The World Tree's Fruit
I stared at my smartphone screen with hollow eyes, rubbing my dry face. It had already been a week. That damn Dragon bro was actually sleeping. Of all the timing, right when I'd taken on a 7 billion won repair job and was short on mana (100p), falling to my knees like this. In my anxiety, I opened the Multidimensional Secondhand Market's [Chit-Chat Board].
Ultimately, the only place I could lean on was this anonymous ocean. Without giving up, I posted the same question again, clinging desperately.
But all that came back was ruthless mockery and nonsense from otherworldly netizens.
"These crazy bastards..." Not a single helpful piece of info. If this kept up, in a month I'd have to cough up 7 billion to Vice Guild Master Seo Ara, plus penalties and a scammer label.
Should I give up...?
I let out a deep sigh and was about to hit back when, on the refreshed screen, amid the crap posts, one urgent comment popped out weirdly.
"...Huh?" I narrowed my eyes. Only one person on this board knew I was a repairman.
"Ah, this old geezer."
I remembered. The old guy who'd dumped the dangerous Dragon Heart Mana Circuit Activator on me. The Royal Alchemist. I'd blocked him out of spite and forgotten. The geezer, seeing I wouldn't unblock, had tracked my public question post and was begging in comments.
Right, this guy's an option...? He's the Royal Alchemist, maybe...?
Thinking that, I unblocked and started a 1:1 chat.
I drew a cold line. As Ereinia continent's top alchemist, maybe he had some secret elixir stashed.
But his reply soon pushed me to the edge.
What...?
Done for. My vision went dark. This cursed engine in me was like premium foreign car parts—no compatibility with others.
I frowned at the monitor. Plague? In a fantasy world with magic and holy power, a mere plague dooming a kingdom?
And soon, familiar IDs piled into a group chat. The Aged Priest and the Elder of the World Tree Forest.
⊳ AgedPriest: What is it, Alchemist? We're short-handed as it is.
⊳ RoyalAlchemist: Saintess! Explain the situation to the Repairman!! Prove I'm not lying!!
Their explanation proved the alchemist wasn't lying.
⊳ AgedPriest: Then I'll go. Still so many to care for.
⊳ ElderOfTheWorldTreeForest: Caring for the infected is pointless.
⊳ AgedPriest: Can't just sit idle...
"...What is this? A real crisis?"
7 billion aside, I'm human too—I couldn't ignore a serious situation. Plus, Earth's medicine was way more advanced, right? Maybe I could help.
⊳ PhilosophizingRepairman: What's the disease's symptoms?
⊳ RoyalAlchemist: S-starts with mild fever and back pain. Splitting headaches with vomiting.
⊳ AgedPriest: Yes. But after three days, horrors appear. Red spots on mouth and mucous membranes, spreading everywhere on skin.
Huh? Wait, sounds familiar...?
⊳ ElderOfTheWorldTreeForest: Not just spots. Pus fills them, covering body in blisters. Most die from fever; survivors scarred forever.
⊳ RoyalAlchemist: Insanely contagious! Saliva, breath—even clothes or bedding infects! Only humanoid races affected!!
⊳ AgedPriest: Some say it's divine punishment on all but beasts.
High fever, back pain, vomiting. Red spots and pus-filled blisters everywhere. High fatality, pock scars on survivors. Overwhelming contagion. Humanoids only.
As I read their horrific descriptions, my lips curled up.
"This..."
I hurriedly opened my phone's browser, typing keywords: [high fever], [full-body blisters], [pus], [pock scars], [plague], [human host].
Enter. Top encyclopedia hit: Humanity's deadliest killer, eradicated on Earth long ago.
"It's smallpox..."
The disease our ancestors called mama or dubjang, feared like tigers.
Reason holy magic failed: It heals wounds, not viruses mutating cells inside. Heal the skin, virus keeps pumping pus—helpless.
"Ha... insane?"
I chuckled dryly, hands on keyboard.
⊳ PhilosophizingRepairman: Might have a cure.
The chat exploded.
⊳ ElderOfTheWorldTreeForest: R-really, outsider?!
⊳ RoyalAlchemist: For real!!
⊳ PhilosophizingRepairman: Treatment for infected and vaccine to prevent. But not free. You know my terms?
I firmly pushed my demands.
⊳ PhilosophizingRepairman: Reliable reward that boosts my mana permanently by 35+ short-term, no clash with Dragon Heart. Give that, I'll hand over the plague fix now.
Silence fell. The alchemist himself had said normal elixirs impossible due to Dragon Heart exclusivity.
Then, breaking quiet, the alchemist yelled.
⊳ RoyalAlchemist: Elder!! Hand over that World Tree fruit from your forest NOW!!
⊳ ElderOfTheWorldTreeForest: You madman? Why would I?! It started in your kingdom!!
World Tree's Fruit? Any fantasy reader knows the ultimate elixir.
⊳ RoyalAlchemist: Kingdom and forest both doomed—fruit matters little?! Nothing else expands mana capacity permanently without Dragon Heart clash—searched the continent!!
⊳ AgedPriest: Alchemist's right, Elder. Forest burns, life ends—no fruit helps. Decide.
⊳ ElderOfTheWorldTreeForest: You lot act like it's not yours...!!!
Really? They'd really give the World Tree's fruit? My heart pounded wildly. Unlike my incomplete Dragon Heart, a perfect one. Massive fortune dangling before me.
I swallowed hard, waiting for the elder.
And soon.
⊳ ElderOfTheWorldTreeForest: ...Haa. Fine. But payment after. Confirm your medicine works first.
⊳ PhilosophizingRepairman: Post-payment ok?
⊳ ElderOfTheWorldTreeForest: You don't know this trading community system well yet?
Oh, there's a function like that? Gotta check later.
⊳ RoyalAlchemist: S-so!! How long?!
⊳ PhilosophizingRepairman: Meet again tomorrow same community time.
⊳ RoyalAlchemist: G-got it!!
Well, I needed to do some research too.