Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Fatal Charm
Park Ki-nam had said something that rubbed me the wrong way, but that didn't mean he deserved to die for it.
I withdrew the killing intent I had been emitting and took a step back to watch the situation unfold.
"Anyone who can move, come with me to check on the surrounding personnel first."
"""Yes!"""
"Deputy Team Leader. You check on the fallen manager. Use a recovery skill if necessary."
"Understood, Team Leader."
Hmm... The woman who'd been talking to him earlier must be the team leader of the black-suited group?
No wonder she held out until the end even as her team members collapsed one by one.
As the team leader, she must have something special that the others didn't.
'She withstood the master's killing intent and even spoke up, so she's probably a well-trained warrior.'
'Really? Then maybe later I can ask her a little about what it felt like.'
'...Is the master actually a devil?'
'Why? What's wrong with that? If I'm curious, I can ask.'
'...Forget it. What would I even say to the master.'
Anyway.
For a moment, watching the situation resolve quickly, I thought it would all be sorted out soon.
"Deputy Team Leader. How's the manager's condition?"
"Well... It seems the energy's influence is preventing any skills from working."
"Explain exactly which skills aren't working."
"...None of the skills from our team's healers or buffers are working."
"...None? Including skills with usage limits?"
"...Yes."
"...Damn it. Request cooperation from all climbers inside the building right now! We have to find a way to save the manager!"
"Y-yes, understood!"
From the conversation between the team leader and deputy...
It seemed my killing intent had made it impossible to heal Park Ki-nam.
Things seemed to be heading in a serious direction, so I asked Lavris about it...
'Hmm... It looks like the master's killing intent is so strong that it's seeped into his body a little, causing this.'
'The seeped killing intent is affecting skills?'
'Killing intent is something orcs, who can't use mana, possess exclusively, so it has properties opposite to mana. That's why infusing the body with killing intent boosts mana resistance.'
'But doesn't that mean I can use both killing intent and mana?'
'The master is an exception. It doesn't make sense from the start that you obtained killing intent by stewing and eating orcs, so how can we compare?'
'...Fair enough.'
Anyway, putting that aside.
'Master. If we leave him like this, that guy's going to die. What are you going to do?'
'What can I do? Save him first, obviously.'
If this kept up, I'd go from chaebol wastrel to a ruthless psychopath who kills people over bad vibes.
No matter what, I had to prevent that, so I decided to do something to save Park Ki-nam.
"Tabula. Can you pull out all the types of recovery potions in storage?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <Yes, Father.> ⚔ ITEM ⚔ [Useful Pill Potion ver.5][B-] Effect: Grants [Recovery (Medium)] upon consumption. Hmm... This is the potion I made for my first climb.
⚔ ITEM ⚔ [Amplified Pill Potion][A-] Amplification Effect: Once per day, grants [Recovery (High)] upon consumption. Amplification Penalty: From the second dose per day, inflicts damage equal to [Recovery (High)]. This one's the potion I made as a test when I got the potency amplification skill?
⚔ ITEM ⚔ [Tabula's Special Recovery Potion][A] Effect 1: Grants [Recovery (Medium)] upon consumption. Effect 2: Grants [Status Ailment Removal (Medium)] upon consumption. ⚔ ITEM ⚔ [Tabula's Special All-in-One Buff Potion][A] Effect: Grants [All Stats Increase (Medium)] for 10 minutes upon consumption. And these... I haven't seen them before.
Since Tabula's name is in them, she must have made these?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <That's right. These are the potions Tabula made simply during yesterday's 15th-floor climb.> "...Ah. Those from then?"
Come to think of it, during the 15th-floor climb, she said she'd make some simple potions with the materials we had.
These must be the ones she made back then.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <Which potion will you use?> "To be sure, we should use a potion with [Recovery (High)] effect."
No point using a [Recovery (Medium)] one if it doesn't work and we have to dose again.
Besides, these were made with low-floor 'recovery herbs' that are easy to get, so no need to skimp.
"Ah, but maybe hide some info to make it seem ordinary."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <Tabula will quickly edit the info for 'Amplified Pill Potion'.> ⚔ ITEM ⚔ [Advanced Pill Potion][A-] Effect: Grants [Recovery (High)] upon consumption. And so.
I changed the info to hide any suspicious effects, making it look like an ordinary high-grade potion anyone with money could buy.
Then I headed toward the black-suited group desperately trying to save Park Ki-nam.
"You crazy bastards! You said just heal him simply, but what the hell is this critical case you brought me?!"
"We're sorry. We'll make it worth your while as long as you save him."
"Rewards my ass...! At this rate, my mana will run out first!"
"We're bringing all available mana potions right now. Please hold on just a bit longer."
"Arghhh-! I came to trade elixirs and this is what I get-!!!"
A foul-mouthed healer whose arrival I hadn't noticed was struggling to save Park Ki-nam.
I watched for a bit, then approached the black-suited woman and handed her the pill.
"Suit Team Leader. Use this."
"...Pardon? What do you...?"
⚔ ITEM ⚔ [Advanced Pill Potion][A-] Effect: Grants [Recovery (High)] upon consumption. "...Isn't this an advanced potion?"
"I happened to have it. That should save Park Ki-nam, right?"
"What? You had an advanced potion? You fuckers! Why didn't you use that instead of grinding me down?!"
"...From the healer's reaction, it should work. Hurry and use it."
"I-Is it really okay to use? Potions like advanced ones without penalties are priceless..."
"Of course..."
"You bitch-! I gave it to use, so quit yapping-!! If you're not gonna feed it to a corpse, do it now-!!!"
"...We'll use it. Like the healer said, so hurry. It happened because of me anyway."
"...Thank you for your mercy."
With that, the suit team leader fed the pill to Park Ki-nam, and shortly after...
Gurgle... Cough... Cough...... Sniff... Hoo...
Park Ki-nam's complexion improved noticeably soon after.
Just when it seemed the incident was wrapping up...
"Wait... You said this all happened because of you...?"
"There was a little accident."
"You little shit...! What the hell kind of accident turns a person into this state, you parasite-looking bastard-!!!"
...Well. Since he'd received help, I'd tried to let it slide nicely.
But if he kept provoking me over and over, I had no choice.
From now on, to protect myself, I'd have to tearfully exercise self-defense.
"Kids are watching, so no harsh words. That's why at your age, you still don't have a boyfriend."
"...What?"
"Oh, were you referring to your male friend who came with you as 'boyfriend'? That's pitiful if so. Bug Hater."
"Y-You, you, you fuck...! So you're Angel Daddy, you bastard-!!!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After that, things proceeded smoothly.
Park Ki-nam, barely clinging to life, was carted off to a treatment room for recovery.
I left the cleanup to the suited group.
Under the suit team leader's guidance, we moved to the requested VIP room.
"It's the largest available, with soundproofing so good that fights inside won't be noticed outside."
"Hmm. Not bad."
"Any security personnel...?"
"No need."
"...Understood. We'll wait outside the door, so call us anytime if you need anything."
Once the suit team leader and her group left the room...
In this quiet space made of special sound-absorbing material, our party sat facing Bug Hater and her childhood friend Park Hyun-soo.
"Ha! What mischief are you planning to request a room like this for an elixir trade, oh noble-blooded heir Yi Ron?"
"Watch your tone."
"Tone my ass. Cut the crap—why drag us here with all this nonsense? Spill it."
"Hmm... Obviously for the elixir trade?"
"Elixir trade my ass. Who makes a C-grade elixir deal this flashy? Now I see—you provoked me to lure Hyun-soo here. It's all out, so just admit it."
Hmm... Weird.
I thought I'd hidden it well, but how did she notice?
"Was it that obvious?"
"Not obvious. We're just used to this stuff, so we're sharp."
"Ah, so lots of people approach like me?"
"Think so? Usually they try to swallow guilds whole or sweet-talk me and Hyun-soo with every trick. Not this obnoxiously."
"But you like my approach enough to sit here, right?"
"Like hell. I'd kick the door down and leave right now if I could."
"I requested the meeting. Yi Ron."
"But Hyun-soo wanted to talk, so we're staying. Make good conversation."
Hmm...? That's unexpected.
Park Hyun-soo, whom I'd never even had a one-on-one with, wants to talk?
"May I ask a few questions?"
"Ah, sure. Go ahead."
Curious what he wanted to discuss, I listened quietly.
Soon, Park Hyun-soo's completely unforeseen question shocked not just me...
But even Bug Hater couldn't hide her surprise and nearly fell over.
"To be honest. From the moment I saw you, I was captivated by Yi Ron's body."
"...Pardon?"
"...Hyun-soo? What the fuck is that?"
"I'm serious. If it's not rude, may I touch your body a bit before the questions?"
"I-I'm serious too, but that's extremely rude...?"
"Hey-! Park Hyun-soo-!!! Touching a guy instead of a girl—what does that make me-!!! At least fall for some other bitch I could steal-!!!"
No, Bug Hater dear.
I get you're pissed about losing your guy, but that's not the point to complain about...?