Chapter 19: The Incredible Power of the Potion
"So."
Lee Jeong-myeong, still on his knees, looked up at Kang-ho and snapped to attention.
"Yes, sir!"
"You're using this place as your warehouse?"
"Yes, sir! We use the secret stash in Paju!"
"And where do you fence the stolen goods for cash?"
"The black market!"
"I see."
Kang-ho nodded slowly.
He turned back to Lee Jeong-myeong.
"Your eyes are wide open now, huh?"
"Pardon?"
Sure enough, Lee Jeong-myeong's eyes burned with focus and clarity. The hazy, wistful gaze of the man who'd once complained about the boredom of peace was gone. Now, he craved peace—more desperately than anyone.
Kang-ho stared at him intently before speaking.
"Get up."
"Yes, sir."
As Lee Jeong-myeong rose, Kang-ho said again,
"Open it."
Before them loomed a secretive cave—an artificial tunnel carved into the hillside of a rural backwater in Paju's Bongilcheon, where human presence had long faded.
Lee Jeong-myeong sprang into action. After taking a three-hour beating from the monster in front of him—just enough not to die outright—his mind had snapped awake.
At least top-tier ranker level. Minimum.
One thing was crystal clear.
Survive first, worry later.
Meek as a lamb, Lee Jeong-myeong approached the cave. Powered by his mana, the entrance ground open with a heavy rumble.
Grrrrrind—
The interior was shabby but stacked with a decent hoard of goods.
Kang-ho slowly surveyed the space. There were plenty of Magic Stones in the C-to-E ranks, along with weapons and monster byproducts piled high.
"Where are all the Magic Stones?"
At Kang-ho's question, Lee Jeong-myeong's eyes darted frantically as he replied,
"Th-they're quick to liquidate and compact... We usually cash them out right away."
"Hmm."
Kang-ho frowned slightly, scanning the cave. It was full of valuable items. Stolen goods were easy to trace back to owners, so they often couldn't be fenced quickly—like weapons and gear.
Kang-ho examined the items one by one, then paused at a particular spot, staring intently.
Why the hell is this here?
It was a fist-sized orb, shrunken and blackened like something rotten.
He picked it up and asked Lee Jeong-myeong,
"Where'd this come from?"
"Ah, that thing..."
Lee Jeong-myeong stared at it, lost in thought for a moment, then clutched his head as if drawing a blank.
"From that hunting party we ambushed... recently?"
"No way."
Kang-ho tsked, fiddling with it before nodding.
"This all for the warehouse?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
Kang-ho pulled out his smartphone and made a call.
"......?"
Moments later, a voice came through. It was a video call.
"Gah!"
Lee Jeong-myeong jolted in terror at the face on screen and collapsed to the ground.
The screen showed the one man Lee Jeong-myeong dreaded even in his nightmares.
"Yeah, it's me. Whatcha up to?"
"Hm..."
Kang-ho silently turned the phone toward Lee Jeong-myeong. Cold sweat trickled down the man's spine.
"Nah, forget it. Hanging up."
A young man's face appeared on screen. Kang-ho smiled faintly at him.
"Good disciples come from good masters. Remember my face."
Click.
Kang-ho hung up and looked at Lee Jeong-myeong. Shock etched across his face.
Choi Kang-ho!
The name he'd forgotten hit him like a truck.
The Beast King, Choi Kang-ho!
Why hadn't he realized sooner? But regret was too late now. His teeth chattered uncontrollably.
Kang-ho asked casually,
"Depending on your answers, I might just let you walk. You don't seem like the war-trauma type anyway."
For a split second, hope flickered in his eyes.
"R-really?"
"Maybe. Is this really everything in the warehouse? You'll spill it all if you're caught anyway. Be honest."
"Y-yes, this is the last one. There was another, but it got hit recently..."
"Hit? By who?"
"I-I don't know. But..."
"But?"
"We suspect Phantom..."
Phantom.
"Phantom?"
"Th-the thief who's been rampant lately. Leaves a black card at every scene..."
"Got it."
Kang-ho committed the name to memory and nodded. He picked up his phone again.
"Hey, Jun-woo."
"You know Lee Jeong-myeong?"
Soon, fury twisted across Park Jun-woo's face on the screen.
Kang-ho angled the phone to show Lee Jeong-myeong.
"Eeeek!"
Lee Jeong-myeong recoiled as if fainting.
The Sword God's enraged voice boomed from the phone. Kang-ho switched the camera back to himself.
"I'll text you the address. Send some Baekya guys. Got his whole crew too."
He gave the location, hung up, and glanced at Lee Jeong-myeong, who cried out,
"Y-you said you'd let me go!"
"Lied."
Lee Jeong-myeong's face twisted at Kang-ho's nonchalant expression.
"Y-you bastard!"
"Cut me some slack. I got war trauma too."
Kang-ho grinned and raised his fist. It slammed straight into Lee Jeong-myeong's heart.
Crack!
"Gahk!"
Something shattered. Lee Jeong-myeong crumpled, vomiting blood.
"Keurk... hack!"
With each heave, mana drained from his body. Awakeners stored their mana in a core at the heart. Destroying it meant stripping their powers—the death of an Awakener.
Kang-ho had just ended Lee Jeong-myeong's life as one.
He strode out of the cave. The remaining Raiders lay tongue-lolling and unconscious in a heap.
Kang-ho sat down heavily and looked at Seol-a in his arms. Her diamond eyes sparkled with curiosity at the fallen humans and him.
"Not everyone's like this."
A cold wind blew through Paju's deserted hillside.
Moments later.
Whoosh! Pop-pop-pop!
A sound approached from afar. A young man in his early thirties emerged from the brush. He glanced around cautiously, approached Kang-ho, and bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Senior Choi Kang-ho."
"Hyuk, huh. Guild running smooth?"
"It's tough, but I'm managing."
His short hair and sharp eyes marked him as no ordinary fighter. He wore a black combat suit of monster hide, a black mask covering a long scar from forehead to jaw. Etched on the mask: Baekya.
Lee Hyuk, master of one of Korea's Big 3 guilds, Baekya.
He checked the fallen men.
"Raiders, right? This isn't everyone?"
Lee Hyuk nodded slowly.
"But looks like we've got all the key players."
He entered the cave and dragged out Lee Jeong-myeong, foaming at the mouth with his mana core shattered.
"......"
Complex emotions crossed Lee Hyuk's face as he gazed down. Once a comrade-in-arms, a longtime senior.
He bowed to Kang-ho again.
"I failed to keep my house in order. My shortcomings caused this offense to you, senior."
Kang-ho gave a wry smile.
"Skip the nonsense. Clean up the warehouse, return what you can to owners. Magic Stones got cashed out, so handle that yourselves?"
"Yes, sir."
Baekya's reputation was on the line.
"Oh, and."
Kang-ho held up the blackened orb.
"This was in there. Probably no owner."
Lee Hyuk's eyes lit up.
"A Earth Inner Pill. Naturally formed in the cave."
"I'm taking it."
"All yours."
Lee Hyuk bowed without hesitation.
Pop! Pop-pop!
Baekya members in matching gear arrived from all sides, bowing to Kang-ho.
Kang-ho extended a hand. Lee Hyuk clasped it firmly.
"Bounties on these guys'll hit your account. Thank you again."
"Keep up the good work."
Kang-ho clapped his shoulder and turned away.
As he left, killing intent flashed in Lee Hyuk's eyes.
"All members—shatter their mana cores."
The Baekya guildmates nodded and began stripping the Raiders' powers amid the chilling command.
......
Snowflakes danced once more as he entered Cheorwon.
City life had its charms, but Kang-ho preferred this serene landscape. A quiet world where you could hear the snow falling in the biting cold.
But he'd started modern life now. Duties in society would only pile up.
Back home, Kang-ho unpacked his purchases. He fed Seol-a a proper meal first, then pulled out the prime ingredient: the World Tree fruit from Yeongdeungpo 21st Street's beastkin shop.
It strengthened beast hides—not direct stats, but like donning natural armor.
Kkiing?
Seol-a tilted her head at the fruit.
"Bath time first, Seol-a."
Flinch!
Her body stiffened. Ears perked straight up, fur bristled, posture dropped low—full alert.
Kang-ho chuckled.
"Hate baths just like Hwarang. But gotta do it."
Seol-a's eyes darted, then she backed away slowly.
Whoosh!
She bolted out the window.
Pop!
Too slow for Kang-ho.
Nng! Nng! Nng!
Seol-a wailed pitifully in his arms.
'No bath!'
Kang-ho carried her to the bathroom. The Magic Stone heater hummed, filling the tub with warm water.
He gently applied it to her fur, and she whimpered again.
Kkiiing! Kkiing! Nng!
Soon, she slumped in defeat.
Suppressing a laugh, Kang-ho infused mana into the World Tree fruit.
Whirr—
It melted completely, dissolving into the water. A rich, fragrant aroma bloomed instantly.
Whoosh!
Emerald light erupted everywhere. The water thickened with viscosity, carrying an indescribably refreshing scent. The bathroom glittered brilliantly.
Sniff-sniff-sniff—
Seol-a blinked; the smell wasn't half bad.
Kang-ho washed her thoroughly. Beastkin warriors ground tiny amounts of World Tree fruit rind into paste before battle—proof of its rarity.
But Kang-ho used a whole fruit without restraint. The effects were massive.
The bathwater absorbed into her skin, level dropping rapidly.
Suddenly, it vanished entirely. Seol-a's body gleamed pure white.
Kkiing!
Her fur grew visibly longer—nearly double in an instant. Her skin shone with luster, her whole form sparkling like dusted with glitter.
Damn good results.
Kang-ho nodded. Seol-a, clearly pleased, stared wide-eyed at her reflection.
One fruit down—fur and skin fortified for sure. Furball had toughened up the same way back then.
That should've been it...
But stars twinkled in Seol-a's eyes. She shuddered once more.
"Hm?"
Flash!
Light burst from her body again.
"......"
It was the phenomenon of a beast's ability awakening.
Kang-ho looked incredulous.
Why's she reacting to the potion this well?