Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Ways to Make Money (2)
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Fallen Worshipper.
Humans who betray mankind by worshipping evil, the enemy of humanity.
To Kang Cheol-su, who despised the Fallen, they were nothing more than cockroaches that had to be eradicated.
And yet, he'd found one of those vermin?
That alone should have been enough to send him charging off to capture it right then and there.
Especially since this filth was an instructor at the academy and the perpetrator behind the recent rift terror incident.
This... this was absolutely unforgivable.
He'd tear the bastard limb from limb the moment he found him.
...or so he'd bellowed, radiating murderous intent, until I barely managed to calm him down.
I'd come to him because I trusted he'd believe me and gladly offer his help.
"No, Instructor, aren't you trusting my word a bit too much?"
What if I was lying? What then?
But despite my words, the look in Kang Cheol-su's eyes held only unwavering faith.
"You're my student, aren't you? Then as your teacher, I have to trust you."
"......"
I was momentarily at a loss for words.
Believing in your students was just what a teacher should do.
How many instructors actually held such noble ideals?
Sure, most instructors would trust their students to some degree.
It was just that there were so few who truly cared for them.
Anyway, I appreciated the trust.
"But heading out right now is impossible."
"Why?"
"No evidence."
I knew who the Fallen Worshipper was, but I had nothing to prove his crimes.
It was pure suspicion at this point.
But Kang Cheol-su just smirked at my explanation.
"Yet you came to me, so you must have some kind of plan, right?"
No wonder he was an instructor.
I pulled a potion from my inventory and set it on his desk.
"What's this potion?"
"A recovery potion I made before enrolling."
"Recovery potion? The color's off for that."
He was right.
Normal recovery potions were a vivid red, symbolizing wound healing.
The one I'd placed on the desk was pink, so it was natural he'd be puzzled.
But it was genuinely a recovery potion.
"So, what are you planning to do with it?"
Kang Cheol-su crossed his arms, prompting me to explain.
I grinned and replied.
"I'll use this potion like this. First......"
This was bait.
Bait to make him spit out evidence himself.
Bait that would line my pockets with a fortune.
The sweetest bait imaginable.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After briefing Kang Cheol-su on the plan, I hurried toward the Fallen Worshipper's location.
Current time: 9:45 a.m.
He wasn't as diligent as Kang Cheol-su, who arrived early to class, but as an instructor, he'd head out before lessons began.
I practically ran there.
Soon enough, I arrived at his instructor's office.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?"
His voice came immediately after I knocked.
Luckily, he was still there.
"Hello, Instructor. I'm Lee Yoo-jin from Class 1-A. I have something urgent to discuss. May I come in?"
"...A first-year? Why would a first-year come to me...? Fine, come in."
The moment he said to enter, I flung the door open and stepped inside.
There he was, packing items that looked like lesson materials.
'...If I'd been even a minute later, I'd have missed him.'
I let out a silent sigh of relief and approached him.
The Fallen Worshipper, stuffing class prep into his bag, looked up at me.
"What business does a first-year, barely enrolled a few days ago, have with me?"
I bowed deeply and said,
"I'm truly sorry for barging in like this. But everyone said you're the only one to consult about alchemy, so I took the liberty despite the rudeness......"
"Cut the nonsense and get to the point. Why are you here?"
He pointed to the watch on his wrist, adding that he needed to head to class soon, so make it quick.
I gave an awkward smile and placed the pink potion—the same one I'd shown Kang Cheol-su—on his desk.
His face twisted in anger as he glared at me.
"What the hell is this? You come to me right before class just to show me some cheap potion... me...... Wait."
But then his voice trailed off.
"This... what kind of potion is it? Never seen that color before."
Even as a Fallen Worshipper, he was still an alchemy instructor, so he took an interest in the potion.
Seizing the moment, I put on my most servile, pitiful expression and said,
"The potion you're looking at is a recovery potion."
"This is a recovery potion? How? Normal recovery potions are..."
"Yes, as you know, Instructor, recovery potions are red. But the one I brought you is..."
"...pink."
He picked it up and peered closely.
He shook it, uncorked it to sniff.
"Hm? It smells sweet?"
At the unfamiliar scent—different from standard recovery potions—he channeled mana into his hand.
Still human, his mana was the same blue as any superhuman's.
But... look closely, and faint traces of the black corruption like the Fallen's flickered within the blue.
...Slight, but proof he'd fallen.
His mana scanned the potion thoroughly.
Using his alchemy talent to analyze its effects.
Moments later, he spoke in genuine wonder.
"This... is indeed a recovery potion. Same effects."
But then he added,
"The recovery effect is identical, but it's lost the typical drawbacks of potions."
His gaze shifted from the potion to me.
"How did you do it?"
His serpentine eyes gleamed with greed.
"What ingredient did you add to replace that foul potion stench with this sweetness..."
Mid-sentence, he pulled a pipette from his bag.
Sucked up a bit of the potion and dumped it straight into his mouth.
Gulp.
The sound of it sliding down his throat.
Then he continued.
"...From that dizzying bitterness to this sweetness."
Admiration laced his voice.
Thud.
He carefully set the potion down and recorked it.
Then he strode over, gripped my shoulders hard.
"Sell it to me. No, sell me the intellectual property rights to this potion. From what my alchemy talent shows, you have no talent for it yourself. Right?"
...Right on plan.
I barely suppressed a laugh at his excitement.
Yes, as he said, I had no alchemy talent.
So why hadn't I used my A-grade talent selection voucher?
For moments like this.
Fallen Worshippers envy students with better talents than theirs.
That envy drove him to worship the Fallen.
If I'd come with an alchemy talent better than his, he wouldn't buy it—he'd suspect me amid his jealousy.
A kid desperate for alchemy advice, yet better talented than me?
Here to mock me? Or does he know something about me?
But coming talentless with the potion?
He feels superior, offers to buy it—just like now.
This was step one to making a fortune.
And to drawing out his confession.
"Yes... you're right. I have no alchemy talent......"
As I slumped in defeat at admitting it, he patted my shoulder sympathetically.
"What a shame. Such a pity. You luckily made a potion for the ages, but without talent, you can't replicate it."
So, he added, pulling paper from his desk drawer and scribbling with a pen.
Moments later, he set the pen down and handed me the paper.
An IP transfer contract.
"Sell me the IP rights to this potion. I'll pay handsomely."
I checked the contract.
Simple terms.
I permanently transfer all IP rights to the potion I possess.
In exchange, he pays me 300 million won.
'...300 million? This bastard kidding me?'
I'd planned to play along since he was doomed anyway.
But this was insulting.
Honestly, my pink recovery potion.
Register the copyright at an alchemy workshop, and it'd sustain me for life—immense value.
This world's recovery potions (including antidotes) were brutally bitter.
That's why I'd refused Kang Cheol-su's offer back at the training grounds.
Better to hurt than drink that.
A non-bitter, sweet recovery potion?
Revolutionary for alchemy.
And he wants it for a measly 300 million?
No way.
I shoved the paper back and said,
"300 million is too low. 2 billion."
"...2 billion? You joking?"
The joke's on you.
"No joke. I may lack alchemy talent, but I know this potion's worth. A sweet recovery potion? Copyright it at a workshop, and I'm set for life."
"You know one thing, not two. To register copyright at a workshop, you need alchemy talent. So when I'm offering to buy, just sell."
"...Then at least raise the price. 300 million's too little."
"...Fine. How about 500 million?"
"Still low. 1 billion."
"600 million."
"1 billion."
"...700 million."
"1 billion."
"......"
Ah, 1 billion.
I won't sell unless it's 1 billion!
Recognizing my resolve, he sighed deeply and nodded.
"...Fine, 1 billion it is."
He erased the 300 million and wrote 1 billion.
"...Happy now?"
I nodded, took the paper.
Scribbled my name on it.
"There, the IP rights are mine now. So tell me. What ingredients went into it?"
"Money first."
"...You came here just for this, didn't you?"
He scowled, fiddled with his smartwatch.
My smartwatch chimed with a message.
[Choo Ha-moon has transferred '1,000,000,000 won' to Lee Yoo-jin's account.] Perfect, payment confirmed.
Now for the final phase.
"Confirmed?"
"Yes, payment received. Thank you so much."
"...Then spit it out. What ingredients?"
"Well......"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Kukuku, what an idiot. Selling the IP to this potion for a mere 1 billion."
Lee Yoo-jin, was it?
As that brat said, this potion's value was immense.
If it were him, he wouldn't sell for 1 billion— not even 100 billion.
The brat's creation was revolutionary for alchemy.
"And the ingredient was this...? Unbelievable."
Choo Ha-moon eyed the item the brat had left behind.
It was strawberry juice.
100% pure strawberry juice.
"Spilled a drink while brewing and it turned out like this? No talent, but damn good luck."
But now that luck was his, so the brat was out of luck?
"Hahaha!"
Choo Ha-moon burst into laughter, drunk on superiority.
Suddenly, he stopped, pulled something from the safe under his desk, and set it on the table.
He bowed his head to it and began praying.
"...My master."
It was a medal.
"...I have acquired vast wealth to offer my master."
A black sun with a red pentagram.
"...Thus, grant me the power of greed."
It was... the symbol of corruption.
Woooong.
As Choo Ha-moon prayed, the traitor's proof—the symbol of corruption—glowed crimson-black.
And began seeping into him.
At that moment.
Kwaaaang—!
The office door exploded inward as someone burst in.
"Wh-who...... H-heuk! K-Kang Cheol-su—!"
It was none other than Kang Cheol-su.
"Oh, sorry. Meant to open the door, but I was in too much of a rush, so I smashed it."
Choo Ha-moon collapsed at the sight of Kang Cheol-su cracking his neck and knuckles.
Understand, right? The overwhelming killing intent pouring from him made standing impossible.
"H-how did you find this place......"
Choo Ha-moon barely stammered through chattering teeth.
Kang Cheol-su smirked.
"Unlike you, I have an excellent student."
As he spoke, another figure entered through the shattered door.
"Y-you......!"
Lee Yoo-jin.
The brat who'd sold him the potion IP.
"Aigoo, Instructor, why not just open the door? Won't you get chewed out later?"
Lee Yoo-jin quipped cheekily at Kang Cheol-su, then bent to pick something up.
A smartwatch.
The one he'd been wearing until he left.
When did he leave it behind...?
"Academy-made, huh? This watch is sturdy."
As Lee Yoo-jin spoke to the watch, the same voice emanated from Kang Cheol-su's.
...So that's how they knew.
Choo Ha-moon stared blankly at Lee Yoo-jin and Kang Cheol-su.
Kang Cheol-su grinned back.
But only for a moment.
Kugugugu......!
Space warped under his aura.
"Then I'll step out. Let me know when you're done."
"Yeah, I won't kill him, like you said."
With that, Lee Yoo-jin left.
And Kang Cheol-su...
"First... let's start by ripping off those limbs."
Twisted his face into a demonic snarl and approached Choo Ha-moon.