Out of the Lair (1)
I held the ★ close to my upper body.
With a flicker of hope that maybe I could absorb it too.
Conditions not met.
"……!"
A message floated before my eyes.
Disappointment mixed with excitement welled up inside me.
'Even if I can't use it now, it means I can if I meet the conditions.'
I had a pretty good guess what those conditions were.
'Probably Lv100.'
All the guardians over Lv100 had a ★.
In other words.
If I reached my potential, I could absorb one too.
'How many ☆ do I have?'
Curiosity bubbled up.
Since I'd awakened to ☆, I could hope for a few, right?
'Time to train.'
I stepped into the Arcane Chamber.
I dove into training with more passion than usual.
I fully immersed myself in the magic I'd been taking slow before.
I mastered all the postponed 5th-circle spells.
Then I started on 6th-circle ones.
"Frost Nova."
Kwa-gaga-gaga-gaga!
A 6th-circle ice spell.
My vision filled with blinding white ice.
"Phew."
Seeing that sight, I could feel my rapid growth skin-deep.
'Still a long way to go.'
But the potential was there.
I'd just cast the spell with a chantless activation word alone.
All thanks to it.
And what that implied was huge.
'A chantless mage.'
It meant I could wield combat power stronger than a typical mage.
'Let's go.'
To gain the strength to protect everyone.
I renewed my resolve deep in my heart.
Training continued for a good while after that.
'That's enough for today.'
Next up.
'Time to level up.'
The need to raise my level felt more urgent than ever.
Seeing those spiders that came to our lair, I couldn't afford to slack off—they might beat us to the punch.
So I had to hit Lv70 ASAP and head out of the lair.
"Guys! Time for elixirs!"
"Popo!"
"Chuuu!"
As I called out from the Arcane Chamber, Popo and Chuchu came running first.
They must've been starving.
"Popo!"
"Chuchu!"
The little ones led me to the Mandragora field.
'Huh?'
And there.
@Geueo-eoeoeoeo!!
Mandrian was stretching its arms wide, letting out a cry.
"Mandrian!"
I lit up and hurried over.
Mandrian's appearance had changed dramatically.
Its body was 1.5 times bigger.
Roots, stems, leaves, petals—all thicker and larger.
And the changes weren't just physical.
Lv125, with two empty stars.
'Whoa...'
My eyes sparkled.
'Stars can be empty too.'
Maybe filling even one would make it a full sentient being?
@Geueo-eoeo!
Mandrian knelt before me in greeting.
It felt smarter than before.
'Amazing.'
It started as just a plain Mandragora.
Now it had grown to this level, with real potential.
'The Forest Essence is more potent than I thought.'
I chuckled and patted its trunk.
"Good job growing, buddy."
@Geueo-eoeo-!
Mandrian peeked up its head and cried out happily.
Aw, you like that? Me too.
Then the feast began.
Crunch!
Savoring the Mandragora roast's flavor, I smiled.
This got better every bite.
"Uwaam! These Seondo are delicious!"
Azkai was sucking the seeds clean, loving the peaches.
『Want Han-bing-gwa!』
Dania, after a few Shine Muscats, pouted and fussed over sides.
"No way. Finish this first, then."
『Kkyu...』
Dania wilted at my words.
But she listened well.
After one pout, she munched what I gave obediently.
Dania's levels had stalled lately.
Too hooked on Han-bing-gwa.
But from now on, it'd change.
I'd resolved to level her up fast too.
Right on cue, the system message popped up!
Now at Lv55.
'Perfect.'
My eyes gleamed.
I had a strong hunch I could access the fourth passage now.
I jumped up.
And headed straight for it.
Swoosh!
A thin membrane gave way, and my body slipped through.
Then I saw it.
"Oh..."
Mountains of colorful magic stones piled high.
"Chu!"
Chuchu poked its head out of the lair.
『Great... being's... child... good... morning... to you...』
"Chuchu!"
Chuchu greeted the Elatria back, then hurried out of Elatrium.
"Awoooo!"
Kan spotted Chuchu and let out a long howl.
"Awoooo!"
"Woo woo woo!"
Shadow wolves howled in unison after Kan.
Gratitude and respect filled their cries.
"Chuchu!"
Chuchu paused, saluted them.
"Awoooo!"
"Woo woo!"
With their replies echoing, Chuchu dashed outward.
'Chu!'
Today's destination.
The northern zone with the Luminous Canyon.
'Chuchu!'
Chuchu thought to itself.
Master's top priority right now.
Finding another dragon's lair outside.
So if Chuchu scouted traces ahead?
"Chu!"
It could leapfrog Archeron as the most trusted guardian.
Chuchu touched its helmet to check the fit.
Bellerin's custom exploration recorder.
Everything it saw and heard outside would be saved here.
Whiiiiiish-!
Confirmed, Chuchu's steps quickened.
Terrain blurred by at insane speed.
Soon, the northern canyon came into view.
But...
'Chu...?'
Chuchu's paws skidded to a halt.
A dangerous scent tickled its nose.
Sour, bitter, filthy.
Twitch, twitch.
Chuchu wrinkled its nose, whipped its head around.
And saw it.
A black wave surging in ranks.
"Chu..."
Chuchu backed away instinctively.
That massive army.
A centipede horde.
And the scene was all recording on Chuchu's explorer.
"Wow! This is insane!"
Bellerin clasped her hands, exclaiming.
A mountain of magic stones before her.
No one could see it without gasping.
"No more magic stone worries from now on!"
I nodded at Bellerin's words.
With this many, shortage would be the real problem.
"There are Supreme stones too."
"Yes! Just checked."
This room wasn't just full of regulars.
Supreme magic stone crystals piled up too.
Mostly low-grade, but plenty of mid and high too.
"We can upgrade Archeron's core with these, right?"
"Of course!"
"Then prep a new one for him when you can."
"Yep!"
I grinned at her reply.
Archeron worked hard.
This'd be a surprise gift.
I left the Mineral Room to Bellerin.
Next for me?
'Level up more.'
Eat some kiwis to settle my stomach, then back to elixirs.
Korea's Lv40-50 superhumans were thriving thanks to insect-repellent sprays.
"Madoje is a god."
"Tell me about it."
"Never thought dungeon runs could feel this light!"
Forest dungeons for Lv40-50 were packed.
Clear rates skyrocketed, boosting growth in that bracket.
The buzz spread worldwide in a day.
At first, everyone thought it was nonsense.
But as Korea's insect spray got spotlighted, overseas folks caught on and freaked out.
Some skeptics popped up.
Title: Got Madoje-brand Insect Monster Repellent Spray
Testing if it really works on giant mantises and spiders.
A famous streamer superhuman went live for the test, diving into a dungeon.
Viewers were skeptical till then.
They met a giant mantis.
"Mantiisss!"
"Let's give it a shot!"
The streamer aimed the spray.
Psst-!
Thwack!
Golden liquid hit the mantis.
It reacted instantly.
"Mantiisss!"
Shaking like struck by lightning, it collapsed.
Weak flails slowed to a stop.
"Oh my god... Guys, this actually works?"
Chat exploded.
Even watching live, it was unbelievable.
Some cried hack, demanded more kills.
Next giant spiders fell just as easy.
Chat went nuclear.
The video spread, flooding Madoje's posts with pleas.
Frustration built.
Then.