Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Baldness Cure and Future Plans
Spoiler
I'd learned the shocking truth about the four great guilds, but it was too late to act like I hadn't known.
We agreed to dig into it properly with the Doctor tomorrow, and I hurriedly changed the subject.
"Let's put off talking about goals for another day. I'm more curious about the effects of that treatment potion I gave you, so let's check that first."
"...You're right. This place is too risky for sensitive discussions—too much chance of eavesdropping. Sorry, Master. I didn't think it through."
Er... that wasn't exactly what I meant.
But if it let us move past it smoothly, fine.
"Then I'll apply the treatment potion right away."
"Pardon? Hold on. You plan to do it without any prep?"
"It's fine. I can handle this level of penalty."
"No... even so..."
I'd endured my whole body breaking apart and reassembling bare-handed, so maybe I wasn't one to talk.
But Park Hyun-soo saying he could handle a penalty that melted his scalp wasn't exactly normal either.
"...At least take some climber-grade painkillers or recovery potions first...?"
"Using spirit medicines as-is boosts success rates, and I don't have any potions on hand anyway, so we'll proceed like this."
"You don't have any? What do you mean by...?"
Even so, a guy like Park Hyun-soo—a high-floor climber who'd reached the 49th floor and led a guild—surely kept one or two emergency potions stocked, no matter the cost. That's why I asked, but his response was a doozy.
"Potions are pricey and inefficient, so we don't use them much. Unless you're pushing for a new floor record or challenging the rankings, hardly anyone buys them with their own money."
"Potions are that inefficient?"
"The cost of ten mid-grade potions roughly equals hiring a mercenary healer or buffer for one run. And even that's assuming the mid-grade penalties are 'tolerable' enough."
"...That bad, huh..."
"Our guild has a skilled alchemist, so we're not quite that bad off. But that's the norm."
"Whoa..."
...I'd realized it before, but yeah, alchemist really was one of the all-time trash jobs.
No wonder the gallery had lit up like crazy over my ranking alert.
From what he was saying, I wasn't just a dragon from the mud pond—I was a dragon from a sewage treatment plant.
Anyway, moving on.
"Tabula, could you pull out one... no, about a hundred Useful Pill Potions? And ten Special Recovery Potions too."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Sure, Father! I'll simplify the names just a bit! ⚔ ITEM ACQUIRED ⚔ Useful Pill Potion [B-] Effect: Grants [Recovery (Mid)] upon consumption.
> Special Recovery Potion [A] Effect 1: Grants [Recovery (Mid)] upon consumption. Effect 2: Grants [Status Ailment Removal (Mid)] upon consumption. Now that Park Hyun-soo had signed the contract and become my man, no need to make him suffer that much.
Time to clear out these malignant stockpiles I'd made but never even touched. I handed them over with a suitable excuse.
"Here, take them. This is your first mission now that you've sworn to follow me."
"...Master. Why these...?"
"They're potions that haven't gone through clinical trials yet. I need user feedback, so use one now to brace for side effects, and report back after the rest help you conquer the 50th-floor ranking battle."
"B-but... Master. These don't look like they need that kind of procedure."
"Subordinate... talking back...?"
"Pardon?"
"I'll handle the judgments. You just do what I tell you, Park Hyun-soo."
"But... even so, this is too much..."
"Tsk...!!! Subordinates obey orders like good little subordinates-!"
"M-Master. Why the sudden speech pattern...?"
"Quiet-! Obey orders-!"
"...Understood."
That's right.
Subordinates (slaves) who signed a contract with an evil employer like me (not) just need to do their jobs.
In that spirit.
Squelch— Squelch—
"Guhhh...!!!"
In true once-in-a-lifetime evil employer fashion.
Let's savor and critique the sight of my employee's hair roots melting away.
"Hm... So Park Hyun-soo, you're a Hey-hachi baldie type, huh?"
"...Master. Say that anywhere else and you'll get stoned..."
.
.
.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Park Hyun-soo has used the Topical Baldness Treatment.] [The hair roots touched by the potion melt down and enter 'Reconstruction' state.] ['Reconstruction' state is partially alleviated by the 'Special Recovery Potion.'] [Acquired skill 'Mana Hair (B+).'] .
.
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#####
Did Tabula's special potion help?
It didn't take long for Park Hyun-soo's hair roots to melt, reform, and sprout mana-infused locks.
Of course, they were still fresh-recruit buzzcut length.
Compared to the Hey-hachi baldness from moments ago, it was a huge leap.
"How's the new skill feel?"
"...It's unbelievably amazing. A skill that lets you store mana in your hair? It's like doubling my total mana pool, conservatively speaking."
"I gave it as a baldness treatment, but sounds like the other perks stole the show."
"No, that's impressive too. I just never imagined it'd solve my mana shortage issue, so I'm floored by this spirit medicine you gave me."
"Really? I figured it'd go bald again once the mana runs out, so I thought it was meh."
"That's nothing compared to permanent baldness. And with enough mana, I can style it however I want. I'm plenty satisfied."
Oho... As a former sufferer, maybe?
His flexible mindset turned even the flaws into upsides. Impressive.
Of course, his words said one thing.
"I'll just beat the enemy before I use up all my mana anyway."
But the steely glint in his eyes—vowing to drop anyone before going bald again—suggested otherwise.
Best to gloss over that.
Anyway.
Our immediate business was wrapped, baldness treated.
Now just call in Bug Hater and clear up the fresh misunderstanding.
"Lulu, Arin. Come out here a sec?"
I called my daughters, who were consoling the NTR'd and tearful Bug Hater.
It naturally steered us toward conversation.
"Daddy-nyang! You called-nyang?"
"Do you need our help?"
The door opened, and Lulu and Arin came bounding out.
Bug Hater timidly followed, mumbling.
"...Sorry for misunderstanding."
"Huh? For what?"
"You hate guys, right? The kids told me."
"Well... yeah, but what exactly did they tell you?"
"You had four mom candidates, and one crushed the competition with overwhelming main-wife energy? Bringing gifts daily and even prepping a place to live? Figured you lived up to your looks."
"...?"
No, Lulu, Arin.
What did you tell some guy you just met...?
"Hm. Not wrong, Master."
"What're you on about?"
"Can you deny it?"
"Well..."
...Technically, picking it apart, it wasn't wrong at all.
But did you have to paint me like a trashy sugar daddy?
I considered scolding Lulu and Arin for spilling private stuff.
"Nyang?"
"Daddy, what's wrong?"
"...Nothing, sweetie."
Thinking about it, they wouldn't have known to keep it secret.
And in the end, it cleared Bug Hater's misunderstanding (you gay?).
Above all, my kids hugging my legs and looking up at me were too adorable, so I let it slide.
"My little darlings. Stuff about Daddy is our secret from now on, okay?"
"Nyang? No bragging about Daddy-nyang?"
"Hm... Anything too personal, no. Otherwise fine."
"Aw... But we gotta spread Daddy's awesomeness to the world..."
"Save that for later, okay...?"
And so.
While impressing on my darlings that our daily life was our secret and to be careful.
"Ji-ah. I have something to say."
"...Why're you calling me, you gay fuck...? Wait, what happened to your head?"
The two, awkward from earlier, launched into a proper talk.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Father! Popcorn here! "Thanks, Tabula."
We munched the popcorn Tabula provided and watched on bated breath.
"What the hell! Who did this to you! Don't tell me that parasite gigolo...!!!"
"No. I did it myself. Master just gave me the chance."
"You...? Wait, more importantly—why're you calling that guy 'Master' all of a sudden?"
"I received an inexpressible grace from him, so I signed a contract to serve him in repayment."
"Hey—! Why didn't you consult me first...!!!"
For a while after, Bug Hater couldn't speak.
But her expressions were a riot.
Rage at being betrayed and hearing he liked men.
Resentment at signing without telling her.
Frustration at his silence, just staring without explanation.
And pity for herself, still worrying for him and trying to understand amid it all.
That went on for a bit.
The two just stared wordlessly.
Soon, Bug Hater broke the silence with a resigned mutter.
"...Hyun-soo, you saw something in that guy, huh? Something worth signing a contract over."
"I saw him as a once-in-a-lifetime benefactor. And I was right."
"Yeah... You, who swore never to touch a contract, went that far... Of course... Sigh... So? What's next?"
"First, challenge the 50th-floor ranking as Master commanded. I can clear it without much trouble now."
"Right, the 50th. If even you—who tried countless times—says that, you probably can. Congrats. And after?"
"Assuming I register on the 50th-floor ranking, I'll go for S-grade certification."
"Yeah... That'd fulfill all S-grade conditions... Congrats in advance on that too... Then...?"
"The day I get my S-grade license. I'll blow all my money on an engagement ring."
"Right... S-grade license..."
......
......?
"Hold up. Park Hyun-soo. What did you just...?"
"After the ring, I'll earn more and book the priciest restaurant to call you out, Ji-ah."
"...Wait. Hold on, Hyun-soo."
"Then I'll propose to you, Ji-ah. If you accept, we'll scout wedding venues the next day."
"Hey...! Park Hyun-soo...!! N-now I get it...!!! Stop already...!!!"
"I'm not done! Then we'll wed ASAP and honeymoon together. And that night. You and I will have our first night as husb—"
Crash!!!
"You crazy bastard-!! Kids are watching, so quit spilling that shit-!!!"
"Ji-ah. We still have kid plans and retirement plans to—"
"Fuck. Save that for when we're alone, you idiot-!! And who the hell telegraphs a proposal like that-!!!"
"Right here."
"Fuck-! That's bragging-!!!"