Chapter 2
Chapter 2
This book, discovered by chance, contained information about my cute plants that I am raising exactly as they are.
There might be other books too.
Motivated by that thought, I searched the spacious library thoroughly for about an hour.
And the result was.
“None.”
Zero.
Excluding this book I am holding, there wasn't a single book dealing with contents regarding plants, alchemy, or herbology.
Of course, among them, there were books written in languages I couldn't understand at all.
Whatever, I can't read them anyway.
As someone who barely speaks English, I decided to give up cleanly.
The remaining time is about 4 hours.
Therefore, I made up my mind to read the book I discovered intently during that time.
“Wow..., there are really so many types...”
Just looking at it, the thickness is immense.
Inside, the text was packed tightly.
Despite focusing completely and reading the book for 4 hours, I couldn't even read half of it.
Still, it means there are this many plants I can obtain.
Rather, this became an opportunity that gave me motivation.
There are this many unknown plants I haven't met yet!
What do they look like?
How do they communicate?
How will they react if I give them food?
Etc.
Curiosity and excitement as a plant otaku wiggled inside me.
At the same time.
I need to look for a way to climb the Tower.
A clear motivation for climbing the Tower was created.
New plants existing in the Tower.
I will definitely meet all those cute fellows.
Like that, the time pointed to 6 AM, and the sound of footsteps was heard from outside.
Wow, sharp as a knife.
Exactly 6 o'clock sharp.
When the second hand, minute hand, and hour hand drew a straight line, the door opened with a creak sound.
“I’m ba- Huh?!”
The girl with white bobbed hair looked at me with her eyes wide open.
“D-Did you organize all that alone?”
“Yes, well... I received a lot of money, so I should at least do that much.”
“N-No. That shouldn't be possible...?”
“Yes?”
Mary mumbled continuously without answering my question, then soon smiled widely and spoke.
“You worked hard. Originally this is work I have to do; I don't know how to thank you for this.”
“It’s nothing. I just did what I had to do.”
“No! Still, I must repay you. If there is anything you want, could you please tell me? If I can grant it, I will!”
At this, the thick book I hadn't even read half of yet came to mind.
“Then, this book. Can I borrow it? I will come and return it when I finish reading.”
Mary stared intently at the book I was holding, then formed an inscrutable smile.
“Ah, Plant Species and Introduction to Alchemy. It’s a good book.”
“Wow! You know this book!”
“No? Reading books isn't my hobby, fuhu.”
“...?”
Then why is she working as a library librarian?
And at this massive library at that?
The thought that she is a truly strange person was brief.
Well, she’s a foreigner after all.
Thinking she is suffering in a strange land thousands of miles away, it stimulated me to live harder too.
As I was nodding my head, Mary spoke.
“Take it. Thanks to you, my work decreased immensely, so I can give you that much as a gift.”
Since I had thought of borrowing it for about a week at most, I couldn't help but be extremely surprised at what Mary said.
“Is that really okay?”
“Fuhu. Think of it as a gift I am giving you.”
Giving this precious thing for free when I have no money?
I’m an idiot if I refuse here.
“Thank you!”
Like that, I took a taxi holding a gift more valuable than 1 million Won in my arms.
For reference, Mary called the taxi for me.
Somehow Mary’s cellphone must have had a signal.
As I was riding the taxi beaming with joy, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Surely they won't not pay me because I took the book, right?
Should I have made sure to get the deposit before coming?
Ha, but since I accepted the book, it was a bit awkward to press her for money to her face.
As I was groaning alone, a notification rang on my phone.
It seemed we came down to an area where the signal is caught.
...If a notice pops up again next time, I must apply no matter what.
It’s home.
Home, returned to after staying up all night.
However, I achieved a massive result in just 10 hours.
After placing the thick book I brought cherishingly in my arms on the desk, I opened the refrigerator and took out the food to give to the kids.
Even if I am tired, I must do what needs to be done.
When I pushed the cart and entered the room, I saw my small and precious babies along with a fresh scent of grass.
The fellows who knew I entered shook their leaves to the fullest expressing their welcome.
Appreciating that cute spectacle was brief.
I pushed the cart and took out the food.
“Let’s eat, my little ones.”
The first order is the fellow with translucent light green leaves.
It was the friend called <Dawn Herb> in the book.
After crushing one lowest grade Magic Stone finely into powder, mix it in 50ml of water and age it in the refrigerator for 3 days.
If the Magic Stone melts completely into the water, that becomes this friend’s food.
As the water is poured into the pot, a faint golden light radiates from the stem, leaves, and flower bud.
“Hahaha, is it that tasty?”
Of course, this wasn't the end.
The golden light Dawn emits becomes stronger.
After pouring the prepared amount, I moved to the next turn.
I took out the finely chopped pork belly from the cart.
Unusually carnivorous.
A plant that consumes meat, not insects or bugs.
The sharp spikes sprouted on the stem and leaves are shaking continuously as if demanding food quickly.
I put the pork belly embedded with Magic Stone fragments into the small mouth visible inside the widely opened red flower bud and finished by using Growth Acceleration.
“This little guy eats so deliciously. Is it that tasty?”
Like that, I completed watering the other plants as well.
Then, a message floated before my eyes without fail.
[You have acquired Growth Stimulant as a reward.]
“Oh.”
Last time it gave me a flower seed, this time it’s a Growth Stimulant.
Since my Awakened trait makes it difficult to climb the Tower, it seems the System is being considerate in its own way.
I haven't heard of existing Awakened receiving something like this.
Anyway.
After feeding them like that, I have a chimney-like desire to start researching immediately... but I have to go to my part-time job.
One in the morning, and another one after eating lunch.
“Life...”
Still, what can I do.
I must go out being grateful that I can work.
Not for me, but for my cute babies in that room.
So, right now.
I finished all part-time jobs and returned home.
Forcing my closing eyelids open, I opened the refrigerator and started filling the food.
Thinking I would collapse if I stayed like this after feeding them, I decided to close my eyes for a bit on the sofa.
I fell asleep just like that and opened my eyes at 6 AM.
I didn't wake up voluntarily, but woke up due to a bright light as if someone turned on the lights.
“...What is it?”
A dazzling golden light was swaying from inside the room I forgot to close.
Snapping back to reality, I hurried into the room.
“D-Dawn...?”
Golden energy filling the room.
The one emitting that breathtakingly beautiful energy was the first plant I raised, the Dawn Herb.
Seeing the flower bud form, I thought it would bloom sooner or later.
To think it would bloom this fast...!
Scarlet stamens that truly looked like the dawn rising, and a golden pistil blooming in the center.
The petals started from scarlet like the sun pushing away the black night sky and turned into a deep indigo color as they went outward.
Literally, Dawn.
“So this is why it’s Dawn Herb...”
Befitting a fellow that takes Magic Stones as food, the fellow emitting brilliant golden light from its whole body was more beautiful than any plant in the world at this moment.
As I was appreciating it blankly.
A gesture as if calling me.
The leaves shook up and down, calling me.
When I approached closer as per the fellow’s call, the center part looking like a golden sun opened smoothly.
“This is...?”
A golden sphere settled inside.
Leaving behind Dawn who was swaying its petals as if telling me to take it quickly, I brought my hand to the golden sphere.
“Dawn’s Essence?”
A name that looks amazing just by looking at it.
At this, I hurriedly fed them, then came out and opened the book.
A representative medicinal plant of the Yang attribute found extremely rarely in unpolluted alpine regions.
...(Omitted)...
The ‘Dawn’s Essence’, which the fully bloomed flower harbors in the center every morning, is considered the foundation of all healing potions and the best purification catalyst.
Artificial cultivation is extremely difficult, so its value far exceeds gemstones of the same weight.
“Crazy...”
The efficacy and processing method of Dawn’s Essence were written in detail in the book.
① Complete Regeneration
Promotes powerful regeneration ability that restores missing body parts to their original form without a single scar.
② Ten Thousand Poison Purification
Immediately detoxifies most natural poisons and lower-grade magic curses. Upon consumption, it purifies toxins and negative mana within the body.
Just this much is surprising, but the core was separate.
It was exactly that ‘Once a flower fully blooms, it generates a new Dawn’s Essence every morning.’
In other words.
I can obtain this massive item continuously every morning?
I was so surprised my mouth wouldn't close.
My head spins fast as I think of ways to utilize this.
It is a precious elixir just by itself, but what if I process this into a potion?
When I came to my senses with consecutive thoughts rising, I had already skipped all of today’s work using the excuse of being sick.
After that, I forgot about eating and raised the heat on potion creation while looking at the book.
“Mix Magic Stone powder into 200ml of purified water and...”
It was fortunate that not many ingredients were needed. Since I had most of the decent ingredients at home, I could proceed without blockage.
“When it takes on a slight red hue, crush the Dawn’s Essence, mix it in, and distill...”
As the Dawn’s Essence entered, the liquid that had a slight red hue started to change into an intense scarlet light.
“Once distillation is complete, mix the finely ground Dawn’s Essence again...”
“Done!”
Finally completed after 12 hours of study and manufacturing.
Before my eyes, a liquid emitting a light somewhere between scarlet and gold was sloshing in a small glass bottle.
“It’s pretty...”
My body itched because I wanted to test the effect right away.
Just as I was worrying about if there was any method.
The news was playing on the TV I had turned on just in time.
> [First news. Recently, deaths from shock due to potions are increasing. This is something that happens occasionally even among Awakened Hunters. Concerns are emerging in some quarters asking if we shouldn't heat up the development of potions with superior performance at a national level. Connecting to Reporter Kim Mi-yeon.]
> [Yesterday at 10:30 PM. News was conveyed that Korea’s Ranker, Ms. Lee Se-hwa, suffered shock after using a potion following her failure to clear the 52nd floor of the Tower. Fortunately, there is no threat to her life, but the Bureau announced she must take a long rest. Regarding this, netizens are...]
Shock caused by potions.
If it is a Hunter of Lee Se-hwa’s level, she would use potions from America’s Glorio, the world’s #1 potion manufacturer.
Despite that, potions were still a last resort accompanied by various side effects globally.
It was so bad that the WHO (World Health Organization) specified to use them only in truly urgent moments.
> [Yes. This is Reporter Kim Dae-gi. I am currently out at the Republic of Korea’s Awakened Management Bureau office. As you can see, next to me, countless Hunters are raising issues regarding the quality of potions and...]
I stared blankly at the news, then looked at the golden liquid placed on the desk.
And I spat out the thought that flashed through my head just as it was.
“...Shall I try selling it?”
(End of Chapter)
— Translated by Prime Works —