Lounge Channel (1)
“Popo!”
The creature hopped once and backed away.
“No, I was just wondering if you could share that healing power you showed earlier with other people.”
“Popo!”
When I added the explanation, Popo bounced in place once more.
Then it shook its head up and down.
“Popo!”
With that cry, a fist-sized lump of jelly mixed with brown and green shot out of its mouth.
“This is…”
I picked up the jelly right away.
A warm energy radiated from it.
Gaia Slime’s Bodily Fluid, Lv ???
“Bodily fluid?”
“Popo!”
I asked the bouncing Popo once more.
“Can this heal other people?”
“Popo-!”
Popo nodded.
Oh.
I only asked just in case, but this is huge, isn’t it?
I immediately connected to the Superhuman Net.
I entered the Exchange and checked whether the item was registered.
‘It works.’
My eyes sparkled.
If I use this well later, I might be able to create something incredible.
What exactly?
An elixir.
Elixir.
A legendary potion recorded only in the upper floors of the Abyss Tower.
Rumors claimed it granted immortality, instantly healed fatal wounds, or even awakened additional traits.
Countless speculations swirled around this mythical elixir.
‘Maybe I really can make one.’
I carefully stored the Gaia Slime’s Bodily Fluid.
Alright. I’ll look into elixir crafting more slowly.
“Popo, take care of the herbs and crops too.”
“Popo-!”
At my words, Popo hopped toward the withered Lunadria and potatoes.
Man.
Our Popo is so reliable.
While Popo worked hard again, I examined the Baekyang Herb it had revived.
Each petal radiated vibrant life.
Whoa!
Didn’t it look fresher than the Baekyang Herbs that hadn’t received Taeumyangjeong?
“Hup.”
I immediately pulled up one of the revived Baekyang Herbs.
Baekyang Herb, Lv99
A great aura has settled upon it.
When consumed, mana amplification rate increases for 45 minutes.
Permanent minor increase to mana amplification rate afterward.
*Life’s buff is active. Permanent minor increase to stamina when consumed.
“Oh!”
An extra permanent stamina boost had been added.
Wow, Popo, you little lucky charm!
I placed the revived Baekyang Herb and Gongcheong Oil into the Chaos Cauldron and combined them.
Activating Chaos Cauldron.
Congratulations. Gongcheong Oil and Baekyang Herb have successfully fused.
Taeumyangjeong, Lv99
Success again.
Under the Elixir Master buff, I had become someone who never failed at elixir synthesis.
“Come here, Popo!”
“Popo!”
Popo, having just revived the potatoes and sweet potatoes, bounced over.
“You worked hard. It’s time to eat.”
I poured Taeumyangjeong into Popo’s mouth.
“Popo-!”
“Popo!”
“Popo-!”
The slime circled around with a ∩_∩ smile, clearly very satisfied once more.
“Oh!”
Its level even rose.
Wow.
The Taeumyangjeong effect is insane.
No wonder Popo loves it so much when it tastes great and raises levels too.
“My turn now.”
I drank the Taeumyangjeong as well.
Gulp, gulp.
A refreshing energy spread through my mouth.
The simultaneous sensation of cold and heat never grew tiresome no matter how much I drank.
‘Kya.’
Just as I marveled at the clean aftertaste, system messages appeared before my eyes.
“Whoa.”
So this is how a man living in a Dragon’s Lair levels up!
I blasted through the 20Lv range in an instant.
The speed was so fast it felt almost unfair.
“It really does feel different when the first digit changes.”
Reaching 20Lv made my body feel incredibly light, as if I could float away.
Superhumans grow stronger in leaps whenever their level’s first digit changes. I could feel exactly what that meant now.
Lounge Channel by Trait Grade has been unlocked.
“Huh!”
I let out a surprised sound.
Right.
This existed.
Upon reaching 20Lv, another communication channel besides the Superhuman Net opens.
A lounge channel assigned according to the grade of the trait first awakened.
Each grade receives a badge.
Gold.
Silver.
Bronze.
Gold badges, called the heavenly tier, are given to those with SSS~S-grade traits.
The fewest people receive this badge.
Next is the middle class, Silver.
Given to those with A~C-grade traits.
Lastly, Bronze.
Given to those with D~F-grade traits.
The badge received by the largest number of people.
There is also an All Lounge Channel accessible to every grade.
‘Then where do I belong?’
My grade is EX-grade.
Don’t tell me there’s a separate EX-grade channel?
I tilted my head and tried to receive my channel assignment.
To enter the Lounge Channel, you must purchase a badge.
Trait Grade: EX
Lounge Grade: Platinum
Platinum Badge Purchase Cost: 1,000,000 Coin
‘……!’
My eyes widened.
One million coins?
That’s ten billion won?
Why is it so expensive?
‘Search Superhuman Net.’
Still stunned, I searched the Superhuman Net.
Gold badge: 100,000 coins.
Silver badge: 10,000 coins.
Bronze badge: 5,000 coins.
Hmm. They’re all expensive.
100,000 coins equal one billion won, 10,000 coins equal one hundred million won, and 5,000 coins equal fifty million won.
‘Search Platinum badge.’
I searched just in case.
The result?
Nothing, of course.
I clicked my tongue and stood up.
“I need to gather more coins.”
Hong Seolhwa had given me 500,000 coins this time.
I still needed another 500,000 to buy the badge.
Honestly, it wouldn’t be difficult.
Just selling a few of the herbs I already have would easily net me a million coins.
“What should I sell this time?”
I pondered while looking at the garden.
“Hmm.”
I soon made a decision.
Alright. Let’s sell Gongcheong Oil this time.
I wonder how much value this Gongcheong Oil will be recognized for.
The moment I decided, I moved quickly.
I opened the Auction and registered a bottle containing 50ml of Gongcheong Oil.
Gongcheong Oil, Lv ??? has been registered in the auction.
The auction duration was set to the shortest time, three hours.
Since I planned to sell it quickly and buy the lounge badge, I didn’t set a long duration.
“Let’s see.”
After a moment of thought, I posted another listing on the Superhuman Net.
This should attract some interest.
Alright!
Auction posted.
Now, what should I eat?
I glanced sideways.
Millennium Stone Mushroom.
Yeah. Let’s try eating that today.
Superhuman Net.
The moment Madoje posted, countless people flocked to his listing.
Why?
Because he was the same person who had caused waves with the special Lunadria, then the special potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Meanwhile, someone began placing bids.
The starting price of 500,000 coins was surpassed in less than an hour, reaching over 1,000,000 coins as if it were nothing.
Madoje’s third elixir.
Gongcheong Oil.
Because all previous items had been extraordinary, competition for this Gongcheong Oil grew increasingly fierce.
『Kkyu-uuung. Hungry. Food-!』
While I was gathering the Millennium Stone Mushroom, Dania woke up.
Oh dear, our little lucky charm.
She asks for food the moment she wakes.
I quickly finished gathering the mushrooms and stood before Dania with the Taeumyangjeong.
“Here, it’s Taeumyangjeong. You liked it last time, right?”
『Kkyuung? Taeumyangjeong. That was tasty.』
I chuckled at Dania’s words.
She somehow remembers everything she’s eaten.
Well, she’s a dragon, so maybe that’s normal?
Her brain is probably much better than a human’s.
Anyway, I poured all the remaining Taeumyangjeong into Dania.
Because her size had grown, the amount she consumed was larger than before.
『Kkyuuu- tasty, tasty!!』
Dania let out a happy cry.
Uuuuung.
At the same time, a golden radiance enveloped her once more.
This was the same effect I had guessed caused level-ups.
It seemed Dania was also leveling up after consuming Taeumyangjeong.
“Whew. She really has grown a lot.”
To grow this much in just one day.
Her size, which had been slightly smaller than my upper body at first, now reached from my feet to my chest.
“At this rate, isn’t it time for her to hatch?”
She had grown larger.
Her pronunciation had also become clearer than before.
No matter how I looked at it, she seemed ready to hatch soon.
『Kkyu-! Right. Dania will hatch soon!』
“Yeah. Soon she’ll hatch… huh? What? Really?”
『Kkyuu. Right! Roasted sweet potato. I’m going to eat that!』
Ooh.
Right. Not just roasted sweet potatoes, but plenty of roasted potatoes too.
『Dania. Hungry. More food.』
“Alright. I’ll make something different this time.”
What I prepared were the Millennium Stone Mushroom and Baekyang Herb.
This time I would mix the two and make a stew.
“Fire.”
Fwoosh!
I lit the firewood.
Then I began boiling water made from Clear Water Grass in the pot I had bought last time.
Bubble bubble.
The Clear Water Grass water slowly began to boil.
I dropped the Millennium Stone Mushroom into it and continued simmering over low heat.
This was the process of drawing out its life force.
Fwaaah-
While boiling the Millennium Stone Mushroom, the smell was deep and calm.
Strangely, it resembled the aroma of boiling beef bones.
I immediately added the Baekyang Herb.
A wave of hot energy rose up.
The cold Millennium Stone Mushroom and hot Baekyang Herb mixed, neutralizing each other’s chill and heat.
‘Oh. It’s actually working.’
This recipe was actually something I had asked the Bangbae-dong Gourmet about.
Following his instructions exactly, the dish was already starting to smell convincing.
‘It really does smell like beef bone broth.’
I swallowed the saliva rising in my mouth and finished simmering.
『Kkyu-uuung! Smells delicious! Want to eat!』
Dania was already making a fuss about wanting to eat.
“Haha. Just wait a moment.”
“Popo!”
Even Popo had come over.
Alright. Then let’s taste it first to see what it’s like.
The moment I scooped a spoonful of the finished stew and put it in my mouth—
“……!”
My eyes flew wide open at the unexpected taste.