Chapter 288
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 288.
After gathering the necessary ingredients for the elixir, Yoo Baek-jun immediately began the combination process.
It wasn’t particularly difficult.
“Hmm, if I mix this with that… and add a bit of magic power here……”
—What? What are you doing?
—Aww?
The fairy and Seol-yeong, who were watching from the side, showed interest in Yoo Baek-jun’s actions.
Seeing their eager expressions, he decided to let them help.
—Magic power? Add magic power? Hmm…….
—Oooh…….
Assisting Yoo Baek-jun, they crushed, ground, and mixed the ingredients before finally infusing pure essence with magic power.
Seol-yeong and the fairy stared intently at the process and then released their own magic power as well.
—Ooooh!
Then, something miraculous happened.
The pure essence began to mix with green and blue magic power, along with Yoo Baek-jun’s own.
As they wildly combined, a mystical color emerged.
—Wowww…….
—Whoaaa…….
Seol-yeong raised its front paws, and the fairy lifted both hands in admiration.
Yoo Baek-jun proceeded to the next step.
The pure essence began to blend with the pre-prepared elixir ingredients.
And shortly after—
—Fwoosh!
—Kyyaaah!
The essence flashed brightly, emitting light.
When the light faded, the pure essence had transformed into a liquid.
Yoo Baek-jun carefully collected the liquid and filled a bottle to the brim.
[Condensed Magic Power (S+)]
A product of pure essence absorbing various rare elixirs and assimilating the magic power of the World Tree and spiritual being.
Though it holds immense power, irreversible harm may befall those who consume it without being able to withstand its effects.
An S+-grade elixir had been created.
Yoo Baek-jun swirled the mysterious liquid inside the bottle.
Seol-yeong and the fairy watched the liquid’s movement with fascinated eyes.
—Me too! I wanna drink it too!
—Myaaah!
He considered ignoring them, but since they had helped, he couldn’t.
‘There’s still some left anyway.’
Yoo Baek-jun handed the remaining liquid in the bottle to Seol-yeong and the fairy.
Though there was a warning that irreversible harm could come to those unable to withstand it.
—Wahooo!
—Wahooo! The taste is amazing!
“…….”
There was no way the fairy of the World Tree and a spiritual beast couldn’t handle an elixir.
The two giggled as they shared the remaining liquid amicably.
Yoo Baek-jun shook his head and sat cross-legged.
“Well, let’s try it.”
Yoo Baek-jun consumed the elixir.
A refreshing sensation, as if standing in the middle of a breezy hill.
At the same time, a chilling coldness spread through his chest.
‘Strange taste.’
The fairy’s words were spot-on.
It was truly indescribable—refreshing, tingling, and as if inhaling nature itself…….
And an enormous amount of magic power raged like a furious wave.
“…….”
Yoo Baek-jun focused his mind, unleashing the Heavenly Destruction Mind Technique for the first time in a while.
He needed to control the energy of the elixir flowing through his body.
“Haaah, hooooo…….”
This wasn’t his first time controlling elixir energy, and unlike before, Yoo Baek-jun’s power had grown significantly.
Thanks to that, suppressing the rampaging energy wasn’t too difficult.
He subdued the wild energy and gradually made it his own.
—Whooosh!
Then, a pure white energy burst out from Yoo Baek-jun like mist.
A refreshing yet chilling magic power filled the room.
Yoo Baek-jun opened his status window.
[Yoo Baek-jun]
[Stats]
Strength: S [S+] (91/100)
Agility: S (89/100)
Stamina: S [S+] (90/100)
Magic Power: S (99/100)
His stats had risen across the board.
True to an S+-grade elixir, the increase was substantial. Stats that had been stagnating now approached S+ in one go.
“Tch, just one short.”
Yoo Baek-jun sighed.
Having consumed an S+-grade elixir, no other elixirs would have any effect on him for a while.
‘Can’t be helped.’
For now, he’d have to rely on training magic circles to accumulate magic power.
Yoo Baek-jun stood up.
—What? Where are you going?
“You’re heavy, you two.”
Seol-yeong and the fairy hastily climbed onto Yoo Baek-jun’s head.
He lowered them onto his shoulders.
“To meet someone who can make an airship… No, to meet other races.”
—Hmm?
He needed to meet the gnomes.
* * *
A few hours later, Yoo Baek-jun met a group of gnomes who had arrived at the floating island.
Surprisingly small in stature, their faces brimming with mischief.
The gnomes looked up at Yoo Baek-jun with sparkling eyes.
“Are you the esteemed Patriarch Yoo Baek-jun?”
“Yes, and you are……?”
“I’m Kal McGwire. Just call me Kal.”
The gnome at the front, Kal, grinned.
He was a gnome with a peculiar impression.
How should one describe it? He carried a noble-like dignity, yet there was also a strange frivolity about him.
“Bigtums recommended you. Said you have expertise in Halpeon’s mechanical and magical engineering.”
“Hehe, I’d like to feign modesty, but it’s true.”
“Hmm.”
Kal thumped his chest.
The gnomes behind him also looked brimming with confidence.
“I need someone who’s not just skilled but also tight-lipped. Can you do that?”
“Hehe, just pay us. We’re tight-lipped. Of course, that’s assuming you pay us a lot.”
Kal curled his fingers into a circle. A blatantly honest gnome.
‘Let’s see…….’
Yoo Baek-jun used the Observer’s Eye for the first time in a while to check the gnome’s traits.
Three traits stood out.
Researcher (A+), Greed (A+), and lastly, Divine Oath (A).
‘An odd fellow.’
Interpreting this combination:
He has strong material desires, but they’re for the sake of his research.
And if those desires are fulfilled, he also possesses the virtue of keeping his divine oath.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, just thinking about something.”
Yoo Baek-jun fell into thought.
‘Well, this much is acceptable…….’
He could trust them to some extent.
At the very least, they’d keep their oath if paid. The other gnomes also seemed trustworthy.
“Do you have any personal research projects?”
“Yes. Did Bigtums mention it? Our company is developing something. But, well……”
Kal scratched the back of his head.
“It’s expensive, and finding investors is tough.”
“So you’re taking outside jobs?”
“Exactly.”
Yoo Baek-jun nodded.
As always, if money could solve it, that was ideal. And money was something he had in abundance.
“One condition. Don’t disclose anything you see inside. We’ll sign a separate contract for this.”
“Not a normal contract, I assume.”
“Yes, a magical contract.”
Halpeon’s contract method, which inflicts severe penalties on violators.
Though rarely used due to potential harm to both parties, nothing was more binding.
“As long as you pay.”
Kal nodded without hesitation. Yoo Baek-jun quoted a price and even added more.
“Oh-ho! You’re offering this much? Normally, I’d pretend to decline, but I’ll gratefully accept!”
“Wow!”
The amount was substantial, so Kal and the gnomes cheered, raising their hands.
Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they looked at Yoo Baek-jun.
‘Money is the best.’
Yoo Baek-jun felt it once again.
* * *
The gnomes requested two days to prepare.
In the meantime, Yoo Baek-jun gathered all the materials needed for the airship’s construction.
“How much did you spend on this?”
“…You’d be shocked to hear.”
“That’s why I want to know. Instructor Han Seong-ah, tell me how much was spent.”
Han Seong-ah answered with a strange expression.
“Excluding the magic stones procured from the family’s reserves, it’s in the thousands……”
“No, that’s enough.”
Yoo Baek-jun sighed.
Compared to the cost of buying an actual airplane, it wasn’t bad.
But if the magic stones were converted into monetary value…….
“Ugh, it’s staggering.”
The cost would skyrocket unreasonably.
Magic stones were generally the most expensive material.
It was fortunate that the floating island provided an abundance of them.
“How many can we make with this amount?”
“I’m not sure… but if the amount you mentioned is correct, we can make over ten.”
“Then that’s fine.”
A more reasonable price than expected.
And if his memory serves, there might be ways to further reduce costs.
‘I’ll have to make use of black iron.’
Yoo Baek-jun sat in a chair at the airship manufacturing facility, waiting for the gnomes.
Before long, Kal and the gnomes arrived, carrying loads of equipment.
“The floating island! A place of wonder! I love it. The researcher’s soul within me burns fiercely……”
“Glad you like it. That building over there is your lodging, so make yourselves comfortable.”
“Lodging? No, we’re fine. We’ll be staying in this facility anyway.”
“Oh, really?”
Their enthusiasm was impressive.
Kal told Yoo Baek-jun to speak casually since he was their employer.
With no reason to refuse, Yoo Baek-jun treated them comfortably from then on.
“Now, let’s see. Oh-ho!”
“If we do it like this… Hmm.”
The gnomes scurried around the facility before regrouping.
“The technology used here is far beyond what Halpeon can achieve now. Wow, I’m amazed just looking at it. Feels like my blocked mind has been cleared.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Fortunately, the facility’s operation itself is simple. Is this ancient technology?”
Yoo Baek-jun nodded.
“It seems the people of that era made it as user-friendly as possible. If you’d like, we can start right away.”
“Good. Let’s begin, then.”
“Let’s!”
Kal and the gnomes hummed as they moved materials around.
The facility had several warehouse-like spaces where they stored the materials separately.
“Hmm, and……”
The airship manufacturing facility had multiple slots for magic stones.
Kal arranged the magic stones.
“It’ll consume quite a few magic stones. This facility runs on magic power instead of electricity. It’ll guzzle it like water, but I’m sure……”
Kal glanced at Yoo Baek-jun’s face and chuckled.
“You’ll handle it just fine.”
Kal had heard about the floating island and knew its reputation.
A mystical island that endlessly yields magic stones and rare ores.
And home to the Sword Saint’s family.
“Alright, let’s begin!”
With a hint of envy for such wealth, Kal and the gnomes gathered.
They pulled levers and pressed buttons, and soon, the entire airship manufacturing facility lit up.
“Family head, the magic power……”
“Hmm.”
As the magic stones activated, an overwhelming surge of magic power filled the area.
Then, the floor opened, revealing something peculiar.
“What, that’s……”
Machines shaped like humans.
They moved methodically and began constructing the airship.
Moreover, mechanical arms emerged from the ceiling and walls to assist them.
‘Feels like a smart factory.’
Android-like machines worked in perfect harmony.
The speed was impressive—it seemed the finished product would arrive sooner than expected.
“Not bad.”
Yoo Baek-jun watched as the machines assembled the airship.
He couldn’t wait to see the final result.