Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World 72
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"Cheong-su, you really..."
Are a genius?
Regular potions don't exceed a stamina boost of +30.
Even the high-grade hunter-exclusive potions from Maestro top out at +45.
But the 'tonic' Im Cheong-su had just whipped up was a whopping +60.
For someone like me, who gets dizzy and has to lie down for ages when my stamina drops to around 20, chugging just one bottle of this would have me fresh as a daisy—ready to dive straight back into dungeon raids after a quick nap.
And that's not all.
"What about the duration?"
"It locks your minimum stamina at 60 for 10 minutes."
"So... it won't drop below that?"
"Yes."
"Whoa, damn."
The lid was sealed tight, but no doubt the tonic's aroma was wafting out.
How else could Im Cheong-su look this stunning right now?
While I was lost in bliss, Im Cheong-su wore a dissatisfied frown.
"It seems like since the highest-grade ingredient I used was A-rank, the tonic can't exceed A-rank either."
"So it includes that Dirt Dragon scale from the last haul?"
"Yes, just a bit."
My mental calculator started whirring.
"How many can you make at a time?"
"Not a ton. Maybe 10 bottles? This time I only test-made three."
"Teeen?"
More than enough.
"How long does it take? Time-wise?"
"About three days? Once I get the hang of it, probably down to one day."
I nearly fainted.
Producing these tonics at a rate of 10 bottles a day?
I beamed at our cash cow—no, our precious S-rank producer.
"Cheong-su, anything else you need?"
Maybe it was the high from Im Cheong-su's breakthrough earlier, but sleep wouldn't come no matter what.
I'd been lying in bed for ages, heart racing over how much we could charge per bottle, eyes wide open for hours now.
"Screw it, might as well go watch some TV."
I kicked off the covers and headed to the underground training hall.
Everyone else would be asleep, so I planned to flick on the lights first—but when I opened the door...
"Huh? Why's it so bright?"
The training hall, which should have been pitch black, was lit up like midday.
"Ji-seong oppa's workshop... empty."
Han Ji-seong, banned from all-nighters due to chronic overwork, wouldn't be down here at this hour.
Tilting my head, I took a few more steps in and spotted the simulation training room in operation.
Kang Han?
But the figure inside was much smaller than Kang Han.
"Yu-chan?"
Locked in combat training against a B-rank monster, Sword Orc, was none other than Lee Yu-chan.
He must have rolled across the floor countless times to create distance for his shots—his workout clothes were a wrinkled, stretched-out rag.
It was 2:30 a.m. now.
I checked my watch, walked over, and hit the simulation pause button.
"What do you mean, what? It's your noona Nayeo-ju, you punk."
I threw open the simulation training room door, and there stood Lee Yu-chan, looking busted.
"You little brat from this fine nation of ours, you're late for dreamland. Off to bed with you."
"Where's a kid this big?"
"You're not that big. Skip sleep and you really won't grow any taller, you know?"
He should be snapping back with 'Don't talk about my height!' right about now.
"...Doesn't matter if I don't grow."
"What?"
"Height's not what's important right now."
The kid turned his head sharply, but his shoulders betrayed unmistakable anxiety.
I couldn't know exactly what was going through Lee Yu-chan's mind.
But that anxiety? I knew it all too well.
The sense of defeat when everyone else is advancing while you're falling behind.
Swimming as hard as you can yet staying in place, the shore a distant black blur with no clue where to head—that hopelessness.
"I won't tell you not to be impatient."
I said to Lee Yu-chan.
"I'd probably feel the same."
It'll be okay.
Don't worry.
Don't push too hard.
All easy words to say.
I opened my sub-space and pulled out the item I'd set aside.
"But I'll help you out."
"What's... this?"
"Yours."
Lee Yu-chan slung his bow over his shoulder, staring blankly as he opened the box I handed him.
"A-rank gloves?"
His eyes bugged out even wider when he checked the certificate.
Then that nagging switch of his flipped on.
"Noona, how much money have you been blowing?!"
"Relax, dude. Made from what you hunted."
"What I hunted?"
"From the priestess robe that dropped when we cleared the Crocodile King Dungeon last time. Counts as your kill."
"You made these from that?"
"Even had leftovers. We'll use 'em elsewhere too. No need to feel burdened."
Lee Yu-chan didn't dare slip them on, just fiddled with them fingertip-style like I had.
"And money spent on Justice Guild is never wasted. It's all investments."
"Noona."
Lee Yu-chan dipped his head slightly.
Kid's pretty touched.
I smacked his shoulder to snap him out of it.
"Quit the ritual and try 'em on already."
He gazed at the white gloves for a moment, then carefully slid his fingers in.
"Whoa, feels like I'm not wearing anything."
"Right? Blew my mind at first too. Gotta be that good to avoid any weird feel when drawing the bow."
"It's not just that—no resistance, but the tactile feedback's even sharper."
Perfect.
The focus boost effect is kicking in solid.
"Since I got you a gift, be honest: what time did you start training?"
"1... 1 a.m.?"
"Tsk."
"...Midnight."
"So you've been at it for two and a half hours already."
Expecting a scolding, he just fidgeted with his gloved hands.
'System, can the physical healing skill boost just stamina?'
'Yeah.'
I grabbed Lee Yu-chan's shoulder and activated the skill right away.
"Whoa."
The sudden rush of strength felt so foreign that Lee Yu-chan looked at me in panic.
"What're you staring at? Topped up your stamina—now roll around as much as you want."
Bet he'll want to crash after a bit.
Lee Yu-chan swung his revitalized body around experimentally, then grinned.
"Thanks, noona."
...This eighteen-year-old punk.
Guilds make money in all sorts of ways.
The most common is selling dungeon byproducts and items.
This splits into two approaches.
First, like I've been doing, selling to established markets like Maestro.
Second, listing directly on guild markets.
But the first nets less profit than direct sales.
The second has the drawback that unless your guild's super famous, few buyers show up on the market.
Beyond item sales, another way is ads and merch.
But that requires guild and hunter fame, which Justice Guild lacks.
For now, at least.
And then there's mining, our first stab at it.
But that's a last resort.
Mining guilds get labeled 'has-beens.'
So if we ever want to try direct markets for dungeon items or rake in big bucks from ads/merch, we avoid it like the plague.
Can't ignore the backlash of stealing low-rank awakeners' rice bowls either.
"The surest bet is raiding gates and squeezing cash from the Association."
But Justice Guild's path there is blocked now.
All thanks to Sama Young and that bald Association head.
Still, I hadn't given up hope.
Tick, tock, tick.
That's why I sat in the training hall, staring at the moving second hand.
After glaring at the clock forever...
Click.
"Noona, the meds are ready."
I bolted up and rushed into Im Cheong-su's workshop.
As arranged, twenty bottles of pitch-black tonic lined the table neatly.
Nice.
"Cheong-su, good work."
I ruffled Im Cheong-su's hair roughly once, then pulled out my phone.
I fired off messages into the pre-made group chat.
"Done. Sent."
I proudly showed Im Cheong-su the screen after mashing the little yellow send arrow.