99. The drug effect is killer...
99. The drug effect is killer...
Closing my eyes and sitting cross-legged, the two of them placed their hands on me.
-chin
Master growling at Cheon Hwa-ryeong.
"Do it right. If you waste even a single drop..."
Even with the grim warning, it wasn't enough to intimidate Cheon Hwa-ryeong.
"Ha, me? You do it right, you bitch."
Why do they growl at each other the moment their eyes meet...
"Stop fighting already..."
""Nngh...""
Master let out a groan before stroking my head.
-swish swish
"Baby, the moment you swallow it, start Circulation of Qi right away. Don't freak out if the energy feels too intense—it'll hurt more if you do. Don't worry. We'll chant the Oral Formula, so don't resist even if the drug's effects rampage."
"Yes, Master."
"Tch, can't you make it a bit more stable? What if it hurts the kid?"
Master seemed genuinely pissed and unleashed a torrent of words.
"Ha?? I'm maximizing the drug's potency for forging. I'll handle the control, so no problem. It has to go full throttle to drive out the stagnation—half-ass it and the effect's cut in half..."
"Master's the best. Love you."
"Yeah♥ Baby, open wide! Ah~♥♥"
"...??? Crazy bitch..."
"Ah..."
"Hehe, that's it~♥"
I closed my eyes and held the Honwon Cheondan in my mouth as it entered.
-slurp...
The moment it touched my wet tongue, the Honwon Cheondan began to melt.
At the same time, Master and Cheon Hwa-ryeong started chanting the Oral Formula.
[The earth you tread, but do not cling to; the wind you borrow, but do not grasp...]
[Do not wield heaven and earth with will alone; seize, dominate, and make it yours...]
Reacting to the overlapping Oral Formula, the melted Honwon Cheondan split in two.
One half flowed along the roof of my mouth, giving a warm sensation to my nose.
The other slid under my tongue and clung coldly to my throat.
Breathing in that state, the air warmed by my nose gradually melted my throat.
The two energies turned sticky like rain-soaked earth and slid down my esophagus.
The gooey energy, flustered against my board-flat body, bounced around erratically, unable to find its way.
-hummm
[Crazy bitch, if someone else ate this, their meridians would've all torn apart.]
Huh...? For real?
[I calculated it. Shut up and focus.]
I trust Master unconditionally. No way she'd feed me something harmful.
The rampaging energy, under their guidance, began to circulate smoothly.
The only problem was...
[Tch... Is he... okay...?]
[...You bitch? Didn't you calculate it?]
[...It's bouncing around a lot. Ahem! No issues for now.]
My Dantian was spinning round and round inside me.
No pain in particular, no sense of anything going wrong.
If anything, it felt good.
The experience from when I slew the Basilisk, when my two Dantians rotated.
That sensation was reviving.
'Oh... so this is how you rotate it.'
The drug's heat currents in my body were eagerly devoured by the spinning Dantian.
One Dantian consumed the drug, while the opposite one filled the empty space.
When the heavier Dantian sank, the other rose and gobbled up more drug.
Observing the Dantians chasing each other's tails like this...
-ding!
[Intelligence +8 Vitality +5]
'Whoa??!!??'
Insane stats jumped up in one go.
I even mastered the feel for Dantian control.
'Whoa...'
Opening my eyes in shock, it felt like a cool breeze brushed my sweat-soaked body.
Master wiped the sweat from my forehead with her warm hand and said.
"Like it?"
".........Master."
"I'll do it again soon, so just hold on a bit."
-whoosh!
"Huh? Huh? Baby. W-Wait a sec..."
"Love you."
"H-Honey, mmph!?!?! slurrrp! Mmph♥ N-Nooo!!!"
Who told her to smile so prettily?
No man could've held back, I swear.
Not my fault, seriously...
[Status Window]
Name: Jang Ryu-o
Job: None
Title: Transmigrator
Level: 27
HP: 1150/1200 MP: 420/1180, 380/1100 240/240 Strength:38 Agility:34 Vitality:35 Intelligence:47 Luck:?? 9
Remaining Points: 3
Traits: BUG
Skills: LV.MAX Slime Body, LV.4 Intermediate Swordsmanship, LV.6 Circulation of Qi, LV.3 Uncheon-yeohyeong, LV.1 Water Resistance, LV.6 Poison Resistance, LV.2 Night Vision, LV.3 Heavenly Demon Divine Art, LV.2 Hardening, LV.2 Uitae, LV.4 Warrior's Charge, LV.2 Ki Sense, LV.1 Circle
♥♥♥
"Waaah! Stop! Ptooey! Sniff! Hng... Hweee!!!"
"Aigoo... Cut it out, Selana. Oppa's sorry."
"Hnnghnng... Oppa didn't do it on purpooooseee!!!"
"...? Noble speech is tough."
"Stay still."
The moment I went to find my comrades, Selana came running and hugged me.
She suddenly burst into tears and had been like this since.
I held Selana in my arms, patted her back, and looked at everyone.
-pat pat
"Hic! Hng... Hic! Hng..."
"I heard the story from Gongnyeo-nim. Everyone, thank you so much."
What an unstable state I'd been in after passing out.
How everyone saved me—I heard it all.
Magna tilted his head at my sincere thanks.
"Hm? We'd all be dead without you."
"Hnng... Sniff! Mazua..."
"Selana, blow your nose... Still, thanks are thanks."
"Sniff! "
Jenin, staring at her bandage-wrapped hand, smirked.
"Haha... I thought I was the cold one, but to think I'd pull off something this reckless."
Jenin was the real surprise.
I figured she'd hang back with her feminine side.
"Hand okay?"
"Luckily, no scars. It's fully healed, but they prescribed keeping it wrapped for a while."
A little scar on the hand... Ah, everyone's got their preferences.
"Good you're safe."
Jenin curled her lip and waved her hand.
"Thanks to you, I got to live it up luxuriously at the duke's villa for days~"
"Sniff... Play all you want..."
"Oh? For real, Gongnyeo-nim~? Ahaha~ You got a sweet deal!"
"Stay as long as you like. Tell the servants whatever you need, no holding back."
Looking toward the voice, Hilda was watching us fondly.
Jenin's eyes fluttered, mouth agape.
"G-G-Gong..."
"Heroes who set a record traversing the Labyrinth in 49 hours—no way I'd skimp on them."
Hilda smiled warmly at me and nodded.
"But the downside is no proof. Nothing left to verify it."
"Ah..."
"So everyone, stick close to me and head to the Temple. The gods will know."
Everyone's faces lit up instantly.
A way to prove the 20th floor record. Get a job at the Temple.
No idea how it works, but you need to clear the 20th to qualify.
Job change complete, so the record's legit.
Eyes sparkling at finally getting jobs.
"Sniff! Hidden class..."
"No way, but if I get Sage's Sprout, kuhuhu..."
"I believe in the Main God."
Hilda frowned at Selana rubbing her face all over my chest.
"Selana. Come here."
"Uh, yeah? I like it he-"
"Selana Ain Bellatus."
"Eek!"
-flash!
Selana, like she'd never cried, marched over with a spirited face and hugged Hilda.
Hilda impassively stroked her head.
-pat pat pat pat
"Hiiing..."
"Tch!"
They get along so well... I thought Selana was the black sheep of the family at first, but she seems fine.
Did she cause a flashy scandal when she was younger?
Hilda smirked and nodded at my head-tilt.
"Everyone, recover fully then hit the Temple. I'll prepare carriages. After jobs, head home if you want."
"Uh... C-Can we go to the Temple a bit la-"
"Jenin... You're a burden..."
"R-Ryu-o-nim..."
And so the next schedule was set.
I looked at everyone and said.
"I'm good to go right now?"
"Ryu-o-nim... J-Just one more day?"
"Oppa... Stay a bit longer..."
"I don't mind either."
Hilda shook her head.
"Take time to recover fully. And I'll contact them to reserve a Temple. Don't attract attention."
Recovery's an excuse—she's planning to rent out a whole Temple?
Th-The Temple?
"Y-You're renting out the Temple?"
"No intent to paralyze a public institution with private power. Just reserving it."
This is what they mean by power.
Far as I know, Temples don't have reservations.
Looking at Hilda with admiring eyes, she licked her lips slightly.
-slurp...
Magna, seeing it, tilted his head.
"Hm...? Hm?"
"...Ahem! Jang Ryu-o. Need a detailed battle report, so follow me."
"Sis. Me too."
"...Focus on recovery."
"Huh? We're all heale-"
"Focus."
"Ugh, got it..."
I greeted everyone and stood.
"See you at dinner."
"Extension!!! Krahat!"
"Gongnyeo, mind if we grab some food to go before heading back?"
"Huh? Gimme your address. I'll have it sent."
"...From now on, we're comrades ordained by the Main God."
Leaving their happy faces behind, I headed to Hilda's office.
Hilda carefully closed the door...
-clunk... creak~
I hugged her with a grin.
"Hehe, what's up, Hilda?"
Hilda buried her face in my chest and caught her breath.
"Fuu... Might not see you next week."
What kinda bolt-from-the-blue is this?
"Huh? Why?"
"Crown Princess summoned me. I'll wrap it quick, don't worry."
Crown Princess summon? Sounds big-scale, got me worried.
"Any reason?"
"Her Highness and I never put reasons in personal letters. Leak it, and the Empire flips. So, I'll just go."
Hilda looked up and smirked.
Hilda reached out, gently touching under my eyes.
"...Weird. You looking bummed makes me happy. Gives me drive for work. Now, no you, no spark in life."
-thump thump...
"Haa... Heart's racing. Is this what true feelings feel like? Not sure if you hear, but mine's pounding hard too."
-thud!
Hilda glanced at the thing against her belly and gulped.
"Th-Then in this mood, we can't not do it... right...?"
I pulled Hilda close and stroked her back.
"If you're tired, we can skip."
Hilda's eyes went wide in surprise.
"That's not it. I-I like it too. Don't make that face. Tch... Mwah~♥ Slurrrp! "
Hilda kissed me deeply, then gazed at me with moist eyes.
"Halfway in... We can do it tw-twice."
"Haa... Three times?"
"Tw-Twice and a half?"
"...Dunno."
-flash!
"Hng! Y-You, Jang Ryu-o! Promise me!! Promi—mmph! Slurrrp♥"
We went a full three rounds before dinner.
Halfway ain't in my dictionary.
