Chapter 145
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Where to Plant the Flower?
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"Proceed."
[Kuh...]
At Ludwig's words, the Vermilion Bird shuddered, then reluctantly flew toward Lee Se-hun.
It perched on the back of his outstretched left hand and gently wrapped itself around with both wings.
Whoosh!
The Vermilion Bird's avatar ignited atop his hand. Once its body fully burned away, a flame pattern etched itself onto his skin, just like before.
Hum...
The glowing red emblem seamlessly sank into his body as if absorbed naturally.
Though invisible to the eye, he instinctively knew he was now linked to the Vermilion Bird and could summon it anytime.
As Lee Se-hun savored the sensation, Ludwig continued his explanation about the Vermilion Bird.
"Since you captured it yourself, feel free to use it whenever you need. Just keep in mind that outside Babel, your connection to the main body weakens, so you'll have to expend your own mana directly."
"Understood."
"That leaves the spiritual medicines. Have you decided on any?"
After a moment's thought, Lee Se-hun replied to Ludwig's question.
"Eternal Tribulation Pill, Blazing Flower, and Dark Shadow Root should do it."
Items with exceptional effects, but so dangerous that direct consumption could kill via side effects. Ludwig's eyes lit up with interest at the list, as if he'd been waiting for it.
"Planning to process them first?"
"Yes. With the Vermilion Bird's power, I figure something good will come out of it."
It'd be a waste not to make full use of such a valuable helper.
Ludwig nodded at Lee Se-hun's words and swept his hand through the air.
Clank—
A golden keyhole opened, revealing a pristine white space from which three boxes dropped in a row. Ludwig gestured toward them.
"Take a look."
Lee Se-hun promptly opened each box one by one.
Hum...
⚡ Rank:Hero | 💎 Quality:Top
A spiritual medicine crafted from the core of a Time Devourer.
Strengthens the nervous system, amplifying all sensory abilities and accelerating thought processes.
However, if the medicine's energy seeps into the brain, it may cause cognitive anomalies—exercise caution upon ingestion.
* Boosts all senses and thought speed.
'Hmm. Nicely made.'
An elixir from the byproducts of an A+ grade monster, the Time Devourer.
It boosted sensory abilities and thought speed—a rare effect. But the stronger the efficacy, the harsher the side effects, making it rarely used.
'Let's check the others.'
After confirming the Eternal Tribulation Pill's quality, Lee Se-hun opened the remaining two boxes.
A flower made of eternally burning leaves, and a root clumped like a shadowy orb. After inspecting their appearances, he checked their info as well.
⚡ Rank:Hero | 💎 Quality:High-Mid
A flower composed of endlessly burning flames.
Upon contact with fire-attribute mana or flames, it roots itself and absorbs mana and heat to grow.
* Absorbs fire-attribute mana and heat to amplify power.
* Leaf properties change based on nutrients.
⚡ Rank:Hero | 💎 Quality:Top
The hidden root of a Shadow Tree.
Upon contact with dark-attribute mana, it roots and plants a Shadow Tree seed within.
Composed of pure dark-attribute mana, the seed converts to mana immediately upon release.
* Forms a seed upon dark-attribute mana contact.
* Instantly converts formed seeds to pure dark-attribute mana.
The Blazing Flower could steal mana upon ingestion, blooming inside and burning the body to death. The Dark Shadow Root targeted vitals with its seeds, potentially eroding the heart for instant death if unlucky.
Fiercely dangerous items, every one. But packed with attribute mana, they could be beneficial if handled right.
"Handle those dangerous things with care."
"I'll keep that in mind."
After inspecting everything, Lee Se-hun closed the boxes and stored them in his subspace pocket. Ludwig slowly continued.
"With that, your worries are settled. Shall we get to the main topic?"
Leaning back in his chair, Ludwig regarded Lee Se-hun.
"You saw yesterday's major announcement, right?"
"Yes, I watched it with Department Head Ryu."
"I thought Babel needed some changes, so I pushed it forward... but after handling the aftermath, I got curious about others' thoughts."
A wry smile crossed Ludwig's face as he asked gently.
"What do you think of this new alliance structure?"
"...I see it as a good opportunity. The more diverse projects Babel runs, the more chances for the cadets."
"I see. Anything else?"
Was he fishing for a specific answer? Or prompting him to voice desires?
Unclear intent. After pondering, Lee Se-hun answered honestly.
"In a way, it's great that I can meet the other Summit Climbers besides you, President."
"Why is that?"
"Because..."
Toying with the Ascendant Emperor's ring on his right ring finger, Lee Se-hun spoke calmly.
"I can observe and study their powers."
Researching a Summit Climber's power—words few dared utter. Yet Lee Se-hun said it boldly before the man himself.
Ludwig wouldn't take offense. After all...
'He handed over his own authority without a fuss.'
If he didn't mind his power being studied, he'd hardly care about others'. He might even encourage it.
Ludwig stared at Lee Se-hun for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"That could indeed be a fine opportunity. I'll keep it in mind."
"Thank you."
"That's enough on that... Ah, yes. Not right now, but once you're a bit better, someone from the Hero Association will visit."
"The Hero Association?"
Ludwig nodded at Lee Se-hun's question.
"An investigator from the Special Task Force looking into the terror incident."
Lee Se-hun's eyes narrowed slightly at Ludwig's words.
'Those hunter dog bastards...'
The Special Task Force: the Hero Association's core strike unit. In his past life, Lee Se-hun had suffered enough at their rigid, zero-tolerance hands to make his teeth grind.
Recalling months on the run, he inwardly seethed and asked Ludwig.
"Do they suspect me of something?"
Objectively, he was just a cadet who helped thwart the Myriad Demons' Mire attack. But to the paranoid, a mere cadet's feats might raise flags.
"They say it's to secure witness statements for the investigation... but given their nature, suspicion isn't impossible."
"Hmm..."
Lee Se-hun frowned at Ludwig's assessment.
He'd figured entanglement was inevitable eventually, but facing those guys for a mind game irked him.
As he pondered how to handle it...
"Don't worry too much."
Ludwig said calmly.
"Whatever they uncover... without my permission, they can't breathe a word outside."
Even if the investigator spotted something off, Ludwig's veto sealed it. A super-legal authority only the pinnacle Summit Climber possessed—even S-rank heroes and Task Force agents treaded carefully around him.
'...I picked the right side.'
With this, he could stir major trouble with the Association and slip away quietly.
Relieved by the new assurance, Lee Se-hun bowed his head.
"Thank you for your consideration."
"No need for thanks. Protecting cadets is a president's duty."
Smiling, Ludwig glanced at his watch.
"I've kept the patient too long. Anything else?"
Lee Se-hun shook his head at the question.
"No. Nothing."
"Very well. You have plenty of rewards coming for this incident—speak up anytime you need something."
Whoosh.
With a wave of Ludwig's hand, Lee Se-hun vanished from the president's office, his senses shifting back to the ward.
"Urgh..."
Lee Se-hun sat on the bed, queasy. Confirming it, Ludwig withdrew his gaze and murmured with an intrigued expression.
"He glimpsed the margins again this time...?"
When Ludwig first ascended Hero's Tower.
The first revelation: even in what seemed a packed space, voids—the 'margins'—existed.
A third space undetectable by sight or mana.
He learned to perceive and control it, birthing his overwhelming Ascendant Emperor ability.
And now, Lee Se-hun had glimpsed it.
'The ring helped, sure... but still astonishing.'
A nearsighted person with glasses sees clearly, but doesn't suddenly read a foreign language.
Yet Lee Se-hun grasped the margins after just a few uses of the authority—like donning glasses and comprehending a new tongue.
'Can he wield it too?'
Seeing and using were worlds apart, but he'd reached the starting line—not impossible.
As Ludwig pondered this unexpected talent, a voice emanated from the white void.
[What will you do?]
"...Watch for now. It might be specialized for seeing only."
[And if it's more?]
All authorities could be dissected. Ludwig smiled softly.
"Then I'll introduce him to the others."
Back in his room, as evening fell, Lee Se-hun laid out all the materials and summoned the Vermilion Bird.
Roar!
The pattern on his hand surfaced, flames blooming from within. Moments later, the fist-sized Vermilion Bird from the president's office appeared.
As Lee Se-hun moved to greet it lightly...
[A warning first.]
The Vermilion Bird fixed him with sharp eyes.
[I contracted with you only because of that monstrous old man. Don't think of using me like a servant, or rethink that.]
"..."
[I'm not lending my power—I'm letting you borrow it. Fail to grasp that difference, and you won't even leave ashes.]
Roar!
Its body blazed fiercely.
An avatar, yet linked to the main body, exuding otherworldly pressure. Smaller, but no less—or even more—potent than before.
Lee Se-hun stared silently at the fearsome warning.
Snap!
And swiftly grabbed its nape.
[Gah! Wh-what the—?!]
As the surprised Vermilion Bird flailed, Lee Se-hun toyed with its flaming body.
"I feel the heat, but no aggression. Hostile acts against the contractor are fully prohibited, huh?"
[Kuh...]
"Logically, the president wouldn't contract without safeguards. You idiot?"
The Vermilion Bird flinched at Lee Se-hun's words.
It had assumed the young punk would cower at intimidation—but he'd seen through it already.
"Don't worry. As you said, I'm just borrowing power, so I'll keep basic courtesy."
[...]
The Vermilion Bird eyed him suspiciously.
Last time, similar sweet talk ended with his soul squeezed dry.
'...Sigh. No choice but to cooperate, bound as I am.'
Realizing its position, it sighed inwardly and asked.
[So, what exactly do you plan?]
"Gotta plant the flower first."
[You're growing that?]
Glancing haughtily at the Blazing Flower in its box, it continued.
[Using my flames will turn it into palatable petals, sure. So, where? Good soil means better effects.]
"Just scouting the best spot now."
Lee Se-hun replied calmly, inspecting the Vermilion Bird's body.
Perplexed at first, it froze in realization.
[...Why're you touching me when talking soil?]
An avatar, but linked to the main body—essentially itself.
Ignoring the question, Lee Se-hun examined thoroughly before meeting its eyes.
"Head or butt."
He politely offered the two options.
"Where should I plant it?"