Sparks, Spirits, and an Urgent Summons
Upon returning home, I combed thoroughly through my botanical tomes to learn everything I could about Thunderstrike Grass.
What I uncovered brought immediate relief.
"So it won't be that dangerous as long as there aren't any enemies nearby."
As long as the plant didn't perceive those who approached as hostile, there shouldn't be any major problems. Which meant my apartment was in no danger of being blown to pieces. I lived alone, after all. Surely it wouldn't mark its own master as a target?
"More importantly, the lightning sacs..."
True to its name, Thunderstrike Grass unleashed bursts of lightning, storing that volatile electricity within specialized bulbous sacs.
"It's been a while since I raised a vine plant."
Climbing plants demanded trellises. Anticipating this, I had already swung by the local home goods store to pick up a simple gardening support.
"This size should be just right."
Setting up took only moments as I anchored a fifty-centimeter wire trellis into the flowerpot. Looking at the finished structure, with its cage-like support rising neatly from the soil, I pictured how striking it would look once fully grown.
"Little lightning sacs hanging in clusters like cherry tomatoes... That's going to be quite a sight."
The anticipation made my hands move faster as I gently planted the seed.
Thunderstrike Grass. Alongside Spiky, this fellow would surely play a massive role in my future battles. Naturally, such an important addition deserved a fitting name.
"Let's see... Since you're all about electricity, how about Jjiriti?"
Jjiriti (Thunderstrike Grass) has been registered as a cultivated plant.
I was well aware my naming sense was dreadful. But what could I do when names like that were the first to pop into my head?
Besides, Thunderstrike Grass's value extended far beyond mere combat prowess.
All the different potions I can brew with those lightning sacs...
Potions that dampened electrical damage, for instance, or concoctions that imbued one's attacks with the lightning attribute.
If I remember correctly, the quest for the twentieth floor is to slay the Thunderbird.
Floor 20: the infamous checkpoint widely regarded as the first major hurdle in climbing the Tower.
The mission there was to hunt a Thunderbird—a monstrous avian creature five meters across that hurled jagged bolts of lightning down from craggy cliff faces. With potions refined from lightning sacs, bringing that beast down would be entirely within reach.
"I might be able to slash the raid's difficulty in half..."
I had heard that sixty percent of all registered hunters in South Korea were currently stuck, unable to breach that twentieth-floor barrier. Releasing lightning-resistance potions onto the market would give those climbers an invaluable leg up. And naturally, I could name my price.
To make that happen, systematic cultivation was essential. It was time to summon my contracted spirit.
"Spirit Summon."
The crest etched into the back of my hand flared with light, and a system message unfolded in midair as a tiny squirrel materialized.
The Spirit of Vegetation responds to the Contractor's call.
After a fleeting moment of confusion in the unfamiliar space, the little spirit spotted the lush greenery around the room, unable to hide its pure delight.
Ping! Ping!
It darted across the floor, eagerly inspecting every single plant in detail.
"Haha, what do you think? Aren't they lovely?"
Pweee.
Its round, glossy eyes sparkled as it gave an enthusiastic nod. A man acknowledged by the spirits themselves—yep, that was me.
Fortunately, the plants seemed equally fond of their new caretaker. Even Deungburi, the shyest of the bunch, didn't fold its petals inward, instead emitting a calm, welcoming azure radiance.
Looks like getting along won't be an issue at all.
As I watched them bond with a warm smile on my face, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
"Hunter Lee Sehwa?"
We had exchanged numbers when I visited the Management Bureau, but our next scheduled meeting wasn't for a while yet. Why was she calling now?
Curious, I pressed answer.
"Hello?"
"Ah, Jisoo-ssi."
"Yes, Hunter Lee?"
"Do you have time to meet right now? There's something I'd like to discuss in person."
"Right now?"
"Yes... Is that difficult?"
Yesterday had marked the end of my part-time job, my plant companions were well-fed, and I had already wrapped up my tower climbing for the day. There was nothing urgent keeping me home.
"No, I can make it. Where should we meet?"
Hannam-dong, Seoul.
Inside the private cafe of the Awakened Persons Management Bureau.
It was a sanctuary reserved exclusively for Elite Hunters, completely off-limits to outsiders.
"To think I'd end up in a place like this..."
In just a few days, my official status would transfer over to the ranks of the Elite Hunters. I figured I had better get used to perks like this sooner rather than later.
I'll ease into it step by step.
Still, the scale was impressive. Pushing through the entrance revealed a sprawling, immaculately appointed lounge.
"Ah, over here!"
In the distance, Lee Sehwa waved her hand to catch my eye.
"There isn't anyone else here today, is there?" I asked as I walked over.
"I rented the whole place for today," she replied casually.
"...Pardon?"
The casual flex caught me completely off guard. South Korea's number one ranker truly moved on a different plane.
Seeing me freeze like a statue, she burst into a muffled chuckle.
"Pfft, I'm just teasing."
"Ah."
She nearly had me. Then again, no matter how dominant the top ranker was, renting out a shared facility meant for fellow elite hunters was hardly realistic.
"...Where is everyone else, then?"
"Probably buried in training. I gave them quite the wake-up call recently."
"Ah."
That made total sense. Even if Lee Sehwa held undisputed reign over the top spot, the others were Elite Hunters in their own right. Furthermore, climbing the Tower was fundamentally a solo endeavor rather than a team sport. They were comrades cheering one another on, yet rivals vying for the same peaks.
After her progress had stalled for so long, Lee Sehwa had suddenly conquered two consecutive floors in a single burst. It was only natural that the rest of them felt a fire lit under their seats.
"Things had gotten a bit complacent around here lately, but everyone's found their motivation again thanks to you."
"Why thanks to me? You're the one who cleared those floors, Hunter Lee."
"My, did I ever say it was thanks to you, Jisoo-ssi?"
"......"
Left coughing into my fist to cover my embarrassment, I looked away, prompting a merry burst of laughter from her.
"Ahaha, just kidding, just kidding!"
"Haha..."
Did she always joke around this much? Was this her actual personality off-camera?
"In all honesty, it really is thanks to you. Clearing the fifty-second floor where I was stuck, and then conquering the fifty-third—none of that would have happened without your potions."
"Does that mean your reason for calling me today is...?"
"Yes, exactly. But before we get to that."
"Hm?"
"Let's order some drinks first. What would you like? They use incredible beans here—the coffee is out of this world. Panama Geisha! People call it the Hermès of the coffee world, or something like that."
"I'll have that, then."
"Great choice!"
Lee Sehwa hopped to her feet and strolled over to the counter.
I blinked, wondering what she was doing, only for her to turn and shoot me a playful wink.
"I'll brew it for you myself. After conquering those floors thanks to you, making you a proper cup is the absolute least I can do."
"No, you really don't have to..."
"Nonsense! I want to."
"Well, if you insist, I won't stop you..."
Truthfully, it felt a little overwhelming. My coffee knowledge began and ended with cheap oversized Americanos; subtle differences between beans were completely lost on me.
Just what kind of business does she have that she's laying it on this thick?
It was hardly the most polite thought while watching South Korea's premier hunter hand-drip a cup of coffee for me, but I resolved to listen carefully and decline firmly if something felt off. Getting taken for a ride was the last thing I wanted.
A short while later, she returned carrying two fragrant cups.
Perhaps because it was a proper pour-over, the aroma alone operated on a totally different level from standard drip coffee. Notes of apricot and plum danced alongside delicate floral tones and deep chocolate, rounded out by the rich, buttery nuttiness of macadamia. The layered complexity was striking enough to impress even an Americano chugger like myself.
"Hehe, good, isn't it?"
"It really is."
We spent a quiet moment savoring the brew. Sensing that pleasantries had run their course, I looked up, and Lee Sehwa promptly got down to business.
"To cut straight to the chase, about that night-vision potion."
"Lantern's Guidance?"
"Yes, that one. I'd like to purchase some more."
Just as I suspected. Seeing her conquer the floor had given it away, but Lantern's Guidance had clearly performed beyond expectations.
"And... this as well."
She placed a small silk sachet on the table.
"Ah, the effects wore off."
"Yes. I can't fall asleep without it anymore..."
The Peace Fragrance. A gift I had handed both her and Commissioner Kim during our very first meeting.
"I'm willing to pay whatever you ask. Would it be possible?"
"You'll be receiving an allocation once our formal contract goes through."
"I don't want to wait until then."
"Is there a particular reason?"
Lee Sehwa hesitated for a second before continuing.
"To be honest, I want to share them with the other Elite Hunters. Even if the night-vision potion can wait until they hit the fiftieth floor, I want to get the Healing Potions and Peace Fragrances into their hands as soon as humanly possible."
"......"
"No one knows what might happen during an assault. Besides, so many of them suffer from severe PTSD."
Well, put that way, it made total sense. For hunters pushing the very limits of human endurance, lingering trauma was practically an occupational guarantee. Any friction with the Management Bureau would be hers to handle, and in the end, hadn't I demanded complete, unrestricted ownership of my potions in the contract negotiations?
Even if I sell them on the side, the Bureau has no grounds to object.
If anything, it was a win-win. Helping other Elite Hunters conquer the Tower smoothly served everyone's interests.
"Understood. How many do you need?"
"As many as you can spare. I'll match the contract rate at one billion won per bottle."
Currently, my stock stood at seven Healing Potions and three pouches of Peace Fragrance. Setting aside what I needed for personal emergencies left five potions and two sachets ready for sale.
"Excluding Lantern's Guidance, I can offer five Healing Potions and two Peace Fragrances. Would that suffice?"
"That would be wonderful! I'll route the payment through the Bureau so you don't run into any tax or regulatory headaches. It might take a little time to clear, though."
"I'd appreciate that."
"That comes out to seven billion won, right?"
Seven billion won.
A figure so astronomical my hands trembled slightly beneath the table.
If it weren't for the Peace Fragrance in my jacket, I might have passed out right here.
Drawing strength from the soothing aroma wafting from my inner pocket, I composed myself and answered steadily.
"...That's correct."
Technically, Peace Fragrance warranted its own pricing tier, but this was our first private transaction.
A little generosity won't hurt.
When all was said and done, she was the first person to recognize the true worth of my potions and champion my cause.
I opened my inventory, handed over the items, and concluded the deal. Just as I was about to rise, thinking our meeting had concluded, she spoke again.
"Jisoo-ssi."
"Yes?"
"There's actually one more thing."
"If you mean Lantern's Guidance, it will take some time to brew."
"No, not that."
"Then?"
As I looked at her quizzically, Lee Sehwa paused, gathered her thoughts, and snapped her gaze up to meet mine.
"You mentioned wanting to establish your own business, right?"
"...I did."
"I have a proposal for you. To be frank, that's the real reason I asked to meet today."
What could it possibly be that had her beating around the bush like this? Just as I gestured for her to go on and she parted her lips to lay out her proposal—
Bzzzz.
"Ah, excuse m—"
I reached for my phone intending to decline the call, but froze the moment I saw the caller ID on the screen.
"...It's the Commissioner?"
"Really? I wonder what's going on."
"Please, go ahead and take it."
Excusing myself, I pressed the call button.
"Hello, Yu Jisoo speaking."
The urgent din of raised voices and hurried footsteps filtered through the receiver, followed by Commissioner Kim Han-soo's breathless voice.
"Hunter Yu, forgive me for calling out of the blue like this, but where are you right now?"
"I'm actually at the Management Bureau."
"The Bureau? Ah... God be praised."
"What's happening? You sound alarmed."
"I'll explain everything when you arrive. Please, could you come to the medical bay immediately?"
Then came the chilling follow-up:
"Hunter Kim Suho is in critical condition. We need your help."
Kim Suho.
The most famous hunter in the nation after Lee Sehwa.
South Korea's Rank 2 Hunter.
Having recently seen news articles about his preparations to tackle the forty-ninth floor, I didn't need to hear another word to grasp the gravity of the crisis.
Without a heartbeat of hesitation, I nodded.
"I'm on my way."