Clinical Trial (1)
The amount of heavenly flowers sent by Dang Gunak wasn't abundant, but it was enough to produce a batch of treatment for clinical trials.
Taeju began researching the cure using the Geum Jeonghwa and Eumyanghwa.
These two flowers had a profound connection to treating mana rejection syndrome.
He extracted the necessary components from the flowers and combined them with poisons drawn from his poison core.
How much is the right amount?
The key was the formulation.
Finding the optimal ratio for maximum efficacy came first.
Hmm.
Problems arose when he mixed in too much.
The heavenly flower extract, meant to neutralize mana, ended up altering even the poisonous properties.
Let's reduce it gradually.
After dozens of attempts, he finally discovered the golden ratio.
The poison and heavenly flower components blended seamlessly without any discord.
Thus, he produced about 100 vials of treatment samples.
Even so, half of the heavenly flowers remained.
What about the rest?
I need to check if I can make it using general ingredients mixed into poisons, instead of poisons extracted directly from the core.
Until now, Taeju had drawn the base poisons straight from his poison core.
In other words, no one but him could produce the treatment.
But continuing like this would make mass production impossible.
He might have to extract poison from his core every single day.
He needed to use real materials to create the treatment.
And those treatments had to show the same efficacy.
He proceeded with production using the poisons.
For the Man-nyeon O-gong decomposition poison, he found a substitute with similar effects, and for the mosquito venom, he captured mosquitoes directly from the Jirisan swamps and cultured them.
He processed them, mixed with purified water and the heavenly flower extract at the golden ratio.
Thus, he produced another 100 vials of mass-producible treatment samples.
Now it was time for clinical trials.
But not right away.
I have to wait.
The next shipment from Dang Gunak.
He needed sufficient quantities secured.
Only then could he move to the next phase.
In the meantime...
I should rest a bit.
How much of the heavenly flowers would there be?
Dang Gunak had spoken positively, but still.
Taeju stepped out of the lab.
It had been a while since he'd seen sunlight.
Right then.
"Huh?"
"..."
His eyes met with someone walking that way.
It was a cat.
Ilbaek stared at the surprised Taeju.
"...Ilbaek?"
They gazed at each other for a long moment.
Snap! Ilbaek turned away from Taeju and continued on his path.
He's pissed.
Seemed like it.
He knew the reason.
Too absorbed in research, hadn't even shown his face once.
The little guy was sharp enough to know what his master was up to.
"He doesn't even recognize his owner anymore. Maybe I should raise a dog? Lately, I've been drawn to pups."
Ilbaek froze mid-step, one paw raised.
"Might as well visit a stray dog shelter."
In an instant!
Thud thud thud thud thud!
He charged straight at Taeju.
"Meow!"
Hop—he leaped into Taeju's arms.
"You rascal! So you were sulking."
"Meow?"
"Yeah, let's have some snacks together after so long."
"Meeeooow!"
Taeju spent some time with Ilbaek for a while.
Then he visited the Gurye City Hall for the first time in ages.
He was the lifelong mayor of Gurye, after all.
But he'd hardly ever been there.
"M-Mayor!"
"...You could've called ahead. We would've picked you up from the front."
"Please visit more often."
All the city hall officials came out to greet Taeju warmly.
Even before being lifelong mayor, he was Gurye's biggest celebrity.
Everyone's faces were bright.
Effect of the salary raises?
"No troubles, right?"
"No, sir."
"Tell me if there are. I'll handle it right away."
This place was different from Paju.
Gurye's administrative system ran smoothly as before.
No massive projects, so nothing much for the mayor to do.
"Where's the deputy mayor?"
"In his office."
Lee Jeonghak, the guild master now leading Gurye's city hall in Taeju's stead.
Formerly Gurye police chief, he'd passed his Nogodan deputy guild master position to someone else and taken the deputy mayor role.
"Mayor, welcome."
"How've you been?"
"Perfect timing. Lots to report."
"...Uh, now?"
"Yes."
Shouldn't have come.
Well, duty as mayor.
Lee Jeonghak's report followed.
Nothing major, but...
"Monster numbers in Jirisan have increased a lot?"
"Yes. Mostly regular monsters, but we can't ignore it."
Monsters reproduced remarkably well.
Even a slight lull in hunting led to rapid growth.
High monster density birthed elite monsters.
Taeju reviewed the report.
"Hmm, raid teams have dwindled a lot."
"Taxes, probably."
With Taeju as mayor, Gurye lost its free city status.
Thus, tax exemptions on monster byproduct sales vanished.
"Then let's revert it. Exempt byproduct taxes."
"Wise decision. City budget's plenty."
City hall done, now just waiting.
A day passed, two days...
The moment he was growing antsy with time!
Bzzzzt!
The delivery signal finally came.
...Let's see.
Taeju checked the goods.
"Heh heh heh."
The shared storage was a sea of flowers.
Enormous Geum Jeonghwa and Eumyanghwa blooms filled it to the brim.
Even the subspace bag.
Taeju emptied the warehouse, filled it with Earth goods, and checked his smartphone.
- Time for mass production. Let's save some lives.
The signal dropped.
But first, clinical trials.
※ ※ ※
Temporary ward at Taehong Orphanage.
Ten patients gathered, including Myungjin.
All severe to critical mana rejectors.
"Haa..."
Baek Hongpyo let out a long sigh of frustration.
Initial improvements had sparked hope, but no progress since.
Even the great Taeju seemed stumped.
Was overcoming this heavenly punishment impossible?
For now, only daily palliative care.
But that was something.
Without Taeju's interim treatments, at least half would be dead.
Yet the dispatched doctor was pessimistic.
"Director, give up. False hope. Better give them time to prepare."
This jerk, fanning flames in a burning house.
Lazing around with nothing to do.
"So, has anyone died?"
"Pardon?"
"Patients who could die any moment—anyone dead?"
"N-No, I mean—"
"'Give up' so easily? And you're a doctor?"
"..."
"Our Chairman Kim's still researching nonstop, while you just monitor vitals."
The doctor couldn't hold back.
"Results? Implanting vain hope in the impossible..."
Then.
The door burst open.
"Hyungnim!"
"...T-Taeju."
"Where's Myungjin?"
"Over there, sleeping."
Taeju handed the prepared syringes to the dispatched doctor.
"Inject with IV fluids."
"...Haa, got it."
The doctor's displeased expression.
But defy Gurye's lifelong mayor?
The mana rejection treatment entered Myungjin's body via IV.
Waiting for effects, Taeju administered to the others.
Moments later.
Twitch, twitch—U Myungjin woke.
Eyes snapping open,
"Uwaa!"
He ripped off his oxygen mask with his own hands, letting out a raw gasp.
"M-Myungjin! What's wrong? In pain?"
"No..."
He bolted upright.
"I feel comfortable suddenly. No pain, breathing's so easy."
That was the start.
Severe patients rising here and there.
One by one, removing oxygen masks.
"I'm fine too."
"Head's clear."
"Feels light. No breathing issues."
"Me too..."
.
.
.
The dispatched doctor gaped at the unforeseen scene.
What the hell? They couldn't even breathe on their own moments ago...
Real?
Drugs maybe?
No, one shot...
He hurriedly checked the vital signs monitors.
Incredibly, all readings normal.
No way...
Truthfully, he'd scoffed at first.
He knew Kim Taeju was remarkable.
His new drugs improved lives, revolutionized monster hunting.
But mana rejection cure? Different story.
How long since research started...
The global medical world had poured over a century into it.
No results.
Yet today, a miracle like a fairy tale.
Taeju wasn't satisfied.
Needed to check duration.
Day 2.
No deterioration.
Effects held.
Administered another dose.
Even better.
Color returned to faces.
Day 3.
Effects sustained.
Some walking around.
Continued dosing.
Day 4.
Appetites surged.
Flesh filled gaunt frames.
Some running.
Severe mana rejectors resuming daily life.
Strolling orphanage grounds, exercising, eating well—indistinguishable from normals.
Phase 1 clinical trial: resounding success.
Milder cases ended at 3 doses; severe needed 4.
Would relapse? Monitor long-term. For now, no regression, no side effects.
Baek Hongpyo teared up, grasping Taeju's hand.
"Don't know what to say. Taeju! You worked so hard."
"What? Phase 2 still ahead."
"Phase 2?"
"Yes. Gather 10 more similar patients."
Phase 1 success kept secret.
No celebrating yet.
Most crucial test remained.
Phase 2 began.
This time, treatments from real materials, not core poisons.
After a week of dosing,
"Yes!"
Phase 2: also resounding success.
A miracle by Taeju and Dang Gunak.
One difference from Phase 1.
No core poison meant slightly weaker efficacy.
Average 7 doses, minimum 6; meaningful effects at 7, severe up to 8.
But spared Taeju extracting from core.
Couldn't replicate anyway.
Where else heavenly flowers?
But much to improve.
Reduce doses.
Prep Phase 3.
Trials to boost efficacy.
Establish mass production.
But no factories for it.
New Seoul, Gurye plants at capacity.
Suspend existing drug production temporarily...
Taeju sought Baek Seoyeonn.
"Seoyeonn."
"Chairman! I heard. The—the real cure...?"
"Yes. Just need mass production. So, start acquiring pharma companies. Need for large-scale."
"Understood. I'll look into it."
"Ideally with full pharma setups."
"Hmm..."
Baek Seoyeonn pondered, then.
"Chairman, what about Mirinae Pharma?"
"...Mirinae?"
"Yes. They're in dire straits. As you know, blacklisted by auditors and FDA—on the brink."
When pushing Vitality Surge and Fresh Flesh Growth into New Seoul, Mirinae's interference delayed patents.
Audit exposed them, total collapse.
Lee Gieon still down from then.
"Perfect. Buy them, cost no object."
"On it."
Baek Seoyeonn wouldn't pay fair price.
Former Mirinae Group insider.
Knew their dirty rise.
Purge execs, buy dirt cheap.
"Faster the better. I'll ask palace for help. Not that I doubt you—"
"I was going to ask. No time to be picky?"
Palace intervention: even cheaper.
"Oh! And,"
Taeju handed her the poison list for production.
"Secure as much of these as possible."
"Got it. Leave it to me."
"No need to overdo. Asking others too."
Planned to leverage Imperial Army.
Poisons abundant in monster dense zones.
Pioneer, defense, outpost units expanding territory—request aid for faster, more materials.
So he called the Emperor direct.
"Your Majesty, it's Kim Taeju."
- Hey, Chairman Kim, busy? Need help?
"Not that, but..."
Taeju explained Mirinae acquisition and army aid for materials.
- Mass production, eh? Easy. Geum Suhu'll handle.
Grumbling aside.
- More mass production? Vitality Surge? Betting against copycats?
"Pardon?"
- Finally going overseas. Smart. Those weak copies'll crumble against the real deal!
Emperor misunderstood.
Not Vitality Surge.
Hadn't mentioned.
The mana rejection cure.
- I'll help. Resolve copycats first, then smooth mana rejection research...
"Not Vitality Surge mass production."
- Huh? What?
"Made mana rejection cure. Mass producing that."
- Ah, right. Mana rejection... Huh?! W-What?!
Emperor's trembling voice.
- S-Say it again. D-Did I hear right about ma—
"Success. Request is for mana rejection cure production and materials, not Vitality Surge."
- Uwaaaah! M-My god! N-No, impossible—April Fool's? No! R-Real? Not joking?! Eek? C-Crazy!
Strange cries over the phone.
Why the fuss from an emperor?
Well, understandable.
This wasn't ordinary.
End of Clinical Trial (1)