Fire Dragon's Elixir (3)

The researchers' astonished voices echoed through the room.

"No way!"

"I, I can't believe it."

"Jackpot. It actually worked!"

The incantation they had slaved over for so long, with no further progress possible.

That very incantation had succeeded when they followed the revisions Kim Jehyun had provided.

"This is insane. For real. Branch Chief! We have to snag that guy no matter what!"

"I... I have no words. Wow. How is this even possible?"

They gasped in awe at the robe now etched with the successfully layered magic circle.

Jehyun had pierced straight to the solution upon seeing the incomplete incantation.

This was beyond their realm of understanding.

Off-spec. That was the only way to describe it.

At this moment, they didn't dare judge Jehyun's genius by their own standards.

"What did I tell you! I knew it the moment I saw him in the Ascension Tower exam! That guy's a genius who could shake up the entire Magic Tower!"

One of the researchers who had joined the experiment with the incantation Jehyun provided screamed in excitement.

His passionate reaction was amusing, but everyone agreed with what he said.

"Even if he doesn't join our faction right away, we should definitely stay on friendly terms with him."

Even Han Eunho spoke up, looking at Kim Shinho.

It was unusual for Han Eunho, who never said things like that.

It showed just how unbelievable this situation was to him too.

"I'll have to contact the higher-ups again."

Kim Shinho hurriedly reached out to the leadership once more.

Han Eunho was right. Even if recruiting Jehyun to their faction was a stretch for now, staying close was essential.

His instincts never failed— the same senses that had propelled him to branch chief.

After reporting to the higher-ups immediately, Kim Shinho headed straight back to the lab where Jehyun and the other researchers waited.

Bang!

Kim Shinho and Han Eunho burst into the research lab.

Han Eunho held the robe they had taken for testing.

"See? They're back already. Must be a failure."

The researcher who had vowed to change his surname to Kim if Jehyun was wrong muttered quietly to the one beside him.

His guess made sense. The experiment had ended faster than ever.

They had expected hours of waiting, but it was less than an hour.

So naturally, they assumed it had failed early on.

"Director, how'd it go?"

"Success? Failure?"

All eyes turned to Han Eunho.

"The experiment..."

Han Eunho scanned the room, then finally looked at Jehyun before speaking.

"...succeeded. Jehyun, this is seriously mind-blowing. How on earth did you figure out that incantation?"

The lab erupted at Han Eunho's words.

Everyone alternated between staring at the robe in his hands and Jehyun, faces full of disbelief.

"No way!"

"It actually succeeded?"

"Holy crap! Wow, insane. Park Kyungchul... no, Kim Kyungchul now? It worked!"

"W-what? S-success? This is crazy."

The room descended into chaos in an instant.

They swarmed Han Eunho to see the successful result with their own eyes.

"Whoa, look at that stable mana flow from the robe. It's real."

"Director! Show us how it activates, quick!"

Han Eunho chuckled at the researchers staring at him with wide, eager eyes.

"Here, take a look."

Humming filled the air as Han Eunho activated the layered magic circle etched into the robe right in front of everyone.

Mana flowed through the robe, geometric patterns of the magic circle rising into view, runes soon glowing brightly.

At the same time, the shield and healing light ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spells engraved in the robe manifested simultaneously.

"Ooooh."

"Jackpot! It really worked!"

"Insane!"

They gawked at the dual spells activating together, utterly shocked.

Artifacts and magic tools could hold multiple spells, but activating them at once had been impossible.

It equated to a mage performing multi-casting— something only achievable by Matapju-level grand archmages.

Of course, embedding multi-casting into artifacts was deemed impossible with current tech.

Yet today, the impossible ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠became reality.

This layered magic circle would undoubtedly usher in a new paradigm for the artifact and magic tool markets.

"This is nuts! Wow! Kim Jehyun!"

"Wheee."

"Jehyun! How did you do it? For real! Is this even possible?"

Their faces flushed with excitement.

The way they looked at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jehyun grew even more intense, burdensome now.

From the gaze for a talented mage who had just reached 1st Circle.

To eyes seeing a super-prodigy brimming with limitless potential, whose future sensations everyone anticipated.

"Just got lucky."

Jehyun grinned and replied.

No one bought the "luck" excuse, though.

"Isn't this the incantation I was working on...?"

"No, check this first. It's the one I was researching to shorten activation time..."

Having witnessed Jehyun's insane genius, they rushed forward with their own incantations in hand.

p>Normally, they'd hesitate to share incantations with others, but it was pointless in front of Jehyun.

This was a chance to receive guidance on refining them.

They eagerly shared without reservation.

"Alright, alright. Jehyun's here as a visitor today, so let's not overwhelm our guest. We can handle personal requests later."

Kim Shinho stepped in to mediate as everyone mobbed Jehyun.

Regaining their senses, they looked disappointed but repeatedly begged Jehyun to reply to their contacts next time.

"Jehyun, I really... I don't even know what to say after seeing you today. First things first, we should discuss the rights to the incantation you refined."

Jehyun nodded at Kim Shinho's words.

This incantation was originally destined for development by the Ignis Faction in the future.

But now, he had discovered and perfected it first.

The rights were his.

"I was planning to tour the whole workshop today, but we'll have to postpone. Let's head back to the branch office."

Jehyun returned to the branch with Kim Shinho and Han Eunho to discuss the incantation rights.

They agreed to apply for a patent on it and divide the shares.

Surprisingly, Kim Shinho decided to grant Jehyun 100% of the patent rights.

"This incantation had been stalled for ages anyway, and we were planning to propose joint research with other factions' researchers."

In that case, even providing the base open incantation as the Phoenix Faction's backbone, they'd struggle to claim even 10% of the patent rights.

The foundational incantation was simple enough that anyone could devise it with minimal research.

So, they transferred full rights to Jehyun.

In exchange, they requested exclusive sales rights for two years.

'Not bad.'

Jehyun accepted the offer.

The Phoenix Faction had the largest workshop anyway, and all other terms favored him.

Now, all he had to do was sit back and watch the money roll in.

He knew the astronomical profits the Ignis Faction had reaped from this patent in the future.

It was a global enterprise, after all.

'The Ignis Faction's gonna feel this one.'

Jehyun chuckled.

But he felt no guilt.

Having lived the future, he knew the Ignis Faction's dark underbelly all too well.

"Oh, and the Phoenix Faction leadership contacted us."

Once the patent discussion wrapped, Kim Shinho relayed the message from above.

* * *

"The layered magic circle incantation is complete?"

Phoenix Faction Leader Yoon Jiyong.

When he first got Kim Shinho's call, he thought Lab Director Han Eunho on the first floor had finally broken through.

The Phoenix Faction had multiple workshops, but the first-floor one was the largest.

Its geographic advantage for external dealings, plus cheaper land compared to higher floors, had allowed it to grow massively.

Thus, the faction's top research mages were assigned there.

But.

"Not Han Eunho, but Kim Jehyun completed the incantation."

Yoon Jiyong couldn't believe it at first.

Kim Jehyun, who had just reached 1st Circle, had refined it.

He thought he'd misheard.

"That Kim Jehyun who requested ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Essence of Fire? Prepare it immediately. The price? You gonna charge a 1st Circle mage? Give it to him as a token of friendship and gratitude. And set the patent fully in his favor. From now on, report anything he requests to me first."

Yoon Jiyong sensed the makings of a great archmage in Jehyun.

He was grateful that such talent had reached out to them first.

'He gives off real Matapju vibes.'

He was one of those who had watched the Matapju rise from 1st Circle to one of the world's strongest.

His gut screamed now: Kim Jehyun was a sprout with Matapju-level talent.

No, perhaps one that could surpass even the Matapju, growing into a mighty tree.

'Nah, probably not that far.'

The Matapju he knew was an unprecedented genius archmage.

Any sense that Jehyun might exceed him was likely just excitement over spotting a promising talent after so long.

Unaware of Jehyun's true nature, Yoon Jiyong naturally thought so at this point.

"Report anything related to him to me first."

Phoenix Faction Leader Yoon Jiyong began paying close attention to Jehyun.

* * *

"I'll be in touch often."

"Thank you. I got what I needed thanks to you."

"No problem. Contact us anytime you need help."

After parting with Kim Shinho, Jehyun glanced at the item in his possession.

The Essence of Fire was now in Jehyun's hands.

Far sooner than expected.

With this, he had gathered all the materials for the Fire Dragon's Elixir.

Jehyun returned straight to his lodging.

Whoosh.

He dumped the materials from his Inventory.

Terror Flame Stone, C-grade magic stone, Yef's heart, Banjeo grass, Nol's fang, Deoseo's horn, Essence of Fire.

"Whew. Now comes the important part."

—The Fire Dragon's Elixir, eh? Looking at these materials, it's a fine combination for efficiently amplifying fire energy.

Alkasha chimed in with interest.

Vutalec. Though Jehyun had never met him, he was undoubtedly a genius with brilliant ideas.

Not only finding these materials but devising the elixir recipe.

"The most genius weirdo among weirdos."

Jehyun recalled memories of Vutalec as he prepared to craft the Fire Dragon's Elixir.

Then.

—Hmm. How about mixing in petals of the True Rae Flower?

"Petals of the True Rae Flower?"

Jehyun asked, puzzled.

True Rae Flower petals. An item from the random box during the primitive goblin shaman dungeon clear.

It wasn't particularly special. Just material for True Rae Tea, favored by elves.

But add it now?

Jehyun couldn't hide his confusion.

"Adding extra materials to Vutalec's recipe could cause failure."

Jehyun's concern was valid.

A recipe was a formalized method for crafting a specific item.

Adding ingredients naturally spiked the failure risk.

—It's fine. Follow the original recipe, but add it right before completion.

"Oh? Alright. I'll try that."

Jehyun nodded.

He didn't know why, but inspiration struck.

Following Alkasha's advice seemed like it would grant the Fire Dragon's Elixir a new effect.

But if Alkasha was wrong, all materials would be lost.

In that tension, Jehyun proceeded with the recipe.

Crafting the Fire Dragon's Elixir went smoothly.

Bubble bubble.

The Terror Flame Stone fully melted in the magic beaker, turning liquid.

A bit more simmering, and the elixir would be complete.

—Now.

Alkasha said.

Jehyun timed it perfectly, dropping the True Rae Flower petals into the beaker.

At that instant.

Flash!

A red light burst from the nearly finished Fire Dragon's Elixir.