< The Celestial Realm is Fun Today >
Right after shipping the first batch of MRC, Kim Taeju headed straight to the Mirinae Pharma factory.
Baek Seoyeonn was waiting for him.
"Chairman."
"Is the acquisition done?"
"It's almost complete. Ownership will transfer soon."
"Hmm, but why does the factory feel so empty?"
It really was.
For a major corporate pharma plant, the equipment had all ground to a halt, as if there'd been a blackout.
There were hardly any employees in sight.
"The company was in trouble, so the factory hasn't been running properly. Lots of layoffs, and wages backed up for months."
"Tch, that's a shame."
They should have acquired it sooner.
There must have been family breadwinners among those employees who suffered.
Lee Byungwoo, that bastard's no different.
He made a mental note.
"Reinstate every laid-off employee and pay all back wages in a lump sum, no exceptions. Raise their salaries to match our staff's standards too."
"I'll handle it right away."
"How's the Paju factory coming along?"
"Branch Manager Jeong Yeonhui is personally pushing to finish it up. It should be ready for production soon."
He'd have to visit Paju too.
Give them some encouragement.
Materials were plentiful.
Soon, they could flood the market with the treatment.
Until now, it had just been a lack of equipment and manpower.
The global mana rejector population was around 200 million. Assuming each needed up to five doses of MRC, that was a billion units right there.
And more children were being born as mana rejectors every day.
The ultimate goal: make mana rejection syndrome as trivial as a common cold.
Mana rejector? No big deal. A shot and you're good.
Mana rejector, so you wanna go home early? That's your excuse? No faking it. Denied!
The baby's a mana rejector. Yes, no other issues—thank goodness.
That day was coming soon.
Now, time for some personal business.
Kim Taeju went to a large toy mall in New Seoul.
Honestly, the toys Song Suhee had bought didn't sit right with him.
First off, the quantity was pathetically low.
He'd given her a no-limit card and told her to max it out.
But it was all educational blocks or flashy light-up toy swords, guns, dolls... Might as well have sent more snacks kids actually like.
He'd specifically said for ages 10 and up.
Was it because she'd never had kids?
Can't delegate this to just anyone.
He'd put the delivery on hold for now.
Better to buy and send them himself.
One thing had caught his eye, though.
Just one.
That was why he was at the toy mall now—to buy them in bulk.
"How long does the battery on this last?"
"It uses mana crystal batteries, so assuming 10 hours a day, it'll go at least three months."
Perfect.
He'd throw in a few generators too.
He had plenty of elite crystals in his infinite storage.
"How many of these do you have? Is this all on display?"
"No, we've got more in the warehouse. How many do you need?"
"All of them!"
"...Pardon?"
"All of them. Deliver to this logistics warehouse. Right now."
"Ah, got it."
They were bulkier than expected.
Not sure if he could send them all.
A thought he always had when shipping to the celestial realm.
If only I had a few more sub-space bags...
Sub-space items.
Honestly, pretty mysterious things when you thought about it.
Who made them, and where?
Infinite storage was immortal magic, fine. But sub-space items were made on Earth, right?
Awakener crafting skills make sub-space items?
The more he pondered, the shadier it seemed.
Other magic items too.
Stuff way ahead of the era.
Practically OOPArts.
...Could be from soul-linked people.
No, almost certainly.
Me, Heavenly Demon...
There were definitely more soul-linked individuals.
He didn't know how many, but.
I'll meet them eventually.
As long as they weren't like the Heavenly Demon.
Moments later, the goods from the toy mall arrived at the logistics warehouse.
The instant he tried to stuff them into infinite storage!
Bzzzzt.
Perfect timing—the delivery signal from Earth.
"Nice!"
He swapped out the celestial flowers from the shared storage, emptied the sub-space bag and gourd too.
Plenty of time.
After the soul-link event from perfecting Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong, the shared storage had expanded, and the sparkle duration stretched too.
Now he had breathing room to receive and send.
First, fill the shared storage, then the two sub-space items.
It was still sparkling.
Extra time was a luxury.
Wonder if the celestials would like these?
The mana rejection cure, MRC, began distribution across the Samhan Empire and the world—a first-round emergency dose for severe cases.
Milder rejectors were deferred.
But no one complained.
They all shared the pain.
Rachel Pittman, daughter of Amerian Republic President Billy Pittman, classified severe, luckily got her dose.
Hiss, hiss, hiss.
Rachel wheezed through her oxygen mask.
"Shall we start?"
"Y-yes, hurry!"
The White House physician jabbed the MRC syringe into the IV port.
Billy Pittman and his wife watched tensely.
What would happen?
The treatment was proven, but worry was inevitable.
Moments later,
Snore, snore, snore.
Her breathing eased.
Then,
She slowly opened her eyes.
"Ooooh!"
"Ra-Rachel!"
She even removed the oxygen mask herself.
"Dad, Mom..."
How long had it been?
Since hearing their daughter's voice.
"Rachel, are you okay?"
"Mmm, feels good. Breathing easy."
"Hahaha! Yes, you'll only get better now."
Billy Pittman laughed heartily.
Now he truly felt the drug's power.
One shot of MRC, even on death's door, and you lived.
A dream come true.
Who to thank?
Taehong Bio's Kim Taeju.
He was a miracle in himself.
Samhan's Emperor Ryu Taehyeon has it good.
If Kim Taeju had one flaw, it was not being an Amerian citizen.
Billy Pittman pulled out his smartphone and called the White House Chief of Staff.
"It's me."
- Mr. President, how's Rachel?
"Much better. She's over the hump."
- Ahh! Congratulations.
"Thanks. Anyway, did you look into what I asked? The sub-space items."
- Contacting current owners, but they're asking top dollar.
"Get them if you can. I beg you."
- We'll try.
They had one national sub-space bag.
For military monster hunts.
One might not cut it.
A superpower needed at least two.
And use it as an excuse to invite Chairman Kim Taeju to America.
He wanted to meet him.
Apologize for the generics, express thanks.
Sincerely.
The Immortal Realm.
A crane's cry echoed from afar.
"Kyaaak, kyaaak!"
Its wounds from the Kunlun Immortal had mostly healed, red glow returning to its head.
Taesang Nogun dismounted the crane.
His signature look now: black suit, dress shoes, sunglasses.
One hand in pocket, the other clutching a bag, striding confidently into the Immortal Realm multiplex.
First stop: Juseon's cocktail bar.
"Martini, one."
"...Been a while, Nogun."
"Yeah, busy. Can't just loaf around,"
Twitch.
Juseon's brow furrowed.
Loafing? Who was he saying that for?
"Prepay."
Taesang Nogun casually tossed his card onto the bar,
Thud!
It slid perfectly to Juseon.
Shwick!
"Charge three drinks. And some snacks—cheese, ham, that stuff."
"..."
Getting ruder by the day.
Tossing the card?
Even for a big spender.
Asshole Nogun.
But a customer's a customer.
"Here. So what brings the heavy-ass Nogun here?"
"Heh heh heh, come to share good news."
"Good news?"
"Everyone's gonna thank me."
Taesang Nogun pulled a cigarette from his clutch and lit up.
Anticipation swelling in his chest.
He'd come in person to announce the immortal peaches deal.
How much would the immortals revere him?
Not quite Dokseon level, but second-in-command status solidified.
"Struck a deal with Queen Mother of the West at Peach Palace."
"What?"
Fwoomp!
Dupont lighter clicked cheerfully as he lit up.
"Wheew... From now on, one immortal peach per day for us immortals."
Pale smoke billowed into the air.
"That's the good news."
Well?
Dying yet?
But Juseon's face twisted horribly.
"You crazy old fart! Lighting up in a kids' place?"
What?
Taesang Nogun blinked in confusion.
Did she just yell at me?
Then—
Shing!
A sword flash before his eyes.
"Eek?"
The lit cigarette tip sliced clean off.
It was Geomseon.
"Wh-what the hell? Sword out of nowhere?"
"What're you doing in a place kids come through, Nogun?!"
"...K-kids?"
Immortals from the break room poured out, pointing and cursing.
"Air purifiers on max hundred ain't enough, and you smoke?"
"Kids get lung cancer, you taking responsibility?"
"Tch tch, see that hideous pack and still wanna smoke?"
"Arrogance at its peak."
"Dress him up, raise him, and he thinks he owns the place."
"Confiscate the lighter for three days!"
"That do it? Better smash his hands."
Taesang Nogun panicked.
He'd clearly said one peach a day, but...
Why this treatment?
One peach a day.
Wasn't that what the jobless immortals rioted for?
A hard-won achievement from the rep meeting, clashing with the Supreme Emperor.
Yet kids as an excuse to mob him?
Where were these kids?
Just then, Dokseon came down from upstairs.
"Taesang Nogun, right?"
"Oh! Dokseon! Listen, at the rep meeting, one peach a day..."
"Hold up!"
Dang Gunak sniffed the air.
"Who smoked here?"
Fingers pointed at Taesang Nogun.
"Nogun."
"Nogun did."
"Flicking that lighter all smug."
Ew, what a sight...
"That's immortal behavior?"
"Manners make the immortal."
Zing!
Dang Gunak glared.
"N-no, why's everyone freaking out? What'd I even do wrong..."
Suddenly!
Stampede!
"Let's play outside."
"Yeah! All games and you'll turn into a shut-in."
"What's that smell?"
"Ughhh..."
Kids poured down the stairs.
"Gasp!"
Taesang Nogun startled.
Actual kids? ...Ah, celestials.
Now it clicked.
A bit unfair, but.
Tell me ahead of time, what's the harm?
They'd come to play at the multiplex.
All in matching outfits.
Numbers from another world on their backs, huge balls in hand, weird shoes on feet.
"I'm attacking today."
"No way! You're goalie."
"Why always me?"
"You catch good."
"Fine, goalie it is."
The immortals lit up seeing them.
"Mind if we join?"
"Yes! Hurry out."
"Ice cream bet, cool?"
"No cheating! No flying."
"No immortal arts."
"Deal!!!"
Immortals and celestials teamed up for ball games—no, soccer—outside.
Dang Gunak smiled warmly at the sight.
Right then!
Bzzzzt.
Delivery signal from Earth.
It's here.
Dang Gunak opened the shared storage.
Hurriedly unpacked, loaded celestial flowers,
Kim Taeju's gifts: burner smartphones, sub-space items, kid toys...
"Oh? These?"
Emptied, refilled with flowers.
Nothing else to send?
Peaches on hold for now—just flowers.
Until MRC production ramped up.
Now, check the haul.
Thought they were ordinary toys, but...
Celestials will love 'em.
Dang Gunak went outside.
Celestials and immortals were deep in ball play on the multiplex front lawn.
He pulled out one unit first.
All eyes on Dang Gunak.
"Huh?"
"That's..."
"A car?"
"Triangular pyramid hood—Benz?"
"Why so small?"
Children's electric ride-on cars.
A bit bigger than toddler size.
Small adults could fit.
And fast too.
Dang Gunak climbed on.
A bit snug?
No choice,
Shrink down.
Crunch, cruuunch, crunch!
Bone Shrinking Art activated, body dwindling.
Hit the accelerator,
Vreeeeem!
It tore down the road Geomseon had built.
"Wow!"
"Waaaah!"
"Dokseon, so cool!"
"I wanna ride too."
Celestials cheered, chasing the ride-on.
Immortals, shameless, joined the pursuit.
"Hahaha!"
"What a spectacle."
"Do-Dokseon, lemme try once."
Geomseon grinned too.
Worth building those Immortal Realm roads himself.
Lonely driving solo before,
Now they could race together.
Widen the roads?
Extend the length too.
Link straight to the Celestial Realm.
The Celestial Realm is Fun Today End