Chapter 77
Chapter 77
Chapter 77: The World Tree Simdrasil (4)
Translation: godtl
The bittersweet scent of medicine spread through the air.
Amidst the fragrance filling the lavish room—
"It's not exactly an injury. Just the backlash from recklessly using Demonic Energy."
A cheerful voice rang out.
"That's a relief."
"You should've taken it easy, oppa. Your Demonic Energy reserves are overwhelmingly vast, so the shock was amplified."
"I tried to take it easy, but it turned out to be harder than I thought."
"Well, I was shocked too when I saw it. How is that even possible?"
Si-mun's response made the Philosopher's Stone express its disbelief without filter.
And rightfully so.
"You just met the Heavenly Demon, and now you're using Heavenly Demon's Sovereign Step? Are you actually insane?"
"You're telling me."
It was all because the skill Go Mal-suk had displayed far surpassed common sense.
'If my main stats hadn't increased by 35, I would've had to use the Heavenly Demon Divine Art's techniques in the end.'
Si-mun shook his head repeatedly as he gazed at Go Mal-suk, who lay motionless on the bed like a corpse.
'Even if the Annihilation Cannon was one thing, who would've thought she'd even use the Heavenly Demon's Sovereign Step?'
Heavenly Demon's Sovereign Step.
A footwork technique of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, encompassing not only the fundamental movements befitting the divine art—
But also a peerless technique that channels Demonic Energy to manifest various abilities.
What Mal-suk had used was the Sovereign Step imbued with its primary function: suppression.
And using the Heavenly Demon's Sovereign Step meant—
'She's mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Art up to the third star.'
Who could've guessed that someone who had just met the Heavenly Demon and received the divine art—
Would reach the third star in one go?
'Though it wasn't a perfect Heavenly Demon's Sovereign Step.'
Not because Mal-suk only had Silver-tier specs.
Of course, as a form of powerful martial arts, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art would require immense Demonic Energy stats, but—
'She only used its suppression effect—her fundamental movements were still linear.'
Mal-suk's signature reckless, straightforward movements remained unchanged.
Had she truly mastered the Heavenly Demon's Sovereign Step—
Even her basic movements would've been different.
Thus—
'Is she at the peak of the second star, just touching the threshold of the third?'
Well, even this much was already staggering.
"Oppa, what are you going to do now?"
The cheerful voice pierced through his thoughts.
Snapping back to reality, Si-mun asked,"About what?"
"What else? The guild. You decided to create one after enhancing your title with the World Tree Seed Fragment, didn't you?"
"Ah, right."
Before locking himself in the lab—
The World Tree Seed Fragment he had received as an apology reward from the Galaxy Arena.
After using it—
'Experience gain increased by 30%, and stat growth rate by 70%.'
Considering the original options were a 20% increase in experience and a 50% boost in stat growth rate—
It meant that each refinement of the World Tree Seed Fragment increased them by 10% and 20%, respectively.
Though it cost a hefty 10,000 Achievement Points—
This was by no means a negligible growth rate.
Hence, he had resolved to establish a separate guild.
"You're going to recruit Go Mal-suk, right?"
"Only if she wants to."
Si-mun looked at the sleeping Mal-suk.
"You saw it too. She grew this much just from meeting a Constellation once."
"She's amazing, sure. But it's just that her suppressed Heavenly Execution Star and talent exploded all at once. Who knows how much she'll grow from now on?"
"Even if she plateaus, she'll at least be mid-Platinum tier. Until then, it's a free pass."
From feints to deflection techniques—
Having personally sparred with her, Si-mun was certain that Mal-suk's current talent placed her at least in the mid-Platinum tier.
"On top of that, if I keep supplying her with the Spirit Elixirs I make to boost her stats, reaching Diamond-rank shouldn't be too hard, right?"
-If she can't make it even with that level of support, she's an idiot. But oppa, do you really need to care about her that much?
The Philosopher's Stone voiced its doubt.
To which.
"There is."
Si-mun nodded firmly.
"If Mal-suk hadn't been there, the Elixir would never have come into my hands."
It probably would have disappeared along with Si-hyeok's death in the previous life.
Then synthesizing the Philosopher's Stone would have been impossible.
Naturally, the option to regress wouldn't have existed either.
Moreover.
"I need reliable comrades."
The battles ahead.
Especially against formidable races like the Dragonkin and overwhelming existences like the Dragon Emperor—even for Si-mun.
They weren't foes he could face alone.
In that sense, Go Mal-suk, who would become a high-ranker, was both in the past life and now.
One of the best comrades, combining exceptional skill with trustworthiness.
-Hmm. Well, if that kid hadn't existed, neither would the current me. Fine! I approve her guild membership.
"...Does it need your approval?"
-Of course! You're me, and I'm you. Plus, I'm the one carrying the Spirit Body of the World Tree, aren't I? I'm practically the Vice Guild Master.
Si-mun chuckled at the Philosopher's Stone's bravado and stroked its surface.
"Sure. You be the Vice Guild Master."
Thud.
At the entrance of Ranker Palace.
A large-framed man with sharp features strode confidently through the gates.
His appearance was clearly mismatched with the opulence of Ranker Palace, enough that the guards might have stopped him.
But the security at the entrance merely bowed their heads silently.
They had no choice.
"Huh? Don't recognize your face."
"The previous guard resigned, so I was newly assigned."
"Ah."
Night Hunter Park Jin-uk.
Though he didn't reside in Ranker Palace.
Every employee here knew he was close friends with Sword Saint Kim Si-hyeok, the building's owner.
"Crafty bastard. How'd you get rid of him?"
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. Good luck with your work."
Park Jin-uk waved dismissively and sauntered into Ranker Palace.
As if he'd memorized the entire layout.
He entered the elevator and pressed a button without even looking.
Upon reaching the upper floors.
"You're here?"
An annoyingly handsome man with a refreshing aura gestured at him.
Normally, Park Jin-uk would have picked a light quarrel.
But curiosity got the better of him, so he asked instead.
"Brat. How the hell did you manage to kick out the Association's damn mutt?"
"Ah. You saw?"
"Do you think the guards here wouldn't check who's coming and going? More importantly, how'd you do it?"
Though his tone was nonchalant, Park Jin-uk's eyes sparkled.
"Wasn't that guard planted by the Association President himself?"
"You can just think it was thanks to hyung."
"Thanks to Si-mun nim?"
"Yes. The previous guard was rude to a guest who came to see hyung."
"Ha! Must've been some serious rudeness to get kicked out. You really got him good, huh?"
Like pulling out an aching tooth.
Park Jin-uk looked thoroughly satisfied, and Kim Si-hyeok smiled faintly before asking.
"By the way, why are you here? We agreed to take a break from the Arena today."
"I didn't come to see you, punk. I'm here to meet our VVIP."
"Hyung?"
Kim Si-hyeok tilted his head.
Then let out a small sigh of realization.
"Ah. You're here about the treatment sales."
"Right. He said he'd prepared a new product this time."
"As expected of hyung. He's already made a new treatment in the meantime."
"Plus, Yu-jeong contacted me to meet up too."
"Lee Yu-jeong? Why her?"
Kim Si-hyeok's brow twitched slightly at the name.
"No idea. She said she had something to discuss regarding this new treatment."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
With that answer, Park Jin-uk strode briskly down the hallway.
Not long after,
he sighed softly and turned around.
"Why are you following me? This has nothing to do with you."
"How does it not? I'm your family."
"No, that's not what I— Ugh, fine."
Outwardly soft,
but who didn't know just how stubborn this damn junior could be?
Park Jin-uk, dragging his clingy junior along, headed toward Si-mun's penthouse.
"Senior, you're here."
Standing at the door was a strikingly beautiful woman.
Lee Yu-jeong had already arrived.
"Oh! Lee Yu-jeong. You're early?"
"No, I just got here too. But... you've brought some baggage with you, I see."
Yu-jeong glanced at Kim Si-hyeok with an innocent expression.
"Here, have this."
Naturally, Kim Si-hyeok raised his middle finger in response.
"How can someone about to graduate still be so crude?"
"If you've got a problem, use yours too."
"I'm better with fists than fingers, you know?"
"Yeah, yeah. You're an ogre, after all."
"...Seriously."
Before the two monsters could escalate—
Ding-dong.
Park Jin-uk hurriedly pressed the doorbell.
"Si, Si-mun! It's me!"
Fortunately,
"You're early. Come in."
God answered his prayer promptly.
Click.
The door opened, and Park Jin-uk quickly stepped inside.
Following him,
"Oppa, I'm here."
"Hyung, I'm here~."
The two monstrous juniors, who had been oozing hostility, neatly tucked away their killing intent and stepped in with their trademark refreshing, elegant smiles.
"Yeah, take a seat."
After guiding the three to their seats, Si-mun briefly brought out drinks.
In the meantime,
"Whoa! Si-mun. Is this Scotch Blue Arena Edition?"
Park Jin-uk's glass wasn't filled with just any drink—it was whiskey.
"That's right. Si-hyeok left it at the bar, but I thought you'd like it, so I brought it out."
"Kehahaha! Only you, Si-mun! And you know I'm a connoisseur, right?"
"Connoisseur? More like a drunkard."
Perhaps annoyed that the expensive liquor he'd bought for his brother was going to his senior instead,
Kim Si-hyeok pouted and grumbled.
"Hey, you punk! You dare say that when you've never even offered me a single bottle of this? You little brat, you know full well your senior is a connoisseur, yet you always show up empty-handed!"
Uncharacteristically, Park Jin-uk immediately lashed out at his junior.
Of course, it was only possible because he knew where the line was.
As expected—
"......"
A flicker of killing intent flashed in the monstrous junior's eyes, but that was all.
Kim Si-hyeok just glanced at his brother and quietly sipped his drink.
A victor's smile naturally spread across Park Jin-uk's face as he took a sip of the Scotch Blue Arena Edition.
"Si-mun, I know I just need to verify your new treatment, but..."
He turned his gaze to Lee Yu-jeong, seated across from him.
"Yu-jeong, you said you had something to discuss separately with me and Si-mun?"
Naturally, Si-mun and Kim Si-hyeok's eyes also turned toward Yu-jeong.
"Yes. I have a proposal for the two of you."
She pulled out a document from her bag and handed it to Si-mun and Park Jin-uk.
The two silently read through the document.
Once they'd finished,
"Yu, Yu-jeong. Is this for real?"
Park Jin-uk looked up with wide eyes.
"Yes, Senior."
When Yu-jeong nodded lightly, Park Jin-uk covered his mouth and let out a stunned breath.
"Seongsam Bio is offering to help sell the treatment?"
"It's just about sharing distribution channels. With Seongsam's name attached, not only will the legal procedures and payments be smoother, but you'll also gain credibility."
Yu-jeong spoke smoothly, as if she had rehearsed her lines.
Worried that there might be any misunderstanding—
"Big Brother, you know as well as I do that the Black Market isn't a place for long-term dealings."
She kept glancing at Si-mun's reaction as she continued.
"It's the kind of place that would sell even the seller's information if the price is right."
"Ahem. Even if they promise confidentiality, it's not something you can trust. That's why I'm acting as the sales proxy for the Black Market in the first place..."
Park Jin-uk agreed with Yu-jeong's point but trailed off at the end.
After all, what was the reason Si-mun had put him forward as the sales proxy in the first place?
It was in case something dangerous happened.
To make use of the Night Hunter—a top-tier Assassin Class player.
Of course, even considering all that—
'This deal is definitely more stable.'
It was on a completely different level from Seongsam Bio directly backing them.
Then—
"Yu-jeong."
Si-mun, who had been quietly reading the documents, finally spoke.
"From the zero commission fee to everything else, I don't see a single clause in this contract that benefits Seongsam Bio. Am I reading this right?"
"Yes, Big Brother. You've read it correctly."
Yu-jeong nodded with a solemn expression.
"I say this to avoid any misunderstanding—these terms are absolutely not being offered with any profit or ulterior motive on our part."
"Ahem! Yu-jeong? I feel a little awkward saying this in front of you, but... does it make sense for a corporation to act without profit or purpose?"
Park Jin-uk voiced his skepticism openly, though somewhat awkwardly.
Of course, his doubts were well-founded.
"It's only natural you'd have those doubts. But, Senior, you already know—what Big Brother has done for us."
Yu-jeong continued without hesitation.
"I know."
Park Jin-uk, now understanding why a major corporation like Seongsam would offer such terms, nodded quietly.
At that, Si-mun, who had been silent, spoke up.
"Yu-jeong, I didn't heal your mother expecting anything in return."
"I know. But you cured Mother's illness—something no one else could do. And you gave her back the chance to live as a Player again."
The more one possesses, the more one stands to lose.
Even before considering what Lee Yeong-hui had as the daughter of Seongsam—
The achievements she had made as Do-hu, one of Korea's First Generation Rankers, were beyond quantifiable.
And Si-mun hadn't just protected those—he had given her the chance to reclaim them.
"I'm not trying to put a price on Big Brother's pure intentions for Mother."
From the perspective of the mother and daughter—
It was something they dared not even attempt to measure.
And so—
"Beyond the fact that we're close, this is a proposal made purely out of gratitude—to repay even a fraction of the debt we owe you."
This was how they wanted to repay him.
The larger the corporation one belongs to, the less people are willing to take their sincerity at face value.
They're quick to assume there must be some ulterior motive.
Having experienced such skepticism time and again—
"Please... consider this proposal favorably, Big Brother."
Without realizing it, Yu-jeong lowered her gaze and clenched her fists tightly.
Then—
"Yu-jeong. You're the one making such a generous offer, so why are you shrinking into yourself?"
Was it true what they say about parents never being wrong?
"I'll gratefully accept your proposal. But no take-backs later, alright?"
A large, warm hand gently brushed over Yu-jeong's head.
Even as it slightly ruined her carefully styled hair—
"Big Brother..."
A wave of nostalgia from ten years ago washed over her, and before she knew it, emotions welled up in her chest.
"Hm. But now that I've received such a good offer, I feel a little bad leaving you out."
"Huh?"
Si-mun scratched his cheek lightly before tapping the air a few times.
Then—
"Actually, I was planning to call everyone because I had a proposal of my own. Of course, I was going to ask you too, Yu-jeong."
"What is it, Big Brother?"
"This."
Si-mun projected an information window into the air and shared it.
"Good heavens...!"
"H-Hyung?! What the hell—?!"
"Si-mun! Is this for real?!"
They shot up from their seats in shock, their faces a picture of disbelief.