure if it's from my traits or the blacksmithing, but no kids. Checkup showed heat had killed all my sperm."
Oh yeah... I vaguely recalled a NewTube short saying sperm hates heat.
Men's balls hang outside to cool them down, apparently.
Anyway, they shared this intimate secret they'd kept from everyone.
Seeing Garam's oddly maternal smile and her hand on her belly,
even dense me could piece it together.
"...No way. Are you pregnant?"
"Yes! We're finally having a baby! I'm gonna be a dad! Big Bro Benefactor!"
"Checked with a mana tool just in case, but it's definite. There's a baby in here... the one we've always wanted... All thanks to your healing potion..."
Probably the 'reconstruction' effect of that healing potion.
Fixed the damaged functions during the melt-and-rebuild.
Who'd have thought they'd hide that from me too... Explains the drunken confessions.
"Sorry, Harin..."
Whatever. You two suffered enough. Congrats, and take it easy for a bit.
"...Thanks."
Oh... uh... yeah... Now I got why they were acting like that.
Why Heon-gyu was calling me "hyungnim." All of it.
Great news, really.
'But... what do you say in a situation like this...?'
First time dealing with this; no clue how to congratulate them.
While I fumbled for words,
Heon-gyu handed me a red cloak.
"This is our proudest masterpiece, three years in the making."
"Too good to sell at market price... Please take it, Big Bro Benefactor."
You wouldn't sell it to me no matter what.
"Haha... Next time we make something great, we'll sell it to you, Teacher."
You promise?
Hmm... If the doc's hyping it, it must be special.
Not one to refuse gifts, I took it.
Item info popped up automatically, revealing what it was.
[Cloak Blessed by the Sun] [A+]
-[Benevolent Sun]: Greatly boosts all fire attribute attack & resistance.
-[Pulsing Sun]: Stores fire in the cloak. Circulates it to emit heat and burn recognized enemies.
-[Merciless Sun]: Releases stored fire in a burst for massive damage to the target.
"...Huh?"
An A+ cloak with three positive effects and zero penalties...?
Made sense on second thought.
Two top-tier crafters in the country, three years of work.
Materials probably weren't cheap either.
Felt too precious for a one-click healing potion.
I double-checked if it was really okay.
"It's fine. We got something even more precious."
"You granted our lifelong wish. This is only fair."
Heon-gyu shook his head, insisting it was no loss.
Garam just smiled, caressing her belly like nothing mattered more.
"We'll head out then. We'll be at the workshop for a while, so drop by anytime."
"Sorry again for the early wake-up, Benefactor."
They handed over the cloak without a hint of regret, bid farewell, and left.
Watching their backs, I thought:
Just a gut feeling, no basis... but those two will make great parents.