Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: S-Rank Mana Crystal
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S-Rank Mana Crystal.
The crystal emanated a brilliance incomparable to the C-rank one made from the magi extracted from Yang Deok-chun.
Sparkling prisms gleamed between the blue light.
The rainbow aura was so dazzling it left anyone who saw it entranced.
It was qualitatively different from the faintly blue C-rank crystal.
Even an ordinary person unable to sense mana could feel the difference.
Typically, mana crystals were rare items extracted from a monster's heart while hunting in dungeons.
They were usually of the same rank or one rank lower.
An S-rank mana crystal could only be obtained in an S-rank dungeon.
Even then, one this large had never been discovered before.
You wouldn't get a fist-sized crystal even from a boss monster.
'Incredible.'
This was a high-purity crystal formed from the magi accumulated in S-rank hunter Choi Su-ah's Mana-Way over a long time, mixed with the mana from the mana incense.
The fact that it was this size meant the amount of magi built up in her body had been enormous.
The holy sword had absorbed all the damage she should have taken, but if treatment had been even a little delayed, the worst kind of villain would have been born.
Back when he ran the mental clinic at Celestial Guild, he would decompose crystals like this to make mana incense.
Mana incense made from crystals extracted from a hunter's body was more easily absorbed than that made from mana stones.
It allowed him to more easily raise a hunter's condition and utilization rate to 100 percent.
He used it for the clients, not himself.
The reason was simple.
The stronger Celestial Guild's hunters became, the easier dungeon raids would be.
And that would bring peace sooner.
That was the best a non-combatant like him could do.
'But when peace actually came, I never imagined they'd discard me, the one who'd devoted himself so much, in an instant.'
He had given his all to the guild, but the guild had thrown him away like a used rag.
He had accepted it calmly when he was forced out.
There was no other choice.
He knew the guild wouldn't reverse a decision once it was made, so he just accepted it.
Looking back now, it did make him a bit angry.
He thought he'd contributed quite a bit to making Celestial Guild number one.
That was when he decided.
He would never use mana crystals obtained through treatment for Celestial Guild.
Better to smash them than give them to those guys.
Extracting mana crystals from people, not monsters, was something only he could do.
It was impossible in modern hunter medicine.
All they could do was dissolve accumulated magi with chemicals.
They couldn't produce crystals like this.
In other words, Celestial Guild had missed the chance to obtain an S-rank crystal like this.
'Too strong for me to absorb alone.'
If it had been a C-rank like the one from Mr. Yang Deok-chun, or even A-rank, he would have crushed it and absorbed it like before.
Absorbing that power and making it his own would allow for better treatments.
But an S-rank crystal was different.
It was too powerful for him to absorb alone.
Even if he did, he couldn't fully digest it.
After cutting off a portion of the crystal to boost Choi Su-ah's condition, he planned to use the rest to make exclusive mana incense for S-rank clients.
It was uncertain if he'd keep obtaining mana crystals of this quality.
Having mana incense reserved for S-rank VIPs would be better for running the clinic going forward.
'Anything A-rank or below is widely available on the market anyway.'
He used the remaining mana in the air to form a mana blade resembling a scalpel.
With it, he sliced off part of the crystal.
A piece about a tenth the size was cut, and he burst it in the air.
Crack!
As the crystal shattered, the mana condensed.
It carried a sacred feel reminiscent of Choi Su-ah herself.
Just like with Mr. Yang Deok-chun, he brought the condensed mana to her lower abdomen.
Whoosh!
Perhaps because it originated from her own body.
Choi Su-ah's dantian easily accepted the mana from the shattered crystal.
He rubbed her lower abdomen gently, like stroking it, to help the mana spread more easily through her body.
Her warm, soft mana filled her body.
Would you like to increase skill utilization rate?
Treater: Clinic Director – Kim Jinwoo's powerful mana raises the achievable utilization rate.
Using mana matching the patient's disposition further increases the utilization rate.
Current achievable utilization rate: 118%
Ability 1: Master of the Holy Sword (S) - Utilization Rate 17%
Ability 2: Immortal Shield (S) - Utilization Rate 32%
Ability 1: Raises Master of the Holy Sword (S) skill utilization rate by 65%.
Sword of Dawn absorbs the energy more adeptly. Utilization rate increases by an additional 10%.
Master of the Holy Sword - Utilization Rate 92%
Ability 2: Raises Immortal Shield (S) skill utilization rate by 53%.
Immortal Shield – Utilization Rate 85%
The utilization rates had risen close to 100 percent.
Contamination was near 0 percent, and the utilization rate indicating her condition was near 100 percent.
By the time she woke up, Choi Su-ah would feel her body in peak condition, different from before.
It would even feel like her prime.
Of course, this utilization rate wouldn't stay fixed at this level forever.
Just as a person's condition varies daily, utilization rates don't remain constant.
Especially for someone like Choi Su-ah, whose condition had been poor for so long, regression toward her previous state would occur frequently.
Preventing that was his role.
He would need to check her condition regularly from now on.
"I've put out the urgent fire. Now I just need to help her maintain this state."
Having finished the treatment, he let out a sigh of relief.
He thought about what would have happened if her treatment had been even slightly delayed.
Her holy sword completely shattered, her soul gnawed by magi, turning her into something like a demon.
Dawn Guild's symbol, once humanity's protector, would have become despair in an instant.
Even without the holy sword, her abilities would have produced a comparable weapon.
Perhaps Mystic would have reacted to her magi and changed form.
'A disaster.'
It would have been an irresolvable catastrophe without him.
"This is why you need a professional's touch."
What good was it being right?
Celestial Guild could no longer hear him.
"I wonder if more clients like this will keep coming."
They were different from the ones he treated at Celestial Guild, who followed his manual.
Clients as severe as Choi Su-ah were rare after the early days.
"No point worrying ahead of time. It'll just make me sigh more."
He pocketed the remaining S-rank mana crystal and left the treatment room.
It would take a little time before Choi Su-ah woke up.
Choi Su-ah had a dream.
"Don't fall back! We have to hold the line! If the last bastion we defend crumbles, the mana core will shatter!"
"Even if we all die, we have to protect this place!"
Three years ago, at just 21, she had stood at the forefront of the battlefield simply because she was now an S-rank hunter.
The final battle in the Corridor of Despair—the last unconquered dungeon in Korea, designated EX-rank—where Korea's three largest guilds had gathered.
The memory of holding out, waiting only for Celestial Guild's support in that desperate situation.
They had raided the dungeon with the ambition that victory would mean no dungeons left unconquered by humanity.
She and Dawn Guild members were tasked with protecting the mana core that would purify the dungeon.
If this spot fell, the entire Celestial Guild assault team targeting the boss would be contaminated by magi and wiped out.
The battle that day, driven by a heavy sense of duty to hold the line.
Everything was hopeless.
No combat force remained except her and a few guild members.
"Don't retreat! Block those monsters!"
The numerous traps they had laid were long overrun by monsters.
Attack. Attack. Attack again.
The monsters fought desperately to defend the dungeon, and the hunters fought desperately to conquer it.
The memory of that day, her whole body reeking of blood.
The despair right before the line collapsed was still etched in her mind like a nightmare.
That nightmare from that day replayed before her eyes.
'This can't be happening.'
That battle was over long ago.
"Celestial Guild definitely came to support us..."
Celestial Guild had arrived on time, promising to take down the boss and return, leading to victory that day.
But no matter how much time passed, Celestial Guild didn't come.
Why?
How?
'Was it all... just a dream?'
No way.
We definitely... we...
We won.
Monsters swarming in greater numbers.
Guild members dying without Celestial Guild's support.
"Su-ah!"
"P-please, save us!"
"Kuaaah..."
"I don't want to die."
Dawn Guild members called her name as they died by her side.
No.
This isn't right.
We definitely...
Just before she was buried in the wave of monsters.
Just before the mana core fully shattered.
Whoosh!
Light poured down.
Blue light.
Prismatic blue light.
A massive power surged through the brilliant blue light.
The monsters vanished.
The approaching disaster disappeared.
Her dead comrades revived.
As if none of it had ever happened.
It felt like a miracle had occurred.
At the center was one man.
Now she knew it was a dream.
She had briefly confused dream and reality, but now she could clearly distinguish.
That this was a dream.
But she grew curious about the man standing in that cluster of light.
Who was he?
That person.
Who was this man appearing in her dream, enveloped in such brilliant light?
She couldn't see him.
No matter how much she focused her vision, the light was too dazzling.
He reached out from afar, and that hand touched her lower abdomen.
Far away, yet it definitely touched.
Along with the intense energy felt from her lower abdomen, her dantian.
Choi Su-ah opened her eyes.
"A dream..."
She belatedly realized she had come to the clinic for treatment on her body.
'I fell asleep during the treatment.'
She had drifted off as if under a spell.
Even though she had slept plenty before coming.
Had this ever happened before?
No.
Her S-rank hunter body resisted most magic.
She was immune to most status effects, so once she slept and woke, she rarely fell asleep again.
With stamina that made napping unnecessary, she didn't even feel the need.
Yet she fell asleep instantly during Kim Jinwoo's treatment.
As if he'd cast a real spell.
"Amazing."
She looked around.
The treatment room, shrouded in blackout curtains, was empty.
As Choi Su-ah rose from her seat, she felt her body incredibly light.
"Feels refreshing."
Ever since the crack in her holy sword, no matter how much she slept, it had never felt this refreshing.
Her body felt light, as if the weight on her shoulders had completely vanished.
"Peak condition. Couldn't feel better."
Confidence surged that she could raid any dungeon right now.
It had been so long since she felt this way.
"Mana's flowing smoothly without any blockages."
Normally, just operating mana would make her sweat profusely, but now she felt she could keep it up all day without issue.
'Was Teacher right about the magi buildup?'
But the guild's medical team had all said she was fine.
As Choi Su-ah stood, her eyes fell on the Sword of Dawn on the shelf.
The holy sword emitting a soft glow in the darkness.
Signaling to its owner that it was there.
She gazed at the holy sword revealing its presence, wrapped in faint blue light.
"The cracks are really all gone."
He had completely repaired the holy sword made from Mystic.
Was this even possible?
'Even the dwarf artisan shook his head, saying it was impossible.'
She herself had half-given up.
Yet Kim Jinwoo had flawlessly repaired something even the greatest artisans wouldn't touch.
Using mana-made needle and thread.
She recalled Kim Jinwoo's treatment method.
The strange sensations in her body when he repaired the holy sword.
The tingling even felt a bit sensual.
'The method is definitely odd, but the effect is certain.'
It was a method she'd never heard of.
Repairing Mystic was really possible?
Choi Su-ah looked at the door leading out of the treatment room.
"What kind of person is he..."
She grew curious about his identity.
Why was someone with such abilities running a small clinic?
And how did Lee Na-eun know about this benefactor?
'I'm curious.'
Grabbing her holy sword, Choi Su-ah left the treatment room.
In the lobby, Kim Jinwoo was brewing coffee.
Kim Jinwoo, brewing coffee in the cozy clinic lobby, looked at her.
"I was thinking it was about time you woke up. Care for a cup of coffee?"
A familiar energy emanated from Kim Jinwoo, who offered coffee with a smile.
The brilliant energy she had felt in her dream.
Kim Jinwoo carried mana that gave a similar feeling.
'It was Teacher.'
The warm, intense mana felt in the dream.
The one who pulled her out of despair in the dream.