Chapter 67
Chapter 67
Chapter 67: Paracelsus's Flask (1)
Translation: godtl
[Do-hu Awakens!]
[The Empress Returns After 7 Years! Korea Trembles!]
[The Legend Returns: First Generation Players Rejoice!]
[Overseas Reactions Stir Over Do-hu's News]
[Not the Time to Comment, Seongsam Group Urges Restraint]
[Blessing or Curse? The Association Remains Silent on Do-hu's Return]
[Will Arena Diseases Finally Be Conquered? Experts Weigh In......]
Articles poured forth in an endless flood.
Beyond TV, across the internet, and into reality.
News of Do-hu's awakening set Korea ablaze,
while overseas, the return of this legendary First Generation Ranker drew feverish attention.
Amidst this fervor—
"President, the Blue House has sent an official request for the Association to issue a statement regarding Do-hu's return."
Yet the Awakened Association, which should have been at the center of the storm,
remained as cold as an Arctic blizzard—especially the president's office on the top floor.
"What should we do?"
Despite the question from Choi Chang-wook, a middle-aged man with sharp features,
Association President Kim Mu-yeol merely tapped his desk, eyes fixed on the monitor.
Five minutes passed in silence before—
"Choi Chang-wook, what do you think?"
Like a block of ice,
Kim Mu-yeol finally spoke, still staring at the screen.
"I don't believe we need to comply with the Blue House's request. Even Seongsam is maintaining silence—"
"You think I care about those unawakened maggots?"
A razor-sharp glare.
Having served Kim Mu-yeol for years, Choi Chang-wook swiftly pivoted the topic.
"If this is about Do-hu's recovery... I can hardly believe it myself."
Had he guessed right?
"Hmm."
The edge in Kim Mu-yeol's gaze dulled slightly.
"What are the odds this is just a PR stunt by the Seongsam Guild to cover their poor Debut Match results?"
"The risk would be far too great. If exposed as a lie, even Seongsam couldn't withstand the backlash."
"True. No one in their right mind would stage such a reckless show."
Which meant—
"Lee Yeong-hui's recovery is real..."
Kim Mu-yeol's brow furrowed.
There was only one question:
How?
How could an Arena disease possibly be cured?
As far as he knew, no treatment existed.
Then it hit him.
No—not entirely.
The crease in his brow relaxed slightly.
"Wasn't there a Mana Sclerosis cure circulating in the Black Market recently? Any connection?"
"We're investigating, but even bribes aren't working. They're treating the seller as a VIP."
"Meaning the Black Market's master is personally overseeing this?"
"Yes. As you know, those scum would sell a customer's information for the right price—yet they obey their master's orders without question."
Kim Mu-yeol nodded slowly.
Trash who'd sell a man's life for coin,
yet absurdly loyal to their master.
Or is it fear?
Either way—
If the Black Market's master was involved, uncovering the seller's identity was impossible.
"What about Seongsam?"
"They've outright blocked information. We have no way to investigate from our end."
Dead end here.
Dead end there.
Kim Mu-yeol's eyebrow twitched at his least favorite phrase.
"I've said it before. As distasteful as it is, that old man is still on the same ship as us."
"I already contacted Chairman Lee Sun-cheol. However..."
"However?"
"Even Chairman Lee claims ignorance of the details."
"What?"
For the first time, Kim Mu-yeol's poker face cracked.
That was understandable.
"A man who keeps dozens of snakes in his belly—could this all be an act?"
This was none other than the master of the Seongsam Group.
For decades, it had reigned as Korea's top corporation.
Even with the emergence of the Galaxy Arena, its swift response ensured it never lost that title.
And now, Chairman Lee Sun-cheol claimed not to know about this?
Of course, Kim Mu-yeol had his suspicions.
'Could it be Lee Yu-jeong? Did that girl act alone?'
Do-hu Lee Yeong-hui.
Lee Yu-jeong, who had inherited the blood of that iron-willed woman—the very picture of softness on the outside, steel within—was, despite her early twenties,
an exceptionally sharp and cunning girl.
Much like his own nephews.
"I can't say for certain, but to my eyes, he seemed genuinely shaken. He looked utterly flustered."
"That old man? Flustered...?"
Then it must be true.
Muttering to himself, Kim Mu-yeol tapped his desk again.
'Do-hu should never have woken up. Ideally, she should have stayed dead.'
But she had awakened.
And that was bad news—for him,
and for Chairman Lee Sun-cheol as well.
"The hospital where Do-hu was—it was a Seongsam facility, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"...Can we send someone in?"
He didn't specify whose people he meant.
"Impossible."
Choi Chang-wook answered immediately.
Kim Mu-yeol's face twisted in displeasure.
"I'm hearing a lot of things I don't like today."
"My apologies. Our security personnel have all been denied access. The Seongsam Guild's elites are taking shifts guarding her, and... reporters have set up camp there 24/7."
At the mention of reporters, Kim Mu-yeol clicked his tongue.
"Tch. The brat's playing her cards well. For someone who used to recoil at the mere sight of the press..."
With so many eyes watching, an 'assassination' would be difficult.
Having made that judgment, Kim Mu-yeol rested his chin on his hand.
'If we push for an assassination and get caught, there's no going back.'
Just the revelation that there had been an attempt on Do-hu—a First Generation hero—would be enough to bury both the Association and Seongsam in public outrage.
'Annoying. That old man must be thinking the same thing.'
There was no other choice.
Do-hu Lee Yeong-hui.
Her existence alone was enough to threaten both him, the Association President, and Lee Sun-cheol, the master of Seongsam.
"Did Chairman Lee Sun-cheol just look flustered?"
"He seemed deeply unsettled."
"Of course. He has sins to answer for."
And so did he.
If Lee Yeong-hui started digging into what happened back then, trouble would follow.
'She'll definitely dig. Stubborn woman.'
To a fault.
'Well, that's why she ended up like that.'
Kim Mu-yeol smirked.
"That message from the Continent Guild a while ago—did we reply?"
"It's still pending."
"Send a response. Tell them we'll arrange their illegal entry."
"Association President, after the recent Sillim terror incident, domestic security is on high alert. With just our forces—"
"Reach out to that old man at Seongsam."
The Association and Seongsam.
If the two forces joined hands, no matter how tight the security, they could create an opening.
But Choi Chang-wook hesitated.
"Chairman Lee Sun-cheol? Why would he take such a risk to help us?"
"I'll give him a little nudge. Once you've done something once, the second time comes easier."
"Understood. I'll proceed as instructed."
Choi Chang-wook bowed.
Just as he turned to leave—
"Ah, come to think of it... Kim Si-mun recently moved into Rank Palace, didn't he?"
"Yes. It seems Kim Si-hyeok and Lee Yu-jeong pulled some strings."
"Figures. That place might as well belong to those two brats."
Kim Mu-yeol's gaze lingered on the news coverage of Lee Yeong-hui staining the monitor.
"Keep eyes on him and watch for any openings. As long as he remains in Rank Palace, even the Continent Guild won't dare attempt an assassination."
"Understood."
As Choi Chang-wook exited the president's office, Kim Mu-yeol moved his mouse.
The screen previously filled with images of Do-hu Lee Yeong-hui was instantly replaced by the photo of a handsome young man.
It couldn't be helped.
Before Do-hu awakened,
the one who stirred up South Korea was the winner of the Gold-rank Debut Match.
Kim Mu-yeol stared intently at that champion.
"Something's off......"
This inexplicably unpleasant feeling, as if he were being left behind.
A sensation he'd only ever felt from his damnably perfect older brother.
'Why the hell am I getting that same fucking feeling from you, Kim Si-mun?'
And so until sunrise,
Kim Mu-yeol kept his gaze fixed on his nephew through the monitor.
The lights automatically turned on as the door opened.
Beneath them sprawled an interior both luxurious and refined.
"Whew!"
Si-mun tossed off his coat and threw himself onto the sofa.
"I'm completely exhausted."
He meant it.
His aunt's treatment had enhanced all his Dragon Power-related abilities,
but the mental toll had nearly torn his spirit apart.
Even without physical labor, he was mentally drained to his limits.
-But everyone was really happy about it, weren't they? Even Oppa was pleased.
"Yeah, that's true."
Si-mun chuckled dryly at the Philosopher's Stone's remark.
How could he not be happy?
He'd personally restored the woman who'd cared for him and Si-hyeok like their own mother.
And more than that.
"With Auntie back, Yu-jeong should get some relief too."
Do-hu Lee Yeong-hui.
Her reputation aside,
she was one of the few who could stand against the titan that was Chairman Lee Sun-cheol.
'Was it Section Chief An Ho-jin? Just looking at that guy who came to see me last time...'
It showed exactly how much Chairman Lee Sun-cheol interfered with the Seongsam Guild.
With his aunt's return, all that would likely disappear.
-So healing wasn't your only goal after all?
"Hey now, someone might misunderstand. Auntie's recovery was absolutely the priority."
-While conveniently helping Lee Yu-jeong and keeping Seongsam in check too, right?
"To be completely honest, there's one more."
-What?
"The Association."
Si-mun turned his head slightly to gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Though quite distant,
the towering building of the Korea Awakened Association stood clearly visible, a testament to the current Awakened's might.
"My siblings were too young to remember, but I know. Auntie is one of the few people who can actually raise her voice against Uncle."
Though as an illegitimate child he didn't know the family affairs deeply,
he knew the Kim family had been close with the Seongsam family since his grandfather's generation.
Surely Uncle must have known Auntie since childhood too.
Wasn't that why she could shout so boldly at his blade-like uncle?
'She really tore into him like catching a rat.'
He remembered it vividly from childhood.
The first day he'd met his aunt, holding his father's hand.
For some reason she'd been furious,
berating Uncle Kim Mu-yeol with raised voice after raised voice.
'Even Father couldn't easily stop her.'
It being the heyday of the First Generation,
the extraordinary Qi Waves the two emitted made the memory even more unforgettable.
"With Auntie back, Yu-jeong can finally breathe."
-Mhm. And conveniently keep that damn uncle in check too?
"...Must you always add such commentary, you brat?"
Like giving a noogie,
Si-mun flicked the Philosopher's Stone against his chest.
But the Stone just giggled mischievously.
"Heehee! But oppa, do you really think that'll work? That auntie person lost so many stats, didn't she?"
At those words, Si-mun's expression darkened.
Though he'd cured her Circuit Reversal and administered Mana Deficiency medication to completely heal her condition...
Her diminished stats hadn't returned to normal.
"I was shocked too. I never imagined her Status Window would be nearly reset."
Level 2.
And her stats were even lower than when she first awakened.
Almost all the specs that once made her a top-tier 1st Generation Ranker had disappeared.
"There's no helping it. She suffered from Arena Diseases for so long after all."
-That's true. In a way, she extended her life by burning through all the stats she'd accumulated over the years.
Nodding at the Philosopher's Stone's words, Si-mun answered with conviction:
"But if it's auntie, she'll pick herself back up. She'll probably return to the Arena. She kept saying she'd live a second life."
-Well, she was struggling to even move her vocal cords properly but kept trying to express her gratitude. She definitely seems like a woman of strong will.
"Haha! She's got spirit alright."
Their conversation naturally shifted to mass-producing Arena Disease cures.
"By the way, what was the reason you told me to get Paracelsus's Flask?"
They'd finally obtained Paracelsus's Flask.
Si-mun retrieved the flask from his inventory.
[Paracelsus's Flask]
Grade: (Old) Mythic
A creation of Paracelsus, the lost god of alchemy.
It can be used, but with its creator gone, the method remains unknown.
'Old Mythic?'
The unfamiliar grade made him tilt his head, but he quickly understood.
'Well, it is a relic of a vanished god now.'
Unlike Cronus's Sand which he'd previously transmuted,
this was an item originally possessed within the Galaxy Arena.
What truly puzzled him was:
"But how do you use this thing?"
The item's usage method.
Despite the description in the information window,
he couldn't grasp how to operate it.
-I know how to use it, so don't worry.
"Really?"
-Mhm. Quickly, place it over there. I'll show you!
At the Philosopher's Stone's urging, Si-mun placed the flask on the table before him.
Strangely enough—
'It even stays in place?'
The spherical flask, like a crystal ball, didn't roll across the desk but remained perfectly stationary.
-Then, oppa, lend me some Transmutation Power.
"Got it... Eek!"
The Philosopher's Stone vibrated like a phone set to silent mode.
Startled by the sudden vibration, Si-mun clutched his chest.
"What the—!"
What followed left his eyes widening even further.
Sssssss—
A clear, crimson energy streamed out from between his fingers pressed against his chest.
No—should he call it a current?
The red energy slowly seeped into Paracelsus's Flask.
Then—
'The Philosopher's Stone... split in two?'
Just like the Philosopher's Stone embedded in the center of his chest,
he could sense its presence inside the flask—
[Constellations Zeus, Heavenly Demon, and Odin express their admiration.]
[Constellation Black Goat salivates over your achievement.]
[Constellation Black Goat sponsors you with 1,000 Achievement Points.]
The Constellations' reactions and sponsorships appeared before his eyes.
It was inevitable—
Because—
[You have recreated the forgotten alchemical knowledge: Homunculus.]
[The effects of the title 'Pioneer of Alchemy' have grown.]
[New effects have been added to the title 'Pioneer of Alchemy'.]
[You have achieved the accomplishment 'Little Human in the Flask'.]
[You have earned 2,000 Achievement Points.]
Even Si-mun couldn't help but be stunned by the content of these achievements.
"A... a Homunculus?"
Before his shock could fully settle—
From within the flask now filled with crimson energy—
-Huhu.
Sluuurp.
A sinister chuckle echoed as a single, massive eyeball slowly opened.
-So you've finally reached this point!
It stared intently at Si-mun before remarking:
-Looking at you like this, I find you even more pleasing. Well done. Now then...
Its lips, now fully formed, stretched wide—
-SLEEP!