Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: I Can Do It All Day Long
[Tabula will make a custom potion just for you, Lin!]
And so began the creation of a custom potion for Lin.
The starting point was the same as always, but this synthesis was fueled by unbridled sincerity and full power. Was that why?
Today, the process felt a little different.
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ …Synthesis skill activated. Selecting optimal recipe… …Confirming materials needed for synthesis. Purchasing shortages from the Exchange… …Preparation for 'Lin Custom Vampire Potion' synthesis 85% complete… …Determined that Father's assistance is required for material procurement and synthesis process… …Halting synthesis… .
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Father. I need your help to make this potion. "My help?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Yes. Two of the ingredients for the potion aren't available on the Exchange, but you can definitely get them, Father. The projected grade of this potion exceeds S+, so it's hard for Tabula alone to make it. "I see...?"
This caught me off guard. Tabula asking for my help? Unheard of.
It seemed this full-power potion wasn't one of those snap-your-fingers ordinary ones.
"Of course I'll help. Just tell me what you need."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Really? Thank you, Father! And so, not entirely sure how I'd help, I gladly accepted and took a seat.
"Ahem, young master. Might this lady observe the potion-making process?"
"Ask Tabula about that. Tabula, is that okay?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Watching an alchemist's synthesis process is a grave discourtesy! To put it in martial arts terms, it's like peeking at someone's training! "Mm... The young one's words ring true. Forgive me for imposing with my curiosity."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ But! Since this potion is for Lin, I'll make a special exception! "Truly? My thanks! Dear young master!"
Jinjo, peeking curiously at the potion-making, settled beside me to watch together.
And with that, Tabula's synthesis began.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ahem...! Since Pathetic Jinjo is here too, I'll start with explaining the recipe! "Thoughtful of you. My thanks."
What would normally be a single-line notification was expanded, probably because Pathetic Jinjo was watching.
Tabula, voice brimming with excitement like a child eager to show off, displayed each material in the recipe one by one and explained their purpose.
-Ding!
[Minotaur's Blood 1L] - About 400 million won. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ First, to replenish your depleted stamina, I'm using the named monster 'Minotaur's Blood' as a material! "You're talking about the master of the great labyrinth. I remember it wasn't bad as a tonic—overflowing with power and all."
"You've eaten it?"
"I received some as tribute when you met it on the 50th floor. A bit gamey, but the blood itself wasn't bad."
-Ding!
[Twin Head Ogre's Blood 1L] - About 300 million won ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ On top of that, adding ogre's blood to boost the stamina recovery speed! "Ogre...? Oh, if you mean that massive man-eater, I have some bad memories..."
"What's with the ogre?"
"Our cult's followers once tried raising them as infinite blood sources, but it failed."
"Mm... Too feral to tame?"
"That was part of it, but their blood tasted utterly vile. Fishy, bitter, sour, with a thick aftertaste. Even infinite supply couldn't save it from being abandoned for flavor."
"...Yeah, taste is pretty crucial."
-Ding!
[Sphinx's Blood 300mL] - About 300 million won [Unicorn's Blood 500mL] - About 200 million won [Six-Tailed Fox's Blood 500mL] - About 200 million won ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ With stamina restored, now for internal energy, right? Based on Gallery info that internal energy builds by breathing natural qi, I'm using blood from monsters with similar spirit cores! "Well-researched. For our kind, blood from spirit beasts with cores is special. The longer aged, the more varied the flavor and energy infused."
"Mm... Like well-aged wine for humans?"
"Close enough. But, dear young master."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Yes? "These don't seem enough to hit the ratio you mentioned for internal energy. Are all the additional ones internal energy-focused?"
Hm, come to think of it.
The materials shown so far lean more toward stamina than internal energy.
To reach 70% internal energy ratio, it'd need top-tier stuff.
Tabula said they weren't on the Exchange, but I could get them...
Do I even have something like that?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Wow, Pathetic Jinjo. You hit the nail on the head. Yes! The additional materials are overwhelmingly tuned for internal energy! "Hoo...? What rare ingredients, pray tell?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Well, it's... -Ding!
[Lin Custom Vampire Potion] [Required Materials] -Dragon's Blood (more the better) -Named Monster's Blood x2 -Spirit Beast Monster's Blood x3 -Yi Ron's Blood (more the better) [Required Tools] -Emerald Cauldron -Pure Flame ※Effects may vary based on material quality. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ...Father's blood and dragon's blood! "?"
What the...? My blood as an ingredient?
First time hearing this... Wait a sec.
No way... Ingredients not on the Exchange, but I could get them.
And too hard for her alone...?
"What-?! Blood of that arrogant lizard and the young one-!?"
Slurp...!!!
"I'm dying to know... So curious...! What exquisite flavor will those two bloods create together...!!! I'm going mad with curiosity...!!!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Hehehe, we can make it because Father permitted it! Without Father's blood and one material from the Doctor, this potion would be a pipe dream! So it wasn't about alchemy assistance.
She needed my blood and the right to one material from the Doctor.
####
After learning the full truth.
I felt a twinge of betrayal and addressed Tabula.
"Tabula. Did you trick this dad?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Huh? What about? "...No, nothing... Never mind..."
Hearing Tabula's pure, innocent voice.
It wasn't intentional, so as her dad, I couldn't pettily scold her. I let it slide.
I was the one who suggested 'full power potion.' She just followed through (using Dad as material!).
I could understand that.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ I need to draw a loooooot of blood! "Worry not! This lady's skill with blood is unrivaled in the world! I can do this all day long-!!!"
Even after drawing over 5L of my blood, she showed no signs of stopping.
This mad scene continued.
"Master. I came because you said you needed recovery, but why am I your blood bag?"
"...It's a long story. Just know it's something that absolutely has to be done."
"Got it. For now."
Anyway.
For a while, Pathetic Jinjo kept draining my blood.
Tabula collected, compressed, and processed it into something.
Lavris repeated the infinite cycle of recovering drained blood by consuming my fighting spirit as a blood bag power source.
In my half-dead-eyed state, I messaged the Doctor privately for 'Dragon's Blood.'
💬 Private Chat — Angel Daddy ☑ Doctor. Super busy? — Tower Expert Doctor ☑ Yeah? Nah. 1:1 chat's fine. What's up? — Angel Daddy ☑ No big deal, but you said you'd give me one material last time. Got any dragon's blood by chance? — Tower Expert Doctor ☑ Yeah, got it. That work? How much? "Tabula, how much dragon's blood do we need?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ More the better, but 100mL is plenty! It's rare, so we should use it sparingly! "Fair enough. But why my blood..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Huh? "...Nothing."
Anyway.
Back to the Doctor chat.
— Angel Daddy ☑ Then about 100mL? — Tower Expert Doctor ☑ Isn't that too little? — Angel Daddy ☑ Unlike mine, it's precious, so sparingly. — Tower Expert Doctor ☑ Unlike yours? What? — Angel Daddy ☑ ...Something like that. — Tower Expert Doctor ☑ Dunno details, but here's all 300mL I have. Need more later? I'll hunt some. Just say. — Angel Daddy ☑ Yes. Thanks. I got more dragon's blood than needed and saved the extra for later.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Father's blood looks good now too! "Already? I can give more..."
"You crazy bitch. What more? We've already taken over 10L."
Sluuuurp-!!!
"Eeeek-!!! Mi, Mi-mya! That's enoow-!!!"
By then, enough of my blood was drawn.
We decided to use 100mL of dragon's blood as planned.
And shortly after.
The result appeared...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Then, let's begin synthesis! .
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ …Synthesis skill activated. Selecting optimal recipe… …All materials for synthesis confirmed… …Probability correction starting. Using 'Luck Potion'… …Using 'Neutralizer' to mitigate amplification penalty… …Starting synthesis of 'Lin Custom Vampire Potion'… .
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Father! Tabula finished the potion! Compiling the completed potion info for output! -Ding!
⚔ STATUS ⚔ [Blood Pearl Holy Pill][SS] [Amplification Effect 1]: Upon consumption, enter [Reconstruction] state and acquire trait [Heavenly Blood Body (S)]. [Amplification Effect 2]: Upon consumption, enter [Reconstruction] state and acquire trait [True Ancestor's Heart (S+)] [Amplification Penalty 1]: Immediately enter [Reconstruction] state upon consumption. All blood vessels rupture during [Reconstruction], causing extreme pain. [Amplification Penalty 2]: Immediately enter [Reconstruction] state upon consumption. Heart ruptures during [Reconstruction], causing extreme pain. [Luck Effect!]: All pain during [Reconstruction] reduced by 77%. ...The first SS-grade potion Tabula and I created without anyone else's intervention.
"Heavenly Blood Body...? No, more than that! T-T-T-True Ancestor's Heart...!! Young master! What in the world are you-!!!"
"Ah, my identity? Just a regular guy who dabbles in alchemy as a hobby. ...But is that good? No internal energy boost."
"You call that good?! It's degraded a bit, but that's clearly a True Ancestor's Heart like mine!"
"?"
What the hell is Pathetic Jinjo babbling about?
I didn't even know True Ancestors existed until now. How should I know?
"Anyway, is it good?"
"Argh...! Of course it's good! Even degraded, a True Ancestor's Heart is one. It produces blood near-infinitely, equivalent to an inexhaustible dantian!"
"Your explanation? Not intuitive. Give me the short, impactful conclusion."
"Lin! Can! Now! Use! Martial! Arts! Regardless! Of internal energy! As long as blood suffices-!!!"
"Ah, okay?"
Hm... That sure rings a bell.
Reminds me of some puny hero boasting he could fight all day long.