Chapter 11
Translator: uly
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Kim Ara (2)
“I want to buy this as soon as possible.”
I muttered to myself while staring intensely at the monitor screen in my room.
Aqua Rose.
It was a rare flower that looked like a blue rose crafted from crystal; touching its petals felt exactly like dipping your fingers into cool water. Despite its beauty, it currently didn't sell for much on the open market.
The reason? Its notoriously foul, pungent stench.
However, I knew this herb's value would skyrocket during the mid-to-late game stages. Its price would jump at least tenfold—no, over a thousand times its current value.
And there was only one reason for that sudden spike.
It was the essential key ingredient for crafting B-rank spirit elixirs, a discovery that hadn't been made public yet.
I set the delivery address to my penthouse, confirmed the purchase, and changed into my lightweight workout clothes.
As I dressed, I began to map out more ways to generate capital.
‘First, I’ll mass-produce those elixirs and rake in the profit.’
Selling elixirs made from the Aqua Rose was the obvious choice. Alternatively, I could sell the recipes for items that hadn't been discovered by the mainstream yet. That wouldn't be a bad secondary income stream either.
‘Come to think of it, there was an official alchemy guild site.’
I sat back down at the computer, my fingers flying across the keys.
I booted the system and navigated to a specific, high-security URL.
A site boldly labeled [Alchemy Guild] popped up on the screen.
I entered the resident registration number and name from my student ID to create an account, then paused to pick a nickname. I pondered for a moment, scribbled something random in my notes, then pondered some more.
Which recipe should I use as my "calling card"?
I needed one with a decent enough impact to gain high-level access. I debated between a Vitality Potion and a Mana Recovery Potion, eventually deciding to input the high-efficiency Vitality Potion recipe.
“Please wait a moment while the system analyzes the data,” the screen read, followed shortly by: “Registration complete.”
‘What a bunch of total idiots.’
Normally, professional guilds weren't this easy to join.
But alchemists in this world were the eccentric type—they preferred to hole up in their labs for days on end, pulling all-nighters on fringe experiments. They were notoriously difficult to gather or organize into physical groups.
Because they needed a collective power to protect their trade interests, they had made the online joining process incredibly simple to encourage participation.
And even more surprisingly, the entire site was run by an advanced AI. You were automatically ranked based on the analyzed theoretical effects of your submitted recipes.
[Analysis complete. You have received a Diamond-tier contributor badge.]
‘Diamond, huh.’
I pulled a subtle face. In the game’s logic, this recipe would have usually earned a Platinum rank, or maybe Gold if the RNG was feeling stingy.
‘Is the ranking easier because this is reality?’
I needed to investigate further. I browsed the restricted recipes available to Diamond-rank members and reached a startling conclusion.
‘......The current state of alchemy is way more lacking than I thought?’
No wonder the AI handed out Diamond status so easily; my basic recipe was a revolutionary breakthrough to them. I posted a few more standard recipes on the community board just to solidify my standing.
Generously seeding a few high-tier formulas like this would make it significantly easier for me to request rare herbs and materials later on.
‘And with this rank, it’s finally time to buy a proper kit.’
One of the primary perks of the Alchemy Guild was the ability to buy high-quality kits at a massive discount based on your rank. I immediately snagged a Gold-rank alchemy kit, legendary among players for its incredible value-to-performance ratio.
Beep.
The apartment's notification system chimed. I had spent too long at the computer; it was time to head out for my scheduled training session.
A wave of pure annoyance hit me. I had forgotten how much I hated the "physical" part of being a hero.
I sighed deeply and headed down to the academy’s central training grounds.
While the penthouse had its own private dojo, the main training grounds offered the best specialized facilities and equipment.
‘Plus, I have to build those "natural" connections with the cast.’
I needed to teach Kim Ara how to properly stabilize her immense power. For Seo Ga-yeon, I had to awaken her dormant magic and show her how to actually wield it. Hong Yu-hwa just needed a few pointed bits of tactical advice to break her plateau.
Erhil Merhen didn't really need anything from me. Unlike the sword spirit by my side who was still regaining her strength, a true, fully-powered transcendent being was already glued to Erhil, teaching her the secrets of the universe.
Kim Seo-hyun was in a similar boat. Between his thousand-year vein blockage and the world's top archmage acting as his mentor, just digesting what he was currently learning was already an overwhelming task for him.
As these strategic thoughts swirled in my head, I reached the training grounds. Dozens of students were already there, the air thick with the sound of clashing metal and heavy breathing.
“Huff... look, it’s the top student.”
“That guy is actually here for physical training? Hah, I guess he figures he’d be decent in a close combat brawl, at least.”
“Shut up and keep lifting, dumbass. Word around the dorms is that he beat Park Un-hyuk while having his mana and talents completely sealed.”
“Bullshit. No one is that strong naturally.”
I flinched slightly when Park Un-hyuk's name came up. I did feel a genuine pang of guilt for the guy. I had used my Reverse Heaven energy while his own mana was completely suppressed; it hadn't exactly been a "fair" fight by his standards.
“Look at his posture. His steps are so unnervingly steady.”
“Has he already mastered perfect body control? The world is so unfair. I grew up being told I was a once-in-a-century genius.”
“Who here didn't grow up being called a genius? They scrape the top 1% from every school worldwide, cram a thousand of us in here, and only a hundred actually graduate. This academy is insane.”
The constant attention was becoming annoying. Students mid-workout were actually stopping their routines just to gawk at me.
“Oh! Are you out for a workout too? Do you want some help with the equipment?”
Kim Seo-hyun suddenly appeared by my side, sporting his usual, blindingly friendly grin.
“Yeah, lend a hand. This is technically my first time in a gym like this, so I have no clue where to start.”
“Alright then! Let’s start with a light physical check-up to see where your baselines are.”
He reached over and grabbed a dumbbell from the rack. It looked off—crafted from shiny, dense black iron with "50kg" etched into the side.
“You seriously want me to lift this for a 'light' check-up?”
“......Can't you handle it?”
I stared at him. I am not a genetically-modified gorilla like you, man.
Regardless of my internal protests, Kim Seo-hyun proceeded to give me what felt like a grueling, high-intensity personal training session.
“One more! Just one more rep, Seo-ha!”
“Nngh... shut up...”
“Good! Keep that core tight! Don't arch your back. Lift your hips more. Yeah, just like that!”
“A-Are we done yet?”
“Done? That was only your fifth set.”
Personal PT my ass. The guy was a devil in a tracksuit.
After the workout finally ended.
My body felt like it had been turned into jelly. I had zero strength left in my limbs. I wobbled unsteadily on my way back toward the dorms, just wanting to collapse.
Suddenly, a familiar silhouette caught my eye. Near one of the garden paths, three girls were surrounding another student.
‘Is that bullying?’
I started to walk past them to find an instructor and report it, but then I stopped dead in my tracks. The girl being cornered in the middle was someone I knew very well.
Seo Ga-yeon.
She was trembling like a cornered hamster, her eyes downcast.
Ah, I recognized those other girls now. They were the minor antagonists who spent the early chapters subtly bullying Seo Ga-yeon to feel better about their own mediocre ranks.
I gripped the hilt of the Black Heaven Demon Sword.
I whispered quietly so only the spirit could hear me.
“Can you activate a low-output Tyrant Aura? Target everyone except the girl in the middle.”
- “Of course, Master. With pleasure.”
With the sword spirit’s confirmation, I narrowed my eyes and approached the group.
“Seo Ga-yeon? What exactly are you doing here?”
“Uh... uh?”
“Hey, butt out! Who do you think... wait, are you Lee Seo-ha?”
“Yeah. I’m Lee Seo-ha.”
One of the girls—I was too lazy to even think of them as women—blustered at first, but the moment I confirmed my identity, the others turned pale instantly.
“W-Wait... do you actually know Lee Seo-ha?” one of them whispered to Ga-yeon, her voice trembling.
I gave a cold nod toward the second girl.
“Do you have anything else you’d like to say to her? Or to me?”
“N-No! Nothing at all! We were j-just telling her that we should all try to l-let's get along!”
The third girl stammered, her eyes darting around for an exit. I hadn't even triggered the Tyrant Aura yet; my reputation was apparently doing the work for me.
Seo Ga-yeon glanced sideways at the boy walking beside her.
Lee Seo-ha was walking with a much sharper edge than usual. He seemed moodier, his presence more imposing than it had been in the classroom.
She hesitated for a long time, then finally found her voice.
“Um... th-thanks for that.”
“Huh? Oh, you mean that thing with those girls?”
She nodded quickly at his words.
“B-But why... why did you h-help me?”
“......Does helping someone actually need a profound reason?”
“......”
I swallowed the rehearsed line about helping a talented kid now to score some massive favors later. It sounded incredibly lame even to my own ears. I eyed her briefly. She seemed vulnerable enough to buy into my guidance with just a little more pressure.
“About that thing you s-said back then,” she started.
“Which thing?”
“When we were picking our majors... y-you told me that magic s-suits me better than the sword.”
“Oh, that? Yeah, I remember.”
“W-Was that... was that for real? Do you really believe that?”
I looked her straight in the eyes. She looked back, her gaze filled with a desperate, flickering hope.
She had barely scraped into this academy based on luck, and life here was proving to be brutal. It was a world of endless, cutthroat competition. If you fall behind, you get expelled without an ounce of mercy. And back home, her entire family showered her with impossible expectations.
Her parents, despite their own financial struggles, told her to speak up if things got tough. Her big sister was so proud of her. Her little siblings looked up to their "hero sis." It was all a massive, crushing burden.
“Yeah. I guess I was just being a bit nosy,” I said bluntly.
“Nosy?”
“Yep. I can see you have an incredible talent, but you have no clue how to actually awaken it. It’s just sitting there, rotting away.”
I stopped walking and faced her.
“In my eyes, your potential is at least on Erhil Merhen’s level.”
“E-Erhil?”
Her eyes widened to the size of saucers. Erhil was the prodigy who had placed third in the entire entrance exam. She was England’s star, a master of complex illusion magic. Comparing Ga-yeon to that seemed absurd. But somehow, his words rang true in her heart.
His voice carried a strange, undeniable weight.
Maybe, she realized, she just desperately needed someone strong to lean on.
“Yeah. So, hit me up if you ever need help with your training. I’ll do what I can.”
I smoothly extended my hand. Dazedly, she reached into her pocket and handed over her phone. I punched in my number quickly, flashed her a satisfied smile, and turned to head toward my dorm.
“Text me later.”
[Seo Ga-yeon has marked you as a person of interest in her memories. 1,000P has been acquired.]
It was all going exactly as expected.
Building strong bonds with the main characters was the most efficient way to survive this world.
After grabbing the easy points, I returned to the penthouse, stretched out my aching muscles, and began training exactly as the Black Heaven Demon Sword spirit instructed.
“Huff... huff...”
“You're adapting remarkably fast, Master. But your breathing pattern is still off. Every time you step out, use the 'hoo-haa' rhythm. Your energy flow will feel much smoother.”
I was up at the crack of dawn the next day for more exercise.
“Mage and support classes: you have basic stamina training today! Warrior students: you’re straight into sparring!” the instructors shouted.
First period in the morning was a literal stamina hell. After grinding through the routine like my life depended on it, I felt a surge of vitality—my Stamina stat had actually increased by one.
Finally, the specific class I had been waiting for arrived.
“Hello, class. I am Professor Song Ra-hee, and I am here to teach you the advanced theory of magic disruption.”
She was dressed in flowing blue robes, with dark hair reaching all the way down to her waist. She screamed "powerful mage" with every fiber of her being.
“As future heroes, you will sometimes be forced to sync your powers with mages, or more often, face them as enemies. I am here to teach you exactly what kind of magic is out there so you aren't caught off guard.”
Professor Song Ra-hee scanned the faces of the class, her gaze eventually landing on me. She pointed a finger.
“Lee Seo-ha, correct?”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Would you mind assisting me with a quick demonstration? I’ve heard through the grapevine that the top student of this batch has magic resistance that is supposed to be top-notch.”
I knew those rumors were complete bullshit, but I didn't correct her.
Whatever the case, I knew that depending on the player's future choices, Professor Song Ra-hee could either remain a staunch ally or join the side of the Demons.
‘Dealing with someone like her is actually easy for me.’
It wasn't that she was weak; she was a terrifying mage-killer in close quarters and possessed insane firepower that could wipe out dozens of students in a single blast. She was just a perfect match-up for me.
“Lee Seo-ha. Do you wish to attack or defend for the demo?”
“I’ll choose to defend against your magic, Professor.”
“Good. Now, get yourself ready to try and disrupt it.”
“I'm already ready.”
“......”
I stood on the podium, my hands in my pockets, doing absolutely nothing visible. But with the Reverse Heaven Body, simply channeling my internal Reverse Heaven energy was all the preparation I needed against any spell.
Professor Song Ra-hee seemed visibly annoyed at what she perceived as my arrogance. Her face soured for a brief second before she regained her professional calm.
“Fine. I’ll trust that you know what you're doing. Here is my magic.”
A swirling purple orb of light began to glow in her palm. This was the magic of the Demon Slayer Witch—it possessed peak anti-magic properties.
“This is a relatively simple curse magic. However, my mana trait is specifically anti-magic, which makes it nearly impossible for a standard shield to block.”
She eyed me slyly, her gaze asking: can you really handle this? I simply nodded.
She hurled the orb directly at my chest.
Fsssh...
“Huh?”
The terrifying spell simply vanished into thin air the moment it made contact with my body.