Day of Peace (3)

The fire of Labyrinth Exploration NaN was growing hotter by the day.

That night, after wrapping up filming with Kang Hyun and Im Hae-jun, I paid a visit to David Han's magic bookstore.

"Old man," I called out.

"...Huh? What do you want?"

David looked up at me, his counter cluttered with cleaning supplies.

"Well, if it isn't our resident celebrity."

"Ahem..." I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"How's business lately?"

"Thanks to you, I've got a lot more foot traffic than before. What brings you here anyway?"

"Ah, nothing major. I was just wondering if you could help me source a few things."

"Things?"

"Yes."

I scratched my cheek. It felt like I was always asking this old man for favors.

"A flowerpot and some mana soil. Preferably with cold-attribute properties."

Mana soil was exactly what it sounded like—soil infused with mana. Well-aged mana soil, like fine wine, was rare. It was a product of nature that couldn't be mass-produced.

"Hold on a second."

Old man David shuffled into the back storage room. After a brief clattering and banging, he emerged carrying a small bundle and a flowerpot.

"Cold-attribute soil. And a pot woven from mana fibers."

"How much for the set?"

"About thirty million."

Thirty million won. My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"...What? Are you trying to rip me off?"

"Hey, brat. Do you have any idea how much weight my name carries in this industry?"

"No, but still..."

"It means this is top-of-the-line stuff."

David stroked his thick beard. His forearms and biceps bulged.

"The soil was harvested from beneath a glacier where mana has been pooling for nearly fifty years. That alone goes for thirty to forty million. The pot is designed to tightly lock in the soil's mana so it doesn't leak. That's easily worth ten million. Getting both for thirty is a steal."

"Don't you have anything cheaper?"

"I don't deal in anything but the best."

"...Can I buy it on credit, then?"

I asked shamelessly. Old man David narrowed his eyes in disbelief.

"Aren't you getting paid for the show?"

"No, I don't get an appearance fee. Ah, how about this instead?"

I pulled the goblin teacup out of my bag. I had been using it as a makeshift kettle, but I was willing to part with it, albeit with a heavy heart.

"A temperature-regulating teacup. You got this as loot in Labyrinth Exploration NaN, didn't you?"

As expected, old man David recognized it instantly.

"You must be watching the broadcasts."

"I can give this to my granddaughter. I'll credit you ten million for it."

"Wait, why only ten million? Do you know how useful this is for camping? It even has the Labyrinth Exploration NaN premium attached to it."

"That's why I'm giving you ten, brat. Ten is already a generous offer. Items like this that require mana manipulation to use aren't actually that expensive. Ordinary people can't even use them."

"...What if I throw in my autograph?"

"Then it's three million. You're literally docking the price."

"Are you kidding me?"

The old man let out a hearty laugh.

"They call you 'Je-Mal-Olh,' don't they? Your public image is a net negative. Have you still not shaken off your military stiffness? You should have tried a gentler approach to persuasion."

"...I can't give you the details because of spoilers, but you'll understand once you watch the next episode."

The old man smirked.

"Take the soil and the pot. I'll knock off ten million, so you can pay me the remaining twenty later. In exchange, get me an autograph from that Kang Hyun fellow."

"I guess your granddaughter's pick is Kang Hyun."

"Yep."

I gratefully accepted the soil and the pot, though it was clearly a losing trade for the old man. Even by my standards, the goblin teacup wasn't worth that much.

After a moment of thought, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a coin.

"Here, take this."

"...What's this?"

"A lucky coin."

I placed it on the counter.

This coin increased one's luck stat by 0.2. It was a negligible amount for me, but it might be different for this old man.

David Han was undeniably a powerhouse. But the world of the strong was far more vulnerable to variables than people realized. The slightest slip-up could mean the difference between life and death.

In fact, close-quarters combat between monstrous high-rankers rarely lasted longer than three minutes.

"Keep it on you, and good luck will find you. It's a gift."

"...Well, it does seem to have a certain aura to it. Fine, I'll keep it."

The old man chuckled and slipped the Lucky Coin into his breast pocket.

My vacation was over. Upon returning to the lodging, I headed straight to the cafeteria to grab some food. The Korean food here was incredibly delicious.

It seemed I wasn't the only one with that idea; a few others were already there.

First, Kate.

With her aristocratic, European air, she had a surprising fondness for Korean food. She was also one of the members of the debut group before my regression.

Suddenly, a thought struck me: Could Kate be a suspect?

When I thought about it, it wasn't entirely impossible.

She had the most absurdly powerful backing among all the contestants in Labyrinth Exploration NaN.

Her hair flowed like pure gold, her eyes shone like blue gems, and her face and firm physique showed absolutely no signs of aging despite her youth. It was obvious she invested hundreds of millions of won into self-care every year.

That was how incredibly wealthy her family was. With their financial power, they could easily buy out the broadcasting station, IONET.

If the future Black Call had been orchestrated by hiring a powerful mage, Kate would actually be a prime suspect.

Next, Lee Jun-ho.

He was currently tearing into some LA galbi in the corner of the cafeteria. He couldn't be ruled out of the suspect pool either.

Lee Jun-ho possessed highly destructive tendencies. Even after debuting in second place, he was the type to wander through mercenary streets, underground cities, and slums. As his skills as a swordsman grew, his pathological sadism and masochism might only worsen.

I spoke to the cafeteria staff.

"...Could I have one more tteok-galbi, please?"

I carried my tray, loaded with bibimbap and tteok-galbi, over to a table and sat down. It looked delicious.

"Ah, I'm starving!"

Someone announced ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their hunger in a rather loud voice. I looked over. Seo Ji-woo was walking in.

"I'm literally dying of hunger~"

As she spoke, our eyes met. She immediately spun on her heel and walked right back out of the cafeteria.

"......?"

What was that about? Some new way of seeking attention?

Just as I was about to focus back on my bibimbap, I noticed Lee Jun-ho staring at me.

"What?"

"......"

He shook his head silently and went back to tearing into his LA galbi.

I always thought this, but human relationships were incredibly difficult to understand and exhausting.

It was impossible to tell what anyone was thinking.

After finishing my meal, I returned to my room and first poured the soil into the flowerpot. I could definitely feel the fine mana radiating from the rich soil. Its slightly white hue made it look almost like snow.

The reason I had gone so far as to buy this soil on credit for twenty million won was for the Snowflake.

There was a secret to items that came in the form of flower buds.

Namely, if you planted and nurtured them, they would grow.

Of course, growing them required the proper pot, soil, and care. While the pot and soil were necessary conditions, the most crucial element was care.

In MoMo, characters with evil karma could never get a flower to bloom in a pot. Because they would neglect it.

Of course, I didn't know if the knowledge from MoMo would apply to reality, but it had held true so far.

"...You have to grow well, okay?"

I placed the Snowflake gently onto the mana soil.

"Aren't you pretty?"

It was still just a bud, but soon it would produce seeds, sink into the earth, and grow into a fully formed flower with a stem.

I hoped it would grow well.

Next.

I checked my MoMo inventory.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"What is this garbage?"

It was a blatant dud. Of course, it was about time I pulled a dud, but...

"No, wait a minute."

I reread the effects.

'Calms the mind and body, rapidly restoring health and mana.'

It didn't just heal the physical body; it stabilized the mind as well.

Wouldn't this be perfect to use during Refinement?

Come to think of it, yes.

I had to undergo my 2nd Refinement eventually. I knew I had to do it, but I had been putting it off.

Because it was incredibly painful.

Even for me, someone who had been shot on multiple occasions and had to overcome being crippled, Refinement was a terrifying prospect.

"But if I do it while sucking on this candy..."

It might actually be bearable.

Since I had three of these, if I looked at it as receiving my 2nd and 3rd Refinements rather than just getting some candy, this wasn't a dud at all—it was a jackpot.

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

An announcement from NaN came through.

Five o'clock meant thirty minutes from now.

They were telling us to come right away.

"Hey, little flower. I'll be back, okay?"

I was going to brew and consume it once it fully grew anyway, but until then, I had to treat it gently.

"Be a good baby and watch the house~"

I said goodbye to the Snowflake and headed out.

The thirty-three survivors arrived at the banquet hall. Long tables were set up, each with nameplates placed on them.

"Please take your respective seats~"

Yu Ji-in made her entrance. Dressed in a formal tailcoat, she smiled elegantly and took her seat at the head of the table.

I also found my place in front of the nameplate that read [Seol Ha-woon]. Sitting next to me was Seo Ji-woo.

Seo Ji-woo approached, clearing her throat repeatedly. "Ahem, cough, cough."

"The mentors will be joining us shortly, but since there isn't much feedback to give regarding the Survival Labyrinth, please don't worry too much. Just enjoy the meal together. This is also part of your clear rewards!"

While Yu Ji-in was speaking, Seo Ji-woo kept restlessly shaking her leg. Did she need to use the bathroom or something?

When our eyes met, she flinched and forced her gaze away. She looked incredibly uncomfortable.

"Sit still, will you?"

"...What do you care? Mind your own business."

I had absolutely no idea why she was acting like this. She was perfectly fine when she gave me the Mana Socket as a thank-you gift. Was she bipolar?

Just then, the mentors entered. DK, Kim Yoon-jun, Yu Yul, and Kim Ji-an. The thirty-three survivors welcomed them.

Yu Yul, the spellcaster mentor, sat directly across from me. She asked,

"Seol Ha-woon. I heard you paid a visit to Kim Se-jin?"

"Yes."

"It seems you learned something interesting."

Seo Ji-woo's ears perked up.

"...Yes. I feel like I'm growing as a spellcaster. By the way..."

I subtly probed Yu Yul.

"Would you happen to be able to lend me the Jewel File?"

Yu Yul furrowed a brow.

"Once you finish your first refinement, you need to rest for at least six months."

"I think I can handle more. If you would just lend it to me..."

If I combined the Jewel File and mana amplification with the Absolutely Precious Candy, I might be able to break through as early as tomorrow.

Just then, the food was served. It was a course meal, starting with a strange-looking appetizer.

Yu Yul spoke.

"Let's eat first. This is langoustine tomato consommé."

What on earth was a langoustine, and what was a consommé?

Regardless, I took a spoonful. It practically melted in my mouth.

"!"

My eyes widened.

It was an unimaginable flavor, unlike anything I had ever tasted in my life. How could food taste like this?

Most of the other explorers had similar expressions on their faces.

Except for Seo Ji-woo.

"......"

Seo Ji-woo wasn't even eating; she just kept glancing in my direction.

"What are you looking at?"

"...That bracelet. You're wearing it. I thought you said you didn't need it."

She was referring to the Mana Socket.

"Want me to give it back?"

"You really are a hypocrite... Saying one thing and doing another..."

Seo Ji-woo muttered some strange words to herself before taking a sip ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the appetizer. In that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠instant, her expression completely transformed. Like a character in a cooking manga tasting a heavenly delicacy, she froze in place with a look of pure awe.

She was completely stunned.

I let out a dry chuckle and looked back at Yu Yul.

"Mentor. About the Jewel File..."

Yu Yul clicked her tongue, pausing mid-bite.

"...You really are stubborn. I'll lend it to you after the next labyrinth is over."

"Ah, thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. We'll have to see if you can actually do it. Do you have any idea how absurdly—"

"Whoa!"

Suddenly, a loud exclamation erupted from beside me. It was Seo Ji-woo.

In her excitement, she began shoveling the food into her mouth.